Watermark Issue 20.25: Santa Speedo Run by Watermark Publishing Group

DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 20.25 • DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

UNDER THE RAINBOW TACKLES MARRIAGE EQUALITY

ORLANDO’S

SANTA-STYLE

CELEBRATION TAMPA BAY’S SANTA SPEEDO RUN RAISES MONEY, AWARENESS FOR ASAP’S HIV PROGRAMS

ZEBRA HOUSE

CELEBRATES ONE YEAR

METRO ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR

ST. PETE LGBT YOUTH CENTER

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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DEPARTMENTS 6 // MAIL 13 // ORLANDO NEWS 17 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 22 // STATE NEWS 25 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 31 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 41 // EVENT PLANNER 43 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 45 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 48 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 47 // TRANSITIONS 48 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE 63 // SPORTS

PAGE

In spring this year my life changed massively when I met someone;

53 that someone is a guy. —TOM DALEY, BRITISH OLYMPIC DIVER

ON THE COVER

PAGE

PAGE Participants in the Santa

Run in Tampa Bay, 17 Speedo benefiting ASAP, celebrate a

successful run on Dec. 1. Photo by Bruce Hardin

Preview

31 MARRIAGE OPERA: The students at Valencia College star in Under the Rainbow, which tackles homophobia and marriage equality. The production was penned by Professor Alan Gerber.

WATERMARK ISSUE 20.25 //DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013

ORLANDO NEWS

TAMPA BAY NEWS

DAWN ROSENDAHL

GALLERY W

Read it online!

SCAN QR CODE FOR

WATERMARKONLINE.COM

In addition to a Web site with daily LGBT updates, a digital version of each issue of the publication is made available on WatermarkOnline.com

Dec. 5 marks the one-year PAGE anniversary of the Zebra House in Orlando, and a reception is planned to celebrate its success; Come Out With Pride announces its 2014 festival date; UCF delays release of documents on its controversial LGBT parenting study.

PAGE The Metro Wellness and

Community Centers hope to have a new LGBT Youth/ Welcome Center up and running by Summer 2014; The fourth annual Santa Speedo Run raises money for ASAP; Walkers prepare for AIDS Walk Sarasota/Manatee; more.

PAGE Central Florida artist

Dawn Rosendahl creates her stunning, surrealistic sculptures with books she collects. Her masterpieces will be on display at two galleries near Orlando in December and January.

PAGE The Santa Speedo Run

a collection of visual 54 isstimulation and holiday cheer

every December. So we can’t seem to get enough of the photos submitted by our photographers. Here are a few more of our favorite shots from the Dec. 1, one-mile run in Ybor City.

THE ONLINE COMMUNITY IS TALKING! VISIT WATERMARKONLINE.COM AND LET YOUR OPINION BE HEARD. DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

TOP WEB COMMENTS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

“[Bug-chasing] doesn’t account in any meaningful way for the HIV epidemic in our country. It may make for a juicy, sensational story—but as several experts in your piece testify—it is extraordinarily rare.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the overwhelming response to our last cover story, we’ve dedicated our letters page to that issue. To join the discussion visit WatermarkOnline.com.

—JIM PICKETT

“Yes this article is BS. No factual evidence of this even happening!”

—AJ “For the record, both exist out there and it’s more common than you my realize. ‘Why?’ is the $64,000 question. Maybe a death wish, low self esteem on the chaser side, maybe a power play on the giver side. I’ve run into it on more than one occasion,. I have seen sites that have chaser looking for more than HIV—now that’s really scary. Just because you haven’t heard of it, or don’t know someone who does it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening. They come in all shapes and sizes and I’m sure they don’t walk around in public with a sign asking to get pozzed. The young generation never watched friends and lovers die a horrible death. They never took AZT in doses that would kill an elephant or take 40-plus pills a day with horrible side effects. Those of us who are lucky enough to be here after 20 or more years have few if any friends from those early days. It’s now of the belief ‘One pill once a day, no big deal.’ Yeah, It’s a big deal.”

—AJBROOME “As a certified HIV educator, I can say, yes this happens. It’s been going on for years. Yes, the belief you just pop some pills doesn’t help. There are groups that are hoping to get services, but not that many. Burn out, confusing information, belonging, survivors guilt all play a role. Look at the info on cross-infection, that’s confusing enough to give up. The reality is too much information is driven by ‘moral’ conservatives attempting to scare men straight. You won’t believe the crap educators were required to distribute during the Bush years. While I regret saying it, I understand why men chase HIV. The most intimate part of our lives mangled with the potential fear. You swallow the bitter pill and move on instead of fear holding back intimacy.”

—DALE BOGGS

Bug chasers come from a place of self-loathing and no self-respect for themselves.

CHASING MORE THAN A BUG

HAT AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON ‘BUG CHASERS’ [ISSUE 20.24]. I am a peer counselor at Trinity Charities Inc. an AIDS Service Organization in Sarasota/ Bradenton and have been HIV+ for nearly 30 years. We were talking about this very topic at group not a couple of weeks ago and some had no idea what a bug chaser was. Others among us have a hard time understanding how anyone could be so caviler about taking medications the rest of your life because that is a simple fact of HIV patients. Bug chasers come from a place of self-loathing and no self-respect for themselves. One can only imagine what respect they will have for the next unsuspecting person they have unprotected sex with. I also understand the need of personal choices and accountability among the HIV-positive community. Many people �igure “buyer beware.” They will wear a condom if the other guy insists but they would rather not. The younger population around us sees advertising that tout one pill a day, and a photo of a hot young man or woman. They have no idea if these drugs will work with their strain, or of the sideeffects. I know �irst-hand. Again, well done Watermark! Special thanks to editor Steve Blanchard for writing the article. BRUCE FOURNIER PROGRAM COORDINATOR TRINITY CHARITIES INC SARASOTA

DISTURBING ARTICLE

HAT A FASCINATING, SAD, DISTURBING, THOUGHT PROVOKING AND INCREDIBLY WELLWRITTEN STORY on bug chasing [Issue 20.24]. I’m not a psychotherapist (yet), but I would venture to guess that what “Brandon” and “Travis” really want is a life in which they can

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

ISSUE

20.24

experience pleasure without so many barriers and fears. I want that, too, and in this regard I can relate and understand how seroconverting might be perceived as liberating. I do worry that the two young men aren’t surrounded by strong mentors who af�irm them as young men who just happen to be gay. Low self-esteem and magazine covers that limit our subculture’s perception of what is attractive/ needed if one is to have a ful�illing sex life are also issues that need to be considered when discussing this very complex issue. This article strikes me as an extremely valuable contribution to a topic for which many more conversations and advocacy is needed. JUSTIN CALLAHAN CHARLOTTE, N.C.

BUG CHASING IS NOT COOL

KNOW THERE ARE GUYS OUT THERE THAT JUST WANT TO GET HIV thinking that they can play without protection and then and not have to worry about it. They don’t know that not all people accept the new meds all that well and there are still people dying from this virus. I think some think it’s cool to be poz. But it’s not cool when you go out searching for it. I know what the loss of a loved one from this virus is like. I lost my soul mate 15 years ago and it still bothers me. RICK HARMON ST. PETERSBURG

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

—BRUCE FOURNIER

THOSE SEEKING INFECTION NEED MENTAL HELP

NYONE WANTING TO CONTRACT HIV NEEDS A MENTAL EVALUATION. If they had any knowledge of those close to us who have passed due to this infection, they would think twice before participating in risky behavior. I have had a friend who couldn’t take any of the medicine. He was my tennis partner and now he is no longer with us. I pray we have a cure before long for all of those infected. HENRY EARNHARDT SEMINOLE

PRAYING FOR EDUCATION

HAT A REMARKABLE STORY ON THE BUG CHASING COMMUNITY in the recent issue of Watermark [Issue 20.24]. I had never heard of this practice before now, and am amazed that anyone could be so cavalier about such a serious disease! I am fortunate that I survived the 1980s and 1990s without becoming infected, and I’m thankful every day for that. Did I miss out on some wild sexual experiences by being safe? Probably so. But I wouldn’t trade my health for anything. I wonder if the young men interviewed know many HIVpositive people outside of the strange “gift-giver” community referenced in the piece. The positive people I know would rather be uninfected and would not miss their

watermarkonline.com

daily medication practices. I pray that those seeking out HIV get the education they need before becoming positive. DAVID JOHANNES ORLANDO

IT’S THEIR DECISION

OUR RECENT STORY ON BUG-CHASING IGNITED AN EVENING OF DISCUSSION AND DEBATE among my friends shortly before Thanksgiving. The article, while well researched and well-written by Steve Blanchard, didn’t address the “personal choice” angle of the debate. While many of my friends just couldn’t comprehend the reasons why someone would choose to become infected with HIV, many agreed that practicing safe-sex is a personal choice—much like choosing to wear a seatbelt or to put down a cell phone while driving. What we do with our own free will, and its consequences, are ultimately decisions we must make ourselves. This story was not about endangering others. It was about contracting a manageable yet serious disease. As long as these young men don’t try to pass along the infection by not disclosing their true HIV status, then their decision to live as members of the positive community falls squarely within their realm of responsibility. Kudos on a thought provoking article. I am sure the debate around this topic is far from over. CHELSEA HENDRICKS TAMPA

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

Desk

N THANKSGIVING MORNING, I SETTLED

in with my coffee beside me and a dog on my lap to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Granted, it’s not something I normally do, but it’s proven to be a year of new traditions for me, so I �igured, “why not?” After �ighting dreary reports and sleepy performances on CBS, I switched over to NBC and saw that the network incorporated Broadway (although obviously lip-synched) performances into the parade festivities. I caught the second half of the Motown show, stepped outside with my pups for a bit, and came back in time to hear Matt Lauer introduce a performance by the cast of the Cyndi Lauper/Harvey Fierstein musical Kinky Boots. I haven’t seen the show, but being in gay media, I was familiar with the plot about a traditional shoe maker

WATERMARK STAFF

who follows the suggestion of a drag performer and makes fetish footwear to save his business and the jobs of his employees. So before the music even started, I looked at my clock, subtracted an hour for “central time” and thought, “Hold on, Middle-America. You’re getting a wake-up call you weren’t expecting.” And I was right. Backlash from socially conservative states (that’s a shoutout to my home state of Missouri, by the way) inundated Twitter and Facebook. Remarks on social media

Publisher: Tom Dyer • Ext. 305 • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Chief Financial Officer: Rick Claggett • Ext. 108 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Admin. Assistant: Stephanie Saylor • Ext. 100 • Stephanie@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Steve Blanchard • 813-470-0899 • SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com Reporter: Susan Clary • 104 • Susan@WatermarkOnline.com Online Media Director: Jamie Hyman • Ext. 106 • Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Production Assistant: Andrés Duputel • Ext. 107 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com

referenced the NBC network’s and Macy’s plot to ruin the holiday, upsetting the traditional family structure and forcing parents to have conversations with their children about sexuality. The new American way, unfortunately, is to overreact when something makes us uncomfortable. We go from surprised to offended in a matter of seconds—regardless of political af�iliation, sexual orientation or gender identity—and do little—if any—research, to try to understand the story behind something that appears unfamiliar. While I don’t see the crew of red, high-heelboots wearing dancers “ruining” Thanksgiving, I see how it could force some conversations among families that aren’t traditionally checking out Broadway shows or frequenting drag bars. “Mommy, why is that man in a dress?” is not, no doubt, a question a 30- or 40-something woman in a housecoat is prepared to �ield from her young son at 8 a.m. on a holiday. But reactions to the musical number in family rooms and kitchens across the United States didn’t have to be negative experiences. In fact, conversations about diversity, acceptance and teamwork are only miserable if they’re conducted by a homophobe or a bigot. If someone found themselves in a situation on Thanksgiving morning where they were “caught off guard” or “forced” to talk to their children about tolerance and diversity, they only have themselves, and maybe

their church leaders, to blame. Who is really bastardizing the “tradition” of Thanksgiving? Whether it’s embellished or not, the story of the holiday talks about two different groups coming together and sharing a meal, despite their differences. Pilgrims and Native Americans knew little of each other, yet tried to understand and learn from each other’s very different cultures. History has a way of getting a “Disney touch” when it relates to holidays, but you see my point. If anyone is guilty of breaking a Thanksgiving tradition here, it’s those who refuse to accept that other cultures within our country can be found in every state. (Or maybe those who rushed stores on a Thanksgiving Day to get more stuff.) But it is impossible to ignore a speci�ic group out of existence. It’s been tried throughout history and is a proven failure. The LGBT community surged ahead in 2013, and we are on track to continue to do so in 2014. Marriage equality, for instance, �inds its way into state laws almost every month, and communities adopt ordinances every week that protect us from discrimination. On the �lip side, socially conservative communities who continue to �ight equality are out there as well. Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away, and it’s things like the “Kinky Boots incident of Thanksgiving 2013” that remind us that we still have a �ight on our hands. Technology makes them louder than they actually are. And that’s not a bad thing either. These sometimes not-so-gentle reminders of our haters are fantastic ammunition to encourage our �ight. And I’m excited to have a frontrow seat. |  |

Conversations about diversity are only miserable if they’re conducted by a homophobe.

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CLARIFICATION

Research referenced to forming an LGBT softball league in Clearwater should have referred Orlando’s lack of participation in previous Gay Games as a reason that city lost its bid to host in 2018. A miscommunication resulted in an error in the story from issue 20.24..

CONTRIBUTORS GARETH THOMAS

is a retired Welsh professional rugby player, who represented Wales in both rugby union and rugby league. He came out of the closet three years before retirement.Page 27

Greg Burton, Scottie Campbell, Zach Caruso, Amy Dees, Kirk Hartlage, Rev. Phyllis Hunt, Joseph Kissel, Ken Kundis, Mary Meeks, Stephen Miller, David Moran, Gregg Shipiro, Greg Stemm, Brett Stout, Jim Walker

PHOTOGRAPHY BRUCE ARDIN

is a Tampa Baybased freelance photographer who shoots portraits and events for the LGBT community. He is often seen ‘shooting’ leather events. Cover Photo

Nick Cardello, Angie Folks, Tom Eckert, Julie Milford, Travis Moore, Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift, Tinkerfluff, Lonnie Thompson

DISTRIBUTION Debbie Oliver, Phil Garris, Ken Caraway CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing in WATERMARK is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members of such organizations. WATERMARK is published every second Thursday. Subscription rate is $55 (1st class) and $26 (standard mail). The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns, letters and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s owner or management. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors.

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DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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NEWS

Come Out With Pride 2014 set for Oct. 11 Jamie Hyman

365 DAYS AGO: Zebra Coalition board member Scott Bowman, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Zebra Coalition executive director Dexter Foxworth cut the ribbon at the Zebra House grand opening Dec. 5, 2012. PHOTO BY ANDRES DUPUTEL

An official anniversary Orlando’s Zebra House celebrates one year Jamie Hyman

GLBT Center. The Coalition’s staff and volunteers worked to get the Zebra House up and running for about seven months, cumulating in a ribbon-cutting Dec. 5, 2012. While the Zebra Coalition has been around since 2010, the Zebra House seems to have established the not-for-pro�it as a well-known

RLANDO | When Dexter Foxworth became the executive director of the Zebra Coalition a year and a half ago, one of his �irst jobs was to �ind a drop-in center for the youth the Coalition serves. The Zebra Coalition is a network of organizations which provide services to LGBT and questioning youth ages 13–24, whether they need medical care, counseling, emergency housing, transitional housing or education. It made sense that they needed —DEXTER FOXWORTH a headquarters—a safe space service provider, and the Coalition where young LGBTs could drop has made a number of strides in in any time to receive support or the year since the Zebra House a place to crash, a home base for opened its doors. Zebra’s programs for gay youth, A huge coup was a $625,000 and of�ice space for the employees federal grant to the Coalition and volunteers who keep the for programs to help prevent engine running. substance abuse among young In May of 2012, Foxworth and people, awarded in October 2013. the Coalition announced that The money will come from the they’d found their home, and had purchased a two-story house located White House’s Of�ice of National Drug Control Policy over a �ive-year at 911 N. Mills Ave., conveniently period and all but guarantees the located across the street from The

stability of the Coalition. Foxworth says more than 200 youths have participated in programming and activities in the Zebra House in the past year, totaling more than 2,500 visits overall from youths. “It shows a really strong need and we’re starting to see where the numbers are increasing more, especially as we reach the holidays, there’s even more of a need out there,” Foxworth said. “We always see an increase in individuals who have a need during holidays whether it’s food, shelter or just some support.” As far as the most successful programs, he said the organization’s arts curriculum stands out the most, speci�ically its Interactions group, which uses theatre and improv techniques to help young LGBTs explore and deal with life. In partnership with the University of Central Florida, the group presented a program on stage at Orlando Repertory Theatre in November. Foxworth tells the story of a young man who came to the Zebra House six months ago who was homeless, new to Central Florida and could not socialize or even

“It shows a really strong need and we’re starting to see where the numbers are increasing more.”

Continued on page 15 |  |

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

orlando

RLANDO | Save the Date! Come Out With Pride (COWP) 2014 is set for Oct. 11, which happens to be National Coming Out Day. Mikael Audebert, executive director of COWP, said the slight date shift is intended to avoid a con�lict with Yom Kippur, which was the same day as Orlando Pride in 2011. “It upset some individuals,” Audebert said. “We made sure this time around we checked the dates and once again, the park programmed us on Yom Kippur.” Audebert said moving an event that’s held at Lake Eola Park comes with a few challenges. First, American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Orlando and Fiesta in the Park had to agree to shift their schedules to accommodate. Secondly, Audebert said Lake Eola Park managers have strict rules about the grass—events must be spaced out so the grass has time to regain its health in between. He said City Commissioner Patty Sheehan was instrumental in facilitating the change and Chris Wallace, Lake Eola’s park manger, did “a terri�ic job in making sure all parties understood the sensitivity of the matter.” Audebert said COWP’s planning committee may also bene�it from the change. “I’m happy because it’s giving us one more week to plan,” he said. “That week can make a huge difference.” The 2014 celebration also marks an important anniversary of COWP. The organization turns 10 years old. “It’s not the 10th anniversary of pride in Orlando, its the 10th anniversary of COWP when the MBA took over and made it into the event it is today,” Audebert said. “Pride has existed in Orlando since the 1990s.” Organizers will mark the occasion starting in January 2014, by each month celebrating a year of COWP, with the culmination during the 10th month— October—at the main event. “Starting next month we’re asking people to send us pictures and memorabilia, on the computer or physical,” Audebert said. He said they plan to use those items to take a look back at previous Prides, previous board members and volunteers, and thank them. for their contributions. In 2013, an estimated 125,000-plus people attended the annual festival around Lake Eola. It was the largest Come Out With Pride festival to date and culminated in a live �ireworks spectacular, which returned after a one-year hiatus. Details on the 10th anniversary of Come Out With Pride and its accompanying events will be released on ComeOutWithPride.com as they become available. Photos from the 2013 COWP event are also available on the website.|  |

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DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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Susan Clary

with Elsevier, Inc., the private company that owns the scienti�ic research journal, he was acting as a private citizen in his role as editor. Elsevier, Inc. �iled an emergency motion on Nov. 14 with the Orlando court to protect the documents as “trade secret information” and “con�idential and exempt from public records laws.” Though Wright is a tenured professor at UCF, the school is not a party to the contract he has with Elsevier to edit the journal. Grincewicz removed himself from the case and it was reassigned Nov. 19 to Circuit Judge John Kest. Kest is currently in trial and has not reviewed the case, his judicial assistant said Nov.20, but it is unlikely he would move forward while the Fifth DCA decision is pending. The UCF Board has asked the Fifth DCA to force Kest to hold a hearing on whether the documents requested by Becker are public record. The board argues that UCF and its faculty

have an agreement that allows for “outside activities” such as consulting work, as long as there isn’t a con�lict of interest. In court documents, Elsevier has said its peer review process is con�idential and that information shared with Wright, as editor of the journal is “signi�icant, valuable and sensitive.” Releasing it, would give competitors “insight into the working of the journal” and an unfair competitive advantage. UCF argues it would be in violation of the law and could face criminal charges for disclosing Elsevier’s trade secrets if it released any additional information. It said the Orlando court violated its right to due process by making a decision on the records without a hearing. On Nov. 19, the Fifth DCA ordered Becker to respond to UCF’s petition within 20 days and answer why it should not order Kest to hold a hearing. After Becker’s response is �iled, the UCF Board will have another ten days to respond. |  |

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

from pg.13

interact with others. “Through our program, ‘Interactions’ speci�ically, this individual has done a complete 180 and is able to socialize, is working, and is thinking about going to school,” Foxworth said. “He’s now at a level where he’s able to present and tell his story at Orlando Rep about how Zebra and Interact bettered his life.” Foxworth said when he looks back over the past year, he’s most proud that the community is doing the Coalition’s work together. “I think that speaks volumes to the partners we work with,” said. In addition to implementing the substance abuse prevention grant, the Zebra Coalition’s plans for 2014 include creating a Central Florida Youth Council with local young LGBTs “sitting on this committee and giving voice to what zebra is doing in community and hopefully creating change amongst their peers.” The Zebra House is hosting an open house Dec. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to mark their year anniversary. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

orlando

RLANDO | The University of Central Florida (UCF) Board of Trustees has successfully delayed having to turn over documents and emails related to a controversial study on LGBT parenting. A panel of judges from the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Daytona Beach granted a emergency temporary motion Nov. 18 to the board based on the argument that a hearing should be held to determine whether the records fall under Florida’s public records law. The initial lawsuit, �iled by LGBT blogger John Becker in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando in April, is related to the New Family Structure Study published in the Social Science Research Journal (SSRJ). The study, which says straight parents provide more stable homes than gay parents, has been widely-criticized by experts for its questionable methods.

According to the HRC, when the study looked at heterosexual families, it only used parents that were in stable, long-term relationships. When looking at gay families, researchers did not use the same standards. UCF Sociology Professor James Wright is the editor of SSRJ. The study, conducted by University of Texas associate professor Mark Regenerus, was published in the June 2012 issue. Documents �iled with the Fifth DCA reveal UCF tried to comply with the request, releasing a �lash drive with copies of 15,000 emails to Becker. It was later deemed 357 emails were nonpublic records or contained information exempt from public records law. In November, Circuit Judge Donald Grincewicz ruled that “the symbiotic relationship between Wright-as-SSRJ editor and Wright-as-UCF professor” led him to the conclusion that all the emails were public record. UCF argued that because Wright has a separate contract

|  | Zebra House

NEWS

UCF delays release of documents on controversial LGBT parenting study

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NEWS

SCANTILY-CLAD SANTAS: More than 140 runners raised money for ASAP in the fourth annual Santa Speedo Run in Ybor City on Dec. 1. PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

Wearing little means a lot The Fourth Annual Santa Speedo Run brings funds, awareness, to HIV programs Steve Blanchard

AMPA | Santa never looked so good—or so sexy. That’s because more than 140 people participated in a one-mile charity run wearing little more than skimpy swimwear, and Santa hats It was all part of the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas’ fourth annual Santa Speedo Run on Dec. 1. “Participation was comparable to last year,” said ASAP’s Jay Aller, who organized the run. “It was tough this year because we competed with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and the Hurricane Showdown softball tournament in Fort Lauderdale.” Aller took advantage of World AIDS Day falling on a Sunday to present the annual fundraiser. While the signi�icance of the day made the run more appealing to some, travel plans for the holiday weekend made it more dif�icult to participate for others. Next year, Aller plans to move the run back to mid-December, so it’s closer to the holidays. “Fundraising might be easier

next year if it’s more in line with the holiday season,” Aller said. “I’ve already looked through survey responses from our runners and it looks like our runners want a later date.” Registration for each runner cost $35, and every participant received a t-shirt and a souvenir medal/

“I’m going to send out literature to not only our runners, but to all of ASAP’s constituents to share the importance of donating,” Aller said. “It’ll be my year-end appeal.” Donations can be made online at SantaSpeedoRun.org. There, those feeling generous can donate directly to the organization or via an individual runner’s donation page. Either way, the money lands with ASAP. “The Santa Speedo Run funds, �irstly, our Brighter Seasons for Children account,” Aller explained. “It helps our clients who have children by providing those families with a little bit of extra money during the holidays, and that means Christmas, Easter and even backto-school time.” Of ASAP’s 1,000-plus clients, 125 of them have children, according to Aller. And many of those clients are low-income, making $23,000 or less a year. “A mother with two kids who is low-income will take care of her kids rather than taking care of herself and her HIV medication,” Aller said.

“A mother with two kids who is low-income will take care of her kids rather than taking care of herself and her HIV medication.” —JAY ALLER ornament with the run’s logo and year. Shirts were also available to purchase by observers. As of press time, the Santa Speedo Run raised just over $21,000 for ASAP and it’s Brighter Seasons for Children program. Aller is hopeful that extending donations through the holidays will help the organization reach its goal of $45,000.

Continued on page 19 |  |

Welcome Center will cater to Tampa Bay’s LGBT youth, travelers Steve Blanchard

T. PETERSBURG | The holidays are squarely upon us and Metro Wellness and Community Centers is ready to celebrate the season of giving back year-round. The organization announced plans to open its LGBT Welcome Center, which will also cater to LGBT youth in Tampa Bay. Larry Biddle, director of center development, says he hopes the facility will be fully operational by St. Pete Pride in June 2014. “We’re only the third welcome center of this kind in the country,” Biddle said. “We’re learning a lot from the facility in Miami, and we’ll provide resources all in one location.” The other cities boasting a welcome center for LGBTs are Miami and Seattle, Biddle said. The St. Petersburg location is within a historic home that was physically moved one block on Central Avenue last August. The building’s new address is next to the Metro Wellness and Community Center Thrift Store at 2235 Central Ave., in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg. Biddle said that nearly 40% of homeless youth are LGBT. By creating this new Welcome Center, youth will have a place to gather and �ind resources, rather than going to an of�ice-type building, which can be intimidating. “The key is to keep these kids entertained, off the streets and receptive to the programs we have,” explained Adam Jahr, who handles LGBT programming. “This is a welcoming space where these kids can come, feel comfortable and be with others in their similar situation.” The Welcome Center will also incorporate a cafe, according to Biddle. Metro is in negotiations with local coffee shop Kawha Coffee to provide resources for that element of the project. “The whole area will essentially be a cafe,” Jahr said of the 1,135-square-foot building. “With the exception of an of�ice space in the back, people can come in, sit where they like and enjoy their coffee, a book or whatever. Even if I wasn’t involved with Metro, I would want my neighborhood to have an LGBT cafe. I think the support will be there.”

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tampa bay

MAKING A HOUSE A HOME: Adam Jahr, left, and Larry Biddle stand inside the yet-to-be-renovated future home of Tampa Bay’s future LGBT Welcome Center on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

Continued on page 19 |  |

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Staff Report

Run

from pg.17

HIV medication, even with insurance, can cost more than $14,000 a year, Aller added. That doesn’t leave much for necessities like rent, groceries or electricity, much less holiday celebrations. “We want these parents to be able to help provide for their kids and remain healthy,” Aller said. “In addition to support and services, we provide $25 gift cards for each family during the major holidays to use for meals, gifts, or whatever they need.” ASAP services families on both sides of Tampa Bay.

LOOKING AHEAD

Plans are already underway for improving the Santa Speedo Run in 2014. Aller is working on forming a committee and appealing to a broader base, especially women. Expect to see a new contingent of participants in the “Mrs. Claus and Bras” event held at the same time. “My hope is that it grows to be more like the San Francisco Santa Skivvy Run, where girls and guys

|  | Welcome Center from pg.17

And Biddle is hopeful that the local community of the Grand Central District and Historic Kenwood will take part in the success of the Welcome Center. “I see us serving coffee early to let the locals come in, enjoy their morning paper or whatever,” Biddle said. “Then after 10 or so we’ll switch to providing resources and offering travel resources.” Those travel resources, Biddle explained, will come in the form of a one-stop-shop for LGBT-friendly Tampa Bay attractions. The building, and it’s yet-to-be-launched website, will serve as a portal, Biddle explained. “We’re basing this on what they did in Miami,” Biddle explained. “There, they would issue stickers, or plaques to note what businesses are LGBTfriendly. We could do something similar here. We’ll also provide international visitors—and locals—the opportunity to build their own itineraries based on

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the resources we’ve gathered.” While the Welcome Center won’t be a travel agency, it will let those interested in experiencing LGBT Tampa Bay customize a visit in order to support the parts of the community which support LGBT causes. “I’ve had a couple of businesses already say they’re excited about this because they want to make sure they’re gay friendly,” Biddle laughed. Currently, the historic building is not ready to welcome guests. It needs extensive renovations. But there is a way to help get the new center on its feet. A fundraising campaign has begun on IndieGoGo.com to help get the estimated $160,000 to open the doors. “The building has a nice skeleton,” Jahr said. “But I see us putting in a large table with chairs around it for meeting space. Essentially this is a safe place for LGBTs, especially LGBT youth.” To give to the Welcome Center’s renovation, visit IndieGoGo.com/Projects/LGBTWelcome-Youth-Center. |  |

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tampa bay

ARASOTA | For the ninth year in a row, Trinity Charities will present the Sarasota/Manatee AIDS Walk to support its HIV/AIDS programs. But this year, participants will embark on a brand new route on Saturday, Dec. 7. No longer will the 500-plus walkers be con�ined to the campus of New College. This year, the two mile-walk will begin at J.D. Hamel Park and cross the iconic Ringling Bridge. Organizers hope that the change in route not only boosts participation, but exposure to the surrounding community. So far, the walk has raised just over $15,600 and 231 walkers have pre-registered. Those interested in participating (or donating) may do so at TrinityCharities.org. Registration begns at 7 a.m. the morning of Dec. 7 and the walk will kick off promptly at 8 a.m. |  |

|  | Santa Speedo

are encouraged to participate,” Aller said. “I’ve already checked in with the city to see about code violations on this one. It’s important that runners wear swim suits and not underwear.” Aller said that this year’s participants were good about following guidelines when it came to attire. “Honestly, when people come with their Andrew Christian underwear, I cringe a little bit,” Aller laughed. “But our runners seem to understand what is acceptable to wear.” Also expect the run to be af�iliated more closely with the GaYbor District’s list of holiday events in 2014. If the run can garner 300 or more runners next December, Aller is hopeful that the run could take place along 7th Avenue, Ybor City’s main drag, rather than Palm Avenue, which is just north of 7th. “It costs more to close 7th Avenue than Palm Avenue,” Aller explained. “We need the numbers to justify the cost to the city and we’re hoping that businesses come on board next year to help us promote and grow this event into what it should be.” |  |

NEWS

Sarasota AIDS walk changes course

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state NEWS 22

HRC rates the top LGBT cities in the country Staff Report

ampa and Tallahassee are the top two cities in Florida for LGBT equality, according to a study released by the Human Rights Campaign and the Equality Federation Institute on Nov. 19. The second annual Municipal Equality Index is a nationwide evaluation of municipal law. Categories include: non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, municipal services, law enforcement, relationships with the LGBT community and how the city treats its LGBT employees. Tampa scored 89 points out of a possible 100, with bonus points for being a city that engages with the LGBT community and being a “welcoming place to work,” among other things. Orlando scored 79 points. Bonus points were given for

openly elected or appointed LGBT leaders and for having “city services to particularly vulnerable populations of the LGBT community.” St. Petersburg fell far behind its two closest cities with a 66. Bonus points were given for having openly elected or appointed LGBT leaders. The study was conducted before St. Petersburg elected Darden Rice and Amy Foster, who are both gay, to its commission. There are now three out council members in St. Petersburg, since the two women will join Steve Kornell on the commission in January. Other scores for Florida cities are: Tallahassee, 84; Fort Lauderdale, 77; Jacksonville, 25; Miami, 67; and Wilton Manners, 82. Cape Coral came in with the lowest score at 10, while Tampa’s high score of 89 was followed closely by Oakland Park with an 85. The 2013 MEI rates 291 municipalities drawn from every state in the nation on

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the basis of how inclusive their laws and policies are of LGBT people. Twenty�ive cities earned a perfect 100-point score. Those cities include Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco along with Phoenix, Portland, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. A few surprises might include scores of 100 for Missoula, Mont., Jersey City, N.J., Austin, Tex., and Columbus, Ohio. Florida did not have any cities that received a perfect score. Here are some of the key �indings of the report: 25 cities received perfect scores (100 points) in 2013; 11 did in 2012. 31 million people live in cities where transgender people are protected at the city level alone. Ten percent of cities scored over 96 points, 25% scored over 78 points. The average score was 57 points. |  |

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Atlantic Beach to vote on HRO Dec. 9 Staff report

TLANTIC BEACH, FLA. | The Atlantic Beach City Commission took a step toward creating a Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) at a meeting on Nov. 25, where commissioners decided to have city staff write language for the policy. If approved, the HRO would protect LGBTs against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations by preventing discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual identity and gender identity. About 200 people packed the City Hall at the initial meeting. Approximately 60 people spoke about the ordinance, with only

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three of those people speaking out against the HRO. Commissioner Maria Mark proposed the ordinance, after working with the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality. After a tough battle, Jacksonville’s city council voted down a HRO in 2012. Atlantic Beach is located about 15 miles away from Jacksonville. The next step for the measure is the city council’s regular meeting Dec. 9, where the HRO will appear on the agenda for a public hearing and �irst vote. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the City Commission Chambers, 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, Fla. As usual, supporters are asked to show up wearing red. |  |

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Wire Report

law, which stipulated that marriage was between a man and woman, was struck down earlier this year by the U.S. Supreme Court. Tourism is the lifeblood of Hawaii and of�icials believe the islands will bene�it from the new law. An estimate from a University of Hawaii researcher says the state will get a $217 million tourism boost over the next three years as a result of same-sex marriage. The new law allows couples to register for a license and be married the same day, a process that appeals to tourists. Couples can sign up for a license online then be veri�ied by any license agent throughout the state. |  |

it into remission without requiring lifelong therapy. Obama made the announcement at a White House event marking the 25th annual World AIDS Day, which was Dec. 1. The president also announced that the U.S. passed the ambitious goal he set last year to support 6 million people around the globe in getting access to anti-retroviral drugs. These antiretroviral drugs have transformed life with HIV infection for those who have access to and can tolerate the therapies.

Obama says the U.S. helped 6.7 million people receive lifesaving treatment. Treatment requires lifelong access and adherence to these medications and management of treatment-related toxicities and clinical complications, however. Important recent advances in basic and therapeutics research aimed at eliminating viral reservoirs in the body are spurring scientists to design and conduct research aimed at a cure or lifelong remission of HIV infection. |  |

the referendum’s question infringes on basic human rights. The Churchbacked groups have gathered 750,000 signatures in its support. Referendum results signal that right-wing and conservative forces have been gaining strength in Croatia amid the deepening economic crisis and widespread joblessness. The country of 4.4 million, which became EU’s 28th member in July, has taken steps to improve gay rights, but issues such as same-sex marriage remain highly sensitive in the staunchly Catholic nation. “Marriage is the only union enabling procreation,” Croatian Cardinal Josip Bozanic said in his message to the followers. “This is the key difference between a marriage and other unions.” Croatia’s liberal president, Ivo

Josipovic, said he voted against amending the constitution. Josipovic said the referendum result must be respected, but added the government is preparing a law to allow some rights to gays and lesbians living together. According to The New York Times, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s center-left government will press for a civil partnership law for gays and lesbians. The proposed bill will give same-sex couples many of the legal rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including hospital visitation and inheritance rights, the Times said. Mr. Milanovic told the Times he regretted that the referendum had even been held. “I think it did not make us any better, smarter or prettier,” he said. |  |

Obama unveils $100 million HIV research initiative Wire Report WASHINGTON, D.C. | President Barack Obama on Dec. 2 announced a new initiative at the National Institutes of Health in pursuit of a cure for HIV. Obama says his administration is redirecting $100 million into the project to �ind a new generation of therapies. He says the United States should be at the forefront of discoveries to eliminate HIV or put

Croatian government proposes civil unions after vote against marriage Wire Report ZAGREB, CROATIA | The Croatian government proposed civil unions for same-sex couples the day after a majority of its citizens voted in a referendum to ban same-sex marriages in the European Union’s newest nation. The state electoral commission, citing near complete results, said 65% of those who voted Dec. 1 answered “yes” to the referendum question: “Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?” About 34% voted against. The result meant that Croatia’s constitution will be amended to ban same-sex marriage. The vote has deeply divided Croatia. Liberal groups have said

COUPLES CHALLENGE TEXAS MARRIAGE BAN Two same-sex couples filed a challenge to Texas’ constitutional ban on same-sex marriage Nov. 27 in a San Antonio federal court, and a federal judge could hear arguments as soon as January. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has pledged to defend the ban, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2005.

CARDINAL: CATHOLICS ‘OUTMARKETED’ ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY In a Dec. 1 interview, New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan says the Roman Catholic Church has been “outmarketed’’ on the issue of marriage equality and has been “caricatured as being anti-gay.’’ Dolan said the church supports “traditional marriage and is not anti-anybody.’’

GREEK BISHOP THREATENS LAWMAKERS OVER GAY BILL An Orthodox Christian bishop in Greece is threatening to excommunicate lawmakers in his diocese who support efforts to legalize civil partnerships for same-sex couples. Metropolitan bishop Seraphim of Piraeus on Nov. 28 described homosexuality as a ``terrible sin’’ and said it was his duty to expel lawmakers if they support the proposed changes.

nation+world

ONOLULU | Same-sex marriages began Dec. 2 in Hawaii with six couples at a Waikiki resort exchanging vows side-by-side in front of a few hundred guests while more same-sex couples watched and waited their turn. Elsewhere in Honolulu, an openly gay Unitarian minister wed his partner of 15 years in a ceremony attended by clergy who pushed for the new marriage law and Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who called last month’s special legislative session

that produced the change. Saralyn Morales was among the six couples who tied the knot at the resort shortly after midnight, when the new law took effect. “It’s about making that commitment to the person that I want to spend the rest of my life with,” she said shortly after cutting a small wedding cake with her spouse, Isajah Morales. Hawaii helped start the national marriage equality discussion more than two decades ago when a same-sex couple was denied a marriage license, leading to a court �ight that eventually helped prompt Congress to pass the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Part of that

IN OTHER NEWS

NEWS

Same-sex weddings become reality in Hawaii

SAME-SEX COUPLE’S WEDDING A FIRST FOR ILLINOIS Two beaming brides from Chicago made Illinois history Nov. 27 as they became the first gay couple to wed under the state’s new law legalizing same-sex marriage. The law approved Nov. 20 doesn’t go into effect until June, but one of the women— Vernita Gray—is terminally ill with cancer, so she and her partner of five years, Patricia Ewert, were granted an expedited marriage license by a federal judge’s order.

AMNESTY INTL: GAY RIGHTS OFFICE IN HAITI ATTACKED Amnesty International says three men carrying handguns and machetes on Nov. 21 ransacked the office of the Haitian gay rights organization Kouraj. The intruders said the center shouldn’t be allowed to operate and aimed anti-gay remarks at two Kouraj members who were tied and beaten.

BRITISH B&B OWNERS LOSE APPEAL OVER GAY DISCRIMINATION The Christian owners of the Chymorvah Private Hotel in southern England on Nov. 27 lost a U.K. Supreme Court appeal over whether their refusal to let a gay couple stay amounted to discrimination. Peter Bull and his wife, Hazelmary, were ordered to pay damages in 2011 to Martyn Hall and his partner Steven Preddy after they refused on religious grounds to let Hall and Preddy share a room.

KENTUCKY COUPLE WHO PROTESTED FOR LICENSE FINED 1 CENT A Louisville, Ky., gay couple arrested after refusing to leave the county clerk’s office where they had been refused a marriage license has been found guilty of trespassing and fined one cent. The Rev. Maurice ``Bojangles’’ Blanchard and Dominique James were arrested in January and faced a maximum fine of $250. Blanchard said after the verdict was returned it seemed the jury understood their stance and called it ``a big victory.’’

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guestcolumn

From one out athlete to another

Gareth Thomas

HEN I HEARD THE

news that [British bronze medalist diver] Tom Daley had revealed publicly that he is in a relationship with a man, I wanted to put pen to paper to share my perspective.

I’ve never met Tom but I feel like I’ve stood on the edge of every diving board with him during the last couple of Olympic games. I know he’s a hugely successful young man with a great life ahead of him. I just hope this announcement has a positive in�luence on his life going forward. Touching on the way Tom decided to make the announcement, via a YouTube video, I thought it was incredibly personal, humbling and genuine. He was lying on his bed in a room in the middle of nowhere telling his story and hoping the public accept it and support him. I take my hat off to him. I never considered announcing it any other way than through a newspaper; that was the best medium available back then.

Obviously times have changed, and other, more powerful forms of media are available. I de�initely would have considered doing it through a YouTube video if it was an option. People always look at his life and think it’s fantastic but he’s been through a lot. You could see in his eyes that all he really wants is to be Tom Daley, the diver, and not have a load of people questioning him for his sexuality. People often ask me why I felt I had to ‘come out’ publicly at all as it’s not an issue for them, and the same thing will be asked of Tom. We’re in an age of social media now in which there is so much interest in celebrities and their lifestyles outside of what they do for a living, that you have to come out if you want to walk down the street hand in hand or go to the pub and drink without people talking and spreading vicious rumors. I did it because I wanted to live my life in the way that I wanted and not be judged by people, I suspect Tom is doing it for similar reasons. Will this announcement inspire other gay athletes to come out? I don’t think someone coming out is enough. I think it’s probably his story after coming out that will inspire others. If he goes to Rio, wins the gold medal and has a fantastic life after that, it will show other athletes it’s a good thing to do. Hopefully he can re-focus now, concentrate on his sport and show that being a gay athlete doesn’t de�ine who you are. I think Tom now has a huge amount of responsibility on his young shoulders. He is now responsible for changing people’s lives and giving other people the con�idence to come out. He is a role model who has in�luence over thousands, maybe even millions more people. It’s a responsibility that I’m sure he’ll take seriously once he realizes just how much in�luence he has. If I had any advice for Tom, it would just be to stay true to who he is as Tom Daley and not be who anyone else wants him to be. The story for Tom begins today. Whether he likes it or not he now has a massive in�luence on a huge demographic who will look to him for support and comfort. He’s still a great diver, this is just a declaration of who he is sexually,

not a declaration of who he is a s a person or a sportsman. It’s a wonderful positive message to the world that he’s able to do it now at such a young age. In fact, it’s not only testament to Tom, but to society in general. I think I played rugby for three years after coming out and it just wouldn’t have been possible to do it any earlier. The rugby world was a very different place then and I wouldn’t have found the acceptance that I found when I eventually did it. The world changes all the time. People get educated every single day. Now it’s been proven

that being gay is not an issue, not just in rugby but across all sports. The world changes quickly. Maybe not quickly enough, but I’d rather it changes slowly than not change at all. Gareth Thomas is a contributor to SportLobster.com. This column is used with permission. |  |

I don’t think someone coming out is enough; it’s his story after coming out that will inspire others.

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TALKING POINTS

It’s little baby steps of acceptance in your own personal sphere.You have to choose the times that feel right for you to make moves. —NEIL PATRICK HARRIS ON CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE YET TO PUBLICLY ADDRESS THEIR SEXUALITY

% LUXURY LGBT RETIREMENT HOMES

of conservatives support students wearing a confederate flags to school %

of conservatives feel students should be allowed to wear the Pride flag —Public Policy Polling

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, I’M BISEXUAL

OT THAT IT’S MUCH OF A SURPRISE, but American Idol runner up Crystal Bowersox announced Dec. 3 that she has a new Christmas album out subtly titled Coming Out For Christmas. The folksy singer also adds with an tweet that she is bisexual. “The holidays are here, and it pains me to think that anyone would be left alone or be forbidden to be with their family over something as silly as their sexual orientation. I hope it will serve as a holiday anthem for people who may �inally have the courage to live their life as their true authentic self.” Portions of the proceeds bene�it the Trevor Project. |  |

ARE BECOMING ALL THE RAGE

PICTURESQUE THREE-STORY HILLSIDE LODGE IN SANTA ROSA, CALIF. WILL BE THE HOME TO MORE THAN 600 LGBT RETIREES. The luxury resort-like senior living facility, the Fountaingrove Lodge, is billed as the �irst retirement home with continuing care. There are a dozen LGBT senior facilities that exist or are under construction, but this is the �irst one that will take care of

ER ACTRESS

COMES OUT

AYBE IT’S THE ADVANCES IN LGBT EQUALITY THIS YEAR, or just the holiday season. But celebrities are coming out of the closet from every part of the entertainment industry. Maria Bello, who starred in ER and Prisoners, shared in an essay published in the New York Times. The way she shared her sexuality is unconventional, however, since she recapped how she told her 12-year-old son that she was a lesbian. The piece was published in the Nov. 29 issue of the paper and is available online as well. |  |

its residents for life. The $52 million project features 64 spacious apartments and six nearby bungalows, a theater with 22-plush leather chairs, a wine cellar, a pool and a second-�loor dining room where residents can look south at Taylor Mountain. The entrance fees range from $199,500 to $925,500, with monthly fees starting at $3,395. The lodge, with units ranging from 833 to 2,001 square feet, is 65% reserved. |  |

ULTIMATE GAY FIGHTER

T STARTED AS A JOKE BETWEEN FRIENDS. The idea to take the traditional arcade �ighting games they played as kids and replace them with gay personas that LGBTs could relate to. Though there are other gay-themed video games like Coming Out on Top, Bear Town and My Ex-Boyfriend The Space Tyrant, this is the �irst one to pit a bear in bondage against a lesbian construction worker in combat. Some critics complain the game reinforces media stereotypes, but don’t most videogames do that? You can decide for yourself in January when the game is available on both iPhone and Android. |  |

SINGER

ANTI-MARRIAGE

SAID HE WISHED HE HAD MORE TIME

LANCE BASS BEFORE COMING OUT

FTER LANCE BASS CAME OUT ON THE COVER OF PEOPLE IN 2006, the former boy band heartthrob became well known in the entertainment industry for his courage and candor. But Bass said he wishes he could take it back. In an interview with Wonderwall, the N*SYNC star said he felt rushed with the decision to announce he was gay and wished he had more time. He would have used the media frenzy surrounding his coming out to promote LGBT issues. Bass, who is planning a wedding with longtime boyfriend Michael Turchin, is working on a new single called Walking on Air. |  | DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

HAWAII LEGISLATORS

GET EARLY HOLIDAY SURPRISE

AWAII BECAME THE 15TH STATE TO LEGALIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGES earlier this month, but the 19 Hawaii state representatives who voted against it got an early Christmas present. The lawmakers each received a black box with green tissue paper in the mail; enclosed was a red pouch with a lump of coal and a note that read “You left a piece of your heart at the State Building when you voted on SB-1 [the marriage equality bill]..... Your lifestyle choice of judging others and ignorance is very unfortunate. Good luck in the next election.” Recipients initially thought the coal was lava, since Hawaiian culture says taking lava Since it›s not illegal to send legislators coal,angers the gods and brings bad luck. The police don›t plan on investigating further. |  |

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MUSICAL PROTEST: Michael Lopez and Adriana Nunez play protesters supporting marriage equality in the opera Under the Rainbow. PHOTO COURTESY VALENCIA COLLEGE

LGBT OPERA UNDER THE RAINBOW HAS ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT VALENCIA COLLEGE

Susan Clary

RLANDO VALENCIA COLLEGE

Professor Alan Gerber didn’t have to struggle with a disapproving mother who hid behind conservative values and church teachings. He avoided the heartache of growing up gay and misunderstood. But he knew the narrative all too well. It was the story of his partner of 22 years Mark Romig, and many other friends and colleagues. As a singer and musician, Gerber felt compelled to share this LGBT experience. So, he composed his �irst

opera on the subject titled Under the Rainbow. His colleague Professor Carla DelVillaggio loved the piece and chose to use it for her OperaTheatre Workshop, which she developed in 2005 for students interested in those vocations.

For the �irst time, Valencia students will perform Under the Rainbow on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Black Box Theater on Valencia’s East Campus. The event, which includes a theater vignette following the opera, is free to the public. Gerber is excited about the production. “This exists in a lot of families, but there is a silence code,” Gerber says of the tension between parents and their gay children. “It’s a little like the Cheneys. One daughter is running for of�ice. She supported her lesbian sister, but now that she is out in public trying to

appease her constituents, it’s a different ball game.” The storyline follows a mother, Katherine, who has big dreams for her baby son, Kevin. She dreams he will marry a nice girl and give her grandchildren. The opera takes place in Anyplace, USA where LGBT communities are now seeing gay marriage pass in their states. Fast forward 20 years and Kevin approaches his mother at church, where she is overseeing a choir rehearsal. He hands her his wedding invitation. He will marry his longtime partner, Peter. A sister, Janet,

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tries to convince their mother to join the family celebration to no avail. Another key character, an Angel who appears throughout the piece, sings a Gregorian melody, Ubi caritas, to inspire Katherine. Katherine sits in the church and seeks the answer to the question of how she can support her gay son and obey the church. The angel sings “where charity and love is, there is God,” to help her answer the question. “The music is cathartic,” Gerber says. “This drama exists

Continued on page 39 |  |

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A STUDY IN ART: Artist Dawn Rosendahl poses with “Fishology,” a sculpture using a book. An exhibit of her work, Altered Book Sculpture, will be on display through Jan. 5 at the Maitland Art Center.

Flipping pages ART

Local artist finds inspiration within the covers of epic books

Susan Clary

AITLAND | MOST SCULPTORS USE

clay, stone, metal, ceramics or wood for their three-dimensional artwork, carving, welding, molding and casting a �inal masterpiece.

But Altamonte Springs artist Dawn Rosendahl scours thrift shops and used book stores for the ideal materials to create her stunning, surrealistic sculptures. Rosendahl’s unique book carvings, including a 9-foot totem pole comprised of 75 books, will be featured through Jan. 5 at the Maitland Art

Center. An opening reception for “Altered Book Sculpture” will be held 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 13. From there, the exhibit will move to the CityArts Factory in downtown Orlando from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20. “Her work is amazing and photos don’t do it justice—in person,” says Gretchen Miller Basso, Director of Program Marketing for the Art and History Museums Maitland. “I look at her work and I’m like ‘Wow,” Not to mention, she is one of the nicest people I know.” Rosendahl, 54, didn’t start out planning to work with books as a medium. Originally from California, she studied painting and sculpture at the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. She moved to Florida in 1986 to work for Disney. It was there that she met her partner, Cheryl Turner, 60, also

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an artist. They worked together on the iconic sculptures atop the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. They started their own business in 1989 and for the next 20 years worked on scenic design and production along with LGBT themed relief sculptures. They traveled extensively for shows and festivals. In 2011, after Rosendahl’s father died, she purchased an e-reader for herself. She was going through her books and picked up a utility knife and began cutting into the pages of an American literature textbook. She found herself on an archaeological dig. “I had no idea what was going to be exposed in the colors and words,” Rosendahl says. “I knew there would be an art to it, so I kept at it and I fell in love with it.” Continued on page 36 |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

FLYING PRAISE: Rosendahl’s work “When Fish Fly” will be displayed at the Maitland Art Center.

A NEW USE FOR BLADES: The sculpture “Keywords” was carved using hundreds of utility blades.

|  | Dawn Rosendahl from pg.33

When Turner saw the �irst piece, she was excited with the possibilities. Rosendahl had her �irst show at the Museum of Florida Art in Deland, followed by the Boca Raton Museum of Art. She won a United Arts 2013 Artist Development Grant. To date,Rosendahl has made 20 pieces and sold six of them. Each project takes her between three weeks and �ive months to complete. They range in price from $2,500 to $14,000. She works 12 hours a day at a drafting table and changes blades every 30 minutes. Though she sacri�ices books for her artwork, she does not think

WORTH THE TIME: The sculpture titled “American Vision” took weeks for Rosendahl to create, working 12-hour days.

I had no idea what was going to be exposed in the colors and words. — DAWN ROSENDAHL

books are obsolete. “Sometimes I start cutting them up and I think, ‘Dang, I wanted to read this!’” Rosendahl says. “I’ve never had anyone say anything negative about it. I’ve always loved the feel and texture of books and so many people share that love.” Rosendahl was chosen to be an Arts and History Artist-inAction for 2013. The program

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provides emerging artists a beautiful non-residential studio space at the Maitland Art Center. At times, visitors have the chance to watch them work. Current artists are Rosendahl, Robert Ross, Trent Tomengo, Camilio Velasquez and Chris Ware. Some of Rosendahl’s pieces on exhibit are “Keywords,” “Fishology,” “American Vision” and “When Fish Fly.” She is

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currently working on an orchid book and recently picked up an old edition of Gray’s Anatomy. “It’s mostly about the shape, size and thickness of it” Rosendahl said. “A good book is about �ive inches thick.” In the future, she would love to be featured in additional shows—with a goal to appear in Art Basel Miami Beach, a world-renowned contemporary

watermarkonline.com

MORE INFORMATION WHAT: Altered Book Sculpture by Dawn Rosendahl WHEN: Opening Reception: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 13; exhibit through Jan. 5 WHERE: Maitland Art Center, 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland INFORMATION: ArtandHistory.org; 407-539-2181

ADDITIONAL SHOW

WHEN: Jan. 16-Feb. 20 WHERE: CityArts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave., Orlando INFORMATION: ArtGalleryOrlando. com/City-Arts-Factory

art show in South Florida. She would like to see her work in hospitals for patients to enjoy. “I’m following this where it takes me,” Rosendahl said.”I’ve been very fortunate.” |  |

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A MOTHER’S DAY: Crystal Lizardo portrays Catherine, a mother singing to her baby about her dreams for his future.

PHOTO COURTESY VALENCIA COLLEGE

A QUICK STUDY: Valencia Professor Alan Gerber, composer and director of Under the Rainbow gives direction to Crystal Lizardo who plays Catherine, the Mother who struggles with her son’s sexuality. PHOTO COURTESY VALENCIA COLLEGE

|  | Under the Rainbow from pg.31

for a lot of people and sometimes people have to have a vision of the best outcome. If something like this gives them that vision, maybe that reality will be created.” Early in the one-act opera, there is a scene between the church minister and a gay rights activist. The minister quotes the standard verses from Leviticus in the Old Testament as Biblical proof of God’s disapproval of marriage equality. The activist quotes other passages and a scuf�le ensues. Though Under the Rainbow is an opera, a jazz performance is incorporated into the work. A student orchestra will perform the music. In addition, the Academy Award-winning ballad Over the Rainbow, from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, can be heard as a homage to Judy Garland’s song. The melody that plays at the beginning is an inversion of the tune. Gerber has always loved the movie. The all-student cast includes: Crystal Lizardo as Katherine, Steven Flores as Kevin, Joseph

SAUCY FLAIR: Courteni Dunbar portrays “Chardonnay,” the Jazz Singer in the opera. PHOTO COURTESY VALENCIA COLLEGE

Sometimes people have to have a vision of the best outcome; if something like this gives them that vision, maybe that reality will be created. —ALAN GERBER

Ashenheim as Peter, Emily Grainger as the Angel, Elizabeth Tummons as Janet, Ricardo Dominguez as the minister, Kassy Eugene as the gay rights activist and Adiana Nunez and Hannah Roman as her friends. “It’s exciting for the kids,” says Professor Carla DelVillaggio, who has 21 students in this semester’s class. “It’s a challenge to them to create these characters for the �irst time. You can’t �ind it anywhere else to listen to so hopefully it will be very special to them and to the audience, as well.” Staying true to the title of

her workshop, DelVillaggio has dedicated the second half of the show to musical theater. The �irst segment after intermission features three Cole Porter songs: The Leader of a Big-Time Band, Thank You So Much, Mrs. Lowsborough-Goodby and Blow Gabriel Blow. The second segment, with three solos, features songs from Mark Campbell’s Songs From An Unmade Bed, funny and light stories on New York’s gay life. Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, a song cycle with music by Janet Hood and Bill Russell, will feature songs

and monologues inspired by the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters Spoon River Anthology for the third segment. Each of the monologues is written from the perspective of characters that have died of AIDS and the songs represent the feelings of friends and family members dealing with the loss. The piece was developed in the late 1980s and was originally titled The Quilt. The performance will end on a happy note with songs from Elf and White Christmas to wish

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everyone a happy holiday. The entire show is about 2-1/2 hours with an intermission. “I love all these works,” DelVillaggio says. “They are funny and poignant. They have affected the students in a not-totally unexpected way. We are in tears from one song to the next.” Although both performances are free and open to the public, the Black Box Theatre is small and holds only100 people. Early arrival is recommended. Also, attendees are invited to bring an unwrapped gift for a child between the ages of 6 months and 17 years. The toys will be donated to Kids Beating Cancer, a local organization founded by Margaret Guedes, whose son died from cancer. Valencia music students will deliver the gifts personally and sing for the children. | 

MORE INFORMATION

WHAT: Under the Rainbow WHEN: Dec. 6-7 at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Black Box Theatre, Valencia College East, 711 Econlockhatchee Trail ADMISSION: Free with an unwrapped toy TICKETS: ValenciaCollege.edu/Arts; 407-582-2900

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12/2/13 3:33 PM

QUICK PICKS Orlando A Very Mary Holiday Show DEC. 6 The Abbey 407-228-8272

TheCenterOrlando.org

Winter Park Crazy for Gershwin THROUGH DEC. 14 Winter Park Playhouse 407-645-0145 WinterParkPlayhouse.org

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DEC. 15 Ruth Eckerd Hall 727-791-7400 RuthEckerdHall.com

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50 Shades: The Musical

DEC. 8 The Lakeland Center 863-834-8100 TheLakelandCenter.com

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The Nutcracker DEC. 7-8 Straz Center for the Performing Arts 813-229-7827 StrazCenter.org

For more events or to submit your upcoming show, concert or performance, visit

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TAMPA

SARASOTA OUT@AsoloRep

ICHAEL DONALD EDWARDS, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR THE ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE, will headline the theater’s �irst OUT@AsoloRep reception. The series will kickoff at 7 p.m. Thursday Dec. 5 prior to the 8 p.m. Show Boat performance. OUT events will offer a chance to connect with local LGBT organizations, socialize with

fellow arts enthusiasts and experience an evening of engaging theater. Edwards will be joined by the Community AIDS Network and the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. There will also be a post-show reception in the lobby of the theater, featuring coffee and desserts with an opportunity to meet members of the cast. For information and tickets, call 800-361-8388 or visit AsoloRep.org. |  |

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the worldfamous dancers will bring holiday cheer to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 12-29. The popular show returns with new costumes, new lighting— including a 50-foot LED screen, and music to signify the arrival of the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” For tickets, visit StrazCenter. org or call 813-229-7827. |  |

ORLANDO Naughty Is Nice: A Christmas Cabaret

OME OF THE BRIGHTEST LOCAL TALENT WILL TAKE THE STAGE for a festive and slightly off-color Christmas cabaret at The Abbey. There will be six performances of Naughty Is Nice: A Christmas Cabaret 8 p.m. Dec. 19- 20; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 21; and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 22. The players include: Andrea Canny, Rebecca Fisher, David Kelley,

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

David Dorman, Anitra Pritchard and junior singing sensation Kennedy Joy Foristall. They will explore the naughty side of Christmas music, and present saucy new holiday songs from Orlando songwriters Wanzie/ Charon (Lizzie Borden) and John B. DeHass (Halloween! The Musical!). For more information, call 407-704-6103 or go to AbbeyOrlando.com. |  |

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Tampa Bay

1- HEAD ELF: Jayme Kosar helps navigate a huge holiday decoration on 7th Avenue in Ybor City Nov. 24. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 2- HULA TIME: Hula hoop enthusiasts enjoy the beautiful weather at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa during Metro Wellness and Community Centers’ Rock AIDS concert Nov. 23. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

3- SUPERHUMAN: The men of Southern Comfort showed off their strength and flexibility prior to the Santa Speedo Run at Centennial Park in Ybor City on Dec. 1. PHOTO BY VINCENT DIPPOLITO 4- CLOSING IT DOWN: The Black Honkeys close out the Rock AIDS concert as the sun sets over Tampa University on Nov. 23. PHOTO BY

STEVE BLANCHARD

5- ANSWER MAN: ASAP volunteer David Kitt tends a registration/Tshirt booth at the Santa Speedo Run in Ybor City Dec. 1. PHOTO BY VINCENT DIPPOLITO

6- CAUGHT IN THE ACT: Two of Santa’s helpers of Ybor City are caught decorating 7th Avenue on Nov. 24. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 7- A SOMBER CELEBRATION: Tampa City Councilman Tony Miranda ,left, and Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council chair Shirley Foxx-Knowles, right, unveil a new plaque on Nov. 22, recognizing the 50th anniversary of JFK’s visit to Tampa, just four days before his assassination in Dallas. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 8- ROCKING IT: Karmic Tattoo’s Lisa Noe, left, and Pam Green perform during Rock AIDS at Curtis Hixon Park in Tampa Nov. 23. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

OVERHEARD BENEFIT AND TOY DRIVE RAISES $500-PLUS

NCE AGAIN, WAVE-AWARD WINNER KORI STEVENS gathered her family of entertainers to raise money and collect toys for St. Petersburg’s less fortunate families at Georgie’s Alibi. The Third Annual Toys for Tots Bene�it and Toy Drive returned to Georgie’s Alibi on Dec. 2 with entertainers, raf�le prizes and music provided by DJ L. Mo, who is also a WAVE Award winner. According to Stevens, the annual fundraiser brought in $533, which is a little shy of previous years, but “still a great amount for charity.”

A RETURN TO THE GARDENS

S THIS ISSUE OF WATERMARK WAS ROLLING ON THE PRESSES, we were anxiously anticipating one of our favorite holiday traditions in Tampa Bay— St. Pete Pride’s Red & Green Party at Sunken Gardens. This year’s festivities are Saturday, Dec. 7, at the historic park on Fourth Street in St. Petersburg and, according to organizers and board members of Pride, tickets are still available online at StPetePride.com. Guests will have access to multiple venues throughout the evening, each featuring something different and unique. With an open bar and complimentary appetizers,

guests will dine “al fresco” in the 100 year old botanical garden featuring some of the region’s oldest tropical plants. We also expect to hear some great music on at least one of the park’s outdoor stages. Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 at the door. Money collected bene�its, obviously, St. Pete Pride.

MARY’S CELEBRATES FOURTH YEAR WITH TURNABOUT

T’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HAMBURGER MARY’S HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY SCRUMPTIOUS EATS FOR FOUR WHOLE YEARS. But that’s exactly what

the popular restaurant and show bar is celebrating on Sunday, Dec. 8, with—what else—an employee turnabout. The special show starts at 8 p.m. (or so) and money raised by cross-dressing bar staff will bene�it Toys for Tots and Mary’s Care. In true Mary’s fashion, the party starts way before the of�icial show. Attendees are encouraged to get to the bar around 6 p.m. and call for reservations. Of course, you should also stop by the ATM so you have some cash to donate to performers.

A PARTY FOR PRESENTS

HE NAME SAYS IT ALL: A Party for Presents will get Tampa Bay’s community

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in a giving spirit on Dec. 14, beginning at 9 p.m. at G. Bar in Ybor City. Balance Tampa Bay, which gives continuously all year, will host a party to bene�it Tampa General Hospital’s Foster Angel Program, the Community Pride Child Care Getaway Center and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Guests are encouraged to follow the rules, which are pretty simple: Show up with an unwrapped present, invite your friends and tell them to bring presents, and enjoy drink specials. If you want gift ideas, check out the event page on Facebook for suggestions. |  |

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ORLANDO

1- OPEN ARMS: (L-R) Jorge Munoz, Sonja Jones, Bradley Marvin, Steve Addona, Jon Taylor, Chris Hessler, Lester Burgos and Aaron Sanford, warm things up with an open house Hope and Help Center’s downtown office Dec. 2. PHOTO BY LONNIE THOMPSON 2- MOMENT OF SILENCE: Jamie Owens, attorney for student legal services at the University of Central Florida, pays her respects a UCF’s Transgender Day of Remembrance Candlelight Vigil Nov. 20. PHOTO BY DAVID THOMAS MORAN

3- BROADWAY BABY: Chrysthanthe Mum wows the crowd at Hamburger Mary’s Broadway Brunch Nov. 24. PHOTO BY JAMIE HYMAN

4- POLAR PIC: Mrs. Claus, Santa, and Buttons the Elf pose for a family photo at D Squared Productions in Ivanhoe Village for Jingle Eve Nov. 23. PHOTO BY D SQUARED PRODUCTIONS 5- VIVA LA VINO: (L to R) Funky Monkey owners Nicholas Olivieri and Eddie Nickell, with Danielle Hunter, are ready to greet guests for the Beaujolais Party at Funky Monkey Vault Nov. 21. PHOTO

BY MARK CADY

6- BUY LOCAL: Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan shops for some art (and her new Grinch bag!) by Crawford during Jingle Eve 2013 in Ivanhoe Village Nov. 23. PHOTO VIA SHEEHAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE 7- GIVING THANKS: Volunteers from The GLBT Center of Central Florida and Hands On Orlando prepare for The Center’s Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 28. PHOTO BY RANDY STEPHENS

8- HOLIDAY GIVING: Prime Timers of Central Florida president Patrick Caraher presents Linda Tappan of SeniorsFirst with an estimated 26 towel and soap sets the club’s Nov. 20 meeting to be distributed the week before Christmas to the clients of SeniorsFirst Meals on Wheels program. PHOTO BY RON BUSH

OVERHEARD GET READY TO PULL OUT YOUR HIGH HEELS

HE WILDLY POPULAR FUNDRAISER THAT HAS ORLANDO’S ELECTED LEADERS STRAPPING ON HIGH HEELS to bene�it Harbor House, Central Florida’s domestic violence shelter, has a con�irmed date in 2014. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2014. The event, which was held on a hot June summer afternoon in 2013, will be held at a cooler time in its second year. The �irst event brought more than 500 walkers and raised $20,000 for the shelter. Next year’s goal is $30,000 and organizers are looking for

sponsors. For more information, shoot an email to Randy Ross at RandyRossOrlando@gmail.com or call 407-401-4409.

CASTLE KNIGHTS CLOSES ITS GATES FOR THE LAST TIME

LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER CASTLE KNIGHTS HAD ITS GRAND OPENING, the medievalthemed bar in College Park has closed its doors. The spot, previously occupied by Faces, R-Bar and Reckos, was the creation of Nadia Lazzano, Jackie Gilmore and Kathleen Bones. Serving beer and wine, it featured live bands, karaoke and drag

shows. On the club’s Facebook page, owners thanked their supporters for their support. No word on what will occupy the site in the future.

DRINK, PRAY, LOVE

HEN DAN BELLOWS, THE OWNER OF THE WINTER PARK WEDDING CHAPEL, decided to pick up the building and move it a block away, St. Dorothy’s Catholic Community had nowhere to hold its services. Former Savoy bartender Matt Fassl came to the rescue. He offered his new tasteful, steampunk bar for Sunday mass, and even included genuine wooden pews in the design. More

than 40 members of St. Dorothy’s showed up at the future home of Orlando Beers Gardens in the Mills 50 District on Sunday, Nov. 24 to pray together. Fassl and business partner Patrick Raso, a current owner of Savoy, will have the of�icial grand opening of the bar at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. For a sneak peak, check it out during the 12 Nights of Christmas Pub Crawl on Saturday, Dec. 7. For now, the inside of the bar has been dubbed St. Matthew’s Tavern. The outside beer gardens will open in the spring once the city of Orlando permitting department approves it. No word on how long Orlando Beer Gardens will double as a church, but everyone is invited to mass.

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

CROWDFUNDING WITH A LOCAL ANGLE

OPULAR CROWDFUND SITES LIKE KICKSTARTER, ROCKETHUB, INDIEGOGO AND PEERBACKERS, have successfully funded business and projects with help from colleagues, peers, family, friends and even perfect strangers. Now a team of Orlando residents has put together ArtStarter, to help local residents with art and culture projects raise money, market and connect with supporters. To check out the �irst �ive projects up for funding, visit The ArtStarter.com. |  |

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Transitions CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations Congratulations to Tampa’s Mac McGowan for another year on the wagon Dec. 17. Chuck Henson and Tom Young of St. Petersburg celebrate their anniversary Dec. 16.

Local Birthdays Sarasota Trinity Charity’s Paul DiPlacido, actor and Lucky Star St. Petersburg bartender Daniel Harris, Watermark cover model Aleesha Kerri, Funky Monkey entrepreneur Eddie Nickell (Dec. 6); Orlando Theatre goddess Beth Marshall, Orlando Weekly staff writer Deanna Morey, St. Petersburg psychiatrist Tom Young and Tampa’s Red Herring Ltd. expert Ivan Moros (Dec. 7); Orlando comic 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 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’s WAVEwinning realtor Jim Jablonski, St. Pete Twirler Jose Luis Perez and Altamonte Springs chiropractor Dr. Bradford Levine (Dec. 12); Tampa zebra and baby-deliverer Marie McClure, Orlando talentseeker Mark Catlett, Orlando actor/director Ashland Thomas (Dec. 13); Paradise purveyor Dan Schwab, drag performer Hunter Holloway and Manatee Segway Tours CEO Fred Burgin (Dec. 14); former Tampa MCC Pastor Rev. Phyllis Hunt, St. Petersburg outdoor lover Dan Barrett, Clearwater Sweetbay stud Gregory Toth (Dec. 15); blogger and Tampa Bay lawyer David Schauer (Dec. 16); Gay-friendly NYC (former Orlando) chanteuse Becky Fisher (Dec. 17).

NEWLYWEDS: Tampa couple Michael Snyder, left, and Santiago Echeverry were legally married in New York City on Nov. 26.

REST IN PEACE: St. Petersburg resident and Tampa Bay Bears member Jay Rudarvik passed away on Nov. 26 at Pasadena Hospital after falling ill a few days before. He was 49. He is survived by his partner, “Jerr Bear” and an extended family. ON THE TUBE:

Sarasota actor Joey Panek now has his own weekly segement called “What’s Up, Joey” on ABC-7 (MySuncoast.com) where he talks about events along the Suncoast. Panek is a popular, out actor who has appeared in numerous stage productions and volunteers his time with the Suncoast AIDS Theater Project. So his segment, he says, always has a “little gay flare.”

Are you making a Transition? Having a birthday or anniversary? Did you get a new job or promotion? See your news in Watermark! Send your Transition to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com or go to WatermarkOnline.com/Submit-a-Transition - it’s that easy!

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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NOV. DEC. 21 5 - -DEC. DEC.18, 5, 2013 // ISSUE 20.24 20.25

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Wet weather cancels Hurricane Showdown Staff Report

Staff Report

ort Lauderdale The 19th Annual Hurricane Showdown softball tournament came to a screeching conclusion Thanksgiving weekend thanks to a deluge of wet weather impacting South Florida. Organizers cancelled the tournament on Sunday, after many games suffered delays. As of press time, the cancellation appeared to have prevented the tournament from declaring any of�icial winners in any of the divisions. In fact, some teams weren’t even able to get more than one game in during of�icial tournament play. Teams from throughout the State of Florida and from as far away as New York City and Toronto, Canada, made the trip for this year’s rain-soaked tournament. |  |

ONDON, ENGLAND | British Olympic diver Tom Daley announced in a YouTube video that he is in a relationship with a man. He is the �irst British Olympic athlete to come out of the closet. In the video, the 19-year-old seems to say that he is bisexual. “Of course I still fancy girls but right now I’m dating a guy and I couldn’t be happier,” he said on the video. He explains that he has been interested in his unidenti�ied boyfriend for nearly a year. “In spring this year my life changed massively when I met someone, and they make me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great,” he said. “That someone is a guy.” Edward Lord, chairman of the Amateur Swimming Association, said: “To be one of the �irst British Olympic athletes to come out is very brave.” According to the video, the relationship surprised Daley, who has never dated men before. “It did take me by surprise a little bit. It was always in the back of my head that something like that could happen.” he said. “But it wasn’t until spring this year that something just clicked. It felt right and I thought ‘Okay’. And my whole world changed there and then.” Lord encouraged followers of the sport of diving and other athletes to support Daley. He said he hoped it would “be a signal not just to other sportspeople but to all young people that you can be open about your sexuality, even in a very public environment. “I am very proud of Tom,” he added. The video immediately went viral in England and is making gains in the United States as well thanks to LGBT rights organizations like Stonewall tweeting, “Moving and inspiring video from Tom Daley. A role model for thousands of young people.”

sports

Olympic diver Tom Daley has revealed he is in a relationship with a man

IOC meets with Russian activists, Gay Games members to talk strategy Staff Report

FINALLY OUT: British Olympic diver Tom Daley announced in a YouTube video that he is in a relationship with a man. The video also caught the attention of English soccer star Gary Lineker, who tweeted, “Delighted that Tom Daley is happy in his new relationship. Well done for sharing it. Good luck to them both.” Daley said his father Rob, who died of cancer aged 40 in 2011, always said to him: “As long as you are happy, I’m happy.” He also said that, “My mum has been so supportive as well.” Daley said there had been “mixed opinions” from some friends and family when he told them that he was making the announcement.

“Lots of them did not believe it,” he said. “Lots of them wanted me to keep it quiet. I didn’t want to get my words twisted. I wanted to put an end to all the rumors and speculation, and just say it and tell you guys. It’s what I want to do. “My friends and family are always there to support me and I hope you guys can be too. I mean I’m still Tom, I still want to win an Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016 for Great Britain. I am still as motivated as ever to do that. It would be great to have you guys on that journey, too.” Daley won a bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012. |  |

Of�icials from the International Olympic Committee—including president Thomas Bach—this met with Russian LGBT activists and members of the Federation of Gay Games over Thanksgiving weekend to discuss LGBT issues at the upcoming Russian Winter Olympics. According to Elvina Yukakaeva, chair of the Russian Open Games, an international LGBT sporting event scheduled for Moscow late next year, the groups talked about the dif�iculties LGBT groups have in gaining access to sporting venues, thanks to an anti-gay Russian law signed by president Vladimir Putin earlier this year. “We fear that after the Olympics and Paralympics, when the attention of the world decreases homophobic repression will become even worse, with, for example, the reintroduction of the bill to remove children from gay parents,” she told OutSports.com. “It is very likely that these Open Games will be the last event in which Russian LGBT athletes will be able to take place in their own country. We requested a letter of support from Mr. Bach, both to help to obtain venues, and to offer some protection from the violence we fear we may face, fears heightened by the events at the Side by Side �ilm festival in St Petersburg.” FGG vice-president of external affairs Marc Naimark was thrilled with the meeting and is optimistic about future conversations. “I know that our friends from the Russian LGBT Sports Federation were disappointed that no actions were announced at the end of the meeting, but that’s not what this encounter was about,” Naimark said. “This is a real opportunity to promote our shared values of sport for all and sport free from discrimination.” The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7-23. |  |

DEC. NOV. 21 5 - -DEC. DEC.18, 5, 2013 // ISSUE 20.24 20.25

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PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

PHOTO BY BRUCE HARDIN

PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

PHOTO BY BRUCE HARDIN

PHOTOGRAPHY: SANTA SPEEDO RUN TAMPA BAY

Galleryw Go see more photos at

watermarkonline.com

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DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

HE FOURTH ANNUAL SANTA SPEEDO RUN TAMPA BAY RAISED $20,000 for the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas and brought more than 100 participants to Ybor City on Dec. 1. Runners were encouraged to wear Speedo-style swimwear, Santa hats and holiday decorations to incorporate the season into the one-mile run. This was the second year the run took place in Ybor City. It was held in Gulfport its ďż˝irst two years.

Photography by Nick Cardello and Bruce Hardin EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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Benefits Brighter Seasons for Children and AIDS Service Association of Pinellas

Photo: Nick Cardello www.cardellophoto.com

Thank You & Happy Holidays from the 2013 Santa Speedo Runners.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2013 CORPORATE SPONSORS:

www.SantaSpeedoRun.org

There is still time to donate. Money raised from the Santa Speedo Run Tampa Bay benefits Brighter Seasons for Children a program to support kids affected by HIV/AIDS here in the Tampa Bay region.

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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (#CH3696) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL - FREE 1-800-4357352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. AIDS SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF PINELLAS, INC.

DEC. 5 - DEC. 18, 2013 // ISSUE 20.25

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