Watermark issue 17.11 Gay Days Weekend

YOUR LGBT LIFE. ISSUE 17.11 | MAY 27 - JUNE 10, 2010 WATERMARKONLINE.COM

NORTH PINELLAS PRIDE SET FOR MID-JUNE

FOCUS ON

ORLANDO’S BIG GAY WEEKEND:

CHARGES DROPPED

• 20 YEARS OF CELEBRATION

AGAINST ORLANDO COP

PIECE OF WORK

• DJ TONY MORAN KEEPS THE PARTY GOING • LGBT ORLANDO SPARKLES YEAR ROUND

PLUS:

YOUR COMPLETE GD20I0 GUIDE

JOAN RIVERS DISHES HER AUDIENCE: GAY MEN AND JEWISH MATRONS D AY T O N A B E A C H

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ORLANDO

• TA M PA

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S T. P E T E R S B U R G

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S A R A S O TA

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

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May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

watermark | preview

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

issue 17.11

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BASIA 29

PG.

Polish-born Basia didn’t realize how many LGBTs followed her adult contemporary music styles—but she was thrilled when she found out. The singer makes a stop at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on May 30, just days after wrapping her European tour.

6 | Orlando News

Joan Rivers will be on hand for Gay Days Weekend when she performs at Hard Rock Live on June 4. The fabulous septuagenarian, comedian and reality TV star is looking forward to a large gay audience and sharing her thoughts on her five-decade career.

Photo courtesy Charles William Bush

Brian Humphries of Mr. Sisters shares some secrets about his new bar; Neighbors share concerns about Pulse; more.

8 | Tampa Bay News ORLANDO NEWS

6

Pride & Passion packs the new Tampa Museum of Art; North

10 / SARASOTA NEWS 11 / STATE NEWS

Pinellas Pride set to make debut; more.

14 / TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE

13 | Nation/World News A gay Malawi couple is sentenced to 14 years in prison for

16 / ORLANDO MARKETPLACE

celebrating their engagement; California honors Harvey Milk; more.

21 / MAIL

25 | And One More Thing…

8

Former Gazette publisher Brian Feist talks about Arizona’s new

TAMPA BAY NEWS

immigration law and the fine balance between laws and fear.

27 | Scene and Heard

27 / SCENE AND HEARD 31 / FILM REVIEWS 34 / EVENT PLANNER

Comic icon Joan Rivers tackles Gay Days with a performance at Hard Rock Live. 1980s performer Basia returns to the states and

37 / TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD

talks about her LGBT following. Columnist Renee LePere looks closely at Mary Poppins and tries to determine if England’s favorite

MARY POPPINS

27

39 / ORLANDO OVERHEARD

nanny would drive a UHaul if she were around today. And Stephen Miller is confident that Shrek fans will be happy with the ogre’s

52 / TRANSITIONS

final film.

53 / ADVICE

43 | Orlando's Big Gay Weekend This year marks 20 years of LGBTs invading Orlando for the annual

55 / SPORTS

Gay Days celebration, so we take a trip down memory lane. DJ Tony Moran shares his favorite Gay Days memories and which

41

54 / CLASSIFIEDS

artists have grabbed his attention recently. The LGBT community of Orlando is active throughout the year, not just in June, so we

KNOW+TELL

take a look at its contributions.

56 / GOSSIP

watermark | preview

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

editor’sdesk L

college and most of those people now know I’m gay. (Thanks, Facebook.) ife has been insanely busy around the Watermark offices the past So today, instead of encouraging me to boycott a company that embraces two months. In addition to producing our biweekly newspaper we diversity, I get asked one simple but persistent question by those outside of our completed two additional publications that are available to readers community: “Why?” this week. The St. Pete Pride Program is available wherever Watermark is “Why do you need to have a film festival devoted to LGBTs?” distributed and our GD2010 Guide is inside this issue. The GD2010 Guide “Why is there a newspaper that focuses on LGBTs?” offers the most complete roundup of everything surrounding Orlando’s Big “Why do you have to have a street festival and parade to show your Pride?”

Gay Weekend June 4-7.

“Why do you want to get married?”

I say that not to brag—okay, maybe there’s a little bit of bragging there— “Why do you have to gather at theme parks and attractions all on the same but to shine a spotlight on the thriving LGBT communities in Central and day just to show that you’re out there?”

West Florida. June is undoubtedly the busiest month for me and the rest of The list of questions can go on-and-on, but the the staff here at Watermark. We have a lot of news to answers to all of these are the same—because we can, cover, plenty of events to attend and this year we’re because we’re not going away and because until the rest even throwing a party. (Check out the ad on page 38). of the world accepts us unconditionally, we’ll continue But despite the busy schedules ahead, it’s Had I been allowed to to celebrate who we are as publicly as possible. important to understand the driving force behind all see same-sex couples Pride events, film festivals and yes, even Gay Days of the activity. It’s about celebration and recognition.

Weekend in Orlando, all serve these purposes. I’ve Thankfully, thanks to television shows featuring on television or in a never been one for separating people into the “Us vs.

LGBT characters and mainstream newspapers theme park, I wouldn’t Them” camps, but sometimes standing in solidarity covering our events, it’s more obvious than ever just is the only way to prove you exist and that you’re not how large a segment of society we are. have felt so isolated. going to hide in the background.

As Gay Days celebrates 20 years this month, it’s When I was a child and vacationing at Disney World hard to believe that what started as a small gathering with my parents, I am sure my parents would have of LGBTs in 1991 has exploded into the event it is freaked if they saw two men holding hands. I also know that I would have seen today. Twenty years ago, I was a teenager in Missouri still subjected to the opinions and whims of my parents. I remember them reminding me to boycott that the feelings I had toward other boys wasn’t something that I should hide, but rather, embrace.

Disney products because of something happening “way down” in Florida.

I, like so many of my LGBT brothers and sisters, was terrified to come It was a confusing time, especially since my church group had a tradition out of the closet because I knew I was the only one out there with same-sex of seeing the newest animated Disney adventure each summer. I clearly attraction. Had I been allowed to see same-sex couples on television or in a remember going to see The Lion King when it opened in theaters in 1994. theme park, I wouldn’t have felt so isolated.

I also remember secretly laughing when fellow church members realized So, while we are all enjoying the festivities throughout Orlando in early how many of the films and television shows they loved were produced by or June and in Tampa Bay throughout the rest of the month, remember—the affiliated with the Mouse House. That “Touchstone” logo always cracked me world is watching, and that’s a good thing. | l | up.

The “boycott” idea eventually lost steam sometime after I went off to

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

watermark

staff

Orlando Office

Publisher Tom Dyer • Ext. 305 • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Chief Financial Officer Rick Claggett • Ext. 108 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Administrative Assistant Erik Caban • Ext. 100 • Erik@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief Steve Blanchard • Ext. 303 • SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com Online Editor Jamie Hyman • Ext. 106 • Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Art Director Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Assistant Heather Graves • Ext. 107 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com

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

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

FOCUS ON

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

LAKELAND MAN CHARGED IN

PRIDE & PASSION

LESBIAN MURDER

returns to Tampa Museum

ORLANDO DEPUTY ABUSE

PLUG PULLED ON

ONE MIGHTY REUNION

PARADISE FINDING ‘FAMILY’ FUN IN FLORIDA’S SUN

D AY T O N A B E A C H

ISSUE 17.08

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ORLANDO

HOT! • TA M PA

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ISSUE 17.09

S A R A S O TA

Back to the

case moves forward

‘BIG EASY’

Rediscovering New Orleans’ Gay Groove

D AY T O N A B E A C H

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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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watermark | orlando news

Brian Humphries shows off his massive U-shaped bar, a central feature in the design of Mr. Sister’s. | Photo by Jake Stevens

A first look at Mr. Sister’s jamie hyman

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“Nobody has the food profiles and taste she Orlando | After months of gossip and does,” Humphries said. speculation, Mr. Sister’s part-owner Brian He said he’s working 12-hour days to get Humphries is ready to go public with some Mr. Sister’s opened, bringing his years of details about Orlando’s newest gay-friendly bar. nightclub and restaurant experience to the It’s located in a former car dealership on E. project.

Colonial Ave. and could open its doors in as “I love to throw a party,” Humphries said. soon as a few months.

“I don’t look at myself as a bartender or club “It’s probably going to be most owner, I look at myself as a host, I love when technologically advanced nightclub in the state, people are having a good time at my place, and maybe in the country, with the whole thing can’t wait to throw a party for Orlando that I’ll interfaced with customer interaction and social be in charge of.” media,” Humphries said.

He said his goal is to bring fun back to He would not comment on details like the nightlife, whether it’s gay or straight, calling size of the dance floor or the nightclub’s layout, Mr. Sister’s “the rebirth of fun in Orlando.” | l | but did get into some specifics about Mr. Sister’s restaurant aspect.

“Diners will be able to dine and drink on top of water—not overlooking, but suspended over water,” he said. “There’s nothing like it in Orange County.”

Pom Moongauklang, owner of Pom Pom’s Teahouse, is designing the This old wooden decking will soon be replaced and home to a large dance floor. menu.

Neighborhood checking on Pulse jamie hyman Orlando | Club Pulse management and Orlando police are keeping a close eye on the club itself and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Pulse is located on South Orange Avenue and its popularity has led to complaints from neighboring residents about unruly late-night behavior.

“There was a handful of loud noise complaints from the neighborhood as well as some littering concerns, public urination, things of that sort,” said Orlando Police Officer Edgar Malave.

Malave led a meeting on May 18 where

25-30 people showed up to express some concerns. He said as a result of the discussion, both the police and Pulse management are making some changes.

“Our deputy chief is changing operational details so more officers can work that detail,” said Malave. “The club owner has already made changes to the speakers and the doors and security has been given more direction [on how to deal with unruly patrons].”

He said off-duty officers will also patrol the neighborhoods once the club lets out to make sure customers don’t loiter.

Pulse owner Ron Legler did not return emails for comment. | l |

watermark | orlando news

Case dropped against cop accused of beating boyfriend jamie hyman Orlando | The state attorney’s ofďŹ ce will not be ďŹ ling charges against Bryan Villella, the Orange County Sheriff’s deputy accused of beating his boyfriend. “When it comes down to it, when the attorney reviews the facts and feels we cannot go into court in good faith and present charges, he does not pursue a case,â€? said state attorney’s ofďŹ ce spokeswoman Danielle Tavernier.

Villella, 46, faced allegations that he abused his boyfriend of four years, even forcing his partner at gunpoint to clean up his own blood after one altercation. Victim Joel Carrion initially ďŹ led his petition for a temporary domestic violence protection against Villella in spring 2009. According to Carrion, the Orange County Sheriff’s OfďŹ ce (OCSO) refused to launch an internal investigation at that point. Carrion said they only started cooperating after local TV news coverage revealed more of the deputy’s problematic behavior in November 2009. The OCSO’s internal investigation is what led to the case being turned over to the state attorney’s ofďŹ ce.

Carrion said they interviewed three witnesses about the allegations, including both Carrion’s and Villella’s ex-wives, and two other witnesses sent e-mails on his behalf. “Not even the OJ jury can ignore this trail of evidence,� Carrion said.

Carrion said he also provided investigators with medical records, but Tavernier said that “the evidence submitted by law enforcement was insufďŹ cient; basically the victim’s allegations had no witnesses, no reports ever ďŹ led and no physical evidence for us to pursue it.â€?

Villella’s ex-wife’s testimony may have worked against Carrion. Her written statement concludes with: “For over 3 years, my son and I have lived in the same complex as my ex-husband and would visit Bryan and [redacted] on a regular basis‌ At no time did I ever see anything that might have alerted me to believe that [redacted] was being abused.â€?

It can be surmised from the context of the rest of the letter that the redacted name was Joel’s.

The case cover sheet, provided by the state attorney’s ofďŹ ce, reasons the evidence is insufďŹ cient as “not credible, conicting statements, other motives, etc.â€?

When asked whether Villella’s position as a police ofďŹ cer might be the reason behind a lack of police reports on the violence, Tavernier said, “This one was actually reviewed by our domestic violence bureau chief. She is a big victim advocate, did a review of the case, and

I’m sure takes all those things into consideration.�

OCSO said they’re still looking at Carrion’s case. “The case is currently being investigated by our professional standards section as part of an administrative review,� said Capt. Angelo Nieves.

However, on May 4, Carrion received a letter from Sheriff Jerry Demings saying the case is closed and the “case ďŹ le is being retained by the Professional

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

Standards Section.�

Therefore, it’s unclear whether or not the OCSO is still investigating. The report from the Professional Standards Section that is part of the state attorney’s ofďŹ ce ďŹ le said Villella declined to participate in the investigation and “as such, there is insufďŹ cient evidence to support allegations that Deputy Villella violated Florida State Statutes.

In the meantime, Carrion expressed feelings of defeat. “I’ve said it from the beginning, nothing happened, the man got no punishment whatsoever,� he said. “Now I feel like the victim again because they say there’s no evidence, what the hell do you

7

want me to produce? What more do you want?�

After failing to get any action from the OCSO or the state attorney’s ofďŹ ce, Carrion sent a letter to the Orange County mayor, all of the county commissioners and city commissioner Patty Sheehan, but he said no one responded. “I’m done,â€? Carrion said. “I can let this consume more of my time or I can say I tried my best, I will always know the truth is on my side, and let the record speak for itself. No normal person can read that record and see that evidence and say nothing happened. “Cops will cover for cops. I’ve said it all along.â€? | l |

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watermark | tampa bay news

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

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Dunedin | For years, the City of Dunedin has welcomed LGBTs into the community. The City gives benefits to the same-sex partners of its employees and it has consistently celebrated broad diversity through festivals and events.

Now the area is focusing strictly on the LGBT community with the first-ever North Pinellas Pride June 18-20.

“North Pinellas has lost some bars over the years,” says NPP Committee Chair Gregory Brady. “And the community has lessened somewhat, but the County Commission and the City of Dunedin has done exactly the opposite. They have both passed substantial legislation [providing rights for LGBTs.]” NPP is in no way affiliated with St. Pete Pride, which holds events throughout the entire month of June, and the state’s largest LGBT Promenade and Street Festival on June 26. Brady did say, however, that he and NPP have spoken with the St. Pete Pride board to make sure it wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes.

“We did outreach to them and we are more or less in a partnership, mentally, with them,” Brady said. “We want people to realize that we are not creating an event to compete with St. Pete Pride or any other event. This is just another opportunity to celebrate diversity.”

The idea for a North Pinellas Pride event began with a discussion with Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers, Brady said.

“He noticed a lack of LGBT participation in the city’s diversity week,” said Brady, who is the chair of the city’s Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee. “That’s when we decided we needed to celebrate further.”

Initial plans included a simple Sunday

afternoon pool party, but that idea was scrapped because of limits it would place on the celebration. Eventually Beso del Sol Resort offered use of its pool for a party, which became just part of an arcing weekend event.

“So we now have a hotel that fits—there are two towers and it is just a beautiful property,” Brady said. “We’ve also spoken with the Parks Department and we’ll have a Pride day on Honeymoon Island.”

There is no street festival or promenade planned, since that’s already covered by St. Pete Pride, Brady said. But there will plenty of entertainment opportunities throughout the weekend—including a film screening by the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

The popular night club Blur has come on board and will house a female impersonator show on Friday—featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 2 winner Tyra Sanchez, and host a closing T-Dance on Sunday.

Eggers and City Commissioner Ron Barnett will read the official proclamation declaring the weekend North Pinellas Pride at both the City Commission Meeting on Thursday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. and again at noon on Sunday during the main event—a Pride Family Picnic. Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala is also scheduled to speak.

“We found, once we started working on it, that we were overwhelmed by the community support and those willing to be on the committee,” Brady said. “There are so many people dying for something like this to happen.”

For a full schedule of events, visit NorthPinellasPride.com. | l |

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St. Petersburg | The Suncoast Squares will once again raise money for St. Pete Pride. The LGBT square dancing group will host its annual Fun Night on Tuesday, June 8, at the King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church at 3150 5th Ave. N. John O’Grady, president of the group, said he expects another strong turnout and encourages newcomers to attend the fundraiser.

“Forget your mental picture of square dancers in western outfits and gingham dresses,” he said. “This is contemporary square dancing that uses contemporary, pop and country music.”

He said there is no dress code and attendees are welcome to wear casual clothes like T-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes.

“It is gay square dancing, done the gay

way—with style and flair,” O’Grady said.

“It’s both a fun and entertaining way to meet new people and it’s a good physical activity.”

The Suncoast Squares had a very successful “Pride Fun Night” of dancing in June 2009 when more than five “squares” of dancers took to the floor and nearly 20 new people participated. Last year the group raised $300 for St. Pete Pride and it’s hoping to beat that number this year.

Participants—and observers—are encouraged to give a $5 donation at the door, all of which will be given to St. Pete Pride.

Michael Cox is the club caller and he has more than 25 years of experience. Singles and couples are encouraged to participate.

For more information, visit SuncoastSqures.com, e-mail SuncoastSquares@Yahoo.com or call 727215-3217. | l |

watermark | tampa bay news

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

A group of entertainers enter Pride & Passion via the stairway leading to the museum’s main exhibit hall.

Pride & Passion breaks attendance records steve blanchard Tampa | Pride & Passion finally returned home—and it broke records while doing so.

The five-year-old kick-off to Pride Month celebrated art and the LGBT community at the new Tampa Museum of Art on May 21.

The annual celebration is an unofficial “kick-off” to the Tampa Bay area’s June Gay Pride Month and the event is designed to encourage patrons to join the museum and raise money for its exhibits. Once again Bern’s and Sidebern’s provided food for attendees and music was provided in the main atrium by DJs Dino Bonetti and Coro.

“This is just an amazing place to be,” said Gregory McKeen, who had never attended a Pride & Passion event before.

“There are so many people here—and people in positions of power. It’s really reaffirming to know that the gay community is so strong here in Tampa Bay.” The “people of power” McKeen referred to ranged from area activists, television reporters and local politicians. Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell were both seen mingling with constituents and friends.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Beckner said of Pride & Passion. “It’s always great to see so much support for this event and the museum.”

While guests mingled and enjoyed the food provided, performance artist Gianna Love made a grand entrance via the museum’s grand staircase. Several exhibits in the upstairs portion of the building were also on display.

The recently opened Jesper Just: Romantic Delusions featured works

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(L-R) Pride & Passion chairman Scott Moore and ABCWFTS news reporter Chris Martinez thank sponsors during the fifth annual Pride & Passion at the Tampa Museum of Art. | Photo by Nick Cardello

by Danish filmmaker Jesper Just in the MacKechnie Gallery, as well as recent works by avante garde LED artist Leo Villareal. Several other longrunning exhibitions were also open for Museum visitors. Street photographer Gary Winogrand’s collection of historic photographs were on display and works from the museum’s renowned permanent antiquities collection were accessible throughout the night.

“We are grateful to the supporters and sponsors of Pride & Passion, we couldn’t do it without you,” event chair Scott Moore said from the stage. “Thank you for everything you do for the community.”

Event organizers plan to bring the sixth annual Pride & Passion back to the new Museum of Art in 2011. | l |

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010

watermark | sarasota news

Hundreds gather for first Harvey Milk Festival steve blanchard Sarasota | It was a hot day on Saturday, May 22, but that didn’t stop several hundred revelers from participating in the firstever Harvey Milk Festival in Sarasota’s Rosemary District.

Several bands, artists and performers helped commemorate the nation’s first openly gay elected official on what would have been his 80th birthday. Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk introduced and helped pass gay rights measures in the city. He was assassinated in 1978.

Sarasota’s festival was one among nearly 25 rallies in 20 states across the country, and crowds showed up almost immediately after the festival started the music.

“This is something we need to do every year and it’s important to remember how far we still have to go to be fully accepted in this country,” said Tina McCurray, who drove to Sarasota from Brandon. “I was excited when I learned about this event. It’s fun, but it’s fun with a purpose.”

That’s exactly what festival organizer Shannon Fortner envisioned when she

began planning the celebration. The day is about remembering an LGBT icon and focusing on the battle for equality.

“We’re staying focused on Harvey himself,” Fortner said. “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.”

The event started at 1 p.m. and Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner welcomed attendees during a ribbon cutting ceremony and official proclamation. After reading the proclamation, Kirschner shared some insight into the benefits of welcoming LGBTs to the city.

“Economies and democracies that are open are most successful,” he said. “We need to embrace that openness, push for it and demand it.”

The night before, an art exhibit commemorating Milk was held at the Pure Luxe Gallery.

A candlelight vigil was set for 9 p.m., to unite the Sarasota event with others nationwide.

Stephen Wane, community coordinator with ALSO Out Youth, was distributing information about advocacy and wellness programs throughout the day. | l |

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watermark | state news

Florida Together launches political arm joey amato Tampa | Florida Together has hired Michael Kenny as its new Executive Director and has contracted with Ted Howard to provide services as Program Director. However, Equality Florida, a similar organization, has been quick to show concerns with the news.

“Florida Together has been an instrumental organizing and training resource for Florida’s equality community,” said Florida Together Chairman Georg Ketelhohn. “By adding Michael Kenny and the broad range of experience encompassed by our new board, I truly believe we can make historic progress in the quest for equality in Florida.”

Kenny served in the United Way campaign cabinet, as Director of Cultural Tourism for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau; as a board member for the Dolphin Democratic Club; and as an elected member of the Broward County Democratic Executive Committee.

“Michael’s proven leadership, political experience and fundraising and administrative expertise will help Florida Together increase its political and lobbying effectiveness on local, state and federal issues, as it works with its partner organizations to achieve greater successes,” said Ketelhohn.

“We are also pleased that Ted Howard will continue doing the organization’s critical work of connecting and empowering its member organizations by organizing statewide and regional conferences, providing capacity building trainings and web resources, and training individuals and organizations to conduct effective public

education,” said Ketelhohn.

Stratton Pollitzer, Deputy Director of Equality Florida, said the praised Florida Together as an organization, but expressed concern over its new announcement.

“I think everyone agrees that having two separate campaigns during the fight against Amendment 2, the anti-marriage amendment, was a disastrous waste of resources,” he said.

“The biggest concern people are raising is that this could be a repeat of that very bad mistake.”

Kenny, is confident the move is positive and won’t negate any prior advancements.

“Adding political power to the organizing efforts already underway across the state we can make a real difference in the fight for equality and justice for LGBT Floridians,” he said. “Our new board includes community leaders, business leaders and heavy hitters from across the political spectrum.”

Jim Stork, Florida Together board member, and former Mayor of Wilton Manors agrees. He said that one critical way to move toward policies of equality is to get advocates for equality elected to office.

Pollitzer said that Equality Florida already has a track record of rallying politicians in Tallahassee and he has concerns about secrecy surrounding Florida Together.

“Our community has to hold organizations accountable for what they say and do, whether it helps or hurts our cause,” he said.

“The community holds us to that standard every day and I don’t think their mission or unique purpose is clear to anyone.” | l |

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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DAVID DORMAN

It’s about finding EVERYONE a place to call

home, regardless of how big or small!

~David Dorman

“It’s All About You!”

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Editor’s note: Joey Amato is a reporter with the South Florida Gay News and this article is used with permission.

briefs Leon County adds sexual orientation to HRO The Leon County Commissioners voted 5-2 to pass an LGBT-inclusive Human Rights Ordinance in May. The change adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the protections covered by the ordinance and also adds those protections to the county’s personnel policy. The measure was controversial, with more than 80 people speaking at a public hearing on the changes.

Commissioners Jane Sauls and Bryan Desloge voted against the measure.

Transgender candidate running for Congress A conservative, transgender candidate is throwing her hat in the ring, running in the Republican primary for Congress.

If she wins the primary, Donna Milo will face off against U.S. Rep. Debbie

Wasserman Schultz of Weston, one of the House’s most liberal Democrats. The race is in the 20th Congressional district, which covers parts of Miami stretches into Broward County, including the gay neighborhood Wilton Manors. Milo, 48, is Cuban-American and the youngest of nine children.

Gay teen named prom ‘queen’ A Flanagan High School senior suspended by his Pembroke Pines high school for wanting to wear a dress to his prom was named “Prom Queen” at a Pridelines Youth Services gay prom. The event held at the Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay campus earned Omar Bonilla—who won the title as “Allison Rodriguez”—plenty of publicity, but at a price. His family disowned him just hours after his win. Bonilla told the Miami Herald he has no regrets.

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Bogle-Merlot,Chardonnay.................................................6.97 BV Coastal-Cab,Chard,Mer,PN .........................................6.97 Cambria-Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard ..................14.97 Catena-Malbec.................................................................17.99 Cavit-Pinot Grigio ...............................................................7.97 Caymus-Cabernet.............................................................64.99 Caymus-Cabernet Special Select...................................99.97 Ch St Jean-Chardonnay ....................................................9.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Cab,Merlot............................................10.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Chardonnay............................................7.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Riesling ...................................................7.97 Chalk Hill-Chardonnay Sonoma ......................................29.99 Chandon-Brut Classic......................................................10.97 Chimney Rock-Cabernet Stags Leap District ................44.99 Clos du Bois-Cab,Merlot..................................................10.97 Clos du Bois-Chardonnay..................................................8.97 Clos du Val-Cabernet Napa.............................................24.99 Cloudy Bay-Sauvignon Blanc..........................................22.97 Columbia Crest GrEst-Chard,Cab,Merlot .........................7.97 Conundrum........................................................................19.99 Coppola Diamond-Claret .................................................13.97 Coppola Diamond-Merlot ................................................12.97 Dom Perignon .................................................................119.97 Domaine Serene-Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve ............49.99 Duckhorn-Cabernet Napa ...............................................59.99 Duckhorn-Decoy 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..........................................11.97 J Lohr-Chardonnay Riverstone .........................................8.97 Jadot-Beaujolais Villages..................................................8.97 Jordan-Cabernet ..............................................................42.97 Jordan-Chardonnay .........................................................24.97 Joseph Phelps-Cabernet Napa.......................................39.97 Kendall Jackson-Cab,Mer,Pinot Noir.............................12.97 Kendall Jackson-Chardonnay Grand Reserve ..............13.97 Kendall Jackson-Sauvignon Blanc ..................................7.97 Kim Crawford-Sauvignon Blanc .....................................13.97 Korbel-Brut,Extra Dry.........................................................8.97 La Crema-Chardonnay Sonoma Coast ...........................15.97 La Crema-Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast...............................17.97 Layer Cake-Malbec..........................................................12.97 Layer Cake-Shiraz Barossa Valley..................................12.97

Liberty School-Cabernet Paso Robles ...........................10.97 Lindeman's Bins-Chard,Cab,Merlot .................................4.97 Mark West-Pinot Noir........................................................8.97 Marques de Caceres-Rioja Crianza ...............................10.97 Martini & Rossi-Asti...........................................................9.97 Mer Soleil-Chardonnay....................................................29.99 Meridian-Chard,Cab,Merlot ..............................................5.47 Mirassou-Pinot Noir Monterey.........................................6.97 Moet & Chandon-White Star Imperial ...........................29.97 Molly Dooker-Shiraz The Boxer .....................................26.99 Mondavi Pr Sel-Cab,Chard,Merlot ...................................7.97 Mondavi-Cabernet Napa.................................................21.97 Monkey Bay-Sauvignon Blanc .........................................7.97 Mouton Cadet-Red,White..................................................7.97 Newton-Chardonnay........................................................16.97 Nobilo-Sauvignon Blanc....................................................9.97 Opus One.........................................................................179.99 Pacific Peak-Chard,Cab,Merlot ........................................3.27 Patz & Hall-Chardonnay Napa........................................29.99 Ravenswood-Vintner's Zin,Cab,Merlot ............................7.97 Raymond-Cabernet Napa Reserve.................................25.99 Red Diamond-Cabernet,Merlot.........................................6.97 Ridge-Zinfandel Lytton Springs.......................................29.99 Rodney Strong-Cab,Mer Sonoma...................................12.97 Rodney Strong-Chardonnay Sonoma...............................9.97 Roederer-Cristal .............................................................199.99 Rosemount-Shiraz,Shiraz/Cab ..........................................6.97 Ruffino-Chianti....................................................................7.97 Ruffino-Chianti Ris Ducale Gold......................................31.97 Ruffino-Chianti Ris Ducale Tan .......................................19.97 Santa Margherita-Pinot Grigio........................................18.97 Sebastiani-Cabernet Sonoma .........................................11.97 Silver Oak-Cabernet Alexander Valley 2005 ..................59.99 Silver Oak-Cabernet Napa...............................................89.99 Simi-Cabernet Alexander Valley.....................................19.97 Simi-Chardonnay Sonoma...............................................12.97 Smoking Loon-Cab,Merlot,Chard......................................6.97 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay Sonoma ............................18.97 St Francis-Cabernet .........................................................15.97 Stags' Leap Winery-Cabernet Napa ..............................39.97 Stag's Leap-Wine Cel Cabernet Artemis .......................47.99 Sterling Vintner's-Cab,Merlot ...........................................9.97 Sterling Vintner's-Chardonnay..........................................7.97 Sterling-Cabernet Napa...................................................16.97 Sterling-Merlot Napa.......................................................16.99 Sutter Home-White Zinfandel ...........................................3.97 Toasted Head-Chardonnay..............................................10.97 Twomey-Merlot Napa ......................................................41.99 Veuve Clicquot-Brut NV...................................................35.97 7-Deadly Zins ....................................................................12.97 A to Z-Pinot Noir...............................................................14.99 Adelsheim-Pinot Noir.......................................................18.99 Antinori-Tignanello...........................................................79.99 Banfi-Chianti Classico Riserva........................................14.97 Barefoot Cellars-Chard,Cab,Merlot..................................5.47 Beringer Fndrs-Cab,Chard,Merlot ....................................6.97 Beringer-Private Reserve Chardonnay ..........................26.99 Beringer-White Zinfandel..................................................4.47 Blackstone-Chardonnay,Cabernet ...................................8.97 Blackstone-Merlot California ROP ...................................8.97 Bogle-Cabernet,Zin OV,Petite Sirah .................................8.97 Bogle-Merlot,Chardonnay.................................................6.97 BV Coastal-Cab,Chard,Mer,PN .........................................6.97 Cambria-Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard ..................14.97 Catena-Malbec.................................................................17.99 Cavit-Pinot Grigio ...............................................................7.97 Caymus-Cabernet ............................................................64.99 Caymus-Cabernet Special Select 2007 ..........................99.97 Ch St Jean-Chardonnay ....................................................9.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Cab,Merlot............................................10.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Chardonnay............................................7.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Riesling ...................................................7.97 Chalk Hill-Chardonnay Sonoma ......................................29.99 Chandon-Brut Classic......................................................10.97 Chimney Rock-Cabernet Stags Leap District ................44.99 Clos du Bois-Cab,Merlot..................................................10.97 Clos du Bois-Chardonnay..................................................8.97

Clos du Val-Cabernet Napa.............................................24.99 Cloudy Bay-Sauvignon Blanc..........................................22.97 Columbia Crest GrEst-Chard,Cab,Merlot .........................7.97 Conundrum........................................................................19.99 Coppola Diamond-Claret .................................................13.97 Coppola Diamond-Merlot ................................................12.97 Dom Perignon .................................................................119.97 Domaine Serene-Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve ............49.99 Duckhorn-Cabernet Napa ...............................................59.99 Duckhorn-Decoy Red.......................................................21.99 Duckhorn-Merlot Napa....................................................47.99 Duckhorn-Sauvignon Blanc ............................................24.99 Dynamite-Cabernet ..........................................................11.97 Ecco Domani-Pinot Grigio .................................................7.97 Edna Valley-Chardonnay ...................................................7.97 Erath Vineyards-Pinot Noir..............................................15.97 Estancia-Cabernet............................................................11.97 Estancia-Pinot Noir ..........................................................11.97 Etude-Pinot Noir Carneros ..............................................29.99 Far Niente-Chardonnay ...................................................39.97 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay ............................................19.97 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc.............................................13.97 Fetzer-Gewurztraminer......................................................5.97 Fetzer-Vlly Oaks-Chard,Cab,Merlot ..................................5.97 Folie a Deux-Menage a Trois Blanc.................................8.47 Folie a Deux-Menage a Trois Rouge ................................8.47 Franciscan-Cabernet .......................................................19.97 Frei Brothers-Chardonnay Reserve................................12.97 Freixenet-Cordon Negro Brut,Extra Dry...........................8.97 Gnarly Head-Old Vine Zinfandel .......................................7.47 Goldeneye-Pinot Noir ......................................................49.99 Greg Norman Estates-Cabernet/Merlot...........................9.97 Heitz-Cabernet Napa .......................................................39.99 Hess Select-Chardonnay Monterey.................................8.97 J Lohr-Cabernet Seven Oaks ..........................................11.97 J Lohr-Chardonnay Riverstone .........................................8.97 Jadot-Beaujolais Villages..................................................8.97 Jordan-Cabernet ..............................................................42.97 Jordan-Chardonnay .........................................................24.97 Joseph Phelps-Cabernet Napa.......................................39.97 Kendall Jackson-Cab,Mer,Pinot Noir.............................12.97 Kendall Jackson-Chardonnay Grand Reserve ..............13.97 Kendall Jackson-Sauvignon Blanc ..................................7.97 Kim Crawford-Sauvignon Blanc .....................................13.97 Korbel-Brut,Extra Dry.........................................................8.97 La Crema-Chardonnay Sonoma Coast ...........................15.97 La Crema-Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast...............................17.97 Layer Cake-Malbec..........................................................12.97 Layer Cake-Shiraz Barossa Valley..................................12.97 Liberty School-Cabernet Paso Robles ...........................10.97 Lindeman's Bins-Chard,Cab,Merlot .................................4.97 Mark West-Pinot Noir........................................................8.97 Marques de Caceres-Rioja Crianza ...............................10.97 Martini & Rossi-Asti...........................................................9.97 Mer Soleil-Chardonnay....................................................29.99 Meridian-Chard,Cab,Merlot ..............................................5.47 Mirassou-Pinot Noir Monterey.........................................6.97 Moet & Chandon-White Star Imperial ...........................29.97 Molly Dooker-Shiraz The Boxer 2008 WS-91.................26.99 Mondavi Pr Sel-Cab,Chard,Merlot ...................................7.97 Mondavi-Cabernet Napa.................................................21.97 Monkey Bay-Sauvignon Blanc .........................................7.97 Mouton Cadet-Red,White..................................................7.97 Newton-Chardonnay........................................................16.97 Nobilo-Sauvignon Blanc....................................................9.97 Opus One.........................................................................179.99 Pacific Peak-Chard,Cab,Merlot ........................................3.27 Patz & Hall-Chardonnay Napa........................................29.99 Ravenswood-Vintner's Zin,Cab,Merlot ............................7.97 Raymond-Cabernet Napa Reserve.................................25.99 Red Diamond-Cabernet,Merlot.........................................6.97 Ridge-Zinfandel Lytton Springs.......................................29.99 Rodney Strong-Cab,Mer Sonoma...................................12.97 Rodney Strong-Chardonnay Sonoma...............................9.97 Roederer-Cristal .............................................................199.99 Rosemount-Shiraz,Shiraz/Cab ..........................................6.97 Ruffino-Chianti....................................................................7.97

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Ruffino-Chianti Ris Ducale Gold......................................31.97 Ruffino-Chianti Ris Ducale Tan .......................................19.97 Santa Margherita-Pinot Grigio........................................18.97 Sebastiani-Cabernet Sonoma .........................................11.97 Silver Oak-Cabernet Alexander Valley...........................59.99 Silver Oak-Cabernet Napa...............................................89.99 Simi-Cabernet Alexander Valley.....................................19.97 Simi-Chardonnay Sonoma...............................................12.97 Smoking Loon-Cab,Merlot,Chard......................................6.97 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay Sonoma ............................18.97 St Francis-Cabernet .........................................................15.97 Stags' Leap Winery-Cabernet Napa ..............................39.97 Stag's Leap-Wine Cel Cabernet Artemis .......................47.99 Sterling Vintner's-Cab,Merlot ...........................................9.97 Sterling Vintner's-Chardonnay..........................................7.97 Sterling-Cabernet Napa...................................................16.97 Sterling-Merlot Napa.......................................................16.99 Sutter Home-White Zinfandel ...........................................3.97 Toasted Head-Chardonnay..............................................10.97 Twomey-Merlot Napa ......................................................41.99 Veuve Clicquot-Brut NV...................................................35.97 7-Deadly Zins ....................................................................12.97 A to Z-Pinot Noir...............................................................14.99 Adelsheim-Pinot Noir.......................................................18.99 Antinori-Tignanello...........................................................79.99 Banfi-Chianti Classico Riserva........................................14.97 Barefoot Cellars-Chard,Cab,Merlot..................................5.47 Beringer Fndrs-Cab,Chard,Merlot ....................................6.97 Beringer-Private Reserve Chardonnay ..........................26.99 Beringer-White Zinfandel..................................................4.47 Blackstone-Chardonnay,Cabernet ...................................8.97 Blackstone-Merlot California ROP ...................................8.97 Bogle-Cabernet,Zin OV,Petite Sirah .................................8.97 Bogle-Merlot,Chardonnay.................................................6.97 BV Coastal-Cab,Chard,Mer,PN .........................................6.97 Cambria-Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard ..................14.97 Catena-Malbec.................................................................17.99 Cavit-Pinot Grigio ...............................................................7.97 Caymus-Cabernet 2007 WS-92........................................64.99 Caymus-Cabernet Special Select 2007 ..........................99.97 Ch St Jean-Chardonnay ....................................................9.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Cab,Merlot............................................10.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Chardonnay............................................7.97 Ch Ste Michelle-Riesling ...................................................7.97 Chalk Hill-Chardonnay Sonoma ......................................29.99 Chandon-Brut Classic......................................................10.97 Chimney Rock-Cabernet Stags Leap District ................44.99 Clos du Bois-Cab,Merlot..................................................10.97 Clos du Bois-Chardonnay..................................................8.97 Clos du Val-Cabernet Napa.............................................24.99 Cloudy Bay-Sauvignon Blanc..........................................22.97 Columbia Crest GrEst-Chard,Cab,Merlot .........................7.97 Conundrum........................................................................19.99 Coppola Diamond-Claret .................................................13.97 Coppola Diamond-Merlot ................................................12.97 Dom Perignon .................................................................119.97 Domaine Serene-Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve ............49.99 Duckhorn-Cabernet Napa ...............................................59.99 Duckhorn-Decoy Red.......................................................21.99 Duckhorn-Merlot Napa....................................................47.99 Duckhorn-Sauvignon Blanc ............................................24.99 Dynamite-Cabernet ..........................................................11.97 Ecco Domani-Pinot Grigio .................................................7.97 Edna Valley-Chardonnay ...................................................7.97 Erath Vineyards-Pinot Noir..............................................15.97 Estancia-Cabernet............................................................11.97 Estancia-Pinot Noir ..........................................................11.97 Etude-Pinot Noir Carneros ..............................................29.99 Far Niente-Chardonnay ...................................................39.97 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay ............................................19.97 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc.............................................13.97 Fetzer-Gewurztraminer......................................................5.97 Fetzer-Vlly Oaks-Chard,Cab,Merlot ..................................5.97 Folie a Deux-Menage a Trois Blanc.................................8.47 Folie a Deux-Menage a Trois Rouge ................................8.47 Franciscan-Cabernet .......................................................19.97 Frei Brothers-Chardonnay Reserve................................12.97

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Freixenet-Cordon Negro Brut,Extra Dry...........................8.97 Gnarly Head-Old Vine Zinfandel .......................................7.47 Goldeneye-Pinot Noir ......................................................49.99 Greg Norman Estates-Cabernet/Merlot...........................9.97 Heitz-Cabernet Napa .......................................................39.99 Hess Select-Chardonnay Monterey.................................8.97 J Lohr-Cabernet Seven Oaks ..........................................11.97 J Lohr-Chardonnay Riverstone .........................................8.97 Jadot-Beaujolais Villages..................................................8.97 Jordan-Cabernet ..............................................................42.97 Jordan-Chardonnay .........................................................24.97 Joseph Phelps-Cabernet Napa.......................................39.97 Kendall Jackson-Cab,Mer,Pinot Noir.............................12.97 Kendall Jackson-Chardonnay Grand Reserve ..............13.97 Kendall Jackson-Sauvignon Blanc ..................................7.97 Kim Crawford-Sauvignon Blanc .....................................13.97 Korbel-Brut,Extra Dry.........................................................8.97 La Crema-Chardonnay Sonoma Coast ...........................15.97 La Crema-Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast...............................17.97 Layer Cake-Malbec..........................................................12.97 Layer Cake-Shiraz Barossa Valley..................................12.97 Liberty School-Cabernet Paso Robles ...........................10.97 Lindeman's Bins-Chard,Cab,Merlot .................................4.97 Mark West-Pinot Noir........................................................8.97 Marques de Caceres-Rioja Crianza ...............................10.97 Martini & Rossi-Asti...........................................................9.97 Mer Soleil-Chardonnay....................................................29.99 Meridian-Chard,Cab,Merlot ..............................................5.47 Mirassou-Pinot Noir Monterey.........................................6.97 Moet & Chandon-White Star Imperial ...........................29.97 Molly Dooker-Shiraz The Boxer......................................26.99 Mondavi Pr Sel-Cab,Chard,Merlot ...................................7.97 Mondavi-Cabernet Napa.................................................21.97 Monkey Bay-Sauvignon Blanc .........................................7.97 Mouton Cadet-Red,White..................................................7.97 Newton-Chardonnay........................................................16.97 Nobilo-Sauvignon Blanc....................................................9.97 Opus One.........................................................................179.99 Pacific Peak-Chard,Cab,Merlot ........................................3.27 Patz & Hall-Chardonnay Napa........................................29.99 Ravenswood-Vintner's Zin,Cab,Merlot ............................7.97 Raymond-Cabernet Napa Reserve.................................25.99 Red Diamond-Cabernet,Merlot.........................................6.97 Ridge-Zinfandel Lytton Springs.......................................29.99 Rodney Strong-Cab,Mer Sonoma...................................12.97 Rodney Strong-Chardonnay Sonoma...............................9.97 Roederer-Cristal .............................................................199.99 Rosemount-Shiraz,Shiraz/Cab ..........................................6.97 Ruffino-Chianti....................................................................7.97 Ruffino-Chianti Ris Ducale Gold......................................31.97 Ruffino-Chianti Ris Ducale Tan .......................................19.97 Santa Margherita-Pinot Grigio........................................18.97 Sebastiani-Cabernet Sonoma 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Napa.......................................................16.99 Sutter Home-White Zinfandel ...........................................3.97 Toasted Head-Chardonnay..............................................10.97 Twomey-Merlot Napa ......................................................41.99 Veuve Clicquot-Brut NV...................................................35.97 7-Deadly Zins ....................................................................12.97 A to Z-Pinot Noir...............................................................14.99 Adelsheim-Pinot Noir.......................................................18.99 Antinori-Tignanello...........................................................79.99 Banfi-Chianti Classico Riserva........................................14.97 Barefoot Cellars-Chard,Cab,Merlot..................................5.47 Beringer Fndrs-Cab,Chard,Merlot ....................................6.97

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watermark | nation+world news

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

13

Gay couple sentenced to maximum 14 years in Malawi wire report

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Blantyre, Malawi | A judge sentenced a couple to the maximum 14 years in prison with hard labor under Malawi’s anti-gay legislation, and crowds jeered the two men as they were driven from the court house to jail.

The harsh sentence for unnatural acts and gross indecency had been expected after the same judge convicted Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza earlier under laws dating from the colonial era. The case has drawn international condemnation and sparked a debate on human rights in this conservative southern African country.

Chimbalanga, a 20-year-old hotel janitor, and his unemployed partner were arrested Dec. 27, the day after they celebrated their engagement with a party at the hotel where Chimbalanga worked—an apparent first in Malawi.

“We are sitting here to represent the Malawi society which I do not believe is ready at this point in time to see its sons getting married to other sons or conducting engagement ceremonies,” Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa said as he delivered his sentence.

The lawyer for the two, Mauya Msuku, said he would appeal.

Hundreds of onlookers inside and outside the court house showed little sympathy. There were shouts of “You got what you deserve!” and “Fourteen years is not enough, they should get 50!”

Homosexuality is illegal in at least 37 countries in Africa including Malawi. In Uganda, lawmakers are considering a bill under which homosexuals could be sentenced to life in prison and “repeat offenders” could be executed. Even in South Africa, the only African country that recognizes gay rights, gangs have raped lesbians. | l |

staff report San Francisco, Calif. | Events took place in California and across America on May 22 in observance of Harvey Milk, marking the first day of “special significance” in the West Coast state to honor the slain gay rights leader.

Along with concerts, political fundraisers and rallies in California, commemorative Harvey Milk Day events were planned in 20 other U.S. states on what would have been his 80th birthday.

The day’s observance comes after attempts were eventually successful in persuading

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a bill establishing May 22 as Harvey Milk Day, though it took two legislative tries, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and the 2008 movie Milk.

Now, as the state honors the slain gay rights leader, the occasion shaped up to be more farreaching than its supporters anticipated.

Milk was the first openly gay man to win elected office in a major U.S. city. He was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 when he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall by former supervisor Dan White. | l |

Cubans march against homophobia

Portugal’s conservative president will reluctantly ratify a law allowing gay marriage, making the predominantly Catholic country the sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples wed. President Anibal Cavaco Silva said he would not veto the bill because majority liberal lawmakers would only overturn his decision.

Hundreds of LGBT activists marched and danced through the streets of Havana on May 15 as part of a celebration aimed at eliminating homophobia around the world. Among them were Mariela Castro, a campaigner for gay rights on the island and the leader of Cuba’s National Sexual Education Center. She is also the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro.

Episcopal church ordains its 2nd openly gay bishop The Episcopal Church has consecrated a woman as its second openly gay bishop, seven years after ordaining a man to a similar post. The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, of Baltimore, was ordained and consecrated on May 15. It also makes her one of the first two female bishops in the Diocese of Los Angeles’ 114-year history

Belarusian police disperse gay pride parade Belarusian police on May 15 violently dispersed a gay pride parade banned by authorities. Riot police broke up the demonstration and arrested several dozen participants, beating some of them and throwing them on the ground.

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The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon any information included on this page, nor upon any advertisement that you might view.

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mail Moved to tears I was deeply moved (to tears, in fact)

by Tom Dyer’s Publisher’s Perspective (Issue 17.09) about the death of one of his legal clients and the meaning of family.

I’ve had a life filled with remarkable people, not the least of which were my gay uncle and his partner. How fortunate I was as a young, gay male to have such strong and positive role models. Until one of them passed away, they were together longer than my own parents, who are celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary this year.

Thanks, Watermark, for all you do for the community!

Name Withheld Orlando

Halloween. As my partner from Orlando and our friends in Orlando and Tampa will tell you, we welcome everyone—just leave your hang ups and stereotypes at home.

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As the sludge roles onto Louisiana’s coast, suddenly, the anti-government bashers are silent.

Suddenly, everyone in Louisiana, from Governor Jindal on down, believes in “big government.”

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French Quarter, I’d like to say thanks Let’s rally behind our active and even to Watermark for encouraging LGBT pro-active President, who has a real travelers to visit this great city. However, chance to school his predecessor on what New Orleans is a lot more than Bourbon a real leader can do in times of crises. Of Street and bars. And no, we weren’t course, the “drill, baby, drill” proponents destroyed by Katrina, and the oil spill, while a catastrophe for the Gulf of Mexico, are strangely silent.

Sara Miller is nowhere near the city. So come, Via e-mail get away from Bourbon, enjoy our food, the great music on Frenchman Street, check out our architecture and take a tour of the most “European” city in the US. New Orleans is fun all year round, but especially for Southern Decadence and

“New Orleans is fun all year round, but especially for Southern Decadence and Halloween.”

—

More than Bourbon Street

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.

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

top web comments On local appointments to the Harvey Milk Board and the Debbie Simmons Award winner: “Orlando is very fortunate to have three remarkable and unassuming leaders in the community. Linda [Stewart], Tom [Dyer] and Michael [Slaymaker], we are proud of you and thank you for your contributions to improve life in Central Florida.”

—KnightsTemplar On Editor’s Desk (Issue 17.08) discussing the NAGAAA discrimination lawsuit: “Discrimination of any kind is harmful and should not be tolerated by anyone.

I find it very difficult to teach high school athletes to embrace diversity when we have an organization that chooses to discriminate against people because of who they spend their lives with. I know this organization has a rule that to participate a team must be 80/20. While that is the rule there comes a time for people to stand up and demand that rules be revisited and updated.”

—swfloridaboys Don’t be left out of the community conversation!

Head over to WatermarkOnline.com, register and start telling us what YOU think!

21

Immediately apologize for hiring George Reker before resigning as attorney general and quitting his campaign for governor.

Step down from his campaign, apologize, but finish his term as attorney general.

Continue with both his career and campaign, but publicly apologize for hiring Reker.

58%

Just keep on with his campaign and career as usual, no apologies.

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morething...

White Americans of European descent have comfortably dominated the culture on this continent for more than 300 years, routing out the Native Americans and Hispanics and anyone else who got in the way. But as Bob Dylan wrote, the times, they are a-changin’. The natives are getting restless, so to speak, and the “minorities” are growing in numbers and political clout.

Whites are on the verge of losing their edge, and they’re scared. And anyone with a lick of sense knows that a scared animal is a dangerous animal.

The Arizona laws are not new—they’re just the latest, most visible attempts being made to promote some sense of white nationalism (supremacy?) in America.

Bowing For years “language purists” have been fighting the inclusion (tolerance) of the to fear Spanish language in the United States.

Some people want to pass laws declaring Brian Feist English as the “official” language of the United States.Their mantra is, if you’re going to live in America, learn to speak English. These language purists seem to forget that if they are of anything other than Native American descent, they are the descendents of immigrants.

They also fail to grasp that few immigrants managed to learn more than rudimentary English upon arrival to America. For most it has taken at least a couple of generations for their families to become fully integrated into a “mainstream” American existence. Many of our “charming” regional American dialects and accents are directly related to the ethnic irst Arizona legislators passed a law backgrounds of the immigrants who settled that requires local law enforcement in those regions 150-200 years ago or more. agencies to verify the citizenship Some of these jackasses who are of anyone they feel may be in the United demanding that every new arrival in this States illegally. That’s a polite way of country immediately start speaking English saying if you’re in Arizona and look or sound Hispanic, you’d better have your ought to take their own advice and learn the language themselves. Read the posts some papers with you if you don’t want to get of these people put online and you’ll see arrested. “Breathing While Brown” is the my point. It’s the height of hypocrisy when new “Driving While Black,” a “crime” with which many, particularly southern, some idiot who clearly wouldn’t know a participle from an integer writes, “them African-Americans are well acquainted. f**king mexicans [sic] need to learn to talk Now Arizona legislators have added insult f**king english [sic] or go home.” to injury and have passed a law banning so-called cultural studies classes, or classes Seriously!

Which brings me back to Arizona’s new designed for students of a particular law. Banning ethnic studies courses is not ethnicity, in Arizona schools. only blatantly racist, These laws, the basis of which it’s just plain stupid!

If anything, we supporters claim ’Breathing While should be promoting is frustration broader inclusion on the part of Brown’ is the new predominantly in minority studies ‘Driving While Black.’ courses. By teaching white Americans the contributions at the Federal of women, blacks, Government’s inability to control our borders, are Latinos, etc. in American history, these courses not only engender pride in one’s further evidence that racism in America ethnicity or self-identity, they also round is alive and thriving. I can understand the out what we all traditionally learn from frustration, especially when you consider typical history books. that “terrorists” can cross our borders with impunity while law-abiding citizens can’t When I was a child I learned that George Washington Carver was a black man who take a tube of toothpaste on an airplane. developed hundreds of uses for peanuts, But an even stronger motivation for this and that this was a significant contribution misdirected nationalism is fear.

F

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

to the agricultural economy of the South, after years of over-production of cotton had depleted the soil. End of story.

Had there been a Black Studies program I may have learned that his work with peanuts was just the tip of the iceberg for this brilliant scientist, botanist, educator and inventor who was born into slavery and rose to international renown. Had we had a Gay Studies program I may have learned that Carver was also very likely homosexual.

Now maybe, whether you’re gay or black or not, you don’t care, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to know that George Washington Carver’s life was more than just peanuts.

And just maybe, knowing the whole story could give someone a little different

perspective on black or gay people, in general. But that might promote tolerance, and we can’t have any of that, now, can we?

Too many people are too comfortable with a one-sided view of history, and don’t want to have their perceptions challenged with the facts. Mainstream history books don’t provide the full story of the Bayard Rustins and Susan B. Anthonys of the world. Minority Studies courses shouldn’t be banned, they should be required—for all students, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity.

Anything else is just bowing to fear. | l | Brian Feist lives in St. Petersburg and is the former publisher of The Gazette.

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May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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Photo by Charles William Bush

can she

TALK! Y

ou know Joan Rivers for her noholds-barred commentary on the red carpet, and quite possibly from her mega-successful QVC jewelry line. You might also know her from her victory on the first Celebrity Apprentice or from her show How’d You Get So Rich? (Wednesday nights on TV Land), which takes a candid look at the extravagant lifestyles of fabulously rich entrepreneurs and innovators. But you most likely know Rivers for her scathing comedy, which she brings to Hard Rock Live on Friday, June 4, for a special Gay Days Weekend performance.

I, however, know Rivers for the fashion advice she once gave me during a phone interview several years ago.

“Wrong!” she told me. “Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!” was her take on my wearing pajama pants to work.

Lesson learned, I braved calling Rivers once again to get her take on the latest Celebrity Apprentice, her own reality shows, and how she planned to celebrate her 77th birthday, which takes place just a few days following her Orlando appearance.

Joan, it’s so good to talk with you again.

I told my mother we’d be speaking and she said, “Well, I just hope she’s nice to you…”

Too late!

I told her what you said about my pajama pants and she said, “Well, you know she’s right about that.”

Listen to your mother!

Oh, I do. And to you, too. No more PJs to work! So now that I’m dressing better

Joan Rivers dishes on Cyndi Lauper and Miss USA before her Gay Days Weekend appearance at Hard Rock Live kirk hartlage

I’m hoping you can introduce me to one of these guys you profile on How’d You Get So Rich? Have there been any gay guys on there?

Yes! I don’t think the episode has been on yet. His father made all the money and told him, “You build our dream house and decorate it.” This guy had all the money in the world and did the most amazing house in Virginia that you’ve ever seen in your life. All the money and you can do whatever you want decorating wise? That’s a Jewish woman’s wet dream and a gay man’s wet dream.

Are any of the guys you talk to single?

The one that did the house is single. But you know, nowadays, there are so many people out there—and it’s not just in the Continued on page 32 | uu |

26

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

watermark | music

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

27

back to basia The iConiC, Polish-born songsTress Comes To ruTh eCkerd hall

stephen miller

C

learwater | “I really didn’t know I had a huge gay and lesbian following, until they started coming up to me at my shows. It’s really a compliment, isn’t it?”

Basia laughs, congenially.

Basia’s concerts are known for their deft combination of adult contemporary musical styles—Latin, jazz, word, and pop—with the singer’s warm, convivial spirit. The Polishborn artist will be using her distinctive voice to fill Tampa Bay’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on May 30, after touring Europe and the Far East. For tickets, visit RuthEckerdHall.com.

This world tour comes after a significant hiatus for Basia. In the late 1990s, after several people close to her died—including her mother—Basia found she couldn’t bring herself to sing. After more than five years of silence, fellow musicians pulled Basia out of her grief.

Now, Basia is back, touring with a new album, It’sThat Girl Again. We caught her on a short break at her England home.

I was recently in a club, and in their lounge area, the DJ played a remix of your 1990 tune Cruising for a Bruising.

That’s awesome. Fantastic, because we plan to play that on this tour, and it’s good to hear that people still know it!

You were raised in Communist Poland, and you went on to sell more than 10 million albums worldwide; that makes you pretty unique.

Yes, I was born in Communist Poland, but my whole career—from 1983 onward—really started in England, where I still live. I tried to start in Poland; I recorded a few songs just before I left, but I had a terrible problem having them played. I kind of gave up on music, although I was very young.

I followed my heart; I fell in love with someone who was English, and I came to this country. After moving, I had to find work.

At the time—with my very bad English—all I had was music. I liked singing, and I thought that I could somehow make a living at it. I was lucky to meet [life partner and keyboardist] Danny White, who I’ve worked with ever since coming to England. I’m very loyal; I stick to people I like. [Laughs]

Did you purposely shape your career so you could explore different styles of music?

I don’t try to fit into a particular market, whatsoever. I don’t want to sing something I don’t really feel is me. I was lucky to meet Danny, because he and I have this amazing connection; we understand each other. He and I stuck to our guns, even though our entertainment wasn’t the most popular style of music; it’s a mixture of pop and jazz and Latin music.

Polish chanteuse Basia is bringing her big vocals to Tampa’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on May 30.

you did in between?

In 1997, we released a “best of’ album, according to us. It was called Clear Horizon, and it included four new songs. I was a guest on a couple of albums. But, yes, I had maybe five or six years where I didn’t do any music.

You have a very recognizable voice.

[Laughs] Yes, I have always had a bit of a strong voice, but it’s only moderate in range. There are noises I’d only ever attempt in a studio, never live onstage. I really only have a couple octaves, but I like all sorts of Why the musical silence? styles of music, so I mess around with the Those years were really miserable. If I way I sing things. On the last album, I did don’t sing, I feel quite ill. Unfortunately, I a bit of a Wagnerian backing vocal, just for went through a little bit of a quiet period, fun, because I do because I lost too everything myself. many people in I don’t have a my life in a very producer. I just play “America is my short space of time. with the muse, by It started with my dessert.

American myself in the studio. mom, then cousins, [Laughs] audiences are very then friends. Five people died in a very demonstrative; they Do you like short space of time, doing your own really show you how and I had a really production? terrible time of it. I much they love you.”

Sometimes, I just couldn’t sing. get crucified. When —BAsiA Something took my I made the live voice away. I couldn’t Broadway album even listen to music.

[1994’s Basia on In 2002, these two boys from my first Broadway, based on two concerts at the Neil band, Matt Bianco, convinced me to make Simon Theater], I was criticized for making another record with them. I’m glad they it sound too “live.” My Polish family thought did, because it brought me back into this it wasn’t polished enough. Lots of people wonderful world. overproduce an album so much, it doesn’t Now I feel alright. I enjoy playing live, sound live anymore. We didn’t change one although I was nervous at first about going note on this album; it’s an honest recording back on after such a long break. of those two wonderful nights on Broadway.

I’m very proud of that album. I’m very happy Is a lot of your experience with grief on the when I hear that people enjoy it. new album?

Sure. When I write lyrics, I only write In 1994, you recorded The Sweetest about what’s happening to me, or what I Illusion, an album of new material. Then, feel. Sometimes, I write about friends’ lives. you didn’t record another new Basia Although the new album has a positive side, album for 15 years, until the 2009 album there is also a sort of disenchantment. I don’t It’s That Girl Again. Can you tell us what

dwell on the negative, but it’s important to go into it and then come back out of it.

The title song “It’s That Girl Again” is about one of my friends who passed away, and she was a very optimistic person. These days, I feel as if I am carrying her in my body by putting her philosophy forward. [Laughs] She infected us with a sort of wonderful positivity, and that’s why I think the loss of her was so hard. In spite of what happened to her, though, she really had the time of her life!

I imagine you’ll have a lot of gay couples at your American concerts.

Oh, that’ll be so nice. I’m really looking forward to it.

What else are you looking forward to in America?

I’m glad the Far East and European tour dates are behind me; they were like a big meal. America is my dessert. American audiences are very demonstrative; they really show you how much they love you. Because of that, I stopped using my earphones [in-ear monitors] onstage. I love to hear exactly how people react. For the few years I was using those in-ear phones, they separated me from the audience. Maybe I could hear better, and maybe I could control my voice better, but I didn’t have that spontaneous reaction from the audience. I like the communication from stage. I like to talk to people, and I like when they shout back to me. I just love that interaction. | l |

see+hear Who: Basia and Bernie When: 7 p.m., May 30 Tickets: RuthEckerdHall.com

28

watermark | theater

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

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Caroline Sheen plays t he very buttoned-up title character in Disney’s Mary Poppins at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. | Photo courtesy Joan Marcus

a ‘spoonful’ of the kinsey scale Is MarY PoPPIns too sensIble to be straIght?

renee lepere

“Y

ou think Mary Poppins may have been a lesbian?”

“Whaaaa?” This was the response I gave my editor when he posed the question to me. Honestly, I had never given the matter any thought. I mean, the lion from The Wizard of Oz, that one’s a no brainer. So was “Hermey”—Hello! The name says it all about the elf that wants to be a dentist from Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Velma, of “ScoobyDoo” fame—questionable.

But Mary Poppins? A spoon-full-of-sugar Mary Poppins?

“Well, you know, she’s got sensible hair,” my editor said.

“No she doesn’t,” I said. “Trust me, as a fellow woman with long hair, if it’s long, it’s not sensible.”

“Her shoes are,” he countered.

“Hmmm.”

Time to do some research.

Those of you that want to do it for yourself can from now until June 6 at Carol Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Tickets start at $18.50.

Mary Poppins is one of the biggest stage musical successes to emerge from London or New York in recent years, according to the Straz Center. The musical has grossed more than $392 million worldwide and has been seen by more than 5.3 million people. More

than 1,400 of those performances were on Broadway alone, making it one of its most profitable shows.

The original Mary Poppins book was written by P. L. Travers and published in 1934. The story and main character was so popular, it would spawn seven sequels before Disney made the 1964 movie classic starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

Apparently, the literary Mary was a little sterner, darker, edgier than the family-friendly Disney version, apparently deleting the famous “I told you no collapsible umbrellas, ever!!!” from the book.

Oops, sorry. Wrong movie, wrong gay icon.

In recent years, Travers’ sexuality has come under media scrutiny, questions arising as to whether or not all of her female relationships were strictly platonic.

“If you are looking for autobiographical facts,” Travers once wrote, “Mary Poppins is the story of my life.”

Oh, dear. Maybe it’s time to take a second look at that wardrobe.

She arrives of course, via umbrella, carpet bag, heavy, dark over coat, buttoned up to here, down to there. It’s dark charcoal to black. Stodgy for sure. She does have some cheery little flowers going on the hat though.

Eh, I’m cutting her some slack. It’s late

watermark | theater

The relationship between Caroline Sheenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mary Poppinsâ&#x20AC;? and Gavin Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bertâ&#x20AC;? is hard to define. | Photo courtesy Joan Marcus

Victorian, maybe early Edwardian England.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold and windy. I look like the Michelin Tire Man when it drops below 70.

Next.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at her work uniform.

Okay, its down-right dowdy. But, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nanny for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake. Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you be a little concerned if the uniform wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a little stiff? Do we really need to see an installment of Nannies Gone Wild? Or some sort of crazy hybrid of Disney and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle? Yes, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say

she should go a little nuts and open the top of her 38 front buttons and maybe let one hair loose, but you know, that just wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be Mary. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a professional. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the clock. She just maybe needs a What Not to Wear consultation.

Okay, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be brought up, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to throw it out thereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if you were hanging out with chimney sweeps, how dressed up do you think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be getting? I mean, really. Not the time to break out the couture.

AUCTION

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

29

Woman moment. And it works. Hats off, As a matter of fact, if she did, the whole Mary. No, really. Please take the hat off. production would be considered a tragedy.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m afraid between the corset, the high neck Admit it. The gasping, crying, wailing and and the straps tied so tightly around your gnashing of teeth would be frenzied. And chin, your airway is obstructed. then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d cut her. Again, sensibility points.

So, was I able Oh, but wait, wait, to jump to any wait. Mary has a bit conclusions about of a wild side.

Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sexuality by Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than If you were hanging the way she dressed? one scene where out with chimney Eh. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ gure Mary can be seen anything out. You be wearing a coatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;yes, sweeps, how dressed the judge. coat. Long sleeved, up do you think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d However, I would to almost ankleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in a have been a little very bright red with be getting? I mean, more suspicious if black accents. Gasp! reallyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not the time to Mr. Banks walked Mary! Red! The out in the frilly white traditional color for break out the couture. dress to go ďŹ&#x201A;y a kite. street walkers! You brazen hussy, you!

Performances are See what happens Tuesday-Thursday at when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the weekend and you let her hang 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and out with chimney sweeps? She lets her hair 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. down. Well, no, not really.

For more information about the David A. Then, of course, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousâ&#x20AC;? its upcoming events, visit StrazCenter.org. | l | scene in which she wears a white, frothy, diaphanous lacy entirely lady-like dress.

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the red corset againâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Mary! You sassy girl, you! Not to mention the over-the What: Mary Poppins top hat. Of course, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still buttoned up to When: Now through June 6 her chin. Of course the hair is still sensible.

Where: Straz Center for the But you know what? She looks like a lady.

Performing Arts, Tampa She looks comfortable as a lady.

Tickets: StrazCenter.org Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s her Julia Roberts, red dress Pretty

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screened out GRIM FAIRY TALES

stephen miller

Stephen@WatermarkOnline.com

you can tell who wins this game of love within the first ten minutes. The second (Voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, violation is more heinous; very little mention Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas, Walt is made of two female cousins fighting for Dohrn) and sleeping with the same man. ★★★★★ What a forward-thinking view of the nce upon a time, there was a funny modern woman! animated film repeated four times Queen Latifah is a gold-hearted physical over with only minor variations. trainer and basketball fan. Pretty Patton Thankfully, this 3D version is the last Shrek (who was so wonderful in Precious) is her movie. It’s a good thing the first one had such gold-digging cousin who wants to hook a rich humor and plot, or they’d never get away basketball player. Common is the charming, with being this reductive. confused all-star in between, attracted to Papa Shrek (Myers) is again tired of beautiful, vapid Patton but emotionally being king of the castle. Especially now connecting to sweet homegirl Latifah. that he’s changing three little monsters’ Can you already guess that Common gets diapers, he misses his days of being a single injured? Now guess who comes to save the ogre. Along comes a mystical elf named day.

Rumpelstiltskin (Dohrn) who promises Latifah phones it in. Common stares Shrek one day of bachelorhood. Of course, with a moony, stalker-like stare. Patton is there’s a catch: Rumpelstiltskin wants the frustratingly trite and shallow. Common’s kingdom for himself. Under his evil magic poor mommy Rashad (of The Cosby spell, everyone—including Princess Show) is left to walk around and Fiona (Diaz)—forgets Shrek. Puss toss off particularly boring bon (Banderas) is a fat lap cat, but mots. Minor characters— Donkey (Murphy) is still an including Orlando Magic aimless idiot. There’s a major player Dwight Howard—are rebellion led by the Princess thrown in merely to provide to clutter things up. Shrek exposition. only has this day to reclaim I’ll say it: everything here his love and his place on the sucks. Just Wright is just throne. wrong. It’s like watching a It’s basically Shrek meets juvenile game of pick-up Queen Latifah is off her It’s a Wonderful Life. played with a ball that’s game in Just Wright.

Despite this lack of almost completely flat. imagination, the action is still frenetic, and the voices are still entertaining.

Robin Hood The jokey cultural references are also still (Starring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, hilarious.

Danny Huston, Oscar Isaac) However, no one—kid or adult—wants ★★★★★ to see Shrek suffering from male monster Remember the swashbuckling menopause. At some point in the creative handsomeness of Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood? process, there was probably some mention of Wasn’t the insouciant way he tossed his how many married men like Shrek long for ebony locks both sexy and joyous? their bachelor days; there are probably better None of that exuberance exists anymore. ways of exploring that than borrowing so It’s all gone, dead. Apparently this medieval heavily from a Christmas classic. hero can no longer be fun—he must be gritty and realistic and bloody and deep. Director Just Wright Ridley Scott has tried to transplant the (Starring Queen Latifah, Common, Paula formula of his Oscar-winning Gladiator— Patton, Phylicia Rashad, Dwight Howard) again using grim, stoic Russell Crowe— ★★★★★ within Sherwood Forest. The problem is We’ve had The Basketball Diaries; now Robin and his Merry Men are anything we have The Basketball Drearies. but merry. Instead, they are brave, violent, This sports-related romance commits a serious, and a little dull. couple major fouls. The first problem is that Crowe’s Robin is coming back from the the basic story is so infuriatingly pedestrian; Crusades, mourning his dead leader (Huston).

Shrek Forever After

O

Monstrous Mike Myers makes a deal with devil Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn) in Shrek Forever After.

After diminutive King John (Isaac) takes over, Crowe starts to balk at the turn in his country’s politics. He asks for help from the widow Maid Marion (Blanchett), who is not shy or sexy at all—she’s a bit of a bitter ball buster, really.

Director Scott certainly has a way with imagery: a battle against the French is notably epic. The problem is: you’ll be impressed, but you won’t be entertained.

It’s an interesting idea, meeting Robin before he becomes a legend. But after seeing Crowe’s emotionally tortured take, you’ll

wonder why anyone would’ve joined his mirthless cause. | l |

★★★★★

Overflowing uncontrollably with glittery fabulousness

★★★★★

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

32

watermark | comedy

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

Nothing, because I was there. You can’t say, “Oh my God, did you see where she said that?” Yeah, I was there, I said it. I thought it was put together brilliantly. Edited brilliantly.

They took a year and a half of film and put it into 83 minutes.

“I hate Mother’s Day. It’s like, ‘Oh, let’s remember somebody once a year.’

Well, you should have taken that poor ol‘ bitch out to lunch two weeks ago.”

That’s a long time to have cameras following you.

After the first week they become part of your family. We’ve been using the cameraman and the sound guy now to film How’d You Get So Rich? You get attached to people. It was a very strange dynamic that happened.

You’ve also got a number of gay pride appearances coming up.

One, gay audiences are the best audiences.

It’s that simple. Gay audiences are willing to go out and willing to go into areas that a lot of people are scared to go in to, so that’s great.

And I’ve always been very grateful—they were the first ones that thought I was funny in the Village in the late Sixties. And you don’t forget that. And I enjoy them! I look around at my friends…I’m going to the country for Memorial Day weekend and I’m having a party for 14 people. Ten of them are gay men!

But that’s who my friends are.

—Joan RiveRs

Photo by Charles William Bush

| uu | Joan Rivers from p.25

straight world—that can’t keep an alliance.

It’s my gay friends that are switching partners so fast. It’s sad, nobody is willing to compromise.

Do you think the lack of gay marriage feeds into that lack of commitment?

No, I just think society doesn’t look at the long term thing anymore. Gay or straight.

It’s very easy to say, “I’m sick of you: out of here!”

Any suggestions on how to fix that?

Yes. Anybody that breaks up, send me a dollar. Gay or straight. (laughs) But really, it’s a non-commitment era and that makes me very sad.

What are some of the more creative ways you’ve seen people get rich?

Oh it’s wonderful! One man who made wee-wee pads for dogs. Millions—a man who invented a detector for mold—millllions! The man who did the Clapper, you know when you (claps her hands) and your lights go on and off? MILLIONS! The only ones we use are people who made it in fascinating and interesting ways. I’m not interested in stock brokers. Or other white collar criminals.

We’re talking before the finale of The Celebrity Apprentice, but I want to ask something from the first episode. What is it like to have Cyndi Lauper wait on you as a waitress?

Well, you want to use a lot of Purell. You put Purell on the hamburger. (laughs)

Are there certain job duties the new Celebrity Apprentice can expect?

There were none. (laughs) I was kind of disappointed. But it may have just been me!

I was asked to go nowhere. I was asked to represent them no place. I was asked not to mention too often that I was the winner.

But you did get to do some stuff with the Miss USA pageant that Donald Trump owns.

Yes, and that was different. Melissa and I had such a good time. We hadn’t worked on camera together for a while. She’s now producing The Fashion Police that I do on E!, but it was so great to have her on camera with me. She knows how to feed me lines and I know how to shut up. She’s a great commentator. I just sit back and throw in the jokes. It’s fabulous.

And you’re doing a reality show together?

We have this new thing called Mother Knows Best, which we’re starting to tape in July. I’m going to move back to California.

I’m looking for a place—I really am—but just half the year. I can’t leave New York ever, ever, ever. But I certainly am leaving part time. I can be nearer my family; it’s time. The show has me moving into Melissa’s house until I get my own place.

Her husband must be thrilled.

It’s a boyfriend, so it’s even worse.

It’s not like a competition show where he can vote you out.

No, but I think he would like to. There’ll be a big sigh when I leave.

Let me go back to the Miss USA pageant for a moment. What do you think of the winner and the pictures of her… …pole dancing? Yeah, let me just tell you. All those Miss USAs? There were more pole dancers there than there are in Poland.

Everybody pole dances now. My makeup girl, who’s a bow-wow, she pole dances. She has a pole in her apartment. It’s great exercise, and they’re having fun. It’s better than just—ugh—stepping up and stepping down.

Anything that makes exercise fun. I love it when the hour is over. But I never say, “Oh, wow, I can’t wait to exercise today.”

I have to tell you, besides being a journalist, I also teach group fitness. And I teach the step-up-and-down classes.

And I do it! I do all that crap. But I can’t tell you I look forward to it. I’m thrilled when it’s over. I’m so proud of myself when it’s over. But I don’t say, "Oh boy oh boy, let’s get started."

I saw you in a Snickers print ad. Can we expect to see you in a TV commercial like Betty White and then hosting “Saturday Night Live?”

Who the hell knows? I’m thrilled for Betty White. How great, at 88, to have everyone be thrilled to have you again? And she’s a lovely, nice woman—there’s very few of them in our business. I have a documentary coming out, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, and there’s a scene where I’m talking to my agent saying I’ll do anything. So, I’ll do anything.

Was there anything in the film that surprised you about yourself?

Do you think Kathy Griffin might be upset you’re getting in to her market?

No, no. Or vice versa. There’s enough for everyone. There are a lot of people out of the closet now, thank God. (laughs) Your birthday is right about the time you’ll be here in Orlando…

Let’s forget it. I hate birthdays, I’ve always hated birthdays. I hate Mother’s Day. It’s like, “Oh, let’s remember somebody once a year.

Oh gee Mom, we’re gonna take you out.”

Well, you should have taken that poor ol' bitch out to lunch two weeks ago. (laughs) If you’re over 12, I’m very anti-birthday. I just had a friend who turned 72—she was upset when people didn’t give her gifts! You’re 72!

And you’re very wealthy! What the fuck do you want? Maybe a certificate to a doctor’s office—or a choice of caskets.

Here’s a certificate for a free upgrade at the funeral home.

Exactly! Free upgrade! (laughs) Hey, thanks for talking with me again, and thanks, too, for not berating me for what I’m wearing or not wearing.

Oh I’m delighted. I’m just glad you’re out of your jammies. And give your mother my love. | l |

see+hear What: Joan Rivers Where: Hard Rock Live, Orlando When: 7 p.m., Friday, June 4 Tickets: $45-$55 at HardRock.com

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watermark | event planner

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

The Backstreet Boys

Fringe Festival

The Backstreet Boys are back on tour and will stop in Clearwater and Orlando.

The Orlando Fringe Festival continues through May 31 at the Shakespeare Theater.

Chicago The touring production of Chicago stops at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater June 6.

comedy [ORLANDO] Joan Rivers

Funny lady Joan Rivers brings her bold and raunchy humor to the Hard Rock Live on June 4 as part of the Gay Days celebration. Expect at least one—or 10—jokes about plastic surgery. Reserved seats are $45-$55 and available online at HardRockLive.com or by calling 407-351LIVE. Showtime is 8 p.m.

music [CLEARWATER] Basia and Bernie

Platinum recording artist and 1980s super star Basia Trzetrzelewska will perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall along with Bernie Williams on Sunday, May 30. Basia is best known for here 1987 debut album, Time and Tide and her single "New Day for You," which became hits in America and Europe. For more information or tickets, visit RuthEckerdHall.com.

[CLEARWATER+ORLANDO] Backstreet Boys

It’s okay to admit it. We know that you loved the Backstreet Boys and had a crush on at least one of the pop icons of the early 2000s. The group’s new "This Is Us" tour showcases their biggest and best hits and updates other popular songs by placing them in the here and now.

Nick, Howie, Brian and AJ will perform on Monday, May 31, at Ruth Eckerd Hall and on Tuesday, June 1, at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando. For more information and tickets, visit BackStreetBoys.com.

[ORLANDO] Dr. Dave’s Karaoke Therapy

Sing in the summer at Dr. Dave’s Karaoke Therapy, May 28 at the Peacock Room.

The show is hosted by MBA president Dr. David Baker-Hargrove and runs from 5 – 9 p.m. The May 28 event is Dave’s birthday party. He’ll also host karaoke on June 11, June 18, July 9 and July 23.

theater [CLEARWATER] Chicago

The iconic musical Chicago makes a stop in Clearwater at Ruth Eckerd Hall June 4-6 and is sure to have you humming some of the classic Broadway hits like “When You’re Good to Mama” or “All That Jazz.”

The tale of a woman who will sacrifice anything to become a star has more than just great music—it has those hot male dancers to boot. For more details or tickets, visit RuthEckerdHall.com.

[TAMPA] Mary Poppins

Everyone’s favorite British nanny flies into Tampa—literally—this month 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 through May 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.

Dead Man’s Cell Phone

The Jobsite Theater presents the new comedy Dead Man’s Cell Phone at the Shimberg Playhouse within the Straz Center for the Performing Arts through June 20. The show’s opening scene begins with the incessant ringing of a cell phone in a quiet café. When a nearby stranger has had enough, it’s learned that the man is dead and we try to make sens of mortality in the digital age.

For more information and tickets, visit JobsiteTheater.org.

[ORLANDO] 2010 Fringe Festival

This year’s Orlando Fringe Festival features too many stand-out shows to mention and diehard theatre fans might want to save their pennies and try to hit them all. Fringe takes over the Shakespeare Theatre through May 31.

A number of gay-focused shows are planned and full schedule is available at OrlandoFringe.org. Tickets are also on sale at the Shakespeare box office.

Wish Upon A Wedding Launch Party

The first and only charity that grants weddings to terminally ill couples— regardless of sexual orientation—is kicking off an Orlando chapter with a bash on May 27. Admission is free and the party runs from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Tavern on the Lake in Metrowest. DJ Rekka will provide the tunes and partygoers must be 21 and up.

Golden Crown Literary Conference

The 6th annual Golden Crown Literary Conference will be held June 3–6 at the Hilton Walt Disney World. The Golden Crown Literary Society is a literary and educational organization for the enjoyment, discussion and enhancement of lesbian literature. Weekend features include author panels, seminars and workshops for both readers and writers, plus pool parties and other social events.

The Goldie Book Awards will also be given out. Find out more at GoldenCrown.org.

[TAMPA] Phish Phest Goes West

The ladies of Phish Phest are taking an end-of-May road trip to celebrate the new club, PLAY, in Ybor City. Event officially starts 8 p.m. on May 29 and stretches into the next morning. A pecial $79 rate at the Hilton Garden Inn, a block away from PLAY, is available. For more details visit PlayYbor.com.

special events [ORLANDO] Gay Days Weekend

It’s a packed schedule for GD2010, the 20th anniversary of the first Gay Day, and Watermark has published the only complete events guide. It can be found in this issue of the paper which you are holding in your hand right this second.

Wait, someone stole yours? Better find another issue of Watermark, quick!

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 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010

watermark | tampa bay out+about

shot on site

Photography | Nick Cardello, Todd Kachinski Kottmeier, OxImages and Carrie West.

1- Robert Geller, center, of Outings & Adventures stands with other revelers at the Poolside Soiree fundraiser at the Slade of Channelside May 22.

2- The Silk Heat Band performs at the Moxy Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Concert at Sacred Grounds in St. Petersburg May 15.

3- Performers at the annual Pride & Passion event made a grand entrance on the stairway in the new Tampa Museum of Art May 21.

4- Friends gather on the street during the first-ever Harvey Milk Festival in Sarasota on Saturday, May 22.

5- Performers at Hamburger Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Ybor City mug for the camera during a recent show.

6- (L-R) Mark Nash, Chris Martinez and David Jennings were all volunteers at the Pride & Passion event at the Tampa Museum of Art on May 21.

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watermark | tampa bay out+about

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

overheard Mayor Iorio will be honored—again We love Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio—and the LGBT community isn’t afraid to say so.

A special Mayor’s Luncheon at Streetcar Charlie’s is slated for noon on June 1. Our buddies Mark Bias and Carrie West at MC Film Fest are selling tickets for $30 and want to show appreciation for the mayor’s LGBT-inclusive policies. Some tickets are still available and can be purchased at their store in the heart of Ybor City’s GaYbor District.

St. Pete Mayor welcomes guests to Pride Okay, we have an inside track on this since Watermark published the St. Pete Pride Program again this year, but held within the first few pages there is a very historic and symbolic letter—from the Mayor of St. Petersburg. For years St. Pete’s former mayor, Rick Baker, ignored the city’s largest Grand Central District celebration and would even opt out of photos when the city proclaimed June as Gay Pride Month. But this year, newly elected mayor Bill Foster welcomes revelers in the first few pages of

the guide on official letterhead. Foster, who has consistently said he would not attend the June 26 celebration, may be coming around and there are rumors that me may make an appearance, albeit an unofficial one. Notice, however, that in that letter he never uses the term “gay” or “LGBT.” He does mention diversity, though, which we’ll take as a huge step toward recognition by our elected leader.

Pride Tampa Bay joins Stand Up Florida Zeke Fread has fought the good fight for LGBT equality for years and is most commonly linked to Pride Tampa Bay. Fread contacted media outlets to let us know that he has not gone away. In fact, he has doubled his efforts and has officially joined forces with Stand Up Florida. “We just celebrated our first year and I couldn’t be more proud with what we have accomplished in such a short time.” The two groups organized a Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Harvey Milk on May 22 and is now focused on Exxon/ Mobil’s lack of domestic partner benefits, which the company stopped offering back in 1999.

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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watermark | orlando out+about

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

overheard Give Me a Break

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Jeff Jones got his wish last week. With a phone call, he learned that he’ll open for Joan Rivers at Hard Rock Live on June 5, and at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville on June 3. Rivers specifically requested a local gay comic as an opening act, and Jones sent an audition tape for her to review. “Either she loved me, or there just aren’t any gay comedians in Jacksonville,” laughed Jones. The up-and-comer is crafting some new material for what he says will “definitely be a gay show.” Asked if he’ll be nervous, Jones answered with a definitive “no.” “I’ll be coming off seven Fringe shows where I played Satan,” he said. “I’ll be ready.”

Chorus Commemorates There were a number of goose-bump moments at the Orlando Gay Chorus’ Twentieth Anniversary Concert May 22-23 at The Plaza Theatre. Joel Strack spoke movingly about participating in every single concert over 20 years, and recognized a chorus member who had just become an American citizen. And close to a dozen current chorus members were called to the front of the stage as founding members back in 1990. But

most touching was a slide tribute to departed members, many lost to HIV/ AIDS during OGC’s first decade. With more than 120 members, OGC remains a beacon for the local LGBT community.

Orlando Girls go GaYbor There’s a splashy new bar in Tampa, and it’s received enough attention to attract a big contingent from Orlando. Play is in the heart of Ybor City’s vibrant GaYbor District. Owned by Halcyon founders Deb Hunseder and Stephanie Callahan, the friendly bar has become a showcase for local musicians. On Saturday, May 29, Orlando’s Phish Phest Goes West, moving their monthly party to Play from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. It should be a wild night. Visit Phish Phest’s Facebook page for details.

Random Notes Longtime Orlando actor Paul Vogt had a small role on a recent episode of Glee, playing the director of a community theater production of Les Miz who also happens to own a dry cleaning business. * Early Fringe reviews are in, and the consensus is that Doug Ba’aser is notto-be missed as Joan Crawford in Jeff Jones’ Hell Freezes Over.

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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watermark | orlando out+about

shot on site Photosgraphy | Eryn Batsell, Mark Cady, Tom Dyer, Heather Graves, Jamie Hyman and Vandy Wood

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May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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1– Wine lovers packed The Plaza on Orange Ave. for the May 22 Downtown Pour event.

2- Mick Seidel, pictured with Lisa Brown, was presented with USBC Ring and GLBL Crystal Pin for Bowling a perfect 300 game in February 2010 during the fall season of GLBL. 3– (L-R) Anna McCambridge and Heather Henson show off the bunny ears they made at the IBEX Puppetry tent at Fringe.

4– The Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls have voted in a more than a dozen new members. See page 54 for a full list of names.

5– The Fireball Run Drivers won their division in the Central Florida Softball League. The season’s final day was May 23.

6– (L-R) Scottie Campbell, Megan Bixler and Brendan O’Connor—with a little help from furry friend Morton— planted paper bag mushrooms at the Watermark compound as part of “The Spore Project” by Orlando artist Doug Rhodehamel.

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010

Gay Day was once embrace

Photo by To

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom was once controversial, but is now embraced by park employees.

Photo by Tom Dyer.

41

THE FIRST FLASH MOB kirk hartlage

Gay Day was ahead of its time, and has been filled with surprises since

Digital Queers—a computer bulletin board I99I chat group—decides to meet at the Magic

Kingdom on the first Saturday of June, agreeing to wear red T-shirts to identify themselves to each other. Doug Swallow, one of the group’s organizers, helps get the word out, with a big assist from Orlando’s LGBT Center. Anti-gay groups somehow pick up on the event and blame Disney.

With bigger crowds anticipated, Disney I992 issues a memo instructing employees to

B

ack in 1991, Gay Day at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom may have been the very first flash mob. It didn’t involve a pillow fight or a choreographed dance routine, but it was a mass gathering orchestrated online through a computer bulletin board chat group—an early forbearer of today’s social media outlets.

The reason for both is also the same.

“This whole thing started as just a way to collectively go to the theme parks and have fun,” said Doug Swallow, the man most-often credited with originating the idea for Gay Day. “And in the end, that’s what keeps people coming back.”

Indeed they do. That first first-Saturday-of-June saw a couple hundred LGBTs attend a single day’s outing at the Magic Kingdom. Twenty years later, an estimated 150,000 attend at least one of the parties and events held in conjunction with what is now most commonly called Gay Days Weekend, held over six days in early June.

But most flash mobs happen then quickly disperse. Gay Day, on the other hand, has had a profound local impact that no one could have anticipated. Similar LGBT gatherings now take place at amusement parks around the world. Religious types have made it their mission to monitor everything for evidence of Disney-sanctioned depravity.

And for at least one Saturday in June year after year, red is the new black.

Here’s a look back at how Orlando’s Gay Days Weekend became the biggest annual multi-day gathering of gays and lesbians in the nation. Unlike a flash mob, this event isn’t dispersing any time soon.

disavow knowledge of the observance if asked. “Remember,” the memo reads, “every day is a gay day at Walt Disney World.” Swallow encourages attendees to gather near Cinderella’s Castle at 3 p.m.—a tradition that still carries through today. He later admits he had no idea the park’s daily character parade was scheduled at the same time.

The celebration continues with no major I993 interruptions, but attendance begins to swell into the thousands.

For the first time, Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom I994 is widely publicized outside Central Florida. Disney issues a statement that is summarized on signs at the entrance to the park: “The Gay and Lesbian gathering at the Magic Kingdom…is not an official Walt Disney World event. We are not sponsoring it or promoting it. This is a private group of individuals who have informed us of their plans to visit the Magic Kingdom and

enjoy the park. Walt Disney World is open to everyone. We do not discriminate on any basis.”

Good thing. Attendance has grown to the tens of thousands.

Calling Gay Day “a mission to pervert I995 America’s children,” the American Family

Association says the event deprives thousands of children of a normal, fun-filled day at the Magic Kingdom—because gays and lesbians take most of the best positions on Main Street for the 3 p.m. parade. “Many homosexuals were kissing, embracing, holding hands and playing weird games in the walkways,” says an AFA newsletter. But Disney removes the signs in front of the park’s entrance, saying they made too much of just another day of magic. A Disney spokesman tells the media, “People come to the park, they buy tickets, they go in. If the AFA wants to designate a day when all of their members visit Disney World, that’d be fabulous too.”

Gay Day spreads across Disney property. All I996 three theme parks see a surge of red-shirted

guests, and it becomes apparent that thousands from out of town are making a multi-day vacation of the event. One of the first after-hours parties grows spontaneously out of Thursday hospitality industry night at Mannequins on Pleasure Island.

This proves to be a watershed year. Travel I997 agents now estimate that 60,000 LGBT Continued on page 50 | uu |

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010

watermark | orlando's big gay weekend

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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a minute with...

DJ Tony Moran DJ/ProDucer

kirk hartlage

T

ony Moran gives new definition to the concept of multi-hyphenate. The DJ/Producer/ Remixer/Singer/Songwriter has dominated music charts and dance floors around the world. Ask any record spinner: a song remixed by Moran is practically guaranteed anthem status. Chances are, if you’ve stepped foot in a gay nightclub in the past 20 years, you’ve at least tapped your toes—if not danced your ass off—to at least one song worked on by Moran.

The list of singers Moran has worked with reads like a “Who’s Who” of pop culture divas: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Cher.

Though he’s been at the forefront of gay club remixes and a fixture on the circuit scene for well over a decade, Moran’s career goes back to 1981.

While gearing up to spin the inaugural Stratosphere party during Gay Days Weekend at Universal Studios, Moran shared his reflections on Gay Days past, and well as his take on the so-called downward turn of the circuit scene.

What is one of your favorite Gay Days Weekend memories?

My most significant immediate everlasting memories as a patron are that of Manny Lehman’s phenomenal performance at that first Stars party that Mark Baker created. By far it’s the best party I’ve ever experienced.

As a performer, my first MGM party and the magnitude of energy that Johnny Chisholm brought to life was again, a gay history note and I had Mickey Mouse to witness it with me!

Whether it’s the economy, promoters falling by the wayside, scrutiny into some events charitable aspects, circuit parties don’t seem to have the same impact or importance that they once had. What can promoters do to keep the party going?

Since I participate on some level in all of them, both in America and abroad, I beg to highly differ. Yes it is true that controversy has plagued many a significant party, but have you gone to White Party Miami last year or Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party this year? Or how about some of these Atlantis cruises? They’ve all had more people than ever. Don’t let a few localized problems spoil the whole bunch. That train of thinking sets the catalyst for pessimism that is contagious and hurtful to those trying to keep it going What do you think it is about Gay Days Weekend to make it seemingly survive all

the negative trends and continue to grow as a gay destination event?

Gay Days is a monster that created itself. Meaning, it has became bigger than what could ever have been expected. To keep that bar at the same level is a huge undertaking and maybe it’s time to invest the energy that people use to fight with one another and re-direct it to work with one another. That includes not only the producers and the artists, but the patrons.

The wonderful thing about history is that history has way more to offer than to just repeat itself. Don’t lower your expectations of what you deserve, but try to encourage those involved to collaborate.

Has the economy and possible fewer events affected you?

I am in this for 25 years now. I love to work and work has always found me because my goal is to have the opportunity to create; the price tag attached is not always primary.

What are your thoughts on the influence of music in media today, particularly with shows like American Idol…Do you vote…and for whom if you do?

I vote for Kara to remain as a judge.

What up-and-coming artists do you think “have it” to make it to the next level?

What are some artists that you’ve not yet worked with, but would like to?

I love Kimberly Locke. I recently worked

Photo by Luis Carle

with her and just love her. Lady Gaga is all that. I’m dying to work with Usher.

gay artist, but simply as an artist. But if I’m asked, yes, I am gay and proud.

Many artists that you’ve remixed in the past have been somewhat dormant as of late—Gloria Estefan, Cher, Duran Duran.

How do you take an iconic act and make them “fresh” again?

I would produce them from scratch rather than attempt to make them sound fresh via a remix.

How does being an openly gay man affect your work? (As opposed to, say, another DJ who might be a straight man, or a lesbian?)

Behind the booth or in the studio I am first and foremost an artist. I don’t feel that I am viewed by my contemporaries as a

Everyone likes to remember their “best” moments, but what’s been one of your most embarrassing moments spinning?

I love to interact with the audience and I love to dance. One time I was dancing so hard and did a twirl and fell right off the stage. Embarrassing, yes, but I got up, bruises and all, and was supported by the crowd to keep the party going.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

That I am grateful and thankful for every gift given and that I wear every emotion for all to see. And that I am afraid of many things except the willingness to try. | l |

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

45

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010

watermark | orlando's big gay weekend

gay every day The spOTlighT is On OrlandO This week, buT The lOcal lgbT cOmmuniTy shines year rOund

rhetta peoples

O

rlando | During the first week of June, visitors and locals alike are focused on theme parks, pool parties, concerts and comedy shows—and with good reason. Gay Days Weekend is celebrating 20 years, the last 10 or so as the largest annual multi-day LGBT gathering in the nation.

But with the spotlight firmly fixed on our dazzling superstar of an event, its easy to forget that Orlando is home to a huge, diverse and vibrant LGBT community all year long. Numerous organizations, businesses and individuals contribute to a calendar filled with worthwhile endeavors and activities.

Gary Lambert owns the Gary Lambert Salon and Spa in Winter Park, and he is also the chairman of “Be Real,” an organization that supports LGBT youth.

Lambert is happy that Gay Days has grown in popularity, but he points out that it is in no small part a reflection of the community as a whole.

In conjunction with Gay Days, Inc., Lambert is producing the Gay Days Kickoff Party at Saks at the Florida Mall. Money raised at the Tuesday, June 1 event will benefit Be Real.

“These events are important because we have to have enough money so that we can be there for kids and give to other supportive organizations,” Lambert says about the event. “Kids hide and are not authentic because they are being told to be something they are not. Be Real is about letting LGBT kids know they are not broken. They are empowering and amazing.”

Through his profession, Lambert is used to boosting the confidence of his clients.

Be Real has a similar mission, providing resources for LGBT youth and educating the public about ways to support them both in and outside the school system. The group has donated $5,000 to the Orlando Youth Alliance—another important area resource—for their building fund, with

plans to raise more. Both groups feel that it is important that there be a safe “drop-in” site for LGBT youth in crisis.

Other local groups taking advantage of Gay Days Weekend to further worthwhile projects include: Log Cabin Republicans, helping build a house for Habitat for Humanity; Gay Days, Inc., hosting free HIV/AIDS testing at their host hotel; Funky Monkey Wine Co., sponsoring tastings to benefit local AIDS support organization the Hope & Help Center; Girls In Wonderland, throwing a reception for the National Center for Lesbian Rights; and Watermark’s Stratosphere Party, benefitting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Many promoters make substantial charitable contributions throughout the year, including Gay Days, Inc., Girls in Wonderland, Mark Baker Events, The Parliament House and Watermark.

But that’s by no means where generosity ends, or even begins, in LGBT Central Florida. The Headdress Ball, a black-tie event benefitting Hope & Help, is now in its 21st year. This outrageous event attracts as many straights as gays, and often marks the beginning of Orlando’s glittering social season. Drag performers and scantily-clad muscle guys entertain the local hoi polloi, all awaiting the presentation of over-thetop headdress creations. The annual event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars so that Hope & Help can provide case management, peer counseling, and food and housing assistance for those with HIV/ AIDS. “The Headdress Ball is a signature event,” says Jai Saint, development coordinator at Urban Models Inc. “It’s such an uplifting event, raising so much money—and awareness—for the HIV community. No other local event stands out more than Headdress.”

Urban Models provides models of all ethnicities, sexualities, shapes and sizes for area businesses and events. A number target continued on page 48 | uu |

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

47

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48

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

watermark | orlando's big gay weekend

Come Out With Pride attracts more than 60,000 to downtown Orlando each October. | Photo by Angie Folks

| uu | Insider's Guide from p.46

Headdress Ball, a benefit for the Hope & Help Center, is one of LGBT Orlando’s signature events. | Photo by Jake Stevens

children, so the LGBT-friendly company is organizing a ‘Fashionable Denim Drive’ for deserving kids this fall.

“We’re collecting denim from all of our models,” Saint says. The goal is to give kids a chance to feel good about their appearance and have an opportunity to wear clothes they may otherwise not be able to afford.

Bear Bust is another much-anticipated annual event in gay Orlando. The multi-day October gathering held at local hotels and bars is one of the nation’s oldest and largest bear gatherings, attracting thousands of big-and-hairy boys to Central Florida each year. Produced by the 21-year-old Bears of Central Florida, the multi-day event benefits numerous local charities and nonprofits selected by BOCF each year.

Also in the fall, Joy Metropolitan Community Church sponsors a food bank that provides thousands of families with hearty Thanksgiving meals. It’s just one example of the outreach provided by the local LGBT church, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year.

Also in operation for more than 30 years, the GLBCC Center is a drop-in facility in the heart of the area’s tres gay ViMi District north of downtown. The Center bills itself as “a source for information, education, advocacy and support,” but it is much more.

Officers often serve as spokespersons for the community, and hosts dozens of groups each week for men, women, youth, elderly, transgendered, those in recovery, and many more. The Center serves more than 15,000 people each year, and more than 8,000 per month online.

But affinity groups exist throughout the city, reflecting the diversity of the local LBGT community. There are organizations for gay attorneys, gay law enforcement officers, gay Asians, gays in polyamorous (more than two) relationships, gay parents and parents with gay children, just to name a few. There are thriving alliances of gay Democrats and Republicans.

Orlando also boasts an openly lesbian city commissioner, Patty Sheehan, who easily won re-election to a second term.

The Orlando Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign has been recognized as one of the fastest growing and most outstanding chapters in the nation. There are student groups at the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, as well as Gay-Straight Alliances at several local high schools.

watermark | orlando's big gay weekend With year-round temperate weather, it should be no surprise that LGBT sports and recreation thrive in the Orlando area.

The Central Florida Softball League plays each Sunday and boasts more than 20 teams and more than 300 members. CFSL also sponsors the Orlando Meltdown Softball Tournament, which attracts more than 60 teams to sunny Florida each January.

Two bowling leaguesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tuesday and Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;have more than 200 members combined, and the annual Sunshine Invitational Tournament is a popular stop on the IGBO circuit. The Orlando Front Runners and Walkers meet at scenic Lake Eola each week.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also culture mixed in with all that outdoor activity. The huge and highly respected Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is currently running and includes dozens of gay-themed productions each year. Broadway Across America regularly brings in dazzling touring shows, most recently Spring Awakening, with gay appeal. And ambitious local theatre companies target the local LGBT community with their productions and promotions.

The Orlando Gay Chorus just held their successful 20th anniversary series of concerts. With more than 120 members, it is one of the largest LGBT choruses in the nation. OGC has been instrumental in outreach to the community at large, and

has garnered ďŹ nancial support from the Walt Disney Company and United Arts, the local arts umbrella organization.

Hundreds of gay-owned businesses also thrive in Orlando. Dr. David Baker-Hargrove is president of the 200plus member Metropolitan Business Association, an LGBT chamber of commerce of sorts. He is also the president of Come Out with Pride, Orlandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge multi-day annual Pride celebration held in conjunction with National Coming Out Day in early October. The Sunday Pride Parade and Festival attract more than 60,000 to a beautiful location around Lake Eola. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Marshal is Greg Louganis, and entertainment will be provided by Mary Ellen Clar, Bryan Kent and Martha Wash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Come Out With Pride is a cultural event,â&#x20AC;? Baker-Hargrove says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Part of it is a history exhibit that chronicles how the LBGT community has evolved in Central Florida over the last 50 years.â&#x20AC;?

One signiďŹ cant component of that evolution is Gay Days, a fact to be enjoyed and celebrated. But Orlandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LGBT community can look in every direction to ďŹ nd sources of Pride. | l |

START

HERE.

For a complete list of Central Florida LGBT organizations, visit:

WatermarkOnline.com/Resources/Organizations

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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watermark | orlando's big gay weekend

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

| uu | 20 Years of Gay Day from p.41

visitors converge on the Orlando area for the event. Universal Studios Florida joins forces with Sea World of Florida and Church Street Station to create a joint package designed to steer some Gay Day business their way.

Cinderella’s castle is decorated like a giant pink cake—not for us, as many would like to believe, but for Walt Disney World’s 25th anniversary. The first nighttime parties at Typhoon Lagoon and Disney-MGM Studios are a success. Infuriated by all the hoopla, the Southern Baptists decide to boycott Disney.

Another big year. Local entrepreneurs Tommy I998 Manley and Chris Alexander-Manley form Gay Days Inc., a successful travel business that remains a lynchpin of the weekend.

Big venues begin to book talent around the weekend, including a dance concert with RuPaul at House of Blues. A plane circles over the Magic Kingdom towing a banner saying, “Jesus Can Save You From Your Lifestyle.”

But Operation Rescue—a militant anti-gay group threatening to disrupt Gay Day—goes unnoticed. One member tells a local reporter that park infiltrators were under strict orders not to be arrested. “We don’t have bail money.”

Disney CEO Michael Eisner gets big press for Gay Day on 60 Minutes, saying, “[Gays and lesbians] are welcome in our doors. I think it would be a travesty in this country to exclude anybody.” Televangelist Pat Robertson warns Orlando that it should beware of natural disasters because of Gay Day, and because rainbow Pride flags have been allowed downtown.

The Magic Kingdom reaches capacity and closes I999 for a brief time, while the skies above are

Huge nighttime theme-park parties have become a staple of Gay Days Weekend.

Photo by Jake Stevens.

That’s as reprehensible as if Disney had hosted Prostitute Day or Pedophilia Days at the Magic Kingdom.” Orlando Sentinel reporter Mike Thomas, sent to Disney to cover the event, corrects him. “First of all, Disney rakes in millions of dollars from Gay Days, not hundreds of thousands. But for the most part, folks, we’re talking a very tame thing. There were a lot of Gay Days T-shirts, the occasional couple holding hands, some hugging and that’s about it.” The worst press? Some I-4 motorists complain that gay pornography is being played on a rental bus driving to a nighttime Gay Days Weekend party.

filled with flying banners reading “Freedom from Homosexuality—Jesus Christ,” and “RainbowVoice.com.” Beach Ball at Typhoon Lagoon sells out in its third year, and Mark Baker hosts his first Colosseum Party at Hard Rock Live. Religious groups are rebuffed by local television stations when they try to buy air time to promote their ex-gay ministries. A month later, a Christian group releases video of two male Disney entertainers dancing sexually onstage at Mannequins, saying it could be damaging to children, failing to note that the club excludes minors.

2002

2000

2003

Pleasure Island hosts Disco Weekend with appearances by Shannon and Taylor Dayne.

The Christian Action Network brings video cameras, “looking for bad behavior among homosexuals in areas where children are present.”

200I

American Family Association president Donald Wildmon puts his spin on Gay Day: “Disney rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars through this celebration of homosexuality.

Mark Baker’s Stars Party on Sunday at Islands of Adventure swells to 7,000 guests. Universal opens several additional rides to accommodate the overflow. Jeffrey Carlson and Steven Hoff exchanges vow in the first ever holy union ceremony at the GayDayS.com host hotel.

Under new ownership, the Parliament House brings RuPaul in for a Gay Days concert and attracts 6,000 revelers to their property, establishing the iconic resort as an additional locus of activity for the weekend.

After 9-11, Walt Disney World’s airspace is classified as a no-fly zone, ending the tradition of planes carrying religious banners over the park. Organizers and tourism officials now estimate that more than 100,000 people participate in at least some of the week’s events, with a local economic impact of more than $100 million to the region.

Mannequins DJ Dave Cannalte says the club set 2004 a new attendance record before the rotating

Women’s events, like this Girls in Wonderland party at Bongo’s, are among the most popular of the weekend. | Photo by Tom Dyer.

dance floor breaks on Thursday night. Alcoholics Anonymous has their first-ever Roundup at a large-scale LGBT event. Gay Days, Inc. buys an I-4 billboard, welcoming out-of-towners to the event. And they move their kick-off party to City Hall, attracting Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, and other elected officials. Meanwhile, The Orlando Sentinel acknowledges Gay Days as one of Central Florida’s largest annual events, exceeding attendance at even the biggest trade shows and conventions.

With plans to build new excitement promoters 2005 discuss moving Gay Day to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, but back away at the last minute, creating confusion. Hurricane damage forces Gay Days, Inc. to move their host hotel the Sheraton World Center (now the Doubletree Resort). But even more momentous is the arrival of Hurricane Johnny – as in Chisholm. In the 100 days preceding the weekend Chisholm secures the rights to the popular Reunion host hotel and a full menu of nighttime theme parkbased events, dubbing it all “One Might Weekend.”

With fewer cooks in the kitchen, Gay Days 2006 Weekend once again attracts big numbers— and little drama.

Gay Days Weekend is now one of the top five 2007 annual tourism sales generating events in Orlando. Nonetheless, the Orlando/ Orange County Visitors and Convention Bureau refuses to recognize and promote

the event, causing Gay Days Inc. to drop its membership. Alison Burgos’ Girls In Wonderland becomes a major player with parties at Bongos and the House of Blues, and full schedule of LGBT family-friendly events. And the bears invade Wet ‘n Wild.

Big crowds continue, but Chisholm’s attempt 2008 to create a “One Mighty Weekend of

Sports” fails in its first year, as do events targeting African-Americans and the leather community. Soon after the weekend, Disney announces that it will close Pleasure Island’s nightclubs, marking an end to the official Thursday Gay Days Weekend kick-off party at Mannequins.

Due to unpaid bills, Chisholm is forced to 2009 relocate his biggest parties just weeks in advance, and attendance plummets. But two Fort Lauderdale-based entrepreneurs are able to commandeer Typhoon Lagoon at the last minute, redubbing the popular Friday night party “Let’s Go Play.”

Mark Baker returns, rebranding his ambitious 20I0 events “Wonderland Orlando” and vowing to return nighttime events to their former glory. He also fills his first host hotel. Gay Days Inc. moves a full lineup of events, including their popular business expo, pool parties and comedy shows, to the much larger Doubletree Resort—and promptly sell out all their rooms. Meanwhile, Chisholm announces, and then unannounces, his return. | l |

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

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for him at Tampa Metropolitan Community Church on Friday, May 21.

E.M. & Voss Solutions Event & Wedding Services owners Sascha Voss and Eric Muenks celebrate 12 years together during Gay Days Weekend.

local birthdays

Prime Timers of Central Florida has elected board members David Hall and Jim Moore to the offices of treasurer and vicepresident, respectively. They also re-elected Jerry Danese to a one-year term as board president.

Realtor David Dorman has been awarded the 7th Centurion Producer Award, 3rd Presidents Award & his 3rd Pinnacle Producer Award through Century 21.

See Fred for a 2010 FORD FLEX. THE NEW STANDARD IN NONCONFORMANCE.

242

The Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls have voted in a new batch of Psycho Sisters: Amber Luu, Christine Medina, Cyndee Ettinger, Danniele Johnson, Deanna Bayo, Jamie Shaffer, Kathryn Walthall, Katie Dunn, Natasha Morales, Nicole Scallatino, Sabrina Napolitano, Sade Lee, Sharismar Rodriguez, Shelly Morales, Shiala Morales, Stefani McGrath, Tasha Carlson, Vanessa Cattau, and Whitney Hayes.

passings Tampa Bay lost a pioneer and friend in its leather community when Bill “Trooper” Boyd passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, May 17. Boyd, 53, was a fixture at many leather events throughout the bay area and a member of the SMART Ride charity team before a battle with cancer made it difficult for him to compete.

The motorcycle enthusiast lived in St. Petersburg. A memorial service was held

Sarasota country line dancer David Russell (May 27); Orlando student and master fencer Alex Wall (May 28); St. Pete theater supporter Jon Hughes and Dunedin stylist Corey Judge (May 29); World traveler, pilot and Orlando-based photographer Jim Barrett (May 30); St. Petersburg Target specialist and social butterfly Joe White, (May 31); Ranger’s Pet Outpost founder Rick Merrifield, American Stage marketing wizard and tri-athlete Andy Orrell, and City of Gulfport employee and furniture specialist Jon K. Ziegler (June 1); physical therapist Rob Ryan (June 2); Equality Florida public policy director Mallory Wells, Ronda Storms nemesis and Brandon Pride founder Mark Ferguson and OMG Magazine marketing director Timothy Evans (June 3); Orange County Sheriff’s Department law enforcer Tom Woodard, German-born bear and current Riverview resident Robert Paquette, and USF professor Bo Clements (June 4); handsome Tampa Coldwell Banker realtor Steve Wessels (June 5); hottie Revolution drinkmeister and aspiring filmmaker Nick Smith, New Port Richey songbird Theresa Ward, Tampa DJ Tommy Scott and Hamburger Mary’s Orlando co-owner Michael Carpenter (June 7); St. Pete studmuffin and medical expert Alvin Conchas and Lakeland-based business owner Ron Hankey (June 8); KangaGirl Productions diva and longtime Orlando scenester Margaret Nolan and Tampa Francis House Executive Director Joy Winheim (June 9).

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

watermark | advice

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HIV status is a health issue, not friendship issue ADVICE FROM

The Truth

Truth@WatermarkOnline.com

L

community, he is asking for you to keep more than his status secret. He’s asking you to be complicit in his offense. Being a good friend doesn’t mean sitting by mutely as he infects people with a very serious disease. He may not care about the people he’s sleeping with, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. It’s all kinds of foul. Here comes the Truth, baby: your question isn’t about friendship or betraying a confidence, it’s about public health. Tell him that if he doesn’t tell the people he’s sleeping with what his status is, that you will take it upon yourself to do it.

Dear Truth, I am a 38-year-old single gay man living in St. Pete, and I really like porn. I spend at least three hours every day looking for and watching gay (and sometimes straight) porn, more if I’m not working.

I’m a handsome guy with a good job, so it’s not like I can’t get a date. But when I do meet a guy, I usually watch videos while we’re having sex. For me, it heightens the experience and gets me turned on; without it, sex just isn’t that interesting.

Unfortunately, most guys aren’t into porn like I am, so it’s been really hard for me to find a boyfriend. My friends don’t understand why I’m still single, but I’m embarrassed to talk about it because they all treat porn like it’s something dirty. I’m tired of being single but I know that my fascination with porn is here to stay. What should I do?

—Porn Junkie

Dear Truth, ast year, my best friend, Mark, told me he tested positive for HIV. Mark didn’t sleep around much and he Dear PJ, said he always played safe, so he was really Your fascination with porn is only here to surprised and upset when he got his results. stay if you want it to be. I’ve said it before: a He also asked me not to tell anyone because little porn here and there never hurt anyone, he didn’t want people to treat him like he unless hurting someone is, in fact, the subject was “sick,” so I have kept this information matter of the movie. But what you have is a private. Recently, Mark has been hooking dependence, and like up a lot, and I’ve any dependence, it been told that he is needs to be addressed, having unprotected particularly if it’s sex. I’m sure Mark By disclosing his getting in the way isn’t telling these status to you, and of healthy adult guys that he’s relationships. You positive. I’m really then going on a raw probably think it’s a worried about him tear through your permanent presence in and the guys he’s your life because you sleeping with, but I community, he is use it like a security don’t want to betray asking for you to keep blanket. It allows you his confidence. Any to establish a buffer advice? more than his status between yourself and —Warn or Wait secret. other people, thereby staving off intimacy Dear WOW, and insulating Emergency! you from pain and Mark needs to be set heartbreak. Over time you’ve connected straight immediately. I would go to him and all your sexual feelings to porn. But those ask him directly if he’s practicing safe sex connections can be rewired, if you really and notifying his partners of his status. That’s want them to be. To that end, my advice to the only acceptable path for him to take. Not you will be a little unsatisfying, pun intended. only is it the right thing to do, but in many You need more professional advice. Contact jurisdictions, having unprotected sex with a psychotherapist who can help you turn off people when you know you’re HIV positive is the porn and connect with the flesh and blood also illegal. Frankly, he has put you in a very person (people) in front of you. | l | difficult position. By disclosing his status to you, and then going on a raw tear through your

53

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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 | sports

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

Aussie footballer under fire for anti-gay remarks staff report Sydney, Australia | Australian Football League player Jason Akermanis has come under fire by coaches, teammates and league officials for statements he wrote in the Herald Sun saying gay athletes should stay in the closet.

In the column, Akermanis said that the AFL is not ready for openly gay players and that it is unnecessary for a player to come out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Imagine the publicity associated with a current player admitting heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gay,â&#x20AC;?

Akermanis said in the paper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be international news and could break the fabric of the club.â&#x20AC;?

He also said that locker room and homoerotic activities are normal inside the club but that coming out publicly shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even be considered. Now his own club, the Western Bulldogs, has distanced itself from the player. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The club does not agree with the views expressed by Jason Akermanis in relation to the potentially negative impact an openly gay footballer would have on a club,â&#x20AC;? the club said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The club also fully supports the AFL, who

have undoubtedly shown the way in terms of confronting and dealing with a range of difficult social and cultural issues. Jason Akermanisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; article is based on his opinion and by no means does he speak for the club or AFL players as a whole.â&#x20AC;?

The club concludes the statement by saying it welcomes any player, regardless of race, religion or sexual preference.

Even the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coach, Rodney Eade, felt it was necessary to contradict his player publicly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come a long way and I think the AFL leads the way in that aspect [of ending homophobia in sports,]â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certainly, at the Bulldogs, we think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a terrific culture and environment. We select players on what they can do on and off the field as individuals; for their football talent, and certainly the character they bring to the club.â&#x20AC;?

Eade continued by extending a welcome to gay players who may be considering joining the league and his team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A central mission of the Western Bulldogs is the respect diversity within our community,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Bulldogs have a strong record in seeking to

Suncoast Softball League releases election results staff report

Jason Akermanis, of the Australian Football League, has come under fire for telling gay players that they should remain in the closet.

eliminate discrimination on the grounds of gender, race and religion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now time to bring sexual orientation under that protective umbrella."

Several other coaches expressed disappointment in Akermanisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; opinions and encouraged gay players to come out of the closet and be proud of who they are. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To hear something like this in 2010, that is just bizarre,â&#x20AC;? Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos said of Akermanisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; column. | l |

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Taco Tuesday $1 Taco $2 Coronas/Corona Lights $3 Sangria $4 Quesadilla $5 nachos american Idol 8-10pm

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55

GETTING THERE IS

Tampa | Several new officers are now in place at the Suncoast Softball League after a league-wide vote in early May. New league officers are Allen Reynolds, Commissioner, Bob Stratton as Assistant B Commissioner, Kyle Streng as Assistant C Commissioner, Teresa Noe as Assistant D Commissioner, Joey Capanna as Parliamentarian and Scott Lenker as Treasurer.

Results for the secretary race were not available because a runoff election is required due to the number of write in votes. League members will vote on June 6 and the race is between Greg Duffy and Jason Bagwell.

In related news, the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Miss Suncoast Softball League drag show and benefit raised nearly $900 for local charities. Several players participated at the annual event held at Detour in St. Petersburg. Players dressed in drag and danced for tipsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all of which were donated to charity.

For more information on the league and its new officers, visit SuncoastSoftball.org. | l |

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watermark | gossip

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

billymasters

56

“I think there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage as traditionally between a man and a woman. But I also know that when couples are committed to each other and love each other that they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has.”

—Laura Bush tells Larry King her views on gay marriage and how she feels it’s an inevitability. See how smart you become when you read?

Old treasures, new boy toys Billy Masters Billy@BillyMasters.com

F

or somebody who is always on death’s doorstep, Elizabeth Taylor sure does get around! Last week, the Dame was a guest of Prince Charles at a Buckingham Palace gala to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The Prince announced that the college’s new theatre would be named in honor of Richard Burton, and the Dame donated a bust of Burton which will be displayed in the new theatre’s honor.

One of our favorite people, Leslie Jordan, finally got to open his show My Journey Down The Pink Carpet off-Broadway, and it was a smash hit. The show has all the ingredients for a healthy run—a charismatic leading man, a terrific script, good producers (Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner), a good theatre (Midtown Theater), and reasonably priced tickets. What more could you ask for? He’ll even be entertaining the masses throughout Pride Month of June. The show is scheduled to close on July 3, but have no fear. A little birdie tells me he’ll turn up this summer at Provincetown’s Crown and Anchor with his new show, From Whence I Came.

On May 4, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

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debuted as a singing and dancing couple.

Yes, the happily married couple took to the stage at “A Fine Romance,” a benefit for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, with Katie warbling (I think that’s the correct term) “Whatever Lola Wants” to a hapless Tommy, playing the non-singing and, let’s be real, non-dancing baseball player “Joe Hardy.” Of course, this is a classic seduction scene, and the pair sparked with sexual chemistry not seen since, well, since Eyes Wide Shut.

The Miami New Times broke a story that George Rekers, a 61-year-old Baptist minister, anti-gay activist and psychologist, had a bit of company on his recent trip to Europe—a rentboy (read: gay hooker). When confronted with the allegations, Rekers laughed them off saying, “I had surgery and I can’t lift luggage—that’s why I hired him.” Yeah, and I had Jeff Stryker over to help me with some Sudoku! Alas, a photo surfaced of Rekers and his “boy” at Miami Airport, with said boy walking next to Rekers, who was pushing a cart heavily laden with luggage!

Rekers claimed that halfway through the trip he discovered that his companion was a rentboy (who the New Times called “Lucien”) and that they had no intimate contact. Then “Lucien” went public and revealed that Rekers found him on RentBoy.com (where he’s called “Geo”). Rekers confirm this detail: “Like Jesus Christ, I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them.” How pious of him.

“Geo” claims he was paid $75 a day, that he acted as translator when they were in Spain, and that their only physical contact was “body rubs, once a day, in the nude”. This Rekers guy is a regular Saint! I’m sure Pope Benedict gets the same “service”.

Once the story broke, “Geo” was identified as Jo-vanni Roman— a name I daresay you won’t find on any birth certificate.

This leads perfectly into a quick “Ask Billy” question from Jim in Massachusetts.

Any information on Stephen Colbert’s ’s hot shirtless cameraman on May 5th?”

Rekers was named “Alpha Dog of the Week” on The Colbert Report. The Rentboy site was shown, causing Colbert to quip, “Folks,

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes may want to reconsider their dancing skills and stick to strictly acting roles.

this is an honest mistake. Rentboy.com looks like a website where you hire bellhops. The men are all shirtless so you can see how big their bag-carrying muscles are. And there are even videos where these Rentboys show how good they are at grabbing and yanking things by the handle. In fact, Rentboy.com is where I got a lot of my crew. Like my new cameraman, Julian.”

Julian is actually sexy fitness model/actor/ dancer Luke Guldan. Since I know you want more details (as well as a plethora of shirtless pics, videos, and other assorted goodies which I’ll post on BillyMasters.com), Luke is 23 years old, 5’9, and 185 pounds.

As to his sexuality, when he was asked if he was married or single, he wrote: “Hmmmm, how do you answer that? Let’s just say I’m not married.” Under “Children”, he wrote “N/A”. Read between the lines, people.

When Rentboy is offering a clergy discount, it’s definitely time to end yet another column.

For other educational stories, check outBillyMasters. com, you’re one-stop shopping for all sins of the flesh. For your secular questions, drop a note to me at Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before I get struck by lightning (or a certain midget’s attorneys). Until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible. | l | The Rekers scandal inspired Stephen Colbert to name fitness model Luke Guldan as his Alpha Dog of the Week.”

May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

57

Sea Ray

Parker Boats of Orlando Sales/Service

Boston Whaler

Parker Boats of Daytona Sales/Service/Brokerage

Grady White

Parker

GAY DAYS FUN! ®

What

Metropolitan Business Assoc. June Networking/Social

Who

MBA Members FREE, Guests $10

Where

Orlando Vista Hotel, 12490 SR 535

To eat well is to live well.

BELLINI BRUNCH Saturday-Sunday 11am-3pm

just past the WDW entrance to Hotel Plaza Blvd.

When Why

Wednesday, June 2 6:30 - 9

REGULAR HOURS Sun.-Thurs. 11am-10pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-11pm

PM

Because We Like You! Our hosts: Orlando Vista Hotel will provide lite bites & a cash bar

407-351-8909 • The Mall at Millenia www.BrioItalian.com Proud Supporters

WIN! Hot New Raffle with multiple prizes & winners!

LEARN! Plug 3: members get 60 seconds to do a commercial for their business!

PROMOTE! Bring your brochures, business cards, etc. for the Media Table!

MBAOrlando.org

ORLANDO’S LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GAY DAYS ® is the registered trademark of Gay Days, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

58

watermark | gallery w

| May 27 - June 10, 2010

Worried about which events to attend? Don’t sweat it!

Watermark has created the

start here

GAY DAYS WEEKEND PARTY FLOW CHART

ARE YOU GAY?

YES

I mean, really wet.

YES

No

WOULD YOU RATHER WORK OR PLAY?

Don’t miss the daytime host hotel pool parties!

There are plenty to choose from, with Wonderland Orlando/ Mark Baker Events (boys), GayDayS®. com (boys and girls) and GirlsInWonderland (guess) all hosting splashy daytime events.

work

Not great play

Let’s Go Play at Typhoon Lagoon and Tidal Wave at Wet ‘n Wild are both at night, and both lots of fun.

hoT!

Check out Funky Monkey Wine Company tastings at their I-Drive location, at the GayDayS® host hotel, and at several other weekend events.

Alternate: Attend the Gay Days Kickoff Party at Saks. It’s for a great cause, you can schmooze with local politicos… and you can shop!

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GETTING WET?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF IN A SWIMSUIT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT?

to help you decide what you can’t miss and what to skip.

Go to the Gay Days Expo and see if any of the smorgasbord of events tickles your fancy.

No

Volunteer with the Log Cabin Republicans and build a house for Habitat for Humanity.

BRAINS OR BOOTY?

brains

booty

Bring your smarts to the Girls at GayDayS® Literary Festival.

“Mmm, yummy wine.”

WHICH PHRASE GRABS YOU?

“I want to network and make like-minded friends.”

GayDayS®.com’s slate of events has stuff for men, women, young, old, bears, families, parties and the recovering.

“Nighttime theme park spectacle!”

May we recommend Stratosphere Party at Universal Studios, hosted by Watermark and designed by Mark Baker Events? Mark’s other Wonderland Orlando events are also guaranteed to dazzle. And Girls in Wonderland has the ladies covered at Bongos and House of Blues

“Love to party, hate driving to the attractions.”

The Parliament House is expecting huge crowds throughout the weekend, and Pulse, Revolution, Hamburger Mary’s, Rain and other local hangouts have big events.

“I want to laugh till I pee.”

Joan Rivers at Hard Rock Live is the hot ticket, but Alec Mapa, Michele Balan and others are headlining the three-day GayDayS® Comedy Festival.

shelbie press PRINTING & GRAPHICS

59

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May 27 - June 10, 2010 |

COMEOUTWITHPRIDE.ORG // FACEBOOK: ORLANDO PRIDE watermarkadfl3.indd 1

5/4/2010 8:05:49 PM

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| May 27 - June 10, 2010