Dr. Don Fisher, D.O., is the Medical Director at The Best Program in Fort Lauderdale and is an expert in the field of Age Management Medicine and Bio-identical Hormone Replacement. We questioned Dr. Fisher specifically about the widespread (some say alarmingly high) use of testosterone supplementation by gay men.

 
 
Q: The use of testosterone replacement therapy in men has skyrocketed in recent years as the science of age management grows. Critics say testosterone is the new botox and is being overprescribed. Is there any justification to that criticism?
A: Testosterone declines in most men over the age of 30 and the pharmaceutical industry has made it much more available – and likely that is why we see it being prescribed more lately. I feel most doctors don’t prescribe testosterone at the level that makes a difference and at correct doses and then monitor it correctly. I am an advocate for replacing testosterone NOT just for minor improvements but to replace it to that level that would be high normal – and in doing that, we lessen men’s risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, risk of obesity and other chronic diseases not to mention men look better, feel better and have improved sex. The key here is to give men the testosterone back that they lack.

Q: What are the proven benefits of testosterone supplementation say, to a man in his 50s who has been clinically diagnosed with low T?
A: Low T as it has been marketed causes these typical symptoms and signs: Poor energy – especially with exertion, fatigue and loss of stamina, “brain fog” and poor focus and concentration, lack of strength and muscle mass, poor sexual desire and performance, moodiness (like a grumpy old man), poor workout ability and poor recovery from workouts and belly fat and love handles.

Q: Is there any evidence to support the allegation that testosterone supplementation promotes the risk of prostate cancer in men?
A: NO! Hormones do not cause cancer and testosterone does not cause prostate cancer. There are even recent studies by a Harvard urologist, Dr. Morganthaler, where testosterone has been given to men WITH metastatic prostate cancer with no increase in the rate of progression. I do like to share with my patients what does increase the risk but hormone replacement is not the biggest concern.
 
Q: Prior to becoming the medical director at The Best Program, you specialized in HIV medicine. Why is testosterone so widely prescribed in men with HIV?
A: HIV infects and affects the Leydig cells of the testes. Almost two thirds of HIV positive men have low testosterone and we want men with HIV to maintain their muscle mass and stay strong. HIV positive men feel better and stay stronger with hormone replacement with testosterone.

Q: Testosterone treatment comes in many forms including topical gels and injections. What treatment works best in your opinion?
A: I sometimes recommend a compounded form of testosterone cream that men apply twice daily. Some men do not absorb testosterone well and it won’t improve symptoms adequately. Men over 50 generally do better with injectable testosterone. There are several forms of injectable testosterone (cypionate, propionate and enanthate, etc.) I always recommend Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) along with testosterone as it signals testicles to produce endogenous testosterone and decreases the risk of testicular atrophy (loss of testicle size). The best form of testosterone is the one that a man can easily comply with AND that best alleviates symptoms. We always want to monitor levels to ensure efficacy and safety.

Q: The science of age management is relatively new. What are some of the indicators you look for in your patients to optimize good health?
A: Age Management means doing all that we can do to stay healthy. Simply put, we want all hormones youthful, optimal and balanced. Diet and lifestyle should be optimal. Take the right supplements. Limit stress and manage stress and exercise and stay social. If we find the right balance, we can stay healthy, happy and fit and stave off chronic disease and age well. Like I tell my patients, I want to get old BUT not feel old. Don’t plan for poor health and infirmity – be proactive and stay fit. Don’t plan to get old and sick – talk with an age management physician.

The room is cleverly designed with a comfortable, edgy, contemporary, clean atmosphere. There’s lots of soft wood tones shedding just the right amount of lighting for a relaxing, yet stimulating, experience.

Be seated to your left in the quaint and semi private-booths. Or, walk up a slightly curved ramp to an exciting and lively generous bar area with high top tables and an over-sized outdoor covered patio that will sure to be your fun spot for that evening.

The view of the parking lot/Main Street is somewhat camouflaged by the abundance of greenery including some specimen palms. While they soften and enhance the seating area, they join a red awning for a serene, yet colorful, touch. Waiters abound, very handsome in crisp white button-down shirts, tucked into blue jeans with black waist-strap aprons. And let’s not forget the contagious smiles.

Polite, energetic, and completely knowledgeable, these fine servers are equipped to assist you in your choice of a cocktail and entrée to start off an enjoyable dining experience.

I selected one of J. Mark’s Signature Drinks—the watermelon martini. Smooth, colorful and garnished with, what else, a sliver of ripe watermelon carefully placed at the edge of the glass. We then ordered a salad and an appetizer—the Spinach Salad and the Ahi Seared Rare Tuna.

First, the fresh Spinach Salad ($12.99) The light lime vinaigrette dressing added such a great citrus flavor to an already warm bacon dressing base. Hard-boiled eggs pieces of crisp real bacon, red onion, and goat cheese generally added, combined to make a more-than-enough salad. Scrumptious!

Ahhh, the Ahi Tuna Appetizer ($13.99) This dish is served with three open lettuce cups filed with Cajun-crusted, seared rare tuna, with just the right amount of drizzled wasabi pesto, garnished with pickled cucumber. You might want to skid dessert and order a second tuna app—it’s that good.

I switched my choice of drink to a house wine—a nice, crisp California Pinot Grigio, dry with a medium boby and neutral flavor. Just right for my entrée selection—Jumbo Blue Crab Cakes ($26.99). These fantastic cakes are served beautifully on a white oval dish, accompanied by two distinctive dipping sauces. In the spicy remoulade, I detected a tad of creole mustard, green onion, lemon zest with just the right amount of garlic for a tangy taste for this crab meat. The other sauce is a combination of their housemade tartar ingredients. I used both for dipping and enjoyed them equally–my appetite completely satisfied.

My guest was in the mood for a steak, so his next drink order was a Pinot Noir–a dry red with a palate of warm spice nuances.

Rib-Eye Steak ($26.99) was hand-cut from the loin, perfectly aged. Tender and juicy, this steak is delectable. Order it medium rare and it will meat in your mouth. The smooth-textured garlic mashed potatoes not only added to the meal, they made it a front runner. Search no more for a good steak in town.

Just the check please—we needed to walk this off immediately. And then absolutely return once again with a craving for another wonderful dining experience. Kudos to J. Mark’s, their chef, line cooks and stellar servers.

I give this establishment

3 ½ Forks

4 Wine Glasses

J. Mark’s Restaurant
1245 N Federal Hwy, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-390-0770

Knee deep in his fourth election campaign (remember to vote on November 4!), Resnick is as eager to embrace change as he is to maintain what’s been working well since the city that was transformed from an impoverished town on the edge of the ghetto into a thriving gay metropolis, with a higher percentage of same-sex couples than any other place in the United States, except Provincetown, Massachusetts, according to the 2010 census.

Resnick is justifiably proud of what he’s accomplished over his years at the helm of the town of just over 12,000 people. But he seems even more excited by the future.

“There’s a $32 million project that’s being built just east of Dixie Highway and south of 26^th Street,” Resnick reports. “It’s going to be 172 high-end apartment rental complex called the Metropolitan. The private investment company developing the project is called Ascend.”

Few can argue with the positive improvements that the Metropolitan will bring to what was once a blighted area filled with rusting trailors. “There was litigation with the family that had to get resolved. The process took six years, and Ascend, to its credit, hung in through all that time when it could have easily gone elsewhere to invest its money.”

The land backs on to the Colohatchee Nature Center on NE 15^th Avenue, Wilton Manors’ dog walk park. “We’ll actual grant access to the park through the development,” Resnick says,  “the entrance of which is on NE 24^th Street. It breaks ground at the end of month.” Cue the shovel photo op.

Also in the Dixie Highway neighborhood, the well-used shortcut is about to get an upgrade. “We have a $1 million grant to improve Dixie Highway,” Resnick says, “which we received from the Broward Metropolitan and Planning Organization. “We are adding sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, better drainage, adding bike lanes and making it safer for pedestrians, bikers and cars. The businesses on the street will see that they front on a much more attractive area.” This project is in the design phase now, with input requested from interested parties, and construction due to start mid-2015.

“Going north, we are working with the Department of Transportation (DOT) on the area known as Five Points, which is where Dixie Highway, 26^th Street and Wilton Drive come together, to be resurfaced, have better directional indications and refined traffic light pattern.

“We are also looking to develop a Business Improvement District, which would be for the businesses on Wilton Drive to access themselves so that there is money available to make improvements on the Drive. That will be on the agenda of our next commissioners meeting. It’s a process.”

Of course, parking is always an issue in Wilton Manors, and remains a problem. “We added 140 spots in the past year—one lot off of 26^th Street and more spots in Hagen Park. All the parking meter revenue goes into a special fund to purchase and add more parking.” That should take some burn off your next parking ticket.

There is, of course, a Gary Resnick who lives and thrives outside of the mayor’s office—including his successful career as a government lawyer with the law firm of Gray/Robinson.

And then there’s the little known home life of Mayor Resnick who’s just Gary to his partner Eric Bucher. They met in Alibi Bar 14 years ago (“the old fashioned way”, Resnick laughs). They live in their house on Jenada Isle with two rescued Golden Retrievers. Eric works in makeup in Boca Raton, and has quite a longer commute than his partner. “We love country music–and line dancing. That’s a tough one to master,” Resnick laughs. Yes, they’ve got the cowboy hats and boots.

For more information see http://briannealfitness.org/

This community free walk meets each Saturday at 8:30am at Richardson Park 1937 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors FL   We walk one hour and three miles.

In case you’ve been out of town yourself, here’s some background. Lil’ Kim was due to perform at 1:30 a.m. in a 20 minute set that actually had the town of Fort Lauderdale talking out loud since around this beach burg we’re more likely to see the drag version of the rapping ex-con. And while I’m sure the idea sounded like a good one to Gary Santis, the Manor’s producer of shows extraordinaire, the booking did not come without its own risk.

Rewind back to “David Tutera’s Celebrations” where Lil’ Kim acted like she still had a thick fan base, and arrived three hours late for her own baby shower. Given that record, The Manor didn’t stand a chance.

The rapper was to be flown in, limoed over, and pose for a photo meet-and-greet for 100 of her most loyal fans that were willing to spend $100 for the privilege of standing next to the woman whose major claim to fame was sharing a Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (along with Christina Aguilera, Pink and Mýa) for the single “Lady Marmalade.”

She followed the award by lying to a grand jury investigating the 2001 shooting outside the Hot 97 Studio in Manhattan.  According to Lil’ Kim, she didn’t know that her co-manager, Damion “D-Roc” Butler, and her bodyguard, Suif “Gutta” Jackson, a former member of the hip-hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A, were at the scene. Hmmm…The security footage showing the three of them leaving the building suggested otherwise, and, in 2005, Lil’ Kim the rapper became Lil’ Kim the prisoner #56198-054, serving a year and one day in the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.

Fast forward to last weekend, when Lil’ Kim the new mother (she gave birth to a baby girl Royal Reign) showed up late at the Manor for her gig. She got paid $23,000 for the 20 minute performance plus a 12 midnight meet-and-greet where a photographer was supposed to take pics of L.K. with her $100 per fans. That part of the night never happened. Lil’ Kim wasn’t anywhere near the Manor at midnight. Nor for that matter was she near the stage when her 1:30 contracted show time came around.

When her 20 minute set finally did get started at 2:40 a.m., her fans were as exhausted as they were frustrated. The one thing they weren’t was surprised. Well, maybe a little, when longtime assistant Noel Perez (who was celebrating his birthday and his 15 years working with the rapper) came on stage and never left for the entire act. For those who know, Florida native Noel is not a small man, so his presence was very obvious. As was that of the drag queen who brought a birthday cake for the celebration, and proceeded to spend the whole 20 minutes standing on stage blowing out the candles which were of the spontaneously relighting variety. So clever.

In any case, the Manor’s major domo Jason Tamanini was not happy with the way things were going for his Fifth Anniversity spectacular. First the late, late arrival;  then the no show for meet-and-greet. So who among us could blame young Jason for cancelling the diva’s limo and leaving her to find her own way back to Bedford-Stuyvesant. The Manor is suing Lil’ Kim, who went on-line and called the club “jankpromoters” claiming she knew nothing about a meet-and-greet.  Hmmmm….Until next week….

Ken Keechl has been with his partner Ted Adcock for so long (they are approaching their 20^th anniversary) that’s it is hard to imagine one without the other.  Theirs has been a happily-ever-after relationship we all would love to claim if we could.

But when they first met, it was not Ken Keechel the politician that Ted Adcock courted. It was a lonely, handsome thirtysomething gay man who was still feeling the loss of his first lover from AIDS a year and a half earlier.

“I went to the hospital day after day, and slowly watched him die a painful, long death,” Keechl told the Agenda. “At first, I wasn’t even allowed in the hospital room.” (It turns out to be one of the reasons Keechl fought so hard to expand the domestic partnership ordinances.) “Unfortunately, while the doctors were doing everything they could to save my partner’s life, it was too late. It was during the time when AZT was the only treatment, and the drug cocktail we use today was experimental. He just slipped away,” the lawyer/politician says, and you can feel the love in the room. “I still have his photograph next to my bed.”

Yet to know Ken Keechl is to know a man who is a dedicated public servant who happens to be gay. A man who cares, genuinely cares about the environment, and is a fiscally conservative democrat who hates to spend a penny of taxpayers money without knowing that we will see the benefits in the county.

He’s been there before—running District 4, when it was a slightly smaller den. Recently expanded due to remapping, it is no less of a challenge to the tiger that is Keechl with the mane of blond hair and the toothy grin. He wants you to like him, but even more, he wants to do good for his county.

Offered the chance to run for the Senate and the House, he turned down both to return for a run at the District, which he last powered in 2010. It was during his tenure that the airport expansion got greenlighted.  And the move to enlarge Port Everglades as well.

Each project comes with its own stories, ones that are laced with environmentally sensitive mandates. (The mangrove strand that sat in the way of the port expansion is a great example. Keechl fought and was victorious in getting the port to add twice as many acres in new mangroves to one end of the strand in exchange for voting to destroy a smaller portion in the name of progress. “With the enlarging of the Panama Canal, allowing bigger vessels to sail up our coast, I didn’t want them going right past Fort Lauderdale and heading to North or South Carolina. We had to dig deeper and wider channels, but not if it meant that we destroyed our fragile eco system.”

It is more than a talking point for Keechl, whose Republican opponent doesn’t believe in climate change. “That is a huge issue in the years ahead…perhaps even the biggest issue. We cannot hope to save Broward County if we cannot save the earth.”

The Agenda endorses Ken Keechl, and with him all the energy that a man who loves his work brings to the job.   The people of District 4, gay and straight, can do no better.

Photo of Ken Keechl by Big Dewitte.

The one-time Republican, Herman switched to the Democratic Party when he discovered that his former party affiliation was becoming less flexible in its acceptance of those with disabilities and same-sex relationships—two subjects that Herman knows well.

“My spouse (Cale Choi, 31) became the first same-sex recipient of a spouse military ID card,” Herman told the Agenda. “It was issued at the Key West Naval base, and took eight or nine months of overcoming roadblocks including document appeals, and Inspector General complaints against the US Attorney General and the Secretary of the Veterans Administration, to force the government to award educational and health care benefits to my husband.”

Choi, the son of a prominent South Korean businessman, with companies in Asia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, was married to Herman in July 2013 when the pair eloped to Canada. Talk about marrying well. Choi brought $14 million stashed in nine banks across the world to the union, 30 real estate investment properties in Broward County that pump $1.4 million into the couple’s bank accounts each year (not a bad return on property worth $19.1 million), and another $10 million or so in stocks and bonds. We’re not revealing anything secret. Herman reported the income on his financial disclosure statement.

“We’ve combined assets. I believe in ethics, I believe in the spirit of the financial disclosure law, and I will not ignore my spouse on paperwork.” Apparently not.

“My opponent for the House seat, George Moraitis, is linked completely and admittedly to incumbent governor Rick Scott who favors special interests and big business over the very real individual needs of our population,” Herman said. “The current administration cut $1.3 billion in education dollars, while claiming to be for education. I find this extremely concerning both as a politician and as a veteran.

“We have to have education in order to bring in jobs.  We need people to be healthy to be productive at work and to have a quality of life.  Yet, we find it extremely interesting that both my opponent and Rick Scott are against funding education and are against the Affordable Care Act.”

Herman is well placed to represent the high percentage of seniors in District 93 as well as the large LGBT population that live in the Wilton Manors/Fort Lauderdale region.  “Regardless of the outcome of this election, I will never stop fighting for the equal rights of gays and those on fixed incomes. That obviously includes veterans, many of who are disabled and at the mercy of the Veterans Administration health system,” which Harman says has improved since the recent Congressional inquiry into its operations revealed low quality of care and long wait times for treatment.

“Things are improving,” Herman says, pointing to PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team). “PACT has been in place since late 2010 and deals with everything from homeless vets to basic health care needs. It is an essential part of every veteran’s package of benefits.”

Yet, Herman has found that local administrations in the cities of Tamarac and Sunrise refuse to install as simple an accommodation as a crosswalk to allow veterans who take the bus to walk safely across six-lanes of traffic to reach the VA Clinic on Commercial Blvd.

“They tell me it’s a matter of ‘volume,’” Herman said. “I didn’t know you needed a ‘volume’ of disabled vets to get a crosswalk put up and stop traffic. We need to put common sense back in government.”

The Agenda endorses Scott Herman. More information can be found at www.electscottherman.com….Until next week…..

Agenda photo of Dolphin Democrat Tim Hart (left) and Scott Herman at Stonewall Pride in Wilton Manors earlier this year.

And live is exactly what Ron Wayne did. Originally from Boston, Wayne haphazardly began his act as Auntie Mame on Duval Street in Key West when a man, dressed for Halloween, threw his red dress costume in the garbage. Wayne retrieved that dress, put it on and became one of the pioneers of drag performance. As Auntie Mame, Wayne performed at the Boardwalk in Fort Lauderdale, Trixie’s in Hollywood and other Florida nightclubs in a career that lasted over 35 years. The act even took him to Europe and inspired songwriter Chuck Prentiss to write a song for the character Auntie Mame. Ron Wayne was greatly inspired by Milton Berle and was fond of doing a rendition of Judy Garland’s performance of “Over the Rainbow.”

Shawn Palacious (AKA Kitty Meow), who has performed with Auntie Mame, had this to say when he heard the news about Ron Wayne:
“He was always so kind. He always wanted me to paint his face because he was fond of glitter, as I am. I sincerely wish that I had the opportunity to do it. Sadly, he is no longer with us. But his memory will live on for being the amazing, kind, sweet individual every time I saw him and worked with him.”

The Boardwalk has announced that there will be a “Celebration of Life” in honor of the Legendary Auntie Mame – Monday, September 29th at 7:00 pm.

Photo of Auntie Mame is by Big Dewitte.

We watched as Ken mourned the death of his partner in life and business, Lloyd Pagels, last February. They were together for 35 years—nearly ten of which was spent running the two clubs—so “tragic loss” would seem an understatement.

In March, Ken received the double whammy when he got the news that he was suffering from follicular lymphoma. Fortunately, after six rounds of chemo, he is recovering nicely.

Since we all know that everything comes in “threes,” the Scandals/Stable regulars were just waiting for the final shoe to drop. They didn’t have to wait long for news surfaced in the past few months that WalMart had purchased the K-Mart store across the street from Scandals Saloon and was planning on building a SuperCenter on the property.

Scandals Saloon has long used the K-Mart parking lot for its overflow, so the idea that the lot was about to be shut to traffic meant more potential drama. As with all things Scandals, however, there’s a blessing around every corner.

Beginning October 1 (my father’s birthday, in case you want to buy Big Joe a present), you’ll notice the signs showing up for Tim Higgins’ East Coast Valet Inc. Yes, valet.

Now, before you see $$ signs in a cartoon balloon over your heads, rest easy. While there will be a $5.00 fee for parking, your claim stub will get you two free well drinks or two domestic beers, or one premium drink just by showing one of the happy bartenders tending the Salon. With Happy Hour pricing until 9 p.m. daily and all day on Sunday, you’ll actually end up gaining 50 cents on the deal. Clever Ken.

As far as K-Mart is concerned, here’s the skinny. You’ve got until November 2 until the place is cleared out, right down to the shelving. The building will then be totally gutted, such as has been done to the old Holsum Bakery Outlet store next door. (Check out the east side of the parking lot and look for a lawn green enough for croquet.)

Then, you can expect a good six to eight months of building on the site, and another month to stock the store. All of which means that sometime before Thanksgiving of 2015, the mood of the neighborhood on the corner of NE 6^th Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard is going to change.

That’s plenty of time for all the WalMart haters to get on their soapboxes and wax poetic about the doom and gloom that the mega-retailer will bring to the surrounding mom and pops. No question that WalMart has an image problem, particularly after last year’s spontaneous employee picketing before its Black Friday sales event.

It matters little if you are the nation’s largest retailer, or that’s you’ve managed to make $11 billion profit in the past year—particularly not if you’ve done it on the beaten backs of mistreated employees and wage inequities.

For all its clout, WalMart still gets sued 5,000 times a year—or 17 times every day. That makes for a lot of unhappy employees.

All of which brings us back to Ken Kelley, with his Scandals Saloon front and center right across the street. The bar is full of happy customers and smiling line-dancers—each one a potential WalMart customer. Save Money. Live Better. Visit Scandals (and The Stable too)….Until next week….

Photo of Scandals by Big Dewitte