Watermark Issue 25.02: Over The Rainbow

watermark Your LGBTQ Life.

issue 25.02 • Jan. 25 - feb. 7, 2018

WatermarkOnline.com

THE RAinBOW lacking resources For an aging lgbtQ community

daytOna beach • OrlandO • tampa • st. petersburg • clearwater • sarasOta

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

departments 6 // mail 7 // publisHer’s desk 8 // orlando news 10 // tampa bay news 13 // state news 16 // nation & world news 23 // talking points 43 // community calendar 45 // tampa bay out + about 47 // orlando out + about 48 // tampa bay marketplace 49 // wedding bells/ announcements 50 // orlando marketplace 54 // last page

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I have worked with the older community for several years and I’ve found that all too often, older LGbT people are disowned by their families, their children…all because of who they are. so they find themselves alone and with few resources.

— kEN tErrEll, maNagEr of oak (oldEr adults With kNoWlEdgE) iN cENtral florida

on tHe cover

PAGE dancing tHe dream:

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PAGE OVER thE

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RaINBOW: The elderly LGBTQ community searches for happiness and resources to combat depression and discrimination.

Photo by Jake Stevens

scan Qr code For

watermarkonline.com

Joey Arrigo opens up about Cirque Du Soleil’s VOLTA and its significance to the LGBTQ community.

watermark i ssue 25.02 //J anuary 25 - February 7, 2018

cHariman oF tHe board lgbtQ HealtH

Queer youtH

porn play

PAGE Attorney John Ruffier is elected to chair HRC board of directors, a first for a Floridian.

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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

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Dr. David Lyter opens the Diversity Health Center of Tampa Bay with an emphasis on LGBTQ health needs.

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ALSO Youth executive director Nathan Breummer opens up about the needs of LGBTQ in 2018.

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Adult film star Chris Harder tackles stereotypes in Porn to be a Star, showing one night only at Parliament House’s Footlight Theatre.

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give us a fOllOw On twitter and instagram at @watermarkOnline and like us On facebOOk. watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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WALK TO FIGHT SUICIDE

top web comments “We as the LGBTQ community need to stand together and not sink to their level of stupid. We are greater when we fight back.”

—Elizabeth Nicole

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-—John Robin Ament-Burroughs

On the Department of Health & Human Services establishing a “conscience division” that will allow medical practitioners to deny services and treatment to LGBT people on religious grounds:

“At what point can we label the Republican Party a hate group? They’ve negatively affected my life more than any thug on the street has.”

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On Demi Lovato saying she wants to date Rihanna on the Ellen DeGeneres Show:

“She needs to get in line.”

-—Veronica Drake

On a gay couple who own a restaurant in Wyoming filing a federal lawsuit against town leaders for discrimination:

“Time for national burn a church down day. That would be great.”

-—Todd Surette

“We as the LGBTQ community need to stand together and not sink to their level of stupid. We are greater when we fight back. Less hate! Time to take the fight to the doors of the preacher. Fill his church with every LGBTQ person near and far. We are greater in numbers than alone.”

-—Elizabeth Nicole

“In the age of Trump and his Nazi followers the LGBTQ community must defend their rights by suing as well as defend themselves thru arming oneself and learning self defense.”

-—Hen Ry Mays

On a Florida man getting robbed at gunpoint in a Grindr app setup:

“Great. Not only is Grindr filled with ageists, racists and body-shamers, but now armed robbers.”

-—Mike Patten

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

On Chelsea Manning taking steps to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland:

“She’ll have a hard time.

She’s lived in Maryland for a relatively short time and is going up against a popular senator. Highly doubt she’ll get the nomination and I see this as a publicity stunt, not a real attempt at politics.”

-—Kellie Smith

“How is this person able to run for an office such as Congress or Senate when the person was convicted and put in jail for espionage [and] this sentence was commuted, not pardoned. This makes no sense to me.”

-—Steven Resatar

On PrEP usage remaining low in the U.S.:

“Because it’s stupid expensive and most can’t afford it or don’t get appropriate coverage for it.”

-—Peter Klein

“I have excellent insurance, and I still have to pay for it in full ($1,520) and then file a claim to receive reimbursement of 80%. A lot may not have that up front, let alone the 20% at $300. That’s not really affordable, and the hassle is quite discouraging.”

-—Tommy Watts II

“Gilead the manufacturer gives it for free people!

Do some research and get on it!”

-—Brian McNutt

contributors

Publisher’s

Rick Claggett PUblisher

Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

I

Desk

t’s good to be back. Last issue

Jeremy Williams took over this space in Central Florida and Ryan Willams-Jent wrote the column for Tampa Bay. They will continue their columns every other issue, and I will continue mine in the alternating weeks.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I have been on a journey to live a healthier and better life—while I still have a few good years ahead of me. There is the physical: regular personal training sessions with Max Dunley at Rock Hard Fitness, eating well, LASIK and braces. There is also the mental, or my version of spirituality. With the help of a twelve step program, I spend a lot of time looking at my past to understand the responsibility I have in the choices I’ve made in the hopes that I will make better decisions in the future.

The result of this line of thinking is a great deal of self-awareness. It doesn’t mean I always do the right thing, but I know right away when I’ve made a poor decision and try to move quickly to rectify the situation.

I recently had the opportunity to take an objective look at my approach to dating, which may seem non-existent at this time.

I came out when I was in high school, circa 1991. Not many people my age were out, so I didn’t do a lot of dating in high school. I may have had one boyfriend, if you could even call

him that. I went on a few dates with the same guy. In high school, I guess that’s a boyfriend.

College wasn’t much different.

I went to a small southern Baptist school in the mountains of North Carolina. I think there may have been 5 gay people on campus, so no dating there. Toward the end of my college experience I did meet and date the first love of my life, Chris.

In college, I had a tendency to hit on lesbians. It happened more times than I care to admit.

I would see a cute boy across the dance floor, make eye contact and saunter up to him; only to find out I was making her and her girlfriend uncomfortable. This made me reluctant to approach Chris the first time I saw him. We spent weeks staring at each other across the room and smiling when we made eye contact.

Eventually we found the courage to talk to each other and started dating. We had an amazing summer together before Chris left for college in New York.

Since then, the internet took over the world. Dating websites, then dating apps, became a popular way to meet to people.

However, my approach to dating never changed. I’m not sure why?

I’m one of those people who never like a picture of themselves, so maybe I lacked the confidence to be cool in the online world?

I’m not interested in casual encounters or friends with benefits, so I’m easily and quickly turned off by the abruptness of “app talk.” My old fashion ways of smiling at people in a bar have made me suck at online dating.

In mid-January I attended the first of Moira’s Mixed Company on NewsRadio 102.5 as a member of the live audience. It’s a radio show with a talk show feel to it. Moira has expert guests

and interacts with the studio audience. It’s super entertaining and she does a fabulous job! The topic of this particular show was online dating. My suspicions were confirmed. I was doing everything wrong.

First, my profile picture is shirtless. Apparently that’s a big no. I can see how that might send the wrong message about my intentions. Second, I have a picture where I’m wearing sunglasses. I also use features like taps, winks and woofs. I’ve learned I should use my words more. I also don’t define myself and what I want in my profiles.

My old fashion ways of smiling at people in a bar have made me suck at online dating.

Clearly I have a lot of work to do to improve my online persona.

While I try to figure this out, I’ll stick to my roots and go to Watermark’s Swipe Right Party on Feb 8. This is a chance to meet people face-to-face and get to know them. Central Florida’s party will be at The Hammered Lamb and Tampa Bay’s at Enigma.

Look for the ad in the issue for more details.

In this issue we discuss the unique hardships facing the LGBTQ elderly, introduce you to Dr. David Lyter’s diversity health center in Tampa Bay, announce The Center’s name change in Central Florida and check in on Cirque Du Soleil’s VOLTA. We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue.

watermark staff Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Owner & Publisher: Rick Claggett • Ext. 110 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Business Manager: Kathleen Harper • Ext. 101 • Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com CFL Bureau Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 • Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Tampa Bay Bureau Chief: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 • Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com Multimedia Assistant: Melody Maia Monet • Ext. 100 • Maia@WatermarkOnline.com Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Assistant: Jason Donnelly • Ext. 102 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell

Sales Director: Danny Garcia Ext. 108 • Danny@WatermarkOnline.com Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan Ext. 103 • Sam@WatermarkOnline.com Orlando Account Manager: Dillan Ramirez Ext. 105 • Dillan@WatermarkOnline.com Tampa Bay Account Manager: Debbie Reeves Ext. 301 • Debbie@WatermarkOnline.com Nat’l Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

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

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

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

Nathan Bruemmer

is Watermark’s newest columnist.

He was recently named one of Tampa Bay’s Most Remarkable People for his advocacy on youth issues as the Executive Director of ALSO Youth in Sarasota.. Page 19

Scottie Campbell

is a longtime activist as a member the LGBT community.

His work has resulted in a thriving community in the Lake Ivanhoe region and his wit has melted at least a few Orlando candles. Page 21

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. Page 49

Sabrina Ambra, Scottie Campbell, Krista DiTucci, Miguel Fuller, Divine Grace Kirk Hartlage, Samuel Johnson, Jason Leclerc, Stephen Miller, Maia Monet, David Moran, Greg Stemm, Dr. Steve yacovelli, Michael wanzie, Ryan Williams-Jent

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.

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central florida news

orlando’s lgbtQ center cHanges name, debuts new logo

aN origiNal:

Orlando native John Ruffier became the first Floridian to be named as HRC’s chair of the board of directors.

randa Griffin

O

rlaNdo | In honor of a milestone year, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Central Florida, Inc. is changing its name to The LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc. The Board of Directors approved the decision to legally change the name and logo on Jan. 13 at the organization’s annual board retreat. Board members supported the name change as a way to update the organization and The Center’s imprint on the community.

“We’re consistently asked why the letters are switched around, so with the new logo, we thought it was a good time to update the organizations name to be more consistent with the community,” says George Wallace, The Center’s executive director.

The name and logo change mark the organization’s 40-year anniversary, a notable accomplishment for The Center, according to Wallace.

“The anniversary is no small milestone, and we feel it’s important to celebrate being one of the oldest LGBT Centers in the United States,” he says.

While The Center has gone through numerous name changes since it was established in 1978, Wallace says the new name better reflects the expanding community and the organizations history.

“Orlando is still a pretty new community and not many businesses can say they’ve been around as long as we have,” Wallace says. “Most have been around for 10 or 25 years, and we’ve been here for 40. It’s something we want to celebrate.”

The name change isn’t the only way The Center is celebrating their 40 years of operation. An updated members program along with different community events are scheduled throughout the year, including their annual gala which is focused around the 40th anniversary.

The Center’s mission and focus remains the same, striving to provide sanctuary, education and entertainment to the LGBTQ community.

Board of Directors President Jeff Buak says in a press release, “The Board of Directors of The Center is proud to continue The Center’s commitment of serving the LGBT+ community, and look forward to an exciting 2018.”

The changes for the organization are subtle, but positive, according to Wallace. He says Orlando as a community is still constantly evolving and breaking down barriers.

“It’s so important to have an LGBT+ center in the community,” says Wallace. “We’ve been here for 40 years and we’ll be here for at least 40 more.”

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PHOTO COuRTESy lOWnDES, DROSDICK, DOSTER, KAnTOR & REED, P.A.

new Chair Central Florida attorney elected chair of HRC board of directors Jeremy Williams

O

rlaNdo | Central Florida attorney John Ruffier was elected as the vice-chair of the Human Rights Campaign board of directors and will become the chair of the organization next year.

The announcement was made by the law firm Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.— where Ruffier is a practicing attorney—in a press release Jan. 12.

Ruffier was voted unanimously by the board to the positions, and with it became the first person from the state of Florida chosen to lead the national board.

Ruffier got his start with HRC 15 years ago when he was asked to be co-chair of Orlando’s HRC steering committee with Jennifer Foster.

“Our job was to build HRC in Orlando politically and with fundraising, of course. That’s always a big part of it,” Ruffier says. “There was a real hunger for people to get politically involved in Orlando.

Equality Florida was based in Tampa Bay and this was before they had expanded statewide like they have now.”

Ruffier, Foster and Orlando’s HRC steering committee came up during

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

a very different political and social climate when the George W. Bush presidency was behind the Defense of Marriage Act and same-sex marriage was a polarizing issue with U.S. voters.

“It was a time when there really were no protections for LGB people, much less transgender people,” Ruffier says. ”Transgender was still a topic that was hardly on people’s minds. Nationally we were playing a lot of defense. It was a time when, as a community, we were starting to get recognized more but we still had not seized a lot of political power where we were making advances, certainly not the way we have in the last five and 10 years.”

Ruffier has been a force with HRC since those first years. He helped to launch HRC Connects, now known as HRC Socials, which allowed members of the community to gather, socialize and learn where LGBTQ issues stood politically. Ruffier served a total of six years on board of directors for both HRC’s political side and the HRC Foundation, the non-profit side.

In this role, Ruffier will oversee the organization’s actions, including fiscal management and budget approval, and also assist in establishing the official policies that direct HRC, according to the

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press release. Ruffier will work with the 32-member board of directors who, in conjunction with the HRC Foundation board, set policy and steer the strategic direction of the organization.

HRC’s main focus will be the 2018 midterm elections.

“It’s funny because we were talking about how 2016 was the most important election of our lives, then Trump wins, and now this year’s election is really the most important of our lives,” Ruffier says.

Two programs which Ruffier and HRC have their attention on are called HRC Rising and Project One America.

“HRC Rising focuses on states that we think the LGBTQ vote can really make the difference,” Ruffier says. “States that are borderline, a lot of them are in the upper Midwest: Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio. As a swing state, Florida is always one that we pay attention to.”

Project One America is a focus on what Ruffier says are states that have gotten left behind in our movement, predominantly Southern states like Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.

“It’s easy to celebrate what happens in New York and California; even in Florida we are very fortunate, particularly in Central Florida, to be in pretty progressive communities,” Ruffier says. “It’s easy to forget about the folks who are in places where you can’t be openly LGBT, or being openly LGBT has real risks. It’s really about reaching into those communities and helping them to find strength, find their voices and hopefully change hearts and minds.”

In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

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• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant?

• Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother?

• It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines?

Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi?

For Copay Savings Card and Patient Assistance, see Mytesi.com

If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

Rx Only Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.

Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

9

tampa bay news

pro-lgbtQ groups File motion For eQuality Florida to deFend tampa’s conversion tHerapy ban ryan Williams-Jent

t

ampa | The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the law firm Carlton Fields have filed a motion on behalf of Equality Florida to defend Tampa’s conversion therapy ban.

In December, the anti-LGBTQ group known as Liberty Counsel filed a suit against the city for banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors, citing a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

“Conversion therapy – sometimes called ‘ex-gay therapy’ – attempts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” Equality Florida’s statement on the motion reads. “It has been discredited by the American Psychological Association and every other major professional health organization as ineffective, unethical and dangerous.

Conversion therapy has been shown to lead to higher instances of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even suicide.”

“As the state’s largest civil rights organization advocating on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, Equality Florida played an integral role in the passage of Tampa’s ordinance,” it continues, “which prohibits licensed mental health professionals from performing conversion therapy on minors.”

Tampa’s Ordinance 2017-47 was signed into law by Mayor Bob Buckhorn on April 10. Its intent “is to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or questioning youth, from exposure to the serious harms and risks caused by conversion therapy or reparative therapy.”

“At Equality Florida, we fight to protect LGBTQ families and children, which is why participating in this lawsuit is at the core of our mission as Florida’s statewide LGBTQ organization,” Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida, says. “We worked closely with the City of Tampa, elected leaders, and members of the community to ensure LGBTQ young people are protected from this deceptive and utterly discredited practice of so-called conversion therapy.”

In addition to the motion to intervene, the groups filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. “Liberty Counsel is known for filing litigation challenging the expansion of equal rights for the LGBT community,” the SPLC says, “from defending anti-LGBT discrimination in businesses to fighting marriage equality. Liberty Counsel has unsuccessfully challenged conversion therapy bans across the country.”

Watermark reached out to Liberty Counsel for comment and was directed to the organization’s initial press release announcing the suit. “The City of Tampa has no authority to prohibit a form of counseling simply because it does not like the religious beliefs of a particular client,” it reads, crediting founder and chairman, Mat Staver. “Tampa’s prohibition is blatantly unconstitutional and causes harm to countless minors.”

Nine states and the District of Columbia have banned conversion therapy on minors, though Florida is not among them. Fifteen counties, municipalities and communities in the Sunshine State have passed similar bans.

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lgbtQ loVE:

Dr. David lyter, M.D., medical assistant Shiona Blake and office manager Kinsey flores are ready to serve the LGBTQ community at their new facility.

PHOTO By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

Community Care Out medical director opens Diversity Health Center of Tampa Bay ryan Williams-Jent

t

ampa | The Diversity Health Center of Tampa Bay, dedicated to evidence-based patient care and to developing long-lasting relationships within the community it serves, is open for business.

Dr. David W. Lyter, who came out in the early 1980s, has “been doing gay men’s healthcare ever since.” He formerly served Tampa Bay as the medical director for Metro Wellness & Community Centers, and says he founded the new facility to “focus on a broader type of medical care.”

“Not just to focus on [Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, or] PrEP, [sexually-transmitted diseases, or] STDs or transgender care specifically,” he says, “but to broaden to a more primary care that includes all of that. To expand to a larger segment of the gay and lesbian population, by including those who are older, Medicare-age… and to make it more of a general primary care practice that also does HIV and STD work or transgender care.”

Currently, he works as the office’s sole physician with one medical assistant and an office manager, though he intends for the facility to add a second medical assistant in the

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

coming months. The office features two large exam rooms, with a third available for conversion, and lab work is collected in-house.

Patients are also encouraged to utilize the health center’s website portal to enroll for services electronically. “We’re very electronically based here,” Lyter says.

“It helps with efficiency.”

“Everyone is welcome,” he asserts, but notes that they’re “marketing almost exclusively to the gay and lesbian community.” Currently, the facility is credentialed with Cigna, though they’re eager to work directly with other insurance companies, mainly Florida Blue.

“We hope to eventually get enrolled in all of the major plans,” he says. “It just takes time. When you start a new practice there’s a timeframe of a month to sometimes six months. I’ve been in practice in Florida since 1999, but when you open a new practice you have to start the process over.”

Individuals who can afford self-pay are welcome, the doctor also says, adding that it’s his hope to someday have the funding that would allow him to offer medical care to those who are underinsured or uninsured.

“Metro is obviously a good source for that,” he says. “It’s a matter of basic

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

finances… I hope to develop the ability to do that.”

As for why he serves the LGBTQ community specifically, Lyter says “there’s a language and a knowledge that gay men have that is foreign to people not part of the community. ‘Tops and bottoms’ and that type of thing, terms that most primary care doctors might not be comfortable using.”

He believes that understanding the lives led by those in the LGBTQ community is paramount in successful LGBTQ health care. “For STD and HIV work, there are essential questions to ask [about] sexual behavior and practices, in order to understand risks for HIV or infections, and to know how to screen and what to test.”

Lyter ultimately settled on the office’s location because he “wanted something centrally located that could serve most of Hillsborough County,” he says, “and then be accessible from Pinellas as well.”

“I want to be available as a primary care doctor for the needs of the community and to be available for acute concerns, rather than people going to urgent care,” Lyter says. He believes it’s important to have a doctor “who has knowledge of the patient, who has a history of the patient, [and] who is comfortable with all the different predicaments, especially that the gay male community may face.”

The Diversity Health Center of Tampa Bay, located at 4302 N. Habana Avenue, Ste. 200 in Tampa, is open now. For more information about available treatments, services, Dr. Lyter or his staff, visit diversityhealthcenter.com or call 813-518-0881.

IAN STANISLAUS GÓMEZ, Esq.

LINDSEY SHEPPY, Esq.

LGBT Attorneys

Representing the

of Counsel

LGBT Community

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state news

adult Film star mattHew rusH enters drug program aFter tHird arrest staff report

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iltoN maNors, fla. | Gay adult film star Matthew Rush was arrested and booked by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Wilton Manors on Jan. 17, the third time he’s been arrested in South Florida since September, according to the gay porn blog Str8UpGayPorn.

Rush, whose real name is Gregory Andrew Grove, was initially arrested Sept. 19 and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rush had his felony meth possession charge dropped in November when the state felt they would be unsuccessful pursuing the charge since the only drug found on Rush was the “meth residue found in a glass pipe,” according to the Broward County booking report.

Rush was still being charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a first degree misdemeanor.

Rush’s second arrest came after his $1,000 bond was cancelled by the court. Court documents did not indicate why the bond was cancelled. Str8UpGayPorn speculated that it may have been cancelled because Rush failed to appear in court on an unrelated traffic charge.

Rush was arrested for the third time because he did not respond to the subsequent court date notices to resolve the misdemeanor charges.

A warrant for his arrest was issued earlier this month and Florida police located Rush last week and re-arrested him.

Court records indicate that Rush’s drug charges appear to be resolved and he has been ordered to enter a drug diversion program.

Rush is scheduled to appear back in court Feb. 14 where his progress

in the diversion program will likely be reviewed.

Rush, who turned 45 years old three days after his initial arrest, is best known for his many appearances in pornographic films throughout the 2000s. He also appeared in several non-porn films including 2006’s Another Gay Movie and the made-for-TV film Third Man Out. Fans of the x-rated star were left shocked by Rush’s September mugshot which had him looking thinner in the face with bloodshot eyes, sunken cheeks and graying facial hair. It was a very different look from his adult film days when he was extremely muscular and fit.

Three days before his second arrest Rush took to social media, writing “I’m fine. Thanks to everyone and their support. I’m in good health and going to lay low.

Thank you everyone.”

This was not Rush’s first run-in with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier in 2017 he was arrested on a domestic battery charge, but the charges were later dropped.

Florida man robbed at gunpoint in grindr app setup Wire report

p

aNama city, fla. | Florida police say a man thought he was going on a date set up through an app, but instead was attacked and robbed at gunpoint.

Police say 21-year-old Taborice Lee Foster lured his target using Grindr, a dating app for gay men. When the victim arrived to his home in Panama City, Foster and another man attacked him, pointing a gun from behind while searching the date’s pockets and stealing his wallet.

The Panama City News Herald reports Foster and the other man named Royquez Darrell Deloach admitted to the robbery during an interview with Panama City police.

“The victim arrived and was attacked from behind by [Deloach] with a black and green handgun while [Foster] was searching the victim’s pockets,” officers wrote. “The victim’s wallet was ultimately taken by [Foster].”

Authorities have recovered the gun used in the crime. Both men face armed robbery charges, while Foster is also accused of unlawful use of a communication device.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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When his family moved to Tennessee, Jakob went along and served his owner admirably.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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nation+world news

in other news

New HHS division slammed as tool for anti-LGBT discrimination

Washington Senate passes conversion ban, transgender bullying bills The Washington Senate has passed a bill seeking to ban therapists from trying to change a minor’s sexual orientation. Senate Bill 5722 passed on a 32-16 vote Jan. 19. The measure would deem it “unprofessional conduct” for a licensed health care provider to perform conversion therapy on a patient under the age of 18. The Senate also passed a bill meant to address transgender bullying in schools. Under Senate Bill 5766, which passed on a 30-18 vote, school districts must adopt or amend transgender student policies and procedures and develop a mandatory training class. Both measures now head to the House.

Chelsea Manning takes steps to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland The Federal Election Commission website indicates Chelsea Manning, a transgender former Army intelligence analyst who rose to national prominence for leaking sensitive information to Wikileaks, filed for candidacy to run as a Democrat in the mid-term election Jan. 11. It would be difficult for Manning to wrest the Democratic nomination from incumbent Sen. Ben Cardin, who’s seen as the overwhelmingly favorite as he runs for a third term. The primary is set for June 28. If Manning were to succeed, she’d be the first openly transgender person elected to either the U.S. House or Senate. Manning was granted clemency by President Barack Obama last year after she served seven years for leaking government secrets.

Vermont considers 3rd gender option on driver’s licenses Vermont residents who don’t identify as male or female may soon be able to choose another gender on their driver’s licenses. The Department of Motor Vehicles’ new computer system will allow for a third gender option. The state DMV asked a panel of public safety officials if the change would have an impact on police officers’ work. The Law Enforcement Advisory Board said members aren’t opposed to the idea and would remain neutral on it. The third gender option in the Vermont system hasn’t been named. DMV officials said they’d want to use something that’s uniform nationally. Oregon, California and the District of Columbia offer a third gender option in their driver’s license systems.

Alabama Senate votes to take state out of marriage business The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that would do away with marriage licenses and the requirement for people to go through a wedding ceremony. The bill comes as a few Alabama probate judges refuse to issue marriage licenses to anyone to ensure they do not have to give them to gay couples. Senators voted 19-1 for the bill on Jan. 16. It now moves to the House of Representatives.

Instead of a license issued by probate judge, couples would sign and submit a form. Couples would no longer need a wedding ceremony. Sen. Greg Albritton said his bill “truly separates the church and the state.”

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Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

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ASHINGTON | Consistent with media reports indicating the move was coming, the Department of Health & Human Services formally established a conscience division Jan. 18 that critics say will allow medical practitioners to deny abortion-related services and treatment to LGBT people on religious grounds.

Roger Severino, a former Heritage Foundation scholar and now director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights, said in a statement the new agency — called the Conscience & Religious Freedom Division — will help enforcement of laws designed to protect religious freedom.

As a Heritage Foundation scholar, Severino expressed anti-transgender views, such as opposition to allowing transgender people in the U.S. military and the Obama administration’s litigation against North Carolina’s anti-trans bathroom law House Bill 2.

Acting Secretary of Health & Human Services Eric Hargan echoed Severino’s praise for the new division.

The new division was unveiled at an HHS event with both Hargan and Severino as well as members of Congress who have anti-LGBT records, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

But LGBT groups decried the establishment of the Conscience & Religious Freedom Division on the basis that it would enable practitioners to refuse to treat transgender people or provide abortion-related services.

Creation of the division was first reported by Politico in an article indicating HHS would establish the agency as part of a proposed new rule enabling religious exemptions for medical providers. Although the new agency was created, no new rule has been published in the Federal Register.

HHS hasn’t responded to repeated inquiries from the Washington Blade on the nature of the new division or whether a new rule would be forthcoming.

In contrast to the Trump administration, the Obama

administration issued a rule interpreting the provision barring sex discrimination under Obamacare to bar medical providers from discriminating against transgender patients or women who have had abortions. After a legal challenge, however, HHS was enjoined from enforcing that rule as a result of a court order issued by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Texas.

The Center for American Progress published a report on the same day the HHS division was created indicating a significant minority of LGBT people have faced denial of services in the medical sector. The report, titled “Discrimination Prevents LGBTQ People from Accessing Health Care,” is based on a 2017 survey conducted by the organization.

Among the findings was 29 percent of transgender people surveyed said a doctor or health care provider refused to see them because of their gender identity. Another 12 percent said a health care provider refused to provide them transition-related care.

For individuals who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer, the survey found 8 percent said a doctor or other health care provider refused to see them because of their sexual orientation. Another 6 percent said a doctor or other health care provider refused to give them health care related to being lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer.

Russian leaders call for expulsion of cadet pilots over dormitory underwear dance video Wire Report

M

OSCOW | An underwear dance video filmed in a college dormitory nearly got some Russian cadet pilots expelled and sparked a discussion among Russia’s political elite.

The mock striptease recorded by cadets at the Ulyanovsk Civil Aviation Institute went viral. Some Russian politicians called on the public training school located in Lenin’s birthplace to expel the students. The Federal Agency for Air Transportation decried the video as an “immoral incident” and an “insult to civil aviation professionals.”

The students’ all-male rendition of the official video for Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” showed a dozen freshmen wearing boxer shorts, boots, chest straps and cadet caps, thrusting their hips to the beat as they walked

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

around the dorm, mopped the floor and ironed their shirts.

The college video looks light-hearted, but the outcry over it highlights Russian unease with gay visibility.

Following legislation in several regions, Russia adopted a federal law in 2013 prohibiting the dissemination to minors of “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.”

The law has been condemned as an outright ban on public discussions of LGBT issues, but authorities defend it as being in the interest of children.

Students at colleges elsewhere in Russia have recorded their own videos as tributes to the one made by the Ulyanovsk cadets.

Ulyanovsk Governor Sergei Morozov ordered an investigation of whether the future pilots who reportedly filmed the video in the dorm violated the institute’s charter. But

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

Morozov disagreed that the students deserved to be expelled.

The region’s transportation prosecutors concluded that the cadets and their video that “displayed signs of erotica” didn’t violate any laws or school rules. However, they issued a warning to the college’s rector for “failing to ensure the educational process.”

The prosecutors’ statement comes after two days of intense public discussion.

Ivan Mokhanchuk, a member of the Kremlin-sponsored People’s Front movement, argued that the video was damaging to Russia’s image abroad.

“Is this what they’re going to show to our enemies?” Mokhanchuk fumed.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the eccentric leader of the LDPR party, rushed to the freshmen’s defense, saying he thinks they were undressed because the dorm was too hot.

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viewpoint

Nathan Bruemmer

keeping it real The Reality of Growing Up LGBTQIA+ Today

W

hat’s it like

growing up LGBTQIA+ in 2018? It depends on whom you ask and where you live. The general perception from generation to generation is that youth have it better, but for this generation of LGBTQIA+ youth, even before the change in administration, it is a much more complicated answer.

The progress of social equality has been impressive over the last decade or two. Today we live in country with marriage equality, more resources, more support and fewer challenges than in the past. However, not all Florida communities have embraced this progress. Even communities with a progressive citizenry may not have progressive city councils, county commissions, school boards or school board policies.

As a Florida native, I have lived and worked in several counties in Florida. I have experienced diverse policies and attitudes toward the LGBTQIA+ community throughout my life. When I was a student in the public school system in Florida, I was outed, I was bullied and I was ostracized. No teacher stood up for me. My principal encouraged me to leave his school because I was “causing the problem.” I later worked as a public schoolteacher and experienced life before Gay Straight Alliances (GSA’s) and before a teacher could even consider being out to their students. I have vocally and publicly advocated against this ideology since the late 1990s. Recently, I accepted

a position as the Executive Director of ALSO Youth in Sarasota, one of the few LGBTQIA+ youth community centers in the state of Florida. I took this position thinking I understood the issues facing our youth.

I was mistaken.

When I started advocating in the 1990s, because of my experiences, I wanted to become a super advocate.

I researched. I read. I knew that local politicians needed more information before they would change policies. I wanted to be armed with the latest statistics for bullying, anxiety and depression, impacts on educational outcomes and the horrific rates of suicide. When I met with folks who didn’t think our kids mattered, my research prepared me to go to battle and advocate otherwise. I battled a lot over the last 20 years and I thought I understood the impact of discrimination.

It certainly isn’t like it used to be. We have come so far. Many youth have wonderful experiences with amazingly supportive families. Surely, some youth still need us to advocate, but generally we are in a much better place – right? No. I was mistaken.

I started at ALSO Youth in August under an administration with a clear, loud and repeated message: this administration does not have the back of our LGBTQIA+ youth. Policies have been rolled back from the Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of Defense and many others.

Our kids are savvy and they know what this means.

I didn’t understand the impact of these policy changes. Not really. Not until I took this job. Not until I sat with and listened to youth recount stories of abuse and discrimination every single week. Not until I saw their faces, saw their tears and realized these are only the stories I hear. I can’t share

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

with you specifics due to confidentiality, but I can tell you our kids are being bullied and confronting physical and verbal violence in Florida schools on a daily basis.

What I have learned in a few short months is that there is still a lot of work to

youth need to see adults like them reflected in society, in books, in movies and in the stories adults share.

Coming out can still be hard and scary. On average, our youth are coming out earlier. Rejection by families and the community has serious impacts, conversion

Good policies can change lives. Great policies can save lives. Some of our youth are hearing messaging from elected officials or adults entrusted with their care that they don’t matter or that they shouldn’t exist.

This can have dangerous consequences when a

do across our state. I plan to explore the reality of growing up LGBTQIA+ in 2018 in future columns, but for now I share with you some enduring truths: Resources matter. Our youth need and want safe spaces. Our youth need compassionate and knowledgeable adults who are their doctors, teachers, counselors, coaches and more.

Visibility matters. Our

therapy is still allowed in some jurisdictions and homelessness can sometimes result.

The Internet is both helpful and harmful. Our youth can find so many amazing resources online, but online bullying is a far more significant issue that school districts are just starting to address because it impacts far more on campus than initially realized.

youth is already struggling with anxiety, depression or suicidal ideation.

Yes, life is still complicated in 2018. Yes, it gets better, but it only gets better when we make it better. Our youth don’t need to be leading the fight. Our youth need adults to do this.

Our youth need us. Although, most of my kids are pretty amazing and will be right there with us fighting the good fight.

Our youth don’t need to be leading the fight.

Our youth need adults to do this. Our youth need us.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

viewpoint

Photo by Jess regan

Scottie Campbell

The Tender

activist

I

You’re Not Responsible Enough to Have a Gun n the aftermath of

the June 12, 2016, shooting here in Orlando, my dad and I had a discussion about guns.

Like all of our discussions on that topic, nobody was swayed. I certainly didn’t help things when I had a knee-jerk reaction to a “the gun doesn’t kill people” bon mot he lobbed at me. Fresh off hearing Rick Scott regurgitate an impotent cliché for the national media about the Second Amendment itself not killing everyone, I snapped.

“You people,”—I referenced all gun owners as one cancerous lump, an excellent persuasive tactic— “need to come to the table with a reasonable plan for gun control or we’re going to take them all away.”

Here’s the best part: I summarized my feelings with, “This is the line in the sand, my friend.” Gold, right? If Charles Bronson and Mohandas Gandhi had a love child, this is surely how they would have stated their case.

Despite this evidence, I am still willing to have a discussion about gun control, though my true and solid belief is no human on earth is responsible enough to touch a gun.

Spiritually we know we are easily ruled by two emotions: fear and anger. Both are big business. It works in marketing: take this pill so you’ll no longer be fat because fat people die or, worse yet, people don’t like fat people! It works in politics: vote for me or the other person will eat your children! It works in our daily life: be on time, even though there is nothing that actually needs to be done precisely

at that time, because otherwise I will fire you!

Science has studied this and has deemed it the “fight or flight response.”

All animals are instilled with it. At one time it was particularly useful to humans because there were lots of things roaming earth that wanted to eat us.

Now, centuries after we traded in our caves for condos, we don’t really know what to do with this physiological reaction a majority of the time and it manifests itself in ways that range from momentarily harmful—snapping at a cashier—to irrevocably terrible—shooting a gun in the heat of the moment.

When I was about 7 or 8, Dad did something any gun owner with young children should do: he taught me about guns. Before we got around to shooting the gun, he taught me how it worked and how it came apart.

We dismantled bullets to explain how they worked.

I was taught not point a gun at someone, even if it was my cap gun Winchester— which completely defeated the purpose of having the toy. Who wants to play Cowboys and Indians while shooting in the air?

While Dad was stationed in Michigan, I took hunting safety in middle school as part of a trifecta of essential pre-teen life skills, rounded out with boating safety and snowmobile safety. Once our science teacher, Mr. Spade, awarded our certification we were able to get a license and go hunting, which I did with Dad. As a germinating gay boy, those hunting outings were wrapped in the same machismo I associated with playing sports or trying to learn how to fix a car.

I was awkward in these areas, always intimidated by this sense that everyone around me had innate knowledge I did not. It’s possible that my perception of the hunting experience laid the foundation for my

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

aversion to guns. It’s also more probable the seed was planted the day our family friend, John, told me and my dad to hold still then, from a distance of 20 feet or so from us, he shot across our path. I’m not sure what kind of rifle John was toting, but I do know the rabbit was

begging) from my parents to take a practical career path. While the world has made positive changes over my 51 years, coming out in the late ‘80s was hardly in vogue. Despite being raised in a Republican household, I initially registered as a Democrat.

wonderful rejoinder to the “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” cliché: “But I think the gun helps, you know?” Izzard’s boundless wit aside, the logic of the cliché isn’t wasted on me. I accept that a gun-free world is a fantasy, but I do not

headless when he retrieved the carcass.

It’s important for us to consider the origins of our opinions. I’ve considered whether my gun stance isn’t just a temptation toward discordance. I’ve always found myself leading the life of “the other” and I’ve spent time considering if these were reasoned choices or just an attempt to be contrary. I was a theatre major, despite eye rolls (and

Seeing too many news stories of children accidentally shooting each other while playing with their parents guns, resisting the instinct to go numb with each mass shooting, feeling helpless anger each time an unarmed person is shot or another gun goes off in a purse and kills—the list goes on. My stance is firmly built on blood and an out-of-control body count.

Eddie Izzard has a

accept that America’s gun culture is immutable.

We must address the “people” part of that equation. I’ve committed myself to finding ways of helping it change, without counterproductive lines in the sand. This is how I will honor the 49 and, whether he realizes it or not, show respect to Dad.

Spiritually we know we are easily ruled by two emotions: fear and anger. Both are big business.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

talking points

GRINDR was vOted as the

app that made users

THe MOsT unHAPPY,

fOllOwed by

CANDY CRUSH SAGA

It’s exactly like being a straight athlete. Lots of hard work but usually done with better eye brows.

—icE skatEr adam rippoN, first opENly gay u.s. maN to Qualify for olympics, WhEN askEd What it’s likE to bE a gay athlEtE.

gay lead character “straight-washed” in nbc drama rIsE

N

bc drama RISE, Which folloWs “lou,” a straight high school tEachEr played by Josh Radnor who chooses Spring Awakening for his first production at the school, is being criticized as “straight-washing” the lead character. Rise is based on the non-fiction book Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town and the Magic of Theater by Michael Sokolove which explores the real-life Lou’s teaching experiences while struggling with his sexuality.

Executive producer Jason Katims explained during the Television Critics Association press tour that he changed Lou’s sexuality so he could relate more to the character, saying that the book was used more as an inspiration and not as a direct adaptation. Katims promises that even with Lou being straight the show won’t “shy away from issues of sexuality,” saying that there will be a transgender student and a closeted gay teen featured in the show.

Rise premieres March 13 on NBC.

AND FACEBOOK.

CALM, gOOgLe CALenDAR

AND HeADsPACe

were named the tOp 3 apps that made users happy.

—a poll of 200,000 iphoNE usErs coNductEd by thE WEbsitE timE WEll spENt

andrew christian emails tOm daley’s leaked nude phOtOs tO custOmers

u

NdErWEar braNd aNdrEW christiaN’s rEcENt Email blast featuring Tom Daley’s leaked nude photos has sparked controversy and been deemed unprofessional. The 23-year-old British Olympic diver’s photos were reportedly taken in 2016 when he and now-husband Dustin Lance Black were on break for a few months. Andrew Christian sent an email blast Jan. 10 to its customer database with the title “TOM DALEY LEAKED NUDES!!” Inside the email were two naked photos of Daley.

“See Tom like you’ve never seen him before,” the email read along with a link inviting customers to check out more of his photos on their website.

The website link to the photos has since been removed.

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funkO annOunces first line Of rUPAUl’s DrAG rACE pOp! vinyls

c

lEar somE spacE oN your shElf because Funko, the U.S. toy company known for creating toys and collectibles based on pop culture properties, announced on Twitter that the first line of Pop! Vinyl figures based on RuPaul’s Drag Race have been released. The Drag Race series of vinyl characters will start with three figures: the show’s namesake RuPaul; All Stars 2 winner Alaska; and Trixie Mattel, who is scheduled to appear in All Stars 3. The figures are available exclusively from Hot Topic in both their stores and online as of mid-January. RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 3 airs Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. on VH1.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

german PlAYBOY tO feature 1st transgender mOdel On cOver

t

hE gErmaN EditioN of PLAYBOY magaziNE says it will feature a transgender model on its cover for the first time. Editor-in-chief Florian Boitin said that putting Giuliana Farfalla on the cover—topless, as is customary for such magazines in Germany—was in line with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner’s tradition of being “resolutely opposed to all forms of exclusion and intolerance.” Boitin says the 21-year-old Farfalla is a “wonderful example of how important the fight for the right to self-determination is.” Farfalla, born in southwestern Germany, is already well-known in the country as a contestant last year on Heidi Klum’s Germany’s Next Top Model television show. U.S. Playboy featured a transgender “Playmate of the Month” last year.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

in-depth: lgbtQ elders

agiNg gracEfully:

Chris lesisco (L) with long-time partner and husband Al Pfeiffer (R).

PHOTO By JAKE STEVEnS

THE RAinBOW

lacking resources For an aging lgbtQ community

a

steve Blanchard

giNg is a rEality WE all

face. Everyone gets older and everyone eventually finds himself or herself in the twilight years.

But for older LGBTs, aging can be more challenging than for their heterosexual counterparts. That’s mostly because resources and those who provide them are not

specifically geared toward the LGBT community. “A lot of older LGBT people find themselves alone and they

cOntinued On pg. 27 | uu |

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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| uu | LGBTQ Elders from pg.25

are afraid to go into assisted living because they think they have to go back into the closet,” says Ken Terrell, manager of Older Adults with Knowledge (OAK) in Central Florida. “I have worked with the older community for several years and I’ve found that all too often, older LGBT people are disowned by their families, their children… all because of who they are. So they find themselves alone and with few resources.”

According to the American Psychological Association, 39 million people in the United States are over the age of 65. Of that group, 2.4 million identify as LGBTQ and the numbers will only grow as the Baby Boomer generation continues to retire.

“Psychological service providers and caregivers for older adults need to be sensitive to the histories and concerns of LGBT people and to be open-minded, affirming and supportive towards older LGBT adults,” says Michael Adams, CEO of Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE). “This ensures accessible and competent quality care for older LGBTs who face unique challenges.”

And those challenges can be far reaching and varied. Older LGBTs deal with health disparities across areas related to physical and mental health, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and more.

According to a 2011 national health study, more than half of the respondents have been told by a doctor that they have depression, 39 percent have seriously considered suicide and 53 percent feel isolated from others.

Isolation can often lead to even more difficulties for aging LGBTs, many of who may not have children of their own.

That’s why groups like The Prime Timers exist, according to Central Florida chapter president Ken Barnard. Prime Timers Central Florida has welcomed older gay men to its group since the mid-1990s and it continues to be a resource for older gay men in Central Florida.

“We have retired and semi-retired members,” says Barnard, 72. “Not everyone likes to go to bars and not everyone is just looking for a date. Many guys just want to be social and we provide an outlet through a lot of

If you don’t wallow in the tragedies that you might have gone through, you’re a better and happier person than people who say, ‘Oh my God, it was so bad.’

It was a lot of fun going through life when I first came out. When I would go out it was about sitting in the back of the bar away from the windows so people couldn’t see you. That sounds scary but it was exciting. I want to have a positive feeling about life and I continue to live that way. That’s my philosophy.

—Orlando resident Al Pfeiffer

different activities, like bowling, dinners, lunches. We also meet up for game days and coffee hours.

It’s an outlet some men may not otherwise have.”

Currently, the group boasts more than 80 members. Barnard says that number is always changing as friends invite others to join or if someone moves to Orlando from out of the area.

“We welcome everyone,” Barnard explains. “It’s a way for us to stay active and to stay involved as well as connect with others with similar interests.”

Barnard is quick to point out that there are no age restrictions when it comes to the Prime Timers.

But sometimes, older LGBTs find different ways of enjoying their senior years.

Orlando resident Al Pfeiffer has encountered his fair share of challenges during his 82 years on the planet. One of his children doesn’t speak to him any longer and he says that two of his five grandchildren don’t even know

that he’s alive.

But he doesn’t let the challenges keep him down. In fact, he says he’s thriving in his 80s.

“Growing up in the 1970s and ‘80s as a gay person, you always felt persecuted,” Pfeiffer says. “You were the odd-ball person. Now I don’t think the gay community feels that way. That’s helpful. You can enjoy life.”

A lot has changed during Pfeiffer’s eight decades. He saw the AIDS epidemic first-hand, got arrested for soliciting a police officer in a bar, celebrated the legalization of marriage equality and married his longtime partner, Chris Lesisco, who happens to be 24 years his junior.

“Most of the people I spend time with are in their 40s and 50s,” Pfeiffer says. “I don’t really like categories. I prefer being a part of groups that are for everyone.”

Pfeiffer knows he’s seen a lot of cultural changes during his lifetime. But suprisingly, he’s not terribly interested in discussing

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

what he’s seen.

“It’s never really occurred to me to offer a historical perspective,” Pfeiffer says. “I think the only thing I can express to people is how lucky you are at your age to have the freedom of being who you are.

But I don’t think that’s something I preach. I’ll address it if it comes up in conversation. Maybe it’s selfish on my part, but I want to participate in the same freedoms that people who are younger have and that I didn’t have when I first came out.”

When Pfeiffer did come out, a psychologist didn’t offer much help other than suggesting he “get a boys magazine and jerk off in the bathroom,” Pfeiffer recalls.

“I guess if I was a professor and my subject matter was gay, there would be a lot more for me to add to a discussion. But I look back and just see that it’s funny or strange, the things that I had to go through to get here.”

What Pfeiffer does offer from his past is limited. He was married

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

to a woman when he came out and is the father of two. He’s proud of his accomplishments and says he doesn’t focus on the negative since we all “only get to go around one time.”

“If you don’t wallow in the tragedies that you might have gone through, you’re a better and happier person than people who say, ‘Oh my God, it was so bad,’” Pfeiffer says. “It was a lot of fun going through life when I first came out. When I would go out it was about sitting in the back of the bar away from the windows so people couldn’t see you. That sounds scary but it was exciting.

I want to have a positive feeling about life and I continue to live that way. That’s my philosophy.

According to Adams, Pfeiffer’s outlook isn’t all that uncommon among older LGBTQ Americans.

“It turns out that those life experiences that come with age — no matter how painful and difficult

Continued on pg. 31 | uu |

27

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| uu | LGBTQ Elders from pg.27

— make many of us more resilient and more optimistic, not less,” Adams shares. “In fact, recent research indicates that the older you are, the more upbeat and happy you are likely to be, at least if you’re LGBT.” While Pfeiffer seems to have put negative experiences behind him and remains focused on the present and future, not every older LGBT person is able to do that. Too many find themselves struggling, choosing between paying rent or purchasing medicines.

“There are programs out there for older Americans, but there aren’t enough programs focused on the specific needs of the aging LGBT populations,” Terrell says.

“Training is essential for older LGBT people to feel safe and comfortable with agencies. They shouldn’t have to continuously worry about stigma and discrimination, but they do.”

And while there are a handful of communities across the country for LGBT elders, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure LGBT seniors are treated with dignity and respect, especially those who may not have a partner or a support system.

“We need more services and housing options,” says Terrell. The few retirement communities for LGBTs are out West or in areas away from cities. That doesn’t make sense because LGBTs are always very prominent in urban areas.

“We also need to ensure that our elders are comfortable receiving healthcare. Too many have seen prejudices in healthcare before and are afraid to be honest with their healthcare providers.

That does more harm than good.”

Aging Issues A

s people enter into their golden years, issues such as elder abuse, age discrimination and economic security become real concerns to many at a time when they should be enjoying life.

These concerns can be even more daunting if you are LGBTQ, as many elders in the community face homophobic and transphobic caregivers, healthcare providers and heterosexual elders. Below are just a few highlights of the issues and concerns facing aging LGBTQ people.

Fear of Discrimination

social setting: OWL member, Linda Fleming, working on an Easter project.

Photo courtesy of geroge wallace

A lifetime of discrimination, according to Adams, can make older LGBT people less trusting at a time in their life when they need the most assistance.

“Just like other older Americans, LGBT elders rely on community services funded by the federal Older Americans Act,” Adams says. “They rely on federal support for senior housing. They rely on the progress the federal government has encouraged through training of aging service providers and the establishment of anti-discrimination protections.

“These programs and protections are even more essential for elders who are LGBT, people of color and members of other diverse elder communities – all of whom are especially vulnerable due to the accumulated effects of lifetimes of discrimination and

marginalization.”

And it’s not just large agencies that can help, according to Terrell. He encourages everyone to get involved, even if it just means spending an hour or two a week with an older person in the community. That simple interaction, he says, can make a world of difference.

“We should all take the time to get to know an older person,” Terrell says. “Don’t judge a book by its cover. The older generation is our history and you can learn a lot by spending some time with an elder. You may learn that they knew Martin Luther King Jr., or that they were at the Stonewall Riots in New York. Our older generations have stories to share and we shouldn’t be afraid to listen to them and to offer them some company.”

Resources SAGE Tampa Bay

MetroTampaBay.org/SAGE Metro Community Center 3251 3rd Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33713

The OWL (Older, Wiser, Learning) Program

Meeting expectations: OWL members gather at The Center.

Photo courtesy of george wallace

Jeremy Williams

The Center, Orlando The CenterOrlando.com/ Senior-Owl-Program 946 N Mills Ave Orlando, FL 32803 Info@TheCenterOrlando.org

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Many aging LGBTQ people do not disclose their identities to their physicians, nurses or caregivers. Twenty-two percent of LGBTQ older adults in long-term care facilities felt they could not be open about their LGBTQ identity with facility staff, 89 percent predicted that staff would discriminate based on their sexual orientations and/or gender identities and 43 percent reported instances of mistreatment. LGBTQ elders also face a greater risk of social isolation and neglect as they’re twice as likely to live alone or be single and 3-4 times less likely to have children.

Living in Poverty

Thanks to a lifetime of workplace discrimination and a lack of protections, LGBTQ elders are faced with a disproportionately higher rate of poverty. Twenty-four percent of lesbians and 15 percent of gay and bisexual men are considered poor, compared to 19 percent and 13 percent of heterosexual women and men, respectively. One study even found that 9.1 percent of elder lesbian couples and 4.9 percent of elder gay couples suffered in extreme poverty.

Health Issues

LGBTQ elders face higher percentages of physical health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis, cataracts, diabetes and more. Mental health concerns are higher among LGBTQ elders as well with more than half suffering with depression; 39 percent reporting they have seriously thought of suicide; and 53 percent feeling isolated from others. HIV is another area of great concern among LGBTQ elders.

Fifty percent of the people living with HIV in the U.S. are over the age of 50. This group includes longtime survivors, but also new diagnosed individuals with 15 percent of new HIV cases coming from people age 50 and older. Many healthcare providers do not test LGBTQ elders for HIV as they assume they are no longer sexually active but 53 percent of adults age 65-74 and 26 percent of adults age 75-85 report being active with one or more partners.

Transgender Concerns

Few aging providers offer cultural competence training or outreach specific to transgender communities. Many older transgender adults are not getting the support they need, and many are reluctant to seek services at all if they can even find a healthcare provider who will see them or insurance policy that will cover them. Due to the widespread discrimination against transgender individuals they are more likely to experience higher rates of disability, general poor health, depression, anxiety, loneliness and suicidal ideation.

—Statistics provided by SAGEUSA.org

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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arts and entertainment

at pEacE: Arrigo calls VOLTA’s 8-10 shows a week “super strenuous on the body and moreso on the brain,” advising he works out every day to keep himself healthy and happy.

PHOTO By HElEn TAnSEy

JOEY ARRIGO LEADS

CiRQue Du sOLeiL’S

VOLTA TO TAMPA

O

the

Dream

ryan Williams-Jent

ut aErialist, daNcEr

and choreographer Joey Arrigo portrays the lead in VOLTA, Cirque du Soleil’s 41st original production, but his story with the largest theatrical producer in the world actually began at age 5 with a VHS tape.

He says he watched his parents’ VHS tape, which featured one of the company’s first shows, “so many times, not even really comprehending what it was and what it even took to get there.”

More importantly, he asserts, it “sparked something in me.”

It’s that spark that he hopes to bring to VOLTA, written and directed by Bastien Alexandre, with Jean Guibert as the director of creation. With music by international electronic group M83, it tells the story of Arrigo’s character “Waz” in a tale about “being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and the power of the group to make that possible.”

Watermark spoke with Arrigo ahead of VOLTA’s Feb. 14 Tampa Bay stop about the Toronto native’s love for dance, being out in the professional dancing world and living his dream as a performer for Cirque du Soleil. cOntinued On pg. 35 | uu |

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| uu | Cirque du soleil frOm pg.33

WATErMArK: what led yOu tO pursue a life in dance?

JOey arrigO: Oh my goodness, well that takes us back about 25, 26 years. I popped out the womb and basically started dancing. I have an older sister, it’s the classic Chorus Line story of, y’know, my parents put my sister into dance and I was always accompanying my mother to pick her up and drop her off.

I was drawn to it naturally.

There was another class going on in another room with the advanced dancers, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them. I was basically pressing my nose up against the door until somebody took the cue to put me in my own class, and literally the rest was history.

I got so involved with it so quickly at such a young age, and I never pictured myself doing anything else. And it wasn’t long after that, I was 5 years old when I saw my very first anything with Cirque de Soleil and somehow I just knew that was my goal and that’s where I needed to end up. what was that first shOw yOu saw?

It was actually one of Cirque de Soleil’s first shows. My parents had it on VHS and I was watching it in my living room. I knew it was something super special and I watched it so many times, not even really comprehending what it was and what it even took to get there. It sparked something in me, and this company was always something that I held on a pedestal.

When I joined the company, coming up four years ago now, it really meant a lot to me. I was really excited to plant some roots here, because it was everything I imagined it to be and so many more things. yOu’re alsO a teacher.

I started teaching at a pretty young age. I was about 15, 16 when I got my first jobs as a teacher. I’ve taught some master classes in Europe, Australia, and I’ve done a great deal of choreography in both Canada and the United States. Definitely something that really fuels me because teaching is in my blood: my dad is an instrumental music teacher and my grandfather on my mother’s side is a math

Waz isn’t necessarily a gay character, but it’s anything, maybe your nose is too big, maybe you’ve gained a few extra pounds, maybe there’s things that you don’t like about yourself— and it may be that those things are somebody else’s favorite thing about you.

—JoEy arrigo

flyiNg high: Joey Arrigo heads to the top in VOLTA, Cirque du Soleil’s 41st original production. PHOTO ©2017 CIRQuE Du SOlEIl InC., COSTuMES: ZAlDy teacher. It’s kind of just in my nature to take the skills I have and share them to help other dancers build their own skills.

have yOu eXperienced any challenges Or benefits tO being Openly gay in yOur line Of wOrk?

Definitely—I mean, I guess I could find benefits here and there. The cons stopped as soon as I became comfortable with myself. At the point where somebody really decides to accept themselves for who they are and really kind of march their own path, that’s when all of those other problems go away.

Any outside opinions or judgments on who you are and what you’re doing, that stuff

goes away so quickly when you know who you are and you’re comfortable with your own self.

I do feel as though being a gay man working in an industry in dance where, especially in competitive dance studios where the majority of dancers are girls, it comes off less threatening.

It comes off that I’m kind of on the same page as them, and I do find as though that my gayness comes out just a little bit stronger when I’m teaching because it’s less threatening.

what was it like tO reach yOur gOal Of wOrking fOr cirQue du sOleil?

When I first auditioned, I was super lucky because it was my 18th birthday and there was a

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

dancer audition in Toronto, where I’m from, so I was like, “wow, I guess I have to go.”

I went, and right from there they saw my skills and put me into the database. They basically said “we’ll call ya if a job pops up.” No more than two months later they had offered me a job that was touring Japan for two years. Not only did I have other contracts that I was already assigned toward, I was already in talks of doing So You Think You Can Dance Canada that following year, so there wasn’t any way I could run off to Japan.

I also felt as though that this is a huge opportunity and this is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I didn’t feel that at 18 years old I was ready to fulfill this. I don’t

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think I would do it the way that I wanted to, so I respectfully declined and kicked myself for about three years because I threw away that job.

Oh wOw. where did yOu gO frOm there?

I said, “if it’s meant to be it’ll come back around.” Cirque du Soleil wasn’t going anywhere, and I once again went to an audition and the casting directors all remembered me. I walked in the door and they greeted me by my name, so that was a great feeling. And they were like, “well, what are you doing here? You’re already on the database.” And I was like, “well, I don’t have a job

cOntinued On pg. 37 | uu |

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frEE spirits: The show’s cast of dancers, the free spirits of the world, introduce Arrigo’s character Waz to the power of loving yourself for who you are. PHOTO ©2017 CIRQuE Du SOlEIl InC., COSTuMES: ZAlDy

| uu | Cirque du soleil frOm pg.35

yet – so, get goin’, kids!”

Once again we played the waiting game, and I continued to do odd jobs here and there. No more than nine months later they had contacted me about that exact same job that I had turned down in 2010, so I immediately said yes and ran away with the circus.

what draws yOu tO yOur character Of waZ?

He’s not only a relatable character to myself, but was built to be a relatable character to everyone who’s watching. Waz is a man who’s trying to find his way and place in this world, just like the rest of us. And Waz has the insecurity and the complex of [having] blue feathers [for] hair, and it’s something that he was always ridiculed for as a child.

This story is really about learning to love himself, despite those feathers, and really learning to love the person that he really is. Waz leaves the world that he’s currently in and he goes out to find the “free spirits” of the world,

the people who know all about love, self-acceptance and accepting others for their differences and how beautiful that is.

When he learns that’s what we all strive for in life, that’s my favorite thing about this show. Everyone has their own metaphorical blue feathers that, in time, we all learn to overcome and become our own “free spirits.” it seems like sOmething that’ll resOnate with the lgbtQ cOmmunity.

Absolutely. Waz isn’t necessarily a gay character, but it’s anything, maybe your nose is too big, maybe you’ve gained a few extra pounds, maybe there’s things that you don’t like about yourself—and it may be that those things are somebody else’s favorite thing about you. And it’s what makes you different and distinct. why shOuld first time and lOngtime fans Of cirQue du sOleil see vOlta?

Cirque du Soleil has taken a huge turn in the direction of what they’re doing with VOLTA. They’ve created a number of shows in the last 34 years, and many of those

shows have been about taking our audience into a different world. We’ve been to all of those worlds and we’ve been to all of those magical places, and now we’re ready to talk about real life, and ready to bring a strong message about what our life is.

What I’ve learned through this process is that true acting is just being, and really tapping into true emotions that you’ve experienced in your own life to show what you’re wanting to show onstage.

It’s really fun being able to play this character and learn not only new things about myself as an artist, but as a person as well.

Knowing that when I look out into a crowd and see faces light up that we’re on this journey together, and I’m doing something right.

VOLTA will be presented under the Big Top at the Tampa Greyhound Track starting Feb. 14, 2018. For more information about Cirque du Soleil or to buy tickets, visit www. cirquedusoleil.com.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

theater

Porn on the Job

Chris Harder brings his one-man show, Porn To be a star,, to the Footlight Theatre at the Parliament House

(abOve)

a star is porN:

Adult film star Chris Harder entertains in his one man show, Porn To Be A Star.

PHOTO By DAVID AyllOn

“‘p

Jeremy Williams

oor littlE porN star,’ his

somber, dark gaze seemed to convey, though in my mind I suddenly imagined I was seated at the head of a garishly decorated room, noise makers filling the air, the guest of honor at his surprise pity party, so generously thrown on my behalf.”

The opening line to gay adult film star Chris Harder’s HuffPost article titled “Exiting the Porn Star Pity Party” is one of many encounters Harder has had with individuals

who have seen one of his movies and felt the need to tell him he’s better than that.

“I wrote that piece originally because when I was doing a lot of

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

porn I ran into an acquaintance, like it says in the article, who just wanted me to know I was still a good person and that I was more than porn,” Harder says. “And while I appreciated that, I get where he was going, I think there is reluctance in most people, no matter how liberal we may think we are, that believe someone who is in the sex industry can’t be satisfied working in the sex industry.”

Harder —who along with being a porn star is a go-go dancer, burlesque performer, writer, comedian and stage actor— felt compelled to write the HuffPost article to address the “issues” people think he must have

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

because he does porn.

“They always goes back to those stereotypes that if you’re in the sex industry, then you’re either a non-success or you have some kind of addiction or it’s like your last chance to do something with your life,” Harder says. “Granted, there are certain people you meet in all aspects of life that can fall into those categories but I can say I’ve met plenty of people in the industry who are just living their lives and enjoy the work they do. I rode that rollercoaster, quite literally, and I just moved onto other interests but I don’t regret porn.”

That led Harder to create his one-man show, Porn To Be A Star, which he brings to the Footlight Theatre at the Parliament House for one night only Feb. 3. Porn To Be A Star is a comedic look at the adult film industry and addresses those stereotypes people have associated with Harder and the entire pornography business, but the current show is a far cry from where Harder began with it.

“The show has gone under a large transformation over the past year,” Harder says. “I started writing it about a year and a half ago, and it was originally called Big Bright Star which was more of my life story told in a cheeky way. After I toured it in Ft. Lauderdale I decided to do a big rewrite to make it more of a ‘slice of life of porn.’”

Porn To Be A Star features Harder portraying several different characters, including himself, as they vie for the prestigious Porn Star of the Year Award at the fictional Dirty Dish Porn Awards.

“It’s a look at what winning this award would mean to each of them,” Harder says. “I take on these porn star stereotypes, based off of guys that I’ve worked with, and ask what it means to be a star, especially in today’s world of social media.”

Harder says the show isn’t just applicable to performers in the adult film industry but a broader look at what it means to have a “celebrity status,” especially online and on social media.

cOntinued On pg. 41 | uu |

39

Got Mustard?

We’ve got more weiner than we can handle.

www.DareToRescue.com

THE BARBER FUND HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH CANCER

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

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ONE LOVE!

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

In Memory of John “Tweeka” Barber 1972 - 2011

| uu | Porn to be a Star from pg.39

“Anyone with a presence on Twitter or Instagram will recognize some of these character traits,” Harder says, “and what it really means to have that fame and what you go through when it seems to slow down or go away.”

While Harder’s characters take on porn industry stereotypes—a social media obsessed twink, a seedy film director and a set of gay-for-pay, Irish twins just to name a few— this isn’t a tell-all, insider look where he names names.

“A lot of the characters are based off of my experiences but I never directly attribute anything to anyone,” Harder says. “I take plenty of shots at myself and I also take shots at other porn star identities, if you want to call it that. But one way or another it’s all based off of my experiences.”

One character Harder portrays in Porn To Be A Star that offers a different perspective of the porn industry is that of his own mother. The scene puts Harder in his mother’s shoes as she leaves him a voicemail about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

She expresses her equal parts support and fear of not only having a gay son but a child in the porn industry.

Harder says it was difficult when he opened up to his family about being in the adult film industry, something he admits he did in a bit of a cowardly manner.

“I did it by email. I sent it to my close family when I was first starting to get into porn and it looked like I was going to be contracted for a while,” Harder says. “I wanted them to hear it from me for several different reasons. I’m from a small town and I am still fairly close with my family, even now after being in the porn industry. And, you know, understandably, they did not take it the greatest, but they didn’t disown me either.”

Harder grew up in North Dakota, about two hours north of the state capital of Bismarck, in a small town called Minot where he got into theater and art as a teenager. After graduating from the University of North Dakota he moved to New York to become a “serious actor.”

“I did a lot of children’s theater and I did a few Off-Off-Off-Broadway things, and then I very much randomly fell

many faces: Chris Harder plays several porn stereotypes, and his mother, in his one man show playing at the Footlight Theatre. Photo courtesy chris harder into go-go dancing. From there the rest kind of just became history,” Harder says.

Harder’s love of theater was another reason he wanted to create his one-man show.

“Part of me wanted to get back into writing,” he says. “I started writing short, one-act plays that had a lot of burlesque influence in them. I eventually got to the point where I was ready to write about my porn career. I wanted to have a more sex positive way to approach an industry that a lot of people

think they know but don’t have a lot of firsthand experience with.

I felt this shift in myself of not wanting to pursue porn directly as a ‘porn star’ but to see how I could examine it as a writer.”

Harder says that the response has been mostly positive, with several people surprised he wrote the entire show.

“Yes I can form sentences and have an opinion about things,” Harder says with a laugh. “A lot of people told me they didn’t expect to laugh as much. I feel

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

like I present plenty of sex and sexuality in the show but I am also a comedic, weird person so there is that kind of John Waters-esque humor in the show as well.”

Something else Harder’s show contains, which one might think would be obvious with a title containing the word porn, is nudity.

“Funny enough I got several comments, mostly by male audience members, about my need to take my clothes off in the show,” he says, “which is just part

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

of the deal. I go out of my way to amplify that this is a play and it’s a part of the story. It’s not me naked on the stage just talking about getting double penetrated. I mean, I do that, but it’s all in service to the stories.”

Additional reporting by Randa Griffin.

Porn To Be A Star runs at the Footlight Theatre at the Parliament House in Orlando Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20 and are available at PHouseOrlando.

Eventbrite.com.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

community calendar

event planner

arts+entertainment

OrlandO

OrlandO

Hope & Help Grand re-Opening

Bare Beef launch Party, Jan. 26-27, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com

friday, JaN. 26, 5:00-8:00 p.m. hopE & hElp, orlaNdo

MBA 2018 Board Installation Reception, Jan. 27, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 321-800-3946; MBAOrlando.org Trevor noah, Jan. 27, Bob Carr Theater, Orlando. 407-440-7000; DrPhillipsCenter.org Vice President Joe Biden: American Promise Tour, Jan. 29, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org The Hammered lamb 5th Anniversary, Jan. 29, The Hammered Lamb, Orlando. 407-704-3200; HammeredLamb.com Mix & Mingle with Anna Eskamani, Jan. 31, The Venue, Orlando. 407-801-4896; AnnaForFlorida.com lana Del Ray, Feb. 2, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com yoga at The Center, Feb. 3, GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org AIDS Walk Orlando: Celebrity, Feb. 3, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. 407-645-2577; HopeAndHelp.org lisa lampanelli, Feb. 3, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRock.com/Live/Locations/ Orlando Chris Harder’s Porn to be a Star, Feb. 3, Footlight Theater at the Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com Carmen by flamingo del Sol, Feb. 3-4, Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Sanford. 407-321-8111; WDPAC.com

Everyone is invited to attend the grand re-opening of the Hope & Help Center of Central Florida located at 707 Mendham Blvd. in Orlando. Meet the staff and see what new programs will be offered. Food and drinks will be available. For more information visit HopeAndHelp.org.

2020 visiOn

2018 usCa all Hands Host Committee Meeting moNday, JaN. 29, 6:00-8:00 p.m. fl doh of oraNgE couNty auditorium, orlaNdo The United States Conference on AIDS will hold the second of its Host Committee meetings at the Florida Department of Health of Orange County’s auditorium.

This will be an opportunity to see what the committee does, hear updates on the upcoming conference coming to Orlando Sept. 6-9 and see how you can still get involved. The event is free and open to the public.

Former Vice President Joe Biden heads to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando Jan. 29 for a conversation on the topics that matter most to the American people in his American Promise Tour.

Christian’s Dangerous Birthday with Phi Phi O’Hara, Feb. 8, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

tampa bay The Honey Pot’s Gasparilla launch Party, Jan. 26, Honey Pot, Tampa. 813-247-4663; Facebook.com/Honey-Pot 2018 Gasparilla Pirate fest & Parade of the Pirates, Jan. 27, Downtown, Tampa.

GasparillaPirateFest.com #SwankSaturdays presents Walk the Plank, Jan. 27, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com The Glass Menagerie, Jan. 27-Feb. 18, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; freeFallTheatre.com

Well Strung, Jan. 28, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs. 727-942-5605 The Illusionists present Adam Trent, Jan. 29, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org Diana Krall, Jan. 30, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com 3rd Annual State of the St. Petersburg Economy, Jan. 30, University Student Center at USF St. Pete, St. Petersburg.

727-873-5180; USFSP.edu BInGO for the Pugs, Jan. 31, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com

localtopia 2018, Feb. 3, Williams Park, St. Petersburg. 813-500-7708; KeepSaintPetersburgLocal.org Grand Central Market, Feb. 3, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Mean Girls Party hosted

by Jonathan Bennett, Feb. 3, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com

Diamonds in Diversity 2018 saturday, fEb. 3, 6:00-11:00 p.m. rENaissaNcE tampa iNtErNatioNal plaza hotEl, tampa Come shine bright like the diamonds you are at the Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber’s 2018 Diamonds in Diversity award ceremony as they recognize the best in Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ businesses, non-profits and community champions. Dinner will be provided at the ceremony with a VIP reception for sponsors before and an after party for all that night. More information is available at DiversityTampaBay.org.

sarasOta

sarasOta Cabaret, Jan. 30, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota.

941-953-3368; VanWezel.org

Cabaret, Feb. 2, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

Sarasota Visual Arts Studio Tour, Feb. 3, Barbara Banks Photography, Sarasota.

941-993-9391; SarasotaVisual ArtistsStudios.com

The Barber of Seville, Feb. 2-4, Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Diana Krall, Feb. 6, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota.

941-953-3368; VanWezel.org

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

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

tampa bay

Outer space youth Party friday, JaN. 26, 7:00-10:00 p.m. also youth, sarasota ALSO Youth’s January youth party is going to be out of this world as the theme for the event is Outer Space. The party will have food provided by Chef Greg and a special guest will be stopping in with a telescope for a little stargazing. Several intergalacticthemed activities are planned and attendees are encouraged to dress in their most out-of-this-world attire. More information on the event and ALSO Youth’s programs can be found at ALSOYouth.org.

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TAMPA GALA

Saturday, February 24th, 2018 • 7:30 - 11pm Yo u ’re i nv i t e d t o a n e v e n i n g o f entertainment, education, and c e l e b ra t i o n ! E q u a l i t y F l o r i d a’ s 2 0 1 8 Ta m p a G a l a w i l l f e a t u re l i v e a n d s i l e n t a u c t i o n s , l i v e m u s i c , o p e n b a rs , a n d d e l i c i o u s h o rs d ’o e u vre s . T h i s y e a r ’ s event will also include an update on e q u a l i t y fro m o u r C E O N a d i n e S m i t h , a n d w e ’ l l re c o g n i z e o u t s t a n d i n g e ff o r t s i n o u r c o m m u n i t y t h a t a re c re a t i n g a b e t t e r F l o r i d a f o r u s a l l .

T P e p i n’ s H o s p i t a l i t y C e n t re • 4 1 2 1 N . 5 0 t h S t re e t , Ta m p a R . S .V. P. a n d p u r c h a s e t i c k e t s a t equalityflorida.org/tampagala or call 813-870-3735

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Sponsorship opportunities begin at $500. Please contact Mark Puskarich at mark@equalityflorida.org or visit equalityflorida.org/tampagala

Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.

All net proceeds directly benefit Equality Florida Institute, a tax exempt 501c3 non-profit organization.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR EQUALITY FLORIDA INSTITUTE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES AT FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM OR BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN FLORIDA (1.800.435.7352). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #CH7992.

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

overheard

tampa bay Out+abOut

pride-minded

t

hE fourth aNNual tampa pridE is Just arouNd thE corNEr, and the popular event has revealed this year’s theme: “Diversity Creates Community.”

In addition to the announcement, they’re also calling for all potential vendors, sponsors, partners and sponsors to get involved now—while they still can.

“Tampa Pride 2018 is set for March 24, 2018, in historic Ybor City,” the organization announced.

“Mark the dates and get your festival vendor and Diversity Parade applications in early.”

With a cap on entries, Tampa Pride doesn’t want potential vendors or parade participants to miss out on the event, which last year saw over 35,000 attendees. Sponsorships are still available for the 2018 parade for companies, organizations and individuals.

In addition, Tampa Pride says, announcements are coming, including the Tampa Pride 2018 grand marshals and grand couple. Also on the horizon are the Mr. And Miss Tampa Pride Pageant and the unveiling of the LGBTA Community Supporters Award winners.

“Besides our main festival expo, diversity parade, celebrity concert and ‘tribute to the community’ events,” they tease, “we have added two more events.”

Tampa Pride 2018 will feature a new community health and wellness area, featuring a “variety of medical groups,” and also an area which promotes artisans and new entrepreneurs.

But there are only 30 spaces available, so those interested should act quickly.

“This area of the festival will showcase emerging artists,” they advise, “craftsman and new startup businesses.”

For additional information about sponsorship opportunities, participation in any of the upcoming events or to view the organization’s latest updates, visit TampaPride.org. Interested parties can also email Sponsorship@TampaPride.org or Tampa Pride President Carrie West at c.west@ TampaPride.org.

2 days, 165 miles, $830,245

t

hE smart ridE, thE oNly hiV/aids bicyclE ridE in the country of its size to donate 100 percent of funds raised to AIDS/ HIV research, has completed its 14th year. Locally, the ride benefits charities like Metro Wellness & Community Centers in Tampa Bay. The two-day, 165-mile bike ride from Miami to Key West was originally scheduled for November 2017, but Hurricane Irma forced organizers to delay the event after she ripped through the Florida Keys.

The organization announced the completion of SMART Ride 14 on Jan. 20, grateful for community support and to all who participated—sharing that $830,245 was raised this year.

Always looking ahead, registration for next year’s event is already open. The SMART Ride 15 is scheduled for Nov. 16-17, 2018. For more information, visit thesmartride.org.

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thrEE morE yEars: Abe Gadikan, co-host Miguel fuller and Jeremy Skidmore (L-R) celebrate the renewal of HOT 101.5’s “Miguel & Holly Show” at Enigma on Jan. 13. PHOTO

By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

2

ordEr up: Enigma bartender Melvin Theriault serves up the fun on Jan. 22. PHOTO

By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

3

bradlEy bros: Tommy Rodriguez (L) and Patrick Miller share a smile and a drink at Bradley’s on 7th on Jan. 17.

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PHOTO By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

4

suNday fuNday: Alex Jiminez unwinds at the Flamingo Resort cabana bar on Jan. 14. PHOTO

By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

5

faN-tastic: lindsey Carlton Klein (L) and Grandma Pearl strike a pose at the Mr. and Ms. Flamingo pageant on Jan. 21.

PHOTO By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

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rEgioNal: Scott newberger, Richard Recupero, Bob Sanders and Tim Curren (L-R) of Regions Bank attend the Diamonds VIP Sponsorship Party at the Tampa Club on Jan. 10. PHOTO By

6

RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

7

pridE support: Sandy Hulon (L) and Tampa mayoral candidate Topher Morrison attend Watermark Wednesdays’ Tampa Pride benefit at Hamburger Mary’s Ybor on Jan. 17. PHOTO

By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

8

happy fifth: Blaine lawson (L) and Todd Penman celebrate Quench Lounge’s fifth anniversary on Jan. 20. PHOTO By RyAn WIllIAMS-JEnT

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

overheard

OrlandO Out+abOut

tymisha slays as JOsephine!

l

ocal ENtErtaiNEr, tymisha harris, oftEN sEEN pErformiNg aloNgsidE bluE for VariEtEasE and various burlesque performances at The Venue, recently slayed Mama Ru (RuPaul to those who don’t know).

Josephine! began as a pet project for Orlando Fringe’s Michael Marinaccio and Harris in late 2015.

They were later joined by the musical genius Tod Kimbro who helped to refine what they started.

Josephine! is a musical telling of the life of bisexual performer Josephine Baker, portrayed in the show by Harris.

Harris and crew recently flew to New York’s historic Off-Broadway venue, the SoHo Playhouse, to perform Josephine!, which plays through Feb. 18.

The one and only RuPaul attended the Jan. 20 performance and was so impressed by the show that Mama Ru gave the show a shout out on Twitter.

“Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play @ sohoplayhouse Starring Tymisha Harris one-woman biographical musical chronicles the extraordinary life of the iconic Josephine Baker,” Ru wrote.

Ru was also overheard telling Harris that she should be “starring in a movie version directed by Baz Luhrmann.”

Josephine! had a limited engagement at The Venue before heading to the Big Apple, but will return on March 5 at The Plaza Live with a live band as part of the Fab Fringe Fundraiser.

According Marinaccio, Josephine! will cover most of North America in 2018, with hopes will be to take the show overseas in 2019.

We’re proud to see Orlando talent taking other cities by storm.

2

patty passed up

O

VEr thE JaN. 20 aNd 21 WEEkENd across thE couNtry, women and men joined together to march on the one year anniversary of the original Women’s March held the day after President Trump’s inauguration.

The Orlando march was on Sunday, Jan. 21, at Lake Eola. The peaceful demonstration featured several speakers, but one prominent member of the LGBTQ community and a female elected official seems to have not been invited.

In a Facebook post, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan posted about her disappointment with the march organizers and their lack of diversity in having female speakers represented by members of the LGBTQ community and members of the disabled community.

“I never thought I would have to protest a women’s march. No speakers from the disabled community, and very little LGBTQ emphasis. And I was the only female elected official not invited.

Pretty disappointed in folks who should know better. So I protested, told them why, and then went to brunch. My message is always positive, even in the face of unexpected discrimination,” Sheehan wrote.

We reached out to Indivisible Florida Government Tracking, the group listed as promoters and organizers of the Women’s March event, but did not receive a response by time of press.

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COuRTESy DEE CuE

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this is mE: The Broadway Brunch Bunch channel their inner P.T. Barnum as they perform as the cast of The Greatest Showman at Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando Jan. 14. PHOTO

2

political tEam: Orange County mayor candidate Rob Panepinto (L) and his campaign manager Brooke Renney rub elbows with Watermark Remarkables at our Third Thursday event at Celebration Gardens in Winter Park Jan. 18. PHOTO

By MAIA MOnET

3

#timEsup: (L-R) State House candidate Anna Eskamoni, state House Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and state Senator linda Stewart at the Walt Disney Amphitheatre at Lake Eola for the one year anniversary of the Women’s Day March Jan. 21.

PHOTO By SAMAnTHA AnnE

4

chorus QuartErs: The Orlando Gay Chorus’ James Rode (L) and Carol Studer show off the new OGC headquarters in Orlando Jan. 18.

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radio loVE: (L-R) Moira, Pinkman, Rick Claggett and JSwipe creator David yarus on the set of WMFLA’s Moira’s Mixed Company show in Orlando Jan. 19. PHOTO By DAnny GARCIA

champioN ruNNErs: (L-R) Bill Stevens, Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Robert Brings sport medals after running the Park Ave 5K in Winter park Jan. 20. PHOTO

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COuRTESy BIll STEVEnS

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NEW rolE: (L-R) OPD’s Jim young, The Center’s George Wallace and OPD Chief John Mina talk about The City Beautiful at The Center’s Meet & Greet for new executive director Wallace Jan. 11. PHOTO

By JEREMy WIllIAMS

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iN thEsE pagEs: Openly gay professional wrestler Mike Parrow takes a break from beating people up to check out his story in a recent issue of Watermark at Guilt Nightclub in Orlando Jan. 11. PHOTO By

JEREMy WIllIAMS

PHOTO By RICK ClAGGETT

8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

47

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Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

real estate

announcements

wedding bells

rich Kuntz and Charlie Becker from Orlando

condolences

LGBTQ community light, advocate and Choice Radio Network co-host Michael Dacosta passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Jan. 13. He’ll be dearly missed by the community, his friends and family.

engagement date:

congratulations

July 24, 2015

The Hammered lamb celebrates its fifth anniversary Jan. 29.

wedding date:

local birtHdays

November 22, 2017

venue:

Winter Park Farmer’s Market

Flowers:

Autumn-colored circus roses, red rover mums, and other fall foliage. Purchased at Carlstedt’s Wholesale Florist and selfarranged.

colors:

Orange, brown, and sky blue

wedding song and artist:

“Fields of Gold” by Eva Cassidy

dJ or band name:

Dax and Derek from Live Fusion Entertainment

catering & cake:

Marcy Singhaus

oFFiciant:

Mickey Stone

cake Flavors:

Maple pound cake, chocolate with raspberry, and carrot.

pHotograpHer: Loc robertson Photography

event rental:

Kirby Rentals

t

ogEthEr for 10 yEars bEforE

marriage, Rich and Charlie knew tying the knot would take their relationship to a new level.

“I was going to propose at a fancy restaurant in Venice,” says Rich Kuntz, also known to many in the LGBTQ community as Gidget Galore, “but the gondola ride was just too good to pass up.”

When he proposed to his partner of 10 years, Charlie Becker, as the gondolier was singing through the Venetian canals, “it was about as romantic as it gets,” says Becker.

The pair met at Parliament House, introduced by their friend, Mickey Stone. Mickey also officiated their wedding ceremony, complete with a poem comprised solely of Madonna lyrics. Charlie was visiting from up north, where he was living at the time. The day after they met, the three went to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. “Between the wine and the Expose concert, we fell in love,” says Kuntz. Six months later, Charlie moved to Orlando.

Charlie sent Rich a stuffed turtle named Edgar to keep him company while the couple dated long distance. Once Charlie moved in, he loved how Rich would start

singing first thing in the morning.

“I’m not a morning person, but I found that charming,” says Becker.

“Marriage never seemed like an option,” they say. But once it was legalized, it seemed much more within reach. “We knew we would get married someday,” they recall. Being in the entertainment and spectacle industry, Rich was certainly excited about planning a bash.

On July 24, 2015, during their vacation to Italy, Charlie said yes on that gondola in Venice. “[Rich] planned the whole thing: bought the ring, asked my parents, everything. I had no idea. I was the only one in Orlando, it seems, who didn’t know it was coming,” says Charlie.

They decided on a rustic barn-style wedding in November 2017. “We were pretty in sync during the planning,” says Charlie. “This is kind of what Rich does, so he shouldered the bulk of the work.” They did most of the planning and execution themselves, down to the flowers,

which they bought wholesale and arranged themselves, stocking the bar, buying the linens. Their friend Marcy catered and made the wedding cake. They didn’t have a planner, but their friend Doug White oversaw the event on the day of the wedding. Rich credits Dax and Derek from Live Fusion Entertainment for setting the mood for the wedding.

“The day is kind of a blur at this point,” says Charlie, “but it was so great to have all our family and friends there.” The couple’s dog, Kaiser, barked through most of the ceremony. Rich was thrilled that the day looked and went just how he’d planned. “We wanted a fun gathering for our family and closest friends, and that’s what we got!” he says.

Since they’d been together for so long before getting hitched, they didn’t anticipate their relationship changing that much.

When asked what being married has been like since the wedding, they say, “we’d lived together for 10 years, so we were pretty much as married as you can get before the wedding. But we’ll let you know after we file our taxes this year.”

Singer and Tampa Bay performer Ashley Smith, Tampa Bay guiding light Jan flowers, St. Petersburg realtor and Punky’s proprietor Jim longstreth (Jan. 25); Sarasota photographer Kaje Housman, St. Pete resident and Double M Band’s Mario Jooste, Ybor City special events promoter Chucky Ruckus (Jan. 26); CR insurance group agent Miguel Rullan-Calaf (Jan. 27); Orlando performer, beauty expert and straight ally Ellen Jewell, St. Matthew’s Tavern co-owner Matthew fassl, Orlando thespian Tim DeBaun, Faith Arts Village Executive Director Will Benton, Helping hand LMT Michael Scranton, Punky’s drink slinger Robb Weese (Jan. 28); Central Florida photographer Jenna Michele (Jan. 29); lightning fast jammer Haley Perry; FSU grad and Ocala muse Bill Bondank, Orlando performer Apple Teenee (Jan. 30); marketing pro Ken Kundis, WFTV News 9 anchor Jorge Estevez, Orlando Gay Chorus singer Holly Cowden-feld, Orlando juggler Dantei Grace (Jan. 31); former Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, St. Petersburg massage therapist Emily Stone, Tampa Softball player and Verizon rep Thomas Hale, Orlando softball hunk Jason Hamm, Southern Nights owner Rick Kowalczyk, former Tampa resident James Bowman Harris, Tampa’s darling Bryan Chant (Feb. 1); Tampa Pride president Carrie West, Pinellas Park graduate and new south Florida resident Miguel Rivera, Orlando AIDS advocate and The Center board member lee Kirkpatrick (Feb. 2); Tampa entertainer Daphne ferraro, Gulfport theater addict Rob McCabe, Central Florida community activist Brock Cornelus (Feb. 3); former TIGLFF executive director Margaret Murray, Tampa Sister of Perpetual Indulgence Scott Ryan, Orlando doctor Rafael Pinero (Feb. 4); Watermark contributor Holly Kapherr Alejos, Orlando Fringe board member Daniel Blumberg (Feb. 5); super photographer James “Canonball” Bennett, mistress of the elements Romone Bowens (Feb. 6); Orlando attorney and fabulous cookie maker Barbara leach, Orlando fitness guru Tony Edge, real estate agent Eric Puzone (Feb. 7).

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.

—Holly V. Kapherr

it’s tHat easy!

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.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

49

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the last page

PHOTO By JAKE STEVEnS

age: 33

Hometown:

Cincinnati, Ohio

identiFies as:

s

autobiograpHy title:

out year:

Hobbies:

Hire date:

TA M PA B AY B U R E AU C H I E F

Stan Lee

Gay

12/11/2017

54

proFessional role model:

Will You Hold My Pop?

2001

ryan Williams-Jent iNcE formEr Editor-iN-chiEf

Steve Blanchard departed Watermark to work for the Moffitt Cancer Center and Jeremy Williams returned to Orlando, we have been looking for someone to take the reins in Tampa Bay.

Comic books and their inevitable films, puzzles, chasing our dogs back and forth

At a Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce meeting, one of their board members approached Jeremy about a potential freelancer who was interested in covering news. It’s rare to find someone who isn’t looking to cover just entertainment or who is looking to become the next Carrie Bradshaw, so we were excited about the prospect.

Jeremy gave Ryan Williams-Jent his first news assignment shortly after getting his information. We were immediately impressed and within days expanded his freelance position. It was just a matter of time, and timing, before he would be offered a full time position as our top editorial staff member in Tampa Bay. “I cover the Tampa Bay area’s news, arts & entertainment and events,” Ryan says of his position at Watermark. It’s a few words that describe a big job. As a publisher, you want employees who have a passion for what they do. “I love writing and I love being a part of the LGBTQ community,” Ryan continues.

“In today’s age, both the free press and LGBTQ rights are under fire, and we need to amplify our voices.

There’s no greater local source for that for us, by us.”

What makes us lucky to have Ryan is that his passion is backed up by his talent. Ryan’s favorite thing about working for Watermark

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

is “helping to educate and inform our community while being in a position for the community to do the same for me.”

Ryan gets his inspiration from his professional role model, Stan Lee. “He used fiction to fight against the marginalization of minorities in a time when very few did,” Ryan says, “And he didn’t even create Spider-Man until he was 40!”

“My favorite thing about the LGBTQ community is that we’re resilient,” Ryan says. “I’d like to see us improve with stronger relations between each respective letter. We’re better when we’re a united front.”

Ryan lives in St. Petersburg with his newlywed husband, Wade, and their two dogs, Riverboat Cap’n and Howard the Dog. Ryan is most recognized at Watermark for his healthy and completely normal appreciation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Watermark is the collective product of a team of incredibly hardworking individuals. Over the next series of issues, we’re using this space to introduce each member of our staff and contributors to you. When you see us out and about in the community, stop and say, “Hello.”

We’d love to meet you.

Reach local LGBT communities across the nation.

Start connecting with over a million loyal readers in print and online across the country.

212-242-6863 info@nationallgbtmediaassociation.com www.nationallgbtmediaassociation.com

Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | Dallas/ Ft Worth | Detroit | Los Angeles | Miami/ Ft Lauderdale | New York | Orlando/Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | San Francisco | Washington DC

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ja nua ry 25 - F eb rua ry 7, 2018 // Issue 25.02

55

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