in this week’s ‘extra’ Nile Rodgers, the man behind ‘I’m Coming Out’ press and ‘We Are Family,’ brings e his ‘Disco Inferno’ to town. south florida PAGE 26 ALL THE NEWS FOR YOUR LIFE. AND YOUR STYLE. www.expressgaynews.com FEBRUARY 27, 2004 FOUR MORE YEARS: Wilton Manors’ MARRIAGE TERMINATOR?: Arnold GOT MARY? Activists are taking aim Sherritt up for re-election. Page 6 moves to squash S.F. mayor. Page 9 at the veep’s lesbian daughter. Page 23 Some steamy action heats up the screen in ‘Gypsy 83,’ one of the titles fea- tured in the Fun Under the Sun film festival, which is to be come an annual part of the event. Basking in the fun President Bush on Tuesday called on Congress to promptly pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage so that the states could ratify it. It would take two-thirds of the members of both houses in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states before a gay marriage ban would become part of the Constitution. (Photo by Susan Walsh/AP) Ft. Lauderdale’s Fun Under the Sun to draw Winter Party revelers By MARY DAMIANO Bush faces backlash Richard Fasenmyer had a dream to create an event that would shine a spotlight on Fort Lauderdale and promote the many gay and gay-friendly businesses in the community. A successful businessman and philanthropist, he formed the Gay Business Alliance nearly two years ago, and the group over marriage ban began to make a blueprint for the event that would be called Fun Under the Sun. By LOU CHIBBARO JR. “Today, the president of the were expected to raise sharp When Fasenmyer died unexpectedly in December 2002, the United States, solely for political objections to the president’s event lost his vision, and his financial support, but the mem- WASHINGTON — Gay civil gain, called upon Congress to action, gay Republican leaders bers of the board of the Gay Business Alliance were deter- rights groups, including the amend the United States were just as forceful in their oppo- mined not to lose sight of his dream. nation’s largest gay Republican Constitution to enshrine our sec- sition to the development, saying Now that dream has come true. Fun Under the Sun, which organization, denounced President ond-class citizenship in the that gay GOP groups would most will take place March 4-10, has become one of the most highly Bush’s endorsement this week of a nation’s most revered docu- likely sit out the election rather anticipated events in South Florida. constitutional amendment to ban ment,” said Matt Foreman, exec- than endorse the president. There really does seem to be something for everyone and gay marriage, calling the presi- utive director of the National Officials with the national gay every taste at Fun Under the Sun. You want sports? There is a dent’s action an election year ploy Gay & Lesbian Task Force. “This group Log Cabin Republicans golf tournament, kayaking, and a 27-mile bike ride. Interested to secure support from conserva- is a despicable new low.” tive religious voters. Although gay rights groups Please see AMENDMENT on Page 11 Please see FUN UNDER THE SUN on Page 25 broward news local life Former Anita Bryant backer Imperial Point couple has thrived files local gay marriage suit. through 43 years of highs and lows. PAGE 4 PAGE 15 2 FEBRUARY 27, 2004 www.expressgaynews.com EXPRESS GAY NEWS EXPRESS GAY NEWS www.expressgaynews.com FEBRUARY 27, 2004 3 Smile... It just might lead to something We can help you get the smile you've always wanted. BriteSmile® Whitening, Bonding, Laminates, and all aspects of general care in a comfortable environment. Now is the time to get that smile... it could be just the beginning. Ask about our BriteSmile® specials! 4 FEBRUARY 27, 2004 www.expressgaynews.com EXPRESS GAY NEWS broward news Marriage lawsuit worries local activists he will reveal the name of the other partner Rubin’s tactics criticized in the lawsuit “at the proper time.” Meanwhile, Rubin has added the names in ‘high-noon’ challenge of 175 people to the lawsuit who signed a petition that he circulated at gay bars. of Florida statute “If any person wants to be a plaintiff in our lawsuit, all they have to do is contact my office,” Rubin said. By PHIL LaPADULA Rubin said he is suing based on the Florida constitution. Fort Lauderdale took center stage in the “We allege that the Florida constitution national debate over gay marriage Feb. 25 guarantees equality to every person,” Rubin when a local attorney filed a lawsuit challeng- said. “We allege that the statute [against gay ing the constitutionality of the state’s law marriages] violates the Florida constitution.” banning same-sex nuptials. But some local Foreman said he has known Rubin for gay activists criticized the tactic of attorney several years and “he loves the high-media Ellis Rubin, worrying that his approach to the cases. The cameras were there before I had a issue could hurt the marriage rights cause. chance to get [to work that day,]”he said. Rubin walked into the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale Feb. 23 and Unlikely ally fought for Bryant asked to talk with Clerk of Courts Howard Back in the 1970s, Rubin would have been Foreman. According to Foreman, Rubin asked the last person you would expect to fight for him if he would issue a marriage license for gay marriage. Then, Rubin fought for Anita two gay men, one of whom Rubin declined to Bryant and against Dade County’s gay Local attorney Ellis Rubin, who once fought for Anita Bryant, filed a lawsuit Feb. 25 challenging the constitu- name because the man is a government rights ordinance. In 1977 Rubin filed a law- tionality of Florida’s law that bans same-sex marriage. (Photo by Wilfredo Lee/AP) employee who is not out of the closet. suit to try to overturn that pro-gay law. Foreman, who as a state senator cast one “At that time, I was of a different mind- But he said his past is irrelevant to the law- Pollitzer said that he could not judge of five votes against Florida’s anti-gay set,” Rubin explained. “I’ve come to realize suit. Rubin’s motivations, but he was concerned Defense of Marriage Act, told Rubin that he that I was mistaken and I was wrong.” “With the same past, if I were straight, I that the gay marriage movement could be sympathized with the gay marriage cause Rubin noted that in January 2002 he publicly would still be allowed to get married,” Ash hurt by his solo approach. “This issue is but had no choice but to enforce the state’s apologized for supporting Bryant’s crusade. said. very important to many South Florida gay law against same-sex unions. Since then, Rubin has sought the lime- Ash and his unnamed partner are resi- families, and if he is simply playing “We talked about the Florida statute, we light on a number of high-profile cases. In dents of both Broward County and San around for personal gain, that would be talked about political philosophy,” Foreman September 2002, he filed a lawsuit on behalf Diego. Ash is hopeful about the case. “We terrible,” Pollitzer said. said. “But I just told him that the statute is of a former federal inmate who said he had feel we got an excellent judge and have an In an article in the South Florida Sun- very clear and I couldn’t issue a license.” prior knowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks and excellent chance of winning,” he said. Sentinel, Karen Doering, a staff attorney Rubin then informed Foreman that he that the government ignored his warnings. with the National Center for Lesbian Rights would be back at “high noon” on Wednesday William Russell Ash, one of the plaintiffs Gay activists question strategy in Tampa, questioned Rubin’s tactic of listing to file a lawsuit. named in Rubin’s marriage lawsuit, said But Stratton Pollitzer, South Florida direc- people as plaintiffs in a lawsuit who have Foreman said he could not have issued that he and his partner are “trying to tor of Equality Florida, is not convinced. merely signed a petition. the license even if the couple had been het- become the first legally married gay couple He criticized Rubin for acting alone with- Deoring also worried that if Rubin’s law- erosexual because they were not present in in the U.S. We’re trying to send a clear mes- out consulting any of the organizations that suit is unsuccessful it could have a far-reach- his office. sage that hate and discrimination aren’t have been working for the gay marriage ing negative impact on the gay marriage “If two people are going to take the plunge family values nor are they spiritual beliefs.” cause. movement. and try to make history, you’d figure that Responding to press reports about his “I think his strategy is poor,” Pollitzer Rubin responded to the criticism, noting they’d both be there,” Foreman said, adding “checkered past,” Ash acknowledged that said. “He has not reached out to us or to any that he has participated in 5,000 trials in the that he also thought it was odd that Rubin he had past criminal convictions. Ash con- of the organizations that are working on past 50 years, including civil rights cases. wouldn’t even provide the name of one of the firmed that his record included a conviction marriage equality, such as the National A similar lawsuit was filed Feb.