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.

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Events

MR. RAMROD 2019

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By Mike Jeknavorian

Ramrod in Fort Lauderdale had their annual Mr. Ramrod contest on Sunday, October 6. The contest, which coincides with the venue’s 25^thAnniversary, saw four contestants competing for the title. The contestants competed by displaying their leather “looks,” by telling a fantasy story to the audience, and by interacting with the judges. Blade Onxy was the winner of the contest; the runner up was Randy Lee. The contest was judged by five people, including the venue’s longtime manager, Kevin Wright, and Mr. Ramrod 2018, Elimination Phunzo Onxy. Bill Hoeppner was the MC.

January 22, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

JEREMY HOBSON

Ubiquitous in Fort Lauderdale’s leather scene at Ramrod’s LeatherWerks and the front desk at Inn Leather, leather man Jeremy Hobson is also know for a 1970s photo. And it was all about the hair.

Where did you grow up? In Denver. What do you miss about it there? The mountains and my family. How long have you lived in South Florida? Since 2011. Why did you move here? For a change, and for the weather. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Middle River. What do you like most about living here? The ocean, and the gay life. Where do you hang out in South Florida? At Ramrod, and at the beach. What’s your claim-to-fame? We had a family photo that went viral on the Today Show because of my parent’s matching hairdo’s. I’m also known for Inn Leather and LeatherWerks at Ramrod. What’s the weirdest thing the ever happened to you at Leather Inn? I’m a weirdo, so nothing’s weird to me. What’s weird to others seems perfectly normal to me.

HOBSON WITH FAMILY, AS SEEN ON THE TODAY SHOW

What’s the kinkiest thing that ever happened at Leather Werks at Ramrod? I guess the kinkiest thing that I do at the Ramrod is flog customers, although I don’t consider that very kinky. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a nice guy that always looked out for others. What do you want to live long enough to see? The world. Will you ever retire? Probably not. What’s your favorite movie? Female Trouble. What drives you crazy? People with a sense of entitlement. Do you have a pet? I have an English bulldog. How would you feel if your pet was the master in heaven, and you were the pet? I’d be loving it. I’d get to smell and lick any guy I wanted, and lay around all day. Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend? Yes.

What’s the last thing that you looked at online? The price of a Bitcoin. What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Hawaii. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That it doesn’t matter what other people think of you. What did you learn from your parents? Not much. Who’s your favorite performer? Right now, it’s Die Antwoord. What’s your best characteristic? I’m non-judgmental. How do you enjoy spending your time? Outdoors or having sex. What celebrity do you have a crush on? There are too many to count. Who do you admire? My brother. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? My brother. Where would you go in a time machine? To the future.

What would your last meal be? Lobster. What do you worry about? Money. What are you afraid of? Not being able to support myself in old age. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A standup bass. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? “Woof” (laughs). What would your autobiography be called? No Regrets. What’s on your bucket list? To travel to Berlin, Amsterdam, Greece and Italy. What’s your greatest regret in life? Like I said, I have no regrets. My life experiences have made me who I am today. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? I really am a pretty good top. But shh, don’t tell anyone. This is Fort Bottomdale. Where can we see you? At LeatherWerks in the Ramrod, or at Inn Leather.

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November 19, 2018November 20, 2018 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

CHAD BUSH

In just five years, Chad Bush has turned Fort Lauderdale’s Pig Week into the country’s preeminent bacchanalian event for gay men. But you’ll never guess what game Bush plays in his down time.

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? In Akron, Ohio. What do you miss about it there? Swenson’s Hamburgers. The Galley Boy hamburger, specifically. How long have you lived in South Florida? Off and on my whole life, but 12 years now for this last stint. Why did you move here? Because I hate the cold. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Wilton Manors. What do you like most about living here? I love being in a community that supports each other. What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? Blue Marlin. What’s your favorite naught venue in South Florida? Well, Ramrod. What’s your claim-to-fame? Besides raising my son, starting Pig Week and having it grow to be the largest party of its kind in the world.

ADVERSTISEMENT

When did you start Pig Week? I started working on it in 2014, and the first one was in 2015, so this is the fourth one. Why did you create it? Because there was nothing like it here in the USA. What’s important about Pig Week? It brings together all genres of men. Leather men, twinks, bears, muscle men, and jocks. All men can be “Pigs.” Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Cleaning the parking lots of shopping malls in Akron. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a man with a vision. Do you believe in an afterlife? I believe more in afterbirth. I have seen that. Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed? No. I think the worst was the early 80s when the government did absolutely nothing to research HIV and let millions of gay men die from aids. That was the worst.

What do you want to live long enough to see? For Broward County get a vote-count right. Will you ever retire? I thought that I already had. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? How to spell “Blue Marlin.” What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Waipi’o Vally, Hawaii. Who would you like to be for a day? My dad asked me that when I was 11, and I told him Grace Jones. He knew then that I was going to be the boy that could not throw the ball. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My son and Ralf Vidal. What talent would you most like to have? To see the future. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That after you get grey hair and you’re dying your beard, it’s easier to go blond than it is to go brown.

What did you learn from your parents? Everything. They are amazing. Who’s your favorite performer? Nina Hagen, Nina Flowers, and Nina Simone. Ok, well, somebody named Nina. What’s your best characteristic? My ability to laugh. How do you enjoy spending your time? Playing duck, duck, goose. What celebrity do you have a crush on? Jason Statham, if he gained 50 pounds. Who do you admire? Barney Frank. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Rosalind Russell. Where would you go in a time machine? Well, first kill Hitler, then invest in Apple, and then tell Grace Jones that I want to be her. What would your last meal be? My grandmother’s gumbo and spoon bread. What do you worry about? My thigh. It itches.

What are you afraid of? This bug that I just found on thigh. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? Zamfir’s pan flute. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? Is pig an option…? Who depends on you, and for what? My family, and for love. Who are you closest with? My Boyfriend, Ralf. What would your autobiography be called? The Making of Babylon. Ghost written by Mark Brandon, and available in May of 2020. What’s on your bucket list? A mop. This place is filthy. What’s your greatest regret in life? Smoking cigarettes. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I’m an artist. Where can we see you? Every weekend behind the bar at Ramrod, or everywhere during Pig Week.