By Cliff Dunn
Events for Stonewall Pride Weekend are cropping up faster than one of Jonathan Bleiweiss’ victims, with a number of local establishments and watering holes teaming up to support charitable and service organizations, while serving up products to help shore up the summer slows.
To The Depot Cabana Bar & Grill’s Stonewall Saturday Pool Party on Saturday, June 18, you can add the first annual Pride Stride, a Drag Race benefiting Broward House, Broward County’s largest and oldest HIV/AIDS service organization. In addition to Scandals Saloon and The Stable, interested parties can sign up at Bill’s, Sidelines Sports Bar, Matty’s On The Drive, Georgie’s Alibi and New Moon – all of Wilton Manors. The Drag Race includes prizes for the first to cross the finish line (good luck with that one, sisters), the most money raised in donor pledges and the highest heels. There is nothin’ like a dame.
Speaking of Scandals and The Stable, co-owner Ken Kelley is proud that his venerable flagship bar on N.E. 6th Avenue in Wilton Manors is the only official kick-off party for 2011 Stonewall Pride. The bar, which opened in 2003 and landed in its present digs in 2005, will hold its Stonewall kick-off event on Friday, June 17.
Let the SunServe In
The non-profit SunServe is the recipient of a three-year federal grant for their Promoting LGBTQ Youth, Self-Esteem, Self Advocacy and Self-Resiliency (SSR) program. The 501(c)(3) social service agency serves South Florida’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community – with a special emphasis on those in financial need, minorities, youth, seniors, families and those with life-challenging physical or emotional conditions.
The grant in question, totaling around $222,000, is geared towards preventing or minimizing teenage suicide. SunServe’s other community efforts – many of which benefit straight as well as gay persons – involve numerous educational and outreach projects, counseling, support groups and a Senior Center.
Stonewalling Wilton Drive
The Gables Wilton Park luxury apartments on Wilton Drive will be hosting an exhibit by Fort Lauderdale’s Stonewall National Museum & Archives the week of June 13 to 19, during the run-up to the Stonewall Festival and Parade on Sunday, June 19. The free exhibit will focus on the history of the LGBT rights movement (or the Gay Agenda, if you’d rather), leading back to New York City’s Stonewall Riots. Find more info on the exhibit at StonewallNationalMuseum.org. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
It’s a Gay World, After All
The forward-thinkers at the Florida Family Association (FFA – an anagram with an entirely different connotation among the LGBT Levi’s and Leather Set) spent $7,000 last weekend to charter a banner plane “warning” the groundbound about Gay Days events being held in and around Walt Disney World. Operating in ten-hour shifts on both Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, the plane towed airborne banners that read: “WARNING GAY DAY AT DISNEY 6/4” and “WARNING GAY PRIDE DAY AT DISNEY 2DAY.” The FFA, which bills itself as an organization dedicated to “improving America’s moral environment,” posted on its Web site: “30,000 children along with their unsuspecting parents will be confronted with the reality of witnessing over 15,000 Gay Pride Day revelers when they enter the Magic Kingdom on June 4, 2011.” They added: “Florida Family Association wants to warn these families about this offensive event before they arrive at the Magic Kingdomon Saturday.” (This puts me in mind the words of the Great Mouseketeer himself, Walt Disney, who said – appropriately enough: “We are not trying to entertain the critics. I’ll take my chances with the public.”)
Overheard
“We will want to take out a $2 million life insurance policy against the possibility you die before the five years are over. Does that work?”
“Yes, I’m good with that. Just don’t kill me.” – Conversation between potential business investors with local Captain of Industry at Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors (names withheld)
If you’re “Open for Business”, you can contact Business Writer and Director of Sales, Cliff Dunn with your story at Business@FloridaAgenda.com