Publisher’s Note

Embrace

Your Calling

IN THE LATE SPRING of 2012, I sat in a staff meeting at Ocala Magazine where I worked as executive editor, as our team brainstormed a new feature story to fi ll one that fell through. Our publisher asked why don’t we cover gay life in Ocala, Marion County, it had never been done before. I thought about it for a brief moment, and replied it was a wonderful idea, however, I thought it warranted more time and development than a quick fi ller story. She agreed. Given the green light, I pondered what angle I would cover the story, set to publish three months later.

I asked myself what is Ocala/ Marion County all about? To me, the Ocala/Marion County community are about faith and family. I thought that is what I should present: a profi le of families that contribute to the makeup of the community. Basically, what they see every day, only with same-sex relations.

It took a while to fi nd people willing to share their story publicly. The eff ort paid off . The story was called, “Me/We.” First, it featured a family comprised of two gay dads and two gay moms who decided to have biological children together. They provided a unique family dynamic praised by their straight friends and peers. Second, we covered the amazing story of Donna Davis and Norma Anderson, who took in straight teenage boys, friends of their teenage children, into their home when those boys faced adversity. Finally, we presented LGBTQ+ resources, such as Ocala Pride Inc, the local college social group CF GSA, and Rainbow Ocala.

I decided to cover the topic in my Editor’s Note, titled “Take a Stand.” My publisher was concerned however, because I was essentially coming out in my note. She felt if we endured backlash for the story, the public outcry would ➺

eventually subside. Yet if I came out publicly, they will never forget. I replied with a note titled “Take a Stand” I cannot back down. She and I waited for a sign. That sign was the announcement that Anderson Cooper had come out that same day. We published the story, with the Editor’s Note unchanged.

The outward support was overwhelming. We received numerous letters, email and texts commending us for the bold coverage of a marginalized group. My peers congratulated me for my courage to come out in print. I made the decision that if I ever have the opportunity, I will publish my own LGBTQ+ magazine.

So here we are. Welcome to the premiere issue of Embrace Magazine, the fi rst-ever LGBTQ+ magazine in North Central Florida. Our mission is to present stories of gay and straight communities coming together to live, work, play, and pray. We provide content that is appealing to both the LGBTQ+ and straight communities. It was important to me to include the four pillars of health: Mind, Body, Soul, and Finance, as well as transgender issues.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this new publication, and to you for your readership. All of you, contributors and readers, are making my dream eight years in the making/one year in development come true.

john@sotomayormedia.com

John Sotomayor

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief