Category Archives: Gay Fort Lauderdale
Zakar Twins with Drag Queen Christmas Tour and More!
I can’t remember exactly how I stumbled upon the Zakar Twins, but I found them on Instagram and have been a loyal follower, watching their careers soar for over 1 year now! Their best-selling book “Pray The Gay Away” came out in the Fall of 2017. That’s probably about the time I first discovered them.
These young gay models, writers, entrepreneurs, leaders in the LGBTQ+ community, and lovable goofballs Michael and Zach Zakar are known not only for their identical good looks but for trailblazing a path forward for queer people who come from Near and Middle Eastern cultures. As smart as they are funny, their memoir last year is a dual-account tragicomedy about growing up with deeply religious Iraqi immigrant parents.
“Mom knows.” A simple text that would change two twin brothers’ lives forever. Coming out is hard. The struggle is ongoing, a daily part of life whether to a new friend, a co-worker, or most importantly yourself. Pray the Gay Away chronicles Michael and Zach as they face awkward sexual encounters, drug-fueled escapades, coming out to each other, and their biggest foe – Mom, a woman who not only gave birth to what she calls one regret – but two.
The memoir hilariously and poignantly explores what it’s like growing up as gay, Iraqi twins in modern America. Pray the Gay Away was inspired the night Mom snuck into their bedroom and force fed them “holy grapes,” determined to “de-gay” them. She threw Holy Water on them as well!
The Zakar Twins are new voices speaking out against generations, particularly within the Iraqi culture, who look down on being gay. This book is not only for the LBGTQ community, but for young adults, looking to achieve normalcy.
“The book started kind of as a hateful thing. We wrote it because we were angry that our Mom reacted in such a demeaning way,” Zach said. “Then, over time, the project, it really resulted in kind of a beautiful thing. We were growing with the book, it was growing with us.”
Currently they are on tour with Drag Queen Christmas – The Naughty Tour! 37 cities now through Dec 29th! Presented by Murray & Peter. They will be heading South and West in the coming weeks. Get specific city and tour info at www.DragFans.com.
Their Mom has come a long way to acceptance and actually attended the show in Detroit! Her first drag show ever!
I am told that the producers, Murray and Peter are helping to bring their book to Off Broadway, hopefully in time for Pride 2019!
Recently the brothers relased a calendar for 2019. Defiance: taking a stance on changing the world’s conservative view on what it means to be gay in the Middle Eastern world. Shot by Dexter Brown.
“Everyone has their own unique story. Fortunately for us, we just wrote ours down,” Zach said with a laugh. “The book is done, but it’s not finished. We’re writing two more books about different things.”
Buy the BOOK and CALENDAR Here.
Get to know Michael and Zach with their great YouTube videos!
ZT on Instagram
ZT on Facebook
ZT on Twitter
ZT My Twin Chat App – a way to communicate with others who might be struggling with coming out or just needing someone to talk to. Many people coming out usually feel like they are the only one. So this app is a support system for those scared to talk to a stranger or a close friend.
“You cannot forget the bigger picture. It feels like life is caving in to a lot of people when it first happens. I think that’s one of the scariest things. Because all I was worried about, was when you grow up, there’s so much involved in the bigger picture,” Michael said. “That’s what I tell people, just realize there is light at the end of the tunnel even if it feels almost impossible.”
Gay Fort Lauderdale Deals
Summer Off Season Deals in Ft Lauderdale!
Travelers now have twice as many reasons to kick off their summer in Greater Fort Lauderdale with the destination-wide 2-for-1 Summer Savings program. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Everglades, dive into 70 BOGO (buy one, get one) offers representing more than $2,000 in savings. Back by popular demand, the destination’s value-packed summer program has been extended through October 12, 2015.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Summer Savings 2-for-1 card includes special offers on land, sand and sea at more than 70 attractions, including options for watersports, spa, dining, museums, tours, and more. Highlights for the 2-for-1 Summer Savings include an airboat ride through the Everglades at Billie Swamp Safari, scuba diving and snorkeling excursions, strolling among thousands of butterflies at Butterfly World, catamaran cruises and Water Taxi rides, shopping at the world’s largest luxury discount mall, Sawgrass Mills, rejuvenating spa treatments, deals at popular restaurants including Mai Kai Restaurant & Polynesian Revue, Shula Burger and 15th Street Fisheries plus visits to area museums and historic sites including the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens and the Museum of Discovery & Science.
“Everyone loves a deal,” said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “And Greater Fort Lauderdale is a GREAT deal this summer, for visitors’ wallets, sense of adventure, and general well-being that comes with a summer vacation.”
Make the most of 2-for-1 fun when you combine it with the summer 2015 Vacation Like a VIP promotion, which runs now through October 12. The Vacation Like a VIP package includes a two-night minimum stay, a room upgrade, $100 resort credit, a $25 American Express Gift Card, complimentary resort valet parking, plus additional savings. Add to these deals the ease and accessibility of the area with 600 flights daily to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, South Florida’s low fare airport, 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches, 300+ miles of inland waterways and travelers get so much more out of their summer getaways in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Events not to miss when visiting this summer include Lauderdale Live, a three-day waterfront music festival with headliners Phillip Phillips and O.A.R. (June 19-21) and Jon Lovitz’s stand-up comedy show at Improv Fort Lauderdale (June 26-27). Concerts at BB&T Center include New Kids On The Block with special guests TLC and Nelly (June 4), Imagine Dragons “Smoke + Mirrors” Tour (July 11) and South Florida native Ariana Grande’s “Honeymoon Tour” (July 18). At Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the events line-up includes Bette Midler (May 8-9), Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo (May 21) and The Gipsy Kings (June 13), while Charli XCX (June 15) takes to Fort Lauderdale’s hot downtown venue, Revolution Live.
For a complete listing of deals and to print free 2 For 1 Summer Savings cards, or sign up to receive up to two cards by mail, visit www.sunny.org/summer.
Ru Pauls Drag Race Tour
IT’S ABOUT TO GET REAL BITCHES!
RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of The Seasons “Condragulations” Tour in a city near YOU, featuring a night of show-stopping performances by the world’s most talented drag performers, including winners and fan favorites from Logo TV’s hit series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Over 40 cities in the US, Canada and Europe. The largest drag tour in history!
Adore Delano, Alaska 5000, Ben Dela Crème, Bianca Del Rio, Courtney Act, Darienne Lake, Detox, Ivy Winters, Jiggly Caliente, Jinkx Monsoon, Manila Luzon, Pandora Boxx, Phi Phi O’Hara, Raja and Sharon Needles. Plus Special Guest Cary NoKey and host Michelle Visage. (Lineup varies by city and is subject to change.)
February 1-April 13, 2015. CHECK CITIES AND TICKETS!
Bears Take Over Fort Lauderdale May 10-14
BeachBear Weekend will hit the sands of Fort Lauderdale, May 10-14 2012, bringing hot men from around the world to experience all the top gay men’s destination has to offer. Long the muscle bear capital of the east coast, Fort Lauderdale is like a gay cruise that doesn’t leave port. From world-class beaches to wild nightlife, the bears and their friends will find their sunny. The host hotel and its beautiful pool bar, overlooking Fort Lauderdale Beach will be the sexy center of activity for the men who want to bask in the sun and cruise the sea of beefy muscle.
BeachBear Weekend has been created to showcase the healthy outdoor lifestyle enjoyed in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The events over the course of the week will focus on the beach, surf, exercise, and of course some of the hottest parties anywhere.
Proceeds from this event will benefit Sunserve- a 501 (3) (c) corporation. Their mission is to provide critical life assistance and professional mental health services with an emphasis on the economically disadvantaged, marginalized youths, and senior adults in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Additionally designated is Abandoned Pet Rescue, Broward’s largest no kill animal shelter.
The bars and events for the weekend will include Ramrod, Boom, The Manor, Wilton Bier Garden, The Depot Cabaña Bar and Grill, and Scandals. In addition to the muscle packed pool parties and bar nights, there will be alternative activities as well, including sunrise meditations on the beach, personal trainers leading fitness classes, and watersports. Also planned are boat excursions for the more adventurous, a vendor fair, and meeting space set aside for Friends of Bill W.
BeachBear Weekend was created by Chad Bush, Bob Young and Shannon Spotts. Young was a founder of the successful LazyBear Weekend at the Russian River in Northern California. The organizers hope BeachBear Weekend will have significant economic impact for Greater Fort Lauderdale.
For more information log onto: Beachbearweekend.com
La Cage Aux Folles National Tour Dates
New Winner of 3 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, this hilarious new production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is ON THE MOST ‘TOP 10’ LISTS OF ANY MUSICAL THIS SEASON!
With George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber. George Hamilton is everything Hollywood we know and love—dashing, debonair, and full of tenacity as Georges. The talented Tony Nominated Christopher Sieber played Georges on Broadway, opposite Harvey Fierstein. Now he plays the role of Albin/Zaza.
They are joined on stage by Billy Harringtan
Tighe as Jean-Michel, Bernard Burak Sheredy as M. Renaud/M. Dindon,
Cathy Newman as Mme. Dindon/ Mme. Renaud, Jeigh Madjus as Jacob, Gay
Marshall as Jacqueline, Allison Blair McDowell as Anne, Dale Hensley as
Francis, Ashley Kate Adams as Colette, Danny Vaccaro as Tabarro, Matt
Anctil as Angelique, Mark Roland as Hanna, Donald Shorter, Jr. as
Chantal, Trevor Downey as Phaedra, Logan Keslar as Bitelle, Terry Lavell
as Mercedes, Todd Thurston as Male Ensemble (waiter), SuEllen Estey as
Female Ensemble Adult, Todd Lattimore as Male Swing, Christophe
Caballero as Male Swing and Rylyn Juliano as Female Swing.
LA CAGE tells the story of Georges, the
owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner
Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges’ son
brings his fiancée’s conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair,
the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly! LA CAGE
is a tuneful and touching tale of one family’s struggle to stay
together… stay fabulous… and above all else, stay true to
themselves!
With a glorious score of hummable melodies and a
dynamite cast featuring the “notorious and dangerous Cagelles,” LA CAGE
is an indisputable musical comedy classic… and this extraordinary new
version shows you why!
The national tour launched this past October in Des Moines, IA. We saw the show in Chicago , this past week. It runs through Jan. 1st then off to
St Louis Jan 3-15th.
Washington DC Jan 17-Feb 12th
West Palm Beach, FL Feb 14-19th
Tampa, FL Feb 21st-26th
Naples, FL Feb 28th-March 4th
Wilmington, DE March 6th-11th
Pittsburgh, PA March 13th-18th
Memphis, TN March 20th-25th
Dallas, TX April 10th-22nd
Houston, TX April 24th-May 6th
San Antonio, TX May 8th-13th
Tempe, AZ May 15th-20th
Charlotte, NC May 29th-June 3rd
Orlando, FL June 5th-June 10th
Ft. Lauderdale, FL June 12th – June 24th
Los Angeles, CA July 10th-July 22nd
Costa Mesa, CA July 24th-Aug 5th
MORE DATES AND CITIES To Be Announced! GET TICKETS ONLINE NOW!
OY VEY! My Son Is Gay! Comes to Ohio and Florida!
Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky and starring
Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony Award nominee Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek, Carmen Electra, Vincent Pastore, Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young, Emmy Award winner Jai Rodriguez, and Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch.
Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay! is a family romantic comedy roller-coaster ride of laughs and shows how far we come and yet how far we still have to go. The star-studded cast and wonderful story will have you laughing – and talking and thinking.
At a time where society is currently in dire stress, the public is even more challenged to find channels for relief and escape. The film, “OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY!” delivers a very powerful message through the language of humor, and successfully combines the elements of fun, laughter, love, respect, tolerance and the value of relationships. It finds humor in the most awkward situations, but remains a powerful reminder that LOVE IS LOVE.
This movie was a long journey of 8 years of hard work, which finally resulted in a heartwarming and inspirational family comedy with an amazing and accomplished cast.
The film’s director, Evgeny Afineevksy (born in Russia, raised in Israel and currently living in the USA) utilized powerful tools and different multicultural elements (drawn from his multicultural background) to make the movie unique. He created the movie with a fresh perspective on a very unusual and sensitive matter; mixing elements of light language of comedy with sincerity; treating today’s tough and sensitive subject with empathy and humor; and, creating funny and relatable characters, allowing the humor to progress from and within the characters. “OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY! was awarded the Best Script at the 41st Houston World Festival and the Monaco Film Festival, and won over 20 different awards internationally during last year.
This is the story of a Jewish family living in the North Shore of Long Island, where every Friday night Shirley Hirsch (Lainie Kazan) invites another “perfect” girl for Shabbat dinner in hopes that her son, Nelson (John Lloyd Young), will marry a nice Jewish girl.
When Shirley and Martin (Saul Rubinek) once again set him up on a date, Nelson reveals that he is already seeing someone. Shirley and Martin are thrilled and can’t wait to meet the lucky lady.
In a motherly attempt at finding out who her son is dating, Shirley stops by Nelson’s apartment. She is greeted by Angelo Ferraro (Jai Rodriguez), Nelson’s live-in boyfriend, and in order to not divulge Nelson’s secret life, Angelo introduces himself as his decorator! And the plot thickens!
THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE!
OPENING THIS WEEKEND in OHIO!
Starting December 24, 2010
‘Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!’ is playing at
AMC Theaters – Lennox Town Center 24
(777 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH 43212)
Movie Times: 1-888-AMC 4FUN (888-262-4386) / Guest Services: (614)429-0100
Cast members with the director, producer and writer will be there to “MEET & GREET” after the movie!
Come out and show your support for this wonderful movie!
Starting January 7, 2011 – playing at
REGAL South Beach Cinemas 18
( 1120 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 ) (T: 305-674-6766)
Sunrise Intracoastal Cinemas
( 3701 Northeast 163rd Street, North Miami, FL 33160) (T: 954-871-4178)
Regal Shadowood 16
(9889 West Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33434) (T: 561-482-2638)
Regal Cinemas Delray 18
(1660 South Federal Highway, Delray Beach, FL 33483) (T: 561-272-0510)
More dates coming soon! Check the website and links below!
OY VEY MY SON IS GAY official site
Watch the Trailer
Oy Vey on Facebook
Best Gay Cities.com
Name Your Favorite Gay City…
was the gayest city
in the United States?
Well….yes, and no. While you can’t get mucher gayer than Folsom Street Fair, the Advocate took at look at cities in the US and ranked them by:
-Same-sex couple households per capita
-Statewide marriage equality
-Gay elected officials
-Gay dating and hookup profiles per single male population
-Gay bars per capita
-Cruising spots per capita
-and Gay films in Netflix favorites.
The list is very shocking!
1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Burlington, Vermont
3. Iowa City, Iowa
4. Bloomington, Indiana
5. Madison, Wisconsin
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
8. Portland, Maine
9. Austin, Texas
10. Seattle, Washington
11. Gainsville, Florida
12. Ashville, North Carolina
13. Springfield, Massachusetts
14. San Diego, California
15. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fort Lauderdale I would have guessed. Maybe San Diego. But the other 13? I had no idea!
Gay Bashing Has More Gays Leaving South Beach…Heading North to Fort Lauderdale
In the 1920’s-1930’s South Beach brought Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, and Nautical Moderne architecture to the Beach. During the 1970’s-1980’s the area was used as a retirement community with most of its ocean-front hotels and apartment buildings filled with elderly people living on small, fixed incomes.
This period also saw the introduction of the “cocaine cowboys,” drug dealers who used the area as a base for their illicit drug activities. Scarface and even Miami Vice , typified this activity. The town became very run down and there were vacant and boarded up buildings everywhere.
So what happens? Gays cleaned it up. In the late 1980s, a renaissance began in South Beach, with an influx of “fashion industry professionals” moving into the area. South Beach started to become “fabulous” and gay clubs sprouted up everywhere.
It became this extremely popular entertainment mecca, thanks to the media. By the mid 1990’s, the rest of the straight world started to capitalize on this small area. More and more big straight clubs popped up and by the late 2000, many from Miami proper would come over and drink and cause trouble. We call that the “bridge and tunnel crowd”. When suburbanites come in and start taking over “our towns”. It’s no longer fun at that point.
Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997. I really view that as a turning point. Within a couple years, South Beach was changing. And not in a good way. I was last there in 2004 for the famous Winter Party, which attracts several thousand gay people. Even with that many gays in town, my partner and I DID NOT feel safe walking the streets at night. Straight kids in cars drove past and yelled “faggots” at us and one car even hurled a bottle at us. We walked in somewhere for a slice of pizza late night and straight teenagers mumbled “gay this” and “fag that” under their breath, but loud enough to hear. We were told by locals at that time, that many gays are starting to relocate to Fort Lauderdale. I have not been back to South Beach since.
It has just gotten worse in the last 5 years as the area has become a late night drinking straight town. This month in the news, gay bashings are on the rise there. State of Florida records stated that 75% of the anti-homosexual hate crimes in Miami-Dade County in 2009 occurred in South Beach/Miami Beach. It’s still chic and expensive there. Major developers have invested billions there. But the gays are getting out.
“South Beach isn’t the free-spirited haven of gayness it once was.” says writer Natalie O’Neill from Miami New Times.
Tony Lopez was celebrating the White Party this past November. Another huge gay event which brings thousands into the town. It was 4am and he wandered into a popular place for some take-out food. As he approached the line for food, an aggressive 20-something staggered up to him.
“Got a cigarette?” he asked. Tony shook a Marlboro Mild from the pack and handed him one.
Right then, a gang — Tony remembers four men — “appeared out of the woodwork.” They shoved him into the alley behind the restaurant, yelled “Fucking faggot!” and began to punch him. He fell to the ground and tried to shield his head as they kicked him in the face.
(Fort Lauderdale)
O’Neill reports, “In a five-year span, the State Attorney’s Office reported 26 incidents, half of which were in Miami Beach. Victims include a lounge singer who was stripped naked and hogtied and a magazine publisher who was viciously beaten.
It’s surprising when you consider South Beach’s heyday as a sparkling gay playground, where oiled-up boys frolicked between wild foam parties and the hub of hedonism that was the Versace mansion. Nobody thought twice about casual sex in Flamingo Park or flamboyant public fashion shoots, and — at its peak — MTV was even there to glamorize it all.” – which really became the downfall of South Beach. It was a “kept secret” for a while but once it became celebritized by the rich and famous and sensationalized by television and film, it was no longer a secret!
I am not saying don’t go to South Beach. There are still fun clubs and fun parties there.
But YOU MUST BE CAREFUL. Walk in groups and not alone. Especially at night, when most of the trouble starts.
Gay Fort Lauderdale has been a haven for gay and lesbian travelers for decades. But in the last 5 years, it has seen tremendous growth as South Beach shifted. In addition to being a very gay friendly city , Fort Lauderdale has more than 100 gay-owned establishments including hotels/guesthouses, bars, clubs and restaurants, plus the second largest Metropolitan Community Church congregation in the United States and three gay and lesbian publications. Gay Ft. Lauderdale has three popular gay beach areas on Fort Lauderdale’s 23 miles of wide, sandy beach.
Fort Lauderdale continues to reign supreme as one of the most popular gay destinations in North America.
Read more from Natalie O’Neill.
Visit Fort Lauderdale
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