DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 21.09 • APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM
YOUR LGBT LIFE.
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BALL PLAYER SHARES HIS STORY
Standing with our friend,
Edie Marge Sherwin and Rose Walton of St. Pete knew Edith Windsor way before she was a symbol of equality
MEET ST. PETE PRIDE’S
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Thank You for Your Support! It is my honor to continue serving the citizens of District 3 and the Great City of Orlando for four more years. As I have during my last two terms as your city commissioner, I will continue to support public safety and smart growth for our neighborhoods. With
your help, our city has weathered very difficult economic times. As we look toward a more prosperous future, I’m confident in all we can accomplish together. As you have heard me say at almost every community meeting, “I’m humbled to serve the citizens of Orlando and District 3. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly and one that I accept with great humility.”
THANK YOU...for your confidence and support!
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All documents will now have a third category marked `transgender.’
DEPARTMENTS
This verdict has come as a 21 great relief for all of us.
6 // MAIL 8 // ORLANDO NEWS 12 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 18 // STATE 21 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 32 //ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 47 // COMMUNITY CALENDAR 49 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 51 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 53 // TRANSITIONS 54 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 55 // SPORTS 56 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE 61 // LOOKING BACK
PAGE
— LAXMI NARAYAN TRIPATHI, AN INDIAN TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST
ON THE COVER
PAGE
PAGE Rose Walton, seated, and
Sherwin pose with 12 Marge a cutout of their friend,
Edith Windsor, as part of the “Stand with Edie” campaign in Tampa Bay promoting Windsor’s upcoming guest appearance at the Equality Florida St. Petersburg Gala May 3.
Preview
37 CABARET STYLE:
Mad Cow Theater’s 12th annual Orlando Cabaret Festival returns April 24, and this year it’s bringing in some pretty big names, including Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti.
WATERMARK ISSU E 21.09 // APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014
ORLANDO NEWS
TAMPA BAY NEWS
PAGE A 21-year-old gay man was
PAGE St. Pete Pride announced
KICKSTARTER
LOOKING BACK
PHOTO BY JAKE STEVENS
Read it online!
SCAN QR CODE FOR
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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
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asked to leave a St. Cloud basketball league because he is HIV-positive; Lake County policies make strange bedfellows of FCA and GSA; Orlando Mayor voices support for marriage equality.
12
its 2014 grand marshals at a kick-off event in St. Petersburg April 17; Gulfport Library is working to create an LGBT resource section and is seeking donations; Goodbye Broken Tusk, hello Mad Hatters.
PAGE The popular crowdfunding
32
site Kickstarter.com is increasingly finding use among LGBT artists and filmmakers. We talk with documentarians in Tampa Bay and Orlando who use the site with hopes of bringing their visions to life.
PAGE Watermark publisher
Dyer continues his 61 Tom look back at Watermark’s
evolution as we approach our 20th anniversary. In this issue, take a stroll back to the years 1995 and 1996 to see what was popular and what Watermark covered.
B R E A K I N G N E W S H A P P E N S E V E R Y D AY O N WAT E R M A R K O N L I N E . C O M . V I S I T T H E S I T E T O S I T E T O S I G N U P F O R O U R E N E W S L E T T E R . APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 // ISSUE 21.09
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Y PARTNER AND I SPEND THE WINTERS IN FLORIDA, summers in Michigan. For the most part, the legislature in Tallahassee mirrors the legislature in Lancing, Mich. Very Republican, very conservative, and by the looks of things, both states should reach marriage equality at the same time What a shame and waste of money for Gov. Rick Scott and our Gov. Rick Snyder to stand together defending their discrimination in the name of hatred. Thank you, Watermark, for the great coverage of the marriage equality issue throughout the country. MARK CICHEWICZ SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN
A DISCRIMINATION LOOPHOLE
T
HANK YOU FOR YOUR COVER STORY ON THE SOFTBALL LEAGUES IN FLORIDA. A late partner of mine played for years in the Tampa Bay league and I always enjoyed going out to the �ields at Greco and cheering him and his entire team. Your story correctly shared that softball is an incredible way to make friends and to �ind a sense of belonging in the community.
“What a shame and waste of money for your Governor Rick Scott and our Governor Rick Snyder to stand together defending their discrimination in the name of hatred.” —MARK CICHEWICZ
However, we decided to stop supporting “gay softball” when we learned about the stupid policies limiting the number of straight players. How can we ever achieve full equality if our own organizations continue to discriminate against our own allies? The local league says they don’t like the rule, but admit if they want to participate in the World Series, they have to embrace discrimination—and that is a shame. MICHAEL GROSSLER CLEARWATER
FROM THE WEB
(WatermarkOnline.com and Watermark’s Facebook page) ON OUR COVERAGE OF THE HISTORY OF LGBT SOFTBALL IN ORLANDO AND TAMPA BAY: “It’s a real shame that most of this article focused on a policy that neither league has, did not affect either league in 2008, and occurred almost six years ago! There are so many positive stories of players developing
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confidence in themselves from the league as well as straight players that had their opinion of our community changed through our leagues. Either of which could have been told. Instead you chose to drag up an old story that is not relevant!”
—WES HODGE ON A DATE BEING SET FOR INDIANA’S MARRIAGE EQUALITY COURT CASE: “This is great news...I am very hopeful the plaintiffs and their children that they will win.”
—ZAMBANINI4EQUALITY ON THE BROKEN TUSK’S TRANSFORMATION INTO A TEA BAR: “I love the owners. I wish them luck. Don’t think it sounds plausible. Hope I am wrong.”
—DANA MCELVY ON WATERMARK’S THIRD THURSDAY AT MAITLAND: “I had an awesome time and met a lot of great people. Thanks to Watermark, Stonewall, Art & History Museums, and everyone who came out for the event!”
—DAVY JUDAH
editor’s
Steve Blanchard EDITOR
SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com
I
Desk
’M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THE WAR ON WORDS.
This word is offensive. That word has been reclaimed. And the other word is only okay if it’s used by someone within a certain group or community. It’s confusing, and if you’re involved in the LGBT community at all, you’ve heard the discussion over LOGO’s decision to pull the “She-Mail” segment from future episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The tongue-in-cheek reference to the host’s communication with the cross-dressing contestants survived for �ive-and-a-half seasons. But when a “She-Male” titled challenge was thrown into the mix, it raised half-cocked eyebrows even further north. When I �irst learned of the “She-Mail” controversy, I rolled my eyes. This was hypersensitivity to a play on words on a reality show. One friend I mentioned this to
WATERMARK STAFF
said he thought phrase was “cute.” I remember when “Hotmail” email accounts were so popular a decade ago. “Hot-Male” was referenced all the time. I’m not saying the two attempts at humor have the same connotations. But the human tongue enjoys twisting words and their meaning to get a reaction. As an outspoken ally to the transgender community, I was befuddled by the sudden (or, sudden to me, at least) grief thrown in RuPaul’s direction. This was, after all, the same star who had transgender contestants on her show and supported them when they announced plans for
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gender transition. But no one is infallible. Just because I’m an ally to transgender people, for example, doesn’t mean I haven’t screwed up my fair share of transgender relations. Like many, I try to be too careful when referencing gender and end up just making things worse. When that happens, all I can do is apologize, ask for direction and learn from the experience. That experience has taught me to ask rather than assume. So when I read about this latest controversy, “What is the big deal?” was my question. She-Mail could simply mean mail for women—or gay men dressed as women. In my mind the language wasn’t the same as the despicable word “Tranny” or the differently-spelled yet offensive “She-Male.” The use of both words immediately gets under my skin. So I fully understand those offenses. I tell everyone: don’t use those words—ever. But this was a campy reference to communication from a drag icon to her underlings that I thought shouldn’t get more than a shoulder shrug. I read numerous articles and columns about RuPaul’s transgression. I read Facebook pleas from transgender friends asking for the offenses to stop. I also read posts from gay friends talking about the “over-sensitive” in our community and the way-too-far-reaching effects of
political correctness. After much thought, I determined that “She-Mail” in the context of e-mail slang doesn’t offend me. But truth be told, that doesn’t matter at all. What matters is that it does offend a growing and more vocal segment of our community. And as part of that arcing community, I support those emotions. I don’t know what it’s like to be transgender, just like a straight person has no idea what it’s like to be gay. “Queer,” no matter how often I hear that it’s been “reclaimed” by us, still makes me uncomfortable. I don’t like the word and it’s derogatory. It’s barely a step up from “fag.” “Breeder” for our straight allies is another word that some �ind funny, but shouldn’t. It’s not exactly a compliment to heterosexuals. My point is this: just because something doesn’t offend us directly doesn’t mean we can discount its effect on others. We should respect the emotions and reactions of others and engage in conversations with them to understand their perspective. Over-reacting exists, true. But just because we don’t agree with someone who has been offended doesn’t give us the green light to claim their “over-sensitivity” is showing. Instead it’s an opportunity to ask questions and understand a new perspective. The term “LGBT” is inclusive, but it’s also diverse. No one person understands the point of view of everyone else in the community, but it’s our job to support those points of view for the greater good. Words can wound everyone in some way when wielded aggressively. But with a united front, we just might be able to de�lect some of the damage and prevent future attacks. | |
I determined it doesn’t offend me; but truth be told, that doesn’t matter at all.
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CONTRIBUTORS GREG STEMM
lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 12
SANDRA KETCHAM is
a native Floridian with a passion for travel writing. She currently writes for Visit Florida and is the Orlando Guide at About.com. Page 32
DAVID MORAN
is the LGBTQ Services Graduate Coordinator at the University of Central Florida, where he studied Emerging Media. Page 37
Greg Burton, Scottie Campbell, Zach Caruso, Susan Clary, Amy Dees, Kirk Hartlage, Rev. Phyllis Hunt, Joseph Kissel, Ken Kundis, Mary Meeks, Stephen Miller, David Moran, Gregg Shipiro, Greg Stemm, Jim Walker, Steve Yacovelli
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orlando NEWS
Anti-gay group joins fight against Lake County Schools District club policies Jamie Hyman
M
T. DORA | The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is acquiring some strange bedfellows in their �ight to allow a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Carver Middle School. In December 2013, the ACLU �iled a lawsuit against the Lake County School District on behalf of Hannah Faughnan, 12, a seventh-grader who is attempting to form a GSA at her school. The suit is �ighting a policy written into the District’s club policy that forbids “non-curricular” clubs at middle schools. The District is relying on the policy to prevent Carver Middle School’s GSA from meeting. Non-curricular is de�ined by the District as clubs “not directly related to the body of courses offered by the school.” Now, it’s not just LGBT-friendly groups taking issue with the School District’s policies on school clubs. Orlandobased Liberty Counsel is suing the District on behalf of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), which claims it’s being discriminated against at Mt. Dora High School. Liberty Counsel is a notoriously anti-gay legal group that is also currently �ighting several lawsuits arguing for marriage equality in Florida. While non-curricular clubs are not banned in the Lake County School District at the high school level, the lawsuit alleges that the FCA’s classi�ication of non-curricular is what Mt. Dora High School of�icials are relying on in order to discriminate against the FCA. The District divides high school clubs into curricular, which related directly to class work; co-curricular, which “use student’s [sic] knowledge or curriculum to develop and expand their critical thinking, politic ability, leadership ability, postsecondary educational, and employability [sic] skills;” and non-curricular. According to the lawsuit, curricular and co-curricular clubs are treated equally but non-curricular clubs are denied certain privileges such as displaying �liers, making announcements over the school’s public address system, a section in the yearbook and a page on the District’s website. Continued on page 10 | |
DEVELOPING STORY An openly gay UCF students met with university officials and fraternity representatives as Watermark went to press April 22, to get to the bottom of the student’s accusations that the Beta Theta Pi fraternity kicked him out of initiation because he’s gay. Visit WatermarkOnline.com for continuing coverage of this story as it develops.
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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.
FORCED OUT: Dakota Basinger, 21, of St. Cloud, said he was removed from a city-sanctioned basketball league because he is HIV-positive. He’s pictured with his mother, Lisa Basinger, who was present at the game. PHOTO COURTESY DAKOTA BASINGER
‘Educate yourself’ HIV+ basketball player kicked out of game recognizes chance to make a difference Jamie Hyman
K
ISSIMMEE | An openly gay St. Cloud man kicked out of a basketball league for being HIV-positive is turning his experience into a chance to educate about the realities of HIV and how it spreads. Dakota Basinger, 21, has received national media attention and says he’s been contacted by people from all over the world who relate to his story. On April 13, a part-time parks and recreation employee named Dale Boston, 30, approached Basinger during the second half of a league playoff game and asked to speak to him privately. Boston asked Basinger if he was HIV-positive and when Basinger con�irmed that he was, Basinger asked him to leave the game for the safety of the other players. “So I walked out,” Basinger said. “I left the game, felt like crap. I was pretty upset.” On April 17, after the story broke and blew up in social media, Boston resigned from his position with the city of St. Cloud.
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All parties involved—the city, Basinger, and Boston—agree on those facts. But when asked about the events leading up to Boston’s conversation with Boston, the stories get hazy. Basinger and Boston—who have been in touch since the incident and are on good terms—agree
“I feel horrible. I think I was the scapegoat for the whole city.” —DALE BOSTON
that Boston is not to blame. Both men point the �inger at Jamie Paul, a St. Cloud recreation and leisure services coordinator. Boston says Paul pulled him aside during the basketball game and informed him of Basinger’s HIV status. He says Paul was “gossiping” and Boston called it “unprofessional disclosed information.” Boston also said Paul told him to wait for further instruction, and then never contacted him, leaving him unsure what he should do. “My boss knows I’m a take charge
watermarkonline.com
kind of person and I think she used that to her advantage,” Boston said. “I think she had a problem with [Basinger] from his younger days.” Watermark contacted Paul but she refused to comment and directed questions to Arin Thrower, Kissimmee’s public information of�icer. Thrower said she’s not sure how Boston found out Basinger’s HIV status but believes it was through social media. “For whatever reason, Dale told Mr. Basinger he would not be able to play in that game, which was of course incorrect and something that shouldn’t have happened,” Thrower said, adding that Boston “acted independently.” However, Thrower was unable to con�irm whether Paul was even present at the game. “The way they said I acted independently is false. False, false, false,” Boston said. “I feel horrible. I think I was the scapegoat for the whole city.” Thrower said the city has called Basinger to apologize and authorities are taking steps to make sure nothing like this happens again. “The city is making sure all of our employees understand that if they are unclear on what our policies and procedures are, they need to go to a supervisor before they take any action on their own,” she said.
Continued on page 10 | |
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orlando NEWS 10
| | Anti-gay Group Joins Lake County Fight
Orlando Mayor publicly supports marriage equality
from pg.8
“Defendants’ Policy and classi�ication is a scheme devised for purposes of discriminating against the FCA Club,” the lawsuit reads. The suit further claims that other non-curricular clubs enjoy privileges denied to the FCA. The ACLU and the Liberty Counsel’s lawsuits also have parallels in how they argue against the District’s school club policies. Both lawsuits cite the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act, which requires federallyfunded secondary schools to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs. “Equal Access means exactly what it says – equal access to every school facility used by other clubs,” said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel founder and chairman, in a media release. The gay/anti-gay ties don’t end there. Plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit are the FCA club itself, four individual students and the club’s faculty adviser, Jerry Buell, a teacher who made national headlines in 2011. After learning marriage equality had become legal in New York, Buell posted to Facebook that it made him want to “vomit” and called gay marriage a “cesspool.” He was suspended from the classroom and the investigation revealed other fundamentalist behavior, such as Buell’s habit of injecting scripture wherever he could at the school, from his online district pro�ile to his syllabus. Buell was represented by the Liberty Counsel in his �ight to get back his job. He headed back into the classroom after orders to scrub away the religious messages. Now, they’re arguing that Buell is also a victim of discrimination against the FCA, as teachers who serve as advisers to student clubs get paid a stipend. According to the lawsuit, Buell was paid prior to the 2008-2009 school year, but hasn’t been paid his stipend since then. “Defendants have refused to pay Buell a faculty stipend for advising the FCA Club, because the Club is religious,” the lawsuit reads, and states Buell is owed $3,000 in damages. Although both the Liberty Counsel’s lawsuit and the ACLU’s lawsuit have similar goals, according to ACLU staff attorney Daniel Tilley, the court’s ruling in the FCA case will likely not affect the current GSA case, as the ACLU’s argument in that case hinges on whether Carver Middle School would be de�ined as a “secondary school” under the Equal Access Act. If the judge rules middle schools are secondary schools, it would open the door for non-curricular clubs at Lake County’s middle schools. Tilley noted that even though the District has different school club policies for high schools and middle schools, “they’re both problematic.” “We absolutely support the FCA having access to all the bene�its of other clubs,” Tilley said. “We support the free speech rights of all students.” He said the FCA and the GSA could be considered allies as well, as they both play an important role in preventing bullying. “There’s an easy way out of this litigation for the district and that is to draft a rational school clubs policy that supports basic student speech rights,” Tilley said. As far as the GSA case, Tilley said they’re in the middle of the discovery period, when attorneys on both sides request information from opposing counsel. The Lake County School district did not respond to requests for comment. | |
watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.
Samantha Rosenthal
O
RLANDO | Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, for the �irst time, of�icially stated his support for marriage equality during his 2014 State of the City Address. “Diversity is our greatest strength and a vibrant, welcoming community attracts the kind of industries and talent our cities need. That’s why we were one of the �irst cities in Florida to adopt a domestic partner registry, and now we have more than 1,200 couples registered,” Dyer said. “I hope that one day we are the city that hosts the state’s �irst same-sex wedding. Love and commitment should be encouraged, and it should be celebrated and it should be embraced as a constitutional right for all.” Dyer said he just wanted to “be on the record as being supportive” for equality and marriage equality. Among those present was Commissioner Patty Sheehan, the �irst openly gay elected city of�icial, who acknowledged the impact marriage equality would have on helping bring economic prosperity to Orlando. “This community has done a lot of work over the last 20 years. I think it’s taken a long time to get elected of�icials to embrace that idea and put it in the State of the City Address, so I think it’s great that we’re �inally hearing those things,” Sheehan said. “I’m hoping it will help wake up the Legislature to realize that this is de�initely a tourist development thing, embracing [same-sex] weddings and bringing people here to this state.” She said if Florida’s Legislature would fall in line with big-city mayors, “we could really bring equality to the next level.” At the rally, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs also noted progress
| | HIV+ Basketball
Player from pg.10
Basinger’s mother was present at the game and the athlete said his she has been in contact with an attorney. Thrower said as of press time, no legal action has been taken against the city. In the meantime, Dakota Basinger—who only found out
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when it comes to embracing the local LGBT community. “I think Orange County and Orlando have made great strides toward making this community very friendly to the LGBT community,” Jacobs said. “We are a very supportive and embracing community for all walks of life.” When she ran for county mayor in 2010, Jacobs told Watermark that she opposes marriage for same-sex couples. And some LGBT
more competitive in the workforce marketplace because it will attract more people to the state for job opportunities and business growth. MBA did an economic impact study, which showed the losses that central Florida experienced by not legalizing same-sex marriage. He said wedding planners were losing $150 million a year in Central Florida alone. LGBT activist and Orlando attorney Mary Meeks said the mayor’s long-time support has always been appreciated for LGBT issues. “I think what was important about what the mayor said today is his leadership and his willingness to embrace the community and embrace equality, to de�ine it as a constitutional right, and to stand ready, willing and able to host that �irst —BUDDY DYER, ORLANDO MAYOR marriage when it becomes legal,” Meeks said. activists accused her of obstructing Dyer laid out a blueprint of the countywide Domestic Partner how Orlando will move forward in Registry that eventually passed in the future, Stephens said, but he 2012, and which Jacobs voted for. took the time to acknowledge the Jacobs is currently seeking a second accomplishments and what has been term in of�ice and Watermark done in the last couple years. has requested an interview to In addition to LGBT equality, see if her positions, like those of Dyer spoke about the soon-to-start many supportive elected of�icials, SunRail. He said initiatives like have evolved. this, along with working on other Mikael Audebert, president of economic key points, will turn MBA Orlando, saw Mayor Dyer’s Downtown Orlando and Central public support of marriage equality Florida into a more welcoming as a step toward sending the tourism location and a better place message back to Tallahassee that it’s to call home for all. time for change. Visit WatermarkOnline.com for “I think it’s important, �irst, that complete story and to see a video of mayors around Central Florida and Mayor Dyer’s statement supporting around Florida actually support marriage equality. | | equality and support marriage equality, because if they can send a message back to Tallahassee, it will make [legalizing marriage equality] much easier,” Audebert said. “ According to Audebert, marriage equality will help Florida become
“Love and commitment should be encouraged, and it should be celebrated and it should be embraced as a constitutional right for all.”
he’s HIV-positive at the beginning of April —sees the incident as a chance to do something worthwhile. “All my life I’ve dreamed of touching as many lives as I can,” Basinger said. “People with HIV, being bullied, being raised by a single mother. I want to bring awareness and education. It sucks that this had to happen for me to
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reach more lives.” Basinger said he hopes to use media exposure to teach people how HIV spreads and how to protect themselves. When asked what he would say whoever is responsible for having him removed from the basketball game, Basinger replied, “Educate yourself. Learn more before you speak.” | |
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tampa bay NEWS
GRAND COURT: (R-L) Darden Rice, Jay Aller, John
GUEST OF HONOR: Edith Windsor, the woman who’s case overturned the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act restricting marriage equality, will be the guest of honor at Equality Florida’s St. Petersburg Gala on May 3 at the Mahaffey Theatre.
PFLAG, Rice, Aller named Pride’s 2014 Grand Marshals
Our friend, Edie
Desmond and Nancy Desmond of PFLAG Tampa were voted St. Pete Pride’s 2014 grand marshals. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD
Steve Blanchard
S
T. PETERSBURG | It was a packed house at Bert Smith Auto Group on April 17 as supporters of St. Pete Pride anxiously awaited the announcement of this year’s St. Pete Pride Grand Marshals. With more than 4,000 votes cast, the results are in. St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Darden Rice, ASAP’s Jay Aller and PFLAG Tampa Bay will represent the state’s largest LGBT Pride celebration this year during its �irst-ever night parade. “I want to thank everyone for supporting me and, interestingly, more people voted in this than in my primary,” joked Rice, who, along with the other marshals, was presented with a medal and a trophy. “I didn’t get one of these when I won my last race, though.” Rice recognized the other women in her category, Ashley Brundage and Sharon Herman. The public had an opportunity to vote for grand marshals throughout the month of March. It’s the second time the organization has chosen its grand marshals this way, and the bump in participation shows that it is gaining traction, said Eric Skains, executive director of St. Pete Pride. “We actually heard from San Francisco Pride, which wanted to learn more about our process,” Skains told those in attendance. “That organization is like the de�inition of Pride, and we’re thrilled they wanted to learn more about us.” Aller, who was the �irst grand marshal announced, thanked those who voted and also recognized the other nominees in his category: Christopher Tate and Andy Citino. Continued on page 14 | |
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A St. Pete couple shares thoughts on Edie Windsor, Equality Florida’s guest of honor at its upcoming St. Petersburg gala Steve Blanchard
S
T. PETERSBURG | Google the name “Edith Windsor” and you get pages upon pages of articles about the woman who stood up to the federal government to have her marriage recognized—and won! Google images shows her photographed with the president, out celebrities and a collection of images from a documentary about her marriage, Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement. A Facebook page dedicated to her has nearly 2,000 “likes.” She’s the woman credited with overturning the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act preventing recognition of same-sex marriages in the United States. She was the grand marshal of New York City’s 2013 Pride celebration. And on Saturday, May 3, Windsor will be the guest of honor at Equality Florida’s St. Petersburg Gala held at the Mahaffey Theater. But to Marge Sherwin, 73, and Rose Walton, 77, of Treasure Island,
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she’s just Edie, their longtime pal. “It’s weird,” Shewin said when asked what it’s like to be close friends to a hero. “We think of Edie as our friend. When people go, ‘can I touch her?’ I just say, ‘It’s Edie!’ But I can say this: Edie has stayed Edie throughout this entire thing. She has never changed and it’s amazing to me as I watch this.”
“She and Thea had the opening of summer party on Memorial Day each year at their house,” Walton said. “They were always involved in the organization and so were we. So we got to know both of them well.”
FRONT ROW SEAT TO HISTORY
In June of 2013, Sherwin and Walton were doing what most LGBTs in America were doing— closely watching news coverage out of Washington D.C. and hoping the Supreme Court would rule the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. When Spyer died in 2009 the federal government ordered Windsor—two years after legally marrying Spyer in Canada—to pay $363,000 in estate taxes because it did not recognize the couple’s marriage. Windsor appealed and took the case to the Supreme Court, where images of her on the Court’s steps, arms outstretched celebrating victory, appeared in newspapers and websites around the world. The victory was a personal one for the LGBT community. But it was even more personal for Walton and Sherwin, because it was their friend celebrating her victory on the news.
“It’s weird, but I can say this: Edie has stayed Edie throughout this entire thing.” —MARGE SHERWIN
Walton agrees with her wife. “Edie is a very strong woman,” she said. Walton and Sherwin began their relationship in 1975 in St. Petersburg and met Windsor and her late wife Thea Spyer when they were involved with the civic organization EEGO (East End Gay Organization) in New York.
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Continued on page 15 | |
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tampa bay NEWS
Broken Tusk to close, reopen as tea bar Staff Report
S
T. PETERSBURG | For a year-and-a-half, LGBTs, drag queens and their allies have partied, raised money and shared drinks at The Broken Tusk on 28th Street North. But come May 1, they’ll be sharing drinks of the non-alcoholic kind. The owners announced the change on its Facebook page, saying that The Broken Tusk will sling its last alcoholic beverage on April 27 before reopening as Mad Hatters Ethnobotanical Tea Bar on May 1. “We want to thank everyone for all the support and love,” the statement reads. “It has been a truly fun journey and now we feel like it is time to move forward with something new.” Owners Judah and Levi Love say that they no longer drink alcohol and want to promote a healthier lifestyle through their newest business venture. The new business—within the same structure that houses the Broken Tusk at 4685 28th St. N.—will sell kava, kratom and exotic teas that promote relaxation and overall well being. The pair say they are also looking into juicing and organic foods. “This is something we feel very passionate about and we are really excited to be able to educate others on how plants can be bene�icial for everything from depression to insomnia to social anxiety, hypertension, high blood pressure and more,” the owners said. The soft opening on May 1 will give patrons a sneak peak at what the Mad Hatter Tea Bar will offer, but until then the Broken Tusk plans to have a farewell party as management clears out its stockrooms now through April 27. For more information on the new business, visit Facebook.com/MadHattersTeaBar. | |
| | St. Pete Pride Grand Marshals from pg.12 “We all have one thing in common, and that’s a love for this community,” Aller said. “It is an honor to be counted among men like this.” John and Nancy Desmond of PFLAG Tampa accepted the award for their organization, and thanked the crowd for letting them be part of the LGBT community. “Who would have thought we’d be here just four years after our son came out to us,” Nancy Desmond said to a round of applause. All three grand marshals will participate in the St. Pete Pride Promenade on Saturday, June 28 in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg. This year’s promenade begins at sunset and ends at 11 p.m. The St. Pete Pride Street Festival is the next day, Sunday, June 29, from 11a.m.-6 p.m. on Central Avenue between 22nd Street and 28th Street. For more information, visit StPetePride.com. | |
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Gulfport Library plans to create LGBT resource center Greg Stemm
G
ULFPORT | The nonpro�it Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Public Library announced its intention to create a LGBTQ Resource Center at the Library. The project brings together books, periodicals and other media in a special collection to serve as a community resource for Pinellas County and Florida. The Resource Center would be the �irst of its kind for a public library in the State of Florida. “Every library in Pinellas County has adopted a certain specialty,” said Roger Turner, chairman of the subcommittee. “Because Gulfport has such a large LGBT community — and because as far as we know there are no other public libraries in the state with a dedicated commitment to building and maintaining a large collection of LGBT-themed work — we think this is an appropriate thing for our library and our community.” A subcommittee of the Circle of Friends formed to chart a course toward developing and maintaining the LGBT collection. The subcommittee is now actively seeking donations of books, CDs, DVDs, periodicals and other media which may be useful
| | Our Friend Edie from pg.12
“I wanted to hug Edie right then,” Walton recalled. “I was in tears,” Sherwin said.”You sit there, you scream a little, we were crying. We just kept saying, ‘Oh my God! Look what she’s done!’ And we called all of our friends.” If anyone could change the world, both women knew it would be Edith Windsor. But seeing their longtime friend on national television while overturning legislation to pave the way for marriage equality was surreal. “One person does change the world,” Sherwin said. “There is no question in my mind.” The late Spyer, Walton believes, would have been proud of her wife and the progress made in her honor. “But of course, had Thea lived, none of this could have happened,” she said.
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additions to the new archive. The subcommittee is made up of seven members of the public, two library staff members and two representatives of the Circle of Friends subcommittee. Turner said he believes all seven members from the public are also members of the LGBT community, not a surprising percentage in a city that the latest census �igures show has about a third of its population who identify as LGBT. “The works may be �iction or non�iction, and we are hoping eventually to build a collection of LGBT-themed DVDs and musical CDs featuring gay and lesbian artists,” said Turner. “We actually have had only one meeting so far so we are still in the planning stages, but we are hopeful that eventually we will be able to build a very extensive collection of materials that will be free and available to the public. We are particularly hoping to be a resource for young people who might be questioning their own identity or need support.” The materials will all be held in one speci�ic dedicated spot in the library and identi�ied as the LGBTQ Resource Center. “The Gulfport Library is actually going through some extensive
renovations right now and the renovation plans include dedicated space for the new materials,” said Turner. Turner said he was uncertain of how many materials the Gulfport Library already has and it will be the subcommittee’s job to sort through what existing works should be included. Donated items should be in new or gently used condition. Members of the public interested in donating materials may bring or send them to the front desk of the Gulfport Public Library (5501 28th Avenue South, Gulfport, FL 33707). Please label donations accordingly if they are speci�ically intended for the LGBTQ collection. Committee members reserve the right to add donated items to their book sales inventory for fund-raising if items are not suitable for the collection. Monetary donations are also welcome and are tax-deductible. For this purpose, the library asks that donors make checks payable to the Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Public Library and note that the donation is intended for the LGBTQ Collection. For more information, please contact Committee Chairperson Roger Turner at 727-698-7657 or RLTurner39@tampabay.rr.com. | |
Soon after the Supreme Court decision, Windsor was an icon for equality, speaking at large events, embracing politicians and appearing as grand marshal of the New York City Pride parade—an experience Sherwin shared with her dear friend. “I had asked a few people to go with me to the Pride march but none could go,” Sherwin recalled. “So I call up Edie and told her I was coming and she invited me to stay at her apartment. The night before Pride, Edie wanted to go to the Dyke March, which began as a rebel thing but now gets the support of the cops. Anyway, we walk from her apartment to 14th Street and one of the women asks a cop if we can join in the march. At �irst he refuses until she points to Edie and says, “But that’s Edie Windsor!’ He says, “Okay, come on through.’” During the actual Pride festivities, Sherwin stayed close to Windsor most of the day—until they arrived
in the VIP tent. “I never do this, but I spotted Harry Belafonte—I adore Harry Belafonte,” Sherwin said. “I went up to him and told him I’m a great fan and ask for a picture with him. He grabs me for the picture then kisses and hugs Edie. He’s a marvelous, marvelous man.” Sherwin soon found herself in the middle of the staging area for the annual parade and standing next to the car scheduled to carry the grand marshal herself through the streets of New York City. Before she could walk away, Sherwin said she was invited to ride with Windsor in the parade. “Edie’s friend asks the woman running the parade if I can get in the car,” Sherwin laughed. “She says, ‘Sure, just don’t fall out.’ I told the woman sitting next to me in the car that I didn’t want to wave. This was all for Edie. She said, ‘Marge, they’re expecting you to wave. Wave!’”
watermarkonline.com
RIDING SHOTGUN: Treasure Island resident Marge Sherwin, right, rides alongside her friend and grand marshal, Edith Windsor, during the New York City Pride Parade in 2013. PHOTO COURTESY MARGE SHERWIN POLITICAL MOMENTUM
Walton and Sherwin say the Stonewall riot of 1969 threw their friend into civic activism. Windsor tired of hiding her personal life and her relationship with her partner. “When she worked at IBM she was closeted, like she says in the documentary,” Sherwin said. “That pin she wears everywhere was her engagement present from Thea because she couldn’t wear a ring. One day she said, ‘This is crazy’ and came out.” Windsor still wears that pin today. It’s activism like Windsor’s—and Sherwin’s and Walton’s—that have made sexuality less of an issue in the 21st century, the women believe. But both women are shocked by the momentous progress the country has seen in the last few years—with marriage equality becoming legal in 17 states. “The younger generation is the catalyst,” Sherwin said, with a nod of agreement from her wife. “Absolutely,” Walton added. “They could care less about who we are.” The women talked about Walton’s nieces, nephews and great-nieces and greatnephews, who visited the night before their interview with Watermark. “We sat around last night and they’re asking us about when we met and it’s a nonissue,” Sherwin said. “I think the mom turned to the oldest daughter and asked if there
CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE: The federal government wanted Edith Windsor, right, to pay more than $350,000 after the death of her wife, Thea Slayer, in 2009. PHOTO FROM EDIE AND THEA: A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT were any gay students in her school. She said yeah, and that it’s no big deal.” That gives both women hope that marriage equality will reach all 50 states within the foreseeable future, thanks in large part to their friend’s victory in Washington, D.C., last summer. But both have different theories as to how equality will �inally reach coast-to-coast. Sherwin thinks it will be decided quickly. Walton believes it will take a little more time. “I think the next Supreme Court case will determine if I’m right,” Sherwin said. “There will be a federal mandate unless Justice Kennedy goes the other way.” “And I think it will take years, not very many, though,” Walton added. “We’ll see a lot more states legalize marriage. It will take time to get to all 50.”
A WEEKEND GETAWAY The weekend of May 3—the date of the Equality
Florida gala at The Mahaffey Theatre—Walton and Sherwin will welcome Edith Windsor into their home. Windsor, they say, has never seen the large, newly renovated home along a canal and just a block from the Gulf of Mexico, and their guest is looking forward to a little down time during her short stay. “Originally we planned a party on Friday, brunch on Sunday,” Sherwin said. “But we axed the party and Edie just wants to spend a quiet Sunday with us. She’s so busy she doesn’t get much quiet time.” And what does Windsor think about what she’s accomplished when she does �inally get to sit in silence and re�lect upon her place in history? “Who talks to Edie about what she feels?” Sherwin laughed. “I don’t know how Edie feels. She’s been so wrapped up in this for three years!” | |
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NEWS
state
Pembroke Pines moves toward domestic partner benefits Samantha Rosenthal
T CONSTANT ALLY: Singer Gloria Estefan voiced her
continued support of LGBT equality while serving as North Miami Beach Pride grand marshal April 13.
Gloria Estefan serves as Miami Beach Pride’s grand marshal Staff Report
M
IAMI BEACH | Singer Gloria Estefan and choreographer Kenny Ortega served as grand marshals to April 13’s Miami Beach Gay Pride parade, and the former Miami Sound Machine diva wasn’t shy about voicing her support for LGBT equality. “The gay community’s been so supportive of our music from before it was even in the mainstream,” Estefan told The Miami Herald during a kick-off event. “They were out there in the clubs in full force, always representing and supporting. I’m very happy to be celebrating the fact that I think we’re moving towards real equality.” Fans of Estefan weren’t surprised by her support. She voiced support for marriage equality long ago and has always referenced her LGBT following in interviews and at concerts. “Of all the causes that have been, this has been really coming at breakneck speed, which makes me very happy for the gay community, the LGBT community,” she said. “We’re all human beings. We deserve to share the same rights. Consenting adults should be able to make their lives the way they want legally, in every way.” | |
Florida marriage equality plaintiffs invited to White House Staff report
Florida marriage equality lawsuit plaintiffs - and former Watermark cover models - Melanie and Vanessa Alenier attended this year’s 136th Annual White House Easter Egg Roll with their son. The event, hosted by the First Family on April 21, includes live music, cooking stations, storytelling, sports courts and the Easter egg roll. The Aleniers are one of six coupes who in January �iled a lawsuit with the Equality Florida Institute to �ight for marriage equality in Florida. | |
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he City of Pembroke Pines is moving toward providing domestic partner bene�its to city employees. On April 16, the City Commission unanimously approved an agenda item that would allow for the City Attorney to draft an ordinance extending employee bene�its to qualifying domestic partners, the same way they’re extended to spouses of married employees.
Commissioner Iris Siple, who introduced the item, said she was really astonished the City did not have something in place for domestic partners already and hopes the ordinance will be seen through to provide fair bene�its for all. “I think it means we are truly an inclusive city,” Siple said. “It means we understand our employees and want to take care of them like they take care of the City. And it’s just the right thing to do. Fair is fair.” A number of state legislators
attended the meeting, including Rep. Joe Gibbons, Rep. Elaine Schwartz and Broward County Clerk of Courts Howard Forman. On January 27, the Commission held a workshop to discuss domestic partnership bene�its for City employees. The commission item was then introduced April 7, when it made the agenda for the April 16 meeting. After the City Attorney completes the draft with the actual language for the ordinance, it will be brought to the public for two readings. | |
the Sun-Sentinel. In its three years of existence, Our Fund has already toped $3.4 million, hired a full time employee and opened its �irst public of�ice in Wilton Manors. South Florida has a lot of money available to various causes, including LGBT issues. But according to the paper, surveys show many have never funded local nonpro�its serving LGBTs because they were unaware of the nonpro�its nearby. Our Fund hopes to change that. It just published a booklet of local nonpro�its serving the gay community, also available on its website, Our-Fund.org. In general, Our Fund reaches out to potential donors, explaining that a community foundation offers tax bene�its and can accept property, stocks, bonds and other gifts to investment funds and not only cash for donations now. “The really big role for community foundations is legacy giving,” making donations from a
fund after one’s death, Timiraos said. The seed for Our Fund was planted when Timiraos worked at the Community Foundation of Broward. He said that foundation helped donors set up funds, invest the money and then funnel it to charitable causes. He was well aware that traditional foundations alone were not meeting the funding needs of nonpro�its for LGBTs. Of every $100 granted by U.S. foundations, just 26 cents went to programs focused on the LGBT community, according to a study by LGBTQ Funders, a nonpro�it that examined 383 foundations. There are �ive different focal points for Our Fund: arts and culture, health and education, women, seniors, and youth. In all, Our Fund reported nearly $1.1 million in revenues, almost $548,000 in grants and programs, and $1.6 million in net assets for the year ended June 30, 2013. It expects grants to top $700,000 this year. | |
Community foundation for gay causes opens in South Florida Staff Report FORT LAUDERDALE | Finally, South Florida’s transgender youths bullied at school will have better resources. Same-sex couples sidelined at an assisted living center can get help. Hispanic people living with HIV/ AIDS can get educated about the disease and artists focusing on LGBT themes will have an advocate helping them display their work. This is all thanks to Fort Lauderdale accountant Anthony Timiraos, who is working with nonpro�its to meet the increasing demand for their services. Timiraos is the founder of Our Fund, the area’s �irst community foundation for gay causes, which isn’t as common as one might think but has already given $1.3 million to non-pro�its serving the LGBT community. “I always say, ‘You need to take care of your own, because no one is going to do it for you,’” Timiraos told
COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY Human Rights Campaign representatives presented officials from Miami Beach a plaque for earning a perfect score on the HRC Municipality Equality Index, which measures cities’ LGBT-friendly policies. Miami Beach was not one of the 15 Florida cities included in the initial report, released in November 2013, but elected to self-submit and earned a perfect score of 112. Paul Guequierre, HRC spokesman, said Miami Beach’s decision to self-submit “really shows a commitment to LGBT equality.” PHOTO COURTESY HRC
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Wire Report
potential of opposite-sex couples distinguishes that group from samesex couples,’’ Campbell said. With one judge strongly hinting he supported the lower court rulings that struck down the Oklahoma and Utah bans, and another appearing skeptical of them, all eyes were on Holmes to see where the panel might come down. Holmes last week said that if the yardstick is whether the state has a rational reason to single out same-sex couples, the plaintiffs would lose. But if the standard was any higher, they would win. Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly approved that state’s same-sex marriage ban in 2004. A federal judge in January ruled that the ban violated the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians, triggering the appeal. | |
including education, health care and jobs to help them overcome social and economic challenges. Previously, transgendered Indians could only identify themselves as male or female in all of�icial documents. The decision was praised as giving relief to the estimated three million Indians who are transgender. The court noted that it was the right of every human being to choose their gender. ``All documents will now have a third category marked `transgender.’
This verdict has come as a great relief for all of us. Today I am proud to be an Indian,’’ said Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a transgender activist. The court’s decision would apply to individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth. The Supreme Court speci�ied that the ruling does not apply to gays, lesbians or bisexuals. | |
struck down by the Supreme Court last year. It is also offers a glimpse, through the eyes of one family, of the country’s rapidly shifting opinions of same-sex marriage, with most public polls now showing majorities in favor of allowing the unions. Cooper learned that his stepdaughter, Ashley, was a lesbian as the Prop 8 case wound its way through appellate court, according to a forthcoming book about the lengthy legal battle. And with the Supreme Court ruling now behind him, Cooper cast his personal opinion on gay marriage as an evolving process. ``My views evolve on issues of this kind the same way as other
people’s do, and how I view this down the road may not be the way I view it now, or how I viewed it ten years ago,’’ Cooper said in journalist Jo Becker’s book Forcing the Spring: Inside the Fight for Marriage Equality. In June, Cooper’s daughter plans to marry her partner in Massachusetts, one of 17 states plus the District of Columbia where same-sex marriage is legal. “My daughter Ashley’s path in life has led her to happiness with a lovely young woman named Casey, and our family and Casey’s family are looking forward to celebrating their marriage in just a few weeks,’’ Cooper said. | |
India’s top court recognizes third gender category Wire Report NEW DELHI | India’s top court on April 15 issued a landmark verdict recognizing transgender rights as human rights, saying people can identify themselves as a third gender on of�icial documents. The Supreme Court directed the federal and state governments to include transgendered people in all welfare programs for the poor,
Prop 8 lawyer’s views on gay marriage evolving Wire Report WASHINGTON, D.C. | The lawyer who argued before the Supreme Court in favor of upholding California’s ban on same-sex marriage is now helping his lesbian daughter plan her wedding with another woman. Attorney Charles Cooper says his view of same-sex marriage is evolving after having argued in court that same-sex unions could undermine marriages between a man and a woman. The revelation is an unexpected footnote in the years-long debate over Prop8, the California measure
BOY SCOUTS BANS SEATTLE CHURCH FROM HOSTING TROOP The Boys Scouts of America (BSA) has revoked the charter of a Seattle church because it allowed Geoff McGrath, a gay man, to continue leading a troop. A BSA attorney told Rainier Beach United Methodist Church last week that it could no longer hosts troops under the Boys Scout name. McGrath’s membership in the Scouts was revoked last month after BSA officials learned of his sexual orientation.
JUDGE: INDIANA LACKS REASON TO BAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY A federal judge says attorneys defending Indiana’s same-sex marriage ban haven’t shown any good reason to not recognize the marriage of a lesbian couple, one of whom has a terminal illness. Judge Richard Young’s order dated April 18 says the court granted Niki Quasney and Amy Sandler a temporary restraining order barring the state from enforcing its same-sex marriage ban against them partly because the couple is likely to succeed in having the ban declared unconstitutional.
QUICKER RULING SOUGHT IN PENNSYLVANIA MARRIAGE BAN CASE Plaintiffs in a challenge to Pennsylvania’s 1996 law banning same-sex marriage changed strategy April 21, asking a federal judge to bypass a trial in favor of a quick ruling in the case. Civil rights lawyers representing a widow, 11 couples and one of the couples’ two teenage daughters filed papers in federal court in Harrisburg asking for an expedited decision on the law’s constitutionality. The lawyers say they no longer see the need for a trial because lawyers for defendant Gov. Tom Corbett have not disputed their claims.
nation+world
D
ENVER | A judge in Colorado who will play a pivotal role deciding whether gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to wed in the United States asked pointed questions April 17 about whether Oklahoma can legally ban the unions. U.S. Circuit Judge Jerome Holmes is seen as the swing vote on the three-judge panel that heard the Oklahoma appeal and a similar case from Utah earlier this month. The two cases are the �irst to reach an appellate court since the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Since then, gay rights lawyers have successfully convinced eight federal judges that
the DOMA ruling means courts must strike down laws against same-sex marriage because they deprive same-sex couples of a fundamental right. During the April 17 hearing before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel, Holmes suggested he interpreted the Supreme Court’s ruling the same way. “The state cannot de�ine marriage in any way that would trample constitutional rights, right?’’ Holmes asked Jim Campbell, the attorney representing the defendant in the case, the Tulsa County clerk. Campbell, however, contended the court must defer to the democratic process if there is a rational reason for the state to choose who can marry and who cannot. “The natural, procreative
IN OTHER NEWS
NEWS
Judge asks pointed questions in Okla. marriage case
ILLINOIS COUNTY ISSUES 1,000TH GAY MARRIAGE LICENSE Cook County Clerk David Orr says he issued the 1,000th same-sex marriage license on April 18 to a gay couple from Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. A federal judge in Chicago ruled Feb. 21 that Illinois’ original marriage ban was unconstitutional, allowing same-sex couples to marry. Orr says his office has seen same-sex couples from 24 states come to Cook County to get married, including Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Florida.
CHALLENGE TO ARKANSAS GAY MARRIAGE BAN HEARD Advocates of ending Arkansas’ ban on same-sex marriage took their case before a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge April 17, who said at the end of the hearing that he expected to issue a ruling within two weeks. Arguing for the plaintiffs, attorney Cheryl Maples said gay people constitute a politically unpopular minority that’s being targeted by the 2004 constitutional amendment. “They want the same things that all Arkansans want,’’ Maples said. ``This law was set to harm them.’’
MALTA LAW ALLOWS SAMESEX COUPLES TO ADOPT Malta’s Parliament on April 14 passed a law allowing civil unions that gives gay and lesbian couples the same rights as married people, including the possibility to adopt children as couples. Malta’s Catholic Church spoke out against the law. Following the introduction of divorce in 2011, the new legislation is the latest move away from what had long been a conservative Catholic country.
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The Perfect Storm
Marilyn Carifi, MSW
H
OPE AND HELP CENTER
of Central Florida has served people with HIV and AIDS for 26 years. In the past several months there has been major upheaval in the system of care for a number of reasons, most stemming from the Affordable Care Act.
Most have heard of the website freezing, and the State of Florida refusing millions of dollars in Medicaid funds from the federal government which would have helped the people who are less than 133 percent of the federal poverty line. There are other issues, however, that you should know about. Hope and Help Center has been contracted by multiple agencies, primarily Ryan White Parts A & B and the Health Council of South Florida, Inc., to provide �inancial assistance to eligible consumers such that they can maintain their private health insurance without major �inancial burden. Prior to the June 2012 Supreme Court’s �inal ruling on the ACA, the programmatic and contractual requirements across all health insurance assistance programs administered by Hope and Help Center had remained relatively stagnant. Clients were typically able to enroll in the insurance assistance programs without signi�icant
barriers and challenges. Unfortunately, there were less than 16 months between the SCOTUS’s ruling and ACA implementation to completely revise all federal, state, and local policies and procedures to comply with the legislative requirements under the new law. Further complicating this transition was the fact that the list of insurance companies and, more importantly, the intricate details (e.g., copays, deductibles, formularies, providers, etc.) of each of their policies was not released in their entirety until September 2013, less than a month before the open enrollment period was to begin. This left very little time for national and state funders to (1) complete a detailed analysis of each plan, (2) determine the cost effectiveness of the plans versus other funding options, (3) develop eligibility and enrollment policies and procedures that would apply across all providers and comply with federal and state laws, and, �inally (4) instruct social service providers, such as Hope and Help Center, on the enrollment processes in light of the challenges associated with the federal website portal. As with any major systemic overhaul, signi�icant glitches in the system were experienced, resulting in legitimate fear, frustration, and anger on behalf of those most signi�icantly impacted: the clients. Unfortunately, as the front line provider of the insurance assistance program, Hope and Help Center staff was responsible for relaying the changes imposed by the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) and various funders. Hope and Help Center, sometimes unfortunately, must strictly adhere to the contractual requirements of the funders, whether we agree with them or not. Hope and Help Center can only administer the programs within the scope of services de�ined in the contract with the funder. The changes in healthcare legislation and funding have been very �luid recently, and often times the information is unclear, inaccurate, or rescinded with very little or no notice. Not only is this time of change frustrating for
the clients, but also the agencies and staff that are responsible for implementing the changes. While it is clear that some changes in the passing of the ACA are for the better (e.g., the elimination of the pre-existing condition clause), we are also experiencing the frustrations of this systemic overhaul (e.g., delays in accurate information and policy changes, those at greatest need falling through the cracks, etc.). Hope and Help Center’s Board of Directors, management, and staff are also frustrated with the seemingly endless and oftentimes contradictory changes in this “improved system.” If you are a current or former Hope and Help Center client that is affected by the programmatic changes as they relate to the health insurance assistance programs, and you would like assistance in understanding your speci�ic case
Change is rarely easy, and is even more complicated and frustrating when we have little, if any, control over it.
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in more detail, please contact us at 407.645.2577. We welcome all inquiries and will do our best to clarify how the legal and programmatic changes affected your speci�ic case. Change is rarely easy, and is even more complicated and frustrating when we have little, if any, control over it. Many of the changes resulting from the implementation of the ACA are even scarier for those of us living with HIV/AIDS that are constantly being told to never lose our insurance, never miss an appointment with our medical provider, always get our labs done on-time, and never miss a dose of our life-saving antiretrovirals. We are hopeful that as the problems with the implementation of the law are addressed, policy and procedural quirks will be remedied so that all will have the healthcare that they deserve. Until that time, we ask for your patience while we wait to hear from the funders for further guidance. | |
Marilyn Carifi, MSW, is the Executive Director of Hope & Help Center of Central Florida, Inc.
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Ding-a-lings of Spring
Richard Rosendall
HE RAIN OF RIDICULOUS
ravings from America’s political right continued unabated as spring took hold. Let’s look at a few examples.
Last week, Chelsea Clinton announced that she and hubby Marc Mezvinsky are expecting a child. Conspiracy mongers in the right-wing media went crazy. Steve Malzberg of Newsmax suggested, based on a thick �ile of nothing, that the pregnancy was deliberately timed to help Grandma Hillary’s expected presidential campaign. Oh, sorry, he did have one bit of evidence: Chelsea had mentioned in an interview that her mom was constantly asking about grandchildren. News �lash: this is what mothers do. My own mother, despite having several grandchildren already, used to ask if I would be giving her one, though she was unprepared to discuss surrogate pregnancies. The notion that the Clintons could have ordinary human impulses is apparently unthinkable to some. LifeNews.com reported on what we might as well call BabyGate, “Abortion supporter Chelsea Clinton announced today that she’s pregnant—not with a fetus or clump of cells but with a ‘child.’”
OMG, she’s pro-choice but she’s having a baby?! What hypocrisy, what murderous gall! I hardly know where to begin with the loopy malignancy of this, which made me laugh out loud. It perfectly captures the presumptuousness of people who cannot get their heads out of other people’s uteri. Only in the fevered busybody brain could respecting a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices mean that you actively desire the killing of unborn babies. I write this with fresh memories of an adorable little girl in her Easter �inery running happily up and down the aisle at Israel Baptist Church while a deacon told the congregation that she was �ine and to let her be. [To the reader who accuses me of genocide for being pro-choice, who is wondering what a demon like me was doing in church Easter morning: I was invited by my friend Rev. Mark Thompson, who led a vigil for the murdered Dr. George Tiller in 2009 and called him a martyr. Feel free to have an aneurism.] I confess I was more attentive to what the restless children near me were doing than to what the deacon was saying. The little girl especially enjoyed twirling around with her arms outstretched like Julie Andrews in the Alps. Believe it or not, as I sat there with my Baptist friends and their families, it did not once occur to me that the little monsters should not have been born. I love children, not in the sense W.C. Fields did (“preferably parboiled”), but for their rambunctious and questioning little selves. Those of us who don’t want to see a party in thrall to fanatics retake the Senate cannot point out often enough that religious bullies have no monopoly on loving children. The obsessed anti-abortionists in Congress recently showed their godly devotion to child welfare by cutting food stamps. In other news: touting the latest in science education, Carl Kerby of the creationist group Answers in Genesis claims that dinosaurs (tiny baby dinosaurs) were aboard Noah’s Ark. Creationists think the biblical �lood happened just over 4,000 years ago, whereas the fossil record shows that dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago. Off by a whisker! Meanwhile, Alan Keyes praised Apocalypse-seeking rancher Cliven Bundy, calling him a latter-day Rosa Parks. Sure, refusing to pay grazing fees like other ranchers for using public
The obsessed anti-abortionists in Congress recently showed their godly devotion to child welfare by cutting food stamps.
land is totally like being an African American in Alabama in 1955. Cliven’s armed standoff with the Bureau of Land Management also prompted the head of Tea Party Nation to plug Operation American Spring, next month’s planned pro-coup Washington rally to force President Obama from of�ice. As a defensive measure, I recommend self-medication. Here’s to the revolution. | | Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at rrosendall@starpower.net.
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WELCOME RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE TO
THE 21ST CENTURY
UNFAVORABLY
W
HEN COMEDY CROSSES THE LINE, IT CAN GET UGLY. That’s just what happened when RuPaul’s Drag Race aired a segment on March 17 titled “Female or She-male.” Contestants on the popular Logo TV reality show were shown a body part and asked whether the picture was “female,”
compared with 18% who feel similarly about the LGBT community. —Human Rights Commission
FOR EVERY JASON COLLINS, THERE’S A BUBBA WATSON
T
HE FINAL MOMENTS OF THE MASTERS CAN BE THE MOST EXCITING IN PROFESSIONAL GOLF, but not this year. Not only was Tiger Woods absent from Augusta National, which was a downer, but the guy who actually won this year’s tournament—Bubba Watson—is a homophobe. As Watson donned his second traditional green jacket (his second win in three years) on April 13, it was dif�icult to see him as a champion. His feelings came to light last year when Jason Collins came out. Watson took the opportunity to say that while he “respects” Collins, he doesn’t support him. “It’s just my belief system in the Bible it says you can’t be gay,” Watson said. “That’s a sin. So, somebody living in sin I believe to be wrong.” So while a lot of conservative Christians were probably enthused to see Watson awarded $1.62-million, we are already looking forward to next year’s tournament. | |
meaning a non-trans woman, or “she-male,’ meaning someone who was male at birth but presents themselves as a woman. LGBTs and allies set Twitter ablaze with accusations of transphobic language. Two transgender former contestants came forward and criticized the show’s use of the word “tranny.” Finally,
ELLEN TOPS OUT’S POWER LIST
SAME-SEX COUPLES CAN SERVE AS MISSIONARIES. NO, THEY CAN’T
C
OMEDIENNE ELLEN DEGENERES HAS HAD QUITE A YEAR. She gave the Oscars its best ratings in 10 years as host, nearly shut down Twitter with her Hollywood stars sel�ie and beat her own show’s ratings the day after. That’s probably why she tops Out magazine’s 2014 Power list of the most in�luential LGBT voices in American culture. “Everybody loves Ellen, and that’s one of the reasons she’s regained the top spot,” Out writes. DeGeneres stole the top spot from Apple CEO Tom Cook, who came in second this year. Actress Ellen Page makes her debut at number 29 on the list after coming out in February. To see the Eighth Annual Out List, visit WatermarkOnline.com. | |
on April 14, Logo TV yanked the episode from all its platforms and said it would no longer use the play on words “You’ve got she-mail.” A statement read in part: “We did not intend to cause any offense, but in retrospect we realize that it was insensitive. We sincerely apologize.” Well, it’s about time. | |
JENNY FROM THE BLOCK WINS GLAAD AWARD
G
LAAD HANDED SINGER AND ACTRESS JENNIFER LOPEZ ITS VANGUARD AWARD for “her work contributing to positive perceptions of gay people” at its 25th annual awards ceremony on April 13. J-Lo, a gay rights advocate, serves as executive producer of the TV drama, The Fosters, which tells the story of a lesbian couple. During the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles, she honored her late Aunt Marisa, a lesbian, who inspired her work in the community. Actress Rita Moreno presented the award to Lopez. GLAAD will host its 25th Annual Media Awards on May 3 in New York. | |
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G
OOGLE EXECUTIVE JACQUELINE FULLER RESIGNED from the board of World Vision after the Christian mega-charity �lip-�lopped on its decision last month to hire married same-sex couples as missionaries. Two days later, under pressure from evangelicals, the group reversed its decision, causing a second backlash. Fuller is Google’s Director of Corporate Giving, Based outside of Seattle, World Vision was founded by evangelicals and is a $1 billion international aid relief agency. Fuller, who had served on the board for two years, was the only one to resign. | |
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ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
Local filmmakers kickstart their projects with crowdfunding
I
Sandra Ketcham
NDEPENDENT CREATIVES IN
Central Florida increasingly turn to community investors instead of traditional �inancing routes to fund their latest projects.
Louanne Walters and her wife, Sharon Saraga, of St. Petersburg are working on a �ilm about eating disorders in gay males, an issue that affects more than 15 percent of gay and bisexual men, according to a study conducted at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Even though it is considerably more common than most people realize, the issue receives very little attention. “This issue is known, yet not discussed, in the LGBT community,” Walters says. “It’s time to change that. I feel that by not shining a light on this subject, the gay community is silently endorsing this problem. There are so many in the LGBT community who know someone who is suffering and don’t know what else to do, in part because the medical help is simply not available, and in part because it’s taboo.” Walters hopes her
�ilm will raise awareness of the potentially fatal disorder and inspire further research. A portion of the documentary’s pro�its will go to an organization focused on helping gay men suffering from anorexia and other eating disorders. To create her �ilm, Walters estimates at least $30,000 is needed for just a “bare essentials budget with a skeleton crew.” A sum this large can be very dif�icult for most independent �ilmmakers to raise. And, even if a �ilmmaker has a solid history of successful movies, a full-length �ilm is still not an easy project to bankroll through traditional means. Fortunately for Walters and other artists, the crowdfunding website Kickstarter.com offers a shortcut to raising muchneeded money without the arduous application process of traditional grants or the risks associated with personal
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�inancing through a bank. The website is also a great place to showcase prior projects and promote current ones. Since its launch in 2009, the fundraising platform has dramatically changed the way creative people obtain startup capital. Instead of agreeing to the terms and conditions imposed by a few large �inanciers who may desire creative control over their project, �ilmmakers can now turn to Kickstarter and— hopefully—get funded through many individual investors, or “backers,” from the community. The website does exactly what it advertises: It effectively kick-starts creative projects by allowing artists to tap into the �inancial resources of the “crowd.” The site has helped launch an impressive array of campaigns—nearly 142,000 as of this writing—ranging from photography and design to �ilm and music. About 60,000 of those campaigns have been successfully funded. The funding platform might be the only realistic option for artists hoping to subsidize a controversial project that isn’t
Continued on page 44 | |
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AWARDS SEASON: Laura Benanti is the first Tony-award-winning actress to perform at the Orlando Cabaret Festival.
BROADWAY BOYS: Cabaret acts aren’t always solo performances. The cast of The Broadway Boys wowed the crowds in 2008. PHOTO BY TOM HURST
Cabaret Style THEATER
The 12th Orlando Cabaret Festival returns to Mad Cow
O
David Thomas Moran
RLANDO | THE MAD COW THEATER’S
12th annual Orlando Cabaret Festival is set to debut on April 24, and this year it’s bringing in some pretty big names. Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti, Tony Awardnominee Christiane Noll, and former One Life to Live star Nicholas Rodriguez are headlining the 18-day festival, which will also showcase Central Florida’s local talent through May 11.
While several Tony Award nominees have performed in previous years, Benanti, who won the 2008 Tony Award for her role as Louise in a revival of the
musical Gypsy, will be the �irst Tony Award winner to perform at the festival. David Mink, Mad Cow’s Director of Audience
Development, promises that the 2014 festival line up will not disappoint. He also said this year’s acts are particularly LGBT-friendly. “Laura Benanti has a very large following in the LGBT community. She does things to support the LGBT community and has been an outspoken ally,” says Mink. “She often speaks highly of her [LGBT] friends in her performances…she jokes that she was born a 45-year old gay man.” Benanti’s solo show, In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention, comes to the festival on May 9 and 10. Rodriguez gained widerecognition for his portrayal of a gay character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Life in 2009. His character Nick Chavez was
ensnared in a love triangle with gay couple Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish. “He’s a phenomenal talent. Just an amazingly kind person,” says Mink. “He’s got a huge following because he had a pivotal storyline on One Life to Live as a gay character.” Rodriguez is scheduled to perform his cabaret act, The First Time, on May 1 and 2. He says the show is a personal exploration of life, love and loss through music. “[My show] is de�initely personal. It’s not just stories about my career. For the audiences that are just getting to know me, this is kind of the soundtrack of who I am. It’s kind of a great introduction to who I am as a person and an artist,” says Rodriguez. “It’s a little bit country, a little bit rock, a little bit music theater.” Rodriguez told Watermark that he is incredibly proud of his stint on One Life to Live, but he said that he does not really have any agenda other than to be authentic as both an artist and an individual. “Whenever I do a role, I approach it as honoring the role and honoring myself. I’m a gay man who happens to play gay men sometimes, and I’m a gay man who plays straight men sometimes. It’s just the character,” Rodriguez says. Rodriguez came out when he was 22 and just recently celebrated his 11-year anniversary with his partner, Matt Lenz. Even with all of the progress
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that has been made toward LGBT equality, Rodriguez says being an openly gay actor is still a challenge. “I think if you’re openly gay, it’s a lot easier [to get type-cast] as a gay character. It’s still a bit of an uphill climb,” says Rodriguez. “I try to look at the positive side of it. I still get opportunities. I still get auditions. I try not to be defeatist about it but I’m also not naïve enough to think that it’s completely equal opportunity. It’s not. We’re not there yet. You just have to keep showing up and doing good work.” In addition to One Life to Live, Rodriguez has starred as Tarzan in Disney’s Broadway production, appeared in the �ilm Sex and the City 2 and was in several OffBroadway shows. He recently performed opposite Kathleen Turner in the play Mother Courage and her Children at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Even though it can be dif�icult for openly gay actors to get straight roles, Rodriguez said the theater world tends to be more open-minded. He recently played the role of cowboy Curly MacLain in the musical Oklahoma! at the Arena Stage. Rodriguez said the production also featured an interracial cast. “We can expand our thinking,” says Rodriguez. “I think it’s about
Continued on page 40 | |
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MAY 12 AT 8PM TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets available by calling the Hard Rock Live Box Office at +1-407-351-5483 HARDROCKLIVE.COM • Artist & Showtimes Subject to Change No Cameras, No Backpacks, No Videos
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‘Due to language and adult content this production is recommended for mature audiences only” Events at The Osceola Center for the Arts are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts & Culture and the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau. For visitor information call 407.742.8200 or visit www.experiencekissimmee.com
HIS STORY: Former One Life To Live star Nicholas Rodriquez will perform his show, The First Time, May 1-2. is a celebration of music; it’s a celebration of life, a celebration of | | Orlando Cabaret story-telling and they all collide in Festival from pg.37 one event,” says Mink. “We bring together artists from all over the educating audiences. We’ve yet to country. We feature local artists who have a strong, gay �ilm star that gets you may have seen on our Mad Cow to play heterosexual roles. That’s stages but some of them have not going to break down a lot barriers performed on our stages before. “ once we have that happen. It’s a lot Mink describes the festival’s easier in theater and to some extent musical repertoire as a blend of television than �ilm.” different styles from Broadway to Mink echoes Rodriguez’s jazz to pop featuring both classical sentiment regarding how cabaret is and contemporary tunes. an intimate way for the audience to The Orlando Cabaret Festival get to know artists. �irst launched in 2003 and is the “Here you get to know the art longest-running of cabaret…which is cabaret festival in one of the wonderful the United States. things about this type The Adelaide of performance…you Cabaret Festival, actually get to know which began the individual,” says in 2001, is the Mink. “They tell you longest-running personal stories and cabaret festival they sing songs. It’s —NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ in the world. like hanging out with a “The Adelaide festival only has friend in your living room and having two years on us,” boasts Mink. “We a little pow-wow.” are really proud of this festival. It’s This year’s festival line up will a really fantastic opportunity for feature 11 unique acts including Central Florida to get this wonderful Benanti and Rodriguez . Some will burst of this style of story-telling be one-time only performances, but music where the shows feature songs most of the acts will have multiple that people might be familiar with showings. While Mink thinks and might not.” | | everyone should see everything at the festival, he said some of this year’s highlights include headliners MORE INFORMATION Benanti, Noll and Rodriguez, a Mother’s Day cabaret brunch, WHAT: Orlando Cabaret Festival the “It Was a Very Good Year” WHERE: Mad Cow Theatre series, and the festival’s weekday, WHEN: April 24-May 11 lunchtime performances. TICKETS: OrlandoCabaretFestival.com “The [Orlando] Cabaret Festival
“[My show] is definitely personal. It’s not just stories about my career.”
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MAY 10 AT 8PM TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets available by calling the Hard Rock Live Box Office at +1-407-351-5483 HARDROCKLIVE.COM • Artist & Showtimes Subject to Change No Cameras, No Backpacks, No Videos
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LIFE. APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 // ISSUE 21.09
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Don’t spend all your Kickstarter money on rewards;
| | Finding Funding from pg.33
likely to qualify for grant funding. It’s also a natural choice for those who don’t want to directly “beg” friends and family for money.
the point of raising the money is to make the film.
—MATTHEW LYNN
SHARING HIS STORY
Orlando �ilmmaker Matthew Lynn lost his family and his career as a Southern Baptist music minister when he was outed, but that didn’t stop him from �inding peace with himself, the church and his parents. Now, he wants to share his story with the world through a �ilm based on his life. “Through the last few years, I have learned that it’s not just my story but the story of many LGBT people and their families,” Lynn shares. “The movie talks about self-acceptance and reconciliation with your family. That’s something that the LGBT community often misses out on and it’s a story I wanted to tell.” A short version of the movie, called A Better Life, has received positive reviews from the community, but local support doesn’t always guarantee �inancial success. So, Lynn turned to Kickstarter to raise money, hoping community investors would help �inance his project. Unfortunately, Lynn failed to reach his campaign goal of $30,000. Because Kickstarter has an all-ornothing funding rule, he won’t be collecting any of the money pledged by backers of his project, which amounted to more than $11,000. Lynn hasn’t given up hope, though, and he’s currently speaking with private investors about funding his �ilm.
HOW IT WORKS
To be successful on Kickstarter, a fundraising campaign must meet its pre-set �inancial goals by a deadline created at the start of the campaign. If the desired funds are not raised by the deadline, the project receives no money and none of the backers are charged a penny. For some, the all-or-nothing approach can be devastating, especially if the campaign falls just short of reaching its goal. Walters thinks the all-or-nothing rule is a positive thing. “It’s a safeguard for investors,” she says. “Other funding sites allow the project leaders to keep whatever amount is funded. In my opinion, this is not in the best interest of the donor as the money may or may not
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FINANCING A VOICE: St. Petersburg couple Louanne Walters and Sharon Saraga plan
to launch a Kickstarter campaign in the near future to fund a documentary on gay men and eating disorders. PHOTO COURTESY LOUANNE WALTERS
be spent on the project.” Although Kickstarter has a higher success rate than other crowdfunding sites, about 66 percent of all campaigns fail according to the Kickstarter website. Sometimes, this is due to vague plans or lack of communication with potential investors; most people aren’t comfortable donating money to a cause they don’t understand or believe in. Showing examples of prior work, utilizing photography and video to get the message across, and relentless marketing through social media are key to a successful campaign. Ultimately, it is up to individual backers to determine whether a creative venture is worthwhile. Generating buzz in advance of a campaign can get it off to a good start and help with an initial boost of funds. Of projects that have reached 20 percent of their �inancial goal, 81 percent were successfully funded by the deadline. This is why Walters is focusing on building interest in her �ilm before setting up her campaign. “We will use Kickstarter once we have completed our grassroots awareness campaign with like-
watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.
minded organizations in the LGBT community, such as GSAs (gay straight alliances) and college groups (education is an essential aspect in awareness), and PFLAGs, �ilm festivals, etc.,” she says. Even with the possibility of getting nothing, Kickstarter offers hope to artists who would otherwise be unable to �inance their project. The funding platform has leveled the playing �ield, allowing even unknown artists the ability to solicit public donations based on the merit of individual projects. Even those who don’t successfully fund their projects through the website reap other bene�its, including increased exposure for their work, artistic feedback from the community and interest from private investors.
HAVE A PLAN
Kickstarter isn’t open to anyone, though. The site can only be used for well-de�ined creative projects with a clear beginning and end, such as a �ilm, music album, exhibition, or app. The site cannot be used to raise money for business startups, charitable organizations, “fund my life” projects or other ventures. Using the site is simple:
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FIGHTING FOR FUNDING: Matthew Lynn of Orlando is working on A
Better Life, a film about his life and coming out to a religious family. His Kickstarter campaign failed, but he hasn’t given up on the project. PHOTO COURTESY MATTHEW LYNN
Creatives set up an account, determine a funding period for their campaign and share their story through text and video. A tier of rewards, such as copies of the �ilm or other prizes, is developed to entice investors to back the project. Marketing through social media gets the word out. The work doesn’t end when the campaign does, though. There’s a lot of time and expense involved in delivering on promises and ful�illing rewards to dozens or hundreds of backers. When artists are not prepared for this part of the process, stumbling blocks like these can cause even the most successful projects to fall apart. Lynn put a lot of thought into the rewards chosen for his campaign, because he wanted to keep a low overhead. Most of his rewards were “digital, intangible, or something we were going to be doing anyway,” he said. His approach could save artists a lot of money; it’s common for reward ful�illment to burn through hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Unless this money is budgeted into the
watermarkonline.com
campaign goal, costly rewards can bankrupt a successful campaign before the project even gets off the ground. For this reason, it’s crucial to factor in a buffer when developing a fundraising goal to cover unforeseen expenses. “Don’t spend all your Kickstarter money on rewards,” Lynn says. “The point of raising the money is to make the �ilm.” Using the site isn’t completely free, either; Kickstarter keeps a cut of 5 percent, assuming the campaign is successful, and there’s a payment processing free that ranges from 3 to 5 percent. Additionally, all money earned through the site is considered taxable income, something many artists don’t consider going in. Still, Kickstarter is the only chance many creatives have at ful�illing their dreams and delivering their art to the public. And a failed campaign isn’t necessarily the end of a project; for many, it is an opportunity to rethink the venture, incorporate feedback received during the initial campaign and then relaunch with a fresh approach. | |
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TAMPA BAY Unnecessary Farce, April 10-27, Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org
Spiritual experience
Ghost: The Musical, April 22-27, Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org The D*Word - A Musical, April 24-May 18, Jaeb Theater, Tampa. 813-2297827; StrazCenter.org
Ghost: The Musical, arrives at Tampa’s Straz Center April 22-27 and Orlando’s Bob Carr Centre May 8-13.
STOMP, April 30-May 3, Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org The Mikado, April 26-May 18, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; FreeFallTheatre.com Next Generation Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty, May 9-10, Ferguson Hall, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org All New People, May 7-June 1, Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org
Event Planner
We Will Rock You, May 13-18, Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
ORLANDO The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, through April 27, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Orlando. 407-477-1700; OrlandoShakes.org Jersey Boys, through April 27, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 321-418-7646 Orlando Cabaret Festival, April 24-May 11, Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com
Cher D2K Tour, May 16, Amway Center, Orlando. AmwayCenter.com Ghost: The Musical, May 13-18, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 321-418-7646 Tyler Perry’s Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned, May 2, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 321-418-7646 The Full Monty, May 2-18, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee. 407-846-6257; ofcta.com
Butterflies are Free, May 16-25, Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, New Smyrna Beach. 386-423-1246; NSBPlayers.org On Golden Pond, May 2-25, Moonlight Theatre, Clermont. 352-243-5875; MoonlightPlayers.com Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits, April 25-May 17, Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterPark Playhouse.org
Dropkick Murphys, May 3, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseofBlues.com Autism 5K – Walk & Family Fun Day, May 3, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. asgo.org/walk Katt Williams, May 10, CFE Arena, Orlando. CFEArena.com Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra Choral Masterworks, April 26-27, Knowles Memorial Chapel, Winter Park. 407-646-2182; BachFestivalFlorida.org
Taste of Pinellas, May 9-10, Downtown St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg. 800-745-3000; TasteofPinellas.com
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
SARASOTA
Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota
SATURDAY, MAY 3, 8 P.M. ST. BONIFACE CHURCH, 5615 MIDNIGHT PASS RD., SARASOTA Join Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota, for their spring concert at St. Boniface Church on Siesta Key, Saturday, May 3, at 8 p.m. The concert, dubbed Postcards, features songs about iconic destinations—”New York, New York,” “Africa,” etc.—and is directed by Derek E. Weston. Tickets start at $30 and VIP tickets that include a wine and cheese reception are $50. For details and to purchase tickets, visit DiversitySarasota.org or call 888-550-6279.
ST. PETERSBURG Vicki Shaw
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 8 P.M. KING OF PEACE MCC 3150 5TH AVE. N., ST. PETERSBURG King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church will host comedian Vickie Shaw on Saturday, April 26, at 8 p.m. The out funny-woman will talk about being a woman, a mother and gay in 2014 America. The self-described recovering S.O.B. (Southern Baptist), is married to her “husbian” and the couple have three children. Tickets start at $25. For details, call 727-323-5857.
Taste of Pinellas
MAY 9-10 ALBERT WHITTED PARK, DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG A full lineup of entertainers—including Friday headliner Pat Benatar and Saturday headliner The Blues Brothers featuring Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi—is on tap for Taste of Pinellas 2014 at Albert Whitted Park in downtown St. Petersburg May 9 and 10. Money raised will benefit All Children’s Hospital. For a full lineup of entertainers and ticket info, visit TasteOfPinellas.com.
SARASOTA
ORLANDO
4000 Miles, through April 27, Asolo Repretory Theatre, Sarasota. 941-351-8000; asolorep.org
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 7-10 P.M. 1013 E. COLONIAL DR., ORLANDO
Hero: The Musical, April 27-June 1, Asolo Repretory Theatre, Sarasota. 941-351-8000; asolorep.org
Edge of a Dream
Snap! Space presents Edge of a Dream, an exploration of figurative narratives, reverie and the familiarity of reality resembling a dream, beginning May 2. Eight nationally renowned fine art photographers and artists will present their work from 7-10 p.m. during the opening night reception. For details and tickets, visit SnapOrlando.com.
To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com. APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 // ISSUE 21.09
watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.
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TAMPA BAY
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1- KICKING THINGS OFF: Members of St. Pete Pride’s board of directors pose with 2014 grand marshals (wearing medals) Darden Rice, Jay Aller and PFLAG Tampa. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD
2- SHARING NEWS: St. Pete Pride executive director Eric Skains welcomes supporters to the official Pride Kick-off event at Bert Smith BMW as vice president Scion Provenzano looks on April 17. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD
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3- CANDY CRUSH: (L-R) Honey Pot manager Ernie Webb stands with Sugar Party promoter Mathieu Stanoch during the fundraising event April 13. PHOTO BY CARRIE WEST
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4- MAKING IT PERFECT: Steven Moss puts some final touches on the Sugar Party decor at Honey Pot in Ybor City April 13. PHOTO BY
CARRIE WEST
5- FINISH LINE: Metro Wellness and Community Centers volunteer Tim Thomas hands out gift bags at the finish line of the Red Ribbon Run in Tampa’s Al Lopez Park on April 12. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 6- WELCOME WAGON: (L-R) Todd Richardson, Ashley Brundage, Erik Carrol and Kris R. Johnson greet movie goers at the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival’s screening of “Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement” at Freefall Theatre April 9. PHOTO BY
NICK CARDELLO
7- CATCHING SHADE: Performer Conan Dunham, right, and his partner of 34 years, Rusty, await the beginning of the Red Ribbon Run and fun walk at Al Lopez Park in Tampa April 12. PHOTO BY STEVE
BLANCHARD
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8- WHAT’LL YA HAVE?: Bartender Daniel Harris offers a cheeky smile the week before Easter at the Lucky Star Lounge in St. Petersburg. PHOTO BY CARRIE WEST
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OVERHEARD HALLOWEEN IN APRIL
Y
ES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT. Quench Lounge is bringing back its very popular Halfo-ween party on Saturday, April 26, to celebrate the halfway mark to Halloween. Of course, this is a costume party, complete with a costume contest—which will award the top three most impressive costumes. Entertainment includes the fabulous Kathryn Nevets and Daphne Ferraro, who will do a Halloween-themed show at 9 p.m. The night will also serve as a fundraiser for Quench’s new softball team, which will debut in the Suncoast Softball League this fall. So bring cash to purchase raf�le tickets to get the team dressed and ready for the �ield.
SPREADING GOOD IN LAKELAND
S
PEAKING OF KATHRYN NEVETS, the multititle holder is the guest speaker for the Lakeland Youth Alliance GSA Meet Up on April 26. Nevets, who by day goes by Steven—get it?—is a respected business professional as well as drag performer. The free Meet Up will give the performer a chance to talk about the LGBT community, its successes and offer a glimpse of his own journey as a performer. RSVPs are requested via the group’s Facebook event page, where the address of the meeting is
also posted. The Meet Up is April 26 at 3 p.m.
GAYS IN THE PARK
A
ND LESBIANS, BISEXUALS AND OUR TRANSGENDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. American Stage in the Park’s second annual LGBT night is Saturday, April 26, at Demens Landing. This year’s production of The Wiz has received rave reviews and several LGBT organizations—including Watermark—will have booths set up to educate the public about the LGBT community. The special night requires purchase of regular tickets
at AmericanStage.org and is an opportunity to not only enjoy a fun musical, but to mix and mingle with LGBTs from throughout the region. For details, visit American Stage’s website.
POUR SOME SUGAR ON YBOR
T
HE HONEY POT WAS TRANSFORMED APRIL 13 BY THE ARTISTIC VISION OF MATHIEU STANOCH, who brought the SUGAR event to Ybor City. The dessert-themed party served as a fundraiser for the Ybor City Holiday Sprit festival in December, which transforms
APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 // ISSUE 21.09
the historic district of Tampa into a winter wonderland each year. Stanoch, a promoter of the holiday event, said that with the popularity of Holiday Spirit comes more expenses. Fortunately his vision isn’t only limited to the holidays, and 30 restaurants donated desserts and other sweets to Sugar to put more cash in the holiday coffers. Besides the cookies, cakes, puddings and specialty drinks, attendees noticed the Honey Pot’s transformation, compete with �loor to ceiling red curtains and special entertainment with a sweetthemed message. | |
watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.
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ORLANDO
1- FRESH PAINTED PIE: (left) Kristyn Minino, a baker at Se7enbites, and Trina Gregory-Propst, owner of Se7enbites, pose in front of the bakery’s new mural created by Richard Minino, who is also known as “Horsebites” and is Kristyn’s husband. PHOTO BY PATRICK O’CONNOR 2- MAKING IT OFFICIAL: Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer speaks to a crowd of City employees, media and residents at the 2014 State of the City Address April 10 in Downtown Orlando, where he for the first time officially states his support for marriage equality. PHOTO BY PATRICK O’CONNOR
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3- DRINK UP: Jason Perez (left) and Ron DiDonato (right), owners of the Thirsty Topher, welcome (left to right) Kerrie Finn, Myrna Smith and Shannon Harper from Pom Pom’s Teahouse for a drink. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA 4- TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: Members of RED Group CENTRAL take a pause from their intensive networking at The GLBT Center of Central Florida April 22. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA 5- LAUGHTER IN THE AIR: (left to right) Matt Mazzoni, Jeff Earley and Todd Meyer enjoy a laugh at Watermark’s Third Thursday Social at the Art and History Museums of Maitland April 17. PHOTO BY PATRICK O’CONNOR 6- ROUND AND ROUND: Stephanie Grady, Orlando Gay Chorus board member and PR & marketing Co-Chair, proudly shows off the OGC bus. The Chorus is among 9 not-for-profit organizations who won a contest to be featured on a Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority Public Service Bus. PHOTO COURTESY MATT LA VICTOIRE 7- MAGICAL PERFORMANCE: Carol Begerow-Adubato (left) and Jessica Hoehn are larger than life in There’s No Place Like Home, presented by Wanzie and D2 Productions, at the Fringe 23 Local Preview April 14. PHOTO BY JAKE STEVENS
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8- OMELET HUNT: Doug Ba’aser (left) and Mark Baratelli paused to visit with the Easter Bunny before joining friends for brunch Easter Sunday. PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
OVERHEARD RBARR ON HOLD… FOR JUST A BIT LONGER
R
BARR, THE PHOENIX RISING FROM THE ASHES OF A RENOVATED REVOLUTION, is holding off just a bit on a grand opening originally planned for April. One of the business partners, who only goes by Wild Bill, said the bar had some permitting issues with the city. But those have been handled so the renovation is full speed ahead. Wild Bill added that the extra time may be a blessing, as it will give owners and management more time to train staff in customer service, a quality he says is currently
“missing” from Orlando’s LGBT nightclub scene. When the dust settles, Wild Bill says RBarr will be a two-part establishment— half the Southern Nights Theater, and half a discoteque/ cocktail boutique. The new grand opening date is set for May 15.
A FULL MOON SALOON COMEBACK?
T
HERE HAVE BEEN RECENT RUMBLINGS OF ANOTHER BAR JOINING THE ORLANDO LINEUP in the former home of an iconic watering hole. The oncepopular stomping ground next
to the Parliament House Resort, an old cabin-like structure formerly known as the Full Moon Saloon and resembling the home of camp Crystal Lake’s Jason Vorhees, is rumored to have a new tenant soon. The space has sat empty for several years. Although details haven’t been released as to the name of the bar or if it will have the old Moon’s Leather/Levi Bear �lare, Watermark has been advised that it will be an LGBT bar. Expect to see some movement behind the fence soon and look for a grand opening of some sort this summer. Maybe the bear crowd should get their summer �lannel ready, just in case.
FRINGE PREVIEW— LET’S GET EXCITED!
A
PRIL 14TH HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF ARTS PATRONS ATTEND THE ORLANDO FRINGE LOCAL PREVIEW SHOW. It was divided into two categories, a General Audience performance hosted by Eric Pinder and the racier Mature Audience hosted by Jeff Jones & Janine Klein as their Little Miss Fringe characters Lionel and Virginia Del Frisco. The night offered a small and typically unpolished sampling of two minute acts one could see at the 23rd annual Orlando Fringe Festival coming in May. Both
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shows offered some stand out performances ranging from acting, dancing, singing to even shirtless men �lying through the air! Many subjects were touched on: a mother with cancer singing her tearful goodbye to her daughter, a �lashy tap dancing group of sailors reminding us that “Anything Goes,” and the comedic story of an aging hooker telling us about the good ol’ glory (hole) days! Expect to be entertained while expecting the unexpected. The Orlando Fringe Festival of�icially opens May 14 and will run through May 27. Be sure to visit WatermarkOnline.com for our reviews! | |
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in:
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Transitions CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Anniversaries
SAYING GOODBYE:
Orlando’s Framing of Central Florida celebrates 21 years of business this May.
Michael Blake, 62, of Daytona Beach passed away from cancer on Friday, April 11, 2014, at 10:22 p.m. Michael was well known and respected in the Daytona LGBT Community. He worked for many years as Show Director at the Hollywood Bar on Main Street and most recently was the Night Manager at the Streamline Hotel.
Orlando partners Dawn Rosendahl and Cheryl Turner celebrate 27 years together April 28.
Local Birthdays St. Petersburg actor and theologian Tom Campbell, plant whisperer Scott McCauley, artist and set designer Paul Horan, former Tampa resident and current Fort Lauderdale actor Larry Buzzeo, O-Town textbook editor and mom Sara Lyna, former St. Pete Pride president Scott Turner, handsome Tampa daddy bear Bill Vincent (April 24); Parliament House owner Don Granatstein, Hope & Help events maven Julie Noda; app whiz Randy Shepard (April 28); St. Pete hotel manager Tom Ziri (April 29); Tampa licensed mental health counselor Anthony Quaglieri, former UCF GLBSU president and activist Jessica Osborn (April 30); owner of Luckeyboi Photography Josh Evans, vegan and speed demon Jamie Shaffer (May 2); GaYbor District Coalition founder and MC Film Fest co-owner Carrie West (May 3); Tampa Crowbar owner Bonnie Plumbtree (May 4); State Rep’s better half Susannah Randolph (May 5); Watermark Tampa Bay distribution specialist Phil Garris, chainsaw-wielding derby girl Chelsea Selby (May 6); Bradenton resident and Trinity Charities Program Coordinator Bruce Fournier, Wet Nurse drummer Vanessa Brewster (May 7).
GUY IN CHARGE:
Danny Olda has been announced as editor of the Articulate arts website. Olda has been a blogger for the site since it went online. He plans to increase readership widen the audience to better promote arts in Pinellas County, which is Articulate’s goal.
NEW DIRECTION: Central
Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard announced Mitchell Regan as its new Artistic Director. Regan is a UCF alumni, holding a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. He is also the principle bass trombonist for the UCF Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Pegasus Trombone Choir.
OUTSTANDING HONOR:
Orlando Ballet School was awarded Outstanding School Award at the Youth American Grand Prix, the world’s largest student ballet competition with over 7000 students from 36 countries competing. Pictured are two of the competitors, Bella Kirby and Austen Acevedo.
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!
APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 // ISSUE 21.09
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T A M P A
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Wire Report
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AUSANNE, SWITZERLAND | More than 100,000 members of an international gay rights group have sent messages to the IOC urging changes to ensure that future Olympic host countries do not have discriminatory laws on their books. The group All Out reiterated its call on the International Olympic Committee to overhaul its selection
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process, citing the controversy that surrounded the Winter Games in Sochi over Russia’s law prohibiting so-called gay ``propaganda.’’ All Out says it delivered its message before Tuesday’s deadline for public submissions on ``Olympic Agenda 2020,’’ IOC President Thomas Bach’s project for reforms that will be voted on in December in Monaco. All Out says more than 74,000 members signed a petition delivered
to the IOC and another 41,000 sent their own messages. The group wants the IOC to require that host countries have no discriminatory laws in place and future host city contracts include human rights pledges. It also urges the IOC to amend a clause in the Olympic Charter to speci�ically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. | |
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the drivers cited religious reasons. The airport said it brokered an agreement between the taxi cab stand operator, Standard Parking, and the cab companies to allow for replacing drivers who don’t want to drive in the 75-cab Hopkins �leet. The companies plan to back�ill the �leet with metered taxi cabs until each company can hire permanent drivers for the airport program. Hopkins cabs charge �ixed amounts for the zone of the metro area you’re going to, rather than charging based on a running meter. It is expected to take about two to
three weeks to repopulate the �leet. At Americab, general manager Patrick Keenan explained that the airport sells the space on the taxis’ roof-mounted placards and gets any revenue generated from the advertising. “We don’t have any objections to the signage,” he said. “We’re fully supportive of the games. We’re not in concert with [the protesting drivers] on that. We don’t share those views.” About 10,000 athletes are expected to participate in the Gay Games in Cleveland Aug. 9-16. | |
the �irst professional athletes ever included on the annual collection of powerful LGBTs. NFL prospect Michael Sam, who came out publicly in February has already generated a national conversation and pushed the NFL and other leagues to ramp up their
inclusion policies. Phoenix Mercury center Griner has become a cultural powerhouse in the last year, writing a powerful memoir with Sue Hovey, locking up a big endorsement deal with Nike and becoming a face of not just the WNBA but of women’s sports. | |
ACCOUNTANT
Taxi drivers take issue with Gay Games placards Wire Report CLEVELAND, OHIO | Some taxi drivers who work at the Cleveland airport say they won’t drive cabs with rooftop placards advertising the upcoming Gay Games. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has released a statement saying two of the three taxi companies operating there were informed by several drivers that they will no longer participate in the airport’s dedicated cab program.
Sam, Griner top Out’s Power 50 Staff Report Missouri football star Michael Sam and WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner were named No. 9 and No. 31 respectively on Out Magazine’s Power 50 list. They are
2014 Gay Games announces headliners Staff Report CLEVELAND, OHIO | The 2014 Gay Games announced the entertainers who will headline the Opening Ceremony in Cleveland on August 9, including Lance Bass, Andrea McArdle and the Pointer Sisters. The Opening Ceremony will be held at the Quicken Loans Arena, and will feature a cast of more than 400 performers and a parade of athletes
participating in the 2014 Gay Games. Bass, best known for being a member of ‘N Sync, is a well-known gay rights advocate for the LGBT community. He also was the winner of the Humans Rights Campaign Visibility Role award. McArdle was the original “Annie” for the Broadway show. McArdle will perform music that celebrates music from Broadway, assisted by the Gay Games Chorus. The Pointer Sisters, an American
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R&B group— originally comprised of Anita, Ruth, Sadako and Issa Pointer, along with former members Bonnie and June Pointe—will close the show with their performance. Ruth, Anita and Sadako are the only current members performing at the Opening Ceremony. The Gay Games are open to any participants, regardless of sexual orientation or preference, with more than 35 sporting events and two major cultural events. | |
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info@OrlandoYouthAlliance.org APR. 24 - MAY 7, 2014 // ISSUE 21.09
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PHOTO CAPTIONS
1995
1- Leather Minnie at the 5th Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom in June. 2- The 6th Headdress Ball at the Peabody Hotel raised more money— and eyebrows—than ever. 3- The Rev. Elder Troy Perry visited Pastor Jimmy Brock at Joy MCC. 4- Robert Geller opened Bourbon Street Boxers and introduced gay retail to Ybor City.
3
5- Newt’s sister, Candace Gingrich, with Orlando political activist Carol Bartsch.
4
6- Stephanie Callahan (seated) and Deb Hunseder (center) of Halcyon made their first of many appearances in Watermark in 1995. 7- Human Rights Task Force president Nadine Smith wrote her first column for Watermark… and it was hilarious! 8- Patty Sheehan was part of a sixperson LGBT contingent in the 1995 Martin Luther King Parade in Orlando.
1
2
5
9- Dr. Charles Callahan retired as conductor and musical director of the Orlando Gay Chorus, a position he had held since OGC’s inception in 1990. 10- Central Floridians discovered online dating at CompuWho.
19 YEARS AGO MOST POPULAR SONG
6
7
8
9
10
“Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio
MOST POPULAR ALBUM
The Bends by Radiohead
ON THE COVER Watermark turns 20 this coming Labor Day. In the issues between now and then, founder and publisher Tom Dyer looks back at a remarkable two decades. On this page, he returns to 1995.
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 20
The cover of this October issue welcomed Bear Bust to Orlando and featured stories on Disney’s same-sex partner benefits and the groundbreaking Romer v. Evans case.
W
LOOKING BACK
ATERMARK COVERED
Tampa Bay almost immediately and in 1995 we made it of�icial, hiring Todd Simmons Tom Dyer as Tampa Bay editor. We joined two PUBLISHER respected Bay area monthlies: The Gazette and Stonewall. George Alvan began ‘AIDS Chronicle’, his touching serial about living with HIV. (He’s still with us and feeling great.) And Jim Crescitelli introduced ‘Watercress’, his slice-of-gay-life column that was a beloved staple of the newspaper for the next 15 years. In Tampa, David Caton’s American Family Association succeeded in placing an ‘Amendment One’ referendum legalizing discrimination on the city ballot, but a legal team led by Keith Roberts got the referendum thrown out. Caton then talked the Hillsborough county commission into repealing discrimination
protections for gays and lesbians. But Tampa’s LGBT community mobilized, planting the seeds for what is now Equality Florida. In Orlando, Mayor Glenda Hood announced at an MBA meeting that citywide non-discrimination protections were simply unattainable. In a groundbreaking Watermark interview, County Chair Linda Chapin was more openminded but equally pessimistic. The City of Orlando doublebooked the Lake Eola bandshell, moving Orlando Regional Pride to City Hall. Disney extended bene�its to the domestic partners of employees. Peter Thornley opened
MOST POPULAR TV SHOW
ER
Rainbow City in the ViMi District. And Patty Sheehan announced that she would run for city council. While the nation was diverted by the O.J. Simpson trial, AIDS deaths reached their all time high: 41,699. Three days after a gay man shared a crush on The Jenny Jones Show, the object of his affection shot and killed him. President Bill Clinton alienated gays by defending ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ but he also declassi�ied homosexuals as security risks. In Europe, Sweden joined Denmark and Norway as the third Nordic country to legalize same-sex marriage. To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar— featuring Parick Swayze and Wesley Snipes in drag—was a surprise hit. And Melrose Place, NYPD Blues and All My Children introduced gay characters. At the end of the year I wrote: “In 1995 our collective attitude has changed—from fear, to hope, to expectation.” | |
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HIGHEST GROSSING FILM
Toy Story
BEST PICTURE OSCAR
Braveheart
PRICE OF GAS
$1.09 per gallon CELEBRITIES WHO CAME OUT
Clive Barker (Hellraiser movies)
Dan Butler (“Bulldog” on Frasier) OUT ELECTED OFFICIALS
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA)
U.S. Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI) NUMBER OF STATES WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY
0
NUMBER OF AIDS DEATHS
41,699 in U.S. (all-time high)
319,849 in world
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PHOTO CAPTIONS 1- Amy Mandel with Harvey Fierstein at the opening ceremonies for Gala Festival V in Tampa. 2- Olympic diver Patrick Jeffrey came out in an exclusive interview with Watermark after the games in Atlanta. PHOTO BY JILL PORTER.
1996
3- John Waters signs an autograph for Sterling Powell and friend at the 7th Tampa Pride Film Festival. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE E. REYNOLDS 4- Back in 1996, being out at work made you bold enough for Watermark’s cover (clockwise from lower left): Chris Alexander, Denise LeHeup, Madeline Abling, Ted Maines, Doug Prince, Connie Hingie and Fred Berliner. 5- Bill Kanouff’s Tomes & Treasures was an essential component of Tampa Bay’s LGBT scene. 6- Watermark photographer Rex Maniscalco with comedians John McGivern and Robin Greenspan at Gala Festival 5 in Tampa. Our beloved Rex passed in 2009. 7- Orlando’s Todd ‘Tasha Diane’ James, a popular performer at the Parliament House, succumbed to AIDS in May.
1
2
3
4
5
8- Orlando’s Carol Bartsch received HRC’s “David J. Miller Action Award” from Chastity Bono at a star-studded event in Chicago.
18 YEARS AGO MOST POPULAR SONG
“Macarena” by Los Del Rio
6
MOST POPULAR ALBUM
7
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
MOST POPULAR TV SHOW
ON THE COVER
HIGHEST GROSSING FILM
The English Patient
Watermark turns 20 this coming Labor Day. In the issues between now and then, founder and publisher Tom Dyer looks back at a remarkable two decades. On this page, he returns to 1996.
PRICE OF GAS
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
ER
Independence Day
BEST PICTURE OSCAR
$1.99 per gallon CELEBRITIES WHO CAME OUT
Chad Allen (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) OUT ELECTED OFFICIALS
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds (D-MA) U.S. Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI) U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) NUMBER OF STATES WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY
0
NUMBER OF AIDS DEATHS
31,130 in U.S.
362,004 in world
62
As the Hawaii Supreme Court became the first to consider same-sex marriage, Brad Beeney (left) and Ken Fendick shared their wedding ceremony on this February 1996 cover of Watermark.
watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.
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8
LOOKING BACK IKE DOROTHY LANDING
in Oz, Watermark exploded into full color in 1996. We added a nightlife ‘Waterfront’ pullout Tom Dyer section, and our full time staff grew PUBLISHER from four to seven. By the end of the year, the newspaper had grown to 64 pages.
In Orlando, Patty Sheehan missed a runoff for city commission by just 75 votes. In Seminole County, anti-gay conservative State Rep. Marvin Couch was arrested for getting a blow job from a prostitute in his car. Gay Day got big, attracting 40,000 to the Magic Kingdom. Navy Lt. Keith Meinhold was guest of honor at the Spectrum Awards and then Orlando Regional Pride. After the Atlanta Olympics, Watermark scored an interview with diver Patrick Jeffrey, who came out. And Orlando’s �irst gay restaurant— Union—opened on Shine Ave.
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In Tampa, Gala Festival V became the biggest convention in the city’s history. Maya Angelou and Harvey Fierstein opened the quadrennial gathering of international gay and lesbian choruses. In October, John Waters attended the 7th Pride Film Festival, by then one of the largest gay �ilm showcases in the nation. Tampa Bay editor Todd Simmons wrote touchingly about the loss of his partner, Nivaldo Gonzalez Obregon, to AIDS. Tampa AIDS Network’s ‘Art for Life’ raised $210,000, and AIDS Walk Tampa Bay kicked in another $75,000. But in Pinellas, a county
watermarkonline.com
of�icial leaked a con�idential list of HIV-positive persons… after using it to screen dates. Six new bars opened: Solar, Oasis, Impulse, Metropolis, Wet Spot and Flavours. Gay-owned businesses like MC Film Festival on Kennedy helped de�ine the city. Nationally, the Supreme Court ruled Colorado’s ban on non-discrimination ordinances unconstitutional. Simmons called Romer v. Evans, “the most important development to date in the gay civil rights movement.” And the Hawaii Supreme Court supported the rights of gays and lesbians to marry, igniting a �lurry of state initiatives—mostly to prevent such marriages. Studies showed that a combination of drugs could dramatically reduce levels of HIV in blood. AIDS deaths dropped 25%, to just over 31,000 nationwide. On TV, there were a whopping 26 gay characters—a single reality show today. And there were rumors about Ellen… | |
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