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Happy Tuesday!
This week we're catching up with a familiar face as Michael Riordan returns to Compass Community Center, a move that has many in in the local LGBTQ community smiling. We also take a look inside Compass' upcoming Stonewall Ball, where this year's Lavender Lounge theme draws inspiration from the speakeasies that once provided safe spaces for queer people
Plus, The Green Carnation Society returns for its second installment, continuing our search for the best date nights, hidden gems, and unforgettable experiences our county has to offer.
Whether you're heading out to an event, spending time with friends, or simply catching up on the week's news, thank you for making OutPBC part of your routine.
Have a great week!
— Jason Parsley
Publisher, OutSFL
If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to a friend, share our stories on social media, and encourage others to subscribe. Make sure to contact us if you wish to advertise your event, or business. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram. Keep this newsletter going, donate here.
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Stonewall Kickoff Party June 17 This month's Pride Business Alliance social takes place at H.G. Roosters
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This month's Compass' Pride Business Alliance comes to H.G. Roosters and serves as a kickoff to Compass' Stonewall Ball taking place June 20 at Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.
(Missed the story? Read here. Tickets on sale through June 17. Buy here.)
"We want to support Roosters for all of the love and support they have shown us over the years and we hope to see you there," Michael Riordan, Director of External Affairs for Compass wrote in an email.
Riordan is looking for ways to revitablie the alliance as well.
"We are taking steps to ensure that Compass, and our community, are prepared to meet the challenges that lie ahead, especially in light of the recently passed and controversial SB 1134. More commonly known as the Anti-DEI Law," she said. "We believe that one way to meet this challenge is to ensure that the Business Alliance is as strong as possible."
This anti-LGBTQ climate has already impacted Compass. Earlier this year their state funds for HIV prevention servcies were cut. Then Palm Beach County attempted to much needed upgrades to their building (that was later reversed), but both of these events serve has a warning and reminder that the fight for equaltiy is far from over.
"As we have struggled with an increasingly hostile political climate, our focus has been pulled in directions that we could not anticipate," Riordan wrote. "We have had to reengage in fights and efforts that we thought had already been won and settled."
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Welcome Home! Michael Riordan is back at Compass. Yes, everyone's excited.
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When Michael Riordan left Compass Community Center to care for a family member in Massachusetts, she left behind colleagues, friends, and countless community connections built over years of service.
Now she's back — and judging by the reaction around Compass, you'd think Beyoncé had just announced a surprise tour.
“Michael’s return to Compass as our Director of External Affairs truly feels like welcoming family home,” said Julie Seaver, CEO of Compass. “Her dedication to our mission and her love for this community have never wavered. We are all excited for the energy, experience, and compassion she brings to our team.”
Riordan's return comes as Adrienne Percival, who spent 11 years with the organization and most recently served as Director of Development, steps away.
“Compass’ mission — to engage, empower, and enrich the lives of LGBTQ people and those impacted by HIV & AIDS — matters now more than ever,” Percival wrote in a farewell email. “It continues to depend on the friends, allies, and community members who believe in and actively support that work.”
For Riordan, returning to Compass was about more than coming home.
“The fight is down here. The fight is in the South,” Riordan said. “And when the opportunity came up, I jumped at coming back.”
In her new role as Director of External Communications, Riordan will focus on fundraising, community partnerships, and helping Compass navigate an increasingly challenging environment for LGBTQ nonprofits.
Meanwhile, Lety Gonzalez will now serve as the Director of Development.
“It was a personal desire of mine to come back because I missed the work,” Riordan said. “I missed everybody.”
Judging by the reception she received, the feeling was mutual.
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WEDNESDAY Pride Business Alliance
Join Compass Community Center’s Pride Business Alliance for an evening of networking, conversation, and community with LGBTQ professionals, allies, and local business leaders. Free admission. @ H.G. Roosters in West Palm Beach. 6-8 p.m. THURSDAY
Joanna Connor Blues Concert
Blues-rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter Joanna Connor brings her fiery slide guitar and powerhouse vocals to South Florida. Known as the “Queen of the Blues Rock Guitar,” the Chicago blues veteran performs for audiences around the world and has released more than a dozen albums. @ The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton. Tickets HERE. Doors 6 p.m.; show 8 p.m.
FRIDAY Women’s Night Out | Valerie Tyson
Enjoy a free evening of live music and community as women gather for Riviera Beach’s waterfront concert series. Valerie Tyson and her 8-piece band perform a mix of Top 40 hits, jazz, classic rock, R&B, and reggae. Bring a lawn chair and cooler. Free. @ Marina Event Center in Riviera Beach. Register HERE. 7-9 p.m.
Entr’Acte Presents 'Cats' in West Palm
Entr’Acte Theatrix presents Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical about the Jellicle cats and their annual choice of who will ascend to the Heaviside Layer. @ William G. Skaff Center in West Palm Beach. $20-40. June 12-28; various performance times. Buy HERE.
SATURDAY Stonewall Ball @ Kravis
Compass Stonewall Ball returns with its speakeasy-inspired Lavender Lounge theme, featuring cocktails, entertainment, dancing, and fundraising. Honorees include State Rep. Rob Long and Ramsay MacLeod. $50-$300. 21+. @ Kravis Center, West Palm Beach. Buy HERE. VIP reception 7-9 p.m.; dance party 9 p.m.-midnight. SUNDAY Leather Night @ Mad Hatter
Leather, gear, and nightlife collide at Mad Hatter’s Leather Night, where the dress code is bold and the energy is unapologetically kinky. Free to attend. Starts at 8 p.m.
MONDAY Night Runners Run/Walk
Join the Night Runners for their twice weekly run/walk. Mondays & Thursdays @ Howard Park in West Palm Beach. 8 p.m.
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Night Runners Pride 5K
Night Runners' 6th Annual Pride 5K Walk/Run in Downtown West Palm Beach.
The evening event will feature runners, walkers, vendors, food, and community celebration, all centered around the club’s mission of promoting health, diversity, and camaraderie through movement and friendship.
Sign up HERE. |
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THE GREEN CARNATION SOCIETY
An insider's guide to the places, people, cocktails, hidden corners, and experiences that make Palm Beach County worth exploring.
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Date Night in Downtown Delray, Part Two
Last week, The Green Carnation Society explored the warm intimacy of Rose's Daughter. This week, we're stepping somewhere a little more theatrical.
Tucked behind velvet lighting and a glowing backlit bar, Radcliffe's Speakeasy & Supper Club feels less like a restaurant and more like an escape. The deep red glow, vintage soundtrack, and intimate atmosphere create a space where conversation remains the main event.
The standout cocktail was the Fizzy Bird Bath, a lavender-forward drink served in a miniature bathtub complete with a rubber ducky. What could have felt gimmicky instead captured the spirit of the room: playful, elegant, and just a little unexpected. But the real highlight wasn't the cocktail. It was the hospitality.
Bartenders Alex and Jake demonstrated a disappearing art form: paying attention. Spotting us standing near the crowded bar, they quietly saved us seats before we even had the chance to ask. The gesture took seconds but transformed the evening.
In an era of rushed service and quick table turnover, Radcliffe's understands something important: people rarely remember every ingredient in a cocktail. They remember how a place made them feel.
Green Carnation Notes Conversation Score: Excellent Stay-Awhile Factor: Extremely High Atmosphere: Vintage Supper Club Glamour
Best For: Date nights, celebrations, and anyone looking to disappear for a few hours. |
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