Pride South Florida - Become a Sponsor

Welcome to Pride South Florida

We’re very excited about the upcoming 2009 PrideFest happening Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd. Official PrideFest events kick off the week prior to the PrideFest weekend. These will be held at several of the nightclubs and venues throughout town beginning on Monday, March 16th and continue through Sunday night’s After Pride T Dance.

PrideFest is a celebration and tribute to the LGBT community and its unique culture. Taking place at the very popular Holiday Park / War Memorial Auditorium, it is a weekend long event which includes non-stop entertainment both days, local DJ’s and many more surprises!

Also featured are over 250 vendors, comedy shows, music, food, DJ's, and a dance tent which, as usual, has a great dance floor for your dancing pleasure! New for 2009, is the festive addition of an outdoor stage. That means that along with vendors, food and fun there will be great entertainment not only inside the air-conditioned War Memorial Auditorium, but outside as well. Come join the fun and show your PRIDE!

Here's what you need to know...

When: p.m. Saturday, March and Sunday, March

Where: Holiday Park / War Memorial Auditorium – 730 North Federal Highway,
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Tickets:      All ticket proceeds benefit our community – See our Grants Page
                   per person per day
                   per Student per day (w/valid ID)

Great DJ’s!
Dance Tent with Dance Floor
Food Court and Cocktails
Outside Stage
Indoor Stage
Fabulous Merchandise and Vendors
LGBT Support and Education Information
Games
Florida’s Largest AIDS Memorial Quilt Display

Written by Ed Donato of SFGN

At the end of an emotionally charged hearing last week Michael Cruz, former director of Pride South Florida, was handcuffed and taken into Broward Sheriff’s Office custody to begin serving a one year sentence for stealing $46,591 from the 35-year-old organization.

A clearly despondent Cruz spoke only when he said yes to Judge Andrew L. Siegel’s questions that his plea was of his own free will, that he was satisfied with defense counsel, that he was waiving his right to a jury trial, and that his sentence was in the judge’s hands.

Before Cruz was sentenced, Joel Slotnick, secretary/treasurer of Pride South Florida and Marc Hansen, vice president of the organization, asked the judge to punish Cruz with probation and counseling.

Slotnick told the judge it was “heartbreaking” and not easy to stand before the court due to his more than 10 year friendship with Cruz. He asked the judge to sentence Cruz to probation, pay restitution, and order him to seek help for a gambling problem.

Hansen, who has been friends with Cruz for more than 15 years, was very distraught when he asked the judge to sentence Cruz to probation, counseling and restitution.

“I was incredibly torn apart because of my friendship with Cruz,” Hansen said. “Michael’s actions hurt so much.”

Hansen said that the last thing Pride South Florida wanted to do was make it easy for Cruz.

“We know Michael, his health and mental status,” said Hansen. “We’re angry at him. There’s no doubt I wanted him to be punished, but I wasn’t sure jail was the necessary punishment.”

Cruz’s attorney, Daniel Young, also requested probation.

“Mr. Cruz is here to accept responsibility for his actions,” said Young. “He has lost all his friends, all respect in the community and believes he has been severely punished in his own mind.”

Young said that Cruz could pay $10,000 in restitution immediately because Cruz’s life partner was willing to cash in his IRA. But living on $16,000 a year in Social Security disability and having little or no equity in his home prohibited Cruz from access to any additional funds to pay back what was stolen in the near future.

Young also pointed out that Cruz attempted to commit suicide twice during the past year.

Assistant State Attorney Jared Gass called for some incarceration and probation saying the damage to Pride South Florida is immeasurable.

Judge Siegel sentenced Cruz to one year in the Broward County Jail, ten years’ probation, mandatory Gambler’s Anonymous meetings upon release, and full restitution of the missing funds. The judge also ordered Cruz to pay $10,000 in restitution within one month of being released from custody and $400 a month until the $46,691 is paid back to Pride South Florida. A $46,691 lien was placed on Cruz’s Fort Lauderdale home.

Cruz was also ordered not to go to any casinos, bingo halls or pari-mutuel facilities while serving his ten years’ probation.

Hansen said that because of Cruz’s theft, Pride South Florida will have to watch its pennies when it comes to spending.

“With the loss of $40,000, that’s a bite in our ass,” Hansen said. “In the last two years we’ve been very gentle with what we’ve spent. But I’m not giving up fighting for our pride or our rights.”