Watermark Issue 23.20: Sarasota Pride by Watermark Publishing Group

watermark Your LGBT Life.

ISSUE 23.20 • OCT. 6-19, 2016 WATERMARKONLINE.COM

nsert inside: Our shiny new spring Arts guide 2013! SARASOTA PRIDE STAYS THE COURSE IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY daytona Beach • orlando • tampa • st. petersBurg • clearwater • sarasota

MACY’S HONORS THE VICTIMS OF THE 2016 ORLANDO NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING, T H E I R L O V E D O N E S , A N D T H E E N T I R E L G B T Q C O M M U N I T Y,

MACY’S REMEMBERS THE VICTIMS W H O M W E P R O U D LY S U P P O R T.

OF THE 2016 ORLANDO SHOOTING A N D S T A N D S P R O U D LY WITH THEIR LOVED ONES AND MACY’S HONORS THE VICTIMS OF THE 2016 ORLANDO NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING, THE ENTIRE LGBTQ COMMUNITY T H E I R L O V E D O N E S , A N D T H E E N T I R E L G B T Q C O M M U N I T Y, W H O M W E P R O U D LY S U P P O R T.

50799_N6050529.indd 1

6/24/16 1:09 PM

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

WHAT IF YOU’RE JUST NOT CUT OUT FOR ORDINARY EXPERIENCES? Have we got a place for you. When you explore our selection of artisan shops selling one-of-a-kind hand-crafted items made by local masters, only thing you can expect is theOUT unexpected. You thought youEXPERIENCES? knew us? Think again. WHAT IF the YOU’RE JUST NOT CUT FOR ORDINARY With artisan shops, food & places to play, we’re your antidote forfor the ordinary. Have we got a place you. When you explore our selection of artisan shops selling one-of-a-kind hand-crafted items made by Home décor, hand-crafted furniture, apparel, all natural bath & body products plus Ron Jon Surf Shop, local masters, the only thing you can expect is the unexpected. You thought you knew us? Think again. Bass Pro Shops, Sky Zone and Cinemark Theatres, all under one air-conditioned, pet-friendly roof. With artisan shops, food & places to play, we’re your antidote for the ordinary. 5250 International Drive | 407.351.7718 | artegon.com

Home décor, hand-crafted furniture, apparel, all natural bath & body products plus Ron Jon Surf Shop,

Check out Artegon.com for all Gay Days events. Opening Party will be held at Artegon May 31, 6pm – 9:30pm. Bass Pro Shops, Sky Zone and Cinemark Theatres, all under one air-conditioned, pet-friendly roof.

If you like receiving special perks (and who doesn’t?) bringInternational this ad to Guest Services to receive yours (code: WMM). 5250 Drive | 407.351.7718 | artegon.com

Check out Artegon.com for all Gay Days events. Opening Party will be held at Artegon May 31, 6pm – 9:30pm. If you like receiving special perks (and who doesn’t?) bring this ad to Guest Services to receive yours (code: WMM).

54038-17-ART-MAG-Watermark-LGBT.indd 1

watermark Your LGBT life.

5/5/16 4:26 PM

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

County Commissioner

Ted Edwards Ted Edwards has a record of: HELPING THE NEEDY 4 Ted voted to partner with local ministries to open the Samaritan Resource Center for the homeless for counseling, medical care, showers, haircuts, laundry, and life needs. They serve 1,500 homeless.

ALL YOU CAN EAT! Maine lobster, crab legs, ﬁsh, shrimp, salmon, sushi, crawﬁsh, oysters, mussels & clams (Fried, steamed, boiled, baked, smoked or raw) Homemade soups, salads and desserts too!

SUPPORTING EQUALITY Before the Supreme Court Decision, Ted: 4 Voted For Orange County’s Domestic-Partner Registry. 4 Voted to add Orange County to Florida’s marriage equality amicus brief.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Ted Edwards for Orange County Commissioner, District 5, Non-partisan

VOTE NOV 8

watermark Your LGBT life.

www.bostonlobsterfeast.com 8731 International Drive 407.248.8606 6071 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. 407.396.2606

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

departments 6 // mail 7 // editor’s desk 8 // orlando news 12 // tampa bay news 17 // state news 19 // nation & world news 39 // arts & entertainment 47 // community calendar 51 // tampa bay out+about 53 // orlando out+about 55 // announcements/ wedding bells 56 // tampa bay marketplace 58 // orlando marketplace

PAGE

Planned Parenthood has always been an ally to the lGBt community and we create safe spaces for all people to present as themselves. We wanted to show our commitment in a strong way by providing a space of care for all people. —anna esKamani of planneD parenthooD

on tHe cover

PAGE

PAGE PRIDE OF PLACE:

Sarasota Pride stays the course this year in the face of the tragic June 12 shooting at Pulse in Orlando. Photo by Jake Stevens

scan Qr code For

watermarkonline.com

proud talent: Fresh off his appearance

on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Brian Justin Crum headlines the Come Out With Pride concert at Lake Eola Park..

watermark i ssue 23 .20 //oct ober 6 - oct ober 19, 2016

state your name

sHine like a ruby

Hometown writes

cHina is yuuuge

PAGE The Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee is sending out letters to all Florida officials asking them to pledge that they will tackle gun reform.

PAGE All Hallows’ Masquerade Ball takes over the Museum of Science and Industry to celebrate 40 years of ghoulish Halloween fun.

PAGE

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

The After Orlando Project pulls together local playwrights who will have their pieces performed worldwide to help unite and heal.

Spinning like the winds of a Cat 5 hurricane, Donald Trump hurls ever closer to being the storm that slams into America.

give us a follow on twitter and instagram at @watermarkonline and Be sure to like us on faceBook. watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

top web comments She lived on an island populated only by women and you think she’d not be a warrior lesbian? Who’d a thunk it? —Benn Eaton

Watermarkonline.com:

Rainbow Democrats of Orange County General Election Voter Guide Nov 8, 2016 Caucus Members

U.S. Representative District 9 Darren Soto DEM State Senator District 13 Linda Stewart DEM County Commissioner District 5 Emily Bonilla District 47 Beth Tuura DEM District 49 Carlos Guillermo Smith DEM

President / Vice President

Hillary Clinton / Timothy Kaine

United States Senator Patrick Murphy DEM Representative in Congress District 7 Stephanie Murphy DEM District 8 Corry Westbrook DEM District 9 Darren Soto DEM District 10 Val Demings DEM State Attorney 9th Judicial Circuit Aramis Ayala DEM County Commissioner District 5 Emily Bonilla State Senator District 11 Randolph Bracy DEM District 13 Linda Stewart DEM District 15 Victor M. Torres Jr. DEM State Representative District 30 Ryan Neal Yadav DEM District 46 Bruce Antone DEM District 47 Beth Tuura DEM District 48 Amy Mercado DEM District 49 Carlos Guillermo Smith DEM District 50 Sean Ashby DEM Clerk of the Courts Tiffany Moore Russell DEM Sheriff Jerry L. Demings DEM Property Appraiser Rick Singh DEM Tax Collector Scott Randolph DEM Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles DEM Soil and Water District 1 (Vote for One) Michael Barber, Maria Bolton-Joubert, or Star Grayson District 3 Nicole Victoria McLaren District 5 (Vote for One) Steven Laune Beumer or Richard-Paul Danner

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENDMENTS: VOTE NO: NO.1 ARTICLE X, SECTION 29 VOTE YES: NO.2 ARTICLE X, SECTION 29 VOTE YES: NO.3 ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6 VOTE YES: NO. 5 ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6 PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS: VOTE NO: QUESTION #1 VOTE NO: QUESTION #2 VOTE NO: QUESTION #3 Questions Orange County Supervisor of Elections at the following website: ocfelections.com or call 407-836-2070 Facebook: CentralFloridaRainbowDems Rainbowdems.org | RainbowDemocrats@gmail.com Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by the Rainbow Democratic Caucus of Orange County.

Cut out and take with you to vote 6

watermark Your LGBT life.

Wonder Woman comics writer reveals character is gay:

Ya think? She lived on an island populated only by women and you think she’d not be a warrior lesbian? Who’d a thunk it? In that place you either romp with a woman or yourself, which really is one in the same. No Father’s Day parades, but weekends must be a real lick fest. —Benn Eaton

Editor’s Desk from 9/22/16:

“If I may offer another perspective on this question. I have survived many things in this life so far. But the one that comes to mind is the aftermath of 9/11. I worked on the 86th Floor and had lost many close friends on that day as well. And much like the aftermath of Pulse, the world was watching how we dealt with that tragedy as well. I think as a New Yorker, we missed an opportunity and that missed opportunity haunts us every year. The New York that I loved and remember before that day was a strong, vibrant, thriving New York full of possibility and opportunity. It was a city that was exciting on so many levels regardless of which corner you lived in. Each community had an identifying trait to be proud of. I was happy. I was proud of living and being a part of such an amazing city – of such an amazing country. But with the eyes of the

world on us, we showed them our tears. We showed them our moment of vulnerability. They saw a city attacked and a city mourning. And every year since, as the world continues to watch, we still mourn – we still cry. I caution Orlando to not make the same mistake that New York has made. This is an opportunity, with all eyes on us – to demonstrate what our Pride means. It’s an opportunity to show them why this community is so important to the members it supports. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate to the blind, judgmental and ignorant that we are not the weakened stereotypes they’ve imagined – but that we are a compassionate community of leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, brothers, sisters and more… a community of LIVES – that continues to live and thrive and celebrate even in the face of ugliness. To celebrate in such a manner that would have made our fallen siblings proud to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. Because we have always endured in this way. This, I offer is how.”

—Kaydean Phillips

Watermark’s Facebook

Se7en Bites opens just in time for Pride Week:

“Thank you for the fabulous words!!!!”

—Trina Gregory-Propst

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Alabama Chief Justice waits for judgment day on keeping job:

“Another Southern Baptist nutter out of office—S-WEET!” —Harold Donner

LGBT festival canceled in Haiti amid threats, government order:

“After Hillary is elected, the U.S. government should grant political asylum to all LGBT people in the world who are living with fear for their lives from their respective governments.” —Hen Ry Mays

Will & Grace cast reunite to get the vote:

“Bring back Will & Grace!” —Marybell Ortiz

Anti-gay Alabama Chief Justice Moore heads to court this week:

“Girl, BYE!!”

—Xander Foxworth

Will & Grace cast tweets that they are back!:

“Hurraids!”

—Thom Bland

“I’m soooooooooo excited!” —Pam Hardin

Friends remember Pulse survivor who died while visiting Tampa:

“God Bless you Chris. I pray you are at peace now. “ —DeDe Wagner

“God bless.”

—Scotty McElrath

editor’s

Billy Manes EDITOR

BIlly@WatermarkOnline.com

Desk

etwixt the cacophonous

roars of television-news hurricane paranoia – “It’s comin’ right fer us!!!” – and the horrific thought of a swoop of pumpkin hair covering a megalomaniac with a distinct lack of scruples – also, coming right for us, if we’re not careful – it’s hard to imagine that this issue finds us straddling two pride celebrations in their own whirlwinds of flux. Maybe that’s a good thing. It’s a life of surprises, after all. We don’t always want to read the last page first. For me, personally, Pride celebrations carry with them so many memories of letting go, feeling free (to be, you and me, etc.) and sweating my ass off until the rain comes and turns my head into artificial crab meat fit for the breaking, wanly dripping down a drain. But this year, of course, is different. As much as we’ve belabored the point – the tipping point, even – of

watermark staff

the June 12 Pulse tragedy, grief has a way of forming its own ellipses, exclamation points, commas and periods, all muddled together into a fragmented history of the past few months in Florida and, indeed, gay America. Things just don’t feel the same. The barometric pressure is dropping as I write this noodling piece of prose, but the feelings are still there. Every night is a nightmare,

Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com

every morning a new beginning. We’ve been through shit before, but this shit isn’t going away very quickly, not this time. And so we rise. This week’s issue complements our previous Orlando Come Out With Pride effort in which we explored the difficulties of bringing peace to a broken community wrapped up in the blanket of tragedy – and that was before the threat of a hurricane raining on our parade even materialized. This week, we focus on Sarasota Pride, its history, its folksiness and its heroes. The string that holds these pride events together is fluorescent, apparent and strong, globally. We see you. We see each other. If it weren’t for Pulse, there may not have been a Sarasota Pride this year. Cindy Barnes, whose sweat equity has carried the event for years, was looking to put down the baton. She didn’t, though. She couldn’t. “We are all Orlando,” the posters read almost whimsically, but it’s true. She stayed on because this year is more important than any in getting the message out that we are still here, we are still queer and you ought to be used to it by now. But people aren’t. And so we rise some more – far above the clouds, far above the rhetoric – in order to regain some sense of stability, even if our feet may never touch the same ground again. This issue, like those preceding it in recent history, has plenty of healing salve wrapped in it. The Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee has been resuscitated in order to tackle the gun issue in a nonpartisan way, the global theater community is coming together to celebrate the strength of the Orlando community with monologues and shorts, Come Out With Pride continues to grow in its entertainment capacity in order to nurse us from our residual gloom and, in essence, we’ve got this. But wait! There’s more! In addition to the pride of

Sales Director: Danny Garcia Ext. 107 • Danny@WatermarkOnline.com

Owner & Publisher: Rick Claggett • Ext. 110 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Office Manager: Kathleen Harper • Ext. 100 • Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Billy Manes • Ext. 101 • Billy@WatermarkOnline.com

Senior Account Manager: Sam Rennels Ext. 103 • Sam@WatermarkOnline.com Account Manager: Tammi Jones Ext. 105 • Tammi@WatermarkOnline.com

Staff Writer: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 • Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Assistant: Deanndra Meno • Ext. 102 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com

Account Manager: Suzanne Sidler Ext. 301 • Suzanne@WatermarkOnline.com

Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell

Nat’l Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

watermark Your LGBT life.

proudness and all of the other alliterative references available in our lexicon (Pulse, politics, privilege, pecuniary practices, penises (!)), we’re moving forward. In this issue you’ll also find stories about how our transgender brothers and sisters are climbing toward fairness, starting with birth certificates and racing toward health coverage from Planned Parenthood. The All Hallows Masquerade Ball is (lordy-lordy) 40 this year and lighting up the Tampa Bay area brighter than ever. Our viewpoint columns pop in to let us know what it’s like to live out of a suitcase and, gasp, create a John Waters-inspired “hatchet list,” tomatoes and tits included. And, speaking of tomatoes, we throw a few where they should

And so we rise some more – far above the clouds, far above the rhetoric – in order to regain some sense of stability, even if our feet may never touch the same ground again.

be thrown politically, because at this point – this desperate point in our political pathos – they need to be thrown directly. Mostly, though, we cheer on our families, both natural and self-created. We take our pride seriously and joyfully, and we do not let our guards down. We run into the swirling winds with our smiles cracked and our “stamina” at the “full” marker on our internal dashboards. We look back, we look up and we keep on moving. Thanks for coming along for the ride. And for the rise.

Orlando Office 414 N. Ferncreek Ave. Orlando, FL 32803 TEL: 407-481-2243 FAX: 407-481-2246

Tampa Bay Office TEL: 813-655-9890 FAX: 813-849-2986

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

contributors Krista DiTucci

is a freelance writer and family advocate for Manatee Children’s Services. She lives in Sarasota with her husband and children. Page 12

Sabrina Ambra

is a cohost of Real Radio 104.1’s “News Junkie” program and will kick your ass if she needs to. Page 21

Samantha Rosenthal

attended University of Central Florida and is a former Watermark editorial assistant. She is currently a freelance writer and regularly covers Wedding Bells. Page 55

Aaron Alper, Scottie Campbell, Susan Clary, Krista DiTucci, Kirk Hartlage, Joseph Kissel, Jason Leclerc, Mary Meeks, Stephen Miller, David Moran, Gregg Shipiro, Greg Stemm, Dr. Steve yacovelli, , Michael wanzie

photography Brian Becnel, Nick Cardello, Angie Folks, Bruce Hardin, Julie Milford, Travis Moore, Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift, Tinkerfluff

distribution LVNLIF2 Distributing, Lisa Jordan, Jill Bates, Ken Carraway 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.

Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

central florida news

Solar Bears to launch season with Pride Night Pulse benefit Billy Manes

RLANDO | The Orlando sports world continues to rally around those affected – directly and indirectly – by the June 12 massacre at Pulse Orlando that left 49 dead and 53 wounded. Though much of the spotlight has rested upon Orlando City Soccer Club through Orlando’s darkest summer (the soccer league hosted a Pride-themed event on Oct. 2), all of the area’s sports teams have been present in some manner, fundraising and raising awareness for the needs of victims and responders alike. Orlando’s hockey team, the Solar Bears, will lend a hand and some cash when it launches its season on Oct. 22. “Right away, we jumped on board with Orlando City Soccer, the Orlando Magic and the Orlando Predators to do the T-Shirts as fundraising efforts,” Solar Bears chief financial and legal officer Chris Heller says. “Shortly thereafter, we were trying to figure out how else we could recognize and support with our season being so far away.” Heller acknowledges, however, that the effect on the community is still too close, to recent for many to bear. As did, it turns out, the Solar Bears’ devoted fan base. “Our thought was that we could do a special jersey for opening night and use those proceeds for a charity for those affected by this tragedy as well,” Heller says. “We then put something on Facebook later in the summer asking our fans what type of specialty jersey they would like to see this year. In addition to the American Cancer Society, the idea has been thrown out there to do SpongeBob. Unbelievably, the majority of people said a Pulse jersey as well. It matched up with our thought process, so we decided to move forward with that.” As a result, the team will be wearing black jerseys with rainbows on the sleeves for the season opener, while other rainbow-themed reminders will remain throughout the team’s season. The T-Shirt campaign has raised in excess of $70,000, which will be ceremoniously donated to the Better Together Fund (part of the city’s OneOrlando Fund that has raised nearly $30 million to date for victims and their families). The rest of the program for opening night remained uncertain at press time, but a tribute is expected for the first responders and possibly Orlando’s SWAT team. “We just want to be inclusionary with everybody who was affected by the incident,” Solar Bears chairman and chief executive officer Joe Holeski says. “That’s our goal here – and to not forget. We do not want people to forget that this is what’s happening in the world today.”

Enough is enough: OADO takes on gun reform.

Photo by JD Casto

Taking the pledge The nascent Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee rises again to tackle gun reform Billy Manes

RLANDO | “Should OADO do something to eradicate automatic and semi-automatic weapons from American life?” the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee posted on its Facebook page July 3. “Who is up for the challenge?” It was the first post from the legendary Orlando activist group in almost exactly two years. OADO has a long list of human-rights successes in the Orlando and Orange County areas, ranging from Orlando’s hot-tempered, pro-LGBT Chapter 57 battle in 2002, fair-housing ordinances, human rights ordinances, gender-identity ordinances, domestic partnership registries (the group argued with

watermark Your LGBT life.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs through 2012 on this issue and its importance, forcing her to eventually acquiesce). To most watching or involved, OADO had managed all that it could on a local level, and it had done so with great results and a lot of volunteer time spent. Then the June 12 massacre at Pulse Orlando happened. Predictably, the philanthropic group was shaken back into action, only this time on a broader scale. “I’ll be quite honest,” OADO member and former leader of the GLBT Center Randy Stephens says. “We had our 16 successful arguments about getting ordinances before the local election officials, and we succeeded after marriage equality, so it’s like, ‘Ok, now what?’ And then Pulse happened, and we all

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

started talking again, going, ‘We’ve got to do something’ and we didn’t know what. Then we met and thought, ‘We’ll at least get the local politicians first.’” Joining a chorus of organizations across the city, state and nation that are coming to terms with the worst single gun massacre in America, the group is moving forward with its “Pledge for Pulse” campaign, an attempt to pressure and educate politicians on progressive gun-control policies. “It isn’t necessarily gay rights, though OADO people typically know us for anti-discrimination ordinances and policies for LGBT folks,” OADO committee member Michael Slaymaker says. “But this is something that all of our committee members agreed upon, and are on the same page on, and this is what we can do to affect common sense gun safety laws.” The concept is fairly simple. OADO is sending out letters to all federal and state officials and candidates related to Florida and who wish to keep their offices in the manner they have come to expect. “Signing this pledge shows your commitment to prevent more tragedies,” the letter reads. “Hundreds of thousands of Florida Continued on pg. 10 | uu |

PEOPLE Special Promotional Feature

MARVEL QUEVEDO ALLSTATE Marvel Quevedo is no stranger to being a

game changer. Having worked in the cosmetic industry from a representative to becoming the vice president of finance for a nonprofit organization, it proves there is nothing too big or too small that she can’t handle. “Running my own Allstate agency helps me utilize my many skills attained over the years,” Quevedo stated, which is why she continues to have a proliferate business in the Orlando area since 2014. She has been able to successfully use her passions for finance and sales to run a blooming business, develop her team and build the relationships with her customers in the community. Her parents, who emigrated from Cuba, also influenced and exposed her to the meaning of hard work and dedication. “The best value they taught me was to be proud of whatever I wanted to do and to do it to the best of my ability.” When she had the opportunity to open an Allstate agency in the Orlando area, she did not hesitate to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. As a Hispanic woman who grew up in a diverse neighborhood in a small town called West New York, New Jersey, she is passionate and understands Orlando’s growing multicultural population. Her agency includes licensed sales professionals who speak Spanish and one that speaks Portuguese. She expressed, “Insurance cannot be purchased on-line when the average person does not understand what each coverage entails.” Her goal is to help protect families by explaining their policies and educating herself with their lives to make sure they receive the product that fits their individual needs.

Photo by: Noemi L. Maisonet / Photography by Captiva

Quevedo’s agency specializes in auto, motorcycle, flood, life, home owners insurance by assisting with planning expected and the unexpected life events. “We cannot avoid Mayhem but we can be prepared to deal with it. When you are prepared it passes with a bit more ease.” she said.

Marvel Quevedo Agency Owner -Allstate 5062 South Conway Rd., Orlando, FL 32812 407-737-7778 Marvel.Q@allstate.com 52 ORLANDOSTYLEMAGAZINE.COM

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

central florida news | uu | Taking the Pledge from pg.8

voters will see your dedication to our safety when they visit pledgeforpulse.org. How will you be remembered?” With each letter is a pledge sheet. “I, _____, to honor the 49 victims of the Pulse massacre and because mass shootings steal our freedom, pledge to vote for common sense gun safety laws,”the pledge says. On its website pledgeforpulse. org, readers can click on the names of their favored candidates or politicians running for state and federal offices and measure their private votes against the political platform concerns – or lack thereof – for enhancing firearm protections. As of press time, the group had received about 20 responses, Stephens says, with only one of them – predictably from the panhandle – issuing a stern “no.” The move follows Mayor Jacobs’ sea change on LGBT

issues over the past few years, something that pushed her to convince her fellow Central Floridian Republicans to sign a resolution to fight for the workplace rights of the gay community as this political season reaches its

who they love, had dreams and aspirations just like you and I.” Skeptics bristled at the thought of some in the conservative lineup, but for the most part, Jacobs’ olive branch to the community rang true. Slaymaker, a Republican,

polemical nadir. “These are what I like to think are the new generation of Republicans,” Jacobs said at a July 28 ceremony. “What we grieved over a few weeks ago wasn’t a loss of gay people or Hispanic people, it was a loss of human beings. Human beings regardless of where they come from or

appreciates the gesture. “More than 50 percent of the people who signed the pledge have already voted yes on every LGBT thing that we’ve put in front of them,” he says. “So that wasn’t a surprise to me. Otherwise, there were a couple surprises; John Mica, was a big surprise and was exciting to see.

But more importantly it helped to widen our base of people who are open to listening to the LGBT community and our concerns. “I liked the phrase that Mayor Jacobs put in her speech: ‘New Republicans,’” he adds, “because I think there is a time for that and

All of these different organizations together, whether they’re working in concert or not, are looking at the whole gun issue and are going to be able to affect it monumentally. —Michael Slaymaker

watermark Your LGBT life.

I think that time is now.” OADO has reached out to groups like the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence (a political action committee with ties to Florida) and Gays Against Guns (a more demonstrative activist group) in order to make certain that the political overlap wasn’t overwhelming.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

“All of these different organizations together, whether they’re working in concert or not, are looking at the whole gun issue and are going to be able to affect it monumentally,” Slaymaker says. (The group lists numerous other organizations on its website.) By intentionally staying politically nonpartisan on the gun issue, OADO hopes to be an even-handed means of communication and understanding – even education – between the governmental hive mind and the voting public. There is no shaming, just information. The end goal, of course, is to affect change while keeping the process honest. “It’s not just a gay issue. It’s an issue for everybody,” Stephens says. “We’re trying to get candidates to know that we’re not trying to embarrass anybody by having them sign this. If anything, we’re trying to let them express themselves more clearly.”

MAGRUDER LASER VISION wants you to know, just because LASIK and VISION CORRECTION is an elective surgery doesn't mean you shouldn’t be able to afford it.

24 months at zero interest financing.

wave

watermark’s

THANK YOU WATERMARK READERS FOR VOTING ME YOUR 2016 WINNER FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR SINCE 2007! A W A R D

LEADING THE CHANGE Help Us Change the World by Banking with First GREEN Bank Clermont 352.483.9700

Mount Dora 352.483.9100

Orlando 407.434.8800

Ormond Beach 386.898.0303

Winter Park 321.203.2900

www.firstGREENbank.com

407.843.5665

OFFICIAL SPONSOR

OR REGISTER MAGRUDERLASERVISION.COM

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

tampa bay news

planned parentHood to oFFer inclusive services For transgender community Krista Di Tucci

all DresseD up: The 2016

arasota | Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida (PPSWCF) will expand services throughout its 11 regional health centers to include increased healthcare for transgender patients in 22 counties. “This is a group of people who have been underserved and haven’t had access to this care,” Dr. Robert Slackman of PPSWCF says. “They’ve been ostracized not only by family and friends, but also by the medical field. We will be able to give them a service they’ve been denied.” According to a national survey among transgender patients, 28 percent were subject to harassment in medical settings and 2 percent were physically assaulted in doctor’s offices; 19 percent were refused medical care, with higher numbers for people of color; and 28 percent postponed medical care when sick or injured due to discrimination. “The challenges for the transgender community are real and documented,” Equality Florida Director of Transgender Inclusion Gina Duncan says. “The community continues to suffer under alarming rates of marginalization, harassment, and outright violence. The more we can mainstream the transgender community into all our institutions and hospitals, the more we can assimilate the transgender community into a position of equality. What Planned Parenthood is doing is elevating the ability for people to live their lives.” According to Dr. Suzie Prabhakaran, PPSWCF Vice President of Medical Affairs, the organization has always been able to care for transgender patients through well-person care, health screening, breast exams, pap smears, STI testing, and contraception counseling and services. Anna Eskamani, PPSWCF Senior Director of Public Affairs, says the most significant addition to services will be hormone replacement therapy (HRT). “Planned Parenthood has always been an ally to the LGBT community and we create safe spaces for all people to present as themselves,” Eskamani says. “We wanted to show our commitment in a strong way by providing a space of care for all people. Replicating our role as an ally through healthcare is part of our critical mission.” Duncan says the availability of quality healthcare providers who are able to provide HRT, a vital part of transitioning, is scarce. Hence, patients often resort to online or black market hormone regimens which can be harmful to their health. “Over the last five years, we’ve seen progress in different areas in our society,” Duncan says. “Major employers see the importance of having a welcoming and diverse workplace. We’ve seen outcroppings in law enforcement, media, and school boards. Recently, the medical community has turned the corner and has seen the need in improving awareness and availability of services for the LGBT community. Planned Parenthood is taking a very positive step. This is absolutely huge and we commend them for

continued on pg. 14 | uu |

theme is “Ruby Red,” chosen to mark the 40th year of All Hallows Ball, and invites guests to chose a costume from previous years such as the “It’s A Small World” theme from 2012. PHOTO By TINKERFluFF

Hallowed ground All Hallows’ Masquerade Ball celebrates 40 years with another night at the museum Adam T. McLaughlin

ampa | Fall is upon us. Pumpkin everything is everywhere. Halloween is right around the corner. And for many Tampa area LGBT folks, that also means it’s time to start getting prepared for the annual All Hallows Masquerade Ball. On October 15, the ball returns to a previous, popular venue, the Museum of Science and Industry. This year’s event is special, as the ball celebrates its 40th anniversary. Highlights of the anniversary event will include an open theme, the customary costume contest, and a special guest performer to entertain partygoers. What started out as a Halloween house party forty years ago has grown into one of the biggest parties in the city for the holiday. The origins of the ball date back to 1976. The inaugural party was a held by a group of friends in the home of a local physician. Within a few years, the party was moved to

watermark Your LGBT life.

private venues due to the number of guests. As the years went on, the guest list expanded. In the late ‘70s, the number was around 200. Last year there were well over 2,000 attendees and similar numbers are projected for this year. While the list of guests continues to grow and there are new attendees every year, many guests have been attending since early years of the party. Karl Barowski, a resident of Brandon, has been attending the ball for the past 25 years. “I’ve come back to the party every year because it has been a fun, safe place to celebrate and it gives me a chance to be creative,” Barowski says. “I get to see everyone else’s creativity in a festive, friendly atmosphere.” Dating back to 1981, each ball has had a specific theme for guests to follow. The theme for this year’s ball is Ruby Red, which was chosen due to the ruby being the 40th anniversary stone. Ruby Red allows for guests to choose any theme from past events. The original theme in 1981 was “Wild Wild

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

West.” Other past themes include “Fractured Fairytales,” “Dystopia,” and “It’s a Small World.” Last year’s theme was “Seven Deadly Sins.” A popular component related to the theme that continues this year is the costume contest. Many guests begin working on costumes immediately after the theme is announced in late summer. Costumes range from mild to wild. Some partygoers go with the literal theme and dress in costumes accordingly. Other guests go outside the box and put their own spin on the theme. A few guests are chosen to participate in the costume contest. These participants are selected based on costumes that are relevant to the theme and also based on the creativity of the costume, as well as the detail of the costume. The contest winner is chosen by a panel of judges. Various venues have been utilized for the ball over the past four decades. These sites have included the Tampa Fairgrounds, Tampa Convention Center, and District 3, amongst others. This year’s ball will return to the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). MOSI was most recently a site for the event in 2014. Organizers felt MOSI provided more than adequate space and was a popular venue amongst guests. “Attendance was overwhelming last year,” said “Casper,” one of the event hosts, who asked to remain continued on pg. 14 | uu |

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

tampa bay news | uu | Planned Parenthood from pg.12

taking this very bold step.” PPSWCF staff recently attended a seminar in which Duncan provided comprehensive transgender inclusion training. Duncan trained staff on issues such as the components and steps included when someone decides to transition, what being transgender means, understanding where patients are in their own transition journey and using correct pronouns and terminology. “Any time you start a new service, you learn,” Dr. Prabhakaran says. “We’ve done a lot of work to prepare our staff, but we know there will still be ongoing training. Our staff’s biggest concern is meeting the needs that need to be met, and they are dedicated to making sure that happens.” Dr. Slackman says the medical staff will provide continual testing during HRT to make sure patients are receiving enough medication

for desired results without experiencing adverse side effects. He says some risks include blood clots, liver damage and increased blood counts. According to Dr. Prabhakaran, HRT services will be available for patients over 18 years of age. However, transgender patients under 18 can continue to seek health services and counseling through PPSWCF. She says PPSWCF hopes to eventually offer HRT to minors, but since therapy is a new service, providers will need to first become accustomed to care. Dr. Slackman says since finances are one of the biggest challenges transgender people face with HRT, PPSWCF will offer significantly lower costs than those of private practices. He says to help keep costs low for patients,PPSWCF facilities will offer cost-effective medications, give patients the option to administer their own injections, and attempt to reduce the number of office visits. Dr. Prabhakaran says patients

will attend two office visits before starting therapy. The provider will discuss medical history, determine the patient’s plan, and perform baseline testing. She says barring underlying medical issues, HRT is usually not a lengthy process. “For most people, going to the doctor or getting healthcare is part of normal, everyday living,” Duncan says. “For transgender people, without adequate, quality healthcare providers, it’s a time of stress and disconnection from society and leads to patients feeling very isolated. Offering medical services perpetuates normalcy for the transgender community.” Eskamani says the final step in PPSWCF’s new services will be ensuring all facilities are inclusive by taking steps such as providing adequate bathrooms for all gender identities. “I think we’ve always provided a safe and welcoming environment,” Eskamani says. “Our new services will allow us to continue to meet the needs of our greater community.”

| uu | All Hallows’ Masquerade from pg.12

anonymous for this article. “Some guests requested using MOSI again. Also, going back to a prior venue seemed to fit into the theme for this year.” Attendees of the party will be treated to a special guest entertainer this year. Legendary drag performer Lady Bunny will DJ and perform at the Ball. Lady Bunny started her drag career in the early ‘80s and has become one of the most well-known drag performers in the country. In addition to her drag performances and DJ gigs at gay nightclubs and special events, Lady Bunny has appeared in numerous films, including Starbooty and To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar. She also had a role in an episode of Sex and the City. For those that may not be aware, this party is considered a private, invitation-only event. Each year, those on the list are sent tickets and provided with

information on the theme for the party. This event is privately funded. There are no sponsors or endorsements from companies or businesses. Guests are given invitations by being connected to one of the party hosts. There are a few things to note for guests attending the ball. Guests must have cash on hand at the door for the entry fee. ATMs will be accessible inside the building to obtain cash to purchase drink tickets. However, there will not be any ATMs outside. Due to growing numbers, event hosts stated that only guests with a ticket with their name can be admitted. The All Hallows Masquerade Ball has grown from a house party to an elaborate celebration that allows for creativity and bonding. The party provides a safe, social atmosphere for friends to rekindle friendships and make new connections within the gay community. It has become a Halloween staple in the Tampa area that will likely continue for years to come.

STAY & PLAY Celebrate your style at Aloft Tampa Downtown, a TAG-approved hip hotel that’s steps from museums, parks, restaurants, nightlife, sports, and shopping. We offer easy access to the Riverwalk, the Tampa Convention Center, Ybor City, and the Amalie Arena. Breeze into one of our Aloft rooms, featuring our ultra-comfortable signature bed, walk-in shower, custom amenities by Bliss ® Spa, and more. Meet & mingle with friends at our W XYZ℠ bar, grab a sweet, savory, or healthy snack from Re:fuel by Aloft,℠ our 24/7 pantry, or play in our Re:mix℠ lounge. Plus, you can always stay connected with fast & free WiFi access. Book now at alofttampadowntown.com Aloft Tampa Downtown 100 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, Florida 33602 W XYZ bar • Fast & free WiFi • Splash pool • Re:charge gym & more ®

©2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Aloft and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. For full terms and conditions, visit alofttampadowntown.com

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

The Hotchkiss Group- Proudly Serving the LGBT Community in the Tampa Bay Area since 2002 Luxury, Waterfront, Foreclosures, Short Sales, Historic Homes -- we have THE Experience to Guide you in making the RIGHT decision. Trust your NEXT Real Estate Transaction with Us -- tap into a combined 29 years of Experience of selling Real Estate in the Tampa Bay Area! Call Me!

The Hotchkiss Group has sold over 250 homes, totaling more than 38 Million Dollars in SALES since 2013!

Keller Williams Realty Offices South Tampa, St. Petersburg Seminole, Brandon

Nominated LGBT Business of the year in 2015 and Recipient of 2016 LGBT Business of the Year with the TBGLCC!

(727)424-3789

MyTampaRealtor

www.TheHotchkissGroup.com watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Celebrate Your Pride!

IGNACIO HIDALGO, M.D. “Doctor Iggy” Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine

Botox, Cosmetic Fillers, Kybella Microneedling, Chemical Peels Ultherapy, Medical Grade Skincare Products, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

POM POM’S

WE HAVE A LOT TO THANK THE GREEKS FOR...

Teahouse & Sandwicheria

Best Late Night In Town! OPEN THURSDAYS TIL 5AM OPEN 24 HOURS FRIDAY & SATURDAY 67 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando, FL 32803

pompomsteahouse.com

watermark Your LGBT life.

Greek, Mediterranean, and Vegeterian Cuisine

MEDITERRANEAN BLUE IS JUST ONE MORE.

Like Us on our “Doctor Iggy” Facebook to see our current specials!

321-972-2575 • Winter Park, FL www.doctoriggy.com

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

435 E. Michigan St.,Orlando, FL 32806 www.mediterraneanblue.net 407-422-2583

state news

new cdc report sHows disproportionate risk oF sypHilis among gay men in Florida Billy Manes

hough its symptoms may be considered minor in relation to other sexually transmitted diseases, syphilis has raised concern among scientists at the Centers for Disease Control. Among the general population, syphilis infections jumped 15 percent between 2013 and 2014. The growing scourge led the CDC to present its first study of syphilis transmission among gay men, Rates of Primary and Secondary Syphilis by State Among Men Who Have Sex With Men, at its 2016 STD Prevention Conference. The disease is treatable, though often ignored. “CDC has tracked syphilis through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System since 1944,” CDC epidemiologist and author of the study Alex de Voux Ph.D., says in an email. “Once nearly eliminated in the U.S., syphilis continues to increase among gay and bisexual men. Based on this data, we believe the number of reported cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis among men who have sex wih men (MSM) has been increasing since at least 2001. Among states that reported sex of sex partner data for at least 70 percent of all cases from 2007 to 2014, cases among MSM increased nearly nine percent from 2013 to 2014, and 48 percent from 2010 to 2014. The new statistics reveal that Florida has a rate of 370.1 per 100,000 gay and bisexual residents infected with syphilis, which far surpasses the national average of 309 per 100,000. It should be noted, however, that syphilis is creating a larger problem for other states, largely in the south: North Carolina reports a 748.3 per 100,000 rate among the MSM population, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina follow. “The state rate of P&S syphilis among MSM does not necessarily correspond with the population size of MSM in the state,” de Voux says. “The state-level syphilis rates do show that syphilis disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men in the South and the

West, with four of the five states with the highest rates of P&S among MSM located in the South. This may be because people in the South often experience poorer health outcomes than the rest of the nation, due to multiple factors including income inequality, poverty, and high numbers of people without health insurance. Additionally, high prevalence of syphilis within their sexual networks means that MSM in these areas face a greater risk of infection with each act of sexual intercourse.” The report also reveals that syphilis cases among gay and

“Neither study on MSM and syphilis presented at the 2016 STD conference looks at the correlation between MSM condom use and STDs,” CDC epidemiologist Cyprian Wejnert PhD says. “We do know there are a number of factors that could put MSM at increased risk for syphilis, including higher background prevalence. Data from CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance do indicate that condom-use decreased among MSM from 2005 to 2014, however these data do not confirm a correlation between condom use and increasing syphilis diagnoses among MSM.”

“the state-level syphilis rates do show that syphilis disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men in the south and the West, with four of the five states with the highest rates of P&s among MsM located in the south.” —cDc epiDemiologist alex De voux ph.D. bisexual men have been on the rise for a decade, and it suggests that this is not a matter to be taken lightly. Left untreated, syphilis can lead to organ damage, nerve damage, liver damage and more. The key means of prevention is condom use, but often condoms are improperly used, de Voux says, and contact with a sore outside of the condom can easily lead to infection. Condoms prevent the spread of syphilis by preventing contact with a sore, however sometimes sores can occur in areas not covered by a condom, so it’s possible to get syphilis even if a condom is used properly. Proper condom use Dos and Don’ts can be found [at cdc.gov]. This includes unrolling the condom all the way down the penis, using a latex condom every time one engages in sexual intercourse, putting the condom on before having sex, proper storage, and using a water-based or silicone-based lubricant to prevent breakage. But the correlation to causation on condom-use in this study isn’t necessarily clear, the CDC admits.

At least for now, there is no real panic. The CDC recommends that sexually active gay and bisexual males get tested annually as a precaution. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida vice president Dr. Suzie Prabhakaran makes it clear that syphilis is indeed treatable by antibiotics, and should be, given the consequences. However, her offices haven’t seen any real uptick in cases, she says. “We have not yet seen an increase in cases of syphilis with our patients,” she says. “At Planned Parenthood, we always include syphilis testing in the recommended STI testing for appropriate groups according to guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Syphilis often has no symptoms and protecting yourself from syphilis is similar to any other sexually transmitted infection. This includes condom use and screening if you think you may be at risk. This is another reason why access to Planned Parenthood services are so critical, especially for MSM who may not have many healthcare providers they feel comfortable visiting.”

watermark Your LGBT life.

Florida man Faces liFe in prison For murder oF transgender woman Wire Report

ort myers | A man faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty in the fatal shooting and burning of a transgender woman in southwest Florida. The Naples Daily News reports that 47-year-old Terry Brady of Fort Myers was convicted of second-degree murder on Sept. 22 in Lee County. Prosecutors say Brady fatally shot 31-year-old Yaz’min Schancez in June 2014, burned her and dumped the remains behind a dumpster. Investigators found a handgun in Brady’s apartment that matched the bullets used to kill Schancez, and which had his DNA on it. In addition, gas station surveillance video tied him to the area where the body was found. Brady is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 31.

Jacksonville state representative resigns Staff Report

Duval county | Even though he may have won the primary for his House seat in Duval County on Aug. 30, Reggie Fullwood has lost the war. Fullwood resigned from his post on Oct. 3 following a legal battle that ended with the representative pleading guilty to wire fraud and failure to file a tax return the preceding week in federal court, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Fullwood has been a supporter of LGBT rights in Jacksonville. “I have always been a champion for equal rights and I support legislation that keeps discrimination from happening in Jacksonville and throughout our state. LGBT people are part of our community and should be treated with respect and dignity,” he said back in January, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Resignation does not mean that Fullwood is out of the woods, by any means. Though he issued his resignation letter to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli (R-Cape Canaveral), and has since had all of his governmental privileges removed, there are legal ramifications to Fullwood’s folly. His apology appears to show that he didn’t stand a chance in a court trial. “I can’t apologize enough to my constituents, supporters and family,” he wrote, according to the Florida Times-Union. “My options were to either go to trial with an uncertain outcome and face the possibility of a lengthy appeal or seek an immediate resolution. As the father of three children, I felt that bringing closure to this matter was the best choice.” He is now a convicted felon, and cannot run for office. Instead, the Duval Democratic Party will have to hastily come up with an alternative – although Fullwood’s name will remain on the already printed ballots.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

JOIN US FOR

OPENING NIGHT SAT OCTOBER 22, 2016 ORLANDO

UNITED

NIGHT

PRESENTED BY:

TO PURCHASE TICKETS PLEASE VISIT: OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com/UNITED Enter Promo Code: UNITED 18

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

nation+world news

Alabama Chief Justice off bench for defying feds on same-sex marriage Wire Report

ONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was removed from the bench Sept. 30 for defying the U.S. Supreme Court on same-sex marriage, more than a decade after he got in trouble for refusing federal orders to move a Ten Commandments monument. By suspending Moore for the rest of his term, the nine-member Alabama Court of the Judiciary has effectively removed him from office for the second time. The outspoken Christian conservative was ousted from office in 2013 for his stand in defense of the 2.5 ton monument he had installed in the state judicial building, but voters later re-elected him. The judiciary court ruled that Moore defied law already clearly settled by the high court’s Obergefell vs. Hodges ruling when he told Alabama’s probate judges six months later that they were still bound by a 2015 state court order to deny marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. “Beyond question, at the time he issued the January 6, 2016, order,

Chief Justice Roy Moore knew about Obergefell and its clear holding that the United States Constitution protects the right of same-sex couples to marry,” the court wrote in the unanimous decision. They said Moore also flouted a federal judge’s order that enjoined the judges from enforcing Alabama’s same-sex marriage ban after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision. The 50-page decision indicated that a majority of justices wanted to completely remove Moore – not just suspend him without pay – but they didn’t have the unanimous agreement. The effect, though, is the same. Moore is off the bench. Moore’s punishment comes as all three branches of Alabama’s government face upheaval. The Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives was removed from office this summer for criminal ethics violations. A legislative committee is weighing whether Gov. Robert Bentley should be impeached over a scandal involving a top aide. The president of the civil rights organization that filed the ethics complaint against Moore praised the decision as a victory for the state. “Moore was elected to be a judge,

not a preacher. It’s something that he never seemed to understand. The people of Alabama who cherish the rule of law are not going to miss the Ayatollah of Alabama,” said Richard Cohen, of the Southern Poverty Law Center. A lawyer for Moore called the decision a “miscarriage of justice” and announced an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. “The rule of law should trump political agendas. Sadly, today that is not the case. What this decision tells us today is that Montgomery has a long way to go to weed out abuse of political power and restore the rule of law,” said attorney Mat Staver, who also represented Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in her refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Moore, 69, had already been suspended from the bench since May, when the state’s Judicial Inquiry Commission accused him of violating judicial ethics. By the end of his term in 2019, he’ll be beyond the age limit of 70 for judges, unless voters raise the limit in November. Testifying under oath Wednesday, Moore said he was simply noting a fact – that the Alabama Supreme Court’s order affirming the state’s marriage ban had not been lifted. “I gave them a status in the case, a status of the facts that these orders exist. That is all I did,” Moore testified.

Pope draws line between trans ministry and ‘indoctrination’ Wire Report ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE | Pope Francis says Jesus would never turn away transgender faithful and that priests today should accompany them spiritually, even if they undergo sex change operations, sin and repent. “These people must be accompanied as Jesus accompanied them,” he said. Francis drew a firm distinction between the need for priests to minister to transgender Catholics and what he called the “nasty” tendency of schools to “indoctrinate” children with the idea that their gender is something that can be picked and chosen and changed. “It’s one thing if a person has this tendency and also changes sex. It’s another thing to teach this in school to change mentalities.

This is what I call ‘ideological colonization,’” Francis said. As he has on previous foreign trips, Francis lashed out at the so-called “gender theory” during a visit this weekend to the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Francis has denounced for example how donors, including in his native Argentina, have conditioned their assistance to schools to using certain textbooks that espouse gender theory. On Saturday in Tbilisi, Francis cited it as one of the threats that are causing a “world war against marriage” and an example of the “ideological colonization” that is corrupting many parts of the world. Francis was asked Sunday en route home aboard the papal plane how, given his firm denunciation of gender theory, he would minister to Catholics who had struggled all their lives

feeling that their bodies physically didn’t match their gender or sexual orientation. Francis said he had ministered to such Catholics as a priest, bishop and now pope. “I’ve never abandoned them,” he said. “When someone who has this condition comes before Jesus, Jesus would surely never say ‘go away because you’re gay.’” Francis recounted the story of a Spanish transgender man who wrote him a letter recounting his transition from a woman to a man who later married a woman. “And I received them. And they were happy,” Francis said of the audience. Francis praised the bishop who accompanied the man throughout his transition. But he criticized the man’s parish priest, who he said would yell “You’ll go to hell” when he saw him on the sidewalk.

watermark Your LGBT life.

in other news California approves genderneutral bathrooms Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Sept. 29 requiring that all single-stall toilets in California be designated as gender neutral. The measure requires that businesses and governments post non-gender-specific signs on single-occupant restrooms by March 1, 2017. Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco said the legislation would establish the nation’s most inclusive restroom-access law and “chart a new course of equality for the nation.” Lawmakers sent the legislation to Brown in August, a day after a federal judge temporarily blocked an order by President Barack Obama requiring that public schools let students use bathrooms that correlate with their gender identity.

Lawyers who challenged Kansas same-sex marriage ban awarded $295K A federal judge has directed Kansas to pay $295,000 to attorneys who successfully challenged the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in a lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree on Sept. 27 approved a request from American Civil Liberties Union lawyers and Kansas City-area attorney Mark Johnson. The state did not contest the amount. The lawsuit was filed in 2014 by five gay and lesbian couples against state officials in agencies that issue driver’s licenses and maintain marriage and birth records.

Texas prison records show more than 330 transgender inmates Texas prison system records show the number of inmates identifying themselves as transgender is at an all-time high. The Dallas Morning News reported Sept. 28 that 333 inmates currently identify themselves as transgender. Texas Department of Criminal Justice records show that compares to 67 inmates identifying themselves as transgender in September 2014. A TDCJ spokesman said in a statement the prison system had 145,795 offenders. Texas attorney Terry Schuster, who’s written extensively about LGBT inmates, said the cause for the increase is unknown; however Demoya Gordon, an attorney with the LGBT rights group Lambda Legal, said greater access to hormone therapy for Texas inmates could help explain the increase.

United Nations appoints first expert on LGBT violence and discrimination The Human Rights Council has appointed international human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn of Thailand as the first U.N. independent expert charged with investigating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. John Fisher, Geneva director of Human Rights Watch, said the appointment “made history” and “will bring much-needed attention to human rights violations against LGBT people in all regions of the world.” Muntarbhorn, a law professor, has been on the council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria and previously served as U.N. special investigator on North Korea and on child prostitution and child pornography.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

2016 Winner Best Florida Beer Pinellas Brewery & Taproom 12707 49th Street Clearwater, FL 33762 Open 11a - 11p Daily

Pasco Brewery & Taproom 2330 Success Drive Odessa, FL 33556 Open 11a - 11p Daily

W W W. B I G S T O R M B R E W E R Y. C O M

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

viewpoint

sabrina Ambra

ladyFingers

My hatchet list

waKe-up1 after pressing

snooze on my fourth alarm for the fifth time in one hour2. My alarm3 goes off every .306 seconds and yet my body still manages to return to a deep sleep. Once I have gotten out of my bed4 and untangled my feet5 from the cord6 attached to my vibrator, I contemplate a quick dial on the rotary phone7.

I spend the walk to my bathroom wondering how the fuck my cat has managed to set up such an intricate obstacle course8 during those few hours9 I was sleeping. I dry-heave over my bathroom sink10 for about 10 minutes while simultaneously taking the acid-reflux11 medication my doctor12 prescribed years ago. This whole “adult”13 thing happening to my body14 is bullshit. Why is it that now the sight of a tomato-based entree15 makes my backdoor a lava faucet?! Not to mention, I’ve recently developed an allergy to pollen16. I’m pretty sure I’m starting to go bald17, which is an even bigger piece of bologna18 considering my Latina mustache19 is still as thick as it was in the eighth grade20. I make my way to my cat’s food dish and ask her out loud21, “Why the fuck did you parkour22 off my face at 4:30 this morning?” I talk to my cat way too much23. There’s nothing that cancels out the smell of fresh coffee faster than stench brought on by cat shit24. It got to the point where I had no other choice but to research25 cat litter via Amazon reviews26. I now have a monthly Amazon “subscription” for a very expensive27 bag of shiny dirt. I sit down on my porch, and for the third time this week, I am unaware that my right tit is hanging out of my

sleeveless T-shirt28. I slowly poison my lungs with tar29 and carcinogens30 and gaze upon the morning joggers31 as they complete their path to a “runner’s high”32. If the person who came up with that term33 is still alive, I would bet my life savings34 that they are a platinum Crossfit35 member. I get in the shower36, which quickly becomes a bath no matter how much Drano I pour down the drain37, yo38. I look down at my legs39 and become enraged at all razor commercials40. Hey Gillette, I’d be more willing to buy your overpriced blade stick41 if your commercials featured them shaving a gorilla’s leg rather than a hairless woman42. I turn on the news43 to hear the same exact stories I’m reading on my computer44 and my Facebook feed45. I detest the “new” studies46, the cornball meteorologists47, and 19-year-old YouTube celebrities48. Then, a power suit49 appears on the television, a “relationship expert”50. They’ve brought her on to discuss the Brangelina51 divorce, because America52. “Relationship Expert” would look wonderful on my business card53. Now that I’m done venting to my cat54, I get in my car55 and head to Corporate America’s56 happy place Starbucks. Why? Because spending $2,000 a year57 on iced Chai teas is the adult58 thing to do. It wasn’t nearly as expensive when I knew the baristas, but they left me59 with Susan60. Today, there is line out the door61 because Susan has decided to chat with a customer62. Typically this is frowned upon considering it is 8:45 a.m.63 and there are about 20 grumpy millennials64 waiting in line. Susan is the manager65 and if she wants to talk to a customer about how much vodka66 she drank the night before, she can. And did67. I despise all drivers68. I can drive better while taking a naked selfie69 than the geriatric70 that has just pulled-out in front of me. “Are you high on meth71, Nana?!” Based on the distant look in

watermark Your LGBT life.

her lazy eye72, she is unaware of her surroundings. Which should go just swimmingly if Grandmica Patrick73 decides to make her way onto I-474, or the land of ever-shifting lanes75. Yes, I’m aware of the website that informs you of route changes, but that means nothing76. Visiting this website77 would just remind

enough to sing the chorus84 of “Un-break My Heart.” I immediately spot a coworker of mine85 waddling through the parking lot. Only one elevator works in my building86. After holding the door and now the elevator for the waddler, he selfishly waits87 for a young gal who then pushes the button for Floor 2. I hate stairs

I only have a few spots left! Please take a moment to envision me on top of a roof, spitting upon the following: Girls that sport selfie “duck-lips”96, voicemail greetings that say the entire number97, Xbox Live98 and Americans that feel the need to pronounce mozzarella the Italian way99.

me that we still have five more years78 until I-4 is “Ultimate.” The rest of my drive is consumed by the thoughts of CAPTCHA79, straight men who wear fedoras80, and the insufferable Justin Beiber81. I’ve been told that Beiber’s father82 is to blame for the way he acts out, but I can’t help but think that Canada83 is the culprit. I pull into work, and somehow I have managed to suppress my discontent long

and exercise88. I don’t want to talk about work89. Now that I’ve arrived home, I begin an unwarranted round of hopscotch90 to my mailbox through piles of dog feces91. I don’t know why I bother checking my mail92 anymore. It’s all bills93 and baby showers94. Now please take the $25 Lamaze Pippin the Push-Along Pup you registered for95 and let me get back to rolling a fat doobie on your baby’s face.

That’s all she wrote, my friends. If this was a miserable experience for you, I highly recommend an endoscopy100. Love conquers hate, but misery is so much fun to write.

I sit down on my porch, and for the third time this week, I am unaware that my right tit is hanging out of my sleeveless t-shirt.

The preceding piece is a tribute and/or shameless rip-off of an essay written by John Waters from his book Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters where he counts each of the things he hates throughout his day. Enjoy and thank you, Mr. Waters.

The Music of Genesis Starring Daryl Stuermer Virtuoso guitarist Daryl Stuermer of Genesis rocks out with The Florida Orchestra for some of the band’s greatest hits, like I Can’t Dance, Your Own Special Way, Invisible Touch, Throwing it All Away, No Son of Mine and more. Mike Kamenski conducts. Sponsored by:

Radio Sponsor:

Craig Sher

Fri, Oct 14, 8 pm, Mahaffey Theater - One Night Only! 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286 | FloridaOrchestra.org Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Flight Attendant JumpStart

Your Flight Attendant Career Connection! Jump start to succeed in your new career field.

We are owned and operated by current Flight Attendants and we bring the airlines to you!

CALL NOW TO START

407-864-6040

or visit www.FlightAttendantJumpstart.com

Linda Fiore Admissions Counselor

Headquarters - Orlando, Florida (Ask about our specials for locals) FlightAttendantJumpStart

I am happy to continue my support of the LBGTQ community. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi â&#x20AC;&#x153;No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.â&#x20AC;? Respect for honest differences is a healthy sign of progress. In the face of the recent Pulse Night Club tragedies in Orlando, we stand United as a community. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings

Please remember to vote on or before November 8th! Paid for and approved by Jerry Demings for Sheriff Campaign (D) for Orange County Sheriff

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

viewpoint

Miguel Fuller

HigH Fidelity The red suitcases

omething weirD

happens when you look at yourself in the mirror and realize you are a 30-something.

First, the fact that I’m having thoughts about age, life, death, legacy and retirement are crazy to me. Last I remember I was visiting college campuses trying to figure out where I wanted to have my young mind molded. Secondly, you really start to feel your life decisions weigh on you. No longer can you make excuses for a crazy night out – you have responsibilities. Someone is depending on you. Thirdly, you start to realize that you aren’t the young one in the group anymore. Friends are coming to you for serious life advice, not just boy or girl drama. All of this brings me to one morning this summer. I was packing for my first adult vacation in years: a cruise! Technically this was the first vacation I was actually able to pay for by myself. The radio station wasn’t sending me to some exotic location for a concert, this wasn’t a morning radio show convention. This was my summer vacation with my boyfriend and college best friends. The day before we were to board the ship I had to buy a new suitcase. I had these tired, old, red suitcases that I had been lugging around since college. It was time for something new and snazzy. As I was placing my swimming trunks and tank

tops into the new suitcase, I couldn’t help but stare at my old, ratty red suitcases. They had seen so much life. So many tears, so many laughs, so many cities! Now it was time to say goodbye. During high school I lived with my grandmother in a one bedroom apartment. She lived in a retirement apartment complex. Now looking back at that time, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to live there. Thankfully ole’ Betty, who used to smoke on the stoop every morning and afternoon, never ratted us out. At the time I was 15, with nowhere else to go. My Mom was dealing with putting her life back together after being with an abusive boyfriend. She was figuring out life, one day at time. While she was doing that, I lived with grandma. Since we lived in a one bedroom apartment, my clothes were stored in two green Rubbermaid bins. I hated those bins. I remember all I wanted in life was a dresser or a closet to place or hang my clothes. Every morning I had to rifle through those damn green bins for my clothes. By the time I was ready to go off to college, I had no clue how I was going to get my clothes from Atlanta to South Georgia on this new adventure of life. Would I have to pack up the green Rubbermaid containers and take them with me on this new adventure? I didn’t have to. My mother and grandmother gifted me three red suitcases. I don’t think I’ve ever been that excited for a gift. These were MY suitcases! You wouldn’t tell me anything as I marched those bad boys through the dorm rooms of South Georgia College. Over the next 13 years, the suitcases have seen me through the first stops of South Georgia College then Georgia Southern University. Then making my way into the adult

watermark Your LGBT life.

world of living in Savannah for my first radio job. They effortlessly helped me make the leap to Florida for my first morning show job in Panama City. They were proud to help me go play in the big leagues of radio in Tampa Bay. When that

have seen many job interviews in Charlotte, New York, Tampa, Boston, and Sacramento. They have been to countless morning radio conventions across the country. They have been there through countless apartments and

journey called life. Now I’m 31 and just getting warmed up. Thank you red suitcases for a wild ride. I thought I was going to get rid of the old red suitcases to make room for the new, sleek suitcase I was taking on the cruise

didn’t work, they told me to hold my head up, and keep trucking. We went back to Panama City to hone my craft for my own morning show. Then when the call came for a second swing in Tampa Bay, they patted me on the back and said I could do it. These red suitcases

homes over the years. These red suitcases have seen the highs and lows and this summer, it was time to retire these life companions of my late teens and 20s. When these red suitcases and I were introduced, I was 17 and could not wait to start this

ship. As I thought about all these suitcases had seen, I decided to pass them along. They seemed to have worked a little magic for me, so maybe they could help a new friend starting out on their journey.

As I was placing my swimming trunks and tank tops into the new suitcase, I couldn’t help but stare at my old, ratty red suitcases. they had seen so much life. so many tears, so many laughs, so many cities! Now it was time to say goodbye.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

talking points

I said very tough things to [rosie o’donnell] and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her.

in a

HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH-UP,

of registered

LGBT VOTERS SUPPORT HILLARY CLINTON

—DonalD trump attempting to DefenD the misogynistic comments he has saiD aBout the comeDienne in the past at the presiDential DeBate sept. 26.

Will & Grace cast reunite to get out the vote

fter all the social meDia BuZZ over the cryptic tweets from the cast of the landmark TV series Will & Grace, an answer was finally revealed just before the Clinton/Trump debate Sept. 26. The cast – Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally – reprise their roles in a mini Will & Grace webisode where Will (McCormick) and Grace (Messing) try to convince Jack (Hayes) to vote for Clinton while Karen (Mullally) adamantly defends Trump. The video has the characters making lovable quips and digs at each other in the same hilarious way they did for eight seasons, and can we say that while the show ended 10 years ago, not one of the cast members appears to have aged at all. The video also contains a cameo from Karen’s housekeeper Rosario (Shelly Morrison) and fueled rumors that the cast may be putting together a new season of the series.

for

PRESIDENT OF

THE UNITED

STATES, compared to

20% for

DONALD TRUMP. —NBC News/Survey Monkey poll

Banned Book list filled with lgBt stories

he american liBrary association releaseD their Top 10 banned books of 2016 for Banned Books Week and the list contains several LGBT-themed stories. This year’s list can be divided into three categories of concern: sex, religion and LGBT. The third and fourth spots on the list go to I Am Jazz and Beyond Magenta, both books about transgender teens. The only books ranking higher are Looking for Alaska and Fifty Shades of Grey, both due to their graphic sexuality. A pair of LGBT-themed books also appear further down the list, with Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home appearing at number seven and David Levithan’s Two Boys Kissing rounding out the list at number 10.

watermark Your LGBT life.

transgender child actor guest stars ON modern FamilY

transgenDer chilD actor guest starreD on the Sept. 28 episode of Modern Family. Director Ryan Case posted a picture of herself alongside 8-year-old Jackson Millarker on Instagram. She wrote that Millarker played Lily’s friend, Tom. Lily is the daughter of the show’s same-sex couple Cam and Mitchell, played by Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Case says that Millarker is “just wonderful” and one of the many reasons she loves being a part of the show. A synopsis of the episode, titled “A Stereotypical Day,” has Cam and Mitchell overhearing Lily insult her friend Tom and uses the moment to teach her a lesson about acceptance. Modern Family airs Wednesdays on ABC.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

kate mckinnon, sarah paulson win emmy awards

ATURDAY NIGHT LIVE‘s Kate mcKinnon and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story‘s Sarah Paulson took home their first Emmy trophies after multiple nominations at the 2016 Emmy Awards Sept. 18. Paulson, who was also nominated for her supporting role in American Horror Story: Hotel, played former prosecutor Marcia Clark in the FX miniseries based on the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. McKinnon won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series after four nominations for her array of characters from the long-running NBC series Saturday Night Live. In her acceptance speech, McKinnon thanked Ellen DeGeneres and Hillary Clinton, two of McKinnon’s most popular characters on the show.

Join us and welcome our community grand marshals

Over a dozen celebrity chefs, one amazing culinary experience

Over 100 vendors! Stop by our Pride Takes Action partners

Y TE DIVERSIT WE C E L E B R A D T FRIEN S H O N O R LO S RL ANDO AND HEAL O

Enjoy performances from world-class entertainers including: Brian Justin Crum as seen on Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent Broadway artists Michael Cerveris, Alice Ripley and Christine Pedi And nearly two dozen others!

OCTOBER 8 LAKE EOLA PARK W W W.C O M E O U T W I T H P R I D E .C O M / WAT E R M A R K

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Upside down on your mortgage?

Worried about Foreclosure?

Are you in the red? CONSIDER A SHORT SALE! Call us - We BUY Houses Cash!

407-985-4158 DIRECT | 407-719-3562 CELL

SEE WHAT’S ARRIVED AT THE STATION. REMARKABLE SAVINGS EVERY WEEK, WED.-SAT. Estate sale items including sofas, solid wood furniture, mid-century classics, figurines, clocks, paintings, crystal, china, nostalgia and much more at astonishing prices. A must-see for collectors and those who love quality throughout the decades. Come in and get the good stuff. Free local delivery. Give us your e-mail and get an extra 5% off. 602 West Evergreen Ave, (behind Ace Hardware) Longwood, FL. 32750. Open Wednesdays, 6pm-9pm, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 am-5pm. For more information, call 407-692-4626.

Drive Outside The Lines

Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first.) See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-2016 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer for program details and eligibility.

9951 S. Orange Blossom Trail • Orlando, FL | 800.508.1596 • SubaruSouthOrlando.com watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

in-depth: sarasota pride

SARASOTA PRIDE STAYS THE COURSE IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY

Greg Stemm

he shocK waves that continue

to ripple through the LGBTQ community in the aftermath of the tragic shootings at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12 have had a profound effect on Sarasota Pride. In fact, according to Cindy Barnes, who has served as the head of Sarasota Pride for nine years, the event wouldn’t even be happening at all this year if Pulse hadn’t taken place. Sarasota Pride is scheduled from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 15 at J.D. Hamel Park.

“The board of directors had already made the decision that Sarasota Pride in its current form would be suspended this year, and we would focus on producing four smaller events throughout the year,” Barnes says. “Actually I was on vacation out of state when I heard what had happened

watermark Your LGBT life.

in Orlando. I felt right away that there was no way we could not have a full Pride celebration in light of what had happened. I got on the phone right away with board members and, with a full court push, we were able to obtain

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

continued on pg. 33 | uu |

Got Mustard? We’ve got more weiner than we can handle.

www.DareToRescue.com

ALSO’s Mission:

That all persons live their lives with dignity, honesty, and pride, regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Providing youth services for over 24 years Youth drop-in Center . Support Groups . Community Outreach Alternative Prom . Creative Arts . Media & Literacy Programs HIV & STI Education . Sensitivity Training . Anti-Bullying Presentations

For more information please visit:

www.AlsoYouth.org

Situated adjacent to the beautiful Sarasota Bay and part of the IHG Portfolio of hotels, the Hotel Indigo® Sarasota hotel is an award-winning property in Downtown Sarasota. With a vibrant, boutique-style atmosphere and tropical décor, we have become the hotel of choice for visiting cultural groups, local and international business travelers. Our casually elegant design aesthetic and intimate boutique setting, coupled with unparalleled service makes us the perfect choice for any event. • Complimentary Wi-Fi and parking • Pet Friendly • Located downtown Sarasota • Complimentary shuttle to andfrom SRQ Airport and within one mile of hotel

• Full Service H2O Bistro Restaurant featuring fresh locally inspired cuisine • Two Meeting rooms and a Boardroom, Book Today! • Mention Watermark and receive our special Insiders Rate

or call

941-951-ALSO (2576) Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

1223 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236 941.487.3800 www.srqhotel.com

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

| uu | Sarasota Pride from pg.31

vendors and entertainers at the last minute and to move ahead with producing the event. But if Pulse had never happened, things would be a lot different with Sarasota Pride than they are now.” In fact, Barnes herself had announced her retirement from her leadership role. She had not planned on producing the 2016 edition. But Pulse changed everything for her personally as well, and she felt there was no way she could quit this year. She says that it may be as late as June of next year before she decides her future plans from here. Barnes is hopeful that someone else will step up to take her place.

Clearing the air One rumor Barnes would like to put to rest is that she and Eddie Sotomayor, a Sarasota resident and prominent employee of gay-owned Al and Chuck’s Travel who was killed at Pulse, had a planned lunch before Pride that might have persuaded her to stay on. Barnes says she was an acquaintance of Sotomayor’s and she had known him as a student at Booker High School. She often used the travel agency and had some regular dealings with him because of that, but although she had a lot of respect for Sotomayor and liked his vivacious personality, Barnes wouldn’t say they were close friends. Several tributes to the victims of Pulse are planned. Barnes says that the group is trying to obtain the plaques that featured the names of those lost that appeared in the 2016 St. Pete Pride night parade. If they can’t get those, the group is prepared to create similar ones from scratch. In addition, students from Booker High School, an area theatre and arts magnet school where Sotomayor attended and graduated, will read the names of the victims and the chorus will perform a tribute number. Barnes noted the event plans to have plenty of “We Are Orlando” T-shirts available and even a few top hats, which were a favorite of Sotomayor’s. Barnes says the Pulse tragedy has drawn a lot of local attention to this year’s Pride Fest. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune doubled

Of all the years, this is not the year to give this up. I did have some people say that maybe we’ve gotten to the point where we don’t need Pride anymore, because we have marriage equality and other LGBT rights. It didn’t take us long to find out we’ve taken a number of steps back. So we have to be vigilant and keep going. —Sarasota Pride chairwoman Cindy Barnes

their participation and will provide media coverage. So far, Sarasota Pride is completely full with major sponsors and will feature about 40 vendors and live entertainment all day from recognized local bands, many of which she says come from St. Petersburg. “Of all the years, this is not the year to give this up,” Barnes says. “I did have some people say that maybe we’ve gotten to the point where we don’t need Pride anymore, because we have marriage equality and other LGBT rights. It didn’t take us long

to find out we’ve taken a number of steps back. So we have to be vigilant and keep going.”

Justified and ancient Despite some common misconceptions that it began later in the 1980s, according to Misty Smeltzer, an early organizer, Sarasota Pride actually began in 1983 as a project of the Church of the Trinity MCC Church in Sarasota. Smeltzer believes this makes it the region’s oldest continuously running Pride event.

watermark Your LGBT life.

For comparison, St. Pete Pride, now the state’s largest LGBTQ celebration, began in 2003 and will be marking 15 years at the upcoming festival in 2017. The event has gone through a number of changes over the years, and while there have been enormously successful celebrations, things haven’t always been rosy. According to Smeltzer, the event grew throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. In the late 1980s it featured a men’s dance party and a non-alcoholic event. She notes the event was

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

moved to Robart’s Arena in 2000, where it featured about 15 tables with various organizations and sponsors represented. The event sold hot dogs at an outdoor booth. It was after the 2000 event that the Southwest Business Guild took over production of the celebration. Smeltzer says she came onboard first to sell sponsorships in the late 1990s and then as the first female co-chair in 2001 with the Rev. Jim Merritt, who was originally a Baptist minister and eventually became ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). By 2004, the celebration had grown to a point that it could eventually hire Smeltzer as a paid executive director. She laughs because she thinks some people think she was paid an exorbitant amount of money for the role, when the reality was that the compensation was a very modest monthly stipend. Smeltzer now serves as the president of the Sarasota Democratic Caucus. The 2004 celebration is perhaps the high point of the event throughout its long history. “That year we had about 120 vendors inside at Robart’s, plus a march and an outdoor rally,” Smeltzer says. “We also had a professional show producer who donated his time and helped us put on a circus-themed entertainment production complete with jugglers and aerialists.” It also featured a “Mums and Queens” Mother’s Day brunch and a VIP lounge. Professional entertainer Martha Walsh provided a headliner concert. Smeltzer estimates about 3,000 people attended. She says she thinks the event was so successful that year because there was a great board of directors made up of both sexes and containing both community and business leaders. She thinks community participation hit a high point then too. “In 2004 we had a fabulous board made up of community leaders of all ages and we had about 20 active committees working with lots of committed volunteers.” The event was successful financially too and she notes when she stepped down as director in 2005 the organizer had about $26,000 in the bank. That’s where the event began to have problems. Smeltzer says production of the event fell into the hands of what she

Continued on pg. 37 | uu |

INSPIRE • ENTERTAIN • IMPACT

502 Third Ave W, Bradenton, FL Box Office: (941) 748-5875 ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com 34

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Are you sexually active and unsure of your HIV status? ASAP provides confidential, free HIV testing that can give you peace of mind. And whether the result is positive or negative, ASAP is here for you with education for staying HIV-negative or services and treatment to keep you living healthy with HIV. For nearly 30 years, ASAP has been your experts in life-changing HIV care. Appointments are not required and your results can be ready in as little as 15 minutes.

Gay and bisexual men account for an estimated 83% of HIV diagnoses among males

Nearly 1 in 8 living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware they are infected

About 1 in 4 new HIV infections is among youth ages 13-24

For more information visit IGotTestedBecause.org

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

�orida studio theatre

Musical by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux

ELVIS PRESLEY | JERRY LEE LEWIS CARL PERKINS | JOHNNY CASH

TONY AWARD WINNER

by Rebecca Hopkins & Arrangements by Jim Prosser

“Explosive vitality” - The New York Times

Featuring songs by powerhouse performers such as Cher, Tina TurneR AND Reba McEntire Jannie Jones. Photo by Matthew Holler.

941-366-9000

�oridastudiotheatre.org

#4 of 709 in St Pete 254 TripAdvisor Reviews

128 3rd St South St. Petersburg, FL 727 896-8226 redmesacantina.com

1241 N. Palm Avenue, Downtown Sarasota

Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director

Brunch • Lunch • Dinner • Late Night Live Music • Two Bars Largest Tequila Selection in the South Group Dining • Aire Fresco Bar Courtyard Dining with Fountains Sat & Sun Brunch • Sabores Ricos!

THE VAN WEZEL HAS A SEASON FOR EVERYONE! Star of Glee, Finding Neverland and South Paciﬁc

MATTHEW MORRISON JAN 12

NOV 27

APR 25-30

with Sirius/XM’s SETH RUDETSKY

BUY 4 OR MORE BROADWAY & SAVE UP TO 10%!

LILY TOMLIN FEB 8

BUY 4 OR MORE VARIETY OR CLASSICAL/DANCE SHOWS AND SAVE UP TO 20%*!

ALAN CUMMING

MAR 5

GLADYS KNIGHT

JAN 28

941.953.3368 vanwezel.org Groups (10+) 941.363.2025

Box Ofﬁce Hours: M-F 10a-6p, Sat 10a-4p Open Later & Sun on Show Days 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota SPONSORS: Wilde Lexus of Sarasota, ABC7, Van Wezel Foundation, AT&T, Herald-Tribune Media Group, Sarasota Magazine *Save on most shows. Discounts not applicable for Golden Circle, GC Aisle or Smart Seats. Tickets include $2 parking & $4 surcharges and sales tax (if applicable). Prices, dates & times subject to change without notice.

KRISTIN CHENOWETH MAR 12

TO SEE ALL OUR SHOWS VISIT VANWEZEL.ORG watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

| uu | Sarasota Pride from pg.33

characterizes as a “couple of unsavory characters.” She says the two gentlemen who took over squandered the money on lavish suites at Gay Days and travel to the international annual gathering of global pride celebrations at InterPride. By 2006, the money was gone and the reputation of Sarasota Pride became tarnished. Smeltzer says the event had degenerated so much that the 2006 event “had the feel of a male strip club and was not representative of our community. As a result participation and attendance plummeted.” In fact the crisis became so deep that there was no event at all in 2007. “There was no money, no leadership and no support because of the mismanagement that had occurred,” says Smeltzer. She notes new leadership appeared when Karen Murrey-Parker became involved as the new co-chair for an entirely revamped organization and celebration in 2008. The event stayed at Robart’s Arena until a move to the Van Wetzel in 2009. Barnes has been involved with Sarasota Pride since 2006, but became the chairman in 2010 and moved the festival to October – and out of an indoor arena into J.D. Hamel Park at a busy intersection that affords a lot of visibility to the event and in her opinion of the local LGBTQ community. “We took it to the streets of Sarasota and got out of the venue where we were kind of hidden from the general community,” Barnes says. “Now we have the same park, and we have pretty much the same layout every year so it’s become easier to produce,” Barnes says. “It does continue to get bigger, and at some point in time when we outgrow that park, somebody is going to have to make the decision to take it somewhere else, but you can’t beat the eyes from 220,000 cars driving through that intersection every day, so right now it’s the best visibility in Sarasota.” There are still some lingering issues facing the organization. Some critics have said that it is dominated by female leadership and that the entire board is made up of mature lesbians with no male representation at all. “If the guys are upset they aren’t represented, they should step up and volunteer to be part

music for the masses: The Cheaters at Pride 2015. PHOTO By JEREMy WIllIAMS flag Day: Sarasota Waves its Pride. PHOTO By JEREMy WIllIAMS

picture perfect: Pride on film. PHOTO By JEREMy WIllIAMS

of the organization and the event planning,” Barnes says. “There has been no conscious effort on my part or the board’s part to exclude male participation – in fact we would welcome it – but in the past couple of years it just hasn’t been there.”

out loud and proud Irene Plank is a 51-year-old married volunteer with two young children. While she has been a volunteer with Sarasota Pride for nine years, last year’s event was particularly meaningful as she and her new wife had just been married a few days before and celebrated part of

their honeymoon checking IDs and selling drink tickets at the 2015 event. Planks says she began as a volunteer about nine years ago and her first duties were trash pick-up, emptying garbage cans and keeping the event clean. Later she says she was “promoted” to checking IDs and selling drink coupons. She laughs when remembering that she and her wife spent part of their honeymoon last year working together as volunteers at the event, but that the two of them treasure those memories. Plank says it has been a real pleasure to work together with Cindy Barnes, who she says has

watermark Your LGBT life.

miDway funDay: Grabbing the loot for the cause. PHOTO By JEREMy WIllIAMS

“remarkable energy and talent that she puts to great use in producing Pride.” She says her favorite part of volunteering is meeting all the wonderful attendees at Pride. “Everyone is so nice and it’s fun to see the wide range of people who come out to support the event,” she says. So what does Plank say to those who think that the days of Pride celebrations are over and there is no need for an event in Sarasota or anywhere now that we have achieve marriage equality and so many other civil rights for which our community has strived for decades? “One of the main reasons I think it’s important that we have

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

a Pride celebration in Sarasota is because we have such a wonderfully accepting and tolerant community,” Plank says. “We need to have Pride celebrations in places like Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Orlando, so we can show people who live in less gay-friendly locations what it can be like to live in a place where we are so accepted. I think we have a responsibility to lead by example, and perhaps folks who do live in more repressive areas will get ideas on how to transform their own communities.” For more information on Sarasota Pride visit SarsotaPride.org.

$20 bottles of champagne EVERY KIND OF FLAG IMAGINABLE

Flag World 407-895-9245 805 Virginia Dr., Orlando 32803 info@aflagworld.com

407.270.5541 Www.WORLDOFBeeR.COM 431 E Central Blvd. Orlando, FL 32801

The 27 cents that cost over $10,000. Bailey, a 12-pound mixed breed, spent nine days in the hospital after swallowing 27 cents. Just a few coins were enough to give him zinc toxicity – leading to pancreatitis and anemia. With surgery to remove the coins, a blood transfusion and fluid therapy, Bailey recovered. THE TRUPANION POLICY COVERED: $9,113.85. Trupanion, medical insurance for pets, is one simple plan that pays 90% of diagnostic tests, medications, surgeries, hospital stays and so much more – with no annual or lifetime payout limits.*

Get an instant medical insurance quote for your pet at TRUPANION.COM or call 855.532.2946. * Terms and conditions apply. See the policy for details at TRUPANION.COM/pet-insurance. Trupanion is a registered trademark owned by Trupanion, Inc. Underwritten by American Pet Insurance Co. (USA) — 6100 4th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98108 and Omega General Insurance Co. (Canada).

16009_TRU_WaterMark_HalfPage_9.25x4.95.indd 38

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

8/3/16 12:04 PM

arts and entertainment

Wake-up

Call aFter orlando proJect is local artists uniting For Healing

Anna M. Johnson

he orlanDo theater community

is about to gain visibility in an international way. Hometown playwrights’ pieces are going to be performed as part of an anthology series all over the United States and the world, with venues from New York City to London. On Oct. 17 though, the playwrights’ work will be showcased in a very local way at the Orlando Shakesspeare Theater.

watermark Your LGBT life.

The After Orlando Project is an “International Theatre Action” put on by Missing Bolts Productions and NoPassport Theatre Alliance and Press; both groups are based out of New York. After the Pulse massacre happened, Caridad Svich, OBIE-award winning playwright, partnered with Zac Kline and Blair Baker of Missing Bolts to collect works from

continued on pg. 41 | uu |

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

THE LARaMIE PROJECT Presented By:

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

| uu | After Orlando from pg.39

both professional and amateur playwrights. The three-minute pieces were to be written as reflections on Pulse and on life after Pulse. The three producers had no idea when they started that they would end up with over 70 submissions. “[Baker, Kline] and I just started approaching people, and people started saying yes,” Svitch says. “We started saying ‘I think this is really happening’ to each other.” The group put on a similar theater action in 2013 about gun control in response to the Sandy Hook shooting. The After Orlando Project is currently listed on Missing Bolts’ website as being shown in 21 theater spaces all over the world, with more potentially coming. All 70-plus plays are available to any director that is chosen by the production team. Margaret Nolan just happened to see the call for playwrights online. She contacted them immediately and asked permission to present some of the plays through her production company Kangagirl Productions. “I wanted to present some of the plays here since, you know…duh,” Nolan says. Nolan wanted Orlando’s theater community represented in her showing as well, however. She worked out with Kline, Baker and Svich that she was allowed to feature the work of up to five local playwrights as long as she used at least three of the “official” pieces. She was so thrilled that she went over the set limit. “I ended up sending them eight plays and a song,” Nolan says. “They accepted all of them. That ended up exciting me almost as much as the project itself – that our writers would be represented.” The plays that Nolan submitted were selected as part of the project, and are available to perform royalty-free until the end of the year. After December 31, all of the plays will be published in an anthology released by NoPassport Press and will be subject to standard licensing fees. The project started to come together at the end of June, and the first formal performance of the shows was on Sept. 12. Every play selected as part of the After Orlando Project is only three minutes long. They were all written as reflections on the Pulse tragedy, but not all of them

There are pieces about gun control and about grief. There are pieces about love, being gay, being Latin. There are multiple subjects that these plays cover. They’re all contextualized within the Pulse event, but they radiate to other subjects. —Margaret Nolan

directly mention Pulse. “There are pieces about gun control and about grief. There are pieces about love, being gay, being Latin,” Nolan says. “There are multiple subjects that these plays cover. They’re all contextualized within the Pulse event, but they radiate to other subjects.” Svich stresses the necessity of presenting transformative works like this through theater. “There’s something about that space of [theater] being intimate,” she says. “It’s a civic dialogue from the get-go.” Nolan’s long-time collaborator David Lee is directing the flow of the show as well as some of the plays themselves. Other local directors have also been brought in to help. Though the official cast list has yet to be posted, Nolan shares that the range of actors that are participating is diverse, from high school students to veteran performers. Beth Marshall, producing artistic director of the local production company Beth Marshall Presents held her annual Play-In-A-Day event at Lake Howell High School on Sept. 24. The event challenges groups of local theater artists to write, direct and act in short play based on a universal theme in a 24-hour period. This year’s theme was Pulse.

kangagirl: Margaret Nolan brings Pulse to the Spotlight. Photo Courtesy Nolan Marshall brought Nolan in to judge the presented works, with the intention of choosing the piece that best fit in with the lineup to be included in the After Orlando event. Billy Manes, the editor-in-chief of Watermark wrote a personal piece about his experience as a member of the LGBT community following the shooting. It was Manes’ first time ever writing a monologue. He won, and his piece will be performed by local actor Michael Osowski on Oct. 17. Nolan is also incorporating other art forms into the evening. Local artist Thomas Thorspecken’s short film Finger on

watermark Your LGBT life.

the Pulse premiered as an online piece for the 2016 Global peace Film Festival, held in Orlando. The film is a collaboration between 16 local artists that came together to draw 49 portraits of all those killed in the Pulse shooting in one night. Dennis Giacino, the composer and lyricist for the Off-Broadway musical Disenchanted wrote a song specifically for the performance. Orlando actor Jose Navarro will be scoring the show by playing live cello pre-show and in between some acts. Jim Helsinger, artistic director of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, also supports the After Orlando

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Project. Theater staff will be managing the facilities for the show, from the box office to the bar. He commissioned 49 sets of “angel wings” to be made in June to be worn to protect victims’ funerals from hateful outside spectators. The wings will be on display in the Shakespeare Theater lobby during the performance. All proceeds of the Oct. 17 performance through Kangagirl Productions will be donated to the Pulse of Orlando fund. Nolan wanted the performance to be a “grass roots” movement, and took it into account when selecting her venue. The Mandell Theater at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater has been rented out for the entire month of October by John DiDonna, the artistic director of the theater department at Valencia College for his production of Phantasmagoria. DiDonna offered up the space to Nolan for her production for free. DiDonna says that he has no problem giving up the space to Nolan for these shows. “No matter what show we are doing, no matter what projects we are immersed in, we are one community,” DiDonna says in an email. “We help each other, we support each other and we work together.” This year, the Shakespeare Theater’s annual PlayFest event on Nov. 5 will also be featuring some of the works from the After Orlando Project. Kline, the co-artistic director of Missing Bolts Productions will be in attendance at the Oct. 17 benefit. He’s slated to speak about the theater action projects that Missing Bolts and NoPassport have been putting on for years. Svich is being brought in to speak at the Nov. 5 PlayFest event. Svich says that she intends to continue putting together “Theatre Actions” as long as the world continues to need them. “As the base of all of this is creating the space through theater for transformative ways of healing to occur,” Svich says. Nolan echoes the sentiment by choosing to present the plays for her event in their rawest forms. The actors will hold their scripts while they are onstage. Nolan chose to do this to bring the works to life solely through what is written. “These shows aren’t meant to be about spectacle,” Nolan says. “The night is just going to be about the words and feelings. It’s about how art can heal and bring us together.”

Central Florida Veg Fest 2016 Saturday, October 22 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Orlando Festival Park

2911 E. Robinson Street, Orlando 32803

FREE EVENT FEATURING

Speakers • Presentations • Humane Education • Veggie Kids Zone Food Demos • Restaurant Booths • Live Music and Entertainment Animal Haven • Artist Corner • 200+ Veg-Friendly Vendors

Featuring Activities by IBEX Puppetry!

D R A C U L A

D I R E C T E D

$5 parking/free bike valet

Presented by

Festival Park Community Garden Tours all day!

On Sale Now!

C H O R E O G R A P H E D

OCT 28 - 30

M I C H A E L

P I N K

20 16

Dancer: Daniel Benavides (USA) | Photography by Michael Cairns 2016

DrPhillipsCenter.org

844.513.2014

Visit www.CFVegFest.org for more information

watermark Your LGBT life.

B Y

OrlandoBallet.org

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

live music

Pride’s got talent

Fresh off his appearance on NBC’s America’s Got talent, Brian Justin Crum headlines the Come Out With Pride concert at Lake Eola Park

come out witH pride

ENTERTAINMENT

LINe-uP

PRIDE STAGE:

1:00 – Tribute to Pulse 1:30 – Sounds of Freedom Band 2:15 – eli Lieb & Brandon Skeie 3:00 – Jazz Jennings 3:15 – Sabrina Jalees 8:00 – Matteo Lane 8:30 – Brian Justin Crum

AMPHITHEATER STAGE:

1:00 – Orlando Gay Chorus

1:30 – Celebrating Orlando: COWP 2016 (featuring Celebrity Guests) 2:00 – emily Kopp

(aBove)

priDe’s got talent: Fresh

off his star-making appearance as a top finalist this season on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Brian Justin Crum is making his first post-competition appearance at Come Out With Pride

2:30 – redefining the Narrative: LGBTQ+ Television Then & Now (featuring cast from Queer As Folk and The Fosters)

Jeremy Williams

ew acts from nBc’s hit reality

competition show America’s Got Talent made the instantaneous impression that powerhouse singer Brian Justin Crum did this summer.

Crum wowed the judges and audiences with his memorable renditions of Radiohead’s “Creep” and Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” taking him into the finals and making Crum a household name. Now Crum is bringing that voice and that energy to the Lake Eola stage for Come Out With Pride Oct. 8. Crum took a few moments ahead of his COWP visit to talk with Watermark about life after America’s Got Talent. what was it aBout america’S GoT TalenT that made you want to audition and compete on that show as opposed to one of the many other talent competition shows?

America’s Got Talent has a fully realized production value that I’ve always loved. You’re able to see these artists give these Grammy-like performances with the sets and the costumes and everything; the other shows don’t really do that level of production value. And I just think, watching America’s Got Talent for years, I’ve seen so many amazing performances on there that are so memorable. I thought if I’m going to do this – and I had always swore off the idea of doing a reality show competition – if I’m going to do it, I want to do it my way, and I wanted to do it big. Go big or go home. what was it like stepping in front of that audience and

watermark Your LGBT life.

3:15 – Brian Michael Diaz 6:45 – Rally & Keynote Speakers 7:30 – Broadway for Orlando LIVe

those judges for the first time?

I’m super confident in my abilities as a singer and a performer, and I’ve been around the block a couple of times, so I knew going out there that I was going to do my thing. But you never know how someone will respond to it though. It was a breath of fresh air when they gave me that first standing ovation. It’s validating to know that all the hard work you’ve been putting in and everything you’ve been working for is for a reason. how did that compare to the finale? were you more at ease By then or were there Butterflies in the stomach?

Like Simon said at my last performance, it was a risky song to choose, and I felt

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

that a bit that night. This is either going to go really well or it’s not going to go over at all, so I was pretty nervous to make that jump and do [Michael Jackson’s] “Man in the Mirror.” It paid off though, and it was one of my favorite performances of mine on the show. getting a chance to Be on a hit show like america’S GoT TalenT changes every aspect of your life. what’s Been the Best part of the journey since taking that national stage?

All the fans and everyone who has been reaching out from all over the world, talking about being bullied. I talked about being bullied as a kid on the show and everything I went through being a gay man, and hearing people say how much it helped having someone who has been through what they’re going through. Giving them strength to follow their dreams – that’s been the most rewarding thing from the show, and I did not expect that going into this. So that has been amazing and driven me. so one thing that came from the eXposure of america’S GoT TalenT is you will Be headlining the come out with pride concert in orlando. how did that come aBout?

Yes, I am so excited. When they reached out to me I just had to. It was so heartbreaking to me with what happened this year, and I made a video with some friends of mine to pay respects and to honor the victims the week it happened. We all felt connected to it. I spent time learning about the people who died and the community in Orlando, and now getting to perform for them and hopefully help in bringing some smiles to their faces after this terrible year, it was just so important to me to be able to be there. now that the show is over and you are out playing concerts and touring the country, can we eXpect to hear some new, original music from you soon?

I’m actually going to be debuting one of my first original songs at Orlando Pride that I wrote with Jesse McCartney. We just finished it up and you all will be the first to hear it. what genre of music will your new alBum lean toward?

Pop music is really where my spirit lies. My first song is a sexy dance-pop tune. I wanted to have something big to debut for all the beautiful people of Orlando, so this is going to be a big finisher for the party and celebration and it should be a lot of fun.

o r l a n d o e m e rge n c y s i g n a l

r e s id e n t i a l a n d c o m m e rc ia l

s e c u r it y s ys t e m s

B u rgl a r A l a r m s • M ed i c a l A Le r t s • A l a r m M o n ito r i n g 2 4 h o u r m o n ito r i n g w i t h n o l o n g t e r m c o n t r a c t a n d n o p h o n e l in e r e qu i r e d

Helping Secure Central Florida’s LGBT Community with PRIDE

407-897-1300 FL EC13003716

Life & Status. Citi Lakes

amenities

Kitchen Eco-friendly Energy Efﬁcient GE Appliances Granite Counter Tops Choice of Dark or Light Wood Style Flooring Stainless Steel Appliances Track Lighting Choice of Dark or Light Cabinets Upgraded Sink Faucets Above Range Microwave 2” Wood Plantation Blinds Designer Interior Color Scheme available* Walk-in Closets* Whirlpool Washer and Dryer included Soaking Garden Tubs. Jetted Garden Tubs available*

YOUR

features

1,2 & 3 bedroom apartment homes Relax Zero-entry Resort Pool w/ Cabanas Restoration Retreat Deluxe Massage Chairs & Tanning Bed Stay Fit Fitness Center w/ Cardio & Spin Rooms Complimentary Health and Conditioning Classes Paved Jogging Trail Fun Entertainment Zone w/ Billards Café Style Coffee Bar Pet Park & Grooming Spa Work Resident Cyber Center Close to Outlet Malls, Theme Parks, and Fine Dining Private Gated Community w/ Garages available* Elevators

Citi Lakes Luxury Apartment Homes 12024 Meadowbend Loop | Orlando, FL 32821 407.778.4338 CitiLakes@PacApts.com CitiLakes-Apts.com PacApts.com

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

1972

2016

EAT, EA T, DRINK, AND

BE MAR MARY Tuesday: Best Darn “Drag Bingo” Ever! Miss Sammy & Carol Lee calling the Balls! 6:30pm

 Internet  Anonymous sex hookups  Overwhelming  Repeated affairs sexual desires  Destructive  Compulsive sex in relationships bathhouses and public restrooms  Paying for sex  Excessive use of  Cruising parks porn and rest stops are only examples of problems we  These Unprotected  have are many more. sex experienced. There

Wednesday: Doug Ba’ser presents: Team Trivia w/your Favorite “Dirty Team Names” 7pm. Enjoy 2-4-1 All Drinks 7-10 pm.

Friday: You Facebook the Song-Our Girls Perform It LIVE! The Minx, Asia Black & Nicky Monet seating @7:30pm. Show @8:30pm Saturday: Mary’s Longest Running Cabaret Show! seating @7:30pm Show@8:30pm

Sex Addicts Anonymous® can help. SAA is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to helping people recover from compulsive sexual behavior.

Sunday: Award Winning: Broadway Brunch w/The Minx & Cast Seat @ 11am. Show@Noon Get Ready for COME OUT WITH PRIDE “BLOCK PARTY....front of Hamburger Mary’s Oct. 7th Pride’s Salute to “County Music” featuring: Ty Herndon-National Recording Artist Amy & Freddy Rock Hard Review Broadway Bunch Ericka Dunlap Leigh Shannon & Crystal Chambers

www.cflsaa.org SAA welcomes newcomers of any sexual orientation or identity, whether they are gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual or transgender.

Erika Dunlap

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED AS SHOWS SELL OUT QUICKLY ORLANDO 110 W. Church St. Orlando, FL | HamburgerMarys-Orlando.com | 321-319-0600

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Got Mustard? We’ve got more weiner than we can handle.

www.DareToRescue.com

GET Emilio Sánchez, Untitled, Bronx Storefront, “La Rumba Supermarket,” late 1980s, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Emilio Sánchez Foundation. © Emilio Sánchez Foundation

Bay Area Infectious Disease Associates

OUTPATIENT INFUSION CENTER SERVICES, TRAVEL MEDICINE, CLINIC

STD Panels and HIV Testing available 255 Beach Drive NE

727.896.2667

mfastpete.org

Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Generous support for the exhibition has been provided by Altria Group, the Honorable Aida M. Alvarez, Judah Best, The James F. Dicke Family Endowment, Sheila Duignan and Mike Wilkins, Tania and Tom Evans, Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, The Michael A. and the Honorable Marilyn Logsdon Mennello Endowment, Henry R. Muñoz III, Wells Fargo, and Zions Bank. Additional significant support was provided by The Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. Support for Treasures to Go, the Museum’s traveling exhibition program, comes from The C.F. Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia. Sponsored by

Media Sponsors

watermark Your LGBT life.

Jose R. Prieto, M.D. Ileana M. Acevedo, M.D. Jose E. Vasquez, M.D. Derrick D. Thiel, D.O. Enid V. Klauber, M.D.

www.BAYIDA.com | 813-681-6474 214 Morrison Road, Suite 104 Brandon, Florida 33511 Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

community calendar

event planner

arts+entertainment

orlando

the center and OWL present Orlando’s second Annual LGbt Prom

Come Out with Pride, Oct 6- 8, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. 407-704-6261; ComeOutWithPride.com Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha yearwood, Oct. 6-9, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com Bill Burr, Oct. 7, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando. 407-839-0119; drphillipscenter.org The Cheaters, Oct. 7, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com Junior Boys, Oct. 7, The Social, Orlando. 407-246-1419; TheSocial.org Spooky Empire, Oct. 7- 9, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. 954-258-7852; SpookyEmpire.com Big Gay Brunch, Oct. 8, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com The Decades Party, Oct. 8, Milk District Pavilion, Orlando. 407-421-1670; BodyTalkParty.org Stranger Things Halloween Party, Oct. 8, Belle Isle Yacht Pub, Orlando. 407-850-3491; Facebook.com/Belle-Isle-YachtPub Pride with Nene leakes & Roxxxy Andrews, Oct. 8, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571 OrlandoiX, Oct. 14-16, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. 321-622-2900; OrlandoIX.com Creative City Project, Oct. 15, Orange Avenue, Orlando.407-839-0119; CreativeCityProject.com RX Bandits, Oct. 15, TheBeacham, Orlando. 407-246-1419; TheBeacham.com

friDay, oct. 7, 7:00 p.m. sorosis woman’s cluB of orlanDo, orlanDo

on our

nenes!

Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Nene leakes and RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Star Roxxxy Andrews will celebrate Orlando’s Pride at the Parliament House in Orlando Oct. 8.

It’s time to dust off those tuxedos and prom dresses again as The GLBT Center and Older Wiser Learning (OWL) present the 2016 LGBT Prom, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Come dance the night away to DJ Alex Howell, have your prom portraits taken and make sure you check out some of the prom’s special shows, with the evening also crowning the LGBT Prom king and queen. Food provided by the Olive Garden. Tickets start at $35 and are available at LGBTPromOrlando.EventBrite.com.

tampa Bay

tampa bay Diversity chamber’s Network Mixer tuesDay, octoBer 11, 5:30 p.m. Quench lounge, largo

latin Food &Wine Festival, Oct. 16, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando. 407-839-0119; drphillipscenter.org

Free Wine Tasting and Pot luck, Oct. 9, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com

Tropical States AAG Prelim, Oct. 16, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com

Join the Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce for an evening of networking. Quench your thirst while you mingle, connect and see what your fellow businesses have going on. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and is free to members and guests. Drink specials and light snacks will be available. Sponsored by PNC Bank. For more information on the Diversity Chamber and to check out more upcoming events, visit DiversityTampaBay.org.

Watermark’s Third Thursday, Oct. 20, Artegon Marketplace, Orlando. 407-481-2243; ArtegonMarketplace.com

Kick up your Heels for SMART Ride, Oct. 9, Metro Health & Wellness, St. Petersburg. 727-321-3852; TheSmartRide.org

Amy Schumer, Oct. 16, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com

sarasota

Balance Tampa Bay’s October Social, Oct. 19, The Getaway, St. Petersburg. 727-317-5751; BalanceTampaBay.org

ALsO Youth Ambassador training

tampa Bay Cirque de la Symphonie, Oct. 7, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; strazcenter.org Heart Walk Benefit, Oct. 7, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com Silly Sam the Music Man, Oct. 8, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; strazcenter.org Queer Craft Brews, Oct. 9, 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg. 727-495-6002; 3DBrewing.com

G2H2 St. Pete - Octoberfest, Oct. 13, Hofbrauhaus, St. Petersburg. 727-898-3333; HofbrauhausStPetersburg.com Decades Rewind, Oct. 14, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; strazcenter.org Hemp Fest, Oct. 15-16, Generation Entertainment, Tampa. 813-562-9599; GenerationFoodTruck.com Frankenstein, Oct. 16, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; strazcenter.org

sarasota Beer, Boats & Bacon, Oct. 8, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota. 941-358-7275; BeerBoatsAndBacon.com 5K Zombie Run, Oct. 15, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota. 941-358-7275; The5kZombieRun.com Celtic Thunder legacy, Oct. 15, Van Wezel, Sarasota. 941-953-3368; VanWezel.org

saturDay, octoBer 8, 1:00 p.m. also youth, sarasota The ALSO Youth Ambassador program is a public speaking and leadership forum which provides opportunities for youth to connect with the community through youth panels and other public events. If you’re 13-21 years old and in the Sarasota area, you can become an ALSO Youth Ambassador. This training event will provide snacks as you play games, facilitate activities and hold discussions on advocacy and public speaking. You do not need to identify as LGBTQIA to be an ALSO Youth Ambassador, but you must feel comfortable speaking about issues facing LGBTQIA Youth. If you have any questions about this upcoming training and wish to participate, please call us at 941-951-2576.

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

event planner and community calendar is brougHt to you by curtis protective services • 1-800-551-8368 • curtissecurity.com watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

GREATER

Orlan do Gala 2016

Please join us for this wonderful event with an open bar, delicious hors d’oeuvres, an incredible Silent Art Auction, performance artists, music, and an exciting program.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016 8PM The Orlando Museum of Art • 2416 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

TICKETS $100 S p o n s o rs h i p b eg i n s at $ 5 0 0. S p o n s o rs h i p i n c l u d e s a n u m b e r o f b e n e f i ts i n c l u d i n g co m p l i m e n ta ry t i c k e ts . To RSV P a n d fo r m o r e i n fo r m at i o n o n s p o n s o rs h i p v i s i t eq f l .o rg/o r l a n d o ga l a . Fo r q u e st i o n s , c a l l 4 07-4 6 2 - 9 6 9 2 . Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. All net proceeds directly benefit Equality Florida Institute, a tax exempt 501c3 non-profit organization. Statewide Sponsors

A C O P Y O F T H E O F F I C I A L R E G I S T R AT I O N A N D F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M AT I O N F O R T H E E Q U A L I T Y F L O R I D A I N S T I T U T E M AY B E O B TA I N E D F R O M T H E D I V I S I O N O F C O N S U M E R S E R V I C E S B Y C A L L I N G T O L L - F R E E W I T H I N F L O R I D A ( 1 . 8 0 0 . 4 3 5 . 7 3 5 2 ) . R E G I S T R AT I O N D O E S N O T I M P LY E N D O R S E M E N T , A P P R O V A L , O R R E C O M M E N D AT I O N B Y T H E S TAT E . R E G I S T R AT I O N # C H 7 9 9 2 .

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

International

Bespoke Italian furniture working directly with your interior designer!

Design Studio

Premium space available for interior designers and design interns! Contact: Susanne: 561-460-0368 susannesabbatino@gmail.com Jason: 407-960-8255 j.aupperle@ldv-consultancy.com 711 North Olrando Avenue Maitland, FL 32751 Adjacent to Maitland SunRail! 50

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

overheard

tampa Bay out+aBout

hello gorgeous!

ost people at the age of 74 are kicked back in retirement, sipping on a cocktail and enjoying the warm weather of a tropical climate such as that in Florida, but most people aren’t Barbra Streisand. Babs has had a year that would exhaust a person in their twenties, but this Funny Girl has been globetrotting to promote her new album Encore and looking flawless along the way. Now, she is out on tour, selling out venues across America, and apparently she decided that a winter stay in the Sunshine State with the snowbirds might not be such a bad gig. So here she comes! For the first time ever, this Hollywood legend and gay icon will be in Tampa at Amalie Arena for a live concert Nov. 30. Time to Guilt Trip some Little Fockers into getting you a ticket so you can see Yentl belt out her greatest hits The Way We Were meant to hear them... LIVE, All Night Long!

speaking of eQuality

he university of tampa’s center for puBlic speaKing and the university’s speech program are launching a new speaker series to showcase some of Florida’s most talented speakers. For the 2016-2017 series, UT will partner with an organization that is loaded to the brim with some of the best speakers we have ever heard from Equality Florida. The series will feature four speakers from EQFL: two in the fall semester and two in the spring semester. While they haven’t announced the spring speakers yet, we know who will grace the stage this fall. The series will kick off with EQFL’s public policy director Hannah Willard on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Willard has been responsible for all the work EQFL has done in the state capital, including the efforts at passing of the statewide nondiscrimination bill to protect LGBTQ Floridians. She also manages local policy campaigns, including anti-discrimination ordinances and safe school policies. The series’ second speaker will be on Thursday, Nov. 3, and will be none other than the chair of TransAction, Equality Florida’s transgender inclusion initiative, and former Watermark cover model Gina Duncan. Duncan has trained major corporations across the United States on transgender inclusion and was a guest speaker at the Global Summit on Human Rights in Milan, Italy, sponsored by the Harvey Milk Foundation. The series will be held in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values on campus and is free and open to the public.

2 3

aB faB films: Eddie Midler takes tickets for the Fabulous Independent Film Festival movie Me, Myself and Her, sponsored by Watermark, at Burns Court Cinema in Sarasota Oct. 1. PHOTO By DANNy GARCIA

Disney Duo: Tampa Bay’s Anthony Citrola and Jeremy Wade Neiman check out the International Food & Wine Festival at Disney’s Epcot Center Oct. 1. PHOTO COuRTESy OF JEREMy WADE NEIMAN

King of the forest: leugim Quintana celebrated his last night working at Southern Nights as the Cowardly Lion for the Emerald City party at Southern Nights in Tampa Sept. 24. PHOTO

COuRTESy OF lEuGIM QuINTANA

easy riDers: (L-R) John Vandermolen, Scott Skyberg, Elizabeth Settle and Jason Fields bike at the Davis Island Beach & Yacht Club in Tampa Sept. 25. PHOTO

COuRTESy OF JASON FIElDS

go Bucs: Anastasia C. Hiotis (l) and Connie lancaster cheer for the Tampa Bay Bucs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Oct. 2. PHOTO COuRTESy OF CONNIE lANCASTER

sunDay funDay: (L-R) “Tea Cup” Mark Bias, Michael Getter, Tyler Roberson and Jeff Sumner on the balcony of Hambuger Mary’s Ybor in Tampa Oct. 2. PHOTO

COuRTESy OF MICHAEl GETTER

Bingo was its name-o: (L-R) Commissioner Michael Smith, Karen Zients, Georgia Wildrick and Eric Hutton help raise funds for the Labrador Retriever Rescue with Drag Queen Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s in Clearwater Oct. 2. PHOTO COuRTTESy OF MICHAEl SMITH

truth to power: ACLU attorney James Shaw speaks at the Hillsborough County Democratic Women’s Club Monthly Meeting at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library in Tampa Oct. 3.

PHOTO COuRTESy OF SuSAN SMITH

7 watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

Make your special day historic with subtle elegance and unmatched beauty at

Annual Costume Gala • October 29, 2016 Rosen Plaza, Orlando • 6:00pm - 12:00am

Brimming with exquisite historic detail and subtle opulence, the home features the original and pristine 1885 heart pine floors, five beautiful rooms, and a striking terrace overlooking Lake Osceola. The property, situated on three and a half acres of serene sculpture gardens, offers multiple options for both large and intimate celebrations to ensure an truly exceptional personalized experience.

Weddings Showers Corporate Events

Visit: OfficialVillagePeople.com

Holiday Parties Other Celebrations

Tickets on Sale Now

Contact

at aspirehealthepartners.com Join Aspire for the best costume, dinner/auction and Disco Dance Party in Orlando starring American Music Award Winners VILLAGE PEOPLE to benefit Aspire Health Partners. Tickets and Sponsorships Available NOW! LIMITED SEATING! ACT NOW!

Kim Ruffier event@polasek.org 407-647-6294 ext. 2003 Or visit capenhouse.com

For Sponsorship Opportunities Call: Mark Cady, 407-875-3700, ext. 3231

“Experience Upholding the Public’s Trust!”

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

overheard

orlando out+aBout

getting randy on election day

hanKs to social meDia, internet celebrity and blogger Randy Rainbow (yes, that’s his real name) has musically educated many on the election process and, well, the candidates. With his latest debate video YouTube hit “BRAGGADOCIOUS!” Randy’s been making the social media circuit. On Nov. 8, the Parliament House will host Election Night with Randy Rainbow. Admission will include entertainment (parody songs) and party games and, of course, Randy Rainbow. On a positive note, if your candidate doesn’t win, at least you’ll be entertained. Also, the 2-4-1 drink specials will certainly help.

orlando named second-most fun city

ut of 150 listeD “large” cities, WalletHub ranked Orlando at No. 2 as most fun city, right behind Las Vegas. What helped determine the ranking of the variety of activities and venues for Orlandoans? Orlandites? Orlandishans? Whether alone, with friends or with family, Orlando provides so many great options, apparently. The results were based on 51 key metrics. They range from “number of fitness centers per capita” to “movie costs” to “average open hours of breweries.” With the theme parks, local bars, events like Come Out with Pride and the booming art scene, it’s no wonder Orlando was named the penultimate fun capital in the country. Just don’t throw up after the ride!

colorful come out with pride

s posteD in the city of orlanDo’s weBsite, the “ribs” of the Lake Eola Bandshell will see a colorful update just in time for Come Out with Pride. The rainbow theme is meant to honor and remember the victims of the Pulse tragedy. In July, Central Florida residents Deborah and Lauren Jane Gilmore presented the idea to the Orlando City Council with a watercolor rendering. District 4 City Commissioner Patty Sheehan worked with community partners to turn this vision into reality before the October 8 Come Out With Pride events. In their proposal, the Gilmores describe the meaning of each of the colors to them: red for love; orange for Orange County; yellow is faith and hope; green for life, its fragility and renewal; blue for the sadness we all collectively feel and to honor our police officers and medical staff; and purple representing valor and bravery. “This is a shining example of community collaboration. This started as an idea from a resident and we approached Walt Disney World who was able to make it happen in time for our Come Out With Pride celebration. We are grateful for Disney’s generosity, making this remembrance of the victims with a symbol of hope for our community now and in the future,” Commissioner Sheehan said.

By BIlly MANES

love art: (L-R) Neema Bahrami, Eric Rollings, James Duke Mason and Barbara Poma in front of the new mural wrapped around the fence at Pulse Sept. 26. PHOTO By BRETT yANCEy

supporting hillZ: (L-R) Carlos Smith, Michael Farmer and Boyd lindsley at the presidential debate watch party on Church Street in Orlando Sept. 26. PHOTO By BIlly MANES

weDDing weeKenD: XL106.7’s Sondra Rae Valentino (L) married Mel Guad at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-In-The-Hills Oct. 2. PHOTO COuRTESy OF SONDRA RAE VAlENTINO

Date night: Doug Ba’aser (L) and Miss Sammy host “The Mating Gayme” at Stonewell’s Stag Party in Orlando Sept. 29.

PHOTO By RICK ClAGGETT

he’s with her: Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine hosts the first presidential debate in downtown Orlando at Church Street Station Sept. 26. PHOTO

peace Keeper: Patty Sheehan (center) does her civic duty and keeps Brad Pitt and Angelina Joile separated at Madame Tussaud’s during the Madame Orlando event in Orlando Sept. 30. PHOTO COuRTESy OF

WIll HAlPERN

priDe in space: lexi Wright (center) and the rest of the Space Coast Pride board thank attendees at the annual event in Melbourne Sept. 24. PHOTO By

DANNy GARCIA

Bangarang: Valensky Sylvain(L) and Selman Markovic (R) hang out with Rufio, Dante Basco, at the Copper Rocket Pub for the Return of the Lost Boys Sept. 24. PHOTO COuRTESy OF AJ

HÉGE PHOTOGRAPHy

8 watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

announcements

wedding Bells

eric Pinder, 49, and Dwayne smoot, 50 from Orlando, Florida

Sondra Rae Valentino and Mel Guad were married Oct. 1.

years togetHer:

Phish Phest Entertainment celebrates 15 years in business on Oct. 15.

15 years

Grace Restoration Church in Lakeland celebrates its six year anniversary on Oct. 16.

wedding date:

November 12, 2016

local birtHdays

wedding venue:

Amway Arena

wedding planner:

The couple and the Solar Bears organization

wedding caterer:

Amway Arena (Levy Restaurants Company)

wedding tHeme/ colors:

They are having a hockey-themed wedding. The colors they will be using are red and white for the Detroit Red Wings (eric’s hometown team); blue and white for the Tampa Bay Lightning (Dwayne’s hometown team); and purple, green and white for the orlando Solar Bears.

First song:

“Man, It’s So Loud in Here” by They Might Be Giants

interesting Fact:

They have traveled to Michigan to watch the Winter Classic outdoor game played on New year’s Day.

congratulations

“h

e’s an increDiBly creative

person,” Dwayne says. “That’s one of the things that I like from talking with him, just how knowledgeable about so much that he is. And I know he can surprise me and make me laugh at any moment, and being in a relationship where you can be laughing at any moment can be a lot of fun.” Eric Pinder, who is an actor/ director/writer, and Dwayne Smoot, who is a programmer/analyst, both met at a party that Eric wasn’t even going to originally attend. “Strangely enough, I was supposed to do a show that evening, but it ended up being cancelled,” Eric says. “I thought, ‘Well, I guess I’ll go to this party,’ and I’m glad I did because that’s where I actually met Dwayne. I was wearing a hockey jersey – a Detroit Red Wings jersey – which is my home team, and Dwayne actually had a boyfriend previous who was also a Detroit Red Wings fan. He knew the Russian player [jersey] that I was wearing right away, so I thought ‘Wow, this guy knows a lot about hockey and is really cute.’” Eric jokes he remembers thinking not to stare at him too long and ruin it. Another connection they made

at the party was when Eric asked Dwayne if he listened to opera and if he had heard of Strauss or the Ring Cycle. Dwayne said yes. “Because I speak Russian and German, I had heard it before, and it was just yet another thing where we were able to bond about,” Dwayne says. Eric had two tickets to They Might Be Giants, and none of his friends that he asked knew of the band. He figured since Dwayne was cute and they had a lot of common interests, he might like the concert and band and want to go. That ended up being their first date, and it turned out that Dwayne had actually seen them before in San Francisco. They both soon realized they had a lot in common and this was something they both wanted to pursue. The couple moved in together about a year after they started dating and have been

together ever since. “I think the secret to our successful relationship is the fact that I’m always out rehearsing something,” Eric jokes. “He doesn’t really have that much time to get sick of me, because I’m always out in the evenings rehearsing some project or other.” When it came to marriage, it only seemed natural for them to get married after being together for so long, and also because they were hopeless romantics. “A few years ago, we went ahead, immediately after it was made legal, and became domestic partners in the City of Orlando,” Dwayne says. “It seemed natural to be married. It’s been denied to us for so long that the opportunity to do so is just a great moment for us.” They tossed around a lot of ideas but ended up coming up with an idea using their shared interest – getting married at a hockey game. Eric says he called the Solar Bears and asked their ticket guy if he and Dwayne could get married before a game. After being on hold for about two minutes, he came back and said, “Yeah, we can do that for you,” so the couple will be getting married on the ice prior to the game later at night.

Lighthouse Realty broker/owner Mike Trexler (Oct. 6); Florida House candidate Mike Reedy, Gomez Law Firm of St. Petersburg’s Ian Stanislaus, Orlando LGBT activist Michael Slaymaker, graphic designer Jocelynn White, Parliament House’s loc Robertson (Oct. 7); D’Squared Productions’ Douglas White (Oct. 8); Libby’s Legacy founder Robin Maynard (Oct. 9); Parliament House’s Robert Arroyo (Oct. 11); Orlando DJ and magician VJ Nick Comis (Oct. 12); freelance writer Michael Kilgore, GaYbor entertainer and Tampa institution Joey Brooks, Pink Flamingo Group Trips coordinator Dan Warren (Oct. 14); art curator Mendi Cowles, Tampa retiree Howard Hawk (Oct. 15); Orlando Fringe producer Michael Marinaccio, real estate agent Kase Elders, Suncoast softballer Michael Monnich, Orlando attorney Mary Meeks (Oct. 16); Tampa political campaign guru Mitch Kates, singer Sunshine Matthews, Lakeland-based Geico expert Barry Stemle, Ybor City’s King Corona Cigar expert Willy Emerson, Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph (Oct. 17); Family Equality Council’s Tatiana Quiroga, DJ CubbyPat O’Rourke, UCF LGBTQ advocate David Moran, South Florida Gay News publisher Norm Kent (Oct. 18); St. Pete’s Everest University admissions specialist Mike Callahan, Tampa photographer and graphic artist Byron Schaerr, Orlando make-up artist Scott Juszczak (Oct. 19)

do you Have an announcement? Having a birtHday or anniversary? did you get a new Job or promotion? See your news in Watermark! Send your announcement to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com or go to WatermarkOnline.com/Submit-a-Transition.

it’s tHat easy!

—Samantha Rosenthal

Do you have an interesting wedding or engagement story you’d like to share with Watermark readers? If so, email the details to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com for consideration as a future feature on this page.

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

tampa

accountant

ba y

M ark e tplac e

counselor

DESIGN YOUR OWN LIFE

medical

Bay Area Infectious Disease Associates OUTPATIENT INFUSION CENTER SERVICES, TRAVEL MEDICINE, CLINIC

STD Panels and HIV Testing available Jose R. Prieto, M.D. | Jose E. Vasquez, M.D. | Enid V. Klauber, M.D. | Ileana M. Acevedo, M.D. | Derrick D. Thiel, D.O.

www.BAYIDA.com | 813-681-6474 | 214 Morrison Road, Suite 104 Brandon, Florida 33511

Anthony Quaglieri, Ph.D

attorney Attorney Alison M. Foley-Rothrock se habla Español!

Immigration Law

mental health

Licensed Psychotherapist MH 486

Offering All Types Of Immigration Services

Call today for your FREE CONSULTATION

1006 West Platt Street ■ Tampa, FL 33606

813-258-4252

aqphd@tampabay.rr.com 35 years experience

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, RELATIONSHIPS Short Term Therapy … Long Term Change DOWNESLCSW@OUTLOOK.COM 727 347 3284 St. Petersburg, FL

Offices in: Lakeland 863-401-4276 and Ybor City, Tampa 813-424-0652 www.foleyimmigrationlaw.com

community

PETER DOWNES, LCSW

framing

real estate

Residential • Commercial

Dan Fiorini 2060 Tyrone Blvd N • St. Pete (727)344-1000 Crossroads Center next to Ross

community

hotels+resorts

youth services

Join us and grow your business as a member of the Chamber admin@tbglcc.org community

If this were your ad,

Join us and volunteer with our future mentorship program and committees

thousands of readers

would have just seen it. Call for rates

813-655-9890

admin@tbglcc.org 56

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

o r l A N D o

accountant

M A r K e T p l A C e

attorney

accountant

www.SeifertMiller.com

attorney

accountant

MARRIAGE & DOMESTIC PARTNER PLANNING PERSONAL/BUSINESS TAX PREPARATION, e-ﬁle QUICKBOOKS ADVANCED PROADVISOR®

407-295-9231

www.4seasonsair.net The A/C Company you wish you called first.

We have the perfect deal on

PERFECT AIR for your home

FL License#: CAC056308

Up to $1700

in Rebates plus additional utility company incentives on qualified units.

air conditioning

Chiropractic Physician

SOUTH PARK

COMPASSIONATE PERSONAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

CHIROPRACTIC

WILLS - $149.00

Judy L. Hines, CQA, CPB, CPS, CAP

air conditioning

DR. JARED SILBERSTEIN

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS… PROTECT YOUR FUTURE…

Leah eah G. James, CPA, MSTax

407.478.4513 • ContactUs@geckoCPA.com

chiropractor

• Family Law • Bankruptcy • Criminal

South Park Chiropractic Welcomes Dr. Michelle Medina to our office! Please come meet her.

• Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements • Probate • Social Security/Disability

PROUDLY SERVING CENTRAL FLORIDA’S LEGAL NEEDS FOR OVER 25 YEARS CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

WWW.FCWONLINE.COM

“WE ARE HERE FOR YOU”

South Park Chiropractic

(Off of John Youn Pky near Sand Lake Road)

CARL L. GRIFFIN, P.A. KENNETH D. WYNNE, P.A.

8865 Commodity Circle Suite 3 Orlando, FL 32819 407-354-0009 Fax: 407-354-4882

2223 Curry Ford Road Orlando, FL 32806

(407) 897-2275 carlgriffin.com

(407) 897-5277 kenwynne.com

Read It Online!

Head over to WatermarkOnline.com and click on the Digital Publications link to read a digital version of the printed newspaper!

CAC#1817927

This space kept clean cleaning service byspace Merrykept Maids. This clean Thisbyspace kept clean Merry Maids. We can keep your space clean, too! by Merry Maids.

We can keep your space clean, too! We can keep your space clean, too!

407.331.5266

$100 Off Save $00

watermark Your LGBT life.

Offer$20 Description goes here Take off of your first five Line Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue cleanings. 2 3. two 20 offer description

$100 Off Save $00 $100 Off Save $00 Line two offer description cleanings.

4073315266 000-000-0000

merrymaids.com

4073315266 000-000-0000 merrymaids.com 4073315266 000-000-0000

Offer throughonly. 00/00/0000. New customers only. New good customers Not valid$20 with other Valid only at this location. Cash value 1/1000 of 1 cent. Offer Description goes here Take offoffers. of your first five Valid only at this location. ©2010 Merry Maids L.P.

merrymaids.com

Offer Description goes here Take off only. of your first five Offer good through 00/00/0000. New customers only. New $20 customers Line two description cleanings. Not valid withoffer other offers. Valid only at this location. Cash value 1/1000 of 1 cent. Valid only at this location. ©2010 Merry Maids L.P. Offer good through 00/00/0000. New customers only.

o r l and o

counselor

M a r k e t p l ac e

dry cleaners

health care

Compassionate

Care

3 Locations

Downtown - 1216 N. Mills Ave. Orlando, FL 32803

coee Health Care Center provides short-term, postacute medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term skilled nursing care. We offer: • Skilled nursing, RN/LPN care • Physical therapy • Occupational therapy • Speech and respiratory therapy • Orthopaedic programs • Stroke recovery programs • Wound and amputation care • IV and pain management • Hospice and respite care • Restorative nursing program • Cardiac programs • Strengthening and gait training • Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance accepted!

for your peace of mind

Lake Mary • Maitland/Winter Park 407-896-7035 | www.orchidcleanersorlando.com

counselor

funeral services

407-877-2272

www.OcoeeHealthCare.com 1556 Maguire Rd • Ocoee, FL 34761

health+fitness

407-435-9995

counselor

garden/nursery

CIT Y OA SIS

We will match or beat local prices!

407-207-0067 M-F 10-7, Sat 10-6

Full Service Interior Plantscaping Design & Maintenance

www.naturesmarketorlando.com

Free Estimates. Prices star t as low as $9 9/mo

Between Conway Rd. & Bumby Ave.

Sales - Leasing - Maintenance

Exotic Orchids Bonsai Ornamentals

• Ove1·come Dep1·ession

.Vitamins .Herbs .Dietary .Sports

1214 N. Mills Ave. Orlando (407) 898 -8101

Crystal Lake Plaza 3074 Curry Ford Rd.

Come see Dave, Ed & Susan for a Free Consultation!

• Explore Gender Issues

health care

• Deal With Family Conflict • Impmve Emotional Health

LGBT Primary Care

• Build Satisfying Intimate Relationships

Gregory Lucas, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist

407-963-1542

DrGregorylucas.com

3222 CORRINE DRIVE, SUITE I, ORLANDO, FL 32803

Growth - Strength - Wellness

Your Family Doctor’s Office

Piňero Preventive Medical Care Mon-Sat -New Patients Welcome 1720 S Orange Ave, Ste 200 Orlando

www.PineroMedical.com | 407.426.9693 Celebrating 10 years of LGBT Primary Care

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

If this were your ad, thousands of readers

would have just seen it. Call for rates

407-481-2243 59

o r l A N D o

health+fitness

M A r K e T p l A C e

lawn care

photogrpahy

• Female Impersonators • Male Dancers • Grindr Pics By appointment only. Phone or Email for prices.

407 985-2457 cell: 407-288-6512 MikeIvan3@yahoo.com

home improvement

non-profit organiZation

physician

Want PrEP?

Why Pay A Specialist’s CoPay

Piňero Preventive Medical Care Mon-Sat -New Patients Welcome 1720 S Orange Ave, Ste 200 Orlando

www.PineroMedical.com | 407.426.9693

$15 OFF NEXT SERVICE One time use only.

investments+finance

Celebrating 10 years of LGBT Primary Care

non-profit organiZation

real estate JACOB BONYNGE REALTOR Olde Town Brokers 11 N Summerlin Ave. Orlando, FL 32801 407.800.8101 jebonynge@gmail.com

Read It Online! Head to WatermarkOnline.com and click on the Digital Publications link to a read a digital version of the printed newspaper!

transgender services

We do HRT

Discounted self pay office & lab rates

Piňero Preventive Medical Care Mon-Sat -New Patients Welcome 1720 S Orange Ave, Ste 200 Orlando

www.PineroMedical.com | 407.426.9693 Celebrating 10 years of LGBT Primary Care

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

o r l and o

M a r k e t p l ac e

veterinarian

Proudly Caring for the Pets and People of the LGBT community since 1955

BOARDING DOGGIE DAYCARE 1601 Lee Rd. Winter Park (407) 644-2676 youth services Changing the lives of LGBTQ teens and young adults for over 25 years Social support groups Make friends Scholarships for college Weekly groups in Orange, Seminole & Polk counties

• Join • Volunteer • Donate

info@orlandoyouthalliance.org www.orlandoyouthalliance.org

Call for Rates

407-481-2243

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

uprisings

taX and spin

He’s a genius at how to take advantage of legal remedies that can help your company survive and grow. don’t you think a man who has this kind of economic genius is a lot better for the United states than a woman and the only thing she’s ever produced is a lot of work for the FbI checking out her emails? —former new yorK city mayor ruDy giuliani

graham of salt

here are some things we taKe for granteD – posturing, political turmoil – and then there are the things we know we need to protect. U.S. Rep Gwen Graham – she of the Graham clan and future gubernatorial ambitions – came out swinging (mildly) on Oct. 1 at the Florida Springs Restoration Summit in Ocala. “For decades – for decades – support for Florida’s environment knew no party lines,” Graham said, according to politico.com. “But unfortunately, we don’t see the same level of support from our state’s current administration.” If it sounds like she’s just baiting the stream toward her own political ascent, it shouldn’t. Rather, Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, has spent a large part of his two terms dismantling all regulatory protections, especially those involving the environment. “I’m ashamed when I hear Floridians say DEP stands for Don’t Expect Protection or Department of Environmental Pollution, and the governor should be ashamed, too,” Graham said.

weeds grow

ere we go again. It seems like just a couple of years ago (it was) that we were all hiding behind the moneyed edifice of super-attorney John Morgan in hopes that he could push medical marijuana through the bricks of conservatism and into the mainstream via a constitutional amendment. This week, the Tampa Bay Times reports that United for Care, the group for which Morgan is the hood ornament and Ben Pollara is the campaign manager, might be playing its cards just right for a 2016 victory. United for Care raised a blistering $222,141 last week, according to the Times, while its opposition Drug Free Florida only pulled in $250 in the same period. UFC seems to taking the safe route this time, spending only $144,780 in September compared to the $1.8 million being funneled into paranoia by Drug Free Florida. Depending on which way the pendulum of crazy swings Nov. 8, Florida could have a progressive victory on its hands and some much needed aid for those suffering among us. Let’s do this.

the right seX

hough it shoulD never have haD to be a subject of political discourse, those afraid of their own identities (apparently) have made the transgender birth certificate battle into bait for the base, costing countless court fees in the process. Look out for the bathroom! The Miami Herald reports that Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers gave up the ghost and ordered the state Department of Health to alter the birth certificate of a 15-year-old plaintiff’s to reflect his presenting gender. It should come as no surprise; a Broward judge asked the same last year, the paper reports, but those who hold the power of the certifying pen were cautious, because, well, they felt they had to be? Regardless, all’s well that ends well. And if it took being “cautious” on the part of the Department of Health to come to an obvious conclusion, then maybe that caution will register with other powers that be in the future. And maybe we can all start playing fair.

watermark Your LGBT life.

Billy Manes

n a weeKenD that saw the tropics swirling with hurricane terror and a Saturday Night Live takedown of the first presidential debate earlier in the week featuring Alec Baldwin (Kill Street, anyone?!) and Kate McKinnon (the shimmy), you might think that the Donald Trump campaign should be mixing its news and humor distractions with a packet of B.C. Powder and some whisky while hiding in a dark room. After all, Trump’s actual performance was more over-the-top than Baldwin’s grumpy sniffles (Clinton is almost unanimously considered to have trumped Trump in the debate). And when Trump took those “sniffles” to Twitter in the wee-hours of the morning, he managed to offend an entire gender and the entire Latin community with his attacks on former Miss Universe Alicia Machado. In no uncertain terms, he called her fat. In no uncertain terms, he brought up a sex-tape past on the beauty queen (which wasn’t a sex tape at all, really). In no uncertain terms, he came off as a terrible ogre with “temperament” problems. (Oh, also, he was in a soft-core Playboy video himself, and his current wife is splayed across the internet sans clothing for all the world to see.) But then the early hours of Sunday morning arrived steeped in numbers and shouts of impropriety involving Mr. Trump, this time suggesting tax evasion, or somehow even worse, that he didn’t even care. As everyone knows by now, The New York Times “obtained” three pages of Trump’s tax returns – basically, his resume, as he doesn’t work; his money works for him – and just those three pages dating back two decades revealed the Trump we all knew was living under that combover. This man is a fraud. This man is gaming the system. He may have hemorrhaged nearly $1 billion in 1995 – thereby allowing him the option to pay no taxes for 18 years thereafter via a loophole bigger than his breathing mouth – but, man, he sure does tell it like it is. And have you ever heard the word “dangerous” uttered without threat of libel so much in a U.S. political campaign? I haven’t. Fascist runs a close second. Asshole hangs in the wings. The word that came as an even greater surprise, however, was the glowing text-jumble of “genius.” Surrogates of varying body shapes (because, men) stepped forward into the Sunday morning television morass to declare that Trump’s tax maneuvering – or rather that of his accountants – was a work of genius, a sign of leadership. We are a country that is built on cheating the system, after all. Just ask Trump’s foundation, which, at last glance, was ordered by the courts to suspend operations. With Trump, there is no real layering, no onion skin; there is only the notion that if you ask a question that manages to penetrate his bravado, the answer is apparent. This is bad. This is the new nationalism, the new white power, the new white-collar power. And it’s frightening So even as SNL manages to capture the spirit of the fall of America’s political discourse, the laughter is muted by your neighbors with Trump signs that look an awful lot like burning crosses. Dangerous isn’t even the half of it. Blow wind, blow.

Oc tOb er 6 - Oc tOb er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20

THE BARBER FUND HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH CANCER

www.thebarberfund.org WE HONOR THEIR COURAGE. WE HONOR THEIR STRENGTH. WE HONOR THEIR FIGHT!

ONE LOVE!

In Memory of John “Tweeka” Barber 1972 - 2011

Your table is ready! Start your evening with dinner at Sixty South Restaurant and Bar, on the main ﬂoor of the DoubleTree by Hilton™ Orlando Downtown. You'll ﬁnd the same attention to detail and caring service that DoubleTree is known for, along with fresh ingredients and inventive dishes served in an inviting, modern setting. Our hotel is TAG Approved, a supporter of the LGBT community and known for our welcoming ambiance. DoubleTree by Hilton. Where the little things mean everything.™

60 South Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32804 T (407) 425 4455 F (407) 425 7440

ORLANDO

AS STRONG AS A FORD!

#ORLANDOUNBREAKABLE

1875. S. Orlando Ave., Maitland

Call Fred Berliner to set your appointment today!

(407)644-7111 ext.242 email: carbearfb@aol.com

watermark Your LGBT life.

Oc tob er 6 - Oc tob er 19, 2016 // Issue 2 3. 20