Lifetime Unveils 'The Christmas Setup'

LOCAL NAME GLOBAL COVERAGE DECEMBER 3, 2020 VOL. 11 // ISSUE 48

FILMS FOR THE PAGE 30 ‘HOLIGAY’ LIFETIME UNVEILS ‘THE CHRISTMAS SETUP’

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@SFGN December 3, 2020 • Volume 11 • Issue 48 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943 Publisher • Norm Kent [email protected] SOUTH FLORIDA GAY NEWS Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley [email protected] OUR ROCKING AND ROLLING Editorial COMING Art Director • Brendon Lies [email protected] Webmaster • Kimberly Swan [email protected] SOON REAL ESTATE ISSUE Arts/Entertainment Editor • J.W. Arnold [email protected] Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • John McDonald HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis [email protected] Senior Feature Columnists Brian McNaught • Jesse Monteagudo Correspondents Dori Zinn • Donald Cavanaugh Christiana Lilly • John McDonald Denise Royal • David-Elijah Nahmod Contributing Columnists Pier Angelo • Terri Schlichenmeyer Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Steven Shires Sales & Marketing For ad placement in SFGN, contact 954-530-4970 Sales Manager • Justin Wyse [email protected] Senior Advertising Associate • Edwin Neimann [email protected] Advertising Associate • Thom Burnham Distribution Services • Noah Lebel

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South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not COVER 1: Ben Lewis and Blake Lee in “The Christmas Setup.” Photo courtesy of Lifetime. presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN COVER 2: John Lennon statue in Havana, Cuba. Photo credit: Christopher Hughes, CC BY-SA 3.0 US. should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at [email protected]. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Associated Press Copyright © 2020 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.

2 • 12.3.2020 12.3.2020 • 3 NEWS LOCAL PRIDE FORT LAUDERDALE HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Longtime non-profit staffer Kevin Clevenger takes lead as Pride eyes 2021 with new ideas

Damon Scott

he pandemic’s sting in 2020 was York City that began on June 28, 1969 — it’s devastating for those who produce a no longer confined to those 30 days as there Twide array of gay Pride events. It was has been a generally growing acceptance and also more than disappointing for those who wider audience for such events. excitedly attend each year. It’s a trend that Pride Fort Lauderdale now COVID-19 has caused practically all Pride wants to use to its advantage because of the events to be postponed — but particularly uncertainty of the pandemic. large gatherings — and it has also pushed The organization named a new executive organizers to rethink operations for next year director in October — Kevin J. Clevenger — and beyond. and unveiled new ways to keep supporters Pride Fort Lauderdale was set to mark a engaged throughout the year. significant milestone in April — the very Clevenger is well-known as the tireless month the state instituted lockdown measures. events and fundraising coordinator for the The inaugural Pride of the Americas would nonprofit Poverello Center, a position he held have been a weeklong festival for many years. He was the heft from April 21-26, featuring a behind many events, including fashion show, concerts, parties, a reboot of stalwart fundraisers conferences, a beach festival and “ALL THOSE like “Bowling to Fight Hunger.” a parade down A1A. “All those years at Poverello Kevin Clevenger and Pride Fort Lauderdale have It was an ambitious YEARS AT prepared me for this,” Clevenger introduced changes for next year. Courtesy photo. collaboration between Pride said. Fort Lauderdale and the Greater POVERELLO Clevenger was also the Fort Lauderdale Convention and development director for The ‘PRIDE 365,’ SCHOLARSHIPS normally donates back thousands of dollars to Visitors Bureau. It would have PREPARED Smart Ride, a popular bike nonprofits each year. He wants to keep giving replaced the traditional Pride ride that benefits HIV/AIDS Clevenger and other Pride leaders recently by launching a new scholarship program. Fort Lauderdale for the year. ME FOR organizations. participated in a weekend of strategic planning “My vision is to provide educational The momentum was in place He’s a social media guru, too to talk about ways to move forward while it’s scholarships for traditional and nontraditional for a blockbuster event. THIS.” — growing online audiences and still not known what the future of large live LGBTQ students, including allies,” he said. Miik Martorell, the president - Kevin Clevenger leading website redesign. events will be. “Strong fundraising for education, with an of Pride Fort Lauderdale, had just NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF Clevenger spent 13 years doing The organization has instituted “Pride 365,” emphasis on the medical professions.” PRIDE FORT LAUDERDALE come off a successful 2019 event promotional tours — as a tour which gives Pride Fort Lauderdale a year-round Clevenger said he hears people in their 30s (Feb. 21-24) which brought more manager and truck driver — at event and fundraising schedule to work from. and 40s say there aren’t any readily available than 120,000 visitors to the city and a first-ever events, fairs and festivals. “Normally Pride is just one or two weeks of scholarships that allow them to go back to Pride parade along Fort Lauderdale Beach. Indeed, his experience coalesces nicely with events,” Clevenger, who is a native Floridian, school. The scholarships will be targeted to The focus had then turned to April 2020 and the goals of Pride Fort Lauderdale — where he said. “Pride 365 will include mixers, meetups, that demographic as well as younger students. Pride of the Americas, which is designed to has been a volunteer since 2016, most recently BBQs, dining out events, food — in the same He added that Pride Fort Lauderdale would rotate to a different international destination serving as the vendor marketplace director. vein as the South Beach Wine and Food also do outreach to transgender and Black every two years. “Kevin is dedicated to the community, Fest — and a fashion show. We’re already individuals who drop out of high school to Pride of the Americas was postponed in volunteering at numerous organizations and working on planning these events — new “give them a safe space to earn a GED.” March, just as organizers were anticipating as helping to feed the community for the past and unique. COVID-19 is not going to go In addition, Clevenger expects there to soon many as 350,000 visitors to the area. The hope several months throughout COVID,” the away anytime soon. It will diminish, but not be a reworked Pride Fort Lauderdale website was then to have it in the fall. Plans are to now organization said in an Oct. 19 announcement. go away completely even when the vaccine is with all the new information. In the meantime, host it Nov. 20-21, 2021. The organizations under Clevenger’s available.” he said, the organization’s Facebook page is umbrella are Pride Fort Lauderdale, Pride of the Clevenger said Pride Fort Lauderdale active and up-to-date. NEW LEADER, FAMILIAR FACE Americas 2021, Trans Pride Fort Lauderdale and Caribbean PrideFest. For more information, and to buy Pride-inspired masks and flags While Pride month is officially celebrated (Pride Fort Lauderdale is the name of the each June — chosen because of the event that is produced by the Greater Fort go to PrideFortLauderdale.org. To access the group on Facebook, significance of the Stonewall riots in New Lauderdale Pride organization.) go to facebook.com/pridefortlauderdale.

4 • 12.3.2020 12.3.2020 • 5 NEWS LOCAL

OF SNAPSHOTS THE WEEK From your life... into our pages! SFGN takes a special look at a community that is slowly waking up after a long and devastating summer.

Stratton Pulitzer and Christopher Scott Boykin celebrate a moment where they met, in Key West, 27 years ago.

Photo via Facebook.

Nikki Barnes celebrates her birthday with the dapper Percy Johnson, a well-known politician. Photo via Facebook.

Kristian Cosme celebrates his 21st birthday last Saturday with Fab Scout’s Howard Andrews. Photo via Facebook.

6 • 12.3.2020 12.3.2020 • 7 NEWS INTERNATIONAL BY AVRAHAM FORREST

AROUND EXPLORING LGBT NEWS EVENTS ACROSS THE WORLD THE GLOBE OCEANIA AFRICA

INDONESIA REJECTS LGBT APPLICANTS LGBT COMMUNITY HIT HARD BY FOR CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS #ENDSARS PROTESTS IN NIGERIA NoStringsNG, a Nigerian site that In Indonesia, the Attorney General’s Illustration credit: Indonesian Government. An End SARS protest. Photo credit: TobiJamesCandids. Office is receiving criticism for rejecting promotes and supports the LGBT LGBT applicants for civil service positions, community, provided financial assistance the Jakarta Post reported. to those impacted by the #EndSARS When questioned about the rejections, protests, the African Human Rights AGO spokesperson Mukri said the office Media Network reported. wanted “just the normal ones,” the Jakarta LGBT Nigerians lost income and Post reported. became stranded from home as the The action was also criticized by the government imposed 24- to 48-hour Indonesian Ombudsman, an independent director of Amnesty International curfews to curb the protests, the African state institution that supervises public Indonesia, said that the ban was against Human Rights Media Network reported. services, who said the rejections were Indonesia’s constitution and the Fifteen members of the LGBT LGBT youth with support and knowledge discriminatory, the Jakarta Post reported. country’s international human rights law community in Nigeria received funds to “challenge unfavorable and oppressive Other groups included in the ban are obligations, the Jakarta Post reported. for food and rent, the African Human systems that aim to silence them,” pregnant and disabled applicants, Agence House of Representatives member of Rights Media Network reported. The according to the NoStringsNG website. France-Presse reported. The country the Islamic-based United Development funds came from an initiative launched The Nigerian non-profit works with is receiving millions of applications Party Arsul Sani said that lawmakers by NoStringsNG in October, which raised St. Paul’s Foundation for International for around 200,000 civil-service jobs plan to ask for clarification on the ban around $393. Reconciliation, a charity in the U.S., throughout Indonesia. during the next working meeting with the NoStringsNG also runs youth to receive donations, according to the Usman Hamid, the executive House, the Jakarta Post reported. development programs that provide NoStringsNG website. NORTH AMERICA EUROPE

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE MOVES FORWARD GAY CONVERSION THERAPY ON BOOK BY TRANSPHOBIC AUTHOR SPREAD TO EASTERN EUROPE Penguin Random House Canada has Photo credit: Penguin Random House. An online gay conversion therapy Photo via PxHere. decided to publish “Beyond Order: 12 conference took place Nov. 27 and 28 More Rules for Life” by author Jordan in Hungarian, Polish and Slovakian Peterson, Newsweek reported. — languages commonly spoken in Employees of the publisher have reportedly homophobic countries like anonymously spoken out against the Poland and Hungary, Truth Wins Out author and book, with one junior reported. employee, who is a member of the LGBT The Alliance for Therapeutic community, describing Peterson as “an Choice and Scientific Integrity, a U.S. icon of hate speech and transphobia,” organization, is responsible for the Vice reported. Peterson, a clinical psychologist, also conference, Truth Wins Out reported. Employees said that the publisher kept wrote “12 Rules for Life,” which has sold The conference included presentations news about the book’s release secret, Vice more than five million copies, according such as “Rethinking Transgenderism” and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), reported. The book did not appear on an to the Penguin Random House website. and “Pastoral Care to Men and Women which had been connected to multiple internal database of future releases, one The employees said that the publisher Struggling with Hurt Sexuality,” controversies, Truth Wins Out reported. employee said. should consider donating the book’s according to the International Federation Dr. Mike Davidson, IFTCC Chairman, Penguin Random House Canada said profits to LGBT organizations, Vice for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice said in a video that “pansexual humanism” in a statement that it is open to feedback reported. website. is becoming a “driver of values” in the and committed to publishing a range of Peterson’s new book will be published The ATCSI was previously known as West. “The result is confusion and viewpoints, Vice reported. in March 2021, Newsweek reported. the National Association for Research frightening sexual anarchy,” he said.

8 • 12.3.2020 NEWS STATE WEEKLY TRACKING OF COVID-19 IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Sean McShee

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 CASES IN THREECumulative SOUTH Known FLORIDA COVID-19 COUNTIES: Cases in NOVEMBERCumulativeThree South 25Known THROUGH Florida COVID Counties: DECEMBER-19 Cases in 1 NovemberThree South 25 through Florida DecemberCounties: 1 November 25 through December 1 Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 cases from 11/25 to 12/01 PercentPalm BeachIncrease 4.4%, in Broward cumulative 4.7%, COVID and Miami-19 cases Dade from 5.1% 11/25 to 12/01 Palm Beach 4.4%, Broward 4.7%, and Miami Dade 5.1% 231,761 225,632 227,656 229,618 220,414 220,414 224,166 231,761 225,632 227,656 229,618 220,414 220,414 224,166

105,084 105,877 106,698 107,524 108,325 103,440 103,440 105,084 105,877 106,698 107,524 108,325 103,440 103,440

63,146 63,146 64,300 64,670 65,011 65,372 65,93665,936 63,146 63,146 64,300 64,670 65,011 65,372 65,936

11/25 11/26 11/27 11/28 11/29 11/30 12/1 11/25 11/26Palm Beach 11/27 11/28Broward 11/29 Miami-Dade11/30 12/1 Palm Beach Broward Miami-DadeSource Fl DOH Dashboard Source Fl DOH Dashboard Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

CUMULATIVE KNOWN COVID-19 DEATHS IN THREE SOUTH FLORIDA COUNTIES: CumulativeCumulative Known Known COVID COVID-19 Cases-19 Deaths in in NOVEMBERThreeThree South 25South Florida THROUGH Florida Counties: DECEMBERCounties: 1 NovemberNovember 25 through 25 through December December 1 1 Percent Increase in cumulative COVID-19 deaths from 11/25 to 12/01 PercentPalmIncrease Beach 1.6%,in cumulative Broward COVID1.6%, -and19 cases Miami from Dade 11/25 1.2% to 12/01 Palm Beach 4.4%, Broward 4.7%, and Miami Dade 5.1%

231,761 225,632 227,656 229,618 220,414 220,414 224,166 3,792 3,792 3,799 3,823 3,834 3,835 3,839

105,084 105,877 107,524 108,325 103,440 106,698 103,4401,670 1,694 1,697 1,670 1,676 1,678 1,678 1,664 1,659 1,664 1,638 1,638 1,648 1,652

63,146 63,146 64,300 64,670 65,011 65,372 65,936

11/2511/25 11/2611/26 11/2711/27 11/2811/28 11/2911/29 11/3011/30 12/112/1

Palm Beach Palm Beach BrowardBroward Miami DadeMiami-DadeSource Fl DOH Dashboard Source Fl DOH Dashboard Source: Florida DOH Dashboard.

12.3.2020 • 9 LGBTQIA BITES BY KENDALL LITTLE Lesbian L B Bisexual BLACK LESBIAN NAMED DEPUTY PRESS LADY GAGA NABS TWO SECRETARY IN BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

Karine Jean-Pierre is no stranger to Though Lady Gaga was not nominated in political affairs. Her experience ranges from any of the top Grammy categories, she secured “presidential campaigns to grassroots activism, nominations in two: Best Pop Duo/Group to local politics, to working in the White House,” Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. Her according to her website. She currently serves duet with Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me” was the as the chief public affairs officer for MoveOn. song nominated for Best Pop Duo and her album org and as a political analyst for MSNBC and “Chromatica” was the work nominated for Best Pop NBC. Vocal Album. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “Rain On Me” has accumulated over 452 million announced that Jean-Pierre would be her streams on Spotify as of Nov. 30 and the music video new chief of staff back in August and she has currently has over 254 million views. The Guardian recently been named principal deputy press has even declared it “the best song of 2020.” Gaga secretary in the White House. “She will be part and Grande performed the song live for MTV at the of an all-woman senior communications team,” 2020 Video Music Awards and it was later posted said Trudy Ring in an article for the Advocate. to YouTube and has gotten over 25 million views as This will be the first time that the White of Nov. 30. House communications staff will be run “Chromatica” was released on May 29 of this year exclusively by women. Jean-Pierre will be the and brought a whole new era for Gaga. The album first Black woman and first gay woman to take on “is a return to Gaga’s dance-pop days,” according to a this role in the White House. This is her second review written by Katherine St. Asaph for Pitchfork. time making history, her first being when she While the sound is similar to her debut album, “The became the first Black woman to become chief Karine Jean-Pierre. Fame,” the lyrics are powerful and cover intense Lady Gaga. Photo via Facebook. Photo via Facebook. of staff to a vice presidential candidate. issues such as PTSD and sexual assault.

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10 • 12.3.2020 LGBTQIA BITES P Pansexual ‘OUTER BANKS’ BEAUTY SHARES HOW IT FELT TO COME OUT

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dunham_ins_sfgn_hp_color_ahmed_v1.indd 1 12.3.20202/25/2020 8:42:59 • 11AM SERIES BIPOC BIPOC LEADERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE BRIELLE ROUNDTREE’S BOOK CLUB INSPIRES WHILE SPARKING CONVERSATIONS

Carina Mask

rielle Roundtree, founder of Bridging The Gap, prides herself in finding impactful and thought-provoking literature which Bsparks introspection and riveting conversations among queer and trans youth of color on a biweekly basis.

“I remember [that] I had a hard time going exactly why older people can connect through through school, and I was really out of touch the literature and through the experience.” and distant,” Roundtree said. “I couldn’t The book club meets virtually every other really communicate well, but I was one of the week on Sunday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. due best writers in my class. Just didn’t know how to the pandemic. One of the recent readings to verbally express myself.” was a personal development book. Even The concept of Bridging The Gap has though it is currently meeting in a virtual always held a special place in Roundtree’s space, Roundtree wants to keep a sense of a heart. When she attended high school, she safe space so she has kept the group private took a business class which allowed her to and by invite only. explore her ideas but it took another decade Writing was Roundtree’s creative outlet for this to come to fruition. growing up. “High school is a tough “Literature has changed my period of transition, and “THERAPY HELPED life by allowing me to get lost in I wanted to make a safe ME BUILD A the story. It gave me the voice place because transitioning to narrate my own life and into adulthood was hard,” TOOLBOX TO BETTER experiences,” Roundtree said. “It Roundtree said. DEAL WITH ISSUES, literally saved my life and gave Her book club was founded AND I WANTED TO me a place to vent openly and Nov. 11, 2018 to focus on queer unapologetically.” youth. Initially, most of the SHARE MY TOOLS Roundtree wants to be members skewed younger WITH EVERYONE I intentional with the reading but now there are members in CAME IN CONTACT material. Her choices in literature their 30s and 40s. WITH.” are opportunities to introduce “I think it evolved because Black and Brown queer youth to of people like [Brielle], some - Brielle Roundtree literature written by other people FOUNDER OF people weren’t privileged BRIDGING THE GAP of color. to have the traditional high “Words Never Spoken” by Craig school experience. People later Stewart was one of the first books in life still seek that education and fulfillment she chose. “Stewart was so thrilled about the [especially when] struggling with sexual work we were doing that he decided to visit identity and gender during high school,” South Florida and donate copies of his second added Jayce Roach, the executive director and fourth books.” of Bridging The Gap. “When your needs Stewart’s memoir was released in 2012. internally aren’t met, there is no way that It detailed his journey of his careers as a you can concentrate on your papers, a quiz, songwriter, playwright and entrepreneur. or a test. You’re not in alignment, and that’s In the book he describes his inner conflicts Brielle Roundtree, founder of Bridging The Gap. Photo credit: Carina Mask.

12 • 12.3.2020 SERIES BIPOC

surrounding his sexuality, as well as his “My decision to go back to school and get depression and addiction to pornography. a GED was very personal. My parents always “When I was 15, I realized my true self, and told me I couldn’t and I wouldn’t do it. So, I then my mother put me into therapy because did,” Roundtree said. “To not only prove I was acting feminine,” Roundtree said. “I had to them, but to myself and knowing I am a great relationship with my therapist and capable.” that’s where I discovered my love for writing According to New York Civil Liberties because I couldn’t really speak to my parents Union, the transgender population about anything. Writing was the way to get it unemployment rates are staggeringly high, out.” it’s twice the rate of unemployment as the But when her parents found her journal it general populace. didn’t go over well. One fourth of queer identifying youth have “One day I came home from school to find suffered verbal, sexual or physical assault on out that my mother had gone through some of school property. About 14% of transgender my journals. That day, he [my father] was very or GNC (gender nonconforming) youth have physically abusive and my mother stopped been homeless. Over half of the transgender him at some point. She told me to go outside to youth who left high school were homeless or get air. I went outside, crying. I remember we formerly homeless. lived in a townhouse so we have a large porch “Without education we don’t have access and [eventually] I fell asleep,” Roundtree said. to [gainful] employment and without “And I woke up the next morning still on the employment we aren’t able to sustain safe and porch; no one came to wake me up. I realized healthy lives,” Roundtree said. in that moment, that this was it, and I left that Roundtree wants to be a conduit for growth moment and never came back.” and self-discovery. According to a GLSEN’s National School “I wanted to mentor youth who identified Climate Survey, less than 22% of students like me. Therapy helped me build a toolbox to that identify as LGBT graduate high school. better deal with issues, and I wanted to share The study found that LGBT students who my tools with everyone I came in contact experience high levels of bullying and anti- with,” Roundtree said. “Watching it slowly LGBT victimization were more likely to develop into something [tangible] that we report that they had no interest in pursuing drop off in a resource center is amazing.” post-secondary education. There was also a Using literature and community as tools correlation between high victimization and in order to talk about difficult subjects while Celebrating our 11th Smile...and lower GPA’s, lower self-esteem and high levels also having a safe place to express feelings Year on Wilton Drive! of anxiety and depression. can be essential during the COVID-19 era. the whole Approximately 66% of LGBT students People might need to come up with new and New Patients world have experienced verbal harassment and innovative ways to cope with the isolation. discrimination at school. Over 30% of those “I love to connect with people and to love smiles students who feel unsafe, uncomfortable on people,” Roundtree said. back. and targeted miss at least one school a day in $69 the previous month. In the long term, this is ($312 Value) detrimental to their education and well-being. Gay-Straight Alliances, inclusive anti- Comprehensive Exam, bullying policies, supportive teachers and Digital X-Rays & LGBT inclusive educational programs can Cleaning* be transformative in the outcomes for queer *In the absense of gum disease. youth. Meanwhile, not surprisingly, hostile Not applicable to insurance benefits. school environments negatively affect LGBT students’ educational outcomes. Roundtree left high school because of the constant abuse she faced at home and school General & Cosmetic Dentistry wasn’t a solace or an escape for her either. Her high school’s police officer monitored her constantly and at the end of every school day State of the Art Facilities • Most Insurance Plans Accepted made sure she went home. When Roundtree left high school, she Always Plenty of Free Parking • Located Conveniently on Wilton Drive focused all of her energy and attention on being employed. Surviving was her main Brielle Roundtree. Photo credit: Carina Mask. concern so education became a distant goal. 954-565-7666 Dr. David K. Warner, DDS, FAGD Read about more BIPOC leaders featured by SFGN at SFGN.com/bipoc. 1946 Wilton Drive • Wilton Manors • FL 33305

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12.3.2020 • 13 NEWS INTERNATIONAL BY ELLIOT RODRIGUEZ

THE KEEP UP WITH THE CELEBRITIES IN OUR GAY VINE COMMUNITY CELEBRITY 63RD GRAMMY AWARDS

KRISTEN STEWART WEIGHS IN ON LGBT THE GRAMMY’S GO GAY WITH ACTORS PLAYING LGBT ROLES LOTS OF LGBT NOMINEES Actress Kristen Stewart recently Kristen Stewart. Photo via Facebook. The 63rd Grammy Awards is set to talked about the thin line between take place on Jan. 31, where viewers can Image credit: Brendon Lies. LGBT actors only playing LGBT roles. expect to see a great share of talent. “I would never want to tell a story that Brittany Howard had the most really should be told by somebody who’s nominations as a member of the LGBT lived that experience … having said community. that, it’s a slippery slope conversation Howard received five including : Best because that means I could never play Rock Performance for “Stay High,” Best another straight character if I’m going Alternative Music Album “Jaime,” Best to hold everyone to the letter of this R&B Performance “Goat Head,” and Best particular law,” Stewart told E Online.” American Roots Performance “Short and Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion are I think it’s such a gray area.” Sweet.” also nominated for Best New Artist. Stewart came out as gay during a There are also a lot of new LGBT artists According to GLAAD their sexual “Saturday Night Live” in 2017, but then to look for in the upcoming Grammy orientations are “not clearly identified” clarified later that year that she was Awards. The Best New Artist category is and they don’t seem to identify as indeed bisexual, according to News jam packed with LGBT nominees such as: “exclusively straight.” Week. Gay electronic DJ/Producer Kaytranada; Both of whose sexual orientations Scarlett Johansson received backlash Indie Singer Phoebe Bridgers, who are not clearly identified, but neither of when she was cast for a role as a Tug.” She later apologized and stepped identifies as bisexual; and queer rapper whom seem to identify as exclusively transgender man, in the film “Rub & down from the role. Chika, said GLAAD. straight, Glaad.org reported. FILM ‘MANDALORIAN’ ACTRESS BLASTED FOR Image via Gina Carano, Twitter. NOT SUPPORTING TRANS COMMUNITY “Mandalorian” star Gina Carano, has received a for the Black Lives Matter movement, but refused lot of backlash on social media due to her recent saying that doing so were for “cowards and flippant posts regarding the trans community. bullies,” according to Yahoo Life. Allies of the LGBT community asked Carano to According to Filmdaily.co, some Twitter users put her preferred pronouns in her bio, as a way have declared Carano is transphobic. One user of supporting trans people. Carano responded to asked Carano to admit she was transphobic, this request by putting “Boop/Bop/Beep” in her which prompted her to answer back with “I want bio instead. people to know you can take hate with a smile...So “They’re mad cause I wont put my preferred BOOP you for misunderstanding.” pronouns in my bio to show my support for trans Carano has only gotten more controversial lives. After months of harassing me in every way. over time, which has prompted fans to start a I decided to put 3 VERY controversial words in my #FireGinaCarano, which ended up trending on bio..Beep/Bop/Boop,” Carano said. Twitter. Her supporters though countered that Carano wrote on Twitter that she refused to put hashtag with #StandWithGinaCarano. her pronouns in her bio because she is trying to It’s not yet clear if Disney will respond or fire Carano has only gotten more controversial over time, expose the “bullying mentality of the mob that Carano, but episode two gave Carano’s character, has taken over the voices of many genuine cases.” Cara Dune, a way out of the show, according to which has prompted fans to start a #FireGinaCarano, Fans also asked Carano to show her support Deseret News. which ended up trending on Twitter.

14 • 12.3.2020 NEWS SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK ROCK THE RIBBON

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It was an amazing morning at Rock the Ribbon, the World AIDS Museum’s official kick- off! SFGN sends a special shoutout to their amazing team, as well as Dr. Requel Lopes, for hosting the event. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.

12.3.2020 • 15 CONVICTIONS My Best Gay Self MY FIRST HOLIGAY SEASON Meeting my Southern family as a gay man

Mark Turnipseed Photo via Adobe.

oliday seasons are known to be highly emotional, and sometimes feared, at times. This holiday Hseason, in particular, approaches with a lot of mixed feelings for us all. For myself, on top of the usual basket of joyously large emotions, sits a wondrously dressed cherry on top for this will be my first holiday season as an openly gay man. Missing my sons and ex- wife is one thing, facing my southern family is another. I guess I should start this off with saying the fact that this holiday season won’t be filled with huge family gatherings should decrease the stress. But the downside is that the family gatherings that do happen will be a whole lot more intimate. No hiding on the couch in the corner sandwiched between the grandpa that only mumbles the occasional incoherent string of words and the aunt that’s too cynical for anyone to enjoy. Pure intimacy. Vulnerability. Full exposure, well besides EVERYONE I’VE the mask. Everyone I’ve met in the gay community MET IN THE GAY has something in common and that’s the pressure of family. Some are now considered COMMUNITY abject and deplorable, while others may get an equally hurtful passive shoulder from HAS their loved ones. Whatever the struggle is, we all have the same struggle together and SOMETHING IN until recently have I begun to truly respect COMMON AND man in the South only got threatened one of our communities’ sad statistics. this struggle. It’s also only recently that I’ve once in a year since coming out. According to the Trevorproject.com each act of hate learned the best approach to this struggle. THAT’S THE How amazing is that? against an LGBT person increases the chance of suicide One that fortifies my best gay self through But it is also sad. by 2.5% and seeing that we are already nearly five times the hard times, and the holidays: Gratitude. PRESSURE OF It shows me that we still have a lot as likely as our heterosexual peers to attempt suicide we A few days ago I was involved in my first of work to do. Instances like this need don’t have room for a 2.5% increase. hate crime and it was at my own front door. FAMILY. to be eliminated. If I were not a sober- We must continue to carry the torch that our But, it hasn’t left me with fear, or anger minded, clear-headed, confident gay predecessors lit. They have gotten us so very far, but really. Instead it filled me with gratitude. It also showed man the words that he used may have destroyed me. if we stop now, we may only enjoy this seemingly me this holiday season will be a cinch if I continue to I used to walk through life on the brink of suicide in luxurious spot of equality for a short flicker longer. So tap into gratitude rather than fear. addiction and something like that could have set me for this holiday season, may gratitude protect us and The event left my heart throbbing but also amazed at over the line. Thank God this didn’t happen when I was may progress strengthen and encourage us to stoke the the strength of the men and women who walked before in this weakened state because if it did, I may be another fire’s in our heart’s hearth. me in our community and who went through so much worse. I’m so profoundly grateful for their sacrifice and hard work. In the face of threats and discrimination My Best Gay Self is a column by author, speaker, fitness coach and LGBTQ addiction and wellness fueled by the thorns of hate and carried on the advocate, Mark Turnipseed. He is also the Owner and CEO of Integrity Endurance, a network of shoulders of ignorance they have continued to rise and personal trainers with the goal of fighting the opioid crisis through fitness. Visit www.markaturnipseed. rise and rise so that it has now become so rare that a com to learn more/contact or to find his book “My Suicide Race: Surviving the trauma of addiction, recovery and coming out.”

16 • 12.3.2020 WMG Volume 7 • Issue 25 Wilton Manors Gazette December 3, 2020 FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE COMMUNITY City’s ‘Living Document’ On Diversity Leaves Out Trans Community By John McDonald

Wilton Manors’ definition of diversity or group can feel welcomed, respected, needs some more work. supported and valued in order to fully At the Nov. 24 city commission meeting, participate.” the community affairs advisory board Carson noted CAAB’s diversity (CAAB) presented a memorandum on definition left out gender identity how to recruit and maintain diversity on and gender expression. The board’s city boards and committees. The memo recommended outreach also failed to failed to include many groups covered by include transgender groups, the NAACP, the city’s non-discrimination ordinance, aging groups, independent living said resident and former Commissioner facilities, Kids in Distress and synagogues Julie Carson. and churches. “I really recommend Vice Mayor Paul Rolli bringing in an expert to “A LOT OF commended the board’s consult on these very work and said the list important matters so THIS IS BEING of diversity groups was that we can move our ABLE TO SEE a “living document” community forward in a meant for additions and more representative way,” THEMSELVES IN subtractions. Carson said during the “We can tweak it if we meeting’s public comments THE ROLE AND need to,” Rolli said. portion. “I’m happy to fund REFLECTING Mayor Scott Newton the cost for this.” echoed Rolli: “I think you CAAB Chairman Michael THE DIVERSE did a great job,” Newton Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook. Sansevero read the memo said. “You can get too far if to the commission. NATURE OF THE you really get into this. We “Diversity is a COMMUNITY.” could probably add 200 to eliminate barriers that prevented full them is people just aren’t applying.” recognition of all those groups. I think everything participation in the past, Sansevero said. Direct outreach over the phone and differences that make us - Chris Caputo that he put into this covers Setting term limits for boards and building self-esteem and understanding in COMMISSIONER unique, and includes, but everyone if you look and committees is recommended, Sansevero said. potential applicants is a key strategy, said is not limited to race, color, each and every word that Commissioner Gary Resnick said the Commissioner Chris Caputo. ethnicity, language, nationality, sexual you put in there.” city’s current boards and committees have a “It’s going to be a growing and living orientation, marital status, education, Sansevero said best practice “heaviness to lawyers and accountants.” document,” Caputo said. “A lot of this is being religion, gender, socio-economic status, for achieving diversity in the city Resnick said he wouldn’t reach out to able to see themselves in the role and reflecting age and physical or mental ability,” encompasses attitudes, opinions, synagogues and churches with the exception the diverse nature of the community.” Sansevero said. “We recognize that approaches and strategies to ensure no of the JCC and Congregation Etz Chaim. After a lengthy discussion, commissioners individuals can affiliate as such in one groups are excluded because of their Commissioner Mike Bracchi asked CAAB voted unanimously to have staff bring or more ways. The goal is to create an differences or by implicit bias. Fair to identify barriers to participation. “We need draft policy based on CAAB’s diversity and environment by which any individual procedures and processes are important to understand what the problem is and one of inclusion memo to its January meeting. WMG

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •12.3.2020 • • • 17 OPINION WMG Wilton Manors Loses All LGBT December 3, 2020 • Volume 7 • Issue 25 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Commission Designation Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943 Publisher • Norm Kent Five white men now represent the city [email protected] Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley [email protected] By John McDonald Copyeditor • Kimberly Swan Oh the irony. Editorial November’s general election was a small Art Director • Brendon Lies victory for diversity on the Wilton Manors [email protected] Commission — but not in a way this tiny South Florida city is known for. News Editor • John McDonald The election of Scott Newton as mayor Correspondents broke up the city’s all LGBT commission. Christiana Lilly• Sal Torre • James Oaksun Newton, a straight man, defeated Julie Staff Photographers Carson, a lesbian, by 112 votes — ousting J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires Carson from a 12-year tenure on the Sales & Marketing commission. Michael Rajner, former chairman of the Scott Newton taking his seat as the Mayor of Wilton Manors. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook. For ad placement in the Wilton Manors Gazette, contact 954-530-4970 city’s charter review board, called Newton a “decent man” but added he has struggled online and some were calling for people to “I want to get back to all of us working Sales Manager • Justin Wyse to understand Newton’s vision for the city. “cancel” her restaurant, Bubbles & Pearls on together,” Newton told the New Pelican. [email protected] The presence of Josie Smith-Malave in the Wilton Drive. The Gazette has reached out to Newton via campaign was an undeniable factor. The “Julie Carson, call off your lackeys. Call off email and telephone for comment following Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann reality TV chef, who like Carson is also a part your dogs. Call off your people. Be the leader the election, but there has been no response. [email protected] of the LGBT community, received 874 votes you say you ran to be. You’re the leader of this Michael Sansevero, chairman of the Wilton for 12% of the vote. group of people. Don’t be a sore loser. [Carson’s Manors Community Affairs Advisory Board, “If it were a race between Scott and Julie I campaign] had a choice and opportunity to said the commission needed new blood. Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping do believe Julie would have prevailed,” Rajner create a landslide win. If it’s this close, don’t “It had become stagnant and deadlocked,” said. “I’m not attacking Josie. Also, Trump look at me [...] look at yourself,” she said. Sansevero said. “Ever since Justin passed the South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions voters, Celeste Ellich [Broward Republican “Scott Newton won because he was there energy was gone.” expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not every single day, because he’s out there being The sudden death of Mayor Justin Flippen represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should Party vice chairwoman] mobilized Trump not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their voters to turn out for Newton and [Mike] a real guy with the community and talking in February set about a chain of events that names or pictorial representations. FurthermoreMEMBER the word “gay” in Bracchi. That may be why Scott ran a very to the people, and being connected to the eventually led to the end of Wilton Manors’ SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print vague campaign with no vision, maybe he people. Being a mayor of Wilton Manors is all LGBT commission. Newton’s election, and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is wanted to court those Trump voters.” about bringing the people together and clearly however, does not solve the city’s diversity protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published In a Facebook live post Scott did exactly that.” woes as the commission is now composed may be reprinted in whole or part withoutMEMBER getting written consent after the election Smith- In October Carson entirely of white men with newly elected from the Publisher, at his law office, at [email protected]. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce Malave pushed back hard “IF IT WERE A RACE suffered a deep personal Commissioner Chris Caputo, 40, being the its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, against the narrative that her BETWEEN SCOTT AND loss when her brother died. youngest of the five. illustrations and photographs. candidacy sunk Caron. In She ended up leaving the Wilton Manors losing its all LGBT AssociatedMEMBER Press the video she heaped praise JULIE I DO BELIEVE campaign trail for a week. commission leaves Palm Springs, California on Newton, while blasting Meanwhile, Ellich told as the nation’s lone all LGBT governing body. Carson and her supporters. JULIE WOULD HAVE the New Pelican that Trump Other South Florida municipalities with more “We’re in good hands PREVAILED.” supporters gave Newton the than one LGBT elected official include Fort edge in the race for mayor. Lauderdale, Oakland Park and Miami Beach. MEMBER with Scott Newton. I got an Copyright © 2020 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc. opportunity to get to know - Michael Rajner Ellich said that since there In 2018 Wilton Manors became an all LGBT him on this campaign trail, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE were no Republicans in the commission when Flippen won his race for and he cares about the city. WILTON MANORS CHARTER race she recommended they mayor while Newton lost his re-election bid REVIEW BOARD Just because he’s a straight vote for Newton and Bracchi, for a commission seat. guy, he may not know about whom she said are both “When you look at where we have come the LGBTQ issues, but that’s what we’re all fiscally conservative. from, it’s not that long ago when we weren’t here for, and that’s what we are here to do “We [Republicans] have to vote for even allowed to get married or have kids. is to support him being successful,” Smith- somebody. It’s our city, too,” she told the New In a relatively short amount of time, we Malave said. “Even though I lost this time, Pelican. are now accepted as people’s city officials,” we moved the city forward together.” According to the New Pelican Newton is a Commissioner Gary Resnick noted in 2018. Smith-Malave said the people who voted registered Democrat, who supported former While Commissioner Paul Rolli, who won in for her did not waste their vote while also Vice President Joe Biden. the 2018 election, said when he was sworn calling Carson and her supporters “sore Newton did not deny to the New Pelican in, “The fact that we now have an all LGBT losers.” In the video she said Carson’s Trump supporters may have gotten him over commission is a historical marker but not supporters were posting nasty messages the top. necessarily a defining moment.” WMG Photo via PxHere. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

18 • 12.3.2020 2 • December 3, 2020 NEWS COMMUNITY Wilton Manors Conversion Therapy Ban Not Enforceable

By John McDonald Photo via PxHere. A consequence of last week’s ruling on conversion therapy by a federal appeals court hit home in Wilton Manors on Tuesday night. Shana Bridgeman, an attorney with the law firm of Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol, informed the Wilton Manors Commission that the city’s ban on conversion therapy is not enforceable. Bridgeman cited the Nov. 20 ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, striking down bans on conversion therapy in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Clouds looming over NE 26th Street. Photo credit: Brendon Lies. County. The language in those ordinances, Bridgeman said, is almost identical to the one in Wilton Manors — passed unanimously by the commission on Aug. 23, 2016. now offering Rainstorms Test In a 2-1 decision, the court sided with therapists Robert Otto and Julie Hamilton who argued their case for sexual orientation Wilton Manors change efforts on the grounds of the First Amendment’s right to freenow speech. offeringthe matter is likely to make its way to the SAME DAY PrEP“The reasoningnow that the court used offering is you Supreme Court, Bridgeman said. Master Plan have to let everyone talknow about everything offering After Bridgeman explained the decision even ifSAME it’s offensive and outrageous,” DAY and how Wilton PrEP Manors must comply she By John McDonald Bridgeman said. asked for questions from the commission and SAMEBecauseSAME there is a conflict between DAY circuits DAY there were none.PrEP WMGPrEP At Midway Specialty Care Center we areClimate change is here and Wilton Manors At the commission’s Nov. 24 meeting a has to deal with it. $300,000 contract was awarded to Sanford At Midway Specialty Care Center we are able to start almost everyone on same dayAt the next commission meeting, a based contractor Granite Inliner for repairs to ableAt toMidway start almost Specialty everyone Care Center on same we dayare PowerPoint presentation is scheduled to lift station basin five. Crews worked around Atable Midway to start Specialty almost Care everyone Center on wesame are day review infrastructure projects relating to the the clock on the project to fix breaks at PrEP,now thosenow offering with offeringand withoutnow offering insurance. PrEP, those with and without insurance.city’s master plan. Recent rains and storms Northeast Fifth Ave. & 21st Ct. and on 26th St. able toPrEP, start those almost with everyone and without on insurance.same day saturated grounds exposing leaks and breaks “We found after the major rainstorms that SAMESAME DAY SAMEDAYPrEP DAYPrEP PrEP in sewer pipes. we’ve had — we’ve had over three feet of rain PrEP, those with and without insurance. “Our natural drainage area is being in six weeks — that we have more leaks than impacted by climate change and sea-level expected,” said David Archacki, the Wilton At MidwayAt Midway Specialty CareSpecialty CenterAt Midway we Care are Specialty Center Care we Center are we are rise,” said City Manager Leigh Manors Emergency Management/ ableable to start to almost start everyone almost ableon same everyoneto start day almost on everyone same on daysame day Ann Henderson. Utilities Director. PrEP,PrEP, those with those and without with insurance.andPrEP, thosewithout with and insurance. without insurance. Southeast Florida averages SOUTHEAST FLORIDA The contract with Granite Inliner 58 inches of rainfall a year, AVERAGES 58 was about getting Wilton Manors’ said Henderson. That level INCHES OF RAINFALL drainage system “tidied up.” At was reached by early October A YEAR, SAID the request of Commissioner Mike and then another 40% of that HENDERSON. THAT Bracchi, Archacki explained the slip total was added in six weeks’ lining process where cameras and now offering time. LEVEL WAS REACHED devices are inserted into the pipes to “The end of October we BY EARLY OCTOBER get readings on gallons per minutes SAME DAY PrEP had an intense amount of AND THEN ANOTHER and to seal leaks. rain that completely saturated 40% OF THAT TOTAL “It’s the water leaking into the At Midway Specialty Care Center we are our ground just in time for WAS ADDED IN SIX sewer line and that’s what we’re Tropical Storm Eta to arrive WEEKS’ TIME. having problems with,” Mayor Scott able to start almost everyone on same day on the weekend of Nov. 7,” Newton said. “There’s not a quick fix HOWARDHOWARDPrEP, A. those A. with and without insurance.JOSEPHJOSEPH Henderson said. “Our system but with sea-level rise it needs to be GROSSMAN,GROSSMAN, MD MD TOJAR, PA-C is meant to handle a lot of rainfall, but we done.” TOJAR, PA-C were at capacity.” At the next commission meeting, HOWARDHOWARD A. A. JOSEPHHOWARD A. JOSEPHJOSEPH Middle River is six inches higher than Henderson said a consultant will explain how GROSSMAN,GROSSMAN, MD CALL CALLMDTOJARGROSSMAN, ,TODAY! PA-C TODAY! MDTOJAR , PA-CTOJAR, PA-C normal and there are more frequent extreme the city can build a “resilient system meant to weather events happening, Henderson said. withstand rising sea levels and also address CALL TODAY!CALL TODAY!CALL TODAY! The recent heavy storms created intense capacity for future growth.” 954-530-8357954-530-8357 pressure on wastewater pipes resulting in two The next commission meeting is Dec. 8. HOWARD954-530-8357954-530-8357 A. 954-530-8357JOSEPH breaks. WMG GROSSMAN,Walk-inWalk-in HIVMDHIV testing testing available. available. HOWARD A. JOSEPH Walk-inWalk-in HIV testing HIV Walk-inavailable. testing HIVTOJAR testingavailable., PA-C available. 2608 NE 16th Ave. | Wilton Manors, FL 33334 GROSSMAN, MD TOJAR, PA-C• • • www.WMGAZETTE. com • • • 26082608 NE 16th NE Ave. 16th | WiltonCALL Ave. Manors,2608 | TODAY! Wilton NE FL 16th33334 Ave. Manors, | Wilton Manors,FL 33334 FL 33334 3 • December 3, 2020 12.3.2020 • 19 HOWARD A. JOSEPH CALL TODAY! 954-530-8357GROSSMAN, MD TOJAR, PA-C Walk-in HIV testingCALL TODAY! available. 954-530-8357 954-530-8357 2608 NE 16thWalk-in Ave. HIV| Wilton testing Manors, available. FL 33334 Walk-in HIV testing available. 2608 NE 16th Ave. | Wilton Manors, FL 33334 2608 NE 16th Ave. | Wilton Manors, FL 33334 LIFESTYLE PHOTOS 95.3 FM 103.9 FM 96.9 FM 1470 AM

26TH ANNUAL SFAAA HURRICANE SHOWDOWN

From Nov. 27 to 29, Fort Lauderdale’s 26th Annual Hurricane Showdown hit the bases at Mills Park just in time for Thanksgiving Weekend. The beloved event pitted the talents of the national SFAAA softball teams against each other for three days of quality ball-clenching action. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. Live at 4 ! To see more, visit SFGN on Facebook.

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please please see see www.cdc.gov/coronavirus www.cdc.gov/coronavirus please see www.cdc.gov/coronavirus please please see see www.cdc.gov/coronavirus www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

12.3.2020 • 21 LIFESTYLE PHOTOS Don’t miss a tastE Feeling the hunger? Read SFGN’s weekly food column for an exclusive bite on local bars, restaurants, and seasonal flavors. sFGn.com/FooD

LEATHER MASKED BALLXV Despite the pandemic, masks were no problem on Nov. 27 at the Leather Masked Ball. The event was organized by Lambda Men’s Brotherhood and hosted at the Eagle Wilton Manors. DJ Daniel Kristopherre and DJ Rentboy kept the music coming. Pictured here is Cory David as Mr. Eagle (center) with Leather Masked Ball founder Ira Smith (right), posing with another mysterious guest at the event. Photo credit: J.R. Davis. To see more, visit SFGN on Facebook.

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22 • 12.3.2020 CONVICTIONS Editorial Cartoon EDITORIAL CARTOON By Mike Luckovich

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12.3.2020 • 23 CONVICTIONS Off The Wall IT WAS FORTY YEARS AGO John Lennon’s death continues to resonate with me, while his legacy will always inspire me

Pier Angelo

his month marks the 40th anniversary From the “Imagine” Specialty License of John Lennon’s death. He was gunned plate that fights to end hunger in our state, Tdown on Dec. 8, 1980. Alas, the world (the proceeds go to the Florida Association has not forgotten him. of Food Banks and the Florida Hurricane In fact, it looks as if we still can’t get enough Relief Fund), to the Monterey Aids Project of him. In today’s climate of pessimism, and Habitat for Humanity, the list goes on disillusion — division — economic — to include the Desert Aids Project, Children’s physical — emotional — spiritual brutality, Surgery International, Make a Wish, Adopt- it is difficult to grasp the optimism of the ‘60s A-Classroom and many more, too numerous and its calls for love and peace, something to mention, spanning the globe, from North that now seems painfully naive. America to South America, from Africa to John Lennon’s death marked the last time Asia. popular music really mattered. He was the Before John Lennon was a Beatle, he was an last musician that made us care, gave us artist. Music will always be remembered as hope in something better, and allowed us to his most popular form of artistic expression dream. It doesn’t even matter that his hopeful but he also loved his literature and his visual messages, like the Summer of Love, never art, studying at the Liverpool Art Institute became reality. He made us feel connected from 1957 to 1960. and united, as part of something special and Around the time the Beatles started falling A former cover of SFGN that paid exciting, more meaningful and empowering apart John Lennon began moving back to tribute to John Lennon. SFGN file photo. than today’s flimsy, superficial, divisive, his first passion. Most of his sketches are social networks. He was the first rock star spontaneous and loose, filled with laconic talking and seeing my interest he gave me shines and lifts our spirits. It shows two to use his pulpit of fame to direct people’s humor, the genius behind them is that they some background information on it. different states of mind at work, one dark attention to things other than music, and he can be simultaneously informing, amusing In the spring of 1972 John Lennon was and pessimistic and the other joyful and never uttered the words: no comment! and outraging. He drew from life and asked to contribute to an anthology called optimistic. It represents a glimpse of his Lennon’s musical, artistic and imagination where there are no boundaries. “The Gay Liberation Book” (Gay Writing and unconventional view of life, and part of his humanitarian legacies are still speaking to us Traveling exhibits prominently include the Survival In the Straight World). He submitted continuous attempts to bring down taboos in today, his commitment and dedication to the erotic sketches that in 1970 were confiscated a drawing of a naked man sitting on a cloud a world drifting away from physical love and poor, the underprivileged and the oppressed from the London Art Gallery by Scotland Yard with the following limerick: toward mass violence. is carried on through multiple charities, because deemed obscene. At the time, the “WHY” — “Why makes it so sad to be gay? As he once said, “If art were to redeem by the tireless work of his wife, Yoko Ono rebellious and always challenging Lennon, Doing your own thing is OK. Our bodies are man, it could do so only by saving him from Lennon. enjoyed the controversy and accused the our own. So leave us alone. Play with yourself the seriousness of life, and restoring him to establishment of hypocrisy since it reacted — today.“ an unexpected boyishness.” Or: “All you can to lines drawn on paper but at the same The drawing is called “He Tried To Face do is try and break down the walls and show “WHY” — “WHY MAKES time ignored the “real” pornography of the Reality,” and it is for anyone who has ever that there is nothing there but people.” Vietnam War and starvation in Africa. felt different and not able to fit into the He was a true renaissance man. IT SO SAD TO BE GAY? I pride myself in being a “connoisseur’ of mainstream life. This piece places John The gunshot that killed him might have all things John Lennon but it wasn’t until Lennon among the clouds, seated in mid-air, silenced his voice but every night, from the DOING YOUR OWN THING I met Larry Schwartz, executive producer attempting to “face his version of reality,” Reykjavík’s Imagine Peace Tower, a beam of of Legacy Fine Arts & Productions, the de- while the gravity of the world floating by light shoots 13,000 ft into the North Pole’s IS OK. OUR BODIES ARE facto curator of John Lennon Art Work, that is underscored by humor. The drawing is sky telling us that we should hold on to the OUR OWN. SO LEAVE I picked up an important bit of information I whimsical yet poetic because when we dream and imagine what it could have been. had missed all these years. are free to be who we really are, the sun US ALONE. PLAY WITH During an exhibit at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts I was struck by a lithograph Pier Angelo was born in Italy, moved to England at the age of 17 and learned YOURSELF — TODAY.“ I had not seen before, I stood in front of it for English at the Nelson School of English. He attended college and graduate school - John Lennon several minutes taking it all in. Walking away in Manhattan. In 2009 he founded SFGN with Norm Kent. Now he’s retired with his from it, going back to it, looking at it from husband Tom and his Affenpinscher Cabbage. He still enjoys writing his column Off afar. Then Larry approached me, we started The Wall for SFGN.

24 • 12.3.2020 Best of 2020 DON’T MISS THE WINNERS! READ ONLINE NOW Favorite pizza? Most talented barber? In this contest, it was up to YOU! See who our readers picked as the best of the best.

SFGN.com/BestOf2020

12.3.2020 • 25 LIFESTYLE TWO GUYS AND A DOG ARE YOU HAPPY WITHOUT THE MOVIE?

Brian McNaught

y life’s goal is to be on ‘Oprah!’” my friend told me when Ms. Winfrey still had her daytime talk “Mshow. Being on “Oprah!” guaranteed instant name recognition, and a best-selling book. I discouraged him from believing it would make him happy. The high you feel with such a “success” lasts a few days, and then you come up with a new goal, such as, “I’ll be happy if they make my life story into a movie.” Can you be happy without the movie? That’s important for us to consider. First, let’s laugh, if we must, at the seeming absurdity of the question, but then get honest about what we imagine will satisfy our ego’s need for meaning. Here’s a different question. “What’s my ‘Light,’ and do I have the courage to let it shine?”

“This little light of mine, Lord, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” — Gospel song HOW DO I NAME If we do the hard work of getting to know ourselves, name our unique manifestation IT? WHAT DO of the Divine, and claim it regardless of all circumstances, they may make a movie I NEED TO DO about us, but that’s not what will make TO CLAIM IT? us happy. Our happiness will come from knowing, before we die, that we had fully AM I UP TO THE lived to our potential. CHALLENGE, “The unexamined life is not worth living” TO THE — Socrates OPPORTUNITY, When we examine our lives, where do TO THE LOSSES IT we start? What are we looking for? We’re looking for the whispers we’ve heard since WILL REQUIRE? childhood about the makeup of our soul. process. There are stages to discernment, as well I’m at a place in my life that I can give more attention to the It’s a treasure hunt for how we’re uniquely as to confronting the losses inherent in being whispering I’ve heard since I was young. suited to manifest the Universe. We’re not looking for what’s different. Those losses can include the sudden absence of all I’ve been very drawn to working with those who are dying, not so good about us, but rather our gifts. that seemed important, from family to employment. not to make them physically well, but to ease their fear of I could die today, at 72, a man with the smile of what lies ahead, to heal the anxiety of their soul. More “I said to the almond tree, ‘Sister, speak to me of God,’ and contentment. I have not only dared to speak the name of my recently, I’ve found myself interested in the ongoing need for the almond tree blossomed.” way of loving, but I’ve done so, to the best of my ability, with intimacy of older adults. Are those both challenges that will — Nikos Kazantzakis loving kindness toward myself and others. reveal another prism of my Light? How do I name it? What But, I’m not dying, and at this very moment, I have the do I need to do to claim it? Am I up to the challenge, to the There are many metaphors for understanding the “Light.” inkling that I have at least one more song to sing, if not an opportunity, to the losses it will require? I once wrote, “When I die, I imagine that God will ask me, entire album. I’m aware that my “Light” is less like a candle I wonder if Oprah is longing for a movie about her life, or ‘Brian, did you sing the song I taught you?’” than it is a crystal chandelier. if she instead is looking for more clues to the full dimensions For most of my life, I believed that my “song” was being How so? I believe I have the power to heal. We all do, but of her Light? a gay man who celebrated his sexuality as a gift from God. Indeed, my adult life has been devoted to helping others name and claim that unique part of themselves. It took courage on my part to publicly affirm my homosexual orientation. Joseph Brian McNaught has been a leading educator on LGBTQ issues globally since 1974. He has made his Campbell described such work as “the hero’s journey.” many books and DVDs available for free at Brian-McNaught.com. The New York Times named him “The It is a journey that is ongoing, rather than a one-step Godfather of gay diversity training.”

26 • 12.3.2020 Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights begins on Thursday, December DUE TO COVID-19, CLERGY ASK THAT YOU STAY 10th at sundown. If any year warranted additional light, this is the SAFE AT HOME. PLEASE WATCH SERVICES ON one! We will be lighting our candles online every night at 6:30pm. The custom is to light your candles & place them in a FACEBOOK AND/OR ONLINE. FIND DETAILS ON window, lighting up your home, your spirit, and all who witness HOW TO WATCH ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGES your light. Join us, and add to the light!! AND WEBSITES. THANK YOU AND BE WELL! Shabbat service Friday 8pm on our Facebook Page Congregation Etz Chaim 2038 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, on the Pride Center campus www.EtzChaimFlorida.org / RSVP HERE: [email protected]

Church of Our Savior, MCC Join us for masked, socially distanced in person worship. 11 AM Sundays. Services also LIVE-streamed on Facebook 2011 s. Federal Hwy., and posted on website for safe at home viewing. Boynton Beach, FL 561-733-4000 “Love without judgement” www,churchofoursaviormcc.org Holy Angels

Until further notice: Due to the National Catholic Church 1436 NE 26th Street SPIRITUALITY current COVID-19 pandemic, our Wilton Manors. 33305 worship services are streamed on Facebook.com/HolyAngelsFL Facebook Live every Sunday at www.HolyAngelsFL.org 10 AM, rather than held at our church property. 954-633-2987 https://www.facebook.com/ SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM ChurchofOurSaviorMCC. Visit our A home for your spirit. web site for more details & updates. Mass Schedule: Sabado 6:00 PM misa en español • TEMPLE BATYAM LGBTQ.qxp_Layout 1 6/19/20 9:32Sunday PM Mass Page at 11 1 AM in English • All are welcome!

A warm and welcoming Reform congregation dedicated to LISTINGS exploring and embracing Jewish heritage from a liberal perspective.

We stand with our LGBTQ brothers and sisters in celebrating the Supreme Court ruling protecting gay and transgender people from workplace discrimination. CONGREGATION CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, “When all Americans are treated as equal, ETZ CHAIM MCC 2038 N. Dixie Hwy (Pride Center Building Church of Our Savior, MCC no matter who they are or whom they love B), Wilton Manors 2011 S. Federal Hwy. Boynton Beach. we are all more free” 954-564-9232 - etzchaimflorida.org churchofoursaviormcc.org | 561-733-4000 [email protected] Sunday Service 10AM - Barack Obama Friday Night Shabbat Service 8p.m. TEMPLE BAT YAM HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC 5151 NE 14th Ter Art by Freepik COMMUNITY Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 2917 NE 6th Avenue 954-928-0410 Friday night and Saturday morning streaming Wilton Manors Friday Night & Saturday Morning services available at Templebatyam.org 954-633-2987 - HolyAngelsFL.net Streaming Online at templebatyam.org 5151 NE 14th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 Sunday Mass at 11AM 954.928.0410 | [email protected]

12.3.2020 • 27 LIFESTYLE FOOD IT’S DE-LIGHTFUL, IT’S DE-LOVELY, IT’S DE LUXE Rick Karlin Luxe Restaurant at the Casino at Dania Beach. Credit: Pierson Grant Public Relations.

ike most businesses, the hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. Standard restaurants have been Lable to adapt with reduced capacity dining and increasing delivery and take-out service.

However, buffet service restaurants have Luxe now offers a pre-set three-course been especially hard hit. Some, such as the meal for $19.95 served only on weekends. popular Nabu have closed Holiday offerings are also permanently, a casualty of available at a slightly higher the pandemic. You’d think ONE LOCAL price. The weekly menu offers a the corporate chains would choice of appetizer, entrée, and have some immunity, many SPOT, LUXE dessert. have converted to take-out or On the night of our visit, my cafeteria service. BUFFET IN THE husband and I sampled the Garden Fresh Restaurants, CASINO AT menu in its entirety, as we split parent company of the salad the two options for each course. bar concepts Souplantation DANIA BEACH I began with a wedge salad with and Sweet Tomatoes, opted HAS TAKEN A creamy bleu cheese dressing not to reopen at all and filed for and chopped bacon. It was quite bankruptcy. MORE CREATIVE a healthy portion, easily enough One local spot, Luxe buffet APPROACH. for two to share. My hubby in the Casino at Dania Beach thoroughly enjoyed his trio of ones we were served are what I like to Service is masked and the staff wears has taken a more creative miniature crab cakes. call bait-sized), even if it meant a lesser gloves. Tables are spaced a healthy distance approach; it has been re-imagining as a prix After a bit of a pause between courses, I quantity. However, the kitchen managed apart, but not so much that you feel as if fixe dining room, offering a limited menu for thought our server forgot about us. Then she to cook the tiny crustaceans perfectly, not you are dining in the middle of an ocean. a bargain price. appeared with what I thought was dessert. I an easy feat. Although not included in the If I had one complaint, it would be informed her that we hadn’t had our entrées prix fixe, a variety of wines are available. a lack of vegetarian entrées. However, yet and she surprised me by announcing The sauvignon blanc I enjoyed with my when looking at the weekly menu on-line that this course was a palate cleanser. I’ve appetizer was excellent. I noticed that a third, vegetarian entrée had palate cleansers served between courses Desserts offered just enough to satisfy option has been added. before, but this was a nice surprise, as it without overwhelming. The menu listed a On the night of our visit there were wasn’t listed on the menu, and the portion of passionfruit cheesecake, which our waiter about a dozen or so tables occupied. I sorbet served was large enough to sub for a informed us was not available. A strawberry hope that as word of the bargain meal dessert. cheesecake square was a fine substitute. spreads, that bookings increase. This The entrées rely heavily on starches, with Chocolate layer cake was a bit dry, but the kind of innovative reinvention of a the protein acting more as an accompaniment, dark chocolate curls and creamy ganache dining experience should be encouraged. not a surprise given the lower price-point of more than made up for that slight drawback. the meal. My beef stroganoff over linguini was rich and flavorful with tender slices of beef and mushrooms coating the perfectly al HUNGRY FOR MORE?  VISIT SFGN.COM/FOOD! dente pasta. My husband’s shrimp and grits provided plenty of tiny shrimp in a flavorful sauce Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor. An exterior shot of the Casino at Dania Beach. over perfectly prepared, creamy, grits. We Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to Credit: Pierson Grant Public Relations. would have preferred larger shrimp (the share? Email Rick at [email protected].

28 • 12.3.2020 How do you speak to the LGBT community?

Through the publications they know and trust.

Representing the “best of the best” in LGBT media, with over a million readers weekly in print and online. 212-242-6863 [email protected] www.nationallgbtmediaassociation.com

12.3.2020 • 29 A&E FILM ‘HOLIGAY’ MOVIES LGBT ALLY FRAN DRESCHER PLAYS MATCHMAKER FOR HER GAY SON IN ‘THE CHRISTMAS SETUP’

David-Elijah Nahmod

nce again holiday movies will abound on your TV screens for the Christmas season, but this year there’s Oa bit of a queer twist to the festivities.

For the first time that we are aware of there many other holiday films that Lifetime are holiday films made especially for LGBT has produced over the years. It’s sweet and families, and they are turning up in the most wholesome, a little sappy, but ultimately unexpected places. uplifting and enjoyable. Lewis and Lee have On Dec. 12 Lifetime TV will premiere The amazing onscreen chemistry, no surprise since Christmas Setup, a holiday love story featuring they are a couple. two gay men as lead characters. Drescher, best known as The Nanny in In a romantic twist, the happy couple will be the classic sitcom, is always fun to watch. played by Ben Lewis and Blake Lee, a gay couple She steals every scene she’s in, here playing a who are married in real life. Among Lewis’ variation of her famous screen persona. The many small screen roles are as William Clayton actress has a long history of supporting LGBT on the CW’s superhero series “Arrow,” while equality. Around ten years ago she starred in Lee attracted some attention for his recurring “Happily Divorced,” a two-season sitcom in Ben Lewis and Blake Lee in “The Christmas Setup.” Photo courtesy of Lifetime. role on “Parks and Recreation.” which she played a woman whose roommate In “The Christmas Setup” Lewis plays Hugo, just happened to be her gay ex-husband. That an attorney in New York who goes home to show was taken from a slice of Drescher’s own “I play the mother of a gay son and it’s as easy According to Lewis, he and Lee were shocked Milwaukee for Christmas with his best friend life. She created Happily Divorced with Peter to accept him as a child with brown eyes,” she to find themselves in Lifetime’s first holiday Madelyn (Ellen Wong). Hugo’s mom, the Marc Jacobson, her real-life ex-husband, an out said. movie with a lead LGBT storyline. bubbly Kate (Fran Drescher) is in charge of the gay man. The actress hopes that the example she “We feel very lucky to be representing our neighborhood Christmas celebrations. She’s “This is a movie that is a holiday rom-com sets in the film will serve as an inspiration community in that way,” he said. “Certainly also a matchmaker, and when Hugo crosses that is around a same-sex couple,” Drescher for Lifetime’s core viewership. The network’s it doesn’t represent the full spectrum of the paths with Patrick (Lee), his old high school said of “The Christmas Setup” in a telephone programming is geared towards straight community, but we hope that it’s a good and crush, Kate does all she can to bring the two interview. “I feel as someone who’s always been women and their families, some of whom frankly overdue first step.” guys together. forthright on behalf of gay civil liberties that it’s might be surprised to see a film like “The Lewis also spoke of what it was like to act in But then Hugo is offered a huge promotion a great thing. It’s important that we continue to Christmas Setup” on the Lifetime holiday romantic scenes with his own husband. which would require him to move to London. normalize this as part of mainstream culture.” schedule. Drescher has a message for anyone “In a 10 year relationship there are not a lot As Hugo and Patrick begin to fall in love, Hugo Drescher pointed out that the filmmakers who might take issue with the film. of firsts,” he said. “But to be acting opposite must decide whether or not to take a once in a created a beautiful world for the characters to “Many of you might have a gay child living in each other for the first time ever was really lifetime job opportunity or to follow his heart. inhabit and said that “The Christmas Setup” is your home right now,” she said. “If you persist interesting because we’re so comfortable with “The Christmas Setup” is not unlike the a “feel good film.” in alienating them and making them feel like each other. To try and remember what it feels the odd man out or afraid to come out and be like at the beginning of a relationship, when their authentic self, you’re doing them a grave the initial sparks are flying, all the nerves and According to Lewis, he and Lee were shocked to disservice. And you’re doing yourself one too. the self-consciousness that goes along with You’re here to be accepting and loving, and that, that was really an interesting and fun and find themselves in Lifetime’s first holiday movie with a everyone deserves to live an authentic life. It’s romantic time to revisit. It was a really great not your responsibility to stand in judgement experience.” of them. Because if you stand in judgement of The actor admits that he and Lee were a bit LEAD LGBT STORYLINE. anyone, you’ve missed the point of why you’re nervous going into the project, and that they here.” had some fleeting moments of tension during

30 • 12.3.2020 A&E ENTERTAINMENT the shooting, but they worked through those year. Abby thinks that Harper is “the one” and feelings fairly quickly. buys her a wedding ring. Lewis added that once it was announced When Harper invites Abby to spend that they were doing the film the reaction was Christmas with her family, Abby agrees, only overwhelmingly positive. Neither of them to find out a little too late that Harper isn’t out were familiar with made-for-TV holiday films, to her conservative parents. Abby agrees to he noted. pretend that they’re just friends for the next “You don’t really realize how many people five days. watch these movies and love these movies Harper comes from a very dysfunctional until it’s announced that you’re doing one,” he family. Her parents (Mary Steenburgen, Victor said. “Then all of a sudden everyone you know Garber) have spent their lives worrying about NEEL AMIN, MD TOM MACEK, MD is coming out of the woodwork and saying how what the neighbors will think, while their other Board Certifi ed in: Board Certifi ed in: ANESTHESIOLOGY ANESTHESIOLOGY excited they are about it, so that’s been really two daughters try a little too hard to live up to PAIN MANAGEMENT PAIN MANAGEMENT gratifying. I’ve seen a couple of negative tweets Mom and Dad’s ridiculously high expectations. here and there. There’s always going to be that Abby, meanwhile, is beginning to rethink Oakland ark lvd, Suite contingent of trolls in anything that you do. her relationship with Harper after Harper We’re definitely focusing on the positive, and reconnects with an old boyfriend, and an old Oakland ark, F the positive has really been overwhelming.” girlfriend. As her parent’s Christmas party Being on the set of the film was also a positive approaches, Harper goes deeper and deeper D. A and D. M are double board certifi ed in A experience for the couple. It was the first set he into the closet and Abby feels increasingly left P M by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Both was on where the majority of the key players out. physicians are fellowship trained in Pain Medicine at the University were either members of the LGBT community A far more serious film than “The Christmas of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, the birthplace and leading or fierce allies. Pat Mills, the film’s director, is Setup,” “Happiest Season” is nonetheless an program of modern pain management in the United States. gay, as is writer Michael J. Murray. Lewis spoke enjoyable holiday story. Stewart and Davis very highly of Drescher. are both superb as two young women who TREATMENT FOR: “I think the LGBTQ community is truly genuinely love each other, but who may or ▶ BACK PAIN • NECK PAIN close to her heart and a part of her soul,” he may not be able to overcome the obstacles ▶ JOINT DISEASE • HIV NEUROPATHY said. “She and I share a birthday which we now standing in their way. Steenburgen is ▶ HEADACHES • SHINGLES celebrated together on set. You know how especially good as the mom who seems to be ▶ CANCER PAIN everyone has that one celebrity that you share a more interested in putting her kids on display PROCEDURES OFFERED: birthday with? They’re your celebrity birthday than she is in accepting them for who they are. ▶ STEM CELL THERAPY twin, well Fran has always been that for me. Although it deals with the very serious ▶ PLASMA RICH PROTEIN THERAPY So when I heard there was a possibility of her themes of coming out to one’s less than ▶ EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS playing my mom I thought, this is too good to accepting family and being true to oneself, ▶ JOINT INJECTIONS be true. I knew we were going to be shooting “Happiest Season” is not a downbeat film. It ▶ SPINAL CORD STIMULATION on my birthday, and so I couldn’t believe how has quite a few lighthearted moments and is ▶ PHYSICAL & MASSAGE THERAPY ▶ BACK BRACES lucky I was to be celebrating my birthday on cast to perfection with a group of actors who ▶ RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION set, in a pandemic, with Fran Drescher and my play off each other beautifully. It’s a film about husband. It was beyond surreal, it was such a learning lessons. Abby must learn to give MEDICARE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE ACCEPTED gift.” Harper another chance, Harper must learn to Lewis said that all possible precautions were fully and proudly accept herself for who she T: 954.678.1074 | F: 954.938.2127 taken during filming to keep everyone safe is, while her parents learn the true meaning of amid the pandemic. Cast and crew were tested embracing one’s family during the holidays. It’s WWW.AMERICANPAINEXPERTS.COM three times a week, and everyone’s temperature a lovely film, one that might stay with viewers was taken daily when they showed up for after the final fadeout. work. A checklist of potential symptoms were Happy Holidays! crossed off each day to make sure that no one was experiencing any of them, and the crew wore masks whenever they were on set. And now that the film is complete, both Lewis and Drescher couldn’t be happier with the results. “It has no angst to it,” Drescher said of the film. “No negativity. It’s just joyful and loving and in the true spirit of the holiday, there’s absolutely no downside. I just hope that more and more people in creative positions continue to present the diversity that is the human experience.” Full Charge Bookkeeping Services Also worth checking out is “Happiest Season,” a lesbian holiday film now streaming on Hulu. Directed by lesbian actress/ filmmaker Clea DuVall, the film stars bisexual actress Kristen Stewart. “Happiest Season” is a charming fable about Abby and Harper (Stewart, Mackenzie Davis), a lesbian couple in Pittsburgh who have been together for about a “Happiest Season.” Photo credit: Hulu.

12.3.2020 • 31 A&E FILM YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US... OUTSHINE BUILDS ON BUT WE MIGHT BE SUCCESS OF FIRST CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. VIRTUAL FESTIVAL

J.W. Arnold

he OUTshine Miami LGBTQ+ Film Festival responded to the COVID-19 PINEAPPLE POINT Tpandemic last August with a virtual alternative, streaming dozens of films online GUEST HOUSE and turning to Zoom to stage post-screening 315 NE 16 Terrace Q&A sessions with filmmakers, actors and Fort Lauderdale writers. The biannual festival returns Dec. 3 — 6 with its Fort Lauderdale edition and organizers say they learned a lot on the first attempt taking OUTshine online. According to Executive Director Victor Gimenez, the virtual festival was a financial The cast of “BearCity” will reunite for a virtual 10th success because film fans across the state anniversary celebration during the OUTshine Fort purchased tickets to screen films from the Lauderdale LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Dec. 3 — 6. convenience and safety of their homes. Credit: BearCity Limits. POMPERDALE “We definitely expanded our audience. DELI We did very well in terms of ticket sales,” “Modern Family,” “Dallas Buyers Club”) as Gimenez said, “especially because there was Troy, a father who tries to liberate his young 3055 E Commercial Blvd no competition between films scheduled transgender son by taking him to Canada, but Fort Lauderdale at the same time. There was no ‘Sophie’s as a frustrated female detective spearheads Choice.’” an investigation, she discovers that the Organizers will be applying lessons child’s family situation is more complicated learned from their first virtual festival: All than originally believed. films will be available throughout the entire Gimenez said another highlight in this weekend, rather than attempting to stage year’s line-up will be a free community staggered openings. Post-screening panels screening on Saturday, Dec. 5 celebrating the and filmmaker events will also be shorter 10th anniversary of “BearCity,” the hilarious and more focused. comedy about a group of friends laughing, “It was definitely a challenge to engage the loving and sex-ing in New York City. A audience [on Zoom],” Gimenez noted. ticketed virtual cast reunion and interactive BOB’S Not all films will be enjoyed on a small Q&A will follow the film. NEWS screen laptop or television. In keeping Other highlights from the 21 features, with social distancing guidelines, the Fort documentaries and shorts include the U.S. 1515 S. Andrews Ave Lauderdale festival will include a live, premiere of the Nigerian romantic drama Fort Lauderdale. opening night drive-in event featuring the “Walking with Shadows,” the award-winning critically-acclaimed drama “Cowboys” on Vietnamese comedy-drama “Goodbye Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Pier 66 Marina, 2301 Mother” (“Thưa mẹ con đi”), German drama SE 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale. “No Hard Feelings” and American thriller Awarded outstanding performance “Through A Glass Darkly.” at Outfest LGBT Film Festival and best A virtual closing awards ceremony will screenplay at the TriBeCa Film Festival, conclude the festival on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 “Cowboys” stars Steve Zahn (“Treme,” p.m. via Zoom.

straight facts, gay news. Tickets for the 12th annual OUTshine Fort Lauderdale LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Dec. 3 — 6, are on sale at OUTshineFilm.com. Prices for individual films are $7.50 each and packages range from $37.50 — $100. sfgn is also available in the lake worth, boynton Opening night drive-in tickets are $40 per vehicle. OUTshine members and annual passholders receive beach, and delray tri-rail stations. discounts on all packages.

32 • 12.3.2020 SFGN AVAILABLE AT ALL THESE BUSINESSES! TO GET YOUR PICK UP LOCATION LISTED, CALL 954.530.4970 SFGN's BUSINESS CARDBUZZ

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34 • 12.3.2020 12.3.2020 • 35 Together, we offer an affordable Medicare Advantage plan with the doctors you trust

Oscar + Holy Cross Health + Memorial Healthcare System offer:

$0 monthly premiums

$0 medical and prescription deductibles

$0 primary care visit copays

$0 specialist visit copays

$0 unlimited rides for visits to the doctor or pharmacy

You’ll get up to $2,700 in additional benefits each year, including dental, vision, hearing and an over-the-counter allowance. This is the Medicare Advantage plan you’ve earned.

Call 1-954-793-4660 (TTY:711) or visit hioscar.com/medicare/broward to enroll today.

Oscar is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Oscar depends on contract renewal. Other providers are available in our network. H5126_H7322_H8961_MKTSEP20025S_M