WWW.WIREWEEKLY.COM DISTRIBUTED EVERY THURSDAY IN MIAMI, THE BEACHES, AND FORT LAUDERDALE • THE LONGEST-RUNNING WEEKLY ON SOUTH BEACH LIKE US ON FACEBOOK VISIT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/WIREMAGAZINE ISSUE #49 | 12/08/11 2 | wire magazine | follow wire on facebook & twitter: visit www.wireweekly.com & click on the icons EXCEPTIONAL. BECAUSE WE’RE MADE THIS WAY. hand-harvested, handcrafted and estate bottled since 1870. HERRADURA® TEQUILA. NEVER COMPROMISE.TM ENJOY WITH UNCOMPROMISED RESPONSIBILITY. Alc. 40% by Vol. (80 proof). Tequila imported by Brown-Forman, Louisville, KY ©2011 3 | wire magazine | follow wire on facebook & twitter: visit www.wireweekly.com & click on the icons ALL WIRED UP BY THOMAS BARKER THE STIGMA OF HIV Growing up in a small, very religious religious zealots, who did everything in their power to scare tile. Some only failed to use protection one time, while oth- town outside of Pensacola, Florida, I the be-Jesus out of me – and for a while, it worked! ers never used protection at all. I’ve heard stories of people had the privilege of being reminded that contracting the virus from their longtime partners, while others homosexuality is a sin that even God Of course over the years I have written a countless amount got HIV from a complete stranger. can’t forgive. As a teenager, I was also of articles on HIV, raised funds for a number of HIV service taught that God’s way of punishing ho- organizations, and spent a lot of time researching the virus. The point is that most of the stories and experiences I heard mosexuals was by giving them the “gay The conclusion I eventually came to and still believe is that from each of these people were that they could have easily cancer”, also known as HIV/AIDS. Ac- HIV is certainly not “gay cancer” or God’s way of punishing saved themselves had they only reached over and grabbed cording to my pastor, family, classmates, us for just being who we are. a condom. and teachers, HIV/AIDS was not a universal problem; it was just a gay issue. However, that does not mean that HIV is not a serious epi- In this week’s issue, we have dedicated our cover story to demic for our community. In fact, it is quite the opposite. In someone who works on a daily basis as an HIV/AIDS ad- As I came to terms with my sexuality and worked my way terms of new infections, men who have sex with men are vocate, changing the stigma of HIV around the world and through all the inner homophobia, there was always one most at risk. Among men diagnosed with HIV in 2009, 74 raising funds for HIV research. Model, actor, reality star, and thought weighing heavily on my mind: “If I accept myself as percent were attributed to men who have sex with men. Project Runway contestant Jack Mackenroth made a gay man, I must also accept that I will inevitably become his way into the hearts and homes of the American people when he first appeared on Season 4 of Project Runway as an HIV positive.” So if HIV is not a gay disease, what is the problem? openly gay HIV positive man. The idea had been so engrained that I actually thought all This is a question I use to ask myself when I first came out and His gorgeous smile, paired with his beautiful personality gay men must have HIV, which made the ability to accept my was dealing with my sexuality. Over the years, I have met a changed the way people viewed gay men living with HIV sexuality incredibly conflicting. One side of me knew who I number of people who are HIV positive and live incredible and continues to do so on a minute-by-minute basis. I got was; yet, another was telling me that I would be asking for a lives, accomplishing more than they could have ever imag- the opportunity to meet Jack over White Party Weekend death sentence. ined. and was so inspired by his work that we decided to focus on Jack, the incredible work that he does, and the HIV/AIDS Eventually I was smart enough to see through all of the smoke Being the inquisitive little writer that I am, I generally pose the epidemic at hand. and mirrors, accepted my sexuality, and at the age of 18 same question to them as well, and the answer has always moved to Miami to live out and proud. been relatively the same: I hope you will take a moment to read Jack’s story and see how HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence. On the contrary, his It definitely did not take too long for me to realize that ev- Most people that I have spoken with who are HIV positive story reminds us all that living with HIV has nothing to do erything I had been taught about the gay lifestyle and HIV say that they contracted the virus by simply not using protec- with a person’s worth, intelligence, and, as you will see in as a child was based on nothing more than fear mongering tion. Some were bottoms, some were tops, and some, versa- the pictures, beauty. COVER MODEL: JACK MACKENROTH WIRE STAFF PHOTO BY: CEO/PUBLISHER: CARSTEN FLECK rafa carvajal EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PUBLISHER: thomas barker DESIGN DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION: jose gonzalez/true ink designs l.l.c. COLUMNISTS/WRITERS/STAFF: alfredo barrios james cubby dr. gregg a pizzi michael sasser jesse spencer PHOTOGRAPHERS: henry perez | [email protected] jr davis | [email protected] juan saco mironoff | miami-gay-blog.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP: rivendell media | 212-242-6863 WIRE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED, PRODUCED AND OWNED BY WIRE MEDIA GROUP L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED t: 305.520.WIRE | f: 786.272.0123 | e: [email protected] 1541 Brickell Avenue #B2004 • Miami, FL 33129 4 | wire magazine | follow wire on facebook & twitter: visit www.wireweekly.com & click on the icons 5 | wire magazine | follow wire on facebook & twitter: visit www.wireweekly.com & click on the icons PUBLISHER'S CORNER PUBLISHERS’ CORNER BY RAFA CARVAJAL WOW!WOW! IT’ SHES WASBEE AMAZING!N A YEAR? JOIN WIRE MAGAZINE AT THE OFFICIAL PRIDE POOL PARTY I have been lucky enough to live a ing with the orchestra director and her pal on the piano. ments and support currently available for people living very rich life Thisbecause weekof the edu - andIdina waslast so atweek ease during have her performance probably that she with eventsHIV. This week and we follow parties up on that feature taking with a place before and after Saturday’s our pool party VIP ticket holders. Thanks for purchasing all cational, professional, and social actually was barefoot under her beautiful evening gown. cover story on Jack Mackenroth, an HIV/AIDS advo- life opportunities that my life has cate, fashion designer, reality TV star, and model who afforded me sobeen far. For thethat I ambusiest Wow! How weeks refreshing everit was to seefor such Thomas a talented per- has managedparade, to live a veryExpo, productive and and successful day life of fabulous live entertainment. That’s the VIP tickets we had available (VIP is SOLD OUT). The very grateful. Because I have been former and singer be so down to earth and so engaging. while being HIV positive. Jack is certainly an inspiration so fortunate, I also often times think Idina sure made us feel right at home. Thanks to Idina for many and proof that things have come a long way that I have, for andthe most part,I workingseen it Menzel, Saturdayon W nightire was a Mwonderfulagazine night of arts . sincewhy HIV/AIDS we first appearedare including 30 years ago to take a mil-comprehensive Pride Guide that you Hotel Victor pool deck will be a great place for our VIP ticket all in my life and am rarely wowed and entertainment in the middle of a very hectic Art Ba- lions of lives around the world. or surprised. ThenWhy? once in a while, For sel weekend.a couple On behalf of ofWire Magazinevery Igood want to can use as your map of what to participate in, with the days holders to hang out from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and view the one or two instances come along to wish Idina much continued success and a very long and I strongly encourage you to read Jack’s story, but I also prove me wrong. brilliant career! want to encourage everyone in the GLBT and straight reasons: We have been working communitiesand nottimes to have unprotectedto be sex.there. HIV is a seri- Pride Parade from above. I interviewed Idina Menzel in last week’s issue and On Tuesday night, I went to the opening night of Shrek ous virus that can certainly kill you. Yes, you can now suggested that her concert was a must see. I wonder how The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning Dream- live with it as Jack can testify; however, the physical and Works many of you read the interview andvery thought to yourselveshard on producingfilm that has entertained our millions second worldwide. financial cost of managing the disease is very real. Stop This Broadway show is a lot of fun and has some that yet another performer was coming to town that you and think. How would your life change if you contracted may or may not go see. If you didn’t attend Idina’s con- amazing costumes and makeup. Shrek also features a ever Prideterrific C ollector’sscore of 19 all-new songs Eanddition lots of great dancof- HIV?We How would also you pay wantfor your medical to careextend if you a warm Wire invitation and To join us for the pool party after the VIP Parade viewing, cert, you definitely missed a phenomenal show by an in- lost your job and your health insurance and still needed credibly talented artist.