Florida Agenda

Let me begin my wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2013, and to say also that it is not my intent here to “call out” anyone with respect to their religious beliefs or the morality system with which they were raised or subsequently adopted. If I am a disciple of any moral code, it would be one that tolerates the numerous and unexplained mysteries of what makes this universe a bearable place. Or, as Frank Sinatra put it, “I’m for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers, or a bottle of Jack Daniels.”

There is a tendency among some to invoke the memory of Ancient Rome when they are looking for historical antecedents to help them define some moral point or other about the decline of Western—and more specifically, American—values. I would offer that ‘these people’—in today’s culture, mostly religious conservatives, nationalist-types, and fringe prophesy theorists—fail to grasp the very history they want to conjure.

Most of the moral decay (including no doubt the “perversion” of homosexuality) that keeps them up nights pre-dates Imperial—and even Republican—Rome and probably goes back to that naughty night when Ooglook the Neanderthal and Yammoo the Cro-Magnon decided to invent “getting your freak on.”

More than the Decline of the Roman Empire, America at the dawn of the Third Millennium closely parallels Tudor England, that “Merrie Olde Tyme” so charmingly brought to life in Renaissance fairs across the planet (there’s one coming up in Deerfield Beach next month), which ran its course for roughly the century beginning just before 1500 and ending just after 1600.

As well as giving us the cultural legacy of fat King Henry VIII and the beginnings of many modern popular entertainment forms, the Tudor century also defined much of the morality (I am fighting the urge to say “priggishness” and “sexual hypocrisy”) that would inform the birth of Puritanism and later—in a very real, meaningful, and in some instances tragic fashion— the American Experiment.

Like America in recent years, the world of Tudor England was one where the rich got richer and the poor got both poorer and more numerous. (In a modern illustration, in the year I was born the U.S. population was roughly 180 million; fast forward 48 years and that number has nearly doubled, to about 310 million.)

Like the government of Henry VIII and his children Edward VI (from “Prince and the Pauper” fame), Mary I (recall her when you consume your next Bloody Mary), and Elizabeth I (memorably portrayed on the big screen by Bette Davis, Judy Dench, and Cate Blanchett), managing the seriously poor has become a preoccupation of successive presidencies since roughly the dawn of the 20th Century (when Theodore Roosevelt first drew attention

This is a French cake that celebrates the Epiphany, the traditional January 6 commemoration of the day when the Three Kings visited the Baby Jesus.

As part of French tradition, a bean or small china “feve,” or favor, is hidden in the cake. The person who finds the “feve” in his or her slice becomes “King” or “Queen” for the day.

Ingredients

¼ cup of almond paste

¼ cup of white sugar

3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened

¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon of almond extract

2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

1 pinch of salt

2 packs of frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, beaten

Place the almond paste in a food processor with about half of the sugar, and process until well-blended. Add the butter and remaining sugar and process until smooth, then blend in egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, flour and salt. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside. Roll out one sheet of the puff pastry. Keep the pastry cool; don’t knead or stretch it. Repeat with the second sheet of pastry. Refrigerate both sheets.

Mound the almond filling onto the center of the pastry (the one that is on the baking sheet). Leave about a 1 ½ inch margin at the edges. Wet the margin with a little water so it will stick together. Don’t forget the little favor in the filling!

Place the second sheet of pastry on top, and press down the edges to seal. Beat the remaining egg with a fork, and lightly brush onto the top of the galette. Use a knife to make a criss-cross pattern in the egg wash, and then prick several small slits in the top to vent steam while baking.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Eat it warm: You are the chef!

The Dream and the Promise of Greater Fort Lauderdale 

By ERDAL ERKUS 

When my friends told me that they have moved to a town called Fort Lauderdale, Florida I had a laugh. I thought they would be back soon, knowing that the heat and the population would not make their job easy, being both gay and Muslim.

They have told me many times that the city is a gay heaven, and so easy to live there. They [said] that they do not have any major issues living there, [but that] did not mean much to me.

So what could “gay heaven” mean to me? [It] was a bizarre word after experiencing London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and Rome.

As a tourist from Europe, [when you think of South Florida] you think of the storms (although we don’t have hurricanes, so “hurricane” does not mean much to me, apart from what we see on CNN news), the Kennedy Space Center, Disney World—and the crocodiles in people’s pools.

Yes [despite this], Fort Lauderdale—of all the places in the world—has become my “dream city” for being gay: A place of freedom, comfort, weather, [limitless] possibilities, and [free exercise of] religion.

I can’t talk about all experiences I had [while I visited Fort Lauderdale], so I will only try to explain how I felt. I come from Turkey, a so-called ‘liberal’ Muslim country where people are supposed to be sort of free, but when [a] gay [person is] murdered, there is not much of a punishment for the murderer.

In that sense I guess you guys would never be able to understand how lucky you are to have a city called Fort Lauderdale.

Have a wonderful 2013 and all the best wishes.

Erdal Erkus lives in Istanbul, Turkey, the world’s second largest city by population.

Florida Agenda Exclusive

WILTON MANORS — When he was diagnosed with colon cancer in September 2010, Marty Kildea still considered himself a lucky man. His cancer was operable and curable, and he had the support of a gay community that had grown to know him through his involvement with Sidelines Sports Bar, a popular Wilton Drive club recognized for multiple flat-screen TVs airing football, soccer, tennis, and baseball as well as mixed martial arts, boxing and wrestling.

Sidelines opened May 12, 2006 in the former location of Circuit Bar, and was an immediate hit with a gay clientele that mixed easily with the occasional lesbian and heterosexual sports fan.

During its first years of operation, Kildea was featured along with lawyer Laurie Whittaker in publicity releases and published articles listing them as “co-owners,” celebrating the success of what was an obviously well-run and appreciated Drive destination.

With Whittaker handling the financial transactions of the business and Kildea managing the bar, Sidelines drew much-needed traffic to the south end of Wilton Drive, and benefited many other businesses along the route.

After Kildea’s cancer surgery, however, he says that his ability to continue his day-to-day obligations was impacted by his ill health, which took a second hit when further cancer surgery and treatment was required in July 2011. It was then that things began to unravel—amid the bowls of peanuts and freshly made popcorn—inside the once happy Sidelines.

And allegations began to fly.

“On a Tuesday in July, Laurie [Whittaker] came to me and offered to buy me out of the business for $50,000.” Kildea told the Florida Agenda. “Wednesday, Laurie had to have surgery on her throat for polyps, so she couldn’t talk. Her brother started to call me, demanding to know if I was going to take the offer. He said, ‘You need to just accept this because you’re not going to win on this.’”

Kildea claims that he was blindsided by the offer, particularly given that the bar had grossed $7 million during its first five years in business.

“I told him that I wasn’t accepting the offer. Thursday night, I received a text from Laurie saying, ‘Do not come back to the bar. I’m changing the locks on the doors, and you’re not welcome there anymore.’ Friday, I went and found a lawyer,” Kildea said.

On legal documents, Laurie Whittaker is listed as the sole owner of Sidelines Sports Bar LLC and holds the liquor license to the club. According to Kildea, despite the fact that they went into the business relationship together, and he is a co-signer with Whittaker on the lease, he was told that he couldn’t “officially” be listed on any documents because of an arrest for cocaine possession prior to the opening of the bar. He was eventually convicted of the charge on August 8, 2007.

“After we had opened the bar, and were still getting things in order, [Laurie] brought me a piece of paper that she had printed out that said because of the Florida Division of Alcohol, Beverage and Tobacco rules, with my pending drug charge, I could not be listed on anything,” Kildea said.

“We worked it out that I would get a bi-weekly check for my services, with a larger amount in cash.” Additionally, Kildea says that Whittaker split the cash take from the dart games and pool tables with Kildea on a 50-50 basis for the entire time he was connected with the establishment.

Kildea alleges that Sidelines Marketing Director Jennifer Morales was being paid in cash, as well.

“We were paying Jennifer under the table because she was getting SSI (Supplemental Security Income)” for a diagnosed case of pulmonary hypertension, as well as ataxia, a progressive neurological disease. In his suit, Kildea alleges that Morales, whose real name is Jennifer Mojica, was paid $750 a week “for her marketing efforts despite the fact that she is collecting disability and Medicare,” a claim that Whittaker denies.

Complicating the ownership issue, in printed releases from Morales’ own office during the first five years of the bar’s operation, Kildea is referred to as a “co-owner” along with Laurie Whittaker, Morales’ longtime girlfriend.

Articles in both the Agenda and South Florida Gay News referred to him as co-owner as late as April 2011. Three months later, Kildea was out.

In his court case, originally filed July 27, 2011, Kildea alleges that Whittaker knowingly misled him about the liquor license and their partnership. Additionally, he claims that Whittaker, by “taking $10,000 per month more than agreed to, misappropriated assets of Sidelines for her own personal gain,” and that she took “travel advances, expensing lavish parties and dinners,” and “personal vacations, which were paid with credit cards” issued in Sidelines’ name. Whittaker denies that allegation as well.

While “respectfully” refusing to comment for this story, in her sworn answers to Kildea’s lawsuit Whittaker takes the position that his allegations “are based upon and completely emanate from an alleged oral contract that is illegal and against public policy in the State of Florida.” She further denies his right to examine the corporation’s bookkeeping records.

To further complicate the Sidelines’ saga, Whittaker announced last August that she was moving the bar from its current location at 2031 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors to a new location in Fort Lauderdale at 2104 E Oakland Park Blvd, the former location of the Jib Room.

In making the announcement, Whittaker noted that the new location will have nearly double the square footage of the current 3,600 square foot club, plus have kitchen facilities the present location lacks.

A story in the December 17, 2012 edition of the Agenda reported that, “Sidelines Sports Bar broke ground last week in their new location,” with the anticipated opening “in the early part of Winter 2013.” A visit to the site that once housed the Jib Room shows no sign of activity, and a thick blanket of dust covers unused kitchen equipment and duct work. Furthermore, the City of Fort Lauderdale has only a single open building permit for the site—one that has been active since 1998 for the construction of a dumpster enclosure.

Whittaker and Kildea’s landlord Tony Dee described an encounter with Whittaker while she was eating at the popular Tropics Restaurant and Piano Bar, which he owns.

According to Dee, he asked Whittaker about her plans to move out of his building, which houses the current Sidelines location and was told that she “hadn’t made up her mind what she was doing.” In that conversation, which Dee says took place within the past two weeks, Whittaker claimed that she might have two locations or might move.

“I hadn’t heard a word from her before that,” Dee said. “And I wanted to know about all the rumors I had heard, just like everybody else.”

Dee, who owns more than 40,000 square feet of space in Wilton Manors, added: “Laurie Whittaker is an excellent paying tenant.”

He said that he’s had multiple enquiries about the space and has tentatively agreed to lease it to “the guys from Bill’s,” if and when the property becomes available. The current lease runs through April 2014.  Kildea has also expressed interest in the property.

Regardless of the outcome of the suit or the eventual move of Sidelines, Dee told the Florida Agenda that there would soon be a sign advertising “3,600 square feet for rent” posted above the currently empty space next door to the bar.

As for Whittaker and Kildea, they are due back in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court this month.

BOYNTON BEACH — Investigators in Boynton Beach arrested a Jupiter man last week after an undercover sting in which he traded explicit text messages using the adult hookup app Grindr with someone he believed was a teenage boy.

According to the criminal complaint filed by police, Christopher Siegert, 29, told the undercover officer posing as the teen, “I’m just nervous. I’m afraid you’re a cop.”

Siegert told the investigator that he wanted to perform oral sex upon the “boy” and purchase sex toys at an adult store.

The complaint says that Siegert used the name “R/T” during his online chats with the investigator, who, when prompted by Siegert to reveal his age, said, “Younger then u.”

Siegert allegedly told the undercover officer that he would give him login information for a gay adult Website “if you’re old enough.”

The investigators persuaded Siegert to meet them at a Boynton Beach convenience store, where he was arrested and charged with enticement, a federal count that prohibits the use of interstate commerce—in this instance, an online app—to “knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.” He faces 10 years to life in federal prison.

FORT LAUDERDALE – Tuesday’s Angels will hold its January Dinner at J. Mark’s Restaurant (1245 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale), on Tuesday, January 8, with “doors opening” at 6:15 p.m., and dinner served at 7:15. The organization’s monthly meeting and a prize raffle will be integrated into the dinner.

The cost of $28 per person includes taxes and tip. Reservations must be made by Sunday December 2. Limited open seating will be available on a first-come basis. The recommended minimum donation for members and guests is $25 per person. For reservations, call (954) 524-3991.

In the first six months of 2012, Tuesday’s Angels donated over $60,000, and helped nearly 300 individual clients with rent, utilities, eyeglasses, or medication, along with many other philanthropic activities in the community.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Eight gay South Florida musicians will have their talents on display for the Inaugural Parade to commemorate President Obama’s second term. The musicians are members of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA), which includes performers from all over the U.S.

Fort Lauderdale French horn player Adam DeRosa, who serves as the organization’s national President, will be among those taking part in the festivities, which through a calendar quirk will take part on Monday, January 21 (even though President’s term begins on January 20, which this year falls on Sunday).

LGBA members also marched in the 2009 inaugural parade. More than 2,800 groups have applied to participate in the inaugural parade, while less than 50 have received approval from the Inaugural Committee.

The group’s application to perform was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who also serves as Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), who said in a statement that the LGBA represents “the tremendous diversity of our country.”

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Network (GLLN) has launched a law student scholarship essay contest with the theme: “How to Deal with Bullying, or How I have learned to survive as a Sexual Minority,” with a prize of $1,200 to be awarded to the winner.

According to GLLN board members, the contest is open to all students currently enrolled in any South Florida law school, including FIU College of Law, Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad Law Center, St. Thomas University School of Law, and University of Miami School of Law. Partial funding for this project was provided by the Florida Bar.

Essay submissions are limited to between 1,000 and 1,200 words, and must be postmarked between January 26 and February 2. Submissions should be sent by U.S. mail to GLLN Essay Contest, 2301 Wilton Dr, Suite 3, Wilton Manors, FL 33305. For more information, visit GLLN.org.

FORT LAUDERDALE — On January 1, the members of the philanthropic Gamma Mu Foundation wrap up three days of events in Greater Fort Lauderdale. “Heat Goes Hollywood” Is the organization’s 13^th annual event to help the group’s goal of establishing “a perpetual, philanthropic fund to provide financial assistance for the health, enhancement, and pride of our community.”

The Gamma Mu Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, was organized to endow financial grants to organizations and individuals, mostly in rural America, in order to make direct assistance available to people with HIV/AIDS and their families.

The Foundation awards grants to non-profit groups working in America’s rural HIV/AIDS environment, provides graduate-level scholarships to college and university students whose degree programs have a positive influence on LGBT-acceptance in the community-at-large, and advances the establishment of outright, annual, and memorial gifts, and planned giving through wills, charitable trusts, and life insurance assignments.

The Foundation also provides funding through research and public education grants with the goal of making the world a better place for everyone, without regard to a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

In all cases, the Foundation looks to make grants to organizations located in rural areas where the need is great and the resources are often very limited. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $1,500,000 to more than 100 organizations: over 90 percent of these awards have been in rural areas.

According to board member John Ellis II, Foundation projects were initially funded by the Board of Directors, but from the beginning, the Foundation’s intention has been to build seed-support through member contributions, and the assistance of concerned members of the community.

For more information, visit gammamufoundation.org.

WILTON MANORS — On January 17, the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center will present a multimedia exhibit, including one on the history of HIV/AIDS, featuring sculpture, audio, and other mediums at the Wilton Station Club House, as part of a preview for the museum. Featured artists at the invitation-only event include Emilio Aponte-Sierra, Ed Sparan, and Steve Stagon.