local name global coverage September 27, 2017 vol. 8 // issue 39 south florida gay news ANOTHER STRYKE NOTORIOUS GAY SOUTH FLORIDIAN GEEK GOES VIRAL FOR DISNEY LIKENESSES PAGE 3 BISEXUAL ACTIVIST TALKS GENDER, COMPASS HOSTS ANNUAL WHITE SEXUAL IDENTITY AT FAU PARTY SATURDAY AT Penny’s PAGE 12 PAGE 8 SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS SOFLAGAYNEWS SFGN.COM NEWS highlight SouthFloridaGayNews.com American Airlines Arena. Photo courtesy of NCLR, nclrights.org. September 27, 2017 • Volume 8 • Issue 39 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943 Publisher • Norm Kent [email protected] Chief Executive Officer • Pier Angelo Guidugli Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley [email protected] Editorial Art Director • Brendon Lies [email protected] Digital Content Director • Brittany Ferrendi [email protected] Associate Editor • Jillian Melero A CELEBRATION OF 40 YEARS OF [email protected] Copyeditor • Kerri Covington Arts/Entertainment Editor • JW Arnold [email protected] Social Media Manager • Tucker Berardi [email protected] JUSTICE IN MIAMI Food/Travel Editor • Rick Karlin Gazette News Editor • Michael d'Oliveira Lynare Robbins HIV Editor • Sean McShee Senior Photographer • J.R. Davis [email protected] he National Center for Lesbian Rights special guest, tennis star, activist and author, cases in Florida. We have also worked behind Senior Features Correspondents (NCLR) celebrated its 40th birthday Martina Navratilova to the stage. Navratilova the scenes with attorneys and advocates on Jesse Monteagudo • Tony Adams Tin Miami last Saturday with its “Taste delivered an inspiring address, stating that a whole range of issues in Florida that have Correspondents of Justice” event. NCLR is a national legal the first call she made after the devastating improved the lives of LGBTQ residents,” Dori Zinn • Richard • Donald Cavanaugh • organization headquartered in San Francisco 2016 presidential election was to Executive Kendell said. Christiana Lilly • Denise Royal • Sean McShee • committed to advancing the civil and human Director of NCLR, Kate Kendell asking, “What When asked how the mission and the goals David-Elijah Nahmod rights of LGBT people and their families do we do now?” Navratilova reminded the of NCLR have changed since 1977, Kendell Contributing Columnists Brian McNaught • Dana Rudolph • Ric Reily • through litigation, legislation, policy, and lively crowd: “It is so great that we are here answered, “The issues have evolved as we Terri Schlichenmeyer public education. supporting. We have to work for change daily have gained both rights and visibility, but our A member of both NCLR’s National for 2018 and 2020 and make sure everyone central ethos remains that we will not leave Associate Photographers Carina Mask • Pompano Bill • Steven Shires Leadership Council and National Family Law is registered to vote and that they vote.” anyone behind and will always be there to Advisory Council, local attorney and author Navratilova also reminded the audience that defend those who do not have resources to Sales & Marketing Director of Sales & Marketing • Mike Trottier Elizabeth Schwartz stated at the beginning “patriotism can include critique.” defend themselves.” [email protected] of the program, “Working with NCLR over When Kendell, took the mic, her energy According to Kendell, the pressing goals Sales Manager • Justin Wyse the years, on cases including challenging was contagious. “Fighting for justice is day-in that the LGBTQ community is faced with [email protected] Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann the bans against LGBTQ people marrying, and day-out work,” stated Kendell. According today are transgender advocacy, protecting [email protected] adopting and getting birth certificates issued to Kendell, Miami is an important city for immigrants and assuring that the gains that Sales Assistant / Classifieds • Tim Higgins fairly, has been the great privilege of my the work being done by NCLR as they have the LGBTQ community has made is not [email protected] career. But it’s the less celebrated cases, the been involved with working in Florida, and eroded. Distribution Services • Rocky Bowell critical help under the radar their stellar specifically Miami for over 30 years. “We've The Miami NCLR Taste of Justice event had legal team has provided to many for decades, worked with dozens of attorneys, partnered a goal of raising $40,000 to mark 40 years of National Advertising that has made the biggest impact. To see with a number of Florida organizations NCLR’s groundbreaking advocacy. By the Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 such a strong turnout to celebrate NCLR’s and advocated for thousands of LGBTQ end of the evening they had raised $54,000 [email protected] work, especially in the wake of Irma, is truly Floridians. Miami is one of my favorite and that NCLR says will help continue the Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping MEMBER gratifying. NCLR has always had Florida’s one of our most important cities.” organization’s fight for equality, both here in Printing by Sun Coast Press back and it’s great to know Florida has Kendell elaborated that NCLR has been Florida and around the country. To join the NCLR’s back.” involved with more litigated cases in Florida Florida effort to support NCLR, please visit Ruth McFarlane’s Director of Development than any other state. www.nclrights.org/give/event/nclr-miami- & Community Engagement, addressed the “From the beginning of my 23-years with taste-of-justice. SFGN WINNER of crowd by stating, “I love coming to Miami. NCLR, first as Legal Director and then as & 3 FLORIDA PRESS CLUB Awards This is where I came out and Miami is where Executive Director, we have beenMEMBER involved For a longer version of this story please visit SFGN.com. And runner-up for I got engaged.” McFarlane then introduced as direct counsel or co-counsel in dozens of NLGJA Journalist of the Year Cover: J Stryker as Flynn Rider from "Tangled." Photo courtesy of J Stryker. South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not OUR OTHER PUBLICATIONS represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names Get yours, on racks now! MEMBER or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN 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, Associated Press reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. Copyright © 2017 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc. MEMBER 2 • 9.27.2017 NEWS local Gay SOFLA COSPLayER BRINGS DISNEY CHARACTERS TO LIFE Brittany Ferrendi Stryker is at it again. Jonathan Stryker — who runs the J Stryker J only LGBT-focused anime and geek as Disney's conventions in Florida, OUT Con and Okama Tarzan. Con — has taken to Instagram to do special Courtesy of J Stryker. cosplay weeks. Each week, Stryker cosplays as a different character every day. The themes range from Disney princes, to villains, to Cartoon Network characters and more. “Disney week jump-started as one of many ideas I had after I came back from a road trip,” he told SFGN. “I wanted to try a new approach at cosplay so I started with a hero week that was super well received on social media, and then Disney week blew up and is now everywhere worldwide.” For Disney prince week, Stryker cosplayed as fan favorites like Tarzan, Flynn Ryder, Hercules, Emperor Kuzco, Aladdin, Milo Thatch and even Simba. “It was just my attempt at trying something a little fabric store in Hialeah called Elias new and so far super well received. I've [Fabrics] that has some very nice fabrics for always wanted to be a prince," he said, very cheap. If not I'll just thrift some pieces. laughing. The Flynn [Ryder] vest was free-99. I made Stryker puts all of his costumes together everything from a chair cover. So yeah, as fast as possible to get them out on time, some can take some money but others I use even at the cost of his health. whatever I have at home to make.” “When I commit to something, I make And for these special cosplay-themed sure I use every minute of time off I have to weeks, Stryker has no intention of stopping make them. Sometimes I forget to eat and anytime soon. In fact, he already has his next slave away all day trying to finish and shoot few weeks planned. the costume on time.” “As far as doing genderbend princesses, But the results — though made under a it'll definitely happen, just not anytime short amount of time — are worth it. Each soon. I'm in the middle of Cartoon Network of Stryker’s photos gets thousands of likes on Week and will get busy on working on a Instagram. horror movies week and Johnny Depp week Plus, you can’t beat the price. after that for October since Halloween is “It's not that expensive,” he said. “I go to coming up.” 9.27.2017 • 3 NEWS online DON'T MISS THE ACTION ONLINE Broadway Actor Shares His Photo: Instagram / @andymientus Bi Coming-of-Age Experience Coalition Urges Senators to Reject Latest Trumpcare Bill Colo. Landlord Sentenced to Prison for Photo courtesy of the Using Tenants' Home as Gay Hookup Spot Colorado Police.