watermark Your LGBTQ Life.
ISSUE 24.13 •
JUNE 29 - JULY 17, 2017 WATERMARKONLINE.COM
MIND OVER
MATTER Addressing mental health concerns within the lgbTQ community
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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No Better Place. No Better Time. The Platinum Group is a team of full time Realtors that understands the importance of living in a community that welcomes you as an individual.
Pride, Strength and Community. Equality is a right that all of us are entitled to, no matter our race, religion or sexuality. This dream can and will be realized as long as we continue to work together as a community. Happy Pride St. Pete! We are proud to represent such an inclusive city! St. Petersburg • Tampa Bay • Beaches
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
departments 6 // mail 7 // editors desk 9 // orlando news 13 // tampa bay news 14 // state, nation & world news 21 // talking points 37 // community calendar 39 // tampa bay out+about 41 // orlando out+about 42 // tampa bay marketplace 43 // wedding bells/ announcements 44 // orlando marketplace
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I don’t usually post up photos of us kissing or holding hands, and posting this up was me just kind of putting it out there and saying if this makes you uncomfortable to see then that is your problem, not mine.
— tamPa bay PhotoGraPher nicK cardello SPeaKinG about GoinG viral after PoStinG eQuality march PhotoS of him and hiS huSband on facebooK.
on tHe cover
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PAGE MIND OVER
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MATTER: Mental health concerns are addressed far too little in the LGBTQ community, and they are addressed even less within the minority groups. Photo by Jake Stevens
scan Qr code For
watermarkonline.com
being Joan crawFord: Central Florida actor Doug Ba’aser looks to start some Feuds as he channels the legendary actress for a one-night performance of Joan Crawford’s House Party.
watermark i ssue 24 .13 //J une 29 - J uly 17, 2017
a trans First
pride marcHes on
an ode to Jim
tabloid Queen
PAGE Rebecca Storozuk breaks the mold as the first transgender deputy at the Orange County Sherriff’s Office.
PAGE St. Pete Pride brings the parade downtown and bookends it with the first ever TransPride march and fireworks over the bay.
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read it Online! In addition to a Web site with daily LGBTQ updates, a digital version of each issue of the publication is made available on WatermarkOnline.com
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As Orlando institution Jim Philips announces his retirement, The News Junkie’s Sabrina Ambra has a few parting words for him.
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St. Petersburg’s freeFall Theatre examines what the price of celebrity is with David Adjmi’s play, Marie Antoinette.
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give us A fOllOw On twitter And instAgrAm At @wAtermArKOnline And be sure tO liKe us On fAcebOOK. watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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top web comments
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WatermarkOnline.com On the American Medical Association approving resolution against anti-trans bathroom bills:
“So happy to see progress for trans people living in our society. We are slowly working toward a world where the worth and dignity of every person is respected.” —Agnes
On St. Pete Pride moving the parade and SP2 concert downtown:
Your Central Florida Ford Headquarters
“How exciting to finally be able to celebrate Pride along the gem of St Pete, the gorgeous downtown waterfront! Kudos to the board for the courage to move us out of comfortable but sequestered Grand Central and into downtown’s center stage. The time to grow into a fully integrated part of the St Pete community has arrived!” — Michael Williams
“A real shame that NOTHING is planned for Grand Central District on Friday, considering that’s been the celebration’s REAL home all of these years! Most importantly, we LGBTQs have been welcomed into the Kenwood neighborhood/ Grand Central District where they show their support year-round – not so at numerous places along ‘new’ parade route.” — Robie Cruse-Curnow
407-644-7111 • PeacockFord.com 1875 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
On St. Pete Pride boardmember Susan McGrath responding to Greg Stemm’s Viewpoint:
“I could not agree more as a member of the former
St. Pete Pride board that set up the community grant program and is tired of the disinformation campaign being run. We had to adapt to the organic growth in Pride and look beyond the narrow personal interests of a select few so that as an organization we can better serve the needs of our entire community with a broader vision, a broader footprint and a solid financial base.” —Thompson Davis Kellett
On XBOX Live introducing gender-neutral avatar clothing:
“I’m really excited for the new avatars. Glad to know Microsoft didn’t forget about those who prefer their avatars over fixed images. Now if only they can remaster and make new games for our avatars. Maybe a game specific for our avatars like PS Home was?” — McKenzie
Watermark’s Facebook
On Charlie Crist recognizing St. Pete Pride from the floor of U.S. House:
“Crist??? Are you kidding me? Beware wolves in sheep’s clothing.” —Pam Talm
On the 5th Circuit Court ruling for Mississippi’s “religious freedom” law:
“And the thing everyone is forgetting is this IS a double edged sword. I can open a Satanic Bakery and refuse service to Christians based on religious beliefs and I will win.” — Charlene Collins
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
On James Corden sending 297 copies of the film Philadelphia to Trump:
“Thank GOD someone finally SAID SOMETHING.” —Thom Bland
On an Indiana Christian school being at the center of LGBT voucher debate:
“Simple solution: They just opted out of more federal/ state money. Cut ‘em off at the public dollars, IMHO. You take public money, you take all public kids. Period. IMHO, you don’t get to be on your high horse at the same time holding your hand out for MY tax money if you’re denying me or my kid access to your programs.” —Lara Zee
On St. Pete Pride boardmember Susan McGrath responding to Greg Stemm’s Viewpoint:
“I find Susan’s article crass and totally out of touch. These changes are huge mistakes and mark my words these pompous idiots on the Pride board will feel the consequences this year when by and large the community that grew Pride will avoid that parade and stay in Kenwood. It’s time to get rid of those board members who aren’t willing to listen to the people who wanted the Pride festivities in St Pete to begin with.” —Jeff Stephens
“Why can’t we work together and get along? Infighting will bring an end to Pride rather quickly.” —Gena Keebler
editor’s
Billy Manes EDITOR
BIlly@WatermarkOnline.com
A
Desk
mid all of the hue and cry
about the transformative nature of St. Pete Pride over the weekend – it was all going to be about moving the parade route; it would be new shoes to bear the 15 years upon which the celebration previously stood – most concerns seemed to melt into the violet of the sunset sky along Bayshore Drive on Saturday night, dancing in abandon with the glitter and the confetti to various mixes of pop songs you might be too old to know, much less remember.
What struck me most, though, was just how together – how empathetic, collective and genuine – that a mass gathering that may have attracted 200,000 people could be. It goes without saying that the inclusion of a pre-Pride parade for the transgender community
watermark staff
set a unique tone. We’re already in double digits this year in trans murders, and it was important to give this next wave – this new wave – of our liberation movement the front seat. “It sends a very strong signal for a lot of reasons,” Equality Florida director of transgender equality
told us. “Number one is just visibility.” And in the thumping bass of a large LGBTQ gathering, visibility was the name of the game. All of the parade floats, all of the marchers, all of those watching from behind the stanchions walked away with a sense of what our community has become and, on some levels, where it is going. Our cover story this week deals with some of the darker corners of identity, specifically those corners related to mental health and trauma. We’re in no way trying to be rain on that parade – or downers, so to speak – but what we do want people to know is that there are methods of recovery from the doubt that all too many endure within the LGBTQ community. And, in the wake of Pulse, the resources have exponentially increased. For a long time, we’ve taken mental health to be a dark signal in the LGBTQ community, and not without reason. Entire careers have been built on electro-shock therapy and “praying away the gay,” even though the international psychological community has dismissed reparative therapy outright. That, however, doesn’t change learned behaviors of those willing to carpetbag on self-help trends, or parents wanting to hand their children off to “experts” who will simply strip them clean of the gay and return them in Buster Browns and pleated khakis. Culturally speaking – and even speaking sensitively of ingrained American idioms and choices – detaching LGBTQ status from the slalom of medicated insanity has proven difficult: partially because of religion, partially because of tradition. The experts spoken to for our cover story offer different glimpses into this realm of psychological care that continues to increase, especially after the despair – and even the cultural clashes – of the 2016
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Pulse massacre. But those still waters run way deeper. For me, it was hearing that my own partner of 11 years never recovered from the shocks entered into his body to cure him of “the gay” back in the early ‘70s, at least until he shot himself. It was also my own suicide attempt. In short, seek help. It is out there. In here, the latest issue of Watermark, we explore a veritable cornucopia of issues that are community currently confronts, not all of which are fits of consternation. For the theater-inclined readers, we bring you tried-and-tested Doug
As we all know, Pride isn’t just a circus of strollers and gawking. It is, and has always been, an act of unity and a statement of purpose.
Ba’aser’s Fringe-winning take on being Joan Crawford for a night, the perils of celebrity as seen through the gaze of Marie Antoinette, a wrap-up of St. Pete Pride, a love story about a photo seen around the world, the hope for more transgender representation in our law enforcement organizations and a fond welcome to Orlando for the National Organization for Women. Also, we bid a fond (though early) adieu to longtime LGBTQ supporter and radio personality Jim Philips, who is retiring in a few months. We have a lot to celebrate. So jump on in. The water’s fine, and the people are even finer.
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
contributors Sabrina Ambra
is a cohost of Real Radio 104.1’s “News Junkie” program and will kick your ass if she needs to. Page 17
Jason Leclerc
is a near lifelong resident of the I-4 corridor, currently in South Tampa. He publishes poetry online at PoetEconomist. blogspot.com. His first book, Momentitiousness, was published in 2014. His new book, Black Kettle, will be published in 2016. Page 19
Samuel Johnson
is a reporter for non-commercial radio station WMNF-88.5 in Tampa who focuses on social issues. He resides in St. Petersburg. Page 23
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.
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MON – FRI 8am - 5pm SAT 9am -1pm
central florida news
National Organization for Women brings convention to Orlando, asks for unity Billy Manes
O Orange County gets its first transgender deputy Rebecca Storozuk breaks the mold at the Orange County Sherriff’s Office, raises hopes for others Billy Manes
O
RLANDO | As transgender rights continue to snowball at the end of Pride month – despite political opposition via religious freedom and bathroom bills – Rebecca Storozuk has hit the message homeward in Central Florida. Her message? People should be who they are. In an Orlando Sentinel article published June 23, Storozuk made it clear to the masses that she was indeed the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s lone transgender deputy with a headline reading, “I’m becoming who I want to be.” As the story goes, Storozuk always identified as a female – even though born as “Peter” – and played the role of high-school jock fairly well all the way up to military service “Football, wrestling, weighlifting – trying to get as strong as possible,” Storozuk told the Sentinel. “Being the toughest person and handling anything. … I was a very good actor in a very bad play.” All of which, she says, led to personal conflicts and bouts of anger.
That is until she became aware of the story of Christine Garcia in the San Diego Police Department, the first to transition in her unit. Garcia went through similar lengths. The message of inclusiveness isn’t new, Equality Florida’s Director of Transgender Equality Gina Duncan says, though, of course, it’s welcome. This year’s St. Petersburg Pride featured the festival’s inaugural Transgender march with hundreds getting ahead of the hundreds of thousands leading the equality charge June 24. Having transgender individuals rise into public office or places of public service can only make that presence carry an even heavier message. Storozuk is “breaking down barriers,” Duncan says, among other general stereotypes about the trans community. “The other thing that I think is so important, I think, it’s just the visibility and the acceptance of trans people in our different institutions will continue to grow as our community continues to grow,” she says. “In the military, in the police; – they are normal people just doing their share.”
Calls to both the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orlando Police Department were not immediately returned, though the Sentinel story about Storozuk did include some hopeful quotes from Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, who called the move within his corps “good business.” “It has been shown that communities are best served by police agencies with a workforce reflective of the demographics,” he said. Meanwhile, the Orlando Police Department has been moving forward with its Safe Place program, which you can visit at CityOfOrlando. net, that provides opportunities for LGBTQ people to show up at public places and participating private businesses to report hate crimes. “In addition to the 911 police response to these incidents, OPD has a LGBTQ liaison officer, Lt. Jim Young, who has built partnerships within the LGBTQ community and is a resource for any questions or concerns our residents or visitors might have,” the website reads. Young, who could not be reached for comment by press time, spoke to Watermark about the city of Orlando’s efforts to improve its reputation among the LGBTQ community, especially after the 2016 Pulse massacre. “We just want the community to know that we are here for them,” Young said. “They just didn’t feel comfortable going to the police. Once they meet with me, though, they tend to feel much more comfortable talking to law enforcement.””
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
RLANDO | The National Organization for Women plans to light up the Florida Hotel and Conference Center on Sand Lake Road in Orlando June 30-July 2 with all due righteous indignation, and not just for women. “We have for many decades have had six core issues, including reproductive rights, human rights, always been for LGBTQIA rights, racial justice and economic justice. Then getting women into the Constitution through the [Equal Rights Amendment],” explains departing NOW President Terry O’Neill, who will be present at the event which will also include the election of a new president for the organization.” Under the Trump administration, O’Neill says, the rifts between progressive groups both within the community and without have become more apparent, as evidenced by recent interruptions of Pride parades in Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco. “Sometimes when friends come together to discuss things, we are polite,” she says. “Sometimes when we want to object to a policy, even if they’re our friends, we tend to treat them as if they are our enemies. This is absolutely a huge problem within the women’s movement. We are badly splintered.” For O’Neill, that gap is fairly binary based on the numbers from the 2016 general election. While 50 percent of white women voted for Trump (and effectively against their interests, O’Neill says), 96 percent of black women voted for Hillary Clinton – “not based on identity,” she says. “What’s really smacked me in the face is that the women’s movement has not made that a big deal,” she says. NOW’s annual conference will see a gathering of luminaries including state Rep. Amy Mercado, state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida Sen. Linda Stewart, members of Congressman Darren Soto’s staff, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Congresswoman Val Demings and U.S. Congresswoman Lois Frankel. “In the case of the Equal Rights Amendment, sex equality includes full-LGBTQIA human rights,” O’Neill says. “And for full sex equality, you must include girls and women of color; we need to talk about violence against women. Black girls are six times more likely to be suspended at school statistically, as are those in the LGBTQIA community. We need to look to the margins and address the policies of the marginalized.” And by that, she means everyone in the progressive community coming together at the table. “We need to make sure that all the progressive organizations are working together, that they know each other, that they break bread together. And they talk about their hopes and fears,” she says. “I think that the progressive movement has understood since the election that we need to break down those silos, and sometimes that means having uncomfortable conversations. And at the end of the day, we are brothers and sisters together in a huge global struggle for human life.”
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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YOU MATTER AND SO DOES YOUR HEALTH
That’s why starting and staying on HIV-1 treatment is so important.
What is DESCOVY ?
What are the other possible side effects of DESCOVY?
®
DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older. DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. DESCOVY combines 2 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day. Because DESCOVY by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1, it must be used together with other HIV-1 medicines.
DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking DESCOVY. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about DESCOVY? DESCOVY may cause serious side effects: •
•
•
•
Buildup of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.
Serious side effects of DESCOVY may also include: •
•
•
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Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines. Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking DESCOVY. Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking DESCOVY if you develop new or worse kidney problems. Bone problems, such as bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.
The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking DESCOVY? •
•
Serious liver problems. The liver may become large and fatty. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; lightcolored bowel movements (stools); loss of appetite; nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.
All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. All the medicines you take, including prescription and overthe-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how DESCOVY works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take DESCOVY with all of your other medicines. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if DESCOVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking DESCOVY.
You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking DESCOVY for a long time. In some cases, lactic acidosis and serious liver problems have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions.
•
Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking DESCOVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking DESCOVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
•
If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
Please see Important Facts about DESCOVY, including important warnings, on the following page.
Ask your healthcare provider if an HIV-1 treatment that contains DESCOVY® is right for you.
DVYC0019_B_9-25x10-1_Watermark_Nick_p1.indd 2-3
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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IMPORTANT FACTS This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(des-KOH-vee) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DESCOVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF DESCOVY
DESCOVY may cause serious side effects, including: • Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; loss of appetite; light-colored bowel movements (stools); nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking DESCOVY. Do not stop taking DESCOVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking DESCOVY or a similar medicine for a long time.
DESCOVY can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About DESCOVY” section. • Changes in body fat. • Changes in your immune system. • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. • Bone problems. The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea. These are not all the possible side effects of DESCOVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking DESCOVY. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with DESCOVY.
ABOUT DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older. DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. • DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.
BEFORE TAKING DESCOVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. • Have any other medical condition. • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with DESCOVY.
GET MORE INFORMATION
HOW TO TAKE DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine that is taken with other HIV-1 medicines. • Take DESCOVY with or without food.
• This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. • Go to DESCOVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit DESCOVY.com for program information.
DESCOVY, the DESCOVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2016 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. DVYC0019 11/16
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
4/19/17 10:09 AM
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
tampa bay news
Tampa Bay photographer and husband’s photo goes viral Jeremy Williams PINK & BLUE PRIDE:
Trans flags were everywhere along Bayshore Dr. as the parade kicked off with the first ever TransPride March. Photo by Nick Cardello
Pride Marches On St. Pete Pride celebrates diversity in the ‘Burg with a year of firsts Jeremy Williams
S
T. PETERSBURG | After all the controversy over the changes St. Pete Pride brought this year, it all seemed to be put aside for Pride weekend as thousands gathered along Bayshore Drive for the city’s first Pride parade downtown. The Pride parade, the largest in the state, began with the first ever TransPride March along the parade route. More than 500 participants walked, starting from the end of the official parade route at Albert Whitted Park to the parade’s starting point at Vinoy Park, as watchers waved trans flags and shouted support to those walking. “The TransPride March was amazing to see,” says Miguel Fuller, one half of the HOT 101.5 morning duo leading the Miguel & Holly Show. “I mean, the first time you do something, a new concept in a new location, you never know how it will turn out, but the enthusiasm they all had marching, it warmed my heart and I thought it was a perfect way to kick off the parade.” Fuller, along with his co-host Holly O’Connor, hosted the parade, joined by a cheering and energetic crowd, estimated to be around 200,000 people, according to St.
Pete Pride. For all the activity downtown, St. Petersburg police reported zero arrests at the parade. The parade had more than 150 groups participating, the largest in St. Pete Pride’s 15-year history, and Bayshore Drive lit up with twinkling lights, colorful costumes and glittering beads as the sun set over the bay giving attendees the full effect of a nighttime parade. As the parade came toward its end, fireworks lit up the sky over the bay, another first for St. Pete Pride. “From top to bottom, the energy I felt from the start of the TransPride March to the fireworks at the end, it was just wonderful,” Fuller says. The parade’s first year in St. Pete’s downtown area wasn’t without its issues, but any concerns were purely logistic in nature and are easy fixes for next year says St. Pete Pride executive director Eric Skains. “There were some surprises that we didn’t anticipate, but these are all easy fixes for next year,” he says. “I think the crowd in the North Straub Park leading up to the parade was much larger than we anticipated.” Possible changes for next year that could help to thin out the crowd in North Straub Park –
estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 people – could include moving the bleachers onto the water side of the parade route and simply adding more activities to other parts of the parade route. The Pride street festival, held the following day at the parade’s original location in the Grand Central District, experienced a dip in the usual foot traffic. “It is still early for those numbers, but typically we would get around 30,000 people out at the festival. It is looking like it was closer to 20,000 this year. I think the heat had a lot to do with that this year,” Skains says. Several Grand Central businesses reported decent crowds before and after the parade, but still nowhere near the financial boost they had on this weekend when the parade came down Central Avenue, although businesses may make up the difference when Grand Central presents their new event Come Out St. Pete this October. St. Pete Pride was acknowledged this year, for the fourth year in a row, by St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman raising the rainbow flag above City Hall June 22. Another acknowledgement came from Florida Congressman Charlie Crist, who recognized St. Pete Pride from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. “I rise today to recognize the St. Pete Pride parade for the significance to Pinellas County, Florida, and our LGBTQ community. Every June, for the past 15 years, the St. Pete Pride parade has brightened the streets of my hometown, leaving joy, love and equality in its wake,” Crist said.
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
T
AMPA | Tampa Bay and occasional Watermark photographer Nick Cardello met his husband Kurt English 25 years ago. The two hit it off and the following year marched in Washington D.C.’s 1993 Equality March. Jump forward 24 years: Cardello and English, married and still together, went to the March for Equality in Washington D.C. June 11 and recreated a photo they took that first march. Cardello posted a side-by-side of the two photos to his Facebook that night. “I posted the picture on my personal Facebook page Sunday night,” Cardello says. “I didn’t think too much about it and went to bed, when I woke up the next day it had over 1,000 shares.” Cardello and English had gone viral. Currently, their Facebook photo has more than 25,000 shares, over 9,600 likes and 700 comments. “I had to shut down my friends requests. I had a couple hundred and I couldn’t keep up with that,” Cardello says. It really went viral when someone pulled the photos from Cardello’s Facebook page and Tweeted them out with the tag, “It’s just a phase.” One Tweet alone has over 650,000 likes and nearly 170,000 retweets. By the end of the first day it was number one on Reddit’s front page. “That’s when the media outlets started calling and asking for interviews,” Cardello says. Cardello and English’s story has appeared on more than 30 news outlets including Buzzfeed and Huffington Post, in over 20 countries and was even given a shout out by George Takei himself. “We just took a photo of us to share with our friends. We aren’t special, we’re not celebrities, it’s just us,” Cardello says. Cardello says it was a bit of a second coming out for the couple. He doesn’t post much in the way of intimate photos on his Facebook and English doesn’t even have a Facebook account. “I don’t usually post up photos of us kissing or holding hands, and posting this up was me just kind of putting it out there and saying if this makes you uncomfortable to see then that is your problem, not mine,” Cardello says. “These are the same type of photos that the straight community posts and no one thinks anything of it.”
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
13
state, nation+world news
in other news 5th Circuit rules for Mississippi anti-LGBT ‘religious freedom’ law The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted a court order against a “religious freedom” law in Mississippi that would enable sweeping anti-LGBT discrimination. U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith issued a decision allowing enforcement of HB 1523. Smith denies assertions of injury from plaintiffs, who alleged the Mississippi law violates the Establishment Clause because it takes into account only certain religions’ views on LGBT people. HB 1523 enables individuals and businesses to discriminate against LGBT people in the name of “religious freedom.”
First openly gay judge confirmed for New York’s highest court New York’s highest court has a new member. The state Senate confirmed Paul Feinman June 21 to serve on the Court of Appeals. He will be the first openly gay person to serve on the court. Feinman has been a judge for more than 20 years. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated Feinman and called him a “trailblazer” whose career has been dedicated to the causes of justice and fairness. Senators from both parties hailed Feinman’s experience and said he would be an excellent addition to the Court of Appeals.
European court rules Russian propaganda law is discriminatory The European Court of Human Rights ruled a Russian law that bans so-called gay propaganda to minors is discriminatory and violates freedom of speech. The court in a 6-1 ruling said the propaganda law violates Articles 10 and 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights. They also ordered the Russian government to pay nearly 50,000 euros ($55,675) in damages. A law that Putin signed in 2015 allows Russia’s Constitutional Court to decide whether his country should comply with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights and other international judicial bodies.
Activists kept from gathering en masse for Istanbul Pride Turkish police stopped LGBT activists from gathering in large numbers for an LGBT pride event in Istanbul June 25. Organizers vowed to march in central Taksim Square, using a Turkish hashtag for “we march,” despite the ban on gay pride observances ordered by the Istanbul governor’s office for the third year in a row. At least a hundred protesters gathered in a nearby neighborhood, beating drums and chanting slogans and carrying banners. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and activists said plastic bullets were also used. Riot-control vehicles and buses were dispatched to the area.
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Florida Democratic governor candidates call for 2018 unity Wire Report
H
OLLYWOOD | Florida’s three announced Democratic gubernatorial candidates agreed on most issues at a forum Saturday, from education to the economy to faith, but got their loudest cheers when they called for ending a 20-year string of Republican governors in 2018. Speaking to 300 Democratic faithful at the state party’s annual fundraiser, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham and entrepreneur Chris King all said Florida needs to move away from the policies of Govs. Rick Scott and Jeb Bush by getting a Democrat elected for the first time since 1994. All three said the state needs to raise its $8.10 minimum wage, with Gillum and Graham expressly
calling for $15 an hour. All said the state needs to improve its education system by supporting traditional public schools and reversing Scott’s and Bush’s emphasis on charter schools. And all said Democrats must stop giving the Republican Party a monopoly when it comes to messages of faith. Gillum, who has been mayor of Florida’s capital city since 2014, said the party needs to push an “unapologetic” progressive message and not cede the state’s rural and traditionally conservative areas to the Republicans. “Those are the folks we have to get to,” Gillum said. “You don’t lose that county and pick up that one. The person who will be the next governor will be the one who gets one more vote than the next person.” Graham, the daughter of former senator and governor Bob Graham,
said that when she hears Scott’s frequent mantra – jobs, jobs, jobs – “It means many people are having to work multiple jobs just to get by.” “We have got to fix that,” said Graham, who served one term in Congress from north Florida. She said she introduced a bill while was in Congress that would have funded technical training in middle school. King, a political newcomer who founded a company that invests in senior and low-income housing developments, said Democratic candidates have been too timid in discussing issues of faith. He got nods from the other two candidates. “The other party has taken this away from us,” said King, who attends a non-denominational Christian church in Orlando. He said the religious right has created a limited definition of what people of faith should care about, but he will “go toe-to-toe with them” by saying people can be religious and support gay rights, affordable housing and expanded health insurance systems.
Trump’s HIV/AIDS inaction in focus after six advisers resign Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National Gay Media Association
P
resident Trump’s commitment to combatting HIV/AIDS – traditionally a bipartisan issue – has come into question following the resignation of six members of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. In a joint letter to Newsweek published June 17, the members who resigned – Scott Schoettes, Lucy Bradley-Springer, Gina Brown, Ulysses Burley III, Michelle Ogle and Grissel Granados – said they no longer feel they can effectively combat the disease “within the confines of an advisory body to a president who simply does not care” and would engage in advocacy elsewhere. Schoettes, counsel and HIV project director at Lambda Legal, cited in an interview with the Washington Blade as a major factor for his decision to resign the absence of concern for people with HIV/AIDS as seen in Trump’s efforts to repeal Obamacare. Created in 1995, PACHA has provided advice starting in the Clinton administration and into the George
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
W. Bush and Obama administrations to the secretary of health and human services on policy and research to promote effective treatment and prevention for HIV – maintaining the goal of finding a cure. Trump has yet to articulate a plan for HIV/AIDS in his administration, nor has his new administration made a concerted effort to address the epidemic. Cited in the letter as a major reason for their decision to resign was the absence 132 days into the administration of a director for the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and the elimination of the Office of National AIDS Policy website. Ogle, director of infectious diseases at the Warren-Vance Community Health Center in Henderson, N.C., said she was among those who resigned because of repeated snubs from the Trump administration on HIV/AIDS. “When you add into that there was no consultation with us, there were no meetings with us to involve us in these decisions on cutting HIV/AIDS service programs, cutting prevention programs to the CDC, there was no consultation. So, we just felt that we needed to advocate at a different level and that maybe we would be better advocates outside of the government,” Ogle said.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
Ogle said PACHA sent a list of recommendations to Trump and Secretary of Health & Human Services Tom Price, and a subsequent letter on HIV/AIDS stigma, but said “there was no reaching out to us, there was no real engagement.” That silence isn’t new. During the 2016 presidential election, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met with HIV/AIDS stakeholders. As Ogle recalled, Trump “refused to meet with our stakeholders and advocates” despite their efforts. Trump’s approach to the disease became apparent in cuts to HIV/AIDS programs in his proposed fiscal year 2018 budget request. The budget seeks to cut $150 million from the Centers for Disease Control’s HIV/AIDS prevention programs, $550 million from HIV research at the National Institutes for Health and 17 percent cuts each to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which both seek to combat the epidemic globally. Ogle said other members of PACHA decided to resign from the council after Trump’s election out of a lack of faith in his leadership, but said nothing at the time.
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
viewpoint
Sabrina Ambra
ladyfingers An ode to Jim Philips
M
ind if we take a
drive down “Let Me Get Real With Ya” Boulevard real quick? Sometimes I find myself scrambling for topics when it’s time for me to write my next Ladyfingers entry (#giggidy).
I’m an expert in over analyzation, procrastination, and self-deprecation. Am I an artist? Debatable. Did I miss my deadline? Absolutely. However, instead of my “occasional” scrambling (I’m sorry; I love you; thank you for your patience), I’m a day late for a completely different reason. As a matter of fact, this time I had no doubt in what, or in this case, who I wanted to write about: Jim Philips. My introduction to Jim wasn’t like those of most people in here in Central Florida. Growing up in Miami, the only “talk” I ever heard on the radio was cheesy, shock-jock bullshit. The type that ranks celebrity cleavage on “The Mellon Meter” and holds hotdog eating contests for single chicks who want concert tickets. So when I started my radio internship in 2013, it was with the station that I call home now, but initially with a show that reminded me of home. I got my list of the “do’s and don’ts” and the grand tour, of course. My notepad was filled with bullet points and chicken scratch as the senior intern dictated the day-to-day and all the ways I can fuck it up. Nothing screams “motivation” quite like the feeling of an oncoming panic attack, especially for a college gal with one year left of school and zero plans for the future. So you bet your bottom dollar I was hanging on to this opportunity while internally losing my shit. A roller coaster of emotions that included and was not limited to: anxiety, paranoia, fear, and indigestion. “That’s Jim Philips. You have to call him Mr. Philips.
And do not look him in the eyes.” Unlike most Central Floridians, my first introduction to the radio legend himself was in the hallways of Real Radio. Like a good little intern that does what she’s told, my second interaction with Jimmy P. consisted of me awkwardly mumbling “Good morning” at 3 p.m. with my eyes dead-locked on his shoes. Because that’s how you make an impression, my friends. Aside from the occasional hallway passing, that was the extent of my interactions with Mr. Philips during my internship. The last day of my internship started out bittersweet and ended mostly bitter. Nothing screams “determination” quite like being told you will never make it in the industry you just dedicated an entire year of free labor to, especially if it’s coming from the mouth of the person you did said labor for. It was a roundhouse kick to the gut, followed by the sound of a sad trombone. Well my gut bounced back and several months later, I begin my career in radio. And I am scared shitless. Things are changing; people are confused and turning that confusion into anger and I am dead-locked on the floor again. Maybe this isn’t for me. “Hey! You know, you’re very funny. And you’re doing a fantastic job.” Do my eyes and ears deceive me, or did Mr. Philips just say he’s picking up what I’m putting down? I was elated. Jim Philips - the man that’s been behind the microphone longer than I’ve been alive enjoys listening to ME? Now that screams “motivation,” the real kind and no hints on sarcasm. I will never, ever forget that day. Nor will I forget the four years following that day and the opportunity that time has given me to get to know the man that is Jim Philips. With the
recent announcement of his retirement, I would like to take this opportunity to not only fangirl, but also share my admiration for someone I can easily call a friend and whose eyes I can comfortably stare directly into. (Is that creepy? Don’t answer that.) Some quick and fun facts: Jim taught me how to tie a bowline knot over
encouragement. Jim Philips is an institution when it comes to talk radio and I’ve barely scratched the surface. There are times I have found myself discouraged and unsure of my impact on those listening. I’ll be completely honest: radio can be brutal and my thick skin still has some layers to grow. During that growing process, it is rewarding
PHILIPS IS NOT DEAD. He is more alive than ever, and after dedicating most of his life to such a wonderful, yet fickle industry, there’s no person who deserves retirement more than this man. I am truly honored to know him and I thank him for inspiring me to do great and to not take shit from anybody. Thank you, Jim Philips. May you truly enjoy
the phone and sat in the audience during my very first stand-up set. On my 24th birthday, Jimjamboree (*new nickname alert*) and the rest of the Phile sang to me with a carrot cake in hand and it was his idea. He doesn’t take shit from anyone, yet has shown me nothing but kindness and
and very encouraging to know that I have gained the respect and friendship of a person who has impacted so many for so long. You’re my boy, Jim. Thank you for having my back. It’s funny how talking about someone’s retirement can sound so much like a eulogy. For the record, JIM
your next grand adventure, “ya old poop.” (That was my line from the On Golden Pond reading we did last year; I would never call you poop.)
‘Hey! You know, you’re very funny. And you’re doing a fantastic job.’ Do my eyes and ears deceive me, or did Jim Philips just say he’s picking up what I’m putting down?
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
Sabrina Ambra is a cohost of Real Radio 104.1’s “News Junkie” program and will kick your ass if she needs to.
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
viewpoint
Jason Leclerc
The other side
of life Intersections
O
ver the past year,
we’ve tread the intersection of Kaley Street and South Orange Avenue as it’s become a crossroads swollen with mourners, with meaning. It meets the intersection of Christopher and Seventh. It meets the intersection of Pride and unity, where the Rainbow Flag meets an ongoing aggregation of initials. It meets the intersection of politics and partisanship and guns and economic equity.
Even as we make these intersections into hallowed spaces, each carrying the foot traffic of omnipresent ghosts, we are obliged to recognize that history is a gift from the past to the present – another intersection where the crosswalks are overwhelmed by facts and their pedestrian interpretations. The past lives alongside the present. To believe that history is set in stone, we might also believe in a flat Earth, a vengeance-riddled-Jesus-less Bible and an un-amended Constitution. Indeed, the setting in stone of history – memorialization – is tantamount to crucifying it. Witness the decades that intervened between the Stonewall riots and the dedication of a national park to memorialize them. We are called to understand the historical events that link them, that fill their meanings: castigation, oppression, resistance, visibility, pride,
equality. The challenge, as we stand in the square today in that building’s cool shadow, is to simultaneously feel the full morning sun. Further, we are called to share this space and the history of the now with those for whom the narrative is different. We are also called to do the difficult work of understanding those for whom memorials, in spite of their originalism, have become engorged with discomfort, even as alt-narratives intersect with events like London terrorist attacks, domestic assassination attempts, elementary school shootings and Jim Crow lynchings. With each passing moment, a stone monument – or a hallowed space like the 9-11 museum or the Pulse building – is touched and transformed by new spirits, intervening events, and new narratives. Likewise, we must negotiate the traffic around icons whose original intent was hateful and for which decades of spite and apologism attempt to recast their meanings into something not so hateful and not so spiteful. And so it is with flags and monuments (and even words, ultimately re-appropriated, like “Queer” and the “n-word”) that salute a meaning-engorged past. Andrew Jackson was a war hero and populist who fought valiantly to preserve American freedom. He was also a slaveholder and responsible for atrocities against America’s first people. Robert E. Lee was a decent man and military genius whose ideals forced him to fight against a nation he loved—ideals like states’ rights and, yes, the institution of slavery. The Confederate flag is at once a symbol to some of freedom from tyranny, to others of perpetual black oppression, and still others of remembrance for ancestors whose blood was spilled in a losing war for rundown homesteads and meager existences. Each individual brings the totality of their own experience to memorials; to expect that a single narrative could possibly underwrite a memorial is to misunderstand what
memorials are. To assert a single narrative is to disrespect, not only the intersectionality of history, but the souls and ghosts that enliven the history of the now. Further, it casts a long shadow on the trajectory of history’s future. When the
When a single narrative comes to dominate to the exclusion or to the disempowerment of individuals, the value of the memorial requires revisiting. We, as an American people, know how to do the right
any memorial. We know that, at least for now, Pulse is a valid and valuable memorial to all of us. We also know, deep in our collective, pulsing American heart, that memorials to slavery – if slavery is the
value of the individuals for whom a memorial imbued with painful narratives is minimized, when the valid read by a disempowered minority of a horrible legacy is cast aside – when the statue of a Confederate soldier, for instance, is given a place in the public square where all members of a community should feel valued and respected – the “owners” of the dominant narrative have overstepped their bounds.
thing: to respect and honor the best among us, while also recognizing and lamenting the imperfection of the best among us, while also respecting and honoring the least empowered individuals among us, while also recognizing and lamenting the imperfection of ourselves in light of how we fail to respect and honor the least empowered among us. This encapsulates the inner and external discourse that should accompany a visit to
oppressive narrative celebrated by a single neighbor – must go. We know that, perhaps, even Stonewall and the MLK and the Vietnam and the Rainbow flag may overstay their welcomes in the public square. The road to a better tomorrow runs through the prism of the now, coloring the past with a usable and empowering – sometimes discomfiting – memorial to us all.
To believe that history is set in stone, we might also believe in a flat Earth, a vengeance-riddled-Jesus-less Bible and an un-amended Constitution. Indeed, the setting in stone of history – memorialization – is tantamount to crucifying it.
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
talking points
OREGON
Hold President Trump accountable for his pledge to be your friend. Just because you don’t have Barack and me in the White House doesn’t mean it’s time to give up, keep quiet, stay on the sidelines.
BECAME
THE FIRST
STATE tO Offer A third,
GENDER-NEUTRAL
OPTION
—former vice PreSident Joe biden at a Private lGbtQ Gala hoSted by the democratic national committee in new yorK June 21.
gAy mAle rebOOt Of GOldeN GiRlS in the wOrKs
A
GOLDEN GIRLS reboot iS in the worKS but this time the story will feature four, older gay males living together in a house. Golden Girls writers Stan Zimmerman and James Berg are pitching a pilot called Silver Foxes to Netflix and Hulu, Zimmerman revealed in an interview with Party Foul Radio with Pollo & Pearl. “Every one of us is getting older,” Zimmerman says. “Especially with gays and lesbians and transgender, we create our own families – and that’s what The Golden Girls did.” Zimmerman explained the idea for Silver Foxes came from the 2013 documentary Before You Know It, which follows the challenges of three gay, male retirees. “Can you imagine?” Zimmerman continues. “We thought that would be a great way to start the show.” Casting has yet to be announced but Zimmerman says there was already a table read at his house with Leslie Jordan, George Takei, Bruce Vilanch, Todd Sherry and Cheri Oteri.
ON
IDENTIFICATION
DOCUMENTS AND
ID CARDS. wAshingtOn d.c. hAs AlsO begun Offering A third, nOn-binAry OptiOn On identificAtiOn dOcuments. —Associated Press
gOOgle gives grAnt tO preserve OrAl histOry Of stOnewAll inn
T
he PhilanthroPic winG of the internet Search Giant Google says it is donating $1 million to preserve an oral history of the 1969 Stonewall riots. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made the announcement June 18 that Google.org, the company’s philanthropy branch, is donating the grant to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center to start the oral history project. Schumer says the purpose of the project is to spread the word and educate future generations about the Stonewall riots. The idea for the project came from William Floyd, Google’s head of external affairs in New York. The Stonewall Inn in New York City became a rallying point for gay rights in June 1969, when a police raid sparked resistance from patrons and led to several days of demonstrations.
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
chris cOlfer tO mAKe directOriAl debut
G
LEE Star chriS colfer will maKe his film directorial debut with The Wishing Spell for FOX, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps company will produce the big-screen film. The Wishing Spell will be an adaptation of the first book in Colfer’s fantasy children’s book series, The Land of Stories. The six-part series focuses on twins, who after the loss of their father, find themselves magically transported into a world where fairy tale characters are real. The out actor will also pen the script and executive produce alongside Rob Weisbach. The Land of Stories universe has expanded into novels, picture books, children’s chapter books, audiobooks and a graphic novel. Worlds Collide, the final book in the series, will be released July 11.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
XbOX live intrOduces gender-neutrAl AvAtAr clOthing
X
boX live avatarS will Soon have a gender-neutral clothing option, Microsoft revealed during a Xbox Daily live stream at E3. In addition to gender-neutral clothing, users can create pregnant avatars or customize avatars with prosthetic limbs or in wheelchairs. Before the update, Xbox Live Avatar users were only able to choose clothing based on male or female options. “Avatars are meant for whatever you want your digital self to represent. We don’t want to put you in a box, there are no more checkboxes, no matter what you think you look like or what you want to present online,” Bryan Saftler, lead Xbox project manager, said. The update is expected to debut this fall.
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
in-depth: mentAl heAlth
follow your bliSS:
Juan Rodriguez, executive director of Orlando’s Bliss Cares works to erase the stigma of mental health counseling. PHOTO By JAKE STEVENS
MIND OVER
MATTER
Addressing mental health concerns within the minority lgbTQ community
“M
samuel Johnson
ental health iS not a lacK
of willpower. Mental health is not being inflicted by the Devil. Mental health isn’t about not being strong enough to cope with life.” This is the opinion of psychiatrist Dr. Z. (She has requested that her name remain anonymous). Dr. Z is a Hillsborough National Alliance on Mental Illness board member and has both clinical knowledge as well as the mental
health delivery system. Untreated mental health, as she views it, is a serious public health issue; “Not in the contagious sense of
the word. I can’t catch depression from someone else. I can’t catch schizophrenia from someone else. I can’t catch bipolar [disorder] from someone else. But how I’m feeling does impact others. For example, social ails like homelessness, like prison populations, where a lot of that has to do with untreated mental illness; society at large is impacted by the way we that we approach the treatment of mental health.” Mental health and its treatment are often neglected, sometimes
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unwittingly, by millions of Americans. Those percentages become increasingly alarming as you further refine the subset; for instance, gay women. However, when that subset is divided into a subset – gay women of color – the rates, severity, and adverse outcomes of mental health-neglect intensify. Now imagine, a subset of a subset of a subset, trans women of color, and the already distressing percentages only get bigger. At the risk of coming across as pessimistic, the fact remains that
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
mental healthcare in the LGBTQ ethnic minority communities could be better. But that is not for a lack of input by a diverse group of healthcare professionals and facilities. They are on the frontlines of a mental health access battle in the Black and Latinx LGBTQ communities. And the good news is that they’re winning. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reveals that of all
cOntinued On pg. 29 | uu |
23
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
| uu | LGBTQ Mental Health from pg.23
the adults in the U.S. with a mental health-related condition (roughly 1 in 5), a mere 41 percent received treatment in 2015. Statistical numbers tell a tale of disparity in regards to LGBTQ mental health diagnosis and treatment. The NIMH estimates that those in the LGBTQ community are twice as likely to have a mental health condition as their straight counterparts. In an article published by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), it states that LGBTQ individuals are more likely than straight individuals to have substance abuse as well as mental health issues. The suicide rate is also higher among the LGBTQ community than the straight community. LGBTQ youth are somewhere between two and three times more likely to attempt suicide as the sexual majority youth, according to the NIMH. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), calculated that African-American and Latinxs utilize mental health services 50 percent less often than white Americans. The observation is echoed by several other governmental organizations, like the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. So, a few questions emerge from the avalanche of data. First, what is mental health? Second, what are the barriers, if any, that are keeping LGBTQ people of color from receiving mental health services? Next, what is being done to counteract the trend? Lastly, what to do about the mental health concerns of the hidden population within the LGBTQ ethnic minorities? Cary Coll is a licensed clinical social worker, and has been for 11 years. She is currently the Behavioral Health Program Manager at Metro Health and Wellness Community Center in St. Petersburg. For the past three years, she has specialized in services catered to the LGBTQ community. She says that mental health is a health issue when a patient “(has) experienced behaviors that are disrupting their lives. Within that, it’s a wide range, because you could be suffering from a diagnosable mental health disorder. And the outline for treatment for that is would be found in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual.” This can be regarded as a mental illness which implies a chemical imbalance. Therefore, it’s often
When a person does identify as part of the LGBTQ community and has mental health concerns, (the family) says, ‘We have to keep it in the family; we have to keep it a secret.’ That means the person can’t go out and get help because (then) there’s something wrong with the rest of the family. —Cary Coll of Metro Health and Wellness
treated with drugs, sometimes for the rest of the patient’s life. Coll emphasizes that is not the only indicator of a need for mental health treatment. “For others there is, maybe, a certain behavior that they don’t know the root foundation of how it started. But they know they keep on repeating the same mistake over and over again. So, they feel their mental health is suffering.” In general terms, for both the Black and Latinx communities, strong traditional gender roles tend to dictate what is acceptable to do and how to act within African-American and Latinx communities, Coll says. She explains that, in psychology, this type of constrained behavior in minority communities is called ‘enmeshed behavior.’ “When a person does identify as part of the LGBTQ community and has mental health concerns, (the family) says, ‘We have to keep it in the family; we have to keep it a secret.’ That means the person can’t go out and get help because (then) there’s something wrong with the rest of the family,” Coll says. This sentiment is also affirmed in studies conducted by the CDC.
Robert Baker-Hargroveis Co-CEO of Two Spirit Health Services, an LGBTQ centered holistic healthcare facility in Orlando. He quipped that
they service the LGBTQ community from “the womb to the tomb.” Baker-Hargrove identifies religion as playing a pivotal role in whether or not people of color acknowledge or seek treatment for mental health issues. “(The) instant label of being crazy and going to see a therapist; then there is this sense of, ‘I need to pray deeply about it or really connect with whatever spiritual guidance, or whatever you believe in.” The steadfast reliance on faith and the church for treating mental health may work for some LGBTQ ethnic minorities, but not all. Mrs. D is a licensed clinical social worker for over 25 years. She has experience with mental health and substance abuse. Like the psychiatrist Dr. Z, Mrs. D is a board member of the Hillsborough Chapter of NAMI, who has also requested that her name remain anonymous. She touches on what many others have also mentioned: That there is a stigma associated with mental healthcare in the African-American community. “(They say) ‘I’m not crazy.’ Or, ‘We are going to take care of the problem in our own house. Or we’re going to see the pastor.’ But with the type of mental illnesses and conditions we are seeing, they can’t be taken care of by not talking about them. They can’t be taken care of by their own. And some of them can’t
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be taken care of by the pastor.” Another aspect in the reluctance of LGBTQ people of color to seek mental health diagnosis and treatment, is a perceived gap in cultural competency. Baker-Hargrove of Two Spirit Health Services says that too many in the Black and Latinx LGBTQ communities don’t want to go for intimate treatments if they feel they aren’t understood. A more prosaic way to look at it is; if you don’t look like me, then you can’t possibly understand me. The fact that ethnic minorities are mistrustful of healthcare institutions isn’t lost on Dr. Z. “There are historical issues of abuse by the mental health field against those communities of color,” she says. Everyone interviewed for this article has serious concerns about the repeal of Obamacare and the possible implementation of Trumpcare. The Congressional Budget Office determined, in their review, that somewhere around 20 million Americans could lose insurance by 2018, with nearly 30 million losing coverage by 2026, if the current iteration of the Obamacare repeal is passed. No one knows how it will ultimately affect the LGBTQ community, because no data is collected with respect to sexual orientation nor gender identity. It is felt, however, that
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
many in LGBTQ community, and likewise LGBTQ ethnic minorities, have been helped by the Affordable Care Act. If nothing else, it has meant that many people have access to affordable mental healthcare. As of now, we will have to read the tea leaves in order to guess what a repeal will mean for mental healthcare. Despite the uncertainty of the repeal and replacement of the ACA, there are several organizations in Florida which are providing mental healthcare to LGBTQ people of color. The measures they are taking, or have taken, resemble a Venn diagram. There is overlap on key issues and more focus on other issues, which all chip away at the disparity in mental healthcare of LGBTQ ethnic minorities. Two Spirit Health Services is committed to ensuring that their clinical staff reflects the communities to which they serve. For Baker-Hargrove it starts with cultural competency. “Where there is a heavily Latino population, you’re going to want to have some Spanish-speaking therapists. If you’re going to go into a heavily urban community, you’re going to want to have more African-American therapists on your staff. It’s about understanding where you are locally, and understanding your demographics and trying to mirror that,” he says. Bliss Healthcare Services, located in Orlando, is another one-stop shopping organization when it comes to LGBTQ healthcare. Kim Murphy is a licensed mental health counselor at Bliss since April. She is adamant that if holistic healthcare was not a core component of the organization, then many people may never seek mental healthcare. “They’re people referred to me, and they may not be culturally open to it. Were they not told that, hey, we offer these services; if you really need to talk with somebody...it all seems to flow together and work really well.” An unnamed Latinx transgender client in her thirties confirms the power of Bliss. “Being able to vent is not something I get to do regularly,” she says. “I don’t like talking about my issues. I feel like they’re going to made fun of. Coming to Bliss Cares (the nonprofit wing of Bliss, which refuses no clients) I found a non-judgmental environment where it was easy to open up.” Metro Health and Wellness uses a broad pallet of partnerships and outreach to help remove barriers
Continued on pg. 30 | uu |
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| uu | lGBTQ Mental health frOm pg.29
to LGBTQ ethnic minority mental healthcare. The list includes churches, community organizations, and social services to name a few. “For the minority community it is very important to try to get into the neighborhoods and work from advocating from within the community and partner up with a face that is trusted and known by the community; we take advantage of it,” Coll says. And because of patient-doctor confidentiality – along with HIPPA laws – there isn’t an objective way to get into the issue of mental health in the community from the outside. Gary Howell, Psy.D., PC, operates out of Ybor in Tampa. His practice ranges from free youth LGBTQ group meetings to private counseling with adult LGBTQ people. “Depending on the culture, if one identifies as lesbian or gay, or even transgender, they’re dealing with the stigma. A lot of people don’t come out to their families. Between my work in Chicago and my work here, I’ve worked with several hundred gay men in straight relationships,” he says. “Most importantly, they’re able to get to a place where they’re happy with themselves once they’re able to address that without substances or body-image issues.” Moreover, issues that arise in current events can be paralyzing for those in search of therapy. “Especially with the Pulse anniversary just passed,” he says, noting that a number of his clients are persons of color. “When it first happened, I had an uptick in services. We had 10 or 15 intakes within the year. Each and every one of them was talking about Pulse. A lot of the issue with my patients after the 2016 election was that their rights were going to be taken away given the sociopolitical climate.”
Both Hillsborough NAMI board members Dr. Z and Mrs. D confirm the notion that even in the African-American churches, the zeitgeist is shifting toward openness, acceptance and mental healthcare promotion. These actions are the cornerstone to dismantling a paradigm that has alienated LGBTQ people of color from mental healthcare. Yet, there is a segment of the LGBTQ ethnic minority community that is virtually hidden
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findinG the way: Ybor counselor Gary Howell aims to erase the notion of mental healthcare signifying weakness. PHOTO By JAKE STEVENS and statistically very fragile. This is the T of the LGBTQ: the transgender community. A National Institute of Mental Health study claims that just over 10 percent of transgender people have reported that they have been denied care at mental health clinics because of discrimination or bias. According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation (GLAAD), transgender people are a severely marginalized subgroup of the LGBTQ community. The statistics are staggering: 30 percent have at some point been homeless, have three times the rate of unemployment compared to the U.S. average with 4 times the rate for transgender people of color; a high rate of workplace discrimination; high rates of abuse and violence. In general, transgender women of color are faced with high rates of homelessness, incarceration, and murder. The number of murders of transgender women of color might be greater, because so many transgender people are misgendered on death certificates, GLAAD reports. An article in the British news site, Pink News, says that every 3 days a transgender
person is murdered somewhere in the world. Recent numbers from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reports that in 2017 alone, 13 transgender people of color have been killed. The transgender community is lagging 20 years behind the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities, as far as exposure and public education are concerned, director of transgender equality at Equality Florida Gina Duncan says. In the past, coverage of mental healthcare and healthcare in general were lacking for transgender people. This was partly due to a residual effect of societal norms. Things are changing. However, Duncan points out, during a town hall meeting after the Pulse tragedy, the LGBTQ community wasn’t as aware of the T portion of the community as it should be. “Two things that were overtly clear. One, that not everyone in the LGBTQ community had a seat at the table. Secondly, there was the lack of understanding in reference to the inclusion of those communities. Specifically, LGBTQ people of color were underrepresented,” she says. “These included transgender people of color, which includes Latinx
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people of color.” Transgender women of color are facing more job discrimination, violence, and cultural bias than other members of the LGBTQ community. They are often seen as a hidden group; the subset of a subset of a subset. Coupled with a reluctance to go and seek out mental healthcare, they can go almost unnoticed. Two Spirit Health Services is reaching out to the Black and Latinx transgender community in an innovative way. “If you feel you are in a marginalized group, in today’s society they will create a secret Facebook page. They will find ways to connect with one another through the internet,” Baker-Hargrove explains. Bliss Cares, a division of Bliss Healthcare Services, is utilizing a Contigo Fund grant. The grants are disbursed to organizations aiding the LGBTQ community. The grants arose in the wake of the Pulse tragedy. Kim Murphy of Bliss Healthcare Services says they used their grant money to reach out to transgender women of color. “We partnered with some agencies to bring in trans women
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
of color,” she says. “They help them with dealing with stigma, and being in the workforce, getting their name changed and their gender marker changed, they get help with all of that.” Gina Duncan of Equality Florida made a list of things that need to be done in order to generate better mental healthcare for the transgender community of color. “There’s education and awareness needed with our major healthcare providers (and) to help them adopt transgender cultural competency policies and procedures, so that they will support the transgender community properly in providing healthcare,” she says. On October 5 and 6, a major academic conference will be held on LGBTQ mental health in New York. It’s entitled In My Mind: LGBTQ Peoples of Color Mental Health Conference. The fight continues, and it’s working. “I had one young gay male who had gone through shock therapy,” Howell says. “He had scars on his stomach. He was able to come out of it and not think of himself as some repulsive person.”
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
Arts And entertAinment
MOMMIE’S
HOUSE
Actor doug ba’aser channels Joan Crawford in Joan Crawford’s House Party.
PHOTO COURTESy DOUG BA’ASER
F
Billy Manes
ive yearS aGo, orlando actor douG ba’aSer
welcomed the whole world into his living room. Actually, he invited the planet into Joan Crawford’s House Party at her Brentwood estate (vis a vis a Fringe performance) in which he plays the well-known actress and inspiration for the book and film Mommie Dearest, penned by her adopted daughter Christina Crawford. “It was a huge success; it was a major sell out,” he recalls. “It won Best in Fringe and we sold out the beautiful Pink Venue. Actually that show came from my lovely Brentwood home. Or at least guests were transformed into celebrants at my Brentwood home as soon as they walked in.” For 35 years, Ba’aser has been lighting up stages – and living rooms; and bars – with his devil-may-care antics that illuminate the absurdities of life with humor. This year, Joan Crawford’s House Party returned and won Patron’s Pick at the Orlando Fringe, which has prompted him to resuscitate (once again) his alter ego Crawford for another dive into social commentary and audience participation set to the tune of a vodka drip and dancing boys. The show, which he wrote (loosely, as much of it is improvised) with Orlando comedian Jeff Jones – with direction by Kenny Howard – is set to take a victory lap at the Parliament House Footlight Theatre July 8. The most recent iteration included none other than Donald Trump’s
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flack Kellyanne Conway, she of the perky cheekbones, passing out. Ba’aser pulls no punches, and as such, while drinking a Pepsi, naturally, he immediately morphed into Crawford for the purposes of an absurd fake interview with Watermark. He was an hour late, but Joan Crawford at the glamorous age of 112 can afford to be late to her own party. Here’s what went down, séance style. WaTeRMaRK: sO, yOur given nAme wAs
lucille lesuer, which mAKes yOu sOund A bit liKe A cAnned peA. hOw did it feel when the hOllywOOd brAss fOrced yOu tO chAnge yOur nAme tO JOAn crAwfOrd?
JOAn crAwfOrd: Oh, I knew it had to be done. That name was not a name that would ever make it in Hollywood. And I wanted to kind of leave that past behind of scrubbing floors and growing up extremely, extremely poor. But once I became a star – the very best star – I was named accordingly. yOu’ve been Alive since 1905. hOw dO yOu mAKe it wOrK?
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
cOntinued On pg. 34 | uu |
33
| uu | house Party frOm pg.33 Yes I have, and dead for 40 years. I died on May 10, 1977.
And yOu stArted As A simple shOwgirl.
I did, in the chorus, and I moved my way up. Let’s not say how particularly, but I did whatever I had to do to become a star.
when JOAn crAwfOrd thrOws A hOuse pArty, whAt Are the pArAmeters fOr getting On the guest list?
I like to ring up an eclectic group of people and bring over those people. You know, mix people that wouldn’t normally mix together and just see what kind of fireworks ensue. But always gay boys. You have to bring gay boys to a party, always. dO christiAn scientists, which yOu either Are Or were, welcOme gAy bOys with Open Arms? it’s my understAnding thAt they dO nOt.
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Not really, no. But that doesn’t matter. That doesn’t matter one bit. I like what I like. Liquor is a big factor in every party that we do. There’s no general theme, but we just want to have a good time; put together the right people and have a good time. I believe in lubricating it well with liquor.
nOw cOmes the sOft-lit pArt Of Our very reveAling cOnversAtiOn. we need tO tAlK AbOut christinA And christOpher, bOth Of whOm yOu left Out Of yOur will fOr reAsOns “they wOuld understAnd.”
Oh, my lovely, lovely children. I adopted five children in total, but they never want to talk about that, do they? They always want to talk about Christopher and Christina and that dreadful movie.
let’s tAlK AbOut thAt dreAdful mOvie [MOMMie deaReST]. hOw did yOu thinK fAye dunAwAy did At plAying yOu (whO is ActuAlly plAying yOu right nOw)?
She was a little over the top. I was happy that it ruined her career. I like the Oscar moment when I came out to greet the press and wasn’t there to get my Oscar. The telling of the Christmas story and the Christmas special on the radio was a nice part of the movie as well. Those were the only two parts I really enjoyed. yOu didn’t enJOy the sOAp OperA mOment where yOu stOOd in fOr christinA On The SeCReT STORM?
Oh, I was really good in that. I took it upon myself to take my 28-year-old daughter’s place on the soap opera, and I must say I was excellent. I was also drunk the whole time. You have to be when you’re playing a 28 year old when you’re in your early- to late-50s. speAKing Of pepping up, yOu were A de fActO member Of the bOArd At pepsicO. wAs thAt A difficult trAnsitiOn fOr yOu: film stAr tO bOArd rOOm?
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June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
I’m drinking a Pepsi. What else would I be drinking? It wasn’t really a challenge, because Hollywood is a business and you have to play a game and move in certain ways in certain corridors. I felt right at home, actually. My corridors were well used by that point. OK, grOss. with FeUd enchAnting Audiences eArlier this yeAr, telling the tOrrid histOry Of yOur relAtiOnship with bette dAvis, pArticulArly during the WhaT eVeR haPPeNed TO BaBY JaNe? erA, whAt’s yOur tAKeAwAy frOm yOur memOriAlizAtiOn, Or even yOur tAKeAwAy frOm the OriginAl film? let’s tAlK bette.
Must we? Must we? We just basically ignored each other throughout the first 20 years, and then this feud came up in the press. There was a small feud, mostly on her part, and then, of course, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? came along and that was fireworks. Was I fairly presented in Feud? I think in the mind of the public I was. I was more fairly portrayed in Feud. At least there was some empathy for me. it seems thAt At the pOint in yOur cAreer – THE BaBY JaNe pArt – hOllywOOd wAs AlmOst intentiOnAlly drAgging its fOrmer celestiAl beings intO the gutter Of pAnic And pAthOs. Older wOmen didn’t reAlly fit the cOnstruct Of the eArly-‘60s stArlet. wAs thAt sOmething thAt wAs pAlpAble At the time?
Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes and yes. I think they just had no more use for us, so they would either write horrible things for us, or about us, and the films got worse and worse. let’s tAlK AbOut TROG, then. yOu fAmOusly Once sAid thAt if yOu hAd seen thAt mArQuee frOm AcrOss the street fOr thAt hOrrOr film, yOu wOuld cOmmit suicide.
I did say that. But now I understand that they show it at camp movie festivals and gay bars and big club events, which is perfectly fine with me. I still want my name out there! And there’s nO better wAy thAn getting KellyAnne cOnwAy tO cOme Over – And fAll Over – At One Of yOur nOtOriOus hOuse pArties.
She’s the sweetest. She has a very soft look. She obviously takes care of her hair and makeup, but she’s an atrocious woman. generAlly speAKing, shOuld peOple whO Are invited tO yOur pArty feel liKe very speciAl peOple? liKe, mAybe, the lucKiest peOple in the wOrld?
Oh, yes. Of course, anyone is welcome to the one at Parliament House on July 8 to be in the audience, and you may often get pulled up into the show, but not unless you want to. We make that very clear. People are afraid if they come to the show they are going to be forced to participate, which is simply not true. And Kellyanne will be there again, and we may have other special guest stars that no one has ever seen before. Who knows who will suffer?
theater
Tabloid Queen
freeFall Theatre looks at the price of celebrity in David Adjmi’s play, Marie Antoinette
(above)
EATING CAKE:
Megan Therese Rippey is Marie Antoinette in freeFall Theatre’s production of David Adjmi’s play.
Photo by Andrew Wofford
M
Jeremy Williams
arie Antoinette, the last
queen of France before the country revolted at the end of the 18th Century, has been a fascinating yet tragic character throughout history.
A well known royal figure whose image and words have become that of legend, Antoinette had less in common with historic French women like Joan of Arc and Marie de Medici and more in common with modern American celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton.
This celebrity that Antoinette dealt with in her short 37 years is the focus of gay playwright David Adjmi’s 2012 play Marie Antoinette, playing at the freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg July 15- August 13. “It’s a really interesting adaptation to the story of Marie Antoinette,” says
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freeFall Theatre’s artistic director Eric Davis. “I don’t even know if I would call it an adaptation. It’s a sort of a biographical play, but [Adjmi] takes a very contemporary approach to telling the story.” Davis, who directs Marie Antoinette, says the play may carry the French queen’s name but it is more about how society viewed her celebrity more than examining her life. “When I first read the play, to me, it had a lot to do with celebrity and the ways we as a culture build these people up and adore them as idols that are sort of out of reach and out of touch,” Davis says. Marie Antoinette is a play about the French queen, but it isn’t trying to be a history lesson, Davis says. “I think the play is less about Marie Antoinette than it’s about us,” he says. “Marie Antoinette is a character and an archetype for something that happens over and over in history, and I hope audiences identify that relevance of the play.” While they are not affiliated at all, Adjmi’s play and Sophia Coppola’s 2006 film of the same name take a similar approach to Antoinette: A well-known figure living more than 200 years ago viewed through a 21st century lens, using modern language and music, and applying her to today’s celebrity and wealth culture. Antoinette, along with her husband King Louis XVI, would have very much been a part of the 1 percent spoken about so much during this past election. “She was out of touch with common people and she lived a very lavish life,” Davis says. “She built a fantasy version of a peasant village at Versailles and would dress up in a fancy version of what a peasant girl would wear and frolic about. She lived a very decadent lifestyle.” Antoinette, as one of the original “Mean Girls,” was even attacked in 18th century France’s version of social media, something Adjmi addresses in his play. “One of the things that comes up in the play are these pamphlets that get circulated that have fictional stories and lies about her in the same way that modern celebrities deal with social media or tabloids making up stories,” Davis says. “You know, it’s the whole
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
‘fake news’ thing that we deal with now on social media. There’s this information floating around out there and we don’t know what’s true or not.” Besides the similarities to pop culture, Davis says the play has taken on more relevance since the Trump family moved into the White House. “Now that we have a President and first family that are celebrities themselves and live this very wealthy detached lifestyle for themselves and they are now governing the country, I think there are a lot of parallels that can be seen with the mistakes that Marie makes and some of the decisions coming out of the administration,” he says. Comparisons of the current presidential family to historical figures portrayed in plays has caused some controversy for the theater community as of late. A production of Julius Caesar in New York is portraying the title character in a bit of a Trumpian fashion. Davis thinks those being critical of the comparisons are taking away the wrong message. “Artists are always trying to be part of the conversation and they always want their art to be relevant,” he says. “With Marie Antoinette or in the case of Julius Caesar, they’re not changing the play. The play is about what it’s about; they’re giving a visual clue on how the play is relevant to us and that’s their interpretation.” Davis thinks that the violence that occurs in both his play and Julius Caesar are not meant to encourage it as a means to solve society’s problems, just the opposite actually. “Somebody who thinks it’s a play that advocates for violence, hasn’t understood the play they are seeing,” he says. “The violence that happens in Julius Caesar and the violence in Marie Antoinette are not glorified in any way. The use of violence causes horrible outcomes for both societies.” The deeper conversation Davis would like to see from the audience coming away from Marie Antoinette is that of the value of this thing called “celebrity.” “Especially in modern times, the value of celebrity definitely has gone down, and I think that’s another way in which this play is much more about us than it is about Marie Antoinette,” Davis says. “It’s looking at her in the light of contemporary celebrity culture, and we live in a culture where celebrity is cheap. We create celebrities out of almost anything; you don’t really need to have a specific talent or purpose to be a celebrity in our culture. So an archetype of Marie Antoinette is the perfect surrogate for that idea, because we’re ultimately left thinking, ‘What was her value?’”
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
community calendar
event plAnner
arts+entertainment
OrlAndO
OrlAndO Orlando Critical Mass: Ride to Remember the 49, June 30, Loch Haven Park, Orlando. 407-246-2827; Facebook.com/ OrlandoCriticalMass flex fridays presents Murray Swanby, June 30, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com Sasha Velour, July 1, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com Night of 100 Puppies, July 1, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com Girl the Party: Red, White and Boobs, July 1, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com Hank’s 30 year Celebration, July 1, Hanks, Orlando. 407-291-2399; HanksBarOrlando.com free foam & fireworks, July 2, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com Red Hot & Boom, July 3, Cranes Roost Blvd, Altamonte Springs. 407-571-8180; Altamonte.org America the Booty-ful 2: A Patri-erotic Show, July 3, St. Matthew’s Tavern at the Orlando Beer Gardens, Orlando. 407-610-5109; StMatthewsTavern.com fireworks at the fountain, July 4, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. 407-246-2121; CityOfOrlando.net Metallica, July 5, Camping World Stadium, Orlando. 407-440-5700; CampingWorldStadium.com Speakfest 2017: An Evening of Pint-Sized Theatre, July 8, Downtown CREDO, Orlando. 407-519-0643; PipSqueakCollective.com
Pink Collar Comedy show Saturday, July 1, 7:00- 10:00 P.m. KinG center for the PerforminG artS, melbourne
Just A bill
Jeff Jones is bringing his Gay Days hit event “Pink Collar Comedy Show” to the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne to benefit Space Coast Pride. Jones will be joined by a trio of talented and hilarious drag performers; Carol Lee, Addison Taylor and Trixie Deluxxe. Tickets start at $26.75 and are available at KingCenter.org.
MBA Orlando July networking Mixer wedneSday, July 12, 6:00- 8:00 P.m. chocolate KinGdom, orlando
Bill Maher brings his political satire to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando July 8 and to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater July 9. PHOTO COURTESy HBO
Orlando Book festival, July 8, Orange County Library System, Orlando. 407-835-7323; OCLS. info Bill Maher, July 8, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org Under the Sea, July 8, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com
4th of July Celebration, July 4, Largo Central Park, Largo. 727-587-6700; Largo.com Cult Classic: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, July 6, The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg. 727-823-3767; TheDali.org
tAmpA bAy fuego friday Celebrates latin Pride, June 30, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com Vans Warped Tour ’17, July 1, Vinoy Waterfront Park, St. Petersburg. 727-893-7441; VansWarpedTour.com Margaritas and Tacos featuring Jennifer Real, June 30, Tequilas, Tampa. 813-241-9555; TequilasYbor.com Swank Saturdays presents Murray Swanby, July 1, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com
Open Arms Homeless Ministry, July 2, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa. 813-253-5388; BalanceTampaBay.org
8 Tour- Incubus with Jimmy Eat World, July 7, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphiteatre, Tampa. 813-740-2446; LiveNation.com NeiBEARhood Takeover Tampa/Dark Alley, July 7, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com Tampa Bay leather Social, July 8, The Body Shop, Tampa. 813-971-3578; TheBodyShopTampa.com Rod Stewart with Cyndi lauper, July 8, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com
The number one LGBTQ business mixer and networking event is coming to the Chocolate Kingdom near I-Drive for its July event. Chocolate Kingdom is an interactive journey that uncovers how chocolate transforms from the bean into the creamy, dreamy chocolate bar. Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and one-on-one networking. Free for members, $20 for guests. Make sure to RSVP at MBAOrlando.org.
Bill Maher, July 9, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com
tAmpA bAy
Paul McCartney, July 10, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com
Mayoral & City Council District 6- Candidate Forum
Disney’s The Little Mermaid, July 11- 16, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org Know the Pros Networking Social, July 13, Metro Wellness & Community Center Ybor, Tampa. 813-232-3808; MetroTampaBay.org Puddles Pity Party, July 13, The Palladium, St. Petersburg. 727-822-3590; MyPalladium.org
sArAsOtA fST Improv’s When X Meets y, June 30, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota. 941-366-9000; FloridaStudioTheatre.org fireworks festival, July 1, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota. 941-358-7275; NathanBendersonPark.org
monday, July 10, 6:30- 8:00 P.m. hilton St. PeterSburG bayfront, St. PeterSburG The Downtown St. Petersburg Neighborhood Association hosts two forums at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront. The first segment will be dedicated to the candidates running for District 6 City Council and will immediately be followed by the mayoral candidates. Both segments will be moderated by the League of Women Voters St. Petersburg. Admission to both forums is free and open to the public.
Come Out st. Pete Organizational Meeting wedneSday, July 12, 6:00- 8:00 P.m. emPath PartnerS in care, St. PeterSburG Come Out St. Pete’s organizing committee is having their monthly meeting July 12. Come Out St. Pete is a Grand Central District Association event in collaboration with neighboring districts and other non-profit organizations. This event, being held Oct. 11, coincides with National Coming Out Day and is a celebration of St. Petersburg’s rich LGBTQ history. The meeting will be held in Empath Partners in Care’s training room at the EPIC building. For more information visit ComeOutStPete.org.
To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com.
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
37
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
www.diversitytampabay.org
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
overheard
R
fOster cAres
unninG unoPPoSed, it wasn’t any surprise that Amy Foster was elected as the District 8 council member in St. Petersburg. Foster filed her paperwork to run on May 24, after social worker Tharius Bethel challenged her. However, after only one day, Bethel was forced to drop out of the race after informing the City Clerk’s office he did not live in District 8. Bethel originally listed his address as 4316 78th St. N, and in a withdrawal letter wrote he fell outside the required residence for District 8 and was “sorry for the inconvenience.” Foster’s win is added to a long list of achievements. She served as the National Collaborative Network Manager for the EdLab Group’s National Girls Collaborative Project, focused on gender equity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She was also the former Vice President for St. Pete Pride. Congratulations Amy!
E
eQfl’s rOcKstAr
Quality florida director nadine Smith wasn’t able to physically attend the U2 concert in Tampa June 14, but her presence was definitely felt at the Raymond James Stadium. Smith’s photo alongside other women leaders filled up a 200-foot-wide, high-definition video board while the band encored a performance of “Ultra Violet (Light My Way).” Other women leaders such as Girls actress Lena Dunham, philanthropist Melinda Gates and “queen of all media” Oprah Winfrey appeared in the massive montage. “They asked me for a photo the day before. I had no idea my giant head would be beamed next to Oprah’s,” Smith said to the Tampa Bay Times. “I thought they would include it in some kind of mosaic, not a giant photo.” Even though Smith couldn’t be there this time, she has had the honor of seeing Bono and the rest of U2 in concert. Smith saw U2 in concert 30 years ago in Tampa during the legendary Joshua Tree Tour. “I’m a big fan of their music and their activism off stage too,” said Smith. “They sent me a nice photo of it and invited me to any of the remaining tour dates.”
T
tAmpA bAy Out+AbOut
fOur mOre yeArs!
amPa bay’S favorite mother/Son cabaret act turned four years old this past June 22. “The Scott & Patti Show” – the amazingly talented duo of Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel – have been singing, dancing and throwing shade across Tampa Bay since way back when Obama was starting his second term. Their first gig together was suppose to be a one-night affair as Patti said good-bye to her gay son Scott when he went off to work on a cruise ship. Four years later and they are one of the hottest acts in town, opening for performers like Debbie Reynolds, Lea DeLaria and Leslie Jordan, just to name a few. They have won countless awards, including Watermark WAVE Awards and Creative Loa�ing’s Best of the Bay, and even hosted our Tampa Bay WAVE Award party this year. Congratulations to a Tampa Bay institution, and here’s to four more years!
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flaG bearerS: (L-R) LGBT Liaison Jim Nixon, St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman and police LGBT liaison Lt Markus Hughes raise the rainbow flag over City Hall in St. Petersburg in honor of Pride. PHOTO By RICK ClAGGETT
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rooftoP romance: Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber president Eric Mathis (L) and husband Eduardo Montiel help kick off St. Pete Pride atop the Hotel Zamora at St. Pete Beach.
PHOTO By JEREMy WIllIAMS
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for the PeoPle: Barclay Harless (L) with Councilwoman Darden Rice in St. Petersburg June 24 for St. Pete Pride. Both Harless and Rice are in the middle of City Council campaigns. PHOTO COURTESy BARClAy HARlESS
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Proud ParaderS: (L-R) Michael Norris, Craig Stringfield, Kurt English, Barbara Zaleski and Deborah lepley weather the heat for the St. Pete Pride parade on Bayshore Dr. in St. Petersburg June 24.
PHOTO By NICHOlAS CARDEllO
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Golden Gurlz 4 eva: (L-R) Emmanuel Carrero, Scott Daniel, Garry Allan Breul, Matthew McGee and Joey Panek at American Stage June 26 for the “Prelude to Pride” final show of The Golden Gurlz Live. PHOTO By BEN TUROff
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laKeland love: The Polk Pride board members read off the city proclamation for Pride in the Park at Munn Park in Lakeland June 17. PHOTO By DANNy GARCIA
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you SPin me round: DJ Tony Moran keeps the music going at Southern Nights in Tampa June 17 for their 2-Year Anniversary party. PHOTO COURTESy Of SOUTHERN NIGHTS TAMPA
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Proud buSineSS: (L-R) Judy B. Goode, Jane Castor, Carrie West and Mark West Bias at the Tampa Bay Business Journal Business of Pride Awards at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront June 22. PHOTO
8
COURTESy MARK WEST BIAS
7 watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
39
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
1220 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL 32804 www.balanceorlando.com 407-704-8867 June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
overheard
OrlAndO Out+AbOut
philips’ phinAl bOw
R
eal radio 104.1’S the PhiliPS Phile has been a long time staple of many Orlando residents drive home. And when Jim Philips announced his official retirement from the show will be in January, many were shocked and honestly saddened to hear the news. Jim Philips, a longtime ally and advocate of the LGBTQ community, is a multi-WAVE award winner as chosen by our readers for the many years he publicly stood up for the community, and he’s not afraid to tell you so. As he put it in his 2016 interview with Watermark, “Because I say and I believe it that I was the first person in this town media-wise – electronic and print, mainstream – that was in support of the LGBT community for years and years and years and years and years. I made no bones about it, and I took a lot of grief for it on the air. I didn’t give a shit. It didn’t bother me. I was proud of it. I was proud of it when they would call up and call me names or whatever, because I knew I was always right.” In the same interview, Jim Philips did mention he may be retiring soon, so this official on-air announcement shouldn’t be too much of a big shock. So, at least for the next seven months we can still savor all that is the voice, the advocate and the ally Jim Philips!
I
where the beArs Are (AgAin)
t SeemS that deSPite the eviction Scare that was facing Woodstock at the Full Moon recently, which was settled, as we were told by one of the owners, it seems that the bar is going back to its roots – its hair roots that is. A recent announcement by the Orlando City Bears declared its new home/den was moving to Woodstock at the Full Moon and away from Stonewall. No details as to why the move is happening, but it seems with the new entertainment lineup changes at Stonewall, this makes sense. Since its opening in 2015, Woodstock at the Full Moon has been primarily focused as an event venue location with an ever changing line up of theme nights and entertainment. And although they temporarily offered a bear night a few times, it never really took off. With the Wednesday night Orlando City Bears happy hour and party night starting June 28, we look forward to hearing a lot of “woofing” coming back to Woodstock at the Full Moon. Hairs to a furry night!
3
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a decade of: Rob Ward (colorfully centered) with the amazing team at The Venue in Orlando June 26 where they celebrated 10 years of Pepe. PHOTO COURTESy Of THE BARBER fUND
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omG ShoeS: MIX 105.1’s Jay Edwards (L) and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer get into some big heels for “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” at the Harbor House of Central Florida June 22. PHOTO COURTESy MIX 105.1
3
brunch bunch: (L-R) fredy Ruiz, Reca Oakley and Jonathon Adler get their brunch on at First Watch in Orlando June 18. PHOTO COURTESy JONATHON ADlER
4
cat-taStic: Bailey Johnson (L) and Commissioner Patty Sheehan with one of Sheehan’s “Bad Kitty” paintings at Art Gallery Mills Park in Orlando June 26. PHOTO By BORIS DOUGlAS GARBE
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acroSS the Pond: John Ryan (L) and Eddie Cooper enjoying their last night in the United Kingdom at the Coombe Abbey Hotel June 20. PHOTO COURTESy JOHN RyAN
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orlando StronG: Rep. Amy Mercado (L) and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (R) present OPD Chief John Mina (Center) with House Resolution 8077 at the Orlando Police Department June 21. HR8077 acknowledges the first responders who saved lives at Pulse back on June 12, 2016. PHOTO COURTESy CARlOS
6
GUIllERMO SMITH
7
rocKin’ the abS: Andrew Christian model Arad Winwin poses on the Parliament House pool stage June 17 for P House’s Pool Party After Dark. PHOTO COURTESy
PARlIAMENT HOUSE ORlANDO
8
Girl Power: Ivy les Vixens strikes a pose in front of a packed house at Southern Nights in Orlando June 17 for “Girl the Party.” PHOTO By HANNAH JORDAN
7 watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
announcements
wedding bells
Kaitlyn Edwardson and Jacquelyn Edwardson from Orlando, Floirda
years togetHer:
Southern Nights Tampa brought in their Second Anniversary in Ybor City June 17.
5 years
engagement date:
local birtHdays
december 16, 2015
wedding date:
May 20, 2017
wedding venue:
Lake Louisa State Park
wedding planner:
Self-planned
wedding caterer:
kaitlyn baked everything, including the cake.
wedding colors:
A subtle Disney theme with the colors being merlot, white and charcoal gray
First song:
“So Close” by Jon McLaughlin
Favorite disney movie:
“Enchanted”
interesting Fact:
The couple loves dogs — they currently have 10!
congratulations
The mother/son cabaret duo of Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel, better known as The Scott & Patti Show, celebrated 4 years of shows June 22. Hanks Orlando celebrates 30 years in business July 1.
PHOTO By PATRICK BUCKlEy IMAGES
“K
aitlyn iS very GivinG,”
Jackie says. “There’s no circumstance you need to follow – it’s just very unconditional.”
Kaitlyn Edwardson, who is a baker, and Jacquelyn “Jackie” Edwardson, who is a theme park performer, met when they both lived in California working for Disneyland. “We became friends slowly, not like super good friends right out of the gate but really slow friends,” Jackie says. “After my college program was over, I needed a place to live,” Jackie and Kaitlyn ended up agreeing on living together. The women got closer, became better friends and then that’s when feelings started to develop. “I liked Jackie far before she liked me and neither of us had ever been in a relationship like this prior to this,” Kaitlyn says. So knowing Jackie can never say no to a bet, they were coming back from Dapper Day at Disney and she bet Jackie she would never kiss a girl – so she kissed Kaitlyn. That’s where it all started, and they’ve been together ever since. Eventually, they moved to Orlando
after both women were able to find jobs at Disney World. “I knew I wanted to marry Jackie when we still lived in California,” Kaitlyn says. “It took a lot of just getting comfortable with ourselves and our relationship to open up to other people about it, to make it OK to even think about proposing.” Since Disney was really special to the women and was the reason they became who they were, Kaitlyn knew she had to incorporate Disney into it. Jackie loved The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights ever since they moved to Florida. When they found out it was closing, Kaitlyn knew that was when she should propose to make the last light showing that much more special for Jackie. Kaitlyn suggested prior to the shoot they get prop boxes to use in the photoshoot, which Jackie thought was a bit odd. During the photoshoot, the photographer had them incorporate the boxes
by opening them and told them to act like they were surprised. When they opened their boxes, Kaitlyn’s was empty but Jackie’s had an ornament in hers. It took her a minute to realize the ornament said “Will you marry me?’ on it with a ring tied to it. A surprised Jackie, of course, said “yes”. The couple planned their wedding for about five months, but their families weren’t exactly happy about the occasion so they ended up just scratching the entire thing and eloped in May 2016. The couple planned a ceremony at Lake Louisa State Park, and they invited their close friends – and some of the furry kind. “We love dogs, and we know a lot of our really good friends love dogs too,” Jackie says. Kaitlyn says that Jackie has taught her not to care about other’s opinions and to just be herself and grow. “She’s just always there for me even when I didn’t know that I needed her,” Kaitlyn says. “She was there for me during the hardest time of my life when my brother passed away, and she’s there for me on the happiest days of my life.”
O-Town DJ and aspiring MD Chris “Cub” Mendez (June 29); St. Petersburg leather community mover and shaker Matt Wolf, former Watermark sales diva Erica franco, fab photog Dixie lee Todd (July 1); Tampa philanthropist Matt Bachman, Mons Venus strip club owner Joe Redner, Tampa Bay Metro Charities director lorraine langlois, Orlando resident and Sawmill performer Sofonda Cox, St. Pete graphic guru Michael O’Connell, RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Martin Cooper (aka Coco Montrese), Tim Vargas of Embellish FX, actor extraordinaire Tommy Wooten (July 2); Tampa Pro Massage owner Cory Jeffries, owner of Pom Pom Teahouse Pom Moongauklang (July 3); Sleuth’s Rob Ward (July 4); Tampa Bay performer Kori Stevens, Sawmill celeb Ed Dobski (aka Trixie Deluxe), co-owner of Shelbie Press Debbie Simmons (July 5); Orlando commissioner Patty Sheehan, Balance Tampa Bay’s Steve Watson, owner of John Michael Wedding & Events Michael Thomas (July 6); USF IT guru Angel Arcelay, comedian Ronni Radner, Montessori teacher Natasha Kay (July 7); DJ Greg Anderson (July 8); Darden ally Carole Conroy, the Venue’s Jaime Bridges, co-owner of Shelbie Press Michelle Murray (July 9); Sarasota actor Kenneth Rapczynski (July 10); operations manager of The Ritz Ybor Carla Vaughan (July 11); Metro Wellness’ James Keane, The Full Moon at Woodstock’s Kristina Mclaughlin, Orlando event planner Jorge Cruz (July 12).
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 LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
43
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
o r l a n d o
counselor
M a r k e tp l ac e
health+fitness
health care
Compassionate
Care
for your peace of mind
O
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!
407-877-2272
www.OcoeeHealthCare.com 1556 Maguire Rd • Ocoee, FL 34761
funeral services
health+fitness
home improvement
$15 OFF NEXT SERVICE One time use only.
insurance
Come see Dave, Ed & Staff for a Free Consultation! garden/nursery
CIT Y OA SIS
Full Service Interior Plantscaping Design & Maintenance Sales - Leasing - Maintenance
Call for Rates
Free Estimates. Prices star t as low as $9 9/mo Exotic Orchids Bonsai Ornamentals
407-481-2243
1214 N. Mills Ave. Orlando (407) 898 -8101
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
45
o r l A n d o
M A r k e T P l A C e
investments+finAnce
nOn-prOfit OrgAnizAtiOn
lAwn cAre
nOn-prOfit OrgAnizAtiOn
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 persOnAl trAining www.rockhardfitnessorlando.com
FREE TRIAL PASS
lgbt medicAl
www.PineroMedical.com | 407.426.9693 Celebrating 10 years of LGBT Primary Care
1 WEEK UNLIMITED CLASSES 1 HOUR PERSONAL TRAINING
Social support groups Make friends Scholarships for college Weekly groups in Orange, Seminole & Polk counties
820 Lake Baldwin Lane p. 407.802.4631
info@orlandoyouthalliance.org www.orlandoyouthalliance.org
• Join • Volunteer • Donate
JACOB BONYNGE REALTOR
Your Family Doctor’s Office
Mon-Sat -New Patients Welcome 1720 S Orange Ave, Ste 200 Orlando
Changing the lives of LGBTQ teens and young adults for over 25 years
reAl estAte
LGBT Primary Care Piňero Preventive Medical Care
yOuth services
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!
46
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Call for Rates
407-481-2243
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
OCTOBER
14
THIS IS WHERE FLORIDA CELEBRATES PRIDE.
We take over the streets of downtown during the city’s most colorful event!
Explore all there is to offer at our festival with over 100+ vendors
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 pride parade • entertainment • fireworks • festival & marketplace • family-friendly activities watermark Your LGBTQ life.
June 29 - July 17, 2017 // Issue 24 .13
47
I choose a connected network of care. I choose Orlando Health. With Orlando Health’s extensive network and convenient locations close to home, you can easily find the healthcare you need – when and where you need it, with access to: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
More than 2,100 physicians and specialists 24/7 emergency and trauma care Award-winning community hospitals Renowned specialty hospitals World-class cancer care Top-rated heart care Diagnostic imaging centers Urgent care centers Home care
Call 321.8HEALTH (843.2584) to schedule an appointment.
ChooseOrlandoHealth.com Not an actual patient.