POMPANO BEACH–Shanon Taz Wasson, a well-known member of the community is said to have taken his own life on the morning of Sunday, June 12, 2016. While the world news was occupied with the massacre that took place at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Taz presumably shoot himself in the head. His ex-wife and roommate Joanna Cortez found the body in the bedroom at 7:30 am when she returned home from work.

Since Cortez is not legally classified as next of kin, the police and coroner have not been forthcoming with many details. Cortez does know that the case has been officially closed by the police department.

All other information is only being shared with his estranged family members with whom Wasson hadn’t had contact with for years.

Gary Santis of The Manor Complex commented on a RIP Facebook post that he saw Wasson the day of his death at 3:30 am at the club in good spirits. Other friends of the plant and animal lover echoed the same thing. That night was the last time anyone saw the 6’2″ blue-hazel eyed Wasson as he left the Manor Complex for home in Pompano Beach with a black gentleman who has yet to be identified.

Cortez has started a gofundme page to help pay for Wasson funeral. Agenda asks that you support Cortez’s efforts by donating to Wasson gofundme.com/295zurra page.

Taz will always be remembered for his playful personality and loving spirit.

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Just last week North Carolina passed an egregious law stipulating that you can only use the restroom of your assigned gender at birth. This law effects gender nonconforming individuals and specifically the transgender community making it illegal for them to use any public restroom of their expressed gender.

Question: How could we, the LGBT community, have allowed this law to pass and become law? Where were our activists at the time and our protesters and outrage?

Mia Patricyk St. Louis

“As a community, we need to rally together to fight discriminatory laws against ANY member of our community (LGBTQ) and stand our ground for what’s right,” Mia Patricyk St. Louis, a server and entertainer, said with vigor. “We need to push harder and actually go out and vote on these issues. And focus on what’s really important.”

Vasti Love Montana

“I feel that the LGBTQ community did not stick together as one on this but yet the law did pass very quickly. I believe that’s why the LGBTQ community is divided and didn’t stick together to fight this law,” said Miss Golden State Closet Ball 2015 and 2016, Vasti Love Montana. “Personally, I’m very uncomfortable entering a men’s restroom. It’s wrong that we cannot use the restroom that we feel comfortable using.”

Aryah Lester

“The atrocious law of HB2 harkens back to the days where those of color had to use separate facilities, judged to be ‘of color’ by the prejudicial public,” mentioned Aryah Lester creator and director of TransArt. “This law, passed in the darkness while we were distracted by political divisiveness, effects not only transgender individuals but all people displaying gender nonconforming characteristics. We must stand against such an affront to our inalienable rights as American citizens!”

Angel Lopez

“I think the law is preposterous, but really who is going to check your genitals to really determine your biology,” questioned Angel Lopez, a licensed mental health counselor. “I can’t comment on the actions of the LGBT community in North Carolina but chances are the heteronormative, conservative, lower-educated, prejudiced people prevailed on this one. We’ll see how long the law lasts and whether other states are able to accomplish the same thing.”

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#StreetBeatAgenda

Q: How do you feel about pre-assigning a baby’s gender through modern day scientific medical advances?

With the advancement of modern medicine we are now able to pre-assign a baby’s gender and other humanly features like eye color. But some people take reservation with the new science. On February 24, pregnant model and wife of John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, took to twitter to defend her decision to pre-assign her baby’s gender against the naysayers.

Nikki Star

“I’m the Mom and the Dad and I want what I want,” said the fabulous entertainer Nikki Star. “Are we interfering with gods work, f*&# that. He interfered with us. He has been the almighty powerful guiding the ship. Well now, we are steering the ship.”

Monica Anastasiadis

“What I would want to know first is whether it causes the fetus to be deformed in anyway or any mortality issue,” a concerned pet and house sitter Monica Anastasiadis inquired.  “If I learned it was totally safe and didn’t cause any pain or harm to the embryo, then why not.”

Hans Smith

“I am all for people assigning the gender of their baby before it’s born,” commented a social worker Hans Smith. “As long as you can afford it, why not? No restricts or guidelines, just as long as the individual themselves pay for it and not the government.”

David Clift

“I don’t agree with it. I believe everyone should have a naturally born baby in regards to changing their gender,” remarked David Clift who is idle at the moment. “Everything should be natural, eye color and all. It should be the kid’s decision later on when they can make the decision for themselves.”

James Wilkerson

“I just don’t agree with it at all. Why do people keep trying to change stuff,” pondered model and actor James Wilkerson. “We shouldn’t tamper with fate. If anything, we should leave the decision to the child. They should be the one to decide and make the decision.”

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#StreetBeatAgenda Week 2/15

What do you like about Miami Beach Gay Pride (MBGP) and what would you like to see implemented in this years MBGP?

Miami Beach Gay Pride is gearing up for its 8 annual event and before the largest free weeklong LGBT street festival kicks off we would like to hear from you, the locals, on what you all would like to see new this year.

Marco Perez

“When they started MBGP seven years ago, it brought everybody together and we needed that kind of party,” said Entertainment Coordinator Marco Perez. “I want to see even more of us get together, not only the LGBT community but also kids and the straight community. Most importantly, I want to see people happy. That’s it.”

Alexis Lords

“Want I like about pride is the fact that the whole community gets together for one giant party and everyone smiles for one entire day. There are no fights, no real problems and we just have the best time,” smiled Alexis Lords, the founder of the House of Lords. “I would like to see more people joining us. A lot of the people from Broward/Fort Lauderdale, I don’t know why they don’t come down. We need to reach out to them more.”

Yukioh

“The fact that we are free, it’s a great opportunity to show yourself and find friends and come together. That is the best part of pride. Everyone is marching with the same feeling,” expressed the dynamic singer, actor and dancer Yukioh. “For 2016, I would like to see new people. New People, New Faces and New Concepts!”

Ivette Sierra

“My favorite part is that it’s free and it’s offered to everyone in the state of Florida and internationally. The diversity of the parade is overwhelming and it just keeps on growing,” remarked Ivette Sierra, a service coordinator. “I would like to see a wider variety of entertainment, clean entertainment that families can enjoy. And bring in a youth play for the children so we can make them a part of this great community.”

Humberto Calero

“Pride is very enjoyable and I feel really happy that we all get to experience many different things that pride has to offer. I really like it all,” said college student Humberto Calero. “What I would really like to see is a lot of new entertainers and dancers. Also something out there that can show the meaning of gay pride.”

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Irwin Drucker has an overwhelming passion for the LGBT community that just won’t quit. Since the late 1980s, Drucker has been advocating for equality and gay rights, after first compelled to fight for inclusive at his former employer, IBM.

Drucker’s journey to advocacy and the work that he does for the betterment of our community is an inspiration to future advocates.

Who was your inspiration for becoming a gay activist? My first partner, Jerry. Jerry died of full-blown AIDS in 1991, at the age of 31. And I, like many people who were directly impacted by the epidemic in its early stages, had always felt that gays were treated as second-class citizens by the government. Had AIDS been an epidemic that mainly targeted middle-aged white men who played golf, I believe the government’s reaction would have been very different!

When did you first start advocating for gay rights? In 1989, when I was employed at IBM. IBM had recently acquired Lotus, which offered same-sex domestic partner benefits to its employees. So the question became did IBM extend that benefit to all its employees, or take it away from the Lotus employees.   I had already come out to my co-workers and managers, and was asked to become a member of a small working group that eventually convinced the company leadership to implement worldwide domestic partner benefits at the start of 1997. And I’ve been consistently involved ever since.

Who are your LGBT heroes? Well, the easy answer would be Harvey Milk. And he is one of my LGBT heroes. But the heroes I really admire are the ones who stand up and fight in times or places where being out and gay isn’t that easy. And I don’t even know their names. But they are the ones who inspire me to keep doing what I do. The transgender teen in Harlem. The gay boy growing up in rural South Carolina. The lesbian in rural Texas. They are still the victims of social ostracism. Some are disowned by their families and thrown out into the street. Others are bullied every day at school, while principals turn a blind eye. And yet they go on. And they fight. And sometimes they die. They are my heroes!

What do you think is the next battle for our community after our win for Marriage Equality? I think the next critical battle will be for Economic Equality. I serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and so I see first hand how many amazing small and medium sized LGBT-owned businesses there are in America. And yet, most of them are under-represented in terms of participation in the global supply chains of major corporations. In addition, at the micro level, in more than 30 states, it is still completely legal for an employer to fire an employee simply because that employee is LGBT. Or for a landlord to refuse to rent someone an apartment for the same reason. The list goes on and on. Until Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended to include LGBT, or until some other comprehensive anti-discrimination law is passed, we will still be fighting for full equality.

How do you feel about Marriage Equality being wiped from the law if a Republican becomes President? If such a thing were to happen, I would be outraged. And although we are certainly hearing a lot of rhetoric to that effect by the lunatic fringe (read: the current Republican Presidential contenders), I don’t think it’s likely to happen. All of the recent polls show that greater than 55% of Americans are in support of Marriage Equality at this time.

Do you believe that a Republican controlled White House and Congress can overturn Marriage Equality? Unless I’m mistaken, now that the Supreme Court has ruled that marriage equality is a civil right and any law depriving citizens of that right in unconstitutional, I believe that only the Supreme Court can strike it down. And that would require another case being brought before the court, and the Justices deciding that they were wrong in Obergefell v Hodges. I doubt this will happen. Look at Roe v Wade. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that a woman has a constitutional right to chose with regard to termination of an unwanted pregnancy. There have been many attempts by the right to bring a case forward to the court in an attempt to get a reversal, and none have met with success. And with the recent death of Valdemort (read: Justice Antonin Scalia) I think an effort to overturn Obergefell v Hodges would be extremely difficult.

How do you respond to the current Florida HIV/AIDS statistics? I think it’s tragic that the rate of new infections in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are the two highest in the country. There are a great deal of root causes behind these sad numbers. But the bottom line is that people have to get tested, know their status, share their status with their sex partners openly and honestly, and engage in safer sex practices. Period.

What do you think we can do as a community to lower our rate of HIV/AIDS infection? I think the thing we most need to do is to de-stigmatize HIV. I think the reason most people either don’t want to know their status, or chose to not disclose their status, is that there is still a great deal of stigma associated with being HIV positive. Just go on Grindr and the first thing you notice are all of the references to people being “clean.” Are HIV positive people dirty? OF COURSE NOT! But that’s the message we are sending when we don’t stand up and be inclusive of our HIV positive brothers and sisters, and not continue to treat them as pariahs.

What are your feelings on Truvada? I assume you mean using Truvada as PREP when you ask this question, and I think it’s awesome. I know there are some in the HIV prevention community who think that condoms are the only appropriate choice in prevention, and even call attention to the fact that Truvada doesn’t prevent the spread of other STDs. While that is undeniably true, I don’t think using condoms does either. And here’s why. When was the last time you gave or received oral sex with a condom? All of those other STDs are spread via oral sex and well as anal sex. Therefore, they are still being spread throughout the community. Given that fact, I think people should be free to choose between condoms and PREP without being stigmatized (there’s that word again) by being called a Truvada Whore!!

What do you see as our strengths in the community? Our community has tremendous strengths! The one that I see most often is the outpouring of generosity, both in terms of dollars and also care and compassion. I have been involved in organizing some of the largest fundraising events in our community, for The Pride Center, PYP Foundation, and others, and have always been blown away by how many people have always been there to help … with their time, with their creativity and talent, and with their hard-earned dollars!

What do you see as our weaknesses as a community?  I think our community has two major weaknesses that prevent us from achieving our maximum potential. The first is egotism. We have to remember that we are a community and as a community we have to work together as a team. That means that sometimes you have to do something someone else’s way. Unfortunately, there are some who think their way is the only way, and in so doing, either intentionally or unintentionally erect roadblocks to our collective success. They lose sight of the bigger picture in their egotistical desire to do things their way. The second is insularity. Collectively, we are known as the LGBT community … but how many of us, myself included, really actively participate fully with all aspects of our community? And add to that the other racial and cultural differences in a community as rich as ours, and you begin to see that there are lots of threads, but they don’t always weave together. I have to give a big shout out to The Pride Center for doing a great job of creating programs and events that target all of the various elements …. now we have to figure out how to bring the threads together as one.

How do you feel about our up and coming LGBT youth? That’s actually an interesting question. I have mixed feelings, to be honest. On the plus side, I think it’s great that their generation, in general, doesn’t put labels on people’s sexuality. We all know that human sexuality is a spectrum, and each of us falls somewhere on that spectrum, from exclusively gay or lesbian, to bisexual/pansexual, to exclusively heterosexual. Today’s youth feel much more comfortable about exploring where they fit in, openly and honestly, without the need for labeling themselves. And therefore, they also tend to not be judgmental of their peers and the decisions they make. And I think that’s great. However, on the down side, I think that because they didn’t have to fight for their place in society, the way my peers and I (members of the “Stonewall Generation”) did, they lose sight of the fact things weren’t always as open and easy for us as they are for them. They take their rights for granted, and don’t realize how much we still need to fight for.

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Here at Florida Agenda, we honor and profile our community’s “Dream Keepers” throughout the year making sure to recognize our black leaders like Nadine Smith, the passionate gay rights executive director of Equality Florida and Aryah Lester, the courageous chair of the Florida Health Department’s Transgender Work Group, featured in our Florida’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers.

During Black History Month, we turn the spotlight on more who have paved the way (Established Leaders) and those who are taking the reigns (Rising Leaders).

Rising Leader: Kishi Chad Martin, Health Promotion and Outreach Educator for Care Resource

Martin’s love for the LGBT community is clearly represented in the abundance of advocacy work he has done and continues to do. He has been a core member of the MProject; Broward House’s Men Empowering Men initiative, president of his college’s (Broward College) gay-straight alliance, a member of Planned Parenthood’s Broward County Youth Council, and a HIV counselor and outreach specialist for Minority Development and Empowerment, Inc. Martin is currently working as the Health Promotion and Outreach Educator for Care Resource. And when he is not doing his fulltime HIV/AIDS advocacy work, he is volunteering with Pridelines Youth Services, aiding as an adult advisor for the Sunserve Youth Group and contributing to BLACC, a male empowerment social group.

Rising Leader: Dwyane Stovall & Paris Deck, Senior Management of LUL Magazine

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stovall and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Deck are working on a new publication to share with the world. LUL (Let Us Live) Magazine is their brainchild for an all-inclusive LGBT publication that represents unity and diversity in an overwhelming lovable way. The dynamic pair is committed to providing our community with a magazine that reinforces individuality, compassion and diversity in a realistic and innovative way. They choose to highlight and celebrate our differences as our own unique attributes that make us one strong everlasting community. They are working tirelessly to bring the publication to light and will not stop until they accomplish their goal. Visit www.LuLmagazine.com to learn more.

Raising Leader: Jakari Roundtree, The Kiki Project Program Specialist

Roundtree has always known that he had much to offer the world so when a friend told him about an opportunity to work with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in 2013, he quit his job as a UPS worker and began a new life in awareness and advocacy work. Roundtree found his passion working with the community by doing outreach work with AHF. The job was so rewarding that he decided to advance his knowledge and trained to become certified as a HIV tester and counselor. It was a step in the right direction, which brought him to the Pride Center. For the pass two years, Roundtree has been working with the Pride Center on a program called the Kiki Project. The Kiki Project focuses on empowering, educating, inspiring black men who like men 18 years old and up. But work isn’t the only place Roundtree expresses his new found passion. He also leads by example in his everyday life by sharing his smile and continuing to lend his voice to positive causes that help further awareness and change.

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Here at Florida Agenda, we honor and profile our community’s “Dream Keepers” throughout the year making sure to recognize our black leaders like Nadine Smith, the passionate gay rights executive director of Equality Florida and Aryah Lester, the courageous chair of the Florida Health Department’s Transgender Work Group, featured in our Florida’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers.

During Black History Month, we turn the spotlight on more who have paved the way (Established Leaders) and those who are taking the reigns (Raising Leaders).

Established Leader: Paul Smith, Field Instructor and Clinical Supervisor at Sunserve

A Vietnam Vet, Smith retired from the armed services to only devote his second career to his true passion–helping others through psychotherapy. In his early 40s, Smith received his master’s degree and a license in Clinical Social Work and psychotherapy. For the past 11 years, he has used his degree to help counsel our community as a mental health counselor at Sunserve, a South Florida non-profit social service agency. And when the organization needed more help with its graduate internship program five years ago, Smith stepped up and assumed the role as Field Instructor and Clinical Supervisor – training the next generation of clinicians.  Besides his volunteer work with Sunserve, Smith has also given his time to the Pride Center as the treasurer of the Senior Advisory Council and then as a member of the board of directors to now become the chair of the Governance Committee for the board.  In May of 2016, Smith will retire once again, but Sunserve will still have his warm embrace in the form of an adviser.

Established Leader: Christopher Bates, Social Services Manager at Florida Department of Health in Broward County

Bates has committed his life to advocacy work, specifically in the realm of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. His dedication to the cause is represented in the 35 years that he has either donated his time or worked with certain nonprofit organizations, committees and advisory boards from Washington DC to Florida. Bates was the founding member of the District of Columbia Primary Care Association and a member of countless other councils and committees. In Florida, Bates has served as the Deputy Director to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases and Executive Director of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS as an appointed Senior Executive Service member. Today, he is the Director of Men’s Health, Wellness and Prevention Program, and the coordinator for the Hepatitis Program, at the state of Florida Department of Health in Broward County (FDOH-BC). He is a principal leader in the development and implementation of the Men’s Health and Wellness Conference.

Established Leader: Dr. Sonia Mitchell, Executive Director of Florida Youth Pride Coalition

Dr. Mitchell has been empowering our youth since she arrived to Miami from Jamaica in the 1980s. Her philosophy is to allow our youth to flourish by making them part of the equation. Instead of instructing our youth, she includes them in every process from organizing events to business development and management. The Psychology and Philosophy Doctorate collaborated with LGBT youth to organize the first Diverse Minority Pride. And in 2013, they helped her establish the Florida Youth Pride Coalition by creating the name and the logo. Today, the organization functions with an innovative approach to youth mentorship. For every executive board position, there is a youth board position in which they share, collaborate and vote on all aspects of the organization while shadowing their respective executive board mentor.

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The four hilarious Dragapella ladies are finally back in South Florida to perform their laugh-out-loud comedy/singing stage performance. But before they hit the stage, I sat down with them to ask some poignant questions; however, in true Kinsey Sicks fashion I got these answers instead. Got to love them!

 Trampolina, Rachel, Trixie, and Winnie

Jameer Baptiste: Where did the name Kinsey Sicks originate?

Trampolina: Did I mention that we have starred in two feature films, will soon release our ninth album, have had successful runs in Vegas and Off-Broadway show, and have appeared in over forty states plus, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia?  What was the question? Where am I? Is it time to go onstage?

JB: Is The Kinsey Sicks a year round fulltime career?

Rachel: Shockingly, this is indeed a full-time gig. We are fortunate to live in a country populated by so many people with bad taste and discretionary income.

JB: Who comes up with the full on shows?

Rachel: We are entirely irresponsible for our own lyrics, musical arrangements, scripts, choreography, etc. This is not entirely by choice; no one else has been willing to be associated with us.

JB: How is it touring to different states to put on the show?

Rachel: Performing in numerous states and countries is key to our survival, as it gives places we have already performed a chance to forget how traumatic the experience was for them. This is how we get repeat bookings.

JB: Who is in charge, the group leader, the one who makes the decisions?

Winnie: (holds up pitch pipe and the Kinsey checkbook, and smiles)

JB: How do you prepare for each show?

Rachel: I can’t say too much, but it involves a ritual sacrifice of a journalist who asks too many questions.

JB: Where do you all get your inspiration from for new material?

Rachel: Unresolved issues of mental and emotional health.

JB: What is in the Kinsey Sicks’ future?

Trampolina: After the show, I’ll probably take off my heels.

JB: Where would you like to perform that you all haven’t yet?

Rachel: The Vatican. We’re also hoping to pop out of a birthday cake at Ted Cruz’ next birthday and, in addition, we expect an invitation to celebrate with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Or is it the other way around? I tend to get them confused.

JB: How would you describe The Kinsey Sicks’ looks as a group?

Trixie: I am stunning; the others are also on stage.

JB: Did you ever dream that you would be doing this in your lifetime?

Trixie: Please refrain from asking so loudly. I’m still dreaming and can’t afford to wake up.

Rachel: I did have this dream! Unfortunately, when I woke up I had to change the sheets.

JB: What was the funniest thing that has ever happened behind the scenes?

Winnie: The funniest, most bizarre thing ever to happen to us is this: we heard some audience members actually enjoyed our show! Can you imagine? We’re used to critics saying calling us “wickedly smart” (London Times) and “riotously funny” (Variety), or praising our “voices sweet as birdsong” (New York Times), but that’s because we promise to sleep with them (or in the case of Rachel, not to sleep with them.) But the fact that actual audience members have enjoyed our show is beyond the pale of belief!

JB: What are some of the backstage dramas?

Trixie: There is no drama. Long ago, the girls accepted that I am the most gorgeous and most talented of them all and naturally defer to my greatness. Any backstage squabbling you witness is merely the lesser three fighting for my attention.

JB: After being established for 20 years, what do you think keeps The Kinsey Sicks going strong as an enduring group?

Trixie: Several years of therapy.

Rachel: Yes, that and the fact that we’re all too f*$*ked up to survive on our own.

For tickets to their show at the Parker Playhouse on Sunday, February 21st, visit here.

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Year after year we, consumers, collectively spend billions of dollars on different holidays to show that we care for one another. But is that really the reason or have the corporate giants manipulated us into spending for no apparent reason? We hit the street to find out what consumers have to say when it pertains to V-day.

How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? Do you see it as a day to celebrate love or just another way for corporations to make money off of consumers?

Matthew Eaton

“I believe Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to really reflect on each other and celebrate love with happiness and authenticity,” conveyed Program Coordinator Matthew Eaton. “With that said, I do think some companies love to use this day as a sales pitch with a lot of over the top products.”

Monica Salgado

“Well, I think that Valentine’s Day is a great way to keep your relationship refreshed and interesting,” commented a humble Customer Care Specialist Monica Salgado. “It’s a great way to have a date night with such a busy schedule.”

Zachery Jefferson

“Googling Valentine’s Day it states it’s a day when people traditionally send a card to someone they are romantically attracted to,” said Zachery Jefferson, a Sales Advisor for H&M. “So yes, I think it’s another way for corporations to make money off of consumers. Forget love, buy me diamonds – LOL.”

Princess Trina

“To be honest with you, it’s just another way for them to get us to spend our money,” said the hopeless romantic Princess Trina who is a taxi driver. “True love is celebrated or at least recognized everyday. And not to be extreme but in my mind every second of the day.”

Ricky Green

“Valentine’s Day is another corporate creation to make money,” said DJ Ricky Green. “Personally, when I love someone my first thought isn’t a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Honestly, I wouldn’t know what would come to mind… It depends on the person and longevity of the relationship.”

We want to hear from you! Search #StreetBeatAgenda on Facebook to share your opinion on the above topic. Florida Agenda also welcomes Letters to the Editor, up to 400 words. E-mail your submissions to Editor@floridaagenda.com. Your opinion matters!

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