Last week Mark Hunter, the legendary owner of Hunters Nightclubs in Palm Springs and here in Wilton Manors anchored at Queer News Tonight. We discussed his recognition from the Harvey Milk Foundation and Pride Center at Equality Park and the prestigious Alan Shubert Award. He was presented the award at a star studded gala Saturday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. In all of that joy, we had no idea of the news that would break today. Stage 4 cancer.
Mark broke the news himself writing “I have prostate cancer. The doctor says I have stage 4 malignant, metastatic neoplasm of the prostate that has spread to the bones and possibly the kidneys. I am disclosing this news in hopes it will help someone. This diagnosis is not a death sentence. I am very optimistic. There is a 97% survival rate for the first five years and about the same at ten years. Also, prostate cancer grows slowly.” Hunter then describes the medical and health steps that will be next including drug therapy and the possibility of radiation and chemotherapy.
Mark Hunter and Hunters Nightclub has been instrumental in countless events and social experiences for both Palm Springs and South Florida. Hunters has been a trusted source of helping nonprofit organizations with so many needs in our community, especially since pandemic. This is clearly breaking news. But from the entire HOTspots Magazine and Happening Out Television Network family we are struck by the timing of this story from last weeks news show and his speech at Diversity Honors when he said “one of my greatest memories will be of the stories that people told me of how important Hunters had been to them. As a safe space.” He was talk about his bar. We are talking about our community hero. He finished his statement by saying “My doctor said to live my life like I normally would, so here’s to life!”
