Florida Agenda

HOLLYWOOD, FL – Florida Agenda News Writer Bob Kecskemety lost his long-time battle with bone cancer late last evening, dying peacefully at Hospice by the Sea in Hollywood. He had been a patient at the healthcare facility since May 25.

Kecskemety, 60, graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School, and briefly attended Broward Community College. He first became well known to the gay community through his entertaining column in Scoop Magazine in the 1990’s, titled “Shut Up and Focus,” published by former Agenda advertising executive Brad Casey.

A longtime Poinsettia Height resident and Cleveland, Ohio, native, Kecskemety was aware of his terminal condition, yet continued to write for the Agenda until the end of March. “Even when he was no longer able to write, he faithfully attended every editorial staff meeting,” Agenda publisher Bobby Blair said, “and he remained on our masthead. He was a consummate professional and friend, and all of us at the Agenda extend our condolences to his close friend and caregiver Tim Yatteau.”

In a New Year’s piece in the January 7 issue of Agenda, Kecskemety wrote, “Each year, I write a feature in the last issue of the year for whatever publication I have worked for, getting New Year’s resolutions from people in the community, and though I would have liked to have gotten many more for last week’s issue of the Agenda than I did, I was too weak to continue. One person, who I asked for his resolution a week ago, turned the tables on me and asked me what my New Year’s resolution was. I simply replied, ‘2013.’

While Bob Kecskemety died before reaching his goal, his written words will forever continue to voice his message of tolerance and acceptance for all.

Stephen Jerome

By BOB KECSKEMETY

FORT LAUDERDALE – Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of local attorney Stephen D. Jerome, who committed suicide on Friday, March 9, after leaping 11 stories from the rooftop of his Pompano Beach office located in the BankAtlantic building at 1600 South Federal Hgwy., less than 24 hours after authorities executed a search warrant at his Fort Lauderdale home for materials related to child pornography (Florida Agenda, March 15, 2012).

Documents indicate that police were looking for specific videos containing potentially explicit and illegal materials. Jerome, who graduated from University of Miami School of Law in 1977, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, oxycodone, and marijuana, which investigators found at the scene.

When Jerome, 61, posted $1,000 bond the following morning, he went to his law office where, excusing himself, he leapt from the roof, three floors above. According to Broward County acting Medical Examiner Dr. Darin Trelka, Jerome, Jerome died at the scene “from multiple blunt force injuries.”

Jerome’s suicide came just a day before his scheduled opening night performance at the Pembroke Pines Theater of the Performing Arts’ musical production of Mel Brooks’ play “The Producers.” The attorney, who loved the musical theater form, according to friends, was known to break out into song while in court.

Jerome’s arrest prior to his suicide was not his first. The attorney was charged in 1990 with sexual performance by a child after police found child pornography magazines in his bedroom closet. He pled no contest and was sentenced to probation and community service, and the Florida Bar Association temporarily suspended his license to practice.

Jerome’s Condom Man character was part of his community service for the 1990 arrest. In the guise of superhero named Condom Man, Jerome donned a cape and mask and would go to local gay clubs and bars on weekend evenings passing out condoms in addition to educating and extolling the virtues of safer sex practices to the patrons He had since built his practice back into a successful bankruptcy law practice.

With additional reporting by Rory Barbarossa.

By BOB KECSKEMETY

At the “tender” age of 31, Jason Tamanini, general manager of The Manor Entertainment Complex in Wilton Manors, already has an impressive list of accomplishments. And with ten years of restaurant, nightclub, and bar management under this belt, Tamanini has no intention of slowing down.

A Philadelphia native, Tamanini took accelerated classes in high school, and graduated at the age of 20 from the University of Pittsburgh, with a major in psychology and a minor in business administration. At Pitt, Tamanini became vice president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the international Jewish fraternity; and during his senior year, came out to his fraternity brothers.

“They were very accepting,” he recalls. “I was really nervous and I
ended up coming out to everybody in one day. I just ripped off the
bandage and, thankfully, everybody was accepting. Some of them said
they weren’t surprised and were just waiting for me to say it.”

As a summer job, Tamanini went to work at the Hilton in Key West,
which gave him an opportunity to study their business model as well as
to put his degrees to good use. They could come in handy again when he
moved to the Boca/Delray area to attend FAU, to study for his Master’s.

To earn extra money, Tamanini got a job at Dakota 624, an upscale
steak house and nightclub where he accepted a management position
at the age of 21. While Dakota 624 closed not long after, Tamanini barely
paused to catch his breath, having been introduced to the owner of the
about-to-open China White, a youth-oriented nightclub in downtown
Fort Lauderdale. “It was a learning curve,” admitted Tamanini, “but I
think he was impressed with my work ethic. Some people live to work,
others work to live. I work to live. I enjoy setting a concept, a goal, and
moving forward with it.”

Tamanini believes his own youth at the time had something to do with
getting the general manager’s gig at China White. “I was young. Older
managers bring older habits with them and [the owner] wanted to start
fresh, young, creative, and fun.” Tamanini started at China White in
2002 and remained there until 2006. Essentially a straight club, China
White had a number of successful weekly gay nights.

While still at China White, Tamanini was contacted by the management
of Halo nightclub in Washington, DC., who convinced Tamanini to join
them in opening their Miami Beach location on Lincoln Road in 2007.

Tamanini remained at Halo for two years until October 2009. It was
then that he was contacted by Paul Hugo, The Manor’s co-owner (with
business partner Brett Tannenbaum), and offered the position of general
manager at the soon-to-be-opened entertainment and dining complex.

“I had heard about the project and found it interesting,” remembers
Tamanini. “Rarely does a 16,000 square foot restaurant, bar, and
nightclub open, and I knew it would be an interesting opportunity for
me.” That opportunity has taken him to the present, with The Manor
building an impressive following both from within and outside of Greater
Fort Lauderdale where Tamanini serves on the board of the Rainbow
Business Coalition (RBC) as its co-chair.

Where does Tamanini see himself 15 years from now? He says he
would like to own a venue that he can call his own, as well as have
children—two of them, not for the legacy, but to help him settle down.
“I would like to get them soon,” said Tamanini. “I don’t want to be in
my 70s with two 18 year old kids.”

By Bob Kecskemety

In many ways, the Wilton Manors of today is not the same city it  was 15 years ago, and the same  can be said of some of its most iconic landmarks. In the 1990s, the Island City was a two-square-mile bedroom community, and its main drag, Wilton Drive, ran through a “downtown” that was plain and drab. When a local bar called Georgie’s Alibi opened its doors on “the Drive” in April 1997, there was little to help predict the sea-change to come.

Today, the Alibi’s owners, Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete, note with amusement that the city and their landmark establishment have “come a long way.”

“We try to run our businesses by always doing the right thing with the highest integrity and ethics,” said Padgett “and not stepping on other people’s toes.” Together with Negrete, his life and business partner, the pair also own Bill’s Filling Station just across the Drive.

Among other things, Padgett says that he and Negrete recognize the importance of patronizing other local gay businesses. “These are local ‘mom and pop’ operations and they are self-employed, as Mark and I are. Together we try to insure that money spent on necessity items are spent within our community.” That includes working with neighboring merchants in helping to create the highly successful “Rockin’ New Year’s Eve” which has benefited all the businesses located in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors.

The national spotlight first shone on Wilton Manors and its LGBT community just three years after Alibi opened its doors, when the 2000 U.S. Census data showed that between 11 and 17 percent of couples sharing homes in the Island City were “unmarried partners,” thinly-disguised official language to describe same-sex couples.

When the iconic establishment opened that spring, fifteen years ago, the property it occupies was boarded-up and had no electricity to power the lights. Most of the neighborhood’s stores were empty, although some businesses lined Wilton Drive: a lock and safe shop, a nursery, a vending machine company, and a couple of offices -not exactly what you’d consider an entertainment district.

The 2000 Census was a signpost that signaled the beginning of the area’s gay gentrification. Wilton Manors became the heart of South Florida’s gay community and Alibi undeniably became its heartbeat. The power couple of Padgett and Negrete, now celebrating their seventh year together, have been charged with the awesome responsibility of keeping the heart beating.

Negrete, who comes from Chicago, had a background in nightclub management both in Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach. Padgett, originally from Charleston, South Carolina, helped build the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, and became its first director of operations.

Immersing themselves as they have in the community means recognizing the importance of working with local LGBT organizations, especially during hard economic times. Alibi and Bill’s remain major sponsors of the annual Stonewall Street Festival and Parade, as well as Wicked Weekend in October, and the spring PrideFest. In addition, they support Kids in Distress, GLAAD, the Gay American Heroes Foundation, Broward House, Care Resource, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Tuesday’s Angels.

Padgett and Negrete also credit their staff for their success and relationship with the community. “[The staff] works very hard with Mark and I, and they do a great job. Our annual Turnabout Pageants are huge successes, and the staff does everything from decorating to entertainment,” says Padgett. “They’re also what make Alibi and Bill’s so inviting, so customers keep coming back. We thank [our customers] for being part of our family and hope to have them for many years to come.”

Both Alibi and Bill’s have fared better than many small businesses during the current downturn. Padgett says that there are good indications that the economy is picking up, including the opening of new food and drinking establishments on the Drive. He is philosophical about the competition.

“Obviously, when any competition comes in, there is a percentage of market share that goes away, so it certainly does affect you,” notes Padgett. “But why do you think furniture stores and car dealerships are always located in clusters together? It’s because they feed off each other. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it works. In order to build your business, you need to form strategic partnerships
and those partnerships may include the competing businesses. If you work well together, both businesses
are enhanced.”

Part of the continuing success of Bill’s and Alibi is the owners’ insistence on world-class entertainment. Famous names that have performed at their establishments include comedian Leslie Jordan and recording artist Lady Gaga. For  New Year 2013, Padgett and Negrete are planning special events and guest performers at both Alibi and Bill’s. For the power couple, the future is a welcome, if still undis-covered, country.

“We’re forging ahead,” says Padgett. “Everything’s going very well and we’re looking into expansion. Although it’s been a rough few years for everyone, we’ve just had to work a little harder and a little smarter. And we’ve made sure to continue to put the money  back into the community where it belongs. Our patrons loyal know we’re doing the best we can to make sure the community has what it needs to flourish.”

Photo: Jackson Padgett (Left) and Mark Negrete (Right)-  This pair of hearts credits their staff for making their club an ace.

Bob Kecskemety is a videographer, journalist and founder/producer of QueerChannel. www.QueerChannel.net YouTube.com/QueerChannel

By BOB KECSKEMETY

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – A tragic note was struck last week just days after the departure of the Atlantis Events’ “Allure of the Seas” gay cruise, when Kenneth Gemmell of the United Kingdom leapt off the cruise ship in an apparent suicide during the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 5. Gemmell’s death occurred while the vessel was heading back to Fort Lauderdale after spending the day near Cozumel, Mexico.

The “Allure of the Seas,” which is marketed as the world’s largest cruise ship, is operated by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and chartered for the Caribbean/Mexican Riviera cruise by Atlantis Events. The sailing departed Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 29 with a scheduled return date of Feb. 5.

Paul Cote and Matty Miles were passengers on the “Allure.” The two host a daily gay Internet radio talk program, “The Paul and Matty Show,” on www.QNation.fm, and had been invited by Atlantis Events to broadcast their show live from the cruise.

They say that they were awakened early Friday morning when an “all-call announcement” broadcast another passenger’s name. When the person called didn’t respond,  the muster alarm sounded, and all passengers were ordered to assemble at their  respective muster stations for an emergency head count. The announcement intimated that the ship’s crew believed that someone had fallen overboard.

“They had reviewed the video footage from the surveillance cameras and someone had, in fact, fallen off the ship,” Cote said. “During this time, we sat there for an hour-and-a-half as they searched the rooms looking for the missing person. Then we were allowed back in rooms.”

The “Allure’s” closed-circuit footage showed the 30-year-old British passenger as he went over the balcony railing from his Deck 11 stateroom. The ship’s Global Positioning System (GPS) marked the vessel’s location and both the US and Mexican coast guards were alerted.

On Twitter, user @DarienneLake tweeted: “there was an announcement for someone to contact services at 6:30 a.m., then at 7 a.m. we went to muster stations to be accounted,” adding that “at 9 a.m. we were allowed back to our rooms. They have search boats looking for glitter in the water. Currently in Cozumel.”

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines released the following statement: “A guest on-board the ship saw the man fall overboard at 12:10 p.m. (7:10 a.m. local time) on Friday. The ship made multiple public announcements and began a complete search of the ship, in efforts to locate the guest. When the guest did not respond to the pages and was not found on-board, the captain alerted the local authorities of the situation.”
Cote says that in spite of the best efforts of the captain and crew, “It did put a damper on the experience for the [passengers],” he recalled. “It was the biggest day on the ship. It was their White Party that night and everybody was getting ready and wanted to have a good time. We had been in Cozumel all day and when the ship started moving again, one of the staffers had apparently said to some people that they did, in fact,  find a suicide note that said ‘If you  couldn’t find love on a ship, then you  couldn’t find love anywhere’ and that he, in fact, jumped off the balcony.”

Cote explained that he and Miles had been scheduled to interview the “Allure’s” cruise director for their show, but that the topic of Gemmell’s suicide was off limits. They were also supposed to interview the disc  jockey who performed at the last event aboard ship during which Gemmell was  seen, but the deejay would not return  their calls.

“The captain announced that he had been a captain for 22 years,” said Cote “and that something like this had never happened  to him before. He was devastated. It was literally like the ship had gone down
with him.”

Kenneth Gemmell

By Bob Kecskemety

Part 1 of a Multi-Part Series

Aragon Inn
2520 N.E. 6 Avenue, Wilton Manors, FL 33305  (954) 566-2900

Just one block’s walking distance from the heart of Wilton Drive’s clubs, restaurants, shopping, and more. This 10-unit boutique resort features deluxe king or queen suites, with poolside suites enjoying their own pool “casitas.” Amenities include two salt water, clothing-optional swimming pools, water volleyball, continental breakfast, WiFi, breakfast room, private courtyard, and lush, tropical gardens.
The Aragon plays host for many big LGBT community events, including the annual spring Gay Rodeo. Room prices range from around $89 per night to $249 per night, depending on accommodations availability and the time of year.

Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa
2209 N.E. 26 Street, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 – (954) 564-7764
A special blend of fun and sophistication, the Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa is a centrally-located gay hotel in Wilton Manors, just minutes away from the shopping, dining, entertainment, and nightlife of both Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale, and within a few miles of the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean beaches.

The rooms at the Cabanas range from the Queen Standard ($129 – $169) to the two-bedroom, two-bath, and 1,000 sq. ft. Grand Suite ($289 – $395), which occupies the entire top floor and is popular for four or more people who are traveling together. All rooms include a coffee bar, refrigerator, flat-panel TV/DVD combo, and air conditioning. Some rooms also include a microwave, stove, full kitchens, and are located waterside. The property is pet-friendly. All guests receive complimentary expanded continental breakfast and free wireless internet.

The Cabanas includes two swimming pools and a whirlpool. The property also has a full-service men’s spa, which includes manicures, pedicures facials and massages. The spa is a favorite of both locals and guests.

Coconut Cove Guesthouse
3012 Granada Street, Ft. Lauderdale Beach, 33304 – 954-523-3226

Built in 1939, the lush courtyard is easily overlooked from the Coconut Cove Guesthouse’s plantation-style wooden verandas and louvered doors that open from each of the spacious guest rooms. The savvy gay traveler will appreciate the Coconut Cove’s modern amenities, including WiFi wireless computer connections, VCRs, efficiency or full kitchens, and full modern bathrooms. Continental breakfast is included. The Coconut Cove is located just a half block from Fort Lauderdale’s Sebastian Street gay beach, and is 30 minutes from the internationally-famous nude beach at Haulover Park.

The hotel also has a Jacuzzi, pool, and clothing-optional area, all just minutes from the gay shops, bars and restaurants of Wilton Manors.

Rates for the Standard Queen room are $89 to $169 per night, $169 to $289 per night for the Penthouse Suite, depending on the time of year. There are seven additional intermediate categories. Depending on room category, amenities include non-smoking rooms, air-conditioning, WiFi wireless computer connections, custom-made king and queen beds with 16” pillow top mattresses, full bathrooms, efficiency or full kitchens, daily maid service, and TVs with DVD players. Enjoy your morning newspaper and extensive continental breakfast either on the veranda or the deck bar.

Elysium Resort
552 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL -(954) 564-9601

The Elysium Resort is located one block from the Atlantic Ocean on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It offers spacious studios and suites, detailed amenities, and a relaxed Florida atmosphere that’s set amongst lush tropical foliage. Along with close proximity to the beaches, the Elysium is near shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, and historic Himmarshee Village, the home of Old Town Fort Lauderdale. You are also minutes from the Wilton Manors gay district as well as Riverwalk in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The basic guest room runs from $109 to $155 per night. Rates for a suite are $149 to $215 per night depending on room category and season. Amenities include a secure enclosed property with a lush tropical setting that’s located 180 yards to the beach, spacious studios and suites, private bathrooms, kitchenettes and kitchens, daily maid service, complementary local calls, complementary wireless internet access, pet-friendly rooms, guest laundry facilities, continental breakfast, private rooftop sundeck, complementary guest parking, beach chairs and umbrellas, suntan lotions, barbeque grilling station, and a DVD library.

The Flamingo Inn Amongst the Flowers
2727 Terramar Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33304  (954) 561-4658

The Flamingo Inn Amongst the Flowers is an intimate, European-style boutique hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Guests find uncommonly generous furnishings, lush tropical landscaping, a sparkling pool and unparalleled amenities.

Rooms range from the Courtyard Room ($150 to $189 per night) to The English Suite ($275 to 370 per night) with five additional categories in between. Amenities at this five-star resort include Aveda spa products, LCD flat screen televisions, luxury linens, an award-winning décor, and friendly, personalized service. At The Flamingo, the entire complex is equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless internet access. Beds are turned down every evening, the continental breakfast is served every morning, and a complimentary happy hour is served every day with a full liquor bar. Free parking is available for all guests, and the office extends full concierge services to facilitate dinner reservations, gym requests, tour bookings, car rentals, etc., all with an eye to making each stay a memorable one.

The Grand Resort and Spa
539 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – (954) 647-3822

The Grand Resort and Spa is one of Fort Lauderdale Beach’s largest and finest gay-owned and operated men’s resort hotel, located just steps from the beach and convenient to all the attractions and nightlife for which Fort Lauderdale is world-renowned.

Their standard of contemporary luxury rivals that found in today’s most popular boutique hotels. What sets The Grand apart is the genuine hospitality of their staff, and the personal attention to theirguests’ desires, like that found in smaller guesthouses.

As Fort Lauderdale’s first gay resort with its own full-service day spa and hair studio, they offer their guests an experience that is both unique and indulgent. From a relaxing Swedish massage, to a haircut before your night on the town, they can accommodate all your needs.

Their spacious, meticulously clean accommodations feature cable TV, VCRs, DVDs, hi-fi CD music systems, voice mail, irons and ironing boards, safes, hairdryer, refrigerators, gourmet pantry, microwave, and coffeemaker. Wireless internet access is available throughout.

Accommodations range from the standard Courtyard Guest Room, one king or two queen beds with private bath and walk-in shower, to The Grand Penthouse, a secluded three-room suite with a great room, gourmet open kitchen, four burner glass cook top, microwave, refrigerator (stocked with refreshments and gourmet snacks), coffee maker, and dining bar. The great room opens to an outdoor living room and private sun deck.

Rates range from $150 to $450 a night during high season, to as low as $105 to $350 a night, depending on the room selection.

La Casa Del Mar
3003 Granada Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – (954) 467-2037

La Casa Del Mar is located on Fort Lauderdale Beach and is a one-minute walk to the Atlantic Ocean. It offers warm, European hospitality and personalized service. Many guests of La Casa Del Mar are repeat customers who have returned year after year.

Rates for a One King with kitchenette range from $95 to $149 per night. For a deluxe attached room, the price runs from $179 to $242 per night, depending on the season. There are a total of five room categories. Amenities include cable TV with DVD player, kitchenette with each room, folding beach chairs, free local telephone calls, guest computers with internet access, completely renovated rooms, DSL/WiFi access in each room, complimentary parking, DVD library, daily maid service, private bathroom with each room, and a location that’s close to the renowned shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, as well as the Galleria Mall. Guests of La Casa Del Mar may also enjoy the wonderful amenities of their sister property, The Granada Inn.

Manor Inn
2408 N.E. 6 Avenue, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 – (954) 566-8223

This Key West-style guesthouse is located just 250 yards from the heart of Wilton Manors, within striking range of bars, clubs, restaurants, shopping, and more. Manor Inn offers the utmost in privacy, with all visitors required to enter through the back of the property, and each room having a private entrance. This is a non-smoking property, both inside and out.

Room rates run $75 or less during off-season, with seasonal rates around $125 per night, and featuring a continental breakfast, coffee makers, microwaves, music systems, outdoor screened seating area, a swimming pool, and whirlpool.

Pineapple Point Guesthouse and Resort
315 N.E. 16 Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 – (954) 527-0094

Well known as the an exquisite gay men’s guesthouse and resort for more than a decade, Pineapple Point is the choice for gay men from all over to escape and relax. This luxury gay resort is one the largest properties in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Pineapple Point is comprised of six unique buildings, and is set on more than two acres that comprise a very private and lush, clothing-optional, tropical paradise–a cozy guesthouse with dozens of palm trees, deck pathways, and a maze of buildings that is fun to navigate. The rooms are decadent, with fantastic linens, fancy soaps, cable TV and free high-speed internet.

The service at Pineapple Point is second to none, as are the services, beginning with their friendly, superbly-trained staff renowned for unparalleled customer service. Amenities include wireless internet, shaded hammocks, on-site, well-equipped gym, lap pool, two Jacuzzis, massage studios, sun decks, and clothing-optional swimming pools. Continental breakfast is served daily, along with snacks, lemonade, bottled water, popsicles, and refreshing cold face towels. In addition, complimentary sun tan lotions, beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and bikes are provided.
An evening happy hour replete with cheese and crackers, beer and wine completes a perfect day—all served complimentary, of course. During high season, guests are welcomed with a bottle of champagne and a free barbeque every Saturday.

All rooms are non-smoking, but smoking is permitted outside of the guest rooms. There are five room categories, starting with the standard Deluxe King through the ultimate Grand Villa. Room rates are $199 to $499 a night for off-season, $289 to $679 a night during high season.

Schubert Resort
855 N.E. 20 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 – (954) 763-7434

The Schubert is a large, all-male, clothing-optional private resort located in Fort Lauderdale’s Gateway/Victoria Park section. The resort is just four blocks from the Galleria Mall, which offers some of South Florida’s finest restaurants and shopping, including Dillard’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Abercrombie & Fitch and Godiva Chocolatier.

Since 1948, The Schubert has served as the location for several Hollywood movie productions, among them “Another Gay Movie: Gays Gone Wild.” Famous names are not unfamiliar to the Schubert guest list: some have included Brent Barrett, puppeteer Jerry Halliday, “Brady Bunch” mom Florence Henderson, Harvey Fierstein, and Holly Farris.

Having recently undergone a $2.5-million renovation, The Schubert continues to sport a retro look, charm, and style. The one-acre tropical grounds are completely enclosed, making sunning “au natural” by the pool and 10-person Jacuzzi.

Accommodations include the King Size standard room, King Suite, and Plaza Suite. Rates range from $105 to $225 a night, depending on the size of the room and the time of year.
Amenities includes king-sized bed, wet bar in rooms, flat panel television, desk, bathrobes, pool towels, iron and ironing board, clock radio, heated pool, Jacuzzi, sun decks, extended continental breakfast, computer station with printer, guest laundry facilities, WiFi, DVD players and library, a large covered courtyard, and catering for special events. Some rooms also include a private courtyard and sofa.

By Bob Kecskemety

Pride Pharmacy and Midland Medical in Fort Lauderdale pride themselves on providing a one-stop location dedicated to your good health. Midland Medical specializes in men’s health, including diagnostics with on-site labs, and HIV specialties, in addition to being AAHIVM-certified.

Pride Pharmacy is a specialty pharmacy that also provides free delivery to its customers. Co-owners Greg West and Steven Levin hope local residents will find all the medical services they need under one, convenient roof at 2701 E Oakland Park Boulevard, sharing the same strip mall as Lips Cabaret.

West is a co-owner, but he does more than just sit behind a desk. He also helps out in the pharmacy and works as patient liaison and advocate. “If anybody has a problem,” West said, “they come to me and I try to straighten out their problems.” West  also has been known to deliver prescriptions to customers.

West noted that Pride Pharmacy is not 100% gay-owned and operated: there is a mix of gay and straight principals. “But with a name like ‘Pride Pharmacy’, we would have to be very gay-friendly,” he added.

The price of prescription drugs is always of concern to customer, and West says that he and staff are sensitive to economic realities, and make every effort to keep prices for prescription medications as low as possible. “We’re here to help the community,” said West. “We are very much aware of other pharmacies’ prices on meds, and are very competitively priced. You won’t find medications priced higher here, and we will try everything we can to be less.”

West said that Pride Pharmacy uses co-pay cards to cover a patient’s co-pay drug expenses. This could save customers potentially hundreds of dollars a month. Some save as much as four or five hundred dollars monthly. West explained that by not being a chain pharmacy, they have the flexibility to adjust without corporate oversight from hundreds of miles away.

Through the door in the waiting area of Pride Medical is Midland Medical, a state-of-the-art medical clinic with the ability to serve most patients’ examination needs. Midland is a one-stop clinic for diagnostic, medical, lab, and chiropractic services, as well as immunizations, prosthetics, boosters, Botox, and much more.

“The one thing I really love about Midland Medical,” said West, “is the personalized service. The doctors actually know
your name.”

West explained that Midland is not an assembly line doctor’s office. Patients will experience a different approach to their medical needs. “This is not the sort of practice where you take a number, have a seat, be directed to the first room, and spend five minutes with a nurse, be directed to a second room, wait another ten minutes with a nurse, then be directed to the third
room where you actually see a doctor for about two minutes.”

“We are compassionate with our patients,” said Anetha Jones, the practice’s head medical assistant. “We personally sit down and consult with our patients. Sometimes we feed them, or bring them food, whatever it takes to make our patients happy and healthy.”

At Midland, West said, patients are seen by a doctor in a straightforward manner, and given their diagnosis “in plain English, not ‘doctor-eze,’ so the patient understands what the doctor is saying without a lot of medical jargon,” West added.

Trudy Zengler, Midland’s office manager, said that Midland is the most caring medical facility she has ever seen. “Everybody  here really cares about the patients. The patients are family,” she said. “I think we put forth the effort to make sure our patients are taken care of and provide the best  care we can.”

Zengler has firsthand knowledge of Midland’s care and practices from an outsider’s perspective. Prior to her employment, she owned a medical billing company, which gave her the opportunity to interface with the operations of many medical facilities, and Midland was a client of Zengler’s company. That changed in 2009 when Zengler was hired to work at Midland.

Zengler and the rest of the staff are well acquainted with West’s mantra about customer service. “Customer service is our top priority at both Pride Pharmacy and Midland Medical,” said West. “We are not your typical pharmacy. We are not your typical doctor’s office. We also have a very high ratio of keeping people healthy and
out of the hospital.”

West explained that recently he spent four hours helping a patient navigate his way through some insurance-related matters. The patient was talked out of his previous insurance plan by the insurance company’s representative. But his new insurance plan didn’t cover the cost of medication. The patient’s medicine bill was close to $3,000 a month.

“He couldn’t afford that. Who can?” sympathized West. “It took about four hours, but we got him back on his original insurance policy. We go out of our way to help people.”

Pride Pharmacy has been open for three years, and has Monday through Saturday business hours. Midland Medical has  been in operation for almost six years, and
is currently open from Tuesday through Saturday.

By Bob Kecskemety

Photo:“Modern Family’ Image Courtesy ABC.com

WORCESTER, MA – Gay parents “tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents,” says Abbie Goldberg, research psychologist at Clark University in Massachusetts, who studies gay and lesbian parenting. According to Goldberg, gays and lesbians rarely become parents by accident, compared with an almost 50 percent accidental pregnancy rate among heterosexuals. “That translates to greater commitment on average and more involvement,” added Goldberg.

According to Live Science, research indicates that while kids of gay parents show few differences in achievement, mental health, social functioning, and other measures, these kids may have the advantage of open-mindedness, tolerance, and role models for equitable relationships. Gays and lesbians are also more likely to provide homes for difficult-to-place children in the foster system. Research suggests that gays and lesbians are more likely than heterosexuals to adopt older, special-needs, and minority children. Preference may partly account for that, and may partly be founded upon discrimination by adoption agencies that put  more difficult children with “less desirable”—in the opinion of caseworkers–parents. Furthermore, the research has shown that the kids of same-sex couples–both adopted and biological kids–fare no worse than the kids  of straight couples in terms of mental health, social functioning, school performance, and a variety of other life-success measures.

By Bob Kecskemety

Photo: Craig Lowe of Gainsville, FL (right) and Annise Parker of Houston, TX (lower) are among the “Mayors for Freedom to Marry”. Both Lowe and Parker share the distinction of being the first known-gay Mayors of their regions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 80 mayors of U.S. cities in 25 states have formed a coalition to support marriage equality. The group, “Mayors for Freedom to Marry,” was formed last weekend at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in conjunction with the LGBT right group Freedom to Marry. The coalition is chaired by some of America’s most visible municipal chief executives: Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City, Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston, Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, and Mayor Annise Parker of Houston, who is openly gay. Mayors for Freedom to Marry have called for the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the ratification of the pro-marriage equality Respect of Marriage Act.

In the signing statement, the founding mayors wrote: “We are a diverse group of mayors –from small cities in Indiana and Maine, to the four largest cities in America. Our cities are culturally, racially, and geographically diverse, but we share one important value: a common commitment to fairness. We invite our colleagues to join us in signing this statement as we advocate for the freedom to marry and build a nation where all loving couples who want to make the life-long commitment can share in the joy and respect of marriage.”

Among the mayors who signed the Mayors for Freedom to Marry statement, six are from Florida: Craig Lowe (Gainesville), Joy Cooper (Hallandale Beach), Craig Cates (Key West), Lori Moseley (Miramar), Frank Ortis (Pembroke Pines), and Jeri Muoio (West Palm Beach). No mayor of a major metropolitan area of Florida signed the statement,
and none serves in a Miami-Dade County municipality.

PHOTO:  ED SCHIPUL flickr.com/eschipul

By Bob Kecskemety

VENTURA COUNTY, CA – A 14-year-old Girl Scout has reportedly joined with parents and Scout alumni to call for a boycott of the widely-popular Girl Scout cookies, claiming the organization is using cookie proceeds to push a radical homosexual agenda at the expense of the Scouts’ safety.

The girl, identified as “Taylor from Ventura County, California,” but whose parents have asked her last name and troop number be withheld, made a YouTube video calling for the boycott after she learned that Girl Scouts U.S.A. has been admitting boys who claim to be transgender girls into scout troops.

“Transgender Girl Scouts = Boys Who Wish They Were Girls,” the video touts in bold faced type.

The video was released by a Houston-based group made up of Girl Scout volunteers called the “Honest Girl Scouts.”

Sometime after the Washington Post reposted Taylor’s video on their website, Taylor made her YouTube account “private”.
A spokesperson for the Girl Scouts released a statement saying that the Scouts accept all girls in kindergarten through 12th grade as members. “If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, she is welcomed as a Girl Scout,” the statement read.

Spokeswoman Michelle Tompkins re-affirmed that the proceeds from Girl Scout Cookies, as always, ““stay in the local market and are used to fund programs for girls,” in an email to the Washington Post.