December 27, 2020March 14, 2021 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

HOWARD ZUCKER

Body-positive photographer Howard Zucker, from SylvesterQ Photography, makes everyone feel sexy under the camera’s gaze in South Florida.

Where did you grow up? In New York City. What do you miss about it there? The friendships built over the years. How long have you lived in South Florida? For 15 years. Why did you move here? For the warmer weather. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Fort Lauderdale. What do you like most about living here? That it’s an openly-gay city. Where do you hang out in South Florida? At Ramrod. What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? My recent favorite restaurants that are closings. If you had to live somewhere else other than here, where would you live? In California.

Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850-1950 portrays the history of romantic love between men in hundreds of moving and tender vernacular photographs taken between the years 1850 and 1950.

What’s your claim-to-fame? I’m a self-esteem photographer—I help people be body-positive about themselves. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Banking—always get it in writing! What’s the hottest shoot that you’ve ever done? When I shot ten guys in a group leather scene. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during the quarantine? Networking my photography. Will you ever retire? When I can’t take photos anymore I will. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Greece. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As someone who made a difference for people with my photography.

What are you an expert at? Making people feel comfortable. What do you want to live long enough to see? Solid equality for the gay community. What’s your favorite movie? Private Benjamin. What drives you crazy? Trump and his followers. Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend? Yes. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To let go of what people think of you. Who’s your favorite performer? Cher. What’s your best characteristic? I’m a great communicator. How do you enjoy spending your time? Watching movies and TV. What celebrity do you have crush on? Ryan Reynolds.

Who do you admire? Michelle Obama. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? My grandmother. Where would you go in a time machine? To my younger years to encourage myself as a child. What would your last meal be? Creamy pasta. What do you worry about? Today’s politics. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who depends on you, and for what? Friends do, for advice and companionship. What would your autobiography be called? Discovering Self-Image Photography. What’s on your bucket list? Writing a book. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not coming out earlier than after college. Where can we see you? Right now…? At home! You can also see me at HowardZucker.net and at SylvesterQ.com.

January 15, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

JUDY GOLD

From fielding queries about raising her sons as homosexuals, to making sure that all of her cash faces in the same direction, to being a piano in a gay bar, it’s all in a day’s work for comic Judy Gold.

Where did you grow up? In Clark, New Jersey. What do miss about it there? What do I miss? Nothing. Where do you live now? I live on the Upper West Side of New York City. What’s special about it there that isn’t common knowledge? The Upper West Side is home to the city’s four remaining phone booths. What’s the strangest thing that even happened to you on stage? I was performing on a RSVP cruise in the main theatre, when the captain came on to say that there was a small fire on board and that everyone should remain in place. While he was talking about how minor the fire was, he kept having to interrupt himself so he could cough. Then the electricity went out, the generators went on, and I just kept on going and finished the show. People still stop me to this day to tell me they were there. It ended up being a great and memorable show!

Can comics go too far, or does it only come down to if the material is funny or not? It’s 100 percent about “the funny.” You can talk about any subversive topic, but it better be funny. What comic do you admire? Joan Rivers. What’s one of the funniest TV shows ever? The Office. What’s harder to handle—an audience member who gets offended and visibly walks out, or one who stares at you with no reaction? They both suck. But often times the starer is deaf. What audience member was the worst so far? There’s not enough space or time. What’s your dream role? Maude. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? I’ve been doing stand-up since I was 19-years-old, so I haven’t had that many “job” jobs. Although, I was a toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike the summer in between my freshman and sophomore years in college. I still make sure that all of my cash faces the same direction.

If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a good mother, kind, funny and honest. Oh, and really thin. Will you ever retire? Absolutely not. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? Whether or not I’ll be raising my kids as homosexuals. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Michelle Obama. What do you want to live long enough to see? Trump in handcuffs. Oh, and my grandchildren. What’s your favorite drink? Strong black coffee. What’s your most treasured possession? Memories. Do you believe in ghosts? Sometimes. Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with? My father. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? How many phone booths there are on the upper west side. What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Israel.

What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To trust your gut. What did you learn from your parents? That just because someone has a big house, nice car, and lots of jewelry, doesn’t mean that they have money. Who’s your favorite performer? Really…? Okay, Barbra… Young, raw, ambitious Barbra. What’s your best characteristic? My sense of humor. What politician don’t you like? I can’t believe that you’re even asking me this question. If that person was drowning, would you save them? Probably, out of guilt. How do you enjoy spending your time? Watching my younger son play basketball, eating, reading, eating, tennis, eating, swimming in the ocean, eating, listening to music, eating, and hanging out with my girlfriend and my kids. Did I mention dining out? What celebrity do you have a crush on? You have no idea how jealous my girlfriend can be.

Who do you admire? Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Only one…? I can’t pick. But I’d love to see my parents. Where would you go in a time machine? To 1920s Berlin. What would your last meal be? My mother’s stuffed red cabbage, egg noodles and challah. What do you worry about? Everything. What are you afraid of? Not being able to speak. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? An upright piano in a gay piano bar. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? I’m a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Who depends on you, and for what? My sons do, for unconditional love. Who are you closest with? My iPhone. But we spend way too much time together. What would your autobiography be called? The Jewish Book of “Why Me?”. What’s on your bucket list? To act on Broadway. Where can we see you? On tour or on my website. I’ll be in Aventura on January 18, and at the Boca Black Box on January 19!

May 6, 2018May 6, 2018 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

ANTHONY TIMIRAOS

With a new career photographing men in stylized states of nature, Anthony Timiraos—one of main founders of South Florida’s Our Fund—is always on the go. But he still has time to do this every week with his 92-year-old mother.

Where did you grow up? In Cuba. I left in 1962, when I was eight—don’t bother doing the math, I’m 65. My family was part of the Pedro Pan Exodus. Me and my 11-year-old brother came to the U.S. first, and my parents and younger brother came two years later. Me and my brother lived in several locations during those two years, including a catholic orphanage in upstate New York. What do you miss about Cuba? I was too young when I left, so I can honestly say that I don’t miss anything. How long have you lived in South Florida? Since 2003. Me and my husband moved here from Connecticut. Why did you move here? For the lifestyle and weather, but not necessarily in that order.

Almost two years in the making, “expose” is a rich collection of 246 pages of full color nude photos by photographer Anthony Timiraos of nearly 40 different models. The artists’ collection of nude photographs provides a diverse look at the (mostly) male bodies positioned in classical poses. The author introduces you to each model with a short narrative providing the reader enough facts to connect the art to the individual on the page.

What do you miss about New England? Living close to New York allowed us to drive into the city anytime we pleased. It’s hard to replace what New York has to offer. What part of South Florida do you live in? Fort Lauderdale. What do you like most about living here? I love the weather and the sense of community in the LGBT community. Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why? At home, in the photo studio, on the beach during sunrise, at that gym, and at tai chi lessons. What’s your claim-to-fame? I don’t have any specific “claim-to-fame,” but I’m hopeful that through my philanthropy, including Out Fund, that I’ve helped to make this community a better place to live. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Newspaper delivery at 5:00 a.m. during my early teens.

How would you like to be remembered? I’m a member of the Legacy Society at Our Fund, and me and my husband have designated an endowment there from our estate. I hope the endowment will continue to help our South Florida LGBT community, forever, and I hope that others will do the same. Will you ever retire? Probably not, as long as my health allows me to remain active. I consider that photography is my new job, but, unfortunately, the financial rewards are minimal at best. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? My Instagram page. What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why Barcelona and Madrid, because the quality of life in both cities is impressive.

WITH ARTHUR CRISPINO (LEFT) AND MICHELLE OBAMA

Who would you like to be for a day, and why? President Obama, because he taught this country many lessons, but, unfortunately, many were not paying attention. Do you believe in an afterlife? It’s hard to believe in anything that I don’t understand. Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed? Yes. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My husband, Arthur. How long have you been married? We’ve been together since May 8, 1970, and we got married in New York in 2013. What’s your recipe for success in a relationship? Hard work and honesty. What talent would you most like to have? Concert pianist. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That life’s too short.

What did you learn from your parents? Hard work and honesty. What’s your best characteristic? Patience. How do you enjoy spending your time? Doing photography. What celebrity do you have a crush on? There’s too many to list. Who do you admire, and why? The Obamas, because they’ve set a new standard for honesty, service to our country, and compassion. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why? Everyone who died from AIDS, because they were all taken away from us too soon. Where would you go in a time machine, and why? I would turn the machine off and walk the other way. What would your last meal be? Tapas in Barcelona. What do you worry about? A constitutional crisis in the USA.

What are you afraid of? A constitutional crisis in the USA. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why? The fiddle, because of its simple and playful sounds. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep on one end, but a wolf on the other. You decide which end is which. Who depends on you, and for what? My 94-year old mother depends on me and my husband for her Saturday lunch at a local restaurant. Who are you closest with? My husband. What would your autobiography be called? Move Along. I’ve lived in 26 different locations during the past 65 years. What music do you listen to when you’re upset? Classical music. Where can we see you? On my website!