Watermark Issue 18.15: Spirituality by Watermark Publishing Group

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LADY GAGA The pressure of being a gay icon

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

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watermark | preview

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

issue 18.15

LADY GAGA 23 PG.

Within just a few short years Lady Gaga has emerged as the biggest musical superstar on the planet and one of the most vocal celebrities championing gay rights. The busy star talks about why she’s so passionate about her gay fans, where she gets her twist on fashion and another world tour.

We can’t control time, but we can control how we spend it. That’s why for our Spirituality Issue, we thought it would be fun to compile a master bucket list of things to accomplish before we enter the great beyond.

6 | Orlando News

ORLANDO NEWS

A brand new fraternity has started at the University of Central Florida, and Delta Lambda Phi hopes to incorporate its gay brotherhood into the campus’ Greek traditions; A new business council has launched that targets transgender professionals in Central Florida; more.

12 / NATION + WORLD NEWS

8 | Tampa News

13 / TAMPA BAY

For the first time AIDS Walk St. Petersburg will have a national headliner when Frenchie Davis of The Voice and American Idol fame performs after the Sept. 10 fundraiser; The University of South Florida takes even more strides to be inclusive, incorporating a new transgender dorm policy and surpassing its fundraising goal for its LGBT scholarship fund; more.

23 | Scene+Heard

Lady Gaga has many monikers. She’s a superstar, a pop sensation, a fashion icon, a performer and an oddity. But above all, the “Born This Way” artist is an ally to the LGBT community. In a rare interview strictly for an LGBT audience, Lady Gaga discusses her love of gays, her inspiration for her music and why she feels so passionately about the fight for equality. Also, for most of his life, Chuck Renslow has been considered the father and founder of the modern leather scene. Now, his story is available—warts and all—in a new biography penned by Owen Keehnen and Tracy Baim. We talk with Keehnen about the surprises unveiled in Renslow’s tale and what it was like to interview a living legend.

TAMPA BAY NEWS

SCENE+HEARD

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41 | Spirituality When we think of spirituality, we often think about religion, beliefs and practices. But what about ensuring we fully explore the spirit of living? For this Spirituality Issue, freelancer Kirk Hartlage asks LGBTs an celebrities what they’d like to accomplish before they leave this Earth for whatever awaits us after death. The enormous bucket list has 101 ideas for accomplishments that you just may want to incorporate into your own list. We also spend a minute with Kadam Ricc Bishop, who shares his thoughts on Buddhist meditation and how to find inner peace. Plus, we meet two pastors in Tampa that run LGBT-affirming Pentecostal churches that don’t adhere to the strict liturgy that most LGBTs see in the MCC denomination.

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watermark | preview

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

editor’sdesk F

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

or the past three weeks I’ve felt as though I’ve lived someone else’s It was a literal shuffle to the restroom and when I got there, positioning myself was an embarrassing display of inefficient faculties. It was a scary life. My entire routine has changed thanks to a back injury that has sensation and the pain was unimaginable. kept me out of the gym, off my feet and away from any kind of A visit to my chiropractor helped a little, and a deep tissue massage physical activity. I can even tell my personality has shifted thanks to the from a friend and licensed massage therapist seemed to relieve some of frustration and irritation related to the injury. I’ve had to apologize to a the tension. But I still was a long way away from feeling like myself. I few of my friends for my disinterest, dazed expressions or short fuse. knew something wasn’t right. The whole experience of battling an injury can change your At the insistence of my husband and a few very close friends, I finally perspective. Of course, I’ve always sympathized with those who are gave in and visited my regular doctor, who discovered that muscle injured or unable to remain active, but there was always a part of me spasms in my back were the result of two vertebrae turned in a not-sothat thought if these people would just motivate themselves enough, comfortable position. X-rays showed my hips were about an inch off they could work through whatever pain they had and regain their health. kilter, which naturally affected the way I walked, contributing to the pain. Maybe I thought it was a “mind over matter” scenario. And why not, it After a drive through the pharmacy, the pain started to ebb, but not had always worked for me! enough to get me back to my regular life. As I But then again, I have never had any kind of write this column I’m still sitting with an ice pack disability and have been in good shape most of on my lower back and a hefty dose of Tramadol my adult life. pumping through my veins. However, at some point over the last few Before this, I had I’ve shared my pain with friends in person and months, I noticed a twinge in my lower back that never thought twice online, and everyone has a story about a back just wouldn’t go away. At the gym I noticed it injury. I’ve heard about the benefits of ice and heat, when I would walk from one exercise to another, about my ability to inversion tables that make you hang upside down but that didn’t stop me from adding plates onto walk without pain. like a bat, and acupuncture. It seems everyone the bar. On the softball field I noticed it when I can relate to a back injury, but explaining the couldn’t bend as quickly as I wanted to for those immobility associated with it is difficult—if not hard-hit ground balls. But, being the stubborn impossible. athlete that I am, I ignored the pain, added a few The experience has been humbling and reminds me we all take things stretches between innings and kept on playing and popping ibuprofen. for granted. Before this, I had never thought twice about my ability to I continued like this weekly and kept hitting the gym hard every single walk without pain, and I shamefully admit there are times I didn’t—or morning. As with past issues and strains, I knew that eventually my body wouldn’t—notice someone with some sort of physical issue because I would heal itself and I’d be fine. foolishly thought I couldn’t relate. But this time, my body had to tell me it had had enough—and it was a I know that with patience I will eventually heal and get back to my rude awakening. regular, active and healthy life. But there are so many others who aren’t I woke up one morning and could not easily get out of my own bed. so lucky. My hips wouldn’t work, I had no balance and when I did finally get onto For those people, I now have the utmost respect. | l | my feet, I couldn’t stand upright. I found myself clinging to dressers, walls, door knobs—whatever I could find—to navigate to the restroom.

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| July 21 - August 3, 2011

watermark | orlando news

Transgender business council launched jamie hyman Orlando | Orlando’s transgender community has a new platform. The Transgender Women’s Business Council, launched in early June. “The goal is to have a very clear voice for transsexual women and to also reach out locally to other transitioning women and be a resource guide to them,” said the Council’s president, CPA Laura Barbery. “The council is going to be made up of successful, transitioned business women.” Barbery said there are currently nine members meeting once a month, and they plan

to cap membership at 11 members. “Our ultimate goal is to model what we do and allow other LGBT communities to adapt our model so it spreads more grassroots,” she said. “We’re encouraging other members under the T umbrella to form the same types of committees so every group under the T will have a very clear voice to articulate what their goals are.” Because the group is relatively new, Barbery said it is still defining itself and formulating ideas. However, one partnership has already formed with the Zebra Coalition, a coalition of LGBT youth organizations. She said the group hopes to mentor homeless transgender youth. | l |

Two dads case goes to Supreme Court wire+staff report A gay rights organization is seeking Supreme Court review of the case of a gay couple, formerly of Orlando, who want both of their names to appear on their adopted child’s birth certificate. Lambda Legal attorney Ken Upton said Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith moved from Central Florida to Illinois in June because Smith is in the hospitality industry and is frequently relocated. Upton added that their moving around highlights some of the troubles

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that come with not having both parents’ names on the birth certificate. “If you fly with a child or enroll kid in new school system, you need a birth certificate,” Upton said. “The child is adopted and they’re a mixed race family, so there are people out there who question whether their child is their child. It’s more than just a nuisance, it’s an obstacle.” Earlier this year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Louisiana registrar who insisted only one father’s name can go on the certificate. Upton said they’ll find out whether the Supreme Court will take the case in October. | l |

watermark | orlando news

(L-R) Delta Lambda Phi’s alpha class includes, front row: Mike Breinlinger, Jimmy Kennedy, Jerry Estrada, Nick Simons, David “Pnut” Williams, Tyler Teegardin; back row: Founder, Vernon L. Strickland III, Adam Conrad, Blake Thompson, Fernando Perdomo, Anthony Garcia, Alex Delgado, Doug Wagner, and Paul Doerr. Photo courtesy Delta Lambda Phi

New gay fraternity starts at uCF jamie hyman Orlando | Members of the Delta Lambda Phi fraternity at University of Central Florida (UCF) are bonded by brotherhood and something else—all of the brothers are gay. “Delta Lambda Phi is the national social fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men,” said Adam Conrad, the chapter’s president. Delta Lambda Phi is new to the campus— founded in 2009—and the fraternity is on the path to becoming chartered by the national organization and integrated into UCF’s established Greek system. According to pledge educator Tyler Teegardin, the campus Intra-fraternity Council (IFC) rejected their application to join the council two years ago, but Delta Lambda Phi was accepted in 2010. “[We’re] proud to be one of the most inclusive organizations on campus and we look forward to the value Delta Lambda Phi will add,” said Council president S. Kyle Schumacher on the IFC website. Now that Delta Lambda Phi’s place at UCF is established, the fraternity’s leadership is working toward recognition from the national group, called “chartering.” The fraternity recently got a boost toward this goal when the Metropolitan Business Association (MBA) donated $500 of the required $600 charter application fee. “One of our goals for this year as a board was to focus more on LGBT youth and supporting youth organizations,” said MBA president Gina Duncan. “[The donation] lined up exactly with what we want to do.” Conrad said to meet the goal of becoming chartered by 2012, DLP has to submit its final application by late August or early September. Now the brothers are focused on raising the $100 needed while finalizing that application. Several of the members just returned from a national convention of the

fraternity in Philadelphia. Delta Lambda Phi at UCF appears to be in the final stages of becoming established and accepted, but Conrad said it was a long road to get there. “The original alpha class, the class I’m part of, started with 23 guys then got whittled down to 13. On one hand, we lost a couple of people who are really missed and I believe some of them are re-rushing this coming fall,” he said “But the 13 guys we had left were so close knit, so strong together, we can’t even fathom anybody else leaving.” He said the past two semesters have focused on working on the fraternity’s “internal issues,” while figuring out how to have an identity within the established Greek community. “Starting a new organization is really hard,” Conrad said. “There is no tradition to go by, so we have to consciously decide what we want our traditions to be.” He said there are 10-15 people interested in rushing in the fall. “My job is to work with the new members who want to join and then teach them the traditions, the symbols—all of the things that make up the organization,” said Teegardin. “Then sponsor them through an eight week process to go from new member to hopefully understating what it means to be a part of the organization.” He said he was attracted to Delta Lambda Phi after experimenting with other UCF gay groups and finding they didn’t have the structure or moral code he craved. “I felt like people were cliquey and they just wanted to hook up or they didn’t really have any motivation, and I have always been extremely driven,” he said. “I wanted something a lot more focused but I didn’t want to join a [traditional] Greek organization because I didn’t quite understand the Greek model and it didn’t seem like I’d feel comfortable [pledging].”

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

He added that he was looking for standards of living that didn’t come from religion. “It’s about creating a place for other people to come and be who they are, and it’s about not taking people’s shit lying down,” Teegardin said. “It’s about being who you are in a safe place without the garbage of an unorganized group, but it’s more special because the Greek model provides such a unique friendship and brotherhood. I can’t imagine what my life would be without the organization. It’s become such an integral part of who I am.” So what if a straight man wanted to rush the fraternity? “So far, we are all gay. If we’re ever asked about it we’re very open that we support progressive men who are just supportive,” Conrad said. “We would never turn anyone away, but we’re tailoring our recruitment efforts to go for the gay community.” They also don’t have a fraternity house, but he said it’s something on his radar. “As far as I know, there are no open houses on Greek Row,” Conrad said. “I think we could definitely be getting a house in the next 10 years, but it’s not going to happen this year.” The national fraternity’s tag line is “Making Our Presence Known,” and Conrad said that right now the majority of the organization’s social activity happens on Facebook, but he’d like to change that. | l |

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watermark | tampa bay news

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

USF boosts LGBT scholarship fund, continues inclusive policy trend wire+staff report

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Tampa | The summer has proven to be a season of progress for the University of South Florida when it comes to LGBT causes. The university has made strides in both its transgender policies for on-campus residents and reached significant goals regarding its LGBT scholarship fund. As of July, USF offers transgender students the opportunity to live alone or with a friend of a different gender in campus housing. For the first time, students can identify themselves as male, female or transitioning on their housing applications. Anyone who checks transitioning can live alone, with a friend or with a randomly assigned roommate. A student’s choice of transitioning won’t be disclosed to any randomly selected roommate without permission. In the spring term of 2012, the Tampa school will begin a pilot program with several “gender-neutral” dorm rooms for any student who wants to live with another student of a different gender. Rooming with romantic partners, however, will be discouraged. The changes were made after a transgender student complained about being harassed by other students in a residence hall. USF has also boosted its popular LGBT scholarship fund, thanks to a highly successful fund raiser held in June—just days before St. Pete Pride brought 85,000 people to Central Avenue. “Our goal was to reach $100,000 before the deadline,” said Karen Berkman, executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences and former chair of Committee on Issues Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (CISOGI). The USF Alumni Association helps

to coordinate fundraising initiatives for the scholarship program and manages the scholarship award process. The Alumni Association, along with the CISOGI, with help from friends and supporters from throughout the Tampa Bay region, raised almost $40,000 in one night. Having reached its goal of $100,000, the endowed fund is now eligible for a 50% matching gift from the state. The University Major Gifts/Eminent Scholars Program ended on June 30. The University had previously raised $65,000 over a three-year period, allowing four students to receive scholarships since the fund’s inception. “We went into the fundraiser with the hope of raising enough money to get to the $100,000 mark so that we would be eligible for the state match of 50%, creating a scholarship total of $150,000,” Berkman said. “I’m delighted to announce that thanks to many supporters and friends, we’re going to be able to make a real difference in the lives our students.” By successfully increasing the endowed fund to $150,000, the committee will now be able to award more scholarships, and at higher amounts, than previously possible. The growth in the fund comes at the best possible time. Scholarship applications grew from seven students in the fund’s first year to more than 40 last year. “The fundraiser, starting with our hosts, and continuing with a strong roster of sponsors and attendees, really showcased the pride that Tampa Bay’s LGBT community takes in the students of the USF System,” said Helen Levine, regional vice chancellor of external affairs at USF St. Petersburg. “Their gifts will lead to expanded academic opportunities for students throughout the System who might otherwise not be able to attend the USF System.” | l |

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steve blanchard Tampa | The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is taking the phrase, “You ought to be in pictures” literally this year with its new fundraiser. To celebrate its 22nd year, TIGLFF has launched a unique fundraising event asking fans to create their own interpretation of favorite movie quotes. “Almost everyone who loves film has a favorite classic quote from a movie character they love and remember,” said Ken Hodges, TIGLFF president. “The film festival is making it possible for 22 people to fulfill their dream of being filmed delivering their quote on a big screen.” The lucky 22 will be featured in a short trailer that is shown before each featured film

during the 11 day October festival. Participants are chosen through two methods—by bidding through an online auction or by getting the most thumbs up on their own YouTube video submission. “When TIGLFF explained this idea to me, I thought it was genius,” said Chris Rish, the project producer and cinematographer. “I can’t think of a more interesting way to have fun and fraise funds for a great cause at the same time.” While the 22nd annual TIGLFF is still three months away, time is ticking away quickly on the auction and fundraiser. The deadline is midnight on July 31. For details on the fundraiser or to bid, visit TIGLFF.com/ Auction. The 2011 TIGLFF runs from Oct. 6-16 at the Tampa Theater in downtown Tampa and the Muvico Baywalk theater in St. Petersburg. |l|

watermark | tampa bay news

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

Frenchie Davis to headline AIDS Walk steve blanchard St. Petersburg | For the first time, AIDS Walk St. Petersburg will have a major headliner to entertain participants after the 5K walk along the downtown waterfront on Sept. 10. The event, benefitting the AIDS Association of Pinellas, landed Frenchie Davis after discovering the singer was already scheduled to be in the area. “Getting Frenchie came up in conversation one night at Georgie’s Alibi,” said Steven Rodriguez, who is in charge of entertainment for the 2011 walk. “We were talking about The Voice, and figured she’d be a great person to ask. I pulled up her information and after sending her publicist an e-mail he called me back within minutes.” The performer and American Idol alum offered a greatly reduced rate to perform at the charity event and will also perform at Georgie’s the night before the annual walk. According to Rodriguez, Davis will take part in a VIP meet and greet reception on Friday, Sept. 9, at The Flamingo Resort’s Blu Room at 7 p.m. She’ll perform at Georgie’s later that night around 11 p.m. On Saturday, the day of the walk, Davis

will take to the outdoor stage after the walk is completed. Registration for the AIDS walk is at 8 p.m. and the walk is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. This year’s grand marshal is Chuck Reality star singer and LGBT advocate frenchie Davis will Henson, who is headline the 2011 AIDS Walk the founder of the St. Petersburg in September. St. Pete Twirlers group and the traffic anchor for Bay News 9. “We have a great lineup of entertainment this year,” Rodriguez said. “Besides Frenchie, we’ll have Una Voce, the Memorial Bells, Alan Darcy, ROTC and the winner of Talent Quest Florida, who will sing the National Anthem. We’re excited and we think this will bring a lot of people out.” Teams can still register for the AIDS Walk, which benefits clients of ASAP on both sides of Tampa Bay. Money raised helps with medication costs, food pantry costs and more. For details on the walk or to register a team, visit AIDSWalkStPete.org. | l |

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Rainbow Smoke Out challenges LGBTs to kick the habit steve blanchard St. Petersburg | Greg Henchar and Victor Lopez have issued a challenge to the listeners of their weekly Gay Safe Haven Rainbow Hour radio show. They want the LGBT community to give up smoking. The couple launched their “Great Rainbow Smoke Out” on their radio program as a way to convince listeners to put down cigarettes. Both men have smoked most of their lives. “Honestly, the inspiration was for us to quit smoking,” Henchar said. “If we announced we were going to quit on the air, we knew we would. It has grown into gaining support and offering support to others who want to do the same.” Henchar and Lopez have started a Facebook page for the Rainbow Smoke Out where people can offer support, suggest ways to kick the habit and to just share frustrations. Within a week of its launch, more than 100 people have taken the pledge to stop smoking on Aug. 1. “Our topics on the radio this month have been addictions and habits, and smoking is both a habit and an addiction,” Henchar said. “The more you research what’s in

cigarettes, the more you realize there is some nasty stuff in there.” According to a new report from the American Lung Association, Gays and lesbians are more than twice as likely to use tobacco than the general population. Bisexuals are at an even higher risk of developing a smoking addiction, the report says. The report says that sexuality is not linked to tobacco addiction, but that LGBT communities face different stresses and more aggressive marketing strategies by tobacco companies. “We both come from a time when we could smoke at our desks and my high school had a smoking lounge,” Henchar said. “I’ve quit before but started up again about a year ago.” New packaging for cigarette packs debut later this year and will depict diseased lungs and other side-effects of smoking—images Henchar said he wants to avoid seeing. “They’re true to life,” he said. “It’s a scary and accurate depiction.” The Gay Safe Haven Rainbow Hour will explore the topic throughout the rest of July and offer updates on ways to quit smoking throughout August. To listen to the webcast, visit GSHRadio.com. | l |

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watermark | sarasota news

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

Sarasota Pride unveils new website, welcomes sponsors staff report

NEW FAWNFEATHER! NEW OWNERSHIP! NEW YOU!

for organizations interested in sponsoring or participating in the 2011 festival. An upcoming calendar of events is also getting updated constantly, according to Barnes. Upcoming events include “Butchlesque,” an all women’s dance, contest, fashion show and fundraiser and the Fabulous Independent Film Festival. Both are slated for Saturday, Aug. 27. Sarasota Pride is still searching for volunteers and potential board members and invites the community to attend its open, monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month in the upstairs conference room at Selby Library. The meetings start at 6:30 p.m. | l |

Sarasota | Organizers of Sarasota Pride held a special T-Dance at The Loft on Sunday, July 17, to thank returning sponsors and to unveil its brand new website. According to Board Chairwoman Cindy Barnes, Tropicana returned as a presenting sponsor with a $10,000 donation to the annual celebration. Also returning as a volunteer sponsor is The Power of One, from Venice, Fla. The annual celebration, dubbed “Still Out and Proud” for 2011, will return to its outdoor location in downtown Sarasota on Saturday, Oct. 22, and will incorporate a few changes. Among them, according to Barnes, festival attendees will no longer have to cross a busy intersection to get from the vendor area to the main stage and dunking booth. The new website at SarasotaPride.org, (L-R) cindy Kalligher and Donna Leopoldi present a $10,000 check from is more user friendly Tropicana Equal Group to Sarasota Pride’s cindy Barnes during a special T-Dance and has information at The Loft July 17. | Photo courtesy Sarasota Pride

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Majority of Floridians still against marriage equality staff report If Amendment 2 went back to the polls today, it would not pass. That’s according to a Public Policy poll that asked 848 voters their opinions from June 16–19. Fifty-three percent said they think gay marriage should continue to be illegal and only 37% wanted same-sex marriage legalized. Ten percent said they weren’t sure. Constitutional Amendments must receive 62% of the vote to become law in Florida. As is common in polls on the issue, there was an age gap, with half of the voters

One in five LGBT students in Florida schools have been physically assaulted—for example, punched, kicked or injured with a weapon—because of their sexual identities. That’s according to a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) report released July 6. About 4 out of 5 students were called names or threatened because of their sexual orientation and 3 of 5 said they were verbally harassed because of how they expressed their gender. They also reported other forms of harassment, with 84% saying they’ve been deliberately excluded by their peers, 82% reporting they’d had mean rumors or lies told about them, 70% sexually harassed, 49% having had property damaged or stolen and 47% experiencing online bullying. Of those experiencing various forms of harassment, 64% never reported it to school officials and 56% never told a family member. Of those who did report their incidents to school staff, 28% said that it resulted in staff intervention. According to the report, Florida

edward donato

younger than 45 supporting gay marriage. According to Public Policy Polling, that indicates that it’s “only a matter of time” before the majority of Floridians support same-sex marriage. The good news is that the majority want some sort of recognition for committed, gay relationships. Two thirds of respondents supported gay couples having the equal legal rights associated with marriage. A third support gay marriage, 34% want civil unions and 31% are opposed to any and all legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Only 1% said they were unsure about that aspect. | l |

schools are tough on LGBT students in more indirect ways, as well. Nearly all reported hearing the word “gay” used in a negative way, with about 90% reporting other homophobic remarks, such as “fag” and “dyke” used as insults. The verbal harassment didn’t just come from students: 27% reported that they regularly heard staff make negative remarks about someone’s gender expression and 22% heard homophobic remarks from staff. In light of all this negativity toward LGBT students, GLSEN reported that most of the victims don’t have access to in-school resources and support. Only 1 in 10 attended schools with a comprehensive bullying policy that protected against harassment based on sexual identity or gender harassment. Most LGBT students could name a supportive school staff member, but only 47% could name six or more. Finally, many students had no access to an LGBT-inclusive curricular and extracurricular activities. Just 41% of students surveyed attended a school with a GayStraight Alliance, and only one in 10 said they were taught positive representations of LGBT people, events and history. Three in 10 students reported that they could access information via school internet. | l |

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July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

Fort Lauderdale | Health insurance for domestic partners of City of Fort Lauderdale employees could become an option as early as Jan. 2012. The issue was taken up by the city commission during its July 6 conference meeting. City Manager Lee Feldman advised the commission that giving employees the option of adding domestic partners to the City’s selfinsured employee health insurance plan could be done with minimal impact on the plan. “Our recommendation is if the commission wants to move forward, we’ll proceed with the drafting of the right type of resolution,” Feldman said. The commission agreed and directed city staff to draft a resolution, which could be heard at the next meeting scheduled for Aug. 23, 2011. Feldman advised that giving city employees the option of adding domestic partners to their health insurance plans could go into effect with its new plan year starting January 2012. Open enrollment could begin this October. District 4 Commissioner Romney Rogers expressed concern that adding domestic partners to the city’s health insurance may boost the plan’s current $1 million deficit. “One of the questions that came up in my district meeting is, well, in terms of how do we protect ourselves from abuse?” Rogers asked. “Because that could be an issue.” Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler said that he

didn’t think there’s any indication that adding domestic partners in itself is going to create a higher risk factor on the health plan. He made the analogy that that adding domestic partners to the plan is not any different than hiring 90 new employees that happened to be married or adding 30 employees that happened to have two children each. “Let’s see if we can’t get this thing done and implemented,” Seiler said. Miriam Richter, a self-employed attorney who has been in domestic partner relationship with a city employee for 17 years, has made the issue her personal crusade. “I’ve always said you can’t be gay and not a community activist,” Richter said. “I think it comes with the territory.” Michael Rajner, legislative director for the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, thanked the commission for moving on the issue. “Whether you hire someone who’s married or in a domestic partnership, you want to make sure that the employee has all the resources to provide their family so they can function at a higher level while on the job,” Rajner told the commission. “By implementing a domestic partnership for its employees, Fort Lauderdale will join many other cities and counties and businesses doing the same.” Broward County government has allowed employees to add domestic partners since 1999. | l | Editor’s note: Ed Donato is a reporter with the South Florida Gay News and this article is used with permission.

briefs UNF more welcoming to gay students, staff

ADAP launches “Beyond The Numbers”

The University of North Florida is a more gay-friendly place, according to a study released by the University’s LGBT Resource Center. Nearly twice as many LGBT students rated the campus “accepting” or “somewhat accepting” than the last time the survey was conducted, which was in 2005.

The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) has launched a new campaign designed to raise awareness of the crisis facing our nation’s programs and urge immediate action to address the issue. “Beyond the Numbers” shares video testimonials from those affected by ADAP shortages. More information is available at ADAPAction.org.

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briefs NY town clerks quit over gay marriage

Argentina celebrates 2,697 same-sex marriages

Granby Town Clerk Ruth Sheldon and Barker Town Clerk Laura Fotusky say they’re resigning over their religious objections to gay marriage, which becomes legal in New York July 24. Both clerks said they felt signing a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple would violate their religious principles. Town clerks in numerous other towns and cities have scheduled additional office hours to accommodate gay couples.

According to Argentina’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender federation, a total of 2,697 gay and lesbian couples have tied the knot since the country became the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriages on July 15, 2010. Sixty percent of the weddings were between men, and the province with the most such weddings was Buenos Aires. LGBTs still have trouble persuading civil authorities to register their children under both names, however.

Utah Democratic Party elects openly gay chairman

Lesbian couple barred from Vt. resort

The Utah Democratic Party has voted overwhelmingly to elect as its chairman an art dealer believed to be the first openly gay leader of a political party in the state. Jim Dabakis, a co-founder of Equality Utah and the Utah Pride Center, was elected July 16 during the party’s state convention in Salt Lake City. Convention delegates elected small-business owner Brian Doughty, who also is openly gay, to fill a vacated state House seat.

Two New York women say a Vermont inn refused to host their wedding reception because of the owners' anti-gay bias. The couple is now suing, alleging discrimination under the state's public accommodations law. Kate Baker and Ming Linsley say they were turned away by the Wildflower Inn, a 24-room inn in Lyndonville, when they told the inn the wedding would have two brides but no groom. The American Civil Liberties Union's Vermont chapter filed the lawsuit claiming the inn violated the state Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act, which bars public accommodations from denying services to people based on sexual orientation.

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Court: ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ will stay in place wire report San Francisco | In response to a request from the Obama administration, a federal appeals court has ordered the military to temporarily continue its “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ policy for openly gay service members. In a three-page opinion handed down July 15, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the ruling was based on new information provided by the federal government, including a declaration from Major General Steven A. Hummer, who is leading the effort to repeal the policy. “In order to provide this court with an opportunity to consider fully the issues presented in the light of these previously undisclosed facts,’’ the court wrote, that it would uphold an earlier order to keep the policy in place. Despite the delay in dismantling the

controversial policy, the ruling bars the federal government from investigating, penalizing or discharging anyone pursuant to “DADT.’’ The court of appeals had halted the policy July 6 but the Department of Justice filed an emergency motion July 14, saying ending the policy now would pre-empt the orderly process for rolling it back, per a law signed by President Barack Obama in December. The ruling was supported by Servicemembers United, an organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, but the group’s executive director Alexander Nicholson voiced frustration over the slow process of dismantling “DADT.’’ “The situation with finally ending this outdated and discriminatory federal policy has become absolutely ridiculous,’’ said Nicholson. “It is simply not right to put the men and women of our armed forces through this circus any longer.’’ | l |

Calif. gov signs landmark law to teach gay history wire report Sacramento, Calif. | Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill July 14 making California the first state in the nation to add lessons about gays and lesbians to social studies classes in public schools. Brown, a Democrat, signed the landmark bill requiring public schools to include the contributions of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender in social studies curriculum. The Democratic-majority Legislature had previously passed the bill on a largely party-line vote. “History should be honest,’’ the governor said in a statement. “This bill revises existing laws that prohibit discrimination in education and ensures that the important contributions of Americans from all backgrounds and walks of

life are included in our history books.’’ The bill has drawn criticism from some churches and conservative groups that argue such instruction would expose students to a subject that some parents find objectionable. Republican lawmakers who opposed the bill had called it a well-intentioned but ill-conceived bill. Some raised concerns that it would indoctrinate children to accept homosexuality. The new law, SB48, requires the California Board of Education and local school districts to adopt textbooks and other teaching materials that cover the contributions and roles of sexual minorities as soon as the 2013-2014 school year. The legislation leaves it to local school boards to decide how to implement the requirement. It does not specify a grade level for the instruction to begin. | l |

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Washington, D.C. | President Barack Obama is supporting a bill to repeal legislation which bans federal authorities from recognizing gay marriage. White House press secretary Jay Carney made the announcement July 19, a day before the first Senate hearing on legislation introduced by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. “I can tell you that the president has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people,” said Carney. “This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal

government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.” Although it may pass the Senate, Feinstein’s legislation is unlikely to pass through the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Attorney General Eric Holder said in February for the first time that Obama believed the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional and had ordered the Justice Department to no longer defend it. But Obama has not yet openly backed gay marriage rights at the federal level, saying it is up to each state to set its own laws. The White House has repeatedly said his personal position is “evolving,” without further details.| l |

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watermark | orlando marketplace | viewpoint

preaching to the

converted

A Bloody Mess Ken Kundis

Ken@WatermarkOnline.com

website

his week at work, signs I’ve seen before began appearing in our common areas inviting all employees to participate in a Blood Drive. Those employees who donated more than a certain amount in a given time period were given a half-day’s vacation for their participation, and everyone who gives blood receives some company swag, cookies and a drink. Last month at my gym, the local blood bank was raffling away a three-day cruise for people who gave blood on site at the gym. These are lovely, creative ideas designed to encourage citizens to take part in an important civic responsibility: giving blood. One problem, though: I’m legally prohibited from taking part, and if you’re reading this newspaper, chances are good you are too. In the case of my workplace’s blood drive, I was particularly upset. Time off is a valuable commodity in today’s busy world. Something like that has real value, and in a very simple and direct way, I was being excluded simply because I’m gay. It’s not because my blood is at a higher risk of carrying HIV. I can say with absolute certainty that I am empirically more aware of my current HIV status than any straight man in my company. I make it my business to know, in fact. The questionnaire donors fill out before they give blood doesn’t ask if they’ve slept with prostitutes (although actual prostitutes and intravenous drug users are the company gay men keep on the banned list), or how many sexual partners they’ve had, or what their safe sex practices are. It doesn’t ask about tattoos or piercings. It simply says that if you are a man, and have slept with

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

another man—even once since 1977—you even aware that gay men are legally are permanently banned from giving blood prohibited from giving blood. My delightful in the United States. friend and colleague, Helene, expressed It is federally mandated discrimination. outrage when I told her about the issue, as The really frustrating part is that everyone she was heading off to give blood, dreams seems to agree except the U.S. Food and of an extra half-day’s vacation dancing in Drug Administration, which administers her head. the nation’s blood supply. I understand that “Well then I won’t give!” she said, in they were stung by AIDS in the early 1980s solidarity with my plight and that of my (who wasn’t?), but continuing the ban on many gay coworkers. [Full disclosure: gay men donating blood not only upsets I work for a venerable and historically gay men, it confounds the blood industry as significant American company, which well. has consistently As early as 2006, ranked at the top of the American Red the list as a gayCross, which is friendly employer I’m legally prohibited responsible for a for more than a lot of the collection decade. Let me not from taking part, and that takes place, misstate: I work in a if you’re reading this announced that the respectful, inclusive ban on gay men environment where newspaper, chances was “medically the contributions of are good you are too. and scientifically gays and lesbians unwarranted.” Two are valued and other major blood highlighted. It is centers followed suit. comfortably my Since that time, the FDA has reiterated the favorite thing about where I work.] ban three separate times, each time citing While I loved the hell out of her for public health as the reason. This in spite saying so, I immediately knew that to be of the fact that every milliliter of blood the exact wrong outcome. I told her that is tested for HIV and other contaminants the best thing she could do was to tell other before it is ever released into the blood people about the ban and what she thought supply. of it, including the blood drive attendants. In 2010, Senator John Kerry and 17 Look, we have a woefully low blood supply other senators sent a letter to the agency as it is. I wouldn’t want it on my hands for opposing the ban. The agency announced that supply getting even one unit smaller. it would revisit the issue, but in June a In fact, I’d like to do my part. | l | government advisory board voted to uphold Ken Kundis is a marketing specialist and a resident of the restriction. Again, it only cited “public Orlando. health’’ as their reasoning. I find that most straight people aren’t

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| July 21 - August 3, 2011

Yes, I have it written down and am actively checking off items. Yes, but it’s not really well thought out yet.

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No, but it’s something I may consider doing. No, I don’t foresee me following through on anything just because it’s written down.

top web comments On survey finding that Florida schools are tough for LGBT students:

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On Fort Lauderdale city employees possibly getting domestic partner benefits:

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message that just because some one is gay, they can’t celebrate their faith.

Freedom to Marry applauds President Margaret Higgs Obama’s strong endorsement of the Respect Bradenton for Marriage Act and the repeal of so-called ‘DOMA.’ The federal government should not be picking and choosing which marriages it will honor and which it will disregard when it I don’t know how you got this shot, but my comes to the important federal protections friend Paul and I had not seen one another that come with marriage, such as Social for years and you captured this moment Security, health coverage, fair tax treatment, beautifully in the center picture of Gallery W and immigration [Issue 18.14]. rights. Congress Keep up your great should follow work! the President’s Thom Bland lead and return Via e-mail the federal government to its traditional practice of honoring all lawful marriages Congressman Tim equally—without Huelskamp (R-KS), the ‘gay exception’ proposed to defund —Margaret Higgs of DOMA.” a training manual for Evan Wolfson military chaplains on Founder and the repeal of Don't Ask President of Don't Tell, yet he hadn't Freedom to Marry even read the manual he was trying to defund. It's the epitome of prejudice--he was literally judging a book by its cover. Huelskamp and Republicans like him are so dedicated to discrimination that they'll do anything to slow Thank you Watermark for your in-depth our military's progress toward equal treatment coverage of St. Pete Pride [Issue 18.14]. Your of LGBT service members, even if it means publication was the only one in which I saw defunding a training manual they haven't even any estimated attendance numbers reported. read. It was great to see so many great photos The next election is still a ways off, but the from the weekend of events. fight to take back the House begins now. Also, I want to say a special thank you Lisa Kaufmann to Steve Blanchard, who in his article spoke Via e-mail about the large number of welcoming and affirming churches who participated in this year’s parade. I think that sends a strong

Picture perfect

“Your publication was the only one in which I saw any estimated attendance numbers reported.”

Epitome of prejudice

Thanks for Pride coverage

BA N K R U P TCY L AW G R O U P Send all correspondence to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com. Letters may be edited for space or clarity. Opinions expressed in reader mail do not reflect those of Watermark’s staff.

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July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

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Mission America’s Linda Harvey. One can of muggles. “He lost his moral compass and Throughout the entire Harry Potter series, hear Rowling’s personification of rigid became mistrustful of his own judgment in Rowling develops plot lines that resonate officiousness, Dolores Umbridge, mouthing these matters,” Rowling said, “so he chose a deeply, if not overtly, with LGBT readers. the same words. celibate and bookish life.” And their resolution is enormously satisfying. Throughout Harry Potter, Dumbledore Indeed, he became Rowling’s repository for In fact, when the next generation ushers in a champions diversity. “Differences of habit wisdom, compassion and loving goodness. world of greater equality and appreciation for and language are nothing at all if our aims are When challenged for creating this back diversity—as we know they will—I dare say story for Dumbledore after her books had been identical and our hearts are open,” he says. the Potter books will have been as influential In the last book, when objections are published, Rowling bristled. “It has certainly on young minds as Will & Grace or Glee. raised over a marriage between a werewolf— never been news to me that a brave and The politics in Harry Potter is mostly Lupin—and a full-blooded witch, Professor brilliant man could love other men,” she said. subtext, but it has not gone unnoticed by the Minerva McGonagall says of her dear friend, “He is my character. He is what he is, and I Christian Right. Evangelicals have called the Hogwarts “Dumbledore would have been happier than have the right to say what I say about him.” books “satanic” and demanded that they be anybody to think that there was a little more But the Christian Right was not amused. removed from public and school libraries. Pride love in the world.” “Will we allow our kids to believe it would “The Harry Potter books are a threat not The Beatles said pretty much the same be perfectly appropriate for the headmaster because they romanticize witchcraft and thing. | l | of any school to be homosexual?” groused wizardry,” writes commentator Michael Tom Dyer Bronski, “but because they are deeply Tom@WatermarkOnline.com subversive in their unremitting attacks on the received wisdom that being ‘normal’ is good, reasonable, or even healthy.” No wonder gays and lesbians have loved these books from the outset. Rowling has never suggested that her books be read as an allegory for the gay experience. But Bronski describes the powerful and knowing ways that she introduces LGBTsupportive themes throughout the Potter series. Possessed with magical powers that at first confuse and frighten him, Harry’s difference makes him an outcast in his makeshift family. He’s forced to live in a closet. At one point his uncle rants, “I will not tolerate mention of your abnormality under this roof!” Indeed, the world of wizardry frightens normal people, so it is kept secret even while n these days of debt crisis, we baby it surrounds them. As in pre-Stonewall days, boomers are carrying a lot of baggage. elaborate codes, signals, rules of deportment But we also share some common cultural The INROADS Trial for HIV Patients with Limited Treatment Experience and even an invisible map make it possible for gifts. For example, ask us and we’ll wax the magical to find and recognize each other. rhapsodic about what it was like to experience And it is a world more diverse than even Beatlemania. The INROADS Trial is looking for research volunteers To qualify our own, populated with dwarfs, giants, house After their debut on The Ed Sullivan with HIV to test the safety and effectiveness of a new Be HIV posit elves, centaurs, mermaids and muggle-borns. Show in 1964, we waited breathlessly for Professor Remus Lupin, a sympathetic and each new Beatles album. And as we grew Be taking HI combination of once daily medications. admirable character, is a werewolf whose older we copied their hair, their clothes and viral load of affliction mirrors both their free-to-be or have neve the gay and HIV/AIDS lifestyles. John, Paul, Limited Treatment Experience HIV drug res At one George and Ringo The INROADS Trial for HIV Patients with experience. “It has certainly point Lupin laments never disappointed, Participation that parents would stretching the never been news to volunteers To qualify you must: not want “someone boundaries of music, The INROADS Trial is looking for research Study participan me that a brave and like me” around their art, fashion and with HIV to test the safety and effectiveness of a new Be HIV positive Be at least 18 years of age study medicatio brilliant man could children. thought throughout Be taking HIV medications with a current travel may be av combination of once daily medications. And those outside the '60s. love other men.” the wizarding Decades from viral load of 500 copies and a T-cell count of 50 or higher, —J.K. Rowling world? They are now, I suspect people or have never taken HIV medications but have some muggles, socialized young and old will HIV drug resistance to be “normal” and feel the same way Participation / Withdrawal is completely voluntary oblivious to the magic all around them. about Harry Potter. From the debut of the first Throughout the books, it’s clear which world of seven books in 2001 to the release of the Rowling prefers. eighth and final film last week, J.K. Rowling’s Study participants will receive study-related labs, exams and In fact, Rowling more than hinted at masterpiece of fantastical imagination has been study medication at no charge. Compensation for time and sympathies and subtext in 2007, when a singular phenomenon. travel may be available. A niece got me hooked at the outset, and I’ll she made the stunning admission that she had always imagined her most respected be forever grateful. Especially in the books, and beloved character—Professor Albus Rowling creates an intricate and spellbinding Dumbledore—as a gay man. world of castles, creatures and magical spells. If interested or wish more information call: She explained, as though it was history But at lovingly rendered Hogwarts Academy, she had uncovered, that Dumbledore fell in where Harry grows up and most of the love with Gellert Grindenwald as a youth, and action takes place, the politics are often more for a time supported Grindenwald’s conquest compelling than the potions.

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| July 21 - August 3, 2011

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

Photo courtesy Nick Knight

t H e

(

g ay

)

ady Gaga is one of the biggest superstars in the world. But speaking to her only briefly during this rare interview, she evades her larger-than-life image with affable charm, self-deprecating humor (take that, socalled penis) and a down-to-earth demeanor. She’s sweet, perverted, articulate and talkative. And she can’t stop gushing about how much her fans mean to her. When I have to cut her off to get a few last minute questions in, she doesn’t pull a diva trip. She’s cordial as can be. “I could talk to you forever, you’re so cute,” she says, almost in baby goo-goo, ga-ga talk. Point is, Gaga doesn’t sound like someone who just scored the best first-week sales of the year so far with Born This Way, her opus that seems to position her as the Mother Teresa of music. When we last spoke, nearly two years ago when “Just Dance” was charting, she was barely a blip on the pop scene. How quickly things can change. This time, Gaga spoke about inspiring young gay people, why she cried for a week straight, what she’d do with an Ann Coulter-like kid and the legacy she wants to leave. WATERMARK: We have lots more to talk about this time than your love for Italian sausages. LADY GAGA: (Laughs) I love Italian sausages ... as much as I love my own.

Interview suPerstar taLKs actIvIsm, Her Legacy and HoW beIng a gay Icon Is a ‘taLL order’ chris azzopardi

Don’t take this the wrong way, but as a fashion icon I have to ask: What are you wearing? I’m actually in a black bra and underwear. That’s it. The top one is lace and the bottom one is just plain and silky. This is my daywear. I’m walking around my hotel room and I’m going to yoga soon, and I probably won’t change. (Laughs) How did you spend your last day off? I watched So You Think You Can Dance, and I’ve been planning my performances for the next few months for television and getting ready for the new tour. That’s work. That’s not time off, Gaga. (Laughs) I know, I know. I always do that. I’m sorry. I don’t really take time off. I try, but I think I find comfort in my creativity. It’s like a warm blanket for me, so I will end up in some sort of way creating something or writing something. How do you feel about your role as a gay icon and a leader in the LGBT rights movement? That’s a really, really tall order and quite a description. I never set out to be a gay icon or become one or be revered as one, and I’m just really grateful to all the people that have believed in me and my music and my work. The most special thing of all has been that my sort of assimilation as a public figure has very organically stemmed out of who my natural friends were in high school. I had a lot of gay friends growing up, not even realizing Continued on page 32 | uu |

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

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watermark | film

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

screened out MAGIC, MAYHEM AND MEMORIES

stephen miller

Stephen@WatermarkOnline.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two (Starring Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena BonhamCarter)

as its title bear’s favorite snack. It’s all cute distraction for toddlers. The songs are forgettable; they take up way too much of the very short running time. Overall, the pedestrian approach means that parents will be checking their watches and praising the brief, 54-minute length. At least all the classic stuff is still present: A.A. Milne’s simple and huggable animals are drawn in Ernest Sheppard’s classic style and voiced with great affection. Also, the handpainted art is gorgeous–the type of watercolor cell work that made Walt Disney famous. It’d be easy to praise if the story itself were any bit exciting. Instead, Pooh evokes a warm, fuzzy mood so cozy, it’ll send many an audience off to dreamland. Just like the 1966 original Disney film, the animators even bring the actual book to life. But this time, Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore (my favorite) and Tigger interact with the text in slightly more interesting ways. Words jumble and fall; letters get misplaced or repurposed in funny, dyslexic ways. In those moments, we sense that if the storytellers should have been given leeway to be less reverent. Pooh would’ve been nostalgic (which it is, to a fault) but also much more involving.

fter over ten years of movie magic, our most lucrative film series casts its final spell. This war film is a noble and surprisingly brisk end to an elaborate tale told better in the beloved books. That being said, Hallows: Part Two ranks up with the better Potter films: Goblet of Fire and Half-Blood Prince. Harry and his friends still search for a way to destroy Evil Lord Voldermort. The Dark Lord has separated his soul into several pieces—doodads called horcruxes—to make himself immortal. If Team Harry can destroy the horcruxes, they can kill Voldermort. It all ends where it began—in a massive, metaphysical (and slightly cheesy) battle at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After the klutzy storytelling and inexperienced acting of the first two films, the creative team slowly found their talents; the emotional depth here rivals the better moments of the other seven films. The Horrible Bosses film still disapparates from (Starring Jason Bateman, one plot point to another, but Jason Sudeikis, Charlie the approach has grown less Kevin Spacey shines as a Day, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer awkward. Heartfelt moments psycho in Horrible Bosses. Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie are given their final, grave Foxx) weight in a way that most of the other films missed. After the aimlessness Horrible Bosses has six major characters of Hallows: Part One, this second half is and three minor ones. In other words, it’s thrillingly succinct. a farce—the type of film where everything Still, certain important points still seem should fall deeper into hilarity and disaster deathly hollow. The final fights just feel like right up until the very end. Though sometimes they should’ve been bigger, more epic, with funny and filled with gifted actors having a more witnesses. However, overall, Hallows: blast, the film fails as a farce. The pieces are Part Two is a genuine finale to a story filled there, but it never culminates into a complete, with immense love and wonder. catastrophic comedy. Bateman is a poor corporate lackey with Winnie the Pooh a jerkwad boss (Spacey). Day is a dental (Voices of Jim Cummings, Bud Luckey, Craig assistant to sexual predator Aniston. Sudeikis Ferguson) finds himself enslaved to coke-hound Farrell. All three employees have reasons they would have difficulty finding another job, so they Eyore has lost his tail, Pooh is bereft of agree to kill each other’s bosses. These three honey, and the entire cast of Hundred Acre stooges turn to criminal Foxx for help with Wood has misplaced Christopher Robin. their nefarious plan. Winnie the Pooh is as cloyingly sweet

It’s a dark and epic end for Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Lord Voldermort (Ralph feinnes).

There is definitely something here to recommend. Bateman, Sudeikis and Day have an easy banter that makes them seem like lifelong buddies. Aniston, Farrell and especially Spacey bring great joy to their evil alter egos. After a while, though, it becomes apparent that these simple characters don’t have any arc. It’s hard to care whether they succeed or fail. With a few small plot holes and some underutilized bit parts, you have an average film. Yes, there is a smattering of good, strong laughs. But then there’s the lazy wrap-up—

instead of slaying us with a collective comic explosion, it ends with a relative whimper. | 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

“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.” Bette Davis in All About Eve

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watermark | books

leatherman’s man AN INTERVIEW WITH CHuCK RENSLOW’S BIOGRAPHER OWEN KEEHNEN

gregg shapiro

huck Renslow is a living legend in the LGBT community. Now in his 82nd year, Chicago-based Renslow has lived a full life by being a bar owner, photographer, political activist, newspaper publisher and more. But Renslow’s social and cultural influence stretches far and wide, beyond the borders of Chicago. Just ask any of the thousands of people who flock to Chicago every May for International Mister Leather (IML). So it makes sense that Renslow’s story be told. Owen Keehnen, the co-author of Leatherman: The Chuck Renslow Story (Prairie Avenue Productions, 2011), managed to get insight into the man who has defined and sculpted the leather community for most of his life. In fact, the author interviewed the legend long before he and co-author Tracy Baim wrote his story. Keehnen shared his thoughts with us on the project and the man who inspired it:

the 70s, gay liberation, all of that stuff—there aren’t a whole lot of people left. It’s a very finite resource, and it was a population that was decimated by AIDS. And it was just important for this story to be preserved. Was Chuck a willing subject and participant in the process? Oh yes, yes. Chuck approached us to write his life story. He wanted to tell it, warts and all.

He was someone who had done a lot of living over the years. Oh yeah, a lot. Capitalized, italicized! [Laughs]

on; there’s this stuff with the paper, there’s this stuff with the bars. And at the same Would you describe Chuck as a raconteur? time he’s having this Yes. What’s interesting is that in this book spiritual life that’s we include interviews with so many people. going on, that’s very But what’s interesting a lot of times is hearing important. Then over it all is what’s called the tales from a lot of different perspectives. the “Family,” which is this created family he I’ll put it this way: he’s a good story teller, but had of friends and lovers that were amazingly you can bring up a story, and it will be like the important to him. craziest most insane scenario you can imagine. So, all that’s going on at the same time. And he will go, “Oh, I completely forgot about Some people might know more about the that.” Family part, some might know more about the spiritual part, and some people might know a As Resnlow’s biographer, what were some lot about the political or things that you the bar part. But there were surprised to are so many facets to learn about him? him that people who are “As the book got You have this close to him are even vibrant business bigger and bigger, I going to be surprised by man and leather man a lot of this stuff. thought, ‘Oh this is who is out and he’s bigger than the leather himself and he’s Who do you see as the very aggressive and audience for the book? crowd,’ and then ‘this he’s known as the I see people is bigger than the dominant-dominant interested in the history top—and at the gay history crowd.’” of leather, the Leather same time he also is Archives and Museum —OWEN KEEHNEN an amazing gourmet crowd. I see people cook, raised orchids, interested in gay history, and for all his sort I see people interested of ways, he has this in political history. I see amazing paternal side. To people he considers people who are just interested in a really good close, he’s like a daddy bear. story, where you read it and say, “Oh my God,

Why do you think that the time was right this year for a Chuck Renslow bio? I think the time was right because, for one thing, Chuck was born in 1929, so on a basic level it’s like you have this huge reservoir of information that is this man, who’s 81. And on another level, I think because of his age. So many of the people from that era, which just was this amazing, vibrant age of the 60s,

Are there things about Renslow that you think readers will be surprised to learn? Oh God, yes. That’s the amazing thing, too, with doing all of these interviews, is so many people will know a lot, but so many people will know half, and those are the people that will know a lot because there’s all these things going on simultaneously. There’s this stuff with the leather scene, and there’s this stuff politically that’s going

WATERMARK: You interviewed Chuck Renslow years before this biography project. Is there something that you can recall about that experience you want to share? OWEN KEEHEN: It was probably 15 years ago that I interviewed him. It was for an online leather blog that someone was doing. What struck me actually, in interviewing him that time was the scope of his experience. That he had done the (Kris) physique photography studio, that he’d done the Gold Coast, that he’d been involved in politics, that he’d been involved in the newspaper.

that’s living.” I think the thing that makes this book so exciting is that it really is bigger than any sort of marketing niche you can put it in. As it got bigger and bigger, I thought, “Oh this is bigger than the leather crowd,” and then “this is bigger than the gay history crowd,” and then I think it just makes a good story period; very illuminating on a lot of different levels. Prior to the Chuck Renslow bio, you wrote a series of “Starz” books in which you

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

Leatherman: The Chuck Renslow Story, takes an Story intimate look at the man who many credit with molding the modern leather movement. Photo courtesy Prairie Avenue Productions

interviewed gay male porn stars. Do you think that the Renslow book will have an appeal to that

readership as well? Well, one of the members of Chuck’s extended Family is (porn star) Jeff Stryker. And there are connections with porn stars from dancing at Man’s Country, from the sexual atmosphere at The Gold Coast and the Eagle, so I think that would appeal to that set, and IML. But I think this is a lot deeper. You’re capturing is an era more than like a sexual snapshot, that really is evocative of gay life in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and up to the present, but especially those sort of lost eras. Have you begun work on your next book project? I’m working now on organizing a bunch of those interviews that I did with writers and different people from the 90s. I’m going to call that We’re Here, We’re Queer. By doing this (Renslow) book it made me really see how important it is to have those primary resources out there for people to be able to use. There are interviews with people like Samuel Stewart and Quinton Chris, and Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, the Daughters of Bilitis, or Harry Hay, where people who want to do research in the future will be able to look at this and have direct quotes of what those people said, rather than have them just be interpreted. And then I also have a novel that’s planned for October called The Sand Bar. I’m excited about that. It is my smutty art novel. And then I want to do more history, I’m going to keep going. I’m working with the Legacy Project here in Chicago, too. That dovetails really well with the need to preserve our history and get our stories out there. | l |

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watermark | music

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

the bold and the bald Macaviti goes musical with songwriting

joseph kissel

definitely entertain a group!’” ampa | Similar to the childhood After a quick realization his shock of red fashion musical spectaculars held hair wouldn’t fly at standards-obsessed Disney, for his conservative Christian mom, the bald head was born. Macaviti’s recent transformation from highFlash forward to a dizzying array energy performer to high-energy dance artist is of costumes, leading to anti-glamazon subtle yet important. performances and antics like scaling a lighting As an entertainer, he’s been making rig to whip the crowd a-frenzy and stuff like audiences cheer and take notice since 1999 at falling down a full flight of stairs—naked, only Orlando’s Southern Nights, now Revolution, last year—but staying in character and keeping where Macaviti will perform Aug. 18. the horns on and intact. But what did you expect from someone The last tidbit is from Steve Donahue, whose mantras are “I don’t judge myself owner of G-Bar, The Honey Pot and Ybor City through other people’s eyes,” and “We’re all Social Club. And he’s bullish on Macaviti’s born naked; the rest is just drag.” future. The Macaviti story starts in a Gary, Ind., “He’s a world-class entertainer,” Donahue living room with little paper tickets cut with said. “And this certainly won’t hurt his scissors by the performer himself. performance career.” These fashion and music performances The self-written music of Macaviti now were intimate affairs—not like the later lifts him from club performer to artist—if headline appearances at The White Party and he hadn’t already achieved that with his Cherry Ball, among many others. But outside elaborate costumes and thought-provoking under God’s big blue sky, the young Macaviti liked to drive heavy metal Tonka Trucks, climb performances. “Everyone tells a story,” says Macaviti trees high and dig for worms—similar to a lot producer Brian Rosenber, aka DJ Ninteen69. of other future gay boys. “It’s Hot!” is their first track, one that “I embrace both sides of my personality— incubated for seven the male and the years between female,” Macaviti Macaviti and says. Rosenberg—an “I make no “I make no apologies unusually long time apologies for being for being myself. I for a song to gestate. myself. I am an Whether it was individual and I refuse am an individual and personal issues, deaths to think like a herd of I refuse to think like in the family or just sheep.” a herd of sheep.” plain not connecting, Living as Macaviti the elapsed time would be his ultimate —Macaviti led Macaviti to this expression; but as it moment: “Look, I’m is, a “Bruce Wayne/ tired of waiting. I’ve Batman” split in his been doing drag way too long,” Macaviti says. life was required at times to keep the disparate “It’s Hot!” is the result, having been parts of his world discrete. conceived in the shower with Macaviti While the living room shows were a nod invoking a high-school-cheerleading memory, toward the future, he still had to escape living and certainly something that sets the Macaviti and dying in Gary, Ind. music machine in motion. But that’s where the Mouse House comes Upcoming shows will incorporate his in and rescues teen Macaviti from a form of dance-ready sound and look including “All I gay hell. Need,” another from the evergreen in-the-club The artist to be known as Macaviti gets an category as well as “Top That,” a high-energy audition at Disney World to be an entertainer. observation about the red-hot, in-the-zone (And yes, he’s a huge fan of Prince who once dancer we all crave. said, “When I want to listen to new music, I Speaking about Macaviti’s mother, one of make it.”) these days his mom might actually make it to “Within five minutes, there’s a girl standing a performance despite her still being active in up and telling everyone, ‘This boy can

Tampa performer Macaviti’s first single, “It’s Hot!” has helped him cross over from performer to musician. Photo courtesy Macaviti

her church. “I tell her, ‘Mom, there are no couches in there,” he says. There’s certainly no sitting or snoozing during a Macaviti performance. Catch him at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City on most Sundays starting at 8:30 p.m. Just don’t expect the usual. “I don’t fit the mold, and I don’t want to,” Macaviti says. “Like with a lot of gay people, it’s not our fault. We get ostracized, and when

we get in our own circles we ostracize.” His work flows from this because “I want people to be individuals.” “I’m not saying go out and put spikes on your head, but just be who you are,” he says. “Hopefully that will come through in my music as well.” Macaviti’s new single, “It’s Hot!” is available for download on iTunes, CDbaby and Amazon. For more information on Macaviti, find him on Facebook. | l |

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watermark | music

| uu | Lady Gaga from p.23

they were gay. We didn’t really talk about it and I went to theater school and I did a lot of shows, so I guess it never really mattered to me if they were gay or straight—and we never really talked about it. We just loved talking about music and art and theater and fashion. So now it’s less about being a leader and more just about being a part of my generation and being part of the fight for equality that I feel is part of who I am and part of my childhood, and part of where I’m going.

“I never set o u t t o b e a g ay icon or become

The message you stand for as a public figure—about being yourself no matter who you are—is also a big part of Born This Way. The album was inspired by the spirit of the fans, the spirit of the show, and the spirit of people all over the world every night talking to me about social justice, sharing their stories with me, and me realizing that my mission with music was driven in a very specific way at this point. So social justice has to be the most paramount issue that I address on the album.

one or be revered as one.”

I wish I knew who you were when I was a teenager. Young people these days are lucky to have such a role model. That’s so sweet. Thanks for saying that. I hope that I can really be that, and I hope that they know that it’s so genuine and so authentic. Which album gave you a sense of belonging and allowed you to be yourself when you were a kid? I always talk about Green Day, because Dookie was the first album that I went to buy on my own. I think because I got bullied in school there was something I really appreciated about punk culture. It allowed me to feel unified with something that was separate from my community at school. Even though I didn’t have a lot of punk friends or I didn’t go to punk shows—because when I was 13, my mother would never have allowed me to leave the house and go downtown to see a punk show—just having the album in my hands and reading the lyrics and listening to the music made me feel like I was a punk, feel like a Green Day fan, feel like I was part of a union that was separate from my situation. That’s really carried through into my music and my dream and my message. But what’s been so great is social media. Unlike when I was a kid, my fans now have a way to get to know each other and be connected through social media so that the culture can grow. And you’re using social networking a lot as a political platform, urging fans to step up in the fight for equality. Oh yeah. I just got on Twitter and I was firing away like I was on the Senate floor. I couldn’t stop because I think to myself, almost instantly, there are 11 million people who are receiving this message from me and they have to know what’s going on. Even if I just get five

—Lady Gaga

weather fans. These are real fans. If you could be reincarnated as a real living monster, what would you come back as? Myself. But I would have all my protrusions be real and I would be a real fairy monster. How gay of you. I know. But she would be mean and fierce, too. And have a fake mole. And I would be able to instantly change a wig with a thought in my mind or change my bone structure based on my thoughts. It’s like a drag queen’s dream. Yeah. It’s my dream. It’s every girl’s dream! (Laughs)

Photo courtesy Nick Knight

people to call in New York, I can make that small bit of difference. If you had a daughter and you found out she was going to be the next Ann Coulter, what would you do? Oh. I’d have to have a sit-down with her. What’s been the most rewarding moment of your career so far? So many different things. It was a very, very huge shock for me when I heard the album sales for Born This Way. I just cried for, like, a week straight. (Laughs) It was seven full days of rainwater tears. I think I could’ve filled an entire ocean of gratitude. I just worked so hard on the music and I cared so much that the fans loved it, and all that mattered to me was they loved it. The feedback of the music and of the videos has been so wonderful. I sat down with the label and I talked to my

team and we talked about the new album cycle and I said to them, “I don’t want for the goal of this to be that we gain new fans. If we gain new fans, that’s wonderful. But the goal for me is to strengthen my artistic evolution and strengthen the bond between the fans.” That was the single most important thing to me. Not to sell more records, not to gain more fans, not to convert people that didn’t like me before to like me now. That was not what I wanted. What I wanted to do was to look out into the crowd and know that they were stronger than ever, and the thing that has been the most exciting for me is to watch that happen, because what we have—what I have witnessed so far with the release of this album—is that the super fan section of my fans has grown. This is basically a dedication to your Little Monsters, right? It’s a dedication, exactly. It’s not fair-

Two of your songs are named after human features—“Hair” and “Teeth.” What’s the next body part you’ll write about? Who knows? I didn’t even think of it that way. Where should I go next? I don’t know. I’ve already been thinking about the next album, though. Don’t shoot me. Can you give us a glimpse into that one? No, no. Stay on this one. We’re not done yet. (Laughs) I am planning on making the “You and I” video, though, and I’m really excited about that. Everyone talks about overexposure when you’re as big of a star as you are. Does that worry you at all? No. You’re just a right or left click away from the other direction. Have you thought about the legacy you want to leave and what that might be? Yes, I have. And it changes and grows. I would say that my wish is to be remembered as a cultural force, as someone who was fearless and unpredictable, who didn’t care what anyone thought about what I have created but only cared that they thought about it. | l |

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

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watermark | event planner

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

Jesus Christ Superstar

Matthew Morrison

Kings of Leon

Venice Stage presents the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar July 28-Aug. 6.

Glee’s Matthew Morrison will appear at the Amway Center alongside the New Kids On The Block July 22.

The boys of Kings of Leon arrive at Tampa’s 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

film [ST. PETERSBURG] 8 Minute Movies The monthly competition for local, aspiring filmmakers returns to the L-Train in downtown St. Petersburg on friday, July 29, at 9 p.m. Participants must present their short films by July 28. The night of the showing, the audience votes on the best presentation of the night. All style of films are welcome, except pornography, of course. Prizes vary, depending on the month. For details or to submit your film, visit TheLTrain.com.

[ORLANDO] Movies Out Loud: Faster, Pussycat! Kill Kill! Come check out Orlando Weekly’s Writers Pick event, Movies Out Loud, an evening of laughs where campy cult classics meet hilarious commentary. On Thursday, Aug 11, hosts and commentators Jeff Jones and Miss Sammy lampoon the film, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Tickets are available online at WatermarkOnline.com

music [TAMPA] Talent Quest Florida 2011 The huge singing competition that pits karaoke stars from around the state returns to the Double Tree Westshore Hotel in Tampa the weekend of July 28-31. Approximately 300 singers are expected this year to compete for a paid trip to the national singing finals in Laughlin, Nev., this September. Advance

Nude Party weekend passes are $25 online at TalentQuestFlorida.com. There is also still time to register as a contestant in one of three categories—Country, Contemporary or Masters (50-years-old or older).

Kings of Leon The boys of Kings of Leon arrive at the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre on Tuesday, Aug. 2, to promote their newest album, Come Around Sundown. The “Use Somebody” and “Radioactive” band will take the stage at 8 p.m. For tickets and information, visit LiveNation.com.

[WINTER PARK] Orlando’s Next Big Thing The battle of the bands finals are Saturday, July 23, when one act will be chosen as the winner of Orlando’s Next Best Thing. The final competition starts at 8 p.m. at The Haven Lounge. Admission is $8. Among the finalists is Whitney Hogan, co-host of the Out N About Radio show presented by Watermark. For more information and tickets, find Orlando’s Next Big Thing on Facebook or visit TheHavenRocks.com.

[ORLANDO] Matthew Morrison Glee’s Matthew Morrison will appear at the Amway Center to promote his debut solo album on friday, July 22. Morrison is touring with The New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys for a nationwide tour. For tickets and more information, visit AmwayCenter.com.

Death of Paris Hadley’s Hope, A Chance of Fireballs and Don’t Cry It’s Friday join Death of Paris for a musical extravaganza at Will’s Pub

on Sunday, July 31, at 9 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. and there is a $5 cover.

theater [VENICE] Jesus Christ Superstar The Venice Theater Summer stock program will bring the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice hit Jesus Christ Superstar to its main stage beginning Thursday, July 28, through Aug. 6. The rock opera based on Gospel accounts of the last week of Jesus’ life stars up and coming senior high and college actors, who work alongside area professional actors. For tickets and show time information, visit VeniceStage.com or call 941-488-1115.

[ORLANDO] Legacy of Light Two female scientists living in two different times face similar problems in timehopping production of Legacy of Light at Mad Cow Theatre. Opening night is friday, July 29, and the show runs through Aug. 28. Tickets are $27 and $25 for seniors or students with ID at MadCowTheatre.com.

special events [ORLANDO] Third Thursday Social This month Watermark’s hottest networking event is heading to Mr. Sisters! The Third Thursday Social runs from 5–7 p.m. on July 21. Admission

is free and Watermark will give away a 1/4 page color ad (value $350.00), as well as other prizes. Mr. Sisters will offer hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Attendees are invited to stick around afterwards for “Entourage Thursday,” with drink specials & DJ J Skinner spinning the best in 80s and 90s music.

DJ Maximus 3000 Summer Circuit Event DJ Maximus is coming to Revolution on Thursday, July 21, for a summertime circuit party, kicking off a monthly series of themed parties on the third Thursday of each month. The event starts at 9 p.m. with no cover until 11 p.m. for 21 and over. Plus, don’t forget the free drinks from 11-11:30 p.m.

Do-Gooder’s Coffee Klatch Watermark’s Scottie Saves the World blogger Scottie Campbell’s first-of-itskind resource-sharing and networking gathering is back. The Do-Gooder’s Coffee Klatch is a resource-sharing event where each month, six participants are given the opportunity to share three specific needs with the others in the group, in the hopes of finding new resources and collaboration for all participants. It will be a monthly event, and Scottie is now soliciting applications at his Scottie Saves the World blog at WatermarkOnline.com. Six will be chosen to participate in the first gathering at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at The Coffee House at Downtown Credo. Future gatherings will take place on the last Wednesday of each month.

What’s Happening Magazine presents the 5th annual Nude–Genderfuc “Sneak Peek” party on Thursday, July 28. The party will have food, drinks, raffles, and auctions, all benefiting The Center. It runs from 8–11 p.m. at the Fairvilla Megastore.

MBA Networking Event The Metropolitan Business Association’s monthly networking event heads to Hamburger Mary’s for August. Hors d’oeuvres are provided, with a cash bar. MBA members attend for free, guests are $10. The event runs from 6:30–9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

[TAMPA] Wieners for Wieners The Tampa Bay order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will host a fundraiser to benefit Transgender FORGE at Baxter’s Lounge on Saturday, July 23. Wieners for Wieners consists of a “hotdog confessional” along with raffles, drink specials and more to benefit the transgender charitable organization. The fun is from 1-4 p.m. at the bar, located at 1519 South Dale Mabry Highway.

[GULFPORT] Miss Gay Gulf States America The Catherine Hickman Theater in Gulfport will play host to the 2011 regional preliminary to Miss Gay America when Miss Gulf States America arrives on Saturday, July 23. The young pageant will relocate to the historic theater just outside of the quaint downtown area of Gulfport to find the right contestant to send to Miss Gay America 2011. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at Glitzaholic.com.

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.

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

watermark | tampa bay out+about

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

shot on site

Photography | by Suzanne Noe and Carrie West

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1- The Ritz Ybor is the place for the annual Battle of the Bands competition, running throughout the month of July. 2- Friends celebrate a victory during Bingo at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Clearwater July 15. 3- (L-R) Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Rep. Rick Kriseman were both on hand during the July 12 Tampa Bay Business Guild dinner at the Wyndham Tampa Westshore Hotel. 4- (L-R) Jenna Becker clements and hubby Ryan clements celebrate the one year anniversary of The Bricks in Ybor City. 5- (L-R) Kim Herbel and cindy Barnes share a smile at The Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg on July 7. 8- Vincent Salpietro shows off the softball Panthers’ first-place trophy while bartending at G. Bar.

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July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

tampa bay overheard Buckhorn helps pack TBBG meeting The July dinner of the Tampa Bay Business Guild was one of the most crowded in recent memory—and that was all to do with the guest of honor, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. The guild invited the new mayor to speak to its members during its July 12 meeting at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel, where he shared his ongoing commitment to equality while highlighting his plans to improve the economy and Tampa’s future. Also on hand was State Rep. Rick Kriseman, who has also been an advocate for LGBT equality ever since he served as a councilman with the City of St. Petersburg. On tap for next month’s Aug. 8 meeting—Alexis Mateo, a finalist in the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

A streetcar named Laughing Cat The vacant space that was once Streetcar Charlie’s didn’t remain that way for long. The restaurant at the corner of 15th Street and 8th Avenue in Ybor City is now home to The Laughing Cat Restaurant, which was situated across

the street from the busy intersection. The “progressive Italian restaurant” will gain square-footage in the move across the street while remaining in the exact same neighborhood it has called home for years. And, according to sources close to the management, the establishment’s famous Italian lunch buffet is moving into the new space as well!

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For the first time, the Miss Gulf States America pageant will call Gulfport, Fla., home when it invades the Peninsula Inn and Spa and the Catherine Hickman Theater. The prelim to Miss Gay America will hold categories throughout the weekend of July 22, but the main competition is scheduled for July 23 at 7 p.m., where presentation, evening gown, on-stage question and talent numbers will be presented on stage of the historic theater in the center of the historic district. Tickets are still available online to see all the glamour by visiting Glitzaholic.com. Last year’s winner, Chantel Reshae, was second runner up at Miss Gay America 2011.

Come see what the sun looks like mid-week. The beverages are flowing, the waves are crashing, and the Postcard Inn Weekday Wipeout is here!

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

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

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orlando overheard They Really Like Us On July 14, Orlando Weekly published its annual Best Of Orlando Awards for 2011. Voted on by Weekly readers, Watermark came in third place for ‘Best Local Publication’ behind Orlando Weekly and the Orlando Sentinel. This marks the first time the LGBT publication has placed in the top three. In addition, Weekly staff gave a special nod to Watermark’s newest monthly event, Movies OUT Loud, with a Writer’s Award for ‘Best Example of Talking Over a Movie Being a Good Thing.’ “Our gay stepsister has turned the tables on cinematic rudeness, placing the talking-out-of-turn at center stage while some of Hollywood’s biggest disasters play out before your very eyes,” Weekly touted. Movies OUT Loud is hosted every second Thursday by comedian Jeff Jones and Orlando drag legend Miss Sammy.

Parliament’s Power Hour Fridays beginning July 22, Parliament House jumps on the networking social bandwagon and plays host to a happy hour geared toward business professionals. Parliament House owners Don Granatstein and Susan Unger, along with Michael Wanzie and bartender Joel Gran, are working together to create a comfortable end of week gathering spot for those with a bit of life experience and business-

savvy individuals in our community. The Office Party boasts a “new happy hour vibe being created with the business professional in mind."

DJ Maximus Gets Back Doored Revolution Nightclub’s July 21 installation of Back Door Bumby will feature Miami Based DJ/ Producer and record label owner DJ Maximus. For his third appearance in Orlando, Maximus will share the decks with Orlando favorites DJ Joanie and JB Burgos alongside performances by Shantell D’Marco and Watermark WAVE winner Macaviti. DJ Maximus can be seen weekly at Living Room Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale.

Orlando’s Got Talent Former Dandelion Communitea slinger turned folk singer, Dani Shay has made it into the top 48 acts on the NBC show America’s Got Talent. But it wasn’t just the singer’s voice that impressed the judges; the 23 year-old lesbian possesses an uncanny resemblance to teen pop sensation Justin Beiber. “I didn’t know who he was until people told me,” Shay told the Orlando Sentinel. Embracing the coincidence, Shay quickly became an internet sensation, parodying Beiber’s songs.

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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1- Universal Orlando Resort surprised guests who attended the midnight film screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at AMC Universal Cineplex 20 with exclusive, complimentary access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter right after the movie, from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.

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2- (L-R) Orlando realtor David Dorman relaxed with his partner Scott Penyak at Bear Week in Provincetown. 3- Orlando Weekly writer Billy Manes (left) celebrated with Watermark blogger Erik Caban at the 2011 Orlando Weekly Best of Orlando Awards, where Watermark won 3rd place for Best Local Publication 4- Lady Guy Disco Diva and Nazhoni Malone strike a pose during The Footlight Players Reunion at Parliament House July 18. 5- MBA president Gina Duncan presented a “Pride Gives Back” $500 check to members of UCF’s Delta Lambda Phi fraternity for use in securing the charter for the new fraternity at the July 6 MBA Networking Mixer at Vitality Day Spa in Maitland. 6- Randy Stephens (left), executive director of The Center, chats with Trish Duncan from Sistas Organizing to Survive (SOS) at their premiere of the documentary Black as AIDS.

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| July 21 - August 3, 2011

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July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

I S S U E

r u o o t e t u b i r t t n s i o l c t e k s c b u e l b e c r u d o n y a o s l t a d c lo hings to ad 101 t ge k har tla ir k y b d compile

he end. Deny it all you want, but it is coming. The ways we approach our own mortality crosses a spectrum that’s just about as broad as how we live our lives. And thanks in part to a certain 2008 film where Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman take a road trip with a list of things they’d like to do before they kick the bucket, “The Bucket List” has become more than just pop jargon. Creating a checklist of goals one hopes to achieve before rigor mortis kicks in? Nowadays it’s de rigueur. Circumstances and lots in life greatly affect how folks approach their demise. The pre-end-of-days’ goals of a minimum-wage earning community volunteer who hopes to one day see the world are likely quite different than the globe-travelling corporate CEO who’s already been there, done that. And there’s nothing like developing a terminal illness, just like Nicholson and Freeman’s characters, to fuel one’s pre-postmortem passions. “I’ve beaten cancer four times,” says Orlando artist Joshua Gerrick. “I have to believe there is

some power that’s decided to keep me around for a purpose. Having cancer go into remission, and then come back, can play with your head big time. The good that came out of it is, it got me back to curating the works of other artists as well as my own photography of the monuments of Ancient Greece.” We asked folks from a broad spectrum of backgrounds what they want to do before they die. As you’ll see, travelling the planet before reaching one’s final destination is incredibly popular. Some, like St. Petersburg King of Peace MCC’s Rev. Candace Shultis, have already filled their pre-parting passports with several stops. The pastor is well on her way to visiting each of Earth’s continents, with only South America, Asia and Antarctica left to go. For many gays and lesbians in particular, however, having the right to marry the person they love is incredibly important. In fact, it’s a checkpoint shared by so many individuals, we gave the topic its own sidebar. If you haven’t created your own bucket list—and considering that death is the number one fact of life, why haven’t you?—we offer some suggestions. Enjoy this enormous list and feel free to add two or three to your own list of goals or share them in the comments section of this story online at WatermarkOnline.com.

1. Participate in an archaeological dig or search for lost ships at the bottom of the ocean. 2. Develop and fund a research team to find a cure for HIV/AIDS so effective that it also cures all types of cancer as well. —Ron Legler, President Broadway Across America, Orlando

3. Win a Grammy Award. 4. Go skydiving. 5. See Asia, South America and Australia. —Sam Singhaus, aka “Miss Sammy,” Orlando drag performer

6. Live in Tuscany for at least a year. 7. Vacation in Paris with a wonderful man I’ve married. 8. Ski the Alps —Gina Duncan, President, Orlando Metropolitan Business Association

Continued on page 48 | uu |

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

AUGUST 2011 SERMON SERIES JOY MCC Worship Service at 10:00 AM Sundays August 7: The Sound of Music on the “Life of Prayer: Climb Every Mountain” August 14: Rent on “Honoring the Body: No Day but Today” August 21: Hairspray on “Diversity: You Can’t Stop the Beat” August 28: Wicked on “Finding Courage: Defying Gravity”

To go along with our Gospel According to Broadway sermon series, we will be showing movie musicals every Wednesday in August at 6:30 PM

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August 3: The Sound of Music August 10: Rent August 17: Hairspray August 24: The Wizard of Oz POPCORN AND DRINKS AVAILABLE. DONATIONS ACCEPTED.

2351 S. Ferncreek Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806 407-894-1081 • www.joymcc.com

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July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

T H E S P I R I T U A L I T Y I S S U E me he finds Buddha’s teachings and meditation methods to be wonderful ways to increase good qualities. Another Catholic priest told me Buddhism was the work of the devil.

MINUTE

KADAM RICC BISHOP

Va j r a p a n i B u d d h i s t M e d i t a t i o n C e n t e r, O r l a n d o

he Vajrapani Buddhist Meditation Center is located off Mills Avenue, just a block behind Paradise bar. But step inside the modest cinderblock building and you’re transported to a space of calm, welcoming spirituality. A golden Buddha dominates the main room, and other statues and shrines give the space an exotic appearance. At the Sunday morning intro class, attendees sit in chairs or on floor cushions, but all rise to greet Kadam Ricc Bishop, the senior lay teacher at the center. A beaming Kadam Ricc climbs up on a small platform and assumes the lotus position. For the next 75 minutes he guides two to three dozen people—some regulars, some first-time visitors—in meditations and teachings. Afterward, everyone shares in delicious soup cooked by Kadam Ricc’s partner of 37 years, Pat. The Vajrapani Center is one of a half dozen independent centers in Florida following the userfriendly Kadampa Buddhist tradition founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. One of the oldest, the Parbawatiya Buddhist Center, is in Safety Harbor (meditationintampabay.org). A beautiful new Kadampa International Meditation Center and Temple for World Peace recently opened in Sarasota (meditationinsarasota.org). Kadam Ricc spoke with Watermark on a Sunday morning before one of the Vajrapani Center’s intro classes (meditationinorlando.org). WATERMARK: There are lots of misconceptions. What is the essence of Buddhism? KADAM RICC BISHOP: | The essence of Buddhism is to increase our wisdom, our good heart and our inner peace. All of the Buddha’s teachings take us to those three places. Without increased wisdom we won’t understand karma—that our actions and intentions create results that lead to future happiness or suffering. Without increased good heart, we’ll continue to act with selfish intentions.

We do this habitually, and trying to satisfy our wishes and only our wishes inevitably leads to problems... in our relationships and in society. With increased good heart we’ll wish for others to be happy, and that will protect our intentions and our actions. Without increased inner peace, outer peace in this world is impossible. No matter how hard and how many people are working for peace, as long as we’re all saddled with selfish and unhappy minds we’ll project that into everything we do... even if consciously we don’t

tom dyer

want to. Geshe repeatedly gives the message that if each one of us finds inner peace, we’ll have world peace. In fact, we won’t have anything to work towards. Is it accurate to call Buddhism a religion? Like everything, it’s empty... unless we give it meaning. That’s one of Buddha’s ultimate teachings. So it depends on how you define religion. If you believe religion is based on a creator god, then no... Buddhism is not a religion. Buddha never said whether a creator god exists or does not exist. He said that until we uncover our own mind and discover who we are, we can’t answer these questions. And if we attain and fulfill our own inner potential, we won’t have these questions. There are Christian Buddhists and Jewish Buddhists. How does that work? Well, I can’t really say from their side. But from Buddha’s side, it’s perfectly fine to take his teachings in whatever context you can best understand them, and even use them to reconnect with your spiritual practice. A Catholic priest once told

What’s the difference between meditation and prayer? Buddhists pray, but in Buddhism we ask for blessings or what could be more accurately characterized as mental inspiration. We’re saying, “Inspire me. Remind me who I really am.” We pray for the mental conditions of confidence to fulfill our path, faith in our own potential, and a belief that we can be something more than we are. We get caught up in our ordinary lives, and we start to view ourselves as ordinary, limited beings. But in the Sutras (teachings), Buddha says repeatedly that there’s nothing ordinary about us. We need to be reminded that we have these potentials and qualities. One of my favorite Sutras says that right now we use the potential of our own mind as though it were the size of a pea, when actually our mind is larger than the universe. In Western religions it seems that prayer is often a request to be cured of ﬂaws or forgiven sins. I think that kind of prayer starts from a contaminated place; a belief that, “I am flawed, and I need divine help to not be flawed.” What Buddhists believe is fundamentally different. Buddha saw that no living being is flawed in any way. But he also saw that all living beings suffer from negative minds that lead them to negative actions and thus pain in their lives. Do you see the difference? One says, “I’m flawed—save me and care for me.” The other says, “I have compassion for myself and others because I understand that we all suffer from negative states of mind.” What was your spiritual background, and what drew you to Buddhism? I was raised Catholic and never had any interest in eastern religions. But when I was 18 I went to a museum exhibit with my partner, Pat, and I stepped in a room where there were Continued on page 45 | uu |

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

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T H E

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

S P I R I T U A L I T Y I S S U E

“IN BUDDHA’S TEAC H I N G S, C O N C E P T S L IKE MALE, FEMALE, GAY AND STRAIGHT ARE CONSIDERED EM P T Y; T H E Y ’ R E EMPTY OF EXISTENC E SEPARATE FROM O U R M I N D S .” —Kad am Ri cc Bi shop

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| uu | Ricc Bishop from p.43

something like 40 different statues of Buddha, all in a row. It was so beautiful, and very peaceful. And there was one Buddha with cloth draped over the front that had worn away. It was a “Wishing Buddha,” and a sign in front explained that if you rubbed it and made a wish it would come true. I was an obnoxious young adult and my intention wasn’t pure, but I rubbed the Buddha with my thumb and said, “Show me wisdom.” Four days later, Pat brought home a bunch of books from a thrift store. He dumped them out, and right on top was a book called This Is It, by Alan Watts. It was a Buddhist book. I read it and it felt like I was encountering beliefs that I already held and that I didn’t know anyone else shared. So for the next 20 years I practiced Zen Buddhism. And then about 12 years ago I encountered the Kadampa tradition, where Geshe has completely removed all cultural bias and presented Buddhist teachings in a context of busy modern lives. When I encountered his teachings, it completely opened up Buddhism for me. Since then I’ve been on retreat with Geshe at least 20 times. I’m getting ready to go again. How did the Orlando center come to be? I’d been studying the Kadampa tradition with a teacher in Tampa, and in 2000 I went to my first festival in England to take teachings directly from Geshe. When I got back, someone in Orlando had submitted a written request for teachings. A Buddhist teacher cannot teach unless there’s been a request, and when a request is received it’s important. You have to try and honor it. My teacher, Kaddam Lucy James in Tampa, asked if I would consider doing a little branch class. So it started on Thursday nights in that little garage at Spiral Circle—a room that has seen so much spirituality—and it just grew. When you look around at this beautiful center and you realize that it started with just me and a box of books in the trunk of my car and a portable shrine that I would set up at the Spiral Circle, it’s remarkable. All of this has come about solely through the kindness and good intentions of this community. No one

receives compensation of any kind. Everything you see here is an expression of the love, wisdom and compassion of the people who come here. It’s manifestation of their spiritual realizations.

U R B A N PA S T R Y A R T H O U S E

How would you describe what goes on inside this building? Here at the Vajrapani Center we want to be able to offer Buddhist teachings across all levels of interest. Geshe has designed three spiritual programs. The general program, which includes classes on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings, simply gives Buddhist teachings for a happy life. Buddhists and non-Buddhists can apply these to their lives. We also offer foundation level classes, which are a more serious study of the Sutras and the Buddhist lifestyle. And finally we offer the teacher training program for those who’ve shown a capacity for dharma (understanding) and want to take it to that level. What does Buddhism offer members of the LGBT community? I can only share my experience. I’ve always been a spiritual person, and like a lot of gay people who have spiritual inclinations, I was kicked around a lot. Every time I found a spirituality that I thought might give my life some meaning or fulfillment, I would encounter some sort of negative bias. In Kadampa Buddhism and in Buddha’s teachings, concepts like male, female, gay and straight are considered empty; they’re empty of existence separate from our minds. So all of us exist in a state of pure potential, and we can choose to fulfill that potential and have a happy and meaningful life, have good relationships and be proud of who we are on our spiritual quest. Kadampa Buddhism doesn’t ask us to hide who we are, or adapt who we are to someone else’s teachings. We are instead guided to express who we are in our spirituality. You can be a gay Buddhist. I’m an openly gay resident teacher in a qualified Buddhist lineage tradition. That’s amazing. | l |

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2011 DOCTORAL GRADUATES OF EPISCOPAL DIVINITY SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS: Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches Worldwide

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11604 SW Archer Road, Gainesville (352) 495-3378 www.mccgainesville.org

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Got

T H E

CHURCH?

steve blanchard

Some affirming congregations go the non-liturgical route to encompass LGBTs

t’s been at least five years since Gary has set foot inside any church. The Tampa man, who asked that his last name not be used, was raised in a Baptist Church in his home state of Tennessee and had always considered himself a believer. But when he came out in his mid 20s, he says he was ostracized and asked not to return to the church he had called home for two decades. “I was devastated,” Gary recalls. “I had always had a church family and suddenly I was all alone just because I had finally come to terms with my sexuality. I was angry at my pastor, angry at the congregation and I was angry at God. I think part of me is still angry at God. Not because I’m gay, but because the people who supposedly follow him have created a message He never intended.” Many LGBTs find themselves in situations similar to Gary’s, where fundamentalist Christian churches take a literal interpretation of a few Bible verses to voice their hatred toward a “lifestyle” they do not understand. Eventually, many find their way to the Metropolitan Community Church. Others, who are not interested in so much structure, turn to other alternatives—and there are plenty. “There is no hurt worse than church hurt,” says Pastor Joe Parramore of New Journey Fellowship and Ministries in Ybor City. “Church hurt is the worst hurt a person can experience. Many times what we see people reconcile their sexuality rather than their sexuality and spirituality together. Their spirituality and beliefs get left behind.” New Journey Fellowship and Ministries is a relatively new church, formed by the merger of Prevailing Word Fellowship and Breath of Life Ministries. The congregation varies by week but can have up to 50 worshipers in attendance at on a Sunday morning. While many in the LGBT community see churches as “the enemy,” Pastor Steve Andrews of Tampa’s The Connection Church says that more churches are evolving to be affirming toward LGBT people. The challenge, however, is to not become labeled as a “gay church.”

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

“It’s a challenge to get congregants,” says Andrews, who became pastor of the Pentecostal-leaning Connection, formerly called Potter’s House Fellowship, in 2006. “We are the gay alternative, or the Pentecostal alternative to MCC. However, we’ve recognized that to be radically inclusive we can’t just focus on LGBT folks. We want to be a safe place for LGBT people—I’m gay, so it’s an oxymoron if I said we didn’t want gay people here—but we want straight congregants too.” In both Parramore’s and Andrews’ congregations, a growing number of heterosexual attendees appear at services each week. Same beliefs, different practice According to Andrews, one thing that sets his church apart from the MCC denomination is that it is non-liturgical—meaning there’s a “free movement of the spirit.” “Music and traditional hymns are big for us—we have a full band,” Andrews said. “Sometimes we also have spontaneous testimonies. Our services start at 11 a.m. and we’re out by 1 p.m.—so we’re not a quick drive through service. But we are an exciting service.” Parramore’s services are similar to Andrews, he says, adding that his congregants seem to appreciate the less structured way in which messages are presented. “I think the world of (MCC Moderator) Nancy Wilson,” Parramore says. “But I think one of the biggest differences in our services and those of MCC are the formalities of the service. We are more charismatic in nature.” While Andrews and Parramore may practice the deliveries of their messages differently than the larger MCC denomination, there are plenty of commonalities. Both men said congregants come from many different Christian backgrounds—Baptist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal—and that they follow the teachings of Jesus. “We understand that Jesus said ‘whosoever,’” Parramore says. “A lot of

the principals we practice and teach are the principals of unity and oneness. It’s just the style of worship where we differ to some degree.” At The Connection, Andrews teaches that the Bible is the Word of God—but that it needs to be read within the context of who it was spoken to and by what the original languages were. “We don’t have people around who go back to 500 B.C., so what we do is take the principals that are there and learn,” Andrews says. “But we don’t take everything on a literal basis. Our church believes in divine creation, but not that it took a literal seven days to create the world or that the world is 6,000 years old.” Too many Christian churches practice what Parramore calls “tortured theology,” meaning they propagate a message of hatred and condemnation rather than one of love and acceptance. “That message is engrained it congregants' subconscious and too often they come to the notion they are doomed to hell and might as well enjoy life,” Parramore says. “It’s sad. God doesn’t see us as a gender—he sees us as a creation he has made. And there’s a big difference between a creation and a gender.”

S P I R I T U A L I T Y I S S U E Other alternatives Connection and New Journey are just two of many LGBT-affirming congregations within Florida. Finding a list of welcoming churches can be done with a simple Google search or by browsing ads in newspapers. St. Dorothy Catholic Community in Orlando is an example, as is Dignity Orlando, Dignity Sarasota and the Gulfcoast Interfaith Affirming Network. The United Church of Christ launched a campaign in recent years declaring its “Open hearts, open minds” philosophy and the Lutheran Church and Episcopal denominations have also reached out to LGBTs. “It’s good to know that there are more and more churches welcoming us into their congregations,” says Gary, who is considering a return to a church. “But I know I’m apprehensive because of how I was treated before. At least there are choices out there and maybe these congregations will prevent someone from going through the hurtful experience I had in Tennessee.” For a detailed list of LGBT-affirming churches in Florida, visit GayChurch.org and select the link for Florida. For more information on New Journey, visit NewJourneyFellowship.org. For details on The Connection, visit Connection5100.com.| l |

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| July 21 - August 3, 2011

| uu | Bucket List from p. 37

T H E

9. Travel the Andes and watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu.

S P I R I T U A L I T Y I S S U E

10. Ride in a hot-air balloon over Napa Valley at sunset, sipping Moet & Chandon Champagne.

21. Visit the Great Wall of China.

41. Wipe karaoke off the planet Earth.

21. Visit the Great Wall of China.

42. See a Broadway show in New York.

—Randy Stephens, Exec. Director, The GLBT Community Center of Orlando

22. Spend six months living in Italy at an old farmhouse, taking cooking lessons in the morning and Italian lessons in the afternoon.

11. Become a national title holder.

23. Learn how to really play the piano, instead of being a “hunter and pecker” on the instrument.

12. Headline a Las Vegas show or a cruise line show. —Alexis Mateo, RuPaul’s Drag Race Finalist, Tampa

24. Spend one month in complete silence at an ashram in India. 25. Score the music for a film.

13. LIP-SYNC for my life

RUPaul’s Drag Race,

26. Do a show at Carnegie Hall. —Dave Koz, world-renowned jazz saxophonist

and be told

27. Lay on a blanket in the Northern Territories watching the lights of the Aurora Borealis. 28. Travel into space. 29. Go horseback riding in the mountains of western Argentina. 30. Spend an entire summer, not working, lounging in a cabin by a beautiful lake.

. 14. Drive all the way around the road along the perimeter of Iceland, stopping in the little villages along the way. It should take 2-3 days. 15. Because there are currently only several thousand Sumatran orangutans and 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, go to Indonesia and chain myself to a tree and stop rich Americans from buying tropical hardwood floors. —Daniel Renzi, MTV Real World Cast

16. Visit New York City. 17. Make one more reasonable attempt to make peace with my enemies. —Patty Sheehan, Orlando City Commissioner, District 4

18. Swim with whale

sharks off the eastern coast of Mexico. 19. Spend a month driving around the country with my wife on no particular time-table. 20. Write a book that no one will read. (That last part’s not really my desire, just sorta the expectation.) —Scott Maxwell, “Taking Names” Columnist, Orlando Sentinel

31. Retire. —Scott Moore, owner Urban Body clothing, Tampa

32. Hike the Appalachian Trail through from Maine to Georgia (or the other way around) with a dog by my side. 33. Whitewater raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. —Candace Shultis, pastor, King of Peace MCC St. Petersburg

34. Meet one new person a day. 35. See an LGBT equality bill passed by the Florida legislature. We gays aren’t second class citizens.

43. Having already served as the head of her fan club for the South and previously meeting her four times, sing with Liza Minnelli. 44. See Sicily, where my grandparents are from. —Judy B. Goode, entertainer, Tampa Bay

learn to play an instrument or learn to make gourmet meals. 59. Be a better friend to myself and others. —Margaret Nolan, Kangagirl theatre/event producer

46. Visit a rain forest.

60. Take a month to explore Australia, and not just because the accent of Australian men is so very sexy.

47. Take the five day via rail train trip across Canada.

61. Rent a decked-out RV, hit the road for a few weeks, and travel the USA.

48. See my name on a Broadway marquee.

62. Swim with the dolphins, because I once had a cosmic connection with one at SeaWorld, and because I feel like I was one in a previous life.

45. Attend a Benny Hinn Healing Crusade.

49. Tour Italy and have an audience with the Pope. 50. Get the special tax evasion waiver for The Holy Land Experience rescinded. —Michael Wanzie, Orlando playwright and actor, and Spiritual WAVE winner

—John Paonessa, co-owner Hamburger Mary’s Orlando, who shares two of the three with his partner, Mike Rogier

51. SPEND A MONTH in

63. Take a trip back to Greece. 64. Take a trip to Spain.

PARIS WITH

AGENDA.

36. Tour Australia and New Zealand for no other reason but to see the underside of the Earth. (It’s kind of kinky but more so adventurous.)

52. Spend a month in a Buddhist monastery or retreat.

65. Have a pain-free hip by having a hip replacement.

37. See an end and a cure for worldwide HIV/AIDS victims.

53. Write a novel. 54. Film a documentary.

—Connie Lancaster, Smith & Associates real estate expert, St. Petersburg

38. See an openly gay candidate win a top Florida government seat, such as Senator, House Representative, or Governor.

55. Host a talk radio show where I get to interview interesting people, e.g. “Fresh Air” on NPR.

—Carrie West, co-owner of MC Filmfest, and president of the GaYBOR District Coalition, Tampa

56. Hang glide off a mountain long enough to feel like a soaring bird.

39. Ride the bullet train to Orlando. 40. Learn to speak Spanish. 40. Visit Machu Picchu in Peru. —Mark Bias, co-owner of MC Filmfest, GaYBOR District Coalition, Tampa

—Tom Dyer, Watermark publisher

57. Travel more, specifically to Australia, for a much longer visit than a previous trip spent visiting my father’s side of the family. 58. Having psyched myself out of trying new activities—be it a fear of failure or a fear of success—take a dance class, and art class,

66. Have a home with a swimming pool. 67. Navigate along the Grand Canal in Venice. 68. Attend a Winter Olympic Games. 69. Make love on a beach in Fiji. —Anthony Barros, Watermark Sales Director, Tampa Bay and Florida’s West Coast, St. Petersburg

70. Obtain a permanent dwelling, a physical building for the GLBT History Museum of Central Florida.

watermark 71. Travel to Cuba when our government permits and also to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. 72. Continue to be politically active in order to live to see this country in full economic recovery and to eliminate corporate control of politicians. —Dr. Ken Kazmerski, President of the GLBT History Museum of Central Florida

73. Return to Greece and have two museum shows going at the same time. —Joshua Garrick, artist

74. Adopt two kids, one boy and one girl. 75. Learn to speak French and Italian, already in progress. 76. Live and retire in Paris. —Kevin Callahan, Director Merchandising, Universal Orlando Resort

77. Saying something important on national TV. Not as an extra or in a reality TV moment, but as someone with an important message that people need to hear. 78. Run for elected office; it would be nice to win but running is a challenge 79. Still feeling the baggage and waspy shrillness of my angsty teenage years creep into my conversations, I want to have the maturity to sit down with the people I love and tell them what they mean to me and how they’ve impacted my life. —Joe Saunders, Equality Florida

80. Participate in La Tomatina, a tomatoesonly food fight held annually in Spain since 1945. (I’m doing it this August!) 81. Swim with bioluminescent plankton in Puerto Rico. —Jamie Hyman, Watermark Director of Online Media, Orlando

82. Go to Russia, maybe during the White Nights.

ONE TRUE

f there’s one theme common among those interviewed for this special section on bucket lists it’s love. Those who’ve found it say it’s happily checked off their bucket lists: Connie Lancaster says she found her “lifelong soul mate” in Annie Hiotis; and John Paonessa says he found “the elusive love of your life,” some 20 years ago in his partner Mike Rogier. For our respondents whom love has remained elusive, they say they hope to �ind it before reaching the great beyond. But unique to many gays and lesbians, apart from their straight counterparts, is a desire to legally wed. Though progress is being made, many in the LGBT community say that simply �inding their better half won’t complete their bucket list. “I hope to have the right to marry the man I love in any city, in any state, and raise a family as two loving, nurturing parents,” says Ron Legler. Randy Stephens desires “a full wedding celebration to the man I love, before family, friends and God.” And although she’s living “a great love affair which continues to this day,” Patty Sheehan also says she wants the right to marry her partner Jocelynn White in their home state of Florida. Though the question of “nature or nurture” is repeatedly asked about the “source” of an individual’s homosexuality, the same could be asked not just of a person’s desire to partner, but also of the reason for marriage equality. Margaret Nolan makes the case for both. “I grew up with parents who were married for nine years before I came along, and were married for a total of 46 years,” says Nolan. “They were role models for me for a long-term, committed relationship. I always �igured I’d meet someone in my 20s and we’d be together the rest of our lives. The fact that I am attracted to women never affected how I felt about building a life and family in a similar way that my 86. Study Noh parents had. I’m not sure where I’ll be living the rest Theatre in Japan. of my life, or if “marriage” will be legal wherever 87. Live in a city where I’m living, but my hope and dream is to be in a I wouldn’t need a car. loving, committed, respectful, and spiritually 88. Visit Bodh Gaya. connected marriage.” —KIRK HARTLAGE —Scottie Campbell, Watermark contributor and marketing manager for the Orlando Ballet, Orlando

89. Go whale watching in Provincetown, Mass. 90. Write a book called “As I Am: Building Bridges Heart to Heart,” intended to assist LGBT people and their families resolve issues or estrangements due to issues around sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

83.

Queen Elizabeth II ( A LT HOU G H IT WOU L D H AV E B E E N FA R M O R E INTERESTING TO MEET QUEEN ELIZABETH I). 84. Meet Lindsay Wagner, though my appreciation of her is special and I have the awful feeling that it would be an incredible disappointment. 85. Have a child; although putting that child first is a teensy stumbling block. But with growth and age and the desire to travel less and sleep more, maybe it will all come together. —Billy Masters, syndicated and Watermark gossip columnist

LOVE

91. Write a book about my very unique family called “Alma Lee and Me.” —The Reverend Robin Hankins, Executive Director: As I Am Institute, St Pete

92. Write a musical. 93. Have a song of mine in a film. 94. Own a home in Palm Springs. —Matt Zarley, out Broadway star turned pop singer

95. Train for and compete in a natural bodybuilding contest. 96. Visit Europe and tour historical sights— especially in Italy, England and Greece. —Steve Blanchard, Watermark Editor-in-Chief

97. Now realizing that my family’s roots are tied to that region, revisit the sites and explore what was missed from my 1989 trip to the then-U.S.S.R. 98. Combine my journalistic talents with my way-too-many years in hospitality into a best-selling book, "From My Lips to Your Food: Tales of a Disgruntled Waiter." 99. DJ-ing for a thousand dancing, happy souls…but settling for a couple hundred. 100. Incorrect in believing any previously attempted relationship was “the one” (and nearly exhausting myself in the process), making the next one be the last one. 101. Having received an extension on most every assignment ever, getting just one more when my own personal deadline hits. But, for all I know, I already have. —Kirk Hartlage, freelance journalist, DJ, Hamburger Mary’s supervisor, and compiler of Watermark’s Bucket List

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

BEEN THERE, Beyond looking ahead at what we hope to achieve, it’s equally important to glance back on what we’ve accomplished. Our respondents have already checked off an impressive list of activities worthy of anyone’s bucket list. Their answers may inspire you, and many will certainly surprise you. Opened The Abbey community theatre in downtown Orlando and had the stage named after him. —Ron Legler

Performed in a hit Broadway show.

Had hot sex with a wellknown porn star. —Scott Moore

Appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show back in the 1980s on a show about gay marriage. —Candace Shultis

—Sam Singhaus

Played golf at three of four dream courses, including St. Andrews in Scotland. —Randy Stephens

Named person of the month by Entertainment Weekly magazine.

Ran first-ever gay pride ad on Time Warner Cable in Tampa Bay. —Carrie West

Traveled with his tea cup to the Great Wall of China, the Empire State Building, and in Moscow’s Red Square. —Mark “Tea Cup” Bias

—Alexis Mateo

Ridden a camel in Dubai and learned how to drive race cars at Toyota Racing Development. —Daniel Renzi

Attended the 2004 Democratic National Convention and was on stage for Barack Obama’s historic speech. —Patty Sheehan

Had her video appear on The Regis Philbin Show and was a finalist to be co-host for a day. —Judy B. Goode

Slow-danced with his lover at Walt Disney World’s Top of the World supper club in 1985. —Michael Wanzie

Ran a half-marathon, learned to ski, and met Billie Jean King. —Tom Dyer

Was the answer to a Jeopardy! question last year. —Scott Maxwell

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame right outside the iconic Capitol Records Tower. —Dave Koz

Ran with the 1996 Olympic torch, and taught English in South Korea. —Anthony Barros

Attends the Oscars, Emmys and the Golden Globes— routinely—and once had tea with Helen Mirren. —Billy Masters

watermark | transitions

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

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Passings

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Tampa’s own RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist Alexis Mateo, right and pictured with Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir and a fan at the Macy’s Pride & Fashion show last month, celebrates her birthday July 24.

Tampa performer A.J. Millan, who performed as Sovereign Rey’al, passed away July 14 from complications with diabetes. Millan was crowned Miss Gay Southwest Florida America earlier this year at Bambusa Bar in Naples and was originally from Miami. A memorial show was held on July 18.

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407.657.4500

Tami Bartels and Laine Clements, owners of Daytona Beach’s All Things Pride, celebrate the business’s fifth anniversary on July 31.

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and St. Pete bear and architect Michael Dailey (July 22); MBA Membership Director Charlene Bell and Orlando ECHO CEO and tri-athlete Carlos Carbonell (July 23); Teacher and Orlando Gay Chorus member Bill Yahner, St. Petersburg Crescendo singer Kathie Michael and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3 finalist Alexis Mateo (July 24); Orlando’s Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel’s Associate Executive Director Sammy Goldstein, Orlando singer Elektra Heavenly and Tampa convenience store manager Rick Patterson (July 26); St. Pete Pride 2011 grand marshal and MCC denomination founder Rev. Troy Perry (July 27); Orlando attorney Michael T. Sheridan, Tampa WMNF radio host Scott Elliott and Grey Goose Vodka regional manager David Chase Harding III (July 28); House of Adonis god Josh Walker and St. Petersburg Network professional Steve Stearns (July 29); House of Adonis’ Joey Clupper, appropriately moniker-ed artist Parker Sketch and corgi papa, attorney and Watermark founder/publisher, Tom Dyer (July 30); God-like actress Elizabeth Murff, Orlando Realtor Danny Veal, Tampa homeless advocate Rayme Nuckles and Tampa vocalist and performer Donal Noonan (July 31); LGBT affirming State Representative Rick Kriseman, Sarasota visual artists and AIDS activist George Box (Aug. 2); dynamite derby girl Kiersten Taylor and former Tampa Eagle wrestler and Iowa’s AccessOnline editor Arthur Bruer (Aug. 3).

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

watermark | truth

dothis!

Don’t nag, but encourage friend in weight loss battle ADVICE FROM

The Truth

Truth@WatermarkOnline.com

can’t maintain in real life. While it’s not nearly as rewarding (or television-friendly) as massive, rapid weight loss, I think we can all agree that slow and steady really wins the health race. Changes will have to be made permanently to Gerry’s diet and lifestyle for him to be able to keep the weight off. I thoroughly reject your suggestion that at 44 years old, he is approaching his “last chance.” That’s utter nonsense. Given current medical science, Gerry’s life is probably only roughly half over and it is never too early, nor too late, to go down a healthier path. Your question is what should you do? Aside from continuing to provide a positive example, it sounds like you’ve done all you can. Already it seems that resentment for your focus on his weight is beginning to swell. While his age does not represent a last chance, it does indicate that he’s a full adult. Here comes the Truth: Gerry needs to be the captain of his own weight loss ship. You can be supportive, but it is also important not to be a nag. That will be counterproductive. As much as you’d like to help, Gerry has to help Gerry. I’d back off on the Jillian Michaels routine.

Dear Truth, How do you know if you’re gay? I am a college sophomore and I have dated girls my whole life. I enjoy being with women—I’m not a virgin—but sometimes I find another guy attractive. I played sports all through high school Dear Truth, and there were definitely guys on my y friend, Gerry, recently lost a football team that I thought were goodsignificant amount of weight— looking—sexy, even—but the thought almost 70 pounds—after he of fooling around with a guy skeeves me started experiencing health problems and mobility issues. However, Gerry has out. I don’t have a problem with gay started to backslide and I’m concerned people—I know a couple of gay and that he will put all the weight back lesbian kids here at school—I just don’t on. He hardly works out anymore and have anything in common with them. I’ve noticed that he’s reverting to some I can’t imagine talking to my friends of his old eating habits. I’ve told him about these feelings, especially since I’m repeatedly how proud I am that he lost probably not gay, the weight and but I kinda need to I try to set good know. Any advice? example—I’m —UCF Guy a competitive At your age, your runner and tennis sexuality and what is Dear U Could Finish, player—but Societal pressures fundamentally erotic Gerry seems and somewhat archaic to resent any for you should be ideas about gender encouragement pretty self-apparent. roles have created coming from a in our society the “skinny” person. misimpression that At 44 years human sexuality is old, I’m really a binary, gay/straight process. The fact worried that this is Gerry’s last chance. of the matter is that human sexuality What should I do? is a continuum from those who are —Hillsborough Helper exclusively homosexual through genuine bisexuality (yes, it exists), to exclusively Dear Hilly, heterosexuality. You are sweet to worry about your Truthfully, as with most human friend, and you seem genuinely invested behavior, the biggest chunk of us are in the in his health. Gerry’s situation is painfully chubby part in the middle of the bell curve. common because people use extreme So the simple act of finding another male measures to lose weight, measures they

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

attractive, or even sexy, doesn’t really say very much at all about your sexual orientation. The true measure of where your sexuality points comes down to what provides you a sexual response. It’s pretty simply, kids: It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that schwing. If by ‘skeeved’ out, you mean not turned on by the idea of sex with a man, and in fact a little grossed out, then I’d say you’re most assuredly not gay. If your discomfort is more about the personal or social ramifications of sexual arousal for men, that’s another story. But at your age, your sexuality and what is fundamentally erotic for you should be pretty self-apparent. This is particularly true for males.

I laugh when I hear a gay man say he didn’t know he was gay until his 20s. If I know that person well enough, I always ask the same question: “What images did you masturbate to in your teens?” Men aren’t very complicated and we have a veritable thermometer attached to our bodies to determine how hot we think something is. If you find yourself spending lots of time thinking about naked men, you might need to ask again. But it sounds to me like you have a perfectly healthy curiosity about other men and can even find them attractive, without wanting to mate with them. And that’s okay. | l |

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watermark | classifieds

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

[classifieds]

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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

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |

Sheryl Swoopes engaged to a man White Sox’ Beckham apologizes wire report Tulsa, Okla. | In 2005, WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes made headlines when she shared she was in a same-sex relationship. The announcement thrust her into the spotlight as the first openly gay professional athlete to come out at the height of a professional career in sports. But, in June 2011, the Tulsa Shock star announced she was engaged to a man. When the WNBA began in 1997, Swoopes was married to Eric Jackson and was pregnant with her son, Jordan. In 2005, she told ESPN writer LZ Granderson that she was gay and in a long-term relationship with Alisa Scott. In that interview, Swoopes said, “My reason for coming out now isn’t to be some sort of hero. It’s not something that I want to throw

in people’s faces. I’m just at a point in my life where I’m tired of having to pretend to be somebody I’m not.” Swoopes’ relationship with Scott had been fairly well-known to those in the media who regularly covered women’s basketball. Many lauded her decision to publicly acknowledge it and the relationship was seen as a change in the overall climate of homosexuality in athletics. Last fall, however, Swoopes shared that she was “in a different situation,” meaning she was no longer in a relationship with a woman, but in love with a man she had known for some time. Swoopes has not renounced homosexuality but has said that “life happens,” and left it at that when asked about her past proclamation. No details on the upcoming nuptials were released at press time. | l |

Irvin discusses gay brother with Out wire report Michael Irvin is on the cover of the current issue of Out for an interview in which he discusses his gay brother Vaughn for the first time. Irvin tells Out that he was appalled as a youngster when he learned his older

brother was a gay cross-dresser. But the NFL Network commentator and NFL Hall of Famer says he has since accepted Vaughn and now is an advocate of gay rights. “If anyone comes out in those top four major sports, I will absolutely support him,” Irvin said."When a guy steps up and says, ‘This is who I am,’ I guarantee you I’ll give him 100% support.” | l |

for inappropriate gay remark wire report Chicago, Ill. | Chicago White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham has apologized for scratching an inappropriate remark in the infield dirt in an incident first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. When the White Sox were playing the Kansas City Royals, Beckham scratched “Gets is Gay! GB” in the dirt. Beckham said it was a joke directed at Royals second baseman Chirs Getz, a former teammate and a friend. “Obviously I apologize and kind of want to move on,” Beckham told ESPN. “Obviously it was meant as a joke but obviously it was in the wrong place and I didn’t mean it that way. I will just try to move on.” The Beckham apology comes shortly after gay slurs by Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson came to light earlier in the day, and earlier incidents involving Joakim Noah and Kobe Bryant. “There just needs to be a greater awareness of when you’re in the public eye,” White Sox general manager Kenny Williams told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Something between two friends meant as a joke? Well, you’re representing not just

yourself, but your team, your sport, your family.” “I’m disappointed,’’ Williams continued to the Sun-Times. “I know Gordon, the man, and I can’t think less of him because I do know him. And I know he and Getz are friends, but we traded Getz and Josh Fields in the offseason (before the 2010 season) for Mark Teahen. “But I’m just disappointed for this to come on the heels of the Kobe Bryant thing.” Bryant used a gay slur toward a referee in an April game and later was fined $100,000 fine before apologizing the next day. Nearly two weeks after calling a radio show caller a gay slur, Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson also made amends. Jackson issued a statement on July 9 saying he didn't mean any "disrespect". "In a recent radio interview a caller got really confrontational with me," Jackson said through a spokesperson, according to ESPN. "I got very heated with the caller, took it a bit too far and did not mean to offend anybody. I meant no disrespect and a better choice of words was needed." | l |

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watermark | gossip

| July 21 - August 3, 2011

billymasters

“Linda Evans was going on about how fabulous it was, so I tried it and it was absolute agony. After he put his prick in three times, I screamed and got out of there. I’ve never done it again.” —I was sure Joan Collins was going somewhere good but, alas, she’s only talking about her one and only Botox experience. This is the first story she’s ever told where she disliked someone putting his prick in her...three times.

O Gay marriages and remakes Billy Masters Billy@BillyMasters.com

f the scores of men I’ve dated, I rarely contemplated spending the rest of my life with them. In many cases, I wondered if I’d make it through the end of the evening! But now that gay marriage is more and more of a reality, I’ve wondered how many people I would have ever considered marrying. Two spring to mind. I’m not sure either of them would have accepted—in fact, one seriously considered taking out a hit on me. The point is, the times they are a-changin’. With the backing of Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York achieved the impossible and passed gay marriage with the help of... Republicans! Since this took place on the eve of the Gay Pride Parade, pandemonium broke out with Cuomo being hailed as a conquering hero. He walked alongside NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who plans to launch a huge ad campaign touting NYC as the perfect place for a gay wedding—and who could argue with that? There’s one NYC couple that’s pissed off. You may not remember the names Howard Koeppel and Mark Hsiao, but they were thrust into the spotlight because they were best friends with Rudy Giuliani. When he was separated from his second wife, Rudy moved into the same-sex couple’s house. At some

point, Howard asked Rudy if he would perform their wedding ceremony. Rudy said, “I will, once gay marriage becomes legal in New York.” So that day is here. And where is Rudy? Ah, that’s the interesting part. He’s on TV as a talking head. He’s making personal appearances. But he’s not returning the calls of his good friends. Interesting, n’est-ce pas? Recently, Debbie Reynolds Desperate Housewives alums Jesse Metcalfe and Josh Henderson scrapped her dream of opening re-team for the renaissance of Dallas on TNT next year. a Hollywood museum and auctioned off all of the step is to show his Johnson! Chris is about to memorabilia she’s accumulated make a porno flick with the irascible Chi Chi over the past century (give or take). One of the LaRue. A few test shots that Chris took have big-ticket items was Marilyn Monroe’s white slipped into our hot little hands. He seems dress from The Seven Year Itch, which went to enjoy what he does, as you will see on for a staggering $4.6 million. Other pricey BillyMasters.com. items were Monroe’s red sequin Gentlemen In our “Ask Billy” question, Randy in Prefer Blondes dress, which sold for $1.2 Maine asks, “Now that The Chase has been million, and Judy Garland’s blue dress from cancelled, will Jesse Metcalfe be returning to The Wizard of Oz, which was snagged for $910,000. The full auction netted Debbie $22.8 Desperate Housewives next season?” Sorry. Metcalfe doesn’t have Desperate million—or, what Carrie Fisher would call a Housewives in his future. But fear not, fans. moderate room service bill! He will be returning to TV next season as Seeing that all this gay stuff on part of the revamped version of Dallas, TV is here to stay, what about a which will air on TNT. He’ll be playing same-sex couple on Dancing Christopher Ewing, the son of Bobby with the Stars? After all, they and Pam. And Metcalfe will have some did it in Israel—and no one familiar faces around. His stepmom got shot, which I think means will be played by Brenda Strong, who it was a success. This inspired plays the DH narrator, Mary Alice Mark Ballas to say he’d be Young. Playing his cousin John open to being partnered with a Ross (son of JR and Sue Ellen) man...that is, if he couldn’t is sexy Josh Henderson, get his dream partner: who played the nephew Pippa Middleton of Edie (Nicollette (Kate’s sister - in Sheridan). My Lord— other words, not it’s starting to sound like bloody likely). As Desperate Housewives: to dancing with a Dallas. Veterans Larry guy, “I would be Hagman, Linda Gray, totally cool with and Patrick Duffy will it. There are other all be appearing in competitions where the show. I guess they have sameno one invited that sex couples. I’d laugh riot, Vicki support it.’’ Principal. Someone who When Britney is branching off might be asking us to into a whole new leave Crocker alone, it’s career is little definitely time to end yet Chris Crocker. another column. Until Do you remember next time, remember, one him? The sometime man’s filth is another drag queen who man’s bible. | l | took to YouTube intoning “Leave Britney alone!” Well, he was Mark Ballas of Dancing With recently cast in a pilot the Stars said he’d be willing opposite Don Johnson that to perform with a male partner went nowhere. So the next logical in an upcoming season.

July 21 - August 3, 2011 |