Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
For gay community in 2017, Pride has bigger purpose
Although South Florida is more welcoming than most, gay activists say Pride Month this year will be more about politics than just partying. Despite new laws in some regions and national legalization of gay marriage, some leaders say more needs to be done — for example, for housing and workplace protection.
With the backdrop of the Pulse nightclub attacks and concern about whether the Trump Administration will be friend or foe, leaders in the LGBT community fear a loss of momentum this year. Leaders say protest rallies today in South Florida and the nation will highlight the continuing battle.
It’s been a year since the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, but this Pride Month still feels different.
For the gay community, June is typically packed with celebratory and cheerful parades and parties. And that’s still on the schedule, with events planned for the annual Stonewall Pride Week from June 11-17 in Wilton Manors.
But there will also be events and rallies taking place across South Florida honoring the victims of the shooting and the fight for rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community.
“The effects from Pulse, we feel it every day. Because of that, we feel an extra level of activism this year, so we expect a bigger turnout,” said Jeffrey Sterling, CEO of the Wilton Manors Entertainment Group and organizer of Stonewall Pride Week. “People think [the festival is] just fun, and it’s supposed to be fun, but it’s also supposed to be a reminder that the gay community didn’t have rights. We had to fight for them, and it all started with Stonewall in New York.”
Here’s a roundup of some LGBTQ events scheduled this month.
Equality Rally for Unity & Pride
The week kicks off today with the Equality Rally for Unity & Pride and Pulse Remembrance at Huizenga Plaza. The event is in support of a national march taking place today in Washington, D.C.
Organizers of the nationwide event want the message to go beyond LGBTQ rights, also rallying for the rights of immigrants, Muslims, women, people with disabilities and voters. Among those expected to attend are Pulse survivor Isaiah Henderson, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida Rep. Bobby DuBose.
Admission is free. Go to WiltonManorsStonewall.com/equalityrally-unity-pride-ft-lauderdale
Car wash at Progress Bar Noon today at Progress Bar, 2440 Wilton Drive Before the rally, Progress Bar
will host a car wash at its parking lot to benefit the Stonewall Parade and Festival. Donations of $10 to $20 are encouraged. Anyone who donates gets a free shot of Effen Vodka.
Go to ProgressBarSouthFlorida.com or wiltonmanorsstonewall.com/entertainment/stonewall-pride-week-events
Stonewall Skate Night
8 p.m.-midnight Wednesday at Xtreme Action Park, 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale
The massive action park also is hosting a fundraiser, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Stonewall Parade and Festival. Miami drag queen Tp Lords, known for incorporating lasers into her outfits, will perform. DJ Miik will spin music.
Admission is $15 (includes skate rental). Call 954-491-6265, or go to XtremeActionPark.com/stonewall-skate-night.
Wilton Manors Stonewall Parade and Festival 4 p.m. Saturday along Wilton Drive
Every year, the parade moves down Wilton Drive with dozens of colorful floats, upbeat music, drag queens and rainbow flags. The parade lasts about an hour and is followed by a street festival with two stages featuring live music and drag shows. Bars and restaurants along the street typically feature their own entertainment as well. More than 100 food, business and arts and crafts vendors are expected.
This year’s grand marshal is Emmy Award-winning actress Sharon Gless, known for her roles in TV shows including “Cagney & Lacey” and the more recent, South Florida-filmed “Burn Notice.” Gless, whose appearance is sponsored by
OurNightOut.org, is scheduled to meet with fans and take photos from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Stonewall National Museum & Archives, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd.
Admission is free. Go to WiltonManorsStonewall.com.
Communi-Tea Dance: In honor of Pulse Nightclub
4-8 p.m. today at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
The Arsht Center will remember and honor the victims and families of the Pulse shooting with the Communi-Tea Dance at the outdoor Thomson Plaza for the Arts. Drag queen Tiffany Fantasia will host the event, and street artist Teepop will be working on a commemorative Pride Wall mural throughout the event. The wall will be made of 49 bricks, representing the victims of the shooting, and painted in rainbow colors. Event attendees will have a chance to write a message on the wall.
“The reason we call it Communi-Tea Dance is specifically for everyone in our community to come together in honor of the victims and families, but also to celebrate them and celebrate life,” said Jairo Ontiveros, the Arsht Center’s director of education and community engagement. “The arts have that ability to heal and to bring people together.”
There will be happy hour prices for beer, wine, sangria and special cocktails. Queef
Latina, Ann Atomic, Jupiter Velvet, Kat Wilderness and Jane Bell are other drag queens are scheduled to perform throughout the day, and local DJs will spin music.
Admission is free. Call 305-949-6722 or go to ArshtCenter.org. Pulse Day of Remembrance
6-9 p.m. Monday at the AmericanAirlines Arena XFINITY East Plaza, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Pridelines, an LGBTQ nonprofit and community center in Miami, is joining the the Miami Heat and the Miami Police Department in organizing an event to remember and honor the victims of Pulse. Emcee Enrique Santos of iHeart Radio will host the event, which will feature entertainment including music, dance and poetry readings. There will be an interfaith prayer segment and a candlelight vigil with battery-powered candles, as well as grief counselors available to meet with attendees. Elected officials and leaders of the LGBTQ community are expected to attend.
All attendees can join in the painting of a mural on canvas in honor of Pulse victims. There will also be a separate board where people can write messages of hope, inspiration or condolences that will later be taken to Orlando.
“That tragedy left many of our community questioning the idea of safe spaces. For many people, nightclubs were the only place where they felt safe coming out and being themselves,” said Victor Diaz-Herman, CEO of Pridelines. “It brought people to say enough is enough. We have to honor their lives. We have to honor them with action. Now is the time to stand together and say, ‘We’re here, and we’re not going to be bullied.’ ”
Admission is free, but RSVP is required. Go to Heat.com/Pulse to RSVP, or call 305-571-9601 for more information.