Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Looking for LGBTQ+ events in South Florida?
Here’s a list — from drag queens, a pool party and Pride Shabbat
You don’t have to wait for Pride Month in June to have a lot of options for gay-riffic things to do.
Not in South Florida. Over the next few weeks, there’s a host of LGBTQ+ events throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
March 10 and 12 Gay Men’s Chorus of
South Florida VIP Gala and Brunch Fundraiser
The Gay Men’s Chorus will have two benefits, both at resorts on Fort Lauderdale beach. To get more information or order tickets, go to gmcsf.org.
WSVN-TV’s “Deco Drive” co-host Alex Miranda will emcee the VIP Gala Fundraiser, which will feature live music entertainment, an auction and open bar at the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdale, 525 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., starting at 7 p.m. March 10. Gala tickets are $325.
Then on March 12, there will be the “Once Upon A Time” annual brunch fundraiser at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., starting at 11 a.m. Brunch tickets are $100 regular, $140 VIP and $1,400 for a 10-person table.
March 11
Miss Richfield 1981’s ‘Cancel Cultured Pearls — How To Survive Our Sensitive New World’
Miss Richfield 1981 is the crossdressing creation of Russ King and is a bona
fide star on the gay cabaret circuit in Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Provincetown, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and Palm Springs as well as on gay cruises. A few years ago, you may have spotted him/her in a series of Orbitz TV commercials. The name? The lore around the character is that she won a beauty pageant in Richfield, Minn., and has been riding that wave ever since. Showtime is 8 p.m. March 11 at Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW Ninth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets range in cost from $35 to $65. To order, go to sunshinecathedral.org or eventbrite.com.
March 18
Florida AIDS Walk & Music
Festival
Flo Rida and DJ Citizen Jane will take the stage at this fundraiser for Broward House, an organization that helps people with chronic health challenges, including HIV. The event is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 18 at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, 1100 S. Seabreeze Blvd. The registration fee (which serves as an admission fee as well) is $25. To register or for more information, call 954-522-3132 or go to floridaaidswalk. org.
March 19
FlockFest Spring SPLASH Pool Party
FlockFest, for those who don’t know, is equal parts inflatables flotilla
and cocktail party. It’s also a fundraiser, this time for Pride Fort Lauderdale. (But that’s in July.) First up among FlockFest fiestas is a pool party at The Easton Rooftop Pool & Lounge. The splish-splashy soiree will be hosted by drag entertainer and recording artist Priince Triila and feature DJ Mainiero. The event is from noon to 5 p.m. March 19, and
The Easton is located at 721 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $25 at the door (if available). VIP tickets are $80 in advance and $100 at the event (if available). Bag check is $5 in advance and $10 at the event. To order, got to flockfest.org.
March 25
Latinos Salud’s 2023 Gala: Evolution
This organization that provides health education and links to services will have a gala on March 25 at The Current Miami, 9250 W. Flagler St. Hours are 6 p.m. for cocktails and 7 p.m. for the main event, which will feature a catered dinner, open bar, live music and other performances. Tickets are $155 regular and $205 VIP. To reserve a ticket, go to gala.lsalud.org.
March 25-26
Palm Beach Pride Festival
This two-day celebration takes place on the Intracoastal at Bryant Park in
Lake Worth Beach with family-friendly entertainment, food trucks, local vendors, youth activities, plus a health fair. The event is from noon to 6 p.m. each day, with a parade taking place at 11 a.m. March 26. Bryant Park is located at 30 S. Golfview Road. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. To order or get more information, go to compassglcc.com.
March 31
Community Pride Shabbat
This first-ever event is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. March 31, on Transgender Day of Visibility, at Boca Raton’s Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish
Community Center (JCC). The service will be led by cantorial soloist Jake Harris and Rabbi Greg Weisman from Temple Beth El. Shabbat is the Jewish Day of Rest and lasts from Friday evening to Saturday evening. The holiday celebrates the end of the work week and the entering into days of rest. There is a prayer service, candle lighting and dinner. The JCC Sandler Center is located at 21050 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton. The event is free, but you must register at jewishboca.org/ events/jcrc-community-pride-shabbat.
April 1 Diversity Honors
This annual event will once again celebrate LGBTQ+ leaders and allies and will benefit the Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park. This time, the honoree list includes:
Latrice Royale, a drag TV star who has appeared in five franchises of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Royale was also the first drag queen to appear in drag on QVC for the snack mix Latrice Royale for Ruby Royale.
Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who is
the first openly LGBTQ+ Black person elected to the Florida Legislature.
Carol Moran, co-owner of Apt. 9F restaurant in Wilton Manors. She is also a philanthropist and LGBTQ advocate.
The Bears of South Florida, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a nonprofit social volunteer organization. (For the uninitiated, “bears” in the gay world are large and hirsute men.)
Jacqueline Lorber and Sebrina Maria Alfonso, the
power couple behind the South Florida Symphony Orchestra.
California state Commissioner Nicole M. Ramirez, an LGBTQ+ and Latino activist as well as a past state chair of Equality California. He is also Queen Mother of the International Court System, one of the oldest nonprofit LGBT organizations in the United States. Damian McKinney, Stoli Group’s Global CEO and a supporter of LGBTQ initiatives.
The April 1 event starts at 7 p.m. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, 1 Seminole Way. Tickets are $250. To order, go to diversityhonors.org.
April 7-9
2023 LEXUS International Gay Polo Tournament
The event starts at 7 p.m. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, 1 Seminole Way. Tickets are $250. To order, go to y set. In addition to the polo match — which is on April 8 — there’s a slew of parties, a tailgate competition and a Sunday brunch. The match and most of the events take place at the National Polo Center, 3667 120 Ave.
S., Wellington. Tickets range in price from $30 to $2,200. To order, go to gaypolo.com.