Florida Agenda

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – For the second time in as many months, the Stonewall National Museum & Archives has added to its executive staff. Brian Rabbitt, a sales and operations vice-president at Benchmark Capital, LLC, has been hired as the new development director. In April, the organization hired Bryan W. Knicely as its new president.

“Brian brings to our team the right skills at the perfect time,” said Don Dye, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Stonewall Library. “We have extraordinary educational programming in the development process, and we’re on the verge of a major expansion. Brian will help us bring in the necessary funding to make everyone’s dreams for Stonewall a reality.”

A 2001 graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration management, Rabbitt has worked in sales and marketing for the Star Dancer Casino Cruise Lines, First Southeast Mortgage Co. and Benchmark Capital.

“This is truly a dream come true for me,” Rabbitt said in a written statement. “I’m very eager to make a big difference at Stonewall. It’s a one-of-a-kind organization, serving the entire country as its ‘Smithsonian’ and I’m glad to be part of the team that will make it a huge success.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Stonewall Library and Archives has announced a new exhibit, “Curtain Up! Homosexual Characters on Broadway” which will on display from May 2 to June 30 and will be free and open to the public. In 1922 when “The God of Vengeance” appeared on Broadway, theatergoers saw a lesbian love scene for the first time. The cast was arrested. It was not long before a censorship law forbade homosexual characters from being presented on stage. But playwrights had clever ways of working around the situation and ground-breaking plays such as “Design for Living” and “The Children’s Hour” won acclaim. This exhibition explores the time from the early Roaring Twenties to 1968 when “The Boys in the Band” broke all taboos off-Broadway. There will be an opening reception on May 2 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Faces

All photos by Stephen R. Lang, MadPaparazzi.com
MACK MIXER AT J. MARKS: (photo right)Welcome Committee Johann Ali & Jaclyn Namer.

LARRY GIERER POLITICAL FUNDRAISER HELD AT MARACAS: (L to R) Michael
Albeta, Sal Torre, Larry Gierer, Ron Mills, & Jason Burns. (photo below)

STONEWALL LIBRARY & ARCHIVES: Artist of the Month Cheryl Turner and
her recent piece “Unmentionables (photo below)

SHELLY NOVAK ROAST AT BURGERS & BEERS: Barbara Peramint & Shelly Novak (below)

NEW INDUCTED BROWARD HOUSE HOPES HEROS AT MOJOS: (L to R) Brett Rose, Jerry Gutierrez, Billy Looper, & Michael Christ.

The film opens with a luxurious aerial sweep of Fort Lauderdale beach; paradise laid out below. The ocean sparkles and palm trees sway in the tropical breeze. As the camera sails up crystal blue canals we hear Connie Francis’ inimitable croon: “Where the Boys are…” The talented teenager was peeking into the future.

where the gays are ft. lauderdale

Beginning in the halcyon days of the early sixties, Fort Lauderdale has emerged as one of the world’s great gay destinations. As a laissez-faire place to play and live for gay men and women, Fort Lauderdale has it all:

The sun, the ocean, the entertainment and the tanned distractions proved an irresistible combination that manifests the perfect storm of gay bliss.

Stonewall celebrates Fort Lauderdale’s rich gay history in its next exhibition, Where The Gays Are: Fifty Years in Fort Lauderdale. The exhibition is a historical overview of gay Fort Lauderdale and a celebration of both the 50th anniversary of the release of the film, Where the Boys are and the 100th anniversary of Fort Lauderdale’s incorporation.

Where the Gays Are: Fifty Years in Fort Lauderdale will be on view in the Stonewall Museum’s George Hester Gallery, June 1-30. The opening reception is on Monday, June 7, 6:30-8 p.m. at Stonewall.

Stonewall Library is located at 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale.

For more information call 954-763-8565 or visit www.stonewall-library.org.—FA