Florida Agenda » Passages

Joan Rivers Dead at 81

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 20:58:39 +0000

Popular comedian Joan Rivers has died. Her daughter Melissa has posted the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers. She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they provided for my mother.”

The staff of the Agenda wishes to convey our condolences to her family and friends.

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Russian Gay Activist Alexey Davydov Passes

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 22:44:46 +0000

Moscow, Russia – A prominent Russian LGBT activist, Alexey Davydov, died in Moscow at the age of 36 last week (after slipping into a coma) reports the Huffington Post. Davydov’s health was rumored to have been on the decline since a police riot in 2011 that left him with a broken arm. In his month spent in the hospital, Davydov found that he had acute kidney failure and spent large amounts of time undergoing dialysis. Police claim that they did not break Davydov’s arm, and neither the police nor the Russian Investigative Committee are looking into the beating. The young Russian activist has no surviving relatives, making it nearly impossible for friends and supporters to access his medical documents to pursue any legal options. Another prominent LGBT activist, Nikolai Alexeyev, was close to Davydov. “[Davydov] made an enormous contribution to the Russian LGBT movement since 2006,” Alexeyev shared on Facebook. “He never cared about arrests and attacks. He just pursued our mutual goal! He has no relatives. He dedicated all his life to activism. He was always next to me in the worst times, including the day my flat was raided by police and prosecution just a month ago.” Davydov was committed to his trade, even to the end. He was planning to attend a protest outside of the headquarters for the Sochi Olympics organization committee last week, but fell just before the protest. An online donation service helped pay for the cost of Davydov’s funeral, with a donation of $2,000 coming from actress and activist Tilda Swinton. ]]>

Legendary Gay Rights Activist Jose Julio Sarria Dies at 91

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 22:02:39 +0000

New York, NY – Gay rights activist Jose Julio Sarria passed away in his home in New Mexico Monday morning, reports GLAAD. A World War II veteran, Sarria was the very first openly gay candidate to run for public office in North America, running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961. Sarria’s candidacy inspired the LGBT community, who at the time, had no one speaking on their behalf. San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, a friend of Sarria’s stated “Jose Julio Sarria was indeed the Rosa Parks of the gay rights movement as an activist in the 1950s and 1960s.” Stuart Milk (nephew of Harvey Milk) has stepped forward, stating that Sarria’s passing is a significant moment in gay history. “Jose Sarria, Founder of the International Court System showed us how to turn a night into a grand occasion and a grand occasion into a means of providing support. That Support led so many who did not “fit in” to actually proudly stand out, together, creating a local sense of community and an international network that would raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local and major cities. He paved the way for my uncle Harvey Milk to run for public office by being the first openly gay man to put his name on the 1961 ballot and was right there to support Harvey’s first campaign in 1973. Jose’s extraordinary life on this earth has come to an end. And the extraordinary good that he did lives on…We will forever keep Jose in our history books and in our hearts.” ]]>

Remembering Mrs. Beasley

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:24:57 +0000

Jay Lynch – better known as Mrs. Beasley – passed away at the age of 74, leaving behind a personality that will be remembered for years to come. Lynch was known for his sense of humor and gossip columns throughout the years for publications like HotSpots and Scoop, in addition to some syndicated pieces as well. According to Pompano Bill, the entertainment and gossip columnist named his personality after his dog, Mrs. Beasley. While he had one written book under his belt, he was planning on writing another: a tell-all covering the various personalities around town.

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LGBT Ally Frank Lautenberg Dies at 89

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:21:58 +0000

Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg died Monday morning at the age of 89 after a bout of viral pneumonia took a turn for the worst. The longtime supporter of the LGBT community, sponsoring the federal anti-bullying legislation following the high-profile death of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after his roommate saw an encounter Clementi had with another man. Lautenberg was also a lead sponsor of the bill that repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin released a statement honoring Lautenberg’s support for the LGBT community: “Senator Lautenberg was a beacon for equality in Congress. He fought for justice with more than simply his vote. He knew bullying in our schools is a scourge, and he stood up to end it. He knew that workplace discrimination and hate crimes erode the freedom of all Americans, so he worked to stop them, session after session.” ]]>

Passages: René Fernández (1976-2012)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:12:05 +0000

WILTON MANORS — Local bartender René Fernández (Cintora) died on December 30, 2012. Described by friends on Facebook as a “great man,” a “good friend,” a “phenomenal individual,” and always in “excellent humor,” Fernandez reportedly died from a lung complications related to an untreated HIV status.

“We lost the most genuine, quick witted and funny person I have ever met in my life,” friend and former co-worker Rob Pucci posted. “I am truly a better person for have known René Fernández.”

At an online condolences guestbook, business owners Dawn and Lori Tanner praised Fernández, saying that, “It was truly and honor to have worked with you, Rene!! The Pink Submarine will always have your fun loving spirit here!! You are so missed already, we love you!!”

According to the legacy.com guestbook, Fernández is survived by his parents, Patricia and René, his sister, Paola, and brother, Roberto. A ceremony was held on Thursday, January 3 at Guiding Light.

A friend of Fernandez who is familiar with his situation, and who asked not to be named, said that his undocumented status led him to refrain from seeking treatment, for fear of official consequences.

Stephen Fallon, Executive Director of Latinos Salud, a Wilton Manors-based non-profit that provides outreach and HIV prevention services to the Hispanic LGBT community, said that any death related to unsought treatment is tragic on many levels.

“It’s just a tragedy when people assume that if they seek treatment it will automatically be linked to systems that will get them deported,” he told the Agenda.

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Richard Cimoch: A Long-Time Activist Passes

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:16:52 +0000

Longtime community and political activist Richard Cimoch died last week. Long involved in South Florida’s LGBT community, he served on the board and as co-chair of Pride South Florida, as a member of the Broward County Democratic Executive Committee, and as former Secretary of the Dolphin Democratic Club.

A native of Philadelphia, Cimoch came to the warmer climes of South Florida, and ran a very successful decorating business. In addition to the aforementioned organizations, he served on the Human Rights Campaign, as well as the Pride Center at Equality Park. In the August 14 primary, Cimoch was an unsuccessful candidate for Democratic Committeeman for Precinct 004, an area that covers west Wilton Manors, from the North Andrews Avenue Bridge, to West Oakland Park Boulevard.

Cimoch, who was born February 3, 1940, was a former Penn State Nittany Lion, and worked as a popular doorman at Dicey Riley’s bar in Fort Lauderdale. “Richard was a ubiquitous sight on 2nd Street,” said Cliff Dunn, Executive Editor of the Florida Agenda, who worked with Cimoch for three years.

“We affectionately called him ‘Aunt Richard,’ and he was just like that, sort of a combination ‘Dutch Uncle’ and ‘Agony Aunt.’ He really made an impression on thousands of people in that downtown Arts and Entertainment District who have no idea what a great advocate for gay rights he was,” Dunn said.

An early proponent of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential run—“you did not want to speak ill of Hillary in his presence,” Dunn recalled—he became a strong supporter of President Obama, and was looking forward to working for his re-election in the final days.

“I have always been proud of the connection with motivating people to get out and vote, and we will need turnout that’s higher than normal to ensure an Obama victory,” Cimoch told the Agenda this summer. “Florida is crucial to Obama’s victory, and as gay men and women, we have a lot to lose if he doesn’t win.”

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