LANSING, Mich. — Just this past week, the Supreme Court ruled that the city of Philadelphia can’t refuse to work with a faith based agency because it will not certify same-sex couples as foster parents. It’s a battle between protection of religious exercise and LGBTQ rights, something a mid-Michigan couple knows about.
Soon after their marriage five years ago, Anthony Soto and James McGrath realized they were ready for the next step in building their family and open to fostering to eventually adopt. But living in Texas then, like Michigan at the time and so many other states right now, was in a battle as to whether a state can cut-off its relationship with a foster or adoption.
McGrath who was working at Texas A & M at the time is currently the president, dean and professor at WMU-Cooley Law School and describes the controversy. “That means if you are going to provide these services for the state, you can’t discriminate on any of the protected classes which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.”
McGrath says at the time in Texas, there were a number of different fostering agencies which simply didn’t accept gay or lesbian couples, but Anthony says living in a bigger city like Fort Worth helped them in their search for an accepting agency. “Luckily we knew people in the area that had used the agency prior, so for us that was a very important piece of the process.”
The couple quickly found a fit with then 4 ½ year old Kinsey and a year in a half later they officially adopted Kinsey in November of 2018. Anthony said, “We sort of had that moment when you saw her, and we said, ‘Ok this is our family.’” James added, “She just fit right into our family. We have animals, cats and dogs and she just came in and immediately became part of the family.” Kinsey who will turn 9 this summer is excited to return to in-person school again this fall when she enters the 3rd grade.
The now family of three lives in Lansing and says overall their community is accepting, however there aren’t any similar families in their school or community, at-least that they know of, but Anthony says they generally feel “accepted” with James adding, “If you look at the nationwide statistics, 21% I think of same sex couples have adopted, but again you have to be open, you have to be out there. So not everybody is out there. I grew up in an era where it was kind of dangerous to self-disclose that you are gay or lesbian. I personally have never been the victim, but have been around when these things have happened and have friends who have been victims of gay bashing. That’s not what’s happening here and now, it’s just we feel more invisible I think.”
As a pride flag waves proudly in their yard this month, this now complete family says the progress they are seeing across the country is a welcomed change, regardless of what the courts may say. “During Pride Month, even in Lansing and Detroit, I see stores having the gay flag and publicly supporting the LGBT community, and I think that’s something that I certainly didn’t see 25 years ago. So I think all those things help,” Anthony told Fox 17.
A federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan recently entered a temporary order that allows religious adoption agencies to continue their selective practices, but that is still pending and it’s expected the final ruling will involve an appeal, regardless of the court order.
English Ivy’s and Metro in Indianapolis and Below Zero Lounge in Cincinnati also made the list.
Play Yelp, a crowdsourced review website, ranked establishments in its “gay bars” category using multiple factors, including the volume and ratings of reviews between Jan. 1, 2016, and April 28, 2021.
Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4989 or on Twitter @mattglo.
English Ivy’s and Metro in Indianapolis and Below Zero Lounge in Cincinnati also made the list.
Play Yelp, a crowdsourced review website, ranked establishments in its “gay bars” category using multiple factors, including the volume and ratings of reviews between Jan. 1, 2016, and April 28, 2021.
Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4989 or on Twitter @mattglo.
There are some new faces on “Sesame Street” just in time for Father’s Day.
The show released a new episode featuring a family with two gay dads in celebration of Pride Month.
On the episode titled “Family Day,” we meet the husbands – played by Chris Costa and Alex Weisman – and their daughter, played by Olivia Perez.
In a post on Facebook, the co-director of the episode celebrated its airing writing: “Love is love, and we are so happy to add this special family to our Sesame family.”
Organizers for a Seattle gay pride event say they’re charging white people a “reparations fee” to attend. They have the support of Seattle City Council president and mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez and the Seattle Human Rights Commission.
TAKING B(L)ACK PRIDE organizers say all are welcome to attend. However, “white allies and accomplices” must pay the reparations fee. It will be charged on a sliding scale of $10 to $50 depending on one’s ability to pay. The event location is Jimi Hendrix Park, owned by the city of Seattle. This raises questions about the legality of a reparations fee.
Critics question whether race-based admissions fees are appropriate. Seattle Municipal Code clearly prohibits racial discrimination. But organizers have pushed back, calling criticism of their admissions structure “casual violence.”
Gay pride event at Seattle park
Organizers promote TAKING B[L]ACK PRIDE as an event to amplify “the voices, narratives, and contributions of black queer and trans voices.”
There will be live musical performances, commentators, “art healing spaces,” prize giveaways, and a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. According to the event’s listing, they say they will focus on “centering who we are and what we need to feel empowered, joyful, and heard.”
Apparently, they need a so-called reparations fee to feel empowered. Their event page details their racist admissions policy:
All are free to attend HOWEVER this is a BLACK AND BROWN QUEER TRANS CENTERED, PRIORITIZED, VALUED, EVENT. White allies and accomplices are welcome to attend but will be charged a $10 to $50 reparations fee that will be used to keep this event free of cost for BLACK AND BROWN Trans and Queer COMMUNITY.
Is it legal to deny white people entry who refuse to pay? It doesn’t appear so.
City clearly prohibits racial discrimination
Seattle Parks and Recreation explicitly prohibits racial discrimination in their parks. And it applies to event organizers using the park, with or without a permit.
It is unlawful for any person occupying or using any park or recreation facility for any event, activity or exhibition open to the public, whether or not under a permit and whether or not an admission or entrance fee is charged, to deny to any other person the full use and enjoyment of such park and recreation facility because of race…
Seattle Parks and Recreation did not respond to email requests for comment. It’s unclear if this event is permitted.
Critics of the reparations fee include organizers of the Capitol Hill Pride Rally and March — the same ones who banned gay and straight police officers from attending their event.
Criticism from a group that banned gay cops from their event
Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson, the organizers behind Capitol Hill Pride, complained about the reparations fee to the Seattle Human Rights Commission. The SHRC is a far-left, activist group that helps advise the City of Seattle on human rights issues.
In the email that the SHRC posted, LeFevre and Lipson argue that a reparations fee represents “reverse discrimination.” They say it’s a violation of local and federal anti-discrimination laws.
But the SHRC strongly disagreed.
Hope to see y’all at TAKING BLACK PRIDE! Seattle’s first and only Black and Brown queer and trans Pride event with a ball to follow! pic.twitter.com/GrSR2R7QFO
— Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network (@TWOCSolidarity) June 11, 2021
Human Rights Commission, City Council president defend reparations fee
The SHRC defended the event, urging the organizers to “examine the very real social dynamics and ramifications of this issue.”
“Black trans and queer peoples are among the most marginalized and persecuted peoples within the LGBTQIA2S+ community,” the Commission wrote. “They often face shame not only from the cis-heteronormative community, but within the queer community at large as well. In making the event free for the Black Queer community, the organizers of this event are extending a courtesy so rarely extended; by providing a free and safe space to express joy, share story, and be in community.”
Seattle City Council president and mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez also jumped into the fray.
Gonzalez supports a ban on gay police officers at a pride event. But question the reparations fee, and you’ve gone too far. So offended by LeFevre and Lipson, Gonazlez canceled her scheduled appearance at Capitol Hill Pride.
“After a year that has taken an unbelievable toll on all of our communities, I was looking forward to this opportunity to celebrate Pride in person,” Gonzalez tweeted. “However, I simply cannot support an organization that is trying to stop Black people in the LGBTQ+ community from celebrating Pride in the manner that they choose.”
Criticism is violence
TAKING B[L]ACK PRIDE is obviously defending their reparations fee while slamming the “audacity of Capitol Hill Pride.”
“Our allies, supporters, and accomplices, pay our sliding scale donation ‘reparations” because they are able to understand that as folks with privilege, equity can start with making sure that people who possess various levels of marginalization are able to have spaces that center their needs, safety, identities, and contributions to LGBTQI culture,” TAKING B[L]ACK PRIDE organizers write.
They argue their reparations fee is not discriminatory because “Black and Brown LGBTQI folks do not possess the institutional power or enforcement of that power to be racially “‘oppressive’ to white folks.”
It gets personal
They also called out LeFevre specifically.
“She has decided to use her power and privilege as a white passing woman to elicit an emotional response & dangerous reaction from people like herself in order to create unsafe and potentially life threatening conditions for Black and Brown LGBTQIA folks,” the group argued.
“Charlette LaFevre acted out of entitlement and casual violence because she was mad, and felt that her hurt feelings gave her the right to make Black and Brown trans folks, sick and disabled folks, sex workers, migrants, elders, youth, and communities already under constant threat of violence and criminalization pay with their safety and potentially their lives. This is not ok. SUCH is the fallacy of LGBTQIA white and white passing liberals,” they continued.
Did you like this opinion piece? Then listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow @JasonRantz on Twitter,Instagram, and Parler, and like me on Facebook.
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to offer gender confirmation surgery to transgender veterans, Denis McDonough, the secretary of veterans affairs, announced over the weekend at a Pride event in Orlando, Fla., in a major shift in available care for former service members.
“This process will require changing V.A.’s regulations and establishing policy that will ensure the equitable treatment and safety of transgender veterans,” Mr. McDonough said on Saturday at the event, noting that the change would take time. But he said the surgical needs of transgender veterans had been “deserved for a long time.”
Gender-affirming procedures reconstruct sexual organs to match the gender with which an individual identifies and have proved to mitigate serious health concerns like substance abuse, suicide and suicidal ideation, an administration official said, explaining the decision to change the policy. The procedures, which were once considered to be akin to cosmetic surgery, are now widely seen as effective treatment for such issues.
The process for changing health care benefits for transgender veterans could take years, and it is not known how many veterans would seek gender confirmation surgeries. The administration official said internal estimates showed that fewer than 4,000 veterans would be interested in the care.
There are more than 134,000 transgender veterans, according to an estimate from the National Center for Transgender Equality.
The annual cost of the new services would depend on whether they were provided from the Veterans Affairs Department or through outside partners.
“Updating this policy would allow V.A. to provide transgender and gender-diverse veterans with coordinated, medically necessary, transition-related surgical procedures,” a spokesman for the department said.
President Biden has also sought to restore civil rights protections for L.G.B.T.Q. people that were eliminated by President Donald J. Trump. On his first day in office, Mr. Biden signed an executive order that combats discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.
That resulted in the Department of Health and Human Services prohibiting providers from discriminating against gay and transgender individuals and restoring protections for transgender people seeking emergency shelter and homeless services. The Trump administration had denied them access to single-sex shelters of their gender identity.
The policy change at the Veterans Affairs Department is the Biden administration’s latest move to overturn years of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the military. A Trump-era ban on transgender service members was repealed on Mr. Biden’s fifth day in office.
“The vestiges of bigotry remain,” Mr. McDonough said.
He also announced on Saturday that the department was changing the name of its L.G.B.T.Q. health program to the L.G.B.T.Q.+ Health Program, calling it “language that proudly reflects new community standards of inclusiveness” and anticipated future changes.
“Even something as simple as displaying V.A.-specific rainbow magnets has proven to make our hospitals more welcoming,” Mr. McDonough said, “signaling to L.G.T.B.Q.+ vets that we are here for them.”
Seattle gay pride event organizers say they’re charging white people a “reparations fee” to attend. They have the support of Seattle City Council president and mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez and the Seattle Human Rights Commission.
TAKING B(L)ACK PRIDE organizers say all are welcome to attend. However, “white allies and accomplices” must pay the reparations fee. It will be charged on a sliding scale of $10 to $50 depending on one’s ability to pay. The event location is Jimi Hendrix Park, owned by the city of Seattle. This raises questions about the legality of a reparations fee.
Critics question whether race-based admissions fees are appropriate. Seattle Municipal Code clearly prohibits racial discrimination. But organizers push back, calling criticism of their admissions structure “casual violence.”
Gay pride event at Seattle park
Organizers promote TAKING B[L]ACK PRIDE as an event to amplify “the voices, narratives, and contributions of black queer and trans voices.”
There will be live musical performances, commentators, “art healing spaces,” prize giveaways, and a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. According to the event’s listing, they say they will focus on “centering who we are and what we need to feel empowered, joyful, and heard.”
Apparently, they need a so-called reparations fee to feel empowered. Their event page details their racist admissions policy:
All are free to attend HOWEVER this is a BLACK AND BROWN QUEER TRANS CENTERED, PRIORITIZED, VALUED, EVENT. White allies and accomplices are welcome to attend but will be charged a $10 to $50 reparations fee that will be used to keep this event free of cost for BLACK AND BROWN Trans and Queer COMMUNITY.
Is it legal to deny white people entry who refuse to pay? It doesn’t appear so.
City clearly prohibits racial discrimination
Seattle Parks and Recreation explicitly prohibits racial discrimination in their parks. And it applies to event organizers using the park, with or without a permit.
It is unlawful for any person occupying or using any park or recreation facility for any event, activity or exhibition open to the public, whether or not under a permit and whether or not an admission or entrance fee is charged, to deny to any other person the full use and enjoyment of such park and recreation facility because of race…
Seattle Parks and Recreation did not respond to email requests for comment. It’s unclear if this event is permitted.
Critics of the reparations fee include organizers of the Capitol Hill Pride Rally and March — the same ones who banned gay and straight police officers from attending their event.
Criticism from a group that banned gay cops from their event
Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson, the organizers behind Capitol Hill Pride, complained about the reparations fee to the Seattle Human Rights Commission. The SHRC is a far-left, activist group that helps advise the City of Seattle on human rights issues.
In the email that the SHRC posted, LeFevre and Lipson argue that a reparations fee represents “reverse discrimination.” They say it’s a violation of local and federal anti-discrimination laws.
But the SHRC strongly disagreed.
Hope to see y’all at TAKING BLACK PRIDE! Seattle’s first and only Black and Brown queer and trans Pride event with a ball to follow! pic.twitter.com/GrSR2R7QFO
— Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network (@TWOCSolidarity) June 11, 2021
Human Rights Commission, City Council president defend reparations fee
The SHRC defended the event, urging the organizers to “examine the very real social dynamics and ramifications of this issue.”
“Black trans and queer peoples are among the most marginalized and persecuted peoples within the LGBTQIA2S+ community,” the Commission wrote. “They often face shame not only from the cis-heteronormative community, but within the queer community at large as well. In making the event free for the Black Queer community, the organizers of this event are extending a courtesy so rarely extended; by providing a free and safe space to express joy, share story, and be in community.”
Seattle City Council president and mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez also jumped into the fray.
Gonzalez supports a ban on gay police officers at a pride event. But if you question reparations fee, and you’ve gone too far. So offended by LeFevre and Lipson, Gonazlez canceled her scheduled appearance at Capitol Hill Pride.
“After a year that has taken an unbelievable toll on all of our communities, I was looking forward to this opportunity to celebrate Pride in person,” Gonzalez tweeted. “However, I simply cannot support an organization that is trying to stop Black people in the LGBTQ+ community from celebrating Pride in the manner that they choose.”
Criticism is violence
TAKING B[L]ACK PRIDE is obviously defending their reparations fee while slamming the “audacity of Capitol Hill Pride.”
“Our allies, supporters, and accomplices, pay our sliding scale donation ‘reparations” because they are able to understand that as folks with privilege, equity can start with making sure that people who possess various levels of marginalization are able to have spaces that center their needs, safety, identities, and contributions to LGBTQI culture,” TAKING B[L]ACK PRIDE organizers write.
They argue their reparations fee is not discriminatory because “Black and Brown LGBTQI folks do not possess the institutional power or enforcement of that power to be racially ‘oppressive’ to white folks.”
It gets personal
They also called out LeFevre specifically.
“She has decided to use her power and privilege as a white passing woman to elicit an emotional response & dangerous reaction from people like herself in order to create unsafe and potentially life threatening conditions for Black and Brown LGBTQIA folks,” they argued.
“Charlette LaFevre acted out of entitlement and casual violence because she was mad, and felt that her hurt feelings gave her the right to make Black and Brown trans folks, sick and disabled folks, sex workers, migrants, elders, youth, and communities already under constant threat of violence and criminalization pay with their safety and potentially their lives. This is not ok. SUCH is the fallacy of LGBTQIA white and white passing liberals,” they continued.
Did you like this opinion piece? Then listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow @JasonRantz on Twitter,Instagram, and Parler, and like me on Facebook.
Police said Sunday they believe a driver unintentionally hit spectators at a weekend Pride parade in Wilton Manors, Florida, resulting in the death of one man and leaving another person hospitalized.
The latest: Addressing speculation that the crash may have been a hate crime against the LGBTQ community, Wilton Manors police chief Gary Blocker said in a statement: “Today we know yesterday’s incident was a tragic accident, and not a criminal act directed at anyone, or any group of individuals.”
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Blocker did not comment on what led to the crash, nor did he identify the driver or those injured by the pickup truck.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who is gay and told reporters Saturday that he believed the incident to be a “terrorist attack” on the LGBTQ community, said in a statement Sunday that he feared it “could be intentional based on what I saw from mere feet away.”
“As the facts continue to be pieced together, a picture is emerging of an accident in which a truck careened out of control,” he added.
The big picture:Reports emerged about 7 p.m. local time Saturday that a vehicle had “crossed multiple lanes, striking multiple people” at the Wilton Manors Stonewall Parade and Festival, according to the SunSentinel.
Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus president Justin Knight told news outlets that the driver and victims were a part of his group and that he understood it to be an accident, rather than a deliberate action.
Trantalis told reporters Saturday that police had “apprehended the driver” and that the vehicle missed a parade car carrying Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) “by inches.”
What they’re saying: Wasserman Schultz tweeted Saturday night that she’s “deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost and others seriously injured.”
Of note: The incident was one of two involving a pickup truck hitting a crowd on Saturday, with several cyclists left critically wounded in Show Low, Arizona.
The driver in the mountain town “plowed into bicyclists during a community road race,” AP reports. Six people were taken to a local hospital in a critical condition.
The 35-year-old suspect was shot by police at a nearby hardware store and was in a “stable but critical condition,” per AP.
Police told AP the motive for the incident was not immediately known.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
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The truth is that dating as a gay, bi+, or pansexual man can be as messy, unfulfilling, and complicated as “Queer As Folk” makes it seem.
But it doesn’t have to be. These tips can help!
There isn’t a single, agreed upon definition of dating. And the amount of seriousness and commitment implied with the term “dating” varies, depending on who you ask.
Some people use the term loosely, applying it to sex-laden situationships, casual bone buddies, and FWBs. Others reserve it for dynamics with more intimacy or commitment.
Figuring out what dating means to you can help you determine whether dating — or something else altogether — is what you’re wanting.
“It’s helpful to know what you’re looking for as you go into dating,” says Jesse Kahn, LCSW-R, CST, the director and sex therapist at The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York City.
Some questions to ask yourself:
What is my preferred relationship structure? What is my relationship orientation?
What level of commitment, time, and energy am I willing to bring into this dynamic right now?
What are my current priorities?
Do my goals and dreams involve another person or other people? To what extent or degree am I willing to work toward that right now?
It can also be helpful to understand what feels negotiable vs. nonnegotiable in a partner.
“When you’re able to identify what’s negotiable and nonnegotiable, you can continue to be flexible and allow what you’re looking for to evolve and be more specific to the relationship — while staying connected to your wants and needs,” they say.
Here are some prompts that may help you figure out your negotiables and nonnegotiables:
Close your eyes and visualize where you see your life in 5 years. What do you see?
Make a list of your own firm values
If you could abracadabra your dream self into being, what would you be like?
If you could abracadabra your dream partner(s) into being, what would they be like?
There’s a thin line between dating within your negotiable and overly restricting your dating pool.
Often, people only date people within a specific ‘type,’ which keeps them from exploring a wider variety of partners and relationship dynamics, says Brian Ackerman, a psychotherapist at The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York City.
“By dating just one type of person, you limit the range of insights you can gather about yourself, your needs, and the desired characteristics in prospective partners,” he says. Plus, “you don’t know what you don’t know.”
Dating a wide variety of people can be helpful, precisely because it gives you an opportunity to learn more about your own likes and dislikes — and maybe even meet your next boo…
Remember: ‘Types’ are a myth
“No two people are exactly alike. So even if you have a specific ‘type’ you can still be intentional about seeking a variety of different characteristics in people with those similar core features,” Ackerman says.
Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, if you want to start dating, like, yesterday, the apps are tops.
Research which apps are best for you
No two dating apps are the same, which is why Zachary Zane, a sex expert, the founder of BoySlut, and a columnist for “Sexplain It“, suggests understanding the purpose of the available apps before using them.
While there are exceptions to every generalization, Grindr and Scruff are best for hook-ups. (They’re basically seamless for sex.)
Which one you choose varies based on current (if any) gender(s) preference. Grindr typically has greater diversity of gender and sexuality compared with Scruff. Profiles from nonbinary people and straight men attracted to trans women, for example, are more common on Grindr.
For a relationship, Zane recommends Chappy or Bumble. If you live somewhere rural or suburban, or if you have time to swipe, you may choose apps with more users (aka potential dates), like Tinder or Hinge.
If you’re interested in a threesome, throuple, or polyamorous dating structure, consider Feeld, suggests Daniel Saynt, the founder of NSFW, a private members club for sex, kink, and cannabis-positive millennials. #Open is a decent pick, too.
Tailor the profiles to what (er, who!) you’re looking for
Due to the pervasive biphobia in our culture, less people will match with you, he says. “But those who do will be open to dating someone who’s bi or pan.”
Use the apps
Having the app downloaded isn’t sufficient. You need to actually use them!
And no, responding to messages the one or two times you take a dump each day isn’t enough. Dedicate the time amount of time finding dates as you would to that date. In other words: 20+ minutes a day.
Consider FaceTiming before meeting up
Some daters swear by the pre-date get-to-know-you FaceTime.
As Zane puts it, “Sometimes, you go on a date and, within seconds, realize that you’re not into the person. A quick FaceTime before can help solve that problem.”
If you’re comfortable video-meeting someone from an app, or if you’re very worried about “wasting” time on a bad date, this strategy is worth a whirl.
The name of the (long) game here is meeting as many people as possible, Saynt says. “The more people you meet, the better your chances that you’ll be dating soon.”
Go to a bar or coffee shop
Specifically: a bar or coffee shop that you actually like.
Why? Because, odds are, you and the other patrons are attracted to a similar energy, and you may have something in common.
“Dating within a community might be the key to finding partners who stay off of apps and are more focused on real-world connections,” Saynt says.
So, while you’re there, consider introducing yourself to someone you’re drawn to — or someone who you see there regularly.
Here are some lines to try out:
“Hey, I’ve seen you here a few times and wanted to introduce myself.”
“I don’t know if this is something you’d be interested in, but I’d love to give you my number if you want to grab a cup of joe together sometime.”
“Would you be interested in sitting together? I’m new to the area, and I’m trying to be better about meeting people.”
“We keep running into each other here on accident. I’d love to give you my number, so we can try it on purpose some time.”
If you’re specifically interested in dating other men and nonbinary folks, check out gay and queer specific drinking spaces. To find some close to you, hit up Google. For example, try searching “gay bar near me” or “queer meetup Chicago.”
Join a club or other community project
Thanks to Meetup, Bumble BFF, and local Facebook groups, there are “bisexual baker meetups,” “gay dodgeball teams,” “pansexual pride marches,” and “‘Queer Eye’ watch parties.”
“Finding group activities in your neighborhood and pushing your focus toward community-style activities and meetups will bring you around more people who have a similar interest as you,” Saynt says.
Your move: Think about how you want to be spending your free time. Then, join groups around that!
If you’re sexually adventurous, try a sex party
Or another sex-positive space. As more people get vaccinated, sex-positive spaces are starting to open up, too.
Sex-positive spaces, sex parties, and orgies are moving back IRL after being URL or OOO for the last year plus, Saynt says. “Check online to find out what’s closest to you.”
You can also ask the educators at your local sex shops for tips on where to find them.
The good news: “There isn’t a single right or wrong way or time to bring up making things serious,” Ackerman says. The bad news: That means there’s no timeline you can follow.
Some men feel comfortable sharing what they’re looking for on or before the first date, he says. “For them it’s important to be up front, so they don’t spend time or energy on dating that isn’t moving in that direction.”
They might say:
“Before we make plans, I just want to be up front that I’m looking for something serious.”
“For the sake of transparency: I practice hierarchical polyamory and am ultimately looking for a primary partner.”
Others may feel more comfortable letting their feelings evolve over several weeks or months, and then sharing them as they feel increasingly confident that they’re ready to get more serious, Ackerman adds.
“If you’re not ‘out,’ take your time! It’s an individual process with individual timelines,” Ackerman says. “There’s plenty of room for exploration of how you identify before coming out.”
That said, as far as dating is concerned, how ‘out’ (or not) you are will likely impact how you date, as well as your dating experience.
If you’re not out, it’s important to be clear with yourself and whoever you’re dating about what information you’re comfortable sharing or having shared. “This clarity allows you to honor where you’re at while being transparent with folks you’re dating,” he says.
It’s also important to recognize that folks you want to date are going to have their own reactions to what you’re ready to share.
For example, if you aren’t out to your friends and family and therefore avoid using photos of your face in your dating profiles, this decision may result in fewer matches.
As Zane says, “most guys aren’t into meeting up with someone who’s DL (downlow) and whose face you can’t see.”
But, if someone won’t date you because your face isn’t shown or you’re not out, they’re not the best match for you. After all, if you’re not out, you need to be dating someone who’s OK with you *not* being out.
Ultimately, it depends on whether you’re looking for a strictly sexual relationship with the third or an ongoing sexual and romantic fling (aka a throuple).
For the former, Zane recommends using Scruff or Grindr. “That’s what my boyfriend and I use,” he says.
For the latter, Saynt says you’re going to have to give it some time to come to fruition. (Because, no, boyfriends aren’t sold at the grocery store).
“It’s important for your shared life to be fulfilling before looking to expand your experiences with a third partner,” he says. “You can open the conversation by discussing fantasies and desires, asking your partner for theirs and sharing yours.”
Hopefully, you’re with a partner who already wants to explore with others. This should make things a lot easier when planning a future threesome.
If you’re reading this, you’re single, and you know you want a three-way relationship down the line, Saynt says it’s OK to say you want a more serious three-way relationship when you first start seeing someone.
“Don’t be ashamed of wanting intimacy and connection,” he says. “Many men hide these feelings for fear of seeming weak or too needy in a relationship. Communicate early and often to build a relationship in which your partner feels comfortable to do the same.”
Dating fatigue is REAL. If you stop having the energy to show up for yourself on dates or consistently interact with potential mates, take a breather.
“If you’re not able to give it your all, or you’re not open to dating people, it’s just a waste of time for you and your date(s),” Zane says.
In fact, Saynt recommends proactively fighting off dating fatigue by taking a break if your last few dates were less than stellar or if you’re feeling jaded after your past relationship.
Societally, people mostly view dating as a means to an end — be that orgasm or marriage.
“But dating itself can be the end,” says Ackerman. “Dating allows us to experience new personalities, perspectives, physical intimacy, and lessons learned about what we do and don’t like.”
So don’t forget to enjoy the ride. Pun absolutely intended.
Gabrielle Kassel is a New York-based sex and wellness writer and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She’s become a morning person, tested over 200 vibrators, and eaten, drunk, and brushed with charcoal — all in the name of journalism. In her free time, she can be found reading self-help books and romance novels, bench-pressing, or pole dancing. Follow her on Instagram.
A postcard offered during a virtual flight with JAL.
‘When can I travel again?” This familiar question echoed around the world the past 12 months since the global pandemic forced lockdowns and stringent border closures.
Before people can start to move freely again, vaccine administration needs pick up speed in some countries, as only 21% of the global population have received at least one dose.
Varying rates of vaccination makes tourism promotion difficult. Travel demand remains, but people can’t simply pack their bags, book air tickets and fly to their preferred destinations.
Yet competition in the global tourism market never stops, meaning organisations are already gearing up to lure those ready for a change of scenery.
National tourism organisations must maintain an appetite for travel while abiding by each country’s public health requirements, even if the market might take a year to take shape.
A stamped visa replicating arrival at Narita airport.
THE GAME IS AFOOT
In the build-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020, postponed from last year to July this year, the host nation decided to allow only athletes and domestic spectators, banning international visitors.
Despite the lack of inbound tourists, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) still had to issue a marketing campaign for the games, taking a long-term perspective.
The purpose is to generate renewed interest in Japan, helping the country meet its goal of attracting 60 million visitors in 2030.
Eigo Onuma, executive director at JNTO’s Bangkok Office, said the agency continues to promote the Olympics in key markets that follow this event, such as China, Europe and the US, through both online and offline channels.
Out-of-home media have carried ads in many countries, such as in Major League Baseball stadiums in the US, he said.
These promotions aim to shed light on tourism attractions near event venues via online channels, hoping global telecasts and other coverage enhance tourism awareness about these lesser-known sites.
According to JNTO, nine prefectures spearhead its tourism promotion: Hokkaido, Miyagi, Fukushima, Saitama, Ibaraki, Chiba, Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Shizuoka.
Outdoor events such as the marathon, cycling road races and surfing can introduce audiences to the mountains and coastal areas of the island nation.
The agency hopes these events can attract latent interest in Japan, keeping people thinking about the country even though they cannot visit at this moment.
One target for the Olympics is China, the top market for Japanese inbound tourism in 2019 with 9.5 million visitors.
Feedback from the mainland is expected to be robust as China hosts the Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2022.
The US audience, which saw its president Joe Biden recently endorse the Tokyo Games during a G7 summit this month, are another main target.
Tourists from the US exceeded 1.7 million for the first time in 2019, while travel exchanges between the two countries were strong as the US was a top destination for the Japanese, accounting for 15% of total departures in 2019.
American viewership of the Olympics is anticipated to be high as the country hosts the Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2028.
The Tokyo office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand used a cartoon promotion, ‘Mamuang Jung’, to remind Japanese of the fun that awaits them once travel is allowed.
FROM IMAGINATION TO REALITY
In addition to the Olympics, JNTO is also focused on content marketing that can reach new potential markets.
The hype of “Ghost of Tsushima”, an action-adventure game released last year, led to more opportunities to promote tourism sites to global online gamers. The video game portrays the story of a protagonist samurai who has a mission to protect Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan.
The city of Tsushima in Nagasaki became well-known after the game developed by Sucker Punch Productions was distributed. It was praised for its elaborate visuals, including positive feedback from gamers in Thailand.
The game sold more than 6.5 million copies globally.
“The popularity of the game allows us to create content involving tourism attractions linked to settings in this game,” said Mr Onuma.
“It helps us keep Japan top of mind even when tourists cannot visit the country.”
With physical travel unfeasible during the pandemic, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) adopted a similar content marketing strategy.
The TAT Tokyo office cooperated with Wisut Ponnimit, a renowned Thai cartoonist and animator in Japan, to create four episodes of a short animated series called Mamuang Jung relaying the concept of Thailand Dream Trip.
Seksan Sripraiwan, director of TAT’s Tokyo office, said Mamuang Jung serves as a reminder for tourists of what waits for them, even if they cannot travel to Thailand now.
“The short clips lasting 28 seconds aim to encourage travellers to dream about activities they can do in Thailand when pandemic subsides,” he said.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Tokyo Office offered the “Amazing Thailand Virtual Flight with JAL” to reiterate the awareness of Thailand as a destination for the Japanese people once the pandemic improves.
DREAM FIRST, TRAVEL LATER
This project is linked to a promotional campaign with the department store chain Tsutaya, which launched an exclusive T-point card for 5,000 customers on May 28.
The card allows customers to convert accumulated points for discounts on advanced purchases of hotels, spas and tour programmes in Thailand.
Mr Seksan said Tsutaya has around 60 million active card users.
The co-branded card, which illustrates Mamuang Jung on its design, helps the agency collect data from customers who show strong interest in Thai tourism to help create future marketing campaigns, he said.
“Japan has turned into a fully cashless society,” said Mr Seksan.
“We will use this opportunity to conduct data marketing, which helps us offer marketing strategies that match each segment better.”
To maintain travel ambition among potential visitors, the TAT Tokyo office launched a virtual flight last month by coordinating with Japan Airlines and Narita airport, welcoming 162 passengers for a 3.5-hour flight.
The flight featured a number of activities and services to serve as a reminder of travel experiences in Thailand.
Chanyuth Sawetsuwan, director of the TAT office in Osaka, said all three TAT offices in Japan are working together to increase the number of young travellers to Thailand, with a goal to increase this portion from 40% to 50%.
“When we followed the trends of the young generation in Japan, we found Thai dramas, particularly gay love stories known as Y series, have a growing audience among those aged 20-30 years old,” he said.
Japanese TV companies bought the licences for these dramas and broadcast them, including 2gether, which aired on TV Oska, causing the keyword “Thai BL” (Thai Boy Love) to trend on social networks.
Mr Chanyuth said the agency will continue to create travel demand by coordinating with TV producers in Thailand, creating video content about places and activities as seen on the shows.
The office started a project with leading actors from SOTUS: The Series broadcast on TV Asahi this year.
The partnership created YouTube content that took audiences to the tourism attractions and shared gastronomy experiences in Bangkok.
The scheme hopes to encourage people who have never visited Thailand to consider trips here when borders reopen.
“Korean drama series dominated the market in the past, but we are starting to see the success of Thai entertainment in this market,” said Mr Chanyuth.
“This is a good start in creating a new segment for Thai tourism in the future.”
Crew members are dressed with the Amazing Thailand theme.
A South Florida pride parade marcher is dead and another injured after they were struck by a truck driven by another parade goer Saturday evening.
The incident, which authorities say is looking like an accident, took place at the Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival in Wilton Manors, just north of Fort Lauderdale, just as the festivities were starting.
The Ft. Lauderdale Police Department revealed Sunday that the driver of the truck was a 77-year-old man who was participating in the parade. The unidentified man had “ailments that prevented him from walking in the duration of the parade and was selected to drive as the lead vehicle,” the police said in a statement.
While the driver was waiting for the parade to start, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and struck the two unidentified people, the police said. The truck hit a nearby gate and came to a stop.
Both victims were taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where one was pronounced dead. Officials said the other man was expected to survive.
The driver and the two victims are all members of Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, according to investigators. The driver stayed on the scene and has been cooperating with investigators, police said,
A DUI investigation concluded no signs of impairment, according to investigators.
Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Paul Rolli told ABC News that “the early investigation now indicates it looks like it was a tragic accident, but nobody’s saying finally what it is.”
He stressed that the incident is still under investigation by the Ft. Lauderdale Police.
“Nobody’s making any final determination because there’s not enough information, but it doesn’t really look like it was intentional, from the circumstances,” Rolli said. “These things need to be investigated.”
The vehicle also narrowly missed hitting a convertible that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., was riding in, WPLG reported.
“I am deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost and others seriously injured at tonight’s @WiltonManorsCty Stonewall #Pride Parade. My staff, volunteers and I are thankfully safe,” she wrote on Twitter.
An emotional Wasserman Schultz, who has represented the 23rd Congressional District since 2013, could be seen making calls and being consoled by staffers afterward.
“We’re praying for the victims and their loved ones as law enforcement investigates, and I am providing them with whatever assistance I can,” Wasserman Schultz added. “I am so heartbroken by what took place at this celebration. May the memory of the life lost be for a blessing.”
The parade was scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but the incident took place just beforehand. It was canceled after the crash, according to Wilton Manors police, though the festival continued.
ABC News’ Jon Haworth, Matt Foster, Will McDuffie, Ben Stein and Victor Oquendo contributed to this report.
Meredith Steele of Bath, who boasts over 478,000 followers on TikTok, asked her followers to raise money for a local waiter who was left religious pamphlets targeting them for their sexuality while waiting tables. She gave a portion to the waiter and donated the remaining $10,500 to EqualityMaine in the waiter’s name. Contributed photo
After two people left religious pamphlets in the place of tips, targeting their openly gay waiter for their sexual orientation, a Bath-based social media influencer decided to turn the acts of bigotry into a gesture of kindness and acceptance.
The waiter said when a patron left the first religious pamphlet earlier this month, “I was frustrated but laughed it off.” However, when they saw a second, similar pamphlet left by a different customer on the same day, “I just stopped and stared at it.”
“I felt angry,” they said. “I was raised as a Christian and this isn’t how Christians treat people.”
The waiter spoke with The Times Record, but asked not to be identified for fear of discrimination.
After hearing the story from a friend who works with the waiter, Meredith Steele of Bath said she decided to act against the microaggression as her way of saying, “This is not how people — Christians especially — treat one another.”
“Regardless of your personal opinion, someone’s sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with how they do their job,” said Steele. “It’s never your time or place to make a comment like that. It infuriated me.”
Steele asked her over 478,000 followers on TikTok, a social media platform where users to share short videos, to donate to give the waiter the tip they deserved. Donations poured into her Venmo account, an online payment app, faster than she anticipated, leading her to close the fundraiser just days after it launched.
“Some people sent 17 cents and said, ‘This is all I have in my Venmo account,’ and others sent $100,” said Steele. “The amount of money that came in was absolutely insane.”
She split the donations, giving a portion to the waiter and the remaining $10,500 to EqualityMaine, a Portland-based nonprofit that advocates for equality for Maine’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, in the waiter’s name. She declined to say how much the waiter received.
EqualityMaine Development Director Christopher O’Connor said the donation will be used to fund a scholarship, allowing 10 young adults to attend the organization’s New Leaders Camp, a weeklong overnight camp for LGBTQ 12-17-year-olds. This summer, the camp is looking to raise $50,000 to send 40 teenagers to camp, free of charge.
O’Connor said campers have called their time at the camp “life-changing” because for many, it’s their first time meeting other LGBTQ young adults and feeling accepted for first time in their lives.
“Kids in every corner of the state exist in their communities and schools as the only LGBT person they know,” said O’Connor. “Camp gives them the chance to meet kids just like them and know they’re valued, respected and loved. They get to feel comfortable in their own skin and explore maybe a new name or pronouns they’ve been thinking about but may be too scared to share it at home.”
Aside from giving campers a space to meet others like them, the camp aims to teach campers LGBTQ history and help them become leaders in their own communities, O’Connor said.
“Our youth are the next generation who will be leading the LGBTQ generation,” he said. “Most schools don’t touch on LGBT history at all unless you have a rare supportive history teacher, so we bring in our elders and they spend a day with the campers.”
O’Connor said this work is especially important because while Maine may be ahead of other states in terms of passing laws that protect LGBTQ Mainers, “there is still so much work to be done.”
“Maine, compared to other states, is well ahead of the curve,” said O’Connor. “We were one of the first states in the country to pass equal marriage by the vote of the people. The fact that Mainers sat up and said ‘Yes, you should be able to marry who you love.’ speaks volumes.”
However, laws don’t mean all instances of discrimination, from children being bullied in school for their sexual orientation or gender identity to waiters being left religious pamphlets, don’t happen, O’Connor said.
“Here this person is trying to make a living, and here comes these people who are saying ‘You’re less than I am,’” O’Connor said of the Midcoast waiter. “Until every single one of us can live our lives without any form of microaggression or discrimination, there’s still so much work to be done.”
After two people left religious pamphlets in the place of tips, targeting their openly gay waiter for their sexual orientation, a Bath-based social media influencer decided to turn the acts of bigotry into a gesture of kindness and acceptance.
Meredith Steele of Bath, who boats over 478,000 followers on TikTok, asked her followers to raise money for a local waiter who was left religious pamphlets targeting him for his sexuality while waiting tables. She gave a portion to the waiter and donated the remaining $10,500 to EqualityMaine in the waiter’s name. Contributed photo
The waiter said when a patron left the first religious pamphlet earlier this month, “I was frustrated but laughed it off.” However, when they saw a second, similar pamphlet left by a different customer on the same day, “I just stopped and stared at it.”
“I felt angry,” they said. “I was raised as a Christian and this isn’t how Christians treat people.”
The waiter spoke with The Times Record but asked not to be identified for fear of discrimination.
After hearing the story from a friend who works with the waiter, Meredith Steele of Bath said she decided to act against the microaggression as her way of saying, “This is not how people — Christians especially — treat one another.”
“Regardless of your personal opinion, someone’s sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with how they do their job,” said Steele. “It’s never your time or place to make a comment like that. It infuriated me.”
Steele asked her over 478,000 followers on TikTok, a social media platform where users share short videos, to donate to give the waiter the tip they deserved. Donations poured into her Venmo account, an online payment app, faster than she anticipated, leading her to close the fundraiser just days after it launched.
“Some people sent 17 cents and said, ‘This is all I have in my Venmo account,’ and others sent $100,” said Steele. “The amount of money that came in was absolutely insane.”
She split the donations, giving a portion to the waiter and the remaining $10,500 to EqualityMaine, a Portland-based nonprofit that advocates for equality for Maine’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, in the waiter’s name. She declined to say how much the waiter received.
EqualityMaine Development Director Christopher O’Connor said the donation will be used to fund a scholarship, allowing 10 young adults to attend the organization’s New Leaders Camp, a weeklong overnight camp for LGBTQ 12-17-year-olds. This summer, the camp is looking to raise $50,000 to send 40 teenagers to camp, free of charge.
O’Connor said campers have called their time at the camp “life-changing” because for many, it’s their first time meeting other LGBTQ young adults and feeling accepted for the first time in their lives.
“Kids in every corner of the state exist in their communities and schools as the only LGBT person they know,” said O’Connor. “Camp gives them the chance to meet kids just like them and know they’re valued, respected and loved. They get to feel comfortable in their own skin and explore maybe a new name or pronouns they’ve been thinking about but may be too scared to share it at home.”
Aside from giving campers space to meet others like them, the camp aims to teach campers LGBTQ history and help them become leaders in their own communities, O’Connor said.
“Our youth are the next generation who will be leading the LGBTQ generation,” he said. “Most schools don’t touch on LGBT history at all unless you have a rare supportive history teacher, so we bring in our elders and they spend a day with the campers.”
O’Connor said this work is especially important because while Maine may be ahead of other states in terms of passing laws that protect LGBTQ Mainers, “there is still so much work to be done.”
“Maine, compared to other states, is well ahead of the curve,” said O’Connor. “We were one of the first states in the country to pass equal marriage by the vote of the people. The fact that Mainers sat up and said ‘Yes, you should be able to marry who you love.’ speaks volumes.”
However, laws don’t mean all instances of discrimination, from children being bullied in school for their sexual orientation or gender identity to waiters being left religious pamphlets, don’t happen, O’Connor said.
“Here this person is trying to make a living, and here come these people who are saying ‘You’re less than I am,’” O’Connor said of the Midcoast waiter. “Until every single one of us can live our lives without any form of microaggression or discrimination, there’s still so much work to be done.”
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Meredith Steele of Bath, who boasts over 478,000 followers on TikTok, asked her followers to raise money for a local waiter who was left religious pamphlets targeting them for their sexuality while waiting tables. She gave a portion to the waiter and donated the remaining $10,500 to EqualityMaine in the waiter’s name. Contributed photo
After two people left religious pamphlets in the place of tips, targeting their openly gay waiter for their sexual orientation, a Bath-based social media influencer decided to turn the acts of bigotry into a gesture of kindness and acceptance.
The waiter said when a patron left the first religious pamphlet earlier this month, “I was frustrated but laughed it off.” However, when they saw a second, similar pamphlet left by a different customer on the same day, “I just stopped and stared at it.”
“I felt angry,” they said. “I was raised as a Christian and this isn’t how Christians treat people.”
The waiter spoke with The Times Record, but asked not to be identified for fear of discrimination.
After hearing the story from a friend who works with the waiter, Meredith Steele of Bath said she decided to act against the microaggression as her way of saying, “This is not how people — Christians especially — treat one another.”
“Regardless of your personal opinion, someone’s sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with how they do their job,” said Steele. “It’s never your time or place to make a comment like that. It infuriated me.”
Steele asked her over 478,000 followers on TikTok, a social media platform where users to share short videos, to donate to give the waiter the tip they deserved. Donations poured into her Venmo account, an online payment app, faster than she anticipated, leading her to close the fundraiser just days after it launched.
“Some people sent 17 cents and said, ‘This is all I have in my Venmo account,’ and others sent $100,” said Steele. “The amount of money that came in was absolutely insane.”
She split the donations, giving a portion to the waiter and the remaining $10,500 to EqualityMaine, a Portland-based nonprofit that advocates for equality for Maine’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, in the waiter’s name. She declined to say how much the waiter received.
EqualityMaine Development Director Christopher O’Connor said the donation will be used to fund a scholarship, allowing 10 young adults to attend the organization’s New Leaders Camp, a weeklong overnight camp for LGBTQ 12-17-year-olds. This summer, the camp is looking to raise $50,000 to send 40 teenagers to camp, free of charge.
O’Connor said campers have called their time at the camp “life-changing” because for many, it’s their first time meeting other LGBTQ young adults and feeling accepted for first time in their lives.
“Kids in every corner of the state exist in their communities and schools as the only LGBT person they know,” said O’Connor. “Camp gives them the chance to meet kids just like them and know they’re valued, respected and loved. They get to feel comfortable in their own skin and explore maybe a new name or pronouns they’ve been thinking about but may be too scared to share it at home.”
Aside from giving campers a space to meet others like them, the camp aims to teach campers LGBTQ history and help them become leaders in their own communities, O’Connor said.
“Our youth are the next generation who will be leading the LGBTQ generation,” he said. “Most schools don’t touch on LGBT history at all unless you have a rare supportive history teacher, so we bring in our elders and they spend a day with the campers.”
O’Connor said this work is especially important because while Maine may be ahead of other states in terms of passing laws that protect LGBTQ Mainers, “there is still so much work to be done.”
“Maine, compared to other states, is well ahead of the curve,” said O’Connor. “We were one of the first states in the country to pass equal marriage by the vote of the people. The fact that Mainers sat up and said ‘Yes, you should be able to marry who you love.’ speaks volumes.”
However, laws don’t mean all instances of discrimination, from children being bullied in school for their sexual orientation or gender identity to waiters being left religious pamphlets, don’t happen, O’Connor said.
“Here this person is trying to make a living, and here comes these people who are saying ‘You’re less than I am,’” O’Connor said of the Midcoast waiter. “Until every single one of us can live our lives without any form of microaggression or discrimination, there’s still so much work to be done.”
A South Florida pride parade marcher is dead and another injured after they were struck by a truck driven by another parade goer Saturday evening.
The incident, which authorities say is looking like an accident, took place at the Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival in Wilton Manors, just north of Fort Lauderdale, just as the festivities were starting.
The Ft. Lauderdale Police Department revealed Sunday that the driver of the truck was a 77-year-old man who was participating in the parade. The unidentified man had “ailments that prevented him from walking in the duration of the parade and was selected to drive as the lead vehicle,” the police said in a statement.
While the driver was waiting for the parade to start, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and struck the two unidentified people, the police said. The truck hit a nearby gate and came to a stop.
Both victims were taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where one was pronounced dead. Officials said the other man was expected to survive.
The driver and the two victims are all members of Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, according to investigators. The driver stayed on the scene and has been cooperating with investigators, police said,
A DUI investigation concluded no signs of impairment, according to investigators.
Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Paul Rolli told ABC News that “the early investigation now indicates it looks like it was a tragic accident, but nobody’s saying finally what it is.”
He stressed that the incident is still under investigation by the Ft. Lauderdale Police.
“Nobody’s making any final determination because there’s not enough information, but it doesn’t really look like it was intentional, from the circumstances,” Rolli said. “These things need to be investigated.”
The vehicle also narrowly missed hitting a convertible that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., was riding in, WPLG reported.
“I am deeply shaken and devastated that a life was lost and others seriously injured at tonight’s @WiltonManorsCty Stonewall #Pride Parade. My staff, volunteers and I are thankfully safe,” she wrote on Twitter.
An emotional Wasserman Schultz, who has represented the 23rd Congressional District since 2013, could be seen making calls and being consoled by staffers afterward.
“We’re praying for the victims and their loved ones as law enforcement investigates, and I am providing them with whatever assistance I can,” Wasserman Schultz added. “I am so heartbroken by what took place at this celebration. May the memory of the life lost be for a blessing.”
The parade was scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but the incident took place just beforehand. It was canceled after the crash, according to Wilton Manors police, though the festival continued.
ABC News’ Jon Haworth, Matt Foster, Will McDuffie, Ben Stein and Victor Oquendo contributed to this report.
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