:
e d sI ts 7 In r 1 l Ia a 20 eC sP ll e D fa UI G
JUST DANCE Come Out With Pride announces 2017 Pride theme.
RickRace We look at St. Petersburg’s (Partisan) Non-Partisan Primary Mayoral race between baker and kriseman.
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
deparTmenTs 6 // mail 7 // puBlisHer’s desk 8 // OrlandO news 13 // Tampa Bay news 19 // sTaTe news 21 // naTiOn & wOrld news 29 // Talking pOinTs 45 // cOmmuniTy calendar 47 // Tampa Bay OuT+aBOuT 49 // OrlandO OuT+aBOuT 50 // Tampa Bay markeTplace 51 // wedding Bells/ annOuncemenTs 52 // OrlandO markeTplace
PAGE
25
Rick Baker doesn’t like us. He thinks homosexuality is a choice and a sin. He also resents the way st. petersburg has become such a glowing blue beacon in purple Florida.
— WaTeRMaRK coluMnist greg steMM on tHe possibility of ricK baKer once again becoMing tHe Mayor of st. petersburg.
On THe cOver
PAGE
41
PAGE a tale of
31
tWo ricKs:
With the St. Petersburg mayoral office up for grabs, we look at current mayor Rick Kriseman and former mayor Rick Baker to see who is best for the ‘Burg’s LGBTQ community.. illustration by Jake Stevens
scan Qr cOde fOr
waTermarkOnline.cOm
Queen’s calling:
Local drag performer Trinity Taylor talks about being a part of RuPaul’s Drag Race and leading a team of queens to the Sunshine State.
waTermark i ssue 24 .17 //augusT 24 - sepT emBer 6, 2017
Building fuTures
BOn vOyage
dOmesTic disTurBance a wiTcH HunT
PAGE The Orlando Youth Alliance awards $14,000 in scholarships to local LGBTQ youth.
PAGE St. Pete Pride’s Executive Director Eric Skains announces he is resigning and moving to Texas.
PAGE
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
08
13
A Florida stripper is arrested in Key West after confessing to murdering boyfriend suspected of being a cannibal.
19
PAGE
The Lavender Scare, a new film that looks at Sen. Joe McCarthy’s hunt for “the homosexual,” comes to TIGLFF.
37
GIve us a folloW on tWItter and InstaGram at @WatermarkonlIne and be sure to lIke us on faCebook. watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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TOp weB cOmmenTs “Well of course she suffers from PTSD. Knowing that you COULD have prevented the deaths of 49 innocent people would cause anyone trauma that has half of a brain in their head.” —sue Jones
waTermarkOnline.cOm on trumP bannInG transGender servICe members from the mIlItarY:
“Why anyone wants to serve in the military is beyond me. Let the straights go get killed. We gay folks have a battle to fight right here.” —REV ANTHONY
on a south florIda man beInG shot dead after standInG uP for hIs GaY frIends:
“That’s not who he was aiming for and he never meant to hurt anybody? Was he still 15-20 beers deep at the time of that statement?” —ETCHIE
waTermark’s faceBOOk on the mIChIGan man from the 1995 JennY Jones murder Case beInG released from PrIson:
“I remember it... not enough time in prison for homophobic murder!” —VERONICA DRAKE Photos: Amy Guip
on a mIssourI sChool removInG GaY students’ senIor Yearbook quotes:
“They should have said something to the students BEFORE the yearbook was published!” —TIM STAHL
“I bet they left every quote that referenced god though! I find THAT offensive.”
SEP 19-24 MORSANI HALL
—DOUG BOWSER
on aaron Carter GettInG emotIonal In front of the CroWd at hamburGer marY’s In brandon:
on a south florIda man beInG shot dead after standInG uP for hIs GaY frIends:
“He’s just trying to make it in the gay bar scene now.”
“The man said, ‘I hate you damned gays. I’m going to kill you all here’ before he pulled the trigger. Why only first degree murder when this was clearly a hate crime?”
—LEXX DE LA MER
on ellen deGeneres GettInG CandId about beInG bullIed after ComInG out:
“I would have done the same thing if I was in her shoes. Look at her now! Proud of everything she has accomplished.” —LUCAS BARSZCZ
on elders reaCtInG to the GaY love storY In the anImated short “In a heartbeat”:
“How great it would have been to fall in love at such an early age for us old timers.” —RON FORD
on antI-GaY laWmaker quIttInG the u.k. labor PartY after CallInG toronto PrIde marChers “PedoPhIles”:
“Ms. Amadi, pedophilia is an unhealthy attraction to children. It is an orientation unto itself and not gender specific. Please be responsible with your choice of words. Thank you.” —MICHAEL W. HALL
on russIan Court stoPPInG the dePortatIon of a GaY JournalIst to uzbekIstan:
“Not sure which scenario is worse. Poor guy.” —KEVIN WOOD
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
—BUZZARD BUNCHEN
“I’ll bet he would be in the morgue if they had been carrying.” —PETER CAMERON
on the Pulse Gunman’s WIfe PlannInG to saY she suffered Ptsd:
“Well of course she suffers from PTSD. Knowing that you COULD have prevented the deaths of 49 innocent people would cause anyone trauma that has half of a brain in their head. It’s been over a year. So to say that she suffers from PTSD now, knowing that she has the blood of these innocent people on her hands should be about right. However, she’s going on trial for how she did NOTHING to prevent this completely senseless tragedy when she had every opportunity to. Nope, sorry. You don’t get to claim anything, girl. You knew and you did NOTHING and now people’s sons and daughters, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters are gone. Meanwhile she is still living and with her family. Screw her.” —SUE JONES
Publisher’s
Rick Claggett PUblisher
Rick@WatermarkOnline.com
H
Desk
ate is easy. Anger is easy.
Drive through downtown Orlando on I-4, or cross the Howard Frankland Bridge at rush hour and you will see what I mean. People either drive too aggressively, or are not aggressive enough. Drivers rubberneck their way past an accident or cut you off, almost creating an accident of their own. More often than not, our instinct is to be angry. Have you ever found yourself fuming when you are leaving a crowded elevator while new passengers rush onboard before you have a chance to exit? Do you fight for a parking space around the holidays and think of keying the car that took your spot? Do you get irritated when you have to answer a question more than once? About a year ago I was tasked with a project to write down everything that irritated me,
watermark staff
made me angry or introduced hate into my life. Everything mentioned above made the list, and then some. That was the easy part. The difficulty came when I was asked to explain what role I played in those situations that caused so much animosity. It’s hard to do because it’s easy to hate what you don’t understand. It’s easy to be angry at someone when you don’t walk in their shoes. When you are forced to try and see a different
side, you begin to open up to how you might be adding to the problem. It’s heartbreaking to see the violence and anger that consumes our country. We can’t control other people’s hatred. We can only control how we react to it. Perpetuating hate does no good. We would live in a better environment with a little patience and understanding. I was inspired by a Facebook post I read earlier today. It’s attributed to a friend of a friend of a friend and reads: “While America figures this all out; I’m going to continue holding doors for strangers, letting people cut in front of me in traffic, letting someone with two items go in front of me while I have a cart full of groceries. I’ll be saying good morning, being patient with a waiter, or the new person learning in the doctor’s office, smiling at strangers, saying please and thank you as often as I am provided the opportunity. Because I will not stand idly by and let children live in a world where unconditional love is invisible. Join me in showing love and respect to others and setting a good example. Find your own way to swing the pendulum in the direction of love.” We live in a world where hate groups and hate crimes are on the rise, where top leadership emboldens those with pent up anger. We can combat that. Love, not hate, is more than a slogan if we put it into action. Volunteer for or donate to a non-profit, support businesses that support you and your causes. Support those who advertise in LGBTQ media. They help that media continue to tell your story. Use your voice to support the candidates that support you. In this issue of Watermark, we outline the two frontrunners in
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St. Pete’s mayoral race. On one side you have Rick Kriseman who spoke directly with us and has a long, positive history with the LGBTQ community. On the other side you have Rick Baker, who did not speak to Watermark and whose history with the LGBTQ community is not supportive. It is vital to elect leadership that will stand with you. Let the last presidential election be a lesson. When you have leadership that is not proactively supportive, it gives power to those who are against you. Progress is made in an environment where a society’s people can thrive. Let’s keep moving St. Pete forward. Also in this issue we take
We can’t control other people’s hatred. We can only control how we react to it.
a look back at the Lavender Scare of the 1950s, as told in the documentary of the same name. The Lavender Scare will be appearing at the Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in early October. Additionally, we have a chat with local entertainer turned celebrity, Trinity Taylor. In local news we say goodbye to St. Pete Pride Executive Director Eric Skains, we say hello to a new restaurant and bar moving into the old Georgie’s Alibi space, we clebrate Come Out With Pride’s announcement of this year’s theme and we praise the LGBTQ youth receiving $14,000 in scholarships from the Orlando Youth Alliance. We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue.
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Augus t 24 - Sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
contributors Ryan WilliamsJent is a
Contributing Editor with the New Civil Rights Movement. He lives in St. Petersburg with his husband and their two dogs. Page 13,15,31
Michael Wanzie is
an Orlando-based playwright, actor and ordained minister. He is most recognized for his direction of productions at the Footlight Theatre at the Parliament House. Page 27
Holly V. Kapherr
is a food, travel and lifestyle writer and editor born and bred in Orlando, Florida. Her work has appeared in local, regional and national publications such as the New York Post, Florida Travel + Life, Cooking Light and Orlando Weekly. She dreams of one day running a fish taco stand in Mexico.Page 51
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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central florida news
cOme OuT wiTH pride annOunces 2017 THeme
young scHolars:
(L-R) Mag Benton, Cody Kennedy and Thomas Williams were among the six students awarded a scholarship by the Orlando Youth Alliance at East End Market Aug. 16.
rick claggett
o
rlando | Come Out With Pride announced the theme for the 2017 Orlando Pride clebration in a statement Aug. 15. The theme, “#KeepDancingOrlando,” is a continuation from last year’s rallying cry “Celebrate, Honor, Heal” when the community came together for Pride just four months after Pulse, the worst mass shooting in modern American history. The press release states “what began as a movement last year in response to the Pulse tragedy will continue to heal and build unity in our community.” “While more than a year has passed, the loss of those taken from us on June 12 is still felt every day,” said COWP Board President, Brian Rihain, in the statement. “Yet despite all the negativity and hatred we witness in the news every day, the people of Orlando know that love, kindness and respect towards others is the right path. #KeepDancingOrlando will honor the memories of the 49 by showing that we will prevail.” The creators of last year’s #KeepDancingOrlando movement are joining with COWP to ensure the community continues to heal and move forward, according to COWP’s website. “This year, we will continue to honor their memory by keeping the music going. We’ll have dancing in the parade, dancing throughout the festival, and even an entire dance area sponsored and joined by employees from Pulse,” the website reads. The official COWP festival and parade will take place at Downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola on Saturday, Oct. 14. Attendees are expected to come from all parts of Central Florida and beyond, with numbers estimated around 150,000. COWP will kick off Pride Week with the Annual Metropolitan Business Association’s Pride in Business Awards Gala Oct. 7 and the launch party is scheduled for Oct. 12. COWP’s partnering sponsor, special events, Grand Marshalls and entertainment lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.
8
PHOTO By JAKE STEVEnS
building Futures Orlando Youth Alliance award scholarships to local LGBTQ youth anna Johnson
o
rlando | The Audubon Park Exchange community room, hidden above East End Market, buzzed with conversations ranging from the political climate of Central Florida to the effectiveness of the lighting in a production of Les Miserables. The students leading those talks wouldn’t be able to study politics or theatre without the help of local LGBTQ group the Orlando Youth Alliance. OYA serves LGBTQ children and adults between the ages of 13 and 24 in their three Central Florida locations. OYA specifically focuses on offering a community with safe spaces for self-expression. They hosted their reception for their six scholarship winners on Aug. 16. Organization CEO and Executive Director Michael Slaymaker says OYA has provided support for over 1,600 youths since its inception in 1990. “Our idea is to make sure
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
that none of them feel alone and that suicide is the answer,” Slaymaker says. Slaymaker has been OYA’s Executive Director since 2007 and has led the charge to not only offer up safe spaces for LGBTQ youth to talk freely, but also to provide annual events such as an LGBTQ Prom allowing queer youth to socialize in a non-judgmental environment. “It’s okay to be gay at OYA,” Slaymaker said in 2013, speaking with Watermark about the group’s 25th celebration. “There are other organizations. There is no rainbow flag at other organizations but there is at ours. These are formative years for these kids and it’s exciting to see them go out to do great things. These are the leaders of tomorrow.” OYA has been giving out scholarships for eight years. The money is all donation-based, some from individuals and some from partnered organizations. This year they gave out over $14,000. It’s free for any LGBTQ youth
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
to attend OYA’s weekly support meetings or bi-monthly social nights. The group is facilitated by volunteers and its board of directors. A crucial policy of theirs is to not “out” any youth in public and keep any personal information within the confines of the group. Maguire Benton, who goes by Mag, is one of this year’s scholarship recipients. OYA gave her a support group unlike any she’d had before. The group helped her find her way after a low period during her senior year of high school. “I was immediately welcomed,” Benton says. “It was so nice to have people who cared so much about me.” Two other scholarship recipients, Thomas Williams and Cody Kennedy feel the same. Both value the friends that they’ve made through the group. Kennedy’s seen people become more involved in the LGBTQ community because of OYA. “This past year’s Pride, we had a lot of people come out that hadn’t ever been to the event before,” he says. “That’s probably one of my favorite moments – getting at least 30 kids out to experience that.” Three of the scholarship winners, Emily Mound, Samantha Fuentes and Allen Barrett won the award last year as well.
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Augus t 24 - Sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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central florida news
fOrmer sTaTe represenTaTive JOe saunders reTurns TO eQualiTy flOrida as seniOr pOliTical direcTOr Jeremy Williams
work. I’m excited to be back.” Saunders comes to Equality Florida after three years as the Southern Regional Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy organization in the U.S. Saunders joined the team in 2014 after being ousted from his District 49 seat in the Florida House of Representatives by Republican Rene Plasencia in a tight race. Saunders flirted with the idea of running again for the District 49 seat in 2016, but ultimately decided against it. Instead putting his support behind his former chief of staff, and college pal, Carlos Guillermo Smith. Smith went on to win Saunders’ former seat. While with HRC, Saunders helped lead the successful effort in North Carolina to defeat
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The students range widely in where they’re going and what they’re studying. One is in the Emergency Medical Technician program at Seminole State College, another is going to the University of Central Florida to study anthropology. Slaymaker says that the scholarships can go to any student pursuing an education in what they love. “If we can help kids go on to a post-secondary education and be the future leaders of tomorrow, then we’re doing something right,” he says. Benton says that while the money is helpful, OYA gave her more than just some monetary stability. It gave her a place to exist and thrive without imposed ideas of who she has to be. “In my scholarship essay, I wrote ‘I don’t really know what I am right now,’” she says. “The great thing about OYA is that it’s allowed me to be who I want to be and not put a label on myself.”
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anti-LGBTQ incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory - a champion of the notoriously anti-LGBTQ HB2, referred to by some as the “bathroom bill.” “Joe Saunders is a proven LGBTQ and progressive leader who brings an incredible wealth of skill, knowledge and talent to our work,” Equality Florida Deputy Director and EQFL PAC Chair Stratton Pollitzer said in a statement. “We stand at the edge of incredible opportunity for progress even as we see new and emboldened attacks coming from Washington and some leaders in our state Capitol. Under Joe’s leadership, Equality Florida stands ready to hold elected leaders accountable at the ballot and to lift up those who stand on the right side of history.”
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rlando | Florida’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, Equality Florida announced Aug. 9 that former State Representative Joe Saunders would be rejoining the staff as the new Senior Political Director. Saunders previously held the position of Field Director with Equality Florida for nearly a decade before running for, and winning, a seat in the Florida House of Representatives in 2012. Saunders, along with Miami Beach’s David Richardson, became the first openly gay Floridian elected to the legislature. According to a statement from Equality Florida, in this role Saunders will be charged
with leading the organization’s civic engagement programs, pro-LGBTQ mobilization efforts and electoral programs. “I can’t think of a more important place to be in 2018 than Florida,” Saunders said in a statement. “Florida is poised to be the first breakthrough Southern state in the work to ensure LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination. As the largest swing state in the country, Florida will hold a defining role in the national response to the politics of Washington, and we have hugely important races for U.S. Senate, Governor, Congress and a chance to reshape our state legislature. My time working nationally has reinforced for me that Equality Florida is one of the smartest and most capable LGBTQ organizations doing this
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
tampa bay news
proud legacy:
Eric Skains played a valuable role in making St. Pete Pride what is is today; including helping to make the move of the parade to downtown and putting in a bid to bring World Pride to Tampa Bay in 2022. PHOTO By JAKE STEVEnS
bon Voyage St. Pete Pride Executive Director resigns, announces move to Texas ryan Williams-Jent
s
t. petersburg | St. Pete Pride announced this week that the organization’s Executive Director, Eric Skains, has resigned to “pursue new opportunities.” In a press release, Skains said that his five years with the organization “have been extremely fulfilling and always challenging,” noting that “retooling and strengthening [the] organization tested [him] in ways [he] never expected.” “I have learned and grown enormously through this organization, and I am excited about my future journey,” he continued. “St. Pete will forever be a chapter in my life that I am extremely proud of. I’ve met great people, built amazing connections, and fell in love with a town that’s extremely diverse.” Skains joined St. Pete Pride in 2012, having previously served as the Executive Director for Pride Houston in Texas. Watermark spoke with Skains in September of that year, with the then-incoming
Executive Director explaining he’d left his previous organization after they changed their format. “I’m not coming in to reinvent any wheels,” Skains said. “But the board is looking to expand the organization and they are in line with a lot of the things we worked on in Houston, such as expanding healthcare initiatives, community outreach and other areas.” And expand it did. As the press release advises, “Skains was key in the transition of the organization’s Board of Directors moving from a working board to a governing board, created the organization’s first production committee that works year-round on the planning of St Pete Pride, worked with local officials to receive the region’s first LGBT Pride Month Proclamation from both Tampa and St Petersburg, and expanded the organization’s outreach to include voter registration drives and public awareness initiatives.” “Since 2013, St Pete Pride received numerous community award achievements such as ‘Best LGBT organization’ from both Watermark magazine and
Creative Loa�ing readers,” the press release continued—a fact that we at Watermark can confirm is true. (Congratulations again!) “In 2017, the nonprofit organization received the highest rating of Platinum from GuideStar, showing the organization meets the highest level of accountability and transparency and is focused on measuring and sharing its progress and results.” Skains’ departure follows a successful but controversial pride event. For the first time in its 15 years, the St. Pete Pride parade moved from the Grand Central District to downtown St. Petersburg. “The Board is extremely thankful for the impact Eric has made,” St. Pete Pride Board President Scion Crowder said in the statement. “Not only to the organization, but to the community and City of St. Petersburg, over the past 5 years. We are grateful for the strong foundation he has built, the respect he has gained the organization, and the battles he has overcome for us. I can’t thank Eric enough for his time and commitment to this organization. We wish him much continued success in his next endeavors.” Skains will remain with the organization until the end of August. According to the release, St. Pete Pride will undergo a national search for its next Executive Director, and an interim Executive Director will fulfill the role through 2018’s Pride event.
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
naples eaTery BamBusa TO resurrecT geOrgie’s aliBi lOcale ryan Williams-Jent
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t. petersburg | It’s been nearly two years since St. Petersburg staple Georgie’s Alibi closed its doors for the last time at 3100 3rd Avenue North, but the spot synonymous with Pride and the LGBTQ community is getting ready for its comeback: in the form of Bambusa St. Pete. Bambusa Bar & Grill, an LGBTQ-friendly restaurant and entertainment hotspot in Naples, recently announced their St. Petersburg expansion via social media, albeit with limited details. Speculation as to the location of the incoming eatery began almost immediately. It was soon confirmed by Megan Towers, one of “Bambusa’s Babes,” self-described as the cast of female impersonators who perform at Bambusa in Naples. “At this time construction has not [begun] but should happen shortly,” Towers shared via social media. “Once the remodel is near completion the hiring process will begin!” “As for the location, I know some have speculated [its whereabouts],” Towers wrote. “I can confirm it will be in the former Alibi location!” Reception online has been largely positive, with residents of the Historic Kenwood neighborhood particularly excited. Frank Clemente, a sponsor coordinator for the upcoming Come OUT St. Pete, publicly celebrated the announcement. He called the news uplifting and noted that St. Petersburg’s “gayborhood” was “doing up the magic all over again!” As for Bambusa itself, the eatery features a diverse menu and full-liquor bar, complete with a happy hour. Food options begin with appetizers like poutine, pot stickers and angus sliders, and others with an Italian-flair like fried mozzarella and “mama’s meatballs.” There are a range of pizzas, salads and burgers, as well as full-blown entrees and seafood options. A variety of sandwiches, Tex-Mex, wraps and desserts round out their offerings. The Naples location offers a plethora of entertainment as well, including the aforementioned “Bambusa Babes.” Weeks are rounded out with card games and Bingo, with an alliterative adjective we can’t print here. (It rhymes with “itchy.”) On top of the drag performances and communal gatherings for gaming, other nights feature karaoke and the potential for other live performances and fundraisers. As the night progresses, a DJ becomes the featured entertainment.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
tampa bay news
sTOnewall demOcraTs Of pinellas endOrse rick kriseman fOr mayOr ryan Williams-Jent
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t. petersburg | The Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County have endorsed Mayor Rick Kriseman for re-election ahead of the Aug. 29 primary. The organization, devoted to “advancing equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” is a Democratic organization that partners with the Democratic party to “support fair-minded Democratic leaders and candidates” supportive of their mission. “Our organization’s strength comes from Pinellas County lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied Democrats working together” to achieve their goals, the chapter’s bylaws
read. The endorsement mark’s the fourth time the Stonewall Democrats have endorsed Kriseman: four years ago for mayor, and twice for his previous terms in the Florida House of Representatives. “Rick Kriseman has consistently been a champion for equality. As a St. Petersburg City Council member, he signed the first City Proclamation supporting the St. Pete Pride event—even when the city’s mayor (Rick Baker) would not,” the endorsement began. “As mayor, he initiated important measures that moved the city’s Municipal Equality Index from 66 to 100,” it continues. “Early in the marriage equality discussion, Mayor Kriseman signed the Freedom to Marry Pledge. Three months after taking office, he expanded the
bereavement leave provision to include paid leave for the family members of domestic partners, equal to the family members of married couples.” The endorsement further cites that under Rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg revised its Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy, which included the addition of language that defined “gender discrimination in terms of sexual self-identity.” The organization noted that following the tragic massacre at Pulse Nightclub last year, the anti-gay hate crime which claimed the lives of 49 people and injured 53 more, Kriseman implemented the “necessary safeguards to ensure St. Pete Pride was able to continue.” “Mayor Rick Kriseman has spent his entire career working to protect all people, regardless of
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
race, religion or sexual orientation and gender identity,” Stonewall Democrats President Susan McGrath said. “At a time when there is much division and hate going on in our country, it has never been more important to have leaders at all levels that respect and work to protect everyone. We strongly urge voters who care about equality to support Mayor Rick Kriseman.” Kriseman responded to the endorsement, noting that he was proud to have received it. He called the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas a group that “tirelessly advocates for equality for all in St. Petersburg.” “At a time when LGBTQ rights are being rolled back in Washington and other states,” Mayor Kriseman said, “I’ll always fight to move our city forward. St. Pete can never go backward on equality.” You can learn more about the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas, including about their endorsed candidates, at StonewallPinellas.org.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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With fun comes responsibility, something Bambusa Bar & Grill advises it takes very seriously. Their website boasts that the restaurant does its best to seek natural products that come from animals raised in “a truly natural manor” with “no antibiotics, no added hormones, no growth promoting drugs, no artificial ingredients, a 100 percent vegetarian diet and humane animal handling practices.” It further asserts that the restaurant’s produce is grown “without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides… not from GMO crops,” and to help the environment, they recycle their glass bottles, aluminum and oil used to prepare food. (They also use mostly-compostable paper products.) Bambusa Bar & Grill’s St. Petersburg location is expected to open in late 2017. You can follow their progress and stay up to date on their latest updates by visiting BambusaOnline.com.
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Augus t 24 - Sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
state news
lgBTQ rigHTs is persOnal fOr flOrida guBernaTOrial candidaTes Wire report
t
allaHassee, fla. | The leading Democrats running for Florida governor met with gay and lesbian party members on Aug. 19 in an event that at times was touching and personal, and served as a reminder that Florida is a place where people can still be discriminated against because of who they love. Perhaps the most chilling moment was when Orlando-area businessman Chris King described his brother as a brilliant, handsome man who would light up a room as soon as he walked in. But his brother was gay, and Florida wasn’t a tolerant place when they were growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. He struggled with depression. “Growing up was incredibly hard and he dealt with tremendous insecurity based on who he was,” King said, before describing a call he got from his parents during his freshman year in college. His brother killed himself. There was an audible gasp in the room as he shared the story, and painful looks on the faces of those listening at the LGBTA Democrats’
annual conference. And while King’s story tugged at hearts, he wasn’t the only candidate who explained why they feel Florida must do more to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said he too has a gay brother, and growing up in Florida in a religious family wasn’t easy. “He probably heard some terms and words that struck at his core, feeling at different times not all the way comfortable,” Gillum said. “The first thing that he did when he had the opportunity was get on the first bus that he could afford, to go all the way across the country to California, with not so much as a job or a house, just so that he could be himself.” Gillum paused. “It was intense,” he said. “It tore me up, because he was the closest thing to me.” Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham chastised Republicans, including Gov. Rick Scott, for not taking steps to ensure equal rights for gays and lesbians. She said that in the aftermath of the Pulse gay nightclub shootings that killed 49, Scott and other Republicans made false promises to protect the
LGBT community. “After the cameras went away, they went back to their old politics,” she said. “In the year since Pulse, they have not lifted a finger to protect the LGBTQ community or prevent another tragedy. It’s heartbreaking.” All three candidates said it will be their priority to pass a law to give gays and lesbians civil rights protections in housing and employment. A bill to do so has been filed for years and gone nowhere in a Legislature dominated by the Republican party, which has controlled the governor’s mansion since 1999. Terry Fleming, the president of the LGBTA Democrats (the A is for Allies), also said that Florida’s government has done little for the gay and lesbian community. “Legislation here hasn’t been gay friendly,” he said. “There’s definitely some challenges in Florida.” Because the LGBT community is concerned about discrimination under President Donald Trump’s administration, it’s even more important that Florida protect them, he said. “I am so angry at what’s happening in Washington that I want to work doubly hard to make sure that we get protections in place in Florida, by electing Democratic candidates that support LGBT equality,” he said.
flOrida sTripper arresTed in key wesT afTer murdering BOyfriend suspecTed Of Being canniBal staff report
K
ey West, fla. | A Tampa stripper was arrested in Key West Aug. 14 after a bizarre altercation with a 67-year-old man, believed to be the stripper’s boyfriend, that left one of them in jail and the other dead. Justin Calhoun, 24, listed in jail records as female and homeless, was arrested for attempted second-degree murder Aug. 15 after attacking Mark Brann, 67, in his Key West home, according to the Miami Herald. Calhoun said she and Brann had a sexual relationship, according to a Key West police report, and that the two began arguing because Calhoun suspected Brann was a “cannibal.”
Brann became upset from Calhoun’s accusation and grabbed a gun that had been in the bedroom with them. They both began to fight for the gun, according to the report. Calhoun told the cops the gun fired but no one was injured by the bullet. Calhoun said he grabbed a pen and stabbed Brann in both eyes, then picked up a piece of wood which broke off from the dresser during the fight and stuffed it into Brann’s mouth “to silence him,” according to the report. Calhoun “stomped” on the piece of wood to lodge it in Brann’s mouth and then grabbed one of the drawers from the broken dresser and hit Brann with it, the report said. The report goes on to say that
Calhoun locked the bedroom door to keep Brann’s roommate out, then Calhoun grabbed her money and backpack and jumped out the bedroom window while naked. Brann was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where he later died from his injuries. Calhoun was caught by police several hours later and admitted that her actions went beyond self-defense, according to the report. Calhoun is being held at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Miami Herald, Calhoun is being kept in a private cell in the male wing of the Dentition Center since she self-identified as female. She is being held without bond.
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wOrld OuTgames Organizers will nOT face criminal cHarges staff report
M
iaMi | Local officials determined that the organizers of the World Outgames Miami will not face criminal charges after an Aug. 16 audit of the organization found no “malicious intent” on their part. Authorities launched an investigation of the organizers of the World OutGames over their decision to abruptly cancel almost all of its sporting events this past Memorial Day week. The audit revealed that World OutGames’ organizers kept shoddy financial records, grossly overestimated fundraising and spent more than $600,000 — nearly half the revenue— on consulting, advertising and promotional fees for sporting events that were cancelled on opening day, according to the Miami Herald. “In reviewing these documents, it became apparent that the general ledger was not necessarily accurate as it was found to contain incorrect check numbers and disbursement classification errors,” according to the audit report. “Compounding matters was the lack of sufficient, complete and organized documentation.” A breakdown of the audit by the Miami Herald found that out of $1.4 million in the OutGames account, organizers spent $330,218 on consulting fees, $296,498 on advertising/promotion and $106,345 on marketing trips around the world. It was found that only $65,475 was spent on actual sporting events. OutGames CEO Ivan Cano received $106,992 in consulting fees, according to the audit. OutGames organizers had said in an email May 26 that “financial challenges” prompted them to cancel nearly all of the sporting events associated with the games that were scheduled to take place through June 4. The opening ceremony, which was scheduled to take place in Miami Beach May 27, and the closing ceremony were also cancelled. The only events that took place were aquatics, soccer and country/western dance. The organization also went through with the World OutGames 4th Global Human Rights Conference at The Loews Hotel in Miami Beach. The Miami Herald reported the city of Miami Beach spent $200,000 to sponsor the OutGames and waved permit fees associated with events. The newspaper also said Miami-Dade County agreed to reimburse $18,000 in expenses. Thousands of athletes from around the world were expected to participate in the World OutGames. Organizers announced their decision to cancel most of the sporting events as hundreds of them were in the process of traveling to Miami Beach. Miami was to be the first U.S. location to host the World Outgames. The first World OutGames took place in Montreal in 2006, with Copenhagen hosting them in 2009 and Antwerp, Belgium hosting in 2013.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
nation+world news
in other news
Texas anti-transgender bathroom bill dies Michael K. Lavers of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association
T
he Texas House of Representatives adjourned Aug. 15 without voting on a bill that would limit transgender people from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Senate Bill 3 would have prohibited schools from allowing trans students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that are consistent with their gender identity. Critics also pointed out SB 3 would
have undermined trans-inclusive nondiscrimination measures as they relate to access to bathrooms, locker rooms and athletic activities. The Texas Senate last month approved SB 3 by a 21-10 vote margin. The state Senate also adjourned Aug. 15. Senate Bill 91, which was identical to SB 3, remained in the Senate State Affairs Committee. “Special session officially done with no anti-transgender bathroom bills passed,” wrote Equality Texas on its Twitter page. “We did it Texas.” Acting Freedom for All Americans CEO Kasey Suffredini in a statement noted Amazon, United Airlines and
Apple are among the businesses that opposed SB 3. “We saw unprecedented opposition to this legislation — not just from businesses concerned about the economic implications of these proposals, but from conservatives who abhor discrimination; from faith leaders who were steadfast in calling out inequality; from families of transgender Texans who demonstrated incredible bravery in sharing their personal stories,” said Suffredini. “Defeating bills like this in Texas sends a strong message to other state legislatures that mean-spirited, discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ proposals are non-starters.”
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA. Jespersen is an employee of the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, which provides health care for incarcerated men. Her lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern Division of California, also names several corrections employees as defendants. Jespersen’s lawsuit alleges she repeatedly reported instances of discrimination against gay and transgender inmates beginning in 2014, only to have them ignored
or to face retaliation. Jespersen, who is a lesbian, alleges in the lawsuit that a fellow corrections officer harassed her and suggested inmates attack her. The corrections department has not yet been served with the lawsuit, and it does not comment on pending litigation, spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email. Jespersen is seeking damages and to be restored to her former position as a clinical psychologist at the facility.
community who has worked closely on developing the legislation. While Pakistan’s constitution prevents discrimination based on sex, the goal of advocates is to expand its scope to gender expression and gender identity. “There was always a transgender community in Pakistan, but the movement was really limited,” said Qamar Naseem, a Pakistani advocate. Pakistan’s Supreme Court in 2009 ruled in favor of recognizing trans individuals as a third gender on identity cards. A governmental task force was formed less than two years ago to bring together trans individuals, advocates and politicians to examine and guide the country’s focus on issues facing the trans community in Pakistan. The support for the proposed
legislation is especially remarkable in a country that still criminalizes same-sex activity, a holdover from Pakistan’s colonial era. “Before the British came, khawaja sara was a proud community that was very dignified and respected,” said Rizvi. “Khawaja sara” is one of the names given to third gender people, a concept defined outside of the traditional male or female binary. Advocates have successfully fought to amend the bill’s language to remove qualifications and tests before a person is considered legally to be trans. The bills’ first iteration was modeled after a law in India, and it would have required a medical test and screening to determine an individual’s gender identity.
California prison doctor sues state alleging LGBTQ discrimination Wire Report
A
psychologist at a California prison facility has alleged she was twice locked in a room with a dangerous inmate in retaliation for reporting mistreatment of LGBTQ inmates. Lori Jespersen sued the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Aug. 14 for violations of civil rights and whistleblower protection laws, as well as the Prison Rape Elimination Act and
Pakistan bills offer unprecedented protections for transgender people Helen Parshall of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association
T
wo groundbreaking bills have been introduced in Pakistan that would provide expansive legal protections to the country’s transgender community. The Transgenders Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill and The Transgenders Persons (Protection of Rights) Criminal Law Amendment Bill would provide nondiscrimination protections for the trans community and criminalize acts of violence and discrimination. “I am very hopeful that this law will pass,” said Sabahat Rizvi, a lawyer and advocate within the
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Man threatened to rape NYC politician, kill gay police Authorities say a man threatened to rape the New York City Council speaker, kill her family and kill all the city’s gay police officers. Twenty-six-year-old Daniel Silvera was arraigned last week in Manhattan criminal court on charges including aggravated harassment as a hate crime. The Daily News reports that the threats were made in emails sent July 28 to City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and two police officers who serve in LGBT outreach positions. A spokeswoman for Mark-Viverito thanked prosecutors and said the “violent, dangerous threats” are “deeply disturbing.”
Michigan man in 1995 “Jenny Jones murder case” to be released from prison A Michigan man convicted in the 1995 murder of another man who expressed romantic interest in him on national television is expected to be released from prison. Jonathan Schmitz was 24 years old when his acquaintance, 32-year-old Scott Amedure, revealed he was romantically interested in him during a taping of the Jenny Jones Show. Schmitz, who said he wasn’t gay, fatally shot Amedure in Lake Orion days after the taping. He was sentenced 25 to 50 years for second-degree murder. Schmitz was granted parole after a March hearing and is scheduled to be released from Parnall Correctional Institution next week.
Kentucky man, transgender wife sue Amazon for workplace bias A Kentucky man and his transgender wife sued Amazon Aug. 9, alleging that they endured sustained discrimination and harassment during a year as co-workers at the mammoth online retailer’s warehouse in northern Kentucky. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Covington, Kentucky, alleges that Dane Lane and Allegra Schawe-Lane were targeted with threats, slurs and sexual harassment by numerous colleagues at their shipping facility. At one point, according to the suit, the brake line of their car was severed. Amazon declined to respond to the allegations.
Chilean president to introduce same-sex marriage bill Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will formally introduce a bill that will extend marriage to same-sex couples on Aug. 28. The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, a Chilean LGBT advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in 2012 with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of three same-sex couples who are seeking marriage rights in the South American country. Bachelet’s government agreed to introduce a marriage and adoption bill as part of an agreement it reached with the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation in June 2016.
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
viewpoint
greg stemm
pOsiTive living Our staunchest political friend needs our help
i
t Was tHe suMMer of
1983 and I had just moved to St. Petersburg from Columbus, Ohio.
St. Petersburg? Yuck, they said. “God’s waiting room.” “Home of the newlywed and nearly dead.” But, I fell in love with St. Pete. It was such a tropical paradise for a snow-weary Yankee like me that I was willing to overlook its decaying downtown and the throngs of older residents. But over the past 34 years things took a dramatic unexpected turn. St. Pete is now one of the hottest tickets in the nation. Our downtown exploded with new development. Events on the waterfront became non-stop expressions of a lively, young and decidedly progressive community. Gay people weren’t confined to a single neighborhood or ghetto. We were everywhere, an integral part of a colorful tropical tapestry.
Flash forward to 2003: the year I met current mayor and (then city council) candidate for re-election Rick Kriseman for the first time. St. Petersburg was attracting a burgeoning gay population. A gay resort was flourishing and south Florida had sent us Georgie’s Alibi. I had joined together with a group of community leaders to plan and produce St. Pete’s first gay Pride celebration. In the backdrop St. Pete was rapidly losing its old image and embracing a new, progressive, forward looking and thinking one. Queer as Folk called us the “San Francisco of the East.” Things were going great in our planning for the first ever Pride event. The only issue was with then-mayor Rick Baker. This is the same Rick Baker who is trying to unseat Rick Kriseman. Rick Baker doesn’t like us. He thinks homosexuality is a choice and a sin. He also resents the way St. Petersburg has become such a glowing blue beacon in purple Florida. If he is elected, watch us move backward in the direction of the nearly dead instead of forward into a truly inclusive community. That’s where Rick Kriseman has been taking us and why it is imperative we as a community do everything in our power to get him re-elected. That first year of Pride
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we had asked the city if they would issue a proclamation naming June “Gay Pride Month” in St. Petersburg. Of course Mr. Homophobe Rick Baker said “no way.” But, any city council member can issue a proclamation and then-council member, Rick Kriseman, did just that in open defiance of the mayor and at great political risk to himself. St. Petersburg city council handles proclamations all on one day, one right after the other. The proclamation is read and the mayor steps down from the dias. A photo is taken of the receiving
three openly gay city council members. How is Baker going to work with those three members of our community? Will he treat them with respect or will he insult and belittle them like he did with the LGBTQ community while he was in office? More recently I was honored to be the only man on the steering committee of St. Petersburg’s Women’s March, the largest in the state. Yet another sign that our growing reputation as Florida’s Most Progressive City is valid. In front of a crowd of 30,000, Rick
between the police and the community have never been better. He actually has a plan to help our city deal with climate change. Baker had more storm water “dumps” into the bay than Kriseman has had. Kriseman is actually working on fixing the problem. Baker did nothing. But our best friend, our ally and quite frankly the future of the Sunshine City is in trouble. Dark right-wing money has poured in to help Baker and has put him in an almost ten-point lead over our candidate. However, gay people are notoriously
group with him (or her). There were about two dozen other proclamations and the mayor stepped forward to have his photo taken for each and every one…except ours. He stayed firmly seated while we received our proclamation from Kriseman. Quite honestly, it was humiliating. It was insulting and it made me feel like a second class citizen. Rick Baker insulted and belittled me. Rick Kriseman lifted me up and validated me as an important part of the St. Pete community. Is there really a choice here? As part of St. Pete’s amazing transformation from a sleepy retirement community to a blossoming gay mecca, we’ve elected
Kriseman read another proclamation denoting that day as “Women’s Rights Day,” adding that as long as he was mayor every day was women’s rights day in St. Petersburg. One has to wonder how those rights will fare under a Trump-supporting, climate change-denying, right-wing Republican like Rick Baker. Rick Kriseman has raised rainbow flags, African American flags, marched in both the Pride parade and our nation’s largest MLK Parade. He’s held Iftar dinners in recognition of Muslims. He’s raised our equality index from a feeble 66 to a perfect score…and kept it there. Crime is down dramatically. Relations
organized politically and we know how to get things done. We didn’t get marriage equality because we stood on the sidelines. We can do this! Now is the time we need to say “we’ve got your back Rick” and begin an all-out push for his re-election. His campaign needs volunteers to go door to door, to call voters, to give people rides to the polls and to talk to and influence our neighbors and friends. Visit his website at KrisemanForMayor.com to get involved. Do it now! Most importantly Rick needs every vote he can get. Be sure you are at the polls on August 29. It’s time we flexed our political muscle LGBTQ St. Petersburg!
rick baker doesn’t like us. He thinks homosexuality is a choice and a sin.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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viewpoint
Michael Wanzie
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WANZIE What I did over the summer
S
chool is back in
session so as routine dictates it’s time to report – What I did over the summer:
I’m not a student, so the only thing that made me aware school was out in June was my inability to skip haphazardly though a theme park with carefree abandon as I have been known to do from time to time. Instead I was reduced to a vigilant crawl carefully navigating and calculating every step so as not collide with another god damned stroller. Never-the-less, I thoroughly enjoyed my “Flight of Passage” on the back of a banshee in the new land of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I must admit all my pent up resentment over the fact the ride was nothing more than a cross utilization of the already existing “Soarin’” technology was quickly allayed about five seconds into this spectacular experience. It was actually worth the 90-minute wait. I also waited in a mutha of a traffic jam virtually creeping only a few feet at time while intermittently moving south on Orlando/Mills Avenue upon leaving Winter Park Village one balmy summer evening in July. Fifteen minutes and one mile further down the road later, I came upon the reason for the congestion; the offer of a dozen glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts for 80 cents. Not even that great of a deal when you consider the offer was only valid in conjunction with the purchase of another dozen doughnuts at full price. I enjoy a warm Krispy Kreme as much as the next guy - I suppose, but Jesus Christ Almighty what kind of sheep wait in a mile-long line to save a few bucks on a box of doughnuts while being willingly coerced into buying two dozen in the process? I guess this summer I was reminded what peculiar creatures we mortals be. If only people were as enthusiastic about their right to vote and just as willing to wait in line at the polls as they are at a doughnut shop, we might have been spared being saddled with a completely incompetent fool occupying the Oval Office. Those who hold the highest public offices here in Orlando and Orange County did us proud this summer when both Mayor Dyer and Mayor Jacobs spoke with
great humility to the crowd assembled at Lake Eola Park to commemorate and celebrate those who lost their lives at Pulse one year prior. Both mayors struck a perfect balance of compassion for those most closely affected by the tragedy with a measured amount of pride in the collective, compassionate response of our community at large. Neither of these elected officials even so much as flirted with politicizing the event, or using the ceremony as a way to self-promote which has far too often been the case with less sophisticated individuals who seem to delight in the spotlight cast upon them as a side effect of this unfortunate event. As I sat and listened to our mayors speak, I could not help but think how contrasting they were to the rhetoric that comes out of both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., these days. Also how, just as the world can now take its cue from Orlando’s loving and united response to the Pulse tragedy, our president might take a cue from the appropriate demeanor, carefully chosen words, and unifying message of valuing diversity espoused by our local mayors. This summer I was reminded how far we have come. From the days, in the not too distant past, when we protested our Orlando police for unlawfully targeting gays with unwarranted arrests on trumped-up charges to now, when we could not be more grateful for their genuinely human response to those in peril regardless of their assumed sexual orientation or ethnicity. Now, when police cars are emblazoned with Pulse tributes, rainbow colors and slogans of unity clearly meant to include the LGBTQ community. The somber occasion of the Pulse-related event in early June somehow managed to be uplifting - a real credit to all those who had a hand in crafting the ceremony. Despite the horrors that necessitated the gathering, that commemorative event not only helped many of us take one more step in moving through our grieving process, but it
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helped us step into summer a bit less weighted down; lifted up by the firm knowledge that we are fortunate to be living in Orlando at this particular point in history. We are a community to be envied and emulated. Unlike the disgraceful, ill-mannered, undignified, barely literate bully in the White House, we in Orlando have leadership of whom we can and should be proud.
acoustical wonder which will transmit excellent sound to all 1,700 seats on three tiers without the use of electronic amplification of any kind; making it the perfect home for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Within minutes the space will be able to transform from a symphony hall to a properly-surfaced stage for Orlando Ballet and all manner of dance presentations. Even
This summer I thoroughly enjoyed the unique experience of attending SeaWorld at night to delight in all their “Glow” and trance music-enhanced shows and dance party. All while under the influence of ecstasy, which is, I am quite sure, precisely what park executives envisioned based upon their TV marketing of their summer entertainment. May I just say it was an
I am also proud of John McCain for his bill-killing vote that will forever be the emblematic footnote of Congress/Summer 2017. Summer of 2017 brought with it the groundbreaking of the second phase of the Dr. Philip’s Center for the Performing Arts, and yet another reason to take pride in our city. The amazingly flexible space, to be known as Steinmetz Hall, will be an
the seating on the main floor will be flexible. It will be able to literally disappear to make way for banquet-style seating and other practical uses in between scheduled performances. Summer construction also continues in other places of interest, not the least of which is an all new rainforest area at SeaWorld set to feature a new river rapids adventure. Infinity Falls will boast the world’s tallest ever river rapids drop!
excellent pairing with most satisfying results and I thank the universe for the affordable Uber ride home. And that’s what I did this summer.
We are a community to be envied and emulated.
Michael Wanzie is a playwright and theatrical producer residing in Orlando. You may subscribe to his weekly WANZeGRAM performing arts & cultural e-newsletter by logging onto WANZIE.com
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
talking points
917
I understand it. I wish it was different. Show business is a business, and what I did was controversial at the time.
the u.s. Is home to
HATE
GROUPS,
52 of them have been desIGnated as
ANTI-LGBTQ. —Southern Poverty Law Center
there were sitcoms before and after mine showing people making out and having sex, and yet my show suddenly got an ‘Adult Content’ warning. —ellen degeneres, in an interVieW With gOOD HOuseKeePINg, on WHat sHe faced WitH Her ‘90s sitcoM elleN after sHe caMe out.
CYnthIa nIXon ConsIderInG run for neW York Governor
c
ynthia nixon is considering running against goV. andreW cuomo (d-n.y.) in the primary race in 2018, according to reports. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Sex and the City star “is being encouraged to run by liberal groups. Her candidacy has been floated before, but she shot it down in the past. Associates of hers said she is now considering it. Nixon has made it clear she is not a supporter of Cuomo. While appearing on The View back in April, the actress called him out for his policies on education. She also compared Cuomo to President Donald Trump’s secretary of education, Betsy Devos, in an op-ed she penned in March. The actress already has ties to the political scene in New York City. In 2014, she was appointed to the advisory board for the Mayor’s Fund To Advance New York City by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, with whom she has a close relationship. Her wife, Christine Marinoni, was also the special adviser for community partnerships with NYC’s Department of Education in the same year. Nixon’s representatives have not commented.
raPPer lIl PeeP Comes out as bIseXual
r
apper lil peep, real naMe gustaV ÅHr, has come out as bisexual on Twitter. The 20-year-old rapper from Long Island, N.Y., made the announcement simply tweeting, “yes I’m bi sexual.” Lil Peep, who has become popular in the underground music scene, told XXL in May that he had struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts while growing up. “There was a point of time where I didn’t step out my house for two months,” Lil Peep told XXL. “I was very reclusive and depressed. I was in the house and just listening to Future and music and it took me out of my bedroom, metaphorically. It inspired me to try it myself. I can kind of write songs for people so I thought why don’t I write my own songs.” His debut album Come Over When You’re Sober (Part I) was released Aug. 11.
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hulu PICks uP shoW based on ruPaul’s lIfe
H
ulu Has picKed up a tV series based on rupaul’s life, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The project, tentatively titled Queen, will feature half-hour episodes based on RuPaul’s life from club kid to drag superstar. It will be set in New York City during the Reagan era. Wonder Bros TV, World of Wonder and J.J. Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot, will produce the series. Gary Lennon (Power) will pen the script. No casting details have been released but RuPaul has been vocal that he would love for Willow Smith to play him in a biopic. Born in San Diego, Ru moved to Atlanta to study performing arts. Later, he went to New York City and became a well-known figure in the club kid scene.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
SenSe8 Creator lana WaChoWskI WrItInG thIrd season sCrIPt desPIte CanCellatIon
e
Ven though netflix canceled seNse8, fan support gifted the fandom with a two-hour series finale to tie up loose ends. However, series co-creator Lana Wachowski thinks the fans’ support can bring an even bigger gift: a third season. In a Facebook Live stream with series cast members, Wachowski revealed, in third person, that she’s already started penning a third season. “She’s writing because she believes so much in the fans — that they’re going to go out and actually create so many more fans — Lana’s actually going ahead and writing the entire Season 3,” Wachowski says. Whether Netflix will ever greenlight a third series is unclear, but the planned two-hour series finale is still scheduled to stream.
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
In-dePth: st. Pete maYoral raCe
Rick Baker PHOTO COuRTESy OF RICKBAKERFORMAyOR.COM
Rick Kriseman PHOTO By JAKE STEVEnS
RickRace We look at St. Petersburg’s (partisan) non-partisan primary mayoral race between baker and kriseman
o
ryan Williams-Jent
n august 29, st. petersburg
could choose its next mayor. According to the Pinellas County supervisor of elections, 169,770 residents of the city will be eligible to vote in the upcoming primary election, meaning that 169,770 residents of the Sunshine City will have one of three choices that day.
First, to elect the next mayor. Second, to send two candidates to a run-off election in November, should no one receive
50 percent plus one of the vote. Or third, to stay home and let every other eligible voter decide on their behalf.
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And while ballots will list seven candidates, including one disqualification for Ernisa Barnwell and one racist rant from Paul Congemi, polling suggests that it comes down to two viable options: the current mayor or a former one. Rick Kriseman and Rick Baker may share a first name, and each may have held the office of mayor (Kriseman currently, Baker for two terms from 2001-2010), but similarities between the two mostly end there. Kriseman is an outspoken
Democrat and longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community—something he earnestly discussed with Watermark ahead of the election, with his team going so far as to insist the discussion be directly with the current mayor. Baker is a Republican who, as his party’s platform dictates, has found himself at odds with the LGBTQ community for much of his political career—something Watermark would have earnestly discussed with the former mayor
ContInued on PG. 33 | uu |
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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| uu | St. Pete Mayoral Race from pg.31
had he or his team responded to multiple requests for comment. Although the race is officially non-partisan, in a city of 78,253 Democrats, 47,011 Republicans and 44,506 without a party affiliation who are eligible to vote; partisan politics inevitably come into play. As mayor, Kriseman has celebrated Barack Obama and denounced Donald Trump. In June, he joined the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda’s effort to “adopt, honor and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement.” He’s also been endorsed by Florida’s U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and U.S. Representative Charlie Crist. During last year’s election cycle, Baker supported Crist’s opponent, former U.S. Representative David Jolly, serving as his campaign chairman for his failed bid. Jeb Bush wrote the foreword to Baker’s book, The Seamless City: A Conservative Mayor’s Approach to Urban Revitalization. And of course, Baker infamously supported Sarah Palin in 2008. “I’m asking the citizens of St. Petersburg to continue the progress of the past three years,” Kriseman said in January when he announced his bid for re-election. “Working together, we’ve taken on the serious issues and made a positive impact in all corners of our city.” Baker’s announcement came in May, and he referred to his previous years as mayor as a blessing before outlining his attack on Kriseman, turning to partisanship himself. “You’re going to hear a lot about Republicans and Democrats over the next few months,” he said. “That’s the only thing they have.” It’s something Baker proved to have as well, however. Within three weeks the former mayor had received $553,174 in political donations, largely from Republican political action committees (PACs.) Baker also addressed his contentious relationship with the LGBTQ community. “I want you to know that I believe that the LGBT community is a vital and important part of our community,” Baker said. “I believe that when we work together, we have to work
Kriseman has been a progressive mayor dealing with actual issues that impact the community… Baker put up buildings, but what did he do to build up the people? — Theresa Jones
together with everyone.” Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith wasn’t impressed, announcing her support for Kriseman via social media. “Here’s what he didn’t say: ‘I was wrong. I stood in the way of basic rights and I shouldn’t have.’ He stated facts and tried to make them sound like regret,” she said. “He had a stage to make even small amends and he failed to. I don’t trust Rick Baker because he thought we’d be too dumb to notice.” Smith has been a longtime critic of Baker’s, telling Watermark in 2009 that progress in the LGBTQ community had been made in spite of the then-mayor, not because of him. Smith was referring to the ever-growing St. Pete Pride, now the largest Pride event in Florida. “Personally, I don’t support the general agenda of the Pride event,” Baker said in 2005.
Kriseman, who became the first mayor to march in the city’s Pride parade in 2014 and continued the new tradition through this year, has said that marching was never a question for him. “I’m the mayor of the city,” he told the Tampa Bay Times. “The LGBT community is a big part of this community.” “I choose to participate in other ways,” Baker’s campaign told the same newspaper of marching in this year’s parade. The former mayor made an appearance at the festival at the end of the weekend-long event, and also attended the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Pride Night earlier in June. Baker is familiar with the Rowdies: the team’s owner Bill Edwards named him president of the Edwards Group, and has heavily contributed to his campaign. “I want the LGBTQ community to know I stand with and for
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
them, and that while I may not have the support of every member of that community, I support them,” Baker told Tampa Bay’s ABC affiliate in May. “I want residents to know St. Petersburg is better and stronger today because of our LGBTQ community, and as mayor I will seek and protect equality for all.” It’s a stark difference from Baker’s time as mayor, particularly to Theresa Jones. Jones recently retired from her work for the city after nearly 30 years. In 2008, she served under Baker as the director of community affairs. During that time, Baker repealed the Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) responsible for anti-discrimination efforts for the city. “A lot of people missed that in the debates and in coverage,” she noted. The program prohibited discrimination on
Augus t 24 - Sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
the basis of sexual orientation, something not even federal law did at the time. The responsibility was transitioned to the Pinellas County government, which would later prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but didn’t at the time. “Our ordinance was more far-reaching than even federal law,” Jones says proudly, recalling her disappointment in its repeal over budgetary concerns. Discrimination cases were still pending investigation at the time. It’s a part of why she’s supporting Kriseman, so that “we can keep moving forward.” Forward is where Kriseman wants to go. In speaking with Watermark, he noted the “great progress” that’s been made for the community while he’s been in office, proudly noting that the city’s “really shining a light on the importance of the LGBT community.” He also discussed his love for marching during Pride, which he did even before his election, and called his officiating of same-sex marriages one of his “greatest honors as mayor.” “We need to continue to work to make sure that this is a welcoming, tolerant community where everyone feels respected and safe,” he says, turning to the plans he hopes to enact if re-elected. “There’s been an effort to bring World Pride to the city, and that’s certainly something we’d support. We’d love to make that happen,” Kriseman says. He then cited the city’s Municipal Equality Index score of 100 percent, which St. Petersburg has received for two years from the Human Rights Campaign. Kriseman is hopeful for a third perfect score. The score represents how inclusive a city’s laws, policies and services are for the LGBTQ people who live and work there.
Continued on pg. 35 | uu |
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
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Looking Ahead… Candidates, start your engines— and may the Best. Person. Win.
s
ryan Williams-Jent
Hould neitHer KriseMan
WalKing tall: St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman walking with his 2017 St. Pete Pride Parade contingent. PHOTO By nICK CARDELLO
nor Baker garner 50 percent plus one of the vote on August 29, they’ll head to the General Municipal Election’s ballot on November 7—but they won’t be alone.
ST. PETERSBURG
Currently, St. Petersburg’s District 6 will join the candidates for mayor on the primary ballot, with eight contenders – but room for only two to move forward. St. Petersburg residents will vote on two candidates from District 6: Justin Bean, Robert Blackmon, Eritha Cainion, Gina Driscoll, Corey Givens, James Jackson, James Scott or Maria Scruggs, whoever moves beyond the August 29 primary if necessary. Residents will also vote on city council members for District 2 and District 4, choosing either Brandi Gabbard or Barclay Harless for 2, and Darden Rice or Jerick Johnston for 4. (Ballots will list District 8, but Amy Foster is running unopposed.)
dearly beloVed: Rick Kriseman officiates one of the first gay marriages after Florida legalized marriage equality.
raising Hope: Rick Kriseman at 2016 St. Pete Pride flag raising ceremony. PHOTO By JEREMy WILLIAMS
PHOTO By LAuRIE ROSS
| uu | St. Pete Mayoral Race from PG.33
Last year, Tampa received a score of 86 percent and Orlando also received a 100 percent. Under Kriseman, St. Petersburg has risen from a 66 percent. “I’d like to see the city reach out to LGBT travelers and businesses more than we’ve done in the past,” Kriseman says. “Those statistics should be spreading all around the country to let people and business leaders know this is a community they can come to and feel comfortable in.” Pinellas Democratic Party Chair Susan McGrath called Kriseman a champion for LGBTQ equality, but noted that his leadership goes “well
Information on the candidates, the issues, polling locations and your voter registration status can be found at www.votepinellas.com. You can also contact the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections at 727-464-VOTE or Election@ VotePinellas.com.
ORLANDO beyond that.” “While he raised the rainbow flag over City Hall, he also raised the Carter G. Woodson African American flag…He’s moving the city toward 100 percent clean, renewable energy, providing opportunities by ‘banning the box’ and raising wages, [all] while earning the distinction of St Petersburg being the best fiscally run city in Florida,” McGrath says. “St. Petersburg is moving forward on too many areas for us to go back.” Jones agreed. She says that in addition to the repeal of the HRO, a program that funded summer jobs for low-income youth was cut by $270,000 under Baker. “I grew up as one of those kids,” she says. “I’ve worked for minorities, for women…My life’s
work has been to advocate for the disadvantaged and level the playing field.” She eventually had the funding restored by pursuing federal grants, and the funds were later replenished on the municipal level by Baker’s successor. Kriseman has maintained the funding. “Kriseman has been a progressive mayor dealing with actual issues that impact the community,” Jones says. “The second chance program to help juveniles, the LGBT community… he’s been the mayor of inclusion, of progress.” Jones paused. “Baker put up buildings, but what did he do to build up the people?”
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
According to the Orange County supervisor of elections, 793,073 Orlando residents will be eligible to vote in the city’s own upcoming election, also scheduled for November 7. By their records, that’s 336,054 Democrats, 215,673 Republicans, 238,083 men and women without a party affiliation and 3,263 others listed as, well, “other.” The City Beautiful seeks to name three new city council members on that date,with a runoff election scheduled for December 5 for any races where no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote. District 1, District 3 and District 5 are all up. Residents will choose between Jim Gray or Charles Keen III for District 1, and between Robert F. Stuart and Asima Azam for District 3. Residents will find a choice of eight potential city council members for District 5: Regina Hill, Jibreel Ali, Ericka Dunlap, Sarah Abuobaida Elbadri, Betty Gelzer, Cynthia Harris, Ondria James and Darryl Sheppard are all vying for the spot. Information on the candidates, the issues, polling locations and your voter registration status can be found at www.cityoforlando.net/cityclerk/ election-information and http://www.ocfelections.com. You can also contact the Orange County Supervisor of Elections at 407-836-2070.
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Trim: 10.25”x11.5”
Safety/V.O.: 0.5”
Bleed: N/A
DPI: 300
Colours: CMYK
Built: 01/08/2017 - JND
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION NEW TOWNHOMES IN LUTZ
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On Saturday, August 26th, join us to celebrate the Grand Opening of Lakeshore Preserve's 4 new professionally decorated models and onsite Sales Center. Enjoy refreshments, entertainment and door prizes while you tour our decorated models.
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• Fabulous location – on Van Dyke Road just 2 minutes from Veterans Expressway
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• A-rated schools
TO LEARN MORE CALL 813-433-0649 OR VISIT MATTAMYHOMES.COM/TAMPA All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. All content is for illustration only. See New Home Counselor to review construction documents. See New Home Counselor for prize details, terms and conditions. E.&O.E. Builder’s #CGC1524054
MATTAMPA-MH_LakeshorePreserve_GrandOpening_Thunderbolt_9-25x10-1.indd 1
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arts and Entertainment
Tragedy and triumph
Documentary The Lavender Scare exposes America’s witch hunt for “the homosexual”
D
Ryan Williams-Jent
onald Trump has repeatedly
called the multiple investigations into his campaign’s ties to the Russian government “the greatest witch hunt in political history.”
While there are multiple examples proving the president is incorrect, chief among them is the “lavender scare,” Senator Joseph McCarthy’s parallel to the “Red Scare” which insisted that Communists had infiltrated the government in the 1950s. McCarthy’s “lavender scare” asserted that homosexuals had also
infiltrated the government, and that gay men and lesbians posed a serious threat to national security, as they could be blackmailed to provide the enemy with government secrets. It resulted in a systematic campaign to identify and remove all government employees suspected of homosexuality, though the homophobic purge is not
widely discussed. The Lavender Scare, a new documentary, aims to change that. The film began as a pet project of producer and director Josh Howard, raising $60,605 from 362 backers on Kickstarter.com. The filmmaker has won 24 Emmy Awards for his work on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, amongst other programs, and has served as the vice-president of long form programming for CNBC. The Lavender Scare is based on historian David K. Johnson’s book of the same name, which left Howard the desire to expose on film the “shameful witch hunt that targeted gay and lesbian federal
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
workers and gave birth to the LGBT rights movement.” “I came across the book The Lavender Scare completely by accident,” the filmmaker has said. “I was stunned as I was reading it. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of America in the 1950s… the Cold War, the McCarthy era, the ‘Red Scare,’ as it was known. But what was remarkable to me was reading the story… and finding out there was a whole aspect of this time period that I knew nothing about.” The documentary details President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s executive order that officially prohibited gays and lesbians
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for working for the federal government, one of his first actions after assuming the presidency in 1953. The practice wouldn’t be changed until President Bill Clinton’s executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation for government employees in 1995, restoring access. to classified information. “More than 10,000 federal employees lost their jobs,” Howard said. “It is without question the most widespread and longest-lasting witch hunt in American history. It was just amazing to me that such an
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frank and josh: Producer/Director Josh Howard with Dr.
Franklin Kameny during a 2010 filming for The Lavender Scare. Photo
Courtesy Josh Howard
Frank Kameny Picketing: Frank Kameny leads a picket line in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965. Photo Courtesy Josh Howard posted up: The poster for The Lavender Scare documentary. Photo Courtesy Josh Howard
scare tactics: Sen. Joseph McCarthy ignited the Red Scare, but the “lavender scare” would become an even more powerful political weapon.
warm embrace: Two men photographed in the 1950s. Photo Courtesy Josh Howard
Photo Courtesy Josh Howard
| uu | The Lavender Scare from pg.37
important part of our history had been completely overlooked.” The film features chilling but fascinating interviews with a number of former federal employees who were fired from their positions in the government, and even more heartbreaking, with family members of former employees who’d committed suicide in response to the homophobic witch hunt. Howard and his team also spoke with former high-ranking governmental employees who had conducted the witch hunts, ruining lives in the process. “We spent a good part of our time identifying homosexuals,” one former security agent told the filmmaker during an interview. “We looked at every part of the person’s life… it was an extensive investigation, just like a
First White House Protest: The government’s anti-gay witch hunts helped ignite the gay rights movement years before the Stonewall riots. Photo Courtesy Josh Howard
More than 10,000 federal employees lost their jobs.
It is without question the most wide-spread and longest-lasting witch hunt in American history. — Josh Howard police department investigating murders, this type of thing… you had to put little pieces together.” “In front of a skilled questioner,” he continued, “homosexuals would very easily admit that they were homosexual, because of the guilt that they feel. Most of the time, they would resign on the spot – others would not resign, so we had to bring removal charges against them.” But with the infuriating comes the inspiring. The Lavender Scare also focuses largely on Harvard-trained astronomer Dr. Frank Kameny, who worked for the
U.S. Army. Kameny is now referred to by many as the “grandfather of the gay rights movement,” and was the first (or certainly the foremost) gay man to publicly fight his dismissal. He would go on to form the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Mattachine Society, an advocacy group dedicated to ensuring equality. Two years prior to his death in 2011, Kameny attended President Barack Obama’s repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the 44th president’s signing of the expansion of benefits to same-sex partners
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
of federal employees, some of which the documentary highlights. The late icon was given the president’s pen. Howard has called the film a tribute to Kameny and the other early leaders of the LGBT movement, “whose sacrifices and commitment made the world a better place for generations of LGBT people who followed.” “This story is a classic tale of both tragedy and triumph,” the director said. “Tragedy because thousands of lives were ruined during the 1950s and ’60s… but
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there was triumph, too, because that heartache ignited a sense of outrage in the gay community that really helped spark the early days of the gay rights movement.” The film was nominated for Best Documentary for the New Renaissance Film Festival in Amsterdam, and was the audience runner-up for Best Documentary in 2017’s Out Shine Film Festival. It was the official selection for the 2017 Inside Out Toronto Film Festival, the 2017 Sun Valley Film Festival and Newport Beach’s Film Festival. It also won Best Documentary for New Jersey’s qFest, their LGBT Film and Video Festival. The Lavender Scare is expected to be screened at the 28th annual Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF) this year, currently scheduled for October 6-14 with a kick-off party on September 16.
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drag
Queen’s Court
Trinity Taylor leads a team of queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9 into a “War on the Catwalk” Now the Season Nine queens have taken their new found fame on the road in the show “War on the Catwalk,” coming to the Straz Center in Tampa Sept. 17 and The Plaza Live in Orlando Sept. 18. Catwalk’s host and hometown queen, Trinity Taylor, took a few minutes to speak with Watermark about fame after Drag Race, getting a shout out from Chris Pine and how she got the nickname “The Tuck.”
Watermark: You are currently on tour with several other queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9 in Murray and Peter’s “War on the Catwalk.” How’s the tour going?
Trinity Taylor: It has been phenomenal. This tour has gotten more publicity and attention than any of their other tours before. Every city seems to be selling out. We recently had Todrick Hall come to one of them. It’s just been a lot of fun and the audiences have been amazing. Is the dynamic on tour with all the queens different than being on the show? I’m guessing it’s less drama.
(above)
ROYAL ARMY:
Trinity Taylor hosts “War on the Catwalk,” a live show featuring queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9.
Photo courtesy Murray and Peter Presents
S
Jeremy Williams
eason nine of RuPaul’s Drag Race
was the first to make the move to VH1 after eight seasons on Logo, and that move proved to be a smart one. The already popular reality competition series saw an increase in viewership (up 122 percent in the coveted 18-49 demographic over last season), pushed drag even more into the mainstream (Saturday Night Live devoted a sketch to the show) and scored a total of eight Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Reality Competition and Reality Competition Host for RuPaul. watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Definitely less drama, the girls all pretty much get along. Unlike on the show, there is no competition, just us performing and doing our own thing, no drama. [Laughs] Well, there is less drama. The most dramatic part of the night is the question and answer portion when the audience gets to ask us anything. Opening the show to an audience Q&A sounds dangerous. Do the fans try and rehash some of the feuds from the show?
They definitely ask us questions based off the drama they saw on the show. So, some of the questions stir some stuff back up and we have to answer them. It gets pretty interesting.
You have lived in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida area,
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but did you grow up here?
No, I was born and raised in Alabama. I lived there for 27 years, then I moved to the Tampa Bay area for a bit before moving to Orlando. Anyone in the LGBTQ community from the south has their own stories of what it was like growing up in that environment. What was it like for you growing up in Alabama?
I grew up in a small town in the middle of Alabama that didn’t even have a red light; I mean I was the most feminine guy that was at my school and there were no other gay people in my school. Hell, there were no other gay people at all in my city, at least that I knew of at the time. I was raised by my grandparents who are southern conservative Baptists. When I came out it wasn’t pretty. As soon as I turned 18 I got the hell out of there. Who were your inspirations when you were getting into drag?
I used to try to emulate my drag mother. Her name is Jordan Kennedy. She was a mixture of club kid and glamour, but after a while I realized that really wasn’t the type of drag that I wanted to do. I kind of just formed my own style which is very polished and pageantry, but I guess some people would say I have a kind of comedy twist to me which is unexpected. Now your nickname is the “The Tuck.” Dare I ask how you came to get that nickname?
Well, you know, I bill myself as the best tuck in the business. A lot of the girls especially on the show are often critiqued on having a “meaty tuck” and I am quite talented at hiding things.
You were Miss Pulse in 2011, and you are among very prestigious alumni of Drag Race queens from Central Florida who performed at Pulse. What was it about Pulse that produced so many amazing queens?
Orlando is not an easy city to work in when it comes to drag. They are very particular and very cliquey, but Pulse was different. It was a place that welcomed all. I did Miss Pulse as a way of getting my foot in the door. As soon as I won they had me working there literally every week. I
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
603 Virginia Drive
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Augus t 24 - Sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
407.403.0880
jake@jacobdickson.com
| uu | Trinity Taylor from PG.41
think Pulse offered an open-minded place for new and different talent that a lot of the other clubs in Orlando didn’t offer. Where Were You When You found out You Were seleCted for RuPauL’S DRag Race?
I was at home and they called me. I had been called by them before, actually the weekend that Pulse happened, for a pre-interview so I already had their number and I had it saved as Drag Race in my phone. I was showing my roommate a costume on my phone and as soon as I turned my phone around to my roommate he started freaking out saying “Drag Race is calling you,” and I immediately answered. That’s when they told me I was selected and of course I freaked out. RuPauL’S DRag Race has turned Into a Global Phenomenon WIth lIterallY mIllIons of PeoPle WatChInG It everY Week. hoW are You handlInG thIs neWfound fame?
“the tuck”: Trinity Taylor earned her nickname by having the “best tuck in the business.” PHOTO COuRTESy MuRRAy & PETER PRESEnT
Who aPPeared on the shoW WIth You, bJork and andreW GarfIeld are huGe fans. the latter has talked about havInG vIeWInG PartIes WIth hIs frIends. What’s been Your bIGGest Celeb moment sInCe beInG on the shoW?
I think it was meeting Lady
live and Alexis Michelle from my season was on my feed and she said, “Girl, go look at SNL. They’re talking about you right now.” I couldn’t watch right then because I didn’t have a TV where I was, but as soon as I got a chance I looked and I was blown away. The skit was literally
“I grew up in a small town in the middle of Alabama that didn’t even have a red light; I mean I was the most feminine guy that was at my school and there were no other gay people in my school. Hell, there were no other gay people at all in my city, at least that I knew of at the time.” —trinity taylor You know it’s crazy. I’m not a different entertainer. I’m the same entertainer I was a year ago. The only thing that’s different is I’ve been on a TV show so it’s quite odd. Literally everywhere I go people recognize me and it’s not just the LGBT community. The majority of the fan base is young women and their mothers.
draG has Gone so maInstream thanks to RuPauL’S DRag Race. Celebs lIke ladY GaGa,
Gaga. She worked her butt off to become who she is and she’s still humble and down to earth. She gave great advice and it felt very genuine.
thIs Past season on SaTuRDaY nIgHT LIVe theY dId a skIt surroundInG RuPauL’S DRag Race and You Got a shout out from ChrIs PIne. Were You WatChInG the shoW When that haPPened?
No. I was getting ready for a show. I was on Instagram
about me. I was the only queen that they named. It’s so crazy how things can change so quickly. What dId You thInk of the skIt When You WatChed It?
I thought it was hilarious. They were super and the storyline was great. It was very positive and it showed that there are a lot of straight people —even straight men —that watch Drag Race and that’s ok.
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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Please Join Us as We Honor
25 Years of Service to Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ Community
the great gatsby gala saturday, November 11, 2017 Sponsor reception 6-7pm / Main event 7-11 pm
NEW Venue: gatsby’s 13355 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762
If Not N W, When… …Will You Help Stop the Spread of HIV/AIDS?
Formal Attire or Period Costume Encouraged For more information email jamesK@metrotampabay.org
2 Days, 165 Miles, Miami to Key West, 100% Back 100% of the Time
www.metrotampabay.org
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Register NOW! TheSmartRide.org Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
community calendar
event Planner
arTs+enTerTainmenT
orlando
orlando
pride & Allies meeting
Southern nights 3yr Anniversary, Aug. 2426, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com
Wednesday, aug. 30, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 P.m. orange county goVernMent, orlando
Titanic the Musical, Aug. 25-26, Calvary Assembly, Orlando. 407-937-1800; CFCArts.com Indie Art, Craft & Vintage Bazaar, Aug. 26, Big Bang Bazaar, Orlando. 407-906-3244; BigBangBazaar.net Mad Movie Mondays 1yr Anniversary – Auntie Mame!, Aug. 28, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com Last Days of Trivia, Aug. 29, The Hammered Lamb, Orlando. 407-704-3200; HammeredLamb.com Electric Barbarella: Tribute to Billy Manes, Aug. 30, The Beacham, Orlando. 407-246-1419; TheBeacham.com EPCOT 2017 Int’l Food & Wine Festival Opening, Aug. 31, EPCOT, Orlando. 407-939-5277; DisneyWorld.Disney.go.com/ Destinations/Epcot Ed Sheeran, Aug. 31, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com God is a Scottish Drag Queen – The Second Coming, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, The Venue, Orlando. 407-412-6895; TheVenueOrlando.com The Fixx – Velvet Sessions, Hard Rock Hotel Universal, Orlando. 407-503-7625; HardRockHotelOrlando.com Movie night at Leu – Star Wars: Rogue One, Sept. 1, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407-246-2620; LeuGardens.org Rainbow Over Disappearing Island: Retreat, Sept. 2, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-476-7401; ImpulseOrlando.org Life in Color Orlando, Sept. 2, Central Florida Fair, Orlando. 407-295-3247; CentralFloridaFair.com
undIvIded Ed Sheeran’s thinking (and singing) out loud at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Aug. 29 and at the Amway Center in Orlando Aug. 31. PHOTO COuRTESy ATLAnTIC RECORDS
Girl The Party’s White Party, Sept. 2, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com Disney’s Newsies the Musical, Sept. 5-19, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando. 407-896-7365; OrlandoRep.com
tamPa baY Black & White & REaD All Over: Art Theme, Aug. 25, Community Café, St. Petersburg. 727-222-6979; CommunityCafeStPete.com Big Gay Brunch, Aug. 26, The Portico, Tampa. 813-222-2299; ThePortico.org In the Sack with Weezie DeVere, Aug. 26, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Frat House Back to School Party, Aug. 26, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com Democracy 101: A Civic Action Primer, Aug. 28, American Stage, St. Petersburg. 727-823-7529; AmericanStage.org Cigar & Whiskey Social, Aug. 28, Flamingo Resort, St. Petersburg. 727-321-5000; FlamingoFla.com
Ed Sheeran, Aug. 29, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com Trailer Park Bingo for Pet Pal, Aug. 30, Hamburger Mary’s, St. Petersburg. 727-851-9386; HamburgerMarys.com/StPete Bingo4Charity benefiting PFLAG St Pete, Aug. 30, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Sytycd Semi Finals Circus, Aug. 30, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com Balance Tampa Bay’s August Social, Aug. 31, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, St. Petersburg. 727-821-4139; BalanceTampaBay.org 2nd Annual Crab & Music Festival, Sept. 2-3, Albert Whitted Park, St. Petersburg. 727-893-7441; StPeteParksRec.org Open Arms Homeless Ministry, Sept. 3, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa. 813-253-5388; BalanceTampaBay.org
Guardians of the GLOW Galaxy, Sept. 3, Honey Pot, Tampa. 813-247-4663; Facebook.com/ Honey-Pot Green Day, Sept. 5, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa. 813-740-2446; LiveNation.com Outside the Binary, Sept. 7, Metro Wellness & Community Centers Ybor, Tampa. 813-232-3808; MetroTampaBay.org A Former Skinhead Speaks Out Against Hate, Sept. 7, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg. 727-867-1166; Edckerd.edu
sarasota
Orange County’s Pride & Allies Meetings bring the community together to create advocacy and volunteer opportunities, as well as provide information and education about LGBTQ groups and activities. This month join Orange County’s first transgender deputy, Rebecca Storozuk, and hear her story. For questions or to RSVP contact Mandy Kimmer at 407-405-4579.
the Center ribbon Cutting and Open House thursday, aug. 31, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 P.m. glbt coMMunity center of central florida, orlando The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida is celebrating its grand opening with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and a host of other community leaders for the official ribbon cutting from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Then return at 6:00 p.m. for The Center’s open house to see the newly renovated community center with a special wine reception sponsored by Quantum Leap Winery. For more information call 407-228-8272 or visit TheCenterOrlando.org.
tamPa baY
gaYme Nights Wednesday, aug. 30, 6:30 - 9:30 P.m. lgbt WelcoMe center, st. petersburg Come meet, socialize and develop lifelong friendships at the LGBT Welcome Center’s GaYme Night. Bring your own adult beverages and come play some games. A collection of games will be provided at the center or feel free to bring your own to share. This is an adult event so 21 and up only. IDs will be checked at the door. For more information call 727-201-4925 or visit LGBTWelcomeCenter.com.
u-nite at Starlite presents Glow!, Aug. 26, The Starlite Room, Sarasota. 941-702-5613; StarliteSRQ.com national Theatre Live - Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika, Sept. 1, Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota. 941-359-5700; Ringling.org September G2H2, Sept. 7, Sarasota Sky Bar, Sarasota. 941-210-3274; SarasotaSky.club
LGBTQ Dynamics in the Workplace Workshop friday, sePt. 8, 9:00a.m. - noon centre club, taMpa The South Tampa Chamber, the Centre Club and Equality Florida invite you to a unique workshop to learn ways to successfully recruit, retain and improve productivity through workplace policies that create equality for LGBTQ employees and clients. Designed for business leaders and human resources managers; attend to learn inclusive practices, explore unconscious bias behavior and more. Hosted by EQFL’s Transgender Equality Director, Gina Duncan. Contact Mark Puskarich with questions at Mark@EqualityFlorida.org.
To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com.
watermark Your LGBTQ life.
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overheard
tamPa baY out+about
tamPa baY readIes for all halloWs
W
Hispers on tHe Wind and secrets in tHe sHadoWs (okay, emails) have indicated that the invitations for Tampa Bay’s 41st Annual All Hallows’ Ball will soon be mailed, revealing the by-invitation-only event’s theme in the process. The celebrated not-for-profit Halloween party, organized by a secretive group of locals and spearheaded by a friendly neighborhood “ghost” known only as Casper, will hold this year’s party at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in mid-October. (We’d give you more information, but we’re not sure Casper would appreciate it. No one wants to anger a ghost.) Hundreds showed up to last year’s Ruby Red-themed event, with their costumes ranging from the insanely intricate to the scantily clad. Lady Bunny herself was the special guest DJ, so the hosts have quite a feat to top. “With summer now running in very high gear,” Casper recently emailed guests, “invitations are ready, the theme soon to be clear. October 14 will be a spectacular night, Casper is certain it will be dynamite!” For more information, you can visit www.allhallowsball.org (and maybe get invited if you haven’t been.)
hate In our state
t
He nation is still reeling from the white supremacist neo-Nazis who invaded Virginia to spread their racist, anti-gay, anti-Semitic messages this month, costing one activist her life— and Tampa Bay isn’t exempt from their kind of hate. There’s been a renewed focus (albeit not from the White House) on hate groups in America, with the Tampa Bay Times reporting that the local law enforcement has confronted a group of self-proclaimed neo-Nazis and that flyers for the KKK have been spread throughout the Bay area in recent months. Love wins in Florida, as evidenced by the vigils held in both St. Petersburg and Tampa following the events in Charlottesville, but there is hate in our state. In 2016, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) found that Florida had the second largest number of hate groups in the country, just after California. Stay safe, and check out the mapped groups at www.splcenter.org/hate-map.
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but first...let Me taKe a selfie: (L-R) Romone Bowens, Zachary Grenon and Michael Ackeret pause during a tour of GaYbor for a quick photo at Gaspar’s Grotto in Tampa Aug. 20. PHOTO COuRTESy ROMOnE BOWEnS
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sarasota, st. pete style: (L-R) Jeremy Butts, Carlos Barro, Mike Grady and Anthony Paul ventured over from Sarasota to enjoy a St. Pete Saturday at Enigma in Aug. 13. PHOTO By RyAn WILLIAMS-JEnT
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Jenga!: Dan Ravioli ponders his next move on August 19 at Enigma in St. Petersburg. PHOTO By RyAn
WILLIAMS-JEnT
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serVing sMiles: Kyle Parker (L) served up the feels, pausing for a photo, with Mark Harkness and Alan (Just Alan, Like Cher) at Punky’s in St. Petersburg Aug. 19. PHOTO By RyAn WILLIAMS-JEnT
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birdy spice: (L-R) Anthony Conard, Jeff Beadle, Derrick Koellhoffer, Jon Jusino and Charlie Bird channel their inner Spice Girl for Flamingo’s annual Turnabout Aug. 18. PHOTO By JAMARCuS MOSLEy
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say no to Hate: Residents of St. Petersburg stood together against hate at a vigil held in Demen’s Landing Park Aug. 13 following the tragic events in Charlottesville, Va. PHOTO COuRTESy THOMPSOn
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DAVIS KELLETT
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feelin’ tHe beat: nikos Daras (L) and Theresa McGivern enjoy Billboard Top 20 Dance Recording Artist Adam Barta Live at Quench Lounge in Largo Aug. 12. PHOTO
COuRTESy THERESA MCGIVERn
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garage grins: James Michael McCracken (L) and Robert Kirkpatrick reunited at the Garage Aug. 13 for a Smart Ride Fundraiser.
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PHOTO COuRTESy JAMES MICHAEL MCCRACKEn
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overheard
orlando out+about
sCottIe’s last daY
f
or nearly tHree years, The Hammered Lamb has played host to Scottie Campbell’s Trivia Night, which raises money for Florida Little Dog Rescue. Week after week, Scottie hosts on The Hammered Lamb’s outdoor patio, with many trivia fans arriving early just to guarantee a seat. However, Scottie’s trivia days are nearly over. The official Last Day of Trivia arrives on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Scottie’s goal to raise money for Florida Little Dog Rescue was born from an act of remembrance when he and his partner, Brandon, had to say goodbye to their dog Morton. Since that time Florida Little Dog Rescue has been the benefiting charity of The Hammered Lamb’s Trivia, having collected nearly $20,000 – that’s a lot of rescued pups! With the last trivia game, Scottie is going out with a bang. He has created a GoFundMe to raise funds so he could match The Hammered Lamb’s donation dollar for dollar.
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GInGer mInJ Gets dumPlIn’ed!
c
entral florida’s Very oWn Josh eads, also known by his drag persona Ginger Minj, didn’t just make a splash on RuPaul’s Drag Race, she cannon balled in and soaked the competition. OK, she may not have taken the crown in season 7 of RPDR and in RPDR’s All-Stars season 2 when she appeared, but Ginger has totally Jennifer Hudson’d herself and turned her time on RPDR into multiple tour dates, her own show and she even cut an album; ain’t nothing can stop Ginger. On top of all that success, it was just recently announced that Ginger will be featured in the musical comedy Dumplin’. Based on the 2015 Julie Murphy novel, Dumplin’ follows a confident, plus-sized teen who, to spite her beauty queen mom (played by Jennifer Aniston) and the other girls in school, she enlists in a local pageant. The film is currently in production with no release date as of yet.
theme Parked and stalled
a
t last MontH’s d23 conVention, Disney officially announced the closing of the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Ellen’s Universe of Energy at Epcot, which featured an animatronic Ellen fighting a dinosaur. Both attractions closed to fans lining up to see them just one last time Aug. 13. The Great Movie Ride will be replaced by a Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride and over at the old Universe of Energy, a new Guardians of the Galaxy ride will fill that slot. Not to be outdone, Universal announced that after Halloween Horror Nights 2017, the theme parks in both Orlando and Hollywood will say goodbye to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure. The show, which ran for the last 26 years, often parodied pop-culture and featured scantily clad dancers (both men and women) gyrating to the enjoyment of many of the park patrons.
4
1
total eclipse: (L-R) Ida Vishkaee Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith and Gio Rivera show off their eclipse shades at UCF for the solar eclipse Aug. 21. PHOTO COuRTESy CARLOS
GuILLERMO SMITH
2
naugHty gaMes: Andrew Kalang wins at Dirty Bingo hosted by Blue Star at the Stardust Lounge in Orlando Aug. 15. PHOTO By DILLAn RAMIREZ
3
Pool fun(d): Greg Mason (L) and Barry Miller help to raise money for The 49 Fund at the Fundraiser Pool Party hosted by Chad Newberry in Orlando Aug. 20. PHOTO By RICK CLAGGETT
4
orlando united: Martin Perez (L) and David Thomas Moran catch a selfie together at the Student Union at UCF Aug. 22. PHOTO By
DAVID THOMAS MORAn
5
alliance planners: (L-R) Robin Maynard-Harris, Greg Mason and Jennifer Foster are making Orlando stronger at the One Orlando Alliance strategic planning session at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando Aug. 12.
PHOTO By RICK CLAGGETT
6
sHe Has sWag: Anna Vishkaee Eskamani is the “queen of swag” at the Orange County Democratic Party at Frontline Outreach Aug. 21. PHOTO COuRTESy AnnA
7
VISHKAEE ESKAMAnI
7
and tHe Winner is...: Darcel Stevens (R) accepts the Ad Pop Award from Watermark Sales Director Danny Garcia at our Third Thursday networking event at Fairvilla Megastore in Orlando Aug. 17.
PHOTO By KATHLEEn HARPER
8
Queen of coMedy: (L-R) Loc Robertson, Miss Comedy Queen 2017 Amanda Punchfuk and Addison Taylor at Parliament House in Orlando Aug. 15.
PHOTO By DAnny GARCIA
8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
49
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
Augus t 24 - Sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
announcements
WeddInG bells engagemenT daTe:
Omar & edwin Archila-Vela
wedding daTe:
May 13, 2017
venue:
Maitland Art Center
flOwers:
Flowers by Lesley
cOlOrs:
White, gray, yellow
wedding sOng and arTisT:
‘All of Me’ by John Legend
dJ Or Band name:
Ceremony Harpist: Catherine Way Reception DJ: Lindsey Leigh
caTerer:
San Jose’s Original Mexican Restaurant
OfficianT:
Rosa Colindres
wedding planner:
Dandy Details events
pHOTOgrapHer/ videOgrapHer:
Steven Miller Photography
evenT renTal:
Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals
lOcal BirTHdays
Orlando, Florida
August 23, 2016
PHOTO By STEVEn MILLER PHOTOGRAPHy
W
Hen professional drag
queen Edwin and event planner Omar proposed to each other, there was only one possible answer. Like many modern couples, Omar and Edwin met online. Unlike most couples who meet that way, however, they weren’t looking for love – just a hang-out. “I was done dating. Edwin initiated the conversation on the app and we agreed to go out for a few drinks and to share a ride,” says Omar, an event planner with Dandy Details Events. “We had a great night, a lot of things in common. It was so much fun to be around [Edwin].” After the evening, the pair went back to Edwin’s place where Edwin cooked dinner. “It didn’t take long for us to realize that we made a great time and shared so many goals and values,” says Edwin. “The next thing we knew, we were living together and sharing our dreams.” Omar admires how organized and methodical Edwin is, and how talented a performer he is as a professional drag queen. “It was amazing to me that someone could be so talented,” says Omar. Edwin loves Omar’s sense of style, his dedication to his work and his dining etiquette. “Everything Omar does is very particular. Everything is a specific way,” says Edwin.
The decision to get married was simple. “We both support each other in pursuing our goals,” they say. “We talked about it and agreed that we wanted to be together forever.” Edwin and Omar both agree that, being gay, there are fewer “rules” for the engagement and wedding protocol, which made it more fun. They each ended up proposing on two separate occasions. Edwin made the same meal he made on the first night the two spent together, and Omar rented a private capsule at the Orlando Eye for a champagne-toast proposal. They both said yes, both times. (Phew!) Even though Omar is a professional planner, wedding planning was stressful initially. “We fought about the smallest details, so we ended up hiring a planner,” they say. “She directed us in the right ways and helped us find the right vendors that fit our budget.” Their wedding day at the Maitland Art Center was extra special for both. Omar remembers, “I woke up super early and spent all morning with my side of the
wedding party just chatting, drinking mimosas and practicing my vows.” Omar’s favorite moment of the day was when he saw Edwin waiting for him at the end of the aisle. “I couldn’t stop crying. The way he stared at me; I felt so special and lucky to be marrying the man of my dreams.” Edwin was nervous, but says the day went by like a flash. “Love was all around us. I loved having both of our families gathered with us to celebrate,” he says. One of the most special touches was their joining ceremony. Instead of pouring sand, which is traditional, to signify the coming together of two people, they combined glass chips in colors that represented their personalities. They then had the chips blown into a glass sculpture which now occupies a prominent place in their home. After the wedding, the newly married couple stayed up until 6 a.m. the next morning, recounting their favorite parts of the day. Since tying the knot, they feel they are better able to convey the way they feel about each other to their friends and family. Their families have also grown closer. “Being married has changed everything for us,” they say. “We are one now.”
Writer and LGBT ally Karen Brown, Sunnyland Slammer Shana Moshen, American Stage Theatre Company’s Zachary Hines, founder of Tampa’s The Taylor Company Scott Taylor, St. Petersburg actor/director Steven Flaa (Aug. 24); Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Universal Brad Partridge, Spring Hill psychologist David Chandler, St. Pete Twirling Project veteran Steven Caruso, Tampa bear and softballer Andrew Cohen (Aug. 25); Orlando’s Eddie Mora, Central Florida singer and actress Jill Wilson, Watermark writer and film critic Stephen Miller (Aug. 26); coordinator at the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse Benjamin Cox, former St. Pete Pride board member Carl Lovgren (Aug. 27); Orlando artist Keith Theriot, St. Petersburg and Gypsy Productions’ Darryl Epperly, St. Pete songstress Lorna Bracewell, Clearwater bear Chris Miller, handsome Tampa Verizon guy Jim Green (Aug. 28); Orlando Miller’s Ale House kitchen coach nicole Phillips, IT guru Jeff Kern, leather stud Randy Sullivan, Seminole painting expert Karen Santos, Studio@620 founder and friend to the arts Bob Devin Jones, Orlando artist and photographer Lee Vandergrift (Aug. 29); Lakeland bear Bob Lloyd, The Center board president Jeffrey Buak, (Sept. 2); Sarasota entertainer and comic Beneva Fruitville, community ally Jennifer Kunsch (Sept. 3); Orlando server and arts lover Richard Hicks, Watermark cover mom Joan Rodriguez(Sept. 4); Sarasota’s Asolo Rep social media coordinator David Valdez, St. Petersburg-based TIGLFF husband Erik Carroll, Tampa pharmacist Brian Wehling, St. Pete software genius David Palio, Gulfport party host Ed Dunn (Sept. 5); Rollins College honcho A. Eddie Mehnert, Tampa Bay everywoman and KJ Monica LeFavre, Sarasota Starbucks junkie and teacher Steve Eller (Sept. 6).
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!
—Holly V. Kapherr
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.
Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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Augus t 24 - sep t emb er 6 , 2017 // Issue 24 .17
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