July 2014 LGBT Events in Ft. Lauderdale

On this Blog, I will post a highlight of some of the LGBT non-profit and political events that are going on in Ft. Lauderdale each month, so folks who want to attend can put them on their Calendars.

Ongoing – “Days Without Sunshine: Anita Bryant’s Anti-Gay Crusade” – Stonewall National Museum, Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL. In 1977 the Metropolitan Dade County Commission added 'sexual preference' to its existing ordinance banning discrimination in employment, housing and public services. Anita Bryant was instrumental in repealing the gay-rights referendum. It's taken decades of effort, but LGBT people have made tremendous gains in equality, including more states allowing same-sex marriage. But we still face discrimination and bullying on many levels. The exhibit Days without Sunshine, in reminding us how far we've come, lets us know there's still more to do. www.Stonewall-Museum.org

Wednesday, July 2nd  – Marriage Equality Hearing at the Miami–Dade County Courthouse. – 3:00pm. Miami-Dade County Courthouse at 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. WE REALLY NEED YOU THERE!  We finally get our day in court. Join the six plaintiff couples in Equality Florida marriage equality lawsuit for the 4pm hearing. Come show your support for our families and stand up for equality. Please arrive at 3pm or earlier. We will have signs available and a sign making station so we can offer positive messages. We also encourage you to bring large photos of your families and loved ones to hold up. We know the opposition is marshaling protestors. The Christian Family Coalition and others are calling on their members to show up and rally against equality. In a recent email to their members, they call Florida "ground zero" in their war against marriage equality. www.eqfl.org/hearing

Friday, July 4th - The Pet Project for Pets presents their annual 4th of July fundraiser – Noon – 9:00pm. Mona’s Cocktail Lounge, 502 East Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. The event includes raffles with great prizes throughout the day along with games, fun and surprises. There'll be a live auction hosted by Toni Barone and Russell and a "hot diggity dog cookout." The event is sponsored by Mark's List and the Petco Foundation. http://www.petprojectforpets.org/events.php

Tuesday, July 8 – Mack Mixer Fort Lauderdale – 6:30pm - 9:00pm. O Lounge at Yolo, 333 East Las Olas Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL   There’s no doubt MACK continues to redesign how business people create new relationships and establish friendships - regardless of sexuality. MACK aims to be the most reliable business and social network for the Gay and Lesbian Community of South Florida. Join their mailing list, register for a lunch, swing by one of the mixers, but most important - bring your friends! Everyone is welcome. MACK is less about orientation and all about discovering untapped opportunities! For information, visit: http://mackplanet.com

Thursday, July 10 – Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Gay and Lesbian Business Xchange (GLBX) Business After Hours. – 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Pride Center at Equality Park at 2040 N Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, Florida. Broward County's premiere gay-friendly networking organization, maximizing our member’s business profitability. The GLBX Business After Hours receptions are a key element in creating and fostering these relationships. The GLBX meets either the second or the fourth Thursday of each month, depending on venue. Members: $10 pre registered Non members $20 pre registered add $5 at the door. http://www.ftlchamber.com/index.php?submenu=Councils&src=gendocs&ref=GLBX_home&category=Groups

Friday, July 11 – SunServe Silver Serve Luncheon – 11:00am – 1:00pm. ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL. Every Second Friday of the Month. SunServe is a model 501(c)(3) nonprofit social service agency serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) community in South Florida. We provide high quality, compassionate, and progressive care for all, including those in financial need, minorities, youth, seniors, families, and those with life-challenging physical or emotional conditions. We also perform numerous education and outreach projects. Kindly RSVP by calling 954.764.5150 ext. 114.

Wednesday, July 16 – The Equality Garden Club – The Equality Park Garden Club meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month except December.  It is a Gay and straight friendly garden club with a variety of plant related events.  Meetings include a guest speaker with a horticultural topic, plant exchange, raffle table, and refreshments. For more info contact for Chuck Nicholls at canick@aol.com

Thursday, July 17– Stonewall Author - Reading with David Leddick – 7:00pm. Stonewall National Museum, Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, Florida. Author, actor and playwright David Leddick is known world-wide for his novels and homoerotic art books. The author of the Lambda Award-winning books: “Naked Men” and “The Male Nude”, David Leddick has published no less than 27 works. His latest book is “I'm Not for Everyone. Neither Are You”, from Black Irish Press, Spring 2014. Leddick has also written musicals with Andrew Sargent as composer: “The Secrets of the Chorus”, “Quentin and I’, “Presenting Gilda Lilly” and “RentBoy... The Musical”, are some of the shows in which he starred. Previously he has been an officer in the U.S. Navy, danced at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, directed TV commercials and was the Worldwide Creative Director for Revlon at Grey Advertising and International Creative Director for L'Oreal at McCann-Erickson, Paris. www.Stonewall-Museum.org

Thursday, July 17 – GLLN Happy Hour – 6:00pm – 8:00pm. TBD. The mission for the Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Network is to provide a social network in which gay, lesbian and gay friendly lawyers can develop their practices through friendships, referral relationships and professional development. Our intention is to fully realize a true business and social network and to provide the opportunity to our participants to support one another in our practices, to promote ourselves within our firms, and to offer a helping hand to each other when needed. http://www.glln.org/uncategorized/happy-hour/

Thursday, July 17th  – Join HRC South Florida for CLUB BLUE: A Party with A Purpose! –7:00pm – 9:00pm. Chill Wine Lounge, 1828 E. Sunrise Blvd., For Lauderdale, FL 33304. Meet and support members of HRC South Florida’s Steering Committee as we and our host, Chill Wine Lounge, join forces with our friends at Equality Florida. This month, we welcome two exciting guests, Todd and Jeff Delmay, for a special CLUB BLUE event. What is Club Blue? Club Blue is a monthly social event open to the community and designed to promote the Human Rights Campaign and its membership in South Florida. Each month we invite the community to mix and mingle with other like-minded members of the South Florida community and to learn about the work of HRC in South Florida! Club Blue is a great way to get to know and keep in touch with fellow HRC members and supporters in our area. Tickets: General Admission (Includes one drink ticket): $10. VIP Admission (Includes two drink tickets and HRC wristband): $25.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1474088729500900/?ref=notif&notif_t=plan_user_invited

Saturday, July 19^th – ArtServe’s RedEYE REboot, The underground art event of the season! – 6:00pm - 10:00pm. ArtServe, 1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. RedEYE is the hottest art and entertainment event of the summer. An underground art tour de force, RedEYE this year is “ReBOOTED” to feature street art, comic art, body art, urban inspired and cutting edge art and social commentary. Visual art and performance pieces are complemented by live bands, digital art displays, interactive installations, fashion, food trucks, indie film shorts and wild fun. It’s the hottest art event of the summer. Don’t be left in the cold.General Admision: $8 advance / $12 at the door. http://www.artserve.org/exhibits/#a

Tuesday, July 22 – GFLGLCC Lunch, Learn & Network – Noon - 1:00pm. Dapur Asian Tapas and Ultra Lounge, 1620 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305. Join GFLGLCC on June 24 where we will take over the Bali Room at Dapur for an intimate lunch of not more than 25. We'll begin at Noon and end promptly at 1 PM. https://www.facebook.com/GFLGLCC

Thursday, July 24 – The Pride Center’s Founders Circle Reception – 6:00 – 8:00pm. Alpine Jaguar of Ft. Lauderdale, 6606 N Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. The Founder's Circle are individuals who make a monthly gift of $100 to the Pride Center. If you are interested in attending the event to see what it is all about, just email me at rubinlee@yahoo.com and I will put you on the Guest list. There is no commitment to become a Founder, just a chance to meet folks and hear about the great work the Pride Center is doing.

Thursday, July 24 – Support the SMART Ride 11 at Italio – 4:00 – 10:00pm. Italio, Italian Street Food, 2151 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305. 50% of all food, wine and Beer purchase by SMART Ride supporters will be donated The SMART Ride. http://www.pridecenterflorida.org/2014/07/italo-support-the-smart-ride/

Friday, July 25 – Stonewall Author Reading - Jim Wood presents his new book “Agnes Limerick” – 7:00 pm. Stonewall National Museum – Wilton Manors Gallery, 2157 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, Florida. Set only blocks from where the American republic was born, Agnes Limerick wrestles with the conflicts between family, faith, and love, all while insisting on the need to be true to herself. The daughter of one of Philadelphia’s most successful Irish Catholic families, she comes of age faced with the twin crises of the Great Depression and World War II. Fighting her world, both within and without, the girl with a “cute little talent” for numbers and the piano asserts herself in an era when women did so at great peril to themselves. Agnes does this with assistance – and opposition – from a rich variety of characters who touch her life in profound, surprising ways. www.Stonewall-Museum.org

Thursday, July 29 – The Pride Center’s Dining With Pride at Chipotle – Lunch from 11:30am – 2:30pm  – Chipotle, 1736 North Federal Highway. Eat lunch at Chipotle and help the Pride Center! Cipotle will donate a percentage of your check to The Pride Center. http://www.pridecenterflorida.org

Please Note – There will not be a GLLN Luncheon in July – http://www.glln.org/events/

To see a listing of other events, check out OutClique, South Florida’s newest and most fabulous site for Gay South Florida. They feature gay and gay-friendly events. Drink specials, social events, charity functions, leather themed groups, dance parties, whatever is going on, its there. OutClique is your one-stop-shot for the gay happenings in South Florida. http://www.outclique.org/index.php/event-list

Save the Date:

Tuesday, August 5 – Mack Power Lunch – 11:30am – 1:30pm at Events at the Grateful Palate 3003 NE 32 Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. At the beginning of every Power Lunch we offer approx. 30 minutes to introduce yourself and chat with fellow attendees in a social setting. There may be a very brief presentation by an event sponsor to share insights and industry information. Then the rest of our time is enjoying lunch and breaking the ice to develop professional friendships with everyone around you.  $33.00, Advance Registration required: www.mackplanet.com

Saturday, August 16th – Pridelines Masquerade Ball – 7:00pm - 11:00pm. Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134. An evening of elegance and romance, reminiscent of Venice’s Carnival, Pridelines' Masquerade Ball will undoubtedly be one of the community's most enjoyable events of the year. Featuring a silent auction, cocktail reception, and a formal dining experience along with entertainment and dancing, Masquerade is sure to be an unforgettable evening. This year’s Masquerade Ball will be hosted in the Country Club Ballroom at the luxurious Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida on Saturday, August 16th, 2014 from seven to eleven in the evening. Guests must donate a minimum of $150 per person to attend. http://www.pridelinesmasquerade.com/

Sunday, August 17 – Gay Nuptials, A Wedding Showcase to benefit the Pride Center –1:00pm - 4:00pm. Hagen Park Center, 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL. A Bobby Kyser - Panache Style Event. Gay Nuptials mission is to provide an intimate, scale, yet comfortable event where engaged same sex soulless can connect with hotels, vendors, and their affiliates with products, services and knowledge for their wedding. One Hundred percent of all ticket sales will be donated to The Pride Center at Equality Park. $20 donation includes: Open Bar with vodka, wine and beer, passed hors d’oeuvres, dessert and candy samples. www.mygaywedding.org 

Saturday, September 20 – 3rd Annual Reverse Quinceanera Pageant benefiting Sunserve –6:00pm – 9:00pm. Second Presbyterian Church located at 1400 N Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 SAVE THE DATE!!! 

Sunday, November 16 – Equality Florida's Annual Broward Gala – You are cordially invited to join us for this wonderful event that includes drinks, delicious hors d'oevres, an exciting program, including a special address by Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith.

December 11 – Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Holiday Party – 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Blue Martini, 2432 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. http://www.glln.org/events/

Island City Art Walk – Held on the 3rd Friday of each month, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., November through April, along the 1.1 mile Wilton Drive, in the Wilton Manors Art and Entertainment District. The official participants include galleries, eclectic stores, cafes, boutiques and upscale restaurants, which will host over 40 local artists. This is a grassroots collaboration bringing culture and business together for the public to enjoy. http://www.islandcityartwalk.com/

December 11 – Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Holiday Party – 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Blue Martini, 2432 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. http://www.glln.org/events/

Thanks,

Lee Rubin

rubinlee@yahoo.com

Want to know what events are happening in the Ft. Lauderdale LGBT Community?

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