Embrace Magazine — The Leadership Issue

TWICE AS NICE Embrace awarded Magazine of the Year — Again!

LGBTQ+ LEADER OF THE YEAR

JOHN TANZELLA

President/CEO of IGLTA

WE’RE WORTH YOUR VISIT.

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Let us exceed your expectations today.

“This is simply one of the finest estates I’ve seen in my career. The backyard overlooking the pond is so beautiful that it looks like it is straight out of the movies.”

This magnificent 119 acre estate is located in Central NW Ocala’s acclaimed horse country. Wind up the paved drive to the spectacular home site sitting high on a hill overlooking the beautiful grounds. This property is recognized as one of the most prominent estates in horse country. Offered at $ 7, 900 , 000

FARM

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DESINO Offered at $ 799 , 000

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IRONWOOD FARM WHISPERING OAKS

Where You Want!

CHATHAM GLEN FARM BRIDAL OAKS FARM

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This 13 acre farm is conveniently located in Central NW Ocala’s horse country; it’s one mile to HITS, and 15 minutes to the new World Equestrian Center! There are 2 large pastures with mature shade trees, and an additional 3 paddocks with 10-foot aisles between. woodwork; it features feed and tack rooms, wash racks, bath and efficiency apt.

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This farm is located in the beautiful equestrian community of Ocala Downs in NW Ocala’s prestigious horse country. This location can’t be beat for easy access to main roads, parks and riding opportunities, and horse venues, including the new World Equestrian Center.

ROGERS, OHP BUSINESS MANAGER

Head of a Global Giant LGFBTQ+ Leader of the Year: John Tanzella, president/CEO of IGLTA BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

A Seat at the Table Justin Nelson, president, and Chance Mitchell, CEO, lead LGBTQ+ business equality

Double Down on Daniel Daniel Sohn serves as both national president of the U.S. Business Consortium and the President/CEO of the Pride Chamber of Orlando

PSA: LGBTQ+ 101 A candid and quirky Q&A with Embrace publisher, John Sotomayor directed at the conservative straight community on what it means to be LGBTQ+. BY

MARCY SHORTUSE AND

JOHN SOTOMAYOR

CONTRIBUTORS

The mission of Embrace Magazine is to unite LGBTQ+ and straight communities to live, work, play, and pray together. We also wish to provide a platform for LGBTQ+ people to have a voice and share their unique artistry. Therefore, our sta consists of two-thirds LGBTQ+ persons, and one-third straight persons within our 16-member sta .

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director (He/Him)

Over his 25-year publishing career, Mark has amassed a vast magazine portfolio that includes national titles such as Weight Watchers, Arthritis Today, Digital South, Sensi, and Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Latitudes. His team at Em continues to design award-winning publications, as well as brand and advertising strategies, for a variety of businesses.

Conan Segrest Chief Photographer (He/Him)

Conan Segrest and his wife Yaisa have been the owners of Full Line Photography Studio for the last 10+ years. They have been in the Ocala area since graduating in 1998 and married since 2001. His wife got him his first camera that same year and he hasn't put it down since, now providing timeless wedding photography and family portraits to his clients to cherish a lifetime.

Magnus Hastings Photographer (He/Him)

Award-winning photographer Magnus Hastings is best known for his work with Drag Queens and the Queer community. Relocating from his home town of London to Los Angeles in 2011, he travelled across America photographing the best of U.S drag for his bestselling photography book Why Drag? Published in 2016 by Chronicle books, it was described by Sir Elton John as “the best fucking photography book in years.” Magnus followed this up with his second book Rainbow Revolution (2020). He has appeared as a guest photographer on RuPaul’s Drag Race and a guest judge on The Boulet Brothers Dragula. Magnus currently lives in West Hollywood.

Fortner

For various publications and online platforms, Nile Fortner has worked

as a South Florida-based community writer and multimedia journalist. Nile, who is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, is also a writer for the Sun-Sentinel, New Pelican Newspaper, M.I.A. Media Group/ Legacy, and he’s also been a writer for SFLStyle, My South Florida Today, ComicAttack, and more. He is also a podcaster for BocaFirst, Cinephellas, and he contributes with a few others too. Nile is also a fan of movies and he’s a foodie. You may also find him being active on social media @Nile_Fortner.

LatinFlyer.com and the New York Times bestseller "1,000 Places to See Before You Die."

Steve Pa ord

(He/Him)

Steve Pa ord is an English journalist, actor and author of the acclaimed book BowieStyle. Having trained from the floor up in UK music titles Q, MOJO and Record Collector, he’s had his work featured in a wide variety of British, American and Australian media including the BBC, CNN, The Independent and the New York Times. Steve divides his time between Australia and the south of France.

Mark Chesnut is a New York City-based writer, editor, and public speaker. The winner of the 2019 NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, he's the author of the new memoir "Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality and the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles" (Vine Leaves Press, 2022). His travel writing has appeared in media including Fodor's, Forbes Travel Guide, Hu Post, the Miami Herald, his blog

and acts of service to the community. She is a longtime resident of Lake County and currently lives in Mount Dora, Fla. She graduated from the Rollins College Paralegal Studies program and obtained her certification in 2017.

Je Sanchez Art + Culture Editor (He/Him)

Je Sanchez is a graduate of New York University and heads an entertainment publicity firm in NYC. He lives with his partner and two sons, splitting their time between Manhattan and Charleston, SC.

Art Smith Bar History Editor (He/Him)

nel125.com and been a Pride365 Champion since 2019. His latest project #GayBarchives is creating the world’s largest archive of the stories and logos of gay bars from our past. Information about this project can be found at GayBarchives.com.

Joseph Pastrana Style + Trends Editor (He/Him)

Danielle is a proud mom, community organizer/activist, and CEO of Lake County Pride Org. Corp; an LGBTQIA+ nonprofit which seeks to improve the lives of Lake County youth through advocacy, education,

In 1986, Art was tapped to edit and publish the Atlanta Guide, a monthly magazine for the gay community. He later went on to edit, publish and write for several other gay publications. He has also hosted and produced hundreds of video segments from a number of gay pride festivals in the Southeastern US with Chan-

Joseph Pastrana is a New York-based fashion journalist, public relations consultant, and author of “Homespun - True Tales of Tweed”. As fashion director for trade publication MetroStyle he covered seasonal Fashion Weeks in New York, Paris and Milan, and wrote profiles / reviews on designers / collections including Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Van Cleef & Arpels along with stories on Saks Fifth Ave, Sotheby’s, Louis Vuitton and more. Today, he is a iliated with Mannfolk PR in publicity and brand development projects while continuing to cover fashion, art, interior design and luxury. He is also currently working on his next book for literary imprint house Thane & Prose.

Nile

Contributing Writer (He/Him)

Mark Chesnut Travel Editor (He/Him)

International News Editor

Danielle Olivani Issues + Politics Editor (They/Them)

Jack Lemnus

Contributing Writer (He/Him)

Jack Lemnus is an undergraduate at the University of Florida and is currently a reporter for WUFT News. What drew him to journalism was a deep desire to illuminate the realities of underserved communities and engage hard conversations. A Clearwater native, he loves to fill his bookshelves and practice his Spanish while traveling Latin America.

Donna Davis Soul Health Columnist (She/Her)

An interfaith minister and life coach, Donna Davis utilizes her life experiences to empower other people to overcome their struggles. Together with her wife, Norma, they manage Your Phoenix is Rising, a transformation coaching service focused on helping others rise from the darkness of despair and embrace their true Light Nature. Donna and Norma raised three biological children and served as legal guardians to several teenaged friends of their

MEET OUR ADVISORY BOARD

Justin Ayars (He/Him)

Justin Ayars is a self-described recovering healthcare trial lawyer turned serial entrepreneur. He has extensive experience in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse demographics, helping businesses authentically engage new markets and cultivating communities through relationship-building and technological innovation. For five years, Justin ran a successful LGBTQ+ marketing, media and events company in the mid-Atlantic region, Q Media. Justin is now the Founder & CEO of EqualityMD, a comprehensive virtual ecosystem that provides the LGBTQ+ community with inclusive, personalized healthcare. Located in Richmond, Virginia, Ayars represents an overall POV.

children during their time of need. Donna is a Registered Nurse at Parralion HCA Shared Services and Performance Director at Centers for Spiritual Living Ocala. She studied RN at Rasmussen College and psychology at Florida Atlantic University.

Katie McCullough Mind Health Columnist (She/Her)

Katie McCullough, graduate of Flagler College, is currently teaching English Language Arts in Saint Augustine, Fla, specializing in gifted and exceptional education.

Prior to attending graduate school, Katie plans to pursue her passion for writing while finding time to travel the world.

Cory Freeman Body Health Columnist (He/Him)

Cory Freeman is a twotime first-place national bodybuilding champion, having won both of his first-place titles, The Men’s Classic Physique Master’s Over 35 at the 2019 NPC Viking Championship and at the 2019 NPC Masters USA in his rookie year. Cory works as a physical therapist in the home health industry.

Michael Kurtz Straight Perspective Columnist and Contributing Writer (He/Him)

After completing degrees in literature and education, Michael’s first job was teaching Adv. Pl. English Literature to high schoolers. Following that was a period spent teaching English in China and Vietnam. He returned in 2022 and has assisted countless graduate students with GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT preparation. He always makes time, of course, to work on his novel.

Shane Lukas Website Designer and LGBTQ Resource Blogger (He/Him)

Shane Lukas is the feisty ginger-haired owner and creative strategist behind A Great Idea (weareagi. com), a care and community brand communications studio. When not pushing pixels and building brands, you can find him doing grassroots organizing to advance social justice and queer liberation, studying for his MBA, or taking his puppies (and partner, of course) out to explore some mountain trails.

Herb Sosa (He/Him) Community activist, historian, preservationist and freelance writer, Herb Sosa is a founding member of, and currently serves as President and CEO of Unity Coalition/Coalición Unida, o ering protection and promotion of Latino/Hispanic LGBTQ+ rights— the only organization of its kind in South Florida since 2002. Sosa brings over 20 years of corporate and not-for-profit leadership experience in the community. Previously Sosa was Executive Director of Miami Design Preservation League and the Art Deco Weekend Festival in Miami Beach. Sosa also is Publisher and Editor-In-chief of AMBIENTE Magazine, the first and only LGBTQ+ publication o ered in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He and his husband reside in Miami, representing South Florida inclusion.

Matthew Skallerud (He/Him)

Matt Skallerud, president of Pink Media, has been in the LGBTQ+ digital space for over 25 years now, first with GayWired.com and ShieWired.com, and now with Pink Media and the #ILoveGay network, helping companies reach their targeted LGBTQ+ demographic. In addition, Skallerud is the former Board Chairman of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and has served on the boards Travel Gay Canada (TGC) and the LAGLCC. He is actively involved with key national LGBTQ+ organizations including the NGLCC, Out Professionals and Lambda Legal, just to name a few. Located in Allentown, Pa., Skallerud represents an overall POV.

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

John Sotomayor

DEPARTMENT EDITORS

International News Steve Pa ord

Travel Mark Chesnut

Issues + Politics

Danielle Olivani

Art + Culture Joseph Pastrana

Activism + Charity Jack Lemnus

Gay Bar History 101 Art Smith

Seen John Sotomayor

COLUMNISTS

Mind Katie McCullough

Body Cory Freeman

Soul Donna Davis

Straight Perspective Michael Kurtz

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michael Kurtz

Jack Lemnus

Fay Stevenson

CARTOON

Simon and Bryan Steel

ADVISORY BOARD

Justin Ayars, Founder/CEO of EqualityMD, Virginia

Matthew Skallerud, President of Pink Media, Pennsylvania

Herb Sosa, President/CEO of Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida, Florida

ART

EM AGENCY

Creative Director Jamie Ezra Mark

Art Director Rheya Tanner

Designer Wendy Mak

Designer Andrew Ontko

Designer Josh Clark

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Conan Segrest

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Allison Mazzeo, St Jean Creative, Tamara Fleming, Erik Rank Photography, Je Pystajko, Wisconsingayhistory.org, George Schneider, AJR Photo, Embrace Media

VIDEOS

BMW of North America with Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Randy Larson Morningstar Productions, Embrace Media

OPERATIONS

DIRECTOR OF LOCAL SALES AND ADVERTISING

John Sotomayor john@sotomayormedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863, sales@rivendellmedia.com

EMBRACE MEDIA WEBSITE

Designer A Great Idea

Video Producer Alexander Sotomayor

PRINTER

Good Time Printing, Ocala

OUR MISSION To unite LGBTQ+ and straight communities to live, work, play, and pray together.

CHAMBER PARTNER

The Need

to Lead

LGBTQ+ LEADERSHIP FROM 1924 –PRESENT.

Over the summer, I completed a coast-tocoast LGBTQ+ conference “tour” with the mission to nd a much-needed media partner and LGBTQ+ and allied owned businesses to help bring in much-needed revenue and sustainability for Embrace Magazine. While those goals still elude me, what I found fuels me more, both personally and professionally. I have found examples of true LGBTQ+ leadership in action and have seen what that means for the LGBTQ+ community, both domestically and globally.

between LGBTQI human rights and economic opportunities.

The rst was the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce 2023 International Business and Leadership conference held in Denver, CO, August 15 – 18, 2023. The NGLCC was established in 2002 by Justin Nelson, president, and Chase Mitchell, CEO, when they noticed that the economic equality of LGBTQ2+ individuals and the potential in uence of economics on the equality campaign were overlooked and underestimated. In order to demonstrate that LGBTQ2+ individuals are entrepreneurs, employers, taxpayers, and healthcare providers, as well as a vital and integral component of the small business sector that powers the American economy, the two co-founders set out to provide an equitable platform for them.

These days, the LGBTQ business owners that the NGLCC represents contribute more than $1.7 trillion to the national economy, create employment, and develop cutting-edge business solutions. Furthermore, NGLCC is the front-runner in the eld of public policy advocacy, pushing for federal, state, and local procurement opportunities for Certi ed LGBTBE® rms. NGLCC Global is reaching ve continents and building global bridges

The second was the National Lesbian & Gay Journalism Association, now known as the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, of which I serve as a national board member. The 2023 National Convention was held in Philadelphia, PA, September 7 – 10, 2023. In April 1989, The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) ordered that it undertake the rst-ever study of LGBTQ+ journalists working for American newspapers. At the ASNE national conference in Washington, D.C., in April 1990, Roy Aarons both publicly came out and presented the ndings of the historic poll, Alternatives: Gays and Lesbians in the Newsroom.

Journalists who identify as LGBTQ+ who work for media outlets throughout the country were moved by the study and voiced a wish to join a formal association. In 1991, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists was legally organized under Roy’s direction, and branches were established around the nation.

Today, the Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists is a powerful voice in the news industry, staying true to the objectives of its founders. It educates decision-makers in newsrooms about how to cover the LGBTQ+ community, advocates for the implementation of equal bene ts and non-discrimination laws and develops educational programs to assist the upcoming generation of LGBTQ+ newsroom leaders. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are credited for bringing about a signi cant positive change in the caliber and volume of news coverage of the community by educating their peers about accuracy and fairness in newsrooms.

The third was the International Gay & Les-

John Sotomayor Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

bian Travel Association 40th Anniversary Global Convention held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 4 – 7, 2023. Established in 1983 in Key West, Florida, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the world’s premier network of tourist enterprises that welcome LGBTQ+ travelers. While always striving to advance equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism globally, they o er free travel tools and information. Travel advisors, tour operators, hotel and transportation companies that cater to the LGBTQ+ community, as well as travel media from more than 80 countries, are among the members of IGLTA.

The fourth was the National LGBTQ Task Force 50th Anniversary Gala held in Miami, Florida, on October 14, 2023. A group of activists realized the need for a strong, cohesive, and well-organized voice in the emerging homosexual rights movements, and they established the National LGBTQ Task Force in October 1973 in New York City. The Task Force was the rst national LGBTQ rights organization in the United States, founded by a number of prominent gures in post-Stonewall queer activism, including Dr. Bruce Voeller, Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny, Dr. Howard Brown, Arthur Bell, Ron Gold, Nathalie Rockhill, and Martin Duberman. Later, the founders of the Task Force rose to prominence and played a signi cant role in the LGBT rights movement of the 20th century.

Presently, the National LGBTQ Task Force’s unreservedly using an intersectional perspective to guide the organization to ght for criminal justice reform, housing justice, body autonomy, reproductive justice, and other issues where LGBTQ+ people are still disproportionately a ected.

Other noteworthy conventions I attended were the rst ever held FLOCC Florida LGBTQ Tourism Convention in Tampa, Florida, August 1 – 3, 2023, and Unleashed LGBTQ+, the rst ever queer business conference and festival, held in Dallas, TX, September 22 – 24, 2023. The latter was modeled after SXSW and held a lm festival. I attended the screening of “The Mattachine Family” by director Andy Vallentine and written/produced by his husband, Danny Vallentine. I researched the name and learned about The Mattachine Society; a now defunct organization, was launched in 1950 by Harry Hay as an early national gay rights organization in the United States.

That led me to research other prominent LGBTQ+ organizations. Some noteworthy include: The Society for Human Rights (1924), the rst recognized U.S. gay rights organization; One National Gay & Lesbian Archives (1952); Lavender Menace (1970); Lambda Legal Defense Fund (1971); Human Rights Campaign (1980); The GLAAD (1985); ACT UP (1987); LGBTQ Victory Fund (1991); and Out & Equal (1996).

At the time of this writing, I have one more event to

attend: LGBTQ+ Victory Institute 2023 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference, held in Washington, DC, November 30 – December 2, 2023. I was invited by Daniel Sohn, president of The Pride Chamber of Orlando, the home chamber of Embrace Magazine, and the person I spent the most time with at the NGLCC conference in Denver. As I write this, I received an email invitation to a free Candidate & Campaign Training workshop held at the kicko of the conference. I registered. When asked my reason for registration I wrote, “As publisher of Embrace Magazine, a LGBTQ+ oriented magazine based in Florida, I have served the LGBTQ+ community from the sidelines. After participating in a coast-to-coast LBTQ+ conference ‘tour’ I am inspired to serve from the frontlines.” It is time.

John Sotomayor with former State Representative_ Brian Sims (D-182nd) of Pennsylvania House of Representatives

HEAD OF A GLOBAL GIANT

Meet Embrace Magazine’s rst-ever LGBTQ+ Leader of the Year: John Tanzella, President & CEO of IGLTA.

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR PHOTOS COURTESY OF IGLTA

Perhaps it was the women on roller skates covered in reectors from head to foot resembling human disco balls, donning rainbow hand fans and radiant smiles directing conference goers to the opening ceremony. Or perhaps it was the open-air arena of the Distrito T-Mobile venue, considered the ultimate entertainment center in San Juan, Puerto Rico that showcased winged stilt walkers and Salsa dancers as the captivating entertainment. Maybe it was all of it. For the rst time attendee, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) 40th Anniversary conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico felt similar to what it would feel like to attend the Olympic Games. Over 700 attendees from 36 countries and territories gathered to discover the latest trends in LGBTQ+ tourism and network with LGBTQ+ tourism professionals from around the world. Presented in spectacular fashion.

The closing ceremony was equally impressive. Held at the lavish Fairmont Hotel, the closing ceremony was presented by the 2024 Global Convention host destination, Osaka, Japan — the rst host destination in Asia. Geishas welcomed the conference goers, directing them to the chandeliered ballroom where the presentation took place, followed by the poolside festivities.

The IGLTA's Buyer/Supplier Marketplace, which was supported by Visit Miami, Visit Orlando, Visit Tampa Bay, and Experience Kissimmee, was one of the conference's highlights. It brought together buyers representing US$686.5 million in annual business, a 65 percent increase over 2022. Another was the IGLTA Foundation's Voyage Fundraiser, which raised over US$100,000 to support the foundation's work promoting LGBTQ+ inclusive travel. Initiatives related to leadership, education, and research will be supported by funding.

“IGLTA’s 40th Anniversary Global Convention was a resounding success, and a showcase for the resilience, creativity and diversity of the LGBTQ+ travel community," said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella (he/him). “We could not be more proud of our return to the Caribbean to celebrate the importance of global LGBTQ+ travel and tourism.”

The IGLTA 40th Anniversary Global Convention was indeed a major accomplishment, the latest in a long line completed under the leadership of Tanzella, at the helm of IGLTA for 18 years. Under his direction, IGLTA now includes a network of 13,000+ tourism professionals from 80+ countries (when he started 18 years ago, IGLTA has 33 countries, and increase of more than 50) and has had 40 years of global impact in LGBTQ+ travel and tourism, making the world a safer place for the LGBTQ+ traveler, that includes more than 4 million unique travelers reached.

In addition, under Tanzella’s leadership, as the association's philanthropic arm, the IGLTA Foundation was established in 2012 with the goal of advancing future LGBTQ+ tourism leaders and providing research and education to the travel industry. The World Tourism

Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations organization tasked with promoting ethical, environmentally friendly, and widely accessible travel, has only one LGBTQ+ A liate Member: IGLTA.

For these reasons, and more, Embrace Magazine is proud to announce John Tanzella as Embrace Magazine’s rst-ever LGBTQ+ Leader of the Year.

Life B.I. (Before IGLTA)

Born in Boston, John Tanzella spent his rst ten years of life there until his father was sent to Atlanta, where he spent the next 30 years. Tanzella grew up playing ice hockey in the winters as a child in Boston, a sport he pursued through high school. He was very close to all of his relatives, enjoyed watching sports, and had a keen interest in American history.

Tanzella grew up traveling at a very young age and throughout every school break since his parents, who met in the 1950s, were both in the airline business. He declared, "I was born with the travel bug." His family took frequent trips to Florida and the Caribbean when he was a child. “Back then working for the airlines, we were expected to have a coat and tie, even as kids - very di erent to the way the public dresses to y today.” He said.

Tanzella obtained his bachelor's degree in journalism and communications from the University of Georgia, where he is a proud alumnus. He was heavily involved in campus life, taking part in intramural sports, and working at the student radio station. “My four years were extremely special, as college life is where you discover yourself and is typically the rst time one is on their own away from their parents and home life,” he said. “I still try to get to Athens, GA for an occasional football, baseball or basketball game.”

Over his career, Tanzella has worn a lot of di erent hats, and each one has brought him closer to IGLTA. He spent 15 years working in the sales and marketing division of Delta Air Lines after graduating from college, eventually moving up to the airport global premium products department. Tanzella relocated to Italy for three years after 9/11 and obtained dual citizenship there. Subsequently, he relocated to Washington, D.C., where he was employed by the Destination DC tourist agency. That was followed by a stint for the Human Rights Campaign, also based in Washington, D.C.

Why IGLTA

Tanzella has a strong commitment to advancing travel experiences that are safe, friendly, and inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community. He nds great satisfaction in seeing the real e ects of their work that promote tolerance, understanding, and economic development in the tourism industry for both visitors and destinations.

“One of the highlights for me at IGLTA is our annual global convention,” he said. “This past year, we hosted our most successful convention in our 40-year history in the beautiful city of San Juan, Puerto Rico.” Leaders in the eld, activists, and international travel media gathered for the occasion to talk about and promote LGBTQ+ inclusiveness in travel.

“Seeing the positive energy and meaningful connections forged during our conventions is always so inspiring.” He continued. “It serves as a powerful testament to the increasing signi cance of LGBTQ+ representation and the transformative potential we hold collectively within the travel industry. Looking ahead, our 2024 convention will be held in Osaka, Japan. This marks a signi cant milestone as it will be our rst ever global convention in Asia, further expanding our reach and impact in promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity worldwide.”

Tanzella says he has been lucky enough to visit 45 countries during his life, many of which don't treat the LGBTQ+ population with the same level of acceptance. “But nowhere have I visited, is it lacking an LGBTQ+ community, no matter how much they are pushed down and/or dehumanized,” he said. “Our role at IGLTA and particularly the IGLTA Foundation is to educate tourists to support our communities in every corner of the world rather than boycott and ignore them.”

Related Travel Board Positions

According to Tanzella, he is honored to serve on the board of Tourism Diversity Matters, a group that works to advance inclusion and diversity in the travel and tourism sector.

“This isn’t just about travel but also about advancing human rights and equality on a global scale.”

His involvement with other organizations is extensive; these include the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) and Destinations International, an association for tourist bureaus. “IGLTA is often the only LGBTQ+ organization that is a member of these global mainstream associations, therefore it's important to have a seat at the table and ensure our community is included in decision making processes,” he said.

Tanzella is also very active with the IGLTA Foundation, which is a major force behind the advancement of LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusiveness in international travel. The Foundation recently published a ground-breaking paper titled "Shaping the Future of LGBTQ+ Tourism in Europe."

“This report is especially timely given the rise of fundamentalism we’re seeing in parts of Europe,” he said. “It o ers tangible steps towards creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ travelers.” Despite the fact that LGBTQ+ tourism in Europe has advanced signi cantly, Tanzella argues that there are still some places where LGBTQ+ visitors might not feel fully accepted. The study o ers a roadmap for improving the LGBTQ+ tourist scene in each of the places it covers for businesses, governments, and DMOs.

ABOUT THE WINNER

HIS IGLTA SUCCESS STORY

IGLTA was founded in 1983 in South Florida by 25 travel professionals. They saw the need to create safe, welcoming travel spaces for LGBTQ+ travelers, primarily due to the political and social climate that existed at the time thanks to those like Anita Bryant. When Tanzella joined in 2005, IGLTA was not very well known nationally or even internationally. Now, they have members from over 80 countries.

Tanzella was selected for the job based on his proposal to increase the diversity of the membership so that it was not entirely cis-gender white males but included a more ethnic and gender-identifying variety. The diversity of the membership has also expanded with younger members, more females, as well as allies; corporate partners, media partners, organizational partners, which they did not have back then.

HIS OTHER NOTABLES ROLES

Stonewall National Museum and Archives

Board Member, Jan 2015 – present

LGBTQ Advisory Board, Belmond Board Member, June 2017 – present

Human Rights Campaign

Dir. of Corporate Relations, Apr 2004 – Oct 2005

Destination DC

Corporate Sales Manager, Aug 2002 – Apr 2004

Project Open Hand, Meals on Wheels

Board Member, Jan 1995 – Dec 2000

Delta Air Lines

Marketing/Sales, Jan 1988 – Nov 2001

Leadership and LGBTQ+ Travel

Tanzella believes that a successful leader is one who appoints the most quali ed individuals to advance the company. One who leads by example, provides guidance without becoming micromanaging, enabling the team to ourish and achieve success.

For Tanzella, traveling is an opportunity to create safe spaces and promote acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community globally, rather than merely seeing new places. It is important because it is a potent instrument for advancing society. “When we can travel freely and without fear of discrimination, it sends a clear message of inclusivity and equality,” he said. “It allows us to connect, learn, and grow together, breaking down barriers and building bridges of understanding.” According to him, travel that is LGBTQ+ opens doors to a more accepting and caring world where everyone may enjoy discovering the rich tapestry of diversity that our planet has to o er.

The IGLTA Foundation

After years of preparation, Tanzella's ambition came true when he established IGLTA Foundation in 2012. In order to further LGBTQ+ travel in ways that their association alone could not, he wanted IGLTA to establish a philanthropic arm that would bene t both his community and travel industry professionals. “After years of researching other trade associations that have foundations, and guring out the IRS tax ling, I made the ask to the IGLTA Board of Directors, who overwhelmingly agreed it was the right thing to do for IGLTA,” he said. “The IGLTA Foundation enables us to raise funds to support important causes, like the initiatives I mentioned above, that advance LGBTQ+ travel, something we could not accomplish by the association alone.”

Tanzella hopes that during the next ve years, the relatively new IGLTA Foundation will maintain its momentum and continue to have an in uence on the world. He would like to commit more time to the Foundation's several deserving projects, including:

Awarded annually, these fellowships are intended for LGBTQ+ people who want to work in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. The PATA Building Bridges Fellowship for young professionals, the Building Bridges Fellowship for students, and the David Martin Small Business Fellowships for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs are their three unique fellowship programs. All of these programs o er professional development, practical industrial experience, and nancial support for attending the IGLTA Global Convention.

The Women in Leadership program supports and empowers nonbinary and LGBTQ+ women working in the tourism industry.

The Emerging Destinations & Communities (EDC) initiative aids LGBTQ+ owned and welcoming companies to develop tourist choices that are both viable and safe for the LGBTQ+ community in places that lack established infrastructure or support.

The Transgender Advisory Group (TAG) is led by volunteers and creates tools to improve understanding and acceptance of transgender travelers worldwide.

What the Future Holds

Tanzella believes that LGBTQ+ tourism will advance signi cantly during the next ve to 10 years. This is a concerted e ort to promote more accessibility and inclusion in more locations around the globe. “I hope to see more places actively working to create safe and welcoming environments, with a diverse array of options for LGBTQ+ travelers,” he said. This goal necessitates persistent lobbying, legislative modi cations, and worldwide and local education. “Ultimately, the long-term goal is to make LGBTQ+ travel synonymous with travel itself, where diversity is woven into the fabric of the industry, and every traveler, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels embraced and valued.” He continued. “This isn't just about travel but also about advancing human rights and equality on a global scale.”

Tanzella hopes that e orts to promote inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community on a worldwide scale will continue. This entails expanding legal safeguards, eliminating discriminatory laws, and promoting an international culture of tolerance and respect. Furthermore, protecting the security and safety of LGBTQ+ tourists continues to be of utmost importance. “My hope is for even greater progress towards full equality,” he said. “This involves not only legal advancements, but also a shift in societal attitudes, leading to a more a rming and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. Representation and inclusion across all sectors of society, including the business world, need to be actively pursued.”

For himself, he hopes to relocate to Palm Springs within the next ve years. “I have always loved it out there, have many friends living there and I like the easy access to west coast cities from San Diego to Vancouver,” he said. “I like the small town feel of Palm Springs, its thriving LGBTQ+ scene and its big focus on the arts, which I miss from my Atlanta and D.C. days. I’m excited to see Palm Springs take center stage in the next few years as it gears up to host our 2025 Global Convention.”

Advice to Others

Tanzella would counsel the upcoming generation of LGBTQ+ workers with an eye toward business to be fearless, genuine, and unwavering. “Embrace your unique perspective and use it as a strength in your endeavors,” he said. “Seek out mentors and allies who can o er guidance and support. Additionally, never underestimate the power of networking within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.” Tanzella gives them advice on how to speak out for diversity in the workplace and in corporate procedures, as well as how to question the existing quo without fear. Tanzella encourages the next generation of junior leaders who are passionate about LGBTQ+ activism to channel their energy into making good changes. “Embrace your role as advocates for equality and inclusivity,” he said. “Seek opportunities to collaborate with diverse communities and organizations to amplify your impact. And remember, change often starts at the grassroots level, so don't underestimate the power of local activism.”

GO AHEAD, MAKE MINE GAY

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ART&CULTURE

A Seat at the Table

Fighting for equality with commerce and equity, the NGLCC leads the way for LGBTQ+ business owners.

BY JACK LEMNUS PHOTOS BY TAMARA FLEMING

n the onset of his career in Washington, D.C., Justin Nelson joined the “undercurrent” of LGBTQ professionals who greased the gears of Capitol Hill. A self-proclaimed political junkie, Nelson was at the table for conversations that impacted millions of Americans.

This was the 90s, however, and to be in the room meant to be in the closet.

But while Nelson reconciled with his own sexual identity, once in that room, he would hold the door open for thousands of LGBTQ professionals. Later, he would help calcify the community’s rst commercial backbone: the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “I know what it feels like to bottle yourself up for so many years, and no one should have to hide their identity to get a job,” Nelson said. “We wanted to be the yin to the yang of the social justice movement and build an economic justice movement.”

He started his career on the Hill as an aid to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, where he learned the powerful sway of commerce to e ect change. He witnessed the various chambers of commerce buoy their partners and lend voice to their stakeholders.

One chamber particularly in uenced Nelson: The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which provides an economic identity for the Hispanic community. Its success made him wonder, “If only there was something similar for the LGBTQ space.”

“You can really empower a community with economics, and at the time, there was no LGBTQ organization focused on commerce,” Nelson said. “And on the Hill, I learned you can’t have equality if you don’t equity, and you can’t have equity if you don’t have opportunity.”

That thought resurfaced during Nelson’s career shift as a healthcare lobbyist—a profession he held before it became a “dirty word,” he said. It was the early 2000s, and Nelson and his business partner, Chance Mitchell, wanted to create a community networking platform for gay and lesbian professionals. During one of their routine business meetings, their attorney recommended they get the endorsement of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Nelson looked at Mitchell. “Well, there isn’t one,” they said to the lawyer. Once again, they noticed a gaping absence.

Nelson and Mitchell irted with the idea of starting their own chamber, but they only talked about it between meetings, phone calls, over lunch. Time went on. Then an article surfaced in the Washington Blade, the title taunting them: “Why we need a national gay and lesbian chamber of commerce.”

“When we saw that come out, we thought, ‘If we don’t do this now, we’re going to get scooped on it,’” Nelson said. “The time was right, there was a need, and it wasn’t being done.”

The two convened in Nelson’s D.C. apartment and drafted their thoughts into a press release. The pressure lingered in the room, but they didn’t have time to think.

On that November evening in 2002, with only their collective experiences and ambitions to back them, they sent out the press release, marking the start to the National Gay

and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “Sometimes you just have to jump,” he said.

Today, the NGLCC has 27 a liates on ve continents — an astonishing feat considering the Congressional Equality Caucus didn’t even exist when Nelson and Mitchell sent out that press release over 20 years ago.

When former President Barack Obama took o ce in 2009 at the onset of the Great Recession, the NGLCC had a seat at the table along with the president’s team and Fortune 50 CEOs tasked with repairing the economy.

“That’s when you really start to e ect change —when you have a common goal,” he said. “Then you can start persuading ve, 10, 20 leaders to believe in your mission.”

The NGLCC believes the huge, untapped commercial potential of the LGBTQ community is enough to open dialogues with various interests. In 2020, about 4.5% of the U.S. population identi ed as LGBTQ, but they accounted for 8% of the country’s disposable income —that’s around $1.7 trillion, according to the consulting rm Kearney. And that economic might doesn’t stop at consumers: The NGLCC recorded 1.4 million LGBTQ business owners.

All combined, the LGBTQ community would make up the fourth largest economy in the U.S., after California, Texas and New York. “You can’t not do business with the fourth largest economy in the country,” Nelson said.

“On the Hill, I learned you can’t have equality if you don’t equity, and you can’t have equity if you don’t have opportunity.”

–Justin Nelson, cofounder, NGLCC

The NGLCC is a non-pro t organization and the exclusive certifying body for LGBTQ-owned businesses, known as LGBT Business Enterprises. The LGBTBE certi cation comes with resources, advocation and connections to business partners all over the world. This helps corporate and government partners source LGBTQ-owned products and services.

It also serves as a networking hub for businesses, which includes events like the International Business & Leadership Conference and the National Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Wells Fargo joined over 20 years ago and was the chamber’s rst nancial partner. For its e orts, such as scholarships for transgender individuals and support for LGBTQowned businesses, Wells Fargo was named the NGLCC’s 2023 Corporation of the Year.

“Today, our partnership includes programs that empower LGBTQ+ suppliers, invest in the growth of business owners’ capabilities, and champion a liate chambers across the country,” said Robert Schapira, the Wells Fargo Director of Small Business Diverse Segments. “Thanks to our joint e orts in 2022 and 2023, we helped the NGLCC support more than 30 transgender business owners on their way to LGBTBE certi cation.”

But the response to the NGLCC’s mission hasn’t all been positive. When Nelson and Mitchell rst pitched their idea, there were many in their own community who thought a monetary focus would distract from the push for social justice. Others simply found it distasteful to quantify the value of a community.

In the beginning, these criticisms sunk deep for Nelson —he often dwelled on the perception of others, he said. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, he had time to re ect, and he realized the goals of equity and inclusion far outweighed the discomfort of combating the status quo.

One example is when they rang the closing bell on the 2007 stock exchange. They received pushback from some in the LGBTQ community as they established closer ties with Wall Street. “Some people might look down on what we’re doing, but we found common ground with an industry that you don’t often perceive as inclusive,” Nelson said.

“Some people might look down on what we’re doing, but we found common ground with an industry that you don’t often perceive as inclusive.”

–Justin Nelson, cofounder, NGLCC

“As long as it produces the outcome that we’re seeking —a level playing eld, equity and equality— so be it.”

There’s plenty of resistance from outside the community too. As anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policy devours the politics of states like Florida and Texas, businesses face increasing scrutiny when they pursue more inclusive marketing campaigns and business partnerships.

Some companies falter under the pressure when conservative legislators and pundits proclaim, “go woke, go broke.”

A recent example is when Bud Light backed out of a marketing campaign that sponsored the TikTok personality Dylan Mulvaney, who is transgender. Conservatives called for a boycott, and Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, later reported that its U.S. revenue in the second quarter fell more than 10% compared to last year. Anheuser-Busch is a partner with the NGLCC, and its choice to drop the in uencer likely exacerbated the negative public response, Nelson said. He argued that if Anheuser-Bush had stood by their decision, the fallout would have been minimal.

“The toll on disengaging with the in uencer and the larger community was problematic and could have been handled better,” he said. “We have a very loud, vocal, extreme minority. You can’t bow to them. If you're not going to have the backbone to stand up, then you should rethink your marketing strategy.”

But Nelson isn’t deterred by incidents like these. He tries to focus on how far the country has come. It would have ba ed his teenage self to know he would help start a queer organization with partners in every major U.S. city. Looking back on their achievements, he doesn’t plan to succumb to a little political pressure.

As Nelson recounted his journey with the NGLCC, he noted the rejuvenating power of re ection and gratitude. On the cusp of workaholism, he now rations his time to enjoy the little things. One of them is his new partner, with whom he escapes into the mountains or out on the boat. December will be their rst anniversary.

“It’s great to complement my professional life with a personal life that’s also quite ful lling,” he said. “I’d wish the same for anyone.”

Are You LGBTBE ® Certified?

LGBTQ+ businesses can bid on sourcing contracts with NGLCC partners by becoming Certified LGBT Business Enterprise®. These Corporate and Government Partners are dedicated to establishing a diversified supply chain that includes LGBTQ-owned firms. To access these billion-dollar, potentially life-changing business possibilities, one must first get certified.

Additional Benefits

• Acknowledgment on a national level as a Certified LGBTBE® supplier

• Exhibit space at regional gatherings and the yearly NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference

• Automatic registration in the NGLCC's online directory of accredited companies, available to NGLCC Corporate Partners

SOURCE: NGLCC.ORG/LGBTBE-CERTIFICATION/BENEFITS-OF-CERTIFICATION

• Permission to use the NGLCC Certified Business logo on marketing materials.

• Access to NGLCC scholarships, leadership development courses, and mentoring programs

• Qualification for the Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) and the Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) Initiative

TO THE BOYS OF POPWRAPPED ON 25-BILLION SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS! FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT SOTOMAYER MEDIA CONGRATS

L2R -

CHRIS WILLIAMS,

DARIUS SNACK,

TYLER SCHRAGE,

BRYAN WILLIAMS

On Saturday, November 4, 2023, the membership of the Pride Chamber of Orlando gathered at the Hard Rock Café at Universal for their annual gala and to honor their outstanding business members of the year. They needed celebration. Moreso, they needed inspiration. Anti-LGBTQ+ movements across the nation have dismantled much of the progress done in 20 years, whipped away in only two. Most of them come from initiatives started in Florida.

They needed a champion. Daniel Sohn, their newly appointed president/CEO stepped up to the podium, and up to the plate.

“My friends, in our great nation, we have always strived for a more perfect union, where the promises of freedom and equality extend to every corner of our society.

One of the most profound ways that we can measure the progress on this journey is through that of economics.

From the early pioneers who risked their livelihoods to establish LGBTQ+ owned businesses to the allies who stood shoulder to shoulder with them.

These entrepreneurs have created jobs, fueled innovation, and contributed to the vibrancy of our community and to our economy.

Their success is a collective testament to the enduring American spirit of entrepreneurship.”

His words captured their attention. His zeal captured their hope.

“Our country has come a long way in recognizing the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ people.

As our keynote speaker shared, we have seen the progress made through legislation, from the legalization of same-sex marriage to the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

It is true that these milestones represent the triumph of human rights over discrimination, and they bear testament to the power of our collective voice.

But let us not be complacent in our accomplishments, my friends. We must acknowledge tonight that despite these advances, there is still far too much work to be done- Much of that work right here in the State of Florida.

We know that there is far more work to be done when a two term Florida Governor who championed Anti DEI initiatives in our state’s public schools is a candidate for the highest o ce in the land but in the most diverse and inclusive country in the world.

We know that there is far too much work to do my friends when the United States House of Representatives selects a speaker to represent them who introduced a federal Don’t Say Gay Bill, Co-sponsored a gender a rming care ban, and knowingly served as a paid national spokesperson for an anti LGBTQIA+ hate group identi ed by the same body that selected him.

And we know that there is far too much work to do right here in our own community when we join together to paint over the walls of our local LGBTQ+ Community Center because overnight it was vandalized with hateful words and imagery.

Yes, my friends, tonight we do celebrate, but we know all too well that the ght for true equality is far from over.

While we know the path ahead may be challenging, let’s remember that history has taught us that progress is not always linear. It is often punctuated by moments of great adversity and courage.

(Said in Somber tone) We’ve been here before. Our community has been here before. We Remember.”

Suddenly, every member in the room understood why Daniel Sohn was selected to lead.

Sohn is the national president of the United States Business Consortium (USBC), a non-pro t business advocacy organization, as well as president and CEO of the Pride Chamber, Central Florida’s LGBTQ+ Ally Business Association. Needless to say, he is an impressive and imposing individual, both to his absolute commitment to business, commerce, and political advancement, as well as his proud and steadfast advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights, opportunities, and progress.

I think the biggest thing is change—not necessarily change for yourself, but change you want to make within an organization for the better.

PHOTO BY

In a fast-growing, ever-changing world, Sohn is a man privileged and responsible for navigating the busy, complicated intersection of politics, economics, and society — as well as self-expression and an embracing and championing of queer presence and involvement.

Outside of work, Sohn is happily married to his husband, cares deeply for their ve dogs, and is an avid hockey fan, which might be humorously ironic considering that the majority of his time is spent between Florida and California. Regarding his professional background, Sohn was a former legislative aide in the Florida Legislature as District Secretary for Rep. Hazelle P. Rogers (2010-2012) and State Sen. Maria Sachs (2014); and on the county level as Chief of Sta to Palm Beach County Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor, Patricia "Pat" Edmonson. Following his service, as a sta er, Sohn was elected to the Haverhill City Council where he made history as the rst openly LGBTQ+ city council member and the rst bisexual person elected to public o ce in the state of Florida. In addition to his background in government positions, a large emphasis within his career has been on economic development.

Sohn was eager and enthusiastic to discuss the concept of leadership, and what being a leader means to him, including the greatest challenges faced. While he professed that he is very “coachable” and has never had a problem with criticism, “I think the biggest thing is “change—” Sohn had to say, “—not necessarily change for yourself, but change you want to make within an organization for the better.” People get complacent, but a good leader moves forward, which includes letting people go when they no longer align with “the goals of the mission.” He spoke of a “new generation of leaders:” individuals who have the ability to be exible in a dynamic world and have the courage to stay true to ideals. “If we are not constantly updating our beliefs and values

CONSORTIUM ROLE

As it stands now, the USBC is composed of five focus areas derived from the federal level:

1. Diversity, equity, inclusion in the workplace (including, as mentioned, African Americans, Latinos, women, LGBTQ+);

2. Access to capital;

3. Native and tribal a airs;

4 and 5. Technology and infrastructure in rural communities.

CHAMBER ROLE

A chamber of commerce is an organization of business owners and entrepreneurs who promote the interests of their local business-community. Chambers of commerce provide access to valuable resources, discounts, and relationships that help businesses save money and market their products.

(a paraphrase taken admirably from Secretary Hillary Clinton quoting another person), we’re not doing our job as humans,” Sohn asserted.

Double Duty

Aside, of course, from the USBC, Sohn is rst and foremost the President and CEO of the Pride Chamber of Central Florida. “I am a proud, openly LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce executive. My day job is my gay job!” remarked Sohn excitedly, emphasizing the inevitable link between the USBC and the Pride Chamber. When asked what primarily the association between the USBS and the Pride Chamber was, with a proud chuckle he quickly proclaimed “Me!”.

Sohn gets “the best of both worlds:” LGBTQ+ and business advocacy. The chamber strives for equality and equal opportunity in the world of business and politics, and works closely with several other interest groups, including Latinos, African Americans, and women. In fact, driven by the tremendous e orts of the Pride Chamber, the large number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed by Governor Ron Desantis were swiftly challenged, essentially declaring the situation an emergency requiring immediate attention. “I happen to be a business leader who is a proud LGBT American,” Sohn a rmed. He is vocal about queer rights, both in business and society in general, insisting that his passion and engagement are only increasing.

The impact of the chamber in Florida did not happen overnight, however, but required, through Sohn’s leadership and guidance, a vast consolidation of dedicated individuals determined to build and support the community at large.

A man of many hats, the conversation turns naturally to the USBC. The US Business Consortium began as the East Bay Business Education Alliance in 1991. When the EBBEA was rst conceived in the 1990’s, it was only a private organization in California. It went through a major restructuring in 2005 to start becoming an entity of “business leaders and economic development advocates serving the shared need to address many of the challenges nationwide, and was restructured from a c(3) to a c(6)” said Sohn. Over the years, the organization expanded its

membership by over one hundred economic developers, chamber of commerce executives, and destination marketing professionals, who are either employed by their respective counties, cities, or states. In 2022, the organization changed its name to U.S. Business Consortium, upon the time Sohn assumed leadership.

While the USBC does not necessarily a ord resources, it is vital as an organization that drafts the policies that allow those businesses to function in the rst place, including small businesses as well as larger corporations. Members of the organization are primarily responsible for working directly with elected o cials at various levels to optimize the e ciency and e cacy of business-communities. Businesses are the engine and the USBC is at the wheel allowing for the best direction.

While Sohn is now leading the show, he has been a contributing member since the early days, and the USBC has undoubtedly come a long way since its inception. He is determined to see the organization grow, to see more members participate. It’s necessary for more chambers to join, ensuring that represented businesses have “a voice at the table,” Sohn emphasized. Diversi cation, according to him, must also increase, especially as it pertains to task forces of the focus areas within the USBC.

Lead by Example

With that said, Sohn in his leadership role is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He expounded upon a particular opportunity that brought him to Wisconsin to meet with local dairy farmers, explaining that there is technology necessary to successfully move milk from farm to home. For example, there are barcodes on cows entering barns that will not register without proper access to the internet. Such industries cannot function without technology, so Sohn and his associates work hand-in-hand with both interest groups and elected o cials to ensure optimal conditions for these businesses, again, both on smaller and corporate levels. It is the responsibility of Daniel and the USBC to ensure that adequate tax dollars go to such businesses, and to obtain donations and partnerships that might a ord funds and means.

As a true leader, Sohn has a very particular vision of what a prospective member of the USBC looks like. “The organization itself is an economic development advocacy organization made up of members who are doing work across the country in their communities.” One can clearly recognize that primarily his role is to supervise and consolidate the various e orts of a diverse range of groups and individuals with a multitude of needs and wants. “When policies allow businesses to thrive,” added Sohn, “businesses do well, employees do well, and they spend money in our communities.”

Sohn is a busy man. When I spoke with him in the middle of August, he had just returned from a three-week trip: a week each in Denver, California, and D.C. Partly for leisure, he was verily and actively engaged in multiple conferences, talks and forums concerning current business trends, policies, and a number of political agendas.

In Denver the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Conference was held for leadership training, as well as “developing fellowship in the business world,” according to Sohn. His visit to D.C. was for the purpose of beginning to plan and organize the annual summit, where new o cers are generally sworn in.

When asked what was one or the most recent projects with which Sohn was associated, his response quickly highlighted one in particular. It concerned the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Imperial Valley is also the location where he was tasked with bringing together several chambers of commerce from various locales within Southern California, part of a 22year endeavor that Daniel proudly saw to fruition.

In Antioch, California, the Small Business Investment Center was launched, which is a “three-year business incubator,” explained Sohn, and the creation of the Antioch Visitors Convention Bureau, which is focusing on repairs in tourism and hospitality post-Covid. These programs are proposed to support the hardest hit industries following Covid, including hospitality and tourism, further divided into Food and Beverage, Events and Recreation, and Hotels and Lodging. Thanks to the e orts of Sohn as president of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, these arenas, which are so fundamental to the success of a community, are being a orded much needed revival.

What Sohn, the USBC, and the Pride Chamber of central Florida are doing is inspiring, passionate, necessary work. There is invariably a strong interplay between the arenas of social, economic, and political. Voices need to be heard; changes must be made. Businesses require certain things to be able to function at optimal levels, and policies on all levels must be put in place to achieve this. LGBTQ+ rights, representation and advocacy of the queer community must additionally be diligently tended to along the lines of equality, inclusivity, and opportunity. Sohn is vastly proud and excited of the work that he and his associates are doing, and they are only nding new, innovative means to reach their goals, fully bring their mission to fruition, and further their respective organizations.

Sohn’s closing words during his memorable speech at the Gala Awards said it all: “I'd like to ask our community to stand with The Pride Chamber as together we launch a new initiative that represents an important step in the right direction.”

A step in the right direction, indeed.

+ 1,000to 2,000people usethe 5acre Equality Parkcampus daily

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A much needed public service announcement directed at the non-allied, conservative straight community as a basic education on what it means to be LGBTQ+.

BY MARCY SHORTUSE AND JOHN SOTOMAYOR

Editor’s Note: This article was initially meant to be published in another Florida magazine, in a place quite far from here (both geographically and metaphorically). However, it was decided by the publisher that their conservative readership “was not ready” for subject matter “of this sort.” We at EMBRACE Magazine found that while it’s a shame for one person to make that assumption for others, some of whom might be very interested in other walks of life, it is still far too common for the population of some parts of Florida to feel intimidated by anything outside “the norm.” With permission, we were able to salvage the interview and publish it in our own publication.

These are confusing times we live in. It seems like every day something new is being discussed on the news or on social media regarding things many people simply weren’t ready for. For some, it’s UFOs, for others it’s AI (Arti cial Intelligence). Heck, some people are still struggling with the COVID concept.

Once of the most misconstrued topics we have been dealing with as of late is how the LGBTQ+ lifestyle has become more mainstream. Even though almost every household for hundreds of years has had at least one relative or friend who has fallen into that category, it was easy to sweep that uniqueness under the rug and move on with life.

While we may parade our crazy relatives on the porch and give them a drink, it’s never been a “civil” topic of discussion to ponder why Uncle Frank always brings the same male friend to Thanksgiving dinner … for more than 20 years.

This little posh enclave is a unique place unto itself, lled with incredibly deep-thinking, intelligent people, steeped in tradition, social etiquette and staunch conservatism. The descendants of some of the most nancially lucrative families in the country are here; some even had the original pilgrims in their lineage. We are, in a nutshell, where “woke” goes to die.

That being said, we thought it might be interesting to sit down with someone who can give us a solid opinion from the other side of the acronym. This respected, businessman/creator/editor/writer who lives in a far, far away part of Florida called Ocala is named John Sotomayor, a man who has many irons in the business re, to be sure. One iron that we noticed more than any other is a new magazine to come on the Florida scene called Embrace. It is a magazine created for the LGBTQ+ community and its surge in popularity is unprecedented – more so than any magazine of any other genre that we have seen in a long time. (Of course, this has some of us gritting our teeth a time or two during the annual awards presentation when they’re sitting a table lled with awards … it was literally groaning from the weight … but we digress …)

We gured that John, the publisher and editor-in-chief of this publication, might be the perfect person to help explain to our readership what some of this “love is love” fuss is all about. Here is a segment of our question-and-answer session:

John, thank you so much for agreeing to help us out here. I know many of our readers are reaching out for help on this particularly sensitive topic. If you could, please let us know a little bit about yourself.

I would be happy to, but before I begin, what an introduction. Wow, thanks. Would you like to be my PR agent? And for Embrace as well. I read that intro and thought, that guy sounds like he’s really got his act together. I’d like to know him. And his magazine? I’ve got to read that. Yes, I reside in Ocala and have been there since January 2005, but I am not from the area. And neither is my ideology. Ocala is as conservative as where you’re coming from. I am not sure how many Blue Bloods we have here whose ancestors rst viewed America from the deck of the May ower, but they are proud card-carrying Republicans and self-proclaimed patriots. I consider myself as American as anyone else and defend the America I know and love with every ounce of my being.

I was born in Manhattan, NYC and raised in Jamaica, Queens. My blood runs blue, but not blueblood – I’m a Democrat. What else could I be, born to immigrant parents of South American heritage and raised as a working-class New Yorker who embraced my gayness since my rst errant pubescent thought?

Sure, I tried to blend in and “be straight” at rst. But that didn’t take. It’s not easy getting into Angelina Jolie when you really want Brad Pitt. And like my brief stint as a straight adult male, I wasn’t always a magazine publisher and editor. I had early ambitions to become a disgustingly wealthy lawyer before I became the humble media man you see before you today.

That all changed when I was forcibly outed in law school at the age of 24. A lot has changed, actually, thanks to that one critical life event. I gave up the dream of becoming a lawyer, as well as the illusion of living straight. Once that door opened, a whole new world opened up. One where we can live as we were meant to be, and not assembly line copies of what conformity uncomfortably molds us to be.

Tell us what it means to you to be able to reach a group of people who are struggling with the idea of what the LGBTQ+ community is. I think we need a little help, as there are some who are still seeing the acronym and thinking, “Lettuce, Greens, Bacon, Tomato …”

Your questions are making me hungry. And also, re ective. When I think about reaching out to a new group of people struggling with the idea of what the LGBTQ+ community is, I think about my rst feature on LGBTQ+ life in Ocala, written for Ocala Magazine when I was the executive editor. A story had fallen through the cracks, as they sometimes do. We had a brainstorming session to ll this void and my then-publisher asked me, as a gay man, how I felt writing about gay life in Ocala to ll the

space. It had never been done before, but the publisher of Ocala Magazine at the time took pride in the publication’s reputation as cutting edge.

I replied that it was an excellent idea, but not as a ller. We should devote three months to its development, I said, not three days. She agreed and we moved on it.

Given the green light, I wondered what the angle would be. A night out in the town was too progressive and the historic look was too uneventful. I thought, what was Ocala, Marion County all about? It occurred to me that it was all about faith and family and if I were ever to resonate with this audience, they needed something they could relate to. It took time and lots of rejection, but I nally found two families willing to share their experiences.

One family was a coupling of two female partners and two males, all in the medical eld, who conceived and raised biological children together. People fell in love with the adorable story. How could they dislike a blended, educated family? It humanized LGBTQ+ people for readers.

The other was of two African American lesbians who helped raise the teenage friends of their biological children who came from troubled homes. They were all boys, and all were white. They were welcomed into the home with the blessings of their biological parents, all going through nancial or substance abuse problems. All the teens had a supportive environment, but also strict discipline. They were not allowed to misbehave and most importantly, they had to attend spiritual services. Both women were members of a progressive church and led the musical choir.

In short, the boys bene tted from this loving environment. All graduated from high school, found employment, married, and raised their own families. When interviewed, all the boys spoke lovingly of their “moms.” It didn’t matter to them that they were lesbian or black. They saw them as people of value they wanted to emulate. That was a powerful story.

When we go back in time, even before Shakespeare, men have dressed in drag. We’ve elevated Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Devine, Prince and Ru Paul to celebrity status without a second thought. What’s the problem now?

Let’s not forget about all the straight men who wore drag for entertainment reasons and it did not o end anyone at the time. They include Tyler Perry as “Medea,” the cast of “The Kids in the Hall,” Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis in “Some Like it Hot,” even Rudy Giuliani at a charity dinner while he was mayor of New York City! He was motor boated by Donald Trump in that comic skit!

The reason why drag is a topic of controversy now is purely political … and drag was not even the ember that sparked the ame.

Primarily, conservative factors began to lose their patience with advancements made by the LGBTQ+ community when it came to transgender treatments made

People fell in love with the adorable story. How could they dislike a blended, educated family? It humanized LGBTQ+ people for readers.

available to minors. Someone, somewhere was quoted, either truthfully or not, as saying we as the LGBTQ+ community had an obligation to children who identi ed as transgender to help “protect” them from their “restrictive, conservative parents.” Whether true or not, that’s where conservatives drew the line and basically lost their minds. Since then, any e orts to defend transgender rights were met with extreme challenges by the conservative right. It also coincided with Donald Trump’s loss of the second term presidential election. It was seen as a dismantling of conservative power, so it was met with a tremendous backlash and the easiest target was the highly visible LGBTQ+ community.

The moment a drag queen decided it was a good idea to read to children to make it fun and even more acceptable in society, that’s when the conservative base chose to counterstrike. The source of their ire was transgender issues. The targets of their attack were drag queens who dared to want to read a book to children. Figurative shots were red. Then, conservative legislatures backed by vocal Evangelical forces began their demolition of any LGBTQ+ rights.

The exposure to straight behavior and relationships could also be seen as “grooming.” Within the majority, one is “groomed” to desire heterosexual relationships. But no amount of straight exposure groomed me, or any other gay or lesbian, to be straight. So why would the opposite be true?

Let’s not forget all the straight men who wore drag for entertainment reasons and it did not offend anyone at the time.

So, just to confirm, the LGBTQ+ community isn’t “recruiting” members or “grooming” anyone. They just want the freedom to be who they are.

Correct. Have you, as a straight person, made the decision to be straight? Or was it innate? If you did not make the decision to be straight – not gay – that means it was natural. So, then, why would it be any di erent for a gay or lesbian person?

Of course, being bisexual, which is the “B” in LGBTQ, is another story. Bisexuals are attracted to both. There are two trains of thought when it comes to bisexuals. Either they are naturally bisexual as they claim, which would mean they were attracted to both sexes as they came of age, or they are claiming to be bisexual until they can fully accept who they really are. As a young man, I had relations with both. I tried my hardest to convince myself I was attracted to both. I can nd beauty in women, but ultimately, it is the male body I desire. That is how I am wired. If my natural inclination as a man is to be attracted to other men, then no amount of exposure to women in any way, shape or form is going to change that.

Do you feel as though society has become more accepting of alternative lifestyles? It was hard enough for some to deal with men having an earring in the left or right ear in the 1980s … then trying to remember what it meant.

The idea of a man wearing an earring in the left ear (that’s the “gay” one) was a ash in time. It was either adopted by punk culture, or it was the other way around. Either way, it quickly became irrelevant.

To me, understanding, thus accepting, an “alternative lifestyle” — meaning a lifestyle di erent than one is accustomed to — is as simple as exposure to it. Once something becomes familiar, it no longer seems unconventional.

Take the largest social change since the dawning of mankind, which is the equal rights and value of women. If you were to take a person from history, 200 or even 100 years ago, and expose them to the modern world, they would be dumbfounded by seeing women in the workplace, earning income rather than relying on men, in positions of leadership and power. To them, what we take for granted would seem like an alternate lifestyle.

Another key to acceptance is modern technology and modes of communication, such as movies, television, and the Internet. They have exposed everyone with a television set or computer to di erent cultures around the world. That makes them more familiar, thus easier to accept.

This also explains why gay culture is so much more widely accepted in larger cities than in rural communities. People in large cities see it more; it is no big deal to them. In smaller communities’ people gravitate toward majority rule, so conventional behavior is the status quo. Anyone who goes against the status quo would be seen as a disruptor and quickly dismissed, isolated, sometimes denied jobs, social standing, even inclusion to social functions, in an e ort to discourage it.

If you had to explain what “woke” means, how would you do that?

Being “woke” to describe a person means one is aware of social and political injustice. Being “woke” in a political movement means seeking to address and correct social discrimination, inequality, and injustice. It be-

Straight men in drag for laughs: Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis in “Some Like it Hot,” and Rudy Giuliani with Donald Trump at a charity dinner while he was mayor of New York City.

gan with racial prejudice, discrimination, and injustice, then expanded to include social inequality in sexism and LGBTQ+ rights.

In some social contexts, the term woke has been used disparagingly to describe someone who is too easily upset about these issues or talks about change but does nothing to change anything. Using it that way seems to be meant to de ate its power. For me, anyone who has woke values believes in equality for all – that everyone, despite their di erences, has value. That is, in its core, human decency. How could anyone have a problem with human decency?

Last question. Will we ever get our rainbow back? Or do y’all plan to keep it indefinitely?

Get it back? Ha. Rainbows, like the air we breathe, belong to everyone. You are free to use all the rainbows you want … but if you do, people might think you are gay. It seems to have been ingrained in the modern human psyche that rainbows represent anything and everything gay. Well, that’s just great marketing. I don’t know how you are going to change that.

The rst rainbow ag was created by Gilbert Baker, a prominent gay political activist in San Francisco during the 1970s, the dawning of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement after the Stonewall uprising that occurred in New York City in 1969. San Francisco was a natural draw for LGBTQ+ people because of the vibe that grew there

from the artist movement, long before the gays arrived. Artists are free-thinkers and thus, free-doers. LGBTQ+ people desire freedom to be who they are, so it was a natural draw. Baker created the rainbow ag in a time when several symbols existed, like the pink triangle. But many who saw it were reminded of the Holocaust, as a symbol used by Nazis to mark gay men.

Baker wanted something more positive. He attended a Patti Smith concert and thought of the idea while high on LSD. Blown away by the diversity of the crowd, he saw it as a “rainbow of humanity” and, from that, the rainbow ag was born.

However, the rainbow ag does not just represent the LGBTQ+ community: It is meant as a message of power and rebellion. In Baker’s own words, he said, “I looked at the ags on various government buildings around the Civic Center. I thought of the original American ag with its 13 stripes and 13 stars, the colonies breaking away from England to form the United States. I thought of the vertical red, white and blue tricolor from the French Revolution and how both ags owed their beginnings to a riot, a rebellion, or a revolution. I thought the gay nation should have a ag too, to proclaim its own idea of power.”

That is some pretty powerful thinking. The idea of the rainbow ag drew inspiration from the colonial American ag itself and its spirit of freedom, rising from revolt.

It doesn’t get more American than that. A fairly immovable strength. Good luck changing that.

Gilbert Baker, the artist who designed the Rainbow Flag, making 500 new flags for an installation on Market St. on June 10th 1998.

Your World

I N T E R N AT I O N A L NEWS

Grinded to a Halt

Grindr sent Egyptian users a warning after alleged entrapments and arrests.

BY STEVE PAFFORD

“Police may be posing as LGBT on social media to entrap you,” Grindr warned in a disturbing alert pushed to Egyptian users in 2023. Yes, that’s right, 2023. A quarter way through the supposedly (more) enlightened 21st century and this fearsome oppression is still very much in evidence in several counties in the Middle East. I experienced it for myself just a year ago. In fact, it would be easier for me to say which Middle Eastern countries I’ve visited that this did not happen: Oman and Morocco.

Far be it from me to go into detail why the rulers of that pair of “Arab” states are a little more lenient than most but you can probably work it out. Whatever the truth of the rumors, this more liberal and dare I say it “Western” approach contrasts wildly with the regimes I encountered in Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Dubai, and the wider United Arab Emirates, even if none of them can be considered democracies. Grindr, the world’s most popular gay app, sent a warning to all of its users in Egypt recently following reports that dozens of LGBTQ people had been arrested in the country over the weekend.

Human rights groups have been documenting the digital targeting of LGBTQ people through dating apps and social media in at least ve Middle Eastern countries in recent years. In much of the Middle East, a growing community of gay and bisexual men and women are making use of services such as Grindr, and the slightly less wellknown Hornet and Growler. It’s no exaggeration to say they are a refuge for a marginalized and almost invisible section of society, but they can also be entrapment mechanisms that can lead to persecution, conviction and even imprisonment.

“We have been alerted that Egyptian police are actively making arrests of gay, bi, and trans people on digital platforms,” the warning message, rst sent in March, said. “They are using fake accounts and have also taken over accounts from real community members who have already been arrested and had their phones taken.”

I was only in Cairo for a brief visit to see the world-famous Pyramids of Giza, but I felt such unease about actively hooking up with any of the men I was communicating with I decided not to indulge in a hook-up and waited until I was out of the country. Next stop, Athens, couldn’t have been more di erent.

It’s not like Egypt doesn’t have form in this area, sadly. In 2014, six men were sentenced by an Egyptian court to two years in prison with hard labor for allegedly advertising their apartment on Facebook for men to have sex with each other for a fee of $200 per night, reports the state-owned Egyptian news site Ahram Online based on information from a well-placed “judicial source.”

This unsavory episode may have been the rst case in which Egyptians have been caught on heavily monitored social media groups for charges of homosexuality, something activists have warned could become widespread as the government widens its crackdown on LGBT rights. In the last decade, hundreds of people are known to have been arrested on allegations of homosexuality, including eight men vili ed for appearing in a video that shows a couple of men exchanging rings that made headlines throughout the Arabic press as a “gay wedding.”

As the regime of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi steps up these arrests, there was little solid information about how social media had been used to entrap LGBT people. However, in 2018 news emerged that police had entrapped a Grindr user

PHOTO BY AJR PHOTO

STEVE PAFFORD is an English journalist, actor, and author of the acclaimed book BowieStyle. Having trained from the floor up in UK music titles Q, MOJO and Record Collector, he’s had his work featured in a wide variety of British, American, and Australian media including the BBC, CNN, The Independent and the New York Times. Steve divides his time between Australia and the south of France.

going by the name of Firas, who’d arranged to meet a man in Dokki’s Mesaha Square, a treelined park just across the Nile from Cairo. After a terrifying game of cat and mouse, he was taken to the Mogamma, a monolithic government building that houses Egypt’s General Directorate for Protecting Public Morality.

There, o cers made him unlock his phone so they could check it for evidence. The condoms he had been asked to bring were entered as evidence. Investigators instructed him to say he had been molested as a child, that the incident was responsible for his deviant sexual habits. Believing he would be given better treatment, he agreed — but things only got worse from there.

Firas would spend the next 11 weeks in detention, mostly at the Doqi police station. Police there had printouts of his chat history that were taken from his cell phone after the arrest. They beat him regularly and made sure the other in-

mates knew what he was in for. He was taken to the Forensic Authority, where doctors examined his anus for signs of sexual activity, but there was still no real evidence of a crime.

Eventually he was convicted of crimes related to the Victorian sounding “debauchery” and sentenced to a year in prison. But Firas’s lawyer appealed the conviction, overturning it six weeks later. Police kept him locked up for two weeks after that, refusing to allow visitors and even denying he was in custody. Eventually, the authorities o ered him an informal deportation — a chance to leave the country, in exchange for signing away his asylum rights and paying for the ticket himself. He jumped at the chance, leaving Egypt behind forever.

As the rightward swing makes its totalitarian presence felt across countries not just in the Middle East but across the world, many others will surely follow.

T R AV E L

Palm Springs — Now with More Gay Added

Palm Springs, still gay. And now, perhaps gayer than ever. Here’s what’s new and equally hot for the seasoned visitor to the first timer. If you do not have Palm Springs on your gay vacay agenda, then something is seriously off.

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT PALM SPRINGS

Inally made it to Palm Springs, and after my experience I cannot imagine why it took this long. Twenty-something years ago, when I was nearly 20-something myself, I dated a guy named Guy who liked to frequent Palm Springs regularly. We were in di erent stages in life; he was rich and I, well, was not. So, we did not travel together but I enjoyed hearing his stories. At least what he was willing to share. I had the opportunity to visit this summer and jumped at the chance to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I was not prepared for how wonderful it is. To pay it forward, I will do my best to prepare you. With too much to cover everything there is to do, I will focus on what is new that will equally appeal to the jaded habitué, like Guy, to the sweet, wideeyed ingénue, like me.

My foursome on this trip included Troy Masters, publisher of the LA Blade, Tim Cappelli, social media in uencer on Instagram, and Ed Walsh of Bay Area Reporter, Seattle Gay News, and NewsBreak. Here are where we’ve stayed, what we’ve done, where we’ve shopped, where we ate, and where we’ve played.

Where To Stay

Upon arrival at Palm Springs quaint stylish airport, voted Best Small US Airport in 2021, I checked into my hotel, The Triangle Inn, a clothing optional men’s resort owned by Michael Green, Executive Director of the Palm Springs Cultural Association, which runs Palm Springs LGBTQ lm festival, Cinema Diverse, and his husband Stephen Boyd.

For more information visit www.triangle-inn.com.

One of our many stops included Palm Springs’ latest sensation, the Trixie Motel. The place already has legendary lore and is sold out for the next 18 months — and it’s only been open for just over a year. According to the aforementioned lore, Brian Firkus, better known as his drag persona, Trixie Mattel, and David Silver visited Palm Springs in February 2017, months into dating. They discussed the idea of a Trixie themed vacation rental. During another visit, Firkus imagined the words “Trixie Motel” — a play on his drag name — then found the perfect motel that was already pink. In 2022, they created The

Trixie Motel Show — a reality TV based show on the development of the motel — which created instant celebrity status for the property. While there, Tim Cappelli, the Instagram social media in uencer, asked me to help him shoot a video short which makes him appear to magically jump from his living room staircase into the Trixie Motel swimming pool. Being the in-the-water cameraman became an unscheduled highlight of my trip.

I chose to stay an extra day so booked a one-nighter at the posh, brand new Twin Palms resort, also a clothing optional resort for gay men. I could not believe my eyes, or my luck, after seeing my room at Twin Palms. Modern minimalism at its most luxurious comfortable best. Twin Palms is the latest gay resort by those who own Santiago and Descanso. The three claim “modern luxury, timeless style,” as “Palm Springs’ most distinguished resorts for gay men” and after visiting all three, I can say they have every right to claim that. For more information, visit www.twinpalmsresort.com.

Embrace Magazine publisher and editor-in-chief John Sotomayor in pool playing camerman to Instagram social media influencer Tim Cappelli at the Trixie Motel pool; comfortable suite at The Triangle Inn, a clothing optional men's resort.

Opposite page: Forever Marilyn, the iconic 26-foot statue of Marilyn Monroe on Museum Way in downtown Palm Springs.

This page (clockwise from top): Pink lobby at the Trixie Motel; Modern minimalism marvel at Twin Palms pool and jacuzzi at sunset;

TRAVEL

What To Do

Take a vehicle architecture tour by Mod Squad, the essential Palm Springs tour that showcases iconic Desert Modern architecture of Palm Springs. Ideal for the architecture and old Hollywood history enthusiasts. See iconic LGBTQ+ legends’ homes, like those of Dinah Shore, Great Garbo, Liberace, Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, and Cary Grant.

Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, an absolute must-do attraction at Palm Springs. We climbed aboard the world’s largest rotating tramcar at the 2,643 ft. Valley Station and rose to the Mountain Station at 8,516 ft, with a breathtaking 10-minute journey up the sheer cli s of Chino Canyon. How is that gay? The rotating tramcar basically twirls 360 degrees several times on the way up and down. There are only

three in the world. The other two are the Titlis Rotair in Switzerland and the gondola at Table Mountain in South Africa.

Take the Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tour of Indian Canyons. Our eco-tour guide, Marv (“Marvelous Marv”) led us on a hike and explained the history, culture, nature, geology, ora and fauna, panoramic vistas, and amazing scenery. A major bonding moment. How is that gay? Be creative. Pose provocatively for your Instagram, Mary.

On our nal day of the trip, our foursome visited The Spa at Sec-he for a spa day.

Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and The Spa at Sec-he celebrate the history and tradition of the Tribe while educating a new generation to the healing bene ts of the holy hot mineral spring. They were both created to embrace and re ect the natural desert terrain. The cutting-edge day

Clockwise from top: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway with the world's largest rotating tramcar; media travelers from top right: Embrace Magazine publisher and editor-in-chief John Sotomayor, Instagram social media influencer, Tim Cappelli, LA Blade publisher Troy Masters, and Bay Area Reporter, Ed Walsh; two cars from Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tour of Indian Canyons.

spa provides a one-of-a-kind experience while retaining its tight ties to the environment and o ering a range of pampering, unwinding, and wellness treatments.

After a tour that included a demonstration and explanation of hot mineral baths, zero-sensory oatation suites, quartz beds, and the salt cave, our basic package permitted us to use all services except the upgrades, which included the zero-sensory oatation suites and quartz beds. I tried everything permissible, including the large outdoor swimming pool.

Where to Shop

No gay vacay would be complete without a little retail therapy. Visit N Palm Canyon Drive for a series of specialty boutiques and shoppes. Our rst stop was Destination PSP. Owned by mayor-elect Je rey Bernstein, this art deco gift shoppe is a treasure trove of decorative and apparel gifts, especially for the modernista. Bernstein and his husband visited Palm Springs years ago from NYC and like many others, decided to make it their forever home. They abandoned their executive jobs for interests in art and

community. In fact, their graphic designs were applied to posters for Palm Springs Pride, Modernism Week, and more. I found baseball caps embroidered with the words “Writer” and “Editor” and couldn’t resist. Now they are among my favorite accessories. I wear them everywhere.

Next we stopped by Trevor Wayne Pop Art Store/Gallery. Trevor’s artistic statement is to simply “make people smile” is achieved through his referential takes on consumerism and mainstream entertainment, often taking dark imagery and ipping it. He was in uenced by Saturday Morning Cartoons and mass production of art he carried on him as a kid on backpacks, binders, and clothes. I saw his signature Frankenstein Monster with a banana through his neck where the bolts would be, and I instantly got him. I just as quickly purchased another baseball cap with that image. I decided baseball caps would be my thing.

We ended our spree with the visit to El Tuggle, a fashion and lifestyle designer label by husbands Robert and Rodrigo, combining easybreezy fabrics with hand-worked details. They bring the spirit of travel and vintage cabana style to a new collection of pool and resort wear with a touch of Pride for All.

Where to Eat

On our rst night, we dined at Johanne’s. “Eat well, live better” is the motto and it is tting. I had the house’s signature dish, the Wiener Schitzel.

On our rst day, we had lunch at Blackbook at the epicenter of LGBTQ bars and businesses, E Arenas Road. There we met with David Powell, Executive Director Desert Business Association, the desert’s LGBTQ chamber.

Later that same day, we were entertained by the locals at V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar, where I, like I did at every location throughout the visit, enjoyed non-alcoholic mocktails. One gentleman there was 93 and dancing. An equally vivacious elderly woman of unknown age also danced with wild abandon and glee.

That evening, we dined at Eight4Nine, a casual upscale restaurant located in the vibrant Uptown Design District. LGBTQ-owned, the white crisp interior was lined with farmhouse tables and stylish chairs creating a luxurious yet comfortable ambiance.

On our second day, all that hiking and shopping wore us out. We lunched at Juniper Table at The Kimpton Rowan on Tahquitz Canyon Way. Known for their Southern California fare inspired by Mediterranean avors, I had the Breakfast Tostada — crispy potato, chorizo, sunny-side up eggs, avocado, queso fresco, crema, pico de gallo, and radish. Perfection on a plate. The hotel management stopped by our table to say hello and suggested a visit to the rooftop pool. We did

Top photo: Eight4Nine restaurant interior

Bottom photo: Spa amenities at The Spa at Sec-he.

TRAVEL

and were grateful for it. Stunning views of paradise while poolside.

Famished from our afternoon activities, we went to Clandestino for cocktails, in my case — mocktails, and nibbles, then dinner at Reforma, which is modeled after a supper club where guests enjoy dinner in a dramatic environment with the option to stay and dance the night away.

On our nal day, we left the spa and headed to lunch at Lulu California Bistro. With its vibrant outdoor terrace seating, climate-controlled patio, festive bar, busy dining area, and party-ready mezzanine, Lulu has emerged as the preferred dining destination in Palm Springs. Our luncheon included Randy Garner and Rob Hampton of Palm Springs Convention Center, Kimber Foster of Visit Greater Palm Springs, a sister visitors center to Visit Palm Springs, and Brad Fuhr, owner of DayDesert Guide, KGAY 106.5, and MeTVfm 103.1. Given my group were all media, we made plans with the local VIP for future visits to Palm Springs, which will host the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) conference in 2024 and the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) conference in 2025.

Where to Play

While there are many places to choose for nightlife in the Greater Palms Springs area, on this visit, we chose to stay locally. That meant the Arenas District with the heart on E Arenas Road. There we visited BlackBook, Chill, Dicks on Are-

Hunters, Quadz Palm Springs, and StreetBar. There is something — and someone — for everyone. I personally enjoyed the karaoke at StreetBar. While I usually don’t, karaoke is okay when talented singers step up to the mic. Some were so good, I asked if they ever performed professionally. They did. I also met three friendly and inebriated bears. They de nitely liked to give bear hugs. Who doesn’t enjoy that?

My foursome wanted to visit the new speakeasy bar, The Evening Citizen. Its secret entrance is located on the backside of the building where Stacey’s bar used to be. Given its intimate size and concept, reservations are recommended.

While we only visited Reforma for dinner, I would be remiss not to mention that it is the largest and most popular “it” club at the moment. I’m told a line wraps around the block on the weekend. At the end of our foursome trip, we all said our goodbyes, but Troy and I decided to stay an extra day. The next morning, he took me to Spencer’s restaurant at an upscale tennis country club. We talked about possible business opportunities over brunch. Our time together ended with a visit to the windmills. I plan to visit again soon and saw Rob and Kimber in Puerto Rico for the IGLTA 2023 convention in October 2023.Our bond made in Palm Springs was evident in San Juan as we reunited like old friends. My takeaways from this visit to Palm Springs was the ultimate gay getaway while making new friends for future ones. For more information, visit www.visitpalmsprings.com.

JOHN SOTOMAYOR is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Embrace Magazine. With nearly 20 years of experience as a journalist for magazines and newspapers, he has written on a broad range of topics and subject matter. Specifically on travel, Sotomayor has written for numerous publications including Ocala Magazine, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine, Elevate Magazine, Florida Travel + Life, and Florida Trends.

nas,

Blackbook located at E Arenas Road, at Arenas District, the epicenter of LGBTQ+ socializing and nightlife.

Reaching New Heights in the Mile High City

The 2023 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference held in Denver, CO surpasses previous numbers for the organization.

BY NGLCC PRESS

PHOTOS BY TAMARA FLEMING

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) proudly hosted their most attended International Business & Leadership Conference to date, bringing together an incredible array of LGBTQ+ and allied business leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates from across the globe.

The conference featured remarkable keynotes who left everyone inspired and enlightened, including the incomparable Shola Richards and the visionary Dr. Michio Kaku. Their insights and wisdom lit up the stage and left a lasting impact on all who attended.

NGLCC extended their heartfelt thanks to their presenting sponsors, Accenture, Bristol Myers Squibb, Encore, Google, and Wells Fargo.

“Your unwavering support helped make the conference a resounding success, and we’re grateful for your commitment to LGBTQ+ economic empowerment.”

The 2023 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference witnessed history in the making. The Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) and Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) sessions achieved the highest reception attendance of all time, highlighting the incredible momentum and enthusiasm for these vital programs.

“The impact of these initiatives was truly felt as we awarded scholarships to several aspiring LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and leaders, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future… Together, we are forging a brighter future for LGBTQ+ businesses and leaders worldwide.”

The 2023 NGLCC Awards

The 2023 NGLCC Awards recognized outstanding achievements in the LGBTQ+ business world. The following awards were presented:

1. 2023 NGLCC & EY BRG Challenge winner: Accenture

2. 2023 A liate Chamber Rising Star Chamber Award: Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

3. 2023 Mentor & Mentee of the Year: Brian Hall (Shell) & Patrick Staunton (Westport Welding Technologies)

4. 2023 NGLCC Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) Visibility Award: Zaylore Stout

5. 2023 Global A liate Chamber of the Year: Canada’s 2 Spirited LGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC)

6. 2023 Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) Visibility Award: Braxton Fleming, Stealth Bros & Co.

7. 2023 Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year: Rose Hatcher, Director of Supplier Diversity and Sustainability at Paramount

8. 2023 A liate Chamber of the Year: Greater Miami LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

9. 2023 LGBT Supplier of the Year: David Ricciardi, Proximo

10. 2023 Corporation of the Year: Wells Fargo These awards honor the dedication, innovation, and leadership of individuals and organizations who have made signi cant contributions to advancing LGBTQ+ economic equality and inclusion.

parents and Friends of Lesbians, Gays and transgendered

PFLAG Ocala/Marion County Inc.

https://www.facebook.com/PFLAGocala/ pflagocala@gmail.com PO Box 770264 Ocala, FL 34477

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Your Community

ART&CULTURE

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMBA MONTCLAIR

Ilson Gonçalves Leads A Sumptuous Samba To Healthy Dining

BY JOSEPH PASTRANA

In the age of the in uencer, everyone and their brother is angling to be a celebrity. And chefs are no exception. There’s one born every minute on cooking competition shows. But there are celebrities and there are leaders. And it’s as much a test of leadership how one acts when in an in uential position as how one reacts when challenges arise. Ilson Gonçalves is without a doubt a leader.

Proprietor and chef of beloved Brazilian restaurant Samba Montclair in New Jersey, Ilson has certainly risen to many challenges from the moment he decided to immigrate to the US at 23 years old. Although he had a Computer Engineering degree and was employed in a bank in his native Brazil, he couldn’t imagine crunching numbers for the rest of his life. On vacation in New York, like so many before him, he felt an irresistible urge to stay. “I quit my entire life by phone,” he laughs. Alas, New York proved to be too expensive even for someone fearlessly starting over. “I settled just across the river in New Jersey where there was a large Brazilian community. I got a job as a dishwasher in a Portuguese restaurant and eventually worked my way up to be manager.” In time, he was able to buy a deli and reopened it as Samba Montclair in 2010.

In cooking Ilson found his true calling. “My mother ran a restaurant in Brazil called Paladar, and when I was a kid I helped in the kitchen, pretending I was a chef. She taught me a lot from practical things to being particular about the quality of the ingredients. I also learned that food

PASTRANA is a New York-based fashion journalist, public relations consultant, and the author of the nonfiction fashion must-read “Homespun - True Tales of Tweed”. His extensive professional experience encompasses working with a wide range of fashion, beauty and luxury lifestyle brands. He was previously fashion director for trade publication MetroStyle for which he covered seasonal Fashion Weeks in New York, Paris and Milan, and has written profiles and reviews on designers and collections including Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Bill Blass, Van Cleef & Arpels along with stories on Saks Fifth Ave, Sotheby’s, Louis Vuitton, Patek Philippe and many others. Today, he is a iliated with Mannfolk PR in publicity and brand development projects while continuing to cover fashion, art, interior design and luxury. He is also currently working on his next book for literary imprint house Thane & Prose.

JOSEPH

has soul, and you have to learn how to listen and talk to it. If you take care of the food with love and passion, it will come out well.” He was also aware that “There were already too many delis in town, so over the course of a year, I went from adding in Brazilian items, like Pao de Queijo, or little cheese breads to Brazilian dinner specials, to transforming the whole menu to be fully Brazilian.” And so, Samba Montclair was born.

Naming the restaurant Samba Montclair was a tribute to his heritage and honor the community where it’s located. He explains further, “Samba is such an important dance in Brazil and around the world. I wanted to say, ‘Let’s dance, Montclair!’ I knew Samba would t into the community here. I still shop for many special Brazilian ingredients in the Newark markets. Montclair is a progressive and welcoming community. It’s only about 35 minutes by train from NYC, so we attract a lot of people from all over. We also get a lot of people who move, when they’re ready to leave the crazy pace and nightlife, settle down, maybe buy a house, and start a family, and that includes many LGBTQIA+ people who, like me, feel comfortable here. I’m happy to say my customer base is very diverse and re ects the community itself.”

The next challenge came with the pandemic and just trying to stay in business after the lockdown. It was further complicated when Ilson was unexpectedly diagnosed with celiac disease and food allergies. Drastic changes had to be made to his diet, omitting all wheat, soy, and corn among other gluten foods. “Because I am at the front of the line, I have a policy of never serv-

ing anything at Samba that I won’t eat myself, so I went through a rigorous process of turning the restaurant into the only fully certi ed gluten-free establishment in the state of New Jersey.” Ilson is proud to say, “There was nothing like Samba in the area, and many of the Brazilian restaurants in Newark are very meat-heavy, focusing on rodizio-style cooking.”

As a result, he also had to alter his already published recipe book while remaining authentic - now in a new edition called “The Samba Montclair Gluten-Free Cookbook”. At rst there was concern the restaurant might lose customers. “But we actually gained a new loyal following,” reveals Ilson. The surprise is that people aren’t likely to even discern a di erence in the taste of the cuisine. In the meantime, proud mãe Nilsa Hostins visits a few months every year and even helps in the restaurant. And Ilson also celebrated another personal milestone when he got married to his partner Yasar Sakman in a romantic beach ceremony in Miami.

He’s always led his life by example and today he’s sharing his culture with the community of his new home. “I discovered that my role in life is to feed people,” says Ilson. And he’s made it a mission to donate meals to local organizations. in how I conduct my business and my life. In Brazil, it wasn’t safe to be gay, so I had to hide my true self. Even now, it’s still not nearly as accepted there as it is here. I always lead with being a good human rst, then a gay man. Now all the parts of me are much more integrated and public and fully empowered.” Now that’s a true leader.

PHOTO BY BY ERIK RANK

ACTIVISM &CHARITY

Pride Prevails

Despite Florida’s political climate, Pride planners adapt to keep the party going.

BY JACK LEMNUS

The ourish of modern Pride and the open celebration of LGBTQ culture didn’t come without a ght. Today, crowds throng to the streets, draped in color as queer anthems ll the air. But what might look like a rainbow block party of acceptance and inclusion traces its roots to a ferocious struggle for civil liberties.

This was a time when LGBTQ lifestyle was condemned by politicians, banned from the classroom, and smothered by vague laws. Sound familiar?

This was 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City, igniting six days of protests by largely Black and brown trans people who demanded equality, or at least the right to exist openly, which would later spark the gay rights movement.

The seemingly impervious anti-LGBTQ powers in the U.S. Congress, courts and classroom were formidable; but their oppressive rule would have an unintended consequence: it galvanized the LGBTQ community into action.

The same is true of today’s LGBTQ leaders who aren’t ready to give in to the attacks in not just Florida but around the county.

“We’re not going back,” said Kevin Clevenger, development director for FlockFest, a charitable beach event in South Florida. “The younger generations don’t know the struggle we endured to get here. It took a long time for people to see us.”

Since the Stonewall Riots, Pride parades and festivals have become a cultural xture in many U.S. cities as not just a celebration of LGBTQ identity, but of resistance. The ability to host a modern Pride stems from the work of LGBTQ activists, advocates and allies who didn’t give up when things looked bleak.

Now, under a similar brand of institutionalized hatred, Florida’s Pride leaders and organizers still see room for celebration, and they don’t plan to cancel or even reschedule because of the political climate.

So, to keep the party going, Pride planners have adapted. “By far the most important thing we consider is security,” Clevenger said. “You never know if you're going to have protesters — you've got to prepare for all contingencies.”

Because of the recent spike in hate crimes coupled with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ erosion of LGBTQ liberties, FlockFest has amped up security this year. For July’s event, organizers spent $25,000 just for private security, Clevenger said.

“It’s hard to come up with that kind of money anymore,” he said.

FlockFest partners with local law enforcement and, for the rst time this year, has hired armed security for the rooftop pool party. “Wilton Manors is the gayest place on Earth, so getting the help of the city wasn’t too hard, though not everywhere is awarded that bene t.”

But even the gayest city on earth feels the state’s in uence: after laws ostensibly targeting drag queens sowed apprehension, FlockFest pivoted their event to “21+” and had to remove their lead drag performer, Priince Trilla, from their logo.

“It was a heart-wrenching removing Priince Trilla because she had been with us since the beginning of her drag career,” Clevenger said.

After the law was struck down by a Florida judge who denounced it as “speci cally designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers,” Priince Trilla regained her place on the event’s logo, but the planners chose to retain the “21+” label.

JACK LEMNUS is an undergraduate at the University of Florida and is currently a reporter for WUFT News. What drew him to journalism was a deep desire to illuminate the realities of underserved communities and engage in hard conversations. A Clearwater native, he loves to fill his bookshelves and practice his Spanish while traveling Latin America.

Come Out With Pride Orlando

ACTIVISM & CHARITY

The decision was painful for Clevenger and the team, but the risk of becoming a target took priority, he said.

In Orlando, Pride organizers had similar conversations, and they decided not to add an age limit excluding families and youth. To alter the event or prevent drag performers from participating would defeat the purpose, said Tatiana Quiroga, executive director of Come Out With Pride Orlando. “It's a calculated risk on our part,” Quiroga said. “You know, as the executive director, my name is the one who's going on the permits with the city, and it's a risk that I'm willing to take. We’re not going against the roots of who we are.”

Drag is a cornerstone of the movement, and it’s inconceivable for Quiroga to visualize a Pride without it, she said. But her team has urged the performers to be mindful of the political climate when Pride occurred on October 21st.

And like the FlockFest planners, Come Out With Pride works with local o cials to ensure eventgoers have fun while also feeling safe. Quiroga and her team approached law enforcement and assessed their need for security, and asked “are you with us on this?”

Along with local police, Come Out With Pride has received support from the city, with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer publicly stating that the city “encourages everyone to be their authentic selves. This will be showcased in October at the Come Out With Pride festival.”

Though not every enclave of Florida is as accepting as Orlando, the city’s endorsement is encour-

agement to keep ghting under the new paradigm. “We're marching on —there were never talks of us canceling or rescheduling,” Quiroga said. “Canceling is exactly what they want us to do.”

With all the social gains in wake of the initial Stonewall protests, it’s hard for these planners to cram their Pride back into a box. The parallels between Stonewall and the present are stark. And after the unrest of 1969 exploded into a crescendo, the pendulum swung forward, making way for modern Pride.

Stonewall wasn’t just known as a riot, but an uprising and rebellion. It was a time of change. It was the root of a movement —of the freedom to celebrate sexuality and identity.

“Us showing up as our authentic selves is already a sign of resiliency and resistance,” she said. “And I’m hopeful; I mean, in a city known all over the world, I’m proud to say our largest event is a gay one.”

FlockFest, a charitable beach event in South Florida

H I STO RY

This is It!

Milwaukee — the oldest gay bar in the Midwest — still operating after 55 years.

TEXT BY ART SMITH

PHOTOS BY WISCONSINGAYHISTORY.ORG AND GEORGE SCHNEIDER

Tens of thousands of gay spaces have served our vibrant community in the past 100 years. Some have vanished quickly; others have endured for decades.

This is the story of one that has passed the test of time and is still going strong.

THIS IS IT!

418 E. Wells St., Milwaukee WI August 1968 - present

Built as a commercial space in 1915, the narrow storefront operated as a mortuary school, a hair salon, a Dunlop tire store, and bank o ces during its rst two decades. In 1936 Fred Leud-

er transformed it into a tavern, adding a massive 36-foot-long custom-built bar.

In 1952, Vern Johnson took over and renamed it Vern's Tap. A PBR sign hung outside. Brie y in 1968 it was known simply as 'The Establishment'. Enter Catherine 'June' Brehm looking for a downtown location to open a bar that would welcome everyone. When she saw this space she exclaimed '"This is it!" and the rest is history.

At less than twenty feet wide the cozy space quickly won the hearts of working-class gay men. A meticulous housekeeper and gracious hostess, June welcomed the gay community with open arms since day one. She even started advertising in local gay publications and supporting gay fundraisers in the early 1970s.

The homey space was decorated with warm wood paneling, stained glass xtures and red carpeting on the walls. A pay phone at the back of the bar allowed guests to discreetly call friends from the comfort of their favorite hangout. This Is It! was a safe space for everyone, just as June had envisioned. As time went on, June passed the reins to her son Joe. A young patron named George Schneider joined the sta and immediately embraced the history of the quaint watering hole.

June passed in 2010 at the age of 93 and Joe continued to operate the bar as a gay safe haven. Before long Joe invited George to share in the ownership of his mother's dream and to help preserve her legacy. George helped bring the

In 1986, ART was tapped to edit and publish the Atlanta Guide, a monthly magazine for the gay community. He later went on to edit, publish and write for several other gay publications. Thus, began nearly 40 years of involvement with the gay communities in Atlanta, Austin, and Tampa. He has also hosted and produced hundreds of video segments from a number of gay pride festivals in the Southeastern US with Channel125. com. His latest project #GayBarchives is creating the world’s largest archive of the stories and logos of gay bars from our past. Information about this project can be found at GayBarchives.com.

bar into the 21st century, updating the jukebox and cash registers while preserving the vintage charm of the bar.

Most of the original décor remains a comfort to the older patrons and a treat for the younger ones. Surprisingly, the pay phone is still there, although it hasn't worked since 2017 when the service provider went out of business. Even the 2018 expansion into the neighboring storefront retains June's classic design [including a custom-built bar that mimics the one June installed in the early 70s]. One notable change: George fought for the installation of a rainbow crosswalk at the intersection in 2018, making the bar even more visibly welcoming to the LGBTQ community. This is it! has paid for the painting and maintenance with the help of its patrons since installation.

Today George and his business partner Trixie Mattel [yes, that one!] are the proud custodians of the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the Midwest - and one of the oldest in the country. This year they celebrated 55 years in August - with the same name in the same space!

Now boasting 2400 square feet [double the original size] the bar is still as quaint and as popular as ever. Let's hope This Is It! stays around another 50 years. The gay community needs enduring spaces like this.

Owner and founder June Brehm in 1970s

Winter Party Festival 2023

National LGBTQ Task Force

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL

s part of the year-long 50th-anniversary celebration of the National LGBTQ Task Force, Winter Party Festival 2023 returned to Miami Beach from March 1 - 7. The Winter Party Festival is an annual dance and music festival with a week-long series of events bene ting the local and national LGBTQ community. The festival is a celebration of community, produced by the Task Force to raise critical funds for the LGBTQ movement, and featured a diverse mix of people, music, and entertainment. Winter Party Festival brings in over ten thousand attendees annually, with twelve signature events and twelve international DJs hosted in seven exhilarating world-class Miami Beach venues.

AFounded in 1994, Winter Party Festival is a safe haven for the LGBTQ and allied community to celebrate and live freely. The National LGBTQ Task Force donates a signi cant portion of the proceeds raised at Winter Party and its sister event, the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala, to like-minded community advocacy groups in South Florida through the LGBTQ+ Equity Fund, a philanthropic collaboration between the Task Force, Our Fund, and The Miami Foundation. Since 2005, the Task Force has given back more than $3.3 million and supported over 90 community organizations in South Florida and will directly fund social justice causes locally and nationally. Winter Party brings nearly $4.2M in revenue to Miami, supporting over 800 local jobs in hospitality, food & beverage, retail, recreation, and entertainment.

The 2023 Winter Party Festival was supported in part by grant funding from the Miami Beach Visitor & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade Dept of Cultural A airs.

EXPLORE LGBTQ FLORIDA

The

Beauty. The Weather. The Fun. The Love.

FLOCCing Awesome

The First Florida OutCoast Convention (FLOCC) United, Educated and Celebrated Tourism Leaders committed to welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers despite tourism advisories.

BY FAY STEVENSON PHOTOS ST JEAN CREATIVE

On August 1-3, 2023, statewide and international tourism leaders gathered at the Downtown Tampa Hilton for the Florida OutCoast Convention (FLOCC), a groundbreaking conference aimed at uniting the thriving LGBTQ+ inclusive destinations, hotels, businesses, nonpro ts, pride organizations, and travel in uencers in the sunshine state to create a safe space for discussions around LGBTQ+ tourism and to o er guidance to tourism leaders throughout Florida committed to welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers to their destinations and businesses in light of tourism advisories. FLOCC was hosted by OutCoast.com, an

online state-focused LGBTQ+ editorial and video travel blog that highlights Florida’s inclusive destinations and businesses.

During the opening reception, Rachel Covello, FLOCC founder, welcomed attendees to the historic, inaugural convention. “I’m just thrilled to have you all here in one space,” she said. “I wanted to bring everyone here because these topics are not being talked about in tourism spaces around this state. It’s time to unite, evolve and ourish as one collective and inclusive Florida tourism community.” Mayor Castor returned to share additional remarks about the inclusive city she represents to the nearly 150 FLOCC attendees.

General sessions, panels, and performances were held throughout the conference over the

next two days. Capping o the conference was FLAMBOYANCE, an award celebration recognizing tourism and LGBTQ+ leaders committed to fostering inclusive experiences for LGBTQ+ people living in or traveling to Florida, which included an acoustic performance by Sarah Potenza, the presentation of six “FLAMAZING” awards by Covello, and a cocktail reception in the foyer.

Award titles and recipients were as follows:

• Flamazing Individual Ally: Stacey Ritter CDME, CEO/President of Visit Lauderdale

• Flamazing Corporate Ally: Walt Disney World

• Flamazing LGBTQ+ Nonpro t: Naples Pride

• Flamazing LGBTQ+ Tourism Business: Alexander’s Guest House Key West

• Flamazing LGBTQ+ Event: St Pete Pride

• Flamazing LGBTQ+ Leader: Angelique YoungCavalier, Drag Queen and Equal Rights Activist

In her closing remarks, Covello o ered this, “It was an honor to unite so many tourism industry experts and LGBTQ+ leaders in one space for learning and networking. The connections and collaborations made in only three days are a testament to what can be accomplished when e orts are made to focus on inclusive tourism. Florida is a state that has historically welcomed all people. We will continue our work until our

LGBTQ+ family feels invited and embraced in all corners of the sunshine state. Thank you to Visit Tampa Bay and all of our sponsors for believing in our work and investing in this convention.”

FLOCC was Sponsored by the Following Companies

Presenting: Visit Tampa Bay

Platinum: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades (Paradise Coast)

Gold: Visit St Pete Clearwater, Visit Lauderdale, Orange 142

Silver: Cregan&Co, OutClique, Watermark, AHLA Foundation

Bronze: Greater Miami CVB, Simple Weddings, DASH Creative, Greenspoon Marder, Pink Media, Tampa LGBT Chamber, Key West & The Florida Keys, Parkway Motel & Marina, Havanna Café, The Palm Beaches

About OutCoast

Outcoast LLC is comprised of the OutCoast.com travel blog, the OutCoastTV YouTube Vlog, and OutCoast Consulting.

For more information: Rachel Covello / Publisher, OutCoast / rachel@outcoast.com

Your Self

H E A LT H

Creative Sanctuary

BY KATIE MCCULLOUGH

You are a creative person. It’s true! The American Museum of Natural History tells us “Modern humans demonstrate remarkable creativity compared to their closest living relatives, the great apes” (2021), so unless this column nds you in a rainforest looking for mangoes and sleeping in trees, it is time to harness your natural creative inclinations to bene t your mind and overall well-being.

For members of the alphabet ma a, who may face unique challenges and experiences, creativity emerges as a powerful tool in fostering emotional growth and enhancing mental health. From artistic expression to storytelling and self-discovery, the role of creativity in the lives of queer folks o ers a profound and transformative impact on our mental well-being. Creative spaces provide solace to individuals looking to explore and express emotions, thoughts, and identities without judgment. Dance, paint, write, play, act, record, sing, build, tell stories, cook, create. Give voice to your lived experiences.

One of the oldest, most powerful forms of expression in human experience is storytelling. Storytelling is how humans connect and shape our experiences. Sharing personal narratives allows folks to nd their voice and be heard.

By sharing stories, we create visibility for the community, challenge stereotypes, and foster empathy. However — If you are like me, you feel nervous creating and sharing for fear of failure. In a world where seemingly everything is commodi ed and compared, where artists get judged on social media for not being “as good” as the next person or projects are abandoned if they are not “good enough” to be pro table, what about fearlessly tapping into our creative nature for its therapeutic qualities? To harness creativity, embrace experimentation with the expectation of mistakes. Make many, many mistakes and prioritize consistency and experience over perfection and mastery. The goal is to enrich your mind, allow imagination, and capture the essence of genuine expression. This mindset, with practice, will open us up to learning opportunities and authenticity free from judgment.

As a path for self-expression, empowerment, and connection, creativity o ers a therapeutic sanctuary for those navigating the complexities of life. These projects and processes can act as a spark for personal growth while nurturing self-esteem, resilience, and understanding. Honor and celebrate this fundamentally human desire to create as a tool for healing by dedicating any fraction of time to a creative process simply for the sake of connecting with yourself. You deserve it.

KATIE MCCULLOUGH, graduate of Flagler College, is currently teaching English Language Arts in Saint Augustine, FL, specializing in gifted and exceptional education. Prior to attending graduate school, Katie plans to pursue her passion for writing while finding time to travel the world.

MIND

BODY

Can a Coach Help Me?

BY CORY FREEMAN

Ihave been training my physique for well over a decade. In that time, I learned so many lessons in the gym about training and exercising. Those lessons build upon previous lessons. Many times, it is learning from mistakes or trying to gure out how to break through a plateau of weight loss or muscle growth.

In early 2019 I decided to start preparing for my rst bodybuilding competition. I recognized that I knew very little about how to take the physique I had spent so many years developing and turn it into a physique ready for the stage. This is when I decided to nd a bodybuilding coach.

The two years I worked with him was where I learned the most about how to grow my body and how to reduce body fat without losing muscle mass.

Keep in mind that I am a practicing Doctor of Physical Therapy. I bring that to your attention to show that even someone who has spent years in higher education, clinical practice, and hobby in exercise had things to learn and benet from a coach.

Not only did my coach teach me new things about more e ective diet and exercise, but I was paying him to follow up with me weekly to make adjustments as my body changed. That level of accountability was one of the primary bene ts that resulted in multiple rst place wins.

Every day I made the choice to eat the meals my coach planned out for me. I rarely considered eating anything else, because I knew he would be seeing my pictures in a few days. I had the same experience in the gym; I felt there was no choice but to put in my full e ort.

Recently, my boyfriend has felt that his progress in the gym has plateaued. He had become very discouraged about ever achieving the physique he desired. We looked together to nd him a coach that was a good t for him. He has been working with this coach for a few months now, and he is looking phenomenal. More importantly, though, he is feeling good in his own skin again, and more optimistic about the gym.

When you feel good you look good, and he looks goooood. If you feel you aren’t making the progress you’d like or need some help getting started towards your goals. A coach might just be what you need.

CORY FREEMAN

is a two-time first-place national bodybuilding champion, having won both of his first-place titles, The Men’s Classic Physique Master’s Over 35 at the 2019 NPC Viking Championship and at the 2019 NPC Masters USA in his rookie year. Cory is a physical therapist practicing in acute inpatient rehab in a hospital setting.

Thanks to Our Church Leaders

BY REV. DONNA DAVIS, RN (YPIR)

In this time of thanksgiving, I can’t help but be grateful for those religious groups that welcome LGBTQIA+ to their community. In fact, at my Center for Spiritual Living Ocala, my wife and I are celebrated, and our family is respected. It broke my heart to hear from my sister, who is a devout Christian, that she still prays that even after 17 years together, my wife and I would be “delivered” from our gay a iction. To her, it is somehow a disease that needs to be cured. She has been in my home. She has eaten with my family. She has been respected and loved. She has been celebrated by us. However, she is still plagued by her sister’s eternal damnation.

She has seen, received, and talked to people about the joy and love of our family. I feel so bad for her that she is being tortured this way. The pain of thinking that your loved one will be doomed for all eternity is frightening. The anguish and cries from her heart to the ear of God. I have tried to tell her “thanks for the prayers but it’s

not necessary. God and I are on speaking terms”. She still insists that the whole family feels this way. I want to be grateful for my family, but it still hurts.

Thanksgiving has changed for our family. We have adapted since we were not welcome in traditional churches in the past. My children are now adults and thank goodness have learned so much from their “Mama 2”. They are very connected to their Afro-American side because of her. I think we are a better family since she came along. Our family is perfect! I did not feel like I could ever go to church again.

Then, I googled to nd religious groups that accept and celebrate the gay community in 2023. Guess what? There are lots who do! They even have ordained ministers like me in some of them. I’m glad to know that there is some progress in churches all over the world. Afterall, a perfect Being (God) could not create something imperfect (me and you). I am glad that I decided to nd a church that sees the perfection that was created.

Now, we celebrate God’s gifts together no matter how they identify. Namaste, the light in me salutes the awesome light in you.

An interfaith minister and life coach, DONNA DAVIS utilizes her life experiences to empower other people to overcome their struggles. Together with her wife, Norma, they manage Your Phoenix is Rising, a transformation coaching service focused on helping others rise from the darkness of despair and embrace their true Light Nature. Donna and Norma raised three biological children and served as legal guardians to several teenaged friends of their children during their time of need. Donna is a Registered Nurse at Parralion HCA Shared Services and Performance Director at Centers for Spiritual Living Ocala. She studied RN at Rasmussen College and psychology at Florida Atlantic University.

SOUL

LIFE | HEALTH | SPIRITUAL PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT COACHING

MIND | BODY | SPIRIT DAY-SPA WITH MASSAGE, FACIALS, WAXING, REIKI AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LIFE COACHING

REV DONNA DAVIS RN, RScP Reiki Master 352-816-3661

NORMA ANDERSON LMT, RScP Reiki Master 352-282-8151

A L LY

Pride Shabbat: Roots, Identity, and a Warm Welcome

TEXT BY MICHAEL KURTZ

On Sunday mornings we kids went to the luxurious family-temple, Temple Israel, for Sunday school. It was closer to the elegance and culture of downtown West Palm Beach. But on Tuesday evenings, after normal secular school, during our middle school years, we also went to Temple Beth El, a mile or two farther down the road. We went additionally to Temple Beth El speci cally to practice Hebrew, as we approached the throes Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Temple Beth El was markedly more ghetto, run-down, dilapidated, yet fond memories are rendered of that locale. Temple Beth El was the location where the Young Jewish Professionals (YJP) were hosting that week’s event: Pride Shabbat.

This serendipitous element of returning to this hallowed ground was not only going to make the experience of the Pride Shabbat more special but would also a ord the perspective of some reference point.

I arrived at the temple for the event and again stood in the vast, mostly empty parking lot to eye the vacant, grassy space where no more classrooms stood. Taking a deep breath, I was somewhat nervous, largely because I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for from the experience. I knocked on the front door and, as the rst attendee, met a fantastically unceremonious arrival. A mashugana, gru , elderly Jewish man who, in classic labyrinthian Jewish style, navigated me through a cryptic dialogue regarding whether I was indeed in the correct place, or here for the ‘regular’ service for temple-congregants on the other side of the property, in the main-temple area. ‘This is the pride event, right?’ I retorted. He turned out to be a pretty standup guy as the evening went on, and the confusion lay in my not

being a regular Jewish Young Professional (JYP) attendee, whereby most of the attendees were verily quite committed. With that, I once again expected to be a sh out of water, diving sanguinely into the abyss.

Tongue-in-cheek, I was somewhat hoping for a rainbow-braided challah and fabulous sparkling wine for the blessings. That if I was going to attend an LGBTQ Shabbat, then the normally reverent but essentially avorless occasion would need to be — and would be — spiced up, though in what capacity remained a mystery. I have been to a multitude of Shabbat dinners in my time: at Temple Israel with the families; at Jewish overnight-camp as a kid; in the home of an Israeli family while living on a kibbutz in Northern Israel; and at the Hasidic Rabbi’s Chabad house in Vietnam as an expat.

As others eventually trickled in, I nally spotted — akin to an alert observer during a Savannah safari — a pair of assumedly gay men entered — late forties, early fties — in thin, pleated pants and spi y shoes. Minding the circumstances and my journalistic mission, an alarm bell went o in my head. When chatting with LGBTQ individuals at these events, I always stupidly sputter out who I am and what I’m doing there and what I’m writing. Moreover, I feel like some sort of secret agent, a spy behind opposing lines sent to furtively gather intel.

About twenty co-eds nally stumbled in. I observed the air of scraggly-scru y men and frumpty-dumpty women quintessential to this devout, tribal bunch. I got myself my one free rum & Coke from the makeshift bar, tended by Al, my new senior friend from the front door. And then moments later nagled a second — strictly for the purposes of helping my pen ow freely and to jot diligently, of course.

At that point, Al introduced me to Andrew.

Andrew, one man from the aforementioned pair, thin but strong, a nice smile and a head of shortly cropped whitish-gray hair, had a work-background in law and was an active member of the JYP. We talked for about fteen minutes. Disseminating copious knowledge, I chatted him up as an endeavor to champion myself as an honorary member of his club, an ally to the cause. I’ve always taken pleasure in that quest, probably because I tend to be artful by nature. He was to be the keynote speaker of the evening. I quickly learned — not having known at all where I was — that this gathering was a fellowship of the JYP, and that they did this every week. The theme for this week happened to be Pride, while last week it just as arbitrarily was sushi and Karaoke.

The service nally began after an hour of schmoozing, with the Argentinian Rabbi strumming the rst prayer on his guitar. Nothing thus far was particularly ‘queer,’ yet he was quick to reference ‘pride’ and subsequently Andrew, who was to speak on behalf of gay Jews. I was looking forward to that speech. Andrew had also brie y mentioned outside — beyond the JYP (of which

I’m not sure he was a regular) — his a liation with a Jewish LGBTQ organization and the Jewish Federation.

And then just as the cocktails took full e ect, the congregation broke into a song of Hallelujah and I found myself dolefully emitting the guttural chants of hypnotic Jewish cadence, my voice rising and falling in the nasally, throaty ululations of tribal celebration. It’s best to let one’s self succumb to the trancelike rhythm and archaic words, immersed in the e usive display of praise.

“On Shabbat,” the Rabbi began, “we wear white — a color of blank canvas on which we may write our true selves, independent of bias, gender, tradition, sexuality — casting away the darkness of discrimination — souls shining brightly — free from fear or shame.” I felt proud to be part of a community whose ideals embrace inclusion and diversity.

The service-portion nished, and we all made our way to the front of the room to recite the prayers for bread and wine. Suddenly, a rainbow-braided challah actually manifested before my eyes: as I said, active participation and intention. On to dinner. About fteen minutes into the

MICHAEL KURTZ

After completing degrees in literature and education, Michael's first job was teaching Adv. Pl. English Literature to high schoolers. Following that was a period spent teaching English in China and Vietnam. He returned in 2022 and has assisted countless graduate students with GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT preparation. He always makes time, of course, to work on his novel.

meal, Andrew was invited to speak, following the Rabbi’s welcoming introduction. Andrew spoke of his personal experiences, of how far LGBTQ rights had come, yet how much farther they needed to go. He spoke of teaching Hebrew school, and of coming out in Jerusalem and what a revelatory time that was. That year — 1994 in Israel — the country issued equal rights for gay marriage, and he rejoiced at an opportunity that the U.S. had not yet a orded. He spoke of the Rabbi at his former job in New York, who boldly exclaimed to Andrew that gays and lesbians would never work for him, rendering our speaker deeply hurt.

He promptly left that position to nd work that was explicitly non-discriminatory. Discovered was employment with the Jewish Federation, which was actively supporting and ghting for rights of gays and lesbians — Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

Apparently even Pride Shabbat was attacked on Facebook, with the Rabbi accused and shamed. Nonetheless, the Jewish community remains a safe place. ‘We know what it’s like.’ Andrew implored supporting life, that every life is valuable with the right to love and be loved.

They served a large blue and pink cake for dessert, made announcements about upcoming events, we celebrated one another, and nally I went home stu ed and buzzed, proud of my Judaism, glad that I was keeping touch with my roots, and contented to be part of a community that was standing up for something.

“On Shabbat,we wear white — a color of blank canvas on which we may write our true selves, independent of bias, gender, tradition, sexuality — casting away the darkness of discrimination — souls shining brightly — free from fear or shame.”