Florida Agenda

WILTON MANORS – On Friday, the Florida Diversity Council will hold its inaugural Diversity Summit at The Pride Center at Equality Park, on North Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors, for four hours, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The event’s three interactive sessions will include moderators and seminars that address topics of relevance to the future of the LGBT community, including Equality and Fairness in the Florida Workplace, Gender Identity and Expression in the Workplace, and Creating a Strong Ally Culture and Diversity Supplier Relationships. The latter session will be moderated by Keith Blackburn, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC). Registration for the half-day event is $49.

The non-profit Florida Diversity Council was established in 2008, with a mission to establish and disseminate best practices, and to establish and promote policies that foster diversity and inclusiveness. It has regional chapters in Jacksonville, Orlando, Southwest Florida, Tampa Bay, and South Florida. The GFLGLCC is a 501 C (6) Non Profit organization, which promotes business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBT-friendly community.

For more information and online registration, visit glbtsummit.com.

WILTON MANORS, FL – Now through September 30, The Pride Center at Equality Park and the Latin Pride Gallery presents “The Magic Wand,” the original art by Ken Merrifield in The Pride Center’s Main Hall. Admission is free.

One of the tools that Ken Merrifield uses to enhance his photographs is called “The Magic Wand.” Like a Fairy Godmother, Ken can work magic on his photos in a myriad of ways thus changing a very ordinary picture into a very gay work of art.

In his 68 years, he also has created a vast collection of paintings in acrylics and oils. He loves to take photos during his travels and aims to produce pleasing (and very gay) compositions of form, color and perhaps, a bit of nostalgia. Ken will donate 20% of sales to the Pride Center’s Senior Advisory Council for Senior Services.

WILTON MANORS, FL – Rainbow Ladies-Our Space, Beta Phi Omega Sorority, ARROW, Inc. (Area Resource and Referral Organization for Women: Targeting LBT Women’s Health) will be holding a Women of Color Health Expo on Saturday, September 24 at the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This health expo offers education and screening resources for lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LBT) women of color, an underserved and at risk population for many health challenges.

This is an historic event as there has been no prior health promotion activity undertaken within Southeast Florida explicitly for this population. Federally-funded research has shown that LBT women experience barriers to health care which create many high risks including: breast cancer, gynecological cancers, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and impaired mental health.

Organizations which will offer health promotion education and screenings at the event include: Broward County Department of Health, Memorial Regional Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Broward Community and Family Health, YWCA Family Wellness Program, Community Life Support, The Beautiful Gate plus others.

The following are areas of specific focus:

1) breast and cervical cancer, 2) hypertension, 3) diabetes, 4) STDs and HIV infection.

In addition, alternative and complementary medicine practitioners will be present. Free clinical breast exams will be provided, as well as screening for HIV infection, plus blood sugar and cholesterol. As special opportunities, “stress busters” and self-defense workshops for women will also be presented.

All women are welcome to attend this event and receive health promotion information plus free prevention screening.

WILTON MANORS, FL – This year’s LGBT Senior Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 22nd, at The Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 North Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. The event will provide LGBT Seniors with a comprehensive overview of healthcare services available to benefit the elder LGBT community. The event will feature a trade show with various

LGBT-friendly medical, professional and financial services providers who are eager to assist our community.

More than forty-five vendors will be on hand to address questions and provide information to support informed healthcare related decision-making. A healthy and tasty organic lunch will be served on a first come, first served basis.

On site medical services, provided by MD at Home and additional providers, will feature health screenings, flu shots and more!

Please RSVP to the Florida Assisted Living Coalition (please provide name and contact telephone number) at (800) 939-2650. For more information, contact the Pride Center Deputy Director Kristofer Fegenbush at (954) 463-9005 ext. 111.

WILTON MANORS, FL – Women in Network (WIN) will be holding a Metaphysical Fair on Wednesday, September 7, at 7 p.m. at the Pride Center at Equality Park, 2040 N.

Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. Here’s your chance to ask what you never dared to ask before and your chance to learn more and speak to people who are experts in reiki, psychic ability, yoga, acupuncture and more. Admission is $5 for WIN members and $10 for non-members.

photo: “S/he” Courtesy, Nicole Stodard

WILTON MANORS – Black Gay Pride South Florida will honor Black History Month with two exhibits highlighting the talents of same-gender-loving artists of African decent. The 12th annual Black Gay Pride South Florida celebration will be held on February 26th and 27th at the Pride Center at Equality Park.

The event will kick off on Saturday, February 26th with an opening wine reception and author’s reading at 6 p.m. The opening will be followed by two film screenings of the internet series phenomenon, “The Lover’s & Friends Show” which explores the lives of urban same-genderloving sisters which will be shown at 7 p.m. followed by the documentary film, “Silence Equals Death” which explores homophobia in the black church. After each screening, there will be a meet and greet, question and answer session with cast, director, participants and the producers.

On Sunday, February 27 at 5 p.m. there will be a performance of the ground-breaking play, “S/He” written by Nick Mwaluko and directed by Nicole Stodard. “S/He” explores a young man’s journey in a woman’s body that compels us to reconsider or answers to some of life’s most basic questions: Are you a man? A woman? Both? How do you know?

For more information, contact Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee at bishop@bishopmahee. com

or by calling (954) 775-2310.