South Florida is home to tens of thousands of LGBT folks looking for love – sometimes in all the wrong places.
So we decided for this Valentine’s Day to let our readers nominate themselves, or others, so we could choose and highlight 10 of them. We received 75 nominations – far more than we expected in such a short amount of time. There were so many wonderful nominees we just couldn’t just decide on 10 – so we bumped it up to 19. We hope to make this an annual tradition where we highlight some of our region’s most interesting and eligible singles who are looking for a date for Valentine’s Day.
Check out Part 1 as well.
Interested in meeting one of these individuals? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we’ll make sure to connect you.
Jeff Mello
How do you identify? Gay.
Occupation? University professor.
Where do you live? Fort Lauderdale.
Age? 63.
What are you looking for in a partner? Someone with a sense of humor, self, humility, adventure, directness, and romance.
Biggest turn off? Pretentiusness, cologne and deodorant, drama, recreational drugs.
Biggest turn on? Wit, intelligence, passionate kissing (without feeling like my partner is attempting to give me a tonsillectomy).
Hobbies: Running, cycling, working out, yoga, travel, cooking.
Any charitable/volunteer work? Yes, have served on four nonprofit boards and volunteered with countless human rights, disability rights, and animal rights organizations.
Pets/kids/neither? One son in college, a dog lover but currently petless.
What’s your love language? Physical Touch 33%, Quality Time 27%, Words of Affirmation 23%, and Acts of Service 17%.
What’s your favorite date night activity? "Netflix and chill," preferably laying on the couch, perhaps after having cooked dinner, either alone or together (bonus points for a fireplace and/or candles).
What’s your guilty pleasure? Assiette Campagnarde at Rendez-vous Bakery and Bistro in Oakland Park.
One obscure fact about yourself: I'm a former semi-pro athlete.
What’s Your Motto? Life is too damn short to wait on anything.
Sophia Tingle
How do you identify? Lesbian/Gay/Female.
Occupation? Creative Manager.
Where do you live? North Miami Beach.
Age? 48.
What are you looking for in a partner? Someone who is independent, confident, kind, considerate, caring, respectful, knows her worth, grounded, enjoys traveling and experiencing life, and a good communicator.
Biggest turn off? Being unkind to others, egotistical, talking too much about themselves, messy and chaotic.
Biggest turn on? Someone who sees the good in others and is kind to strangers. Someone who shows up when it matters.
Hobbies: Traveling, going to the beach, listening to music, camping, dancing, going to the movies, attending cultural events, home improvement, and real estate investment.
Any charitable/volunteer work? I donate to a few local charities, volunteer for hurricane outreach efforts, and volunteer in the LGBTQ community.
Pets/kids/neither? Neither.
What’s your love language? Acts of service and quality time.
What’s your favorite date night activity? A quiet evening talking, laughing and getting to know each other.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Binge-watching Netflix.
One obscure fact about yourself: I am both introverted and extroverted.
What’s Your Motto? The time is now!
Jimmy Cunningham
How do you identify? Gay male.
Occupation: Realtor, 14 years.
Where do you live? Wilton Manors since 2000.
Age: 58 birthday April 5, 1964 (will be 59).
What are you looking for in a partner: Best friend, loyal, loving fun and eager to enjoy life and all it has to offer with a special person that is equally all of the above.
Biggest turn off: Arrogance, selfishness, bragger, condescending, judgmental and dishonest.
Biggest turn on: Physically it's the smile - that welcomes the rest, but also loving, open and communicative.
Hobbies: Gym, fitness, yoga, beach, boating, biking, travel, social gatherings.
Pets/kids/neither: I love pets, particularly dogs but my current busy lifestyle only permits me to have a loving Russian Blue Cat - named "Kitty” (not so original) - she is a petite 6 pounds.
What's your love language? Quality time and maybe second acts of service.
What's your favorite date night activity? Light dinner and a drink, a night out to see a show and the remaining quiet time at home together (if I were honest here it would not be published - lol).
What's your guilty pleasure? I have a robust and busy life and I absolutely love a lazy day at home just relaxing and catching up on some Netflix or other types of movies or series. Sometimes I feel guilty about it - thinking I should be doing something more productive.
One obscure fact about yourself: I am not as outgoing and social as I sometimes may be perceived. I often second-guess myself and wonder how authentic I truly am. In the end I do know I am, but I often ponder if I am doing enough.
What's Your Motto? The greatest gift of success is the ability to give back!
Mike Sansevero
How do you identify? Gay.
Occupation? Realtor/Attorney.
Where do you live? Wilton Manors.
Age: 70.
What are you looking for in a partner? Friendship, companionship and love.
Biggest turn off? Drugs, smoking, stubbornness.
Biggest turn on? Intelligence, humor and curiosity.
Hobbies: Art, photography, and music.
Any charitable/volunteer work? Wilton Manors Community Affairs Board Member, Sculpture Walk Coordinator, College Alumni Association.
Pets/kids/neither? Neither.
What’s your love language? Physical touch.
What’s your favorite date night activity? Theater, movie, and restaurant.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Dancers at Johnsons.
One obscure fact about yourself: Elected to a Board of Education at age 24 and served as president at age 28.
What’s Your Motto? Knowledge is power.
Blamie Forret/Danny Collins
How do you identify? Gay male.
Occupation? Miami’s Comedy Queen.
Where do you live? Miami.
Age: 32.
What are you looking for in a partner? A thick personality.
Biggest turn off? Alcohol, Leos, Slam Poetry, Diane Keaton Movies.
Biggest turn on? Solid Work ethic, determination, independence, sharing ideas, individualism, a love for anything outdoors, and good in the kitchen.
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, kayaking, swimming, cooking, writing, and being in bed by 10 p.m.
Any charitable/volunteer work? Making gay people laugh seven days a week.
Pets/kids/neither? I gave birth to my two dogs. Both C sections. They chewed their way out of me.
What’s your love language? Quality time.
What’s your favorite date night activity? Hiking and cooking dinner over a campfire.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Taco Bell.
One obscure fact about yourself: I have three nipples.
What’s Your Motto? It’s hard to whistle while you chew.
Chris Caputo
How do you identify? Cisgender gay male.
Occupation? City Commissioner of Wilton Manors, Founder of DevPartners (a tech agency) and Peak Fitness (a new EMS Studio).
Where do you live? Wilton Manors.
Age: 41.
What are you looking for in a partner? I am searching for the perfect partner - a fun-loving jokester to keep me entertained, as well as an even-tempered rock of stability. I'm full of energy and always busy pursuing new projects; therefore, it's important that my significant other be able to stay calm despite all the craziness! Additionally, someone who can share in some of my passions (anything from community service work or local politics to triathlon sports like running and cycling) would make things 10 times better... oh yeah, they must also love dogs.
Biggest turn off? I'm not into the superficial. I need someone with substance and character, whose value and self-worth aren’t exclusively from material possessions or a job title.
Biggest turn on? Passion — seeing someone who has an intrinsic fire for meaning.
Hobbies: If I’m running, cycling or sweating it out at Peak Fitness – you can catch me at a local theater (like the Foundry or Island City Stage), winding down “happy hour” style at Pub or Infinity, or on the dance floor at Hunters. I also love to travel, read, and host house parties.
Any charitable/volunteer work? Every. Free. Second. I. Have. I get so much out of volunteering and raising money for organizations like SunServe, Plays of Wilton, SMART Ride, WMBA, Pride Center and others.
Pets/kids/neither? Two dogs. My 100 lb. old English bulldog, Fusilli, and Spartan — named after the Spartan race I skipped that day.
What’s your love language? Acts of Service.
What’s your favorite date night activity? Gay skate night maybe? Or Netflix and chill.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Wings. And McDonald's. (Typing one-handed with a chicken wing in my hand.)
One obscure fact about yourself: l I'm like a Duracell bunny endlessly running, until I suddenly and unexpectedly hit the snooze button! Being able to fall asleep anytime, anywhere is something that comes naturally to me - in places where it shouldn't at time you thing it wouldn’t!
What’s Your Motto? You’ve got to be willing to risk everything you’ve got to get everything you want.
Debra A. Kohel
How do you identify? Female/Lesbian.
Occupation? Retired Military & JPM Chase Bank.
Where do you live? Palm Bay.
Age: 64.
What are you looking for in a partner? Femme, who takes care of herself (body, mind and soul). Who's independent and communicates well. Someone who is kind, enjoys life, family oriented and loves to smile. Likes walking on the beach, romantic dinners, and quiet time with each other in the same room.
Biggest turn off? Being mean to others/labels others.
Biggest turn on? Her smile and how I feel when she looks at me.
Hobbies: Batting cage(Softball), putt-putt, kayaking and walking the beach picking up trash.
Any charitable/volunteer work? I used to when I worked. Now I help others in my small community and pick up trash on the beach in my area.
Pets/kids/neither? Neither. I helped raise my sister's kids.
What’s your love language? Quality time.
What’s your favorite date night activity? I pick up my date, bring her flowers, open the car door and off to a restaurant we both picked. We have good conversations. Then we take a nice walk on the beach.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Salty chips once in a while.
One obscure fact about yourself: What I went through in the Army.
What’s Your Motto? Treat others how you would want to be treated. We live in paradise and people pay big bucks to live here.
Ryan Papciak
How do you identify? Trans Man; Pansexual.
Occupation? Clinical Director of SunServe.
Where do you live? Fort Lauderdale.
Age: 28.
What are you looking for in a partner? Looking for someone who is funny, intelligent, honest, and open-minded.
Biggest turn off? Ignorance and selfishness.
Biggest turn on? Authenticity and confidence.
Hobbies: Reading, listening to podcasts, and walking.
Pets/kids/neither? Neither.
What’s your love language? Quality time.
What’s your favorite date night activity? Going for a coffee and a stroll.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Starbucks Strawberry refreshers.
One obscure fact about yourself: I love going to a bookstore for hours to browse.
What’s Your Motto? “The only easy day was yesterday.”
Bruno Olmedo Quiroga
How do you identify? Gender fluid, he/they.
Occupation? Culture and technology strategist.
Where do you live? Miami.
Age: 28.
What are you looking for in a partner? Someone who makes me feel safe, sexy, and inspired. Someone who takes care of themselves, who listens, and who communicates well.
Biggest turn off? Messy bedrooms. Like, come on, clean up if you know I'm coming over.
Biggest turn on? Dancing confidently, tearing up the dancefloor, even if you're the only one *actually* dancing on said dancefloor.
Hobbies: Fire dancing.
Pets/kids/neither? Neither.
What’s your love language? Receive: Touch and words of affirmation. Give: Touch and quality time.
What’s your favorite date night activity? First do something cultural (e.g. interactive art museum), then get drinks, go out to dance, and leave the party early to order food and cuddle while we watch our favorite show.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Talenti Pistachio Ice Cream.
One obscure fact about yourself: I studied tarot (like, with a teacher).
What’s Your Motto? A painful truth is better than a pretty lie.
All photos courtesy or by Carina Mask.
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