Watermark issue 17..10: Summer Travel

ISSUE 17.10 | MAY 13 - MAY 26, 2010 WATERMARKONLINE.COM

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

PRIDE & PASSION

returns to Tampa Museum

ORLANDO DEPUTY ABUSE

Back to the

case moves forward

‘BIG EASY’

Rediscovering New Orleans’ Gay Groove

D AY T O N A B E A C H

•

ORLANDO

• TA M PA

•

FOCUS ON

TRAVEL: Hot Gay Destinations The Swedish Attraction Finding the Right Travel Package S T. P E T E R S B U R G

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S A R A S O TA

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

watermark | preview

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

issue 15.10

4

FRINGE 34

PG.

There’s a reason why the Orlando International Fringe Festival is known as “the Gay Fringe.” The annual showcase of theater returns to downtown Tampa May 20-31 and has another large collection of LGBT and LGBT-friendly offerings.

The residents of New Orleans know how to celebrate, whether it be with colorful and outrageous Easter get ups or for the massive Southern Decadence gathering in September. Photo courtesy New Orleans Visitors and Convention Bureau

6 | Orlando News A domestic violence case against Orange County Deputy Bryan Villella has been sent to the Florida state attorney’s office; Randy Stephens has been named interim director of The Center; more.

ORLANDO NEWS

6

8 | Tampa Bay News

10 / SARASOTA NEWS 11 / STATE NEWS

Galehouse rally won’t conflict with Harvey Milk Day; Pride & Passion returns to Tampa Museum of Art; Dining Out For Life surpasses goals;

14 / TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE

more.

18 / ORLANDO MARKETPLACE

13 | Nation/World News The military asks Congress to hold off on repealing DADT; Gay

24 / MAIL

marriage law goes to Supreme Court; more.

8

27 / SCENE+HEARD

17 | Online/Offline

TAMPA BAY NEWS

Watermark’s Online Editor Jaime Hyman celebrates Pride—well, Geek Pride—as the annual day of celebration approaches.

27 | Scene and Heard

30 / FILM REVIEWS 36 / EVENT PLANNER 38 / TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD

The Orlando International Fringe Festival returns to downtown and brings plenty of gay plotlines to the stage; The Orlando Gay Chorus

SCENE+HEARD

27

39 / ORLANDO OVERHEARD

celebrates two decades of harmonious singing. Stephen Miller tells us why Iron Man 2 is good, brainless fun.

50 / TRANSITIONS

41 | Travel

51 / ADVICE

We live in one of the most sought after vacation destinations in the world, so it’s only natural that we’d want to travel away from here. We

52 / SPORTS

take a look at New Orleans and the resurgence of the local culture and the LGBT attractions including Southern Decadence. Freelancer Dan

41

53 / CLASSIFIEDS

Renzi travels to Sweden and finds out exactly what it takes to sleep comfortably in the IceHotel. Plus, we check in on some of the hot

KNOW+TELL

LGBT travel destinations that can’t be missed.

54 / GOSSIP

watermark | preview

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

editor’sdesk D

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

when an older gentleman I’ve spoken to several times in the past found out etermining when a compliment is truly a compliment and when I was gay. He knows I’m in journalism but I’ve never shared the specifics it is a backward insult can be tricky. That’s surprising since a of my job. When he asked me how work was going and I told him I was compliment is usually easily and readily received. busy managing this issue of the newspaper, collecting information about the I was reminded of this while on the phone with one of my best friends upcoming Gay Days festivities in Orlando and writing several stories for the recently—a St. Petersburg-based lesbian. She was adamant that she had to St. Pete Pride Program, which will be distributed at the end of this month. tell me a story.

It took him a second for my words to sink in, but then he smiled and said, “I know you’re busy, but I have a story for you,” she told me. I know that by “story” she means she has a tale to share with me—not a story that I “I never would have guessed you were gay.”

He meant it as a compliment—I guess gay men aren’t supposed to bench should track down as part of my duties as editor of this newspaper. press as much as I do or maybe we aren’t supposed She knows that this is an insanely busy time to have facial hair. But in his mind I didn’t fit the of year for me, but I told her that I had plenty of predetermined stereotype of what “gay” means to time to hear her tale and that I needed to unplug him. from work for a few minutes. She told me she I’m pretty sure I awkwardly thanked him for his compliment, was playing pool at one of her favorite watering that’s the number but I couldn’t get his words out of my mind. After I holes—a “straight” establishment that caters to an finished another set I walked over to him and asked older, sometimes retired, clientele—when a straight one thing to never why he was so surprised that I was gay. male friend of hers tried to offer a compliment. say to a lesbian.

After a few stutters he told me that my height, size “I’ve known him a long time and he knows I’m and self-confidence just made me appear straight. He a lesbian. But he had been drinking,” she recalled. could tell I was confused by that statement and he “He came up to me looked me in the eye and said, told me to “just take it as a compliment.”

‘Wow, what a waste.’”

I smiled at him and told him I wasn’t upset, but that I thought it was I know that she knew what he meant by that and I know what he meant important to share that gay men—and lesbians—come in all different types. by that. My friend is in her early 30s and quite attractive. This guy was We’re masculine, we’re feminine, we’re muscular, we’re small-framed, trying to tell her that her beauty was “wasted” because she didn’t find men we’re heavy-set, we’re attractive and we’re not-so-attractive. attractive.

I also told him that no, the locker room is not like Christmas morning to a It was a full out insult hidden within a backward compliment. gay man (someone actually asked me that once). I left things on good terms “I’m not a waste. He’s a waste,” she told me as I was laughing at her with my gym friend and I was happy that I addressed his “compliment.” I pain. To her the phrase was right up there with the ever-popular, “You’re a do know that a few other guys nearby overheard parts of our conversation lesbian? You just haven’t met the right man yet.”

I’m pretty sure that’s the number one thing to never say to a lesbian. But and I looked at it as an opportunity to show them—whether they are gay or not—that individuality is what matters most and not stereotypes. lesbians aren’t alone in this world of strange and insulting compliments.

If I had missed the opportunity, that truly would have been a waste. | l | Several weeks ago I was in the gym moving some pretty serious weight

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ISSUE 17.09 | APRIL 29 - MAY 12, 2010 WATERMARKONLINE.COM

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

FOCUS ON

OUTDOORS: SAWMILL’S CONTINUING EVOLUTION O&A’S BEST GAY LIFE YOGA ON WATER

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ONE MIGHTY REUNION

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watermark | orlando news

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

State Attorney receives Orange County deputy domestic abuse case

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Orlando | A domestic violence case against Orange County Master Deputy Bryan Villella has been sent to the Florida state attorney’s office to determine the possibility of criminal charges. On March 2, Villella was ordered by the court to obey a one-year “no hostile contact” injunction concerning Joel Carrion, his partner of four years. After several weeks of asking for progress on the case, Carrion was finally informed on May 10 of the state’s pending investigation.

“We cannot investigate ourselves in the case of criminal charges,” clarified Orange County Sheriff’s Office media relations rep Jeff Williamson. “That would be up to the state attorney’s office in each and every case involving an officer.”

Williamson also pointed out that an internal investigation will also proceed against Villella after the state makes its findings. The sheriff’s office will determine if Villella disregarded any of its own internal ethics policies and procedures.

It’s been a frustrating journey for exboyfriend Carrion, who grew increasingly concerned that the sheriff’s office was dragging its feet to protect Villella, who Carrion said was once referred to as one of Orange County’s “valiant officers.”

In a letter to media dated April 13, Carrion started, “I cannot help but think that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is stalling yet again.”

Carrion continues: “They have had all the information since June 9, 2009. A second round of information was submitted to them and to the courts by Feb. 24, and then the court proceedings on March 2. The last witness was interviewed by them almost one month ago.”

In a May 4 e-mail to Watermark offices, Carrion again vented his frustration: “I did not get the courtesy of a reply, and truthfully, I wasn’t expecting one. They swept everything under the carpet, as I said they would all along.”

In fact, in a March 15 interview with

Watermark—nearly two months ago—Orange County Sheriff’s Captain Angelo Nieves had stated, “We should know something in the next couple of weeks.”

There was no explanation offered for the delay between the March 2 court date and the May 10 communication to Carrion. Neives did not return a call or an e-mail requesting comment by press time.

A few days before his no-contact hearing, Carrion expressed concern that the whole process has been protracted. He first filed charges against Villella in spring 2009. Carrion said he felt the Orange County Sheriff’s Office didn’t take his report seriously until Villella was also caught in uniform having semi-public sex with a GayDays guest at last year’s June festivities. Off-duty, Villella had been hired as security at Royal Palms Resort. While working, Villella was found by hotel employees in an empty conference room with the guest. Orange County’s Sherriff’s office suspended Villella for 120 hours and put the officer on one-year probation.

Now, Villella also faces allegations that he physically abused Carrion, even forcing his partner at gunpoint to clean up his own blood after one altercation.

Judge Kest’s “no hostile contact” court order does allow Villella to continue to work while the criminal inquiries and a sheriff’s office internal investigation proceed. However, the judge refused to hear argument to let Villella to carry his gun off-duty.

This is not the first time Villella has been investigated by his employers. His five-year marriage to Helen Mackenzie ended after she made claims of domestic abuse. In 2002, Villella was reprimanded for transferring $552 from his ex-wife’s bank account to his own.

Official sheriff’s reports state “It is clear Villella and Ms. Mackenzie have a history of domestic disturbances.”

In the April 13 letter, Carrion said he was still “concerned for my own safety, while Mr. Villella continues to be allowed to work as a law enforcer.” | l |

briefs Slaymaker wins community award

Dyer, Stewart named to Harvey Milk Board

Orlando Youth Alliance Board president Michael Slaymaker is the 2010 recipient of the Debbie Simmons Community Service Award. The Metropolitan Business Association Board of Directors each year presents the honor to an individual or organization in the LGBT community “who embodies the spirit of giving, dedication, and exemplary community service.” The award is in honor of the MBA’s founding president.

Watermark publisher Tom Dyer and Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart were appointed to the Harvey B. Milk Foundation advisory board. The board works with governments from around the world to promote equal rights for LGBTs. Milk’s nephew and gay rights activist Stuart Milk founded the board. Along with Dyer and Stewart, Milk’s notable appointments included Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ambassador Nancy Brinker.

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Orlando | The Center Board of Directors has named Randy Stephens as interim director to fill in the organization’s leadership role while they search for a permanent candidate.

The executive director vacancy was created when Micheal Vance resigned on April 22.

Stephens brings with him a law degree plus solid LGBT activist and lobbying experience.

“He has a great drive to him, he’s wellconnected in the community, has been using the Center for years and works with a lot of groups that meet there,” said Jay Lovell, Center board president. “He knows the ins and outs and a lot of the volunteers so we decided he’d be a good fit for us.”

Lovell said during the interim period the Center’s focus is on maintaining programs.

He said Stephens will have the same duties Vance had and that Vance is helping Stephens get acclimated.

“I want to continue what Micheal has done,” said Stephens. “He’s done an exemplary job here and I just want to follow in his footsteps and be as successful as he was during his tenure.”

Stephen’s coalition-building experience stems from his role as political co-chair of the HRC Orlando Steering Committee and leadership with the Rainbow Democrats.

The length of the interim period has not

been determined.

Lovell said the board of directors has a meeting planned to put together a job description and search strategy.

“It’ll be enough time so they can do a complete Randy Stephens has been nationwide named interim director of search to fill this The Center. position,” said Stephens. “The board is not taking this lightly at all and they’re not in a rush, which is part of why they asked me to serve in the interim.”

Stephens is already goal-setting for his temporary position.

“The biggest thing I want to do is try to increase fundraising,” he said.

He’s also focused on raising awareness.

“It needs to be known that this is more than just a meeting hall, and a lot more activities go on here that the public isn’t aware of,” Stephens said. “I want more involvement from the community, both in participation and financial [help].”

Stephens said he has not yet decided whether he will apply for the permanent executive director position. | l |

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watermark | tampa bay news

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

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Dining Out for Life deemed a success steve blanchard Early tabulating seems to suggest that the 2010 Dining Out For Life event benefitting AIDS Service Association of Pinellas was a huge success.

So far envelope donations from the April 29 fundraiser have more than doubled from 2009, according to ASAP Marketing Coordinator Anthony Barros.

“This year the ambassadors were very competitive and aggressive and it’s paying off,” Barros said.

More than $20,000 was raised by donations alone. Restaurant percentages have not yet been calculated.

The Dining Out for Life Event is a nationwide effort, but money that is raised locally stays local. Each of the 65 restaurants that participated in Tampa Bay donated 25% of their sales to ASAP and diners were presented an opportunity to donate more cash by ambassadors, who represented different organizations throughout the community.

“I think Tampa Bay is getting it,” Barros said of the DOFL efforts. “It usually takes a year or two for people to catch on to what this event is and I have to credit our ambassadors and the generosity of our restaurants. The ambassadors truly fill those restaurants.”

Barros said he couldn’t release which ambassador or restaurant raised the most money, but the largest envelope donation from a single restaurant totaled $2,200.

Many diners were encouraged to participate thanks to advertisements running on local television stations. Bright House Networks was a major sponsor this year as was CW44.

“Commercials ran constantly and that obviously raised awareness,” Barros said.

“Ambassadors also put invitations on

Facebook, which really helped pull people in.”

The money raised will assist ASAP’s client services, which includes keeping its food pantry well stocked, assisting clients with medical co-pays and providing a monthly client dinner.

“More than 600 people use our pantry and feeding that many people year-round costs a lot of money,” Barros said.

While ASAP’s non-profit status allows it to provide case management services only in Pinellas County, Barros said its many other services are utilized by people on both sides of Tampa Bay. Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City had one of the largest crowds during the event and every single restaurant in Gulfport participated this year, according to Barros.

“We service both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties,” he said. “And restaurants in Hillsborough County are really coming on board.”

Barros added that he hopes to have at least 100 area restaurants participate in 2011.

“One of the best things restaurant owners can do is contact us and say they want to come on board,” Barros said. “We approach restaurants, but it can take awhile to find the right person to speak with and to bring them on board. If a restaurant wants to help our cause, we encourage them to contact me.”

This year was the fourth time Tampa Bay participated in DOFL and Barros promises to bring it back again next year.

“We are thrilled with the response and people have been amazingly generous,” he said. “We truly appreciate the support.”

For more information on Dining Out For Life or to sign on as an ambassador or participating restaurant, contact Barros at 727-328-3268. | l |

Galehouse rally in planning stages steve blanchard

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Tampa | Bryan Hadley wants to be very clear—a rally for Jason Galehouse will not happen on the first-ever Harvey Milk Day. He will, however, be actively looking for people to support and organize a rally for sometime later in the year.

“There was some misinformation,” Hadley said. “Harvey Milk Day is a day of celebration and peace. I do not want to distract from that. We will, however, be sharing information about the Galehouse case during events honoring Milk on May 22.”

Jason Galehouse, 26, disappeared in December 2003 after leaving a Tampa bar with two men believed to be Steven Lorenzo and Scott Schweickert. Authorities believe that the two men killed and dismembered Galehouse in 2003, and killed Michael Wachholtz just a few days

later. Wachholtz’s body was found in mid-January 2004, wrapped in a sheet and stuffed in the back of his 1992 Jeep Cherokee sport.

Lorenzo is serving a 200 year sentence in federal prison after a jury found him guilty on nine counts of administering the daterape drug GHB and one count of conspiring with Schweickert to distribute the drug.

Schweickert is serving a 40-year sentence as Lorenzo’s accomplice. Neither has faced murder charges yet.

Several Tampa Bay residents feel its time to put a spotlight back on the case. A rally would draw attention to the missing murder charges and that Galehouse’s mother, Pam Williams, has yet to receive a death certificate nearly seven years after her son disappeared.

For more information on organizing a rally or to volunteer, e-mail BryanRHadley@gmail.com. | l |

watermark | tampa bay news

Pride & Passion returns to Tampa Museum of Art

LEAP

EQFL Gala surpasses $150,000 goal

Hackworth on ballot for Pinellas County Commission

The Equality Florida 2010 Tampa Gala on May 8 surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $150,000 and raised $153,640 on May 8. The event, held at the Tampa Garden Club, featured speeches from Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, former Congressman Jim Davis and Congresswoman Kathy Castor. .

Former Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth has qualified to run for the Pinellas County Commission on the November ballot. The LGBT advocate collected the required 1,684 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot on April 26. The two-term mayor will challenge 10-year incumbent Susan Latvala for the District 4 seat.

Friends share a drink and a laugh at the 2009 Pride & Passion event in Tampa last year. | Photo by Nick Cardello

educational programs.

Once again, Tampa Bay-based artist Duncan McClellan has donated a glass sculpture to be raffled as a grand prize during Pride & Passion. The piece is valued at $1,000 McClellan recently won “Best in Show” at the Mainsail Arts Festival and has donated works of art for several charitable causes.

To purchase tickets, e-mail TMA-RSVP@ TampaMuseum.org or call 813-421-8370. | l |

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steve blanchard Tampa | For the past two years, Pride & Passion has felt more like a traveling art show than a Tampa Bay staple—but this year, the event celebrating LGBT influences in art returns to its roots. Pride & Passion began at the Museum of Art five years ago. Since then that building has been torn down and replaced with a brand new state of the art facility.

The fifth annual Pride & Passion is Friday, May 21, at 8 p.m. and kicks off the national LGBT Pride Month of June each year and encourages museum members and the Tampa Bay community to participate in a diverse collection of art and entertainment. Since 2006, Pride & Passion has generated more than 500 new memberships to the museum and attracted more than 1,500 people to its events.

The annual celebration was started by Scott Taylor and interim Museum interim executive director Ken Rollins. The two also produced the event its first two years.

Admission is $75 for an individual ticket and includes a one-year, individual level membership to the Tampa Museum of Art, as well as hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and live entertainment throughout the evening. Event proceeds support museum exhibitions and

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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Harvey Milk Festival slated for Sarasota steve blanchard Sarasota | Shannon Fortner believes that if Harvey Milk were alive today he would encourage LGBT and supporters to celebrate, but to also inspire others to get involved and take action.

That’s the mission and inspiration behind Fortner’s involvement in the First Annual Harvey Milk Festival scheduled for Saturday, May 22. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed May 22 as the first annual Harvey Milk Day, and communities across the country have jumped on board to celebrate.

“I organized a rally with Out for Immigration back in November and people have been asking me when I was going to organize another one,” Fortner said. “So I decided to organize something for Harvey Milk Day.” Fortner said she was contacted by an organizer in San Francisco who was spearheading a similar event there and the celebration took on a life of its own. The Sarasota celebration runs from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 1356 5th St. and will showcase local bands, artists and performers in a day of true celebration.

“We’re staying focused on Harvey

himself,” Fortner says. “He loved the theater and Sarasota is very theatrical and artsy. I wanted local artists to express their interpretations of equality while we embrace our accomplishments.”

Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner will host a welcoming ceremony—complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony and an official proclamation—to kick off the day’s festivities.

The day before, on Friday, May 21, a Milk Collection Art Opening is slated for 6 p.m. at the Pure Luxe Gallery at 513 Central Avenue, followed by an afterparty at Felice’s Café housed within the same block.

Fortner said that several volunteers will be on hand with petitions, encouraging attendees to voice concerns over several LGBT issues, including Florida’s ban on gays and lesbians adopting children.

“We want to make politics accessible to everyone but we want to enjoy ourselves too,” Fortner said.

The festival is free, however donations will be accepted for ALSO Out Youth, an organization for LGBT youth in Sarasota.

For more information, visit HarveyMilkFestival.com. | l |

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watermark | state news

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

11

staff report Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum is finally responding to the news that his anti-gay expert witness was caught vacationing with a male prostitute after they were photographed together at the Miami Airport on April 13.

McCollum paid Baptist minister and Christian right leader George Alan Rekers to testify in defense of Florida’s ban on gay adoption.

In a statement, McCollum said the State wouldn’t hire Rekers again, knowing what they know now. He then attempted to shift responsibility to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency representing the state in cases arguing for Florida’s ban on adoption by homosexuals.

“I think our team’s done what it should do,’’ McCollum told the Miami Herald.

“We’ve been defending the constitution of the State and we’ve been representing the Department of Children and Families, who hired him and paid him and needed expert witnesses and he was available and credentialed.”

McCollum then concluded: “I wouldn’t do it again if I knew what I know today but I didn’t know that then and neither did anybody else.”

However, the Florida Tribune then revealed that McCollum wrote a letter to DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth, personally recommending they hire Rekers after the department expressed a preference for another witness. “[The other candidate’s] areas of expertise are different from Dr. Rekers,’’ wrote McCollum. “Our attorneys handling this case have searched long and hard for other expert witnesses with comparable expertise to Dr. Rekers and have been unable to identify any who would be available for this case.”

“They believe that this expert and his testimony are necessary to ensure a successful result in this case,’’ McCollum wrote.

The day after the Rekers story broke, McCollum’s Facebook page was flooded with comments demanding he address his witness’s hypocrisy. The page’s administrator has been deleting comments and banning the users who make them, but apparently has been unable to keep up with the deluge of comments condemning McCollum and calling for his retirement.

Here is a sample: “You have helped damage GLBT youth. Suicide rate is highest with them. You wasted taxpayers’ money on a sham witness.”

Initial reports stated that McCollum’s office paid Rekers and a colleague $87,000 for their testimony that gay people are mentally unstable and unfit to adopt children, but Equality Florida reported that public

records show the amount paid to Rekers alone was actually $120,000—double the amount recommended by the DCF when they responded to McCollum’s recommendation that they hire Rekers.

“It is disgraceful that the attorney general used taxpayer dollars to compensate this discredited bigot-for-hire,” said Equality Florida executive director Nadine Smith. “It shows just how low they have to scrape to find anyone even willing to defend this awful ban that denies children permanent, loving homes.”

Rekers has made some clumsy attempts at damage control since the prostitute, who was hired via RentBoy.com, confirmed that they did vacation together and did have sexual contact in the form of erotic massage.

Rekers’ initial reaction was that he hired the “rentboy”—now identified as Jo-Vanni Roman—to lift his luggage as he was recovering from surgery, and didn’t know Roman was an escort till halfway through their 10-day European vacation.

Rekers quickly changed his story to state that he was helping to reform Roman. In Facebook correspondence with the blogger behind the popular gay blog Joe.My.God, Reker said he was sharing the Gospel with the escort and “spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse.”

The Miami New Times broke the story, and Rekers has threatened to sue the paper for defamation.

In the meantime, a second escort has come forward claiming that Rekers was a client.

Former porn star Carl Shepard posted on his personal blog that in 1992, he was hired to give Rekers an erotic massage in Chicago.

When gossip blog Gawker contacted Rekers for contact, he only denied even having visited the hotel where Shepard claimed the encounter occurred.

Rekers’ anti-gay pedigree also includes the following roles: co-founder of the rabidly anti-gay Family Research Council; board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an “ex-gay” organization; author of the 1983 book Shaping Your Child’s Sexual Identity among other hundreds of other anti-gay tomes and papers; and lecturer on teen sexuality and member of the American College of Pediatricians, which dispenses literature accusing gays of mass coprophilia, which is the act of finding sexual pleasure involving feces. | l |

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Military asks Congress to keep gay ban for now wire report Washington, D.C. | Senior Pentagon leaders have warned Congress not to tamper with the ban on gays serving openly in the military until they can come up with a plan for dealing with potential opposition in the ranks.

In a letter, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee that forcing policy changes on the military before it is ready would be a mistake.

Gay rights advocates want legislation

this year that would freeze military firings of openly gay service members, and some senior Democratic senators have said they want to offer such a bill.

Other lawmakers, including Skelton, have said they are uneasy about lifting the ban and do not want to act before the force is ready.

Early this week, Skelton asked Gates in a letter to outline his views as the House committee prepares the 2011 defense authorization bill.

Gates says he supports lifting the ban but wants to survey the troops first on how it should be done. | l |

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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Court won’t hear appeal on Boy Scouts land rental wire report Washington, D.C. | The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to let stand a ruling saying the Boy Scouts cannot lease city-owned parkland in San Diego because the group is a religious organization.

The high court refused to hear the Boy Scouts’ appeal from a 2003 ruling that San Diego acted improperly when it leased 18 acres of camp space to the Scouts because the group is a religious organization. The

ruling said the lease violated federal law that prohibits the government promotion of religion.

The Boy Scouts say they have no theology and only hold the position that children should “do duty to God� to become productive citizens. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2000 that the group has a constitutional right to exclude openly gay men from serving as troop leaders and because it compels members to swear an oath of duty to God. | l |

briefs Judge hears arguments on federal marriage law

Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships� to serve as clergy.

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Tauro heard arguments last week that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it treats same-sex married couples differently than heterosexual couples.

The law denies gay couples an array of federal benefits, including the financial advantages of filing joint tax returns. A Justice Department lawyer says the Obama administration wants the act repealed, but that the department is obliged to defend the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress.

Hawaii governor to decide on civil unions

Lutheran church to reinstate gay pastor in Atlanta Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has announced that Rev. Bradley Schmeling, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta, has been approved for reinstatement to its clergy roster after being removed from the church’s clergy roster in 2007 for being in a samegender relationship. The church adopted revisions to ministry policy documents last month, making it possible for “eligible

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle will decide whether same-sex civil unions become legal in Hawaii after the contentious bill won House approval in the waning moments of the legislative session. Lingle has carefully avoided saying whether she would veto the measure or allow it to become law. She has until July 6 to make a decision.

Lithuania’s first gay pride march draws protests Opponents of Lithuania’s first gay pride parade on May 8 threw smoke bombs and tried to break through a barrier but were stopped by police firing tear gas. Later, protesters threw rocks and street signs at security forces. About 400 people took part in the two-hour march—dubbed “For Equality�—in a sealed-off area in downtown Vilnius. Police officials said 19 people were detained and one officer slightly injured.

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watermark | viewpoint The right to not leave your house Suntans and fresh air are for all those nongeeks. First, prepare. The 25th is a Tuesday so you’re going to have to call off work. Go to the store and get all the food and beverages you need. Now, siiink into the couch. That’s right, so deep into the cushion you leave a butt groove. Now pull out the game controller or crack open your laptop. It’s gonna be a good day.

The right to not have a significant other and to be a virgin My Geek Who needs love and sex when you have the Pride Parade smarts to build a devoted, worshipful robot?

The right to not like football or any other sport We’ve all faked it; tried to fit in by faking Jamie Hyman our way through a conversation about sports.

ONLINE EDITOR Are you a geek who happens to like sports?

Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Cool. But if you’re not, don’t even bother to try to fit in. Just shrug and change the topic to iPhone apps.

The right to associate with other nerds The tricky thing here is finding the other nerds while you’re suck deep into your couch all day long. I recommend you check WatermarkOnline.com. We also hang out on Watermark’s Facebook page. Mingling with other nerds can also help break that rule about not having a significant other, in case you don’t care to exercise that particular right.

However, I should make one thing clear: there is competitiveness to being a geek. It’s fine to hang out with other geeks, but just make sure you buy new gadgets or see new nerdy movies before the rest of them do. Otherwise, you lose. hat, you thought all Pride events The right to have few friends (or none at were centered on a parade and a all) plethora of rainbow-striped flags?

This might seem in direct contrast with the Wrong! May 25 is Geek Pride Day, and I’m above right… and it is. Whichever way you go here to encourage my fellow nerds to let their is okay by me. Note: if you beat your friends in geek flags fly. Geek Pride Day originated in the competition to be the geekiest, all the time, Spain (and on the internet) in 2006 and the date you may find yourself involuntarily practicing is no coincidence, as May 25 is the day the first the right to have no friends.

Star Wars movie premiered in 1977.

The right to have all the geeky friends Geek Pride has since crossed the Atlantic that you want and festivals have been held in the United Why stop at a few? Collect them like comic States and Canada. I don’t know of any Geek books.

Pride events planned locally, but I think we The right to not be “in-style” should all celebrate the occasion anyway.

This right is especially potent in the LGBT Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, community, which has a stereotype for being there’s a manifesto listing our rights as geeks, appearance-obsessed. Are you a gay geek? and I’ve added a little advice for how to Skip the grooming and boutiques. Go ahead exercise those rights. and wear that t-shirt The right to be with the nacho cheese even geekier stain on it. I’ll be There is Why stop at over here wearing pocket protectors and the pants I spilled competitiveness to a crippling internet coffee on, and when being a geek. addiction? Take it a our eyes meet from step further. Build across the room, we’ll something. Buy rendezvous in the something and test it. Hang out on a website middle, compare stains and gossip about which you have previously deemed too geeky. An bloggers are the lamest. “internet wormhole” is when you click on a The right to be overweight and have poor seemingly innocent link and the next thing you eyesight know you’ve spent four hours reading about Glasses and guts are hot. Proven fact: conspiracy theories or constellations. On this Aaron Hicklin, the editor of Out, was quoted Geek Pride Day, I encourage you to spend as saying the abs obsession went to far and way, way too long reading about any topic that now it’s “no longer cool to spend so much time interests you. fussing around about your body” in a New

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

17

York Times article chronicling the recent trend of a bulging belly. Okay, the “glasses are hot” concept isn’t proven fact. It’s just my personal opinion.

The right to show off your geekiness Showing off is what Pride is all about, right? If you are anything like me, there is a constant stream of super nerdy comments running through your brain, which are censored as being too geeky for the general public. Starting this Geek Pride Day, drop that filter and let those remarks run free. Win that argument. Obsess over your latest geeky pursuit. Do it loud and do it proud.

The right to take over the world The geeks shall inherit the earth. | l |

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enough to me. We all know the Y has many LGBT members and employees. I couldn’t be the only one offended by this.

Suddenly I did care about the Y’s LGBT politics, so I did a little research. I found out that the Central Florida Y had an informal policy allowing LGBT partners of members to join on “family” memberships. This is good!

Then I found out the Central Florida Y did not include sexual orientation in its EEO policy.

This is bad! A mixed bag. So I pondered for a few more days and decided to take a stand.

I wrote a very lengthy letter, detailing my long relationship with the Y, applauding their informal “family membership” policy, and describing my concerns about the EEO policy the choice of venue for the recent event.

You Are Family and Then I delivered my epistle to every member At The YMCA of the Central Florida YMCA Executive Staff, Central Florida YMCA Board of Directors, and Downtown YMCA Board of Directors. There, my work was done! A little Mary Meeks consciousness-raising is good for the soul. But honestly, at best, I expected either crickets or a polite brush off. And for the next few days, I imagined there was a great big neon target on my back whenever I walked into the Downtown Y to burn my cupcakes.

But then, I received a letter from the President and CEO of the Central Florida YMCA, Jim Ferber, advising that my concerns were appreciated and would be considered at the next Board meeting. This is maybe good! Sensing a potential opportunity, I discussed the situation with my compatriots on “Team Gay,” Orlando’s triple-threat LGBT have been a member of the Orlando rapid response unit, and Mr. Ferber soon Downtown YMCA for 15 years and I received letters from Equality Florida and the go there 3-5 days a week to exercise Central Florida GLBT Community Center away my inner demons (otherwise known echoing my concerns. as cupcakes and fried cheese). I don’t join Then, much to my ever-lovin’ lesbian groups or go to classes, and I’m not a gym surprise, I received a phone call from the HR gadfly I just go and hop on a cardio machine, Director of the Central Florida YMCA, Susan hoping that someday my abs and glutes and Peacock. She called to advise that, in response other assorted muscles buried in middle-age to my letter, the Central Florida YMCA fat will decide to miraculously make a rehad updated its EEO policy to include sexual appearance. orientation (inclusive of gender identity), Although I am a very active advocate of and moreover was updating its membership LGBT causes, I never really thought about policies to formally incorporate LGBT family LGBT politics at the Y. I have just always structures. She also expressed that they liked the friendly people there and the easyunderstood my concerns about the venue of going atmosphere. the recent event and Then, a few weeks felt badly that anyone ago, the Wellness had been offended.

Let it be proclaimed— Director at the She stressed that use The Central Florida Downtown Y, Bridget of this venue did Butler, invited me to not mean that the YMCA values and attend an upcoming YMCA aligned with cares about you!

YMCA community their religious or function. I looked political beliefs, asked at the brochure she for any suggestions handed me, and knew immediately that I I might have about alternative venues, and could not attend, as it was being held at a very said that they would certainly consider the actively homophobic church. suggestions I had made to make their future I mumbled something incoherently events more LGBT-inclusive. noncommittal, then agonized for a few days She advised that I would receive a formal over whether I should say anything, and written response from Mr. Ferber, but had finally decided I would quietly advise Bridget wanted me to know that they were taking the reason why I would not attend. After I these immediate actions, because they greatly bared my gay soul to her, she was enlightened value all of their members and employees and and I felt relieved, but this didn’t seem good wanted their policies to be as welcoming and

I

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

inclusive as possible.

My reaction to this conversation was— OMG! This never happens! This is very, very very good! A respected mainstream community organization expressly dedicated to instilling Christian values (it is the YMCA) proudly and unequivocally proclaiming it’s commitment to equality and fairness for it’s LGBT membership and employees, just because one member asked them to? Get out!

I must be dreaming!

If this is just a dream, I have not woken up yet, so I think it may actually be true. I wanted you to know and share in this moment with me. Let it be proclaimed—The Central Florida YMCA values and cares about you!

The Village People were right! It is fun to

23

play at the YMCA Now, if you have read my prior columns, you know that I am all about self integrity (come out and be proud!), and community activism (get involved!). All LGBT brothers and sisters need to stand together in our fight for equality and civil rights; and we all also need to get involved in the greater community and support those that support us. The Central Florida YMCA has embraced us as an integral part of the community that it values and serves. Now it’s our turn to embrace them.

Join, donate, volunteer, promote, and support your local YMCA. It’s family. | l | Mary Meeks is an attorney based in Orlando.

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watermark | viewpoint

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

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On anti-gay activist George Reker hiring a “rentboy:” “This is yet another link in the chain of prominent anti-gay activists being caught doing the very thing they deem immoral. Hypocrites, all. The harm these people do is not only contemptible, it’s downright Orwellian.”

—Enid

No vacation for me, can’t get the time away I’m staycationing.

I’m getting away to somewhere else in Fla. I’m traveling out of I’m traveling state. out of the country.

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new poll: Bill McCollum is facing scandal now that his star anti-gay witness was busted with a rentboy. What should McCollum do?

A new poll will be posted to the homepage this week. Be sure to visit WatermarkOnline.com and let us know what YOU think!

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

top web comments

“Once again, it’s the most outspoken, virulent homophobe chasing little boys.

Evidently ‘hypocrisy’ holds no meaning for right-wing religious leaders and politicians (or their followers).”

—FozzyBehr On Outings & Adventures: My boyfriend and I moved down to Florida from Wisconsin two years ago.

We don’t do the bar scene so we attended our first outing with Outings & Adventures. We loved it. In two years, we have more friends here now than we had to total of both of our lives back home.

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NAGAA rule should go

place for gay softball players;” however, in my situation, they subjected me to a humiliating process.

There have been several people who I wholeheartedly agree with Steve have joined our Sunday league as a Blanchard (Editor’s Desk, 17.09) that the “straight” person and once they become North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association’s non-inclusive, gay-only policy comfortable and accepting, they start the coming out process. Do we really want to must go. I knew of this rule over 20 years scare these people away? ago as a former Gay World Series softball I appreciate your words in the paper. My player and thought it wrong back then. boyfriend of 2 1/2 I’m years had a huge embarrassed to smile on his face think that this when he showed it organization to me. He has seen actually held a the frustration that tribunal for these NAGAAA has caused straight athletes. for me personally Why would we as well as many of discriminate when the “straight” allies we don’t want to who I have had be discriminated to tell in the past, against?

“We are not going Change the to a tournament rules of NAGAAA! because they don’t Mark accept you.”

—RICHARD HAREM Woodyard Richard Harem Orlando Orlando

"NAGAAA strives to ‘foster a safe place for gay softball players;’ however, in my situation, they subjected me to a humiliating process."

NAGAAA rule is humiliating I found Steve Blanchard’s recent comments very refreshing (Editor’s Desk, 17.09).

I was protested for being a “straight” player at this last year’s Gay World Series.

The person who initiated the protest didn’t even do so it until he realized his team would lose. Basically, he was on a witch hunt to try and win the game. The manager that protested me did not have to provide one reason why he thought I was straight. In fact, the burden was on me to prove that I was gay. Can you imagine having to convince a panel of total strangers that you are in fact gay?

NAGAAA strives to “foster a safe

Phyllis is opening eyes What a great article by Phyllis Hunt about “giving back” (Issue 17.09). It’s great the way she combines activism, religion, politics, and even acknowledges partying.

Our adversaries go even further! I’ve always admired her and her involvement in the entire Bay community—never afraid to speak her voice. Keep up the good work, Phyllis, keep them on their toes and thanks for opening peoples’ eyes in Watermark who might not otherwise hear your message!

Horst Glamsch Tampa

Send all correspondence to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com. Letters may be edited for space or clarity. Opinions expressed in reader mail do not reflect those of Watermark’s staff.

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| May 13 - May 26, 2010

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May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

on the

FRINGE! stephen miller

L G B T- t h e m e d p e r f o r m a n c e s t a ke c e n t e r s t a g e a t O rl a n d o ’s l e ge n d a r y 1 2 - d ay t h e a t e r f e s t iva l .

O

rlando | To other theater festivals around the world, the 19-yearold Orlando International Fringe Festival is known as “the Gay Fringe.”

“That’s OK,” says local theater producer, director and actor John DiDonna. “Ticket sales prove there’s a huge local audience for gay-themed shows.”

And boy, do they sell! LGBT content is extremely popular at this 12-day (May 20May 31) extravaganza of plays, musicals, dance groups, puppet shows, jugglers, musicians, comedians, and storytellers. In 2006, there was even some underground grumbling that the Fringe—which is known for being edgy and counterculture—was, ironically, “a little too gay.” That year, gaythemed shows sold the most tickets in six of the eight venues, winning coveted Patrons’ Pick designations. Since then, gay-friendly plays have made up at least half of the festival’s Patrons’ Picks.

“It’s cyclical,” states Fringe executive producer Beth Marshall. “Even if a show isn’t so-called ‘gay-themed,’ it still has a lot of gay all up in there,” she laughs.

“I’d guess the festival is, honestly, about 50% gay,” Marshall mischievously surmises with another laugh.

This year, the Fringe boasts productions

from 8 states and 5 nations, a total of 75 different offerings. Here are some of the LGBT friendly shows worth checking out: Angels: The Epic Modern Dance Ballet—Orlando dancer Ciara Cibulsky combines lesbian themes with another popular Fringe mainstay, modern dance.

Annie Todd: The Demon Orphan of Fleet Street—Who doesn’t love a musical mash-up parody? This one is brought to you by the Greater Orlando Actors’ Theater.

Copping a Craigie—Hilarious Fringe legend Dave McConnell takes the lead in this play about a loveable thug who goes gay-for-pay on Craigslist.

Dancing Nude—One of the few shows this year offering full-frontal, which means it’ll sell a lot of tickets to men with opera glasses.

Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical—The Warren Acting Company takes on the beloved song-and-dance-andporn show.

Dirty Stuff—Funnyman Jonny McGovern of Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show brings his latest one-man offering to

the Fringe.

Divine Will—A Christian is addicted to porn, or a pornie is addicted to God; take your pick.

Fringe of Nature—This gets included just because it’s the weirdest show, which is an accomplishment! Performance artist Brian Feldman takes six people on an overnight camping trip to Wekiwa Springs State Park.

Hell Freezes Over—Orlando comic Jeff Jones brings the sequel to last year’s Patrons’ Pick Welcome to Hell, featuring legendary gay actors Doug Ba’aser and Elizabeth Murff.

I _____ You—The Orlando Youth Alliance offer a cabaret of songs and thousands of dollars of audience prizes to benefit this local LGBT youth organization.

Janine Klein, Gay Bar Star— Straight flame dame Janine Klein presents her popular Parliament House show.

Lucky 9—He may not be gay, but he’s cute and mind-bendingly brilliant. Canadian monologist TJ Dawe should never be missed.

Lumineux—The sexy dancing girls

of Voci and installation artist Doug Rhodehamel team up.

Lyssa—Adorable young Fringer Alex Ferguson whips out his updated version of the Greek classic Lysistrata. Expect some serious lesbian vibes.

Organizational Oppression— Activist Alan Bounville undresses a bit to tell of his introduction to queer politics.

Rent—The Orlando Youth Theater take on an abbreviated version of the superhomo musical.

The Box Set—Acclaimed makeup and hair artist Mychael Peters will perform his magic in front of a live audience.

The Cody Rivers Show Presents Right Back Where We Finished—Don’t miss the genius of Canada’s comic contortionists. The NY Wire says it’s like “seeing Waiting for Godot performed by Chinese acrobats.”

Third Time Lucky—Canadian comic Paul Hutchinson is self-acclaimed “queer as a three-dollar bill.” This handsome charmer won the 2008 Fringe Faggy Award.

Continued on page 34 | uu |

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30

watermark | films

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

screened out ACTION PACT

stephen miller

Stephen@WatermarkOnline.com

Iron Man 2

(Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Samuel L. Jackson)

★★★★★

Mollie Kelly

The hero is made of iron, but his script is as thin as paper. Action sequences are explosive, the acting is stellar, and director Jon Favreau (Swingers, Elf) again shows he’s ready to play with the blockbuster big boys.

These elements shore up a corroded story flimsier than an aluminum can.

Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, the Iron Man who finds that his superpower is also killing him. That terminal prognosis motivates him to be an immature, narcissistic jerk, especially to saintly assistant Paltrow. Still, this hero pulls some slick moves when a nefarious Russian genius (Rourke) and an evil arms dealer (Rockwell) join forces to bring Iron

Man down.

This is one of those movies with six million senseless subplots. There’s the secret SHIELD agency, with members Johansson and Jackson. There’s goofy boxing shtick with director Favreau. IM2 doesn’t bog us down with science, representing invention as lightning-quick process assisted by supercomputers.

People really don’t go to summer megaplex flicks for inventive storytelling or sound logic. In fact, a little stupidity may comfort some audience members. Really, given that “lowest common denominator” approach, there’s no reason IM2 won’t make hundreds of millions worldwide. It’s a good thing the all-star cast is aboard, aided by a few funny lines, and led by an able director. If this wasn’t the case, the success of such a rustbucket plot might make one kind of bitter.

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The Losers

take a break from the wall-to-wall action, I suggest you try some creepy South Korean (Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe mommy-lovin’.

Saldana, Chris Evans, Jason Patric) Kim Hye-ja is the afore-mentioned ★★★★★ mother. She owns an alternative medicine This comic book film gets two stars if store, and she stands guard over her your brain is working, three stars if you handsome, mentally handicapped son (Dodecide to mentally check out. And let’s jun Weon Bin). In fact, she controls his diet, admit it: we often go to action flicks so we she watches him pee (for health reasons), don’t have to think. and she insists he sleep next to her. All Jeffrey Dean Morgan and his A-Teamthis mothering might not be a bad thing. like compatriots are secret soldiers working After a rare night on the town, Sonny Boy for a CIA insider (Patric). Big surprise: they gets accused of murdering a local teenage get set up and have to go rogue. Problem is girl. He’s so unaware, he signs a sloppy they’re stuck in Bolivia until sexy Saldana confession provided by the overworked (Avatar) comes along with a limitless police. Immediately, Mommy Dearest steps supply of cash and resources. She also in and starts her own investigation. has a vendetta against mastermind Mother possesses a certain maniac Patric. strangeness which may make The movie’s biggest more sense to a Korean problem is that the plans each audience; to an American team executes are genius, crowd, it makes the whole but we just don’t get to see experience eerier. The the planning itself. This story contains a couple makes the plot permutations oddball tangents that take impossible to follow. up quite a few minutes of Still, the requisite celluloid. These subplots do two “unexpected” twists Kim Hye-ja; an actress with provide suspects and mood. are nicely handled. The a face Mother loves.

However, they don’t really actors—especially Patric— have anything to do with the seem to be having a blast playing their core mystery. broad, shallow characters. The action is This subtitled film by director Bong scientifically impossible (think Die Hard 3), Joon-ho (The Host) is small and gritty. but it’s still pretty exciting to watch. Plus, The acting—especially by Hye-ja—is The Losers boasts one of the sexiest men in heartbreaking and mesmerizing. In the end, Hollywood (Chris Evans, who doesn’t go the all-consuming commitment of Mommy shirtless here. Let’s hope they fix that next makes this foreign thriller a worthy summer when he takes the lead in Captain dramatic diversion. | l | America.)

So, if you’re looking for forgettable fun—and at some point, we all are—The ★★★★★ Overflowing uncontrollably with glittery fabulousness Losers is not a bad way to blow ten bucks.

★★★★★

Mother

Pretty damn good, but it’s no Sunset Boulevard

★★★★★

★★★★★

An entertaining enough flick with perhaps a few gaping holes

★★★★★

Ever so slightly watchable, even if it is just because of that hot actor

★★★★★

Two hours of your life you’ll never get back

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watermark | music

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wo decades ago, the LGBT community of Central Florida wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t looked upon with respect from the greater population. The HIV/ AIDS epidemic was at its peak in Central Florida and LGBT equality seemed like something out of a science fiction novel.

But on Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day 1990, nearly 40 Central Floridians embarked on an artistic journey to start one of Orlandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most entertaining and talented singing groupsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Orlando Gay Chorus.

Matt La Victoire, Outreach Coordinator and baritone, remembers a very different climate when the organization began in 1990. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we started out we really faced some discrimination and some really bad feelings from a lot of the public,â&#x20AC;? La

Victoire says.

Nonetheless, starting a gay chorus in Orlando was a bold statement, which demonstrated the group's determination to become a viable part of the overall community as well as a forceful part of Central Florida arts.

Dan Jones, President of the Board of Directors for the Orlando Gay Chorus says the organization started with a case of the jitters, yet with a strong vision that sought to change attitudes and images through music.

Jim Brown, Artistic Director of the Orlando Gay Chorus dually serves the University of Central Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conservatory Theatre as an instructor and musical theatre specialist. Brown holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from in Musical

watermark | music

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

The Orlando Gay Chorus celebrates its 20th anniversary May 22 and 23. Photo courtesy Orlando Gay Chorus

Theatre Performance from the School of Performing and Visual Arts at United States International University in San Diego. He also has a Masters of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance from San Diego State University. With over 25 years of performance experience and service to various charitable outreach organizations, Brown’s direction helps bring out the absolute best in OGC’s members.

The chorus has a style that engulfs a little bit of every type of music. As a special treat for attendees of the

anniversary celebration, the chorus will give a little bit of flavor that has been a part of the chorus over the past twenty years.

“We are also doing some Broadway show tunes and some pop songs,” Jones says. “We have a Donna Summer medley and we also have some original compositions that were done for us a few years ago in memory of Matthew Shepard as well as very contemporary modern music.”

Former members of the chorus will take

the stage along with current members to commemorate the milestone.

Jones is committed to helping the chorus maintain the ground they have made in terms of support and members over the past two decades. Although support comes in various forms, financial commitments are getting even harder to come by for artistic-based organizations.

“Donations to the arts are down about 25% over the last few years and that hits us hard,” Jones says. “We obviously depend on donor support to do what we do.”

33

The chorus is open to both males and females regardless of sexual orientation.

La Victoire would love to add more female members.

“Any adult can join,” La Victoire says.

“We do have special conditions where we can accept 16- and 17-year-olds. You just need to be able to carry a tune and match a pitch and come to rehearsals.”

Auditions are held in January, March, April and August. Right now there are almost 100 members.

Jones says that once a member joins, he or she finds that the chorus is a unique family.

OCG is a rarity among gay choruses.

It has one of the highest rates of original chorus members after 20 years.

“It really and truly is a family,” Jones says. “We all love each other and there are times when we don’t like each other but we still love each other because we are a family.”

For more information, visit OrlandoGayChorus.org. | l |

see+hear What: And the Envelope Please: 20 Years of OGC Where: Plaza Theatre, 425 North Bumby Ave., Orlando When: May 22 and 23 Tickets: OrlandoGayChorus.org

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| May 13 - May 26, 2010

watermark | theater

| uu | Fringe from p.27

EvEryonE’s a CritiC

Tod Kimbro: Robots Stole My Piano—This Orlando singer/songwriter is always extremely popular. One performance will show you why.

Scottie Campbell

Up the Wazoo—Entertainment legend and ancient curmudgeon Wayburn Sassy says this is his last show. Local LGBT audiences will miss Dewey Chaffee’s hilarious, homophobic alter-ego.

O

VarieTEASE—Sexy-amazing choreographer baby Blue coordinates another of her breathtaking extravaganzas full of drag and dance.

VarieTEASE and baby Blue promise a visually stunning dance.

XXXPlicit—This Washington performer promises a filthy, queer cabaret following the life of his character Lady Wow Wow. Fringe Facts The festival spent its first 14 years making theaters out of empty offices and storefronts throughout downtown Orlando.

For the last 5 years, everything has been situated in the Shakespeare and Repertory theatres in Loch Haven Park, making ample use of almost all theaters as well as a few rehearsal halls. This may seem less counterculture, but it also put an end to the days when shows were shut down by faulty equipment, leaky roofs, and failed air conditioning. This upgrade also means the audience is always within walking distance of their next show.

The supreme weirdness of The Cody Rivers Show.

The place is filled with people in costumes doing strange tricks, so even just dropping by the event seems like seeing a show.

Attending is easy, if you know 10 simple facts: 1. The Fringe is extraordinarily popular, so it’s always best to get there early to find parking. You can use all theater lots, the Science Center lot (you have to pay here),

Voci Dance presents Lumeneaux.

or Mills Avenue.

2. Showing up early gives you access to the beer tent, food vendors, and merchandise of the “Green Lawn of Fabulousness.” One of the absolute best parts of the 12-day festival is the camaraderie and spectacle of the lawn.

Shows sell out based on word of mouth, so talk to people; ask them what they loved.

Being early also gives you time to find each venue—they’re all color-coded—though you’re never more than a five-minute walk from any show.

3. There are often free shows at the Green Lawn of Fabulousness. There’s Visual Fringe, where you can purchase artwork. You can even bring your children to Kids’ Fringe.

4. You will need an $8 button to buy tickets or attend a ticketed show. This button pays for the administration of the huge festival.

5. Programs are $1, but you may be able to snag one at recycling displays throughout the grounds.

6. Tickets are up to $10. The artist gets the full income from your ticket.

7. You will need to buy your ticket well in advance of show time. You can go online at OrlandoFringe.org. You an also purchase them at ticket booths at the Shakespeare or the Rep. There is a $1 ticketing charge for every ticket; this goes to the ticketing company.

8. Lines for shows sometimes form one hour before showtime. It’s never boring waiting; these are also great places to converse about shows.

ur freshly revitalized online community has allowed Watermark to participate in the 2010 Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival in a way we’ve never been able to before. This year, a small team of our writers will be attending shows, reviewing them, then posting them on WatermarkOnline.com as quick as we can muster. Then it’s your turn to read and comment.

While we have dabble in reviewing theatre early in our history, being a bi-weekly publication has precluded it because the review would hit the stands late in a shows run or after it closed, which is not much help to anyone.

We’re looking forward to supporting the arts community with this coverage and giving our readers a trusted LGBT perspective on Fringe offerings. What our team lacks in size, we make up for in unique perspective: we have Fringe vets, Fringe enthusiasts, and even a Fringe virgin (yes, they do exist—and she’s not even a Republican!) Primarily we will be focusing on those shows that have indicated that they have “gay themes” or we are aware of a connection to the LGBT community, but we could wind up reviewing just about anything.

We’ll be doing the best we can to get lots of shows reviewed, but our resources are limited. If you go to see a show you think we shouldn’t miss, please let us know. If you’re part of a show that you think we shouldn’t miss, send us some information (and maybe seal the deal with a drink ticket or two).

9. Once you buy a ticket, it cannot be refunded. However, you can likely find someone to sell to just by letting people know.

10. Once a show starts, they cannot let you in. Because there are 75 shows in the festival, things need to run like clockwork, so be on time for the fun of the Gay Fringe!

If these 10 rules seem daunting, there is always a Fringe volunteer or festival veteran who would be excited to answer any question. More information is also available at OrlandoFringe.org. | l |

see+hear What: Orlando Fringe Festival Where: May 20-May 31 Where: Shakespeare and Repertory theatres in Loch Haven Park, downtown Orlando Tickets: OrlandoFringe.org

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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watermark | event planner

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

Mary Poppins

Harvey Milk Day

Disney’s Mary Poppins lands— literally—at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts on May 20.

The first-ever Harvey Milk Day is slated for May 22, and communities across the country and Florida have special events planned.

Hell Freezes Over Hell Freezes Over is just one of several LGBT offerings at this year’s Orlando Fringe Festival, which opens May 20.

art

music

[ORLANDO] The Art of Compulsive Suggestion

[ORLANDO] And the Envelope Please: Twenty Years of OGC

The Center and Quack (Queer Art Collective) present four artists at an exhibition at The Center starting May 15. Jennifer Benson, David Mesirow, Roy Smith and Del Cain will all have works on display at Gallery Q. Their art styles range from Pollock-influenced to acrylic abstracts. The opening reception lasts from 7 – 9 p.m. and includes a light buffet and wine bar. $1 raffle tickets benefiting The Center will also be for sale; winner gets a $100 gift certificate to Sam Flax art store in downtown Orlando.

The art will be on display through May 30.

comedy [SARASOTA] Brian Bradley

Out comic Brian Bradley will perform at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre in Sarasota as part of a fundraiser for Sarasota Pride. This adult-themed show is Wednesday, May 19, and tickets are $8. All proceeds benefit Sarasota Pride. For more information visit SarasotaPride.org.

film [ST. PETERSBURG] Image Maker Amateur Film Festival

The Studio@620 will screen the winning entries for the Image Maker Amateur Film Festival on Friday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. The submissions are from all age groups and the screening will offer the best from both the education theme and open theme categories. Image Maker is a festival for new and fresh visions from amateur image-makers who have previously used venues such as YouTube, Facebook and other interactive sites as outlets for expression. Entry is “pay what you can” and donations benefit the studio. For more information visit Studio620.org.

The Orlando Gay Chorus presents two special events marking their 20 years of performance.

On May 22 at 7:35 p.m. and May 23 at 4:35 p.m., the more than 100 choral members will take the stage of the historic Plaza Theatre to present some of the best and most-beloved songs in the chorus’ history. The concert will go beyond the songs, featuring special surprise guest presenters, a silent auction and wine raffle. Tickets are $25 and $30 online at OrlandoGayChorus.org and by phone via The Plaza Theatre’s box office at 407-228-1220.

[SARASOTA] Karaoke Night

Local karaoke celebrities Margo and Roger will host a karaoke night on May 14 at Church of the Trinity MCC. Fun, dancing and singing start at 7:30 p.m. The host couple also performed at the church’s New Year’s Eve dinner. Advance tickets to the karaoke event are $10 and are available by calling 941-355-0847.

theater [ORLANDO] 2010 Fringe Festival

It’s that time of year again! Orlando’s Fringe Festival will take over the Shakespeare Theatre from May 20–31. A number of gay-focused shows are planned again this year. A full schedule is available at OrlandoFringe.org, and so are advance tickets. During the festival, tickets will also be sold at the Shakespeare box office.

[TAMPA] Mary Poppins

Everyone’s favorite British nanny flies into Tampa—literally—on May 20 when Disney’s Mary Poppins arrives at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. The Broadway musical, inspired by the movie of the same name, has

familiar tunes as well as a few new ones to entertain theater fans of all ages. The play runs through June 6. Tickets are available at TBPAC.org.

Tick, Tick…Boom!

Jobsite Theater presents Tick, Tick... Boom! at the Shimberg Playhouse within the Straz Center for the Performing Arts May 21-29.

The musical is written by American composer Jonathan Larson, who won a Pulitzer and a Tony for his musical, Rent. Tick, Tick... Boom! tells the story of an aspiring composer named Jon, who lives in New York City in 1990. Jon is worried he has made the wrong career choice to be part of the performing arts. The story is autobiographical, as stated by Larson’s father in the liner notes of the cast recording—Larson had been trying to establish himself in theater since the early 1980s. For more information and tickets visit TBPAC.org.

[VENICE] Doubt

The Venice Theatre will present the Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning play Doubt through May 23. The play stars Lynne Buhle and Douglas Landin as the nun and priest with opposing views. For more information and tickets, visit VeniceStage.com.

special events [VARIOUS LOCATIONS] Harvey Milk Day

May 22 is a day to honor and remember Harvey Milk, the openly gay San Francisco supervisor and equality activist who was assassinated after 11 months in office. Milk is now an LGBT icon who was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. The date was chosen because it is Milk’s birth date. There are several activities commemorating the date all across Central Florida – log onto WatermarkOnline.com to find out more.

[TAMPA] Harvey Milk Tribute Dinner

Stand Up Florida will host a tribute dinner to Harvey Milk on Saturday, May 22, at Streetcar Charlie’s in Ybor City. The 5:30 p.m. tribute begins with a meet and greet with guests and featured speakers, including author Romaine Patterson. After the tribute dinner a candlelight vigil will wander through the GaYbor District of the historic Tampa area. For more information visit StandUpFlorida.com.

Poolside Soiree

Outings and Adventures will host a “Poolside Soiree” to benefit Equality Florida and Metro Wellness and Community Centers on Saturday, May 22, around the pool of The Slade of Channelside. Tickets are required and are available for the suggested donation of $25$55. For details, visit OutingsAndAdventures. com.

[ORLANDO] South American Superstitions

Tastings presents a sampling of five different South American wines at their tasting event on May 26. Each wine is paired with a different, complimentary small plate. Advance tickets are $35 and advance purchase is required as space is limited. RSVP by calling 407.999.9950 or emailing Diana@OrlandoTastings.com.

Downtown Pour

Sample more than 200 high-end and boutique wines at the 6th annual Downtown Pour on May 22 from 4 – 7 p.m. Unlimited sampling costs $30 in advance, $40 day of the event.

Advance tickets are available at wmmo. com/wine. Downtown Pour is at the Plaza Courtyard on Orange Ave.

[CLEARWATER] 27th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Communities around the world will remember those who have battled or are battling HIV/AIDS with a candlelight memorial. Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clearwater will hold a ceremony on Sunday, May 16, at 4:30 p.m.

Got an event you’d like to see listed in Watermark? At least two to four weeks in advance, send all pertinent info—date, time, place, cost, contact information for readers to get more details, and what the event is about—to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com, and we will feature it in the paper on a space-available basis.

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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| May 13 - May 26, 2010

watermark | tampa bay out+about

shot on site

1- Misty Eyes prepares for the stage during STEAM Friday at The Honey Pot in Ybor City.

Photography | Josh Evans, Melanie Gallo, Suzanne Noe and Carrie West

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2- Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale recently performed at Lakeshore Grille in St. Petersburg on May 1.

3- (L-R) Kris Doubles and Jim Luscombe were on hand during karaoke night at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City.

4- Deb Hunseder and Stephanie Callahan, center, are surrounded by the staff of PLAY during recent grand opening festivities in Ybor City.

5- Gulfport’s Domain Food and Spirits owner Janice Adair, left, stands with a Dining Out for Life volunteer during the annual dinner benefitting ASAP April 29.

6- Comedian Vicky Shaw entertains the crowd at Trinity Metropolitan Community Church in Sarasota earlier this month.

tampa bay overheard Reigns releases new poetry collection Former Tampa Bay author and poet Steven Reigns has released a brand new book of poetry. Inheritance, Reigns’ first collection in nearly a decade, consists solely of autobiographical poetry. He says the book is about what one is given from friends, family, lovers and our culture.

The Los Angeles resident will host a book release party on May 23 in his new hometown, but he plans to return to Florida in late July for a second signing event. Reigns also told us that he has readings scheduled in Seattle, Atlanta and New York City this fall. To check out the book or to order a copy, visit StevenReigns.com.

Designers win Scan Design contest Life and business partners Scott Durfee and George Medeiros won the Tampa Bay regional Scan Design 2010 fall in Furniture Love Art Contest. The St. Petersburg residents, who have been together 20 years, are one of four regional first place finalists up for the grand prize of a cooperative advertisement with Scan

Design in an upcoming issue of Florida Design Magazine. The prize is valued at $9,200. Scan Design was seeking artistic interpretations of “Fall in Furniture Love” and Durfee and Medeiros used palm spathe as a muse and created sculptures with an equilibrium between the two entities. A palm spathe is a flower pod and the pair use metal screws nails and wire to fashion the pieces to create an abstract design. Scan Design’s comments? “Your work was very unique and truly captured the theme of ‘Falling in Furniture Love.’ Well done!” The men will find out if they win the grand prize soon.

We wish them luck!

Help out with the oil crisis The trendy Tribeca ColorSalon is doing its part to curb the recent BP oil spill in the gulf’s effects on Florida’s beaches. The salon is collecting nylons to make booms to help trap the oil in the gulf. To donate, drop off nylons at either Tribeca location: 1600 E. 8th Ave. in Ybor City or at its Snow Park Area at Kennedy and N. Boulevard in South Tampa. Of course, feel free to get a cut and color while you’re visiting. For more information on the effort, call 813242-4080.

Got juicy gossip or amazing event photos? E-mail the dish or your photos (with full names of everyone pictured and event details) to Overheard@WatermarkOnline.com

watermark | orlando bay out+about

shot on site Photography | Raymond Burton, Margo Dixon and Nathan Shifflett

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May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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1- Sam Singhaus takes a leap while performing at the May 8 Broadway Under the Stars event.

2- Scott Dunkle, Jen Kunsch and Dan McDermott show nature whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boss at a fundraiser held at Sip for Kunsch and Watermark CFO Rick Claggett, after a tree destroyed their house.

3- (L to R) Scott Michael, Christopher Heath Boyer and Joel Bryce Wood were more angel than devil at the April 23 Heaven & Hell Fundraiser for Come Out with Pride.

4- Debbie Simmons and MBA president Dr. David BakerHargrove congratulate Orlando Youth Alliance president Michael Slaymaker on winning the 2010 Debbie Simmons Community Service Award.

5- (L-R) Team Barcodes members Tom, PJ, Cleve, Robb, Dennis, Ray, Raymond, and Scott rolled at the Sunshine Invitational Tournament held April 30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 2 at Boardwalk Bowl.

6- (L to R) Linda Stewart, Barbara Antidormi, Margo Dixon and Randi Solomon soak up some tunes at the Broadway Under the Stars event on May 8 at Barber Park.

orlando overheard Does this make me look fat?

An Orlando gay couple will battle over a bad wardrobe on the Thursday, May 13 episode of The Marriage Ref on NBC. Robert Crawford and Don Smith celebrate their 21st anniversary next month, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop them from arguing about Crawfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s questionable party clothes. Apparently Crawford likes to wear camouflage gear, tie-dyed shirts and Hawaiian shirtsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;at the same time. This embarrasses Smith at that most fashion conscious of placesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the bowling alley, where Smith is a member of the Saturday night Gay and Lesbian Bowling League.

We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you who won, but they certainly got at least one good judge of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tacky: Miss Bette Midler. Tune in.

Late night craving Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a common lament in Orlando: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything closes so early! Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no place grab a late night bite!â&#x20AC;? But things are about to change. The owners of the Funky Monkey Wine Company, with locations downtown and at Pointe Orlando, are planning to open a casual drop-in restaurant that will stay openâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;get thisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from Friday at 6 a.m. through

Sunday at 11 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bananasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a Modern American Dinerâ&#x20AC;? will be open weekdays from 6 a.m. until Midnight. Partners Eddie Nickell and Micholas Olivieri plan to serve comfort food like hamburgers 18 ways, fish-n-chips and country fried chicken and waffles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the best food and sense of community that a good diner can provide,â&#x20AC;? says Nickell. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope it will be the kind of place where people become regulars.â&#x20AC;?

Watch for Bananas to open thus summer at 924 N. Mills Ave., just north of Colonial Dr.

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Politics and musical chairs Commissioner Mildred Fernandezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign to be Orange County Mayor ended recently when she was charged with accepting bribes and other forms of corruption. Gov. Charlie Crist abruptly removed her from office, creating a scramble to fill her District 3 County Commission seat and setting up a possible domino effect amongst local office seekers. One of the first to throw his hat in the ring was State Rep. Scott Randolph, whose downtown District 36 is leftâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and gayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;enough to re-elect an inspiringly unabashed progressive to Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legislature. If Gov. Crist appoints

Got juicy gossip or amazing event photos? E-mail the dish or your photos (with full names of everyone pictured and event details) to Overheard@WatermarkOnline.com

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| May 13 - May 26, 2010

‘D

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

‘ ecadent’ ‘D greg stemm

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G e t a w a y

New Orleans has returned as an LGBT Juggernaut

N

ew Orleans is historic, beautiful, charming and—really gay.

The most popular city in Louisiana has catered to LGBT travelers for decades, mostly in part to the Southern Decadence celebration that takes place there every Labor Day weekend.

But there is more to the city than a weekend-long party of fabulous costumes, nearly naked men and a parade that lasts almost an entire day. More than 20 clubs cater to the LGBT community and the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau does more than just target LGBT travelers.

“But it’s about a whole lot more than just an advertising campaign,” says Kelly Schultz with the NOCVB. “We are genuinely a city that welcomes gays and lesbians and wants them to feel completely comfortable enjoying all the wonderful things that our city has to offer.”

The city has long been a destination spot for travelers of all kinds, but since the

devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city has struggled to bring back the tourism numbers before the storm.

But that’s changing and New Orleans is open for business, despite an oil spill just 100 miles off of its coast.

“The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is closely monitoring cleanup efforts of the rig centered oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico,” Schultz says. “We are in constant communication with officials from the City of New Orleans, the United States Coast Guard and the Command Center.”

New Orleans is nearly 100 miles from the actual Gulf of Mexico coast, so Shultz says the city doesn’t expect to see any disruption to its guest services or tourism attractions.

A Gay Tradition Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans just a few weeks before Southern Decadence in 2005. Since then the high octane, three-day

dance party and parade has slowly rebuilt its numbers. But according to Samson Utley, who was grand marshal of the 2009 Southern Decadence, the annual pilgrimage is more than just a party. It’s a tradition.

Utley says the event began almost 40 years ago as a small going away party among a group of local friends. Since that time it has blossomed into an international event attracting tens of thousands of gay revelers from across the country and around the world. Southern Decadence is always Labor Day weekend. The dates for 2010 are Wednesday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept., 6.

Decadence’s original going away party was for Michael Evers and to shut up a new “Belle Reve” tenant (from New York) who kept complaining about the New Orleans heat. As a riff on the “Belle Reve” theme, the group named the event a “Southern Decadence Party: Come as Your Favorite Southern Decadent.” All participants were

required to dress in costume as their favorite “decadent southern” character.

By 1981, most of the original organizers had moved on with their lives. Many felt that the event had become so big that it was no longer the intimate party they had started nine years earlier. Of the original group, only Grand Marshal V Robert King was actively participating. He, along with some of his friends who were regulars at the Golden Lantern bar, thought it was worth continuing and they took over the festivities. It was at this point that Southern Decadence became primarily a gay event.

Other protocol changes made in 1981 included moving the starting point of the annual parade from Matassa’s to the Golden Lantern bar, and allowing Grand Marshals to personally name their own successors.

Both of these traditions continue today. And in 1987, the Grand Marshal began to make a Continued on page 48 | uu |

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| May 13 - May 26, 2010

watermark | travel

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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stephen miller

a minute with...

Russ and Margaret Mary Russell OWNERS OF ART EVENTS TRAVEL

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rlando | For the Russells—the owners of Art Events Travel—

planning vacation packages is an act of love, excitement, and healthy obsession. Just ask them how they gather their information. Sure, they visit the places, they use guides, and they check out the internet, but they also take a personal approach: “I love to talk to people who’ve been on trips!” Margaret Mary admits, leaning forward in her chair. “I have a woman in my yoga class who is going to Barcelona next week. She asked me, ‘When I get back, what do you want to know?’ I said, ‘I want every bit of information you can share with me!’”

The Russell’s 12-year business has taken them and their guests all over the world. They succeed because their groups are small and special—they personally escort each trip, they keep costs low, and they tailor activities to travelers’ interest.

It’s an approach that can even change the perspectives of travelers, both LGBT and straight. More information is available at ArtEventsTravel.com.

Watermark: How’d you get involved in the travel business?

Russ: [Laughs] It’s a long process. Twelve years ago, we did something for a theater company; we put together several options for them, and they picked the trip to New York. So, we bought some show tickets. We purchased subway passes, hotel rooms, and airfare, and we put together a trip that we would like to do. We loved it!

Margaret Mary: The travelers were so engaged!

R: We call it cultural travel, which sounds a little snobby, but it isn’t. It’s meant to be a tour where we really dig into a city. It started with that one trip and we really enjoyed it.

Do you have favorite vacations or trips?

R: Every destination we go to, we’d definitely repeat for our groups. For us personally?

MM: I think, for me, it would be Tuscany.

R: Yes, we took 12 people to Tuscany a couple years ago and just went nuts over the region. It’s very modestly priced, the food and wine are amazing, the scenery is unbelievable, and there are these little hill towns all over the place. It’s so beautiful.

But if I had to pick only one city we were going to take a group: New York. You can do anything there, and you can do it anytime of the day or night.

Also, we took a vacation with our two sons to Paris; we rented an apartment, and that was pretty cool.

What’s next ?

R: Often, we find that our favorite place to visit is the one we’re going to next. For instance, we are planning a trip to Spain and we are so psyched. We’re explorers, too.

We’re planning a cruise on the Amazon, on the river’s only 5-star cruise ship, one of the world’s only. It starts in Manaus, where each of the two rivers that form the Amazon come together, so we’re starting at the source.

We’re going to Norway sometime next year, and that’s exciting.

Does any location start to feel too familiar?

R: No. We’ve been to Rome so many times, but still, we visit the Coliseum, and we round the corner, and you see our travelers get tears in their eyes because they didn’t believe

they’d ever see something like that.

MM: That’s’ an exciting aspect of it for me.

R: One of the things Margaret Mary is really good at is finding something new or special for each trip, something we haven’t done before. For our travelers, it’s not unique— because the whole experience could be new—but it’ll be something special for us, and that also gets us fired up.

Why do people pick packages?

MM: You know, honestly, people are busy; they work 40-plus hours a week. When they go on vacation, they don’t want to have to think and coordinate.

R: They like us because we don’t herd them around and we don’t do bus trips. We take small groups—12, 20, 30 people is a big

group for us. We’ve done a couple of larger groups: bands, orchestras… I bet we have 20 people who’ve been on at least four trips with us. We have two or three that are pushing 10 trips with us. One woman has been on 12 or 13 trips with us.

A lot of your clients are LGBT. MM: Yes, we’ve never thought twice about it.

R: And, usually, after touring for a few days together, straight people who’ve never been exposed to gays or lesbians start to see the world the way we do. That’s what travel can do for you.

MM: That’s what getting to know people does for you. It opens your mind. | l |

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watermark | travel

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

On the ground floor of the yellow building is Chokladkoppen, a gay-friendly coffeehouse with cute servers in Stockholm. It is located in Gamla Stan, in Stortorget Square behind the Royal Palace. | Photo by Dan Renzi

‘resa till sverige’ Sweden caTerS To LGBT TraveLerS

daniel renzi

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he assignment: VisitSweden and Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network organized a trip for gay press to promote the country as a vacation destination for the LGBT visitor. The itinerary included stops in Stockholm, the capital city; also, a visit to IceHotel on the outskirts of Kiruna, a city located 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

My friends thought I was crazy for going on this trip, scheduled for the stillfreezing beginning of March. A group of gay journalists roughing it in sub-zero temperatures was a recipe for drama— especially for me—as I have lived in Miami for years and I don’t even own a winter coat.

Luckily Marc Jacobs makes cashmere socks; I bought six pairs to keep warm.

IceHotel: I said brr, its cold in here After flying overnight on Scandinavian Airlines we arrived at Kiruna Airport, where we were greeted by several dogsled teams ready to bring us to our first stop. Visitors to IceHotel can drive or take a van; but our guides thought we should arrive in style.

Dog sledding is a serene experience, bundled up on the sleds and whooshing along

while listening to the sounds of the crunching snow and the panting dogs. Those dogs love to run, they just look ahead and go, go, go with their tongues lolling out to the side. If their driver needs to stop mid-trail, they raise a howling ruckus and impatiently pull on their chains. Unfortunately, they are so devoted to the job if they need to poop they let it go in mid-stride. That meant some of it got kicked into the air in our direction. I suppose it’s all a part of living harmoniously with nature.

After taking a quick break along the trail for sandwiches and warm lingonberry juice—lingonberries are Sweden’s equivalent to blackberries—we pulled up to the IceHotel, which is the fanciest igloo ever built: 84 rooms made entirely of ice and snow.

Ceiling, walls, chairs, even the chandelier crystals are ice, everything except the memory-foam mattresses on the beds, which are covered in reindeer skins. Larger “Ice Suite” hotel rooms are decorated with avant garde snow sculptures and statues. There is also an IceBar on the property; and next door is the IceChapel, built from crystalline blocks of ice that glow with the light of the Arctic sun. IceChapel hosts hundreds of weddings each year, including gay weddings, as gay marriage is fully legal in Sweden.

Freelance writer Daniel Renzi poses with the Alaskan Huskies of his dogsled team that pulled him from the airport to the IceHotel in Kiruna, Sweden. | Photo by Dan Renzi

Not everything is made of ice—the Stockholm, here we come property has several permanent structures, We spent a second day in the Arctic, riding including changing rooms with lockers for snowmobiles (fun!) and racing reindeer while storing your luggage, as well as the hotel kneeling on tiny sleds (terrifying!), and slept bathrooms. This was good news, as I had in IceHotel’s lovely collection of cottages. feared finding out we were expected to use Then at the crack of dawn we boarded a plane some sort of outhouse made of ice. But no, headed back south to Stockholm. the toilets are real, and warm.

The largest city in Scandinavia, Stockholm Also warm are the hotel’s restaurants, spans a series of 14 islands with bridges serving modern Scandinavian fare that is reaching over the rivers in every direction. locally-sourced. Our first night we sampled The city is like a giant, living snow globe. The reindeer (too gamey), arctic char topped with medieval and Baroque architecture has been caviar (delicious), and the big surprise of the marvelously preserved, with towering steeples night: a filet-of-moose served cold that tasted looming over quaint little cobblestone streets like a very pleasant rare beef, no trace of a lined with multi-colored shops. gamey aftertaste. Watch out Bullwinkle, I Because this was a press trip, as soon as had no idea moose steaks are so delicious. we arrived we visited museums, museums Our bellies full, we and more museums. put on our snowsuits Hallwyl Museum again and had some (HallwylSkamuseet. cocktails at the IceBar se) is the historical The big surprise of the before turning in for mansion of Countess the night. Now that von Hallwyl, an night: a filet-of-moose I’ve lived through odd obsessiveserved cold that tasted this experience, allow compulsive me to explain how to collector of anything like a very pleasant sleep in an IceHotel and everything; rare beef, no trace of a room.

Vasa Museum Step 1: Go to the (VasaMuseet.se) is gamey aftertaste. changing room and a Viking war ship change into your that was salvaged pajamas. Also wear after 333 years on your boots. Try really hard to pee one last the ocean floor; Millesgården (Millesgarden. time, so you don’t have to go again all night. se) celebrates the sculptures of Carl Milles, Step 2: Go to the front desk and get a subthe artist who created renowned nude statues zero-grade sleeping bag. The temperature in found throughout the city, many of which are your room hovers at 22 degrees Fahrenheit, highly sexualized and blatantly homoerotic. or -5 Celsius, but the sleeping bag will keep But enough with the culture! Nightlife you very warm. Step 3: Scamper outside and in Europe is notoriously rowdier than in the enter the IceHotel and find your room. Step U.S., and on weekends Stockholm is lots of 4: Put your bag on your bed, take off your fun. Saturday night we bounced from place boots, and zip yourself into the bag until only to place, starting with dinner at Brassiere Le your nose is exposed.

Rouge (LeRouge.se), where we sat beneath

watermark | travel

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

45

The entrance to the IceHotel is big—and cold—but not everything inside is made of ice. The bathrooms are permanent structures. | Photo by Dan Renzi

red velvet drapes and I drank so much wine I don’t remember what I ate but I remember it was really tasty.

We then went to Zipper (ZipperSthlm. com), a multi-room gay nightclub playing American hip-hop as well as “Schlager,” a.k.a. Swedish pop music, which is the happiest catchiest music you will ever hear.

This is the country that created ABBA, remember. The dance floor was refreshingly mixed with both men and women, everyone was beautiful, and most locals were happy to chat in English—perhaps to tell you smug stories of their upcoming wedding plans.

Shop ‘til you drop Swedish culture possesses a devotion to beautiful design that is rivaled only by the Japanese. Everything about Stockholm is beautiful—the clothes, the furniture, the faucets in the restaurant bathrooms—the people appreciate good design and insist on surrounding themselves with it.

I reasoned that a shopping excursion was a great way to see the city on foot.

Stockholm is divided into sections by its islands: the Gamla Stan is the historic medieval city center; Södermalm to the south includes the artsy-Bohemian “SoFo” neighborhood, and to the north lays extravagant furniture design district of Östermalm. There is plenty of shopping ground to cover, but thanks to a splendid subway system (and directions from kindhearted locals) the city is easy to navigate.

Although the Swedish kronor is a little high against the U.S. dollar, I still found some fantastic new buys: a streamline glass votive candle holder from Design House Stockholm (DesignHouseStockholm.com), multiple pairs of sunglasses from H&M and an array of clever kitchen tools from DesignTorget (DesignTorget.se) that might

inspire me to cook someday. I almost bought a set of Nobel flatware—replicas of the flatware used at the official Nobel Prize dinner—so I could feel like I was changing the world while I ate my morning eggs. | l |

if you go: (and you should) Thanks to the warm currents of the atlantic ocean, summers in stockholm are warm and mild. But during our trip in mid-March, the weather was definitely warm enough to spend the day outside with just a decent coat.

where to stay Grand Hotel, a Historic palace hotel in the city’s center: GrandHotel.se Berns Hotel, a lavish, fashionable hotel, with a trendy nightclub that has a gay night: Bernse.se Hotel Stureplan, a boutique hotel with classic 18th century furnishings and modern lofts: HotelStureplan.se Major U.S. brands also operate hotels in Stockholm, including Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood.

For a full listing of bars, clubs and events in Sweden, visit QX.se. watermarkadfl3.indd 1

5/4/2010 8:05:49 PM

46

watermark | travel

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

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Off-Season Pride If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for an earlyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and off-beatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;taste of Pride, next year jet out to Las Vegas for the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only Night Pride Parade, held annually in late April/early May. If you can get up in time, attend the huge Pride Festival at the Clark County Government Center the following day.

And if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait until then, check out VisitLasVegas.com/GayTravel to see how a local CVB that actually wants LGBT business promotes that fact. | l |

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watermark | travel | uu | New Orleans from p.41

“While we basically have no rules during Decadence, you still have to obey the law,” he says. “Organizers aren’t going to bail you out if you do something stupid!”

Utley said it was a privilege and an honor to be named a Grand Marshal—a title he says is the highest that can be bestowed upon anyone in the gay community in New Orleans. Utley is a professional performer and goes by the stage name of Paloma.

“I’d like your readers to know that this is their party too,” he says. “It’s all about welcoming our gay brothers and sisters to my remarkable city and celebrating who and what we are.”

proclamation of the official theme, color and song.

Utley will name his successor on May 19. His successor will then name the official colors and theme for the 2010 event. The new marshal, colors and theme will then be announced on the southern decadence website.

“Southern Decadence is about a lot more than just Gay pride,” said Utley. “It is truly a gay celebration—a festival of everything gay—and New Orleans just loves it. While the event primarily appeals to gay men, we do have lots of gay women and even straight people who come with their children. I’ve A different kind of city even seen people pushing baby strollers According to Arnold Hirsch of the during the parade.”

University of New Orleans’ Department of The parade itself, which takes place on History, normally when tourists or first-time Sunday, can be characterized as organized residents come to New Orleans, they have a chaos. The grand marshal leads the procession difficult time understanding the city. It looks and anyone can participate. There are no like no other place in the United States. floats or official units, most of the participants “The first puzzling impression usually are on foot, although most are outfitted in comes from the appearance of the French all sort sorts of colorful costumes. Utley Quarter near many of the city’s hotels,” said says that there can be upwards of several Hirsh. “It is more than just a few blocks thousand participants. of townhouses and Participants basically cottages standing go bar hoping. The side-by-side, up procession begins at against the sidewalk.

“Neither race nor the Golden Mansion, They quickly learn nationality, nor sexual the longest operating that bars have no gay bar in the closing hour, that the orientation excludes country, and revelers food is spicy, and that any group from this stop at various pubs the music is pulsating along the way to almost everywhere.” common ground.” indulge in libations And they may —Joseph LogsdoN, before traveling on to also take note that the UNiversity of New orLeaNs’ the next destination. locals come from all history departmeNt It ends with a huge different backgrounds. dance party at the “They are more Bourbon Pub. There than a mosaic of are usually more than a dozen stops. identities; instead, they have to share a new “Everyone just basically descends upon a cultural identity,” says Joseph Logsdon, also bar all at once,” Utley explains. “We stay for from the History Department at the University a few minutes or up to a half hour or more of New Orleans. Neither race nor nationality, depending on our mood. Then the grand nor sexual orientation excludes any group marshal and his or her entourage blow their from this common ground. What the city’s whistles and yell ‘Time to go Girls” and denizens celebrate is less the Old World we’re off we go to the next stop!” cultures of their ancestors and more the new Utley says he had over 100 people in his way of life that evolved in New Orleans.” entourage. No one may walk in front of the Schulz adds that New Orleans is the kind grand marshal except the police whom Utley of place where people indulge too much, eat said are very supportive and friendly. too much, drink too much, dance too much “Members of the entourage take them and generally just have a good time. bottles of water while they wait on us to party “We want all of our visitors, including in each establishment,” said Utley. members of the LGBT community, to feel like New Orleans is the kind of place where More than parades they can relax and really let their hair down,” While the entire French Quarter he says.| l | participates, including bars, restaurants and entertainment clubs, the focal point of the celebration is the Bourbon Pub, a two story dance palace that features one of the nation’s largest collections of videos in the downstairs For more information on New bar and high energy music upstairs. There Orleans or Southern Decadence, are professional shows, comedy acts and free visit SouthernDecadence.com, concerts both inside and on the street outside NewOrleansOnline.com/NewOrleans/ the pub. The Bourbon Pub is housed within a GLBT or MardiGrasGuide.com.

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| May 13 - May 26, 2010

watermark | transitions

Rich Hughes and Doug Nederveld of St. Petersburg will celebrate their 27th anniversary of cohabitation on May 19.

transitions

anniversaries

Victor Daza, manager of Orlando’s Kirkpatrick Veterinary Hospital, and his partner, Eddie Mora, celebrate eight years together on May 15.

Orlando artist Crawford and his partner, Doug Walter, celebrate 13 years together on May 19.

Rich Hughes and Doug Nederveld of St. Petersburg celebrate their 27th anniversary on May 19.

passings John Michael Putz passed away on April 25 after a two-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his partner, Jose Antonio Cortis of Orlando. Putz was accepted into the Walt Disney World College in 1987 and was a part of the opening teams at Typhoon Lagoon, Yacht and Beach Resort, Euro Disney and Castaway Cay with the Disney Cruise Line before leading all three Disney Orlando water parks as operations manager.

local birthdays Sarasota personal trainer, coach and medical specialist Dr. Sporty Damon Paul

Harper (May 13); Suncoast Softball League Commissioner and school teacher Bob Tencza, and Largo media publisher Jeff Youngblood (May 14); Stylist and Q Salon owner Sameer Nurani (May 15); Adorable Tampa cub and artist Ric Moreir (May 16); Orlando musclebear and trainer Migael Schieder, and Sarasota photographer and artist Troy Ming (May 17); Phish Phest phenom and phab photographer Julie Milford and Come Out With Pride’s master marketer Jason Lowe (May 18); Office Dynamics employee and Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce member Phil Lentsch (May 19); Tampa Gay Rodeo fan Mark Gongora (May 20); Metropolitan Business Association prez Dr. David Baker-Hargrove, Orlando freelance writer and real estate agent Wes Miller and Human Rights Campaign Orlando cochair and attorney John Ruffier (May 21); Orlando Weekly’s droll irony spewer Billy Manes and University of Tampa professor and Equality Florida Meetup volunteer Jack Crepeau, Iowa same-sex wedding planner and former Watermark Minute With subject Beau Fodor and Sarasota University Club’s Peter McClain Jr. (May 22); St. Pete artist and self-described social sapient Edward Perry and Historic Creations/SK Restaurant Group COO Ted Maines (May 23); Miss Sammy’s sister-in-law, elegant party hostess and glamorous costumer to Orlando’s theatrical stars Marcy Singhaus (May 25).

Send news about birthdays, passings, anniversaries, promotions, commitment ceremonies—and whatever you commemorate—to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com.

Eyes of the beholders ADVICE FROM

The Truth

Truth@WatermarkOnline.com

I

sound like the sort of friends you should be interested in keeping. Social propriety is not an obligation to sit by quietly while your partner is being disparaged, and shouldn’t restrain you from putting these hypocrites in their place. Is it possible your access to the “people who run things” will become more limited? Yes, but frankly, I couldn’t stomach being around these sorts of people anyway.

Here comes the Truth, baby: Rick (and by extension, you) has nothing to explain to these people, they are behaving like mean schoolgirls, and need to be called on it.

Dear Truth, My boyfriend, Gregg, and I would like you to settle an argument. We have been together for about six years, and we have a solid, loving relationship. Gregg is really sweet and happens to be very goodlooking. However, whenever we go out to a club or party (or anywhere, really), he flirts with any guy that shows the slightest interest in him—and there’s always a guy who is interested in him. Most of the time it happens with me standing right there, and I end up feeling like a third wheel.

Even if he introduces me as his partner, I feel ignored. Gregg says it doesn’t mean anything and that he’s just being friendly and playful. He also defends his actions by saying that I’m the one he leaves with at the end of the night, which is true. I’m certain that Gregg is completely in love with me and would never cheat on me, but I say he should stop flirting since it bothers me; he says I’m overreacting and that it’s just part of his personality. Who is right?

—Peeved in Polk

Dear Truth, am a 40-something professional living in Tampa. I have lived here for most of my life, and I am well-known in the community for my commitment and generosity as a patron of the arts and Dear PIP, numerous non-profits. My problem is that Gregg may be sweet and your my friends recently discovered that my relationship may be solid, but Gregg has boyfriend, Rick, acted in a couple of porn some insecurities that are salved by being videos when he was a bit of an attention younger, and now whore. To be honest, they treat him like I don’t like it and he’s some kind of I smell something They are behaving like common hustler or a bit rotten in Polk mean schoolgirls, and a plaything for their County. If he’s amusement. Rick willing to flirt need to be called on it. was only 22 when he without hesitation made those movies right in front of almost 20 years you (and exclude ago and he has since gone to college and you in the process), I must wonder what become quite successful in his own right. he’s doing when you’re not around. The I am mortified by my friends’ behavior occasional momentary flirtation is one thing, and I want to tell them off, but I feel but by having this be his habit “whenever” constrained by my social obligations since he’s around other humans who are not his these are the people who “run things” here boyfriend, Gregg is being disrespectful to in Tampa. What should I do? you and to your relationship, and showing —Heated in Hyde Park his ass some. Here comes the Truth, baby: Where there is smoke, there is often fire Dear Heated, and it sounds like something’s smoldering.

I assume since you describe these people I realize my answer probably starts an as “friends,” your relationship with them goes argument more than it settles one, but Gregg beyond the circuit of events and charities. needs to be made to understand the effect As such, you are well within your rights to, his thoughtlessness and desperate need to be as you say, “tell them off.” And guess what? ego-stroked are having on you. | l | They really deserve it. In fact, they don’t

51

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New Zealand Olympian comes out staff report Sydney, Australia | New Zealand short track speed skater Blake Skjellerup, who competed in the Vancouver Olympics, has come out as gay in an interview with writer Lee Suckling in the Australian magazine DNA. In the article, Skjellerup says that he walked around Vancouver during the Winter Games hand-in-hand with his boyfriend and also visited PRIDE House, the gay meeting place at Whistler.

Skjellerup, 24, was New Zealand’s only short track speed skater, a super fast-paced sport that can sometimes resemble roller derby on ice. He did not medal, with his best finish qualifying for the quarterfinals in the 10,000 meters. He has spent the last 18 months at a training program in Calgary for skaters with immense potential but limited facilities at their home countries.

His boyfriend is also a competitive athlete, though his name and sport are not given in the article. He did say that one reason he likes living in Canada is that the two can legally marry. Skjellerup said he would have told any interviewer during the Games he was gay if asked, but he felt coming out publicly before might have affected his focus and potential sponsors.

“We are not yet at the point in society where being gay sportsperson is not a big

S.F. softball league distances itself from lawsuit steve blanchard

New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup came out in a recent Australian newspaper.

deal,” he is quoted in the article. “If I was asked during any of my 20-something interviews at the Olympics whether I had a boyfriend or a girlfriend—in the same sentence—I would have replied honestly, but I may have replied hesitantly.”

Skjellerup said he suffered homophobic taunts from some fellow athletes early in his career, but that he gets along with them well now. As for homophobia in sports, he acknowledges it exists, which makes role models all that more important.

“Gays are too often given a stereotype,” he said. “Back when I was 18, and becoming serious about my sport and my Olympic goals, if I could have seen an athlete like myself out there—with whom I could relate to—my journey would have been a lot easier.” | l |

San Francisco, Calif. | The San Francisco Gay Softball League has distanced itself from a lawsuit against the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association filed last month. The suit, filed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, contends that the national association discriminated against players by implementing and enforcing a “two heterosexuals per team” cap during the 2008 Gay Softball World Series. The players whose sexuality was challenged were a part of the team D2, based in San Francisco.

“The lawsuit involving the three players of the former D2 team is between them and NAGAAA,” SFGSL commissioner Vincent Fuqua said in a letter. “This is not an action that SFGSL is part of. However, members of the SFGSL Board may be called as witnesses and both parties have asked us not to comment on specifics of the incident.”

NCLR clients Steven Apilado, LaRon Charles and Jon Russ were part of the roster during the championship game.

During that game, however, D2 learned that another team challenged the players’

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eligibility to play based on the rule that each team can not have any more than two straight players.

Five D2 players were summoned to a conference room for a protest hearing where they were asked whether they were “predominantly attracted to men” or “predominantly attracted to women.” After each player was questioned, a panel voted on whether they were “gay” or “non-gay.”

The lawsuit contends that the association refused to consider “bisexual” as an appropriate answer and NAGAAA’s panel found that Charles, Russ and Apilado were not gay. The decision forced D2 to retroactively forfeit its second-place World Series win.

Fuqua elaborated on the bylaws of SFGSL, and said that his league “welcomes all members of our community to join our league regardless of age, color, sex, gender identification or sexual orientation. SFGSL does not limit participation based on any of the above.”

He added that SFGSL is associated with NAGAAA primarily for the purpose of the Gay Softball World Series and that the national organization has no authority over how the local league is operated. | l |

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Should there be a swimsuit competition for Realtors??

Sure that may seem silly but what is your criteria for selecting an agent to represent you with the most expensive asset you will probably ever own? Although my swimsuit days are over, my real estate career is still in full force. If you are thinking of buying selling or investing in real estate, think of me first. Stan Madray–Keller Williams Realty (407)928-7791 / www.StanMadray.com My commitment to you!

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407-481-2243 • Deadline for classifieds is May 21, at 5:00pm.

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May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

TROUBLE MAKING MORTGAGE PAYMENTS? FINANCIAL TROUBLES KEEPING YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT? ARE YOU UPSIDE DOWN ON YOUR HOUSE??

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Call me about possible solutions. You are not alone. I am trained to help you. Shortsale might be the best solution. I have recently negotiated short sales and closed deals ranging from $1.1 million to $86k.

NO ADVANCE FEES to the sellers and NO FEES to the Buyers at closing for negotiating services. The lender pays all fees involved. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you and help you. Danny Veal, Realtor Keller Williams at the Park (407)496-2662 / www.DannyVeal.com

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roommates Looking for Gay Male to Share 3/2, 7 yr. old bungalow style home - 3 blocks East of Seminole Heights area.

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Responsible working roommate wanted to share house in quite NE Neighborhood with responsible 43yo male. Must love pets. $500 mo. plus ½ Util’s. Sec deposit req. Contact Jim 727-692-8599

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personal services Charming 3 bedroom Bungalow in desirable Dubsdread Golf Community Not a distress sale, this home is been lovingly maintained and will sell FAST! Updated and move-in ready. Sparkling Hardwood Floors, Large Rooms, Plenty of Closet Space, Huge Family Room with Wood Burning Fireplace.

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Large corner lot in serene location. If you are looking for a charming home that is priced right and can close immediately, you just found it! $225,000. Danny Veal, Realtor / Keller Williams Realty at the Parks / 407-4962662 / www.DannyVeal.com

MAN-TO-MAN - very friendly, masculine, good looking man with solid athletic body. Total relaxation & stress reduction. Call Danny 813-546-8220 Everyone Needs to Be Touched - 1 - 1 1/4 hours full body workout. Also body shaving. Discount rates for students & ethnic. By appt. only - Call Jim 727-698-9505

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Watermark does not knowingly print advertisements for sexual services. Beyond printed content, Watermark does not inquire into the nature of personal or professional services advertising. Payment for sexual services is illegal in the State of Florida, and respondents to classified advertising should govern themselves accordingly. As required by law (Florida Statute 480.0465), Licensed Massage Therapists include their license number in all advertising.

watermark | gossip

| May 13 - May 26, 2010

billymasters

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“With all due respect to Rupert, you can blame a lack of advancement in your career on all kinds of things, for a myriad of reasons. So I don’t think he can specifically pinpoint one reason why something might be stalling for him.”

—Neil Patrick Harris gives his impressions on Rupert Everett’s lack of professional opportunities. And for years you people thought it was just me!

D

The comedy of failed relationships Billy Masters Billy@BillyMasters.com

ying is easy, comedy is hard. Truer words were never uttered, and certainly this resonates with Ryan Seacrest—a man who knows precious little about utters. The diminutive American Idol host had what some might call an “off night—odd quips with Adam Lambert, questionable dancing with a guy in the audience, and all the energy of an inmate with a 24-hour furlough. Still, he opted to go forward with a joke (one of the rare pre-scripted ones) claiming that season one co-host Brian Dunkleman would participate in “Idol Gives Back.” Seacrest thought it would get a laugh, but what it got was applause—people were happy to hear Dunkleman was returning! When Ryan said it was a joke—silence. First rule of comedy: Know your audience.

Jeffrey Sanker sure knows how to throw a party. As a White Party virgin (yes, my darlings, a virgin), I was not exactly sure what to expect. With such an ambitious and seemingly unwieldy schedule of events, chaos would undoubtedly ensue. But that was not the case at the 21st installment of this annual Palm Springs shindig. Even with new venues and expanded events, the whole experience ran like a well-oiled machine.

DYER&BLAISDELL, P.L. Attorneys at Law

Experienced, understanding counsel on matters related to family, estate, and beneficiary planning, including: • Wills • Trusts • Probate

My weekend duties were confined to meeting and greeting luminaries and hotties on Saturday’s White Carpet alongside the snappy and sexy Candis Cayne. The big name was Kim Zolciak, from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. When she and fellow housewife Kandi arrived, the Bravo crew was with them. Kim was fun and nice, but appeared annoyed when I asked her about all of the hoopla surrounding her revelation about a relationship with DJ extraordinaire Tracy Young. Kim rolled her eyes, as if shocked that I’d bring up a story she made public. I said we didn’t have to talk about it.

Only days after I cavorted with porn’s dynamic duo Aden and Jordan Jaric at the White Party, the committed and monogamous Falcon couple announced they are kaput. Both changed their Facebook status to single—which is akin to sending out a press release these days.

Melissa Etheridge and the former Tammy Lynn Michaels have also separated. Rumors state that the split occurred when Tammy discovered Etheridge was cheating on her. Intriguingly, Melissa has intimated that her relationship with Julie Cypher ended when Julie had an affair with kd lang. See? It’s not just gay men who are horny.

Then there’s the Larry King break-up. If there’s anything I love more than a celebrity sex scandal, it’s when someone who is dead from the waist down is sleeping with his wife’s sister, while the wife is sleeping with the children’ baseball coach and saying not to worry about her husband, “He’ll be dead soon.” It’s like an embarrassment of riches—and I don’t embarrass easily!

Our “Ask Billy” question comes from Chris in Hawaii: “I’m a student at the University of Hawaii and one of my classmates has been posting

Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels have parted ways.

photos and videos of himself going all over campus (including classrooms) and taking videos jerking off and posting them online.

I know the school was considering throwing him out, but I never heard what happened.

Now one of my friends tells me the guy got a gay porn deal. Can you find out the details?”

The alleged “Speedo Student” is a 22-year-old senior at the University of Hawaii in Manoa named Tim. He’s a history major and has been going into classrooms after hours to take nude photos and jerk-off videos. Now, I will add that he claims to always clean up after himself—although there are some suspect stains in the photos we have. Tim considers this “exhibitionism”—but is it really exhibitionism if no one is there? Show me a video of him jerking off in front of a calculus class, and maybe I’ll be impressed.

What the controversy did was get Tim a gay porn deal. Last week, he shot his first DVD for Dink Flamingo. He was flown to San Diego and shot four scenes—two jerkoff scenes and two hardcore scenes. Tim’s partners were Kaden Saylor and a newer model named Shawn. Not surprisingly, Tim bottomed for both.

When Idol’s giving back to everyone except Dunkleman, it’s definitely time to end yet another column. Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible. | l |

• Healthcare • Partnership and Parenting Agreements • Real Estate

W. Thomas Dyer

TDyer@DyerBlaisdell.com

Edward P. Blaisdell

EBlaisdell@DyerBlaisdell.com

414 N. Ferncreek Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 407-648-1153 • DyerBlaisdell.com THE HIRING OF A LAWYER IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION THAT SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY UPON ADVERTISEMENTS. BEFORE YOU DECIDE, ASK US TO SEND YOU INFORMATION ABOUT OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.

Falcon models Aden and Jordan Jaric announced that they were no longer a couple immediately following this year’s White Party.

May 13 - May 26, 2010 |

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