cityxtra news (cxn magazine) - oct 2013

2 CXNMAG.COM | Volume 3, Issue 9

IN EVERY ISSUE 12 Rainbow411 World 14 Legal Corner 16 Religious Corner

PROFILE

08 Legends Return to Riverside

DOWN TO BUSINESS

03 Content 06 Equality Florida Jacksonville Gala Photographs 12 Rainbow411 World 14 Religious Corner: Dr. Harvey Carr 16 Legal Corner: Atty. Gordon Nicol

COVER STORY

10 BEST OF JAX TEACHER: Randy Lesson

Fall Arts Special Edition LGBTQ Concerns for Holiday Season

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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

Volume 3, Issue 9 | CXNMAG.COM 3

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06

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CONTENTS VOL. 3, ISSUE 9

JACKSONVILLE

616: 616 Park St. (904) 358-6969

AJ Bar & Grill: 1024 Atlantic Blvd. (904) 805-9060 ajsbarjax.com

Boot Rack: 4751 Lenox Blvd. (904) 384-7090 bootrack.com

Bo’s Club: 201 5th Ave. N. (Jax Beach) (904) 246-9874 bosclub.com

Club Jax: 1939 Hendricks Ave. (904) 398-7451

clubjax.com

Hamburger Mary’s: 3333-1 Beach Blvd. (904) 551-2048 hamburgermarys.com/jax

Incahoots: 711 Edison Ave. (904) 353-6316

Park Place: 931 King St. (904) 389-6616

Metro: 859 Willow Branch Ave. (904) 388-7192 metrojax.com

The Norm: 2952 Roosevelt (904) 384-0029


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htlife

cityXtra News Magazine Staff

Publisher: David Vandygriff [email protected]

Executive Editor: Louis Suffredini [email protected]

Creative Designer: Shane Johnson [email protected]

Director of Sales: Carlos Martinez [email protected]

cityXtra News Magazine is published by GLBT Advertising Inc. dba cityXtra News Magazine

2941 Plum Street Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 410-9592 Jacksonville Office

(321) 426-0296 Orlando Office www.cxnmag.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Harvey Carr, Christ Church of Peace

Joey Amato, OUT Reach Public Relations

Dr. Doug Massengill, University of Lola Chicago

Sebastion Fortino, Project Manager

Contributing Writers

David Vandygriff, Mamie Joshlin, Joey Amato, Sebastion Fortino, Dr. Harvey Carr, Atty. Gordon

Nicol, Greg Henchar, Michael Smith

DEADLINE FOR NOV 15th

ISSUE IS NOV 5th

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cityXtra News Magazine is published 12 times per year. Reprints are available. Contact of contributing advertisers does not

reflect the opinions of the publisher. Advertisers have proofed respective articles, and content is assumed true and correct.

cityXtra is not responsible for the business dealings of its advertisers. cityXtra is for information purposes only.

cityXtra News Magazine (TM). All rights reserved. The

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publisher. Address changes should be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. Send story ideas and requests for article reprints to [email protected] or call 904.410.9592

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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY David W. Vandygriff

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EQUALITY FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE GALAEQUALITY FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE GALAEQUALITY FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE GALA



LEGENDS RETURN TO RIVERSIDELEGENDS RETURN TO RIVERSIDELEGENDS RETURN TO RIVERSIDE

Written By: Mamie S. Joshlin

As many have seen the bar scene and

employees have somewhat changed venues over the past couple of months. Well at least some old faces. Hehe! Love you girls! Chasity Ross Boen has returned from her long hiatus at the beach to the old stomping grounds of the Norm Nightclub. We caught her at the Norm

the other weekend and we must say the old girl still has it and is entertain-ing a wider range audience now days at the Norm from the mixed crowds of Professor Whiskey to the ALL

NEW GIRLS night (Lesbians Wet’n’Wild), which is every 3

rd Saturday of the month at the Norm, to

Temptation Fridays with two Legendary Riverside Drag Queen faces, Beverly Wilde and China. WOW these three girls remind us of the good old days when drag was about the audience, over the top productions, and with a little drama to make sure you are on your toes through-out the night. The music and shows seem to have returned to the old place but with new flare. The Norm is the longest operating gay/lesbian venue in Jacksonville, FL. A small place with the BEST Patio in Riverside, LIVE Top 40 Dance DJ’s (Rob

69 & Tim), with some of the most infamous and legendary drag queens of Jacksonville is sure to

draw your attention. We are glad to see an old hang out with a breath of fresh air for Jacksonville. The boys and girls now play together in the NEW sandbox of Riverside known as the NORM. We recommend you check out the new atmosphere and ambience of the Norm Nightclub located at 2952 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL. They are also now serving food 7 nights a week. Sunday brunch buffet 11a-3p with China hosting bingo at 1pm. Monday nights drag king & queens drink free cocktails 9p-11p & Karaoke with KJ Tim, Drag Idol Jax starts Tuesday October 15

th, Sarah

Moss Pride Reunion October 19th, and

HALLOWEEN Party Saturday October 26th. An

excellent mixture for any LGBTQ Member! Or ally!


BEST of JAX TEACHER: RANDY LESSONBEST of JAX TEACHER: RANDY LESSONBEST of JAX TEACHER: RANDY LESSON Written By: Michael D. Smith

Normally you would not see another magazine mention in another magazine. However, this month we must make an exception. The Folio Weekly’s BEST OF JAX TEACHER Award goes to one within our own community. Mr. Randy Lesson, a Duval County School Teacher.

Randy is a former contributing writer with cityXtra News, community volunteer, activist, and on and on. Laughing! The most important thing to know about Randy is that he is a good friend and one of Duval’s BEST Teachers. He is also a receiptant of the PFLAG Jacksonville’s Scholarship Fund.

We wanted to just take a moment and congratu-

late Randy in representing our LGBTQ Community

to the highest standards. Thank you Randy and

again congratulations.


RAINBOW411.com WORLDRAINBOW411.com WORLDRAINBOW411.com WORLD Written By: Greg Henchar

The Rainbow411.com is elated to be a featured

contributor to cityXtra News Magazine. What an exciting time for our Jacksonville extended family. We are very excited about working together as team and bringing about continued change throughout Florida. We are an online directory that helps businesses connect with the LGBT Market Place. We have a heavy presence in St Pete, Tampa, and Orlando. Now we are here in Jacksonville to better help our LGBT Community find those businesses that are accepting and supportive. At Rainbow411.com we have always believed in giving back to our community and continue to do so daily. Find us at your local pride celebration and visit us on the web at www.rainbow411.com.

You will find no other online directory that has customer base or user like ours. We are the #1 Online LGBT Directory in Florida because we believe in quality, fairness, and we are simply the BEST at providing a service to connect sellers and buyers. We also have our radio network, called GSH (Gay Safe Haven) Radio. Our studios are located the Flamingo Resort in St Pete, Florida. Every Wednesday tune in for a full afternoon line-up of some of the craziest and most informative talk radio in Florida. Special guest are a normal occurrence with GSH Radio and the not so normal talks are the best in talk radio. GSH Radio is now LIVE 24/7 with the entire latest dance and top 40 hits of today. Visit us at www.gshradio.com and www.rainbow411.com.


LEGAL CORNERLEGAL CORNERLEGAL CORNER Written By: Gordon T. Nicol, Atty

UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL PROCESS OF ADOPTIONS PART 2

The first part of this series of articles provided information on the adoption process and also some of the realities and the misconceptions when people think about adoption. This article will address more of the process. For families and adoptive children it is critical to work with a lawyer to “navigate” the legal process and to finalize the adoption and form a family. I work with G/L/B/T clients who have heard from well-meaning family and friends about negative experiences from the past. Remember that Florida laws continue to change. As a G/L/B/T community, adoptions provide us –and our children – with families that we never imagined as even possible years ago. This changes our dreams and goals of who can be part of our family into today’s reality. A common misconception is who may adopt a child under Florida law. Single adults can adopt. A step-parent may adopt his or her spouse’s child. Under Florida law, a person may not be prohibited from adopting because of a physical disability unless the person is incapable of being and effective parent. There is another misconception whether an adult G/L/B/T partner can be adopted by his or her G/L/B/T partner. Florida laws recognize adult adoptions. This can be a valuable way to transfer an estate and pre-emptively work to address family fights. While Florida recognizes this type of adoption every state is different so please check with a lawyer in each state. For G/L/B/T adoptions, I routinely work with lesbian couples and “sperm donors.” Depending on the situation, the adoption can be structured as “open” or not. Unlike a number of other states, a lawyer in Florida can structure the adoption as “open” one. Open adoption is where the birth

arent(s) are able to communicate or even visit the children. This is not always an easy decision for G/L/B/T parents. Be sure to discuss in detail with your lawyer the pro’s and con’s in each adoption. In a G/L/B/T adoption of a new born it is important to know that for your new born there are statutory waiting times. Depending on the circumstances the written agreement for the adoption can be between forty-eight hours after the child’s birth or when the child’s mom is discharged from the hospital. Depending on the biological father’s legal rights, and there are different time requirements. For a G/L/B/T adoption for a child over six months, the laws in Florida are different. There are laws as to the consent of the adoption –and- also to change your mind. Sometimes birth parents will be pressured to sign. In those cases, your lawyer will present evidence to the court to show pressure upon the birth parents to agree to an adoption. The biological parents must comply with very specific requirements of the Florida law to be valid.

Gordon T. Nicol, Attorney at Law www.yourjacksonvillelawyer.com E-mail : [email protected] Ph : 904-384-4911


RELIOUS CORNERRELIOUS CORNERRELIOUS CORNER Written By: Dr. Harvey Carr

Building Solid Friendships “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” – Proverbs 17:17 (The Message) Friendships are among our most valuable assets. Acquiring quality companions - those who will laugh with us in good times and stand by us during trials - requires shared commitment and an investment of time and energy. Healthy relationships thrive on . . . Transparency. We must be honest with friends and encourage them to be truthful in return. To preserve a strong bond, we can't hide hurts or feelings of rejection they may have caused. Transparency that is tied to accountability can also help make each individual a better person. A solid relationship allows each party to gently point out errors in the other's life and offer loving correction.

Time and talk. Genuine friendship takes time to develop. We must be willing to put aside other obligations and give priority to moments spent together. A generous portion of our time with each other should be spent talking - speaking about our thoughts and desires and also asking questions to prompt our companion to open up. This type of conversation allows a glimpse into the other person's heart and mind. Thanks. Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Expressing gratitude when friends are helpful will remind them that we're thankful to have them in our life. Moreover, we affirm our love when we communicate how much we enjoy a certain aspect of their personality or remember an occasion that is special to them. Being a good friend is a way to serve God. He designed us to be in relationship with others, so we should give our best to every companion God places in our life.

cityxtra news (cxn magazine) - oct 2013

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