FLORIDA DIGEST October 19, 2007

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Sun-Sentinel

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/news/localnews/4122.cfm

Local right-wing lawyer seeks judge's impeachment

Anti-obscenity crusader Thompson was reprimanded for sending gay porn tocourt
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Oct. 18, 2007

Nearly a month after being reprimanded for submitting pornographic images ofgay men into the federal court record, anti-obscenity crusader Jack Thompsonis asking Congress and the acting U.S. attorney general to impeach the judgepresiding over his suit against the Florida Bar Association.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter andacting U.S. Attorney General Peter Keisler, Thompson is demanding thatFederal District Judge Adalberto Jordan be removed from the bench forrefusing to prosecute local attorney Norm Kent. Thompson has accused Kent ofillegally distributing obscene materials on his website,www.nationalgaynews.com. Kent, who is also the founder and former publisherof the Express, has denied Thompson's allegations.

Thompson included the images of men engaging in sex into the court recordSept. 19 in an electronically filed pleading as evidence against Kent. Hesaid he pulled the sexual images from web links that were posted on thefront page of Kent's website. Kent said that neither he nor his staff postedany of the images referred to by Thompson. Kent said they were linked to hiswebsite by outside sites. In fact, the home page of Kent's site appears tocontain no pornographic images, but it is possible to reach adult pornimages by clicking on an advertiser and then clicking on "related links"from the advertiser's site.

Jordan denied Thompson's plea and sealed the filing. He then orderedThompson to show cause as to why he should not go before the court'sdisciplinary Ad Hoc Committee.

"What Judge Jordan has done in this instance - refusing to report a crime,hiding the evidence, thereof, and then threatening the person who broughthim evidence of that crime - constitutes an 'impeachable offense,'" Thompsonwrote in his letter, dated Oct. 16.


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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/locallife/sports/4135.cfm

Gay running group launches new Wilton Manors run

Front Runners have been holding weekly runs and participating in eventssince 1989
By PHIL LAPADULA
Oct. 18, 2007

The Front Runners, a local gay running group, launched a new weekly run inWilton Manors on Oct. 13.

The group, which was formed in 1989, has been meeting for runs in HolidayPark on Wednesday and Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. The new Wilton Manors runwill be the group's first morning run.

"We started running in Holiday Park years ago, but the community has shiftedto Wilton Manors," said Gary Bitner, spokesperson and incoming president ofFront Runners Fort Lauderdale. "We wanted to be more visible to people, andwe also wanted to run in the morning."

The group now meets every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the northeast corner ofthe Shoppes of Wilton Manors parking lot. They run through Wilton Manorswest to Andrews Avenue, north up to Oakland Park Boulevard and then east toDixie Highway. Like the

Holiday Park runs, runners can choose between a 4-mile and 6-mile course.

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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/locallife/pulse/4136.cfm

Flamingo's Pride Wind Ensemble to perform 'heavy classics'

Event at Broward Center will benefit the gay community center
By JW ARNOLD
Oct. 18, 2007

The most vivacious, bombastic and powerful music from the Classical andRomantic eras will be performed by the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble,the concert arm of the Flamingo Freedom Band, on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7:30p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center.

Under the baton of Artistic Director Dan Bassett, the 50-member band willperform familiar classics such as "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner,"The Barber of Seville" by Gioacchino Rossini and the finale from AntoninDvorak's "New World" Symphony.

According to Bassett, the program includes some of the most recognizable andloved tunes ever composed. In fact, the band's performance of "The Barber ofSeville" will accompany the infamous Bugs Bunny cartoon "The Rabbit ofSeville."

The ensemble will be joined by mezzo-soprano Maria Denison for selectionsfrom Bizet's opera "Carmen" as well as the MCC Sunshine Cathedral Choir forexcerpts from Verdi's "Manzoni" Requiem.

The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of South Florida is offering a VIPreception and block seating. This fund-raiser will benefit the communitycenter's general fund. Tickets for this fund-raiser are available throughthe GLCC.

General tickets are available for $20 through the Broward Center website, www.browardcenter.org, or by calling 954-462-0222.



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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/news/localnews/4124.cfm

Sunshine Cathedral undergoing renovations

Upgrades to include improvements to sanctuary, new organ and sound system
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Oct. 18, 2007

As its 35th anniversary approaches, the Sunshine Cathedral, home to theMetropolitan Community Church in Fort Lauderdale, is getting amillion-dollar facelift.

On Oct. 1, construction crews began razing the front of the sanctuary. Theyremoved the church's performance platform and the first rows of pews tocreate a better, safer space for religious services and communityperformances. The old platform was a plywood structure that wasn't verystrong, cathedral officials explained.

The upgrades will include the installation of a new organ with Italianpipes, tri-level tiers for choir, expanded room for musicians and a moresophisticated sound and light system.

"[The renovation] is going to enhance the worship experience," said KurtLitzenberger, who manages the church facilities. "It will be a safer placefor the clergy and the musicians, and it will be beautiful."

This past Sunday, church members worshipped in closer quarters than usual.Behind the makeshift altar stood a metal frame with plastic sheets thatseparated the pews from the construction area. The choir members andmusicians, who usually perform in the front of the church, were huddled inthe balcony.

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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/arts/cover/4126.cfm

Where the boys - and girls - are

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival keeps city on the gay radarscreen
By SHERI ELFMAN
Oct. 18, 2007

Whether you like comedy, drama or thril-lers, you can get your film fix atthe Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. FLIFF, which takes placethrough Nov. 14, will include 175 films from 26 countries. This year, thefilms will be presented at three venues - Cinema Paradiso in downtown FortLauderdale, Regal Cinemas Cypress Creek Station 16 in the northeast area ofFort Lauderdale and the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center atNova Southeastern University.

Many of the independent films in the festival this year are geared towardthe gay and lesbian community.

'Rock Haven'

The film "Rock Haven" focuses on the topics of religion, sexuality andromance and how they all collide the first time a young man finds love. Thefilm tells the story of Brady, a spiritual young man who moves to the townof Rock Haven with his mother Marty, who is setting up a Christian school inthe area. Things get complicated when Brady meets Clifford, whom he findsattractive. His feelings for Clifford make Brady question his Christianbeliefs and God.

'EXPLORING LOVE'

"Exploring Love" was filmed in Miami, and it's nice to see how photogenicour area is. The film centers on Sean Parker, an attractive man who is aboutto turn 30 and begins questioning his life. He embarks on a journey for truelove. Sean goes through several romances and analyzes his relationship withhis parents to figure out why he has such a hard time finding love. The filmfeatures some unexpected twists.

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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/arts/theater/4137.cfm

Mayor Naugle's worst nightmare comes to the stage
'Urinetown' puts wacky spin on politics of public restrooms

By J.W.ARNOLD
Oct. 18, 2007

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. If we weren't in Fort Lauderdale -where the silly controversy Mayor Jim Naugle created over public toiletsdrags on - the premise of "Urinetown the Musical" would seem completelyabsurd: Due to a 20-year drought, private toilets are outlawed to conservewater and the residents of a small mythical city are forced to pay to usepublic facilities run by a ruthless corporation. Break the law (like takinga "free" leak in the bushes or behind a tree) and the perpetrator isbanished to the mythical "Urinetown."


Actors Playhouse in Coral Gables is tackling this Tony-award winning show,which, admittedly, has a terrible name, a silly plot and a tragic ending.But unlike the current politics of public restrooms, "Urinetown" offers asurprisingly smart script, sophisticated songs and plenty of real-lifedrama. And, before I go any further, put those nasty thoughts of kinky watersports out of your head, that is unless the mere mention of urination isenough of a thrill. After all, this is "Urinetown" and what else do theresidents have to sing about while waiting in line for their turns in the 'loo?

The book by Greg Kotis relies heavily on metaphor, but soon slips into thefamiliar Broadway formula of "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girlback." Sort of. The boy is Bobby Strong (Tally Sessions), assistant managerof Public Facility No. 9, located in one of the poorest sections of thecity. The girl is Hope Cladwell (Gwen Hollander), daughter of the show'svillain, Urine Good Company CEO Caldwell W. Cladwell (Allan Baker). Ofcourse, Bobby doesn't know Hope is Cladwell's daughter when they meet andshare a kiss. You should be able to predict what happens next.

Likewise, the score by Mark Hollman, is also familiar, yet cleverly twisted.The production is full of nods to the greats (or at least most popular) ofmusical theater, including "West Side Story," "Guys and Dolls" "Fiddler onthe Roof" and "Les Miserables."

Gay cast member Marcus Davis is familiar to Actors Playhouse audiences forhis Carbonell Award-nominated performances in last year's "La Cage AuxFolles."

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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/arts/music/4133.cfm

Broadway legend Barbara Cook to sing with local gay chorus

Candid star of 'Candide' and many other shows tells it like it is
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Oct. 18, 2007

On the verge of her 80th birthday, Broadway legend Barbara Cook is stillkeeping busy. She's still garnering rave reviews and selling out concerthalls. Tuesday afternoon she was doing press interviews for her upcomingconcert with the Ft. Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus at the Broward Center forthe Performing Arts.

Cook made her Broadway debut in 1951 playing the ingénue lead in "Flahooley." Her sweet soprano voice and sweeter looks soon led toground-breaking roles in "Carousel," "The Music Man," "She Loves Me" and"Candide," among others.

In 1976, Cook won rave reviews for her solo show at Carnegie Hall. This ledto a triumphant turn in the cabaret circuit. After more than 40 years inshow business, Cook now performs in concert halls with symphony orchestras.Last year, she became the first female pop singer to perform a solo concertat the Met in New York. She followed that with her sixth performance atCarnegie Hall. The Express caught up with Cook before her Fort LauderdaleGay Men's Chorus gig:

Express: I wanted to start this interview by wishing you an early happybirthday.
Barbara Cook: Actually I'll have my birthday on the 25th, so it'll be alittle after my performance in Florida. Three days later, I'll be 80 fucking
years old.

Did you just use the F-word?
I did (laughing). My god you're recording. The whole world will know I havea dirty filthy mouth.

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Express Gay News

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2007/10-18/nightlife/nightlife/4141.cfm

Bill's Filling Station moves into old Chardees building

Singer Sean Ensign to perform at club's grand opening in Wilton Manors
Oct. 18, 2007

The bar crowd was abuzz just a few weeks ago when Bill's Filling Stationowners Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete announced the bar's impending moveto the former Chardee's location on busy Wilton Drive. Well, afterpainstakingly renovating the supper club, the duo-also recent partners inpopular Georgie's Alibi across the street-are opening the doors thisweekend.

Singer Sean Ensign will be performing live for the grand opening festivitiesand drag diva Cashetta will serve as guest "hostess with the most-est." VJGary Nolan, of Cathode Ray fame, will be serving up his signature videosevery Friday through Monday at the bar.

In addition to the weekend-long blowout at Bill's, there's a lot going on atSouth Florida's gay bars and clubs this week. Check out these happenings:

Friday, Oct. 19
Celebrate drag diva Glitz Glamour's big birthday extravaganza at Coliseumtonight. The legendary Fort Lauderdale club hosts South Florida's largestcollege night on Fridays. Students with IDs get in for $8 and the drinks arecheap ($5) until midnight. DJ MIIK and DJ TPROMix are spinning in the mainroom or head upstairs to the White Lounge for music by Daisy D.

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Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editgscristcapnboct18,0,7598141,print.story

Mezuzah doesn't belong on Crist's office door

October 18, 2007

Crist should find better spot for symbol

Certainly Gov. Charlie Crist can find a better spot for a mezuzah than onhis state capitol office door.

No doubt he thought it was a nice gesture to put the boxed Jewish scroll - agift from state Rep. Adam Hasner, D-Delray Beach - on his office door. Butby putting it there, in a public office, the governor not only is invitingcharges of approving a religion, but is asking for a headache the first timesome other religious group tells him they'd like him to display theirsymbol.

If Crist lived in his office, the church-state conflict might be vieweddifferently. But his office is a place where public work takes place, andthe religious symbol at the entrance creates the impression that he isfavoring one religion over another.

It's commendable Crist wants to celebrate diversity. He just need to find amore appropriate place for religious symbols than by the office door.

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The Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/v-print/story/276657.html

Fisher Island ferry rules controversial

BY MATTHEW I. PINZUR
Posted on Fri, Oct. 19, 2007

The ride to ultra-luxe Fisher Island -- home to peacocks, Mercedes golfcarts and A-list celebrities -- is a ferry with two lounges that are almostindistinguishable in their plainness. They have the same faded,blue-cushioned benches, the same popcorny ceilings, the same framed safetywarnings.

Without a guide, it would be hard to tell that one is reserved for residentsand their guests, the other for employees.

In practice, however, the workers' cabin tends to fill with black and brownfaces. The residents -- those who get out of their cars -- tend to be white.

''You see people of color being segregated in their own room,'' said GeneMechanic, a labor union attorney who filed an equal-opportunity complaintThursday on behalf of 19 current and former island workers. ``It's blatantsegregation and discrimination.''

The island's four ferries -- Heron, Eagle, Pelican and Flamingo -- all havethe same design: a wide platform to move cars and a small structure that hasa wheelhouse in the middle and a lounge on each side.

''There's not enough room on either side to have a room large enough toaccommodate everyone,'' said Mark James, president of the Fisher IslandCommunity Association. ``It just seemed logical to have the larger room foremployees.''

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The Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/276718.html

Testing of new Broward voting machines advances

Posted on Fri, Oct. 19, 2007

As of Thursday afternoon, Broward had completed acceptance testing on morethan one-third of the new voting machines.

So far, three of 380 machines did not pass the test and will be sent back toElection Systems & Software, the company that sold the machines to thecounty. Two machines failed to turn on and one was missing a part, said MaryCooney, spokeswoman for the Broward Supervisor of Elections.

The machines are scanners into which voters insert completed paper ballots,filled out by hand. The machines will replace the controversial touchscreens, which blind voters will continue to use in 2008. The testing of the942 optical scanner machines should be finished next week.



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The Miami Herald

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/276702.html

Boycott has Broward Democrats feeling neglected

BY BREANNE GILPATRICK
Posted on Fri, Oct. 19, 2007

Next year's early presidential primary should have meant a rush of campaignactivity in Broward County, with Democratic presidential candidates comingto woo voters in the swing state's Democratic stronghold.

Voters say they expected constant candidate visits, a barrage of televisionadvertisements and, like their counterparts in Iowa and New Hampshire,plenty of chances to see the candidates up close before the state's Jan. 29primary.

But when the party's national committee penalized the state for leapfrogging
ahead on the primary calendar and most of the party's major presidential
candidates vowed not to campaign in the rule-breaking state, those prospectsdied.

Visions of marquee visits by celebrity candidates such as Hillary Clintonand Barack Obama evaporated.

''I expected to be a bigger player, not to be written off the way we havebeen,'' said Charles Ayers, 39, president of the Plantation Democratic Club.

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The Palm Beach Post

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2007/10/19/a10a_XGR_S0H_1019.html

At issue: The death of Save Our Homes
By S.V. DÁTE

Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
Friday, October 19, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Largely unnoticed so far in the din of back-and-forth, tax-cutpolitics in the Capitol is one piece of potential dynamite: the destruction,even the actual reversal, of the popular Save Our Homes protection forhomeowners.

Currently the biggest part of the House plan supported by Speaker MarcoRubio, the provision added in a committee Tuesday would, over time, makeprimary homeowners the most disadvantaged group of taxpayers in the state.

Proponents, including co-sponsor Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, do notdescribe it that way. They say the provision merely provides commercial andnon-homesteaded residential property the same assessment cap - 3 percent orinflation, whichever is less - that homestead owners have enjoyed since SaveOur Homes went into effect in 1994.

"This is basically a fairness issue," said Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton,who unsuccessfully tried to add the language into the Senate plan Wednesday.

But that explanation ignores how the existing cap works. Save Our Homes doesnot limit taxes - it limits assessments. And the tax benefit enjoyed byhomeowners is based solely on the differing rates of assessment increases onthem versus everybody else.

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Forwarded from Michael Rajner

Women Living Positive - It's my Life
N A T I O N A L S U M M I T

Friday, November 30, 2007
9:00 A.M. - 1:45 P.M. EST

LOCATION: ArtServe * FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

Come join us in a discussion about issues unique to HIV-positivewomen, featuring:
* Keynote speaker Andrea Williams, the inspiration for theoriginal movie Life Support
* Presentations by nationally recognized HIV specialists, patientadvocates and ASO representatives
* Interactive workshops

For additional information, contact:
Sheila Reimer
AIDS Program Office - Broward County Health Department
Sheila_Reimer@doh.state.fl.us
954-467-4779


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