Watermark Issue 18.25: Heroes by Watermark Publishing Group

YOUR lgBT lIFE.

Gay-penned

ISSUE 18.25 | DEC. 8 - DEC. 21, 2011 WATERMARkONlINE.COM

holiday inc.

Orlando’s

celebrates in Tampa

domestic partnership registry

Rumored ﬁnancial troubles could threaten

ex-gay Ministry

hometown heroeS

moves forward

Giving that will warm your heart for the holidays

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watermark | preview

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

issue 18.25

HOLIDAY INC.

Pg.

The yuletide is definitely gay in this Broadway-style production penned by out Tampa playwright Jonathan Van Dyke. Holiday Inc. arrives at the Straz Center in Tampa Dec. 16 and is an all inclusive celebration of the holidays complete with dance reviews, tales for children and, of course, the discovery of the true meaning of the holidays.

6 | Orlando News

After working for years as a graphic designer, Orlando resident Derek Cavilla is now realizing his dream as a 5th grade teacher at Orlando’s Nap Ford Community School, which he sees as his way of giving back. Photo by Jake Stevens

The City of Orlando is one more step closer to providing a domestic partnership registry to same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike after unanimously voting its approval at a second reading Dec. 5. Exodus

12 / Nation + World News

International, the ex-gay conglomerate based in Orlando, could be facing

ORlANDO NEWS

some debilitating financial woes. 13 / Tampa Bay Marketplace

8 | Tampa News The annual Santa Speedo Run benefitting ASAP’s Brighter Seasons for

15 / Orlando Marketplace

Children’s charity is scheduled to break records in Gulfport Dec. 17; Pinellas County School Board Member Lew Williams, who recently voted to sever ties with the Boy Scouts of America because of its discriminatory rules on

20 / Mail

gay members, dies after heart surgery; more.

22 | Scene+Heard

TAMPA BAY NEWS

30 / Event Planner

There are rainbow handprints all over the new musical Holiday Inc., opening at the Straz Center in Tampa on Dec. 16. We speak with out

35 / Tampa Bay Overheard

playwright Jonathan Van Dyke about the spectacular Broadway-style production’s mass appeal. George Clooney could be staring at Oscar gold for his starring role in The

37 / Orlando Overheard

Descendants while Martin Scorsese’s Hugo is eye candy for adults and

kNOW+TEll

children alike.

56 / Transitions

39 | giving The LGBT community is a generous one, especially when it comes to

59 / Sports

charitable donations during the holidays. Watermark talks with several notable members of the community who go above and beyond when it comes to helping others—and gives them some of the credit they definitely

60 / gossip

deserve. The list is by no means complete, but we hope it inspires our

gAllERY W

readers to dig deep this holiday season to help those who are less fortunate.

62 / gallery W

watermark | preview

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

editor’sdesk W

Infidelity among politicians knows no party. Both Republicans and Democrats hy are we so fascinated by the sexual escapades of our politicians? have been caught with their pants down, literally and figuratively, throughout the When candidates step onto the political playing field, it’s expected that they will be thoroughly investigated by their potential constituents, 200-plus years of our country’s existence. But party affiliation typically plays into supporters and the press. To become educated voters, we need to know candidates’ whether we react negatively to the news that an elected official is playing hankypanky on the side. positions on things like foreign policy, the economy and human rights. When Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) left congress earlier this year because But I fail to see what their sexual infidelity or practices have to do with their he shared suggestive photos of himself on his iPhone, many Democrats were jobs in the political arena. Politicians and political hopefuls have sex, just like dumbfounded at how photographs of the buff, naked representative could have the rest of us. It’s a fact of life and has nothing to do with a person’s chosen anything to do with his ability to lead. When Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) resigned profession. This month, another politician is sitting on the sidelines because we care about following a Senate ethics probe concerning an affair with a former campaign staffer, many Republicans were certain it was a witch hunt spearheaded by what happens behind closed doors between consenting adults. Democrats. In early December, GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain announced that In the 1990s, Republicans lead the march to impeach President Bill Clinton he was suspending his campaign. The man of “9-9-9” was a political unknown for his affair with Gennifer Flowers and the headline-grabbing attention he paid earlier this year until he rocketed to stardom following several successful debates to White House intern Monica Lewinsky. And in 2007, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and a tax plan to which many Republicans could relate. finally acknowledged that his Washington phone number was indeed among But today he’s a “one-time” contender for the GOP nomination and the more Steve Blanchard those called by an escort service. liberal among us are cheering not-soEDITOR SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com silently. Americans are oddly thrilled by the sexual escapades of our elected officials I’m no fan of Cain’s. This summer he and are quick to use that act to unseat them, proved his views on homosexuality are Both Republicans and Democrats even when their performance is acceptable, dated when he said homosexuality was a have been caught with their pants overall. choice, and that’s why he opposed marriage down, literally and figuratively. Why? equality and hate crime legislation. Not once has a politician’s sexual act The Godfather’s Pizza founder stayed been to blame for the death of innocent in the race and kept his popularity soaring Americans, an invasion of our land by a through all obstacles until an Atlanta foreign super power or the fall of democracy as we know it. It wasn’t Rep. Chris woman alleged she had a 13-year affair with the presidential hopeful. Lee’s (R-N.Y.) topless photograph that he sent to a woman on Craigslist that News anchors on both sides of the political spectrum jumped in to share their caused our country’s current jobs crisis, and Rep. Eric Massa’s (D-N.Y.) alleged opinions about the married candidate’s supposed behavior—this after a firestorm sexual harassment of male staffers can’t be to blame for the crash of America’s of controversy about Cain’s alleged sexual harassment of former employees. Is sexual harassment okay? No. Is it right for a married man to have long-term, housing market. We should hold our politicians to a certain standard when it comes to their secret affairs on the side? Of course not. behavior, but to focus specifically on their antics behind the bedroom doors All people, especially public figures, are expected to act a certain way. But distracts from the big picture. Unfortunately, it’s those antics that seem to hold how does a person’s sexual practices or promiscuity relate to his or her ability to too much merit among voters vetting their next political pick. | l | run the country or even become President of the United States?

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Making

WAVES

Orlando says goodbye to

John “Tweeka” Barber

in 2011 FORGE

Florida resident Scott Lope has made exotic animal advocacy his mission—both on and off camera D AY T O N A B E A C H

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ISSUE 18.21

S A R A S O TA

refocuses its future

D AY T O N A B E A C H

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ORLANDO

Readers recognize their community favorites

Michael Smith, Largo's

FIRST OUT COMMISSIONER

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ISSUE 18.22

S A R A S O TA

The first rapid HIV test kit | 2009: Obama removes travel ban on HIV-positive people entering US | 2011: Success reported in microbiocide gel reducing HIV infection by 40%

Citing discrimination, Pinellas Schools

rejects Boy Scouts grant

Florida’s pet theft problem Picking the right pet for your life Become an animal advocate

ISSuE 18.24 | NOV. 23 - DEC. 7, 2011 WATERMARKONlINE.COM

years of

AIDS

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PETS

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

ISSUE 18.23

1981: First cases of “GRID” | 1982: The name “AIDS” is created; safer sex programs begin | 1984: HIV identified as cause of AIDS | 1986: The first panel of the AIDS Memorial Qu

focus on

ISSUE 18.23 | NOV. 10 - NOV. 23, 2011 WATERMARKONLINE.COM

watermark yOuR lGBT lIFE.

TAMPA BAY EDITION

yOUR LGBT LIFE.

ISSUE 18.22 | OCT. O 27-NOV. 10 , 2011 WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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watermark | orlando news

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

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Orlando | More than 100 people watched as the Orlando City Commission voted unanimously in favor of a second reading of a domestic partner registry ordinance. The crowd—many wearing red to signify their support of the measure—gathered at City Hall Dec. 5 for the first of two public hearings on the proposed registry. The registry defines domestic partnership, outlines the registration process and provides an overview of protections provided within a domestic partnership that has been recognized by the city of Orlando. Those protections include hospital visitation, rights to health care decisions, correctional facility visitation, rights to funeral/burial decisions, guardianship and the right for both domestic partners to participate in the education of their children. At the first public hearing, Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed surprise that nearly 20 people requested to speak before the commission. Dyer initially asked whether some of the speakers may want to just “stand and wave” to show their support but later reconsidered, assuring everyone that he was aware of the importance of the issue and wanted to ensure that all would have the opportunity to personally participate in the proceedings. The vast majority of the speakers were in support of the registry. The opening speaker was attorney and LGBT advocate Mary Meeks. “It’s because of Orlando’s progressive leadership that our world will be a better place to live and die,” Meeks told the commission. Joe Saunders from Equality Florida touted the potential financial benefits of the registry, saying it will help Orlando “in conversations centered on economic development and our goal to remain a nationally competitive city.” Vicki Nantz, Meeks’ partner, brought a picture to the podium of her close friend Joyce and Joyce’s partner Claudia, who died in Joyce’s arms but because of Florida’s law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, was unable to direct important decisions surrounding Claudia’s burial wishes. Several speakers argued against the passing of the ordinance, stating that any action supporting the ordinance is wrong and immoral and against God’s will. One of them is a regular anti-gay speaker at city and county commission hearings who fills out the request form listing his name as “Charles Norris,” also the name of a well-known conservative actor and television personality. Norris also spoke against the county’s decision to approve domestic partner benefits for employees in April 2011. Despite the warnings of divine intervention, the council moved forward. Commissioner Tony Ortiz admitted that while his conservative background and culture

Mary Meeks, left, and her partner Vicki Nantz held a photograph of their friends, a lesbian couple who ran into difficulties when one of the women died and her partner did not have the protections that would be offered by a domestic partner registry. | Photo by Tony Ward

initially had him struggling with his decision, at the end of the day he believed it was the right thing to do. “God is going to judge us individually,” he said. “This is not a gay and lesbian issue, this is a human issue.” As he led into the vote, Mayor Buddy Dyer summarized, “successful cities are going to attract tolerance and embrace diversity. This is the right thing to do, and the right time to do it.” Last week, city commissioner Patty Sheehan released information about the cost of a domestic partner registry for couples who wish to be registered. Thirty dollars covers the basic registration, plus it costs $5 for an extra copy, $10 for termination and $10 for amendment, such as a change of name or address. “It goes in effect 30 days after passage, which will be Jan. 12,” Sheehan said. The second and final reading will be held Monday, Dec. 12. “I think [the vote’s] going to be unanimous,” Sheehan said, adding that the registry only covers 5 of the 1,200 rights legally married couples receive, but “they’re the important ones, the ones we always hear the heartbreaking stories about, like hospital visitation and funeral arrangements.” She said once the registry is approved, the city’s work will not be complete. “We’re going to work with hospitals and funeral directors to communicate what this ordinance means,” Sheehan said. “The city is committed to not only passing this but making sure everyone understands it as well.” Attorney and LGBT advocate Meeks said community members are encouraged to attend the Dec. 12 hearings and show support for the registry by wearing red and speaking in favor of the ordinance’s passage. | l |

watermark | orlando news

Rumored financial troubles plaque Exodus Int'l. David Moran Altamonte Springs | The LGBTQ blogosphere has been abuzz with rumors that ex-gay, Christian ministry Exodus International is broke and possibly shutting down its world-wide operation. Exodus International is notorious to many members of the LGBTQ community for its efforts to “pray the gay away.” The Internet blog “Ex-Gay Watch” recently reported about a secret, emergency Exodus International meeting on Nov. 16 that addressed the organization’s alleged dire financial situation and a possible reorganization. According to Ex-Gay Watch blogger David Roberts, in the past few years Exodus has cut its staff and lost some key allies. In 2008, Exodus purchased a new $1.1 million headquarters building in Altamonte Springs. Roberts concludes that debt on that building is responsible for Exodus’ alleged financial troubles, and reports that the primary focus of the meeting was about increasing donations to the organization. Alan Chambers, the president of Exodus International, dismisses the rumors as false and said Exodus is still running like usual. “Our budget actually went up this year with the money that was given,” Chambers said. “We are doing very well.” Based in Orlando, Exodus International is the world’s largest, ex-gay Christian ministry devoted to what the organization says is a mission of helping individuals leave homosexuality through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Exodus president Chambers openly identified as a gay man until rejecting his LGBTQ identity for his faith. He began to live as a heterosexual and eventually married a woman. He and his wife Leslie have now been married 14 years and adopted two children. “I don’t think that people choose their sexual orientation,” Chambers said. For Reverend Lisa Heilig, pastor of Orlando’s Joy Metropolitan Community Church, Exodus closing would be a good thing. “I wish that they would go away,” said Rev. Heilig. “They really serve no purpose because you cannot change your sexual orientation. We all know that is what the science shows. Not to mention, from my viewpoint, they are misrepresenting the gospel.” Rev. Heilig, the pastor of Orlando’s Joy Metropolitan Community Church, said spirituality is not at odds with sexual orientation or gender identity. “There is no inherent problem with being gay and Christian or transgender and Christian or LGBTQ and a person of any other faith,” Heilig said. Rev. Heilig says that the ex-gay ministry is a harmful organization, but Chambers disagrees. “I don’t think Exodus has a hand in creating an atmosphere that lends themselves

to people hating themselves,” he said, adding that he sees Exodus as a compassionate, spiritual community simply trying to help people in conflict. “I certainly agree that everyone has the right to their own beliefs...until it hurts people,” said Rev. Heilig. “Exodus International hurts people and they do it under the guise of compassion and trying to help.” A former Exodus follower, who wishes to remain anonymous, said his emotions are mixed when it comes to the rumors about Exodus closing. He said aspects of the ministry were helpful and taught him valuable lessons about life and his own personal

growth, but Exodus was harmful to him. “I have spent the last eight years in pursuit of a life denying homosexuality. This is how Exodus told me I ought to live my life,” he said. “In the end, I spent much of my time in self-loathing...hiding my struggle from others due to fears of rejection, battling depression and even at times thoughts of suicide.” Jose Jordan of Orlando found his conservative, Christian upbringing constantly at odds with his sexuality so he sought out the ex-gay ministry. “Exodus’ premise for homosexuality is that it is a behavior that can be changed through self-discipline and counseling,” said Jordan. But he said that Exodus doesn’t promise that your sexual orientation will change.

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

“After six years of Exodus-instructed, lifestyle practices, I came to a point where my orientation still existed, and I asked God for answers, surrendering my battle to him, and asking him for real answers,” said Jordan. “Since then, I’ve discovered resources like the Gay Christian Network and great relationships with wonderful, gay men and women, that have helped me be a better person overall.” The Gay Christian Network annual conference will take place in Orlando next month from Jan. 5-8. Roberts reported that this is where Exodus leadership will make some key announcements concerning the organization’s future. | l |

watermark | tampa bay news

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

St. Pete Pride celebrates holidays with Red & Green

Pinellas’ newest LGBT advocate, Lew Williams, dies at 68 Staff Report Clearwater | Pinellas County lost an LGBT advocate on the school board when board member Lew Williams passed away Dec. 3, just three days after undergoing heart surgery to replace a valve. The board’s only African-American member made news in November when he voted to sever ties with the Boy Scouts of America because of its discriminatory policies concerning gays. Instead of the “Learning for Life” program passing with regular minority dissent from Linda Lerner and fellow board member Janet Clark, on Oct. 11 the proposal finally failed, thanks in part to the support of Williams. “I never got discouraged,” Lerner said after that vote. “I knew a time would come when Pinellas County schools would take a stand.” The school system was named a “District of Character” during 2007 in part because of its anti-bullying and non-discrimination policies regarding LGBT youth. While taxpayer funds were accepted to support “Learning for Life” during the past decade, this year the difference was new board members Terry Krassner and Williams. Republican Gov. Rick Scott will select the

Be Yourself

person to finish Williams’ tenure on the School Board. Williams was a former Scout who suffered discrimination as child when required to drink from a “blacks only” water fountain. Because of that, Williams has said he’d been opposed to discrimination of any kind. Williams was born Blakely, Ga., and moved as a young child to the Orlando area. He readily shared stories of what it was like to grow up in public housing and experiencing racial discrimination first hand. In high school, Williams was told he wasn’t college material. But two educators told him they would help pay his way. Williams arrived in Pinellas County in 1970 after getting his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at historically black Allen University and South Carolina State College. His first job was as a social studies teacher at Dunedin Middle. In the next 35 years, he went on to teach and lead schools at every level before retiring as an area superintendent in 2005. In 2010, Williams won the District 7 seat, which includes most of St. Petersburg. Williams is survived by his wife and two grown children. He was 68. To read more about Williams and the vote surrounding the Boy Scouts, visit WatermarkOnline.com. | l |

“Gulfport is a shopping experience you’ll actually enjoy. Our Beach Blvd. shops are 100% independent local businesses with friendly shopkeepers and the most unique selection of gifts you can find. Skip the malls and chains, and stroll through Gulfport instead.” Denise and Maddy

Steve Blanchard St. Petersburg | St. Pete Pride is no doubt recognized for its massive celebration on Central Avenue in the heat of June each year. But the organization is working around the year to raise money for other LGBT organizations and to fund its ever-growing presence. That’s why board members are hoping this year’s Dec. 10 Red & Green holiday celebration at Sunken Gardens will be a hit. “This helps keep the festival free and allows us to give even more back to the community,” said St. Pete Pride executive director Chris Rudisill. “The long term goal is to see this event grow and build up our community grand program.” This is the second year for Red & Green and the first time it’s been at Sunken Gardens, which is a property of the City of St. Petersburg. “This just furthers our relationship with the city and it gives us a chance to explore a truly beautiful and unique property right here in St. Petersburg,” said Rudisill. The 100-year-old Sunken Gardens is an outdoor attraction at 1825 4th St. N. boasting more than 50,000 kinds of tropical plants. St. Pete Pride has been given access to the

Gulfport Florida

Shop, Dine, Stay & Play by the Bay

entire park for the Red & Green event. “We actually began working with Sunken Gardens through our advertising agreement in the St. Pete Pride Program,” Rudisill said. “From there our relationship grew and I knew this would be a great location for our holiday celebration.” The party is on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6-10 p.m. and tickets include a full open bar and cuisine provided by Orange Blossom Catering. Rudisill added that live entertainment will be provided by the Al Downing Tampa Jazz Association, featuring Rose Bilal and friends, Iman, and lesbian duo Sara and Toni G. “We’re expecting between 200 and 250 people this year,” Rudisill said, adding that last year’s inaugural event brought in an estimated 100 holiday revelers. Tickets are $75 each or two-for $130. Only a limited number of tickets are available so those interested are encouraged to purchase theirs early online at StPetePride.com. For each ticket sold, an entry is placed into a raffle for tickets to see Patti LaBelle at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Feb. 1. | l |

• Upcoming Events • Annual HOLIDAY HOOPLA! Street Festival

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Tuesdays, Dec. 13th & Dec. 20th, 9 am – 3 pm

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Live Music • Drink Specials • Pet Photos with Santa • Free Parking Runners in the 2010 Santa Speedo Run approach the finish line in Gulfport. This year’s fun run is Dec. 17.

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Second Santa Speedo Run to benefit children of HIv-positive clients Steve Blanchard gulfport | For the second year in a row, Speedo-clad runners will jog through the streets of Gulfport for a good cause. Nearly 60 registered runners will raise money for the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas’ Brighter Seasons for Children charity by collecting sponsors for the mile-long run. “The money helps kids in our area who are in our programs and are affected by HIV,” said Jay Aller, resource development manager for ASAP. “These kids are either infected with HIV or are affected because their parents have HIV.” Brighter Seasons was created in 1996. Since HIV medication is so expensive and many of ASAP’s clients are singleparent households, the holidays can be a tough time finanically, which specifically affects the children. “This helps provide gifts for the kids and holiday meals for the families,” Aller explained. “It also helps with back to school supplies and to stock our food pantry.” In 2010, the Santa Speedo Run raised $10,000 and had 32 runners. This year, Aller is hopeful that ASAP will meet or even exceed its $20,000 goal. At press time, nearly $13,000 had been raised. “This year there’s a bigger media push,” Aller said. “Bright House Networks contacted me and asked if we wanted them to air our PSA. Of course we do. And there has been a lot of interest in the community about it this year just from word of mouth.” The Santa Speedo Run was inspired by the original run, which originated in Boston more than a decade ago. There, thousands of runners raise more than $200,000 for children’s charities, although none of those

charities are HIV/AIDS-related. “Last year, [former ASAP resource development manager] Anthony Barros came up with the idea for the run and I ran with it,” Aller said. “It was a very grass roots effort and it was really just a bunch of us who knew each other getting together and doing it. This year is shaping up to be bigger.” The City of Gulfport is an official sponsor of the Santa Speedo Run and Mayor Mike Yakes officially acknowledged the run as part of the city’s holiday festivities. But despite this year’s growth, the run will seem very familiar to those returning in its second year, according to Aller. “We’ve made improvements to the donation web pages for registered runners and we’ve had more exposure in the media this year, but overall the feel of the run will be the same,” he said. The run is Saturday, Dec. 17 and begins at Clymer Park at Beach Drive and Gulfport Boulevard with a 3 p.m. registration. The run officially begins at 4 p.m. and ends near O’Maddy’s Bar on Shore Drive. Registration is open for participants until 4 p.m. and donations are welcome at any time. “We’re also including a toy drive at this year’s run,” Aller said. “Anyone is welcome to bring a new, unwrapped toy and they will have their name put in a drawing for one of five gift certificates to area restaurants.” Registration is $25 and the event is considered a “fun run,” meaning it is not a race. Participants are also not required to wear a Speedo—any appropriate attire is welcome. For more information or to donate, visit ASAPServices.org. | l |

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watermark | sarasota news

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

Youth show up in force for Sarasota/Manatee AIDS Walk Steve Blanchard

License # 100011497

Sarasota | As the crowd gathered to participate in the 6th Annual Sarasota/Manatee AIDS Walk on the morning of Dec. 3, one thing was very obvious—the event had support of the area’s youth. An estimated 350 walkers participated in the two mile walk on the campus of New College of Sarasota—and a majority were either students at the college or part of a large contingent of students from Cardinal Mooney High School. That group was so large, in fact, that when a group photo was taken, the crowd outside diminished drastically. Early estimates indicate that more than $17,000 was raised to benefit Trinity Charities, which services the HIV/AIDS community of Sarasota. Programs at Trinity Charities include a food pantry, assistance for pets of HIV/AIDS clients and other medical services. The planning committee has representatives from the Manatee County Health Department, Michael Bach Health Center, Temple Sinai and the Comprehensive Care Clinic. The morning’s walk was opened in prayer by Rev. Charles Tigard of Trinity

Rev. Charles Tigard of Church of the Trinity Metropolitan Community Church opened the 6th Annual Sarasota/Manatee AIDS Walk with a prayer on Dec. 3 on the New College campus. | Photo by Steve Blanchard

Metropolitan Community Church and several local businesses were represented—most notably Walgreens and Macy’s. Along the two mile route this year, organizers set up stops where participants could write messages to the clients of Trinity Charities. Several walkers took time to write words of encouragement and hope on Styrofoam panels placed along the covered bridge crossing Bay Shore Road. The bridge was also decorated on the outside so passing motorists could see “World AIDS Day” and “AIDS Walk 2011” in large, red letters. | l |

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SMART Ride smashes records Jamie Hyman Miami, Fla. | The 8th annual SMART Ride was a record-breaking fundraiser for AIDS organizations in Central and South Florida, raising more than $675,700. Six hundred participants made the annual bike trip from Miami to Key West, a two-day 156-mile journey. Glen Weinzimer, SMART Ride founder, said the fundraiser is special because 100% of the money raised goes to charity. “We give the riders a degree of control over distribution of their funds,” Weinzimer said. “Half of the money gets divided evenly [among the six charities], and the second half, the individual gets to decide how it’s distributed among the agencies we benefit.” Those agencies are Broward House, Metropolitan Charities, the Center for Positive Connections in Miami Dade, AIDS Help out of Key West, Miracle of Love out of Orlando and the Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County. “In a tight economic time, this was our best year ever,” Weinzimer said. Riders raised 42% over last year’s fundraising total of $475,000. “It gives people that are positive a

sense of affirmation that they’re bigger than the disease, it allows people who have lost people a way to grieve and celebrate their life, and it’s a physical and mental challenge,” Weinzimer said. “Once they get into the event, the original reason they rode changes as they start to understand the impact they’re making in the communities we pass and the people’s lives that we touch.” He said more than 7,000 individuals donated along the ride’s path, representing “7,000 people moved to do something” by the ride. The agencies will receive their checks Jan. 14, and won’t know the total amount they’re getting until the check is in hand. Planning for the 2012 SMART Ride 9 is already underway. Weinzimer said 55 people have already registered but they’ve ceased registration temporarily while they close out this year’s event. “I think we’re more energized than ever before after this year’s ride,” he said. Registration will reopen Jan. 1, 2012. More information is available at TheSmartRide.org. | l | See a full gallery of photos from the 2012 SMARTRide at WatermarkOnline.com.

ADAP wait list drops 800 Staff Report Tallahassee | Fewer people statewide are waiting for HIV/AIDS medication on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) wait list. According to the Florida Department of Health, 800 people remain on the wait list, an 81% drop from September when more than 4,100 people were waiting for HIV/AIDS drugs. The program has been in a funding crisis since last year, which led to the creation of the wait list June 1, 2010. The AIDS Institute hosted a Florida Bureau of HIV/AIDS Patient Care Webinar this month which outlined changes to the ADAP waiting list. It was stated in that webinar that nearly $9 million in Ryan White federal funds and $6.9 million in federal emergency relief funds directed toward ADAP’s funding crisis allowed health officials to start removing people from the waiting list Sept. 1. However, the head of Florida’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS warned that the list will continue to exist at least through the 2012 fiscal year. The Bureau initially tried to cut costs by reducing eligibility to the ADAP program from 400% of the federal poverty

level to 200%, but community complaints led to keeping the 400% eligible. The state is, however, reducing the number of medications available to ADAP participants. The Bureau chief also broke down what president Barack Obama’s announcement Dec. 1 that the administration will increase funding for treatment of HIV/AIDS will mean to HIV/AIDS services programs in the Sunshine State. Florida could receive up to $3.5 million for ADAP. There were two other recent announcements regarding HIV/AIDS in Florida. On Nov. 30, the National Institutes of Health awarded Scripps Research Institute a $3.4 million grant for research into a potential HIV/AIDS treatment. Scripps Florida assistant professor Susana Valente is researching a viral protein called Tat, which is not targeted by current HIV therapies. And on Dec. 6, Mayo Clinic in Florida announced that it will now offer kidney and pancreas transplants to HIV-positive patients with advanced kidney disease and diabetes, citing evidence that HIVpositive patients have the same favorable outcome in terms of patient and allograft survival as non-HIV positive organ transplant recipients. | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

watermark | nation+world news

briefs Nigeria Senate approves anti-gay bill Nigeria’s Senate voted Nov. 29 to criminalize gay marriage, gay advocacy groups and same-sex public displays of affection. If the bill is signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, couples who marry could face up to 14 years each in prison, and witnesses could be sentenced to 10 years behind bars. In the areas in Nigeria’s north where Islamic Shariah is enforced, gays and lesbians can face death by stoning.

Russia’s deputy PM supports anti-gay bill Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has reportedly said that federal lawmakers should consider adopting a controversial anti-gay bill that calls for a fine of up to $1,600 for public actions that promote “pederasty, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism among minors.’’

Lawsuit: PA school rejects HIV-positive boy An unidentified 13-year-old Philadelphia boy claims in a discrimination lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia on Nov. 30 that the Milton Hershey

School in Hershey, Pa., violated federal anti-discrimination laws by denying him admission because he is HIV-positive. School officials said the boy was denied admission to protect the 1,850 others enrolled in the residential institution.

VT Supreme Court swears in lesbian justice Out lesbian Beth Robinson, who pushed for Vermont’s ground-breaking civil union and gay marriage laws, was sworn in as the first openly gay member of the State Supreme Court on Nov. 28. The 46-yearold Robinson was one of the lawyers who represented three couples in a landmark 1999 State Supreme Court decision that prompted the Legislature in 2000 to make Vermont the first state to offer marriage-like rights and benefits to samesex couples.

Denmark to approve gay church weddings Denmark’s government said Nov. 23 it’s preparing to allow same-sex couples to get married in formal church weddings, instead of the short blessing ceremonies that the state Lutheran Church currently offers. Denmark’s Church Affairs Ministry says the law change would put Denmark on par with countries like Iceland.

Rep. Barney Frank announces retirement Wire Report Newton, Mass. Out Democratic Rep. Barney Frank announced his retirement Nov. 28 effective at the end of next year, closing out a congressional career of more than three decades capped by passage of legislation imposing new regulations on Wall Street. Frank, 71, won a House seat in 1980 and was one of the first lawmakers to announce that he is gay. At a news conference, Frank said he had originally intended to seek one more term but changed his mind in part because the state’s new redistricting map will move 325,000 new constituents into his district. He said he intends to remain active in public policy issues, including defending

the so-called Dodd-Frank Act that he co-authored in the wake of the financial collapse of 2008. It was the most extensive overhaul of the U.S. financial system in decades. “I think I will find my motives less impugned and I will be able to talk more about the merits,’’ he said. In a written statement, President Barack Obama paid tribute to Frank’s “passion and quick wit.’’ He praised the Massachusetts lawmaker’s efforts to expand affordable housing, defend the rights of LGBT citizens and work to enact the “most sweeping financial reform in history.’’ Sixteen other Democrats have announced plans not to seek new House terms in 2012, compared with six Republicans. | l |

Plea deal in CA gay classmate killing Wire Report Los Angeles, Calif. A Southern California teenager has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of a gay classmate in a deal that will send him to prison for 21 years. Ventura County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mike Frawley says the plea deal was reached Nov. 21 in the case of 17-year-old Brandon McInerney, who gunned down 15-year-old Larry King at a school in Oxnard in February 2008. McInerney was only 14 at the time of the February 2008 shooting. Several jurors said after the teen’s trial earlier this year that he should never have been

tried as an adult. A mistrial was declared in September when jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on the degree of guilt. The panel took a series of votes, the last one with seven jurors in favor of voluntary manslaughter and five supporting either first-degree or second-degree murder. The case had been expected to go to retrial. King was shot twice in the back of the head in front of stunned classmates. Authorities maintained the shooting was premeditated and deserving of a murder conviction. During the trial, prosecutors noted at least six people heard McInerney make threats against King in the days before the shooting. | l |

Top Marine: Fears in ending gay ban were unfounded Wire Report Manama, Bahrain Marine Gen. James F. Amos, the face of opposition in the military to lifting the ban on gays serving openly, now acknowledges his concern has proven unfounded that repeal would undermine the war effort. In fact, he says, Marines have embraced the change. In a Nov. 28 Associated Press interview, Amos called the repeal in September “a non-event.’’ That is in contrast to his cautionary words to Congress in December 2010,

shortly before President Barack Obama signed the repeal legislation. A Defense Department spokeswoman, Cynthia O. Smith, said implementation of the repeal of the gay ban is proceeding smoothly across the military. “We attribute this success to our comprehensive pre-repeal training program, combined with the continued close monitoring and enforcement of standards by our military leaders at all levels,’’ Smith said. | l |

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The Salvation Army has consistently taken an anti-gay stance

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T O N

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before it would provide services and the couple opted to sleep on the street instead. The Salvation Army’s Position Statement on Homosexuality, freely available on the organization’s web site (SalvationArmyUSA. org), is very, very carefully worded, calling sexual attraction “a matter of profound complexity.” Hmm. Not that some gays and lesbians don’t have their inner struggles Regardless of the tactful phrasing, the message is clear: The Salvation Army does not On boycotting support LGBT rights. “Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between the bell-ringers members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy Jamie Hyman as a way of life. There is no scriptural support online media dir. for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com alternative to, heterosexual marriage,” the statement reads. It denounces abuse against individuals based on their sexual orientation and says the Salvation Army’s services are available to all who qualify regardless of sexual orientation. While out for beers a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine ranted about The Salvation Army’s anti-gay practices, so when The Bilerico Project published their takedown, I read it with interest. I respect the concise way the information was presented, but couldn’t help but feel like there is a disconnect between the action boycotters want LGBT supports to take and the message we hope it will send the Salvation Army. So I came up with a way to bridge the two. On the top right of this page, you will find a oycotting the ubiquitous, holiday-time mini-flyer opposing The Salvation Army’s Salvation Army bell-ringers for their anti-gay practices. Let The Salvation Army anti-gay practices is nothing new. LGBT activists have encouraged supporters know why you are boycotting by cutting it out to boycott the group’s annual fundraising drive slipping it into a bell-ringer's red bucket inlieu of cash. If one is not enough, a downloadable for years, but this year there’s a push to get file of additional flyers is also available at more organized. It started when Bil Browning, WatermarkOnline. editor-in-chief of com. That download popular LGBT blog would also come in The Bilerico Project, That stance allows handy should you published “Why You The Salvation Army wish to spread the Shouldn’t Donate to movement to someone the Salvation Army to publicly announce, who does not have Bell-Ringers.” “We help anyone!” access to a print Browning listed edition of Watermark. while collecting a series of anti-gay The upshot is actions by The money it can then that The Salvation Salvation Army quietly use to advance Army does not dating back to 1986. discriminate against The most recent anti-LGBT efforts. gay individuals effort cited was when it comes to in 2004, when the direct services (with charity threatened to the exception of Browning’s story above), close its New York City soup kitchens after but holds a long-standing, organizationthe city required all charities to adhere to wide contempt for regulations that require civil rights laws. In 2001, it fought the Bush charities to adhere to policies that fight antiadministration's grant monies to cities and gay discrimination. That stance allows The states with non-discrimination laws. That Salvation Army to publicly announce, “We same year, The Salvation Army tried to get an help anyone!” while collecting money it can exemption that would allow it to ignore laws quietly use to advance anti-LGBT efforts. protecting LGBTs from discrimination. If you agree, cut out the flyer on this page or Browning also relayed a personal go to WatermarkOnline.com and print out your experience with The Salvation Army. He bell-ringer “donations” stating why you do not said when he and a former boyfriend were support The Salvation Army. | l | homeless, the charity insisted they break up

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watermark | viewpoint

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

I volunteer my time. I donate cash.

57%

top web comments

I donate items or organize item drives. None of the above— I don’t give.

On Dab gardner’s point of view as witness to the past 30 years of HIv/AIDS:

“This is such a powerful story. Thank you Dab for everything you have done to fight AIDS and sharing your story.”

—David Moran

On the presidential administration’s announcement to use foreign aid to promote gay rights: “This is moving, but how the hell are we going to promote gay rights when we can’t even get them here?”

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On Watermark Online’s featured video of bullied gay teen Jonah Mowry sharing his story:

“It’s gone viral since last night! You know something is pushed out by the higher powers as an important message when that happens."

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On the proposed domestic partner registry for Orlando:

“Will definitely be registering. It’s a small cost for some peace of mind.”

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12/1/11 3:41 PM

mail ‘Occupy’ column was way off base

as Mr. Kundis continues to ignore reality while he walks along plugged into his headphones with a scowl on his face.

keith kropp I have read your newspaper for many Sarasota years and have always found your editorial content gratifying. Today I read Ken Kundis’ column titled “Pre-Occupy Wall Street” (Issue 18.24) with alarm and dismay over his ignorant and outright dismissive view of the Occupy Movement. Thank you, Watermark, for your incredible It is clear to me that he must receive most and comprehensive coverage of World of his information from our “fair and balanced” AIDS Day (Issue 18.24). Too often we forget friends at FOX about the fight that News. A recent has gone on for far editorial in the too long and fail to New York Times recognize the ongoing states “everyone need for funding and needs to recognize research to defeat the a chilling reality: disease. One in three The story about Americans—100 Dab Garner’s million people—is experience as a either poor or positive man for the perilously close to past three decades it.” At a time when was insightful, our country and informative and the entire world is eye-opening. That, close to economic coupled with the collapse directly article illustrating caused and the timeline of AIDS orchestrated by made for a powerful the unimaginable package I plan to —KEITH KROPP greedsters at the share with every top of the financial single one of my food chain, I find friends. Mr. Kundis’ views AIDS is no longer to be repugnant, to say the least. considered a “gay” disease, but it is the LGBT I recognize a variety of viewpoints is community that remains at the forefront of the necessary in our society, but this type battle, and thank you for reminding us of how of demagoguery is definitely not what I far we’ve come and how much more work expect in a publication devoted to the LGBT needs to be done. community, one of the most persecuted and Chris Miller discriminated minorities in the history of the via email world. I doubt my views will have any impact

Insightful AIDS coverage helpful

“At a time when our country is close to economic collapse directly caused by the unimaginable greedsters at the top of the financial food chain, I find Mr. Kundis’ views to be repugnant.”

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.

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

GRAND OPENING PART Y

FIElDs ChRYslER JEEP DODGE RAm sATuRDAY & suNDAY DECEmbER 10 & 11 • NOON – 4Pm Fields auto Group is excited to celebrate the grand opening of their latest dealership in sanford. We will be celebrating with a variety of local food trucks; ranging from bbQ, seafood, to delicious sweet treats. also enjoy fun and games for kids of all ages. climb the rock wall, ride the kiddie train, see gator wrestling, or reach new heights on the Power Jump.

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| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

CORNELL FINE ARTS MUSEUM

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watermark | theater

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

holiday for all!

All-inclusive “Holiday Inc.” aims to be new Christmas classic

by Joseph Kissel

ampa | It’s no Christmas surprise that “fun for the whole family” rarely includes the LGBT variety. But that’s precisely what the Tampa Baybased, gay writer Holiday Inc. set out to do. “It’s difficult for many of us to relate to the season because we don’t have traditional families and most stories are about a man and a woman and their children,” says writer and director Jonathan Van Dyke. Although he says there’s nothing explicitly gay about the show—the many

exuberant dance numbers, disco-flavored Christmas hits and characters such as Tinsel Garland and Angel Divine may beg to differ—the show’s message of inclusion makes it a holiday tonic gay audiences can swallow. “The character representing ‘home and family’ makes it clear a family can be defined in any way a person wants,” adds Van Dyke. Tampa-born Holiday Inc., which premiered in 2009 at the Hyde Park and is

making its way to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 16-22, has its sights on becoming a modern-day holiday classic with a national road show next year. “We wanted to do something very different from the standard annual show or A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker,” said Van Dyke, who conceived the story with executive producer Doreen Collier of ESP Productions. “We wanted something for today, but with a timeless feel.” Continued on page 28 | uu |

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

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watermark |film

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

George Clooney and Shailene Woodley are quietly brilliant in The Descendants.

Woodley also tells Dad that Mom was cheating on him…because, gee, Dad doesn’t quite have enough on his plate already! Clooney plays it all with an extraordinarily subtle insanity. He’s not stephen miller one to get mad, make a scene. Even as he Stephen@WatermarkOnline.com tries, he fails. He bumbles through complex emotions. His older daughter pushes The Descendants her distant parent to connect. This little | (Starring George Clooney, hoodlum will do anything to “help.” Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller) “What am I supposed to do here? I mean, what would you do if you were me?” here is a miraculous, gentle balance Clooney asks. Unfortunately—as a perfect to The Descendants. It’s a film example of his bad parenting—he asks his about a family whose mother is daughter’s 16-year-old stoner boyfriend. in a coma, dying, but the script avoids I cannot say enough about the sly humor being maudlin. Moments of quiet, humane injected by artful director/writer Alexander comedy compliment the grief. This delicate Payne. It’s the same balance of comedy little dramedy should rack up some serious and truth that he brought to Election, nominations in a couple months. Sideways, and About Schmidt. Payne Clooney portrays a isn’t afraid of the close-up, even workaholic dad who calls as characters are lost, whole himself the “back-up landscapes of emotions flying parent.” When his wife is across their faces. When these hit by a boat and hooked to moments of honesty hit, they ventilators, he has to corral feel intimate and deep. his daughters. One is the In this thoughtful story, beautiful, spirited juvenile Clooney and Woodley are delinquent Woodley (The resplendent, and so is the Secret Life of an American setting. For lovers of cozy Teen), on the cusp of The enigmatic Ben family stories, this is paradise. adulthood. The other is a Kingsley in Hugo. weird 10-year-old Miller. In the middle of grief, Hugo Clooney must also act as trustee for a huge | (Starring Asa Butterfield, Chloe swath of untouched tropical wilderness. It’s Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Jude Law) a valuable land package that Hawaiian law Hugo is a love song to cinema presented and his family are pushing him to sell to be as a children’s film. Some may argue that developed.

Making Magnificent Movie Magic!

rating guide

Overflowing with glittery fabulousness

Pretty damn good, but it’s no Sunset Boulevard

An entertaining enough flick with perhaps a few holes

Ever so slightly watchable, just for that hot actor

Two hours of your life you’ll never get back

Law. When Dad dies, all Hugo has left is a wind-up automaton, a robot toy that the boy believes, when fixed, will send him a message from his Heaven. Instead, it seems to tell Hugo more about an old toymaker (Kingsley) who works in the train station, haunted by his past. Only the old toy man’s goddaughter Moretz (Kick-Ass) can help Hugo solve the mystery, an enigma linked to the very beginnings of filmmaking as entertainment, art and magic. The setting is rich and intriguing, and each shot is carefully composed, lovely to look at. In fact, finally, new 3D technology is used throughout a film to enrich the entire viewing experience instead of as a quick, thrilling gimmick. Interspersed in Hugo’s romantic musings on film are other love stories. They feature well-loved actors like stationmaster Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), Emily Mortimer (Lovely and Amazing) and Richard Griffiths (the Harry Potter series). There’s even an old man (Star Wars Christopher Lee) who loves books. It all sounds scattered, but one can sense that Scorsese is orchestrating all his own great loves into one story. So is Hugo more for adults? It’s true that so much of the plot has to do with French filmmaking pioneer Georges Méliès (purely for cinema buffs, Le Voyage dan la Lune and L’affaire Dreyfus). Will the kids care? Who knows? However, Scorsese was a child when he was exposed to Méliès, and look what he did with it! | l |

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Screened Out

it’s more for adults, but I’m not so sure. Martin Scorsese created it; he’s a man whose life is now steeped in film, and whose storytelling, as well as his tireless work to preserve celluloid, informs every moment of Hugo. Will children grow tired of Scorsese’s long sections about the birth of filmmaking, or will they, like the rest of us, find pure joy? Hugo (Butterfield) is an orphan, living in the walls of the Paris railway station, some time in the 1920s. He maintains the clocks, a task taught to him by his tinkerer father

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11/18/2011 1:29:25 PM

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

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director A.J. LeBlanc. “Every aspect of the stage uses motion graphics, which constantly changes the look That resulted in the whimsical North and feel for the audience,” he says. Pole-set tale of a holiday board of Adding to the effect are different visuals directors—including characters Hearth for the background and foreground, which Tannenbaum and Figgy Von Nogg— is not a common technique on local stages responsible for producing the holiday or even in Broadway-style musicals, season and helping a LeBlanc said. jaded elf rediscover what And if the show has “legs” like the season’s really about. national producers are hinting, “We have an elf who “The Holiday Inc. will be further witnesses all the stress upgraded with 3-D mapping people invite into their character technology to make the lives when it comes to the images and fanciful holidays,” Van Dyke says. representing situations even bolder. Instead of an aesthetic For the Straz perfectionism devoid ‘home and family’ performances, the of feeling, the show show’s intricate “living reinforces the simple joys makes it clear wallpaper” effect will that come from taking transport audiences to part in the season. “It’s a family can be its fantastical North not how many lights you Pole locale as well as have on your house, but defined in any touch hearts during who put them up and numbers like Amy what that day was like.” way a person Grant’s original song That the holidays The Night Before shouldn’t be a soulless wants to.” Christmas. to-do list, and shopping a That song is sung manic spending spree, are —Jonathan Van Dyke, by the “Hearth and just some of the show’s writer of Holiday Inc. Family” board director themes. Hearth Tannenbaum Song, dance and and played by actress Meredith McDermott, motion-filled sets surround the story and who originated the role in the 2009 reinforce the show’s message. production. “We live in a diverse world, and I think “The great thing about the show is that at heart, we are all after the same kind of whether you’re a kid or an adult,” Van Dyke warmth and hope no matter who we are,” says, “it really is a show for everyone.” | l | Van Dyke says. In addition to the on-stage choreography, the show manages to dance around overt religious themes in an effort to “appeal to everyone.” “This is not to turn anybody off; it’s to WHAT: Holiday, Inc. turn everyone on,” Van Dyke adds. WHERE: Straz Center for the In addition to the inspired, colorful Performing Arts, Tampa WHEN: Dec. 16-22 costumes, audience eyes will be caught TICKETS: StrazCenter.org by the digitally projected sets of technical | uu | Holiday Inc. from p.23

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watermark | event planner

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes will make audiences laugh when she takes the stage of Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Dec. 12.

Bitches of the Kingdom

Holiday Ham It UP! The Tampa Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence present the annual Holiday Ham It UP! food and toy drive at Christopher Street Bar in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Fringe favorites Bitches of the Kingdom are back on the stage at the Shakespeare Center in Orlando Dec. 8–Jan 7.

art [ORLANDO] Eight From Florida Life in the Sunshine State is the focus of “Eight From Florida,” now on display at the Mennello Museum of Art. The exhibit features the works of Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Jose Bedia, Margaret Tolbert, Sandy Winters, Dan Gunderson, Leslie Neuman and John Chamberlain. The artists have all created bodies of work while living in the state and have at least one piece in the City of Orlando’s permanent collection. Open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $1 for students with ID, and free to children under 12.

film [ORLANDO] Movies Out loud: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Nothing says warm holiday magic quite like an epic battle between St. Nick and aliens. Movies Out Loud presents the campy classic, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Thursday, Dec. 8 at Plaza Cinema Café. As always, comedian Jeff Jones and drag legend Miss Sammy will provide hilarious commentary as the movies plays. Tickets are $10 at WatermarkOnline.com. Showtime is 8 p.m. but there’s a happy hour beforehand, starting at 7 p.m.

comedy [CLEARWATER] Wanda Sykes Out comedienne Wanda Sykes will bring

her irreverent brand of humor to Ruth Eckerd Hall on Monday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. Sykes, known for her co-starring role on The New Adventures of Old Christine and for her outspoken comedy, came out as a lesbian several years ago and is now featured on television ads focused on fighting bullying. For more information and tickets, visit RuthEckerdHall.com

music [TAMPA] Holiday MADness Fabaret Join the MAD Theatre of Tampa to celebrate the holidays at Bradley’s on 7th on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. The holiday-themed comedy is a fundraiser for MAD Theatre and a familiar cast of regular theater performers are slated to attend. For information and tickets, visit MADTheatre. com.

Holiday, Inc. Find out what really happens behind the scenes of Christmas with Holiday, Inc., a musical production produced in Tampa Bay by popular actor and writer Jonathan Van Dyke. The play, which now has a Broadway producer on board, runs Dec. 16-22 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. For details and tickets, visit StrazCenter.org

Vienna Boys…to Men Join Una Voce: The Florida Men’s Chorale as they celebrate the holiday season as only they know how—through musical storytelling and a dose of comedy. This year’s offering, Vienna Boys…to Men, a Holiday Reunion, follows the story of former church boy's choir members who come together after many years apart.

Show times are Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1618, at theaters throughout Tampa Bay. For tickets and information, visit Una-Voce.org.

[ORLANDO] There’s Something About Merry The Orlando Gay Chorus’ annual holiday concert will fill The Plaza Live theatre with song for two performances only. There’s Something About Merry starts at 7:35 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10 and 4:35 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets run from $10-$30 and are available at OrlandoGayChorus.org.

An Evening on Broadway: Have Yourself a Merry little Broadway Upstage Productions presents a concert of Christmas classics and Broadway hits Dec. 8, 9, 14 and 15, all benefiting The Center. Each performance starts at 8:30 p.m. at The Center. Tickets are $15, $13 for students and seniors. For further information and reservations, call 407-8085195.

theater [ORLANDO] Bitches of the Kingdom Fringe favorites Bitches of the Kingdom are back on the stage at the Shakespeare Center. The musical comedy about disenchanted fairy tale princesses runs Dec. 8–Jan 7, various evenings and times. A full schedule and tickets are available at DisenchantedPrincesses.com. Tickets are $20.

dance [ORLANDO] The Nutcracker The Orlando Ballet presents visions of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Cavelier, the Snow King and much more as the company rings in the holiday season with its annual presentation of The Nutcracker. Performances run Dec. 15–18 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. Tickets start at $25 and are available at OrlandoBallet. org.

special events [ORLANDO] Santa’s Slay Belles vs. The NutcrackHers Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls present a special holiday-themed mixed-league game: Santa’s Slay Belles vs. The NutcrackHers, The battle begins at midnight Dec. 10 at Semoran Skateway, doors open at 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance online or from your favorite derby girl, $13 at the door. The league’s benefit charity for the game is the Joy MCC food pantry—a canned good or non-perishable food item gets derby fans $3 off the at-thedoor ticket price. Spectators are invited to wear their loudest, cheesiest holiday sweaters—the tackiest gets a fabulous gift basket at halftime. More info is available at OrlandoDerbyGirls.com.

[ST. PETERSBURG] Red & green

Sunken Gardens at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10. The event will feature the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, tours of the historic gardens, food and an open bar. Tickets are $20 and are available online at StPetePride.com.

Holiday Ham it UP! Sister Monica Muffdiver of the Tampa Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence presents her annual Holiday Ham It UP! food and toy drive at Christopher Street Bar on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 p.m. Sister Monica will be joined by local entertainers Teddy D, Kori Stevens, Jaeda Fuentes, The Orlando Sisters, The Tampa Bay Sisters and more. Bring canned food and unwrapped toys to benefit Metro Wellness Community Centers, ASAP and Francis House.

FORgE Holiday light Tour Join FORGE for a two-hour Holiday Light Tour through the magnificent neighborhoods near the Gulf Beaches on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 5:30-8 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and benefit FORGE. Participants are encouraged to dress in holiday fashions or costumes and to bring their own refreshments, including alcohol. Seating is limited to only 30 people, so RSVP ASAP to Lauren at 813-629-5338.

[GULFPORT] Santa Speedo Run The Second Annual Santa Speedo Run is scheduled for 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, in Gulfport. The one-mile fun run for charity benefits the Brighter Seasons for Children charity affiliated with the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas. Registration is 3 p.m. and Speedos are not required to participate. For more information or to donate, visit ASAPServices.org.

St. Pete Pride will hold its second annual holiday celebration and fundraiser at

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.

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1- New York City performer Sherry Vine brought her parodies to Sawmill Campground’s Woody’s Nightclub Dec. 3 as part of the Dade City property’s Managers’ Ball.

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2- Paul Thomas and Judy B. Goode show off their WAVE Awards during a recent show at Liquid Lounge in Ybor City. 3- Who says all of Santa’s elves are tiny? This large elf was spotted spreading the holiday cheer at The Ritz Ybor during Miracle on 7th Avenue Dec. 1. 4- These two walkers take a moment to relax at New College Sarasota before walking the 2-mile Sarasota/Manatee AIDS Walk on Dec. 3. 5- Sofonda Cox took the stage at Sawmill momentarily to help raise money for the Pasco World AIDS Day Committee on Dec. 3. 6- (L-R) The Kinsey Sicks (Trampolina, Rachel, Trixie and Winnie) had a packed house laughing at the Straz Center on Dec. 2 with their Oy Vey in a Manger.

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tampa bay overheard Sawmill shows charitable side at Managers’ Ball The spirit of giving was definitely thriving at the Sawmill Campground in Dade City the weekend of Dec. 3. The annual Managers’ Ball, which featured performances by parody queen Sherry Vine and performers of Talent Quest Florida, brought out a large crowd and filled the coffers for charity. More than $2,000 was raised in just one night for Pasco County’s World AIDS Day Committee. “These fabulous Talent Quest singers are performing beautifully and I’m getting up here to sing songs about cocks and poo,” Vine told the audience before her 45-minute set. The generous attendees were pushed to dig deep by the incredible powers of persuasion of local diva Sofonda Cox, who took to the fabulously holiday decorated stage and agreed to match whatever total was donated as she walked around with the donation jar. “My husband is going to kill me,” Cox was heard joking as she collected $10 and $20 bills from the enthusiastic crowd. Fortunately, when seen the next day, Cox and her husband were both all smiles and the charitable trend continued into a Sunday morning Gospel Brunch.

Oy Vey, were they funny! The “girls” of The Kinsey Sicks were riotous on the stage of Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center on Dec. 2, and played to an almost completely packed theater. The dragapella group—featuring Trampolina, Trixie, Winnie and Rachel, parodied and lampooned well-known holiday tunes with a cappella perfection. Every tune seemed to have the audience doubled over with laughter, but some of the more memorable songs were the girls’ take on “Santa, Baby” (“Satan’s Baby”), “God Bless Ye Femmy Lesbians” (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”) and “Crystal Time in the City” (“Silver Bells”). The crowd really came alive when Tampa lawyer Matt Bachman was pulled onto stage by “Rachel” and became the subject of her “Where the Goys Are.” The handsome, blond Bachman played along well and ended the number on a chair with the hilarious performer planted squarely on his lap and ready for a nap. All four members of The Kinsey Sicks stuck around after the show to take photos with fans and sell their swag, which Rachel pointed out was on sale “at full price.”

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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| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

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orlando overheard My Fair Lady GUY Everyone’s favorite Disco Diva has been hustling all over town and has some big projects coming up with some big news for 2012. Most recently, Lady GUY contributed a story to Drag Stories, a fundraising book for MillionHugs.com. He can soon be seen in the Leigh Shannon movie, filmed here in Orlando, My Fair Lidy. LG also told Watermark about a pilot he taped for a possible new reality show coming to Central Florida. “I have not told anybody about the next big thing,” says LG, but he assures all will be revealed in January. The singular spectacled superstar has been in Orlando more than a decade and has built a name by being the party-starter at nightclubs throughout Central Florida, including Parliament House and Revolution.

Turkey Burglars Someone must really like turkey. Sometime overnight on Monday Nov. 21, 25 turkeys were stolen from a food truck outside JoyMCC. The turkeys were part of the church’s yearly food bag stuffing for the less fortunate. Rev. Lisa Heilig of Joy MCC said they were stunned but didn’t want to call the police. The only thing they could think of was that one of the three doors on the truck

was unlocked since there were no signs of a break-in. “All we can hope is that whoever took them really needed them,” she said. Instead of dwelling, parishioners went to Publix and purchased 25 more birds in order to ensure that all of the 350 bags would be filled. “We lived up to our commitments and trekked on,” said Heilig. For the past 19 years, Joy MCC has been creating their Bags of Joy. “We appreciate all of the great support from our community.”

A Cracked Christmas Carol Beginning Nov. 17, Wanzie’s GLITTERING A STAR-STUDDED A CHRISTMAS CAROL: A Dickens Inspired Celebrity Cavalcade Holiday Spectacle graces the Footlight Theater at Parliament House once again. Audiences are treated to a one-of-a-kind on stage debacle when the stars of the show (some living, some dead), all inappropriate in manner and dress, refuse to completely divest themselves of their Hollywood and Broadway personas as they attempt to embody the characters created by Charles Dickens. Outlandish musical numbers and irrepressible improvisation abound thanks to Michael Wanzie, Carol Lee, Miss Sammy, Doug Da’aser and Gidget Galore. For tickets, visit Wanzie.com

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

John R. Dickson, OW N E R

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shot on site Photography | Scott McCauley, Brion Price, Drew Sizemore and Randy Stephens

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Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

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1- (L-R) Andrew Springer, Ron Legler, Sibille Hart Prtichard, and Joey-Lynn Mann got their culture on at the Orlando Ballet’s Uncorked! event, Dec. 5 at The Abbey. 2- (L-R) Jesse Matney, Clay Emerson (back), David Dorman and Scott Penyak escaped the slightly chiller Florida weather on the 2011 Post-Thanksgiving Pied Piper cruise. 3- Doug Prince, left, celebrated his 60th birthday and hosted a holiday party with his partner, John Abbott, at their home Dec. 3. 4- Miss Sammy (left) as Joan Crawford playing Mrs. Cratchit, terrified Gidget Galore as Liza Minelli playing Tiny Tim in Wanzie’s Star-Studded Glittering A Christmas Carol, playing at the Parliament House’s Footlight Theatre through Dec. 17. 5- Spiritual leaders from a number of different faiths and organizations participated in the Dec. 1 World AIDS Day service at St. Luke’s Methodist Church. 6- (L-R) Jeff Jones, Michael Wanzie, Frank Arcidiacono and Joe Clark stopped by the Big 810 AM studio to promote their various holiday programs on The Qiew Dec. 3.

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watermark | heroes

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

hometown heroes

In time for the Holidays, Watermark, spotlights people and businesses whose accomplishments will warm your heart. Happily, our collection is by no means comprehensive. There are a lot of good deeds going on. If you know someone that belongs in this group, let us know. We’re already making our list for next year.

A legacy that lasts

At 30, Derek Cavilla changed careers. Now he’s changing lives.

Tom Dyer

rlando | Its 11:30 in the morning and a dozen 5th graders have gathered outside their classroom after an early lunch. Like all 150 students at the Nap Ford Community School in downtown Orlando, they’re wearing the school uniform: a white or gold monogrammed shirt and dark pants. But that’s where the similarity ends. Two of the girls—one with an African hair wrap, the other sporting a multi-color weave—are attentive, hands on backpacks ready for the unloading. Some of the boys are roughhousing. Others lean against the wall, the picture of post-lunch lethargy… until they hear a familiar voice. “Okay everybody, I should see a single line with no voices,” Mr. Cavilla

says with equal doses of discipline and encouragement. “Are we ready to dive into some science?” Inside, the classroom is an explosion of learning resources. Bright yellow and blue walls are covered with charts, timelines and illustrations. Posters of prominent African Americans highlight character traits like courage (Rosa Parks) and fairness (Thurgood Marshall). A reading area contains stacked shelves filled with well-worn books. “Words of the Week” listed on the blackboard include “impulsive,” “obliterate,” “cumbersome” and “cajole”—heady stuff for 11-year-olds. And on the front of Mr. Cavilla’s desk, poignant personal goals are written on hand cutouts: “Be better at science and not be bad,” “Follow directions and don’t fight,” “Learn as much as I can,” “Pass the FCAT.”

Mr. Cavilla created this safe, stimulating environment for kids he’s grown to love, and his students know it. “These kids need a good teacher like me, and I need them,” Cavilla shares after class. “Every day I watch them learn. I see their faces and I know they appreciate what I do for them. They’re the fulfillment of my dream.” Career to Classroom Derek Cavilla grew up poor but precocious. His parents divorced when he was in 1st grade, and his mother worked two—sometimes three—jobs to keep the family afloat. Little Derek benefited from Orange County’s free lunch program throughout elementary school. By 17 Cavilla had graduated from high school and been admitted to an Ivy League university. But he also had a

promising job in Orlando, so he moved in with an older, more established boyfriend and pursued a career as a creative designer. A brief stint at UCF lasted less than a week—wrong time, wrong place. Three years later he met his current life partner, Terry Roberts, an administrator with Orlando Regional Medical Center. At 21, Cavilla was hired as Watermark’s creative director. He took on a few advertising clients on the side, and in time had enough business to open his own design agency. He was soon pulling in six figures, living in Eola Heights, driving a BMW and traveling to Europe. He was born beating the curve, so it’s no surprise that Cavilla hit his mid-life crisis early. “Something happened to me when Continued on page 54 | uu |

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

watermark | heroes

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

A Minute With

Scottie Campbell

blogger and philanthropist Jamie Hyman

rlando | Not to toot our own horn, but Watermark is very proud to work so closely with Scottie Campbell, who by day is employed by the Orlando Ballet, but is an incredible philanthropist and blogger in his spare time. Mostly known in theater circles, Campbell has been a contributor to Watermark as a blogger for two years and as a contributing writer for even longer. But through his connections in the entertainment industry and his dedication to helping others, he has helped raise money and awareness for a variety of causes. Rather than assigning him more work for a change, we contacted Campbell about his good deeds and asked his take on how others can get on the charitable bandwagon:

WATERMARK: Your blog on WatermarkOnline.com, “Scottie Saves the World,” is all about philanthropy. What made you want to focus on giving back? SCOTTIE CAMPBELL: Somehow, I’ve always had the urge to give back in me, though it may not have been as obvious. Much of my background is in theatre and my motivation for getting into it was to change the world. It’s a flaw in my character that I entered the field anticipating that my colleagues had the same altruistic, activist motives. What I found was largely the opposite, and I still work through a great deal of disillusionment with a craft that is so much a part of me. When Watermark approached me to write a blog, I had just finished Bill Clinton’s book Giving. I closed that book knowing I needed to do more; feeling like all of humanity would participate in the

important project of improving our world, if they just knew some of the simple things that could be done. Maybe I could be the person to tell them. “Scottie Saves the World” is more than two years old, and you’ve participated in dozens of charity-based projects in that time. In your view, which project has been the most successful and why? Participating in Movember has easily been the most successful. I couldn’t have asked for a better charity to help and I think SSTW supporters feel the same way. Through the uniquely masculine act of growing a moustache, men all over the world are calling attention to men’s cancers. There’s a camaraderie to it, yet at the same time it’s silly. I’ve done it three times now and each time there are more and more people participating. For SSTW, it started with me and just one god-awful Fu Manchu [style mustache]. The next year we had a team; then this year we had events at Mother Falcon Clothing, Dechoes Resale, and an Orlando Derby Girls game. My wheels are turning to make our participation even better next year. In this economic climate, there is tremendous pressure for people to work harder and longer for fewer rewards. How do you motivate people to spend precious off-time giving back? You hit the nail on the head with “fewer rewards.” I think many of us are caught in jobs that aren’t rewarding beyond paying the bills, so volunteering for a non-government organization (NGO) can provide the rewards that you might not find in our career. The economic climate has also provided us with some perspective, showing us how close we are to needing charitable services.

There are families receiving the services of Coalition for the Homeless, for example, that never dreamed they’d need it until they lost their jobs and had the bank jerk their lives right out from under them. Hopefully we’ve all become reacquainted with a truth so correct, it’s cliché: We’re all in this together. The only way I know to motivate people is to do what I’m doing and hope that it gives them ideas. Sometimes that doesn’t work, but a lot of times it does. My partner Brendan and I keep our lives full with work, school, and projects, but we consider ourselves lazy. Looking ahead to 2012, what new projects do you have planned for Scottie Saves the World? Which one are you most excited about? I’m sure there will be some new things cropping up, but my main focus is on making some of the current projects better. A good example is The Do-Gooder’s Coffee Klatch we started this year. It’s a unique resource-sharing, networking gathering for non-profits and other do-gooders and, by all counts, it’s been a success. More people need to know about it, so I want to look at ways of getting the word out. Beyond that, I

want to find ways of getting people all over to have their own klatches. What is the most rewarding feedback you’ve gotten as a result of a Scottie Saves the World project? Somehow, I forget that people read SSTW, so I’m always surprised when someone makes a reference to it and I can feel myself blush. I have a few people who actually greet me with, “Scottie Saves the World!” No feeling can replace people telling me that they are doing a fundraiser or volunteering because they were inspired by a SSTW project. Since that’s the whole point, it’s kind of funny that I don’t usually know how to react and tend to wave off the notion. If people want to contribute to, or benefit from, any upcoming projects, how can they do so? Read my blog on WatermarkOnline.com, like Facebook.com/ScottieSavesTheWorld, or follow me on Twitter @CampScottie. | l |

Make your reservation for the January Do-Gooder’s Coffee Klatch today at WatermarkOnline.com!

watermark | heroes

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

Steve Wessels and Jeff Baker Tampa | Anyone who has attended an event for the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival have seen the familiar faces of Jeff Baker and Steve Wessels. For years, the power couple of Tampa have given to the 22-year-old festival, whether it is financially or by donating their time. Both men helped organize this year’s party launching TIGLFF’s program at Mise en Place and are also regulars at the event’s galas and other fundraising events. But the two’s generosity goes beyond LGBT film. The men have opened their Tampa home to several political candidates who are committed to fighting for LGBT equality on the state and national level and have given generously to organizations in the same fight, such as Equality Florida.

Andy and Sasha Citino St. Petersburg | For the past year, Andy and Sasha Citino have stayed busy running their popular 6S Boutique on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Despite their demanding schedules, both remain committed to raising awareness and helping organize fundraisers for transgender causes and groups. Most recently, the pair helped facilitate the “Diversity on the Runway” fashion show held at the Gulfport Casino, which benefited the F2M Fund. Many in the entertainment world know Andy Citino by his stage name, 6-Pak, which he continues to use for special appearances. He and Sasha married three years ago in Las Vegas and lived in the entertainment capital for a year before returning to Tampa Bay. Today, their 6S Boutique sells clothing, makeup and other necessities to Florida’s drag and entertainment community. For details visit 6SBoutique.com.

Normie and Scott Dunn Tampa Bay | Even though they are a straight, married couple, Normi and Scott Dunn have become staples within the LGBT community of Tampa Bay. The karaoke jockeys, who own Lifestyle Entertainment, are seen at Club City Side, Blur, Christopher Street and many other locales as they pipe music for the talented and sometimes just brave karaoke junkies of the area. When they’re not running karaoke, the pair use their talents in other arenas as well, providing sound for charitable events like AIDS Walk St. Petersburg. What may come as a surprise to some, however, is what the couple do away from the soundboards, computers and microphones. Each year the Dunns raise money and seek donations for the “Bedrolls and Backpacks” programs, which benefit Tampa Bay’s homeless population. The sleeping bags, blankets and bags full of toiletries are donated on both sides of the bay; and both Dunns deliver the goods personally to those who need it the most. For more information or to donate to their charity, visit StorminNormie.com.

For Garry Allan Bruel, theater is an educational tool for HIV/AIDS education Stephen Miller

t. Petersburg | The first two things one notices when talking with Garry Allan Bruel are his lightning-fast delivery and his passion. It’s that energy and enthusiasm that drove him to create Suncoast AIDS Theatre Project (SATP) over 10 years ago. When asked about how he got involved in presenting AIDS plays and raising funds and awareness for people with AIDS, Bruel replies, “I cut my teeth at the Asolo Theatre in 1985. We were doing As Is [a famous AIDS play], and the lights were already dark for the start of the play, and all of a sudden all of these people were coming in late—every performance people would be finding their seats at the last minute, and then they’d leave before the bows. It was an AIDS play and a gay play, and people in Sarasota were embarrassed to be seen there. But even with their embarrassment, they were learning

about AIDS, so I thought that this was a great way to inform people and start the discussion.” “In 2002, I wandered over to a place called Bethesda House. It was at that time a Catholic Charities organization run by Sister Francis, who was amazing,” Bruel recalls. “They were doing local AIDS panels for the quilt, and they were hosting PWA dinners. So I took a bunch of scripts to hold a public reading, give people something to do besides take their meal and go home. About a year after starting that, people were saying, ‘We should put these plays on.’ So we did 10 or 15 minutes of our own stuff—stuff the guys and gals wrote—and then we’d do a big play like As Is or Jeffrey.” However, in order to attract more audiences and inform more people, Bruel has changed many of the performances to entertaining cabarets. They concentrate on famous gay legends like Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland. “We still make it about AIDS,

and all the money goes to PWAs,” he says. “None of the actors or performers get paid. We don’t make a lot, maybe $2,000 or $3,000 a show, but it all goes where it’s needed. I’ve had no shortage of performers volunteering.” Bruel still has plans for how to grow SATP. “I’d love to take shows into Central Florida,” he says. “Students call me from colleges and ask me to help them produce and raise awareness there. There are so many people needing help. Maybe they don’t have enough insurance to cover everything.” He also reaches out to the newly diagnosed, many of them young men and women who don’t know where to turn. “I’m so gratified that I am not one of those who have passed away from this disease,” he says, “so I can never do enough.” Bruel encourages people to learn about SATP and donate to this 501c3. Information is on Facebook. | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

watermark | heroes

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

The Oar House/Pepperz Gulfport | From the outside, the two non-assuming bars on opposite sides of the intersection of Gulfport Boulevard and 49th Street South look like most of the other buildings around. They aren’t brightly colored or obnoxious in any way, but the charity that flows from both locations is almost unmatched in the Tampa Bay area. Much like the buildings in which he operates his businesses, John Monlitore is quiet and reserved when it comes to talking about the bars’ charitable deeds. But that doesn’t mean his efforts go unnoticed. Throughout the year the Oar House holds fundraisers and special food drives to benefit the clients of the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas. Its popular bingo night also helps LGBT charities throughout the area continue their fights for equality and to service the individuals needing their help. Manager Verena Alvarado has long been a supporter of ASAP, and has personally taken on causes for the charity. For details on both clubs, search for The Oar House Bar on Facebook.

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Statewide | Whether it’s the Tampa Bay or Orlando Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the nuns in white face are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to charitable causes and donations. The two groups, inspired by the original Sisters of San Francisco that debuted in 1979, are seen every weekend at bars, churches and events raising money and awareness for a variety of LGBT-specific causes. The Tampa Bay Order was founded in 2004 and has only increased in numbers in its seven year existence. In 2009, Orlando followed suit and the Orlando Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were born. Today both orders, which are actually community organizations, work tirelessly to raise money for a number of charities, although most of them are HIV/AIDS related causes. For more information on both orders—and even a link to the South Florida chapter—visit FLSisters.org.

Eddie Nickell and Nicholas Olivieri Orlando | In just a few short years, Eddie Nickell and Nicholas Olivieri have made quite the impact on Orlando’s LGBT community. Not only does the couple own a successful chain of restaurants—The Funky Monkey, Bananas and The Vault, to name a few—they have impacted several charities with their philanthropy. According to Nickell, the men are direct supporters of The Center by not only renting space from the LGBT organization, but by catering specific events and giving extra cash to its causes. Charitable organizations that work with The Center also benefit, Nickell says, because The Funky Monkey, The Vault and Bananas offer gift certificates for raffles and other fundraisers benefitting different areas of the community—both gay and straight. The March of Dimes and the United Way have both benefitted from Nickell and Olivieri’s generosity, and their tasty food has appeared at countless other events throughout Central Florida’s non-profit community.

(L-R) Chuck Scott and Al Ferguson

ALandCHUCK.travel is raising the bar for local giving Tom Dyer

arasota | In less than two years, ALandCHUCK.travel has become a major player in gay Tampa Bay and throughout LGBT Florida. Thousands have booked uniquely themed cruises and travel packages. The company is a major presence at Pride events throughout the region and state. Their prominent ads can be seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and in LGBT publications like What’s Happening and Watermark. And their elegant tour buses have become a familiar presence at St. Pete Pride, Come Out With Pride and other events. But what many likely don’t realize is that ALandCHUCK.travel has also had a substantial impact on local non-profits, from ASAP to Equality Florida to TIGLFF and many more. Their generous contributions and sponsorships have made a tremendous difference during a time when many organizations are finding it difficult to raise funds. “Our company has been actively involved in so many causes and charitable efforts because the economy

has been so hard on community giving,” says Al Ferguson, who founded the Sarasota-based company along with his partner of 23 years, Chuck Scott. It’s likely that no LGBT-owned company gives back more to the community than ALandCHUCK.travel. Their contributions include: * 2010 and 2011 statewide sponsor for Equality Florida, with a cash and in-kind contribution of $50,000. * 2010 hosts for Equality Florida’s Sarasota Gala, with a $17,000 contribution. * Presenting sponsor for the 2011 Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, with a $20,000 contribution. * Founding organizers of the notfor-profit gay co-op that purchased the Sawmill Resort earlier this year, with more than $10,000 in contributions toward Sawmill’s charity efforts. * RuPaul’s Drag Race and Drag U charity sponsors, with more than $10,000 in contributions. * 2011 ASAP Dining Out For Life sponsors, with a $7,000 contribution. * 2011 St. Pete Pride sponsors with $3,000 in donations raised with an Orlando Pub Crawl and other events.

ALandCHUCK.travel is making a difference in the local LGBT community in other meaningful ways. In addition to their involvement in exciting developments at Sawmill, they joined Watermark in co-producing last year’s Fire & Ice Weekend during St. Pete Pride, and they’re hosting a first-ever National Travel Program to support the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington D.C. in October. Upcoming LGBT cruises, including a Pride Cruise (Jan. 28), Faith & MCC Pride Cruise (Mar. 3), Drag Race at Sea Cruise (Mar. 10) and Amsterdam Pride Cruise (July 28), will raise money for worthy non-profits. ALandCHUCK.travel is an offshoot of Sarasota-based Legendary Journeys, the largest gay-owned travel company in the nation. According to Ferguson, those connections make it possible for ALandCHUCK.travel to support local LGBT charities and non-profits. “Chuck and I both believe that giving back to our community must always be a central theme for ALandCHUCK.travel,” says Ferguson. “We’re passionate about keeping charity work at the forefront of our dayto-day efforts.” | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

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watermark | heroes

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

Rob Domenico

Orlando | If you’ve been to a charitable event in Orlando, it’s highly likely you’ve seen—or at least heard of—Rob Domenico. This year, Domenico served as the chairperson of the Headdress Ball in October, which raised a record amount of money for the Hope and Help of Central Florida. Three years ago, Domenico had no connection to Hope and Help until he was asked, via Facebook, to join a friend’s team for the organization’s Orlando AIDS Walk. Domenico made emotional, educational posts requesting donations and found success beyond his imagination. The team went on to raise $18,000 for the event. The 35-year-old’s passion and love of non-profits has grown since then, and he continues to be an invaluable asset to charitable causes throughout Central Florida.

Sally Phillips Tampa | As we wrap up 2011 and prepare to dive headlong into another election year, a name that will no doubt be at the forefront of commentary and fundraising for LGBT supportive candidates will be Sally Phillips. Phillips, who is the president of the GLBT Democratic Caucus, is constantly making appearances at festivals and events across the state to raise awareness about the 2012 candidates. In the past year, she and the caucus has helped add a new chapter in Manatee County, which is just one step on the vision of creating chapters in all 67 of the Sunshine State’s counties. Whether you agree with her party affiliation or not, there’s no way to deny Phillips passion for equality in politics. Her constant presence is her way of ensuring that some day all of America’s citizens will be seen as equals.

Sawmill Campground Dade City | In 2011, Sawmill Campground became the nation’s first gay-owned community. While that’s plenty impressive, many may be unaware of the amount of charitable causes the Dade City campground supports. Throughout the year, Sawmill holds fundraisers, shows and special events for charities ranging from AIDS-related benefactors to children’s programs. Most recently, Sawmill held an entire weekend of events to benefit the World AIDS Day Committee of Pasco County. While the rural, 120-acre campground continues to be a fun, quiet (or maybe even rambunctious) getaway for LGBTs from throughout the state, it’s commitment to charitable causes remains constant. In 2006, Sawmill Charities was founded, and every Friday since, charity bingo events and a 50/50 raffle benefit non-profit organizations. Officers estimate that somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 is collected for charities each year. Recipients of Sawmill’s generosity include the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas, the Florida Gay Rodeo Association, Harbor House, the Boys and Girls Club, the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank, and even local elementary schools in the Dade City area.

Gary Lambert: High profile guy, low profile giving Tom Dyer

inter Park | On first impression, Gary Lambert might be the last person you’d peg as the winner of a national public service award. The self-professed aesthete lords over his trendy Park Avenue salon with the force of his personality. At 58, he’s known, both “on the Avenue” and throughout the local LGBT community for speaking his mind. “I don’t have finesse,” Lambert says. “It’s like I have Tourette’s syndrome.” Over the years he’s donated tons of time, talent and money. And he’s used his shop, now in its 29th year on Park Avenue, as a crucible for raising funds for a variety of worthwhile charities. “I ask,” he says matter-of-factly. “If you do it with the right intention, it’s not that difficult.” Lambert grew up poor in Finley, Ohio, one of eight children in a troubled family that went on and off the welfare roles. If not for local nuns, the family would have had no Christmas. Being gay didn’t make things easier. Looking back, he sees his background as a gift. “It was tough and I didn’t fit in, but it’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” he says. “I can’t stand to hear people complain or make excuses. All of us have a responsibility to make a difference, in our own lives and the

lives of others.” As a child, Lambert knew two things for certain: that he would live in Florida, and that he would cut hair. “My first customer was Barbie,” he says. “I’ve never not done hair.” When he was 25 he moved to the Sunshine State with his wife. The choice of location was typical of Lambert’s kinetic approach to life. “Orlando was in the middle of the state,” he says. “All we had to do was drive down I-75 and turn left.” Lambert opened his award-winning salon on Park Avenue in 1982, came out, and met his life partner of 20 years, Shawn Hunt. They now operate the shop together, and also use it as a headquarters for charitable giving. Lambert was one of the first to join a pilot program for cancer patients called “Look Good, Feel Better.” More than two decades later, he’s still donating products and services to women devastated not only by the way cancer makes them feel, but also how it makes them look. He was awarded the prestigious Jefferson Award for his efforts. “You’re one of the first non-medical people they encounter outside of family, so you provide a sounding board,” Lambert says. “Mostly I just listen. And I help them look better, which makes them feel better.” Lambert has also raised funds and donated services for the Hope and

Help Center, The GLBT Center, Zebra House and other local LGBT youth organizations. He had a dance-on role in the Orlando Ballet’s “Battle of the Sexes” program—“I was like a pumpkin on two sticks”—and sold more than $2,000 in tickets to friends and clients. And he regularly goes shopping for needy children at Lee Middle School. His friend Vicki O’Grady, a therapist, says that structured giving only scratches the surface of Lambert’s giving. “He gives money to single moms, buys sandwiches for homeless people, Christmas gifts for poor kids… and he doesn’t tell anyone about it,” O’Grady says. “Gary Lambert is the absolute most generous person I have ever known. His heart is huge.” Right now Lambert is focused on a “Live Local, Act Global” initiative to raise $50,000 for a women’s community center in India along with fellow Park Avenue merchant Debbie Farah of the Bajalia Trading Company. At the center, poverty stricken women traditionally denied the opportunity to work will earn money for their family and community. “It’s our responsibility as human beings,” Lambert says of his charitable work. “We’re put here to make people smile and to share our good fortune. Give it away and you always, always get it back.” | l |

watermark | heroes

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

(L-R) Liz Hurckes and Denise LeHeup

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rlando | For the past six years, Denise LeHeup and her partner of 12 years, Liz Hurckes, have been true fundraising warriors. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (T.N.T.) is a charity that is near and dear to both of them. Like most people, they gave whenever they could: food drives, donating clothes and household items to the veterans, etc. They became passionate for T.N.T because Hurckes, a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor herself, directly benefitted from the cancer fighting drugs for which T.N.T. provides funding. “In our fight with cancer we have been very fortunate that Liz has excellent health care benefits and we have never suffered financially, but we have seen families that have not only had to fight to beat cancer but also fight to keep from losing everything because of the financial drain fighting this disease can cause,” says LeHeup. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides funding for experimental drugs and for patients’ needs including things like hospital beds, transportation to treatments, medical supplies, and sometimes even food. T.N.T. participants are focused on raising as much money as they can to make a difference for cancer patients and their families. The organization has trained over a half a million runners, walkers, triathletes,

cyclists and hikers. It has also raised more than $1.2 billion to fund lifesaving cancer research. “I have completed three century rides and one triathlon for T.N.T.,” says LeHeup. “Liz is a triple crown member completing a triathlon, Century Ride, and marathon.” Collectively, the pair have raised more than $90,000 for charity—$50,000 for leukemia and lymphoma alone over the years. LeHeup says they’re not nearly done. “We are always fundraising,” says LeHeup. “We have asked our families to donate to our T.N.T. rather than give us Christmas gifts. We would also like to hold a celebrity dinner and are searching for possible partners for such a big project.” Though most of their funds have come from private donors, LeHeup and Hurckes have partnered with Bruster’s Ice Cream in Lake Mary, Sweet Tomatoes restaurants, Keller Williams Real Estate and Pearl Izumi at the Factory Outlet Mall. In addition to T.N.T., LeHeup and Hurckes have donated their time and efforts to the Susan G Korman Breast Cancer Foundation, Keller Williams Cares, SPCA, and Rails to Trails Conservatory. The pair knows no bounds when it comes to T.N.T. They’ve traveled to Lake Tahoe to cycle, San Francisco for the marathon, and Washington, D.C. for the Nation’s triathlon. Up next, is the Marine Corps marathon in Washington, D.C. “Our experience with T.N.T. has changed us as people,” says LeHeup. | l |

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watermark | heroes

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

Sue bee laginess Orlando

Staying busy is something Sue-Bee Laginess

knows a thing or two about. The realtor-by-day is a staple when it comes to Central Florida fundraising. Laginess was one of the founders of Phish Phest in 2000, a one-day event that helped raise money for charity. By year two, however, the event had grown so much that the singular party spawned multiple celebrations throughout the year and has since helped raise more than $50,000 for different charities around Orlando. Recent recipients of donations have included Hope & Help of Central Florida, the Human Rights Campaign, and Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation. As a group, Phish Phest has participated in the Orlando Aids Walk, Smartride, Come Out with Pride, Headdress Ball, GayDays, Scooters 4 Hooters, and Score for Kore. Phish Phest has participated in signature events such as its “UNITY” event for HRC, the “Pinktober” events held at Hard Rock Live, and has partnered with “Girls in Wonderland”

robin hankins finds un-’common ground’ with her As i Am ministry

during GayDays.

Cleveland Acree Orlando Attorney W. Cleveland Acree II may not be a household name as of yet, but the good works he does on a pro bono basis have caught our attention this year. Acree, who is a partner with Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, has worked with a St. Petersburg resident and veteran

Joseph Kissel

learwater | Imagine trying to come out as a lesbian during the 1970s in a Baptist church. “The church was called the Free Will Baptist Church,” recalls Robin Hankins, minister and Executive Director of As I Am Ministries at Unity Church of Clearwater. “But it really wasn’t,” she adds with a chuckle. (A different Free Will Baptist Church in Kentucky, operating seemingly in a different era, recently drew a firestorm of criticism after it voted to condemn interracial couples.) There, Hankins met another young woman in high school grappling with the growing realization she wasn’t like the other girls simply because she wanted to love one. Hankins’ early relationship was on the down-low and left her confused, but caused her to embrace love and leave the source of her greatest inspiration and torment, her church. “Basically, we got the hell out of Dodge,” she says. Throughout the years, Hankins became an activist and advocate for women, the LGBT community and the Tampa Bay Business Guild. She was also a founding board chair at Equality

Florida—not a past executive director as nearly every news article about her erroneously states, she said. Although she’s firmly planted and efficacious in the real world of politics and commerce, Minister Hankins also has her heart and hopes set in finding common ground between those that accept and those who reject—or worse hate—especially from the pulpit. “There’s a tremendous irresponsibility in the message that’s delivered from conservative and farright pulpits,” she says. While some religions are beginning self-examinations of their attitudes toward same-sex couples and marriage, “there’s a parroting of what is being passed down through specific denominations of Baptist and Pentecostal churches and a vein that stretches through the American Baptist Churches and the more progressive General Association of Baptist Churches,” says Hankins. And they are being irresponsible, she said, by stating homosexuality is “an abomination.” “The word homosexuality does not appear anywhere in the bible,” she adds. “The story of Sodom and Gomorrah relates to inhospitality more than anything else.”

Hankins is calling on conservative ministers—including religious media superstars like Joel Osteen—to break the chain of intolerance regarding LGBT people and “take a position that God loves everyone.” That’s just part of the message she’s delivering at As I Am Ministries. “I always focus on the love we share as families,” she says. “When I speak from my own experience, nobody can tell me I’m wrong.” That’s also her approach when dealing with far-right Christians demonizing the LGBT community. “You’re never going to capture anybody’s attention by starting off and saying ‘You are wrong!’” Hankins says LGBT people need to be courageous and never communicate shame about who they are. When it comes to families with homophobic members, of which Hankins has plenty of personal experience, she again approaches the issue with love. “I tell them ‘I love and care about you, and let’s find a way to be in each other’s company without saying somebody’s wrong and causing discontent in our family,’” she says.| l | For more information about Minister Rankin and As I am Ministries visit AsIAm.fm.

of the Air Force who was discharged under “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” That veteran was discharged in 1996 under “other than honorable conditions,” simply because he was gay. Now, however, the military is looking at reversing that dismissal and presenting him with an “honorable discharge” certificate. It was Acree’s hard work and aggressive style that helped right a wrong that is 15 years old—and he did it all at no charge to the veteran.

lynn and patricia Mulder Auburndale In a perfect example of turning a tragedy into a charitable cause, Lynn Mulder and his wife Patricia have raised money to start a scholarship in the name of their murdered son, Ryan Skipper. The Mulders have worked for several years to set up the fund to benefit LGBT youth hoping for a college education. It was in March 2007 when their 25-year-old son was brutally murdered in Polk County because he was gay. His accused murderers were found guilty and are now serving life sentences in prison. While life goes on for the Mulders, they are still raising money for their scholarship, and donations can be accepted through the mail at The Ryan Keith Skipper Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, 4720 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33813.

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

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watermark | heroes

Arica love uses her familiar face and infectious personality for charity Steve Blanchard

t. Petersburg | For as long as she can remember, Arica Love has been charity-driven. The Tampa Baybased entertainer is known for her largerthan-life personality and her charm on the microphone—and she uses both to raise money for numerous charities throughout the region. “I’m a hostess and an emcee and God has blessed me with so many amazing things, and I focus on charities for that exact reason,” Love says. “My role in this community is being a post-op transgender woman and entertainer and as an advocate for those in need. I feel like I should be a role model.” Love is recognized from her many gigs at nightclubs in Tampa Bay and Sarasota, as well as her co-starring role with Esme Russell on LGBT Live’s webcasts each Wednesday. Recently, she’s helped raise money for Francis House, ASAP and Metro Charities as well as Step Out Sarasota and ALSO Out Youth. “It’s about helping the communities that you serve,” says Love, who has taken a serious interest in Sarasota over the past few months. “Sarasota is an amazing community with amazing people and a large LGBT youth.” Every Thursday, Love appears at Cream at Ivory in Sarasota, where 50/50 raffles and other giveaways help raise money for local charities. She’s also involved with the Gay Guys Happy Hour (G2H2) each month, which has also helped bring in much-needed funds for different charitable organizations. “It’s so rewarding knowing that you’ve helped others,” Love says. “I think it really hit home on Thanksgiving when we helped the

Francis House in Tampa.” There, Love says four listeners of an LGBT Live broadcast volunteered their time to help feed clients of the organization, which assists those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. “One of the guys who came out to help was teary afterward and shared that he missed being with family and that he had lost his partner the previous year,” Love says. “We were all having a rough year and it was nice to cry and share a moment with others. It was a rewarding but difficult holiday.” With such a public role in the community, Love says that sometimes she’s a target for misunderstandings or attacks. However, she says the support of her husband of 15 years, Jason, has helped her weather it all and continue on her path. “The rewards far outweigh the challenges,” Love says. “I love him and he’s a huge supporter of mine. I’ve also created a strong network of friends and colleagues. Esme Russell is a huge influence on my life.” Love is constantly hosting events and appearing at clubs and fundraisers. You can find her every Sunday at Sangria in Sarasota and doing charity bingo at the Queen and I restaurant in St. Petersburg on Tuesdays. It’s a commitment that she says others should take on. “Pick a charity that is close to your heart or that has affected someone close to you,” she says. “Contact them and ask what you can do. They need and appreciate help, even if its just talking about them on Facebook or Twitter. We can all make a difference.” To find more information on Love and her appearances, visit her “Events” tab at LGBTLive.com. | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

watermark | heroes

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

bryan hadley Sarasota

Over the last two years, one name has

consistently popped up in the inboxes of journalists and nonprofit organizations in the Sarasota area. Bryan Hadley is certainly making a name for himself. The young Sarasota resident gives his time and energy to a variety of causes, whether it be the Muscular Dystrophy Association or the Harvey Milk Festival. He’s also involved with ALSO Out Youth, and helped promote this year’s successful Turkey Trot held on Thanksgiving morning. In the spring, he was spotted working the wristband booth at the Harvey Milk Festival and he helped organize and plan a “Late Night Prohibition Party” to benefit the Sarasota MDA. His ongoing efforts are inspirational and have become a driving force in Sarasota’s charitable community.

brian longstreth St. Pete He’s known for his involvement in the creation of St. Pete Pride, but St. Petersburg small business owner and realtor Brian Longstreth is also generous when it comes to local causes—especially in the LGBT community. Besides donating monetarily to charities, Longstreth has opened his Gay St. Pete House guesthouse to fundraisers of all kinds throughout the year. He has held pool parties to benefit St. Pete Pride and hosted cocktail socials to raise money and awareness for FORGE, which assists the transgender community of West

lgbt youth is a cause to get excited about for straight ally ginger Malcom

Florida. Longstreth was also directly involved with the Tampa Bay Rays’ “It Gets Better” video this past summer. It was through his connections with the team that the idea of the video was even planted.

bart Coyle and Jim Jablonski Sarasota There are very few people who don’t recognize the names Bart Coyle and Jim Jablonski in the Sarasota area. The long-term couple of more than 40 years have consistently given their time, money and organizational skills to various area charities, namely ALSO Out Youth. So much so, in fact, that the youth organization recognized their effort at a dinner in their honor. Prior to 2011, the couple were directly involved in Bowling in Boxers, which featured an auction and raffles to benefit charities directly involved with LGBT Youth. They have also helped organize countless interfaith events surrounding World AIDS Day and LGBT anti-bullying campaigns. While the two have stepped back slightly the past year— they have passed the torch of organizing Bowling in Boxers to others—they remain a constant presence in the close-knit Sarasota LGBT community and a force in the charitable arena.

Stephen Miller

rlando | Ginger Malcom is an inspiration: a woman blinded at 22 by diabetes, a person who hasn’t let being currently unemployed keep her from her passions. Much of her free time is used volunteering for LGBT causes. As a straight ally, she is at the forefront of making sure that all people, especially LGBT youth, are treated equally. “I am a advocate for changing anything that I think is wrong, and I felt that the way LGBT youth were being treated was wrong,” Malcom explains simply. “It’s just like how people with disabilities are treated, because of fear.” Malcom started her LGBT work with Be Real, an organization for Central Florida youth. When that was disbanded in January 2010, Malcom transferred over to helping with Orlando’s safe haven, Zebra House, and the Zebra Coalition. Soon after, she also started volunteering for Orlando Youth Alliance. “I do whatever they need of me. I love getting to know the younger people, helping in any way I can.”

Since then, she has been also asked to join University of Central Florida Gay and Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) as a board member. “I don’t really do a lot,” Malcom says modestly. In fact, besides seeking full-time employment, Malcom spends every Friday with the College Park Rotarians delivering Meals on Wheels to senior citizens. She also does public speaking for organ donation. Recently, she was added to the Orlando City Chapter 57 review board. “I am still learning a lot of what the Chapter 57 review board is about,” she says. “It’s a two-year appointment. We hear cases about discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. We also hear appeals for minority and women’s business enterprises.” Because of Orlando’s nondiscrimination policy, the housing, employment and public accommodation portion of her job covers cases involving race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, familial status or sexual orientation.

What drives her to volunteer so much? “I lost my husband to a motorcycle accident in 2005, and I guess I was looking for a way through that grief.” “I really don’t know how I get into all these things, because I have to be passionate about them to work for them and talk about them,” Malcom says. Perhaps, it’s because Malcom is passionate about making her community a better place for all people. It’s that drive that led her into her field of community relations, nonprofit work and volunteerism, a field she would love to keep working in. “I really want these kids to know they can get a good education, that they can go to school and not be bullied, and that they can be treated with respect.” Malcom encourages everyone to give to their local LGBT youth organization; Orlando Youth Alliance and Zebra Coalition are both nonprofit and can be found online. She also encourages people to explore organ donation and volunteering opportunities in their community.\ | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

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| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

I turned 30,” he says. “It no longer felt important to have the best of everything. Instead I began to think about my legacy. I don’t have children, so I wondered what people would remember me for… a logo? Some brochures?” Cavilla recalled several memorable teachers who’d impacted his life. He talked it over with Roberts, who encouraged him to go back to school. “I realized that if I went back to college I could be anything I want to be,” Cavilla says. “And I formulated an image of even just a few kids who might someday say, ‘Mr. Cavilla really made a difference for me.’ I decided that was the legacy I wanted, and I got really excited about it.” He signed up for a Speech class at Valencia Community College, but questioned that decision when he found himself surrounded by 18 and 19-year-olds on the first day. “It was humbling,” Cavilla remembers. “I’d been accepted at Dartmouth. I had a successful career. And here I was attending community college with kids just out of high school.” He loved the class and the college so much that he went full time the following semester. But when he tried to transfer to UCF the school was initially unwilling to accept him because he hadn’t properly withdrawn back when he was 17. Two years later Cavilla graduated with a B. S. in Elementary Education, valedictorian of his

watermark | heroes

“These kids need a good teacher like me, and I need them.”

—Derek Cavilla

class. The mid-life crisis was over. Cavilla is currently working on a Masters in Education focusing on Teacher Leadership, with a specialty in Gifted Education. He plans to get a Doctorate in Higher Education so that he can teach at the college level. In time he’d like to move into administration, becoming a college provost or president. Ultimately, Cavilla would like to be the first openly gay Secretary of Education. “The education system in America is severely broken,” he says. “I want to take what I’ve learned in the classroom and

make a difference on a broader level.” Appreciation for Learning As a teacher, Cavilla imagined himself working with gifted students at an A-rated school, possibly in Winter Park or Maitland. But when it came time for his UCF classroom internship, his advisor thought his background and goals were a perfect fit for the Nap Ford Community School, a small K-5 charter school serving the Parramore District. At first Cavilla was afraid that the mostly black and female staff wouldn’t accept him, and that the kids wouldn’t respond or relate to him. “What’s this white guy doing here?” he envisioned them muttering. But they welcomed him, and Cavilla fell in love with the grey cinderblock school across from the old Amway Arena. He taught 2nd grade the first year, and when an opening developed this year the principal asked him to return and teach 5th grade. “Honestly, I think an average teacher can teach at an A school,” Cavilla says. “I’ve learned that I can teach in an urban environment, and now I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Nap Ford received an “F” rating last year, which means it is a “Point of Interest” school with additional resources directed at improving scores on the all-important FCAT tests taken by students in April. Administrators at Nap Ford want to swing all the way from “F” to “A.” Cavilla is confident this will happen, but admits there are challenges. “As with many schools, a lot of the kids here don’t walk into the classroom with a built-in appreciation for learning or achievement,” Cavilla says. “So getting them to realize that they can be something is critical. When you see that light bulb go off—when you really see them start to apply themselves—it’s an amazing thing.” It’s a tall order for someone on a $37,000 per year salary. The school day starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m., and only then can Cavilla grade papers and prepare to

teach reading, writing, grammar, science, math and enrichment subjects each day. He averages 60 hours per week at school before studying for his masters level classes and attending to the handful of creative clients he maintains. Cavilla uses “A Gift for Teaching” corporate donations to obtain supplies for his classroom, but he spends a substantial amount of his own money to provide his students with the educational environment he believes they need. “One of my academic advisors at UCF taught that, ‘There’s more to life than what you know now.’ I’m here to give my students that more,” Cavilla says. “We talk about that all the time.” Compare and Contrast In the classroom, the students have been tasked to compare and contrast different living things, like a person and a tree. When one girl starts to drift, Cavilla jumps at her and says, “Could we take sap out of you? How would you like to have a tap shoved into your side like a big ‘ol maple tree?” She giggles and returns to work with a colored pencil. “Would you call that ‘Hello Kitty Pink’ or ‘Hot Mess Pink?’” Cavilla chides. When another student asks a question using lazy grammar, Cavilla makes his point and gets the whole class laughing. “Do you think you’re starring in a Madea movie?!” he says with mock horror. “We don’t talk like that in here.” As class ends the children hand in colorful charts and line up for group enrichment. Asked what they think of their teacher, hands pop up with enthusiasm. “He’s funny.” “He dresses good.” “He gives us fun projects to do.” “He brings good snacks.” One boy looks sheepish until pushed for a response. “He taught me how to read.” Based on that random but revealing survey, Mr. Cavilla is, in fact, realizing his dream. He’s making a difference. | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

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| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

Sarasota realtor Jim Jablonski, pictured second from right with fellow 2011 WAVE winners Greg Taylor, Sue Westcott, Ken Shelin and David Phillips, celebrates his birthday on Dec. 12.

transitions

Passing

Will Carr, 40, of Orlando passed away Nov. 14. He is survived by his partner, Michael Pitt, his mother, Ida Carr and his daughter, Vencie Carr.

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WAVE-winning comic and Movies Out Loud host Jeff Jones, Tampa Straz Center staffer and actor Spencer Meyers, Orlando derby girl and mommy Amy Anderson and Mitzi Morris’ alter ego Kevin Kreigel (Dec. 10); Watermark sales director and out and proud Veteran Mark Cady, Orlando former Watermark contributor and newlywed John Sullivan, Tampa Bay Bulldog softballer Les Croy (Dec. 11); Orlando Ford-dealing bear Fred Berliner (Dec. 11); Tampa volunteer and everyman Ed Lally, Orlando Chorus baritone Jamie Decker, Sarasota WAVE-winning realtor Jim Jablonski, St. Pete Twirler Jose Luis Perez and Altamonte Springs chiropractor Dr. Bradford Levine (Dec. 12); Orlando zebra and baby-deliverer Marie McClure, Orlando actor/ director Ashland Thomas (Dec. 13); Paradise purveyor Dan Schwab, drag performer Hunter

Holloway and Manatee Segway Tours CEO Fred Burgin (Dec. 14); Tampa MCC Pastor and Watermark contributing columnist Rev. Phyllis Hunt, St. Petersburg outdoor lover Dan Barrett, Clearwater Sweetbay softballer and father Gregory Toth (Dec. 15); St. Pete Pride volunteer and Tampa Bay lawyer David Schauer (Dec. 16); Gay-friendly Orlando chanteuse Becky Fisher (Dec. 17); Gay Days guru Chris Manley and Phish Phest femme fatale Jennifer Lothian (Dec. 19); handsome St. Petersburg caterer Steve Gallo (Dec. 20); Tampa Bay entertainer Kathryn Nevets and Orlando Hamburger Mary’s co-founder Tom Schneider (Dec. 21).

Celebrity Birthdays of Past and Present That’s so Raven-Symoné (Dec. 10); hoofer/ singer Rita Moreno (Dec. 11); bisexual singer Sheila E. (Dec. 12); Kanye victim Taylor Swift and Evanescence front woman Amy Lee (Dec. 13); comic legend Tim Conway (Dec. 15); gay playwright Noel Coward (Dec. 16); movie funnyman Eugene Levy (Dec. 17); Cruise beard Katie Holmes, legendary Steven Spielberg, gay-supportive super-celeb Brad Pitt, and Burlesque belter Christina Aguilera (Dec. 18); Brokeback heartthrob Jake Gyllenhaal, bi Terminator vamp Kristanna Loken, L-Word star Jennifer Beals, and Charmed hottie Alyssa Milano (Dec. 19); Idol winner David Cook (Dec. 20); bisexual hasbeen Andy Dick, soap diva Susan Lucci, and activist Jane Fonda (Dec.21).

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

watermark | advice finances or asked to borrow any money, it is incumbent on you to keep your mouth shut. If you were her lover, I’d feel differently (oppositely, as a matter of fact), but the boundaries of respectful friendship stop somewhere before nagging your friend about her spending habits.

dothis!

Friend’s finances are not your business ADVICE FROM

The Truth

Truth@WatermarkOnline.com

Dear Truth, I love poppers. For me, they take sex to another, more animalistic level. They wear off quickly, and I don’t see any down side. I just started dating a guy who doesn’t like them—says they give him a headache—and objects to my using them. He says we’re having a different experience that puts distance between us. I say any two guys having sex are likely having a different experience! But I have to admit that the idea of giving them up scares me a little. I’ve just gotten used to them. Thoughts? —Poppin Daddy

Dear Penny Poppers, From a purely medical, neurological perspective, poppers (amyl nitrate) are particularly bad news as recreational drugs go. Despite their short effect, they kill more brain cells than much harder drugs, because they specifically target your brain cells. You know that feeling of heightened euphoria and tunneled focus (that has been described to me)? It is actually the feeling of brain cells dying. Dear Truth, Now, are you going to become a y best friend is horrible with vegetable if you use poppers on a regular money. She has a good job and basis? No. But your sharpness and mental salary, but she’s carrying tons acuity will be affected. And while it may of credit card debt and not saving for not seem important now, surely regular retirement. She just turned 40, and this use of poppers is not good for your brain would be an amazingly good time for health as you age. So there’s that. her to buy a house, but her credit is As for whether or not you and your bad and she’s got no money for a down boyfriend are having different experiences, payment. I have to come down on his side. I know... not my problem. But Rationalizations about the harmlessness it drives me nuts when I see her of poppers aside, you’re high and he’s not. shopping for clothes she doesn’t need I’m not sure that ‘any two guys having and picking up the tab at restaurants sex’ are having a when she doesn’t different experience, have to. I tell her but that you think so is so, and sometimes Rationalizations instructive and telling. she agrees. She’s It seems your about the getting ready to buy boyfriend seeks a Mercedes that’s harmlessness of intimacy and you seek way beyond what porn sex. There can be poppers aside, she needs or can overlap between those afford. Should I keep you’re high and two, but it requires plugging away, or he’s not. maturity and a clear let her learn (or not) mind. Here comes the from experience? Truth: there comes a —Friend of point in every person’s Spendthrift relationship with drugs where the penalty outweighs the benefit. You’ve reached that Dear FOS, seminal point with poppers. At the end of Easy squeezy. You’re right. It’s not your life, I can guarantee you will have your problem, and more importantly, none preferred having more love and intimacy of your business. As long as she picks in your life than another hit from the little up her portion of a dinner check, and brown bottle. | l | has not solicited your opinion about her

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

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NAGAAA settles lawsuit brought by NCLR Wire Report Seattle, Wash. | The battle between the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance and the National Center for Lesbian Rights is finally over. The two groups reached a settlement over the Thanksgiving weekend, ending a lawsuit that has raged on since the 2008 Gay World Series. In the settlement, three players have been reinstated and their team’s secondplace finish is now fully recognized, while NAGAAA maintains the right to limit the number of straight players on a team. At the 2008 event, NAGAAA limited the number of non-gay players on any team to two. Because the three players claimed to be bisexual, their team exceeded the non-gay limit and was disqualified after an allegedly disturbing inquisition process. The players said they were called into a conference room, where they were questioned in front of more than 25 people, most of them strangers, about their sexual orientations and private lives. According to a release from NCLR, the players were forced to answer whether they were “predominantly” interested in men or

women, without being given the option of answering that they were bisexual. In response to a player’s statement that he was attracted to both men and women, a NAGAAA member who was in the room reportedly stated, “this is not a bisexual world series—this is a gay world series.” NAGAAA’s protest committee voted that the three plaintiffs were “believed to be heterosexual,” and their team was disqualified from its second place finish. In the settlement, NAGAAA recognized that disqualifying the players from the 2008 tournament was not consistent with NAGAAA’s intention of being inclusive of bisexual players. NAGAAA now recognizes the players’ team—D2—as a second-place winner of the 2008 Gay Softball World Series, and will award the team a second-place trophy. Earlier this year, NAGAAA changed its policy to include an unlimited number of LGBT players on any team, with the two-player limit applying strictly to selfidentified straight players. “It means a lot to me that NAGAAA is going to recognize our second place finish in 2008,” said LaRon Charles, one of the plaintiffs in the case, in a written statement. “I am happy NAGAAA has also made rule

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

changes to let players like me know they are welcome. I look forward to continuing to play ball with my friends, teammates and community in NAGAAA’s tournaments.” A request to NCLR to speak with the plaintiffs was denied. The lawsuit originally had far bigger goals, as NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter told the website Outsports that he wanted to prohibit gay sports organizations from limiting the number of straight players. However, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour said in a ruling earlier this year that there was no compelling state interest in forcing gay events to allow straight players: “NAGAAA might very well believe that given the history of gay exclusion for sports, the only way to promote competition for all persons, and ensure that gay athletes have the same opportunities as straight athletes, is to create an exclusively gay community with exceptions for a small number of straight players.,” the judge wrote in his decision. “It is not the role of the courts to scrutinize the content of an organization’s chosen expression.” NAGAAA also has committed to continue discussing whether to drop the straight-player rule altogether, and will cosponsor a panel discussion at the next Gay Softball World Series. | l |

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Tampa teams take top spot in C, D divisions of Hurricane Showdown Staff Report Fort Lauderdale | Teams from Tampa took first place trophies in both the C- and D-divisions, while Orlando took second place honors in the B- and D-divisions of the 17th Annual Hurricane Showdown. The softball tournament was the weekend of Thanksgiving. The Tampa Hammerheads took the C-Division title after defeating secondplace Tampa Venom. The Chicago DTH finished third in that division. The Tampa Impact finished first in the D-division after beating the Orlando Sliders. The third place trophy went to the Fort Lauderdale Bombers. In the B-division bracket, first place went to the Dallas Assault while second went to the Orlando Force and third was awarded to the Tampa Live Wire. This year 70 teams participated in the annual tournament, which benefits several South Florida charities. | l |

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| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

billymasters

“I like more of a guy’s guy. Like Johnny Depp, James Franco, Ellen DeGeneres.” —Sara Gilbert shares her opinion of Bradley Cooper being named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” Because, as we all know, Gilbert is known for her discerning taste in men.

I When is a word simply a word? Billy Masters Billy@BillyMasters.com

YOUR lgBT lIFE.

f there’s one family always there for the gay community, it’s the Osbournes. That makes it even more ridiculous that Kelly Osbourne has been vilified for using the word “tranny”—a word that even trannies get in trouble for using! It all started when she learned that her then-fiancé, model Luke Worrall had cheated on her with Elle Schneider—a biological man who will soon go through gender reassignment surgery. Kelly is quoted saying, “It’s hard enough to get your head around someone cheating on you, but when that someone is a chick with a dick? Up until then, I’d always thought that the worst way to get cheated on would be with an ugly girl.” She also referred to Elle as a “tranny,” which made the PC patrol pounce. Come on people, hasn’t the poor girl suffered enough? Her fiancé cheated on her with a guy in a dress! That’s got to earn her a little slack, don’t you think? Our next story is about someone trying to get their hands on a Serbian penis. As titillating as that sounds, sadly it’s a story about Chaz Bono. As you should all know by now, Chaz had what is referred to as “top surgery”— meaning that during his gender reassignment surgery, nothing was altered below the waist. Up until now, Bono had said that the options for “bottom surgery” were less than ideal. But

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apparently that’s changed. Last week, Chaz told Howard Stern that he’s planning to undergo “Serbian penis attachment surgery.” He went into graphic detail about what this would entail. I’m going to spare you all of that, except that I believe I saw something similar done on a special episode of “The Iron Chef.” I’ll sum it up in Bono’s own words: “It’ll be small, but you’re going to be able to urinate through it.” I hate to say it, but I have a funny feeling I dated that Serb! Mickey Rourke is in training for his next film project—a biopic about openly gay rugby star Gareth Thomas. To prepare, Rourke has flown Gareth to Los Angeles to pick up some of his mannerisms. One thing that will be easy for him to replicate is Gareth’s loss of eight teeth. Coincidentally, Rourke lost several of his front teeth in a childhood accident. He got them fixed when he was in acting school under dubious circumstances. “I met a gay Chinese doctor and, ‘cause I had no money, I let him touch me and he took care of the teeth.” Huh?? Did you know The A-List Dallas is on the air? No? Me neither. But apparently, two of the cast members have made it into the news... well, into this column. One of them is Taylor Garrett, who apparently is conservative and claims to have been the victim of a hate crime—make that two hate crimes. Back in October, he says that someone threw a rock with a note attached to it through his window. Since the incident coincided with the show debuting on Logo, skeptics felt this was staged to get some press. More recently, he was attending a birthday party, went out to his car to retrieve a gift, and found a guy scratching “Fuck Coulter” onto his car (Taylor apparently is chummy with Ann Coulter—who —who is either a biological male or one of the few women to have an Adam’s apple. The guy knocked Taylor to the ground and then fled the scene. Some bloggers find this suspicious, especially since he refused to let detectives look for fingerprints or any other evidence. Hmmmm. Another cast member is sexy Levi Crocker,, who took a nude photo of himself in a mirror. I may not know who he is, but he’s on a TV show, he’s hot, and he’s erect— that’s how you land on BillyMasters.com. Our “Ask Billy” question comes from Frank in Bangor: “I saw on one of those entertainment shows that Jonathan Lipnicki grew up to be a really hot guy. Do you have any photos of him? And does he play for our team?” I saw those photos, too. The cute kid from Jerry Maguire is now the very fit and very hot 21-year-old Jonathan Lipnicki.

Chaz Bono continues to make news after his stint on Dancing With the Stars, announcing on Howard Stern that he is preparing for “bottom surgery”

Lipnicki, who is best remembered as the kid in Jerry Maguire, has most certainly buffed up. He took a series of scantily clad workout shots, which have somehow found their way onto the Internet. He’s 21, 5’7” and weighs 146, which I believe I weighed in high school! Alas, I really don’t know much about his personal life. But after looking at revealing photos, I did learn that he’s Jewish. See for yourself on BillyMasters.com. When Mickey Rourke is trading sexual favors for dental work, it’s time for me to end yet another column. If you’ve got a question you wanna throw my way, send an e-mail along to Billy@BillyMasters. com and I promise to get back to you before I end up on a new Logo show entitled Sister Husbands! So, until next time, remember, one man’s filth is another man’s bible. | l |

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |

| Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011

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Photography | Steve Blanchard

Sarasota/Manatee AIDS Walk 2011 Saturday, Dec. 3 | New College of Sarasota

Nov. 23 - Dec. 7, 2011 |