Last Saturday Night Edison Farrow who produced the Sandra Barnhart show was nice enough to invite myself, Mark and Stephen to her 7:30 performance, and all I can say is that Sandra was on fire. She has been in the business for 30 years now and her wit and attitude is still on the pulse of what’s hot, and her performance is still top notch. So if you get the chance to see her, I recommend you jump at it. I would also personally like to thank Edison for his generosity; as is usually the case with his events it was a huge success (sold out)!!!

Later on that evening RuPaul made a long awaited return to the stage at the Coliseum. Promoting her new movie Star Booty, she performed three sets of songs including old favorites and new material from the soon to be released movie. The crowd was already pumped up and ready by the sounds of DJ Tracy Young. Congrats to Gary, Paul and Brett on another spectacular night. 

MDGLCC, in conjunction with Ultra/Pandora Events, presents the August Women's Business Networker on Thursday, August 2nd, for 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, 130 NE 40th Street, in Atlas Plaza, in the heart of Miami's Design District. Admission for MDGLCC members is $5.00 and potential members is $10.00 which includes a free glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres. For more information contact: 305-573-4000 or visit: gogaymiami.com. A great way to network and meet professional women in your community! Don't forget to bring your business cards. Don't forget to bring a friend.

On Sunday July 8^th Florida Storm Soccer, South Florida Gay-Lesbian-Friendly Soccer Team, organized a game against Holy Cross Employees.  The game was designed to raise funds to help McCauley foundation.  This organization was funded by Holy Cross nuns. They have a program that helps employees with financial problems pay their electric, water, medical bills and even their mortgage payment. They also help poor communities around the neighborhood. Between players and supporters donations  almost $2,000 was raised. Florida Storm donated half of this money to the McCauley foundation, the other half will be used to support Florida Storm Players with their trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina to participate at IGLFA 2007 World Cup in September. Right now the Florida Storm Soccer team has a Jackpot raffle for $5 where the winner will get  $1,000 (cash), and the rest of the funds are going to be distributed, 50% to Tuesday Angels (organization that helps people with HIV), and the other 50% is going to help Florida Storm Soccer World Cup in September. Please check out our website at www.FloridaStormSoccer.com or reach us at GaySoccerFL@aol.com for any comment or request.

Leon Fleisher is the subject of the 2007 Academy-Award-nominated documentary Two Hands: The Leon Fleisher Story. This renowned classical pianist, conductor, and teacher was forced to "retire" when only 37-years old. It was the defining moment in his career until recently, when he began treatments that finally helped relieve focal dystonia: the neurological affliction that affected his right hand. Leon Fleisher recently made his first two-hand recording in 40 years, a sort of musical biography called Two Hands. The 2007 Summer Concert Series is privileged to present Leon Fleisher in recital. It's another memorable Summer Concert Series evening. August 2nd at 8:00 P.M. - $25 & $35 - visit: communityartsprogram.org for more information. CGCC, 3010 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables, 305-448-7421

The Ft. Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus will hold auditions for new singing members on Tuesday, August 7th at 7:30PM and again on Saturday, August 11^th at 1:00PM.  Auditions will be held in the Music Suite (second floor, education annex) of The Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9^th Ave, in Ft.Lauderdale. “Persons interested in joining thechorus should arrive at the start time of the audition and bring a piece of music with which to audition. An accompanist will be provided or you can bring tracks. It can be as simple as happy birthday or as complex as an aria but our Director will need to hear you sing” said Bradley Bush, FTLGMC Vice-President Membership. To pre-register for the auditions or for full details on the audition process visit the chorus website at www.ftlgmc.org and click on Join the Chorus – Auditions. The chorus is preparing for its first show of the season, An Evening with Barbara Cook, which will be presented in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, on October 22.. “Coming off a successful season with sold out performances, we are delighted to be kicking off our new season with Tony award winning guest artist Barbara Cook” said FTLGMC Artistic Director Todd Wiley.  “Few artists can fill venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, and London’s Albert Hall. Fewer still attract the fanaticism of fans that is generally reserved for pop stars.” For a complete listing of upcoming chorus events, to purchase tickets, or for additional information visit the chorus website at www.ftlgmc.org. This organization is funded in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Division.

“Prior to 1995, gays and lesbians in Broward County had no legal rights, at all. We were afraid to identify ourselves as gay at work, when applying to buy a home, or condo:  it took real nerve to check into a hotel and ask for one king size bed.  We were afraid because we could lawfully be excluded from places of public accommodations, denied housing, and fired for no reason other than our sexual orientation. Many of us remember vividly how it was, and how happy we were when we passed the amendment adding protections for gays and lesbians to the Broward County Human Rights Ordinance.  And, in 1999, we passed the Domestic Partnership Ordinance, allowing us to register as domestic partners.  The rest is history:  an openly gay mayor of Wilton Manors, an openly gay Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner and now, an openly gay County Commissioner; gay open air cafes like Rosie's, the New Moon and Georgie's, guys and girls walking hand in hand down Wilton Drive.  No more hiding behind windowless walls like Chardees with parking and entrance in the back.  We have arrived in Broward County.  But, wait....Now, a handful of GLBT activists, only some actually living in Broward (and none of whom worked with us in the past campaigns) are in the process of risking the entire GLBT community's rights to protection in employment, housing and places of public accommodation line with a proposed amendment to add transgender as a protected category, which may go before the Broward County Commission Agenda in early September. Based on prior experience, we expect an immediate effort to repeal all of our hard won rights.  If passed now, our rights will go before the voters on the 2008 ballot.  A disaster in an election year, for many reasons, not the least of which there have been no preparations to fight a campaign of this kind on short notice. The proponents of this ill conceived plan are completely unwilling to agree to postpone the commission vote until May, 2008, and thereby avoid a vote before 2010.  If we do not act now, all of our hard won rights may be lost.  This group has moved forward behind all of our backs, with no outreach to Broward's GLBT community (other than the small insider circle of gay politicos).  Contrary to the mistruths that have been circulated, no one is questioning whether gender identity should be protected. We are only urging a strategic change in timing to avoid the 2008 ballot. Please join us on Wednesday, August 1st, at the meeting at the GLCC (at 7 p.m. at the Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Community Center, 1717 N. Andrews Ave., 1 mile south of Oakland Park Boulevard) to discuss the issue, and learn what all of us, acting together, can do to forestall this pending disaster. 

Warm regards, Robin”

3 Year Anniversary "Tea Cruise" is on Sunday, August 5^th. Call Peter at 954-649-1107 to reserve tickets, and hurry cause this cruise is sure to sell out!!!

This Monday August 6^th at 7pm the Boardwalk presents a benefit for one of their own, Annie. Annie has been with the boardwalk from the beginning and recently was hospitalized for cancer. The night will star Nikki Adams, Electra, Justice Royale, Nicole T. Phillips, Daisy Deadpetals, Aunti Mame, Champagne Bourdeaux, Nina St Marcos, Victoria Michaels, and many more. In addition 100% of the door will go to Annie. We all know Annie from her smiling face and I urge the entire community to come out for this very worthy benefit.

MIAMI-DADE ALERTS - Registration begins for Miami-Dade County's Wireless Emergency Alerting System Pilot Program. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and C. Douglas Bass, Miami-Dade County's Director of Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, are pleased to announce that Miami-Dade Alerts!, Miami-Dade County's Wireless Emergency Alerting System Pilot Program, is open for registration.  Residents in Miami-Dade County who participate in the Miami-Dade Alerts! test pilot program can receive - for free - text alerts to cell phones and other mobile devices advising them of emergency information, including severe thunderstorm, tornado, tropical storm and hurricane warni