News Round-Up: March 15, 2018

The Kings of Disco (not the Village People?)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Who's the 'real' Village People these days? It's pretty complicated, actually.

• Fort Lauderdale proves itself to be one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in America with the election of openly gay Dean Trantalis as mayor. The Democrat easily defeated his Republican opponent Bruce Roberts by winning 64% of the vote.

• When word broke that the Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered a $31,000 dining table for HUD Secretary Ben Carson's offices, we got quick denials that Carson knew nothing about the purchase. Recently released emails show, however, that Carson not only knew but picked out the new luxe new furniture with his wife.

• Donald Trump's new pick for Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has a terrible record on LGBTQ equality. From opposing marriage equality to fighting open military service by LGBTS, he's been bad news for the community.

• Megan Rapinoe, the Olympic and World Cup champion soccer player who came out publicly several years ago, has signed a sponsorship deal with Bodyarmor sports drink.

• Ryan Worley of the Chippendales gives you an up-close peek at his totally awesome abs minutes after his Chipps calendar shoot. #Dang

Up close and personal of my abs at the calendar shoot. Thanks @ishiebmakeup @chippendales

A post shared by Ryan Worley (@ryguy220) on Mar 15, 2018 at 8:10am PDT

Fort Lauderdale Plans 100 Couple Oceanside Same-Sex Wedding

Fort Lauderdale is already ramping up Florida same-sex marriage celebrations by inviting 100 couples to come get married at the beach this winter:

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to invite at least 100 couples from around the country and around the world to marry oceanside in a common ceremony sometime this winter, said Nicki Grossman, president of the Broward County tourism group in an interview.

The 100 number also will honor Broward's 100th birthday celebration now underway.

"We're going to pull out all the stops, just like a proud father does when their child marries," said Grossman, calling gay travelers "a very loyal and important part of our destination."

The wedding extravaganza is just the first of many gay-marriage activities planned in Broward, a pioneer in promoting gay tourism.

In 2013, more than 1.3 million LGBT travelers visited Broward and spent about $1.5 billion, accounting for about 10 percent of tourism in the county, Grossman said.

And that counts only those who came on LGBT tours, attended gay events, responded to gay ads or in some way, self-identified as LGBT. "We believe that there are considerably more LGBT travelers than that" in Broward, Grossman said.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Fort Lauderdale: Police Cite Clergy and Activists for Feeding The Homeless

Photo: Mike Clary

One of the justifications you hear when public services are cut for the poor is, "That's what the churches are for."

Well, now, it's against the law for even clergy to help the homeless in Fort Lauderdale.

Two members of the clergy and a 90 year old homeless advocate were cited with violating a new city ordinance which makes it a crime to feed the homeless:

Arnold Abbott, who heads the group Love Thy Neighbor, said he had served only three or four of about 300 meals he had prepared when police ordered him to stop.

Abbott, the Rev. Mark Sims, of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Coral Springs, and the Rev. Dwayne Black, pastor of The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale, were each cited for willfully violating a city ordinance. Police issued them notices to appear in court, where they could be asked to explain their actions.

The ordinance, approved by the city commission Oct. 22, is one of several recent efforts by officials to crack down on the city's burgeoning downtown homeless population.

The latest law, which took effect Friday, limits where outdoor feeding sites can be located, requires the permission of property owners and says the groups have to provide portable toilets.

Abbott, who has won past legal battles with the city over feeding restrictions, has vowed to go to court again.

"We are simply trying to feed people who are hungry," said Sims. "To criminalize that is contrary to everything that I stand for as a priest and as a person of faith."

Read more at the Sun-Sentinel.

Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Supports Marriage Equality

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the largest group of businesses in Broward County,  has approved a resolution in support of same-sex marriage.

“Marriage equality makes great business sense for our state and our community,” Dan Lindblade, president and CEO of the Chamber, said in a statement. He termed it “reform.”

With a membership of over 1,400, the pro-business group had good reason to support the freedom to marry.

From Lindblade: “Simplification of benefits administration, a competitive edge on hiring top talent, growing an already diverse and strong tourism marketplace, and protecting the strong economic engine related to gay and gay-friendly businesses are just a few reasons.”

(source)