Watermark Issue 21.13: St. Pete Pride by Watermark Publishing Group

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DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 21.13 • JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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OUR EXTENSIVE

GAY DAYS COVERAGE

Night Moves ST. PETE PRIDE’S GRAND MARSHALS SHARE THE MESSAGE OF GLOBAL EQUALITY AT ITS FIRST-EVER NIGHT PARADE JUNE 28

PLUS: YOUR ST. PETE PRIDE CHECKLIST JUNE 29 FESTIVAL

ENTERTAINMENT

LINE-UP MARY

LAMBERT AND THE 27/92 CONCERT ST. PETE CITY HALL WILL FLY PRIDE FLAG

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We need to take the field for marriage– 19 and fight to win.

DEPARTMENTS 6 // MAIL 8 // ORLANDO NEWS 14 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 18 // STATE 19 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 25 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 36 // IN DEPTH 55 // COMMUNITY CALENDAR 57 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 59 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 61 // TRANSITIONS 62 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 63 // SPORTS 64 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE

PAGE

—BRIAN BROWN OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MARRIAGE

ON THE COVER

PAGE

PAGE (L-R) St. Pete Pride’s 2014

marshals Jay Aller, 37 grand Nancy and John Desmond

of PFLAG Tampa and Darden Rice hope to bring a message of “Global Equality” to 130,000 people during the organization’s first night parade and separate street festival.

Preview

25 DEFINING LOVE:

Cock, a love triangle crossing sexual orientations at Mad Cow in Orlando, features Chris Crawford as John, Heather Leonardi as Woman, and Peter Travis as Man. PHOTO COURTESY MAD COW THEATRE

WATERMARK ISSUE 21.13 //J UNE 19 - J ULY 2, 2014

ORLANDO NEWS

TAMPA BAY NEWS

PAGE There were fewer red shirts

PAGE St. Petersburg Mayor

ALL ABOUT STEVE

LOOKING BACK

Photo by Nick Cardello

Read it online!

SCAN QR CODE FOR

WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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

at Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom, but the parties surrounding Gay Days were packed to capacity; a panel at UCF says a fraternity did not dismiss a member because he is gay; more

Rick Kriseman took unprecedented steps in recognizing Pride month, including unveiling plans to fly a rainbow flag over city hall; the man accused of murdering his partner says he was just using the Dunedin man.

PAGE This year’s Prelude to

Pride spooftacular is a rip off of All About Eve. Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel tell us about the hilarity surrounding All About Steve and the Suncoast AIDS Theater Project’s mission to remind its audience that the HIV battle is still ongoing.

PAGE In 2003, two men who

in Tampa were 35 disappeared declared dead, and Steve

Lorenzo was charged with their murders. And 2004 was a wet one for Florida, with a string of hurricanes wreaking havoc over Central Florida. Publisher Tom Dyer continues is look back at Watermark’s first 20 years.

CHECK OUT WATERMARKONLINE.COM DURING ST. PETE PRIDE WEEKEND FOR COVERAGE, PHOTOS AND UPDATES! JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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ALOMA & ST. ANDREWS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OUTSTANDING RESPONSE

KNOW EDITOR STEVE BLANCHARD PERSONALLY, which means a lot to me, and I follow Watermark and his column with every issue. The June 5 Editor’s Desk [Issue 21.12] was just outstanding, even in the midst of so many great pieces he has done in the past. Along with many other ideas used to persecute us, I’ve always found that “straight pride” complaint to be ridiculous. But, he has absolutely done a terri�ic job of spelling it all out. BOB GROVES ST. PETERSBURG

JUST LIVING OUR LIVES

HE EDITOR’S DESK COLUMN [ISSUE 21.12] IS A GREAT READ for my straight friends and family who may question gay pride events. It’s not that we �launt our lives, we have lives to live. We are seeking equality and justice, not based on any religious beliefs, but through our constitutional rights. RAYME NUCKLES PORTLAND, ORE.

RIGHT ON!

HE RECENT EDITOR’S DESK COLUMN in issue 21.12 by Steve Blanchard

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JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

“It’s not that we flaunt our lives, we have lives to live.” —RAYME NUCKLES

hit the nail on the head perfectly. I get so tired of hearing the dumb statements by straight people asking about heterosexual pride. Pride is about equality and visibility. If you’ve never had to �ight for either of those things, it’s dif�icult to understand the impact it. I encourage those who don’t understand the meaning of pride to attend St. Pete Pride this month. After experiencing it, they’ll �inally understand what it means for us to have a voice and to be visible. REBECCA SANDBORN ORLANDO

TOP WEB COMMENTS ON THE FFA-FUNDED PLANE “WARNING” ABOUT GAY DAY AT THE MAGIC KINGDOM: “Just saw the plane a few hours ago. Physically made me sick. Considered flying a plane with a banner that read, ‘Warning: Yellow Plane is a Terrorist, contact FAA,’ but it turns out there is a character limit on those little suckers. Hmm, ‘character,’ oh the irony.”

—ADRIAN DRASTIC COLÓN

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ON ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR TERESA JACOBS NOT COMING OUT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY DURING STATE OF THE COUNTY SPEECH: “This is no surprise. Theresa Jacobs is not a friend of the LGBT community. Keep in mind that this woman is ... a very conservative Republican. She likes to masquerade as a moderate because that is the only way she can get votes. While she did not come out and tell Watermark about her opposition to gay marriage, she did tell me personally during her last election that she strongly opposes gay marriage.”

—RANDZTHEMAN ON THE PA JUDGE STATING THERE’S NO EVIDENCE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE HURTS FAMILIES: “[Bishop David A.] Zubik [who claimed marriage equality was eroding families] should look to Massachusetts which has had same sex marriage for 10 years and has the lowest divorce rate in the nation. Then he should stop blowing smoke up his arse!”

—WAYNE

CONTRIBUTORS

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

Desk

E OWE MUCH OF OUR ASTOUNDING

advances toward LGBT equality to drag queens. It was the drag queens of New York who fought back against the police during the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and it’s that community that continues to entertain and fundraise for charity today. While I have respected those performers for a long time, I now have a whole new appreciation for what they do for our community. For I have walked a mile—okay, more like 200 painful feet or so— in their high heels. On June 5, I participated in St. Pete Pride’s turnabout fundraiser at Georgie’s Alibi. It’s an event Pride organizers had approached me to do for several years, but it always con�licted with the production of Watermark.

WATERMARK STAFF

This year, the calendar didn’t protect me, my beard or my toes and calves. Before I knew it, dresses owned by generous performers in our drag community were in my truck, I had an array of wigs in my of�ice and I had to tackle walking in my size 16 heels. I never really �igured out that last thing. My feet were sore even before I arrived, despite wearing them for several hours over three days just to do mundane tasks around the house.

Publisher: Tom Dyer • Ext. 305 • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Chief Financial Officer: Rick Claggett • Ext. 108 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Office Assistant: Kathleen Harper • Ext. 100 • Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Steve Blanchard • 813-470-0899 • SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com Reporter: Samantha Rosenthal • 104 • Samantha@WatermarkOnline.com Online Media Director: Jamie Hyman • Ext. 106 • Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Assistant: Patrick O’Connor • Ext. 109 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com

On the morning of the big day, I took a razor to my face and saw a version of myself I scarcely recognized and that many say looked 10 years younger. As you can see from my photo on this issue’s Editor’s Desk, I wasn’t a contender to win any beauty pageants. Comparisons to my sister, I’m sure she’d say, are an insult. But, I admit I looked better than I ever expected. A trained cosmetologist is a wizard with a large arsenal of makeup. And touch-ups by several female impersonators throughout the night ensured my stage-readiness. It wasn’t easy squeezing a 6-foot-3-inch, 225-pound frame into a dress, panty hose (three pairs, thank you very much) and hip pads. It truly was a team effort. And the wigs (three there, too) seemed to get heavier as the night went on. The evening was a fun one and the shock value was the icing on the cake. Many didn’t recognize me in my get-up, probably because no one had seen me without a beard in more than 10 years. The huge eyelashes and enormous Jessica Rabbit-red hair only helped further conceal my true identity. I looked like the spawn of Raggedy Andy and Peg Bundy. I, of course, wasn’t the only local in drag. Members of the Pride board and grand marshal Jay Aller also traded in street clothes for more showy and uncomfortable garb. And yes, I

admit Jay was prettier than me. While the point of all of this was to raise money for St. Pete Pride—and we raised a ton—I saw a glimpse of LGBT history from an unexpected perspective. As I collected money from smiling friends, readers of this paper and strangers, I forgot about my aching toes and saw a community in a way that is only reserved for drag performers on stages across the state and around the world. I saw a community eager to laugh, to have fun and to give of themselves to a worthy cause. It’s an empowering point of view. Each Pride season, we all hear that minority within our community expressing disappointment that a drag queen gets highlighted on the local news. While I respect that point of view, I have to disagree with it. What better way to get attention and to gain visibility than to �ind the spotlight, display your fabulousness and put a face on—�iguratively and literally—a community and a movement? While drag is entertainment, it’s serious work. You can see my transformation from start to �inish at WatermarkOnline.com. Two weeks have passed since my big drag debut, and my beard is growing back and I’m reveling in the comfort of my sneakers. But I still hear comments about my performance and my appearance from around the country, thanks to Facebook. And that opened the door to talk about why I did wear that dress, those heels and that wig— Pride. And it’s an experience of which I couldn’t be prouder. |  |

I looked like the spawn of Raggedy Andy and Peg Bundy.

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CHRIS STEPHENSON

is a wedding, event and media photographer who focuses on capturing emotion, light, and the interplay between each. Page 10

RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

is a writer and activist and the former president of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance. He can be reached at rrosendall@ starpower.net. Page 21

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, Brett Stout, Jim Walker

PHOTOGRAPHY NICK CARDELLO

is the owner of Cardello Photography and he lives and works in Tampa Bay. He is the official photographer for several area events and organizations. Page 48

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

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orlando NEWS

UCF rules frat did not discriminate against gay student Christal Hayes

RLANDO | The University of Central Florida fraternity accused of kicking out a pledge based on his sexual orientation was found not in violation of UCF’s discrimination policy and the fraternity’s constitution on June 16. George Dumont, 20, claimed Beta Theta Pi rejected him �ive days before the fall 2013 initiation because he is gay. In addition to this claim, the sophomore posted a video to his YouTube account that received more than 15,000 views and created a stir in the UCF community. Friends in the fraternity told Dumont he had been kicked out, in part, because he is gay. “They were ‘uncomfortable’ with things that were said. AKA they are homophobic. It’s disgusting and caused a late night meeting with me almost pulling my own pin,” read a text message to Dumont from a fraternity member. Dumont, a former UCF cheerleader, isn’t happy with the UCF Of�ice of Student Conduct review board’s decision and plans on relocating to Georgia to attend school. He posted a video in response to the verdict. “I feel like I did what was right,” Dumont said in the video. “I was told that I was kicked out for being gay. I stood up for myself. I feel like that was the right thing to do.” The investigation has been underway since the initial claim in April, but was concluded during a twoday hearing in June. The four-person panel did not �ind evidence that the fraternity had kicked out Dumont because of his sexual orientation, according to a report �iled after the meeting. In its investigation, the board ruled in favor of the fraternity, which said they kicked Dumont out because of his “�inancial situation with relation to the fraternity, the depth at which he got to know other members, and lack of trust based on rumors and/or allegations that members of the fraternity felt he was disclosing to others,” according to the report. The two members who sent Dumont the texts which led to his anti-gay claim said they sent the messages because they had made an assumption about his dismissal. “They both stated they made assumptions about understanding of his removal, they completely supported the process and the fraternity’s decision,” the report said. In his video response posted to his YouTube account June 16, Dumont said he isn’t satis�ied with the verdict. “What’s worse—actually being homophobic or lying about it?” he asked. He also said that he thinks the fraternity should have been held accountable for those text messages. “I feel like Beta is getting off completely scot-free,” said Dumont. “I do not believe in that.” Continued on page 10 |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

SPRINKLE OF RED: During Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom in previous years, the area in front of Cinderella’s castle has looked like a sea of red. But in 2014, the red shirt tradition seemed to be fading. PHOTO BY CHRIS STEPHENSON

Party over pride? Gay Days sees a growing shift away from the parks and to the parties Chris Stephenson

rlando | Just as the United States has seen a rapid shift toward marriage equality in the past year, so appears to be a shift in the annual Gay Days celebration weekend. Record crowds for Gay Days party events met with low turnout of LGBTs for Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom on June 7. “We are staying at the host hotel and when we said we were coming to Disney, everyone asked us why, that Gay Days is about a party,” Shawn Stearns, a visitor from New York City said. Stearns has attended Gay Days celebrations for the past 15 years and was celebrating this year with his friend Paul Ridgeway from Chicago. “Twenty years ago there was much less partying,” Ridgeway

JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

said. “People are losing the meaning of what [Gay Day] is.” What exactly Gay Days is may be up for debate but, while rooted in gay pride, Gay Days has been pushed by promoters for years as a party in the Florida sun. That is not to say that gay pride wasn’t present at the Magic Kingdom, but the tone and numbers were subdued in 2014. The 3 p.m. parade in front of the castle has historically been packed with thousands of red shirts, but fewer than 300 people in red shirts gathered this year. “Ten years ago you de�initely couldn’t just walk up at 2:45 p.m. for a front-row spot to the parade, but this year it is almost empty,” Stearns said.

LESS RED

Gay Day began in 1991 when 3,000 LGBTs—wearing red to identify each other—gathered at the Magic Kingdom and, at its

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peak, attracted tens of thousands of people wearing the same color. This year, the number of red shirts at the Magic Kingdom plummeted, while attendance at Gay Days party events around the Orlando area hit record highs. Randy Stephens, the executive director of The GLBT Center of Central Florida, said the lower number of red shirts wasn’t a sign of decreasing pride, but just a shift in how and where it is expressed. “Look at how much has changed. We used to have to wear red to discreetly know who was gay,” Stephens said. “Now we are openly walking hand in hand and getting married.” Andrew Cochrom and girlfriend Rachel Santos, both from Orlando, stood in the middle of a crowd of red shirts and watched the parade. When asked if they knew it was Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom, Cochrom replied, “Yeah, who cares?” Orlando resident Matt Tabakman also noticed the decrease in red shirts this year. He said that he

Continued on page 10 |  |

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orlando NEWS

Sex sting snags nine men at Orlando park Staff Report

RLANDO | Orlando police charged nine men with indecent conduct as a part of the most recent sex sting operations being conducted throughout Orange County. The men were arrested at Airport Lakes Park June 13. The defendants were accused of having sex in bathrooms and on nature trails in the park. Authorities said there also were condoms found scattered around on the trails. They were charged with violating a city ordinance against indecent exposure and booked into Orange County Jail. Watermark is withholding the identities of those arrested because it’s policy is to not identify those arrested in “victimless crimes.” There was a similar indecent at Airport Lakes Park 51 weeks prior to this incident, where the defendants were accused of having sex in bathrooms and on nature trails near the soccer �ields and playgrounds. Orlando Police also conduct similar stings at Lake Underhill and Colonel Joe Kittinger parks periodically, if park visitors complain. |  |

A FAMILY AFFAIR: Parents and children dance the night away at the Incredibles Dance Party at Tommorrowland in the Magic Kingdom. Orlando Gay Parents arranged the Gay Day meet-up. PHOTO BY CHRIS STEPHENSON

|  | UCF Fraternity from pg.8 Beta Theta Pi said they were encouraged by the �indings of the four-person panel on June 16. “Thankfully, our young leaders demonstrated incredible patience, poise and integrity throughout this process and conducted themselves as true gentlemen and ‘men of principle,” said Martin Cobb, director of communications for Beta Theta Pi. Cobb also said that although the organization is happy the investigation has come to a close, it was “frustrating” to deal with the situation. “That being said, it would be disingenuous not to admit how frustrating it has been to deal with George Dumont’s inconsistent accounts of the situation and changing testimonies depending upon the audience,” Cobb said. “George pushed for a university investigation that would determine the facts of the case, and that is exactly what has happened. Following some 13 hours of questioning and testimony over two days last week, our men provided the four-person, university-appointed independent panel a response and evidence for everything asked.” Cobb said that the whole situation has hurt the reputation of the fraternity because of the sensationalism in Dumont’s YouTube videos. “Clearly the university’s judicial panel evaluated the facts objectively, too, and have weighed in accordingly,” Cobb said. “Beta Theta Pi’s General Fraternity remains proud of its chapter at UCF and will continue to support them in the coming days as they remain active campus leaders.” See Dumont’s videos at WatermarkOnline.com. |  |

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TOO HOT TO HANDLE?: (R-L) Girlfriends Amie Lieberman and Laura Dewey cool off in a water mister with their friend Megan Lacey at The Magic Kingdom. Temperatures reached the mid-90s over Gay Days weekend. PHOTO BY CHRIS STEPHENSON

|  | Gay Days Weekend from pg.8

thought the decrease was brought on because gay people are more accepted and the Disney celebration is “more mainstream.” Orlando resident Karl Haglund attended the event with his partner Jonathan Eisenberg. “People are more accepting now, and while there’s still a plane �lying overhead with a warning, people just don’t care anymore,” Haglund said.

JUST ANOTHER (HOT) DAY IN THE PARK

“It’s just another day. Everyone is always welcome at the Magic Kingdom,” Eisenberg added. That sentiment echoed throughout the day. A group from the Space Coast all agreed that other than more red shirts, the day felt like any other at Walt Disney World.

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CONTINUING GAY DAYS TRADITION: Shawn Stearns (left), of New York City, and Paul Ridgeway of Chicago pose in front of Cinderella’s Castle. Stearns has attended Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom for the past 15 years. PHOTO BY CHRIS STEPHENSON

Rich Simmons, sitting beside Charlie Eccleston, his partner of 17 years from Melbourne, Fla., said they have annual passes, visit once a month, and feel comfortable holding hands while at Disney World. “Today doesn’t feel that different,” Simmons said. The Orlando Gay Parents, a group that provides a social setting with monthly meet-ups for parents and children of gay couples, met at 7 p.m. at the Magic Kingdom so children could dance together at the Incredibles Dance Party in Tommorrowland. “We have annual passes and go all the time so honestly, this feels like any other day at the park but we happen to see a few more red shirts,” said one of the mothers in the group, Lauren McNamara, who was there with her wife Heather McNamara and sons Alex and Gabriel. With the temperature at Magic Kingdom reaching the mid-90s

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without any rain or many clouds, the heat at times became oppressive. Girlfriends Laura Dewey and Amie Lieberman of Orlando played in the Coca-Cola water mister with their friend Megan Lacey, also from Orlando. Dewey said that this year she has noticed “way less girls, less people, and it’s too hot.” However, not everyone feels completely open during Gay Days. Two women, Lindsey and Kat, would not be photographed at the Magic Kingdom or give their last names because they said they’re teachers in conservative counties and fear if they were outed to their school districts, they would be �ired.

MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE

Although the red shirts may have dwindled this year, people still visited from all around the globe. Orlando continues its reputation as one of the warmest and

Continued on page 12 |  |

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orlando NEWS 12

Oldest Orlando-area synagogue OKs performing same-sex unions Samantha Rosenthal

AITLAND, FLA. | Congregation Ohev Shalom, the oldest synagogue in the Central Florida area, will now perform and recognize samesex unions. The synagogue’s Executive Board made the decision unanimously with the full support of the Board of Trustees of Congregation Shalom in Maitland, Fla. “I anticipated there might be a number of people that would see this as a turning wave from being a traditional congregation,” Senior Rabbi Aaron Rubinger said. However, he said not a single congregation member had reservations during the process leading up to the approval of same-sex unions. While in Florida there is a constitutional ban on recognizing same-sex marriages and civil unions, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards adopted a ruling in 2006 which normalized the status of LGBT individuals. A follow-up ruling introduced rituals and documents for same-sex couples within Conservative Judaism. “I think there’s a perception out there that the [Jewish] Conservative movement really doesn’t have a place for the LGBT community,” Rabbi Rubinger said. “But we are indeed one of the �irst in Florida— and even throughout the country—that has adopted this type of policy.” Rabbi Rubinger said this change stemmed from various reasons and sources, but three in particular stand out. He knows there are a number of families with gay or lesbian family members who were looking for a synagogue they could participate in and feel welcomed. He held a Bar Mitzvah, where the parents were a lesbian couple and the biological mom was involved in the synagogue. He also held a class with discussions on the topic, where many felt it would be a great step forward to become more “user-friendly for the LGBT community” within their congregation and the overall Jewish community of Orlando. Before, the rabbis of the congregation could perform unions outside the synagogue, but now they can also be performed inside and allow for recognition of civil unions that have been already performed. Rabbi Rubinger hopes it allows for LGBT members of the Jewish community and his congregation to �ind a place where they can feel wanted and allow them to explore their spiritual side. “We suspect other congregations will be following our lead, and [the policy] will have implications beyond Orlando,” he said. |  |

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Trans protections to Orlando anti-discrimination laws gets push Samantha Rosenthal

RLANDO | LGBT activists want the City of Orlando anti-discrimination policy amended to include protections for gender identity and expression. Gina Duncan, transgender inclusion director for Equality Florida, is pushing for the changes to Chapter 57, which would protect transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, at the workplace, at �inancial institutions or when using public accommodations. “Due to the current social climate and the pervasiveness of

|  | Gay Days Weekend from pg.10

welcoming gay cities. Five friends from Manchester, UK attended the Magic Kingdom for Gay Day on June 7 and were impressed with the friendliness of Orlando. “Manchester is a large city with an entire gay village, but Orlando is just as gay, although it is a lot friendlier here,” said Dennis Concannon. So if the crowd of red shirts was de�lated at Magic Kingdom, but the numbers overall at Gay Days were up, where did all the people go? According to Billy Mack, one of the Rip Tide organizers, the annual Typhoon Lagoon party June 6 had their highest attendance yet in 2014. Adam Beach, Alex Weber and Whit Hoolig, all from Salt Lake City, were spotted at RipTide. “Orlando is San Francisco but a lot warmer,” Adam Beach said. Columbian travelers, also spotted at RipTide, said this was their retreat for the year. “Gay Days is fun. There is nothing like this in Columbia,” Alex Munoz said. The party began at 7 p.m. and featured a lazy river, wave pool and stayed open until 2 a.m. With full bars all around the park, a large stage featuring a light show, and a DJ on the beach, the park became �illed mostly with bathing-suit clad young men. A fair amount of middleaged men also attended along with a sprinkling of older men and lesbians.

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transgender inclusion, people are going back and adding gender identity and gender expression to their anti-discrimination laws and ordinances,” Duncan said. “This is simply adding gender identity and gender expression into the antidiscrimination policy for the City of Orlando.” The changes were originally introduced a couple years back by the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Alliance. Duncan is now leading a push to �inalize the amendments, with help from local LGBT activists. The wording has been drafted by the City Attorney and will go before the seven-person Chapter 57 Review Board June 19. All Chapter Epcot’s WE Party was also popular, with thousands of attendees, a light show and very loud house and techno music. Epcot’s WE Party’s crowd looked similar to RipTide’s in that the majority of them were shirtless young men with gym bodies. There was also a general mix of ages and some varying body types. While the crowds lacked at the 3 p.m. Magic Kingdom parade, they packed the special exhibition hall at Epcot until 2 a.m. at the WE Party. Mack, one of the organizers, said attendance at the WE Party was up 20% from last year and included a headlining performance at 11 p.m. by the Orlando Ballet set to Madonna’s ‘Vogue.’ Climax, Girls In Wonderland’s Friday night party, survived a move from House of Blues in Downtown Disney to Firestone Live in Downtown Orlando. Although the club was empty at the start of the party, it quickly �illed with festive lesbians as shuttle buses transported girls from the Disney area to downtown. As usual, the Saturday night party at House of Blues—this year, themed Marry Me!—was a popular, crowded event with top notch, sexy dance performances. Parliament House also attracted what owner Don Granatstein said was the biggest name ever to perform at the club – LeAnn Rimes, on Saturday night. Hundreds packed P-House to watch the country star perform.

watermarkonline.com

57 Review Board members are non-elected of�icials, who advocate for the citizens of Orlando in the areas of human and civil rights. After presenting the proposed amendment, the item will be submitted to the City Council, with a �irst reading possible for July 14. The policy change will then go through two different public hearings and a �inal vote. “The knowledge and understanding of transgender people is increasing all the time,” Duncan said. “For the City of Orlando to be on the leading edge of inclusion and providing protections for transgender people—that they can come to work and be their authentic selves without the threat of being �ired—is huge.” Duncan is asking members of the community to contact their City Commissioners to express their support for the changes. |  |

BLACK PRIDE FOUNDER RESIGNS

The Magic Kingdom isn’t the only area where things looked different this year—this Gay Days marked the last for Orlando Black Pride founder Tricia Duncan. Duncan said that the growth and acceptance of Gay Days was an indication that it was time for her to step down and concentrate on new opportunities and projects that will require the passion she currently is devoting to Orlando Black Pride. “There’s a point where you say I have done all I can for where it is right now,” she told the Orlando Sentinel. In 2002, Duncan created the organization because she didn’t feel accepted by either the black or gay community. In the early years of the organization, Duncan would get negative comments and have to explain her reasoning for the black and gay-pride group. “I used to get a lot of, ‘Why would you do that? Why would you divide the community? How dare you?’” she told the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando Black Pride broke into this year’s events on June 3 with a concert and wrapped up with another concert on June 8 at the Parliament House. |  |

Note: Reporter Chris Stephenson was hired to photograph Riptide for One Magical Weekend, the company who organizes RipTide and two other GayDays parties. Jamie Hyman and Christal Hayes contributed to this story.

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5/8/14 1:11 PM watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE. 13

tampa bay NEWS

Alleged murderous boyfriend may have been a transient Staff Report

UNEDIN | A Kentucky man accused of striking and killing his boyfriend with a hatchet told Dunedin police he isn’t gay, but was only using the victim for a place to stay, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Arthur Michael DeCarvalho was charged with murder in the First Degree for the murder of Dunedin man David Elsey, according to police. The Times reported the two had been seeing one another for a while and had been keeping residence at Elsey’s home for the last month or so. “He said their relationship was going great,” Patrick Martin, a next-door neighbor told the paper. “He said, ‘This is the one. We’re on the same page.’ “ A Clearwater Police af�idavit shows that a patrol of�icer came into contact with DeCarvalho twice between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on June 7 before Elsey’s body was found at his condominium on South Gulfview Boulevard. DeCarvalho was found wondering Clearwater Beach with only one shoe and smelling of alcohol. He admitted to Michael Leonardo, a Clearwater patrol of�icer, he was drunk. The of�icer drove him home, the af�idavit said. Hours later, Leonardo found DeCarvalho sleeping in the driver’s seat of a Ford F-150 pickup. The of�icer then put DeCarvalho into protective custody, which is when DeCarvalho leaked to the of�icer he had murdered Elsey by bashing his skull numerous times. During the arrest, DeCarvalho waived his Miranda rights and told the of�icer that even though Elsey was gay, he was not, the Times reported. He then told the of�icer that he was only using Elsey for a place to stay. During this conversation, he told the of�icer that on his birthday, which was June 5, he woke up to Elsey tying his legs and arms, the af�idavit said. He said that Elsey told him he had rape fantasies and he was about to make them a reality. DeCarvalho told the of�icer that he suggested to Elsey to reverse roles and allow him to tie him up and then rape him. Elsey agreed and allowed DeCarvalho to tie him up, after which DeCarvalho grabbed a hatchet from the garage and struck Elsey about 10 times in the head, the arrest af�idavit says. When of�icials went to the home on the 1600 block of Summit Way to conduct a welfare check around 5 a.m., they found a naked Elsey tied to a Continued on page 14 |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

SIGNING ON: (L-R) Council member Charlie Gerdes, Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, council members Darden Rice, Karl Nurse and Amy Foster watch as St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman signs the Freedom to Marry petition at St. Petersburg City Hall June 12. PHOTO COURTESY TODD RICHARDSON

Pride lands in St. Pete Mayor Kriseman highlights his ‘points of pride’ Steve Blanchard

T. PETERSBURG | For the �irst time in its 12-year history, St. Pete Pride was welcomed with open arms by St. Petersburg’s mayor during a June 12 City Council meeting. The organization was so celebrated, in fact, that a large, rainbow �lag adorned the back of the council chambers—a major milestone considering for 11 years the festival was ignored or—at the very least—tolerated. “I think it’s fantastic. It’s beautiful,” commented Rev. Candis Shultis of the King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church. Shultis was invited to offer the opening prayer and stayed for the reading of two LGBT proclamations and to hear a few big announcements from the mayor. One big announcement is that during a special 9 a.m. ceremony on Thursday, June 26, Kriseman will raise a rainbow �lag above City Hall to mark the beginning of St. Pete Pride weekend. He also read a proclamation declaring June Pride Month in

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St. Petersburg and highlighted a long list of the city’s accomplishments concerning LGBT equality. The reasons for his support of the LGBT community were listed in the proclamation, which touched on the city’s Human Rights Ordinance,

in his proclamation and cited the estimated $10.5 million the festival brings to the city each summer. And the mayor didn’t stop there. He announced the newly created position of LGBT liaison to the Mayor’s Of�ice, which he awarded to city marketing director Robert Danielson. He also announced that Lt. Marcus Hughes of the St. Petersburg Police Department will serve as the LGBT liaison to the police department. “Both serving as a point of contact for LGBT business owners and residents,” Kriseman explained. He also talked about the excitement surrounding Metro Wellness and Community Centers’ new LGBT Welcome Center, which will open this summer on Central Avenue. Before the council meeting, Kriseman met with several council members and members of the media to sign the “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” petition in his of�ice. He read it aloud during the council meeting and declared June 12 “Freedom to Marry Day” in St. Petersburg. “Marriage is an important and

“Marriage is an important and meaningful institution that all citizens of the City of St. Petersburg and the State of Florida should have the freedom to participate.” —MAYOR RICK KRISEMAN

which was amended in 2002 to add sexual orientation as a protected status in housing and public accommodations. He also mentioned Pinellas County’s HRO and the addition of gender and identity and expression to those protected. He also mentioned the city’s �inancial support of Pride this year

watermarkonline.com

Continued on page 16 |  |

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tampa bay NEWS 16

|  | Pride in St. Pete

bed by his limp limbs with a pillow covering his head. They also found the hatchet, which was on the bed near the victim. DeCarvalho, who was previously described as a transient, was wanted in Kentucky for violation of a domestic violence injunction before Elsey’s murder took place. The Tampa Bay Times reported that in September, DeCarvalho served three months in jail for harassment and stalking charges. He was court-ordered to not contact the victim, his daughter’s mother. However, on April 23 he violated these terms when he sent a string of violent text messages to her, the Tampa Bay Times reported. “I look forward to killing you and watching your blood ooze out of your body,” Tampa Bay Times said one text message read.

meaningful institution that all citizens of the City of St. Petersburg and the State of Florida should have the freedom to participate,” Kriseman read aloud in a packed council chamber. He added, “Samesex couples are raising children and contributing to the betterment of our city and society every day.” Kriseman has been a long-time supporter of the LGBT community, signing the �irst Pride proclamation in the city when he was a council member in 2003. In April, before he signed the marriage petition, he said he supported marriage equality, and mentioned that his sister, a lesbian, had to travel out of her home state of Georgia to wed her partner. “No one should have to leave their state to get married,” he said in that interview. Krisman is the �irst sitting mayor of the city to fully support St. Pete Pride in its 12 year history. He plans to be the �irst mayor of the city to march in the parade, which is at dusk on Saturday, June 28 in the Grand Central District. The proclamations received praise from council members Darden Rice,

from pg.14

BRUTALLY KILLED: Victim David Elsey worked as a human resources recruiter for the marketing research firm Neilsen and was a former leader of the company’s pride coalition as a resource for LGBT employees.

“Watching the life leave your eyes as I stare at you and �inally get to feel the satisfaction of getting revenge on you … Hug her (their daughter) good bye because once I see you … you will never see her again.” DeCarvalho moved to Florida after meeting Elsey online and failed to appear in court for the hearing.

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

BOOKED: Arthur Michael DeCarvalho reportedly told police he isn’t gay, and only used Elsey for a place to stay.

Elsey worked as a human resources recruiter for the marketing research �irm Neilsen and was a former leader of the company’s pride coalition as a resource for LGBT employees. Friends say he was a Disney fan and neighbors described him as quiet and respectful. |  |

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and Steve Kornell, who are both members of the LGBT community. Rice, who won her seat in November, is also a grand marshal in this year’s pride parade. “I fully applaud the mayor for understanding the importance of diversity and inclusion,” Rice said. “It’s an honor to serve with him. The mayor has acted with courage and I stand with him in making diversity and inclusion a priority in our community.” St. Pete Pride executive director Eric Skains thanked the mayor for his support, and said that the evolution of Pride is signi�icant. “What started off as a march has turned into a celebration,” Skains said, referring to the Stonewall Riots of New York in 1969. “But on days like this, we see that the dominoes of inequality are collapsing and I am thrilled we have such a diverse city here.” St. Pete Pride covers three-days this year. A concert at the State Theatre is scheduled for Friday, June 27, the organization’s �irst-ever night parade begins at dusk on Saturday, June 28, and the street festival is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. For details, visit StPetePride.com. |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE. 17 PM 6/12/14 1:11

state

Miami Beach first Florida city to offer transgender health care insurance

NEWS

Staff Report

IAMI BEACH | Among only 5 percent of all U.S. cities and municipalities that have similar policies, Miami Beach became the �irst city in Florida to offer transgender health care insurance to its city employees. Transgender employees will be insured for treatments including gender-reassignment surgery, plus hormone and psychological therapy, starting in October. The policy change came up for a vote June 11 and passed unanimously. Commissioner Edward Tobin was absent from the City Commission meeting, but Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and the entire commission supported the policy change. Mayor Levine also sponsored a motion June 11 that Miami Beach would support same-sex couples seeking to marry or have their out-of-state marriages recognized in Florida. “Our city is really pro-LGBT. It’s important for us not to be pro LGBT by word, but more importantly by action,” Levine told The Miami Herald after the meeting. |  |

Equality Florida Action PAC endorses Crist for governor Staff Report

IAMI | The Equality Florida Action PAC, an organization dedicated to electing pro-equality candidates, has announced its endorsement of Charlie Crist for Florida governor. Stratton Pollitzer, chair of the PAC, said the early endorsement re�lects the need to show to voters which candidate will help the state when it comes to issues of equality and fairness. “Florida is at a critical moment in our struggle to end discrimination, and the next governor will have a tremendous impact on the everyday lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in our state,” Pollitzer said in a media release. “Charlie Crist has taken a clear stand for equality and fairness and is delivering a message that will inspire the growing pro-equality majority in our state to stand on the right side of history.”

The endorsement was announced at a press conference June 12. Crist is a former Republican governor turned Democratic candidate. When he was a Republican, he was criticized by his own party for breaking away and supporting LGBT rights. In 2000, when Crist was the Commissioner of Education, he became the �irst statewide elected of�icial to support an anti-bullying bill that speci�ically included protections for LGBT students. In 2010, Crist refused to appeal the decision of a Miami judge to stop enforcement of the ban on adoption by gay people, allowing gay parents to begin adoptions immediately. “The next governor is likely to appoint four Supreme Court Justices, and we cannot afford to leave our Supreme Court in the hands of a governor who refuses to recognize even the most basic rights for LGBT people,” Pollitzer said. In 2013, Crist publicly stated his

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support for marriage equality, after stating in 2006 that a ban on samesex marriage was necessary. And in a 2014 interview with Watermark, Crist apologized for signing a petition to place Amendment 2, the Florida ban on same-sex marriage, on the ballot, and for saying the ban was needed. He said that like many people in politics, his views have evolved concerning LGBT equality. “Charlie Crist’s position on marriage equality re�lects the evolution of Florida voters,” Pollitzer said. “The clear majority now supports full legal recognition of marriage equality, and that support is growing rapidly regardless of political party, age or religious identi�ication. During the weekend of June 14, Crist opened a campaign of�ice on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. His of�ice also announced that he would attend St. Pete Pride’s Stonewall Reception at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday, June 26. |  |

Wire Report

president’s effort to work around a Congress that continues to be mired in gridlock. But those moves increased the frustration among gay rights supporters who have long pressed Obama to extend workplace discrimination protections to LGBT individuals working for federal contractors. The White House publicly offered little explanation as to why the president moved forward on the wage-related orders but not the anti-discrimination measure. The of�icial would not say when Obama planned to sign the order, only that the president had asked his staff to prepare a measure for his signature. |  |

Uncertainty for same-sex couples married in Wisconsin Wire Report MILWAUKEE | A federal judge’s order for Wisconsin of�icials to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses didn’t address the legal status of the more than 550 samesex marriages conducted last week, and subsequent statements by state of�icials have not removed the uncertainty. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb on June 6 ordered county clerks to stop enforcing the state’s gay marriage ban but she put that ruling

on hold June 13 while an appeal from Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is pending. “It hurts, you know,’’ Lisa Akey said after the ruling, one day after she married her partner of 16 years in Marathon County. “It’ll hurt more if I �ind out that what I did yesterday was basically pointless, but it de�initely does hurt.’’ State income taxes, pensions and health insurance are among many issues affected by a person’s legal marriage status. The Wisconsin Vital Records Of�ice started processing same-

sex marriage licenses June 11, after receiving guidance from Van Hollen’s of�ice that it could move ahead. But Van Hollen said that samesex couples with marriage licenses aren’t legally married because Crabb had not told county clerks how to interpret her ruling striking down the ban. Sixty of Wisconsin’s 72 county clerks had issued licenses to same-sex couples. As of June 12, 555 same-sex couples had gotten married in the state. |  |

Others refuse to concede, and some leaders of that cohort plan to rally June 19 at a March for Marriage in Washington. The event’s main sponsor is the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which engaged in several successful state campaigns against gay marriage prior to the 2012 votes in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state that reversed the tide. “A competition is won by those who take the �ield, not by those who sit on the sidelines,’’ NOM’s president, Brian Brown, exhorts his supporters. ``Friends, we need to take the �ield for marriage—and �ight to win.’’ Brown says his best-case

scenario hinges on a future ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the right of states to set their own marriage laws, rather than imposing same-sex marriage nationwide. ``We’d put this back in the hands of the democratic process,’’ he said. ``We would have the people deciding for themselves.’’ Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry, says his adversaries have been placed in an ever-weakening position by trends in public opinion polls and by the recent court rulings. ``All the defenses of discrimination conjured up by the dwindling hard-core of opponents have been exposed as indefensible, insuf�icient, or untrue,’’ said Wolfson. |  |

Marriage equality foes plan march as losing streak continues Wire Report WASHINGTON | On Election Day in 2012, marriage equality foes went 0-for-4 on state ballot measures. A year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government must recognize same-sex marriages. And over the past seven months, more than a dozen federal and state judges have struck down part or all of state-level bans on same-sex marriage, with no rulings going the other way. Faced with these developments, some longtime opponents of marriage equality now say that its nationwide legalization via a Supreme Court ruling is inevitable.

ALABAMA COURT OVERTURNS GAY SEX BAN The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on June 13 ruled unanimously that an Alabama law criminalizing consensual homosexual conduct is unconstitutional. The judges said it was the first time the law’s constitutionality had been addressed since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a similar Texas law in 2003. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Alabama is one of a dozen states with anti-sodomy laws still on the books.

TEXAS COUPLE CREATES WEBSITE FOR GAY DADS Two Austin men struggling with fatherhood as a gay couple have launched a website designed to offer advice, assistance and support to other men in their situation. Brian Stephens and Andy Miller launched The Handsome Father and its website, TheHandsomeFather.org, in April. Stephens says the idea was formed because they have often felt alone or like pioneers as they raise their 7-year-old son surrounded by straight parents.

TEEN ARRESTED IN ATTACK DURING MICHIGAN PRIDE EVENT A 16-year-old has been arrested in the videotaped beating of a man during the June 8 Motor City Pride celebration in downtown Detroit. Police say that the teen was part of a group of five to eight males who punched and kicked 20-year-old Christin Howard. Howard was taking a photo with a friend along the popular RiverWalk when the men attacked him and used homophobic slurs.

nation+world

ASHINGTON | President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation, a White House of�icial said June 16. The move follows years of pressure from gay rights groups for Obama to act on his own while a broader employment nondiscrimination measure languishes on Capitol Hill. The Senate passed the legislation last year but the bill stalled in the Republican-led House and there is little sign that

lawmakers will take it up in an election year. There is currently no federal law that explicitly bans workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. While Obama does not have the authority to extend that protection to all Americans, he can take unilateral action that impacts federal contractors, which make up nearly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. Obama has used this tactic before, signing executive orders that raise the minimum wage for federal contractors and expanding the number of workers who would be eligible for overtime pay. White House of�icials have cast the approach as part of the

IN OTHER NEWS

NEWS

Obama to sign order extending LGBT protections

CHRISTIE DISAGREES WITH PERRY ON GAY COMPARISON New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is denouncing comments by fellow Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry comparing homosexuality to alcoholism in which people can choose to change their behavior. Perry said earlier this week that people may feel ``compelled to follow a particular lifestyle’’ but have the ability to decide not to do that. Christie, who is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said June 13 that he disagrees, saying it is not ``an apt analogy and not one that should be made because I think it’s wrong.’’

100,000 PARTY AT ISRAEL PRIDE PARADE, REGION’S BIGGEST Shirtless Israeli men, colorfully dressed drag queens and others partied June 13 through central Tel Aviv as tens of thousands of people took part in the city’s annual gay pride parade, the largest event of its kind in the Middle East. Police said more than 100,000 people took part. Tel Aviv is one of the few places in the Middle East where gays feel free to walk hand-in-hand and kiss in public. Same-sex relations are punishable by death in Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.

JUDGE: NO EVIDENCE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE DESTROYS FAMILIES The federal judge who struck down Pennsylvania’s law banning the recognition of same-sex marriage said June 9 that he saw no proof it undermines the institution of marriage or weakens families. ``There’s a reason that I was the 13th of 13 judges to decide that because that has not held water in any of the cases that have been litigated in the United States,’’ said U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III. Jones, a Republican appointee of former President George W. Bush, struck down Pennsylvania’s 1996 ban on May 20.

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When Rights Collide

Richard Rosendall

ALL THIS THE YEAR OF

clashing rights. On April 7, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) declined to hear the Elane Photography case, in which an Albuquerque studio refused to take commitment ceremony photos of Vanessa Willock and her same-sex partner, Misti Collinsworth.

This left in place the New Mexico Supreme Court ruling that Elane Photography’s claimed free speech right “directly con�licts with Willock’s right … to obtain goods and services from a public accommodation.” If you think this pleased all gay rights advocates, you are wrong. An amicus brief supporting the photographer was �iled on behalf of the Cato Institute, Eugene Volokh, and Dale Carpenter, all marriage equality supporters. Volokh explained that “wedding photographers … have a First Amendment right to choose what expression they create, including by choosing not to photograph same-sex commitment ceremonies.”

SCOTUS will rule this month in the Hobby Lobby case, concerning a company’s right to deny employees contraceptive coverage based on the owners’ religious objections. In contrasting briefs, Cato defended Hobby Lobby’s free exercise rights, while Lambda Legal wrote that ruling for Hobby Lobby “would transform our equal opportunity marketplace into segregated dominions within which each business owner with religious convictions ‘becomes a law unto himself.’” Meanwhile, LGBT groups differ over the religious exemption in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. D.C.’s Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, which I lead, is among those that support ENDA but favor a narrower exemption. Religious groups are protected in their core religious function; outside it is another matter. Why should anti-LGBT discrimination enjoy exemptions beyond those applying to discrimination under Title VII? LGBT people are not the only historically oppressed group asked to subordinate their interests. In a 2011 discussion of the 1994 book The Bell Curve, on alleged racial differences in intelligence, Andrew Sullivan defended freedom of inquiry. He also called af�irmative action an injustice. Regarding injustice, I submit the summary of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “The Case for Reparations” on the June cover of The Atlantic: “250 years of slavery. 90 years of Jim Crow. 60 years of separate but equal. 35 years of statesanctioned redlining.” How can we object to a modest corrective like af�irmative action, yet ignore our massive, malignant legacy against African Americans? Coates compares the aversion to studying reparations to a man who stops using his credit card and is surprised that his accumulated debt does not instantly disappear. I’m sorry, this makes you uncomfortable; so can we not discuss it? Appearing on June 12 at DC’s Sixth & I Synagogue, Coates was asked his feelings about the country that had so wronged his people. He said, “We’re here. We’re part of this. I don’t know how we get out of that.” In this plain observation lurks a seed of hope. |  |

Why should anti-LGBT discrimination enjoy exemptions beyond those applying to discrimination under Title VII?

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T LOOKS LIKE ENGLAND’S VERSION OF DANCING WITH THE STARS could be getting its �irst same-sex couple contestants. Fans are pushing for Robin Windsor, professional Latin ballroom dancer on the show since 2010, to have a male partner. Windsor, who is gay, is dating current X Factor star Marcus Collins. The couple, who began dating late last year, talked about the idea of Collins joining next season in the Gay Times. “I can’t dance, so I’d be learning dancing from scratch. It’s something I’d certainly give a go,” Collins said. “It’s about waiting for the right time for the public to be ready to see a same-sex couple dancing together.” The couple’s full interview can be found in the July 2014 issue at GayTimes.co.uk. |  |

JONAH HILL ON APOLOGY TOUR

CTOR JONAH HILL, WHO APPEARS IN 22 JUMP STREET, has spent June apologizing after a homophobic slur hurled at a photographer. Hill turned to the paparazzi and said, “Suck my dick, you faggot.” The outburst was caught on camera by TMZ and went viral. In an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the actor, who is usually goofy and giddy, said he has always supported gay rights and regretted letting the community down with the offensive outburst. He did not blame the photographer. “Having a bad day doesn’t re�lect who I am as a person,” Hill said. Let’s hope there are no repeats. |  |

CONSERVATIVES FEEL DIRTY AROUND GAYS

NEW STUDY RELEASED LAST MONTH found that straight conservatives feel the need to “physically cleanse” themselves after contact with a gay man. A set of four experiments, conducted by the University of London and the University Institute of Lisbon, found that prejudice may be “expressed through physical cleansing.” The studies involved more than 200 participants who imagined borrowing a mobile phone from a straight man and a gay man. They performed word completion and association tasks afterward. Conservative participants expressed a greater preference for wipes and hand sanitizers. “Labeling people as impure is a culturally universal way of expressing prejudice,” said lead researcher Agnieszka Golec de Zavala. |  |

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N THE WWE REALITY SERIES LEGENDS’ HOUSE, “Pretty Boy” Pat Patterson spoke about his sexuality at dinner with the other legends. “Being here with you guys, for once in my life, I’m going to be me now,” Patterson said. “I survived all this being gay.” He spoke of losing his partner of 40 years to a heart attack and being alone, but said he didn’t regret the choices he made. “ I gave my life to the business,” he said. “I don’t regret nothing. For the rest of my life, I want to be happy.” Born Pierre Clermont, the Canadian wrestler, now 73, was known as “Pretty Boy” Patterson in the 1960s-70s. He wore lipstick, pink trunks and carried around a pet poodle. He and Ray Stevens made up the champion tag team called the Blond Bombers. Patterson was the �irst Intercontinental Champion in 1979 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996. |  |

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ARTS &

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COCK

OF THE

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Mad Cow’s Cock questions views and labels on love, sexuality and relationships

Samantha Lena Rosenthal

RLANDO | MAD COW THEATRE

is known for bringing some of the most compelling works of theater to the heart of downtown Orlando. Its newest production is nothing short of that, introducing theatergoers to a contemporary love triangle that’s far from being a “cockand-bull” story. Shipped from British playwright Mike Bartlett and now making its rounds in the U.S., Cock opens June 20 and runs through July 20 at The Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre. The play

Continued on page 33 |  |

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REDEFINING SEXUALITY:

Cock, a love triangle crossing sexual orientations at Mad Cow in Orlando, features Chris Crawford as John, Heather Leonardi as Woman, and Peter Travis as Man. PHOTO COURTESY MAD COW THEATRE

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RLANDO | If you live in and around the downtown area, chances are you’re up on the latest scene. There’s the new and notable, and the “so last year, dear.” From gourmet food truck bazaars to the benefits of barre yoga, and the newest clubs—both the health and late-night variety—to this year’s Come Out with Pride theme and events lineup. But why aren’t we lining up for a different kind of “seen?” As in, “have you been seen by a doctor lately?” If you’re over 18, don’t overlook what’s in regarding your insides and outsides—look to a doctor of internal medicine.

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6/16/14 3:34 PM watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE. 27

CAMP DRAG: Matthew McGee, left, plays Margo Channing and Scott Daniel plays her assistant, Steve—an up and coming drag queen—in this year’s Prelude to Pride production, All About Steve. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

All about comedy THEATER

Suncoast AIDS Theater Project spoofs a Bette Davis classic with All About Steve

Steve Blanchard

T. PETERSBURG | EVERY SUMMER THE

St. Petersburg community expects three things—rain every afternoon, a fantastic St. Pete Pride festival and Matthew McGee in a dress. This year, we get a special surprise—Scott Daniel will appear in a dress of his very own! 28

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

The Suncoast AIDS Theater Project, directed by Garry Breul, returns for the annual Prelude to Pride spooftacular—and this year’s victim is the Bette Davis classic All About Eve. Of course, in this incarnation, It’s All About Steve because Eve is actually Steve played by Daniel, a drag queen who is jealous of the success of his mentor, played by McGee.

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“The story itself is as old as time,” McGee says. “There is always some young one trying to knock you off the top, and I think that’s what’s so fun about it. This is a very theatrical show and perfect for lampooning, just like the others.” The others, of course, are last year’s successful Blown by the Wind and 2012’s A Wizard of Oz, in which McGee played Scarlett O’Hara and The Wicked Witch, respectively. This time around he’s Margo Channing, which McGee says will be a mix between Bette Davis’ and Lauren Bacall’s versions. Daniel, as the character’s assistant, is excited to put on a dress this year—although he did play one drag role in last year’s Gone With the Wind spoof. Daniel is also a costume designer, and has put McGee in drag many times, mostly in SATP productions and when the pair do their popular “Scott and Patti” shows. “I always sew his costumes and they never �it because I’m

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signi�icantly smaller,” Daniel laughs. “But I always picture what I would look like in his clothes, and that’s what Margo and Eve go through.” Achieving that look isn’t easy, McGee admits, sharing stories of uncomfortable shoes, hot wigs and a make-up look that’s very close to a clown’s look, he says. “It’s dif�icult to take a 200 pound, 6’1” middle-aged man and make him into this package of a woman,” McGee says. “It’s a lot of work, and like what Matthew Anderson does for RuPaul, Scott does for me.” Like with previous Prelude to Pride extravaganzas, proceeds bene�it local HIV/ AIDS organizations. This year’s recipient is Metro Wellness and Community Centers. These bene�its bring out local all-stars and this production includes Eric Davis, Joey Panek, Sara DelBeato, Brian Shea, Joe Parra, Jonelle Meyer, Drew DeCaro and Jerid Fox. And, once again, the production is adapted by T. Scott Wooten with a musical score by Michael Rabbe. “The joy of this is, Garry will tell us to not look at our scripts too much because he doesn’t want us too familiar with the show,” McGee says. “When Garry and I �irst got together on these, that’s when the comedy started. He knew I’d do it and he knew I’d mess up. It’s not hard to mess up, especially in drag. It’s a sensory experience that dulls down your natural senses. I can be comfortable walking around. But put on heels, get cinched in, get those huge lashes on that obliterate your vision and wearing a hot wig, you’re suddenly a fantasy creature and you’re going to mess up. And that’s hilarious, as Daniel attests. “Essentially we’re a 90-minute outtake,” Daniel laughs. The success of recent SATP shows has boosted interest in the productions and brought a new level of excitement to Prelude to Pride events. And all of the actors and musicians involved donate their time to the worthy cause because of two reasons: they believe in the cause, and no one can say no to Breul, McGee says. “Garry brought me more onto the scene than anybody,” McGee says. “He’s like John Waters and I’m like Divine. He can throw me out there in just about anything outrageous and I’ll do it. It’s

Continued on page 30 |  |

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He’s like John Waters and I’m like Divine. —MATTHEW MCGEE, REFERRING TO GARRY BREUL

|  | All About Steve from pg.28 not just for the cause and awareness and fundraising. But it’s for Garry. He gave me my �irst big gig in that way that brought me into people’s consciousness. He’s one of the biggest reasons for me being here.” Daniel also credits Breul for his success as an actor, designer and performer. “This is a small theater community and it’s hard to get into,” Daniel says. “If it wasn’t for Garry and A Wizard of Oz, I probably wouldn’t be part of the scene now. I built Matthew’s costume and a few others that opened doors for me in other theaters. I thank Garry for bringing me here.” Recently, Breul shared that he was having medical issues, which required some hospital stays and chemotherapy. The theatrical community rallied around him and helped raise nearly $1,000 with a one-night bene�it in Sarasota earlier this month. The reluctant Breul �inally accepted the generosity, but continued to work on All About Steve. “Garry says he loves theater people and nothing shows how they work better than All About Eve,” McGee says. “This is an homage to theaters and theatricality. It’s a great piece that Garry can relate to at this moment.” Neither McGee or Daniel consider themselves drag queens or female impersonators, for that matter. But they are actors and entertainers, and going for the laugh is what’s important, especially in a show like this. “This is exciting for me,” Daniel

says. “Because after building all of Matthew’s drag looks and focusing on the character of Patti, this show gives me a chance to be more whimsical. It brings Matthew to a new place and me too. He’s my Carol Burnett and I’m his Bob Mackey.” But even with all of the laughter and outrageous mistakes (the actors don’t rehearse and will all be holding the scripts as they perform) the message of HIV/AIDS and remembering those we lost to the disease remains the focus. Each year, Breul makes sure panels from the AIDS Quilt are hung on the set. “It’s a nice reminder,” McGee says of the quilts. “Garry’s message is so strong. He knows exactly what he wants to say and exactly what he wants to do and how it should be done.” And both say they will continue to support Breul’s vision for as long as he will have them. McGee already has an idea for 2015. “I really want to do Mele�icent next year,” McGee says, referring to the Disney villain currently played by Angelina Jolie in theaters. “I want Scott to be sleeping beauty. I want a wacky version of that.” The idea surprised Daniel. “This article will be the �irst time (SATP writer) T. Scott Wooten hears about that,” he laughs. |  |

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MORE INFORMATION

WHAT: All About Steve WHERE: American Stage, St. Petersburg WHEN: 7:30 p.m. June 23 and June 29 TICKETS: AmericanStage.org

E X P E R I E N C E T E N O F F LO R I DAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S M O ST P R O G R E S S I V E A N D E X C I T I N G A R T I ST S

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AMBASSADORS

Orlando Museum of Art / 2416 N. Mills Ave. / Orlando, FL 32803 / 407.896.4231 / www.omart.org JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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|  | COCK from pg.25 follows the story of John, who takes a break from a troubled relationship with his boyfriend of many years. During this break, he meets a woman who piques his interest in many ways. The play follows John’s journey as he explores the complexity of relationships, love and sexuality. “There’s lots of things that make up a person and ultimately what we are watching, during this 90-minute play, is the struggle that this individual has about choosing the person,” says Mitzi Maxwell, executive director of Mad Cow. “Of course, it just so happens that one person is of one gender and one is of another. The struggle goes beyond whether one is straight or one is gay. I think it’s about loving another person.” Maxwell works to bring productions to Mad Cow that display great diversity and touch on unconventional topics that other production companies might not show. To accomplish that, Mad Cow brought in Aradhana Tiwari, Mad Cow’s current director in residence, to provide direction for the play. “The play questions labels and sexual identity, and really puts relationships under the microscope,” says Tiwari. “What are the tenets of relationship that we evaluate when we decide who do we want to be with and why are we with them? [This play] really forces the audience to question what they think about relationships.” Tiwari has worked with Mad Cow since 2012, when she directed its production of The Road to Mecca. It was the �irst production in The Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre, the black-box venue at the Church Street location. One of the most challenging features of Cock is that the production is done with no props or set. The only elements are the characters of the play—John, M (the man he’s with), W (the woman he’s with) and F (the father of M). For Tiwari, the minimalism allowed her to approach the play in a fresh new way, where the centerpiece of the story is focused on John’s interaction with the other characters. “We can explore visually how to show the audience — perhaps through movement or through motion—what may be going on inside someone internally, and use things that are not ‘realistic’ to demonstrate what’s happening

This play offers a possibility for something other than these words: ‘gay,’ ‘straight,’ ‘bisexual’ or ‘transgender.’ —ARADHANA TIWARI

inside when we have all of these very normal relationship conversations and con�licts,” Tiwari says. But despite what may seem like a plot centered on a gay character, who questions his sexuality and explores facets of bisexuality, Tiwari says that the play actually uses these components to break away from social conventions about gender and sexual identity, transcending stereotypes about relationships and showing how the same dynamics work within all relationship archetypes. “There are so many people that have strong opinions [about sexual identity]. This play offers a possibility for something other than these words: ‘gay,’ ‘straight,’ ‘bisexual’ or ‘transgender,’” Tiwari says. “It is saying we don’t even have to live inside of one of these words if we don’t want to—we can just be.” Making his Orlando debut in the role of John, Chris Crawford reveals how playing such a profoundly con�licted character will make the story that much more real to the audience. “It’s one of those things that no matter what side of the fence you are on—as far as your views on homosexuality and heterosexuality

or whatever—there’s something that everybody in here identi�ies with,” Crawford says. “And there’s a little bit in each character, where you go ‘Oh, I kind of feel like that’ or ‘Oh, I don’t get that at all.’” Crawford, who previously ran a theater company in Tulsa, Okla., for six years, said this play will be more than just coming to see a show for the audience—it will be an experience. He says the story allows the audience to realize the labels society has placed on how we love— isn’t how or what but who. John’s struggle is real, so the audience will be able to identify with his personal con�licts. “As I started to read [the script] more, I would go ‘Oh, I have felt this in my life. I have gone through situations like this and had relationships with these qualities,’” Crawford says. “It is a cock �ight, and it is the ways that we pick and peck at each other as human beings. It is even written where you have phrase, phrase, phrase, not a paragraph. You have just this kind of constant picking and constant pecking, and that’s more at the root of anything else of why it’s called Cock.” Crawford said at �irst it was dif�icult to even like his character,

John. Working with Tiwari, he eventually embraced John and his struggle to �igure out who he should love, discovering there is no de�initive right answer or word to describe his sexual preference. “If you are in the audience and believe that you are born a certain way, I think that you will question that. If you believe that you choose to be a certain way, those beliefs will be questioned,” Crawford says. “And I think that’s what’s brilliant about this play—the audience becomes John.” The topic of gender identity, sexual identity and labels placed on people by society is not just an everyday struggle within the LGBT and straight communities, but is also an issue addressed by researchers. UCF associate professor and licensed clinical psychologist Charles Negy, who has 20 years of clinical and teaching experience with a focus on how variables such as race, ethnicity, culture, gender and sexual orientation in�luence people’s attitudes and behaviors, agrees that the overall categorization of people into a “de�ined” sexuality or preference is dif�icult because society itself is too diverse. “Another misconception is that

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one is either ‘gay’ or ‘straight,’” Negy says. “Many people, including gays themselves, struggle with ambiguity and see the world in black and white—paper or plastic, Coke or Pepsi. “Very few individuals report being 100 percent gay or 100 percent heterosexual. Most of us humans are more �lexible than that. So, many ‘gays’ may actually be bisexual in various degrees, and that may cause them to question who they are in reality from time to time. Of course, they feel the pressure from both gays and straights to ‘pick an orientation and stick with it.’” This is one of the great struggles that occurs within Cock, because John has never loved a woman before ‘W.’ He then questions what is this new awakened feeling and where does it come from, and we join him on his journey to realization of how labels are not needed when it comes to relationships and love. Heather Leonardi, who plays W (the woman), believes that because of how the black box is set up and the way the production is played out, the audience will engage in a form of “spectator sport,” rooting for either M or W. Just like rooting for your favorite sports team, it’s not that you’re going to be rooting for the right team, you will be rooting for your team (or in this case the person John should be with). “Right is not black and white— there are lots of shades of gray,” Leonardi says. “So when these people are speaking, what is the truth to them might not be something everyone in the play or the crowd agrees with, but there’s truth to where everyone in the play is coming from. There is not one character that is right at all.” Ultimately the play resonates with the idea that, in the end, any type of relationship—gay, straight or other—is dif�icult. And it becomes even harder when we consider the labels of society. “This is a play about labels, and rede�ining and transcending those labels,” Leonardi says. “It is also not about a woman in a relationship with a gay man. It’s about people in relationships.” |  |

MORE INFORMATION WHAT: Cock WHEN: June 20 - July 20 WHERE: The ZehngebotStonerock Theatre (Black box venue on Church Street) TICKETS: MadCowTheatre.com

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Mad Cow Theatre Presents

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June 20-July 20, 2014

“With the precious exception of literati like Oscar Wilde and his beloved Bosie, quarreling lovers are never as articulate and entertaining as they are in Cock …” – VARIETY

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St. Pete

Reinve 36

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IN IN DEPTH DEPTH

e Pride

ORLANDO’S BIG

ST. GAY PETEWEEKEND PRIDE 2014

ented A NIGHT PARADE AND SEPARATE STREET FESTIVAL BRING GLOBAL MESSAGE TO ST. PETERSBURG

Steve Blanchard

T. PETERSBURG | IF YOU THINK YOU

know St. Pete Pride, you don’t. The 12th rendition of the annual LGBT Pride event has a new look, a new feel and a new schedule in 2014. While St. Pete Pride continues to honor the anniversary of the New York Stonewall Riots that started it all in 1969, the last weekend of the month—June 27-29—is all that remains the same as in years past. The biggest, most noteworthy change is the night parade, which follows the same route

as previous years but begins at dusk on Saturday, June 28. The annual Street Festival will be on Central Avenue the following day, Sunday, June 29, from 11a.m-6 p.m. Both events celebrate a theme of “Global Equality.” “Parade attendance had gotten so large that it became unsafe for

exhibitors and spectators,” says Eric Skains, who is in his second year as St. Pete Pride’s executive director. “Separating the two also gives us the opportunity to grow more attendance as far as out-oftown guests are concerned. Festival vendors will also be able to interact more with visitors and not have to combat the parade traf�ic.” St. Petersburg mayor Rick Krisman—who is the �irstever mayor to fully embrace St. Pete Pride—approves of the schedule change. “The parade has grown as the

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Continued on page 52 |  |

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A LEATHER HARNESS TRUMPS A LEATHER BRIEFCASE PRIDE WEEKEND. 38

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#STPETEPRIDE

JUNE 27-29, 2014 MORE INFO AT STPETEPRIDE.COM

JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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Steve Blanchard

HIS YEAR’S ST. PETE PRIDE

Street Festival on Sunday, June 29, will have even more entertainment on its two stages since it’s not competing with the parade, which happens the night before. WELLS FARGO MAIN STAGE

CENTRAL AVE. AT 22ND STREET 11:30 a.m. St. Pete Pride 2014 Royalty Miss St. Pete Pride, Stephanie Stuart Mr. St. Pete Pride, Isaiah Sanchez Hilton Mister St. Pete Pride, Aaron Phoenix Noon Karmic Tattoo 1 p.m. Chris Stein 1:15 p.m. Nick Platanitis

The festival returns to the Grand Central District’s Central Avenue between 22nd and 27th Streets. This year, gospel diva and Motown singer Vernessa Mitchell will entertain at 2 p.m. Here is a scheduled list of entertainment that is, of course, subject to change:

QUEEN’S HEAD STAGE 24TH BLOCK OF CENTRAL AVE.

11:15 a.m. Anjila Cavalier

2:45 p.m. Gemini Stoarm

11:45 a.m. Franki Markstone

3:15 p.m. Vinnie Marconni

2:30 p.m. Alyssa Hailey

Noon The Scott and Patti Show

3 p.m. Kim Roberts

12:30 p.m. Chanel Cartier

3:30 p.m. Emily Turnage

1 p.m. Hawk Stewart

3:30 p.m. Miss St. Pete Pride, Stephanie Stuart Mr. St. Pete Pride, Isaiah Sanchez Hilton Mister St. Pete Pride, Aaron Phoenix

4:30 p.m. Iris Calling

1:15 p.m. Nikita LaFemme

5:15 p.m. Ryan Perry

1:45 p.m. Adoris LaFountaine

1:30 p.m. Anthony Murphy 2 p.m. Vernessa Mitchell

2:15 p.m. Rico Taylor 2:30 p.m. Alexis De La Mer

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Location, location,

LOCATION

WE ARE ALL ABOUT ST PETE PRIDE!

CELEBRATE WITH US!

PRIDE’S 27/82 PRIDE CONCERT RETURNS WITH MARY LAMBERT AND HUNTER VALENTINE

Steve Blanchard

T. PETERSBURG | EXPECT

packed crowds and a lot of love during this year’s second annual 27/82 Pride Concert at the State Theater on Friday, June 27. Performers Mary Lambert—who wrote the chorus to “Same Love”—and band Hunter Valentine of The Real L-Word fame are coheadliners of the of�icial Pride event. It will be Lambert’s �irst time in St. Petersburg. She gained national acclaim with Macklemore and Lewis’ “Same Love” and is now one of the most popular LGBT artists in the recording industry. “I think it’s a fallacy to say you’re not marginalized as a minority,” Lambert says when asked about being out. “The hurdles are less dif�icult, but then again, I’m not an expert since I’m relatively young and getting into it now. It is hard, but I didn’t have to compromise anything. I feel fortunate for that.” The LGBT community, she says, has helped bolster her success, and for that she will forever be grateful. But in the mainstream world, it’s more about the music. “It’s turned into being gay is an afterthought,” Lambert says. “It’s like, ‘Oh yeah, she’s a singer songwriter and she’s gay.’” The members of Hunter Valentine are also out and proud, and have made a huge splash in the Showtime reality series The Real L Word. But the band has been around

longer than that series, which begins its second season July 12. Kiyomi McCloskey met drummer Laura Petracca in 2006. Eight years, two record labels and three studio albums later, the band has put down roots in Brooklyn and tour 200plus gigs around the globe. The 27/82 concert is no-doubt geared toward a female audience. But that doesn’t mean men can’t enjoy the show as well. “I’m always fascinated by the attention the ‘My Body Love Poem’ gets on my site,” Lambert says. “It’s a body love poem geared toward women and my experience as a plus-sized lesbian. But I get so many comments from gay men who say its applicable to them. I forget as a woman that body image issues are a universal struggle and not gender-speci�ic. I have found that men also enjoy the show.” And it was male/male, female/female, and male/ female couples who wed in a mass ceremony at the Grammy Awards in the spring of this year—and Lambert was

able to witness it all from the stage. “I cried for like 10 hours the day before we performed,” Lambert recalls. “I felt so much and felt that this performance was so important in our society and culture. I thought, ‘Wow, this is so close to home!’” And while it was a watershed moment for the gay and lesbian community, Lambert recognize that the struggle isn’t over. “Trans rights is our next chapter,” Lambert says. “That community is severely underrepresented I’ve seen the radical injustice transgender people face because I have a lot of trans friends. It’s about all of us being treated as equal citizens. Those are inalienable rights.” And what about Lambert’s personal life? Does she see a wedding dress and a fancy reception in her home state of Washington any time soon? “I completely want to get married and I can’t wait to be settled down,” says Lambert, who says she and her partner Michelle have an incredible relationship. “It’s a privilege to spend time with her. Marriage is de�initely in our future.” |  |

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WHAT: 27/82 Concert WHO: Mary Lambert and Hunter Valentine WHERE: State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, June 27 TICKETS: StPetePride.com

1200 34th Street North St. Petersburg, Florida 33713 www.stpetersburg.hamptoninn.com 727.322.0770 JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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Check it off TO ENJOY ST. PETE PRIDE, BE PREPARED WITH THESE HINTS

Steve Blanchard

VEN THOUGH ST. PETE PRIDE

is in its 12th year, you may not be as prepared as you think. With a new schedule, a few new rules and Florida’s unpredictable climate, using a checklist will help you navigate the event estimated to bring 130,000 to St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District June 26-29.

See an abbreviated schedul of the weekend’s activities on page 52.

ARRIVE EARLY

Parking in the Grand Central District is tricky, especially during Pride. Whether you’re attending the parade on Saturday or the festival on Sunday—or both—arrive early to make time for parking and the walk you may have to take from your car to the event. There won’t be any parking available in the lot across from Georgie’s Alibi. That’s for parade preparations only. The parade starts at dusk, so give yourself plenty of time to �ind a prime viewing spot along Central Avenue by arriving at least an hour early. Remember, there’s a block party that starts at 5 p.m., so you won’t be bored waiting for the parade to start.

TAKE TIME TO DECORATE If you or your organization are in the parade, you can arrive in the Metro Wellness and Community Center parking lot as early as noon on Saturday, June 28. You can decorate your �loat, practice your routines and simply enjoy the day. Just remember, your �loat must be in position and ready to roll by 7 p.m. and don’t crank

loud music all day long as you’re preparing. The parade will begin its familiar trek in front of Georgie’s Alibi, through Kenwood and down Central Avenue no later than 8:30 p.m. The parade route is in the of�icial St. Pete Pride guide, readily available inside this issue of Watermark.

So why torture them with crowds, loud music, �lying beads and hot pavement? St. Petersburg is very pet friendly, but the environment of Pride just isn’t. Do your beloved little ones a favor and leave them at home in the airconditioned comfort of your home with Animal Planet on the TV. They’ll appreciate it, we promise.

STAY HYDRATED

Stay hydrated during the parade and the festival. True, the parade is at night this year, so we won’t have the sun beating down on us. But it’s summer. In Florida. On asphalt. So yeah, it’ll be warm. Keep bottled water handy or bring cash with you to purchase cold drinks from the vendors.

St. Petersburg is very pet friendly, but the environment of Pride just isn’t.

SET UP YOUR BOOTH EARLY

While the street festival doesn’t start until 11 a.m. Sunday, vendors can begin loading in at 8 a.m. That means businesses and groups will have plenty of time to get those tables decorated and that fabulous Pride swag ready. Organizers ask that vendors enter the festival at 22nd Street and Central as you drive to your designated area. But remember, you have to have your vehicle out of Central Avenue by 10 a.m. and your booth ready for presentation by 10:30 a.m.

LEAVE PETS AT HOME

Our four-legged babies are our hearts and our souls.

The same rules apply during Sunday’s street festival. Make sure you bring sunblock. We love seeing those hot, sun-kissed bodies, but we want them protected.

ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT

There are tons of acts taking to the stages during the street festival on Sunday. Impersonators and musicians have all donated their time and talents to St. Pete Pride 2014. Two stages will be running all day long on Sunday beginning at noon. Stop by, cheer on the local—and visiting—talent and enjoy their art. An entertainment schedule is on page 40.|  | JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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SERIOUS

ROLE

ST. PETE PRIDE’S 2014 GRAND MARSHALS TAKE THEIR TITLES TO HEART 48

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GRAND STAND: (L-R) PFLAG

Tampa’s John and Nancy Desmond, St. Petersburg Council member Darden Rice and ASAP’s Jay Aller show their grand marshal pride at the new Sundial complex in downtown St. Petersburg. PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

Steve Blanchard

T. PETERSBURG | FOR THE SECOND

year, St. Pete Pride asked the community to select the grand marshals for its annual celebration. And with nearly double the participation of the previous year, the community spoke loud and clear. St. Petersburg City Council member Darden Rice, AIDS Service Association of Pinellas resource development manager Jay Aller, and PFLAG Tampa’s John and Nancy Desmond will all be at the front of this year’s night parade. They learned of their grand marshal titles during a St. Pete Pride kick-off reception in

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May sponsored by Rainbow411. com at Bert Smith BMW. There, each was given a trophy and a grand marshal medal to wear during Pride events and during the parade. All of those recognized were surprised, but grateful for the recognition.

says. “We see so many families who �lourish once they enter this world. People come to PFLAG expecting to �ind coping skills and leave with unexpected joy. Many cannot wait to march with their families in St. Pete Pride, knowing that this loving community is now their community.”

Darden Rice

A PFLAG Family

“I

T’S INCREDIBLE,” SAYS NANCY DESMOND OF PFLAG TAMPA. PFLAG, of course, stands for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. “The LGBT community itself chose to embrace their pride by selecting a serious group like PFLAG Tampa that could not be more about love and acceptance. The largest LGBT Pride parade in the southeast is being led by the largest ally group in the nation!” Nancy Desmond and her husband, John, rebooted the Tampa chapter of PFLAG four years ago when their 28-year-old son came out to them. They were surprised to learn not only that their son was gay, but that he had been in a long-term relationship with his partner for years. “In retrospect, there were many signs [he was gay],” recalls Nancy Desmond, who has been married to her husband for 39 years. “But we were not tuned in to the particular challenges of a closeted youth, so the idea that he was gay was a �leeting thought at best.” When their son shared plans of a career change, the Desmonds were hopeful that their son would move to Florida to be closer to his

parents. However, they learned he had roots elsewhere. “Through choking tears, JP informed us that he couldn’t [relocate] because he was gay and had been with his partner for eight years!” John Desmond says. “And to top it off, he was a deacon in his church and had committed to helping with a soup kitchen and teaching a religious class.” The pair were shocked—in a good way—to learn that their son was in a relationship and involved in a church. But they admit they did have to adjust to the idea of having a gay child. Parents too, they say, have to come out when they learn a child is gay. “Like almost all parents of LGBT children for whom the entire concept is new, our �irst thoughts went to his safety,” Nancy Desmond says. The Desmonds have since seen the impact the national organization of PFLAG has on lives on a very personal level. “Often, PFLAG is the �irst door families come through when they discover that a child or loved one is LGBT,” says John Desmond. “They feel scared, embarrassed, confused, guilty. Sitting in a PFLAG meeting, listening to other successful, happy LGBT people, could not be more powerful. But the bene�it that no one really expects is what it is like to be a part of a community that knows what it means to consciously accept and love everyone. “ And the experience of acceptance is literally lifechanging, John Desmond adds. “The people you will meet through your LGBT child will teach you a whole different way to look at the world, and your own life will be enhanced,” he

N NOVEMBER 2013, DARDEN RICE ACHIEVED HER DREAM. She won a seat on the St. Petersburg City Council. Of course, public service wasn’t a new concept to her. Rice, who has been with her partner Julie for four years, works on behalf of public interest groups as a communications consultant when she’s not behind the dais within City Hall’s council chambers. Like her role as an elected of�icial, Rice takes the title

an LGBT Pride festival was in 1995, when she saw New York City’s Pride. The changes in the world from then to now, she says, are unbelievable. “Who would have dreamed the way the world would change so much over the next few years,” she says, referring to the ongoing passage of marriage equality laws in the United States and around the world. “Last year’s St. Pete Pride coincided with the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, so national TV stations used clips from local stations covering Pride as part of the ‘gay issues’ package story. We had friends from California call to say they say Julie and me on national TV as we marched holding hands in the St. Pete Pride Parade” When Rice isn’t working, which is a rare occurrence, she can typically be found enjoying outdoor activities that many Floridians take for granted.

community groups. That was such an honor. I never imagined people would think to get me nominated for the position this year.” Aller, who is single, may not have ever served as a grand marshal before, but he knows what it involved with being one. Each year he’s involved in the selection process for grand marshals for the AIDS Walk Tampa Bay. “I understand what the committees look at and who they consider,” he says. “It’s a real honor that another organization would choose me to �ill this role.” And since Aller works so closely with the HIV population, he’s hoping his role as grand marshal will help deliver the message of awareness. “I’m excited to get to chat with so many new people and be an ambassador for Pride,” he says. “I’m excited to chat with them about upcoming events and

“Sitting in a PFLAG meeting, listening to other successful, happy LGBT people, could not be more powerful.” —JOHN DESMOND OF PFLAG TAMPA

of St. Pete Pride grand marshal seriously. “It means people trust me to literally and �iguratively carry the banner proudly for equality—and I do,” she says. “[Pride] is way more than just a party. I hope people take away that we achieve important gains when we are engaged with our communities, when we vote, when we are visible. That our community is �illed with many, many people— gay and straight alike—who support and defend equality.” This will be the �irst time Rice has served as a grand marshal, but it’s not her �irst time to participate in St. Pete Pride. In 2013, for example, she marched as a city council candidate along with Julie. She also had a special guest in the parade at her side— her 15-year-old nephew, Gabe. “He had just come out to the family and this was a chance to show him a supportive, welcoming community,” she says. “It was a big deal to him and that made Pride more special for me.” Rice’s �irst experience with

“A perfect day for me is to get out on the water, whether it is boating, kayaking, or paddle boarding,” she says.

Jay Aller

S RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH THE AIDS SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF PINELLAS, Jay Aller is responsible for donations, fundraising events and community outreach in Tampa Bay. Many may recognize him from his larger events, like Dining Out for Life in April, AIDS Walk Tampa Bay in September and the Santa Speedo Run in December. It’s that outreach and resulting visibility that fueled Aller’s selection as a grand marshal in 2014. “I was very surprised to learn I was selected,” Aller says. “I remember working with [St. Pete Pride executive director] Eric Skains last year when ASAP was nominated as one of the

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issues facing our community as well as awareness of HIV testing and education.” ASAP serves clients on both sides of Tampa Bay through medical services and a food pantry. Aller’s �irst time at an LGBT Pride celebration was near his hometown of Harrisburg, Pa., in 2000. There, he attended a festival at Riverfront Park. “I don’t remember too much about it, but it was an important step for me to go to a Pride Festival in my home town,” he says. “I was shocked to �ind out they had one. In fact, Harrisburg has been holding a pride event since 1980, starting with an event called ‘Open Air.’” That may have been what inspired Aller to get involved with St. Pete Pride originally. He was at the �irst planning meeting of St. Pete Pride back in 2002. |  |

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|  | St. Pete Pride from pg.37 festival has grown and it got to the point where it was dif�icult for the two to co-exist,” says Kriseman. Kriseman, who won his election last November, is a former city council member who signed the �irst-ever proclamation for St. Pete Pride in 2003. “The whole event has grown organically and it reached the point where the entities needed to be separated. I give a lot of credit to the organizers for recognizing that.” Kriseman plans to march in the parade and on June 12, he signed a proclamation deeming June “St. Pete Pride Month” in St. Petersburg. All eight members of the city council also signed a proclamation recognizing the event, which pumps more than $10 million into the local economy.

MAYORAL SUPPORT

Kriseman’s participation this year is a milestone for St. Pete Pride. When the festival began in 2003, then-mayor Rick Baker wouldn’t even acknowledge the organization existed. When former mayor Bill Foster was elected in 2009, things improved slightly, but Foster refused to participate in the parade and only signed a proclamation after negative publicity and a grand marshal pestered him to do so. In 2013, Kriseman was running for mayor and participated in the parade, complete with a rainbowcolored campaign banner. “I love that banner,” Kriseman says. “I’m not going to say who said this to me, but someone told me that I needed to tone down my support for the gay and lesbian community if I was going to run for mayor. Told me it would kill my campaign if I don’t ease up. Obviously, I didn’t listen.” Kriseman credits last year’s St. Pete Pride Parade with his eventual win, actually, saying it gave him more con�idence and added momentum to his campaign. This year, as mayor, he’ll be the �irst Mayor of St. Petersburg with an active role in the parade. He has even invited city employees, police and �ire personnel to march with him. Kriseman isn’t, however, the �irst mayor in Tampa Bay to march. In 2013, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn walked the route. Kriseman says he would welcome Tampa’s mayor back to the grand central district this year. “Mayor Buckhorn and I have been friends for a long time and we share a lot of the same values,” Kriseman

IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT: Last year’s St. Pete Pride Parade survived a deluge of rain. Hopefully, the 2014 night parade will be both cooler and dryer. PHOTO BY JAKE STEVENS says. “Of course I welcome him back and I think it’s nice that the mayor of St. Pete will be walking this year. Last year, the almost-mayor—the not-yet mayor—participated. Bob’s participation shows solidarity with the community.” Kriseman adds that Buckhorn has invited him to take part in the Gasparilla Parade which happens along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa each January. “I don’t have plans to do that,” Kriseman laughs. “They can keep Gasparilla. It’s crazy!”

A COMMUNITY’S DECISION

For the second year in a row, St. Pete Pride asked the community to choose its grand marshals. Online voting nearly doubled compared to the inaugural year, according to Skains. One male representative, one female representative and one group organization were selected for the 2014 honor. Grand marshals are City Council member Darden Rice, AIDS Service Association of Pinellas resource development manager Jay Aller and PFLAG Tampa. They were of�icially named grand marshals at a Pride kick-off event in May. All of the grand marshals are familiar with St. Pete Pride and have participated in one way or another. “This will be our third awesome year marching as PFLAG Tampa in St. Pete Pride,” explains John Desmond, who restarted the organization four years ago with his wife, Nancy. “At our booth one year, I looked up to see a youth who had been attending PFLAG meetings with only his mother because his father did not accept him, He motioned to me not to say a word and drew my attention to the man with him. In the man’s hand was one of the PFLAG buttons from our booth. It said, ‘I Love My Gay Son.’ Dad made a donation for

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

MAKING IT OFFICIAL: (L-R) St. Pete Pride executive director Eric

Skains, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and St. Pete Pride board president Aaron Horcha celebrate the start of Pride month. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

SAME LOVE: Mary Lambert will headline the second 27/82 Concert at the State Theatre June 27. PHOTO COURTESY MIKE RUIZ

“The parade has grown as the festival has grown and it got to the point where it was difficult for the two to co-exist.” — RICK KRISEMAN, ST. PETERSBURG MAYOR

the button, and the two of them walked off, leaving us to wonder what miracle had occurred to turn this dad around. And beyond that, we felt so honored that he wanted to include us in that joy without having to say a word.” Rice, who won her position on the city council in November, has participated in Pride with different groups. Last year as she walked in the parade as a candidate, she invited her nephew, who recently came out, to join her. “He had just come out to the family and this was a chance to show him a supportive, welcoming community,” Rice says. Aller, who was at the very �irst organization meeting for Pride back in 2002, has attended every festival. This year’s theme of “Global Equality” excites him. “It speaks not just to the literal world, but global as in equality for all right here in our community,”

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Aller says. Read more about this year’s grand marshals on page 35.

CONTINUING A TRADITION

In 2003, approximately 10,000 people attended the inaugural St. Pete Pride parade and street festival. Last year, its 11th anniversary, estimates put the crowd at nearly 125,000. Skains expects a similar, if not larger crowd, the night of the parade. “We could reach 130,000,” Skains says. “But it’s hard to say exactly since this is the �irst time we’ve done a night parade.” He adds that he’s uncertain how separating the parade from the festival will impact the festival itself, but he’s hopeful people will come out on Sunday, June 29, to visit vendors and enjoy the lineup of entertainers taking the stage. “We are truly a destination Pride and we want to encourage everyone

watermarkonline.com

MORE INFORMATION

THURSDAY, JUNE 26 9 a.m.: Pride flag raising ceremony at St. Pete City Hall, 175 5th St. N.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27 7 p.m.: 27/82 Concert at the State Theatre, 687 Central Ave.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28 5 p.m.: Kenwood Neighborhood Block Party Dusk: St. Pete Pride parade, beginning at Georgie’s Alibi and continuing down Central Ave.

SUNDAY, JUNE 29 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: St. Pete Pride Street Festival, Central Avenue between 22nd and 28th Streets

to enjoy the entire weekend of festivities, from the pre-Pride 27/82 concert on June 27 to the parade on June 28 and the festival on June 29,” Skains says. “This is a real chance for us to showcase and celebrate the diversity of St. Petersburg.” |  |

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Mornings with the Maestro “One Hand, One Heart: Preview to West Side Story,” June 20, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ORLANDO Hair, through July 6, The Harriet Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com Brian Regan, June 21, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 407-246-4262; Orlandovenues.net The Voice Live Tour, June 27, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 407-246-4262; Orlandovenues.net

Rapunzel, June 19 to July 27, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Orlando. 321-622-2284; Orlandoshakes.org Cock, June 20 to July 20, Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com Twelfth Night, June 27 to 29, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kississmmee. 407-8467902; OCFTA.com

Wiggin’ Out Wednesdays 80s Video Night, Every Wednesday during the summer, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com Grease Sing-A-Long, June 21, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com Shout! The Mod Musical, June 20 to 29, The Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterparkPlayhouse.org

Bowl Expo 2014, June 22 to 26, Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando. 407-996-9939; Rosenshinglecreek.com Rocket Man - The Ultimate Elton John Tribute Show, June 28, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-9342583; HouseOfBlues. com/Orlando George Lopez, June 28, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRock.com/Live

SMART Ride Pride GLOW RIDE

Brian Regan, June 20, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; JobSiteTheater.org

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Event Planner

ST. PETERSBURG THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 8 P.M. METRO WELLNESS & COMMUNITY CENTER 3251 3RD AVE. N #125, ST. PETERSBURG Ride from the Metro Center to Red Mesa Cantina where you’ll receive free appetizers and wear your green LED lights. If you need glow swag, visit Metro’s Thrift store on Central Avenue. Registration for SMART Ride will be held during the event. To RSVP, email LGBT@ metrotampabay.org or call 727-321-3854.

79th Annual Miss Florida Pageant, June 17 to 21, The Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-8925767; TheMahaffey.com

Hostess Daphne Ferraro will bring 10 of Florida’s best known drag stars to educate, entertain and celebrate at the FreeFall Theatre on June 29, during Pride weekend. The Evolution of Drag has sold out in the past and impersonators like Kathryn Nevets, Jaeda Fuentez and Aspen Love are just some of the performers to walk down the drag industry’s memory lane. This is a must-see! Get tickets at freefalltheatre.com or 727-498-5205.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Hot Summer Show I, June 12 to July 19, Clayton Galleries, Tampa. 813-831-3753 Claytongalleries.net

SARASOTA Yesterdayze, June 27, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 941953-3368; vanwezel.org 30th Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival, June 28 to July 6, Various locations, Sarasota. suncoastoffshore.org

JUNE 21, 4-10 P.M. TROPICANA FIELD 1 TROPICANA DR., ST. PETERSBURG Take in a ball game as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Houston Astros on Saturday, June 21, at Tropicana Field. The annual LGBT night is a tradition, and gives baseball fans a chance to enjoy the game with the community. When purchasing tickets, mention St. Pete Pride to get seated with the pride group. Details are at StPetePride.com or 727-342-0084.

ORLANDO Firm Fest SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 5-10:30 P.M. FIRESTONE LIVE 578 N. ORANGE AVE., ORLANDO The third annual Firm Fest includes a performance by The Dave Matthews Band and football legend Daunte Culpepper as host, Tickets include dinner, two complimentary drinks, silent and live auctions and more. Proceeds benefit the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. For tickets, visit FirmFest.com.

Inaugural Family Outfest JULY 1 – JULY 7 WALT DISNEY WORLD LAKE BUENA VISTA, ORLANDO Celebrate diverse love and see what all families look like. There will be festivals and different packages offered throughout the week. You can get connected with other LGBT families. Get tickets at FamilyOutfest.com or call the Walt Disney World Resort at 407-939-5277.

To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com. JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

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1- PROUD GROUP: (L-R) Jeff Beadle, Stephanie Stuart, Gus Eligio, Alexis De La Mer, Viktoria Sommers and CiJay Tauber show their pride during Quench Lounge’s Pre-Pride kickoff celebration June 7. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

2- PAINT PREP: Muffy Vanbeaverhausen, left, paints St. Pete Pride president Aaron Horcha at the Metro Center as he prepares for the organization’s turnabout show on June 5. PHOTO BY VINCENT D’IPPOLITO

3- IDOL INFLUENCE: Melissa McGhee performs at the grand opening of Enigma in downtown St. Petersburg on June 12. PHOTO BY VINCENT D’IPPOLITO 4- FRIENDLY LIAISONS: St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, left, and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, right, stand with newly appointed LGBT Police Liaison Lt. Marcus Hughes and LGBT Liaison to the Mayor Robert Danielson after the positions were announced June 12 at St. Petersburg City Hall. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 5- TURNING HEADS: St. Pete Pride grand marshal Jay Aller shows his feminine side prior to performing at the St. Pete Pride turnabout at Georgie’s Alibi June 5. PHOTO BY VINCENT D’IPPOLITO 6- DINE WITH PRIDE: Board members and volunteers with St. Pete Pride await their dinner at Sylvia’s restaurant in St. Petersburg on June 11. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 7- LIGHTENED UP: The cast at Hamburger Mary’s Ybor lets off some humorous steam after a recent show. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST

8- CELEBRATING MUSIC: Watermark contributor Zach Caruso performs with his band during his CD Launch concert at The Haymarket Cafe on St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue June 14. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

OVERHEARD DESPERATELY SEEKING A KATY

IVA GALORE KATY PERRY IS SCHEDULED TO PERFORM at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Monday, June 30, and local radio station Wild 94.1 has been on the hunt for an impersonator to attend the show—and probably promote the station. A call was issued earlier this month for impersonators and no speci�ic gender requirements were included. Queens from throughout the area have expressed interest but as of press time there was no con�irmation onto who may have landed the gig. Blue hair and some Tarzan/Jane inspired out�its no

doubt helped the station select its winner. Expect to see some photos and announcements soon on the station’s website, Wild941. CBSLocal.com. |  |

BLEVINS NEEDS OUR LOVE

S YOU’RE READING THIS, it’s very likely that residents of St. Petersburg are voicing their opinions over who should be the city’s next chief of police. Mayor Rick Kriseman is expected to select the person for that role within the next month, and LGBT community member and Assistant Police Chief Melanie Blevins is one of four �inalists. On June 19, the Coliseum Ballroom will no-doubt be packed with supporters and

detractors of Blevins, who has been with the police department for two decades. When she’s not doing police work, Blevins, who has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, teaches community leadership at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg. If you missed the meeting but want to express support for Blevins, email Kriseman at Mayor@StPete. org to show her some love. |  |

TURNABOUT TURNS HEADS

F YOU MISSED THIS YEAR’S ST. PETE PRIDE TURNABOUT, you missed a heck-of-a show! Board members of the organization swapped gender roles at Georgie’s Alibi June 5 and

performed for tips to bene�it the annual festival. Special guests Jay Aller, best known for his work with the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas and as a grand marshal this year, and Steve Blanchard, Watermark editor, surprised the audience with their drag appearances. Ina Lush and Ginger Vitus, respectively, joined eight other performers for a night of fun and celebration. Every dollar that was tipped to the performers went directly into one of two large buckets that was then given directly to Pride. All the performers who don ‘t normally take to the stage have a new appreciation for the impersonation arts and for the comfort of tennis shoes! |  |

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PRIDE PREP UNDERWAY

PEAKING OF ST. PETE PRIDE, you have one more chance to get your questions answered if you’re a part of the �irst-ever night parade or the following day’s street festival. St. Pete Pride will hold a second town hall meeting at the Metro Center on Sunday, June 22, at 7 p.m. A slideshow presentation will discuss �loat decorations, prep times, vendor booth details and clean-up schedules. The last meeting was packed to capacity, so we suggest getting there early to secure a seat. The Metro Center is on 3rd Avenue North, across from Georgie’s Alibi. |  |

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1- CORPORATE PRIDE: The Orlando Gay Chorus performs in the café at Darden Corporate during the company’s Dessert Extravaganza event, where employees learn about LGBT businesses and organizations in the community. PHOTO BY JAMIE HYMAN 2- VETERANS AFFAIRS: State Representative Joe Saunders discusses LGBT Pride at the Orlando VA June 13. PHOTO BY MARK CADY

3- TRACKING TRAINS: Caroline Gardner with Sunrail talks transportation at the Pride in Business Luncheon June 5 at The Rosen Center. PHOTO BY MARK CADY 4- FRESH CUT: Salon owner Gary Lambert and his daughter Taryn show off his salon’s newest location on Park Avenue in Winter Park on June 13. PHOTO COURTESY AMANDA SAMULE 5- BROADWAY BABY: Jazz singer Nnenna Freelon performs at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts preview of 2014-2015 programming, June 12. The Center opens Nov. 6. PHOTO BY VERONICA BREZINA

6- LADY & GENTLEMAN: Country singer LeAnn Rimes cozies up to Watermark contributor Kirk Hartlage at Parliament House June 7. PHOTO COURTESY KIRK HARTLAGE 7- HEAR US ROAR BMO: Harris Lion’s Pride Employee Resource Group, whose members represent the LGBT workforce, present MBA Orlando with the Community Organization of the Year award June 14 at Hamburger Mary’s. PHOTO COURTESY MBA 8- SOAKING UP FUN: Randy Stephens (second row, right) and his partner Thomas Berthier enjoy Splash Mountain after dark during Gay Days weekend. PHOTO VIA STEPHENS’ FACEBOOK PAGE

OVERHEARD CON-QUEER-STADOR!

N JUNE 9 MAYOR JOE BOLES OF ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE CITY COUNCIL proclaimed GayStAugustine.com as an of�icial ally for their 450th Commemoration. The site is a local community website created by a Emery McClune as a resource for LGBT visitors and locals, providing local events content & LGBT friendly lodging and dining options. It’s grass root groups like this have progressed small cities well beyond their larger counterparts in highlighting the importance of equal rights and the power of the LGBT dollar. It makes us wonder, could the oldest city in America become a new LGBT hot spot?

LET’S DANCE THE LAST DANCE LONG LINES FOR AN OHNNY CHISHOLM’S MAGIC AMAZING RACE JOURNEYS AT ARABIAN

NIGHTS was a long time part of One Mighty Weekend roster and typically, it was the nightcap to hours of partying for many Circuit Party crowds attending Gay Days. With Arabian Nights closing its doors back in 2013 many were surprised to see the event still listed. The June celebration was the last hurrah for the venue and the building is no longer be available for special events. Will there be another after-hours party venue next year? Medieval times may be a viable option to party the knight away! But so far, no of�icial plans have been announced.

LAKE MCENTYRE AND PARTNER DANIEL GIAQUINTO of the House of Health recently auditioned for the CBS reality show The Amazing Race, now going on its 24th season! The auditions were held on June 14 at the Fun Spot Orlando. Despite the heat and inevitable traditional Florida afternoon thunderstorms, the pair waited through the extremely long lines and made it past the �irst part of the auditions. If picked, their globetrotting quest, which features both puzzles and physical

challenges, will �ilm for four long weeks sometime in 2015 as they are pitted against other teams competing to win a million bucks! |

SO UBER GAY!

ORGET GRINDR, SCRUFF AND THOSE OTHER “SOCIAL APPS.” The app everyone was talking about Gay Days weekend was “Uber!” The app is a ride sharing service founded in 2009 that serves 70 cities. The app allows users to turn their vehicle into a paid mode of transportation or �ind alternative transportation. The app conveniently launched in Orlando during Gay Days

JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

weekend and offered a free service for the �irst part of the month. Uber claims it averages 36% cheaper than standard taxi rides. Many revelers took advantage of this service, especially bouncing to and from the pool parties at all hours since it is available 24 hours a day. Uber has been very popular in major cities, so much that many cab companies have felt threatened by loss of service and have asked their local politicians to ban the service. The app also uses GPS to allow you to track your transportation and offers a photo of the vehicle and the driver. |  |

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Transitions CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations Orlando’s LGBT chamber of commerce and networking organization the Metropolitan Business Association filed its articles of incorporation on June 22, 1992. Happy 22nd birthday! The Francis House, Tampa’s HIV/ AIDS respite center for those infected or affected by the disease, celebrates its 24th anniversary on July 1. Orlando couple Richard Egan, VP of retail planning and design for Colorvision International, and Steve Yacovelli, owner of TopDog Learning Group, LLC, celebrate their 16th anniversary on June 27.

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NEW ADDITION: Orlando lawyer Jeff Buak was elected to the Board of Directors of The GLBT Center of Central Florida on June 2. The Orlando native has been a law partner with Prieto Wood & Boyer since 2009.

OVERSEER: Artist Aradhana Tiwari, who has guest-directed at Mad Cow since 2012, will join the Mad Cow Theatre as the resident director for the beginning of their 2014-2015 season.

Local birthdays Watermark sales team member Danny Garcia (June 19); Tampa bay limo chauffer Marty Theriot, diehard Steelers fan and feather boa collector Jimmy Guzic (June 21); Tampa’s Sweatshop proprietor and fitness guru Christine Myers, St. Petersburg Yoga enthusiast/ instructor Andre Sur, Tampa Bay Elder Sister Agatha Frisky (AKA Daniel Lancaster) (June 22); Tampa Keller Realty star Bill Knecht, Treasure Island politico Gail Caldwell (June 23); Tampa U.b.U. Salon artist Jeremy Beauchamp, St. Pete WAVE-Award winning drag performer Jeremy Fetters, St. Petersburg realtor and Watermark contributing photographer Todd Fixler, Largo’s TinkerFluff photographer and Watermark contributor Paul Kinchen, Arkham Assailant Amanda Hippensteel (June 24); Tampa Bay community activist Guadalupe Vargas, St. Pete twirler and Tampa Bay Leather Boy 2010 Dan Radwanski, Tampa outdoor enthusiast Scott Buttelwerth (June 25); mohawked roller derby team captain Amber Luu (June 26); Alaska farming intern Christine Rubino, Tampa Stageworks Theatre Artistic Director Anna Brennan (June 27); Gulfport RV enthusiast Terry Cook, Bradenton’s Temple Beth El Rabbi Harold Caminker (June 28); O-Town DJ and aspiring MD Chris “Cub” Mendez (June

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TWO DECADES STRONG: Former MBA president Dr. David Baker-Hargrove and his partner, Robert Hargrove, will celebrate their 20th anniversary together on June 23. TAKING CHARGE:

American Stage Theatre Company has appointed Meg Heimstead as its interim artistic director. She begins her role on June 30 and will continue until a permanent director is found to replace Todd Olsen, who resigned earlier this month to pursue a job in Maryland.

29); Orlando Pride producer Mikael Audebert (June 30); St. Petersburg leather community mover and shaker Matt Wolf, Italian ice queen/ former Watermark sales diva Erica Franco, fab photog Dixie Lee Todd (July 1); Tampa philanthropist and sometime model Matt Bachman, Mons Venus strip club owner and conveniently gay-for-a-lawsuit Joe Redner, Tampa Bay Metro Charities director Lorraine Langlois, Orlando resident and Sawmill performer Sofonda Cox, St. Pete graphic

guru Michael O’Connell, RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Martin Cooper (aka Coco Montrese), frequent Orlando thespian Tommy Wooten (July 2); Keep Orlando Beautiful environmental scientist Ronnie Long, keeping-sandwicheswonderful Orlando restaurateur Pom Moongauklang, Tampa Bay WAVE Award-winning massage therapist Cory Jeffries, Tampabased color guard-loving bear Brad Kuehl (July 3).

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!

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ARTH CITY, MO. | Michael Sam has once again made history and is now the �irstever openly gay player in the NFL. The University of MissouriColumbia MVP was drafted in May by the St. Louis Rams and was signed June 12, along with the entire 2014 draft class. Through a tweet on June 12, the Rams organization announced that it had signed all 11 players selected by the team in the 2014 NFL draft, including Sam. A �irstteam All-American defensive lineman from the University of Missouri, Sam signed a fouryear, $2.65 million contract, with $46,000 of it guaranteed, reported Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. All of the Rams’ rookie signees went through some �inancial education before signing their deals. “With the new rookie cap and everything it’s really not dif�icult to get the deals done,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said via Nick Wagoner of ESPN. “So we just felt like this time would be better served putting them in situations from an educational standpoint, �inancial planning, those kind of things. We’ve done a lot of that.” Sam came out during interviews with ESPN and The New York Times in February after completing an impressive season at Missouri. He was selected by the Rams with the 249th overall pick in the draft. While many believed that Sam, who had been named the 2013 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, fell in the draft because he had announced that he was gay, he did not seem deterred by being

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the eighth-to-last selection of the 2014 NFL Draft. Sam made headlines that month when ESPN broadcast his reaction to the draft and the congratulatory kiss he received from his boyfriend. He was initially offered a reality show from Oprah Winfrey, but those plans have been delayed. In his �irst press conference with the Rams, Sam made his aim clear. “I’m determined to be great,” he told reporters. The 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year recorded 11 1/2 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss in his senior season at Missouri and is expected to compete for a reserve role on a Rams team well-stocked along the defensive line. No. 2 pick Greg Robinson, a

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PHOTO CAPTIONS

2003

1- Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was a surprise hit on Bravo. Flamboyant Carson Kressley was the breakout star. 2- 47-year-old Martina Navritolova nabbed her 57th and 58th major titles in 2003, winning mixed doubles at the Australian Open and then again at Wimbledon. 3- Brett Lassiter, founder of Central Stage Theatre, died in February. Protégé Trevor Keller picked up the slack with ambitious productions at Suncoast Theatre.

4- Iconic Daytona drag performer Billie Boots died in September at the age of 71. Scottie Campbell profiled Boots for Watermark in 2001.

5- In 2003 Watermark profiled Tom Kiple (left) and Lester Wolff, owners of the Suncoast Resort in St. Petersburg. Kiple and Wolff sold the resort in 2007.

6- Steve Kodsi was one of a handful of LGBT developers that drove a real estate boom in downtown Orlando. 7- Buddy Dyer was elected as mayor of Orlando after Glenda Hood left office early to become Secretary of State. Orlando has become one of the most welcoming cities to LGBTs in the nation.

8- Pam Iorio was elected to her first of two terms as mayor of Tampa, ushering in unprecedented and unconditional support of the local LGBT community. 9- LGBT fans celebrated when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders to win Super Bowl XXXVIII in San Diego. 10- Bruce Vilanch was grand marshal for the 2003 Central Florida Pride Parade. He’s pictured here with parade organizer Debbie Fritz.

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 2003.

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 14

It was a “Great Time to be Gay” in St. Petersburg on the last Saturday of June, 2003. The Supreme Court had just decriminalized gay sex. And tens of thousands showed up for the inaugural St. Pete Pride, endorsing the accessible back-to-basics vision of organizers. This year the Parade steps off at sunset on Saturday, June 28. The Pride Festival in the Grand Central District is the following day.

11- Jim Crescitelli penned his 200th column for Watermark in June 2003.

LOOKING BACK

UR POST-PRIDE COVER

announced 2003 as ‘A Great Time to be Gay.’ Key court Tom Dyer rulings laid the groundwork for PUBLISHER progress that’s still unfolding. Just in time for June Pride, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a Texas anti-sodomy law, in effect decriminalizing gay sex in 13 states including Florida. “[Gay people] are entitled to respect for their lives,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy. “The state cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime.” Earlier in the month, the Ontario Court of Appeals upheld lower court rulings in Canada legalizing same-sex marriages. And in November, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court surprised everyone by mandating same-sex marriage within the state. Next door in New Hampshire,

the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire set off shock waves when it elected openly gay Gene Robinson as their next Bishop. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was a surprise hit, as was Ellen’s new talk show. The Amazing Race introduced hunky Reichen and Chip to American homes. And with a gay producer, director and writer, Chicago was named Best Picture. Locally, gay-friendly mayors took over in Tampa and Orlando. And after relentless prodding from activists like Orlando Person of the Year Michael Slaymaker, Orange County forbid discrimination against gay employees. Bruce Vilanch was grand marshal at a very wet Central Florida Pride

Parade. And after eight years, Rev. Carol Trissell left Joy MCC for St. Louis. In Tampa Bay, St. Pete’s Patricia Pettijohn and Lauri Ryan were among the �irst 10 American couples married in Canada. The St. Petersburg Times began printing same-sex wedding announcements. Revelations surfaced about �inancial mismanagement at Pridefest Tampa Bay, which folded. But St. Pete Pride attracted 10,000 to its back-to-basics parade and street festival. Pridefest Sarasota drew 3,000. And Bud Bromwell attracted several hundred to a Gay Days Tampa Bay at Busch Gardens. There were unsettling gay bashings in Tarpon Springs and Largo. By the end of the year there were �ive splintered LGBT choruses. St. Pete’s Brigit Books and South Tampa’s MetroFlex closed. In Sarasota our Person of the Year, Rev. Nancy Wilson, oversaw the expansion of Trinity MCC. |  |

JUNE 19 - JULY 2, 2014 // ISSUE 21.13

11 YEARS AGO MOST POPULAR SONG

“In Da Club” by 50 Cent MOST POPULAR ALBUM

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent