Twenty years after Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, and a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling extended marriage equality nationwide in 2015, a key question lingers: do same-sex marriages last as long as marriages between men and women?

Jesse Durko was a man who lived his truth, tended his dream, and in so doing left behind a legacy of care for others and for the living green world around us. A life partner to Robert Geary MacKilligan, Durko built not only a distinguished career as a horticulturist, but a home of deep love, purpose, and enduring values.

Opening a bar or restaurant in Greater Fort Lauderdale isn’t just a business move — it’s a lifestyle adventure. Sunshine, diversity, and an ever-growing tourism base make this region one of South Florida’s most exciting hospitality markets. But success here requires more than great cocktails and a catchy name; it demands careful planning, financial realism, and a deep connection to community.

For more than half a century, the Miss Florida F.I. Pageantry System has stood as one of the most radiant symbols of artistry, identity, and courage within the LGBTQ community. On Nov. 10, that brilliance will once again fill the Crystal Ballroom at The Venue Fort Lauderdale (2345 Wilton Drive) as the pageant celebrates its 53rd anniversary — a milestone that represents not just the endurance of an event, but the survival of an entire culture under siege.

Something special is taking center stage in Wilton Manors — and so is one of country music’s fastest-rising stars.

On a humid South Florida evening, the neon glow of Wilton Drive spills onto the pavement like a rainbow river. Music thumps from open-air bars, drag queens greet tourists with hugs, and couples stroll hand-in-hand beneath palm trees at times wrapped in Pride flags. Welcome to Wilton Manors — a two-square-mile city that has quietly become one of America’s most vibrant LGBTQ plus capitals.