Embrace Magazine — The Advocacy Issue

FINGER ON THE PULSE

The OnePulse Foundation's strides 5 years after the Pulse nightclub massacre

ADVOCACY ISSUE

CRISIS CHRONICLED

The World AIDS Museum documents a 40-year crisis

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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 13-member sta .

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director (He/Him)

Over his 25-year publishing career, Jamie 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. As the CEO of Em Agency, he and his team continue to design award-winning publications and 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 exceptional real estate photography for Brick City Real Estate.

Dalton Hobbs Photographer (He/Him)

A creative person with an eye and interest in capturing human events through the lens, Dalton Hobbs began honing his photography talent back in 2013 in the small town of Dunnellon. He has since turned his shutterbug hobby into a fulltime business in Ocala, specializing in all life events, such as weddings, graduation portraits, maternity, equine eventing, and artistic photography.

Sara Giza Senior Editor (She/Her)

Sara Giza is a queer activist, who has divided her time over the past decade between freelance

writing and advocacy work. She’s in her final year of graduate school for Social Work and was a 2020 cohort member of the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Leadership Program on Violence & Abuse Prevention. She has been a stringer for LEO Weekly and The Voice-Tribune in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and Vero Beach Magazine in Florida. She can be found on Instagram @searingsara

Rev. Catherine Dearlove Religion Editor (She/Her)

Rev Catherine Dearlove is Senior Pastor at Trinity MCC in Gainesville, Fla. Although a Christian minister, she has a strong appreciation for all journeys of faith or philosophy and wrote her Masters dissertation on Inter-religious Dialogue. She is currently the Chair of the Campus Multifaith Cooperative at UF and coordinates the Alachua County Faith Leaders Alliance.

Rev Catherine has lived in the UK, Australia and now USA and has spent most of her life as an advocate for the integration of sexuality and spirituality.

Steve Pa ord International News Editor (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.

Mike Fallon Travel Editor (He/Him)

Michael “Mike” Fallon is a business

professor at Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla., and an avid traveler. He spends about three months per year traveling the world, and has visited all Seven Wonders of the World. He’s been to nearly 80 countries, and around 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Melissa-Marie Marks Activism & Charity Editor (She/Her)

Melissa-Marie Marks is a freelance writer based in North-Central Florida. She specializes in writing about green business, green technology, renewable energy, conservation and sustainability, and holistic health.

Melissa graduated from The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery in 2012 and practiced as a Florida licensed midwife until 2018, when she retired from private practice to focus on her writing career. She spends her leisure time camping with her kids and manifesting a life she loves by utilizing the law of attraction.

Christian Iles Fashion & Design Writer (He/Him)

Hairstylist and makeup artist to the stars, Christian Iles is known as “The Beauty Architect ‘’ among many notable celebrities, politicians, business people, and athletes. Iles has been in the beauty industry for over three decades. His passion for beauty and his deep appreciation of his clients throughout the years went into the creation of a luxury hair care line – Christian Iles Hair Care. Iles’ and his work have been featured on every major network and many cable networks, as well as many national magazines throughout the United States. Iles, who has lent his talents to runway fashion shows, is most certainly a perfect fit to represent Fashion and Style within the pages of Embrace.

Nile Fortner Contributing Writer (He/Him)

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. His work has made the front cover of numerous newspaper editions and he is also a podcaster for BocaFirst, Cinephellas, and he contributes with a few others too. Here, Nile hopes to inform, inspire, and bring unity by providing news on cultural community topics. Nile is also a fan of movies and he’s a foodie. Even though he’s a writer, he still can’t figure out another word for Thesaurus. You may also find him being active on social media @Nile_Fortner.

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.

Katie McCullough Mind Health Columnist (She/Her)

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.

Cory Freeman Body Health Columnist (He/Him)

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 works as a physical therapist in the home health industry.

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 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.

Rachel Covello (She/Her)

Rachel Covello is the CEO and publisher of OUTCOAST™, a digital magazine and travel blog marketing Florida as an LGBTQ-inclusive destination to VISIT. CELEBRATE. LIVE. Her company o ers a variety of advertising, marketing and consulting services to companies interested in promoting their brands to a high-income niche market. She and her wife reside in St. Petersburg, Fla. Covello’s participation represents Gulf Coast and Central Florida inclusion.

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 leadership, 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 and represent South Florida inclusion.

EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

John Sotomayor

SENIOR EDITOR

Sara Giza

DEPARTMENT EDITORS

International News Steve Pa ord

Travel Mike Fallon

Issues + Politics John Sotomayor

Religion Rev. Catherine Dearlove

Art + Culture John Sotomayor

Style + Trends John Sotomayor

Fashion + Design Christian Iles

Activism + Charity Melissa-Marie Marks

Seen John Sotomayor

COLUMNISTS

Mind Katie McCullough

Body Cory Freeman

Soul Donna Davis

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Melissa-Marie Marks

Nile Fortner

Rachel Covello

Scott Bowman

ART

EM AGENCY

Creative Director Jamie Ezra Mark

Art Director Rheya Tanner

Designer Wendy Mak

Designer Josh Clark

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Conan Segrest

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dalton Hobbs

Chris Harris, Mia2you, Pongmanat Tasiri, De Visu, Brigith Davila, Anthony Constantine, John Arehart, JennLShoots via Shutterstock

ADVISORY BOARD

Justin Ayars, EqualityMD

Herb Sosa, Unity Coalition/Coalicion Unida

Rachel Covello, OutCoast: Gay Florida Travel

OPERATIONS

DIRECTOR OF LOCAL SALES AND ADVERTISING

John Sotomayor john@sotomayormedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 sales@rivendellmedia.com

OUR MISSION

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

PARTNER

LGBTQ Voices Amplifying

THE PATH TO FREEDOM begins with a single statement. Then by a single act. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani advocate and activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate said “When the world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”

African-American poet, memoirist and civil rights advocate and activist, Maya Angelou said “I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.” Political activist for the LGBTQ+ community and the rst openly gay person to be elected into politic o ce, Harvey Milk said “Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.”

Milk called for the LGBTQ+ community to take action so that they are included in decision-making. We must each do our part. By doing so, we all move forward together. The choice is not an easy one. Often, we are occupied just trying to get by.

American Baptist minister and activist who has become the iconic representation of the American civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive sel shness.”

I have had to make that choice. I was employed as the managing editor of another publication when I was asked to run for Director of Public Relations of Ocala Pride Inc., in my hometown of Ocala, Fla. in November 2019. I was aware the organization had struggled in the past, and that any advancements would be an uphill challenge. Initially I did not want to invest my time, yet I knew that my experience would be a valuable asset to the group. I had served as the chairman of the Hispanic Business Council in Ocala for two consecutive terms from 2010 to 2012. I served on the restructuring committee prior so that the group could function more e -

ciently. I learned these skills serving as a board member for S.A.L.S.A (Spanish and Latin Student Association) when I was an undergraduate student at the University of Rochester, and as a founding father of La Alianza (legal group) at Howard University School of Law. The group needed me, so I agreed to run. The election was easy. What followed was work.

After a year of service, I left the board in Nov 2020 to focus more intently on my startup publication, Embrace Magazine, which had its own set of challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet LGBTQ+ service work called for me again, this time to serve as a board member of the newly reformed NLGJA (National Lesbian & Gay Journalism Association) South Florida Chapter. An important function of the group is to “advocate for fair and objective coverage of LGBTQ+ issues.” Given my role as the publisher of a LGBTQ+ magazine with almost two decades of journalism experience, I felt compelled to serve. In doing so, my experiences assisting these LGBTQ+ organizations have helped me grow as I go. I am grateful for the opportunity presented to me.

Indian activist and leader of the Indian Independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi said “The best way to nd yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” May we all take heed of those words. May we nd our way through the chaos by clearing the path for the fallen and the downtrodden in need of assistance.

John Sotomayor Publisher and Editor-in-Chief john@sotomayormedia.com john@sotomayormedia.com

John Sotomayor Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

CRISIS

World AIDS Museum Evaluates 40

Years of Research and Re ections

BY NILE FORTNER

CRISIS

CHRONICLED

More than four decades ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the rst cases of AIDS in the United States. Since then, more than half a million Americans have died of AIDS and over a million currently have the virus in the United States. Since 1981, HIV/AIDS has killed over 32 million people worldwide and 37.9 million people live with the disease today.

“It’s actually very similar to the COVID pandemic today,” said Executive Director for the Worlds AIDS Museum and Educational Center, Dr. Requel Lopes. “There is a lack of understanding. But having HIV and living through COVID can teach people a lot.”

First established in May 2014, located in Wilton Manors, Florida, the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center is a permanent museum dedicated to the victims of HIV/AIDS and documents the HIV/AIDS era, which still a ects humanity.

In November of 2013, basketball hall of famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson visited the museum. He dedicated the museum space, 22 years to the day after he announced his HIV status.

After moving locations, including local exhibits and churches, the museum had enough funding to move into its permanent home at 1350 East Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 at ArtServe Fort Lauderdale and the museum’s mission is to eliminate HIV/AIDS stigma through education, artistic expression, cultural programming, and preserve its history.

The museum also o ers programs, tours on request, and in the museum’s main gallery, a chronological timeline of AIDS with multiple panels that cover history and current day happenings. The museum and ed-

“People from di erent regions may have di erent stories. And those stories are crucial to our mission.”

—Dr. Reqel Lopes, Executive Director, World AIDS Museum

ucational center also provides information on treatment and prevention.

Beginning as a support and resources group for Gay HIV positive men known as POZitive Attitudes, the facilitator of POZitive Attitudes, Steve Stagon, had the idea to create the museum. Stagon believes the museum will encourage visitors to think about HIV as not just part of LGBTQ+ history, but human history as a whole.

“Much like we talk about other histories, whether it is slave history or Holocaust history, we have to talk about this history,” said Dr. Lopes. “By discussing, learning, and preserving that history.”

With Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach counties being the “epicenter of the AIDS crisis in America” with some of the highest-rates of the epidemic in these counties, South Florida ts for the museum’s home and since 2015, these counties have consistently had the highest rates of new high HIV diagnoses in the U.S.

Dr. Lopes encourages contributions from everywhere. The museum accepts contributions from locals and from other counties, states, and even other countries.

“We want participation from all corners of the world,” said Dr. Lopes.

She also believes that South Florida is a great spot for the museum because it’s also a vacation destination.

“Our location here [in Fort Lauderdale] as a vacation destination has allowed us to get a wide range of people,” said Dr. Lopes. “To participate in Fort Lauderdale and from all around the United States - sometimes even from foreign countries as well. In response to the [COVID] pandemic, we did virtual and remote programming and these capabilities allowed us to connect with people outside our region.”

An example is a high school student in Australia doing a semester-long writing assignment about the impact of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s in her small town of Australia.

“People from di erent regions may have di erent stories,” said Dr. Lopes. “And these stories are crucial in meeting our mission.”

One of the museum’s historical exhibits displays a South African woman from KwaMancinza, named Gugu Dlamini. After she admitted that she was HIV positive on World AIDS Day, she was stoned and stabbed to death. She was 36 years-old.

Also featured is a hate speech that was nailed to the outside of a gay bar by members of the KKK. The museum and educational center also shows video screenings. Additionally, they have a large AIDS ribbon that’s three-dimensional and made from over 10 years of HIV

medication bottles and it focuses on the evolution of HIV medications.

Beyond the art gallery, research library, artifacts, and historical timeline, the museum offers programs and events. Since 2015, the World AIDS Museum partnered with Broward County Public Schools to provide HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention education in classrooms, school clubs, and school assembly settings.

An example being, the presentation and video, interactive engagement ‘InCtrl: Educated Choices’ which was developed with the assistance of Dr. Cli ord Barton, who worked on educational outreach in the Clinton administration. It allows students to ask questions, educate, and empower young people to make educated life choices. “We’re documenting and remembering through education, art, events, and being a support system,” said Dr. Lopes.

Some events include, ‘Building Healthy Futures,’ a program designed for elementary students featuring ve lesson plans that encourage healthy behaviors and decision-making with an associated art activity. Or the museum featuring an exhibit of the work of famed-photographer, Smiley Pool, who is a world-traveled photographer capturing people a ected by HIV/AIDS.

Michael Goodman, of Goodman Public Relations,

has supported the museum and promotes events such as Smiley Pool’s exhibit. Goodman remembers the consequences of HIV/ AIDS day-in and day-out.

“I remember working at a facility [in the 1990s] where people would die every day,” said Goodman.

The museum and education center hope to inform visitors about a somber topic but without laying an incredibly heavy burden on the heart of visitors.

“It’s very heartbreaking,” said Goodman. “But we need something like this.”

The museum also provides professional development programming for all levels of social- and health-services providers to increase their cultural competence in working with clients or patients around issues related to HIV and AIDS.

The museum’s educators include adults who have been living with or a ected by HIV/AIDS, as well as high school and college student peer educators who work in pairs to present the programs. The Peer Educator program includes a multi-session training experience, along with supervised eld experience.

“For us, it really is about empowerment,” said Dr. Lopes. “You document, you remember, and you empower.”

Museum visitor Adolfo Gonzalez-Garcia said he enjoyed his time at the museum. He mentioned how the medication used to be several pills, three times a day. Now, it is one pill a day or one shot every month. He mostly enjoyed the ‘Medications Then and Now’ portion of the museum.

“History can never be forgotten,” he said. “You think you remember your story, you think you remember your history. But seeing the stories and seeing it here and reading it makes it more clear for all communities.”

According to Dr. Lopes and ‘Southern Equality,’ one story that Dr. Lopes has been moved by was a story about a man from Atlanta. After meeting him at a museum event, Dr. Lopes asked him if he could tell his story for a project series for the museum. “It was a moving conversation,” said Dr. Lopes. “Very insightful.”

His story was on the perspective of being a gay African-American man who grew up in the church.

Even though these stories and the others are available to see on the museum’s YouTube channel,

“Much like we talk about other histories, whether it is slave history or Holocaust history, we have to talk about this history,” said Dr. Lopes. “By discussing, learning, and preserving that history.”

—Dr. Reqel Lopes, Executive Director, World AIDS Museum

the museum is also funding to transcribe the videos. That way people can identify subjects and themes covered in the videos and include those in a searchable database that can be used for information, support systems, and/or researching a certain topic.

They also have a ‘Spotlight Series,’ signings, acclaimed visitors, lms and guest speakers, such as those who have been a ected by HIV/AIDS to participate in a collection of short videos pro ling people who have been infected or a ected by the disease.

One being Professor of History at Florida International University and author of ‘To Make the Wounded Whole: The African American Struggle with HIV/AIDS,’ Dan Royles, and featuring photography and interviews by medical student at Nova Southeastern University, Parvia Aujla, ‘Intersections: Living with HIV in the time of COVID.’

This is a series on some who are HIV positive with COVID, re ecting from both the HIV crisis and the Coronavirus pandemic.

“HIV in the time of COVID will actually be its own section,” said Dr. Lopes.

As the world scrambles for a COVID vaccine and contends with the deadly surges of the disease, some see the parallels of the HIV/AIDs crisis to the Coronavirus pandemic. Two infectious diseases, two global health crises, with striking similarities that echo the early past.

The current COVID pandemic comes with a sense of Deja Vu for some who faced the emerging AIDS mystery of the 1980s. As the Coronavirus sweeps through the U.S., the deadly new illnesses have similarities.

Both HIV and the COVID can be transmitted by someone who is infected without showing signs of symptoms. Both attack otherwise healthy people. While some are more vulnerable to infection than others, both viruses can kill anyone who gets sick. “In the run-up to finding a vaccine and testing they pulled from research and tested from HIV,” said Dr. Lopes.

Both contagions have similar connections and even though HIV/AIDs may seem like “yesterday’s news,” it’s anything but. While the world turned its attention to COVID, according to ‘UnAids.org,’ last year, HIV infected over 1.5 million and killed over 690,000 people.

“For instance, Doctor [David] Ho, who in 1976, helped to bring Cocktail Therapy ahead, which is being used for the COVID virus itself in order to combat it.”

Much like Dr. Lopes, Goodman also believes the HIV/AIDS pandemic is something similar during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“HIV/AIDS mirrors COVID,” said Goodman. “It’s on a much di erent scale but the same kind of reaction, cases, and same kind of media frenzy in the ‘80s.”

Dr. Lopes also discussed how depending on someone’s age they may remember the museum’s HIV/AIDS history. Even though the hope is to inform visitors about a somber topic but without laying an incredibly heavy burden on the heart, the younger generation may see HIV/AIDS simply as a manageable disease. However, Lopes believes that the mindset in some younger people may need to change.

“Even those who are non-positive need to be more empowered,” said Lopes. “And think about what they are doing because HIV doesn’t discriminate.”

Today, HIV/AIDS still continues to have an impact on a variety of vulnerable groups, including communities of color, users and those who engage with injectable drug usage, and members of both the straight and LGBTQ+ communities.

Calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus,” may have some museum goers and other people remembering the years that people called HIV/AIDS, “the gay dis-

ease.” But the museum brings awareness that names like that push false discrimination about who is vulnerable to the virus and put a bias against already-vulnerable people.

Visiting the museum to pay respect to the struggle against HIV/AIDS, museum-goer, Tanay Antoinette-Johnson. “It’s a hard topic to talk about,” said Antoinette-Johnson. “I think that’s why an exhibit like this took so long and a topic like this is hard.”

Tanay Antoinette-Johnson’s brother died of HIV/AIDS.

“For me, it’s hurtful to remember what this horrible disease did to kill my brother,” Antoinette-Johnson said. “In the time I’ve been here I’ve learned about the misconception of history and how it started.”

The World AIDS Museum and Education Center seeks to continue and expand its original mission, by having continued events and allowing guests and visitors to witness people who have been a ected by HIV/ AIDS and they’ll continue to allow all people a chance to participate in telling their own story.

“But one key fact to take away is how far we’ve come,” said Antoinette-Johnson. “And to realize there is always hope for the future.”

For more information about the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center, you may visit worldaidsmuseum.org, email info@worldaidsmuseum.org, and call (954) 390-0550. You may also stay updated with the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center on Facebook, following on Twitter, Instagram, and subscribing on YouTube.

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PHOTO

Place where Omar Mateen, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a terrorist attack/hate crime inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States.

FINGER PULSE ON THE

AN OVERVIEW OF THE ADVANCES MADE BY ONEPULSE FOUNDATION FIVE YEARS AFTER THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB MASSACRE.

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

The festivities of a mother-daughter trip outside of the United States as a high school graduation present to her daughter ended abruptly for Barbara Poma in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016 when she received a devastating phone call. The LGBTQ+ nightclub she owned in Orlando, Pulse, was attacked by a gunman for reasons unknown at the time, as told to her at 2:06 AM by one of her nightclub managers. Shocked and dismayed, Poma pressed her available hand to her mouth and shook her head in disbelief as she heard the details. Forty-nine people have died and 53 others were injured. The lone gunman, Omar Mateen, 29, was shot by police and killed in a three-hour stando . She immediately went into emergency protocol action, requesting a roll call to make sure her sta were safe and discover who was sent where. Poma turned on the TV and watched the news as did the rest of the world until she could re-

Shortly after, Poma created onePULSE Foundation. After considerable thought and advice, Poma decided to convert the property and what remains of the night-

“Because of the shock and trauma, the only thing I could think to do was ask who has done this before? Who knows what to do in this situation?” said Poma. Poma attended various gatherings, including one against gun violence where she met Myra Alvear, mother of Amanda Alvear, one of the 49. The two women bonded. Poma consulted those who worked on previous national memorials such as the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, which built a memorial after the Oklahoma City domestic terrorist truck bombing in April 1995. She spoke with Kari Watkins, the executive director. Poma also spoke with Alice M. Greenwald, the executive director of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, constructed after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. She traveled to each site with Alvear as well as to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

After round table discussions at the three locations, Poma’s next step was to form a task force with victims’ families, survivors, and rst responders, as well as local civic and faith leaders from the LGBTQ+ community who were all invited to be part of the process. Alvear was among the rst to join the task force.

The next step was to build a board made up of leaders from Orlando and around the nation, because they knew it would be a national e ort to get the foundation and its objectives created.

The Foundation board developed the four pillars of the onePULSE mission, which are to create and support a memorial that opens hearts, a museum that opens minds, educational programs that opens eyes, and legacy scholarships that opens doors.

A MEMORIAL THAT OPENS HEARTS

The National Pulse Memorial & Museum project will break ground in phases, beginning rst with the Orlando Health Survivors Walk, then followed by the National Pulse Memorial and then the Pulse Museum itself.

On June 21, 2021, onePULSE Foundation announced its selection of Gilbane Building Company in association with T&G Constructors, as the construction management rm to build the National Pulse Memorial & Museum in Orlando.

According to Poma and Scott Bowman, Chief Communications O cer, onePULSE Foundation plans to build the National Pulse Memorial on the site of the Pulse nightclub. The museum and education center will be located at 438 West Kaley Street – approximately one-third of a mile from Pulse. The Orlando Health Survivors Walk will trace the three-block journey many victims and survivors took the night of the tragedy from the Pulse nightclub to get to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

“Gilbane Building Company’s mission and values are deeply aligned with onePULSE Foundation,” said Dale Hipsh, senior vice president of hotels with Hard Rock International and chair of the onePULSE Foundation Design and Construction Committee. “The rm has extensive experience in building historic cultural institutions and iconic destinations including the National Air and Space Museum, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National World War II memorial.” Hipsh continued, “These projects demonstrate a commitment to excellence and honoring sacred spaces and stories, which was a crucial factor in the team selection process.”

The project is currently in the schematic design phase and following that will be the design development stage. The next phase will include Gilbane Building Company and T&G Constructors working with the Owner’s Representative PMA and design rm Coldefy with RDAI and HHCP to update the project timeline, master plan and budget, and to ensure that design and construction is coordinated with other public improvements already planned by the City of Orlando.

“Like so many other nonpro ts across the world over the past year, onePULSE Foundation has been impacted by COVID-19. Although the pandemic has altered the trajectory of our work, the National Pulse Memorial & Museum project continues to move forward,” said Hipsh. “At this time, we are evolving the master plan and working toward a new project timeline.”

Amanda Alvear, victim of shooting, with her mother, Myra Alvear, Pulse activist.

A MUSEUM THAT OPENS MINDS

The Pulse Museum will eventually utilize artifacts and images from a variety of sources including its internal collection, artists, photographers, the Orange County Regional History Center’s collection, as well as the possibility of loans from other institutions worldwide.

“There are thousands of artifacts from and related to the Pulse tragedy, including items left behind from the community, artwork, family and survivor mementos,” said Poma. The Pulse building itself is the largest artifact.

There will be an impactful, immersive educational component in the museum. In addition to the Pulse nightclub story and the detailed stories of the victims, survivors and rst responders, there is also history to be told regarding what safe space means for the LGBTQ+ community.

“This is the most important part as far as the families of the 49 are concerned. All the rosaries, photos, and quilts, everything that was left at the memorial site, is important to us but more than that, what we care the most about is to tell the stories of our children,” said Alvear. “Not just a photo. Our children were taken very abruptly. They did not deserve that. As a museum, they have to tell a story, right? So, I want the story of my daughter to be told,

L’Oreal USA signs on as Founding Legacy Donor

On April 21, 2021, onePULSE Foundation announced that L’Oreal USA donated $400,000 from its Inclusive Beauty Fund to sponsor four annual beauty scholarships as part of the onePULSE Foundation’s 49 Legacy Scholarship Program. “We are proud to be a Founding Legacy Donor of the onePULSE Foundation and support their life-a irming mission. We hope our contribution can help to bring more beauty into the world despite this unfathomable tragedy,” said Stephane Rinderknech, President and CEO of L’Oreal USA. For more information about the onePULSE Legacy Scholarship Campaign, contact onePULSE Foundation at 407-775-4611, ext. 413 or gk@one-

as well as the stories of the other 48 Angels. I want people to know them, not just a picture. They were all amazing kids. Amazing human beings. They need to get to know Amanda. To know Mercedes. To know Stanley. The people need to hear their voices.” Alvear is clear, she wants to be most directly involved in the content selection of the museum.

“It will also extend to conversations about terrorism, faith, immigration, cultural beliefs and practices, the response from the world, and how to e ect change at the individual, group, and community level for all marginalized communities,” said Bowman.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT OPEN EYES

onePULSE Academy is the educational arm of the onePULSE Foundation. “It is committed to promoting acceptance and inclusion through innovative, re ective, experimental learning methods,” said Poma. “Its four speci c functions are to provide educational programs that facilitate prosocial behavior; educational platforms that promote acceptance and inclusion; educational site tours that create safer learning communities; and an education hub for knowledge and information on social issues.” It aims to positively impact social change at the individual, group and community levels.

Pulse Nightclub Interim Memorial.

THE FIVE-YEAR PULSE REMEMBRANCE WEEK

Consisting of both virtual and in-person events for those already vaccinated for Covid-19, onePULSE Foundation paid tribute to those lost or injured at the Pulse shooting with the Five-Year Pulse Remembrance Week from Saturday, June 5 to Saturday, June 12, 2021.

Remembrance Week kicked o with the 5th Annual 4.9K CommUNITY Rainbow Run at Wadeview Park in downtown Orlando, presented by Orlando Health and Hard Rock International, in partnership with the UCF DeVos Sport Business Management Program. A series of 18 events were held during the week. Some of the highlights included:

• “Straight Men Real Makeup” held at HAOS on Church presented by Makeup and Creative Arts and Morphstore.com, whereby eight straight men performed a choreographed routine dressed in full drag. The event presented much needed levity.

• “An Evening of Reflection and Promise” at Dr. Phillips Center Frontyard Festival and hosted by One Orlando Alliance, served to create a pathway for healing for the LGBTQ+

community from religious-based discrimination. It featured a panel of LGBTQ+ people of diverse faith and thought backgrounds.

• “United We Dance’’ held as a street party between HAOS on Church, Hamburger Mary’s and Pepe’s Cantina, provided a night of music and dance to celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, the City Beautiful, survivors, first responders, and the 49. The event presented unity.

• “Five-Year Remembrance Ceremony” held at the Pulse Interim Memorial by invitation only, with live streaming open to the general public at Dr. Phillips Center, concluded the week.

Two other events were held after: “Orlando Pride Match ‘Mission Rainbow’” on June 20 and “Orlando City Match ‘Pride in Our City ’” on June 22, both at Exploria Stadium. The soccer games by the Orlando City Soccer Club and the Orlando Pride Women’s Team benefited onePULSE Foundation and were attended by over 20,000 combined.

Turn to page 36 for our visual essay of Remembrance Week

Memorial for Orlando shooting victims outside the United States Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 14 June 2016.

In 2021, onePULSE Foundation launched its educational programming with four free virtual lm screenings called Conversation Starters, part of a broader Conversation Series, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The lm screenings and accompanying panel discussions will be held quarterly.

“We are thrilled to partner nationally with these amazing writers and directors to showcase their important work and to have courageous conversations following the short lm screenings,” said Dr. Earl Mowatt, vice president of education at onePULSE Foundation. “Our goal with all of our educational programming is to celebrate how we are more alike than di erent.”

“JPMorgan Chase is committed to creating diverse, inclusive teams that support our clients, our community, and each other,” said Patty Burton, executive director of Retail Banking and chair of the Central Florida Market Leadership Team at JPMorgan Chase. “We want everyone to feel welcomed and valued, so we’re proud to partner with onePULSE Foundation and the Conversation Series to promote greater acceptance and inclusion for all.”

LEGACY SCHOLARSHIPS THAT OPEN DOORS

Working with the families and loved ones of those killed, onePULSE Foundation established the scholarships based on the respective victims’ interests, careers or aspirations. “As an extension of their impact on our world, the scholarships will inspire and empower students who share similar dreams, ambitions and goals,” said Poma.

“They are available for undergraduate and graduate students,” added Bowman. The rst class of recipients were awarded in 2019 for the 2019-2020 academic year.

“When I spoke with the families of the 49, they would always thank me for everything we were doing but emphasized that their lost loved ones were more than a name read on a wall or a face in a composite photo,” said Poma. “They want people to know who they were, what their life was like so we decided the best way to do so was to match the scholarships to the professional goals each of the 49 had planned for themselves.”

“The Legacy Scholarship to me is also very dear to my heart because it is something that the 49 never got to n-

Action near American Consulate in memory of victims of the massacre in popular gay club Pulse in Orlando, Florida. 50 people were killed, 53 wounded.

ish,” said Alvear, her voice trembling as she spoke. “My daughter and the other 48, their lives were cut short, so all their inspirations, what they would do in this world, were gone. The things they aspired to be and do in their lives, they are no longer able to do it. So, we are giving someone else the opportunity to do it on their behalf, in their name. To me, it is important they chose someone who wants to study nursing, like Amanda wanted to become a nurse. That someone gets to do what my daughter didn’t get the chance to do because she was taken from us.”

On May 18, 2021, onePULSE Foundation announced the second class of 49 Legacy Scholarship recipients who were awarded $236,300 in scholarships to be used during the 2021-2022 academic year.

The second class represents incoming freshmen majoring in aerospace engineering, business, communications, clinical mental health counseling, international relations, and the performing arts, as well as beauty/cosmetology, nursing, medical, law and master’s studies, as well as trade school. The 49 recipients come from all over the United States and have a common thread of community service, leadership and advocacy. “This scholarship means the world to me. As a daughter of immigrants who paved their way to the American dream, being able to tell them that I was awarded this scholarship was mostly their accomplishment,” said Valentina Diaz. “I am a global and international studies major and a diversity and social studies minor. I just signed up for the Peace Corps and I hope to be able to continue my growth wherever they place me.”

“I am honored to receive the onePULSE Foundation Legacy Scholarship and to carry on the legacy and light of the 49 Angels,” said Jack Cocchiarella. “I plan to study government at Dartmouth College and pursue a career in politics, and one day plan to hold public o ce. In everything I do, I will always out-love hate.”

The application process for the next class will open on December 1, 2021, and run through January 31, 2022. To apply, visit the onePULSE Foundation website at onepulsefoundation.org.

Advent Health University, Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida and Valencia College Foundation are the program’s academic institution partners.

The Legacy Scholarships are funded in part by the generosity of major donors, including: AdventHealth, AlixPartners, The Brumback Family, The Earl and Bettie Fields Automotive Group Foundation, Geico, Gucci, L’Oreal, New York City Pride, Orlando Health, PVH Foundation, and Wendy Tramill.

The application process for the next class will open December 1, 2021, and run through January 31, 2022. They are available for undergraduate and graduate students. To apply, visit onepulsefoundation.org.

OPPOSITION AND A PRESIDENTIAL DESIGNATION

Not everyone agreed with the idea of a foundation or memorial. Some family members opposed both. When Poma spoke with the directors of the other memorials in Oklahoma and New York City, they advised her she would face opposition.

Conversation Starters Films

In 2021, onePULSE Foundation launched its educational programming with four free virtual film screenings called Conversation Starters, part of a broader Conversation Series, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. If you haven’t had a chance to see these remarkable short films yet, onePULSE Foundation invites you to watch them. They were:

• “90 Days” Written by Nathan Hale Williams and directed by Williams and Jennia Fredrique Aponte, the film is based on a true story of a young woman who informs the man she is dating that she is HIV positive.

• “Disarm Hate (Editor’s Cut)” Directed by Julianna Brudek and narrated by the iconic actor Harvey Fierstein, the film chronicles nine diverse LGBTQ+ activists who come together after the Pulse nightclub massacre to join Jason P. Hayes, a hairdresser, and an activist from New Jersey on a crusade.

• “From Selma to Stonewall Are We There Yet?”

Featuring Rev. Gil Caldwell, a black, straight preacher and Civil Rights Movement foot soldier, and Marilyn Bennett, a white, lesbian author and activist who form an unusual bond as they seek to find the intersection between the Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ Equality movements.

“That was what everyone at every single site told me,” said Poma. “Be prepared for the di erences of opinion.” Di erences of opinion is not unique to onePULSE Foundation. “It’s happened in every community where other tragedies have occurred before Pulse and after Pulse,” said Poma. “We are dealing with something that is steeped in tragedy and includes loss of loved ones, and you cannot put a timeline on people’s grief.”

It is imperative to onePULSE Foundation that the victims’ families, survivors, and rst responders are always the rst to be informed and the rst to present feedback.

Then there are others who see the value in both the onePULSE Foundation and for a memorial. On June 25, 2021, President Joe Biden signed H.R.49, a law designating the Pulse nightclub in Orlando as a national memorial at a White House ceremony.

“A place of acceptance and joy became a place of unspeakable pain and loss. We’ll never fully recover, but we’ll remember,” Biden said. He added, “May no president ever have to sign another monument like this.”

At the time of the attack, the Pulse massacre was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, and the victims were mostly members of Florida’s LGBTQ+ and Latino communities.

THE 49 ANGELS

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Amanda Alvear, 25

Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Antonio D. Brown, 30

Darryl R. Burt II, 29

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28

Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25

Luis D. Conde, 39

Cory J. Connell, 21

Tevin E. Crosby, 25

Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Deonka D. Drayton, 32

Mercedez M. Flores, 26

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Juan R. Guerrero, 22

Paul T. Henry, 41

Frank Hernandez, 27

Miguel A. Honorato, 30

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jason B. Josaphat, 19

Eddie J. Justice, 30

Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25

Christopher A. Leinonen, 32

Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49

Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35

Akyra Monet Murray, 18

Kimberly Morris, 37

Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez, 27

Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32

Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24

Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Gilberto Ramon

Silva Menendez, 25

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34

Shane E. Tomlinson, 33

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25

Luis S. Vielma, 22

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Jerald A. Wright, 31

Our Mission is to help all members of the local small business community to grow, network, learn, support, engage, and advocate for each other and the community at large.

Our Vision is to foster and develop relationships between the local small businesses and the community which will result in long term sustainable economic development, growth of entrepreneurship, and creation of strategic partnerships while giving back to the community.

PULSE REMEMBERED

Five-Year Remembrance Week held by onePULSE Foundation in honor of the 49 Angels, Pulse survivors and rst responders.

BY SCOTT BOWMAN

PULSE REMEMBERED

PHOTO

Mourners pay their respects to the fallen at the Pulse Nightclub memorial

Five years have passed since the senseless shooting of 49 people at Pulse LGBTQ+ nightclub on June 12, 2016, where 68 others were also injured but survived. This tragedy is part of our community’s history, part of our nation’s history and part of world history. At the time of the attack at Pulse, it was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, second only to 9/11. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. The victims were largely members of LGBTQ+ and Latino communities in Florida.

onePULSE Foundation is a non-for-pro t established shortly after the tragedy to honor and preserve the legacy of those killed, as well as creating a sanctuary of hope. In addition to plans for a museum, memorial, survivors walk, an educational series, and an annual scholarship fund, onePULSE Foundation organized a lengthy list of community-wide activities held during the Five-Year Remembrance Week that took place from Saturday, June 5 to Saturday, June 12, 2021.

An Evening of Re ection and Promise took place at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 7 at the Dr. Phillips Center Frontyard FestivalTM. One Orlando Alliance hosted this interfaith opportunity to name the e ects of the religiously based discrimination on the LGBTQ+ community and create pathways for healing. The program featured a panel of LGBTQ+ people of diverse faith and thought backgrounds, sharing their personal experiences, music from the Orlando Gay Chorus, remarks from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other local leaders, as well as representation from a variety of local faith leaders.

A BBQ was held by onePULSE Foundation to honor Pulse First Responders on Friday, June 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Varsity Club at Camping World Stadium and was sponsored by Sonny’s BBQ.

(FROM LEFT)

PHOTOS BY BRIGITH DAVILA, ANTHONY CONSTANTINE

Car with a Sign of One PULSE Foundation, LGBT+ members in honor to tragic day on 2016, in the Come Out With Pride Orlando parade on E Central Blvd street.

Two dinners were held by onePULSE Foundation at First United Methodist Church of Orlando during the week. On Friday, June 11, the dinner was for Pulse Survivors, and was sponsored by Noodles and Company. On Saturday, June 12, the dinner was for family members of the 49 Angels, and was sponsored by Darden Restaurants. It was an opportunity for families to gather together before attending the Remembrance Ceremony.

The Five-Year Pulse Remembrance Ceremony was held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 12 at the Pulse Interim Memorial with live streaming open to the general public at the Dr. Phillips Center Frontyard

FestivalTM. The observance brought together the families of those whose lives were tragically taken and provided them a space to remember their loved ones in peace. onePULSE Foundation also honored all who survived, the brave rst responders and the trauma teams who sacri ced so much to save so many. Speakers included Earl Crittenden, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, Barbara Poma, Brandon Wolf, Deputy Chief James Young, and Neema Bahrami. Family members of the 49 Angels participated in the Reading of the Names and Jabari Clay and Yaire performed.

Pulse Nightclub Interim Memorial name plaque of 48 victims, 1 victim not posted

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

+ Over 65 support,recovery, educationand socialgroups meetregularly

+ Popular,inclusiveeventslikeWickedManors, theRainbow5k,DiversityHonors,ActiveAging HealthExpo,andmore

+ Fast,free,andconfidentialHIVtesting, condomdistribution,andPrEPreferrals

+ Free12weekLIFEprogramforgay,bisexual, andsame-gender-lovingmenlivingwithHIV

+ InnovativeprogrammingfortheLGBTQ+ communityandourallies

+ Rentalopportunitiesincludingweddings, businessmeetings,lifecelebrations,trade shows,officespace,andmuchmore

+ LargestweeklygatheringofLGBTQ+active agersinthenation

come

Throughout the Greater Tampa Bay Area, Metro Inclusive Health continually strives to bridge the gap between at-risk and underserved LGBTQ+ community and the medical care and support services needed to keep them safe, healthy, and seen.

ne,comeall

BY MELISSA-MARIE MARKS, LM

In the late ‘80s, during the height of the AIDS crisis, a small group of friends met in the basement of the King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church in St. Petersburg, Florida to organize biannual formal cocktail parties in hopes of raising money for programs to assist those living with HIV and/or AIDS. These programs initially included counseling sessions and case management services for AIDS patients, food assistance, and SDIA—Pinellas County’s rst AIDS support group.

In 1992, the group registered Metropolitan Charities, Inc. as an o cial 501(c)(3) non-pro t organization and eventually outgrew King of Peace’s church building, necessitating a move across the street into their own designated building and LGBTQ+ community center. This space became known as Metro Wellness and Community Centers, which later rebranded to Metro Inclusive Health.

The AIDS epidemic may have peaked in the early ‘90s but it certainly didn’t go away. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US saw 34,800 new cases of HIV infections in 2019. Florida alone claimed 4,400 of those cases, averaging 23.7 diagnosed HIV cases per 100,000 people. According to the Florida Department of Health, almost 60% of those diagnosed identi ed as gay men.

As Metropolitan Charities continued to work with HIV clients, they quickly realized that HIV wasn’t the only issue negatively impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

According to a report released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to report that their health is “fair” or “poor” versus non-LGBTQ+ people, who are more likely to report that their health is “good” or “excellent.”

Unfortunately, according to the same report, LGBTQ+ people were also more likely to be in a lower income demographic and more likely to be employed part-time, leading to decreased likelihood of health insurance coverage and therefore less access to healthcare.

The report stated that those LGBTQ+ people who were able to access medical care often reported negative experiences with healthcare providers, including cases in which the patient felt the healthcare provider completely dismissed their concerns and/or personally blamed the patient for a health problem. Some patients even reported that the healthcare provider didn’t believe they were telling the truth about their reported health issue.

The transgender community faces its own speci c health and healthcare provider-related issues. The Center for American Progress states in a report released in August 2021 that, “In addition to poorer health outcomes, transgender people also encounter unique challenges and inequalities in their ability to access health insurance and adequate care.”

As the need for compassionate, inclusive healthcare became apparent, Metropolitan Charities/Metro Inclu-

sive Health expanded its HIV-speci c case management and support services to include over 100 health and wellness services for the greater Tampa Bay LGBTQ+ community. Through the organization’s “Copay It Forward’’ program, previous annual cocktail party fundraisers, and sliding scale self-pay options based on patient income, no one is turned away due to inability to pay. O ces are in St. Petersburg, Tampa, New Port Richey, and Clearwater.

metro inclusive health services

Metro o ers primary medical care, comprehensive onsite lab and STI testing, pharmacy services, HIV prevention and treatment (including PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] and nPEP [non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis] prescriptions), trans health services (including counseling, legal aid, and HRT [hormone replacement therapy]), community programs and support groups, educational programs, substance misuse prevention programs, and diversity training.

Additionally, Metro patients can use their smartphone or computer to access TeleHealth and TeleTherapy appointments for primary care as well as mental health and psychiatric services. Prescriptions can then be delivered or mailed out. After the virtual appointment, patients can use the Metro Patient Portal and Healow app to message their healthcare provider, access their lab results, and even request prescription rells, all from the comfort of home.

TeleHealth services can be life-saving for patients with limited mobility due to illness and other health issues, as

well as those with limited access to transportation.

The virtual services can also help to slow the spread of infectious disease.

“TeleHealth services were already in place at Metro before Covid hit,” says Topher Larkin, Metro’s LGBTQ+ and Marketing Services Manager. “But our patients de nitely started using it more during the pandemic.”

The Metro Mobile Health Unit is another way to get much needed medical services, including lab tests and prescriptions, to patients who may not otherwise have access to care. The fully-equipped van sets up shop in various locations around Pinellas County, including churches, college campuses, recreation centers, and community neighborhoods hit hardest by HIV. An appointment takes about an hour and may include a rapid HIV test, a

TeleHealth appointment from inside the van with one of Metro’s healthcare providers, and even a prescription for PrEP—a daily pill that is 99% e ective in preventing HIV.

While Metro’s inclusive and compassionate medical care may attract the attention of Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ community, its support groups, programs, and events are what make it feel like family. Weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly support groups for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 17, young adults 18+, elders ages 50+ (SAGE), and those who identify as trans and non-binary are o ered virtually through Zoom and Discord apps.

Metro also o ers community aid services, referrals, and programs for pregnant people (through their TOPWA program) and those needing assistance with obtaining food and/or emergency nancial assistance to help with rent and housing expenses.

the metro lgbtq welcome center

Located in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District, the Metro LGBTQ Welcome Center serves as a safe community space for locals and visitors to enjoy a cup of co ee, purchase Pride merchandise, learn about things to do in the area, and nd places to stay throughout the Tampa Bay area.

while metro’s inclusive and compassionate medical care may attract the attention of tampa bay’s lgbtq+ community, its support groups, programs, and events are what make it feel like family.

Pre-Covid, the center also hosted Metro’s various support groups and educational programs, though many of those activities have now gone virtual.

The center’s website, lgbtqwelcomecenter.org, serves as a comprehensive online travel resource, listing local LGBTQ-friendly restaurants, bars, retail stores, local attractions, and more.

Local businesses and organizations can become supporting Welcome Center Members for an annual fee and receive perks such as a website business listing, access to “Members Only” social events at the center, and even a free co ee. Single, family, and corporate memberships are also available.

introducing inclusivitea.

Also in the Grand Central District is Metro’s newest darling, inclusivitea., a WIFI café serving co ee, tea, and mocktails, and a sex-positive retail shop selling higher-end sex toys and personal care products, as well as Pride merchandise and gifts.

“[Inclusivitea.] is more than just a sex shop,” Topher Larkin explains. “It’s an extension of the services Metro already provides to the community. It’s about destigmatizing the message of sexual health and having a more positive attitude towards it all.”

Two medical exam rooms, a waiting area, and healthcare personnel on site make it quick and easy to get tested for HIV and other STIs, obtain a prescription for PrEP, and receive information about prevention and treatment.

donations and volunteers needed

With the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly halting Metro’s main fundraisers, donations and volunteers are more important than ever.

In November of 2019, Metro Inclusive Health hosted its Annual Cocktail Party with lead performance by international recording artist Deborah Cox. Attendees were treated to an open bar, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and a dazzling dance oor under the stars. According to an announcement posted on Metro’s o cial Facebook page, the fundraiser brought in nearly $110,000 for Metro Inclusive Health’s “life-changing and a rming LGBTQ+ programming.”

Then came Covid-19, and the 2020 Annual Cocktail Party was cancelled along with all future fundraising events, until further notice.

Metro Inclusive Health depends on its fundraisers to o set the costs of its sliding-scale fees for medical services, its educational programs and community support groups, and its community aid services.

Until fundraising events are once again given the goahead, Metro Inclusive Health will be relying solely on donations, volunteers, and the Co-Pay It Forward program.

You can help.

Your gift can be as simple as visiting the Metro LGBTQ Welcome Center and/or Inclusivitea. and purchasing a co ee or gift; or it can be as complex as volunteering to welcome patients as they walk into any of Metro’s health centers, or write marketing content for Metro’s social

media outreach pages. Volunteer options are many and more information can be found at metrotampabay.org/ community/metro-volunteer-opportunities/.

You can also make a one-time or recurring donation.

Contact James Keane at JamesK@MetroTampaBay. org or check out Metro’s “Giving” page at their website here: metrotampabay.org/give.

Last but hardly least, you can give back to Metro by becoming a patient and using your health insurance’s normal copay to “CoPay It Forward”—an innovative program allowing Metro Inclusive Health to utilize copay funds to provide deeply discounted and even free healthcare services to un- and under-insured patients, as well as counseling, support programs, and aid to people in need.

With your help, Metro Inclusive Health will continue to provide support and services for the wellbeing of Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ community members and their families.

Your World

T R AV E L

Tiny Houses, Huge Experience

LGBTQ Tampa entrepreneur offers big adventures in tiny homes with FabStayz

BY RACHEL COVELLO

Ifyou’re itching for a big adventure and don’t mind staying in a small space, a tiny home vacation rental might be the perfect solution. Due to a peaked interest in socially distanced accommodations, eco-friendly travel options, budget-friendly vacation rentals, and one-of-a-kind experiences, tiny homes are trending in travel.

Small in size, but huge in comfort, tiny homes o er a fabulous value and make smart use of small spaces without the unnecessary clutter. And no worries! There is plenty of room for a suitcase or two. Just pack a tad lighter than usual.

Tiny homes also o er the perfect getaway solution for LGBTQ+ travelers, who often travel solo or coupled, and prefer privacy. For families, there are plenty of tiny homes big enough for pets and kids.

FabStayz.com, a Tampa-based company that o ers a variety of vacation rental options to LGBTQ+ travelers worldwide, has several tiny home listings for the space-savvy adventurer. “Our FabStayz tiny homes are super popular,” says Robert Geller, FabStayz founder. The increased desire for tiny home travel prompted Geller to launch an entire tiny home marketing campaign. “We had one of our brand ambassadors, our drag queen ight attendant Liquor Mini, photographed at a tiny home village in Portland, Oregon with her pink luggage. The tiny house featured was ‘The Bird House’ measuring only 48 square feet.”

TRAVEL

Prior to launching FabStayz in 2019, Geller ran a gay travel company and was an AirBnB Superhost. Although he loved hosting guests from around the world, he often found himself in the uncomfortable position of coming out to strangers when guests asked what he did for a living. “It was my experience as a host coupled with the stories of LGBTQ+ travelers and ally hosts from around the world that led me to believe there was an opportunity to elevate the experience for both sides of the short-term rental transaction.”

Geller was committed to creating a space welcoming to all without the need to come out while hosting or traveling. So, he invited LGBTQ+ and allied hosts on AirBnb, and other existing short term rental platforms, to promote their inclusive accommodations through FabStayz.com.

Although the travel industry was hit hard during COVID-19, FabStayz ourished as safety-minded travelers searched out socially isolated accommodations to satisfy their wanderlust. “We’ve grown from the $11.99 a month GoDaddy website I built

on a Saturday night to a robust platform with over 2,500 properties worldwide, from tiny homes in Portland to a castle tower in France, and a beautiful pool home in Palm Springs to vintage RVs in Los Angeles.”

FabStayz features over a dozen tiny home listings. Geller’s favorites include the Cooper Mountain Tiny Cabin, The Bird House, and a Winery Tiny Home.

The Cooper Mountain Tiny Cabin o ers a treehouse feel and is located in 2.3 forested acres close to Portland, near wine country. A ladder takes you to the upstairs loft where you’ll nd a queen bed and a skylight for a treetop view. The property also features a downstairs futon and a comfortable fullsize bed, along with a kitchenette and deck.

Perfect for the outdoor enthusiast, The Bird House is as cute as a button. With new comfy beds, a private outdoor shower, and an outdoor dining area, you’ll love the cozy yet open feel of the property. The Bird House is nestled in a quiet forest, at the end of a gravel driveway, and privacy is ensured. Wildlife abounds and the territorial views from the

Cooper Mountain Tiny Cabin

Winery Tiny Home

deck are just the thing to melt your cares away.

If you love to sip and savor, then the Winery Tiny Home is perfect for you. Also located in Portland, this popular tiny home is a ordable and quiet with lofts, ladders and elevated views of the surrounding forest. And the best part? Free wine tastings within only a few minutes’ drive.

With the growth of FabStayz, Geller is now focused on launching FabUniversity, an LGBTQ-focused hospitality training program. “It’s our way of providing tools to hosts so they can elevate the travel experience for their LGBTQ guests.”

Tiny or tall, gay or straight, FabStayz o ers fabulous tiny home stays for all.

Portland House exterior with Drag Queen, Liquor Mini.

Portland House interior

Esmirna Caraballo

CEO/Owner 216-688-8173

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Smile Time is a family-owned mobile event photo booth servicing North Central Florida. Our beautiful, open-air booth will allow more than just two people to get in the shot.

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Costumes provided for us. We had laughing! Thank You Smile Time!

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ISSUES &POLITICS

Tenth Anniversary of the Repeal of

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

Ten years ago today [September 20, 2021], a great injustice was remedied and a tremendous weight wasnally lifted o the shoulders of tens of thousands of dedicated American service members. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which formally barred gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members from openly serving, helped move our nation closer

to its foundational promise of equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. It was the right thing to do. And, it showed once again that America is at its best when we lead not by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. Despite serving with extraordinary honor and courage throughout our history, more than 100,000 American service members have been discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity—including some 14,000 un-

der Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Many of these veterans received what are known as “other than honorable” discharges, excluding them and their families from the vitally important services and benets they had sacri ced so much to earn.

As a U.S. Senator, I supported allowing service members to serve openly, and as Vice President, I was proud to champion the repeal of this policy and to stand beside President Obama as he signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act

into law. As President, I am honored to be Commander-in-Chief of the strongest and most inclusive military in our nation’s history. Today, our military doesn’t just welcome LGBTQ+ service members—it is led at the highest levels by brave LGBTQ+ veterans, including Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness Shawn Skelly, who served under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I was grati ed to appoint the rst openly gay Senate-con rmed Cabinet member, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve and Afghanistan veteran who joined the military under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. And during my rst week in o ce, I proudly delivered on my pledge to repeal the discriminatory ban on open service by patriotic transgender service members.

On this day and every day, I am thankful for all of the LGBTQ+ service members and veterans who strengthen our military and our nation. We must honor their sacri ce by continuing the ght for full equality for LGBTQ+ people, including by nally passing the Equality Act and living up to our highest values of justice and equality for all.

R E LI G I ON

Angel of Mercy

Ruth Coker Burks defied convention and defined the meaning of ally and advocate for the LGBTQ community on behalf of gay men dying from AIDS since the dawn of the AIDS epidemic.

BY REV. CATHERINE DEARLOVE

Ruth Coker Burks had a friend and that friend was Jesus. It was that friend who helped her to be a friend and mother to those who were dying from AIDS complications in the 1980’s/1990’s.

From an early age Coker Burks knew what it was to be alone and disenfranchised. Her way of dealing with that was her equivalent of an imaginary friend – Jesus.

Coker Burks was brought up in Arkansas, by her grandmother because her mother was admitted to a tuberculous sanatorium and her father died when she was ve. She experienced a lot of abuse as a very young child and so spent a lot of time at church with her grandmother and learnt about faith. It was this faith that has sustained her whole life, even when the church didn’t. She was taught about heaven and hell, and that all those who ‘didn’t believe the right thing’ would go to hell, which troubled her young soul because she didn’t believe her Jesus was like that. So, when she encountered Jimmy, a young man who was dying alone from ‘Gay Cancer’ in the 1980s, she knew exactly what it felt like to be alone when you needed someone the most. When she encountered Jimmy, he was in hospital, and it was her curiosity that led her to sneak into his room in the hospital, because the nurses didn’t want to go in and were drawing straws. When she entered the room, Coker Burks could hardly see Jimmy because he was so thin and pale. As soon as she met him, she wanted to know how she could help. He wanted his mama, something she thought she could do. She approached the nurses, but they told her his mother would not be coming (a common story for young men dying from AIDS). Coker Burks tried everything to convince his mother that he needed her, but his mother told her he had died when he became gay. When she returned to the room Jimmy thought she was his mama and rather than correct him, she decided to become the presence that Jimmy needed, until he died.

Although this was a “one-o ” situation in her mind, Coker Burks went on to help hundreds of men through the years who were living with the stigma that this era placed on them in middle America. When asked why she helped so many people Coker Burks said, “I do not understand how you can’t be compassionate.”

Coker Burks had faith, strong faith, a faith which guided her every single day. However, the church she attended refused to help, not wanting “those sorts of people” on their campus. She continued to pressure the church to help but found herself stripped of her position on the Finance Committee and talked about behind her back by the pastors. She would sit at church every Sunday, oftentimes crying after hearing wonderful

Coker Burks went on to help hundreds of men through the years who were living with the stigma that this era placed on them in middle America. When asked why she helped so many people Coker Burks said, “I do not understand how you can’t be compassionate.”

preaching, but when it came to pastoring those who needed it, she said “they didn’t have a soul for it.” Coker Burks describes herself as a “New Testament girl,” who saw what Jesus was asking people to do and knew what needed doing. However, she couldn’t get those in positions of power and privilege to help. She pushed forward, with those from the church who would work with her, oftentimes secretly.

Coker Burks also encountered obstruction from medical sta who wouldn’t allow another young man, Billy, into the hospital, to get the treatment he needed. Coker Burks threatened the administration of the hospital with “more publicity than you would ever want” and Billy was eventually allowed in. In the early days, she thought every person helped would be the last one, but more kept coming. The help became more than advocacy and support, but also a place of dignity to lay their bodies to rest after they died. Coker Burks set aside part of her property for a resting place for those who needed it. She said, “how do you go backwards when there are people su ering and dying - by them-

REV CATHERINE DEARLOVE is Senior Pastor at Trinity MCC in Gainesville, Florida. Although a Christian minister, she has a strong appreciation for all journeys of faith or philosophy and wrote her Masters dissertation on Inter-religious Dialogue. She is currently the Chair of the Campus Multifaith Cooperative at UF and coordinates the Alachua County Faith Leaders Alliance. Rev Catherine has lived in the UK, Australia and now USA and has spent most of her life as a social justice warrior and advocate for the integration of sexuality and spirituality. Rev Catherine believes faith is a journey and should never be static.

selves - not having food - nobody to check on them - no place to bury them?” Coker Burks was threatened by the Ku Klux Klan, and lost her best friend due to her compassion. When asked why she kept going, her response was “why wouldn’t I keep going? I see someone hurting. I have to do something – it is the core of my faith in action. It doesn’t take but a minute to care.”

Coker Burks went on to advocate for laws to change, including the S.641 - Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 1996. Even though her health was compromised due to a stroke in 2010 and blood clots since, she has never stopped advocating for those who need it.

When asked what she most wanted people to know, she replied “it was the churches that threw them out; they lost their churches, their family, their friends but I have found them to be more Christ-like than many others who are leading churches.”

Did You Know?

Ruth Coker Burks’ book, “All the Young Men,” comes out in paperback in November 2021, and tells the story of how this angel became the face of compassion to a group of men who so many people left for dead.

Coker Burks received The Hero Award at the 2019 Attitude Awards presented by Attitude Magazine and in 2017, she was awarded the Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award by the National AIDS Memorial.

Your Community

ART&CULTURE

Gay Barchived

Art Smith’s “Gay Barchives” is his homage to the bygone era of the gay bars, discos and mega clubs – recording gay history, one bar and one story at a time.

BY SARA GIZA

Long before the advent of dating apps as a way to meet others, gay bars served as the primary gathering place for LGBTQ+ community members. Back in the 70s and 80s, it wasn’t safe to come out. This left members of the community in the closet and living dual lives. Often, going to a gay bar was their

only opportunity to be their authentic selves. A brief moment of respite from a cruel world.

This fact hasn’t been lost on Tampa resident Art Smith. In his early 20s, circa 1982, he travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, for a weekend trip with his then boyfriend to ring in the New Year. After having such a great time, the couple immediately made plans to move there the following weekend. “That was all inspired by the fabulous reception

SARA GIZA is a queer activist, who has divided her time between freelance writing and advocacy work. She has been a stinger for LEO Weekly and The Voice-Tribune in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and Vero Beach Magazine in Florida.

JOHN MCMARLIN

BY

PHOTO

John McMarlin tending bar at Copa Key West. 1983

we got from bars like Backstreet,” Smith said. “For the gay community at that time, it was just an incredible experience to see that many people in those facilities having the time of their lives. We stayed there because the environment was so accepting and diverse. At that time, Atlanta had at least 30 gay bars—each with its own avor and tone. People would go out ve, six, seven nights a week. One big family.”

After being approached by a friend, Smith suddenly found himself in the publishing world with a focus on gay magazines. At the request of his friend, he began his role as editor and associate publisher of Guide Magazine. He went on to work for several other publications including Hot Spots and for Watermark, as well as launching his own publication Ovation: Celebrating Our Gay Lifestyle. In all of these roles, he was constantly in contact with bar owners and performers. “You were expected to go out all of the time. It’s hard to write about an event, if you weren’t there. I was totally immersed in the gay community then,” Smith said.

“I’ve always been something of a history bu . I enjoy knowing things about the past, remembering things and having conversations about shared experiences from years gone by,” Smith shared. That interest, combined with his publishing background and knowledge of gay bars, has led to very ambitious but imperative project—attempting to record the history of as many gay bars as possible that have fell to the wayside

throughout the years all across the United States, as well as personal experiences that took place at each one.

Smith’s project, Gay Barchives, has multiple components. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 to March 2021, he researched, documented and digitally reconstructed logos for over a thousand bars. “That project continues pretty much every day now,” Smith said, adding “every couple of days, I’m discovering another bar I didn’t know about. Now, there’s about 1500 and it is still going.” He has interviewed bar owners, performers and patrons.

“It became more and more evident to me, that there were a lot of people out there who wanted to relive some of those memories or share those experiences. I think particularly because of Covid-19 and being restricted from going out to experience those things in the current age,” he said. On his website, Smith not only provides information on the bars he’s researched, but will also be including interview segments with celebrities, bar owners, patrons and entertainers. The interviews will be available in both video and podcast format. He is also currently working on a book version of Gay Barchives, that he intends on being a series, with each edition focusing on a di erent type of bar. After a poll on the Gay Barchives Facebook page, it was overwhelmingly voted that his rst book focus on discos and mega clubs.

Smith shared a perhaps somber, but important piece of history he discovered while working

(From Left): FACES, San Antonia TX 1983. Pauletta Leigh; John McMarlin at the Copa Key West, Turnabout night 1984; John McMalin with Divine at the Copa Key West 1984.

on this project. The story of The Upstairs Lounge in 1973 New Orleans. “When we had the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando, it pretty much rocked the world. People all over the country did memorial events. It was immediately billed as the biggest tragedy to ever strike a gay bar in the U.S.,” Smith said. “In the course of my research, I discovered that four years to the day of Stonewall, The Upstairs Lounge experienced a re bombing that killed 32 patrons.”

Noting that even during the Pulse coverage, it was never mentioned, Smith went on to say, “when it happened in 1973, it made the front page of the newspaper for about one day. Then it was pretty much dropped.” The stairs leading up to the second- oor bar were rebombed, so there was no escape for anyone there. “Nobody was ever prosecuted for the re, although they’re pretty sure who did it. Several of the bodies were never claimed by family, because they

Stay in the Know

Art Smith plans on publishing his first book, Gay Barchives: Discos and Mega Clubs by the end of this year

• What to expect: All editions of the book series will include digitally reconstructed bar logos, photographs and personal stories

• Visit gaybarchives.com for information on forthcoming books and to view all aspects of the project

• Get interactive: Reminisce with the 2400 individuals who have already joined the Facebook group in its first year: @gaybarchives

• Get involved: If you have a story you’d like to share about a gay bar, Art Smith would love to talk with you. Email gaybarchives@yahoo.com

were too embarrassed to say their son was in a gay bar. The windows of The Upstairs Lounge had metal bars on them. The front-page picture in the newspaper shows a person wedged between the bars trying to escape, a charred skeleton,” Smith said.

“The whole concept of this project is that historians like to talk about the activists, political issues, laws, but so much of our history is wrapped up in the bar scene,” said Smith. “Those were our meeting places, our sanctuaries, our community halls and our family dinners.”

Art Smith says that the biggest motivating factor keeping him and this project going, is the great feedback he gets from other people. People tell him often how grateful they are, that he is doing this work. “When you keep hearing things like that, it makes you feel like you’re contributing something lasting like a legacy. This is going to be what I’m leaving the world,” he said.

Backstreet, Atlanta: Dance floor packed as usual 1983.

Art Smith 2021

Floyd Taylor and Bruce Vilanch at Island House Key West 2015.

TO TYLER SCHRAGE ON 1-MILLION FOLLOWERS! FROM YOUR TEAM AT POPWRAPPED & TIKTOK

STYLE&TRENDS

Crossplay

A subset of gender fluid cosplay is surging to mainstream prominence.

BY NILE FORTNER

Atits roots, cosplay is about freedom of expression, choice, escapism, and embracing creativity. Adi Rodrigues understands that more than most. The cosplayer, content creator, workout enthusiast, and tness model, has cosplayed various female characters such as Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman.

“I love those characters,” said Rodrigues. “But cosplay is what you make it and we have the power to make it whatever we want.”

However, at Megacon 2021, she cosplayed as the caped Kryptonian, Superman; a favored and marketable character that since 1938 has always been seen with the classic characteristics of a man. Yet, Adi sports the suit in makeup, long loose hair feeling therapeutic as it tousles in the wind, chin held high, and power posing just as strong as the men.

“When I was dressed as Superman at Megacon, a little kid, probably about four, ran up to me,” said Rodrigues. “And asked if I saw Pennywise. My heart was full and it was rewarding to have that moment and to be welcomed.”

Across the country, these conventions like Megacon, o er an explosion of pop culture and community events for fans of comic books, movies, video games, and animation. At these conventions and events, it’s common to see people don colorful costumes, put on fanciful makeup, and embody characters from all branches of culture.

“Cosplay is two words combined, costume and play,” said cosplayer Alexis Graboski. “But it’s more than that because it’s a creative outlet. It’s a way for fans to express love and express themselves.”

For cosplayers, sometimes it’s more than just dress-up when the costumes and characters they choose are a form of identity.

Since 2013, 24-year-old Alexis Graboski (they/

PHOTO BY JAZLYN VIERA

Alexis Graboski (@r4dski) as Sailor Moon

them) has been cosplaying at comic cons, events, and related organizations. However, since they were a child they’ve been making costumes and sewing.

Taking that interest in sewing and costumes, Graboski would later attend the college-level fashion school program, Design and Architecture Senior High, in the Miami Design District. Eventually, going to Brooklyn, New York, and earning their BSA in Fashion and Design.

“The rst time I o cially cosplayed was in 2013,” said Graboski. “But I remember being nine years old and being Princess Serenity from ‘Sailor Moon.’”

Usagi Tsukino, better known as Sailor Moon, is a ctional super-heroine who is the main protagonist and title character of the ‘Sailor Moon’ manga series. She is a carefree schoolgirl who can transform into a variety of powers.

While watching the show, Graboski thought to themself what it’d be like wearing the clothes of the character and the astounding world.

“Yeah, but it was something I resonate with, Sailor Moon’s character,” said Graboski. “She believes in kindness and love above everything. That’s something I try to bring in my day-to-day and it’s my personal philosophy. Especially with how hard and rigid our world is.”

Even with the similar interests and the freedom the hobby can provide, there’s also Transphobia, Homophobia, and bullying.

“There’s de nitely the darker part of it,” said Graboski.

Bullying over body image, or because they don’t t the same race, gender, or size, as the character they are portraying.

Adi Rodrigues (@theadirodrigues) as Hippolyta from Wonder Woman.

Adi Rodrigues as Superman. Custom Superman suit by Curtis Atelier of @jcurtis_atelier

STYLE & TRENDS

“For my Princess Serenity [cosplay] I didn’t shave my armpit hairs because I’m a non-binary person,” said Graboski.

Once Graboski posted that picture on social media, they were blasted with negative comments, hateful speech, and a target for internet trolls.

“They’ve even reposted it on their Instagram Stories pointing and laughing,” Graboski said. “People need to realize there is a person behind that screen that has a life outside of dressing up as a character. Cosplay doesn’t have to be 100 percent accurate to the movie or comic book. It’s what you make it.”

Robert Rayneri is a content creator for the cosplay community with his YouTube channels, Not So Serious Show and Static Realms. Much like Graboski, Rayneri believes the cosplay community should be allowed to break barriers and have forms of creative expression.

“Ignore the naysayers and strive into new territory,” said Rayneri. “With the shows and working with people regardless of gender, size, race, or anything, I like to think I can help break barriers in all mediums.”

Similarly, Crossplayers are a subset of individuals within the cosplay community that is now surging to mainstream prominence with its subversive interpretations of traditional male and female characters. People often felt constrained by gender norms, but a wave of gender rebels emerged from these conventions to push the barriers and explore the depths of identity within the geek community.

Since 2018, Adi Rodrigues has been a cosplayer breaking barriers and like Graboski, Rodrigues’ cosplays represent her personality traits. Before her days as a cosplayer, Rodrigues struggled with her weight, tipping the scales at almost 300 pounds. Once she was 14-years-old, she wanted to better her health physically and mentally.

“Like She-Hulk is the epitome of my weight training,” said Rodrigues. “Or Hippolyta, doing what’s right even though it may be hard.”

Rodrigues, who has also cosplayed as Black Widow, Cheetah, and Captain America, realizes some fans may pressure cosplayers to be exact look-alikes. But her Superman cosplay is more about the characteristics of the character than the gender.

“It’s creative reinterpretation and a chance to broaden the opportunities,” said Rodrigues. “The cosplay community I’ve come across is welcoming to that regardless of gender. I still had people wanting to take pictures with me as Superman, group pictures, and it’s a chance to be your own superhero.”

Both Graboski and Rodrigues have taken their cosplay talents outside of Florida with Rodrigues going to New York and Graboski to London. They also both believe that no matter the profession,

community, or branch of culture, there shouldn’t be any room for bullying.

“Like the characters, the heroes, go on the path that’s always right,” said Rodrigues. “Cosplay is what you make it and we have the ability to make it more than just what you’ve only seen from this one point of view of sex, race, or anything. It’s about women supporting women, men supporting women. It’s all-inclusive. Everyone should support one another regardless of what people say, do, and how they want to categorize you and live by that.”

Alexis Graboski as White Diamond from Steven Universe.

FASHION&D

Making a DIFFA-rence

Fashion and Design Industry with a passion.

BY CHRISTIAN ILES

Over thirty-six years ago, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, was founded by a passionate and loving group of designers in New York. It was no small task to mobilize the nation’s nest designers and create illustrious events and programs to raise awareness, as well as highlight the cause of this most deadly disease. Fast forward to today, DIFFA has grown to many chapters and community partners across the United States with well over $50 million in grants provided to HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide.

The DIFFA / DALLAS Chapter is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most successful standout organizations. Originally, the rst show was called the “Dallas Collection” and was under the direction of Executive Director Steve Burrus and Jan Strimple, who is considered Dallas’ premiere fashion event producer. The original group that launched DIFFA Dallas and The Dallas Collection event include Wendy Krispin, Michael and Donna Faircloth, Sherry Hayslip, David Sutherland; as well as Karen Muncy and John Ahrens. There was a collaboration between interior design showrooms who provided upholstery fabric, and designers who took those fabrics to create the most fabulous and elegant ball gowns to hit the runway.

The rst show was held at Mistral, a nightclub at The Anatole Hotel. Although the gowns were stunning, the sizes of the gowns were modelesque sizes two to four. Of course, very few people were

House of DIFFAEXTRAVAGANZA Chairs

FASHION & DESIGN

going to bid on a dress that they would never be able to wear. So, after the rst event, the creative designers met and brainstormed about how to create an article of clothing with a broader mass appeal; one size ts all. Strimple had seen that Barney’s New York was featuring a jean jacket that Madonna was wearing in her music video. A lightbulb went o ! Provide a jean jacket which would serve as a blank canvas; then, allow major designers like Bob Mackie, Bill Blass, and Todd Oldham create their own personal masterpieces showcasing their brand.

The jackets were beautifully displayed prior to the fashion show where patrons could view and bid on them. In most cases, the jackets were paired o with luxurious trips, dinners, furniture, and much, much more. The jackets were then worn by stunning models in the over-thetop fashion show production. All was a smashing success!

While the jean jacket had a grand run for more than twenty years, a new and fresh idea needed

to be introduced. Strimple, who had taken some time o from DIFFA, was asked if she could once again assist in creating a new fashion idea to replace the jean jacket. With her keen sense of style and marketing acumen, she presented the idea of replacing the jean jacket with the smoking jacket. It would be an ode to the Yves Saint Laurent Smoking Jacket which was truly “Smoking Haute.”

There are so many people who have added greatly to the success of DIFFA/DALLAS in its early conception, one of those being Al James who served as Executive Director from 19952001. He later came back to DIFFA as Director of Operations and Events from 2008-2011. James later joined the board in 2016 and continues to serve to this day. He was integral in making sure that supporters of DIFFA came from all elds of ne design and the visual arts.

Another champion for DIFFA/ DALLAS is none other than Joe G. Pacetti, a rare and precious jeweler based out of Dallas, TX and Palm Beach, FL.

FASHION & DESIGN

Pacetti has been a supporter of DIFFA since 1990, including as board member for six years, designer for six jackets and buyer of over twenty- ve jackets. He was the Honorary Chair in 2005, “Legacy of Love’’ Award Recipient in 2007, DIFFA Legend in 2016 and Council Ambassador. In a nutshell, Pacetti has helped raise millions of dollars for the foundation over many years.

Rhonda Sargent Chambers has been another instrumental part of DIFFA/DALLAS since its inception. When asked how she rst got involved with the foundation, Chambers replied, “along with my friends, we went to businesses and to the homes of our close friends where we asked for donations for a friend who could not a ord a doctor nor medications, in the HIV/AIDS beginning stages.” At rst Chambers was modeling in the shows and later became the creative director in 2001.

She then served on the board in 2006 where her rst “grant” site visit was at Bryan’s House, where she met founder, Stephanie Gura. Cham-

bers was allowed to go to the nursery to hold an infant with HIV/AIDS. She said,” it was so impactful, I cried through the entire visit.” Now thirty-two years later, Chambers and her team spend eleven months working on each show.

The brilliant team that creates this most amazing fashion show consists of Brian Brothers of Planet Productions who spearheads all the technical magic and wizardry, Denzel Adams who oversees design and choreography, and Chambers who most elegantly delegates and directs the talent and casting.

Today DIFFA/DALLAS is re-emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic and preparing for the House of DIFFA Fashion Show. Co-Chairs Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak and David White, along with Chair Emeritus Tim Garippa, are excited to announce that the theme for the upcoming show is: EXTRAVAGANZA. The event will be held at The Omni Hotel on May 7th, 2022.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.DIFFADallas.org

Joe G. Pacetti

Jan Strimple and Al James

Rhonda Sargent Chambers

ACTIVISM &CHARITY

Angels in Action

In Los Angeles County, “Food Angels” bring hope and healthy meals to people debilitated by serious illness.

BY MELISSA-MARIE MARKS

“Aperson’s diet often has life and death consequences,” says Karen Pearl, Chair at the Food is Medicine Coalition, in a letter regarding medically tailored meal policy recommendations written to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra in March of 2021. “Early and reliable access to medically tailored meals helps individuals live healthy and productive lives, produces better overall health outcomes and reduces health care costs.”

It was 1989 in Los Angeles County, long before the research supported the use of nutritious food as medicine, when New York Times bestselling author and spiritual thought leader Marianne Williamson, whose sister was living with cancer, decided to start feeding people who were too sick to feed themselves.

Williamson founded the Los Angeles Center for Living, a place where people living with cancer and other serious illnesses could come to get a hot meal and emotional support from people in their community.

“One day, Marianne noticed that a whole group of people didn’t show up for lunch anymore, and she asked, ‘Where are these people?’” explains Richard Ayoub, Executive Director of Project Angel Food.

The group of people Williamson was referring to were those clients living with AIDS during the height of the U.S. AIDS crisis, and these people were, in fact, too sick to leave their homes.

“Marianne asked, ‘How are they getting fed?’ and nobody knew. So, she started this little project called Project Angel Food where people would cook meals in the church and other people would take the meals to the people who were homebound,” Ayoub recalls.

Thirty-two years later, Project Angel Food, a 501(c)3 non-pro t organization, is still serving meals throughout Los Angeles County to people living with HIV, as well as other serious illnesses like congestive heart failure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, COPD, end-stage renal disease, and cancer.

Project Angel Food is one of about 15 organizations across the U.S. that make up the Food is Medicine Coalition (FIMC), an association dedi-

MELISSA-MARIE

MARKS is a freelance writer based in North-Central Florida. She specializes in writing about green business and green technology, renewable energy, conservation and sustainability, and holistic health. Melissa graduated from The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery in 2012 and practiced as a Florida licensed midwife until 2018, when she retired from private practice to focus on her writing career. She spends her leisure time camping with her kids and manifesting a life she loves by utilizing the law of attraction.

BY

PHOTO

ACTIVISM & CHARITY

cated to the advancement of research promoting medically tailored meals (MTMs), nutrition education and counseling to critically ill patients.

According to the research conducted and compiled by the Food is Medicine Coalition, critically ill patients receiving MTMs have a 70% reduction of entering the hospital ER, a 52% reduction of being admitted to an inpatient hospital facility, and a 72% reduction of being admitted to a skilled nursing facility.

Here’s how the program works: When a patient becomes a client with Project Angel Food, they are connected with a Registered Dietician Nutritionist (RDN) who reviews their medical records and custom creates a meal plan designed to assist with the patient’s healing process. The RDN provides nutrition education and counseling to help the patient learn to eat healthfully.

“One of the key components of our program is nutrition education and nutrition counseling,” Ayoub says. “We have six registered dieticians on sta ; they have such precise expertise in nutrition. These dieticians are always on stand-by, and when a client has a question, one of our dieticians is always available to answer it.”

The medically tailored meals cooked up by Project Angel Food typically fall under one of ve main diet categories: heart healthy/diabetic-friendly, chronic kidney disease (non-dialysis), chronic kidney disease (on dialysis), GI-friendly (for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy), and vegetarian.

Meals are made from scratch in the Project Angel Food kitchen by professional chefs and kitchen volunteers and then ash-frozen to preserve freshness. The meals are then loaded up into one of 10 Project Angel Food delivery vans and delivered once per week to clients in a seven-meal bundle.

But medically tailored meals aren’t the only gifts Project Angel Food provides its clients. Special birthday bags with non-food gifts like soaps, candles, and books are delivered to each client on their birthday, and there are also special meals delivered on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Juneteenth, and Veteran’s Day.

Mothers who are clients at Project Angel Food also receive owers on Mother’s Day, as well as daily breakfasts for their children.

“We realized that a lot of the mothers in our program weren’t getting better, and then we found out that they were giving their meals to

ACTIVISM & CHARITY

their kids,” says Ayoub. “So, we started providing breakfast for all the dependents in the home, at the client’s request. We’re currently feeding about 100 kids breakfast every day. The program is called the Wilbur May Healthy Mornings Program and is funded by the Wilbur May Foundation.”

ADDITIONAL

ACTION DURING COVID CRISIS

When the world shut down in 2020, Project Angel Food kept its doors and its kitchen open. They took on an additional 900 clients in need, many of whom were seniors ages 55 and up who were sheltering in place to protect themselves from becoming sick with Covid-19. On top of

their regular MTM deliveries, Project Angel Food made sure their clients had at least three weeks’ worth of shelf stable meals, extra frozen meals, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.

To limit the spread of the virus, Project Angel Food’s kitchen volunteers were replaced with paid sta —upping paid sta member positions from 47 to 75, a 60% increase, and an additional $60,000 monthly expense.

With all the additional people to feed, as well as extra sta to pay, Project Angel Food needed to raise more money to cover the expenses.

Unfortunately, its annual fundraising gala, the Angel Awards, was no longer an option as public gatherings were discouraged by the CDC in order to atten Covid-19’s curve.

“We have a very creative sta and an amazing board that always comes up with ideas and activates them when we need them,” Ayoub says.

“We started a new fundraiser when Covid hit—an old school Jerry Lewis-style telethon where celebrities provide entertainment in order to raise money. We’ve done it twice now, and it’s going to be an annual event. The rst year, we raised

$720,000. The second year, we raised $1.1 million. Post-pandemic, we hope to do both the telethon and the Angel Awards gala.”

Project Angel Food depends on donations to continue feeding those in need. For every dollar raised by Project Angel Food, 86 cents go directly to making medically tailored meals to feed its clients.

And in the past 32 years, they’ve made a lot of meals. About Fourteen million meals, to be exact. And they’ve got no plans to stop any time soon.

“When we feed just one person, we know there is a whole circle of individuals bene ting from that service,” says Ayoub. “This is how we take care of our community.”

SEEN

A Night to Remember

Embraced as Magazine of the Year at the Florida Magazine Association 2021

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

Charlie Awards Gala

Ifyou have never been to the Westin Sarasota hotel, make plans to do so. The panoramic views from the rooftop bar and pool are marvelous, as well as the art deco design and resort amenities from lobby to rooftop. As memorable as those features were, the Westin Sarasota will forever be remembered by those who attended the Florida Magazine Association 2021 Charlie Awards Gala on Friday, July 16, 2021 as the setting for the night a small startup LGBTQ magazine called Embrace from Ocala, Fla. made history.

Established in 1953, the Florida Magazine Association never had a LGBTQ magazine member until Embrace. Established in 1957, the Charlie Awards never had a startup magazine win rst place for both Best New Magazine and Best Overall Magazine in its inaugural year until Embrace. That night, the Florida Magazine Association took it a step further by awarding Embrace with rst place Best New Magazine and Best Overall Magazine, as well as Magazine of the Year. In total, Embrace was awarded with 22 awards: 8 Charlie, 6 Silver, 7 Bronze, and the sole Magazine of the Year.

Embrace was the only magazine to win top honors in all four Best Overall categories, taking Charlies in Best Overall Magazine and Best Overall Writing, and Silvers in Best Overall Design and Best Overall Digital Innovator. Other

top honors recipients included: Internal Auditor, Boca Magazine, Florida Realtor Magazine, Sarasota Magazine, FORUM: The Magazine of Florida Humanities, The Boca Raton Observer, and Palm Beach Illustrated

The Florida Magazine Association also awarded Sabrina Salovitz as 2021 winner of the Doug Damerst Scholarship, a $1,000 cash prize. A junior at Florida Coast University pursuing a major in journalism with minors in interdisciplinary studies and political science, Salovitz is the Editor-in-Chief of her university paper, Eagle News She has also been published in her hometown newspaper, The Port Charlotte Sun

In addition to the event itself, Embrace Magazine will always hold the judges’ comments as motivation moving forward. For Magazine of the Year, one judge said “From front to back this is a brilliantly conceived and executed magazine, with edit, art, and design seamlessly combining to create a look that is exciting and modern … Features are treated as moments of visual storytelling … Great work, and easily my choice for Magazine of the Year.” Another judge for MOTY wrote, “This is a very exciting new entrant in Florida’s magazine community. I’m voting for it because it breaks the norms enough to excite and engage, yet maintains a high bar of quality in terms of content and design. Please, newcomer, do not take your foot o the gas pedal.”

To that judge I say, “Not to worry, I won’t.”

• First print magazine in Spanish and English

• Written and produced by local talent

• Current content, interesting and resourceful articles

• Attractive media for both English and Spanish speakers

info@holacentralflorida.com Phone: 440-832-1223

Your Self

Maintain Your Diet and Enjoy the Holidays

ophy, I tend to be more lenient during the holiday season.

BY CORY FREEMAN

are fast approaching the holiday season. This tends to be the most challenging time of year to maintain the diet we choose for the physique we want. Often, what happens is we have an all or nothing attitude when it comes to diet and nutrition.

WeThe truth is that 100% compliance to a diet is not sustainable for more than a few months at a time. What I’d like to propose is that we subscribe to an 80/20 philosophy. This is how I maintain a balance of foods for fuel and foods that I enjoy. Eighty percent of the calories I consume are from whole foods that are speci c to achieving my tness and physique goals. I allow myself up to 20% of my calories to come from food that I enjoy. What this looks like when applied is that the vast majority of my planned meals and snacks are healthy options. I do, however, give myself wiggle room to have part of a donut or cookie that someone brought into the o ce to share. Perhaps, I’m just in the mood for something delicious after dinner, and so I indulge in a small bowl of ice cream. With

Each day I commit to sticking to my healthy eating habits, but on the days I know I will be attending holiday parties or dinners I reduce the calories I eat during the day. I do not skip any meals, ever. With the reduced calories during the day, it allows me to eat those delicious desserts and rich foods we enjoy during this season, and I do so without feeling guilty. I then get back on my usual eating schedule and meal plan the next day.

This method allows me to enjoy the holiday season and keeps me on track for my tness goals at the same time. If you nd yourself going days in a row where you have a di cult time getting back to eating healthy and consistently, then simply just let that be part of your tness journey and get back to your 80/20 ratio as soon as you can. You will feel better physically and emotionally as you return to healthy eating. Happy holidays, everyone. Wishing you happiness and joy in your journey through life.

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 works as a physical therapist in the home health industry.

Queer Representation in Media

BY KATIE M c COLLOUGH

a teenager, I was secretly obsessed with the British T.V. show “Skins” for the singular reason that there was an out lesbian character in a couple of episodes. I was still attending my small, religious high school at the time (where you would be sent to the principal’s o ce if your teacher con scated a note containing revealing information about your less-than-acceptable sexuality - yes, this happened). The feeling of isolation, of otherness, was given a reprieve when I was able to see myself re ected in a loved, mainstream television character. This is often the case for many queer people.

AsMainstream media can impact how we see ourselves, our con dence, and our overall mental health. Especially for adolescent LGBTQ+ people, the media can provide positive role models and a sense of community. According to research, “cultural factors such as media may in uence important psychological domains, including individuals’ self-perceptions.” (Gomillion & Giuliano, “The In uence of Media Role Models on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Identity”) Alternatively, “the message that can come from a society in which LGBTQ people are invisible, especially through the lens of the media, is that ‘you don’t exist and you don’t matter.’” (Jennifer O’Brien, “Psychology Today”) Representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media most notably began in the late ‘90s with Ellen DeGeneres coming out on television and the show “Will &

Grace.” Since then, our community has risen in visibility with shows like “Pose, “The L Word,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Schitt’s Creek,” to name a few favorites. In GLAAD’s 2020 Where We Are on TV report, “10.2% [regular characters on broadcast scripted primetime broadcasting] were identi ed as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer.” This is the highest percentage found since the beginning of this yearly report, fteen years prior. It is no coincidence that the rise in media visibility parallels the increasing acceptance of our community since the late ‘90s. While there is still so much work to be done, the social progress is clear. This contributes in a major way to our mental health and self-acceptance.

Applying the bene ts of exposure to media that re ects your LGBTQ+ identity can be simple. If you haven’t already, nd an online community of people who re ect and support your identity and/or sexuality. The power of a community with like-minded people knows no bounds! Look for queer folks on social media to follow and support, listen to a podcast produced by LGBTQ+ people, watch and rate movies with a cast who re ects how you identify, and watch T.V. shows with characters that resonate with you!

Until next time...you can nd me watching Willow and Tara in Bu y the Vampire Slayer and listening to Sweet Bitter, a podcast about Sappho.

KATIE McCOLLOUGH 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

Spiritual Advocacy for Those Who Seem Different from Us

BY REV. DONNA DAVIS, RN (YP i R)

today’s day and age, people appear to be on one side or the other: the left versus the right, Republican versus Democrat, straight versus gay. All of these seemingly opposites, can make it very hard to be your brother’s keeper.

InIn the Bible, God asked Cain where Abel was and he replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The truth is, no one can exist in the world without the help of someone else. We are born vulnerable and small, completely entrusted to the arms of others. Without other human beings, we would not survive as babies and as children.

This means we need each other. At some point in our life, we are taught we don’t need anybody else. Occasionally some of us, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, have been pushed to the wayside by those who should have kept us safe and who should’ve been our keeper.

Some have even been ostracized by the very parents who are responsible for them and their emotional

well-being. We harden our hearts to others because we have been hurt by others. However, even when someone is di erent from us, we can show up and advocate for our neighbors.

We usually do this when a great tragedy hits. What if we were to do it, even when they are di erent from us or when they appear to be on the other side of the fence? Without the push of a great disaster? The only way to bridge the gap, is for someone to take the rst step.

Those of us who have been hurt in the past, know what it’s like to be in pain. So, let us soften our hearts and take the rst step. If we take the rst step then maybe, just maybe, it would show that there is still humanity and love in the world, leading others to take a step as well.

Eventually, we may meet in the middle. After all, as long as someone takes the rst step and advocates for those di erent from us, we can start the long journey into forgiveness and also into uni cation with our fellow human beings.

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

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

FFrom the memoirs of Ocali, the Quartermaster of the Vengeful Valkerie:

rom the memoirs of Ocali, the Quartermaster of the Vengeful Valkerie:

In the late eightteenth and early nineteenth centuries (1750 - 1850) Florida was in turmoil There were wars and violence between France, Great Britain, Spain, the Thirteen American Colonies, pirates, American Indians, runaway slaves, opportunists and outlaws There have been monster sightings to include: Wendigos, Bigfoots, a Kraken, Chupacabras, and Voodoo Zombies In Europe, the Macaroni style of fashion had proliferated and had made its way to the Florida Peninsula In Boom Town, just south of Tampa, this time was known as The Golden

In the late eightteenth and early nineteenth centuries (1750 - 1850) Florida was in turmoil There were wars and violence between France, Great Britain, Spain, the Thirteen American Colonies, pirates, American Indians, runaway slaves, opportunists and outlaws There have been monster sightings to include: Wendigos, Bigfoots, a Kraken, Chupacabras, and Voodoo Zombies. In Europe, the Macaroni style of fashion had proliferated and had made its way to the Florida Peninsula. In Boom Town, just south of Tampa, this time was known as The Golden

Age of Chaos.

Age of Chaos.

"[Florida], a derelict open to the occupancy of every enemy, civilized or savage, of the United States, and serving no other earthly purpose than as a post of annoyance to them."

"[Florida], a derelict open to the occupancy of every enemy, civilized or savage, of the United States, and serving no other earthly purpose than as a post of annoyance to them "

John Quincy Adams, US Secretary of State 1818

John Quincy Adams, US Secretary of State 1818.

Who is the man behind the Venean mask?

Who is the man behind the Venean mask?

Some say he is the son of Neptune and Amphitrite and he exited a whale's mouth while in the ocean.

Some say he is the son of Neptune and Amphitrite and he exited a whale's mouth while in the ocean

Some say he is the last descendant of the Lost City of Atlantis and only he knows where it's treasures lie.

Some say he is the last descendant of the Lost City of Atlantis and only he knows where it's treasures lie

Some say he is hundreds of years old and is kept young and regenerates by the Fountain of Youth.

Some say he is hundreds of years old and is kept young and regenerates by the Fountain of Youth

Some say he is the last King of El Dorado, others say he is El Dorado.

Some say he is the last King of El Dorado, others say he is El Dorado

He is Angel Face, gaze upon him and tremble for he is both liberator and conqueror.

He is Angel Face, gaze upon him and tremble for he is both liberator and conqueror.

“I don't believe it, I just got tea-bagged!” Angel Face exclaimed

“I don't believe it, I just got tea-bagged!” Angel Face exclaimed.

“I don't think you ' re saying it right, I'm sure that describes something else around here. Don't you mean you got sandbagged,” replied Ocali, the Quartermaster

“Nonsense, I got tea-bagged ”

“Nonsense, I got tea-bagged ”

“Ok, but don't say it so loud next time ”

“Ok, but don't say it so loud next time ”

A Haven of Vice and Villainy

A Haven of Vice and Villainy

Angel Face and Ocali walked away om the card table and into the streets of Boom Town. Normally an expert card player, Angel Face never loses unless the other player is cheating.

Angel Face and Ocali walked away om the card table and into the streets of Boom Town. Normally an expert card player, Angel Face never loses unless the other player is cheating.

"This port city is nothing but a haven for vice and villainy," said Angel Face.

"This port city is nothing but a haven for vice and villainy," said Angel Face.

"Look there isn't that Benjamin Franklin," Ocali pointed to a figure in the shadows.

"Look there isn't that Benjamin Franklin," Ocali pointed to a figure in the shadows.

Benjamin Franklin emerged om a cartographer's office with the collar of his cloak popped up to obscure his profile.

Benjamin Franklin emerged om a cartographer's office with the collar of his cloak popped up to obscure his profile.

Angel Face strutted over to the figure, "Benji, it's been a long time, I heard you were in London. What are you doing in Florida?"

“I don't think you ' re saying it right, I'm sure that describes something else around here Don't you mean you got sandbagged,” replied Ocali, the Quartermaster

Benjamin replied, "I don't want to keep secrets but it's need to know only business. Guys om the colonies have been getting arrested for sedition lately and there are spies everywhere. I thought you were in Tripoli fighting the Barbary Pirates."

Angel Face strutted over to the figure, "Benji, it's been a long time, I heard you were in London. What are you doing in Florida?"

Benjamin replied, "I don't want to keep secrets but it's need to know only business. Guys om the colonies have been getting arrested for sedition lately and there are spies everywhere. I thought you were in Tripoli fighting the Barbary Pirates "

"You know what they say, to catch a pirate you have to hire a pirate. I don't mean to humble brag but before I got there it was fashionable for the Corsairs to wear red shirts. By the time I le they were all wearing brown pants."

"I've heard you ' re one of the best swordsmen on the open seas "

"I've heard you ' re one of the best swordsmen on the open seas. "

"You are always the charming one Benji One day they will put your face on some currency "

"You are always the charming one Benji One day they will put your face on some currency "

"You should see my next invention, if it's successful maybe they will put me on the Spanish Dollar "

"You should see my next invention, if it's successful maybe they will put me on the Spanish Dollar "

"You should be more optimistic, think higher "

"You should be more optimistic, think higher "

"You know what they say, to catch a pirate you have to hire a pirate I don't mean to humble brag but before I got there it was fashionable for the Corsairs to wear red shirts By the time I le they were all wearing brown pants "

A B rothel

A B rothel On Ever Corner B ut I Can't Find A Horolo gist

On Ever Corner B ut I Can't Find

A Horolo gist

Angel Face and Ocali walked about two blocks down mainstreet when a cannon ball landed to the le of them in a small corn field The first perception was an attack by sea but then a figure emerged om the dust and smoke

Angel Face and Ocali walked about two blocks down mainstreet when a cannon ball landed to the le of them in a small corn field. The first perception was an attack by sea but then a figure emerged om the dust and smoke.

Angel Face immediately recognized him, "Still riding cannon balls for transportation Baron Munchausen?"

Angel Face immediately recognized him, "Still riding cannon balls for transportation Baron Munchausen?"

"It's the fastest way to get om my ship to the port, you should try it sometime," replied Munchausen

"It's the fastest way to get om my ship to the port, you should try it sometime," replied Munchausen.

"No thanks I did try it once and I landed in a pig pen "

"No thanks. I did try it once and I landed in a pig pen. "

"The takeoff is the easy part, the landing the hardest Sometimes I land in quicksand and have to pull myself out by my own hair What brings you to Boom Town?" the Baron replied

"The takeoff is the easy part, the landing the hardest. Sometimes I land in quicksand and have to pull myself out by my own hair. What brings you to Boom Town?" the Baron replied.

"We've been at sea a long time and now we are badly in need of a Horologist," replied Angel Face

"We've been at sea a long time and now we are badly in need of a Horologist," replied Angel Face

Munchausen replied with a red face, "A long time at sea can do that to the best of us. This is Boom Town, look around there is a brothel on every street corner. You can throw a rock in any direction and hit the side of one. "

Munchausen replied with a red face, "A long time at sea can do that to the best of us This is Boom Town, look around there is a brothel on every street corner You can throw a rock in any direction and hit the side of one "

"Not a whoreologist, a horologist We need a clockmaker Our John Harrison H4 Marine Chronometer is broken In a pinch I can rely on celestial navigation but I really need the chronometer working to accurately find my longitude," said Angel Face

"Not a whoreologist, a horologist. We need a clockmaker. Our John Harrison H4 Marine Chronometer is broken. In a pinch I can rely on celestial navigation but I really need the chronometer working to accurately find my longitude," said Angel Face.

"A clockmaker in Boom Town is a rarity. If you were looking for a mercenary, a pathfinder, or a gunsmith I could point you to half a dozen. Try the Dandy Cock, if you don't know where it is ask around," Baron Munchuasen disengaged the conversation and walked away.

"A clockmaker in Boom Town is a rarity If you were looking for a mercenary, a pathfinder, or a gunsmith I could point you to half a dozen Try the Dandy Cock, if you don't know where it is ask around," Baron Munchuasen disengaged the conversation and walked away

Ocali was le bewildered, "Angle Face, don't you think if we walked around Boom Town asking about a Dandy Cock we would be slapped in the face a few times?"

Ocali was le bewildered, "Angle Face, don't you think if we walked around Boom Town asking about a Dandy Cock we would be slapped in the face a few times?"

"I know of it already, it's a place. It's a pub established by pirates that escaped Nassau at the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. It's emblem looks more like a well-dressed rooster."

"I know of it already, it's a place. It's a pub established by pirates that escaped Nassau at the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. It's emblem looks more like a well-dressed rooster."

The One-Eyed Dick

The One-Eyed Dick

On the other side of town, two miles north, Harry Balzac is shaking down some orphans. Balzac grew up as a serial criminal. He started in a gang of street children doing petty crimes and evolved into grave robbing, opium distribution, and assassination. He was captured by police in France but was given a pardon aer betraying his entire network of conspirators. He became a private detective using his previous criminal skills to solve and prevent crimes. His methods are far om lawful. He got his nickname "the oneeyed dick" aer he was kicked in the head by an angry donkey. He was le blind in one eye, an indentation in his skull, and a large scar going down his face.

The orphans of Boom Town had to hustle by day so they can afford to pay for room and board by nightfall. They had to repeat this every 24 hours. Balzac knew that the orphans always seemed to know everyone ' s business. He could always bribe them for information but he preferred to ighten them. Using this tactic he learned of a meeting at the Dandy Cock between the Spanish Privateer Jose Gaspar and the Count of FloridaBlanca.

On the other side of town, two miles north, Harry Balzac is shaking down some orphans. Balzac grew up as a serial criminal. He started in a gang of street children doing petty crimes and evolved into grave robbing, opium distribution, and assassination. He was captured by police in France but was given a pardon aer betraying his entire network of conspirators. He became a private detective using his previous criminal skills to solve and prevent crimes His methods are far om lawful He got his nickname "the oneeyed dick" aer he was kicked in the head by an angry donkey He was le blind in one eye, an indentation in his skull, and a large scar going down his face

The orphans of Boom Town had to hustle by day so they can afford to pay for room and board by nightfall They had to repeat this every 24 hours Balzac knew that the orphans always seemed to know everyone ' s business He could always bribe them for information but he preferred to ighten them Using this tactic he learned of a meeting at the Dandy Cock between the Spanish Privateer Jose Gaspar and the Count of FloridaBlanca

Gaspar had just plundered a major haul in the Gulf of Mexico and Balzac thought he could charge what he liked to call a protection tariff

Gaspar had just plundered a major haul in the Gulf of Mexico and Balzac thought he could charge what he liked to call a protection tariff

Revers e David Versus Goliath

Revers e David Versus Goliath

An orphan with amazing parkour skills traveled to the pub faster than Balzac. Angel Face, Ocali, FloridaBlanca, and Gaspar are alreay there. The orphan alerts Gaspar of Balzac's plan.

An orphan with amazing parkour skills traveled to the pub faster than Balzac. Angel Face, Ocali, FloridaBlanca, and Gaspar are alreay there. The orphan alerts Gaspar of Balzac's plan.

"Angel Face, Detective Balzac is becoming a real problem. Not just for me but all the other captains. He demands 30% of revenues om everyone. You said you ' re in Boom Town because you need to repair your marine chronometer. I have an extra one that I plundered off of my last haul. You can have it if you can find a way to paci Balzac," said Gaspar.

"Angel Face, Detective Balzac is becoming a real problem. Not just for me but all the other captains. He demands 30% of revenues om everyone You said you ' re in Boom Town because you need to repair your marine chronometer I have an extra one that I plundered off of my last haul You can have it if you can find a way to paci Balzac," said Gaspar

Angel Face thought quietly for a moment and then looked to Ocali, "What was the name of the con we did in Japan, where the mark was the Japanese swordsman?"

"The angry naked bulldog," replied Ocali

"The angry naked bulldog," replied Ocali.

Angel Face thought quietly for a moment and then looked to Ocali, "What was the name of the con we did in Japan, where the mark was the Japanese swordsman?"

"No the other swordsman, not the Samurai the Yakuza "

"The reverse David versus Goliath " "That's the one, the trick is to provoke a duel but to win by not winning," revealed Angel Face.

"No the other swordsman, not the Samurai the Yakuza."

"The reverse David versus Goliath."

"That's the one, the trick is to provoke a duel but to win by not winning," revealed Angel Face.

Gaspar said, "No one would ever believe I would lose in a duel to Balzac. The only better swordsman in Boom Town than me is you. "

Gaspar said, "No one would ever believe I would lose in a duel to Balzac. The only better swordsman in Boom Town than me is you. "

"You will not be fighting, the duelist will be FloridaBlanca."

"You will not be fighting, the duelist will be FloridaBlanca."

Just the Tip: Duel at the Dandy Cock

Just the Tip: Duel at the Dandy Cock

The plan was working perfectly Balzac saw Gaspar and started to attempt his shakedown, demanding a 30% protection tariff, when FloridaBlanca interrupted him no less than six times Balzac, feeling insulted, demanded a duel Angel Face volunteered to be second to Balzac and Ocali volunteered to be second to FloridaBlanca The participants agreed on terms The duel was not to be to the death but first blood wins Both participants wore white shirt and pants so any blood would be obvious A scratch by the tip of the sword was enough to win The duel would take place on a raised platform behind the Dandy Cock where supply wagons unloaded cargo. Each second introduced their duelist.

Ocali introduced FloridaBlanca, "José Moñino y Redondo, Count of FloridaBlanca and Secretary of State to Carlos III."

The plan was working perfectly. Balzac saw Gaspar and started to attempt his shakedown, demanding a 30% protection tariff, when FloridaBlanca interrupted him no less than six times. Balzac, feeling insulted, demanded a duel. Angel Face volunteered to be second to Balzac and Ocali volunteered to be second to FloridaBlanca. The participants agreed on terms. The duel was not to be to the death but first blood wins. Both participants wore white shirt and pants so any blood would be obvious. A scratch by the tip of the sword was enough to win. The duel would take place on a raised platform behind the Dandy Cock where supply wagons unloaded cargo. Each second introduced their duelist.

Ocali introduced FloridaBlanca, "José Moñino y Redondo, Count of FloridaBlanca and Secretary of State to Carlos III."

Angle Face introduced Harry Balzac, "Hairy Ballsack, dick of Boom Town."

Angle Face introduced Harry Balzac, "Hairy Ballsack, dick of Boom Town."

The crowd erupted into laughter. Shills placed in the audience immediately called Balzac a Judas for betrayal of his crew in France.

The crowd erupted into laughter. Shills placed in the audience immediately called Balzac a Judas for betrayal of his crew in France.

Enraged Balzac lunged at FloridaBlanca and appeared to trip him as FloridaBlanca fell backwards off of the platform. Immediately the crowd formed a wall at the edge of the platform looking down at the fallen duelist.

Balzac desperately tried to get to the ont of the wall to see if FloridaBlanca was still in the fight. It took a few minutes, but within that time Balzac heard cries of disbelief and even murmurs of murder. By the time he got to the ont he saw FloridaBlanca laid out on the floor lifeless with his own sword impaled through him and blood coming om his wound and mouth.

Enraged Balzac lunged at FloridaBlanca and appeared to trip him as FloridaBlanca fell backwards off of the platform. Immediately the crowd formed a wall at the edge of the platform looking down at the fallen duelist

Balzac desperately tried to get to the ont of the wall to see if FloridaBlanca was still in the fight It took a few minutes, but within that time Balzac heard cries of disbelief and even murmurs of murder By the time he got to the ont he saw FloridaBlanca laid out on the floor lifeless with his own sword impaled through him and blood coming om his wound and mouth

Angle Face got to Balzac first, "This does not look good. FloridaBlanca was an important politician om Spain. Spain will clearly send a man-of-war with soldiers to find out what happened. All they will hear is that both of you were in a duel and FloridaBlanca ended up with a sword run through him."

Balzac began to panic, "I cannot go back to prison, I don't want to face the gallows. Angel Face, you need to help me, how can I escape?"

"There is a ship at port ready to leave within the halfhour for the Caribbean. I have two men who can escort you. Leave everything behind," answered Angel Face

Angle Face got to Balzac first, "This does not look good FloridaBlanca was an important politician om Spain Spain will clearly send a man-of-war with soldiers to find out what happened All they will hear is that both of you were in a duel and FloridaBlanca ended up with a sword run through him " Balzac began to panic, "I cannot go back to prison, I don't want to face the gallows Angel Face, you need to help me, how can I escape?"

"There is a ship at port ready to leave within the halfhour for the Caribbean I have two men who can escort you Leave everything behind," answered Angel Face

"Done, I can't thank you more Angel Face," said Balzac

With that he was gone A few minutes later FloridaBlanca opened his eyes, "Did it work?"

"Done, I can't thank you more Angel Face," said Balzac. With that he was gone. A few minutes later FloridaBlanca opened his eyes, "Did it work?"

The pub erupted in cheers.

The pub erupted in cheers.

Angel Face said, "Not the first time I helped someone fake a death. Balzac has more enemies in the Caribbean than he has here in Boom Town. I'm sure he won't be back. Piano man, play a tune we can dance to."

Angel Face said, "Not the first time I helped someone fake a death. Balzac has more enemies in the Caribbean than he has here in Boom Town. I'm sure he won't be back. Piano man, play a tune we can dance to."

Angel Face holds the H4 Marine Chronometer high above his head and shouts, "Everyone dance!"

Angel Face holds the H4 Marine Chronometer high above his head and shouts, "Everyone dance!"

The End

The End

Use  leer d  enclosed map  search  d find  hidden treure You must decipher  code low d find clues   map.

Vhdu dw wkh Hq gv ri wkh Zruog, wkh Nhb lv Zkhuh wkh Prrq Uhdhv Khdyhq

Vhdu dw wkh Hq gv ri wkh Zruog, wkh Nhb lv Zkhuh wkh Prrq Uhdhv Khdyhq Use  leer d  enclosed map  search

Yours truly, Angel Face

find  hidden treure. You must decipher  code low d find clues   map. Yours truly, Angel Face

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

The Grindr Survival Guide

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR, WITH TONGUE FIRMLY PLANTED IN CHEEK

Asmost gay men know, Grindr is the gay sex app that has replaced gay bars for hook ups. It is loaded with pitfalls, yet these days there are few other options, so a necessity for some. A challenge for others.

First rule – don’t do it. Save yourself the aggravation and meet someone through friends, at the gym, or jack o to porn. If you are like most guys, you will ignore this advice and do it anyway. For the thrill of it, right? If you must, then you should at least go prepared.

Here are some guidelines to the eight types of men you will meet on Grindr and the tools you will need to survive your ordeal.

Note: the wisdom shared here has nothing to do with ethics. It is simply a practical guideline on what to expect and what you will need if you decide to go through with it.

The Hustler. This will be the best-looking and/ or youngest guy, usually with the biggest package you will nd on Grindr. But, he comes with a price tag. He will always want money and sometimes a ride.

Need: a fat wallet with disposable cash and your ethics checked at the door. The latter will apply to everyone on the list, except for the last one.

The Uggo. There is a reason this guy only posted his torso without a headshot, and it is not because he’s on the downlow. He’s 20 years older than his pro le pic implies and 50 pounds heavier.

Need: a blindfold, and a six-pack of beer. It’s

JOHN SOTOMAYOR is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Embrace Magazine. He has 15+ years experience as a journalist, writer, editor and publisher. He has approximately 35 years experience as a gay man, and roughly 10 years experience — o and on — on Grindr. He is quick to note that none of that experience makes him an expert on anything or qualified to give advice to anyone.

THE CATFISH THE DOWN LOW

THE UGGO

best if you cannot see or no longer care.

The Down Low. He uses the grayed-out pro le pic and usually requires long conversations before he trusts you enough to share his pics. He’s on the down low because he isn’t out of the closet yet, identi es as “straight” and usually has a girlfriend or wife. Most guys bypass the grayed-out pro le but that could be a missed opportunity. The down low guy is usually the hottest in hiding. If you are truly on Grindr for the one-time hook up, then this is the way to go. Bonus, these hotties in hiding will be repeat callers if you satisfy them as they are reluctant to hook up with many, feeling safer with one or two regulars.

Need: Patience. And resilience.

The Cat sh. If you see an incredibly good-looking guy’s pic, proceed with caution. This could be a fake. He’s the uggo who’s given up. This guy relies on your horniness to give in rather than return home with blue balls.

Need: Ask him for multiple photos before you agree to meet. The novice usually only has the one used as the pro le pic. A seasoned pro will have a few more but usually taken around the same time or location, stolen from Facebook. Five or more photos taken at varied locations and ages is a safe bet.

The Tweaker. He’s a junkie who’s already high on drugs. Usually, meth or ecstasy.

Need: A reality check. If you are willing to go through with it then you are already out in the deep end. No need to continue reading. It doesn’t matter what I say. You’ve already decided to take your chances with whoever you nd. Good luck.

The No-Show. This guy gets o punking others by getting their hopes up then not showing up or sending them to the wrong location. It’s frustrating. Need: Determination. Not with this guy. Send him a nasty note, then block him. Be determined to nd another guy. Try the Down Low. Trust me. I won’t lead you down the wrong path. Or give in to the fatty (uggo). At least you know he’ll be there.

The Pervert. This guy is into the freaky stu and often suggests groups.

Need: Double-up on condoms and a visit to the free clinic for safe measure. This is the guy most Grindr adventurers want to meet “for the thrill of it” as a one-time only encounter, but it comes with a price tag. Unlike the hustler, the cost could last a lifetime.

The Normal Guy. Saved for last, this guy is the rarest nd on Grindr. The most elusive, but not an urban myth.

Need: He’s a keeper, so bring your A-game. But note, in Grindr hookups someone is the freak. If it isn’t him, then it is probably you. Take inventory on yourself and decide which of these eight do you t the pro le. That way, when the Normal Guy uses the Grindr Survival Guide against you, you know how to counter his tools of choice.

No matter who you turn out to be or who you encounter on the list, the one tool you should always carry whenever venturing on Grindr is the following: lowered expectations. That will always make your experience more bearable. A valid point when dealing with Grindr, a man with low standards has nowhere to go but up.