HOUSED BY VERSACE
COMING IN HOT
House of Versace’s resident artist Ilian Rachov
Daniel Mofor: luxury menswear’s hot newcomer
THOSE WERE THE BAES
Tampa Baes Power Couples dish on the reality series from Amazon Prime
EmbraceMedia.us
T H E
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE
The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Back to Business Summit
FEBRUARY 2022
F A S T
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F A B U L O U S
Discover a dealership unlike the rest. At Porsche of Ocala, our customers come first. We’re committed to your satisfaction, whether you’re searching for the perfect Porsche or need to schedule an appointment for service and repairs. No matter what brings you here, you can always rely on us to take care of your automotive needs. We offer our exclusive Xpress Shopping program, which allows you to shop and buy from wherever you prefer, as well as our home delivery service, which brings your new Porsche straight to your door. We even offer a three-day exchange policy, in case you change your mind. After all, we want you to be completely satisfied with your new Porsche.
Not only do we offer a stunning lineup of luxury vehicles, but we’re also dedicated to keeping your Porsche in the very best condition. We provide a convenient valet service when your vehicle needs maintenance or repairs. We’ll pick your vehicle up and drop it back off when service is completed, so you won’t have to leave your house. You can rely on us to deliver the highest level of customer service every time. We call it the White Glove Experience.
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Now More Than Ever, Live the Life You Want… IRONWOOD FARM “This is simply one of the finest estates I’ve seen in my career. The backyard overlooking the pond is so beautiful that it looks like it is straight out of the movies.” — ROB DESINO
Offered at $7,900,000 This magnificent 119 acre estate is located in Central NW Ocala’s acclaimed horse country. Wind up the paved drive to the spectacular home site sitting high on a hill overlooking the beautiful grounds. This property is recognized as one of the most prominent estates in horse country.
WHISPERING OAKS FARM “From the road you would think this is just a cute little farm cottage, but as soon as you walk in you realize how large and stunning this home and setting is.” — CHRIS DESINO
Offered at $799,000 This beautifully kept 6+ acre farm is just what you’ve dreamed of! Located in Central NW Ocala’s beautiful horse country, where you’ll find yourself surrounded by like-minded equestrians! It’s a great location, and just minutes to equestrian venues, including HITS, Live Oak, OBS, and less than 10 miles to the new WEC!
(352) 615-8890 Chris & Rob Desino and Matt Varney
Where You Want! CHATHAM GLEN FARM
BRIDAL OAKS FARM
“This property has the perfect layout and is most certainly why the 13 acres feel more like 25! Not one inch of space is wasted. And I absolutely love the master bedroom — it’s stunning!” — MATT VARNEY
“Such a pleasure to experience, as it is nestled back into the quietest part of a lovely equestrian subdivision. It is simply one of the best values on the market today.” — LISA ROGERS, OHP BUSINESS MANAGER
Offered at $1,775,000
Offered at $1,195,000
This 13 acre farm is conveniently located in Central NW Ocala’s horse country; it’s one mile to HITS, and 15 minutes to the new World Equestrian Center! There are 2 large pastures with mature shade trees, and an additional 3 paddocks with 10-foot aisles between. woodwork; it features feed and tack rooms, wash racks, bath and efficiency apt.
This farm is located in the beautiful equestrian community of Ocala Downs in NW Ocala’s prestigious horse country. This location can’t be beat for easy access to main roads, parks and riding opportunities, and horse venues, including the new World Equestrian Center.
#1 in Ocala Farm Sales for the Past 13 Years & Counting www.OcalaHorseProperties.com
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VISIT US OR CALL 352.414.4848
G O L DSGY M .CO M /O CA L A- F L
Embrace Magazine was awarded the highest honor—MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR— by the Florida Magazine Association at the 2021 Charlie Awards! Embrace also took top honors in all four Best Overall categories. We have made history. Not only are we the first LGBTQ magazine member in the organization’s 68-year history, but also the first to win Best New Magazine, Best Overall Magazine, and Magazine of the Year in its inaugural year.
Complete List of Awards CHARLIE
S I LV E R
BRONZE
Best Overall Magazine
Best Overall: Design
Best Writing: Feature "On the Front Lines"
Best Overall: Writing
Best Overall: Digital Innovator
Best New Magazine
Best Special Theme or Show Issue The Heroes Issue
Best Advertorial: Story or Section "For Hot Sax, Call Alan Darcy" Best Writing: Department Arts & Culture Best Photography: Photo Essay/Series "Thinking Outside the Box" Best Design: Use of Photography The Arts Issue
Best Writing: Public Service Coverage "On the Front Lines" Best Photography: Single Image Love from "Thinking Outside the Box" Best Design: Department Issues & Politics
Best Design: Feature "On the Front Lines"
Best Writing: Service Feature "Refresh Your Space to Recharge Your Life in 2021" Best Writing: In-Depth Reporting "Shattering the Silence" Best Writing: Editorial/Commentary/Opinion Publisher's Letter Best Writing: Feature Headlines "A Straight Answer" "Heavy Mettle" "For Hot Sax, Call Alan Darcy" Best Photography: Cover The Premiere Issue Best Design: Cover The Premiere Issue
We are honored by these accomplishments. Thanks to all Embrace Magazine contributors and advertisers who have made these achievements possible! ADVERTISE IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS MAGAZINE Contact John Sotomayor • 352-571-0129 john@sotomayormedia.com • embracemagazine.us B O L D LY | U N I T I N G | L I F E S T Y L E S
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24 The Fast And The Fabulous A Photo-essay: Fast cars at the Festivals of Speed Ocala, World Equestrian Center, Ocala
DEPAR TMENTS
BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR AND CONAN SEGREST
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Contributors
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Nautical Nirvana A Photo-essay: Fast yachts at the Fort Lauderdale 62nd Annual International Boat Show
I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S
BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR AND CONAN SEGREST
56 Fab, u luxe!
52 Bend it Like Bettel TR AVEL
ISSUES & POLITICS
62 Equality Act Under Attack RELIGION
68 Shepherd the Black Sheep
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A R T & C U LT U R E
H E A LT H
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104 Mind
Those were the Beas
STYLE & TRENDS
80 Coming in Hot FASHION & DESIGN
86 Housed by Versace SEEN
92 Stars Shining Bright
106 Body
COMING IN HOT
HOUSED BY VERSACE
Daniel Mofor: luxury menswear’s hot newcomer
House of Versace’s resident artist Ilian Rachov
THOSE WERE THE BAES
Tampa Baes Power Couples dish on the reality series from Amazon Prime
EmbraceMedia.us
T H E
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE
The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Back to Business Summit
FEBRUARY 2022
F A S T
A N D
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108 Soul C O M I C C O M M E N TA R Y
112 AJ and Magnus ON THE COVER Models: Joe Rotolo, owner of Luca Falcone Custom Clothiers and Phoebe Vecchioni, owner of Phoebe Samba Team Clothes: On Joe Rotolo, Luca Falcone Custom Clothiers and on Phoebe Vecchioni "La Madrina" or "Queen of the Drums" by Escola de Samba Tricolor Independente SP Brasil; designer Paula Guedes Location: World Equestrian Center, Ocala Car: 2021 Rolls-Royce Phantom Photographer: Conan Segrest READER FEEDBACK Welcomed at john@sotomayormedia.com FOLLOW US ON facebook.com/embracemagazine.us
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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 staff consists of two-thirds LGBTQ+ persons, and one-third straight persons within our 16-member staff. MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS timeless wedding photography and family portraits to his clients to cherish a lifetime.
Jamie Ezra Mark
FEBRUARY 2022
Creative Director (He/Him)
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Over his 25-year publishing career, Mark has amassed a vast magazine portfolio that includes national titles such as Weight Watchers, Arthritis Today, Digital South, Sensi, and Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Latitudes. His team at Em continues to design award-winning publications, as well as brand and advertising strategies, for a variety of businesses.
Conan Segrest
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.
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
Sara Giza
Senior Editor (She/Her)
Sara Giza is a queer activist, who has divided her time between freelance writing and advocacy work. Along with
a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Louisville, she has a certification from the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Leadership Program on Violence & Abuse Prevention. 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. She can be found on Instagram @searingsara
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.
Steve Pafford
International News Editor (He/Him)
Steve Pafford is an English journalist, actor and author of the acclaimed book BowieStyle. Having trained from the floor up in UK music titles Q, MOJO and Record Collector, he’s had his work featured in a wide variety of British, American and Australian media including the BBC, CNN, The Independent and the New York Times. Steve divides his time between Australia and the south of France.
Danielle Olivani Issues + Politics Editor (She/Her)
Danielle is a proud mom, community organizer/activist, and CEO of Lake County Pride Org. Corp; an LGBTQIA+ nonprofit which seeks to improve the lives of Lake County youth through advocacy, education, and acts of service to the community. She is a longtime resident
of Lake County and currently lives in Mount Dora, Fla. She graduated from the Rollins College Paralegal Studies program and obtained her certification in 2017.
Heritage Sites. Rev. Catherine Dearlove Religion Editor (She/Her)
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 Multi-faith 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.
Rachel Covello Art + Culture Contributor (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 offers 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.
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 celebri-
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.
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.
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.
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 offers 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, offering 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 offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He and his husband reside in Miami, representing South Florida inclusion.
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ties, 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.
THE LUXE ISSUE
ADVISORY BOARD
B O L D LY | U N I T I N G | L I F E S T Y L E S
EDITORIAL
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Sotomayor
FEBRUARY 2022
SENIOR EDITOR Sara Giza
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DEPARTMENT EDITORS International News Steve Pafford Travel Mike Fallon Issues + Politics Danielle Olivani Religion Rev. Catherine Dearlove Art + Culture John Sotomayor Style + Trends Christian Iles Fashion + Design Christian Iles Activism + Charity Melissa-Marie Marks Seen John Sotomayor
ART EM AGENCY Creative Director Jamie Ezra Mark Art Director Rheya Tanner Designer Wendy Mak Designer Josh Clark CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Conan Segrest PHOTOGRAPHER Fred Lopez Lindsey Byrnes DTX Street Gianluca Zimaglia Marco Carusotto Vito Pagano
COLUMNISTS Mind Katie McCullough Body Cory Freeman Soul Donna Davis
VIDEOS Prime Video, FHK Studios, Informa Markets, Embrace Media
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sara Giza Melissa-Marie Marks Rachel Covello
DIRECTOR OF LOCAL SALES AND ADVERTISING John Sotomayor john@sotomayormedia.com
ADVISORY BOARD Justin Ayars, EqualityMD Herb Sosa, Unity Coalition/Coalicion Unida Rachel Covello, OutCoast: Gay Florida Travel
O P E R AT I O N S
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863, sales@rivendellmedia.com EMBRACE MEDIA WEBSITE Designer A Great Idea Video Producer Alexander Sotomayor
OUR MISSION To unite LGBTQ+ and straight communities to live, work, play, and pray together.
N A T I O N A L LY C E R T I F I E D L G B T Q - O W N E D BUSINESS BY THE NGLCC
C H A M B E R PA R T N E R
MEDIA MEMBERS
The Luxe Edition 2022 Published February 2022 | Sotomayor Media Creations LLC | 352.571.0129 © All contents copyrighted 2022 by Sotomayor Media Creations LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertising content in any manner without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited material will not be returned. Publisher reserves the right to approve or refuse any advertiser or contribution for any reason. Photographs are submitted by writers of each article who assume responsibility for usage approval. Publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims or content of advertisements. “Sponsored,” “Paid Promotional Feature” or “Special Promotional Feature” denotes paid advertising features. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of the publisher.
Follow Us on Facebook and on our Website COMING IN HOT
HOUSED BY VERSACE
Daniel Mofor: luxury menswear’s hot newcomer
House of Versace’s resident artist Ilian Rachov
THOSE WERE THE BAES
Tampa Baes Power Couples dish on the reality series from Amazon Prime
EmbraceMedia.us
T H E
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE
The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Back to Business Summit
FEBRUARY 2022
F A S T
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F A B U L O U S
FINGER ON THE PULSE
The OnePulse Foundation's strides 5 years after the Pulse nightclub massacre
COME ONE, COME ALL
Inclusive Metro Health fosters diversity in health and wellness
ANGEL OF MERCY
Exclusive interview with longtime AIDS activist Ruth Coker Burks
MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR
Embrace receives top honors from Florida Magazine Association
NOVEMBER 2021
A D V O C A C Y
CR ISIS
I S S U E
CH R O N I CL E D
T h e Wo r l d A I D S M u s e u m documents a 40-year crisis
For access to digital magazines (also available on issuu.com) Announcements on radio broadcast of Embrace Magazine Radio Show on WOCA 96.3 FM/1370 AM Weekly updates and coverage on related LGBTQ+ topics
www.facebook.com/embracemagazine.us www.embracemedia.us
A Material Boy
FEBRUARY 2022
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
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As a hard-working, fun-loving all-American young gay man in the 1990s, I surrounded myself with the trappings of the good life. Having just finished my first year of law school in Washington, DC in 1991, I rewarded myself with my first car. One I did not need but really wanted. It was a previously owned 1987 BMW 325i in mint condition. Black with a sunroof, it was a chic accessory to travel in style all over DC from Georgetown to Capitol Hill and everywhere in between. During my second year of law school, I found a new apartment. I had already lived in a few deluxe DC apartments, but this one stood out. The owners, Bobby Gaines and Mikel James, sought someone to rent the second bedroom in their condo. The duplex condo occupied the top two floors of 1421 T Street, a picturesque brownstone in prominently gay Dupont Circle. Upon entering the condo, I was greeted by the sound of trickling water from an ornate fountain in the foyer. An iron spiral staircase led up to the second floor. Past the stairway, was a spacious living area 28-feet high from floor to ceiling. The condo was decorated with an Egyptian motif. There was museum-quality Egyptian art everywhere. Ambesonne Print Fabric and Egyptian Hieroglyphs on Papyrus hung on the walls. A replica bust of Nefertiti displayed as a centerpiece. Within glass casings were Canopic Jars, replica Statue of Khufu, and replica Mask of Tutankhamun. My bedroom had a cutout overlooking the grand living room. The master bedroom had French doors that led to a back outdoor patio. Every room had a skylight. It was marvelous. Living in Dupont Circle meant I had walking access to every major chic boutique, restaurant and entertainment venue to mingle with other gay men. It was paradise.
A few years later, I had a few luxe relationships. I moved back to my native New York City and dated Alan Kleinfeld, a business owner who lived in the penthouse of a highrise condo in Fort Lee, NJ, of which he served as condo president. We were frequent weekend flyers to The Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood, CA and became regulars at Micky’s gay bar on Santa Monica Blvd. It became a bimonthly routine of fly, party, brunch, repeat. I later dated Guy Lanza, a successful lawyer and investor who ran his own practice and owned various properties he managed, including condos in Boca Raton. He would sometimes send a town car to pick me up at the law firm I worked at in Manhattan to fetch me over to his lavish estate in Old Tappan, NJ. We traveled frequently to his condo in Boca Raton, Fla. where we would take his boat down the Intracoastal Waterway and dock for lunch at Boca Landing, Shooters Waterfront, Coconuts, or Boatyard. In 2001, we traveled to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival. We flew first class and stayed at the Copacabana Palace in Ipanema Beach. We had a private car and driver as we explored the Rio de Janeiro gay scene and nightlife. From then on, memorable experiences outweighed material wants. I traveled all over the world in my new career as a journalist. China, Greece, Turkey, even Pakistan. You haven’t lived until you’ve interviewed Pakistani drag queens sipping Chai tea at a dhabas (roadside cafe) in Islamabad. These days, my high-end living is directly connected to my work, thanks to a career in high-end lifestyle magazines. With my current brand magazine, Embrace, I am graced with opportunities to cover the LGBTQ scene at the Fort Lauderdale 2021 International Boat
John Sotomayor Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
From then on, memorable experiences outweighed material wants. I traveled all over the world in my new career as a journalist.
Show and at the Festivals of Speed Ocala at Ocala’s new crown jewel, the World Equestrian Center. I also had the good fortune to attend the NGLCC Back to Business Summit held at the luxurious The Diplomat resort in Hollywood, Fla. I mingled with the VIP of the LGBTQ business world. We recently welcomed our first-ever Fortune 100 company to the pages of Embrace, JPMorgan Chase, ranked 19 on the Fortune 500, thanks to the Summit. They join our other VIP advertising family at Embrace including, BMW of Ocala, Porsche of Ocala, Ocala Horse Properties, Equality MD based in Richmond, VA, Popwrapped Entertainment in Los Angeles, CA and Christian Iles Hair Care in Dallas, TX. The finer things in life seem to always surround me; and I would not have it any other way.
A perfect fit.
Em Agency is proud to be the design team behind Embrace. We build brands we believe in—the brand you believe in can be next. emagency.com
john@sotomayormedia.com
Where you belong At JPMorgan Chase, we are dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion for LGBT+ employees, clients, partners and communities worldwide. Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/lgbt.
We Have A Vehicle For You. Here at Volkswagen of Ocala, we’re not just another dealership. Our Xpress Shopping program allows you to shop and buy entirely from home. We’ll even deliver your new vehicle straight to your door! Whether you prefer to shop online or in person, we make it easy to find the vehicle you want. Find out how Gettel’s Got It today!
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The Festivals of Speed at the newly opened regal World Equestrian Center showcased the triple crown of luxurious living — fine dining, fast cars, and fabulous people. B Y J O H N S O T O M AY O R P H O T O G R A P H Y C O N A N A N D YA I S A S E G R E S T
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Seemingly in an instant, life in sleepy smalltown Slocala revved into high octane Gocala. When the eagerly anticipated World Equestrian Center opened its opulent gates in December 2020, featuring the palatial The Equestrian 5-star hotel as the centerpiece for multiple state-of-the-art arenas suited for the finest equestrian events, luxury living in the Horse Capital of the World was elevated to an undeniable world-class level.
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Among the first non-equestrian events held at the now-largest equestrian complex in the United States was the Festivals of Speed in May 2021. How to describe it? It was as if the Kentucky Derby and Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills along with Ocean Drive, Miami were dropped down onto 378 acres adorned with the finest accommodations and vintage and contemporary high-performance exotic automobiles. The combination of the event and venue formed a powerful magnet, attracting the most affluent of the glitterati.
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The WEC grand plaza was transformed into a massive outdoor showroom lined with designer brands by Aston-Martin, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, Pagani, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and Tesla, among many more. These thoroughbreds are built for speed. The Ferrari SF90 Stradale hypercar boasts 769 horsepower. The BMW M5 Competition hits 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds.
T H E FA S T A N D T H E FA B U LO U S : H O R S E P O WER
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Guests wore their finest Derby Day fashion. Beautiful sun-kissed women with long flowing locks wore flattering Vineyard Vines spring dresses and Jenny Pfanenstiel or Christine Moore Derby hats accessorized with pearls and clutches to the delight of the men and women who admire them. Dapper strong men with copper-tone skin wore bold stripes or busy plaid with the classic navy or seersucker blazer topped with a fedora or bowler catching the eye of the men and women who admire them.
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The entertainment went the extra mile. Alluring Brazilian samba dancers from Orlando, Fla. based Phoebe Samba Team beaconed male and female admirers with their rhythmic movements and fit sexy bodies in seductive Carnival costumes. Dressed in little more than bejeweled bikinis and feathered angel wings, these lovely ladies could distract any man or woman leading to awkward collisions by pedestrian onlookers and passersby.
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WE’RE WORTH YOUR VISIT. Are you ready to experience a dealership that puts you first? That ’s what you’ll find here at BMW of Ocala. Whether you’d like to explore our fine selection of new BMW models or schedule a ser vice appointment for your current vehicle, we’re committed to meeting your automotive needs and exceeding your expectations. We love the BMW brand and would love to help you choose a vehicle that suits your lifest yle. We’re always happy to discuss any model in further detail and answer any of your questions. We also provide a variet y of convenient perks that you’re sure to love. These include X press Shopping (our exclusive program that allows you to shop and buy from home), BMW of Ocala To Go (a ser vice that delivers your new purchase to your home or wherever is most convenient) and a three-day exchange polic y to ensure that you’re completely satisfied with your new BMW.
And when you need to schedule a service appointment, you can rely on us to deliver the highest level of care for your vehicle. We work on all makes and models and even offer a valet ser vice, so you won’t even have to leave your home. From our showroom to our ser vice center, our team looks for ward to ser ving you. We invite you to come tr y our White Glove E xperience today.
2020 ANNUAL EMBRACEMAGAZINE.US
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L2R STEPH LANDOROVA, BRYAN WILLIAMS, TYLER SCHRAGE, CHRIS WILLIAMS
2020 ANNUAL EMBRACEMAGAZINE.US
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CONGRATS TO THE POPWRAPPED TEAM, ON HAVING OVER 100-MILLION VIEWS ON THEIR PLAYLIST LIVE 2020 COVERAGE! FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT SOTOMAYER MEDIA.
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The Fort Lauderdale 2021 International Boat Show at the West Marine Ft. Lauderdale Marine Center presented the best maritime marvels, for those who boat like a boss.
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After a year of rough seas for boat shows due to COVID leaving most dead in the water, the 62nd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show turned the corner and made up leeway for smooth sailing ahead. Thousands of seafarers and the landlubbers who love
them, gathered at the West Marine Fort Lauderdale Marine Center and nearby Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six to explore the latest in yachts, speedboats, and everything imaginable to enhance the maritime luxury lifestyle.
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Apparently from the genetically gifted and deep pocket patrons who graced the boat show, the enhanced yachting lifestyle includes every refinement, from the most fashion-forward nautical wear to the savoriest seafood and spirits. Being Fort Lauderdale, one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities of the world with nearby gay-dominated Winton Manors a stone’s throw away, varying couplings were visible. Men held hands. Women embraced. No cares had. Two young men had an adorable, energetic, and friendly Shar Pei pup on a rainbow leash. Our unofficial winner of the Stole the Show award. Every major brand was present. Abbracci. Benetti. Galati. Ocean Alexander. Okean. Pershing. Sirena. Even deepsea explorer Triton for the zillionaire who has no limits. This year, Ocean Alexander’s 35R took home the Best of Show awarded by NBC Sports. Measuring at approximately 116 feet in length, the megayacht is “emblematic of the Ocean Alexander ethos,” known for its unmatched set of exterior spaces for fraternizing and entertaining. Offering a true “quad deck” design, a flybridge deck, the most expensive beach club layout, and a huge forward Portuguese lounging and sunbed area, the award-winner defines what the magnified yachting lifestyle is all about.
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Something for everyone with the need for speed, the boat show included fast cars. Apocalypse, Lamborghini, and McLaren were present. Name brand motors were visible at every turn. Verado. Alumina. Yamaha. 450R. All there. Broward Design Center captured the imagination and hearts of art enthusiasts with their carvings of lions, whales, octopi, and other marine life out of teak. As day turned to night, gatherers flocked to nearby watering holes. Some preferred the splashy Yot Bar & Kitchen or Boatyard. Others who preferred the LGBTQ+ nightlife experience opted for the short Lyft ride to Wilton Manors. There one could explore any number of options like Georgie’s Alibi, Gym Sports bar, or dancing the night away at Hunters Nightclub. On the dance floor one could experience an entirely different meaning to all hands on deck. Oh well, when in Rome … Bottoms Up.
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“We envision ourselves as designers, artisans, and visionaries, providing diverse solutions to complex building challenges.”
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G LO B A L G AY N E W S
INTERNATIONAL ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH CLARK
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Already a champion of LGBTQ+ liberation, the nation of Luxembourg leads the European liberal front with its consecutive two-term elected openly gay Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel. The first head of government in the European Union to get married to a same-sex partner while in office. BY STEVE PAFFORD
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Bend It Like Bettel
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uxembourg: heard of it? One of the world’s smallest countries, the officially titled Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a landlocked state in Western Europe bordered by Belgium to the north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. You may only know of it as a banking dominated tax haven, but Luxembourg is one of the most liberal territories in Europe. The Grand Duchy is generally speaking, one of the most gayfriendly countries in the world, ranking third in the European Union for LGBT rights protections. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and “change of sex” is outlawed when it comes in employment, healthcare and the provision of goods. Since 2019, transgender people are allowed to change their legal gender on the basis of self-determination. Having visited Luxembourg several times now what I can say is this, there might be only one gay bar in the whole country but it is definitely a very gay-friendly country. You see same-sex couples comfortably walking around hand in hand and being affectionate, which is not always a given in every country in the world.
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Most notably, in 2013 Xavier Bettel became the world’s third out gay head of government, and in 2018 became the first to be re-elected for a second term, when his mandate was overwhelmingly renewed. Across Europe, leaders like Bettel joined distinguished prime ministers such as Iceland’s trailblazing Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir in 2009, Belgium’s Elio Di Rupo in 2011 and Ireland’s recent Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar — chosen to lead the Emerald republic in 2017 — in offering an important pathway, and at a crucial time when certain Eastern European former Soviet states such as Hungary, Poland and Belarus seem hellbent on dictating an illiberal Trump-esque version of democracy (and I use that word extremely lightly). Bettel has stated that increasingly in Luxembourg “people do not consider the fact of whether someone is gay or not.” In the 21st Century it’s simply a non-issue. In 2015, Bettel also made history as the first head of government in the European Union to get married to a same-sex partner while in office. In the same year that the Chamber of Deputies passed by an overwhelming majority a law enabling same-sex marriage and adoption rights, the PM, then aged 42, wed his long-term partner, the Belgian architect Gauthier Destenay at a private ceremony in the country’s charming capital, Luxembourg City, saying he hoped “everyone in the world could be as happy as he was” that day. Unofficially dubbed Luxembourg’s “First Gentleman,” Destenay gained attention on social media when he appeared as the only male spouse in a photo op group portrait of world leaders’ spouses and partners at a 2017 NATO
summit. As if to hammer home how the United States of America seemed intent on walking the path of one step forward two steps back not that long ago, Destenay’s name was omitted from the caption of a Facebook photo posted by the White House, even though all the other female spouses such as Emine Erdogan (Turkey) and French First Lady Brigitte Macron were correctly labeled. Eventually, the post was subsequently edited after it led to a storm of criticism and accusations of homophobia. I’m loath to use the term power couple, but the pair are certainly setting a few examples. That same year the pair were invited to the Vatican to meet with the Pope, which commentators deduced sent a “powerful message” on Pope Francis’s position on gay rights. Let’s hear it for the boy, because Bettel also announced that he won’t go to any national or international events if Destenay is not invited. Two years later, Bettel won further praise after he told Arab leaders he was gay and could be condemned to death in some of their countries. The PM told Arab attendees at a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt that he was “married to a man” and would face capital punishment in many of their stuck in the dark ages Middle Eastern countries. There was “an icy silence from some, a silent joy for others,” according to the account from a German journalist present. Responding to the story, Bettel later tweeted: “Saying nothing was not an option for me.” “Man of honor. Thank you, Xavier Bettel,” tweeted German European Affairs Minister Michael Roth. Slowly but surely, the times, they are a-changing.
STEVE PAFFORD is an English journalist, actor and author of the acclaimed book BowieStyle. Having trained from the floor up in UK music titles Q, MOJO and Record Collector, he’s had his work featured in a wide variety of British, American and Australian media including the BBC, CNN, The Independent and the New York Times. Steve divides his time between Australia and the south of France.
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because... It provides a welcoming, safe space — an inclusive home that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ+ communities and our friends and neighbors in South Florida. + 1,000 to 2,000 people use the 5 acre Equality Park campus daily + Over 65 support, recovery, education and social groups meet regularly + Popular, inclusive events like Wicked Manors, the Rainbow 5k, Diversity Honors, Active Aging Health Expo, and more + Fast, free, and confidential HIV testing, condom distribution, and PrEP referrals
+ Free 12 week LIFE program for gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men living with HIV + Innovative programming for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies + Rental opportunities including weddings, business meetings, life celebrations, trade shows, office space, and much more + Largest weekly gathering of LGBTQ+ active agers in the nation
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2040 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305
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TRAVEL
Fab, u luxe! The sweet retreats of dreams BY SARA GIZA
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T
ampa entrepreneur Robert Geller knows exactly what LGBTQ+ travelers go through when they are looking for a great vacation rental, while hoping that they will be both accepted and safe. As a prior Airbnb Superhost, Geller had a home share with travelers staying in his guest room. Every time he greeted a new guest, inevitably he would be asked what he did for a living. “I owned a gay traveling company,” Geller said, adding “I found myself wondering what I should say. Is their jaw going to hit the floor? They’re in my home for the next three days.” He realized that he was reliving his coming out story over and over again. “I thought, how about removing that from the traveling experience,” he said. Geller did just that, becoming founder of FabStayz.com in 2019. The travel rental site is dedicated to LGBTQ+ travelers, with all hosts either being from the community or allies. While FabStayz.com certainly has a wide variety of rentals at various price points that can meet any need in multiple countries, you will want to treat yourself to one of the many luxurious listings for a getaway that will surely make you want to stay. Host Sean Parham, who identifies as a gay male, listed his property Casa Carranza with FabStayz.
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SARA GIZA is a queer activist, who has divided her time between freelance writing and advocacy work. Along with a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Louisville, she has a certification from the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Leadership Program on Violence & Abuse Prevention. 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. She can be found on Instagram @searingsara
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PHOTOS COURTESY FABSTAYZ
Paradise Blu in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla
FEBRUARY 2022
TRAVEL
Riverwood Cottage in Ontario, Canada
com early on in 2019. This 3 bed/2 bath gem is located just outside of Palm Springs. With colorful coastal vibes, the open floor plan accommodates six guests. It is just minutes from both Indian Wells Tennis Stadium and Coachella Festival. Hiking and biking in the Santa Rosa Mountains are just a short walk away. The private, heated saltwater pool is yours to play in day or night. “It was an opportunity to show our support for the community by marketing our rentals in a safe space,” Parham said. “FabStayz let’s our community feel comfortable when booking a vacation rental and know that they are working with hosts that support the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. Parham is proud that along with his husband, they were one of the first to host on FabStayz.com in Coachella Valley. Ally Heather Bayer, who owns and operates "Cottage Blogger" the #1 resource for vacation rental information since 2005 and host of "Vacation Rental Success Podcast" the leading podcast featuring experts in the vacation rental industry, has listed her Ontario, Canada, property The Riverwood Cottage. The 4 bed/3.5 bath sleeps 10. The newly built property was completed in July 2021 and sits on the tip of a
bay on Kennisis Lake. It features a large deck overlooking the lake, a fire pit and propane barbeque. Kayaks, a stand-up paddle board and a pedal boat are all available for use. Claire Magalnick, is another host ally. Her property, Paradise Blu, is located in the Florida panhandle on Santa Rosa Beach. The 4 bed/4 bath townhome at Blue Mountain Beach, can accommodate up to ten guests. Here, you can relax to the sounds of ocean waves and enjoy the soft, white sand the gulf coast is known for. A standout feature not to miss, is the rooftop terrace. Kit Welch, who identifies as a lesbian and is married, chose to list their Wrigley Villa property in Chicago, shortly after FabStayz.com was founded. The 3-bedroom condo is located in a unique vintage building, with exposed brick walls and hardwood floors. The fully updated kitchen features quartz countertops and all stainless-steel appliances. Being half of a block from Wrigley Field, it would be hard to find a better location to explore all that the area has to offer including many shops and restaurants within walking distance. Concierge services such as stocking the fridge are available, as well as many other amenities upon request.
PHOTOS COURTESY FABSTAYZ
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TRAVEL
Geller finds that each property works well, no matter who or how many you are traveling with. “Each property is wonderful, whether it’s for a family, a group of friends traveling together or even a couple on a romantic getaway,” he said. “These properties lend themselves so well to great gathering spaces. The locations are amazing. You might not want to leave.” That would be a pretty good problem to have. For more information on these properties or any of the other fabulous offerings, visit FabStayz.com.
TOP TWO PHOTOS BY VHT STUDIOS. BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY FABSTAYZ
Casa Carranza in Palms Springs, CA
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“I’m so excited to be part of the FabStayz family! Our vacation rental property is located in one of the oldest gayborhoods in the U.S.—that’s why my wife and I bought it,” Welch said. “We always hoped to stand out in the LGBTQ+ and ally community as a fabulous place for guests to stay when visiting Chicago, and FabStayz helps us do that with their fantastic, user-friendly website,” she said. “We fly our pride flags freely at our property. We love to share it with those from our community and our allies.”
Wrigley Via in Chicago, Il
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Exterior of Wrigley Via in Chicago, Il
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Equality Act Under Attack Despite passage of Equality Act on February 25, 2021 prohibiting discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, and credit, the protective measures are being countered by the most aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent history. BY DANIELLE OLIVANI
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mittee, which has passed 18 different ordinances and policy changes to protect LGBTQ+ citizens Orange County and Orlando, Florida, states, "I saw the need for the Equality Act decades ago. After the SCOTUS affirmed Bostock v. Clayton County and Harris Funeral Homes v. Aimee Stevens, anti-discrimination toward LGBT[Q+] people in the workplace should be law, but SCOTUS does not make law. Congress makes law. With 50 percent of the states and all the major metropolitan areas having Human Rights Ordinances that include LGBT[Q+] people, it only makes sense that the U.S. Congress gets caught up with the majority of the nation and the SCOTUS. It is time, Shelby. It is time." There is an apparent disconnect; these statistics of the voting public's LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusion are not reelected by our local, state, or federal lawmakers. Slaymaker then brought up the enormous discrepancies in rights and protections codified from state to state. Because of the lack of uniform, unified federal protections that could be enforced across the U.S., LGBTQ+ people could unknowingly be stripped of their constitutional rights and have no recourse or legal standing to fight back when and if those rights are challenged or infringed. There are approximately 20 states with no transgender rights protections and 25 percent with limited protections but exclude protections resulting from housing discrimination. The rights of an LGBTQ+ person in states like Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont are very inclusive and fully constitutionally protected, versus states like Arkansas, South Dakota, Louisiana, and Tennessee, where rights and protections are afforded to the hetero-normative population pale in comparison or totally nonexistent. This rise in intolerance and outright bigotry results from the prior administration's pandering to their most extreme constituents; the LGBTQ+ community has fallen prey to the evils of identity politics. This strong division between the right and left has caused a faction of the Evangelical voting block to draw even harsher lines in the sand regarding homosexuality, being transgender, and the entire queer community. They have politicized and weaponized to galvanize their base under the
There are approximately
20 states with no transgender rights protections.
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As
the new Biden administration took hold and began to reinstate laws and protections reaffirming the LGBTQ+ community and undoing the damage of the prior administration, it seemed like we all took a collective and audible sigh of relief. Our collective sigh of relief was palpable. The ushering in of President Biden and his cabinet, the most supportive cabinet of the LGBTQ+ community thus far in America's history, gave us hope that we could finally successfully pass the Equality Act. Things were improving. Rep. David Cicilline (DRI) and the state legislature introduced the Equality Act on February 18, 2021, and it passed after much cajoling and heated debate on both sides of the House Judiciary on February 25, 2021. The proposed bill amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (including titles II, III, IV, VI, VII, and IX) to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, and credit. Therefore, it is up to the Senate to enact the Equality Act, ensuring that every LGBTQ+ person in the country's constitutional rights is preserved and defended federally. Why, with all of this promise and optimism, is 2021 set to introduce the most egregious and aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent history, with 15 bills becoming law and more than 250 anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced in U.S. legislatures? Does a disconnect exist between the voters' feelings about the LGBTQ+ community and our elected officials' discriminatory and biased anti-LGBTQ+ legislation? Many nefarious tactics employed by those who wanted to legislate away LGBTQ+ rights here in Florida and across the country; mass misinformation campaigns and scrupulous claims and outright lies regarding transgender health and weaponizing and warping Christian beliefs to fit their hateful narrative, to name just a few. Michael Slaymaker, MHRAs, and the Founder of the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Com-
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The relentless pursuit of legislating morality and arbitrators of all socially and societally acceptable, interpreted, and understood solely from their moral, social, and political perspective, is costing LGBTQ+ people their lives.
guise of "morality," "wanting to protect children," and "safety and abuse prevention." For example, issues like transgender youth playing sports and children using the restroom affirm their sexual identity. Proposing and enacting anti-transgender legislation is a tactic for the far-right to prohibit transgender youth and their families from their inalienable rights. Nevertheless, conversely, a recent poll done by the Human Rights Campaign and Hart Research Group revealed that, concerning transgender youth participation in sports, the public's strong inclination is on the side of fairness and equality for transgender student-athletes. 73 percent of voters agree that "sports are important in young people's lives. Young transgender people should have access to opportunities to participate in a safe and comfortable environment." The LGBTQ+ community is villainized and deemed morally reprehensible and irredeemable by a vocal and politically powerful lobby of the conservative Christian right-wing faction of the Republican Party. The relentless pursuit of legislating morality and arbitrators of all socially and societally acceptable, interpreted, and understood solely from their moral, social, and political perspective, is costing LGBTQ+ people their lives. The transgender community, predominantly black and brown women, statistically are exponentially far more likely to become a victim of exploitation, violence, and death; this is due to many things such as lack of family support, housing insecurity, insufficient or nonexistent job opportunities, or prospects, and lack of adequate medical care, all of which the Equality Act, passed on the federal level would address. At times it can seem all doom and gloom, yet on the positive side, the LGBTQ+ community has seen significant gains in the employment sector since the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on June 15, 2020. With their landmark 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court reversed this truth for the LGBTQ+ community. Justice Gorsuch ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in the workplace, should also protect the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community, in anticipation of the Senate, must decide to do what is legally and morally right and pass the Equality Act, must be proactive and campaign aggressively for their local communities to pass resolutions and ordinances that ensure civil and legal protections. Until the LGBTQ+ is fully protected against discrimination and bias federally, drafting, proposing, and introducing anti- LGBTQ+ legislation at the local level, is the ultimate way for the LGBTQ+ community to exercise and enforce their agency within the community and ensure our voices are heard.
DANIELLE OLIVANI is a proud mom, community organizer/activist, and CEO of Lake County Pride Org. Corp; an LGBTQIA+ nonprofit which seeks to improve the lives of Lake County youth through advocacy, education, and acts of service to the community. She is a longtime resident of Lake County and currently lives in Mount Dora, Fla. She graduated from the Rollins College Paralegal Studies program and obtained her certification in 2017.
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FEBRUARY 2022
ISSUES & POLITICS
Bradley Moore REALTOR®
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RELIGION
Shepherd the Black Sheep
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Himself feeling like an outcast, Rev. Elder Dr. Troy D. Perry was called and rose up to lead others like him, starting a revolutionary movement in Christianity that would redirect the religion, delivering millions of people from suffering.
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ev. Elder Dr. Troy D. Perry is an ordinary man with an extraordinary life story; a story that has impacted thousands of lives through an amazing movement. When you speak to Perry, you find a man who is full of passion for God, the LGBTQIA community and for social justice. However, some 54 years ago, just a couple of years before the Stonewall Rebellion, this was a broken man who attempted to take his own life and nearly succeeded. Perry was a Pentecostal Minister who was married and had children. He had been passionate about God since he was a child; preaching to his siblings and anyone or anything that would listen. As a child he would even perform funerals for animals. He was passionate about God. However, after an internal battle with his sexuality, he came out as gay. He shared his true identity with his bishop and was told there was no longer a place for him at his Pentecostal church. No room at the inn; a familiar story since the beginning of Christianity. Perry decided to take his own life because there was nothing left to live for; he slit his wrists and laid back in the bath waiting to die; however, he was found. Sometime later in 1968 he started Metropolitan Community Churches because he believed that God didn’t have step-children and that everyone should know that even if they were gay, straight, trans or bisexual, God loved them. His first ser-
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 Multi-faith 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.
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BY REV. CATHERINE DEARLOVE
FEBRUARY 2022
RELIGION
Perry was the first minister to perform same sex marriages in 1969 and has continuously stepped out in faith and obstinance against the systems that oppress.
vice was themed “Be True to You,” something that had brought him to be in the position he found himself. The service was held in his front room with borrowed chairs and a few things gathered to make it feel like church. Twelve people attended that day (some were friends who didn’t want him to fail!) and within three years there was a congregation in Los Angeles of over 600, with others popping up across the country. Perry knew that there were so many who needed to hear this message of an inclusive loving God, instead of the hatred that was being spewed against the LGBTQIA community. Little did he know how quickly his front room service would evolve into an international denomination. Perry was the first minister to perform same sex marriages in 1969 and has continuously stepped out in faith and obstinance against the systems that oppress. From this first meeting of twelve people started a movement that would break barriers across the world. Perry was one of those who worked to oppose Anita Bryant and others who would
propose anti-gay and anti-gay marriage propaganda. In fact, it was his own legal case against the State of California for not recognizing his own same sex marriage that would help the arguments in the Prop 8 case; which eventually led to same sex marriage becoming legal across the country. Perry was also invited to the White House by several presidents to work on civil rights. While Perry retired as the Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches in 2005, he continues to be a powerful advocate/ voice for justice wherever he feels he is needed. This man, who came so close to death, has in fact created a “spiritual home” where others, just like him, are able to live out their authentic lives. Perry would never say he was a hero, or a legend, but rather would say I have to let them know they are children of God and they are loved. Metropolitan Community Churches continues to be a powerful presence in the world and especially in Latin America where they are currently struggling with the theology of same sex relationships.
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Community Your
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S E N S O RY ST I M U L AT I O N … F O R T H E E Y E S A N D E A R S
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ART&CULTURE
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ART&CULTURE
Those Were the Baes Tampa Baes Power Couple Dishes on the New Reality Series from Amazon Prime. BY RACHEL COVELLO
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY BRYNES
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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 offers 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
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atch out, Tampa lesbians! There’s a new group of Baes in town. “Tampa Baes,” the new reality series released by Amazon Prime Video in early November, features everything you’d expect from lesbians – drama, divas, drinking, and dating. The show highlights the lives of 12 Tampa Bay lesbians representing all corners of the region. Scenes were filmed in various venues and restaurants in and around St. Petersburg and Tampa, including The Dog Bar on Central Ave, Caddy’s on Sunset Beach, While Lie in Ybor City, and Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill in St Pete. A pivotal moment of the show occurs in Ybor’s Tangra Nightclub when the two “It” couples spar over infidelity. While a handful of emotionally deep conversations took place throughout the show, including a memorable conversation about mental health between cast members Mel Posner and Cuppie Bragg at Fresco’s on the Water, the majority of the show was focused on the division between power couple Marissa and Summer, and self-proclaimed “Queen Bees” of the lesbian community, Haley and Brianna. Several cast members take sides, while others play Switzerland, trying to appease both parties. Overall, the show is a train wreck from which you can’t peel your eyes, like any decent reality TV show. Watching this new series begs the question – “Is this really reality?” Afterall, the stereotypical Florida lesbian is curled up on a sofa with her silver-haired wife and gray tabby cat, watching this new reality show while sipping on wine, golf cart parked outside, and wondering where in Tampa one might find these hot, make-up clad women with perfect bodies, fake “cupps”, and fabulous hair, because, until their premier of Tampa Baes,
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nobody knew who they were. Cast members Marissa and Summer, a COVID nurse and a med spa practitioner living together in Tarpon Springs, shared their take on the reality aspect of Tampa Baes. “I think that you're watching a condensed version of a few months of people's lives,” explains Marissa. “You know what I mean? It seems like a lot of drama and it seems like everything's happening at once, but we were filming these things happening over months at a time. So, our everyday lives aren't packed full of drama all the time, but you're seeing what has really happened.” Summer adds, “It’s all real. I think everybody's emotions are heightened because we have to film together. So, we're together quite often when a couple of those people, we wouldn't hang out with on the regular. So, I think drama conspires that wouldn't have otherwise.” She continues, “But it's definitely not like you see reality TV and
you think, oh, I bet the producers did this or they did that. And that's not the case at all. It definitely is us all being ourselves and reacting to things as we would react in real life. And the drama existed before the show.” Although the power couple butt heads with the “Queen Bees” throughout the show, and seemingly the dueling duos become further divided, the two admit growing closer to other cast members. “If anything,” says Marissa, “we hang out with a few people more often than we did on the show, which was kind of nice. We created a lot of friendships.” Summer adds, “We got really, really close to the Shiva. I think that the support that I felt from Jordan during the show really strengthened our friendship big time. I think that after Nellie and Allie and us hashed things out, we've gotten even stronger. I really value their friendship. And Cuppie – I get closer to every day, as weird as that is. I
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY BRYNES ; VIDEO IN DIGITAL EDITION BY PRIME VIDEO
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ART&CULTURE ments in other people's eyes if they don't know everything that was going on off camera as well. There were just a lot of things that weren't caught on camera and it sucks that people don't get to see the whole story.” There were several touching moments shared with their families throughout the show as well. Viewers learn about Summer’s Native American culture and Marissa’s belly dancer upbringing traveling to Europe and Turkey. And the final episode unites the entire family in tears. We won’t spoil the moment. Although the stereotypical Florida lesbian might not agree, the two feel they represent the region. “I think there are so many different types of, not only people, but lesbians and gays,” says Summer. “And there's just so many different types of human beings out there that I don't
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just adore her. And then, yeah, Mel, we've gotten really close with, there's like a core group of us that we all have our own group chat. We talk every single day, the eight of us. And it's been great.” The couple juggled several challenges during the show, from living with parents while a home remodel was completed, to managing careers, changing clothes in U-Hauls, and showing up to social gatherings required for production purposes – all during a pandemic. “Every day it was a struggle,” says Marissa. Summer chimes in, “I think having each other helps. I don't think I would have been able to do it alone.” When asked if they had any cringe-worthy moments while watching themselves on TV, Summer shares, “I thought that there were going to be some, yeah. I think that I can see cringe mo-
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think I can represent anybody but myself. “ Marissa adds, “People want to stereotype us as one group. I think people view us as plastic and, like, fake looking. But I think that we're very different.” Summer continues, “I feel like I have to come out all the time. So, I'm going through the same thing that I went through when I was 15 over and over and over again because people assume that, since I don't look like a lesbian, then I must be straight. So, I think that was important for people to see, too.” Stereotypes aside, the reality is that these two are real local Tampa lesbians. And they represent a subgroup of millennial-aged lesbians living in and moving to the Tampa Bay region. Marissa notes, “From the commentary that we've already seen, like the positive feedback that we're getting, I think we caught a couple of comments that were like, ‘I need to move to Tampa,’ but I mean, that would be great and everything, but I think the main goal is really just to just make being gay okay and a little bit more normalized.” She continues, “I mean a bigger gay community in general. It's good for Tampa.” Although the season ends with a cliffhanger, the verdict is still out on a second season. My suggestion to the duo? Season 2 should focus on 55+ women living in Gulfport’s Town Shores. Marissa and Summer giggled in response, “Yes, totally!”
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY BRYNES
FEBRUARY 2022
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STYLE&TRENDS Coming in Hot Menswear luxury high fashion has a redhot newcomer whose fresh take on edgy has caught everyone’s eye.
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ith the changing of seasons, there is a plethora of new designers emerging from all over the world. One such shining star is that of Daniel Mofor. Just recently being recognized in Forbes Magazine as a Forbes 1000 which celebrates and showcases the most ambitious sole proprietors and entrepreneurial heroes in the United States, Daniel is proving to be a creative force in the men’s luxury fashion industry. His line has been featured in GQ, Esquire, Vogue, People, and the New York Times. Daniel was born and raised in beautiful Cameroon, Central Africa. As a young boy, he loved to dress up and always look his very best. Of course, being raised by his mother who was a fashion designer; the fruit did not fall very far from the tree. Though, Mofor attended school in Africa through high school; he would travel to the United States where he would attend and graduate from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He would later move to Arkansas but quickly found himself returning to Texas and landing in Dallas. In 2016, Mofor took a leap of faith and made the decision to quit his job as a security analyst at Walmart committing his undivided attention and efforts to his clothing company Don Morphy, He states, “my very first break into the fashion community was the first fashion show I ever did – Fashion X Dallas. It was a huge milestone for the brand as it was basically my introduction to the Dallas fashion sphere and the rest of the world. As you can see today, it was well received.” The creation and inspiration for his brand was drawn from him traveling and observing the finest and most futuristic fashion shows in the country. By
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BY CHRISTIAN ILES
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PHOTO BY DTX STREET
CHRISTIAN ILES Hairstylist and makeup artist to the stars, 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
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2019, Mofor received one of the most prestigious honors in the industry when Fashion Group International New York City recognized him as the “Rising Star” winner for Menswear, which was a first for a Dallas designer. Why even Women’s Wear Daily, Tommy Hilfiger, Daily Front Row and many others congratulated this new “master of fashion.” Quickly following, the Fashion Group International of Dallas presented Daniel with the 2019 “Award of Excellence.” When I got to sit down and interview Mofor, I asked him which fashion designers he most admired in his growing years; as well as what kind of effect those designers had on his past and current brand creations. He replied, “I first admired my Mum so much because she was the first fashion designer I was exposed to. Her sense of style, creativity, and ability to figure out her customer’s needs. Then later, I got to know and love other designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford, P. Diddy, and many others. These designers helped reinforce the fact that my passion in fashion can be cultivated beyond myself, as far as designing, and selling clothes to everyone. Most of them built their brands from the ground up and I am
hoping to make Don Morphy a household name.” There are several celebrities that now have Mofor design their finer apparel; namely Bishop T.D. Jakes, Emmitt Smith, Tyson Chandler, and Dwight Howard. Even Tyra Banks and R & B crooner Kenny Lattimore have called on Daniel and his team for customized suits. When asked what the future holds for this most luxurious brand, Mofor replied, “our immediate goal is to expand out of Dallas. We want everyone to experience luxury and be ‘morphed into a Don’. That said, we are putting a lot of resources towards virtual fittings. Lack of in person fittings at the beginning of the pandemic was initially challenging for our business. As a result, we had to lean into perfecting our virtual fitting model. It not only served our customers during that time, but also helped expand our market due to its precision and popularity for our out-of-town customers who want to wear our brand but are unable to travel.” The future looks bright for Mofor and his team as his label continues to grow and develop into one of America’s premier brands renowned for its “tailored craftsmanship, unique customer experience, and bold sophistication.”
PHOTO BY DTX STREET
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FEBRUARY 2022
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Housed by Versace The masterful art and design of Ilian Rachov has been influenced universally from North American Natives to Medieval Iconic Frescos. His influence on others is universal, from the homeless in Italy to the House of Versace. BY CHRISTIAN ILES
F
rom the communistic regime of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, a Master of the Arts was born. Ilian Rachov is a selftaught artist whose career started off in 1988 creating copies of medieval icons frescoes; as well as rediscovering and mastering the ancient techniques of gilding. Rachov’s work is currently in both fashion and home décor for the House of Versace. His many oil paintings and icons are in some of the most distinguished private collections, not to mention the property of hundreds of churches and museums across the World. One would think such a masterful artist would be born into an artistic family; but Rachov’s father was
an engineer and his mother worked at a publishing house. Yes, they provided him with a fine education with the focus being on art; but Rachov never thought in a million years that this would be his future. At a very young age he was obsessed with the North American Indians. He found himself painting all day and night. If not doing that, he was creating Indian clothes, feather crowns and arms. Rachov would spend entire weeks creating these outfits for him to wear alongside the construction of his very own tipi in his mother’s garden. Rachov feels his true art career began around seventeen or eighteen where he had a fascination with the books of Carlos Castaneda. He states, “It was impossible to find them in the Bulgarian language because they were forbidden by the
CHRISTIAN ILES Hairstylist and makeup artist to the stars, 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.
PHOTOS MADONNA WITH THE CHILD, ST. MICHAEL, AND PRINCESS GRACE KELLY BY ARTIST ILIAN RACHOV'S ARCHIVE.
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regime. So, I started to translate one of them, ‘The Journey to Ixtlan’ with the help of a big EnglishBulgarian dictionary. This book opened my mind to see the world in a completely different way. I changed my interests and started to be curious about the “other world”; about the human capacity to change reality and direct my life so that I could better serve humanity by helping others.” Rachov’s life truly began to flourish when he met Georgi Pemiklijski, who became his “maestro di vita” (life teacher). He taught and mentored him how to live life better and helped him with the skills to discover his life purpose. Rachov now believed, “my new dreams now were to learn how to become a healer. I wanted to heal people on the streets, but without them ever knowing. It was not easy at first; but I could feel that I was growing and developing the ability to heal others both physically and mentally. It’s impossible to be a healer without having a special capacity to heal. It's not a question of reading books or having lessons in the classroom, it's about looking within and discovering who you
truly are and your life purpose. I want to help others discover that they too can heal within and help others.” According to Rachov’s teacher, the most renowned and influential painters, singers, and icons in the art community must have selfdiscovery in their life and careers before they can truly have an unwavering resolution to succeed. When Rachov was eighteen years old, he painted his first orthodox icon and sold it to an American tourist in Sofia. He now knew that he could make money from his artwork; thus, catapulting his desire and ambition to be a truly successful ‘selfmade’ artist. One day his teacher Georgi gave him some special advice, “why don’t you use more brilliant colors and do not change the faces of all the saints?” Rachov tried it and he now had a “boom of commissions,” he said. “I had so much work, so I needed to pay other artists to work for me doing the preparations of the paintings and I just did the final strokes on the faces.” Over the many early years, Rachov had painted more than two-thousand icons on wooden panels
PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: PHOTO OF MRS. DONATELLA VERSACE AND ILIAN RACHOV BY GIANLUCA ZIMAGLIA; PHOTO OF ILIAN RACHOV AT WORK PAINTING A CEILING IN PRINCE RUSPOLI RALACE IN ROME BY ARTIST ILIAN RACHOV'S ARCHIVE; PHOTO OF ILIAN RACHOV AND PENELOPE CRUZ WITH THE PORTRAIT HE CREATED FOR HER BY VITO PAGANO
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with gold leaf. It was at this time that he was commissioned to paint frescoes and paintings for many churches and embassies; as well as to paint the official portrait of the Bulgarian First Lady Antonina Stojanova. It was always Rachov’s dream to move to Italy, and in 1999 that became reality. He was now able to see the most magnificent works of art that he had only seen as a child in the art books in the libraries. “I was now touching the marble monuments created by the old masters with my very own hands.” When Rachov first moved to Turin, he was commissioned to do some very important work for churches and private collectors. Life just kept flourishing for him as his work was being admired and noticed far and wide throughout Italy. He was even hired to do some paintings and icons for the Vatican City. Rachov states, “soon after, I was hired as an actor to act as myself in the movie ‘Twice Born’ starring Penelope Cruz. I even painted a portrait of Ms. Cruz.” One day, while working in his studio in Turin, Rachov received a phone call stating that they were from the head office of Versace. They asked him if he could be so kind as to travel to Milan for an art collaboration between him and the House of Versace. Why Rachov thought this had to be a joke; a friend pulling a stunt because they knew how much he loved Versace. Rachov was off to Milan but stopped about halfway there thinking this could not be the real deal. The following day
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of “the appointment,” Rachov received another call asking him if he had a problem or accident because he had missed the very important meeting. Well, the angels above must have been watching over Rachov because they made another appointment for him in Como to meet with the art director of Versace Home Collection. This was in 2003. So, this was the beginning of his collaboration with Immagine S.r.l.; the company who produces the Versace Home Collection of cushions, bedspreads, silk scarfs, and other silk items for the collections. Rachov says, “It was a very happy and exciting moment of my art career because the company gave me all the freedom to create what I have always dreamed of creating, but in the Versace style as a pattern design for their collections. Now I was creating something that would be produced and sold all around the world; worn by Madonna and even Donatella herself among other major celebrities. It's a real pleasure to see your creation on the covers of top fashion magazines or in the videos on MTV. I believe I was the only freelance artist at that time to collaborate with the House of Versace.” After Versace, Rachov created collections for a variety of brands including Silvio Fiorello, who is famous for his line of fine hand-made silk ties; as well as Aleksander Allembert who designs the most luxurious and beautiful hats, scarves, and umbrellas. Other collections by Rachov have been created for companies throughout Europe, America and Russia. At this time, Rachov has his own collection of the finest silk scarfs, fine silk shirts, and jackets printed with his heritage designs. When asked about his new projects, he replied, “the world has changed so drastically the last couple of years, in some ways good and in some ways bad. Some of them I love. I truly don’t know what the future holds for me; perhaps it’s time for me to continue my studies of healing.”
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PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT OF ILIAN RACHOV IN HIS STUDIO CREATING A DESIGN FOR VERSACE HOME COLLECTION 2005, ST. GEORGE, AND AMAZON BY ARTIST ILIAN RACHOV'S ARCHIVE
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G A L A S F O R DAY S
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Stars Shining Bright The NGLCC convened in Hollywood, Fla. to get Back to Business. It wouldn’t have been an LGBTQ summit unless it emanated fabulousness and illuminated brilliantly. BY J O H N SOTO M AYO R
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embers of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce gleefully gathered from all over the nation and some from abroad on Nov 17-19, 2021 into The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton in Hollywood, Fla. after a yearlong hiatus caused by COVID for the eagerly awaited NGLCC Back to Business Summit. The convention center of the luxurious beachfront resort consisting of North and South Tow-
ers overshadowing the row of other deluxe hotels along Ocean Drive, boasting 1,000 rooms 36 stories tall, two overlapping pools, and several restaurants and lounges, served as the meeting place of the B2B Summit, comprised of three days of networking, education, and celebration of the LGBTQ+ business community and their allies’ many accomplishments over the year. The Summit commenced with the Best-of-theBest Awards luncheon recognizing outstanding achievement in the promotion of cross-segment diversity, equity and inclusion from the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC), a coali-
PHOTO IN PRINT EDITION BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR; VIDEO IN DIGITAL EDITION BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR (EMBRACE MEDIA)
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SEEN of The ActOne Group, the largest privately held, minority-woman-owned personnel company in the United States, who is known for being the first African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company, spoke with conviction. The kind of conviction that begins movements. On the importance of LGBTQ+ businesses, partners and allies confronting the wave of Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation seemingly in retaliation for the election of Joe Biden in November 2020 and the passage of the Equality Act in February 2021, Howroyd said, “Stars shine brightest in the darkness.” On what it means to her looking out into the 350+ in attendance at the B2B Summit and attending many NGLCC conventions and summits over the years, Howroyd said, “I don’t know you, but I love you, because I see you showing up.” Howroyd led the first panel of three during the luncheon. Her panelists included Roxanna “Rocky” Daniels, president of Taj Development Company Inc., and Erica Fields, president of Brooks Grain LLC. Leading the way herself, Daniels was introduced by Howroyd as the first woman-minority-LGBTQ-owned business in Chicago. Fields is a trailblazer herself, as a trans business owner, public policy maker, and legislator. Daniels empowered the audience quoting, as she said, the African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
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tion of national diverse business organizations led by NGLCC since 2012. An emotional and often comedic speech was delivered by keynote speaker, country singer Chely Wright. She then led an insightful panel which included Noah Brodsky, president of Travel + Leisure Group; Charlene Vickers, Johnson & Johnson; and Alexis Adamson, Onshore Wind Procurement Manager of BP. Recognitions during the NBIC Best-of-theBest celebration included the following winners: NBIC Program or Initiative of the Year: Lowe’s NBIC Courage in Government Award: Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator, US Small Business Administration. Afterward throughout the day, the Summit delivered cutting-edge leadership programs in addition to networking and engagement opportunities for LGBTQ+ and allied business leaders. Innovative educational programs included an affiliate chamber educational track and one-toone Matchmaker meetings between suppliers and Fortune 500 companies. The second day commenced with a star-studded array of speakers including a surprise guest. Businesswoman, educator, ambassador, author, and mentor Janice Byrant Howroyd (AKA “JBH”) kicked off the luncheon with an energetic, motivational speech. Howroyd, the founder and CEO
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Integrity • Respect • Service 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.
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The second panel of the luncheon was hosted by Mark Bertolini, the former CEO of Aetha Inc., the Director of Verizon Communications Inc.; and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and a member of the NGLCC Board of Directors. His panelists included Bill Gunn, Chief Procurement Officer at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health; Clint Grimes, SVP/Chief Procurement Officer at Capitol One; and Nedra Dickson, Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Managing Director for Accenture. Sabrina Kent, the Executive Vice President at NGLCC had the honor to present and interview the special guest of the Summit — TobagonianAmerican actress, author, model, and reality TV personality, Dominique Jackson. Jackson who starred in Strut and more recently Pose, spoke candidly on her difficult experiences as a transgender woman, who was homeless shortly after arriving to the United States and had to turn to sex work for survival. She spoke powerfully on what we need to do to help one another. Regarding someone approaching her and announcing themselves as an ally, Jackson said, “Don’t tell me, show me.” She received a stand-
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ing ovation. A quick wit, she said as the crowd sat down, “If you really want to be an ally, stand up for me when I am not in the room.” Powerful point that hit its mark. The Summit concluded with the cocktail fabulous Awards Gala, which celebrated another year of economic and social progress for the global LGBTQ+ and allied business community. And the NGLCC 2021 winners were: LGBT Supplier of the Year: Kelli Henderson and Elise Lindborg, Brand Pride Chamber Leader of the Year: Tracy Dean, Utah LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Extra Mile Award from American Airlines: Dominique Jackson Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year: Charlene Vickers, Johnson & Johnson Affiliate Chamber of the Year: Marquita Thomas, Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC) Corporation of the Year: Bill Gunn, Johnson & Johnson An after party followed with music, dancing, and of course, stilt walkers. NGLCC knows how to party.
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1 Mark Bertolini, Bill Gunn, Clint Grimes & Nedra Dickson 2 & 3 Janice Bryant Howroyd, Roxanna Rocky Daniel & Erica Fields 4 Janic Bryant Howroyd & John Sotomayor 5 Dominique Jackson & Jonathan D. Lovitz 6 Barbara Poma 7 Mark Bertolini 8 Barabara Poma & John Sotomayor
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HEALTH
MIND
Luxury of a Healthy Mind BY KATIE MCCULLOUGH
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uxury is about treating yourself to the best of the best. It is about knowing your worth and allowing yourself to indulge in what serves you, or simply brings you joy. A healthy mind, while a human right, feels like a luxury. Our mind is the most important piece of our existence as humans, for without a healthy functioning mind, we lose our connection to life around us. Physical ailments may be noticeable to others, so we feel more comfortable or justified getting help for ourselves or simply making time to rest and replenish. It is up to you to make the health of your mind a nonnegotiable priority. After setting this intention for yourself, you are on the road to luxury of the mind. So, how can we indulge in our mental health? Well, the word Luxury probably conjures up images of expensive indulgence like a destination vacation, shiny new things, or even a Kardashian-level lifestyle. This certainly does not have to be the case. A healthy mind needs time off from extraneous activities, just like your body. Make time to simply be. To simply meditate and replenish. Meditation does not have to be guided or complicated. Sit down, close your eyes, focus your thoughts on something positive and breathe.
Neglecting to give yourself this time may result in high stress and a foggy mind, thus impacting your day-to-day functionality. From forgetting my girlfriends’ birthday to not being emotionally present with friends who needed to confide in me, simple meditation has helped remedy occasions like these to keep my mind clear and calm. Not only that, but according to the Mayo Clinic, meditation has lasting impacts on your emotional AND physical well-being. This stuff works, people! Additionally, your mind needs exercise and nourishment. As an educator, my work primarily focuses on expanding and exercising the mind with critical thinking. The single most effective strategy for accomplishing this is to read! It is too easy to neglect setting aside time for pleasure reading, but as I tell my students, you need to invest in yourself. Nourish your mind with stories that bring you joy, with stories that resonate with you. Whether it’s a classic tale, a trashy romance, or a magazine (Look at you go! Off to a great start!), just read something that brings you joy. Speaking of joy...indulge in a movie you love, take a nap, draw a bath, dance to your favorite song, have your partner take the kids out of the house for a while, pet a dog, go for a leisurely walk...take a little time off. Your future self will thank you for it.
KATIE MCCULLOUGH graduate of Flagler College, is currently teaching English Language Arts in Saint Augustine, Fla., specializing in gifted and exceptional education. Prior to attending graduate school, Katie plans to pursue her passion for writing while finding time to travel the world.
PHOTO BY CHAAY TEE VIA ADOBE STOCK
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The Luxury of a Healthy Body BY CORY FREEMAN
As
a practicing physical therapist, I spend my days working with people to rehabilitate to a healthy, functional body. I quite frequently have patients and clients tell me that they took for granted that they once were pain free or functional prior to injury or degeneration. All too frequently in our lives we find ourselves appreciating what we once had, and not appreciating what we have while it is ours. Having a healthy functional body is a luxury that not all humans have. And so, in my attempt to bring this luxury to your attention, my hope is that you will be inspired to engage daily in three ways to work towards or maintain a healthy body. Physical activity - Our bodies were made to move. We see over and over in research literature the importance of physical activity for healing and maintaining healthy bodies. Find ways each day to move and be active. My boyfriend and I like to do weight training together at the gym most days, but on the days we don’t go to the gym we like to do walks in the neighborhood or find local hikes. My son likes to join us on these too, which is a nice way to get a good conversation going among the three of us. Most importantly when it comes to physical activity is to make sure it’s something you find enjoyable, and to be consistent with it. Diet - We often say and hear that diet is the most important aspect to having a healthy body and creating the physique we desire. In general, I teach clients to get as
much of their food intake from one ingredient foods such as: rice, chicken, potatoes, fish, bell peppers, blueberries, eggs, etc. I also encourage clients to indulge in the foods that bring them satisfaction and happiness on a periodic, but consistent basis. To help with improving or maintaining a good diet this becomes a family affair as well. My partner and I are on the same meal plan and diet, which helps with keeping consistent, but it’s also a lot of fun to cook and prepare meals together. I take the time each day to cook or prepare meals. It is an important part of being healthy, and so I put aside time and make it a priority. Sleep - This is an area that gets overlooked frequently. Sleep is essential for our bodies to recover and to rid our bodies of the stress hormone that we build up all day long. If you are trying to lose fat, gain muscle, or focused primarily on health and wellbeing, then you need to prioritize your sleep. If you aren’t getting good sleep then please talk to your doctor about options to help in that regard. You’ll be amazed at how good you will feel with getting consistent full nights of sleep. The human body is an amazing biological machine, and like any machine it needs maintenance to keep it up and running. A healthy body is a luxury that can easily be taken for granted. I encourage you to work towards and maintain a healthy body by staying physically active, maintaining a good and consistent diet, and prioritizing your sleep. This one body is likely all we are going to get in this life, take good care of it and yourself.
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.
PHOTO COURTESY BY CORY FREEMAN
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108
SOUL
The Luxury of a Healthy Soul BY R E V. D O N N A DAV I S , R N ( Y P I R )
O
ur birthright is a healthy soul. We live and breathe in the Divine energy that is everywhere. No matter what our background and beliefs, we are all a part of Life. When we incarnate into this human experience, we come in fill of curiosity and wonder. Nature it’s always giving to us and the world exists so that we may experience Life! The birthright of being a pure unscathed soul is still ours even when the game of life, “the human experience”, beats us down. We begin to believe all of the other things that were constructed to be helpful at first. Well-meaning family and friends use their own experiences and those of our ancestors to try to keep us on the right path. That is taking away the very thing that is our birthright! If we can remember that we are pure Energy. Pure harnessed Energy in a human body. Once we can grasp this, that we are all unique expressions of Energy, then we can treat each other with respect and be kind. This is how we get to feel the luxury that is our birthright. We get to tap back into the essence of what we came from and what
is always around us. I call this essence Love, Source, God, or Life. Once I become clear about Life being Love then I can forgive those who don’t understand me. I can embrace my true nature which is pure Energy completely encased in a body. I can see the others around me expressing themselves and navigating the human experience. Every now and then, I experience hurt and pain at the hands of other people. Some of them should be on my cheering squad, but alas, I have disappointed them by choosing to be true to myself. One of my favorite books is Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh. Like him, I find myself asking God why are people so mean to me? Why did I get created to be different? I get the same response every time when I meditate, “It’s all a part of your human story”. All of it is a drop in the bucket of time. Breathe and remember, nothing stays the same. Hurt only hangs out for a while. You always can be mindful of your breath. Lastly, you are made from the finest piece of Life but so is everyone else. Be kind to yourself and others. Step back into the breath and allow the luxury that is your Divine birthright to wash over you. Namaste.
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. Read more about her at YourPhoenix IsRising.com
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