Watermark Issue 21.25: The Leather Community by Watermark Publishing Group

daytona beach • orlando • tampa • st. petersburg • sarasota • issue 21.25 • december 4 - 17, 2014 • watermarKonline.com

Your lgbt life.

it’s time to be

‘OUT AT THE ASOLO’

in sarasota

BROTHERHOOD

REDEFINED st. pete commemorates

WORLD AIDS DAY

Florida's Leather Community is multifaceted, ever-evolving, and probably not at all what you expected orlando’s mba may

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departmentS

06 // mail 13 // orlando neWS 17 // tampa bay neWS 20 // State 21 // nation & World neWS 49 // Community Calendar 54 // tampa bay marketplaCe 55 // tranSitionS 56 // orlando marketplaCe 62 // SportS

PAGE

This is a historic day for fairness in miami-Dade county and for the thousands of transgender persons who call the county their home. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;HoWard siMon

on the Cover

PAGE

43 PAGE Triskelan, left, and Dan Radwanski, leaders in the Tampa Bay Leather Community, are photographed inside the Code Bar at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg.

Come out: Asolo Rep in Sarasota welcomes back its Out@Asolo program this season, inviting LGBTs of all

backgrounds to enjoy the theater. We find out why the program started and what productions are featured this year.

Watermark i SSue 21.25 //deCember 4 - deCember 17, 2014

orlando neWS

tampa bay page

leather

SportS

PAGE The Metropolitan Business

PAGE More than 100 people

PAGE

Photo by Lee Vandergrift

SCan Qr Code for

Watermarkonline.Com

read it online! 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

Association could possibly vote to press charges against former president Mikael Audebert; Mikael Audebert tells Watermark what happened in the weeks leading up to his resignation and termination from MBA and Come Out With Pride.

participated in the Rock it Red Candlelight Vigil to commemorate World AIDS Day at the new LGBT Welcome Center on Central Avenue. Sarasota includes transgender protections in its HRO.

Area leather leaders offer insight into the history and practices of the subculture of the Leather Community. We also offer a glimpse into the terminology of the culture, the creation of the Leather Pride Flag and the Mr. Friendly campaign.

With the release of a simple photo of him with his husband, Major League Umpire Dale Scott became the first, out active umpire in the history of the league. Jason Collins, the NBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first out, active player, has announced his retirement.

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n My nearly 20 years as a resident of sarasota, Bradenton, and finally St. Petersburg, I want to say thank you for your heartfelt articles on HIV/AIDS in our community. Over the evolution of this preventable and devastating disease, you have brought forth articles that are well thought out, relevant, and current as this evolution moves forward. One does not have to [have HIV] to understand the inherent terror people had in the beginning and the lingering stigma that remains today. There are those of us in the industry understand not every person can tolerate a single pill cocktail nor even a multiple pill approach without some side effects Things are getting better. As a peer counselor for a men’s HIV support group I look forward to meeting and collaborating with people today to encourage the tools we have at our disposal to make this a zero growth year for the spread of this completely preventable illness. Keep up your much needed work for our community. bruce fournier Program Coordinator Trinity Charities Inc

letterS to the editor “If the voters over the years had considered the two parties about equal and stayed home on election day, we wouldn’t have social security or medicare.” —Clive tHoMas

gop reSume not So grand

urnout in tHe reCent eleCtion Was tHe loWest is 73 years! How could this happen? Blame the media. Do you ever hear them talking politics in any historical context? Nope! All any of them are interested in is breaking news and opinions. Many years ago, the Republicans came up with the nickname Grand Old Party (GOP). It seems like an invitation to check out its long, not-so-grand resume. In 1932, it was a federal crime to sell a glass of beer and the GOP campaigned hard to keep it that way, much as it campaigned against legalizing pot. The Democrats trashed the GOP in the 1932 election and then trashed Prohibition. In 1936, the GOP labeled Democratic-created Social Security “a cruel hoax”

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

on the American working man. If elected, the GOP promised to repeal Social Security root and branch. However, they again got trashed by the Democrats in a landslide. In 1964, a young Ronald Reagan preached hard that Medicare was a threat to ”Americanism.” Barry Goldwater made sure the GOP platform upheld a state’s right to segregation and voter literacy tests. The GOP lost the 1964 election , this time by a mega-landslide! If the voters over the years had considered the two parties about equal, and stayed home on election days, we wouldn’t have Social Security or Medicare or equal housing or voting rights laws. You can also add child labor laws, the 40-hour work week, and federal insurance on our bank accounts. clive thomas

Orlando

editor’s

Steve blanchard eDitor

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

desk

et tHe eMails Begin.

I am fully prepared for a flood of messages asking if I’ve lost my mind or if I’m happy that I’ve perpetuated a gay stereotype with this issue’s in-depth section on the local Leather Community. To each of those letters I plan to respond the same way: “Did you actually read the section or did you just see leather and immediately get offended?”

People, no matter their sexual orientation or religion, tend to run (judgmentally) away from things they don’t understand, or attack those who may explore something deemed as “uncomfortable.” I’ve been witness to this my whole life and yes, even from our own LGBT community in my fiveplus years as editor-in-chief of this publication. I’ve been told the following myths many times: Drag queens are just gay men who wish they

were women. Gay Republicans are self-hating. People of faith want to twist doctrine to fit their ‘choices.’ Gay Democrats are blind to any issue that doesn’t deal with a social aspects. Transgender individuals are just mentally unstable. And God forbid we put a photo of a man in a leather harness on one of our pages. That just reeks of stereotyping and puts a big, nasty shiner on the eye of the LGBT community as we battle for equality.

I simply disagree with all of those sentiments above. The reason is simple: As a community which constantly uses “diversity” as a talking point, we too often forget that there is plenty of diversity within the jumbled alphabet soup of our own family. The Leather Community is a prime example of that diversity. I am not a leatherman, nor do I plan to become one any time soon. However, the history of our leather brothers and sisters is undeniable. In fact, it reaches back to before any of us were on the planet. Some researchers say the “leather lifestyle” began in Ancient Rome. Others say it pre-dates World War I and rose to prominence after World War II. And late 20th century history documents the men in leather who stood up to police harassment at Stonewall in 1969. We’ve evolved as a community over the years. We’re getting married, having children and working in governmental agencies as out and proud Americans. But just because we have made some amazing changes and witnessed some historic moments doesn’t mean we’ve lost our connection with everything that came before. In the 21st Century, the leather lifestyle has had to make adjustments, and to those of us not directly involved, it may even appear to be fading. Most see leather simply as something we see at Pride events on large floats; it’s something we watch with curiosity when a contest happens to show up at our favorite bar. The Leather Community makes many of us uncomfortable. And, honestly, that’s the inspiration behind this issue of Watermark. This issues isn’t intended to recruit anyone into the leather lifestyle. It’s also not an exposé on what really happens at leather events. It’s a simple introduction— or reintroduction for some—to a part of our community that

fascinates and intrigues us. What the staff at Watermark found is that the vast majority of people in the Leather Community are more than willing to talk about their lifestyle and share their stories. Only a few were reserved or declined to discuss the lifestyle with us at all. But the overall enthusiasm was so large that we have additional coverage, timelines and profiles online that we couldn’t fit within these pages. So here is my challenge to the readers of Watermark who aren’t used to seeing leather-clad

As a community which constantly uses ‘diversity’ as a talking point, we too often forget that there is plenty of diversity within the jumbled alphabet soup of our own family.

individuals staring back at you from our cover: Take time to read the section. Learn about why your neighbors are involved in this subculture and recognize that everyone has different experiences and perspectives. To those in the Leather Community, I thank you for entrusting your culture, your stories and your history with us. Describing the experience as an eye-opener is putting it mildly, but it reminded me of why I love the LGBT community so much. Each person has his or her own perspective and the freedom to live as he or she so desires. And that is truly amazing.

Watermark Staff Founder and Senior Contributor: tom dyer • ext. 305 • tom@Watermarkonline.com Publisher: rick claggett • ext. 108 • rick@Watermarkonline.com Admin. Assistant: Kathleen harper • ext. 100 • Kathleen@Watermarkonline.com Editor-in-Chief: Steve blanchard • 813-470-0899 • Steveb@Watermarkonline.com Editorial Assistant: 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

Sales Manager: Mark cady ext. 102 [orlando] • Mark@Watermarkonline.com Tampa Bay Sales: bill Jeffries ext. 301 • 813-454-9064 • bill@Watermarkonline.com Orlando Advertising Sales: Sam Rennels ext. 103 • Sam@Watermarkonline.com Orlando Advertising Sales: danny Garcia ext. 107 • danny@Watermarkonline.com Nat’l Ad Representative: rivendell Media inc. • 212-242-6863

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tampa bay offiCe TEL: 813-655-9890 FAX: 813-849-2986

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

ContributorS greg steMM

lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 17

Krista dituCCi

is a freelance writer and family advocate for Manatee Children’s Services. She lives in Sarasota with her husband and children. Page 43 greg burton, SCottie Campbell, ZaCh CaruSo, SuSan Clary, kirk hartlage, JoSeph kiSSel, ken kundiS, mary meekS, Stephen miller, david moran, gregg Shipiro, greg Stemm, brett Stout, dr. Steve yaCovelli, Jim Walker, miChael WanZie

photography lee vandergrift

is a Central Florida native and professional photographer who reflects the fun-loving Florida lifestyle through art. He is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota. Cover, In-Depth Section

niCk Cardello, angie folkS, tom eCkert, Julie milford, traviS moore, ChriS StephenSon, lee vandergrift, tinkerfluff, lonnie thompSon

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

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• ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) has been proven TO LOWER VIRAL LOAD to undetectable* in approximately 7 out of every 10 adult patients new to therapy through 3 years† • The most common (at least 5%) moderate to severe side effects in patients on ATRIPLA were diarrhea, nausea, tiredness, depression, dizziness, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections, rash, headache, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and common cold. Each of these was reported in less than 10% of patients

Real ATRIPLA patient. INDICATION ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription medication used alone as a complete regimen, or with other anti-HIV-1 medicines, to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children at least 12 years old who weigh at least 40 kg (88 lbs). ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. See your healthcare provider regularly while taking ATRIPLA. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA can cause serious side effects: • Some people who have taken medicine like ATRIPLA (which contains nucleoside analogs) have developed lactic acidosis (build up of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of lactic acidosis: - feel cold, especially in your - feel very weak or tired arms and legs - have unusual (not normal) - feel dizzy or lightheaded muscle pain - have a fast or irregular - have trouble breathing heartbeat - have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting • Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA have developed serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. *Undetectable was defined as a viral load of fewer than 400 copies/mL. † In this study, 511 adult patients new to therapy received either the meds in ATRIPLA each taken once daily or Combivir® (lamivudine/zidovudine) twice daily + SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) once daily. ‡ Source Healthcare Analytics, Source® PHAST Prescription Monthly, July 2006 – March 2013.

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Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: - skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) - urine turns dark - bowel movements (stools) turn light in color - don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer - feel sick to your stomach (nausea) - have lower stomach area (abdominal) pain • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking nucleoside analog-containing medicines, like ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), for a long time. • If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and you stop taking ATRIPLA, you may get a “flare-up” of your hepatitis. A “flare-up” is when the disease suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Patients with HBV who stop taking ATRIPLA need close medical follow-up for several months to check for hepatitis that could be getting worse. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so you need to discuss your HBV therapy with your healthcare provider. Who should not take ATRIPLA? You and your healthcare provider should decide if ATRIPLA is right for you. Do not take ATRIPLA if you are allergic to ATRIPLA or any of its ingredients. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ATRIPLA? Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant: Women should not become pregnant while taking ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping ATRIPLA. Serious birth defects have been seen in children of women treated during pregnancy with one of the medicines in ATRIPLA. Women must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also use other methods of birth control, while on ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping ATRIPLA. Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such as pills,

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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With over 7 years of prescribing experience, ATRIPLA is the #1 prescribed one pill, once-daily HIV treatment‡ SELECTED IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION • Some people who have taken medicine like ATRIPLA have developed build up of lactic acid in the blood, which can be a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. • Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA have developed serious liver problems, with liver enlargement and fat in the liver, which can lead to death. • If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and you stop taking ATRIPLA, your hepatitis may suddenly get worse. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of HBV. Please see below for more information about these warnings, including signs and symptoms, and other Important Safety Information. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Ask your doctor about ATRIPLA today. injections, or implants, because ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) may make these contraceptives ineffective. • Are breastfeeding: Women with HIV should not breastfeed because they can pass HIV and some of the medicines in ATRIPLA through their milk to the baby. We do not know if ATRIPLA could harm your baby. • Have kidney problems or are undergoing kidney dialysis treatment • Have bone problems • Have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection. Your healthcare provider may want to do tests to check your liver while you take ATRIPLA or may switch you to another medicine. • Have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol • Have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures. Seizures have occurred in patients taking efavirenz, a component of ATRIPLA, generally in those with a history of seizures. If you have ever had seizures, or take medicine for seizures, your healthcare provider may want to switch you to another medicine or monitor you. What important information should I know about taking other medicines with ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may change the effect of other medicines, including the ones for HIV-1, and may cause serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may change your other medicines or change their doses. MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA • Do not take ATRIPLA if you are taking the following medicines because serious and life-threatening side effects may occur when taken together: Vascor® (bepridil), Propulsid® (cisapride), Versed® (midazolam), Orap® (pimozide), Halcion® (triazolam), or ergot medications (for example, Wigraine® and Cafergot®). • ATRIPLA should not be taken with: Combivir® (lamivudine/zidovudine), COMPLERA® (emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine), Epivir® or Epivir-HBV® (lamivudine),

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Epzicom® (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine), STRIBILD® (elvitegravir/cobicistat/ emtricitabine/tenofovir DF), Trizivir® (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine/zidovudine), TRUVADA® (emtricitabine/tenofovir DF), or VIREAD® (tenofovir DF), because they contain the same or similar active ingredients as ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). ATRIPLA should not be used with SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) unless recommended by your healthcare provider. • Vfend® (voriconazole) should not be taken with ATRIPLA since it may lose its effect or may increase the chance of having side effects from ATRIPLA. • Do not take St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), or products containing St. John’s wort with ATRIPLA. Taking St. John’s wort may decrease ATRIPLA levels and lead to increased viral load, and possible resistance to ATRIPLA or cross-resistance to other anti-HIV-1 drugs. • ATRIPLA should not be used with HEPSERA® (adefovir dipivoxil). These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take ATRIPLA. Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are taking or plan to take. Important Safety Information is continued on the following page. Please see Patient Information on the following pages.

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Important Safety Information (continued) What are the possible side effects of ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may cause the following additional serious side effects: • Serious psychiatric problems. Severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior have been reported by a small number of patients. Some patients have had thoughts of suicide, and a few have actually committed suicide. These problems may occur more often in patients who have had mental illness. • Kidney problems (including decline or failure of kidney function). If you have had kidney problems, or take other medicines that may cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider should do regular blood tests. Symptoms that may be related to kidney problems include a high volume of urine, thirst, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. • Other serious liver problems. Some patients have experienced serious liver problems, including liver failure resulting in transplantation or death. Most of these serious side effects occurred in patients with a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have also been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease. • Changes in bone mineral density (thinning bones). Lab tests show changes in the bones of patients treated with tenofovir DF, a component of ATRIPLA. Some HIV patients treated with tenofovir DF developed thinning of the bones (osteopenia), which could lead to fractures. Also, bone pain and softening of the bone (which may lead to fractures) may occur as a consequence of kidney problems. If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare provider may want to do tests to check your bones or may prescribe medicines to help your bones. Also, bone pain and bone softening may occur because of kidney problems. Common side effects: • Patients may have dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, and/or unusual dreams during treatment with ATRIPLA. These side effects may be reduced if you take ATRIPLA at bedtime on an empty stomach; they tend to go away after taking ATRIPLA for a few weeks. Tell your healthcare provider right away if any of these side effects continue or if they bother you. These symptoms may be more severe if ATRIPLA is used with alcohol and/or mood-altering (street) drugs. • If you are dizzy, have trouble concentrating, and/or are drowsy, avoid activities that may be dangerous, such as driving or operating machinery. • Rash is a common side effect with ATRIPLA that usually goes away without any change in treatment. Rash may be serious in a small number of patients. Rash occurs more commonly in children and may be a serious problem. If a rash develops, call your healthcare provider right away. • Other common side effects include: tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea. Other possible side effects: • Changes in body fat have been seen in some people taking anti-HIV-1 medicines. Increase of fat in the upper back and neck, breasts, and around the trunk may happen. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these changes in body fat are not known. • Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) may also happen. • In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS), signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment is started. If you notice any symptoms of infection, contact your healthcare provider right away. • Additional side effects are inflammation of the pancreas, allergic reaction (including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat), shortness of breath, pain, stomach pain, weakness, and indigestion. This is not a complete list of side effects. Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you notice any side effects while taking ATRIPLA. You should take ATRIPLA once daily on an empty stomach. Taking ATRIPLA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome. Please see Patient Information on adjacent and following pages.

© 2014 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. ATRIPLA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. SUSTIVA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. 697US14BR02441-02-01

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Patient Information ATRIPLA® (uh TRIP luh) Tablets ALERT: Find out about medicines that should NOT be taken with ATRIPLA (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). Please also read the section “MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA.” Generic name: efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (eh FAH vih renz, em tri SIT u`h bean and te NOE’ fo veer dye soe PROX il FYOU mar ate) Read the Patient Information that comes with ATRIPLA before you start taking it and each time you get a refill since there may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. You should stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking ATRIPLA. Do not change or stop your medicine without first talking with your healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about ATRIPLA. What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA? • Some people who have taken medicine like ATRIPLA (which contains nucleoside analogs) have developed a serious condition called lactic acidosis (build up of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical emergency and may need to be treated in the hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of lactic acidosis: • You feel very weak or tired. • You have unusual (not normal) muscle pain. • You have trouble breathing. • You have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting. • You feel cold, especially in your arms and legs. • You feel dizzy or lightheaded. • You have a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Some people who have taken medicines like ATRIPLA have developed serious liver problems called hepatotoxicity, with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: • Your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice). • Your urine turns dark. • Your bowel movements (stools) turn light in color. • You don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer. • You feel sick to your stomach (nausea). • You have lower stomach area (abdominal) pain. • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking nucleoside analog-containing medicines, like ATRIPLA, for a long time. • If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and you stop taking ATRIPLA, you may get a “flare-up” of your hepatitis. A “flare-up” is when the disease suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Patients with HBV who stop taking ATRIPLA need close medical follow-up for several months, including medical exams and blood tests to check for hepatitis that could be getting worse. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so you must discuss your HBV therapy with your healthcare provider. What is ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA contains 3 medicines, SUSTIVA® (efavirenz), EMTRIVA® (emtricitabine) and VIREAD® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate also called tenofovir DF) combined in one pill. EMTRIVA and VIREAD are HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and SUSTIVA is an HIV-1 non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). VIREAD and EMTRIVA are the components of TRUVADA®. ATRIPLA can be used alone as a complete regimen, or in combination with other anti-HIV-1 medicines to treat people with HIV-1 infection. ATRIPLA is for adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg (at least 88 lbs). ATRIPLA is not recommended for children younger than 12 years of age. ATRIPLA has not been studied in adults over 65 years of age. HIV infection destroys CD4+ T cells, which are important to the immune system. The immune system helps fight infection. After a large number of T cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops. ATRIPLA helps block HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, a viral chemical in your body (enzyme) that is needed for HIV-1 to multiply. ATRIPLA lowers the amount of HIV-1 in the blood (viral load). ATRIPLA may also help to increase the number of T cells (CD4+ cells), allowing your immune system to improve. Lowering

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ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) the amount of HIV-1 in the blood lowers the chance of death or infections that happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections). Does ATRIPLA cure HIV-1 or AIDS? ATRIPLA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using ATRIPLA. Who should not take ATRIPLA? Together with your healthcare provider, you need to decide whether ATRIPLA is right for you. Do not take ATRIPLA if you are allergic to ATRIPLA or any of its ingredients. The active ingredients of ATRIPLA are efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir DF. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ATRIPLA? Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (see “What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA?”). • Are breastfeeding (see “What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA?”). • Have kidney problems or are undergoing kidney dialysis treatment. • Have bone problems. • Have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection. Your healthcare provider may want to do tests to check your liver while you take ATRIPLA or may switch you to another medicine. • Have ever had mental illness or are using drugs or alcohol. • Have ever had seizures or are taking medicine for seizures. What important information should I know about taking other medicines with ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may change the effect of other medicines, including the ones for HIV-1, and may cause serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may change your other medicines or change their doses. Other medicines, including herbal products, may affect ATRIPLA. For this reason, it is very important to let all your healthcare providers and pharmacists know what medications, herbal supplements, or vitamins you are taking. MEDICINES YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE WITH ATRIPLA • The following medicines may cause serious and life-threatening side effects when taken with ATRIPLA. You should not take any of these medicines while taking ATRIPLA: Vascor (bepridil), Propulsid (cisapride), Versed (midazolam), Orap (pimozide), Halcion (triazolam), ergot medications (for example, Wigraine and Cafergot). • ATRIPLA also should not be used with Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine), COMPLERA®, EMTRIVA, Epivir, Epivir-HBV (lamivudine), Epzicom (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine), STRIBILD®, Trizivir (abacavir sulfate/lamivudine/ zidovudine), TRUVADA, or VIREAD. ATRIPLA also should not be used with SUSTIVA unless recommended by your healthcare provider. • Vfend (voriconazole) should not be taken with ATRIPLA since it may lose its effect or may increase the chance of having side effects from ATRIPLA. • Do not take St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), or products containing St. John’s wort with ATRIPLA. St. John’s wort is an herbal product sold as a dietary supplement. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are taking or are planning to take St. John’s wort. Taking St. John’s wort may decrease ATRIPLA levels and lead to increased viral load and possible resistance to ATRIPLA or cross-resistance to other anti-HIV-1 drugs. • ATRIPLA should not be used with HEPSERA® (adefovir dipivoxil). It is also important to tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any of the following: • Fortovase, Invirase (saquinavir), Biaxin (clarithromycin), Noxafil (posaconazole), Sporanox (itraconazole), or Victrelis (boceprevir); these medicines may need to be replaced with another medicine when taken with ATRIPLA. • Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem or Tiazac (diltiazem), Covera HS or Isoptin (verapamil) and others; Crixivan (indinavir), Selzentry (maraviroc); the immunosuppressant medicines cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), Prograf (tacrolimus), or Rapamune (sirolimus); Methadone; Mycobutin (rifabutin); Rifampin; cholesterollowering medicines such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin sodium), and Zocor (simvastatin); or the anti-depressant medications bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, and Zyban) or Zoloft (sertraline); dose changes may be needed when these drugs are taken with ATRIPLA.

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ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) •

Videx, Videx EC (didanosine); tenofovir DF (a component of ATRIPLA) may increase the amount of didanosine in your blood, which could result in more side effects. You may need to be monitored more carefully if you are taking ATRIPLA and didanosine together. Also, the dose of didanosine may need to be changed. • Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate), Prezista (darunavir) with Norvir (ritonavir), or Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir); these medicines may increase the amount of tenofovir DF (a component of ATRIPLA) in your blood, which could result in more side effects. Reyataz is not recommended with ATRIPLA. You may need to be monitored more carefully if you are taking ATRIPLA, Prezista, and Norvir together, or if you are taking ATRIPLA and Kaletra together. Also, the dose of Kaletra may need to be changed. • Medicine for seizures [for example, Dilantin (phenytoin), Tegretol (carbamazepine), or phenobarbital]; your healthcare provider may want to switch you to another medicine or check drug levels in your blood from time to time. These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take ATRIPLA. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take. Keep a complete list of all the prescription and nonprescription medicines as well as any herbal remedies that you are taking, how much you take, and how often you take them. Make a new list when medicines or herbal remedies are added or stopped, or if the dose changes. Give copies of this list to all of your healthcare providers and pharmacists every time you visit your healthcare provider or fill a prescription. This will give your healthcare provider a complete picture of the medicines you use. Then he or she can decide the best approach for your situation. How should I take ATRIPLA? • Take the exact amount of ATRIPLA your healthcare provider prescribes. Never change the dose on your own. Do not stop this medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to stop. • You should take ATRIPLA on an empty stomach. • Swallow ATRIPLA with water. • Taking ATRIPLA at bedtime may make some side effects less bothersome. • Do not miss a dose of ATRIPLA. If you forget to take ATRIPLA, take the missed dose right away, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not double the next dose. Carry on with your regular dosing schedule. If you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • If you believe you took more than the prescribed amount of ATRIPLA, contact your local poison control center or emergency room right away. • Tell your healthcare provider if you start any new medicine or change how you take old ones. Your doses may need adjustment. • When your ATRIPLA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to ATRIPLA and become harder to treat. • Your healthcare provider may want to do blood tests to check for certain side effects while you take ATRIPLA. What should I avoid while taking ATRIPLA? • Women should not become pregnant while taking ATRIPLA and for 12 weeks after stopping it. Serious birth defects have been seen in the babies of animals and women treated with efavirenz (a component of ATRIPLA) during pregnancy. It is not known whether efavirenz caused these defects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are pregnant. Also talk with your healthcare provider if you want to become pregnant. • Women should not rely only on hormone-based birth control, such as pills, injections, or implants, because ATRIPLA may make these contraceptives ineffective. Women must use a reliable form of barrier contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, even if they also use other methods of birth control. Efavirenz, a component of ATRIPLA, may remain in your blood for a time after therapy is stopped. Therefore, you should continue to use contraceptive measures for 12 weeks after you stop taking ATRIPLA. • Do not breastfeed if you are taking ATRIPLA. Some of the medicines in ATRIPLA can be passed to your baby in your breast milk. We do not know whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding. You should stop breastfeeding or may need to use a different medicine. • Taking ATRIPLA with alcohol or other medicines causing similar side effects as ATRIPLA, such as drowsiness, may increase those side effects.

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ATRIPLA® (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)

Do not take any other medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines and herbal products, without checking with your healthcare provider. • Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 to others. • Do not share needles or other injection equipment. • Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades. • Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. What are the possible side effects of ATRIPLA? ATRIPLA may cause the following serious side effects: • Lactic acidosis (buildup of an acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis can be a medical emergency and may need to be treated in the hospital. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get signs of lactic acidosis. (See “What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?”) • Serious liver problems (hepatotoxicity), with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs of liver problems. (See “What is the most important information I should know about ATRIPLA?”) • “Flare-ups” of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, in which the disease suddenly returns in a worse way than before, can occur if you have HBV and you stop taking ATRIPLA. Your healthcare provider will monitor your condition for several months after stopping ATRIPLA if you have both HIV-1 and HBV infection and may recommend treatment for your HBV. ATRIPLA is not approved for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection. If you have advanced liver disease and stop treatment with ATRIPLA, the “flare-up” of hepatitis B may cause your liver function to decline. • Serious psychiatric problems. A small number of patients may experience severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior while taking ATRIPLA. Some patients have thoughts of suicide and a few have actually committed suicide. These problems may occur more often in patients who have had mental illness. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you think you are having these psychiatric symptoms, so your healthcare provider can decide if you should continue to take ATRIPLA. • Kidney problems (including decline or failure of kidney function). If you have had kidney problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider should do regular blood tests to check your kidneys. Symptoms that may be related to kidney problems include a high volume of urine, thirst, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. • Other serious liver problems. Some patients have experienced serious liver problems including liver failure resulting in transplantation or death. Most of these serious side effects occurred in patients with a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis infection, but there have also been a few reports in patients without any existing liver disease. • Changes in bone mineral density (thinning bones). Laboratory tests show changes in the bones of patients treated with tenofovir DF, a component of ATRIPLA. Some HIV patients treated with tenofovir DF developed thinning of the bones (osteopenia) which could lead to fractures. If you have had bone problems in the past, your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bone mineral density or may prescribe medicines to help your bone mineral density. Additionally, bone pain and softening of the bone (which may contribute to fractures) may occur as a consequence of kidney problems. Common side effects: Patients may have dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, and/or unusual dreams during treatment with ATRIPLA. These side effects may be reduced if you take ATRIPLA at bedtime on an empty stomach. They also tend to go away after you have taken the medicine for a few weeks. If you have these common side effects, such as dizziness, it does not mean that you will also have serious psychiatric problems, such as severe depression, strange thoughts, or angry behavior. Tell your healthcare provider right away if any of these side effects continue or if they bother you. It is possible that these symptoms may be more severe if ATRIPLA is used with alcohol or mood altering (street) drugs. If you are dizzy, have trouble concentrating, or are drowsy, avoid activities that may be dangerous, such as driving or operating machinery. Rash may be common. Rashes usually go away without any change in treatment. In a small number of patients, rash may be serious. If you develop a rash, call your healthcare provider right away. Rash may be a serious problem in some children. Tell your child’s healthcare provider right away if you notice rash or any other side effects while your child is taking ATRIPLA.

Other common side effects include tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea. Other possible side effects with ATRIPLA: • Changes in body fat. Changes in body fat develop in some patients taking anti-HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), in the breasts, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these fat changes are not known. • Skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) may also happen with ATRIPLA. • In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS), signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment is started. It is believed that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body’s immune response, enabling the body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms. If you notice any symptoms of infection, please inform your doctor immediately. • Additional side effects are inflammation of the pancreas, allergic reaction (including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat), shortness of breath, pain, stomach pain, weakness and indigestion. Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you notice any side effects while taking ATRIPLA. Contact your healthcare provider before stopping ATRIPLA because of side effects or for any other reason. This is not a complete list of side effects possible with ATRIPLA. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a more complete list of side effects of ATRIPLA and all the medicines you will take. How do I store ATRIPLA? • Keep ATRIPLA and all other medicines out of reach of children. • Store ATRIPLA at room temperature 77 °F (25 °C). • Keep ATRIPLA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed. • Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need. If you throw any medicines away make sure that children will not find them. General information about ATRIPLA: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use ATRIPLA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ATRIPLA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. This leaflet summarizes the most important information about ATRIPLA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ATRIPLA that is written for health professionals. Do not use ATRIPLA if the seal over bottle opening is broken or missing. What are the ingredients of ATRIPLA? Active Ingredients: efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Inactive Ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate. The film coating contains black iron oxide, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, red iron oxide, talc, and titanium dioxide.

•

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October 2013 ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. SUSTIVA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. Reyataz and Videx are trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Pravachol is a trademark of ER Squibb & Sons, LLC. Other brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners. 21-937-GS-013 Revised October 2013

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orlando news

audebert tellS hiS Side of the Story Jamie Hyman

Moving forWard:

The Metropolitan Business Association will likely ask authorities to investigate possible financial fraud by former president Mikael Audebert. GraPhic iLLuStration by PatricK o’connor

criminal charges? MBA board will likely to go to police with fraud allegations Jamie Hyman

rlando | After weeks of internal investigation, the Metropolitan Business Association is expected to go to the authorities with findings of alleged financial fraud by the organization’s former president. Mikael Audebert resigned from the MBA in October and was fired from his post as executive director of Come Out With Pride in November. Since then, the MBA Board and its subsidiary organizations have revealed a financial mess, blaming Audebert, but until now had not accused Audebert of any criminal wrongdoing. “The Financial Committee has come to the conclusion that wrong was done,” said Nayte Carrick, current president of the MBA. “Because of that, we are recommending to the board that they file a police report and pursue criminal action.” Carrick said the Board will receive a full report Dec. 5, “unless astounding new information becomes available.” “We feel very confident that we’ll get a unanimous vote to move forward,” he said. Carrick said there are numerous

occasions where funds were spent inappropriately, primarily where one subsidiary would pay another subsidiary’s expenses without board authorization. “There’s a big difference between an unauthorized transaction and a fraudulent transaction,” he said, confirming that there are two key transactions that the committee feels were fraudulent. One was a $1,300 transfer from the MBA account to Audebert’s personal business account. “It was unauthorized for him to take that money,” Carrick said. The second transaction was for $2,000, listed in accounting records as a transfer to an MBA escrow account. “The MBA doesn’t have an escrow account,” Carrick said. “There was a $2,000 cash withdrawal, and the signature on the withdrawal slip was Mikael’s.” He said only charges that have been thoroughly vetted will be reported to the police, and while there are instances of suspicious activity, “it’s not something we can put into a police report right now. We don’t want this to sit on a shelf somewhere. We want this to be vigorously pursued.” Audebert would not comment directly on those transactions, but responded through his attorney,

Patrick Howell. “Nayte’s lying,” Howell said. “[Mikael] was questioned about all this back in August.” Howell said the $2,000 was a transfer into a special joint account shared by the MBA and The GLBT Center of Central Florida, Inc. set up to handle expenses related to, the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. “This was not money Mikael took,” Howell said. “This is for an event that the MBA agreed to and put on with The Center.” He said the $1,300 was a reimbursement to Audebert for two Delta Airline tickets to Las Vegas for an MBA event. “To make it cheaper for MBA, Mikael used his own miles and then an agreed-upon assigned value for those miles was put on the tickets,” Howell said, adding that the agreed upon value was $650 per ticket. Howell forwarded to Watermark emails that show a receipt from the flights and Audebert’s request for reimbursement from the MBA treasurer. He also shared a list of “questioned charges” the MBA sent Audebert, with Audebert’s explanations. “It’s stuff that has been questioned previously and has been answered. The answers make sense. They’re not money in his pockets. They’re for reimbursement. It’s nothing like what [MBA Board members] say happened,” Howell said. Carrick said once the report is completed, it will be available to MBA members. “We are at what feels like the end

rlando | In an exclusive interview with Watermark, Mikael Audebert, the former executive director of Come Out With Pride, addressed allegations of fraud, financial mismanagement, and an ongoing criminal case. In November, the Metropolitan Business Association— COWP’s parent organization—suspended the COWP board and fired Audebert. Audebert said he’s consulting with legal counsel. “I can tell you that [a lawsuit is] a high probability but I haven’t made a final decision yet,” he said. “The lawsuit would be purely on character assassination. As you’ve seen in the media, there’s a lot of ugliness. That ugliness truly is not necessary.” Audebert said the suit would be against MBA, COWP and both organizations’ board members, and he will make a final decision on whether to file within the next week or so. Another area that has invited speculation is the criminal case Audebert is currently navigating. In 2009, he was charged with two accounts of grand theft and one count of organized fraud, which some claimed is evidence that his MBA/COWP dealings are likely shady as well. Audebert said the charges stem from a travel business that folded in 2008 before he could make good on trips to a number of clients. “Out of that started an investigation by a local police department which I did not cooperate with and it was a mistake of mine,” Audebert said. “I did not cooperate with that investigation because I thought this was just a matter of bankruptcy. I did not give my side of the story.” He said the investigation lasted about a year before he was charged in 2009. “I immediately advised the MBA board and I have the email to prove so,” he said, and he did provide a memo to the board from then-president Dr. David Hargrove, stating the MBA’s official position should board members be asked about Audebert’s legal troubles. The next hearing in the case is Jan. 28. As far as his time in office with MBA and Come Out With Pride, Audebert admits there were problems. “If people want to focus on the mistakes that I may have made managing four organizations [MBA, COWP and two other subsidiaries] on my own, that’s fine,” he said. “I probably made some mistakes.” He said a key mistake was not firing people who did not do their jobs, leading to some of the problems the organizations are currently facing [see main story]. “But I can assure you there’s absolutely nothing illegal that has been done under my tenure at those organizations,” Audebert said. “And my mistakes of the past, I’m paying for that.” Audebert argues that failed businesses are not an indication of his character. “I am not good at managing a business on my own. I have a lot of strengths but also have a lot of weaknesses,” he

continued on pg. 14 | uu |

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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orlando news | uu | Mikael Audebert from pg.13

| uu | MBA Investigation

said. “Some of my weaknesses are personnel management and financial management.” He agreed those are qualities needed to successfully run an organization, but added, “This is why at MBA and Pride you have an entire board behind the operations and you have responsibilities that were treasury, vice president and so forth.” He also argued that he did more than his share to bring in revenues and help both organizations grow. Finally, Audebert asserts that the MBA mishandled the entire situation. When the COWP board voted to sever itself from the MBA, Audebert said the MBA board should have simply approached the COWP board and told them they made a mistake and were not authorized to make that change. “There was absolutely no attempt to mislead or defraud MBA board,” he said. “It was a mistake that was made by the Pride board, and as pointed out to the Pride board by the MBA board, all that the MBA had to do was point out the mistake to get it fixed. It really did not need to get this ugly.” Whether he successfully sues or not, Audebert said he doesn’t see a future for himself in Orlando. “They have taken everything I’ve done, everything I’ve built, everything I’ve worked very hard at rebuilding after losing everything in 2008, and literally have taken it to the trash,” Audebert said.

from pg.13

of our own internal investigation, and we feel it’s time to turn it over to somebody else to complete it,” he said, adding that investigations are still ongoing into the financials of COWP and Converge, the MBA subsidiary organization that was focused on LGBT travel. “There are similar patterns of unauthorized transactions among those organizations, but so far the investigation doesn’t have concrete answers,” Carrick said. “We’re still answering questions.” Further investigation may reveal more problems. “There are some transactions that we have a strong feeling are personal expenses but it would be difficult to prove that explicitly, so those transactions are taken off the table as far as what we’re filing with the report,” Carrick said. Despite the allegations, Carrick said the MBA’s financial situation is currently stable. “We don’t have a significant

amount of money, but we know that with the money we have, and the bills we have, and the commitment we have for sponsorships, we are completely covered financially through March [of 2015],” he said. He said the MBA did not have a savings account or any financial contingency plans, and those are among the goals for 2015. “The MBA took a hit,” Carrick said. “With the cooperation of the entire board, we’re really going to be fine from a financial perspective. We’re making a lot of smart moves to come out of this very quickly.” Those moves include new headquarters. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the MBA moved from the Plaza building downtown, which cost the organization around $5,000 a month, to an office on the second floor of the Barry Miller Law building in Thornton Park. The new office costs about $2,800 a month, with subtenants covering about $1,500 of that and concessions that will “make it essentially free for the first three months,” Carrick said. In addition to the ongoing investigations, the MBA is working on

clarifying its structure when it comes to the subsidiary organizations. At a heated board meeting Nov 19, it looked like Converge was on the verge of dissolving and The Wedding Alliance would sever ties with the MBA. Since then, however, Carrick said they have smoothed things over and that both subsidiaries are operational. “We’re also continuing to work out what [the relationship between Converge and MBA] actually is, how it is best for us to interact with each other,” Carrick said. In the meantime, Carrick and the MBA board face the daunting task to unite a divided membership. “Mikael spent years building the Mikael brand,” he said. “There are lots of people who believe in him. He did a lot of very positive things. He led COWP and MBA toward growth. That’s being overshadowed by the challenges we are facing because of decisions he made. We’re wading through that. He was also the one that made the decisions that caused [COWP] to be in financial difficulty. We have no desire to trash him. We only have desire to grow.”

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

tampa bay news

SaraSota addS tranSgender proteCtionS Samantha Rosenthal

s reMeMBering red: More

than 100 people participate in a candle light vigil commemorating World AIDS Day at the new LGBT Welcome Center on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg.

Photo by Steve bLanchard

The war isn’t over St. Petersburg “Rocks It Red” for World AIDS Day Greg Stemm

t. petersBurg | About 100 prominent St. Petersburg residents and volunteers gathered at the LGBT Welcome Center on Central Avenue Dec. 1 for a candlelight vigil and reception commemorating the 25th Anniversary of World AIDS Day. The vigil was the final event in an art installation which created a mile and a half long virtual red ribbon on Central Avenue by wrapping 173 trees in red cloth. The installation featured an opportunity for visitors to write messages of remembrance and inspiration for those touched by the epidemic. The project was the brainchild of local artist Jim Buresch, who dubbed it “Rock It Red St. Petersburg.” It took about three dozen volunteers, many of them

provided by Bank of America, two days to wrap the trees. “I lost a brother to AIDS early on,” said Margaret Handlin, a Bank of America volunteer who spent most of Saturday and Sunday helping to install the project. Handlin, who lives and works in Tampa, said she had trouble finding something on her side of the bay to help her remember her brother on World AIDS Day. When she found out about this installation and that her employer had signed on as a sponsor providing volunteers, she signed up right away. “My brother’s birthday would have been Nov. 17, so it had even more meaning to me,” she said. Audrey Wood was the coordinator of volunteers. Wood is a member of the Kenwood Neighborhood Association and said she was impressed with the passion that Buresch had shown when he had approached

the group for support. She said she had no reservations about working with Buresch, even though he has only been a St. Petersburg resident for a year and a half. Buresch came to St. Pete via Seattle and prior to that San Francisco. He grew up in West Virginia. “St. Petersburg is such a welcoming community that even if someone is new, when we see that they are doing something that will benefit our city, there is tremendous support. My biggest reward has been seeing Jim’s vision become a reality. I was glad for the opportunity to sit on the steering committee. While coordinating the volunteers was a big job, I met a lot of really great people as a result,” said Wood. “I’ve been concerned that it seems with the progress we’ve made with the disease that it has kind of fallen off the radar. “I wanted to be able to do something to bring it back into the public eye and bring attention to the fact that there is still much work to do.” Buresch said that both the City of St. Petersburg and the arts community of St. Pete were extremely supportive from the

continued on pg. 18 | uu |

watermark Your lgbt life.

arasota | The Sarasota City Commission unanimously voted to pass an amendment that will add gender identity and expression to its already-in-place human rights ordinance. The final vote was Nov. 17 via consent agenda with no discussion. Now transgender residents of Sarasota have equal protections and rights when it comes to public accommodations, housing and employment, effective immediately. The measure was also unanimously passed on Nov. 3 at its first vote. City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell proposed the amendment Sept. 2, saying she felt the amendment was needed because sexual orientation was added to the HRO back in 2000 but nothing in the HRO included gender identity. Former Sarasota City Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Shelin and Equality Florida Transgender Inclusion Director Gina Duncan have been working toward amendment for the City of Sarasota for a while now. Duncan is also pushing for transgender protections added to HROs across the state, including a similar measure for the County of Miami-Dade. “It means a lot to the community and the fact that there is momentum in full inclusion and equality for all citizens, including transgender people,” Duncan said. “I think that comes from increased education, awareness and visibility, and those are objectives that Equality Florida has been working all of the state to get accomplished. A lot of it has come from the visibility and bravery of the transgender community to step forward and be visible and help with the education, and also by major incorporations that believe that a fully inclusive and nondiscriminatory Florida is where they want to be. We have a strong ally in our corporate partners.” The unanimous vote came just days before Transgender Day of Remembrance Nov. 20, and the Suncoast Equality Florida Gala Nov. 22. That gala, according to organizers, raised more than $215,000, setting a record for Sarasota County. Sarasota residents Clark West and Elliot Mitchell, together for 42 years, helped set the goal by matching every gift made to Sarasota’s Suncoast Gala up to $50,000. Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith spoke at the event, and praised the new protections for transgender individuals. She also spoke about her disappointment in recent elections where pro-equality candidates were defeated, but encouraged attendees to be optimistic yet impatient when it comes to securing equality for the entire LGBT community. Kimberly Bleach and Randell Johnson, Co-Chairs of the gala, also spoke to those in attendance. They encouraged supporters to give to Equality Florida to continue its mission of securing marriage equality in the state as well as transgender protections on a countywide scale.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

tampa bay news | uu | World AIDS Day from pg.17

remembering thoSe We’ve loSt Michael keeﬀe addresses a crowd in front of St. petersburg city Hall during the Transgender day of Remembrance service on nov. 20. This year, the service included a two-block candlelight procession to city Hall, where several community leaders spoke in memory of transgender people who were brutally killed over the past year. Photo by Steve bLanchard

beginning when he began sharing his vision. Buresch approached the city’s economic development department first. They helped him find other appropriate city officials and also assisted in getting an official City Proclamation drafted for the event. “Without trashing Seattle in any way, I have to say St. Petersburg is a much more supportive and a much more accepting community,” said Buresch. “And, I may have left my heart in San Francisco, but I found it again here in St. Petersburg.” Among those in attendance were three St. Petersburg City Council members, including Darden Rice, Wengay Newton and Karl Nurse. St. Petersburg’s LGBT-friendly mayor Rick Kriseman was out of the country on a trade mission. He is expected to participate in the

Welcome Center’s official ribbon cutting on Dec. 12. Buresch said that the support he received from the St. Petersburg arts community was critical to the success of the event. “Without the help of John Collins with the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, this installation would not have happened,” said Buresch. “He wanted to be sure there was a reputable not-forprofit involved where any funds raised in support of the project could be handled. “I wanted to be sure there was plenty of transparency.” Buresch also praised Larry Biddle from the St. Petersburg LGBT Welcome Center. “He became my sounding board and his input proved invaluable,” Buresch said. “Often he would advise me on what to say and to whom I should say it.” Buresch said his biggest disappointment was that he had to reduce the size of the fabric covering the trees from 60 to 45 inches.

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

“That meant that the impact wasn’t as great as I had perhaps hoped, but it still was impressive,” he said. He hopes that if he does this same installation next year, he will be able to raise more money to cover those costs. His biggest joy this year? “Hands down the volunteers,” he said. “They were the ones that really took my vision and made it a reality. I’m grateful to each and every one of the people who spent their weekend putting this together.” Buresch, who has lived with HIV himself for 23 years, said that his art gives his life more meaning. “With what amounted to a death sentence when I was diagnosed it, became hard for me to focus or plan for anything in the future.,” said Buresch. “Everyone needs to have a purpose in their life. My art gives me that purpose and direction.”

Talk to your doctor about a treatment option for adults with HIV-1. Visit hivoption.com to learn more.

watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

state news

tWo more florida CountieS Sign on in Support of marriage eQuality Staff Report Two more Florida county commissions have voted to file an amicus brief in support of marriage equality in a Florida court case fighting for same-sex marriage. On Nov. 17, the Alachua County Commissioners voted to sign onto the brief, making them the first North Florida county to do so. The same evening, Palm Beach County Commissioners voted 6-1 to sign onto the brief. The cities of Miami Beach, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Wilton Manors have approved similar measures, as have Orange County, Broward County and the Village of Biscayne Park.

WorkforCe proteCtionS bill filed again Jamie Hyman

allaHassee | The Florida Competitive Workforce Act—sponsored by Representative Holly Raschein (R- Key Largo) and Democratic

Whip Senator Joseph Abruzzo (D- Boynton Beach)—has been filed in the Florida House and Senate. The bill aims to prohibit discrimination against LGBTs in employment, housing and public accommodations. This is Raschien’s second year co-sponsoring the bill, which

has been introduced in some form since 2007 but has died in committee each time. Last year, Raschein co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Joe Saunders (D-Orlando) in the House and Sen. Joe Abruzzo (D-Wellington) introduced it in the Senate.

the agenda item was presented. The amendment will bar discrimination against transgender people in the areas of employment, public accommodations and housing. Gina Duncan, transgender inclusion director for Equality Florida, was at the meeting on behalf of Equality Florida and spoke at the meeting. Members of the Christian Family Coalition were also present at the meeting. The

group argues that the inclusion this law creates will allow for persons to inappropriately access public restrooms. “This is a historic day for fairness in Miami-Dade County and for the thousands of transgender persons who call the county their home,” ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said. “People should be judged based on their merits and qualifications—period.”

miami-dade County CommiSSion paSSeS tranSgender proteCtionS Staff Report

iaMi | The Miami Dade County Commission voted 8-3 on an amendment that will add gender identity and expression to the existing human rights ordinance. An estimated 3,000 people, according to Equality Florida, attended. Hearing a large number of speakers meant the final vote wasn’t cast until eight hours after

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nation+world news

ruSSian gayS Seek aSylum in u.S. Wire Report

eW yorK | Had he stayed in Russia, Andrew Mironov would be settling in to a stable job with an oil company, likely with a newly awarded doctoral degree in electrical engineering. Instead, he faces an uncertain future in New York City as one of scores of Russian gays seeking asylum in the United States because of hostility and harassment in their homeland. “In Russia, I would have gotten my Ph.D. this fall, had a job and health insurance,” said Mironov, 25. “Now, here, I’m nobody.” Yet the sacrifices have been worth it, Mironov says, given the fears that lingered after he was severely beaten by several assailants in the lobby of a gay bar in his home city of Samara. “Which is more important, happiness or success?” he asked

over coffee in midtown Manhattan. “I would say happiness. I feel no fear here.” There are no firm statistics on the number of gay Russian asylum seekers; U.S. government agencies that handle applications do not report such details. However, the Department of Homeland Security’s latest figures show that overall applications for asylum by Russians totaled 969 in the 2014 fiscal year, up 34% from 2012. The increase is due in part to the worsening anti-gay climate in Russia, according to Immigration Equality, a New York-based organization which provides legal services for LGBT immigrants. The organization says the number of inquiries it received from gay Russians seeking U.S. asylum has risen from 68 in 2012 to 127 in 2013 and 161 through Oct. 30 of this year. During that period, gay-rights gatherings in Russia were frequently targeted by assailants, and the parliament

2304

passed a law targeting “gay propaganda” that was widely viewed as a means of deterring gay activism. Aaron Morris, Immigration Equality’s legal director, said most of the recent asylum inquiries came from gay men in their 20s and 30s who had been targeted by anti-gay attacks, while only a handful have come from gays or lesbians raising children. In several U.S. cities, programs have been launched to assist gay asylum seekers from Russia and elsewhere as they await processing of their applications, which can take six months or more. Mironov has been in the U.S. since November 2013, spending his first night in a homeless shelter run by the Metropolitan Community Church of New York. He now lives in Brooklyn but continues to attend the church, which serves the LGBT community. “It’s hard to not be sure about your future,” he said. “In Russia, I’d planned my whole life out.”

in other neWS gaMBia reBuffs Western CritiCisM of anti-gay laW The Gambian government lashed out at Western donor nations that have criticized a new law that punishes some homosexual acts with life in prison. Gambia will not allow acceptance of gay people to be a precondition for receiving aid “no matter how much aid is involved,’’ said Foreign Minister Bala Garba Jahumpa.

gays in india MarCH for rigHts nearly a thousand gay rights activists marched through central new delhi on nov. 30 to demand an end to discrimination against gays in India. They demanded an end to a colonial-era law banning same-sex relations. India’s Supreme court last year reversed a lower court order that decriminalized gay sex.

n.d. Cities fail HrC’s index north dakota’s cities received failing grades in the Human Rights campaign’s 2014 assessment of American cities’ treatment of lGBT rights. The HRc rated Bismarck lowest among the north dakota cities, with 14 points out of a possible 100 for the level of protection it oﬀers lGBT people. Fargo received 41 points, while Grand Forks had 30 and Minot had 17.

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

viewpoint

poSitive living Finding surprising support

did soMetHing reCently I swore I would never do. I joined an HIV support group.

My reason for not ever seeking out a support group for the disease I’ve lived with for nearly 23 years was not exactly a noble one. What I was afraid would happen was that there would be a bunch of “newbies” who might be as much of an emotional mess as I was when I was newly diagnosed. I have to regularly deal with some whacked out newcomers in AA and I just didn’t think I wanted to go through that with HIV. But this group, sponsored by AIDS Service Association Pinellas (ASAP), completely surprised me with its makeup. I could never have predicted its value, either. I have to admit the members of the group have completely changed the face of HIV for me—both in who they are and the remarkable wisdom and experience that they bring to the table. First, the group is led by perhaps the first-ever straight white man who has AIDS that I’ve known. The surprises just keep coming, too. Other group members include a young, straight woman with teenage daughters, a recovering IV drug user, a smattering of gay men of all ages, types and colors and the first HIV-patient in Florida to receive a liver transplant. The person with the least amount of time dealing with HIV is two years. Most of us are in the 20-plus years category. I won’t say how these fellow group members contracted HIV. And I’ve learned over the years that when someone learns you are positive, they immediately ask, “How did you get it?” If it’s contracted through sex, you’re labeled a whore. If it’s through IV drug use, that person is immediately called an addict. The bottom line is its nobody’s business how you

watermark Your lgbt life.

blessing it is that most of our health and mental care providers know we use it and are supportive of it. I even had a nurse advise me to microwave my stash before use because it could contain mold or fungus that could

provided a lot of people like me a safe and overdue place where we can share our own experiences with others who have had them. There is a kinship here at a level I have not experienced anywhere else, including with some of my

great guest speakers. We especially enjoy it when a drug rep speaks because that typically includes lunch. If you have HIV, regardless of when you were diagnosed, taking a part in a group like this

be dangerous to someone with a compromised immune system. These issues would go away with a regulated system of dispensaries like so many other states have. Please remember that when this issue inevitably comes to the ballot box again. Most of all, this wonderful group has

most trusted friends and spiritual advisers. We talk about the drugs we’re on, their side effects and how to stay compliant with taking them. We discuss our health care professionals, how we handle disclosure issues, mental health problems and dealing with our families. We have also been blessed with some

can make you feel a lot less alone in your day-to-day struggles to survive with the disease. In fact, it can help you thrive with it. My life is better because I finally put aside my prejudices and joined together with others who understand me the most.

members of the group have completely changed the face of HIV for me—both in who they are and the remarkable wisdom and experience they bring to the table.

Unwrap the best gift yet this holiday season...

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got it. Does it really matter? A word of advice: Don’t ask that question. It’s rude and inappropriate, especially if it’s directed at someone you really care about. Since many in the group have lived with HIV for a long time, the topic of AIDS Survivor Syndrome has come up. This condition manifests in aimlessness, depression, broken relationships, substance abuse, high-risk behavior and, at its most extreme, suicide. Knowing the signs are important. They range from personality changes, flashes of anger, anxiety, insomnia, sexual risktaking, withdrawal and isolation, and elements of post-traumatic stress. It often takes years for these signs to manifest— long after life for those around survivors has returned to normal. Most of us in the group have experienced one or all of these symptoms since we were diagnosed. It’s interesting that more focus from AIDS professionals seems to be with the ramifications of us living longer and healthier lives than in years past. The meds that keep us alive are remarkable—nothing less than a miracle for those of us who were given a terminal diagnosis. The question for us now is, how do we process a miracle when our entire lives had become an acceptance of our impending death? From my own personal view, that really screwed with my head. This group has made me feel a lot less alone in that experience. Despite the outcome of the last election, it is apparent many in our group have already made a decision about medical marijuana. Many of us use it regularly to deal with a host of both physical and medical conditions. We’ve discussed what a

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viewpoint

Rick Claggett

w o r d s

to live by Community

y entire life is gay.

I work in arguably one of the gayest offices in town, my gay friends and I mostly hang out in the locally gay-owned watering holes and I have played on gay softball, bowling, kickball and volleyball teams.

In fact, I even turn what’s straight about my life into something gay. My best friend, Jen, and I have lived together for almost 15 years. Although she is heterosexual, I can count on one hand the number of times Jen and I ventured into a straight bar together. I drag her with me to almost every event I cover for Watermark. She is such a part of my gay life that most people assume she is gay herself. Playing along, I just tell them she is a gay man on the inside. Even my straight brother cannot escape my gay world. About five years ago, he joined my gay softball team in the Central Florida Softball League and continues to play in the league to this day. Recently we joined a straight league together but managed to stack it half-full of gays too! One of the gayest things about my big gay life is my fabulous friend, Lucky. Lucky is flamboyant, fashionable and dashing. He is the kind of guy you find yourself saying “gurl” to over and over again while clutching your pearls. I recall a time when we were down the road getting fast food from a national chain restaurant. Lucky was being his normal, hilarious self while

ordering his dinner. The cashier gazed at the spectacle in front of her for what seemed like an uncomfortable amount of time before exclaiming to him, “You are the gay!” Although we laughed for years about this, I’m taken back to that moment when I hear derogatory remarks made towards gay people, especially when it is dished out by the gay community. I’m not just speaking of the catty remarks that fly around more frequently than glitter on a go-go boy, but the actual disdain that some gay people show toward their more effeminate male peers and masculine women. It surprises me how many times I have had this conversation. Usually it accompanies some event that has national attention. Chaz Bono comes out as transgender and is the butt of endless jokes. Seemingly every fall, the newest sitcom has a character that’s too over-the-top gay for “normal gays”. The same question enters my mind every time: “What’s so threatening about their behavior?” Are we more worried about what that person is doing and saying, or more worried that people watching them will think that’s how we all behave? Are our own insecurities being projected onto them? Seems silly to me. Of course our community’s internal discrimination isn’t limited to gender mannerisms. In “Preaching to the Converted” column in Watermark’s last issue, he shared his view that men in their 40s aren’t age-appropriate if they spend their time in gay bars or clubs. Other generalizations claim gay women will U-Haul their way into relationships, gay men can’t hold a relationship because they sleep around, bisexuals can’t make up their minds,

watermark Your lgbt life.

drag queens are bitchy and leather gays are perverts. I don’t believe a word of that to be true, at least not as a whole. You can find a cliché in any group, but overall I doubt the validity of generalizations. I choose to embrace the community as a

takes a very in-depth look at the state of the Leather Community in today’s society. I encourage everyone to check it out, especially if you are predisposed to think negatively about anyone involved in leather. Electric shock to my junk may

behind the scenes, each of you have great value to this community. Twinks, bears, lipsticks, bis, questioning, allies, business entrepreneurs, transgender, community leaders, openly gay elected officials, puppies, daddies, queens, kings, butch, fems,

whole in that we all serve a purpose. For a long time, the most visible in our community were the drag queens, leather daddies and militant gays. It was the deplorable treatment of drag queens that catapulted the gay rights movement into mass action. Let’s honor their achievements in our history and celebrate their current contributions. In this issue, Watermark

not be my thing, but if it’s yours, then you have my blessing and support. As we finish our time of reflecting on what we are thankful for and head into a new holiday season, keep this in mind: Embrace each other. It takes courage to be a stereotype. Hell, it takes courage to be who you are. Whether you are the community leader on the soap box for equality or the community leader talking

vers, tops and bottoms— we will always fit into some kind of category and have our place. As the saying goes, it takes a village. But sometimes it takes the Village People.

You can find a cliché in any group, but overall I doubt the validity of generalizations.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

talking points

Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. —Harry styles of one direCtion responding to a JoKe aBout a Band MeMBer sleeping WitH a Man.

OF AmerIcANs

google pulls gays’ game ‘hunting gays

gay rights.

support

oogle Has pulled a gaMe froM its app store that encouraged users to shoot naked gay men. The game, called “Ass Hunter” has been available since 2002 and was downloaded more than 100,000 times before it was pulled this month. The premise is this: the main character is a person in hunting gear who shoots gay characters that try to kill him. A Google spokesperson said that the game was pulled for violating its policies, which include advocating against groups of people based on race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status or sexual orientation/gender identity. Unfortunately, the PC version of the game is still available online.

ONLY

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TWO WOMEN. —Recent University of Indiana poll

(hot) australian is first out bobsledder

W A

e really ARE everyWHere— even on a bobsled team from the southern hemisphere! ustralian Rugby player Simon Dunn is on the Australian Bobsledding team that hopes to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. If the team of four does make it, he would be the first known out bobsled Olympian in history. He’s also pretty dang hot. According to Buzzfeed, the bearded athlete made the team in September but only recently started making headlines as the four men began practicing. He is ranked among the top, hottest Rugby players in the world.

watermark Your lgbt life.

‘hug a homophobe’ video wasn’t authentic

ast MarCH, a video Called “first gay Hug: a HoMopHoBiC experiMent” Went viral. The YouTube video’s description said filmmakers asked homophobes to hug gay strangers for the first time as a “social experiment.” The moving short film had more than 5 million views and was seen as barrier-breaking by many. Unfortunately, it was a scripted shoot. One woman who appeared in the video told the media this month that the homophobes in the film were actors who were told to improvise their scenes. The film was created by The Gay Women Channel.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

firefighter with gay porn past won’t lose his job

neW yorK firefigHter WHo Has Made at least 10 gay porn filMs is not in danger of losing his job, top officials told the New York Daily News on Nov. 25. Jonathan Jesensky, who performed as Jonathan West, did most of his films with All World Video and appeared in gay and bisexual scenes. Jesensky is a former Marine and was hired as an EMT with the FDNY in 2012. The 33-year-old became a firefighter on Nov. 18. “There will be no discipline,” a spokesman said, adding that he has performed ‘admirably.’

watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

in-depth:

legally Wed:

the leather community

topher, left, and Sir Shadow, both of Spring Hill, are photographed inside the Code Bar at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg. Their story is at right.

Legally Wed

Photo by Lee vanderGriFt

Living the

Leather Life Leather’s deep LGBT history is the secret behind its endurance Steve Blanchard and Samantha Lena Rosenthal Photography by Lee Vandergrift

t tHe neW yorK stoneWall riots

in 1969, it was members of the leather community who stood next to the drag queens to fight for equality, an act that kicked off the modernday LGBT rights movement. That brought the leather culture out of the shadows and into the light. Ever since then, the Leather Community has seen an ebb and flow of support both within its own ranks and from within the overall LGBT community.

watermark Your lgbt life.

Today, the leather-clad within our community are still active, raising thousands of dollars for charities locally and nationwide. Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood segments of our population and is often seen by those not familiar as a world made solely of sex, role play and BDSM. “That’s the perception, that leather and sex goes together,” says Dan Radwanski. “But when you look at the clubs, you’ll see we always raise money for charities while using demonstration areas as an educational

continued on pg. 41 | uu |

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

sKing spring Hill Couple sir sHadoW and topHer if tHey support Marriage equality Will eliCit a sly sMile. That’s because the two, who identify as a Dom and a pup, respectively, were legally married in New York last year. “He is my husband first,” explains Topher, 33. Sir Shadow, 45, agrees, adding that “We’re equal partners in the relationship. The play lifestyle is far down that list.” During the day, Sir Shadow works in tech support. Topher is employed by an insurance review company. Both admit that maintaining a successful marriage is difficult, especially with so many different sexual dynamics in the Leather Community. But they are very clear about the rules of their relationship, even while running the Florida Puppy Contest each fall at the Flamingo Resort. “The Leather Community has a history of being very visible,” says Topher. “Of course we support marriage equality and the community is at the forefront of that fight. The Old Guard actually laid the groundwork for where we are now in history. It was they who stood up with the drag queens at Stonewall and demanded an end to discrimination.” And by remaining visible, the Leather Community still stands for an end to discrimination, although oftentimes it must combat discrimination from fellow LGBTs. “I want people to come ask me questions,” Topher says of the overall LGBT community. “Everyone is ready to share their story. Stay off the internet and the bad sites with misinformation and find local people you can trust to safely help you explore the lifestyle.” —Steve Blanchard

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

WorKing title: Phoenix

I get a sexual feeling when I see someone in leather. It’s a big turn-on for me.

colt Pendragon, photographed inside the Code Bar at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg, was named Central Florida Leatherman 2014 in January at the Parliament House Resort in Orlando.

how has the leather community evolved?

Photo by Lee vanderGriFt

‘Family,

Exciting, Sexual’ Central Florida Leatherman 2014 Phoenix Colt Pendragon shares his views on the leather community

Samantha Lena Rosenthal

rlando | pHoenix Colt

Pendragon was named Central Florida Leatherman 2014 at Parliament House Resort in January and has since used his title for outreach, education and uniting the Leather Community in Orlando and across the state. He has been a part of the Leather Community for two decades and enjoys the leather lifestyle just as much today as he did when he first explored it. We chatted with Pendragon, who is also the Mr. SECC Leather runner-up, to learn more about his involvement, what the Leather Community means to him and how his title has helped promote the community across the state.

watermarK: how did you get involved in the leather community?

pHoenix Colt pendragon: Originally I was attracted to just the appeal of guys in leather, and that kind of turned me on. And as I got to meet the actual guys who were

wearing it and learning more about it—that really drew me in. describe for us what the leather community is all about and what it entails.

It’s really hard to describe what being a leather man is all about. I mean being in leather, it’s a family. Once you really get into it, you find that you’ve become a part of a greater family within the LGBT community, and it’s a very close network of people. You get to know everyone within it and look forward to seeing them. if you could describe the leather community in three words or adjectives, what would you choose?

Wow, that’s hard (laughs). Well, first would be “family.” Second one would be “exciting.” And “sexual.”

watermark Your lgbt life.

Well, the leather community did evolve from the military. A lot of it is based around the military. You know guys couldn’t be open about who they were and what their preferences were back then as much as we can now. So that’s sort of how it came about, and flagging to other men to say what they were into. And of course you get the dominant/submissive part of it which is based a lot around the military attributes as well. I think as we’re moving forward from what we like to call “Old Guard,” which is what our roots are, into what they’re calling now “New Guard,” it’s evolving so much because we are a little bit more progressed. That’s because people don’t have to hide so much who they are and what they’re into. I think that with the Old and the New, we’ve all got to realize that we all coexist and we’ve got to accept everyone, and that’s what it’s all about. We accept everyone for who they are and what they are into and not judge them for that saying, ‘Well, you can’t be a part of our community because you’re not doing it the way Old Guard does it.’ [We must keep] our roots and accept some of the new ideals as well because we all evolve. Without that we aren’t going to grow our community.

can you talK a little more about emerging trends within the community?

Probably the most prolific thing is the puppy community. I think we are getting so many people that find it easy to get into the puppy state of mind, being submissive. We never really had that much when I started in leather. We had the boys and masters and slaves and all that. But I think it gives kind of a breath of fresh air to it. do you thinK the leather community is sometimes mislabeled or misidentified?

Actually, I do. I think that sometimes when people see leather [folks], they think we are generally into all this pain and crazy stuff. They’re scared because they don’t understand until they come up to people and really talk about it. I’m told a lot that I intimidate people when I’m in my leather, I think basically because they don’t

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understand it. And I think that’s true with everything within our community. A lot of people don’t understand unless they ask. I definitely think people have a very big misconception about leather people and that all we do is bondage and beat people. There are other sides to us. We’re real people with everyday lives as well. can the leather community coeXist with the progress of the lgbt rights movement?

I think that the Leather Community carries a lot of our gay history, and if we didn’t have a Leather Community a lot of that would be lost. How our roots were, with the cruising and showing people what we’re into, they’ve really lost a lot of that over the years. But you also have a lot of people in the Leather Community that are fighting for different rights. Like right now, PrEP is real big. So we actually have a lot of title holders within the community who are fighting to help get that more out there and acknowledged because it’s something that can help prevent the transmission of HIV. You have a lot more people within the Leather Community who are [talking] about it because we are such a close family that we can get the word out there, and we really feel strongly about those issues. how did you get into the contest?

Actually, this was the second year that I competed for Central Florida Leatherman. The previous year I was first runner-up. As far as my experience, being a titleholder this year has been one of the most amazing things that I’ve done within the community. I never actually thought that I would be holding a leather title, and the brotherhood and the sense of a family and being a part of something greater is just remarkable, especially going to International Mr. Leather and being a part of that. My 46 brothers that I have there, we are so tightly bound together even though we are across the country. That brotherhood and being a part of that family has made it all worth it. People think that when you get a title that it’s just all fun and games and it’s all about the sex and whatever. It’s actually a lot of work and takes a lot of time and money and dedication to go out to events and represent and try to build the community. Because ultimately that’s what it’s all about.

Photo by Lee vandergrift

A Daddy and his Boy

ourteen years ago, Woodie Barnes saW Jeff MCWHirter at tHe sunCoast resort during tHe druMMer Contest and knew he wanted to meet the man who, at the time, lived in Pasco County. “I was with a bunch of other boys cruising daddies, and saw him,” Barnes remembers. Ever since then, the two men have been a couple, and an extremely active part in Tampa Bay’s Leather Community and run a Drummer regional feeder contest at the Flamingo Resort. They may be one of the most recognized couples in the leather community, and both are very willing to explain the dynamics of their relationship and the roles they play among their peers. McWhirter, 60, is the dominant member of the couple while Barnes, 49, is more submissive. But that doesn’t mean Boy Woodie can’t speak his mind. “He’s dominant in and out of the house,” Barnes explains. “But I can speak my mind, share my thoughts freely and serve as a title holder.” Barnes won the title of Mr. Code in March of 2014 and is International Drummer Boy 1999 and Pantheon’s Man of the Year 2001. For McWhirter, the role of Daddy is a natural fit, and it should be. He is the father of two from a previous marriage to a woman. When he first stepped into the leather community he quickly identified with the title of “Sir.” His protective instincts made the transition to “Daddy” that much easier. “I support marriage equality because if something happened to me, I’d want [Boy Woodie] to be protected,” says McWhirter, who adds that the two have a living will. “That is extremely important to me.” Woodie says his role as “boy” developed over several years. Long before he met McWhirter, he was in a Master/Slave relationship and he escaped that role after a play session turned too dark. “I was gang raped in a play scene after I spoke out about something,” Barnes recalls. “He punished me by letting his friends go at me. It was nasty and abusive.” Today, Daddy Jeff and Boy Woodie happily live in St. Petersburg. Barnes is a co-host of a leather-themed show on GSH Radio, which broadcasts from the Flamingo Resort every Wednesday. Both men are focused on their new contest, North Florida Drummer, which will take place in the spring of 2015.

—Steve Blanchard

Leather and Fetish Pride

ix years ago, taMpa Bay resident Matt Wolf deCided to explore the local leather community in a very big way. He competed for a leather title in 2008—and won. “It was horrifying,” he recalls. “It was one of the scariest weekends of my life. I didn’t own any leather and I had to borrow it. And at that time I wasn’t comfortable with the way I looked, and here I was in a leather jock strap in front of strangers.” But Wolf, 44, became Mr. Gulf Coast Florida Leather 2009, and has been a staple in the Tampa Bay Leather community ever since. Today he is a founder and the Vice President of Florida Leather and Fetish Pride. Of course, he had experienced some leather before his big win during that “horrifying weekend.” “I think the first leather bar I went into was the Mineshaft in California—I was in my late 20s,” he recalls. “I think the dark side of the leather community caught my attention. The smell, the eroticism of it and the actual picture of what I considered a leather person: someone very masculine and very butch. I was looking for that hyper-masculine kind of scene.”

watermark Your lgbt life.

He admits he was more of a wallflower back then, watching things unfold in the bar while he observed, dressed comfortably in jeans and a t-shirt. “A hot man came up and started talking to me and that’s where I first got the idea of what it was about and that these were the type of masculine men I wanted to be with, “ Wolf says. “But I still didn’t really pursue it strongly.” Wolf says he doesn’t have a specific role in the community— at least a labeled role. He’s not a Daddy, a boy or a Sir. He says he’s just, simply, Matt. “I have one Sir and I guess I’m his boy,” he says. “But I have pups around me, boys around me, Sirs, masters—all of them are around me. I don’t prefer a role or a title. I just enjoy being who I am.” Currently, Wolf is single, but he has a lot of family—blood family—nearby. His mother was extremely supportive when he told her he was gay and even makes gift baskets for his leather raffles. His sister-in-law has attended many of his events and fundraisers. “There’s a misconception that it’s all about pain and BDSM,” Wolf says. “To me it’s a community that’s not about

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smacking someone to the point of pain. It’s an energy exchange and camaraderie. Yes, I have blood family nearby locally, but I also have a family—a leather family—that I can go to when I need anything. There’s an empowerment there.” And Wolf wanted to spread that empowerment, which is why he wanted to start Leather and Fetish Pride. “I saw a rift in the community,” he says. “I decided to try to mend that rift between the clubs, between the gay, straight and trans communities. There just wasn’t any communication between the clubs and I just couldn’t see us surviving like that.” Wolf doesn’t belong to any one club, but says he supports them all any way that he can. He realizes that the common perception of the leather community is that it’s all sex, all the time. “But it’s about people sharing their lives with others in a nonsexual way,” he says. “It’s about controlled pleasure, and that’s not always sex. I can do a scene with a male or a female, and sex won’t be a part of it.” A scene, he explains, can be anything from a whipping or a flogging to lighting someone on fire. “You can take it to an extreme or you can hold back,” he says. “I look at flogging like a deep-tissue massage. It’s pleasurable and releases endorphins.” The overall leather community, Wolf says, is accepting and happy to explain just about anything to those who are genuinely curious. Those people just have to ask. “Ask questions humanly,” he says. “Google is great, but until you can actually ask someone and talk to them, you won’t know the history and you won’t know what we’re about. People are naturally nervous when they approach leather. I’m an open book and have a lot of contacts. I can point anyone in any direction. It’s all about the communication.” Wolf says he is still learning and he still asks questions. “Whether it’s about a new fetish or a new device, I know I can ask,” he says. “Sounding used to seem so scary to me until I asked about it and tried it. now it’s one of the best things in the world. It’s about growing and learning and learning as a human and an individual.” —Steve Blanchard

Photo by Lee vandergrift

Tampa Leather Club

f tHere’s one tHing tHat peter Hansen Wants to Be Clear on, it’s tHis: Don’t be afraid of the Leather Community. The Vice President of the Tampa Leather Club has been an active member of leather communities across the country for 20 years. He serves as vice president alongside his partner, Tom Maiolo, who is the president of the long-running group. “We love to educate and share knowledge about our history,” Hansen says. “Just approach us. A stigma is that we won’t be receptive. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Currently the club has approximately 40 members— and that includes associate members, a status reserved for non-locals and women. “Pansexuality has seen a global movement and it has been an issue for leather groups,” Maiolo says. “I know some fully embrace it where women are full and equal members while others say they don’t want any women involved. So we’re the middle of the road with that.” Maiolo, 44, is in medical sales. Hansen, 47, works within the pharmaceutical industry. The couple share a home in Tampa. Hansen grew up in New Jersey and frequented leather clubs in New York, where his interest in leather progressed. “I was attracted to more masculine men and that’s what the leather community represented for me,” Hansen says. “I was fortunate that there was a large, local community and a lot of mentors to help guide me.” Maiolo, a Tampa native who identifies as a “Capped Sir,” says he became interested in the leather lifestyle 22 years ago. His attraction to the look, smell and feel of leather motivated him to join the brotherhood. “I learned of the Tampa Leather Club at that point, actually, and it was taking a break,” Maiolo recalls. He has been involved with the club ever since. Both men say that too many misconceptions about the Leather Community still exist, and that while sexuality is a big part of it, there is a deeper, more meaningful connection for those involved. “I think people believing it’s all about sex is an easy out and I don’t give that a lot of weight,” Maiolo says. “I think that’s what people want it to be. We have a lot of members that are not in it for the sexual aspect. We have people that want to meet other true leather individuals, not just someone online who looks good in leather.” For more information or to fill out a membership application, visit TampaLeatherClub.com. —Steve Blanchard

The Pansexual

renda CotHern lives in taMpa WitH Her HusBand of 15 years. She is a self-published author on Amazon.com’s best-selling list. She also identifies as “pansexual.” “I am attracted to personalities,” she explains. “I can work with any equipment.” The 44-year old describes herself as a “dom” but is a “sub” to her husband in play scenarios. It works well for the couple because they met within the local BDSM community. Her love for that community is reflective in her books. She says her love for reading fantasy and paranormal erotic romance was the deciding factor for her to discard her bachelor’s degree in management so she could write full time. She has been embraced by the local LGBT Leather Community, and even works booths at St. Pete Pride. She adds that she’s passionate about LGBT equality. “Marriage equality should be everyone’s concern and fight,” she says. “The Leather Community has a history of being trailblazers, ever since Stonewall. We’re very supportive of equality and we always want more people on board for that fight.” She does understand that some people’s idea of what the Leather Community is can hurt it. But she says it’s diverse. “We aren’t just one image— we’re gay, straight, bears, boys, girls,” she says. “But we are all on the same mission—and that mission is community.” For more information on Cothern or her books, visit BCothernBooks.com. —Steve Blanchard

watermark Your lgbt life.

Tampa Bay Bondage Club

He leatHer CoMMunity is often assoCiated WitH tHe BdsM World, and that’s completely okay with Ross Scudder and Tim Thomas, the founder and president, respectively, of the Tampa Bay Bondage Club. The club was formed as a way for gay men to share their interest in leather, rope and steel bondage, the group’s website explains. It also encourages the promotion of safe and consensual practices of bondage. Thomas, who is recognized around Tampa Bay as a volunteer for numerous non-profit groups, is relatively new to the Leather Community. “I’m a novice, I guess, and a boy to only one man,” the 54-year-old says. He has been partnered for 22 years, but is also the exclusive boy to Sir Craig. He explains the arrangement has the approval of all three men. Scudder, 55, who identifies as a sub or bottom, has been active in the leather community for three decades. He is partnered, and he and his significant other have an understanding when it comes to recreational play. The Tampa native says his interest in the community came about because of his attraction to “masculine men.” Interestingly, he is also an ordained deacon with MCC Tampa. “Religion and leather go together,” Scudder explains. “There’s a spiritual element in both. I truly believe that when I am flogged, I go into a trance—into the space before God.” Scudder was raised Episcopalian and identifies as a Christian. He says he didn’t venture into the Leather Community until after he graduated from college. Both men relate to the “Old Guard” of the Leather Community, meaning they have a respect for traditions. Thomas is hopeful that the “New Guard” coming up will develop similar feelings. “The younger crowd needs to pay attention to the 60-yearsand-older people,” Thomas says. “They are not always pretty, but they are full of knowledge and they know what they are doing.” For more information on the Tampa Bay Bondage Club, visit TampaBayBondageClub.org. —Steve Blanchard

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

True Colors The Hanky Code has a history in the leather community, and is still relevant in certain settings today

Samantha Rosenthal and Steve Blanchard

He HandKerCHief Code, More

popularly known within the leather community as the “hanky code” or “flagging,” is a color-coded system that uses bandanas to signify a person’s sexual interests. Not as prevalent as it was in the 1970s, the hanky code was the original “hooking-up app” for the LGBT community, with a long history that connects directly to the gay rights movement in America.

If the bandana was worn in the left pocket or around the left belt loop, this indicated that person was a “top,” while wearing it in your right pocket indicated the person was a “bottom.” And that’s only the basics. When you get into the coloring of the bandanas and such, there are endless possibilities as to what wearing a certain handkerchief a certain way could mean.

origins of the code

The code dates back decades, almost to the end of World War II, according to some, and was a way for gay men to flirt in a world that wasn’t accepting of same-sex encounters. It let men know what each was into sexually without having to actually verbalize it. “The hanky code came about because you couldn’t meet up and about, and there weren’t that many gay bars,” says Phoenix Colt Pendragon, the current Mr. Central Florida Leather. “When you went out, you were basically within the straight community in the bars and clubs, and so to tell what you were into, you wore your hanky in either your right or your left back pocket. You couldn’t just go up to somebody and say ‘hey, let’s go back,’ because they could be straight. And then you could have ended up being beaten up because that was just how it was.” Colors have meanings, and so does the side on which it is displayed. A hanky displayed on the left identifies “tops” or givers of an act. A display on the right identifies a “bottom” or a receiver of an act.

fading novelty

“I think we’re definitely getting away from all the flagging unless you’re at a leather event,” Pendragon says. “But I think now flagging is more about what colors you’re wearing, whether you’re wearing yellow leather or a blue harness or if you’re wearing a wristband on your right arm or left arm—it’s how we’re flagging now. And while it may be fading in some ways, flagging the hanky code does still seem prominent at leather events, according to Dan Radwanski of St. Petersburg. “If you’re looking for a playmate you might flag,” Radwanski says. “Sometimes you get cast a certain way, as I do, and you need the hanky code to clarify things. People think I’m a top, but I’m a sub. It can get frustrating. This lets people know exactly who you are and what you’re looking for.” But outside of those events, flagging is very rare, and a lot of that is thanks to technology and hook-up apps like Grindr and Scruff. “I think flagging is more subtle than it used to be when it first started because people are using their apps for cruising,” Pendragon says. “You aren’t really finding people cruising like they used to, unless you’re at a leather event. I think the younger crowd like it because it is a part of the history and it’s kind of a novelty to do hankies. But I think we’ve gotten more into flagging in our clothing and our attire than we are with hanky codes.”

COLORS & MEANINGS blacK

Heavy S&M top (left); Heavy S&M bottom (right)

gray

Bondage Top (left); Looking to be tied up (right)

robin egg blue

69er (left); Anything but 69 (right)

red

Fisting top (left); Fisting bottom (right)

maroon Cuts (left); Bleeds (right)

lavender

Likes drag queens (left); Is a drag queen (right)

fuschia

Likes to spank (left); Wants to be spanked (right)

beige

Rimmer (left); Wants to be rimmed (right side)

brown

Scat top (left); Scat bottom (right)

yellow

Gives golden showers (left); Receives golden showers (right)

magenta

Likes armpit worship (left); Armpit worshiper (right)

coral

Likes feet worshiped (left); Worships feet (right)

teal

Genital torturer (left); Genital torturee (right)

A more complete chart can be found at watermarkonline.com.

watermark Your lgbt life.

The ABCs of Leather

Staff Report

He leatHer CoMMunity uses aCronyMs and terMs tHat May seeM foreign to those not directly involved in the lifestyle. Here is a short list of examples that are often associated with the lifestyle and appear throughout this in-depth section of Watermark. It is by no means intended to be a full glossary of terms.

NIMAL PLAY: A form of role-play where one or more partners assume the identity of an animal. This is not linked with bestiality.

DSM: An acronym of “B&D” (Bondage & Discipline), “D&S” (Dominance & Submission), and “S&M” (sadomasochism). “BDSM” refers to any or all of these things, but many leather people consider it separate from the Leather Community.

OVER: The headwear presented to an individual usually at a “capping” ceremony, distinguishing the recipient as a “dom.”

D E

OMINANT: A person entrusted with power by a submissive. Also called a “dom.” ROTIC POWER EXCHANGE: Consensual empowerment of one person by another to enhance or produce erotic arousal.

UNCH: Social gatherings of kinksters at restaurants or other food spaces is a way to meet, exchange information and learn more about the community.

EW GUARD: A group of typically younger individuals who preserve traditions and practices of the community but welcome a more flexible and inclusive framework.

LD GUARD: A specific, typically older, group within the Leather Community originating from the gay leather S/M clubs of the 1950s. This guard developed strict protocols based on military discipline and still want to see those protocols in place today.

ANSEXUAL: Meaning to encompass all gender identities and sexual/ affectional orientations.

G H

U V

LAGGING: Displaying a specific colored or patterned handkerchief to signal one’s erotic preferences. OLDEN SHOWERS: A term used to describe erotic play involving urination.

ARNESS: A popular piece of leatherwear typically worn across the bare chest of men. But also popular among women.

NTERNATIONAL MR. LEATHER (IML): The largest leather contest in the world, where men compete for the coveted title to represent the Leather Community on a global scale.

INK/KINKSTER: An erotic practice or interest that many deem outside of the mainstream. A Kinster is one who is oriented toward kink.

IFESTYLER: A person who identifies with leather all day, every day. Does not necessarily mean he/she is dressed in leather 24/7, but the leather mentality is with them all the time.

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OLE PLAY: Partners adopting roles of characters, personas or genders, for example, with an erotic context to enhance arousal.

WITCH: A term used to describe an individual who can alternate between dominant and submissive, depending on situations.

OM OF FINLAND: An artist, whose real name was Touko Laaksonen, best remembered for his stylized, hypermasculine homoerotic fetish art.

PPITY BOTTOM: A submissive who tends to take charge in BDSM play. ANILLA: A term that specifically refers to sex without BDSM elements. It is not derogatory.

IITWD: A popular online acronym meaning “What It Is That We Do.” It is an alternative term for BDSM.

Photo by Lee vandergrift

The Leather Pride Flag wasn’t designed with any speciﬁc symbolism

Photo by Lee vandergrift

Open to Interpretation

or 35 years, tHe HigHly reCogniZaBle Blue, BlaCK and WHite-striped flag WitH tHe red Heart in the upper left hand corner has become a staple at LGBT Pride events. Unlike the familiar rainbow flag, the colors of the Leather Pride flag weren’t designed with any specific symbolism. Before it was first presented at the 1989 Mr. International Leather (IML) Contest in Chicago, Tony DeBlase, wrote about his method of creation in his Drummer column, “Off The Top.” “I felt that the time was right for the Leather men and women...to have a banner that would serve as a symbol of their own identity and interests.” The colors remain open to interpretation. Interpretations revolve around love (the red heart), purity in an open, honest and understanding relationship (white stripe), leather (black stripes) and denim (blue stripe).

Meet Mr. Friendly The symbol is the newest way to raise HIV Awareness

fter tHe aids epideMiC first Hit, tHe leatHer CoMMunity transitioned to tHe role of aCtivist. But it wasn’t until 2008 that the leather community seemed to fully embrace a symbol of the HIV movement. That’s because up until then, there wasn’t any organized effort to recognize HIV without some stigma. That’s what gave Mr. Michigan Leather 2009 Dave Watt the idea for Mr. Friendly. Since awareness on how HIV was spread was at an all-time high, Watt wanted to show that he was poz-friendly—or open to associating with HIV-positive men. However, he didn’t want to specifically target HIV-positive people either. “It is important to me that the symbol is for everyone without indicating the person’s status. Poz or neg, we are all in this together.,” Watt writes. For more on the Mr. Friendly project, visit MrFriendly.info.

Daddy and his Little Girl

Rick Talons and Pito Savage

inCe 2008, riCK talons and pito savage Have direCtly MarKeted and proMoted the Leather Community through their company, Savage Talons Media. The Orlando couple, pictured at the Woodshed with Talons on a chain web designed by master Penguin, have shared their lives together for a decade. They are not shy about discussing the videos in which they star and produce. “We have a whipping post when we go to events,” Savage says. “Our brand is more rugged and geared toward leather and stuff like that. We like to flog. That’s like our niche. We go out with the whipping post and we flog people.” Talons, 46, came out when he was 21 years old and describes himself as a wild boy. He credits a past fiveyear relationship with a Daddy for teaching him. “The first time I met him I actually walked in [the leather bar] with white tennis shoes on—brand new white tennis shoes,” Talons remembers. “I spent some money on them so I was kind of proud of them. He came up and started grinding his foot into them and just scuffed them all to hell. I was pissed. He’s like, ‘You

watermark Your lgbt life.

can’t come in here with those shoes. That’s what’s gonna happen.’” Talons passed along his knowledge of the Leather Community to Savage years later. “I was in the military, so the leather community symbolizes this chain of command just like the military,” says Savage, 37. “That’s what attracted me to it.” Both relate to the Old Guard, which represents responsibility, service and integrity. “There’s a chain of command,” Savage says. “Unfortunately, that’s been lost over the years.” The couple say they honor the leather lifestyle all the time. “If you’re going to put on leather, you have to wear it like a uniform, as if you were in the military,” Savage says. “Don’t wear it as a costume.” And the leather lifestyle goes much deeper than what someone puts on their body. “Leather is not about what you wear all the time,” Talons adds. “I know guys who have very few pieces of leather but I respect them with a tremendous amount. It’s a set of morals and a set of beliefs.” For more information, visit SavageTalonsMedia.com.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

n tHe surfaCe, aMala and MiCHael Waites appear to Be Just liKe any otHer Married Couple. Michael, 39, works as a software engineer and Amala, 42, takes care of the home. They are also parents, with the youngest of their four children just turning 17 years old. But the two have a leather dynamic that may seem less contemporary to many. The Dunedin couple have been married two years, but their fascination with leather and its community goes back nearly a decade. Amala says she was never afraid to ask questions. Today she takes classes on the dynamics of power exchange and both take what they learn and share it with others. “There is a dominant/sub blend here,” Amala explains. “I can be bratty but this relationship is also very fluid. I have an alpha personality, but the Daddy/Girl dynamic lets me be vulnerable.” Michael has always liked the look and feel of leather. He explains that his father was a motorcycle aficionado. Both say the gay leather community makes it easy to learn more about the history of leather because it’s so accepting. “I am very much my own woman and I can speak my mind,” she explains. “We have lengthy discussions about important things and I made a purposeful choice to give him that authority to make final decisions.” The pair call it a power exchange. “That takes place in every kind of relationship, not just ours,” Michael says. And it’s that exchange of power that makes this relationship click, Amala adds. “It’s about respect, not degradation,” she says.

—Steve Blanchard

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

Puppy Space J

Steve Blanchard

aeger pup and pup flip gray are

puppymates. The co-owners of the International Puppy Contest, held each year at the Flamingo Resort, also identify as boyfriends. But that’s only when they aren’t in “puppy space.”

“For me, puppy headspace is just letting go of all the human inhibitions and living in the moment,” explains Jaeger Pup, 51, of Spring Hill. “The best way to explain it is like when you see a puppy, he does whatever he wants to do. He runs out of control, sniffs, plays and follows no real set of rules.” Pup Flip, 54, agrees with Jaeger Pup’s description of that psychological space one must get to in order to be a puppy within the Leather Community. “I forget that I’m human sometimes,” says Pup Flip, who lives in Tampa. “That’s basically what it’s all about. You get in the moment and forget about the things you’re not supposed to do. You want to be petted and played with—but not sexually.” A “puppy” in this context, is a person who closely identifies with the canine species often referred to as “biopups.” And both men make it very clear that the puppy community is not about sex at all. It’s about losing inhibitions. The men each say they are always puppies, but of course can’t live as such 24/7. Jaeger Pup is a retired hairdresser. Pup Flip is a

graphic designer. Their relationship is not exclusive. Jaeger Pup has been with his partner—whom he refers to as his “husband,” although the two are not legally married—for 17 years. Recently, there has been a resurgence in the Puppy Scene within the Leather Community. But it is by no means a new practice. Pup Flip says he dabbled in it for quite awhile before taking part seriously in 1989. “That was in Montana when I was in the military,” he recalls. “There was a military underground of the leather world and when I first got involved it I was trained as a puppy. I’ve been one ever since.” Jaeger Pup says he dabbled in the BDSM lifestyle but it wasn’t until 2006 that he was introduced to a Master. That person got him interested in the real aspect of the leather lifestyle. He began training as a boy, but soon transitioned to a puppy-in-training. “The puppy play started as a punishment for boys and slaves,” explains Pup Flip. “You basically put a hood on them and put them on a chain and force them to act like a

dog . The funny part of that is some actually liked that.” Soon puppies had a cult following and leather hoods shaped like dog heads and specialized knee pads and Mixed Martial Arts gloves made their way into the subculture. “Early on we would bind our hands into fists and walk like that,” Pup Flip says. “The MMA gloves make it easier to come out of Puppy Space and drink or have a cigarette. You have to be able to get back to your human head space. We’re built to stand upright, use our thumbs and communicate. You have to respect that. You have to be a healthy human to be a healthy puppy.” Not all puppies are part of the Leather Community and not all puppies are gay men. According to both, neoprene and rubber puppies are gaining in popularity, and heterosexual and gay women are enjoying the phenomenon. “It’s now its own genre,” Jaeger Pup says. “There used to be puppies and owners, now it’s puppies and handlers. We also have a straight woman who is a puppy contest winner.” Pup Flip says anyone who is interested in the Puppy Lifestyle is welcome to try on his gear. “They should put on my magic puppy hood,” he says. “Everyone who has ever done it has become a puppy. Once you get that hood on and others can’t see your face, you are free to be what you want to be.” For more details on Puppy Culture, visit HumanPup.com.

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Photo by Lee vandergrift

The Poly-Triad

ady aalyanna, Her HusBand, MHiroKata, and Belle desCriBe tHeir faMily unit as a poly-triad. Belle is the submissive to the couple who have been married for 13 years. Belle has been a part of the family ever since she met the married couple online 12 years ago and says they are a house of synergy because they all share a fetish for fire and electricity. The three share a home in Lakeland. “The rules are simple through communication,” explains Lady Allyanna, who describes herself as “pansexual.” “We are a closed family, but have the ability to seek others out for any other companionship or sexual relationships. Should we wish to have others, we all communicate those needs with everyone involved.” Mhirokata, who’s real name is John, is a licensed massage therapist and says he is a sadist. He says he never really expected to be part of a triad, but he was always interested in having a play partner or two while remaining married. Lady Aalyanna says she expected a triad to develop eventually. When Belle, a web designer, moved to Florida 12 years ago, the fit seemed to work, even though it wasn’t a relationship the Utah native was initially seeking. “It just happened and it works,” Belle explains. “I understand how poly works, and can accept others that come along.” Each has a role in the household. Mhirokata is the head of the household, Lady Aalyanna is the “conscience,” and Belle is the social organizer. As an executive assistant, Lady Aalyanna is the financial backbone of the triad and Belle is currently in school. All three agree that the most difficult part of their relationship is balancing three personalities and three schedules. But at the same time, each supports the other two. “We all carry the responsibility of taking care of each other, and we all step up to the plate to help when one is down and assistance is needed,” Lady Aalyanna explains. In the future, the triad hopes to relocate to one of the Carolinas and run a bed and breakfast geared toward other Dom/Sub lifestylers. —Steve Blanchard

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

Photo by Lee vandergrift

f s

Full-time Leather Boy

t. petersBurg resident dan radWansKi is an organiZer, communicator, planner and contest promoter. He’s also considered a boy in the Leather Community and is Mr. Tampa Bay Leather Boy 2010. “A man always starts off as a boy,” Radwanski says. “You just grow. I’m at the point now where younger guys call me ‘Mister’ or ‘Sir. ‘Others laugh and say I’ve always been a boy. But bottom line, it’s all about respect.” Radwanski learned about that respect in his early 20s, at a time when he says he was in the “bedroom community of leather” while living in New York. “I liked leather/Levi bars and I went to discos to dance and afterward I would go to dark, seedy bars with pool tables in Buffalo,” he remembers. But it wasn’t until he moved to St. Petersburg in 1984 that he felt truly uninhibited and began his explorations into other aspects of leather. “I didn’t have to worry about the small town mentality of people looking at me and saying, ‘This is what Daniel has changed into?’” he laughs. “I was in corporate America at that time working in nursing, which I still do. But I was in the administrative arena requiring shirts and ties. I had to cover my tattoos and a lot of who I truly was.” But not on the weekends. That’s when he didn’t hide anything. “I used to say that a lot of people didn’t know I was gay,” he says. “In fact, I would tell them they’d find out my sexuality when they were under my sheets.” Radwanski says he’s fairly vanilla when it comes to leather, adding that he simply likes to wear it. But if there was a “mover and shaker” in Tampa Bay’s

Leather Community, he’d be it. “Unfortunately, what I see now is that the community is fragmented,” Radwanski says. “There are a lot of young guys coming into it and there’s interest when we put up our ‘social areas.’ But you don’t see men joining the clubs like the Leather Club, Bondage Club or Tampa Bay Bears. Across the nation, those club numbers are dwindling. It could be technology, HIV, the height of drugs in the early 2000s. I’m not sure.” And Radwanski, 57, has a birds-eye view of the Leather world since he began hosting a show on GSHRadio. com that directly discusses the Leather Community as a whole. Fortunately, when he really sees the Leather Community come together is during fundraising events. “I was always very vocal about charities,” Radwanski says. “When I started seeking my title in 2009, my charity was the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. No one was really doing that. I was also interested in ASAP and others. “But people forget that we have other interests. I love films. That’s why I wanted to get involved there.” And the community respected those decisions, and Radwanski continues to remain highly respected among his peers, both male and female. “We all grow in different directions but some bonds just stay,” Radwanski says, speaking specifically about his relationship with Triskelan, his “leather sister.” “We just really hit it off and I know I can rely on her. Matt Wolf is another person like that. There are so many strong connections that really show how we have become a community.” —Steve Blanchard

Triskelan

inding a suCCinCt desCription for 46-year-old trisKelan of taMpa isn’t an easy tasK. She identifies as a Pagan, gender-fluid biofemale, dominant, pansexual Master who is not at all restricted by labels or gender. The multiple title-holder has been an active member of the Leather Community for a decade and is a regular host at events, a play scene demonstrator and the director of several events and organizations. “There is a very strong spiritual component to leather,” she says. “There’s an energy exchange that happens and it makes you larger than yourself.” She adds that while there is a strong sexual component within the Leather Community, it does not accurately describe it in its totality. Triskelan is recently single. She was part of a polyamorous triad with two other women until recently. While she does want a long term relationship at some point, she is happy to work as a demonstrator of different practices. She is, after all, the past Educational Chair for Tampa Bay Leather and Fetish Pride. While Triskelan is a definite “lifestyler,” she isn’t always behind a podium in leather or sharing her skills with the Leather Community. For 19 years she has worked as a program director for a massage therapy company. She says her place of employment and her family know about her lifestyle, and it doesn’t seem to matter much to them. “I never really came out,” she says. “I just lived it and didn’t question it. I do want a long term relationship at some point.” She especially seeks a fluid-bound partner or partners. “That includes blood play,” she explains. “That’s a major exchange of energy. Ritualistic cutting. Needle play. Feeding. It’s a ritualistic culture.” That does not mean that those unfamiliar with leather should be frightened. In fact, Triskelan encourages those who are curious to ask her questions. “The internet has a lot of resources, but it can’t answer every question or pass along the experience like a real person,” she says. “Find an organization, join a club and dispel those myths.”

Master among Men

Here are only 11 reCogniZed Masters of tHe leatHer CoMMunity in Central florida. These are leaders within the community who have been properly covered and earned all of their pieces of leather. Master Stephen is one of them. “In 1972, in a leather bar in New York, I met my mentor,” Master Stephen says. “He was first generation Old Guard. I spent nine years with him earning every piece of leather and learning what it was to be a leatherman. That was mostly about integrity and not just about learning to throw a flog.” Today he runs the men’s night at The Woodshed and owns Integrity House. He is a clinical therapist and he uses his profession when it comes to how he plays and does scenes at The Woodshed. “I don’t consider myself a sadist, although I do have sadistic tendencies— every dom does,” he says. “Because I’m a clinical therapist I tend to do very cathartic scenes which are more of an emotional release of things.” With a long dedication to the community, he has seen it change from the ways of the Old Guard to where it is today. He remembers the early 1970s when there were leather bars and the lifestyle was set around a code of protocols that created an everlasting brotherhood. Things have changed. “I have a line that I use called ‘Insta-Doms.’ It’s Fifty Shades of Grey, the internet, add water and half bake,” Master Stephen says. He finds mentoring is crucial to not only keep the community thriving. “For me, a true leather person is a person of self-value, integrity, a dominant in the leather community,” he says. “They never takes on a submissive without the intent of making them better when they leave us then when they joined us.” — Samantha Lena Rosenthal

—Steve Blanchard

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

from pg.29

tool. It’s a chance to learn the skills of the lifestyle or to identify with a fraternal organization.” Radwanski admits that many people—male and female—venture into the leather culture because of its link to sexuality. It’s a fact of which he is not ashamed. “It’s enjoyable and the events we put on lets those outside the community to come in and learn,” he says. “The reward for that hard work, sometimes, is the sexual friskiness. We’re gay men!”

Knowing the history

Tracing the history of the Leather Community can go back centuries, actually. But the modern version of leather we see today is most closely linked to the period following World

They experienced male sexuality and when they came back they wanted to be able to continue that sense, so clubs were formed usually around motorcycles as a way to have —Master stepHen that sense of camaraderie.

War II. While most of America considered that the “baby boom” of our history, the LGBT community saw gay veterans create motorcycle clubs that mixed with the sexual revolution of the time. That was the beginning of the Old Guard. “Old Guard started after the war. So many men were sent off for the first time,” says Master Stephen, who is the owner of the Integrity House and a staff member at The Woodshed. “They experienced a European mentality and sexuality. They experienced a camaraderie among other men. They experienced male sexuality and when they came back they wanted to continue that sense, so clubs were formed usually around motorcycles as a way to have that sense of camaraderie.” Master Stephen was mentored by a WWII vet and is a first generation Old Guard member himself. The military command structure was familiar, and leather took on a military-style in the process. That, he adds, led to a ranking system. That system led to protocols, says Barclay Barrios, a South Florida leatherman who has been involved for 23 years. “The traditional Old Guard, certainly in the way we mythologize it, is very protocol heavy. So, for

teacher on a national level, you earn what’s called a cover—and that’s the master’s cover. You never touch the brim. It’s like old military, you never touch the brim and it always goes on straight.” A lot of that protocol is lost today with the New Guard, which is more flexible when it comes to rules. The disappearance of leather bars has also played a role in that. “In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, you have the emergence of a digital era, and that then changes the nature of the community by the late ‘90s into the new millennium,” Barrios says. “You’re having a very digital element through specific websites. You also see the disappearance of a lot of leather bars.” Barrios says the 1950s and 1960s are considered the “golden era” of leather, where in places like New York City and San Francisco leather bars were thriving. As those decades passed, he considers the 1970s and 1980s to play a crucial part in paving the way for the Leather Community to become more accessible to others.

an evolving community

The Leather Community may have started out as a male-dominated world post-World War II, but things tend to evolve.

Today, the world of leather isn’t solely for the males in the species. Women’s groups and pansexual movements have made the Leather Community just as diverse as the rest of the LGBT population. “Our area is way behind some others when it comes to pansexuality,” Radwanski explains. “New York, D.C. and California are a little bit ahead of us—and so is Canada. But we’re slowly getting there and bridging that gap.” Leather, Radwanski and others contend, is not based on gender or sexual orientation. It is a central component to a growing group of people who associate leather with different emotions and states of being. Pansexuality does not mean bi-sexuality. According to Barbara Cothern, who is married to a man, pansexuality is an attraction to personalities, not a specific gender. “I can work with any equipment,” the Tampa author explains. “It’s about that personal connection.” Puppy play is another example of the evolution of the Leather Community. “Puppy play has been around for many years and it’s just becoming big again,” explains Matt Wolf, an organizers of Florida Fetish and Leather Pride. “There were large, international puppy competitions that were around in the 1980s, but they kind of died down. Then we had Pup Flip emerge and take it upon himself to start a local contest again.” The Puppy movement, as many call it, involves both men and women wearing canine-shaped hoods and walking on all fours, just like a real puppy—or bio-puppy, as they are referred. “Puppy headspace for me is just letting go of all human inhibitions and living in the moment, just like when you see a puppy,” Jaeger Pup of Spring Hill explains. “You run out of control, play, sniff—there is no real set of rules to follow in that respect.” The act of forcing someone to behave as a puppy used to be a form of punishment a dominant person would place on a submissive. But that punishment evolved into its own culture within the Sir or Master/Boy dynamic, Pup Jaeger adds. “But today they’re very different,” Pup Jaeger says. “A leather boy is trained and it is a militant situation where the boy is there to serve a master. But a boy has a voice in the family. The puppy aspect is totally different. When you are in pup space, you are just going with whatever happens.”

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| uu | Living the Leather Life

example, you would certainly not touch a man’s leathers without permission,” says Barrios, who goes by “Edge” and is a leather educator. That history, Stephen adds, includes the order in which leather people earn their pieces of leather. “The first thing you earn are your boots, then you earn pants and a belt,” Master Stephen explains. “The boots say that you’re ready to walk the path of a leatherperson, so your mentor awards you, ceremonially, boots. Then you are ready to wrap yourself in the leather lifestyle, so you get pants and a belt. That means you progressed in your skill level; it means you’ve become known a little bit for some local work. “The next thing you get is a vest, and that vest says you have teaching in the community and you’re wellknown outside your circle. Ninetynine percent of the people, that’s as far as they go. If your mentor or the community itself deems you a

National Leather Association Orlando

Hris “lunatiC Bound” Cartee refers to HiMself as a gdi—a God Damn Independent. Meaning that the Orlando resident doesn’t follow any prescribed path. Cartee stepped into the Leather Community four years ago but has practiced the lifestyle for 11 years. “I came to the Leather Community out of a leather fetishism,” Cartee says. “I had several friends who kept referring to me as a leatherman or leatherperson, and I had no idea what they were talking about. I started looking into it.” Last year, Cartee was approached by someone who wanted to start up a local chapter of the National Leather Association. There was the National Leather Association of Central Florida, but that’s located in Tampa. She wanted something specifically for Orlando to help expand and solidify the community. The woman asked for Cartee’s support. He managed to get 13 signatures in two days. He was elected as the co-chair of the National Leather Association Orlando. “What we are trying to do with NLA-O is try to bring some cohesion to the Orlando area and the Orlando leatherfolk,” Cartee says. Cartee has loved the opportunity that being the outgoing co-chair of NLA-O has given him. “To me, it’s about service to something greater than yourself, leaving this world a little better a place for the next group to come through,” says Cartee. Cartee’s girlfriend of two years is also involved in the Leather Community. “We have a dominant-submissive relationship with power exchange,” Cartee says. Cartee says misconceptions were placed on him in the Leather Community as a heterosexual male. Today, he says it’s easier to educate about the community and tries to have them see beyond their expectations. “If you ask three leather people what the leather community is, you’re going to have five or six different opinions,” he says. He hopes that through the NLA-O, the Orlando leather community will become more cohesive instead of being very private. “It is, in many ways, your leather is not necessarily my leather,” says Cartee. “But your leather is okay.”

— Samantha Lena Rosenthal

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arts and entertainment

tropiCal roManCe:

ben davis and Kelly Felthous star in Asolo Rep’s production of South Pacific, which was also the first show of the season to host an LGBT night. Photo courteSy cLiFF roLeS

COMING OUT AT

ASOLO the out@aSolo program CelebrateS five yearS of reaChing out to SaraSota’S lgbt Community

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arasota | Hundreds of sarasota

LGBT supporters enjoyed a night of mingling and theater on Nov. 20 at South Pacific, the OUT@AsoloRep’s first event of the 2014-15 season.

During OUT@Asolo, the “premiere LGBT night in Sarasota,” attendees enjoy a discounted six-play series and pre-show reception at each event. Guests also learn about local participating LGBT organizations before the show and meet actors and other attendees after the performance. As a bonus, Asolo’s producing

artistic director Michael Donald Edwards shares insight and behind-the-scenes information about each performance. The grass roots of OUT@Asolo began on Oct. 12, 2009, when Asolo was one of 150 theaters across the nation to participate in a live remote and simultaneous global staged reading of The

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Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. Before the Laramie reading, Asolo hosted a community expo called “A Night of Non-Violence” in which local non-violent groups and LGBT organizations shared their missions and answered questions. A live broadcast from the Lincoln Center followed immediately after the expo. Due to overwhelming response and positive feedback, local LGBT supporters, Asolo staff, and community members formed a committee to launch OUT@Asolo. The series has grown from about 15 attendees to over 100. “We really wanted to be part of that national conversation in the

second part of Laramie,” Edwards says. “I was new at the institution and we filled the theater. LGBT organizations came out of the woodwork.” Kimberly Bleach, U.S. Trust representative and OUT@ Asolo sponsor, said many other theaters in the nation hold single performances supporting the LGBT community, but Asolo is the only theater to feature an entire series. “A lot of organizations are very protective of their donor base,” Bleach says. “For Asolo to invite all nonprofits in and have a few

continued on pg. 47 | uu |

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

THE BARBER FUND

minutes to speak about their organization is leaps and bounds ahead of others in forward thinking.” A committee was born when Randell Johnson, OUT@Asolo organizing committee member, and his partner, Bobby Jensen, opened their home for brainstorming and exchanging ideas about OUT@Asolo over beer and wine. Jensen and Johnson still host beer and wine nights where committee members decide which organizations will be highlighted throughout the season. OUT@Asolo provides an opportunity for attendees to openly identify and link together as LGBT. Edwards described the series as

an intimate opportunity for networking. Edwards said as an older gay man, he remembers having many opportunities to meet people during his younger years when he first came out. He said the internet has opened a lot of networks, but makes spontaneous encounters more difficult. “I think that’s why [OUT@ Asolo] is growing,” Edwards says. “It gives a chance for the older generation to feel nostalgic and also gives the younger generation a chance to see how it was for us. It’s an intergenerational linking.” OUT@Asolo benefits nonprofits and community members alike. South Pacific showcased Our Sarasota Fund and Community AIDS Network (CAN). Ken Shelin, founder of Our Sarasota Fund, said OUT@ Asolo is a great way for

was a featured nonprofit. Future 2014-15 season performances and associated nonprofits will include: The Matchmaker on Jan. 28, with GAIN and A League of Our Own; Good People on Feb. 20, with Manatee Pride and Prism Youth Initiative; Both Your Houses on March 18, with Equality Florida and Trinity Charities; Our Betters on April 9, with Sarasota Pride and the Fabulous Independent Film Festival; and Luck be a Lady: The Iconic Music of Frank Loesser on May 7, with GREEN and ALSO Out Youth. Guests can experience all of these performances by purchasing an “A” Seating subscription for $270 or “B” Seating for $216. Single performance tickets are available at a 20% discount off standard ticket prices.

offering a “gay lens,” a way for guests to identify how each play relates to them from a LGBT perspective. He said gay people have become adept at identifying how stories might relate to them. Edwards’ goal is to create a LGBT experience that includes people from all walks of life. “We think it’s a win-winwin-win,” Johnson says. “We’re introducing members of the community to Asolo who might otherwise have not come and they are becoming theatrically oriented. Then introducing members of the community to organizations they may or may not know about. Then bringing members of the organization and introducing them to the Asolo.” Edwards said OUT@ Asolo works so well because people in the community come together and present fresh ideas in an “organic partnership.” OUT@Asolo also provides

small nonprofits to get visibility they wouldn’t otherwise have. “We all find common ground with one another,” Shelin says. “Our Sarasota Fund is a giving circle which gathers donors who are interested in nonprofit programs benefiting the LGBT community. The organization then decides which organizations and programs will receive grants. CAN oversees eight HIV/ AIDS clinics in the state with the goal of reaching an HIV/AIDS-free generation. Scott George, CAN director of development, said CAN was kept secret as a medical clinic for many years, but has recently expanded to include all LGBT causes. “It’s quite an amazing organization because it started in a small town and became a gold standard,” George says. South Pacific was the fourth OUT@Asolo performance in which CAN

For tickets, visit ASOLOREP. org and use promo code OUT1415. Tickets are also available at 941-351-8000. Let’s not forget the sponsors who help make OUT@Asolo a reality. 2014-15 sponsors include U.S. Trust, Visit Sarasota County, Morton’s Gourmet and Catering, Community Foundation of Sarasota Inc. from the Our Sarasota Fund and the McCauley-Brown Fund, and Watermark Media. “As Harvey Milk said, ‘The best way for people to know and to like us is to get people to know us and to understand us,’” Johnson says. “This is a way for people to get to know us.”

| uu | Out at Asolo from pg.43

HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH CANCER

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Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

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eventplanner event planner

artS+entertainment

Community Calendar

orlando

Marvel Universe Live!, Dec. 5-7, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com

usher: The ur experience aMWay Center friday, deC. 12, 7:30 p.M.

I & YOU, Dec. 5-14, Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com

Usher brings his sexy moves and soulful voice to Orlando as an early Christmas present Dec. 12. The performer, discovered on Star Search 20 years ago, is now one of the best-selling artists in American music history. Tickets start at $35 at AmwayCenter.com.

James Joyce’s The Dead, Dec. 5-Jan. 4, Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com A Christmas Carol, Dec. 5-28, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org

tampa

A Christmas Carol, Dec. 5-22, Theatre Downtown, Orlando. 407-841-0083; TheatreDowntown.net

The Phantom of the Opera tHe straZ Center deC. 17- Jan. 4

Isn’t It Romantic? Dec. 5-14, Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterParkPlayhouse.com Tuna Christmas, Dec. 5-14, Osceola Arts Center, Kissimmee. 407-846-6257; OsceolaArts.org The Miracle on 34th Street, Dec. 5-14, The Little Theatre, New Smyrna Beach. 386-423-1246; NSBPlayers.org Hoodie Allen, Dec. 6, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com/Orlando. Chevelle, Dec. 7, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com/Orlando. Season’s Greetings: A Steve & Eydie Holiday Tribute, Dec. 7, Theatre Downtown, Orlando. 407-841-0083; TheatreDowntown.net The Orlando Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Dec. 10-14, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. 407-685-9800; OCCC.net A Christmas Carol, Dec. 11-21, Moonlight Players, Clermont. 352-243-5875; MoonlightPlayers.com Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dec. 14, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com. Trampled by Turtles, Dec. 14, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com/Orlando.

Country star JoDee Messina is touring and performing on her own terms these days promoting her most personal album to date, ME. The singer performs at the Ritz Ybor on Dec. 10 and tickets are available at TheRitzYbor.com. See her interview at WatermarkOnline.com.

Mix 105.1’s All I Want for Christmas Show, Dec. 15, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com/Orlando.

tampa bay A Christmas Carol, Dec. 5-24, FreeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; FreeFallTheatre.com Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story Live on Stage, Dec. 5-7, Carol Morsani Hall, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-228-7827; StrazCenter.org Will & Anthony: Broadway, Our Way, Dec. 6, Jaeb Theatre at the Straz Center, Tampa. 813-228-7827; StrazCenter.org Mediaeval Baebes Christmas, Dec. 6, Ferguson Hall, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-228-7827; StrazCenter.org

The Colors of Christmas, Dec. 9, The Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-893-7832; TheMahaffey.com Demetri Martin: The Persistence of Jokes, Dec. 13, Ferguson Hall, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-228-7827; StrazCenter.org

Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, Dec. 3-21, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Sarasota. 941-366-1505; WBTTSRQ.org Colors of Christmas, Dec. 10, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 941-953-3368; VanWezel.com

Next Generation Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Dec. 13-14, Carol Morsani Hall, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-228-7827; StrazCenter.org

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Dec. 11, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 941-953-3368; VanWezel.com

A New Heart for Christmas, Dec. 15, The Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-893-7832; TheMahaffey.com

Our Daily Bread, Dec. 12-13, Venice Theatre, Venice. 941-488-1115; VeniceStage.com.

The Phantom of the Opera, Dec. 17-Jan. 4, Carol Morsani Hall, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-228-7827; StrazCenter.org

Bad Santa with Grant Peeples, Dec. 13, Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota. 941-366-8450; SarasotaOpera.org.

sarasota South Pacific, Dec. 5-28, Asolo Rep Theatre, Sarasota. 941-351-8000; AsoloRep.org

Bowzer’s Rock & Roll Holiday Party, Dec. 16, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 941-953-3368; VanWezel.com

To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com.

watermark Your lgbt life.

Following an acclaimed sold-out tour of the United Kingdom, Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenal musical success, The Phantom of the Opera, will come to Tampa as part of a brand new North American Tour. Tickets start at $61 at StrazCenter.org.

sarasota

The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical veniCe tHeatre deC. 5-21 Welcome back to Stark, Florida! Join Betty, Lin and Pickles as they ring in the holidays at Armadillo Acres with a new set of offbeat characters—including the resident Scrooge, who comes down with amnesia just in time for Christmas! Tickets start at $15 and are available at VeniceStage.com.

clearwater

Home Alone/ Christmas Vacation Capitol tHeatre friday, deC. 12, 7 p.M. Get into the holiday spirit with a classic double feature of Christmas favorites, Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The two comedies were box-office smashes and are now must-sees every December. Tickets are only $7 for both films. Get details at RuthEckerdHall.com.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

On view now through January 18, 2015 Sponsored by

Jamie Wyeth, Nureyev – Don Quixote (detail), 2001, combined mediums, Collection Brandywine River Museum of Art. Purchase made possible by the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, the Roemer Foundation, the Margaret Dorrance Strawbridge Foundation of PA I, Inc., and an anonymous donor, 2006 Work by Jamie Wyeth copyright © Jamie Wyeth

On view now through January 11, 2015 James Rosenquist (American, born 1933), Welcome to the Water Planet, 1987, Aquatint on paper. Gift of Iris and E. Stan Salzer, Published by GraphicStudio, University of South Florida, Tampa

Sunday, December 14

Featured Artists Jacob Stout and Mariel Bass Noon–Live Glass Blowing Demonstration at the Duncan McClellan Gallery 550 24th Street South, St. Petersburg www.dmglass.com

1:30pm–Lunch with the Artists at the MFA Café Please book directly with the café by calling (727) 822-1032

3pm–Lecture at the MFA (Free with Museum Admission) Sponsored by the DMG School Project

watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

ShotonSite 4

Tampa Bay 1- New home: Mark Mann and Lorraine Langlois chat at the new LGBT Welcome Center in St. Petersburg before the World AIDS Day candlelight vigil Dec. 1. Photo by Steve Blanchard

2- Merry Christmas: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn stands with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Annual Ybor City Holiday Spirit Christmas Tree Lighting festivities on Nov. 22. Photo courtesy Carrie West 3- Birthday time! Tampa photographer Bruce Hardin is all smiles at Villagio Cinemas after seeing Mockingjay Part 1 and before blowing out the candles on his birthday cake. Photo by Steve Blanchard

4- Going Japanese: (L-R) Kevin Martin and Steve Smith celebrate their birthdays at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse in Clearwater on Nov. 30. Photo by Bruce Hardin 5- Oh, Wilma: Quench Lounge manager Jeff Beadle performs as Wilma Pooperdoo channeling Karen Walker during the bar’s second annual employee turnabout Nov. 20. Photo by Steve Blanchard 6- always vigilant: Darden Rice, Larry Biddle and Julie Kessel await the start of the World AIDS Day candlelight vigil at the St. Petersburg LGBT Welcome Center Dec. 1. Photo by Steve Blanchard 7- Reflective moment: Saralee Fackelman shares a few Jewish prayers during the Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony held on the steps of St. Petersburg City Hall on Nov. 20. Photo by Steve Blanchard

8- Expressing optimism: Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith addresses a crowd of nearly 400 during the organizations Suncoast Gala atop the Palm Avenue Parking Garage in downtown Sarasota Nov. 22. Photo by Steve Blanchard

Overheard Softball eyeing “E” division

here’s a chance that the Suncoast Softball League could create a whole new non-competitive division in 2015. Due to ratings guidelines, some players are forced into different divisions each season, meaning teams split up. To avoid that trauma, the league is entertaining a new recreational league that is unaffiliated, in effect, with the national NAGAAA rules that places ratings in place and guide teams to the World Series each year. The league has

asked members to take a survey to determine interest in such a division in the spring. A decision should be announced by the end of 2014. Visit SuncoastSoftball. org to keep up to date.

Christmas Pride

t’s December, which means the holidays are approaching us like a freight train. Fortunately, with the stress comes parties, and St. Petersburg’s biggest is happening Dec. 6. Red & Green, St. Pete Pride’s annual holiday fundraiser, returns to Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg at 7 p.m. The night of festivities will

include appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus and performances by local drag performers and choirs. Entry is $35 and includes an open bar and some light bites. Every dollar earned goes toward funding St. Pete Pride and its community outreach programs. Get more information at StPetePride.com.

$215,000 and counting

he annual Suncoast Gala, presented by Equality Florida, raised a record $215,000 on Nov. 22. Nearly 400 people attended the fundraiser on top of the Palm Avenue Parking

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Garage overlooking the fabulous city. Rains held off long enough for Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith to make some remarks and encourage people to remain optimistic in the fight for equality while also staying impatient. The evening also included large screens where projected messages of equality were shared by those on the front lines of the equality movement.

Drinking in heels

eave it to the nuns of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to mix drinking, bar hopping

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

and high heels with a fundraiser. But that’s exactly what they are doing with their traditional Holiday High Heel Bar Crawl on Dec. 7. The fundraiser begins at King Corona Cigars and Cafe on 7th Avenue in Ybor City and proceeds to nine other bars and pubs in the historic district. At the end of the night, participants are invited to strap on some high heels and race from Gaspar’s Grotto to Last Chance Bar to win some prizes. Racing isn’t required, but the fun kind of is. Tickets are $25 and benefit SNOW on 7th and the sisters’ Ham It Up Holiday Fundraiser, which is on Dec. 13.

watermark Your lgbt life.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

ShotonSite 1

orlando

1- CANDLELIGHT VIGIL: (L-R) Abby Nicholson, Russell Walker, Aaron Sanford and Terry DeCarlo gather during the Lake Eola Vigil held for World AIDS Day on Dec. 2. Photo by

Danny Garcia

2- OATH OF OFFICE: Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, along with newly elected County Commissioners, addresses the media after taking the Oath of Office on Dec. 2. Photo by

Christal Hayes

3- GIVING THANKS: (L-R) Joy MCC Pastor Rev. Terri Steed, Dave Hack and Penny Reed help package food bags for Joy MCC’s 22nd Annual Garrison/Reed Thanksgiving Food Drive. They filled 353 bags this year. Photo by Mark Cady

7 4

4- EN POINTE: (L-R) Robert Hill, Andrea Batchelor, Eric Ravndal III, Sibille Pritchard and Earl Crittenden, Jr. take the stage before the opening night performance of Carmena Burina on Nov. 22 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. After a twirl, Hill said he wanted to be the first person to do a pirouette on the stage. Photo by Jamie Hyman 5- ARTISANS GALORE: Jamie “Sassy Devine” Lee (right) and her two team members sell artifacts, religious relics and fine art at The Village at Artegon Marketplace during the marketplace’s grand opening Nov. 20. Photo by Danny Garcia 6- EQUALITY FOR ALL: Equality Florida’s Gina Duncan (center), surrounded by supporters, pushes for equality as the Miami-Dade County Commission addresses an amendment protecting transgender individuals. Photo courtesy Gina Duncan 7- WE BE JAMMIN’: (L-R) Watermark contest winner Heather Barbour, Lindsey Trefz and Chris Castanza enjoy their afternoon at the Jammin’ Food and Rum Fest at Lake Eola. Photo by Danny Garcia

8- ISLAND OF ADVENTURE: Watermark publisher Rick Claggett (center), with Jennifer Kunsch and Jeremiah Catherwood, represent their favorite Orlando watering hole while on vacation in Key West. Photo by Mike Brown

Overheard What’s app’ening at Dr. Phillips

he new state of the art Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is now mobile, well sort of. It has a new app created with the support of Echo Interaction that is available in the app store for iOS devices as “DrPhillipsCtr.” The app is designed to allow iPhone users to purchase tickets, create reminders for where they parked and even receive notifications for when tickets go on sale based on their personal preferences. Users can also use to the app to make dinner reservations at participating restaurants. As

of now, no word if the app will launch for Android users.

Orlando boys and their balls

rlando was well represented this past holiday weekend in Fort Lauderdale during the 20th Annual Hurricane Showdown Softball Tournament. The Orlando Sliders were the big winners for the D division. Over the same weekend, Fort Lauderdale was also host to their very first ever Fort Lauderdale Gay Days. Reports say the inaugural event wasn’t nearly as well attended as Gay Days Orlando or Gay Days Vegas.

Now for the main course

n the heart of Mills 50 district sits the Sybil of restaurants, located at 924 N Mills. The restaurant is owned by FMI— best known for Funky Monkey Wine Company (I-Drive & Mills) and the long deceased eateries Nick’s Italian Kitchen & the Prickly Pear. This restaurant was originally Bananas Diner, home to a Sunday Gospel Drag Brunch, late night service and servings of Chicken and Waffles. In July, according to the owners, to fit the new feel of the neighborhood, out went the drag queens and waffles and in came an overhauled look and menu came the Mills

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Brew Pub. The new concept didn’t last very long with the recent announcement of a new name and a revisit to the drag performers. Now dubbed The Divas Dinner Theatre, it offers a preset three-course menu for dinner and different option for the return of its gospel brunch. Compared to Lips in Fort Lauderdale and New York, the Divas Dinner Theatre will feature several local drag performers, most of which also perform at the Funky Monkey I-Drive location. There will also be local theatrical performances. With only a few weeks left in 2014 we hope this concept sticks longer than fake eyelashes.

Decemb er 4 - Decemb er 17, 2014 // Issue 21. 25

Happy Barber-Days

he Barber fund that helps those living with cancer, honoring John “Tweeka” Barber is benefiting from some funny fundraisers. On Dec. 8, Miss Comedy Queen Holiday Spectacular, Tweeka was a former Miss Comedy Queen. And on Dec. 19, a Fringe Festival favourite Pepe returns with a slew of his “beetches”. Pepe’s Christma-Kwanz-Kah, special features performers Blue, Janine Klein, Lady Raptastic and many more. Both hysterical holiday events will be held at the Venue.

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community Announcements

a neW post: George Wallace was elected to the Board of Directors for The Center in Orlando.

going strong: St. Petersburg a MagiCal anniversary: andrea hays,

Diversity and Inclusion Director of the MBA, celebrated 15 magical years with the Walt Disney Company on Nov. 20.

CongratulationS

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Congratulations to Tampa’s Mac McGowan for another year on the wagon Dec. 17.

Tampa Bay actor and Lucky Star St. Petersburg bartender Daniel Harris, Watermark cover model aleesha Kerri, Funky Monkey entrepreneur eddie nickell (Dec. 6); Orlando Theatre goddess beth Marshall, Orlando Weekly staff writer Deanna Morey, St. Petersburg psychiatrist Tom young, Tampa’s Red Herring Ltd. expert ivan Moros (Dec. 7); Orlando comic Jeff Jones, Tampa Straz Center staffer and actor Spencer Meyers, Watermark contributor Orlando derby girl and mommy amy anderson, Mitzi Morris’ alter ego Scottie campbell has Kevin Kreigel (Dec. 10); Watermark sales director and out and proud been named the new Veteran Mark cady, Orlando former Watermark contributor John Sullivan, Manager of Member Tampa Bay Bulldog softballer Les croy (Dec. 11); Orlando Ford-dealing Relations at the Orlando bear Fred berliner (Dec. 11); Tampa’s Equality Florida Gala go-to guy ed Science Center. Lally, Orlando Chorus baritone Jamie decker, Sarasota’s WAVE-winning realtor Jim Jablonski, St. Pete Twirler Jose Luis Perez, Altamonte Springs chiropractor dr. bradford Levine (Dec. 12); Orlando zebra and baby-deliverer Marie Mcclure, Orlando talent-seeker Mark catlett, Orlando actor/director ashland thomas (Dec. 13); Paradise purveyor Dan Schwab, drag performer hunter holloway, Manatee Segway Tours CEO Fred burgin (Dec. 14); former Tampa MCC Pastor rev. Phyllis hunt, St. Petersburg outdoor lover dan barrett, Clearwater softball stud Gregory toth (Dec. 15); blogger and Tampa Bay lawyer david Schauer (Dec. 16); gay-friendly NYC (former Orlando) chanteuse becky Fisher (Dec. 17). 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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