WILTON MANORS, Fla. -- A man recently lost his nursing job after authorities discovered he was charged with a misdemeanor in 1976 while he performed as a drag queen.

"The whole thing has been a hardship, not just financially but mentally," Ray Fetcho said.

A month ago, Fetcho's day job was working as a nurse at Victoria Villa, an assisted living facility in Davie.

"I love my job. I work with Alzheimer's patients, and they are like family to me," Fetcho said.

Fetcho lost that job because, years ago, he performed at night as "Tiny Tina," a well-known stage character described as the "Don Rickles of drag," and in a much less tolerant time, he was the target of law enforcement.

The gay nightclub where Fetcho was arrested 34 years ago is now nothing but ruins. That night, Fetcho was arrested on the dance floor for emceeing a contest that was considered too lewd. He was charged with a misdemeanor, paid a $150 fine, and thought his troubles were over.

But last month, state inspectors discovered Fetcho's Tiny Tina alter ego and arrest record, and they told Victoria Villa administrators that they had to let Fetcho go. Now, he said, his career is in ruins.

"If it was in a straight bar, if it was a T-shirt contest, they would think nothing of it, and you are in the bar, you know what to expect. This was in a gay bar, not in public," Fetcho said.

Fetcho has half a dozen letters from patients' families asking that he be reinstated and even a letter of recommendation from Victoria Villa, but the state board of health said he will have to get a special exemption.

"You can have a DUI and a residential burglary and a grand theft and still keep your nursing license," said Norm Kent, Fetcho's lawyer.

Fetcho said he is trying to be patient, but the bills are piling up and he misses being a nurse.

A nightclub in Wilton Manors plans to hold a benefit in mid-April to help Fetcho pay his bills.