Watermark Issue 25.20: Matthew's Legacy

watermark Your LGBTQ Life.

issue 25.20 • oCtober 4-17, 2018

WatermarkOnline.com

MATTHEW’S

LEGACY

20 years after his tragic death, we look back and remember MattHeW sHeParD and the work done in his name

daytona beaCh • orlando • tampa • st. petersburg • ClearWater • sarasota

Š2018 Target Brands, Inc. The Bullseye Design is a registered trademark of Target Brands, Inc. C-000802-08-003

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

2

PICTURE

M E X IC

O C IT Y , Mexico

YOU R S EL F

TOMORROW IN...

DU BA I , UAE

THIS COULD BE YOU

P O RTL A N D, Oregon

AM S T ERD AM , Netherlands

OA K L A N D , California

PA R I S, France

R IO D E J A N E IR O , Brazil

FEATURING MORE THAN 150+ NON-STOP DESTINATIONS

MORE Destinations

MORE Conveniences

SA N J O SE , Costa Rica

90+ Domestic 60+ International

MORE Dining & Shopping

MORE Parking

MCO. Your Florida Airport of Choice.® OrlandoAirports.net

/flymco

@MCO

#FlyMCO

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

3

CD SPECIAL! Limited-Time Only

Start earning the interest you deserve with a strong local bank.

2.50% APY* 29 Months

2.25% APY* 17 Months

MONEY MARKET

0.90

%

APY**

Everyday Great Rate!

800-584-0015 AxiomBanking.com Visit us online to find the nearest branch

*Annual Percentage Yield. Rates and APY are subject to change without notice. The APY is as of 07/02/2018. These accounts require a minimum opening deposit of $500. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. Offer not valid on brokered or institutional deposits. You will be paid the disclosed rate until maturity. Your 13-, 17- and 29-month accounts will automatically renew into the 12-, 18- and 24-month fixed rate certificates, respectively. You will have a grace period of 10 calendar days after the maturity date to withdraw the funds in the account without being charged an early withdrawal penalty. The CD products are limited to $250,000 per product per household. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

Fees could reduce earnings. Contact an Axiom Bank Banker for further information about applicable fees and terms. **Annual Percentage Yield. Rates and APY are subject to change without notice. The APY is as of 01/01/18. In order to obtain the indicated APY, these accounts require a minimum opening deposit of $100,000. Federal regulations impose transaction limitations. Fees could reduce earnings. Contact an Axiom Bank Banker for further information about applicable fees and terms. Š 2018 Axiom Bank, N.A. All Rights Reserved.

4

Are you taking care of your parents?

Let us help!

 �

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

dEpartmEnts 7 // publishEr’s dEsk

PAGE

34

8 // cEntral Florida nEws 12 // tampa bay nEws

After going through the most horrific thing one can do—losing a child, and in that way—they decided they were going to be the parents of all LGBTQ people in this country. They shared messages of love and hope, and then began the march to have a federal hate crimes law.

—hRC PRESiDENT ChAD GRiFFiN ON jUDy AND DENNiS ShEPARD

18 // statE nEws 20// nation & world nEws 27// talking points 51// community calEndar 53// tampa bay out + about 55// cEntral Fl out + about 56// tampa bay markEtplacE 58// cEntral Fl markEtplacE 61// wEdding bElls announcEmEnts 62// thE last pagE on thE covEr

PAGE who’s that girl:

PAGE MATTHEW’S

29

LEGACY: 20 years after his tragic death, Watermark remembers Matthew Shepard and the work done in his name.

39

Singer and songwriter Betty Who headlines the Come Out With Pride festival concert.

watErmark issuE 25.20 // octobEr 4 - octobEr 17, 2018

pridE day

paradE cEntral

kEEping it rEal

history in thE marking

PAGE Come Out With Pride keeps Orlando dancing with its 14th annual celebration.

PAGE Come OUT St. Pete’s second outing features its inaugural parade in Grand Central.

PAGE

PAGE

Illustration by Jake Stevens

scan qr codE For

watErmarkonlinE.com

read it online!

In addition to a Web site with daily LGBTQ updates, a digital version of each issue of the publication is made available on WatermarkOnline.com

08

12

Viewpoint columnist Nathan Bruemmer talks about making “it gets better” a reality.

25

45

USF alum Steven Reigns brings his art exhibit “The Gay Rub” to Tampa.

folloW us on tWitter and instagram at @Watermarkonline and like us on faCebook. watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

5

THE STRAZ

After Dark

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHAN PERSSON

RAISE A GLASS!

book by James Goldman music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Broadway Ball 2018

OCT 7

SAT OCT 27 8PM - Midnight

18+ ONLY

SLEEVES UP, PANTS DOWN

Riverwalk Tent and Morsani Hall

Tickets $85

OCT 11 SE UP CLO NAL O S R & PE

• Full open bar • Complimentary valet parking • Elegant noshes • Live entertainment • Desserts and dancing

T E R A B A C RAZ THE ST

JEREMY STOLLE •

IN CONCERT

OCT 20 LADS WITH PINTS IN A PUB-TASTIC SING-A-LONG SPECTULAR.

#StrazAfterDark

A benefit for The Straz

@

Broadway Ball is presented by the MacKinnon Family Foundation.

NOV 2-3

THE STRAZ

6

THE CENTER OF IT ALL

813.229.STAR (7827) • STRAZCENTER.ORG

Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.

Handling fees will apply.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

•

publisher’s

Rick Claggett PUBlIsHer

Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

i

dEsk

LiKE BEER. ThiS mONTh mARKS ThREE

years since I stopped drinking. I talk about it all the time because I think it’s not talked about enough in our community. Not talking about it perpetuates a stigma about alcoholics that is false.

Since truth is now my everything, I talk about it. I like beer.

It is weird to me, turning terrible behavior into something to celebrate. Congratulations, Rick, on three years of doing something you should have been doing all along. Although, it is a celebration of sorts: It’s like coming out. It’s about owning who you are and choosing an honest path. It’s about taking bad life choices and turning them into good, or at least attempting to. This is why every year in the month of October, I share my story. I don’t do it so I get likes on Facebook or some pat on the back. I do it so people can

see how addiction affected my life, as well as those around me. I do it so people who might see similarities in their lives can know there is a better way.

I didn’t drink until I was 21.

That’s how I remember it anyway.

I might have been 20. I used to be the kid who would leave high school parties when others started drinking. Nancy Reagan said I would be a junkie if I stayed, so I just said “No” and left. At some point in college I ended up at a cast party and had my first taste of Jungle

watErmark staFF Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer Tom@WatermarkOnline.com

CFL Bureau Chief: Jeremy Williams • ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

Owner & Publisher: Rick Claggett • ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

Tampa Bay Bureau Chief: Ryan Williams-Jent • ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

Business Manager: Kathleen Harper • ext. 101 Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com

Multimedia Assistant: Meghan Sweeney • ext. 100 Meghan@WatermarkOnline.com

Juice, an appropriately named vodka and grape juice medley.

That changed my life. I didn’t like the taste of it, but I liked what it did to me. I was cool. I was funny.

I was hooked.

I have vague memories of the years that follow, thinking to this day that I didn’t have a drinking problem back then. Maybe it’s because it’s not clear in my mind.

I’m pretty sure though, I was the drunken one of my friends every night we hung out. It wasn’t until I was around 25 years old that I started drinking like a champ.

I had finally developed a taste for beer, and as the saying goes, I like beer. Beer gave me courage to network and make small talk, to easily talk to people and make friends. I was addicted to that feeling, and since beer gave me that feeling, I was addicted to beer. The more I drank the more I chased that feeling, regardless of who I hurt along the way. I spent a lot of time apologizing for bad behavior, but beer made everything feel good.

That is until it didn’t.

Memorial Day weekend 2015 I was picked up on the suspicion of a DUI. As unbelievable as it may seem, both headlights in my car burned out and it appeared as though I had not turned them on. Driving with no lights at 3 a.m. is a great way to get pulled over, but so is drinking for nine hours solid and trying to get home on your own. I spent seven hours in handcuffs. As I sat there I thought my life was over. I was humiliated and embarrassed. It felt like the connections and reputation I worked to build and protect was about to come crashing down.

I continued to drink after I posted bail, but that good-time feeling never came back. I would get hammered and sit in my room and cry while my friends were swimming in my pool. I didn’t want to keep drinking like that, but I felt I was in too deep and didn’t know

Art Director: Jake Stevens • ext. 109 Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Assistant/Photographer: Dylan Todd • ext. 102 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com Sales Director: Danny Garcia • ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.co Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

how to stop. I was afraid to stop.

I didn’t want to lose everything.

Soon after, I met a group of people who showed me a better way. They told me their stories and how they got better. They helped me get better. I still like beer, I just know now that I can’t drink it.

I’m reminded of those days— right before I got sober—when I watch Brett Kavanaugh speak.

I was angry and I was defensive.

Yes, I liked beer and so did all of my friends—men and women.

No, I never blacked out and I may have had a few too many a couple of times; nothing more than the charts say, though. I was lying. I’m

No, I never blacked out and I may have had a few too many a couple of times; nothing more than the charts say, though. glad I live in truth now, I’m glad I have the opportunity to do good things now and I am thankful for those who have helped me come to this realization.

In this issue we look at another life altering moment, the murder of Mathew Shepard. As the 20-year mark of his death approaches, we look at his impact on gay rights and hate crimes legislation. In news, we dive into pride celebrations: Central Florida’s Come Out With Pride and Tampa Bay’s Come OUT St. Pete.

Our Arts & Entertainment pages bring you Betty Who and the art project “The Gay Rub.” We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue.

orlando oFFicE Orlando Account Manager: Brianna Rockmore • ext. 105 Brianne@WatermarkOnline.com Senior Tampa Bay Account Manager: Russ Martin • ext. 303 Russ@WatermarkOnline.com National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. 212-242-6863

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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

tampa bay oFFicE 2529 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33713 TEL: 813-655-9890 FAX: 813-849-2986

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

contributors 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 23

NAThAN BRUEmmER

is a Watermark 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 25

AARON DRAKE

is a contributor to Creative Loafing, South Florida Gay News and ManAboutWorld. He loves getting lost in other countries and his German Shepherd. Page 61 sabrina ambra, nathan bruEmmEr, scottiE campbEll, miguEl FullEr, divinE gracE, samuEl Johnson, Jason lEclErc, mElody maia monEt, david moran, grEg stEmm, rachEl stEvEnson, dr. stEvE yacovElli, michaEl wanZiE

photography brian bEcnEl, nick cardEllo, brucE hardin, JuliE milFord, travis moorE, Jamarqus moslEy, chris stEphEnson, lEE vandErgriFt

distribution lvnliF2 distributing, lisa Jordan, Jill batEs, kEn carraway CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher.

Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing in WATERMARK is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members of such organizations.

WATERMARK is published every second Thursday. Subscription rate is $55 (1st class) and $26 (standard mail).

The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns, letters and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s owner or management. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication.

WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors.

Watermark publishing group inc.

7

central florida news

Equality Florida brings transgender workplace training to Orlando Melanie Ararat

O

RLANDO | Equality Florida will host the organization’s Transgender Dynamics in the Workplace workshop at the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 16.

The workshop includes a panel discussion with corporate leaders, as well as an appearance from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. The event looks to educate attendees on transgender workplace issues and concerns, as well as offer ways to improve policies and protocols for transgender employees.

“We are very thrilled that we will be having a panel discussion with corporate leaders from across Central Florida who are embracing diversity in the workplace,” says Gina Duncan, Equality Florida’s director of transgender equality. “They’ll talk about their challenges, they’ll talk about their successes and they’ll talk about their best practices.”

To kick off the event, Dyer will be providing a keynote speech.

Duncan, who will lead the workshop, has presented the training to various organizations and conferences across the country, including the Society of Human Resources Management.

The panel discussion will include representatives from several Central Florida organizations such as MBA Orlando, One Pulse Foundation, Out & Equal, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bliss Cares and the City of Orlando.

Equality Florida isn’t just bringing these workshops to the business community. They have also presented them to media outlets, law enforcement, faith-based communities and health organizations.

7-Eleven employee accused of attacking gay customer Jaime Donelson

O

RLANDO | Orlando resident John Richards claimed on Twitter that he and his friends were assaulted in a hate crime perpetrated by an employee at a downtown 7-Eleven on Sept. 26.

Richards, in an email to Watermark, says he and five friends went to the 7-Eleven located at 124 W Pine St. after attending an art show in downtown Orlando.

According to Richards, the cashier was making gay jokes and insulting his friend — 20-year-old Ivan Morales.

The cashier then asked the group to leave the store. “At first we thought it was only a joke,” Richards said. “Then Continued on pg. 11 | uu |

8

WE LOVE A PARADE: Just

as they did last year, COWP’s Most Colorful Parade will feature over 150 groups and floats making the one-mile journey through downtown Orlando.

Photo by Brian Becnel

Pride Day Come Out With Pride keeps Orlando dancing at Saturday parade, festival Christen Kelley

O

RLANDO | Come Out With Pride (COWP) is gearing up for its most colorful day of the year — its 14th annual Pride festival and parade held on Oct. 13.

Aligning with National Coming Out Day and LGBTQ History Month, COWP is one of the largest Pride events in Florida with over 160,000 attendees last year.

COWP President Jeff Prystajko says there will likely be even more this year.

“We are seeing increased interest on our social media and website so I think that’s a good sign,” he says. “We are hoping to see more people at all of our events this year.”

Before the parade begins, the Orlando Immunology Center and the Orlando Weekly host Big Gay Brunch at The Abbey starting at noon, and will feature a spread from Seasons 52.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Proceeds from the brunch will benefit Pride Gives Back, an initiative by COWP to give grants to local LGBTQ groups and students. Prystajko says giving back to the community is what makes COWP more than just a celebration.

“The money that we raise, if it’s not going back to paying for the event itself, it’s going back to the community in the form of grants and scholarships,” he says. “So different nonprofits and students are able to have better lives and better opportunities based on the revenue we’re able to bring in.”

Applications are still open for the grants and the chosen recipients will be announced at a later date.

The festival will open at noon around Orlando’s Lake Eola where attendees can visit the Pride Marketplace. Prystajko says nearly 160 vendors have already signed up to participate. This year, they’re closing off Robinson St. to house the Marketplace.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

Pride Takes Action, a section of the festival that features local advocacy groups and organizations, is back this year as well.

Heather Wilkie, executive director of the Zebra Coalition, says they plan to participate in Pride Takes Action because of the opportunity to speak with people who may not otherwise have heard of what they do. Zebra Coalition is a nonprofit dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth in Central Florida.

“Pride is our biggest event of the year,” Wilkie says. “It’s a way to raise awareness about what we do and hopefully reach more youth as a result.”

Prystajko says COWP aims to make festival goers aware of opportunities to get involved. “We find that a lot of people attending, over half according to a survey we did last year, are wanting to do something positive for the community,” he says. “So all that we can do to help harness that energy and focus it towards some of the different ways people can get engaged, that’s where I feel we are able to elevate Pride here in the city.”

By moving the Marketplace, COWP was able to open up a section of Lake Eola to add in another entertainment area —

Continued on pg. 11 | uu |

DEAR HIV, ’ WE DIDN T GIVE UP. XOXO, SCIENCE There is no cure, but science is still in the battle against HIV. Today’s HIV treatments may help you get to undetectable. That means the amount of virus is so low it can’t be measured in lab tests. Ask your healthcare provider about HIV and treatment options.

Learn about an HIV-1 treatment option at

XOXOSCIENCE.COM

TM

XOXOSCIENCE.COM, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2018 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. UNBC5735 06/18

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

9

Free First Visit Overnight Boarding O & Doggie Daycare

Overnight Stays from $19.95 All Dog Breeds Welcome Open Late Ever yday

407-841-2226 | www.PreppyPet.com | 55 W. Michigan St, Orlando, FL 32806

FEBRUARY 19, 2019 MAHAFFEY THEATER

FEBRUARY 21, 2019

DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

IN CONCERT 10

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THEMAHAFFEY.COM AND DRPHILLIPSCENTER.ORG

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

central florida news | uu | Come Out With Pride from pg.8

the Pride Stage. “It’s going to be a place for people to congregate, put down blankets and relax,” Prystajko says. “It’s going to be a much more efficient use of space.”

Along with the new Pride Stage, COWP will have entertainment back at the Amphitheater Stage this year as well. Guests can see live performances from different artists starting at 1 p.m. on the Pride Stage and 2 p.m. on the Amphitheater Stage.

The Most Colorful Parade kicks off at 4 p.m. with over 150 groups and floats making the one-mile journey through downtown Orlando to showcase their Pride.

The parade’s Grand Marshals experienced a last minute change when “RuPaul’s Drag Race” judge Michelle Visage had to back out due to a scheduling conflict. As a result, this year’s Community Grand Marshal Nancy Rosado will be joined by Visage’s “Drag Race”

co-judge, and original “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” fashion guru, Carson Kressley. Kressley will serve as the parade’s Talent Grand Marshal.

After the parade, festival guests can head over to the Pride Rally held at the Amphitheater Stage at 6 p.m. where several community leaders will speak before the 2018 Community Champion Award winner is announced. Past award winners have included Patty Sheehan and Jim Phillips.

Headlining performances by international pop singer Betty Who and dance music legend Crystal Waters will follow.

The festival will conclude with the signature fireworks show over Lake Eola at 9 p.m., along with the new Picnic Under the Stars.

Guests will receive a blanket and picnic basket with assorted food and drinks while enjoying a front row seat to the fireworks show.

Following the festival, Pride is hosting two official after parties — one at Parliament House and another at Stonewall Orlando.

Parliament House will feature Pride Grand Marshal Carson Kressley, “Drag Race” star Monet X Change and “Drag Race All Star,” Orlando’s own Ginger Minj. There will be free parking at Parliament House with a shuttle going to Lake Eola throughout the day.

Stonewall Bar will feature cast members from the hit FX series “Pose,” including Mj Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Dominique Jackson and Indya Moore.Prystajko says he hopes festival guests will leave with more than just a smile on their face.

“It’s not just a celebration, it’s about what it started with and that’s fighting for the continued rights of LGBTQ individuals,” he says. “We want people to know that there are still things left to fight for and we want people to know how they can get involved.”

For more information on the rest of the week’s events and price listings, visit WatermarkOnline.com to the official COWP guide.

| uu | 7-11 Gay Attack from pg.8 he progressively got more aggressive so we walked out of the store.”

According to Richards, the group returned to the 7-Eleven to get the cashier’s name so they could report him. Richards claims that the cashier grabbed two of his friends’ cell phones, throwing one and placing the other in his pocket. He says that the cashier started hitting Morales, who had made his way outside.

Morales was able to get away but ran back into the store, hoping that the 7-Eleven cameras would deter the cashier from continuing the attack. According to Richards, the employee followed Morales inside and continued the assault.

Police were notified, but Richards says that once they arrived they began threatening to arrest he and his friends after “they found out we are gay.”

7-Eleven responded to the allegations through Richards’ tweet saying the cashier has been fired and that they are cooperating with police.

Richards says that he has spoken with an attorney and is pressing charges.

OPD told Watermark that they are investigating the matter.

OPD says that no arrests have been made at this time but that the investigation is ongoing. OPD also says they are looking into the claims of mistreatment by the officers on the scene.

2018 NEW EXECUTIVE CARS AT UP TO

$10,000 OFF

ORIGINAL MSRP Orlando MINI 350 South Lake Destiny Rd. Orlando, FL 32810

(407) 835-2727 iwantamini.com

M3368PT. Subject to prior sale. Photo for illustration purposes only. Sale ends 10/31/18.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

11

tampa bay news

Come out st. Pete Events Oct. 4

Taste of Grand Central 6-10 p.m. | Central Ave. A dining experience told across six Grand Central favorites.

50/50 and The Sin Wheel Night 7-11 p.m. | Old Key West Bar & Grill Guests can win prizes as funds are raised for COSP.

RAINBOW ROAD: Come OUT

Oct. 5

LGBT Senior Resource Fair

St. Pete’s inaugural parade will feature a custom rainbow flag which runs one city block in length.

9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Sunshine Senior Center The LGBT Elder Initiative’s vendor fair focuses on connecting the service market and LGBTQ elder community.

Metro Seniors vs. Youth Bowling Contest

PHOTO COURTESY COME OUT ST. PETE

6–8 p.m. | Ten Pin Lanes Metro Wellness and Community Centers hosts an LGBTQ+ competition between seniors and youth.

“Croiseurs Della Noche” Fashion Show 7–9 p.m. | VFW Post 39 Models and designers celebrate transgender and drag fashion.

COSP Weekend Launch Party 9 p.m.–3 a.m. | G St Pete Drink specials and raffles launch COSP’s weekend.

Oct. 6

Come OUT St. Pete returns with inaugural parade in second Pride-filled year Ryan Williams-Jent

COSP Parade 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Grand Central Gayborhood The inaugural parade.

LGBTQ+ Welcome Center Open House 10 a.m.–9 p.m. | LGBTQ Welcome Center Metro Wellness & Community Centers opens their re-launched space, featuring Mayor Kriseman’s presentation at 1 p.m.

Grand Central Proud Festival 12-6 p.m. | Grand Central District Local businesses, artists and makers sell goods and services.

Pride Weekend: Bernstein’s Broadway 2–4 p.m.; 8–10 p.m. | Mahaffey Theatre The Florida Orchestra celebrates National Coming Out Day with favorites from composer Leonard Bernstein.

Official After Party 9 p.m.–3 a.m. | Enigma Bar & Lounge The official after party for COSP features music by DJ Blake Blaze.

Continued on pg. 15 | uu |

12

Parade Central S

T. PETERSBURG | Come OUT St. Pete (COSP) will return for its second outing with an inaugural parade and five days of events Oct. 4-11.

The organization’s mission is to inspire those in the LGBTQ community to live genuinely, raise awareness of LGBTQ issues and encourage public support from community allies. It began last year as a committee of the Grand Central District Association but has since applied for its own 501(c)(3) designation.

“We’re getting to do what we want,” COSP Co-Chair Jimmy Biascan says. “We’ve been able to be much more organized and we have more of a focus on our events.”

Biascan joined the organization’s board this year to spearhead that focus, which he does with co-chair Mandy Keyes.

Events begin Oct. 4 with the Taste of Grand Central, a celebration of restaurants in the Grand Central

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

District. It’s also where the majority of events will intentionally take place.

“It’s considered ‘the gayborhood,’” Biascan says. “Year-round there are rainbow flags flying everywhere. It’s where the majority of our community goes to spend their money; to eat, drink and have a good time.”

“It’s great to be able to support the community that gives back to us year-round,” he continues.

“They’re always here for us and it’s great to have our celebration in the middle of it.”

That celebration will be even grander this year, he asserts, pointing to COSP’s inaugural parade held on Oct. 6. Beginning at 20th St. and heading west on Central Ave. to disperse at 30th St., it will be the first daytime parade held in the neighborhood since St. Pete Pride in 2013.

“Bringing a parade back to Grand Central is definitely something the community has voiced for some time,” Biascan says. “It’s really cool to be able to give them what they want.”

The parade will feature a custom rainbow flag, running one city block

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

in length, which will be unfurled along the route.

Following this, over 70 vendors will partake in the Grand Central Proud Festival. Businesses and artists will highlight their goods and services surrounded by entertainment.

Metro Wellness and Community Centers will also unveil its re-launched LGBTQ Welcome Center Oct. 6, which features an LGBTQ+ artist boutique, a wide range of business and education resources and more.

“Whichever type of person you are in the community, we’ve tried to pique your interests,” Biascan says.

“There’s something for everyone.”

Keyes stresses that COSP is about community. “I’m looking forward to us coming together and showing that love for your neighbor, and for your true authentic self, is the most important thing,” she says. “Encouraging people to be themselves allows them to cultivate their uniqueness.”

It’s why COSP culminates on National Coming Out Day Oct. 11. “It’s in celebration of coming out,” Biascan says. “To see a huge celebration of us together with smiles on our faces will hopefully encourage others to be brave enough to come out and be their true selves amongst us.

“If you’ve already come out and gone through those motions, come out and show support for those who need help,” Biascan adds. “Everything we do is geared toward inclusivity and the forward movement of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Live. Really live.

Kris Kesling-Hays

Bri Hays

We can show you where.

Preferred People.

PREFERRED PROPERTIES Preferred Places. of Sarasota, Inc.

Lic. Real Estate Broker

Phone: (941) 951-2580

www.PrefHomes.Net

Serving Sarasota and Manatee counties.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

13

SINCE 1990 /designingeyes

813-229-0551 • 200 N Tampa St. Suite G110 Tampa, FL 33602 N O T F O R T H E M A S S E S G L A S S E S

PA BAY presents M A T F O S U R O H C THE GAY MEN’S

CELEBRATING MUSICAL MASCULINITY: Male Artists, Male Composers, and the Songs that Reside... in the Hearts of Men. ST. PETERSBURG

TAMPA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 19 at 8:00pm

King of Peace MCC 3150 5th Ave N St Petersburg, FL 33713

14

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 20 gmctb.org TICKETS

$10 Gen Admission • $5 Students

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

at 8:00pm

The Portico

1001 N Florida Ave Tampa, FL 33602

tampa bay news

st. pEtErsburg lgbtq-aFFirming church vandaliZEd Ryan Williams-Jent

S

T. PETERSBURG | Allendale United Methodist Church shared Sept. 24 that the LGBTQ-affirming church had been vandalized.

According to the church’s website, Allendale is a reconciling congregation which affirms the sacred worth of all people. “All are welcome to participate fully in the life and ministries of this congregation,” it reads. “Whatever your race, ethnicity, economic situation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, background or belief, age or condition of ableness, whether single or partnered, you are God’s beloved and are welcome here.”

Allendale announced the vandalism via social media.

“Allendale was again the target of vandalism,” they wrote. “LGBTQ people are more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other

minority group. We will leave the spray paint up, surrounded by signs of love, to make visible the often invisible harm that the LGBTQ community receives every day.”

The church’s marquee was spray painted to read “gay pastor” atop its message that “1.4 million can’t vote due to a prior felony.” It encouraged locals to vote yes on Amendment 4, which if passed in November will restore voting rights to those convicted of a felony statewide.

“We are also taking this opportunity to tell the vandalizer that should they be arrested, we will fight for the restoration of their rights through the passage of Amendment 4,” Allendale also shared. The sign was updated to advise that “vandalism is a felony that shouldn’t take away your vote for life! Vote yes on Amendment 4.”

Rev. Andy Oliver, the church’s senior pastor, also updated the sign to read “love always wins,” including rainbow colored hearts beside the graffiti. “We wanted

to surround that message of hate and homophobia with a message of love,” Oliver told area outlet Bay News 9.

Allendale previously reported in July that a brick was thrown through the sign, which it advises is often used to express a message of repentance and solidarity with people of color, LGBTQ persons and those of other faiths. The church created a GoFundMe to replace it, raising $5,198 in two months, noting at the time that funds exceeding costs would be used to improve rooms that the organization gives to the community for free meeting space.

Following the vandalism, dozens of congregants returned to Allendale Sept. 30. “Today many in the community came to worship to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community and with Allendale,” the church shared via social media.

“We are even more committed to standing in solidarity with anyone facing oppression.”

| uu | Come Out St. Pete Event LIstings from pg.12

oCt. 7

Over the Rainbow Challenge 11 A.m.–3 P.m. | GRAND CENTRAL DiSTRiCT Multiple teams compete in challenges across Grand Central.

COSP Beach Party 11 A.m.–5 P.m. | hURRiCANE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT A fun-filled day at the beach.

Sunset Rooftop Tea by the Sea 5-9 P.m. | hURRiCANE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Snacks and entertainment will be provided.

oCt. 11

COSP Day Proclamation 3–4 P.m. | ST. PETERSBURG CiTy hALL The city celebrates Oct. 11 as Come OUT St. Pete and National Coming Out Day at City Hall.

Deb Hunseder Live 6–9 P.m. | PUNKy’S BAR & GRiLL Deb Hunseder performs live in celebration of National Coming Out Day.

Use WM17 for 15% OFF Regular Priced Merchandise

Do you think that ship has sailed?

Think again.

If you’re a mature gay man who thinks the opportunity for an active social life has passed you by, check out Male Enhancements/Cleaners Andrew Christian Menswear Swingers Welcomed 3 Adult Theaters DVDs from $3.99 XXX Arcade

Prime Timers of Tampa Bay. Dine-outs | Activities | Outings Picnics | Discussions Contact us at 727-565-9041 or primetimetampabay@gmail.com

Follow us on @ RomanceAttackTP

www.primetimersoftampabay.webstarts.com

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

#4 of 709 in St Pete 254 TripAdvisor Reviews

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

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

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

15

16

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

Saturday, October 27

13th Annual

10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Orlando Festival Park 2911 E. Robinson Street Orlando, 32803

FREE EVENT! $5 Parking | Free Bike Valet

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

www.joysticksorlando.com

Presented By:

www.VegCF.org

For more information, visit www.CFVegFest.org

EXCEPTIONAL HOMES. PRIME LOCATION. Virginia Ave.

4

KE HIGH ND

N . B umby Ave.

KE IVANHOE

CONCORD PLACE

ELEVEN ON THORNTON 50

50

4

$490s

CONCORD PLACE N. Bumby Ave.

KE EO

N. Mills A ve.

Explore three new communities coming to Downtown Orlando! Have it all, near it all in a luxurious, intimate community within walking distance to highly-desirable locations.

N. Orange Ave.

David Weekley Homeowners Reggie Jaimes & Jacob McNair

EOLA NORTH

FROM THE

NOW SELLING Lake Como Circle

ELEVEN ON THORNTON

START LIVING THE LIFESTYLE YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT BY CALLING 407-478-5933

See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright © 2018 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. CBC1257289 Weekley Homes, LLC. Orlando, FL (ORLA99140)

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

EOLA NORTH 17

state news

lgbtq groups gathEr in south Florida to announcE gillum For govErnor EndorsEmEnts Jeremy Williams

M

iAmi | Three LGBTQ organizations—one local, one statewide and one national—gathered at the CIC in Miami Sept. 24 to jointly announce their support for Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in his bid to become Florida’s next governor.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) joined with Equality Florida, the state’s largest civil rights organization, and SAVE, a South Florida LGBTQ advocacy group, to commit working together to secure full equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community, according to an HRC press release.

Gillum, who was on hand to accept the organizations’ endorsements, was joined on stage by HRC President

Chad Griffin, Equality Florida Executive Director and CEO Nadine Smith and SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima.

“The stakes this election couldn’t be higher, and the choice for Florida voters couldn’t be clearer,” said Griffin. “HRC is proud to endorse Andrew Gillum’s campaign to become the next governor of Florida because he is a proven pro-equality leader who will represent all Floridians—not just those who look a certain way, speak a certain way or love a certain way.

As we mobilize the millions of ‘Equality Voters’ across Florida, we look forward to working with Andrew Gillum as governor to chart a new path forward for the Sunshine State.”

HRC Rising, a campaign started by the group in 2017, works to identify and mobilize LGBTQ and community-allied

voters for the midterm election.

In Florida, HRC Rising has identified nearly 700,000 LGBTQ voters and over 3.2 million LGBTQ-allied voters, or what the campaign calls “Equality Voters.”

Smith touted Gillum’s record as the mayor of Tallahassee, calling him a longtime champion for LGBTQ Floridians. She agreed that this election is a game-changer for equality in the state.

“Gillum stands with us to protect marriage equality and secure statewide nondiscrimination protections,” Smith said. “In Florida, elections are won or lost by 100,000 voters or less. We intend to deliver that margin for our champion, Andrew Gillum.”

Smith went on to say that Equality Florida Action PAC, the group’s political committee working to end discrimination

against LGBTQ Floridians, is launching the largest LGBTQ campaign ever in a Florida gubernatorial race.

“Of the millions of pro-equality supporters in Florida, we are targeting nearly 500,000 for whom LGBT equality is a litmus test issue.

We will use direct mail, calls and digital outreach to reach unlikely voters and show the stark contrast between the candidates,” said Smith.

Gillum’s Republican opponent in the governor’s race, former Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis, has been called the anti-LGBTQ candidate. He received a score of zero on the HRC’s Congressional scorecard.

DeSantis has also been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.

Gillum expressed how honored he was to receive the support of all three organizations when he took the stage. “As mayor, I’ve stood up for the LGBTQ community and demanded equal rights when others refused. As governor,

I will continue to fight to ensure that Florida is a welcoming place for all people, where everyone receives the rights and respect they deserve,” he said.

Gillum also took time on stage to talk about is openly gay brother.

“My brother, who I was closest to growing up came out to our family, and had to literally move across the country before he could feel accepted again. He’s in the state of California now, and I will tell you that it was a difficult time for all of us, to see my brother leave us. But I want you to know something – we’re going to create a state where people don’t have to flee to feel important and accepted. We are going to create a state where you can be in your own skin, love who you want to love, be welcomed, be supported and be protected under the color of the law,” Gillum said.

The general election is Nov. 6.

Susan Makowski

Supported by Democratic and Social Justice Leaders “I am excited to endorse Susan Makowski…. She is a leader who believes in inclusivity and working with all those interested and involved…”

–TIFFANY MOORE RUSSELL, Orange County Clerk of the Courts “When it comes to serving others or fighting for what’s right and just, everyone knows you can count on Susan Makowski. …When the hurricane hit Puerto Rico, Susan was one of the first to organize a massive relief effort, and she’s been an advocate for the goals of onePulse to overcome hate with love.”

–EARL CRITTENDEN, Founding Chairman of onePulse Foundation

WA TER MA RK – 7/1 0/1 8

“…[Makowski and two other candidates] mentioned equal rights, fixing the affordable housing crisis and helping the environment as main platform points.”

Vote Susan Makowski for County Commissioner, District 4 Political Advertisement Paid For And Approved By Susan Makowski, Candidate For Orange County Commissioner, District 4

18

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

Greek, Mediterranean, and Vegeterian Cuisine

Set in mystical Gothic England, audiences will die laughing at this melodramatic farce – a quick-change marathon in which two actors play all the roles.

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

MEDITERRANEAN BLUE IS JUST ONE MORE.

PRESENTED BY:

SEE THE SHOW!

ORLANDOSHAKES.ORG | 407-447-1700 EXT. 1

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

Call Today!

407-369-8474 We combine hypnosis and traditional therapy for rapid solutions to unwanted behaviors and emotions.

Stop coping and start living today!

End Depression, Anxiety, Alcohol & Drug Dependence, Resolve Weight and Self-Image, Relationships, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and more...

In only 1-4 Sessions!

Best Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy in Orlando.

Kind, caring and knowledgeable.

OrlandoHypnosisClinic.com • 2100A N. Orange Ave. Orlando, Florida 32804

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

19

nation+world news

in other news

Court: Fight can proceed over ‘bathroom bill’ replacement

LGBTQ group endorses Kim Davis challenger in Kentucky Kentucky LGBTQ advocacy group Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights endorsed Elwood Caudill Jr. Sept.

27. Caudill is the Democrat running against Republican Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Caudill defeated David Ermold in the Democratic primary in May to face Davis. Ermold is a gay man who was denied a marriage license by Davis in 2015. Ermold has since called Caudill a bigot and said he will not support either candidate. Caudill said Ermold is spreading lies about him.

Chicago archbishop removes priest who burned rainbow banner The archbishop of Chicago has removed a priest as head of a North Side church after he burned a rainbow banner.

Cardinal Blase Cupich announced Rev. Paul Kalchik’s removal in a recent letter to parishioners and staff at the Resurrection Catholic Church. Cupich said he acted “out of concern” for Kalchik and parishioners. He said the 56-year-old priest needed “time away from the parish to receive pastoral support.” Kalchik has said that he’s not anti-gay and that he was “about as much of a gay basher as Mother Teresa.” An archdiocese spokeswoman said that the priest’s removal wasn’t “directly due” to the banner’s destruction and had been “in the works.”

Transgender Nike contractor says company ignored harassment Jazz Lyles, who identifies as transmasculine/nonbinary and prefers the pronouns “they” and “them,” says in a complaint filed with Oregon labor officials Sept. 25 that some of their colleagues refused to use gender-neutral pronouns while they worked as a contractor for Nike. The complaint alleges that Nike ignored requests to provide training on pronoun use. Lyles began working at Nike in May 2017 and ended the contract work last month after Nike denied a manager’s request to make Lyles a permanent employee. Lyles says in the complaint that they believe the reason they weren’t hired was due to their gender identity. Nike has declined to comment on the compliant.

Meridian 14th Idaho city to ban LBGTQ discrimination The city of Meridian is the 14th municipality in the state of Idaho to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Idaho’s Legislature has so far refused to pass a bill that would add such protections to the state’s human rights act. Sandpoint was the first city to add such protections to the city rulebook, and Boise passed a similar ordinance in 2012. After four hours of sometimes tearful testimony from advocates and opponents on Sept. 25, the Meridian City Council voted 4-2 to add the protections.

Violators of the ordinance could face an infraction and a $250 fine.

20

Wire Report

R

ALEIGH, N.C. | A lawsuit challenging the replacement for North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” is moving forward, with a judge finding evidence that transgender plaintiffs are being harmed by a prohibition on new local antidiscrimination laws.

Federal Judge Thomas Schroeder, however, rejected another key argument: that uncertainty created by the current law effectively discriminates against transgender people.

The lawsuit was originally filed against the 2016 law HB2, which in many public buildings required transgender people to use restrooms matching their birth certificates. The replacement, passed the following year, rescinded that requirement, but halted new local antidiscrimination ordinances until 2020.

Schroeder sided with plaintiffs’ arguments that the current law, known as HB142, largely thwarts their efforts to seek new LGBTQ protections.

“While HB142 does not prohibit Plaintiffs’ efforts at advocacy, it

plainly makes them meaningless by prohibiting even the prospect of relief at the local level,” the judge wrote in his ruling late Sept. 30.

Procedurally, the ruling is a mixed result for plaintiffs by rejecting one argument and allowing another to move forward.

But one reason the judge rejected their argument about uncertainty over restroom access, the plaintiffs noted Oct. 1, is because he interprets the current law as allowing them to use restrooms matching their gender identity. That’s helpful to transgender people, plaintiffs say, because even under the replacement law, many have feared retribution if they use what others might perceive as the wrong bathroom.

The judge wrote that “nothing” in the provision of HB142 regarding bathroom access “can be construed to prevent transgender individuals from using the restrooms that align with their gender identity.”

A lawyer for the plaintiffs, Chris Brook of the American Civil Liberties Union, issued a statement that the judge’s decision doesn’t account for harm already done under the “bathroom bill” and

its replacement, but the ruling allows them to continue fighting in court. Also, he says, the judge’s interpretation of the current law should help transgender people go about their daily lives.

The ruling, which partly granted and partly rejected a motion to dismiss by state GOP leaders, allows the challenge to proceed against state officials regarding the moratorium on local nondiscrimination ordinances.

The decision also drops the University of North Carolina as a defendant from much of the case, save for some unresolved claims relating to the period when the original HB2 law was in effect.

A spokesman for Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger said the leaders were still reviewing the decision and had no immediate comment. State legislative leaders had argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because plaintiffs couldn’t prove they’re still being harmed by the current law.

The compromise law made clear that only state lawmakers— not local governments or public school officials—are in charge of restroom-access rules. The new law also barred local governments from enacting new nondiscrimination ordinances for workplaces, hotels and restaurants until December 2020.

Anti-LGBT adoption measure defeated in U.S. House Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

W

ASHINGTON | The U.S. House skirted a proposed measure Sept. 26 that would have inhibited adoption rights for LGBT couples, approving major appropriations legislation that omitted the initiative.

The chamber voted 361-61 for a massive spending package to avert a government shutdown weeks before election day, sending the legislation to President Trump, who’s expected to sign it.

Missing from the spending package was an amendment inserted by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) in July during markup of the spending legislation. The

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

proposal would have penalized states and localities for having policies barring adoption agencies for placing children into families inconsistent with their religious beliefs, such as LGBT households.

That measure was taken out of the legislation during the conference committee process as a result of opposition led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Ian Thompson, senior legislative representative with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement the defeat of the amendment ensured nondiscrimination from LGBT homes in the adoption process.

The amendment was along the lines of new laws in many states enabling taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to refuse

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

placement into homes, including LGBT households, over religious objections. Those laws are in place in Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Kansas.

With same-sex marriage the law of the land, Catholic groups have been spearheading these initiatives, saying adoption agencies will have to close down if they are forced to place children into LGBT homes contrary to their religious beliefs.

Among the opponents of the measure were more than 300 child welfare, civil rights and faith organizations.

According to the Family Equality Council, 44 states prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in the adoption process and could have lost up to 15 percent of their child welfare funding—an estimated $1.04 billion—if the bill became law.

20% OFF

HAVE SOME

ALL PRESCRIPTION EYE WEAR AND PLANO SUNGLASSES

with every step that you take Step OUT and PROUD Orlando!

*RESTRICTIONS APPLY

Dr. Mark E. Perry OD Dr. Karen Perry, OD FAAO Dr. Vince Piccione OD

HIGH QUALITY TREATMENT FOR YOUR FOOT AND ANKLE TROUBLES.

400 N. Bumby Ave, Orlando FL 32803

407.893.6222 • www.MyVHI.com watermark Your LGBTQ life.

(407) 423-1234 www.OrlandoFoot.com

18 Locations / Se Habla Español Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

21

The Reviews Are In… Millions are choosing Orlando Sanford International Airport. 

“Wow! What a nice place! It’s just like home!” – Jeannie, IA 

Unlimited Food & Beverage Tastings!*

“I’m giving OSIA five stars for ease & convenience.” – Thomas, IN 

“What a great little gem!” – Brian, SC 

“Sanford is a beautiful airport.” – Candee, PA 

“The staff couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful.” – Paula, UK 

“So easy and fast to get to.” – Marylou, OH

DON’T WAIT! TICKETS ARE GOING FAST!

Join us for the 9th Annual

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

Food & Wine Classic

Join us and sample wines, spirits, and beer from around the world and savor culinary artistry from our award-winning chefs at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin!

• Unlimited Food & Beverage Tastings* • Live Entertainment & Performances • Stay & Play Guest Room Packages • NEW Food & Beverage Offerings • NEW Food & Beverage Seminars Find us on facebook facebook.com/swandolphinfwc

1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd.

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

with over nonstop destinations

75

Get Your Tickets Today!

SwanDolphinFoodandWineClassic.com *with your purchase of an unlimited event ticket

FlySFB.com /FlySanford 22

@SFB_Airport watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

viewpoint

Photo by Jess regan

Scottie Campbell

The Tender

activist Whatever gets you through the day

P

erhaps it’s just in my

circle of friends and acquaintances, but I have been struck lately by the casualness and accompanying entitlement of theophobia.

Theophobia is not a well-reasoned discussion about religion, it’s not someone stating their belief with supporting evidence, instead it’s someone stating things in such a way that implies the stupidity of anyone believing in religion or perhaps certain religions.

Sometimes these statements are couched as science, which is ironic since any scientist worth her salt will tell you all science is really hypotheses waiting to be proven or debunked. Hell, collectively we’ve only been cocky enough to agree on one Law and any day we could discover something to turn that on its apple-bruised head.

With the start of the school year came the institution of 2018 Florida Statute, Title XLVIII Chapter 1003, which states: “Each district school board shall adopt rules to require, in all of the schools of the district and in each building used by the district school board, the display of the state motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ designated under s. 15.0301, in a conspicuous place.”

According to a Fox 35 article, when Rep. Kimberly Daniels, a Jacksonville Democrat and sponsor of the bill, cited the Parkland shooting in her closing speech on the bill, stating “God is the ‘light’ and ‘our schools need light in them like never before.’”

The article concludes: “She added that gun issues need to be addressed, but the ‘real thing that needs to be addressed are issues of the heart.’” Personally I find Daniels’ words hard to argue with, but the Facebook post where I found this article was followed by a thread of intolerant comments. No, I am not saying a plaque stating “In God We Trust” will instantly solve the problem and it is clear Daniels isn’t either, but in the calm faith can bring there could be some sanity and I understand the intent behind the bill. “In God We Trust” is not a spell that can magically shield bullets, but neither is painting a bandshell rainbow colors.

One thing that does bug me about “In God We Trust” being placed in schools, which also bothers me that it’s on our Florida license plates and our money, is that it is limiting. Not everyone believes in a god, or the implied God, and I think the schools should allow for that.

Like race, culture and gender, I think our different beliefs should be celebrated.

Certainly the queer community has as much reason as anyone to distrust religion; it has often been used as a weapon against us. Pretty much anytime things are presented as rules someone is going to figure out a way to use it to control others – ask a business owner who has had to hurdle obscure permitting rules or someone who has been arrested for not having a bell on their bicycle.

Still, the fact that religions, spiritualities and philosophies do provide guidelines for how to live your best life – the view of that best life being in the eye of the beholder, of course – validates their followers.

The structure they provide can alleviate stress, foster stability and provide comfort.

It’s worth noting that scientists studying Blue Zone — the areas on our planet where people are living

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

longer — have found that faith is among the key factors.

My own spiritual journey has gone from next to nothing through Christianity, making a pit stop in atheism, and then finally arriving at Buddhism.

To be honest, I’m a half-assed Buddhist right now with fits and starts of meditation and

religion isn’t about love and kindness, I just don’t get it.

I’ll look at you with my head cocked to one side like my dog trying to understand me after I’ve had several beers.

A friend once went on a social media tirade because someone at a convenience store told him to have

ought to give you hope in your fellow man.

Honestly, it bothers me to think I may have told you, sometime in the past, that I didn’t believe in God. I don’t mind you knowing that I gave the atheism label an extended flirt. I don’t mind telling you that because I feel any

studying, but it has helped me immeasurably. This is always sprinkled with a bit of Mister Rogers, naturally.

Throughout this journey I have maintained that people should believe whatever gets them through the day with the caveat that it should be about love.

Joseph Campbell once said that religions of exclusion are doomed and I think he’s right, even though it may take ions for that to play out. If your

a blessed day. This was followed by a comment thread of agreement and not-so-witty suggestions on what he should reply were it to happen again, ironic in their self-righteousness. I’m not sure I understand the harm in the convenience store clerk’s parting words.

In this day and age when people are gunning us down in schools, nightclubs and churches, someone wishing you a blessed day

person who isn’t assessing and reassessing what they believe, questioning and ruminating about what they think they know, is a damn fool. The reason it bothers me to think I may have told you I don’t believe in God is because it was never an honest statement. It’s hard to comprehend this vast universe without allowing for faith, even just a little.

’In God We Trust’ is not a spell that can magically shield bullets, but neither is painting a bandshell rainbow colors.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

23

&

present

Pride Fest 2018 Oct 20th RAINBOW RESISTANCE www.sarasotapride.org ta

aso r a S f dy o

Emcee

a First L

J.D.Hamel Park Gulfstream & Main 12-6 p.m.

Lindsay Carlton-Cline The Cheaters AF Divine

The Honey Vines

Kelly Neff Live Music - Drag -Food Trucks-Vendor Expo Sponsorship Opportunities & Vendor Space Available 24

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

viewpoint

Nathan Bruemmer

keeping it real Schools, safety and Swiss cheese

S

chool’s back! Teachers

and students all across the country are settling into their new routines.

For our LGBTQ+ youth, school can be one of the most influential communities alongside family and/or a faith-based community. That influence can be positive or it can be negative.

In my position as an executive director of an LGBTQ+ youth organization, I applaud all the families who accept and celebrate the beautiful identities of our next generation.

But I continue to worry about our youth who are in less accepting circumstances – either at home, in their faith-based community and especially at school. I worry because I know the statistics far too well. I have witnessed the statistics happen.

According to the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, our LGB youth in Florida are almost three times as likely to be bullied at school and more than twice as likely to be bullied online as their heterosexual peers. Additionally, LGB youth are almost twice as likely to avoid attending school because they feel unsafe. These statistics haven’t always been measured, but this experience is one that many of us are far too familiar with. This is our reality today, but it need not be so for future LGB youth. Many of us are working to make this shared experience a thing of the past.

As you well know, this is not an easy task. However, while we may not be able to as easily confront or influence the negative experiences of our LGBTQ+ youth in unaccepting homes or in unaccepting faith-based communities, we can work to ensure that every school is safe for all of its students. With the advent of sophisticated and supportive advocacy organizations, collaborative efforts across school districts, and local progressive communities, more of our LGBTQ+ youth are in school districts with affirming policies and staff than ever before. But so many are not. Unfortunately, we have adopted a “Swiss cheese” approach to legal protections for equality across our state and our country. Even more unfortunate, we have taken the

same “Swiss cheese” approach to our schools being safe for our LGBTQ+ students.

It’s not a surprise that when new families move into the area that my organization ALSO Youth serves that many call to find out what the best schools are in our district for LGBTQ+ youth. They want to know how our district supports LGBTQ+ youth.

Families know that policies and protections for their LGBTQ+ children vary district by district. Swiss cheese has a lot of holes.

Isn’t it time that safety and security for all identities on school campuses are ensured?

As a former teacher, I remember the nervous energy when a same-sex couple would walk into a parent-teacher conference with me. I couldn’t wait to put them at ease.

I remember the dialogue around getting school districts to allow Gay-Straight Alliances and I remember my joy and relief when they were finally allowed in my district.

I also remember the personal interactions with students. I remember the students who said they wanted to “study” in my room before school, at lunch, or after school. I always allowed it—I knew they were really just looking for a safe space.

I remember the poignant and sometimes painful notes that students left on my desk. These notes shared their truths and revealed experiences from home or on campus. Sometimes they asked for help, but mostly they were simply seeking reassurance, acceptance or a little hope.

It does get better. The slogan is real. But personally, in those horrible moments as a vulnerable student when I most needed hope and reassurance – it never occurred to me that life would get better. I never knew that it ‘could’ get better until it ‘did’ get better. Would I have believed an adult if they had tried to persuade me?

Maybe. Do our youth believe us today? I certainly hope so.

I have to hope so. For their own wellbeing they must, but trust can be difficult to build.

Our kids will only trust us IF

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

they see us, all of us, believing our own rhetoric AND working together for them. Do I do this work partially because I am fighting for that 14-year-old version of myself? Hell yes, I am! I have to!

We must be vocal. We need to all hold our schools accountable. Every single district needs to implement

and assistant principals in order to promulgate them to the schools. The principals are then responsible for following those procedures to ensure they are abiding by the new policy.

Sounds good, but who did we elect to those school boards? Do they know the needs of our LGBTQ+ students?

If we truly want to make the slogan “it gets better” a reality, then we must dedicate ourselves and commit to a multi-prong approach that begins on the ground floor. This approach begins with us. It starts by informing ourselves about our local school boards and the school policies they implement. It

inclusive LGBTQ+ policies.

School boards determine policies, but voters determine school boards. Unfortunately, local elections continue to see low voter turnout.

Once the school board adopts a policy, the district administrations create procedures to enact or enforce the approved policy. The district then communicates these procedures to principals

Are they listening to the teachers who speak up about the needs of our youth? Are they listening to the parents of LGBTQ+ youth? Are they hearing directly from those students? Do they create channels that allow for open lines of communication?

Have they built the trust with all these cohorts that would foster a desire to openly communicate?

grows when we engage with local leaders and listen to the needs of our community.

We must demand this from ourselves and from all our advocacy organizations – whether local, statewide or national. We must hold our school districts accountable.

We must speak out. We must vote.

If we truly want to make the slogan ‘it gets better’ a reality, then we must dedicate ourselves and commit to a multi-prong approach that begins on the ground floor.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

25

Book Your Holiday Party With Us TM

TM

We can host your event onsite or bring the party to your home or office Contact us directly at 407-613-2519 or kim@hammeredlamb.com 26

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

46 LGBTQ

%

of

WORKERS S AY T HE Y A R E

talking points I can’t approve, in any way, of the fact that—whatever [Kevin Spacey] has done—that you then start to cut him out of the films [he made] ... Are we to go back throughout history and anyone who has misbehaved in any way, or who has broken the law, or who has committed some kind of offense, are they always going to be cut out?

—ACTRESS DAmE jUDy DENCh ON ACCUSED SExUAL ASSAULTER KEViN SPACEy BEiNG REmOVED FROm FiLm PROjECTS.

neW york yankees announCe lgbt sCholarships

for stoneWall’s 50th anniversary

T

hE NEW yORK yANKEES WiLL LAUNCh AN LGBT iNiTiATiVE in 2019 that will provide scholarships to high school students to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The Yankees-Stonewall Scholars Initiative will award five $10,000 scholarships to one graduating public high school student from each of the five boroughs who “have demonstrated academic achievement, a commitment to equality and impactful support for the LGBTQ community.” The students will be awarded the scholarships at Yankee Stadium from June 17-26, 2019. The Yankees and the L.A. Angels were notably the only two Major League Baseball teams that have never hosted an LGBT Pride event. Now, both teams have planned Pride events for 2019.

STILL IN THE CLOSET

AT WORK.

53% of

LGBTQ WORKERS RECALL HEARING JOKES ABOUT GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE AT LEAST ONCE AT WORK, a majority of Who do not report it beCause

“THEY DON’T THINK ANYTHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.” —hUmAN RiGhTS CAmPAiGN REPORT

keiynan lonsdale addresses his sexuality With fans

“T

hE FLASh” AND “LOVE, SimON” STAR KEiyNAN LONSDALE broke down his thoughts on sexuality and pronouns in an Instagram live Q&A with fans. Lonsdale, who came out as bisexual in 2017, was asked by a fan if he is gay. “I’m still surprised I get this question.

I came out last year as not straight.

Now it just depends on the day, sometimes I’m bisexual, sometimes I’m gay, sometimes I feel straight, sometimes I’m not anything. It doesn’t matter. Either way, through all that, I’m Keiynan. So if your question is, ‘Am I Keiynan?’ Yes, I am Keiynan,” Lonsdale replied.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

billie jean king reCeives smithsonian’s ‘great ameriCans’ honor

T

ENNiS LEGEND BiLLiE jEAN KiNG WAS hONORED with the Smithsonian’s “Great Americans” medal at the National Museum of American History Sept.

25. King, who hails from Long Beach, Calif., received the medal “for lifetime contributions that embody American ideals and ideas.” In 1973, at the age of 29, King defeated then 55-year-old Bobby Riggs during the historic “Battle of the Sexes” match. The dress she wore at the match is part of the Smithsonian’s collection and is on display at the Bullock Museum in Austin, Texas. King won 39 Grand Slam titles over her career and was named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life magazine.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

Cher disses madonna, says she never Wants to duet With her

C

hER COULDN’T hiDE hER DiSDAiN FOR mADONNA while playing “5 Second Rule” on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” In the game, Cher and DeGeneres battle each other to give three answers to a question before the end of five seconds.

DeGeneres asks Cher which three celebrities she’d like to duet with.

“Oh, Adele, P!nk and not Madonna,” Cher replied. “Alright, Miss Negative,” DeGeneres says. “He said who you’d want to, not who you wouldn’t want to.”

“I took license, I took a little license,” Cher shot back. Cher has been public about her dislike for Madonna in the past; however, the two music icons were seen marching together during the Women’s March in D.C. in 2017.

27

PARADE + FESTIVAL + ENTERTAINMENT + FIREWORKS

MONDAY

WEEKEND LAUNCH featuring Frenchie Davis

FRIDAY

TUESDAY

DRAG RACE 5K

BLOCK PARTY featuring Luciana

CELEBRATE THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER PRIDE WITH A FULL WEEK OF EVENTS

comeoutwithpride.org/events 28

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

WEEKEND

WEDNESDAY

REEL PRIDE FILM SCREENING “MAR” directed by William Vitoria

HOUSE OF PRIDE featuring Jose Xtravaganza

THURSDAY

OCTOBER 13

BRUNCH

MATTHEW’S

LEGACY 20 years after his tragic death, we look back and remember Matthew shepard and the work done in his name

i

N ThE EARLy EVENiNG hOURS

of Oct. 7, 1998, a cyclist was heading down a desolate, dirt road outside of the town of Laramie, Wyo. when he passed by something hanging from a fence.

The cyclist initially thought, with it being so close to Halloween, that it was a scarecrow decoration.

The “scarecrow” turned out to be the beaten and broken body of 21-year-old, openly-gay college student Matthew Shepard. He was barely breathing. His face was completely covered in his own blood, sans a strip

down each side of his face where his tears washed the blood and dirt clean.

This was the introduction of the heinous attack to police, and eventually Shepard ‘s friends and family, the media and the world. The attack was felt firsthand by Shepard 18 hours prior when he met Continued on pg. 31 | uu |

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

29

ThirstyFirstLounge.com 119 First Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-317-3333

Happy Hour M-F 11am to 7pm • Daily Specials 7pm-Close

ROBERT W. POPE, Esq.

LINDSEY SHEPPY, Esq.

OF COUNSEL

IAN STANISLAUS GÓMEZ, Esq.

St Pete Pride Grand Marshall

DRAG NIGHT

2nd Tuesday of each Month (beginning 9/11 at 8pm) Food & Drink Specials all Night!

Buy 1 - Get 1 on Specialty Cocktails!

Mention this Ad; 1 Per Person

LGBT Attorneys

Representing the

Check out our BIG BRUNCH

LGBT Community gbyassociates.com

Personal Injury • Auto Accidents Wills/Probate | Criminal (727) 895-7932 • (813) 877-8181

BRUNCH: Saturday 10a-3p & Sunday 10a-4p $15 Bottomless Mimosas $20 Bottomless Bromosas

Wrap. Test. Repeat.

IfYouSex.org

a member of

30

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

| uu | Matthew’s Legacy from pg.29

two men in their early 20s at the Fireside Lounge, a bar in Laramie.

Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson offered to give Shepard a ride home after leaving the bar. Instead of taking him home, McKinney and Henderson drove to the outskirts of town where they pistol-whipped, beat and tortured Shepard. After fracturing his skull, damaging his brainstem and beating him to near death; McKinney and Henderson stole Shepard’s wallet and shoes, tied him to a buck and rail fence and headed back into town. They left Shepard in freezing temperatures, alone in the dark.

Jason Marsden, the current executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, was a reporter at the time for the Casper Star-Tribune. He was also Shepard’s friend. Marsden was in the newsroom when he found out what happened.

“There was a little bit of commotion from a few of the editorial staff over at the fax machine, I peripherally noticed that, and there was a little conversation at the editor’s table,” Marsden recalls. “Not much later, 10-15 minutes maybe, one of the editors tapped me on the shoulder.”

In a conference room, Marsden’s editor slid a press release from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office across the table to him.

“There was some annotation on it, some handwriting. They tell me there’s been a really gruesome assault outside of Laramie, and the Sheriff released that they are looking into it as potentially an anti-gay hate crime,” Marsden says. “I remember [my managing editor] asking me if I knew Matthew Shepard.”

Marsden first met Shepard at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Casper, Wyo. about a year before.

“He spotted me when I came into this party in one of those little apartments that college kids live in, and I saw him notice me and watched him work his way over and say, ‘You’re Jason Marsden from the Casper Star-Tribune, aren’t you?’

You never know where these things are going to go when you work for a small town paper. He said, ‘Let me ask you, why isn’t there anything in the paper about what’s been going on in Afghanistan?’”

Shepard wasn’t a large man.

He stood at 5’2” and weighed barely 100 pounds, but he had a personality that filled a room, says

If 300 million-plus Americans woke up tomorrow and said ‘we have had it with hatred,’ whenever they see it, wherever they see it. If everyone said, ‘I’m going to challenge it.

I am going to eliminate it from my vocabulary and my behavior.

I am going to try and influence everyone around me to do the same thing.’ If that happened, then we could give these lovely people, Judy and Dennis, the retirement that they deserve.

—Matthew Shepard Foundation’s Executive Director Jason Marsden

Marsden. He describes Shepard as “terribly bright,” a “loyal friend” and a “good listener.”

Marsden and Shepard became friends, speaking mostly about politics and current affairs when they would see each other at events and parties.

“I saw him last about six weeks before he was killed and he was beside himself about Newt Gingrich, the [Bill Clinton] impeachment, the Kenneth Star investigation; all that stuff,” Marsden says. “I was down in Laramie to cover a story and I remember thinking, ‘It’d be nice the next time I have to come down here for some government meeting to cover, that there will be someone here I know that I can have dinner with. I never saw him again after that evening.”Marsden wasn’t sure how to respond when he got the

news of Shepard’s attack. He recalls sitting in the newsroom, a sinking feeling in his stomach and not knowing what to do next.

“They told me if I needed to go home to feel free. Come back if you want, you’re not going to be expected to cover your friend being attacked,” Marsden says.

Marsden, who had no cable TV or internet in his apartment, wanted to be right there in the newsroom to stay abreast of what was going on.

“I figured I could help other reporters connect with friends of Matt’s or other people in the LGBT community down in Southeastern Wyoming that I knew, and help do some copy editing,” he says.

“I remember someone turned in a piece of copy that had said something about Matthew Shepard, ‘a gay,’ and I was like, ‘No, see you

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

wouldn’t say it that way,’ although you would probably say ‘a lesbian,’ you’d say an ‘openly-gay student’ or something like that.”

Hate crimes were happening across the country at this point, but something struck a chord with people after Shepard’s attack.

The national media was taking an interest, a reporter even asked President Clinton about it during a news conference.

“I remember the satellite trucks started to show up and the network correspondents,” Marsden says. “That Sunday edition of the New York Times featured Matt’s story. A guy from the [British Broadcasting Corporation] came to the newsroom and wanted to know if he could use our lines and some photojournalists showed up asking to use our darkroom.”

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

Media from around the world had set up in Casper, in Laramie and in Fort Collins, Colo. where Shepard was on life support.

McKinney and Henderson were picked up, found with Shepard’s credit card and ID and were charged with attempted murder. Shepard’s parents were broadcast going in and out of the hospital and giving press conferences on his status.

The entire world watched when Shepard, after midnight on Oct. 12, 1998 and just six days after being tied to that fence, was pronounced dead.

“When Matt died, I came into the newsroom pretty upset about it and gave some thought to what I would want to tell people,” Marsden says.

“I settled on Matt the person would be very quickly lost to Matt the symbol, and I wanted to give people a better sense of what he was like as a person — his interests, his personality, his hopes. In doing so, I thought it would be disingenuous if I didn’t come out of the closet myself. I wasn’t deeply closeted but I wasn’t out to everybody in my life either.”

Marsden publicly came out in a column that first ran in the Casper Star-Tribune, but was then picked up by media outlets and taken globally. It got the attention of a lot of people—and one person in particular visited Marsden at the newsroom after reading it. “[Matthew’s mother] Judy Shepard showed up at the newsroom unannounced and asked if she could talk to me,” Marsden remembers. “Which in the middle of everything that was going on for their family, I was just astonished and very moved.”

Due to all the media attention, the Shepard family started receiving thousands of pieces of mail. So much in fact that a call was put out for volunteers to come to the family attorney’s law office downtown to help open and sort it into giant plastic containers.

“Letters from other parents, letters from LGBT people, letters from children or classes of children, drawings from children. Letters from politicians, clergy, Coretta Scott King,” Marsden says. “So after work, for an hour or so, I would go and sort through those and they gave me some emails to sort through at home. I was stacking them up in piles on an ironing board in my basement.”

Along with words of encouragement and letters offering their condolences, people from all walks of life and all corners of the Continued on pg. 34 | uu |

31

32

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

33

| uu | Matthew’s Legacy from pg.31

world were sending money. More than $140,000 in total was received in just the first few months.

Judy and Dennis Shepard decided to use the money and create something to give their son’s memory purpose. They created the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

“They figured that this was a spontaneous act of giving by all these people who were hoping that their individual donation could be part of something bigger that could help the Shepards bring something positive out of this tragedy that now had so many people paying attention,” Marsden says.

Chad Griffin, the current president of the Human Rights Campaign, had just come out as gay around the time of Matthew Shepard’s death. He recalls seeing Judy and Dennis Shepard on television.

“They became household names,” Griffin says. “After going through the most horrific thing one can do — losing a child, and in that way — they decided they were going to be the parents of all LGBTQ people in this country. They shared messages of love and hope, and then began the march to have a federal hate crimes law.”

The Matthew Shepard Foundation’s mission is “to erase hate by replacing it with understanding, compassion and acceptance. Through local, regional and national outreach, [it] empower[s] individuals to find their voice to create change and challenge communities to identify and address hate that lives within their schools, neighborhoods and homes,” according to the organization’s website.

The foundation began efforts to get the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed.The act was named for two 1998 victims of hate crimes in the U.S. — Shepard and Byrd, a 49-year-old black man from Jasper, Texas who was tied to the back of a truck by white supremacists and dragged behind it until he was decapitated. The murder of Byrd happened four months prior to Shepard’s attack and death.

The proposed legislation looked to expand on the 1969 U.S. federal hate crimes law. Cynthia M. Deitle, the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s current programs and operations director, was an FBI agent at the time of Shepard’s murder.

34

finding a purpose in tragedy: (L-R) Dennis Shepard, Ms. Darcel Stevens and Judy Shepard attend the Matthew Shepard Foundation and MillerCoors’ “Stay Loud, Stay Proud” hate crimes training panel discussion in Orlando in June 2018. Photo Courtesy mSF

“I was working as a civil rights agent in New York City and I remember it happening,” Deitle says of hearing about Shepard. “My first thought was ‘Oh God, we can’t help them. There’s nothing we can do to help them,’ because I knew that the FBI had no jurisdiction to investigate a hate crime if the bias motivation was sexual orientation ...

I remember it very distinctly and it had a profound impact on the rest of my career working in civil rights.”

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act looked to add crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability — categories not previously listed — into the federal hate crime law. It also looked to make changes to aspects

of the law; including the removal of the prerequisite that a victim must be engaged in a federally protected activity, increase the federal authority to investigate hate crimes local authorities choose not to pursue, provide funding to assist state and local authorities in investigating hate crimes and require the FBI to track hate crime statistics based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“After Matt was killed was when a lot of organizations — the Human Rights Campaign, GLSEN, GLAAD — as well as several politicians started a renewed push to either create a brand new law or update an existing law, to broaden the FBI’s jurisdiction,” Deitle says. “When Senators and Congressman began

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

hearing from Dennis and Judy, it became hard to ignore.”

The bill — which was nationally supported by the Attorneys General in 31 states, more than 200 national law enforcement organizations and by 73 percent of Americans — was introduced to Congress five times between 2001 and 2009. The first three times, which all excluded gender identity, never made it out of various House and Senate committees, but Judy Shepard and the foundation kept pushing.

“The foundation actually started very modest. It was Judy and a part-time assistant working out of an office in her basement,” Marsden says. “She was testifying to committees and Congress about the

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

proposed legislation ... She tirelessly pressed for a long time.”

In 2007, the Shepard/Byrd Act made it through the House of Representatives by a vote of 237-180. This time, the bill’s fourth submission, was also the first to add gender identity to the list of protected classes. It never made it out of Senate committee.

Getting the Shepard/Byrd Act turned into law was proving to be extremely difficult under the George W. Bush presidency and the Republican-led Congress. “[Bush] said after he took over office in 2000,” Deitle recalls, “that he was never going to sign it, never Continued on pg. 37 | uu |

B R E A K FA ST & B R U N C H | D O U G H N U T S | C O F F E E LU N C H | D E S S E R T S | W I N E & B E E R

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

35

GAINESVILLE PRIDE PARADE & FESTIVAL SATURDAY, OCT 20TH 12:00PM: JOIN OR WATCH THE PRIDE PARADE

GAINESVILLE PRIDE DAY KICKS OFF WITH THE ANNUAL PRIDE PARADE WHICH BEGINS AT 7TH ST AND W UNIVERSITY AVE AND PROCEEDS EAST ON UNIVERSITY AVE TO S 1ST ST.

1-9PM: CELEBRATE YOUR PRIDE AT THE FESTIVAL DON’T MISS THE ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE’S BO DIDDLEYPLAZA AND ON THE SURROUNDING STREETS. THE FESTIVAL, WHICH IS CO-SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, WILL HAVE DOZENS OF LOCAL MUSICAL ACTS AND OVER ONE HUNDRED VENDORS. A “KIDS SPACE” WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE. THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

JOIN US IN GAINESVILLE FOR 10 DAYS OF PRIDE EVENTS STARTING ON OCTOBER 12TH CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THE GAINESVILLE PRIDE DAYS EVENTS. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PRIDECOMMUNITYCENTER

36

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

THIS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN FUNDED IN PART BY A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX GRANT FROM THE ALACHUA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ALACHUA COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

| uu | Matthew’s Legacy from pg.34

going to support it and he was never to going advocate for that.”

After all of the Shepards’ advocating and petitioning to Congress, Marsden recalls the moment they knew they were going to get the bill passed. “It was election night 2008,” he says.

“When it was clear there would be democratic control of the federal government, I knew.”

The bill was reintroduced for a fifth time on April 2, 2009 by Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan. The bill passed the House 249-175. In the Senate, a bill introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, passed as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 63-28. On Oct. 28, 2009 — several weeks after the 11-year mark of Matthew Shepard’s death — President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.

Less than a year after Shepard/Byrd became law, Judy Shepard asked Marsden to be the foundation’s new executive director, and he accepted.

Now that they had managed to get a federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, what specifically did that mean? “[The law] is very narrowly constrained,” Marsden says. “It only applies to violent capital felonies: first degree murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping; so the vast majority of hate crimes are not covered.”

Deitle adds, “Basically what it does is allow the FBI to investigate violence. It doesn’t cover threats, but actual violence against a human being because of that person’s sexual orientation and gender identity, as long as there’s some aspect or some involvement in interstate commerce.”

Deitle gives the example of an attacker striking their victim with a baseball bat while screaming anti-gay epithets in Miami. Is there violence? Yes. Is it because the victim is, or perceived to be, gay?

Yes. Is there interstate commerce?

Yes, because the baseball bat — which is made in Louisville, Ky. — travelled to Miami.

While Deitle thinks the law would be much more effective with the deletion of the interstate commerce clause and by adding that “street violence against LGBT individuals would violate federal law,” the major push she would like is mandatory

Leading Change: Matthew Shepard Foundation Executive Director, and ex-Wyoming reporter, Jason Marsden. Photo Courtesy Msf reporting of hate crimes by all law enforcement.

“Our push to amend the law is to tell all 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the country that you must obtain and report your hate crime data to the FBI’s uniform crime report. As of now it’s voluntary. You don’t have to report your data if you don’t want to,” Deitle says.

Having a federal hate crime law in the U.S. is historic, but we need them

1991, the same year the FBI started keeping track of hate crime numbers.

“Since the feds began tracking hate crimes, they have documented a long, slow steady decline,” says Marsden, “until the last two years when reports have gone up.”

According to the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics, more than 7,600 victims of hate crimes were reported to the bureau in 2016, the latest available figures. That puts the total up nearly 12 percent from 2014, the lowest

Ending hate: Matthew Shepard Foundation Program and Operations Director, and retired FBI special agent, Cynthia M. Deitle. Photo Courtesy MSF

lowest number of sexual orientationor gender identity-related incidents since national reporting started.

“Matthew’s death galvanized, not just this country, but the world’s attention on the hate and the animus focused at the LGBTQ community,” says Griffin. “It made folks start answering the question why? Those people weren’t born to hate. Those people weren’t born with a mission to go out and murder a young, innocent gay person with

They became household names. After going through the most horrific thing one can do—losing a child, and in that way— they decided they were going to be the parents of all LGBTQ people in this country. They shared messages of love and hope, and then began the march to have a federal hate crimes law.

—HRC President Chad Griffin on Judy and Dennis Shepard

at the state and local levels as well if we are going to combat all hate crimes, according to Griffin.

Currently, 45 states and D.C. have some form of hate crime laws on the books. States without a hate crime law include Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and the state where Matthew Shepard was murdered, Wyoming.

Of those 45 states, 31 cover sexual orientation and 17 cover gender identity. Florida only covers sexual orientation, which was added to the state’s hate crime statute in

number of incidents since national reporting began.

“The elephant in the room is the president of the United States and his followers,” says Marsden.

“It’s very sobering how quickly this mechanism has gone into reverse after having taken so long to make incremental progress.”

Of the reported hate crimes in 2016, about one in five hate crime incidents were against someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, accounting for nearly 1,300 hate crime victims.

That is up 10 percent from 2014, the

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

a bright future. Those folks who are murdering transgender people in this state and across this country weren’t born to hate transgender people, weren’t born with a mission to kill. They were taught that by a society, they were taught that by a person and they have been taught over time that some people are less than. I think Matthew’s death really started raising that question, and without question, led to some societal changes in this country and led to changes in our laws. Where we are today, we know we have a long, long way to go.”

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

While the recent increase in hate crimes appears to be a step in the wrong direction, according to Deitle, not all hope is lost.

“Matthew’s death created an unstoppable force for change and acceptance in our world,” she says.

“He created this army of people that will not stop until diversity, acceptance, inclusion, peacefulness, nonviolence; until all of those principles are implemented into our everyday existence. That is his legacy, and I can’t think of anyone who has created a force like he did over the last 20 years.”

Marsden says the biggest thing that can be done to help stop hate in this country is for everyone to act.

“Government, Wall Street, Hollywood — they all put on quite a show but the institutions in this country are not going to fix this problem,” he says. “If 300 million-plus Americans woke up tomorrow and said ‘we have had it with hatred,’ whenever they see it, wherever they see it. If everyone said, ‘I’m going to challenge it.

I am going to eliminate it from my vocabulary and my behavior. I am going to try and influence everyone around me to do the same thing.’ If that happened, then we could give these lovely people, Judy and Dennis, the retirement that they deserve.

The Shepards’ great goal in all of this has been to be able to put the foundation out of business with a clear conscience.”

37

38

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

arts and entertainment

WHO’S

THAT GIRL BettY WHo headlines the

Come Out with pride festival concert

B

Melanie Ararat

ETTy WhO iS A 26-yEAR-OLD

Australian singer-songwriter best known for her infectious dance songs.

Her singles “Human Touch,” “Somebody Loves You” and “I Love You Always Forever” have all hit No. 1 on the U.S. Dance charts.

Who also opened the Australian leg of Katy Perry’s “Prismatic World Tour” and Kylie Minogue’s “Kiss Me Once Tour,” as well as headlined her own worldwide tours in 2015 and 2017.

The artist has been on fire in 2018, releasing her latest EP, “Betty, Pt. 1,” in June. It was her first new release

since breaking away from her record label RCA and becoming an independent artist with Kobalt.

“I knew I wanted to [put a full album out] but didn’t have enough material to do it yet,” Who said in a recent interview with LA Weekly. “I didn’t feel

Continued on pg. 41 | uu |

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

39

www.NationsLandscaping.com

40

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

| uu | Betty Who from pg.39 I was ready for an album yet, so I figured putting an EP out was a way to sort of check the waters and see what worked and didn’t work.

I felt like I had a renewed sense of excitement and inspiration.”

Who became the voice of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” reboot with “All Things (Just Keep Getting Better),” the popular show’s opening theme. She also contributed to the soundtrack of the Netflix film “Sierra Burgess Is a Loser.”

Who continues her red hot year with a headlining concert at the Come Out With Pride (COWP) festival at Lake Eola Park on Orlando Oct. 13 where she will perform on the brand new Pride Stage. Who, an LGBTQ ally, has performed at many Pride festivals and parades worldwide.

Who spoke with Watermark ahead of the Pride-filled concert about what we can expect from her COWP performance, her music career and how the LGBTQ community plays a prominent part in her professional and personal life.

WATERMARK: Why do you feel it’s important to be a part of Pride festivals like Come Out With Pride?

WHO: It’s an honor for me to be able to share in a celebration of humans, people who are wanting to celebrate themselves just because that’s who they are. It’s nice for me to be a part of that.

It’s so fun to watch people kind of find themselves and be okay with who they really are.

What are you most looking forward to about performing at Come Out With Pride?

I think what I am most looking forward to is the weather. I also have friends who live in Florida and I’m always excited to see and hang out with them. I always have a good time when I’m there.

What should people expect from your performance?

A lot of energy, a lot of dancing and hopefully just a really good time. Hopefully we’ll finish the set and you’ll be sweating just as much as we are.

Are there any moments with your fans that stand out at these Pride festivals?

There is always that misconception when you’re signed to a label that they have something to do with how you sound or the music that you make, and for some artists that is true, but it never was for me. I know a lot of artists who that’s also not true for. I think I’m just ready to stake my claim to who I really am. It feels like a second coming out.

—Betty Who

I love when people come in costume and when people get all dressed up. I think a high for me is when someone in the crowd is dressed up like me from one of my music videos, and I get to look out and see them dancing.

Besides the Pride festivals, how have you been involved in the LGBTQ community?

My fan base is largely LGBTQ and I grew up in the LGBTQ community. My closest friends and closest family have been in the LGBTQ community. I feel like I have connected so deeply with the entire community and I really found help there. When I was questioning who I was when I was a lot younger, I really had a place there and I felt like that has kind of shaped my entire life.

You identify as a straight cisgender woman. What do you think it is about your music that appeals to the LGBTQ community?

I think it’s that I make pop music and I think that by large the LGBTQ community has been large supporters of pop music.

I think as far as pop music goes, the LGBTQ community generally hops on it first. The first time I ever played a show in New York like 80 gay men were in the room and I was like, “Oh, I can’t believe this is happening right now. This is so great.”

Do you remember that moment you knew you wanted to be a singer?

I think I wanted to be a singer my whole life. I remember that when I was like four years old

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

I was singing on a plane thinking that nobody could hear me because I had headphones on.

My mom had to keep being like, “Listen, you have to be quiet now” [laughs]. So I think there was always a part of me that wanted to be a performer and to do this for a living.

Who are some of your favorite musical artists that inspire you?

I grew up with my mom listening to a lot of Carole King and Joni Mitchell, and my dad would listen to a lot of Sting. So I think those artists were really important to me when I was growing up, but then once I became a teenager Usher and Michael Jackson really made their way into my world.

I also really love Sara Bareilles and John Mayer. They were these

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

types of songwriters who have really raw and emotional songs that felt sort of like they had been pulled off a page from their diary.

I think that inspired me a lot.

Your music videos for “I Love You Always Forever” and the remixed version of “All Things” for “Queer Eye” feature LGBTQ imagery and same-sex couples. Will you continue to do so on your future projects?

I hope so. I intend to. It’s always a pleasure to be brought in on projects that have such a large gay following. I was really honored to be brought in, especially on the Netflix projects. I had the best time ever and I’m just like, “I can’t believe you guys asked me to do this. This is so cool!”

You recently left RCA to become an independent artist. What are you most excited for in this new chapter?

I am just excited about the new music I’m making. I’m finishing up a new album right now and I think that the album is some of my favorite music that I ever made. I’m just excited to share that with my fans and hopefully show people what I can do.

There is always that misconception when you’re signed to a label that they have something to do with how you sound or the music that you make, and for some artists that is true, but it never was for me.

I know a lot of artists who that’s also not true for. I think I’m just ready to stake my claim to who I really am. It feels like a second coming out.

If you could give your LGBTQ fans one message, what would you tell them?

The thing that I have said to a couple of my LGBTQ fans before when I felt like they really needed to hear it was,”You are really important and really loved.” Even if you have people in your life right now that are making you feel like you’re less than, and you feel like you can’t find somebody who speaks to you or hears you or gets who you are.There are people in the world that absolutely do and will absolutely be there for you.

Betty Who headlines the brand new Pride Stage at the Come Out With Pride festival in Orlando’s Lake Eola Park Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

The concert is free and open to the public.

41

42

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

43

A WEEK OF FREE SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT

O H W Y BE T T

E STAGE MARKETPL AC SPONSORED

BY

ER 13 B O T C O , Y A SATURD

S R E T A W L A CRYST

F PARTNERS O E G A ST SS E PRO G R

SPONSORED

IS IE DAV FRENCDH 11 R E B AY, OCTO

NZA AVAGA JOSE XNTER BER 10 SDAY, OCTO

THURS

WED

E” F “P O S 13 R THE CAATUSRTDO E AY, OCTOB S

BY

AIROTRIC 13

CTOBE SATURDAY, O

“EL WIRZ13” FRINGRED’S AY, OCTOBE SATU

comeoutwithpride.org/entertainment 44

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

art

History in the marking USF alum Steven Reigns brings ‘The Gay Rub’ to Tampa

(above)

A GAy RUB: “The Gay Rub” features rubbings of numerous markers important to the LGBTQ community, including that of pop artist icon Andy Warhol’s grave.

PhotoS coUrteSy SteVen reignS

U

Ryan Williams-Jent

NiVERSiTy OF SOUTh FLORiDA (USF)

graduate Steven Reigns, now West Hollywood’s first Poet Laureate, says he’s motivated by a sense of love for the LGBTQ community. “Some of the most beautiful and brilliant people I know are a part of it,” the educator says. “We’re complex and complicated.”

It’s that love which led to his touring art exhibit “The Gay Rub,” opening Oct. 15 at his alma mater’s Centre Gallery. The collaborative project, which Reigns created in 2010 and continues to organize, showcases a growing collection of over 350 important markers in LGBTQ history.

By documenting historical signs, tombstones, cenotaphs, plaques and monuments from around the world, “The Gay Rub” seeks to draw attention to LGBTQ events and individuals who have been under-represented or under-appreciated throughout history. To achieve this, Reigns

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

and others utilize the art form known as rubbing.

“Rubbing as an art form is quite historic and has been done for centuries,” Reigns says. “Most people are familiar with rubbings from elementary school. The first time I did it was in kindergarten … we each selected a leaf from outside, placed paper on top of it and rubbed it with a crayon until it was recreated on the page. This is my way of taking that art form and focusing on our queer landmarks.”

Reigns says that the rubbings act as an archive for historic markers worldwide, calling attention to which LGBTQ events and individuals receive public commemoration. It’s also a

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

way to take note of those events and individuals which don’t.

“As a term, rub can have numerous connotations,” the exhibition’s official synopsis reads. “As a verb, rub can mean to upset someone: ‘Rub someone the wrong way.’ It can also mean truth: ‘That’s the rub,’ or social friction: ‘He got a lot of rub for that.’

And, of course, it can be slang for sexual activity … or erasure: ‘Being rubbed out of history.’”

Reigns says all of the meanings apply. He calls the exhibition “an assembling of our gay truth and the rub and rubbings that come from it.”

“I live in West Hollywood now and I discovered that the first plaque dedicated to transgender victims of hate crimes is in my neighborhood,” he says of the project’s origins.

“I started to think ‘if this is the first, how many others are out there in the world? What do they look like?’”

Reigns says that while most people are familiar with countless historical markers across the world, it’s rare to see those dedicated to events specifically significant to the LGBTQ community. He decided to change that with “The Gay Rub.” “I love getting to introduce people who are significant to our history.

I love the educational aspect of it,” Reigns says. “I think doing a rubbing is a great way to honor someone and their life; I think it’s a loving act.”

While Reigns has completed the majority of pieces featured in “The Gay Rub,” submissions grew as word spread. “It was important to me that I wasn’t the only one going out and completing these rubbings,” he says.

“There are rubbings from around the world and in different languages.

I thought surely I could get people to do this in the cities that they live or when they’re traveling.”

To help, he kept the submission process simple. Reigns says he’s spent a significant amount of time in the post office, sending stamped return envelopes and supplies. “It was important to me for the supplies to be accessible,” he says.

The rubbings are etched in black wax on a white fabric known as tear away. “Essentially I use crayons,” Reigns muses. “When you see them all displayed at once, it’s haunting and impactful.”

While each rubbing presents its own story and is impactful in its own right, the artist says including a rubbing of Polk County hate crime Continued on pg. 47 | uu |

45

7th Annual

Volusia Pride

Festival

Saturday Oct. 20 1-5pm

Old Fort Park • New Smyrna Beach

Face Painting

Rainbows, unicorns, whatver you want!

Drawings

A variety of gift certificates

Featuring

BITEHT S

FREE

JOIN US AT

JOIE DE VIVRE HEALTH AND CHIROPRACTIC BRING CASH FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN LOTS OF FUN & FABULOUS RAFFLE PRIZES

DJ Joanie

Central Florida’s Favorite Spinmaster

Entertainment

Donation

For every non-perishable, non-expired food item you bring for Gifts of love Food Pantry, we’ll give you a FREE drawing ticket for our Basket of Cheer!

LIG

ST FIRNK IS I DR

HOSTED BY:

OCT 18, 2018 6:00-8:00 PM

BENEFICIARY:

JOIE DE VIVRE HEALTH AND CHIROPRACTIC 1350 N ORANGE AVE #266, WINTER PARK

FOR MORE INFO, CALL WATERMARK PUBLISHING GROUP: 407-481-2243

Family Fun

Produced by

Your table is ready!

Start your evening with dinner at Sixty South Restaurant and Bar, on the main floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton™ Orlando Downtown. You'll find the same attention to detail and caring service that DoubleTree is known for, along with fresh ingredients and inventive dishes served in an inviting, modern setting.

United Church of Christ New Smyrna Beach

Our hotel is TAG Approved, a supporter of the LGBT community and known for our welcoming ambiance.

DoubleTree by Hilton. Where the little things mean everything.™

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

DoubleTreeOrlandoDowntown.com Hilton HHonors™ membership, earning of Points & Miles™ and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions. ©2016 Hilton Worldwide

46

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

REiGNiNG RETURN: USF Alum Steven Reigns says his alma mater’s Centre Gallery is the perfect fit for his art exhibit “The Gay Rub.” Photo by Jenny WalterS

| uu | In the Marking from pg.45

victim Ryan Skipper’s grave was particularly important to him. Skipper, a student at the Traviss Career Center in Lakeland, was stabbed 19 times and left for dead in 2007.

“I was visiting Florida and I had no indication of where the gravesite was,” Reigns recalls. “Finding it was very important to me, so I walked the entire cemetery. I was so determined to honor him and his life, to show the violence that queer people go through.”

Markers like Skipper’s are critical for that reason, Reigns says. “Nicholas West in Texas, Charles Howard in Maine … We also have a rubbing of a marker dedicated to Matthew Shepard.” He says looking to the lives lost, also citing the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, is essential to understanding LGBTQ history.

“To look at these rubbings and look at the timespans, to look at this short time that they lived, it’s heartbreaking,” Reigns says. “They also demonstrate what someone can do and accomplish, and how talented and valuable our community is, that such an impact can be made in such a short period of time.”

Reigns says the show’s reception has been positive regardless of location, be it in California or North Carolina. “For some reason there’s something about this collection,” he says. “There’s something very palatable and universal about it. It allows people to relate to and support it.”

He believes returning to USF’s Centre Gallery, the only entirely student-run and non-profit art exhibition space in Florida, was the perfect fit for its next stop.

“I’m thrilled that it’s going to be at there,” he says.

“I appreciate that USF sees the value in this kind of exhibition and in helping to normalize the queer

experience.” Reigns says that USF values educating their students as well as those who fall outside of the LGBTQ spectrum.

“When we go to exhibitions like this, someone else is purposely curating something for an experience,” Reigns says. “It’s a mood and an education; that’s what viewers are going to get by coming to ‘The Gay Rub.’” Reigns sees the exhibit as a way for those in the LGBTQ community to see who has helped “pave the way for us to live as openly as we do today,” but notes it’s for everyone. “It’s an in-depth experience,” he says. “It’s educational, it’s emotional and it’s enlightening.”

Steven Reigns’ ‘The Gay Rub’ runs Oct. 15-26 at USF’s Centre Gallery, located on the 2nd floor of the Marshall Student Center at 4202 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. It is sponsored by USF’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, History and English Departments and The Humanities Institute. For more information, visit thegayrub. com or usf.edu.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

47

OCT 26-28 2018 n io t n e v n o C o r, Halloween & Tatto

o r r o H , l l o R n k c Ro on...

rs meet in pe

GILLIANON ANDERS

NIVEKE OGR

DAVID DUCHOVNY

BILL EY O M SEL

Located at

FOLLOW US

@SPOOKYEMPIRE



KATHY NAJIMY

ELVIRA

SID HAIG

A FELISSSE RO

PETER CRISS

E CHRISISTEIN EL

ALEXENT VINC

CARL S WEATHER

GREEGS CIP

RICOUING R B OWN

CARIBE ROYALE ORLANDO 8101 WORLD CENTER drive

BUY NOW!

Get your advanced discount tickets online!

reserve your room!

spookyempire.com 48

ROBERTK PATRIC

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

OR CALL US 954-258-7852

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

TH ANNAISBHE G

WILLIAVMIS B. DA

MITCH PILEGGI

PHIL O N A SELM

ISTERS

THE SOSKA S

E...

PLUS MOR

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

49

THREE ABSOLUTE MUST SEE FILMS FROM TIGLFF 2018 Friday, Oct. 5 • 7:15pm • Tampa Theatre

Wed., Oct. 10 • 7:45pm • Tampa Theatre

Saturday, Oct. 13 • 8:00pm • AMC Sundial

Finally, Emily Dickinson as we always knew she must be a passionate, funny, endearing woman in love with Susan Gilbert. Molly Shannon’s Emily throws her bloomers over her head and dives into the pleasures of stolen kisses and red-hot passion, despite the trappings of petticoats and the oppressive roles for women. Bringing a refreshingly comedic take to the biopic genre, director Madeline Olnek has outdone herself with a quirky yet loving look at the comings (ahem) and goings of a feminist hero ahead of her time. Olnek playfully mocks the Victorian life and still manages to highlight the genius and playfulness of a brilliant mind. Molly Shannon characterizes the “reclusive spinster” with an energy that pulsates just below the surface, filling up the screen with electricity. Frisky Friday Flashback - Women’s After Party: 9pm-1am Hilton Tampa Downtown.

Celebrated documentarian Ondi Timoner’s first scripted narrative film peeks into Patti Smith’s version of one of the most controversial artists of our time. Matt Smith (The Crown, Dr. Who) is stunning in his portrayal of a conflicted artist who mourns the lack of approval from his parents, yet wants to push the boundaries of, well, everything. Mapplethorpe could be just another story of struggling artists in the 70’s, scraping out an existence in the gritty streets of New York. Yet, it is Smith’s intensity that personifies the mind of an artist drudging through his creativity and coming to terms with who he is, or rather, who he wants to be. Mapplethorpe’s two loves were Patti Smith and Sam Wagstaff, beautifully played

by Tony Award winner, John Benjamin Hickey (The Normal Heart). Panel discussion after the film including Margaret Miller of the USF Graphics Studio.

Paul (Paul Rudd) and Erasmus (Steve Coogan) are a quintessentially bitchy couple with a rhythm of contempt for each other so rutted in disdain there is an inevitable breaking point. And that’s when the kid shows up. Erasmus’ 10-year-old grandson is streetwise, cynical and predictably, changes everything.

The couple deftly handles everything from the kid’s obsession with Taco Bell and the not so gentle admonishments from caseworkers and teachers. After all, you cannot leave porn strewn about for a child to find. Coogan and Rudd bring all their comedic genius to characters layered in sarcasm and sprinkled with charm in Andrew Fleming’s unconventional shout out to LGBT families. (SH) Closing Night Party at Thirsty First! (2 blocks from AMC Sundial). First drink compliments of Thirsty First!

WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY

50

MAPPLETHORPE

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

IDEAL HOME

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

community calendar

event planner arts+EntErtainmEnt

Central florida

Central florida

An Attraction to Multiple Genders

PeeVira’s cinema carnage: halloween classics, Oct. 5, VAULT 5421, Orlando. 407-270-6273; GodMonsters.com/Vault-5421 treasure your chest Scavenger Hunt, Oct. 6, Wall St Plaza, Orlando. 407-898-1991; LibbysLegacy.org lake Fairview Marina open house & customer celebration,, Oct. 6, Lake Fairview Mariana, Orlando. 407-295-0117; LakeFairviewMarina.com oWl (older Wiser learning) game Day, Oct. 11, The LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org leather Pride night, Oct. 11, The LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; OrlandoKinksters.com Pride Friday w/ Detox & Power Infiniti, Oct. 12, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com come out With Pride official Block Party, Oct. 12, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; ComeOutWithPride.org “genome: Unlocking life’s code,” Oct. 13, Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando. 407-836-8500; TheHistoryCenter.org Pridegiving 2018, Oct. 13, The Veranda at Thornton Park, Orlando.407-263-7868; Pridegiving-2018.

TicketLeap.com

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 10, 6-7:30 P.m. hOLDEN hEiGhTS COmmUNiTy CENTER, ORLANDO The Mental Health Association of Central Florida and Butterfly Talks host a panel and discussion aiming to better understand those that are attracted to multiple genders and the stigmas that face them. The event will feature experts speaking on a panel with a Q&A session to follow. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP, if you are attending, by email at OUCAssistant@MHACF.org.

believe him

OIC presents Big Gay Brunch SATURDAy, OCT. 13, NOON-3 P.m.

ThE ABBEy, ORLANDO

Actor/author/comedian eddie izzard brings “The Believe Me Tour” to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota Oct. 11 and to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater Oct. 14. Photo coUrteSy eDDieiZZarD.coM

orlando Pride Pop culture expo, Oct. 13-14, Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal, Orlando.

407-351-3333; OrlandoPridePop CultureExpo.com Transgender Dynamics in the Workplace, Oct. 16, Orlando Regional Chamber, Orlando.

813-870-3735; EQFL.org les Vixens burlesque x gogo auditions, Oct. 17, Southern Nights, Orlando.

407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

tampa bay

come out With Pride Festival & Parade, Oct. 13, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. ComeOutWithPride.org

come oUt St Pete launch Party, Oct. 5, G St. Pete, St. Petersburg. 727-220-1505; Facebook.com/GStPete

category is PriDe with the Stars of “PoSe,” Oct. 13, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com

lgbtQ+ Seniors vs. youth bowling contest, Oct. 5, Ten Pins Lane, South Pasadena. 727-381-1010; ComeOUTStPete.org

Pride after Party w/ carson Kressley + Monet Xchange + ginger Minj, Oct. 13, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com

tampa bay international gay & lesbian Film Festival, Oct. 5-13, Tampa Theatre, Tampa & freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg.

813-879-4220; TIGLFF.com

Pasco Pride 2018 Festival, Oct. 6, Sims Park, New Port Richey. 727-220-3457; PascoPrideProud.org

bingo for balance tampa bay, Oct. 14, Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille, Tampa. 813-241-6279; BalanceTampaBay.org

come oUt St Pete inaugural Parade & Proud Festival, Oct. 6, Grand Central District, St. Petersburg. 727-828-7006; ComeOUTStPete.org

eddie izzard, Oct. 14, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

“at the end of the Day” tiglFF screening, Oct. 6, Tampa Theatre, Tampa. 813-879-4220; EndOfTheDayFilm.com over the rainbow, Oct. 7, Grand Central District, St. Petersburg. 727-828-7006; GrandCentralDistrict.org halloween PriDe Skate, Oct. 8, United Skates of America, Tampa. 813-876-5826; UnitedSkates.com city of St. Petersburg come oUt St Pete Proclamation, Oct. 11, City Hall, St. Petersburg.

727-893-7111; StPete.org tb Diversity chamber oct.

Social, Oct. 11, BellaBrava, St. Petersburg. 727-755-8390; DiversityTampaBay.org

hillsborough candidacy Forum & Straw Poll, Oct. 16, University of South Florida, Tampa. 813-974-2001; orgsync.com/87252/chapter trans community Focus group, Oct. 17, Metro Wellness, St. Petersburg. 727-321-3854; MetroTampaBay.org

sarasota Sarasota oUt awards 2018 ceremony, Oct. 7, Purple Rhino Lodge, Sarasota. 941-735-6553; SarasotaOUT.com eddie izzard, Oct. 11, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota.

941-953-3368; VanWezel.org 2018 costume gala, Oct. 13, Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton. 941-748-5875; ManateePerforming ArtsCenter.com

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

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

The party before the parade returns for the fourth year.

Orlando Immunology Center and Orlando Weekly bring you, in conjunction with Come Out With Pride, the Big Gay Brunch. BGB features a huge spread by Season 52, bottomless mimosas, music by DJ Erik Armiliato, giveaways and more. Tickets are $35 with proceeds benefitting Pride Gives Back. This event is 21 and up only.

For more information, visit OrlandoWeeklyTickets.com.

tampa bay

Come OUT, Stay OUT LGBT Senior Resource Fair FRiDAy, OCT. 5, 9 A.m.-12:30 P.m.

SUNShiNE CENTER, ST. PETERSBURG The LGBT Elder Initiative invites you to its second annual vendor fair at the Sunshine Senior Center. The event’s focus is to bridge the service market and LGBTQ elderly community.

The vendor fair will feature LGBTQ-friendly businesses that supply resources for seniors, door prizes, educational speakers and more. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. For more information, visit ComeOUTStPete.org.

Equality Florida Connection & Dia de los Muertos Art Reception TUESDAy, OCT. 16, 6-9 P.m.

ThE CiDER PRESS CAFE, ST. PETERSBURG Join Equality Florida as it holds its St. Petersburg Equality Connection at The Cider Press Cafe. EQFL’s Equality Connections are designed for the organization members, community supporters and those new to the world of EQFL to mingle. This event will feature a Dia de los Muertos art reception, raffle prizes, light bites by Cider Press, coffee

by Kahwa Coffee and cocktails featuring Tito’s Vodka.

More information can be found by visiting EQFL.org.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

51

Join the Premier Chamber in the Bay Area where our diverse membership puts the Diversity in Tampa Bay.

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

www.diversitytampabay.org

Specialty Frames Available in Oval, Circle and Shadowbox

All custom frame work is professionally crafted on-premises!!

TyroneFrame.com 2060 Tyrone Blvd N • St. Pete • (727) 344-1000 52

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Scenic Boat Tour established 1938

Join us for a boat tour on the pristine Winter Park chain of Lakes. See beautiful homes, wildlife and learn some history of Winter Park.

Call 407-644-4056 Adults $14 cash/check only www.scenicboattours.com

Framing Watermark readers since 2003

Bevel and Flat Mirrors Cut To Your Specifications

winter park

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

overheard

tampa bay out+about

popCorn time

T

hE TAmPA BAy iNTERNATiONAL GAy AND LESBiAN FiLm FESTiVAL (TIGLFF) returns for its 29th year Oct. 5-13.

“This year we have such star quality,” Director of Programming KJ Mohr says, “with major productions that people won’t be able to see in theaters for some time. We have Molly Shannon playing Emily Dickinson, Matt Smith playing Robert Mapplethorpe and Paul Rudd is one half of an eccentric gay couple in our closing film.”

Mohr says that TIGLFF is about the community coming together. “You feel the laughter around you,” she says, “and you feel the tension. I think we’ve forgotten how that feels in a theater together.”

Film fans will have the opportunity to remember exactly that with this year’s eclectic entries.

For more information about this year’s lineup, venues and ticket prices, visit TIGLFF.com or WatermarkOnline.com.

love is louder

P

ARTiCiPANTS iN ThE FiRST DRAG QUEEN STORy hOUR TAmPA BAy (DQSHTB) were greeted by religious protestors at St. Petersburg’s Community Cafe Sept. 29.

DQSHTB was formed by Adira Elham and is exactly what it sounds like, she advises. It features area drag entertainers reading stories to children in libraries, schools and bookstores. It aims to capture the imagination and play of childhood and give children glamorous, positive and unabashedly queer role models.

Families, organizer Sonny Stewart and entertainer Dixie Lynn Michaels (who for full disclosure is Watermark Tampa Bay Bureau Chief Ryan Williams-Jent’s husband) arrived to find a group of nearly ten protestors. They were equipped with microphones, cameras and signage.

Signs included verbiage such as “Homosexual Adoption is Child Abuse,” “Save the Children from Perverts,” and “You Have a Choice, Turn or Burn.”

Protestors screamed Bible verses and advised that all in attendance were sinners, including multiple children.

“Believe what you want, have whatever opinion you want,” Michaels says, “but having that belief does not mean you can scream it at children. The only thing I saw and heard in those protesters was hate.”

“To me, this symbolizes how much they want to see us fail,” Stewart adds. “We just want to let the children know they are loved and we’re here to support them. If at every event we have these guys out here, so be it. We’re not going to stop.”

Despite the attacks, the first event was a success. “The amount of love that poured out in solidarity against the vile hatred was beautiful and meaningful,” Community Cafe’s Mandy Keyes says. “The response afterwards has been very supportive as well. We have a special community here in St. Pete.”

The organization’s next event will be held Oct. 27. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ DragQueenStroyHourTampaBay.

1

2 3

1

FAiR CARE: (L-R) Jim Foley, randy gonzalez, Nate Taylor and roosevelt cevallos welcome guests to Metro Wellness and Community Centers’ LGBTQ Resource Fair Sept. 19. PHOTO by ryan WilliaMS-Jent

2

EPiC EDUCATiON: bridget narvaez (L) and Alessio Perrone raise awareness in Countryside at the HIV/AIDS Awareness Forum sponsored by EPIC Sept.

27. Photo by rUSS Martin

3

4

5

POOL PARTy: (L-R) Zachary Stamper, Juno Vibranz and carlos nunez seek shade during the Sunday Tea Pool Party at Gay St. Pete House Sept. 30.

Photo by ryan WilliaMS-Jent

4

TiCKET TRiO: (L-R) Dennis Wayne, claire eli and Stefanie reynolds sell raffle tickets and register voters at the Closet Ball at Flamingo Resort Sept. 23.

Photo by ryan WilliaMS-Jent

5

hAPPy hOUR: (L-R) David Rule, christopher clawson, Richard Randall and Jerry Vocaire enjoy Watermark Wednesday at G St. Pete Sept. 19. PHOTO by ryan WilliaMS-Jent

6

PLANNiNG PRiDE: come oUt St. Pete’s board gathers at EPIC for its Sept. 26 planning meeting. PHOTO

6

by ryan WilliaMS-Jent

7

RiDE ThE WAVE: The Pinellas county young Democrats share the spotlight during their Blue Wave fundraiser Sept. 21.

Photo by ryan WilliaMS-Jent

8

READiNG RAiNBOW: Melissa (L) and Kami Davis (R) bring son Reiken to hear Dixie lynn Michaels read during Drag Queen Story Hour at Community Cafe Sept. 29. PHOTO BY

8

ryan WilliaMS-Jent

7 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

53

54

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

overheard

Central florida out+about

rainboW kitten surprise for fans

i

NDiE-FOLK, ROCK BAND RAiNBOW KiTTEN SURPRiSE (RKS) paused to explain the meaning of the song “Hide” to their fans during a concert at The Beacham in Orlando Sept. 18. “Homophobia is everywhere, and homophobic violence is felt throughout the world,” says Charlie Holt, the band’s openly queer bassist. Lead singer Sam Melo explained to the crowd that the band’s latest EP, “How to: Friend, Love, Freefall,” is a very personal album to him. Melo came out to his fans as gay through the album in April. “[‘Hide’] was a pretty personal song to me. I actually had never shown it to any of the guys before we tracked it in the studio. We started jamming on a riff and I just started singing it,” says Melo. RKS released a six-minute, documentary-style music video for “Hide,” directed by Kyle Thrash. The video dives into the lives of four drag queens based in New Orleans. The message behind the video for “Hide” is to show the struggle of LGBTQ and drag communities in the landscape of the Deep South, but also to celebrate their stories, says Holt. Melo also addressed the video’s impact on the relationships in his personal life. He says he has a great relationship with his father, although they don’t talk about his partner with each other. “The end scene where he’s talking to his dad, and that the level of acceptance that his dad is giving him,” Melo continues, “I watched that sitting with my dad. I don’t know if he felt something or not but I’d like to think he looks at me a little bit different now.”

hrC preZ Comes to Central florida

C

hAD GRiFFiN, ThE CURRENT hUmAN RiGhTS CAmPAiGN (hRC) PRESiDENT, stopped in Orlando Sept. 25 after travelling to South Florida to announce HRC’s endorsement of the state’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Andrew Gillum.

Griffin’s first stop in the City Beautiful was at the LGBT+ Center Orlando where he met with The Center’s Executive Director George Wallace, as well as The Center’s staff, volunteers and community leaders. After a tour of the newly-renovated space and a roundtable chat, Griffin was off to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to join NextGen America, a nonprofit and political action committee focused on environmental advocacy, for National Voter Registration Day. The two groups held a rally for UCF students on campus to get them energized for the midterm elections and to remind them that, for the first time ever, students will have an early voting site right on campus. Griffin hopes that the students will make good use of it. “For LGBT people who will be of voting age in time for this election, this is perhaps the most important election that they may ever see in their lifetimes,” he says.

2

4

1

TO iNFiNiTy AND BEyOND: Space Coast Pride’s board members and volunteers get a group photo after a successful 11th annual Pride celebration at Eau Gallie Arts District in Melbourne Sept. 29. Photo coUrteSy cortney thoMPSon

2 3

by Kathleen harPer

ThURSDAy mixER: (L-R) Scott Penyak, David Dorman and Todd Meyer are all smiles at Watermark’s Third Thursday at The Hammered Lamb in Orlando Sept. 20. PHOTO

7

4

BOOK CLUB: The Center’s Executive Director george Wallace (L) shows HRC President chad griffin the new LGBT+ library at The Center Orlando Sept. 25. PHOTO BY

Photo by Danny garcia

6

Danny garcia

ThE hONEymOONERS: Watermark Business Manager Kathleen Sadler (L) and new husband Keith Sadler snap a selfie at the Orlando International Airport Sept. 25 as they board a plane to Hawaii for their honeymoon. PHOTO BELLE OF ThE BALL: Dawn Winters dresses as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” at Roxxxy Andrews’ ToonTown birthday party at Southern Nights Orlando Sept. 20.

5

BEARDED BEAUTS: (L-R) Newly-crowned Miss Florida Bearded Queen Bearonce, first runner-up Daye Nada and former Miss Florida Bearded Queen Joey gallagher strike a pose at the Miss Florida Bearded Queen Pageant at Stonewall Orlando Sept. 23. PHOTO BY

6

coUrteSy Keith SaDler

3

5

STOPPiNG TRAFFiC: Ms. Darcel Stevens sports her latest costume made of roadside items at the Anything But Clothes party at Parliament House Orlando Sept. 29. PHOTO coUrteSy MS. Darcel SteVenS

1

7

GO VOTERS!: (L-R) UCF mascot Knightro, Marty Rouse and Vivian rodriguez help UCF students register to vote at UCF’s Student Union Sept. 25. PHOTO BY JaiMe DonelSon

8

JereMy WilliaMS

8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

55

T A M P A

air Conditioning

B A y

M A R K E T P L A C E

event spaCe

health+fitness

Cooling Issues? Comfort Issues?

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! Servicing: Polk, Osceola, and Highland Counties

Christopher Molnar, LLC Mechanical Contractor

Dr. Bob Linde, AP, RH (AHG) DOM Renee Prince, Clinical Herbalist

Call today for your FREE Hurricane Season Inspection.

O: (863) 949-0887 C: (860) 798-7032 www.ChristopherMolnar.com FL License: CMC1250639

Western & Chinese Medicine • Clinical Herbal Programs • Crystals • Plant Medicine • Metaphysical Classes

attorney Immigration Law

Honor the Past Manifest the Present Create the Future (727) 551-0857

Attorney Alison M. Foley-Rothrock se habla Español!

Offering All Types Of Immigration Services

Call today for your FREE CONSULTATION Offices in Lakeland and Ybor City, Tampa 813-424-0652

NEW LOCATION: 2520 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

www.foleyimmigrationlaw.com

finanCial

Community organiZations

Are you positive you’re negative?

health Care PrEP

•

ST D / H I V Te st i n g • P r E P

•

ST D / H I V Te st i n g

David W. Lyter, MD, MPH

KNOW.

FREE HIV TESTS IN 15 MIN

www.DiversityHealthCenter.com

CLEARWATER (727) 216-6193 • ST. PETE (727) 321-3854 NEW PORT RICHEY (727) 494-7625 • TAMPA (813) 232-3808

HIV Medicine

Community

Primary Care

•

Ph: 813-518-0881

Transgender care/HRT

hotels+resorts

framing

&

Residential • Commercial

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

56

•

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

tampa

ba y

M arketplace

religious

photography

salon

Fine Art | Portrait | Wedding | Commercial www.DylanToddPhotography.com info@DylanToddPhotography.com (727) 310-1212

physicians

radio station

veterinarian

real estate

youth services

Building Relationships Beyond the Sale!

(813) 563-1573 www.TheHustleandHeartGroup.com

Call 813-655-9890 for more information

Serving Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties 5666 Seminole Boulevard, Suite 100 Seminole, FL 33772

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

57

C e n t r a l

accountant

F lo r i d a

M a r k e t p l a c e

This space kept clean cleaning service byspace Merrykept Maids.

This clean Thisbyspace kept clean Merry Maids.

We can keep your space clean, too!

by Merry Maids.

attorney

We can keep your space clean, too!

We can keep your space clean, too!

407.331.5266 4073315266 000-000-0000

$100 Off Save $00

merrymaids.com

4073315266 $100 Off counselor Save $00 000-000-0000 New customers only. merrymaids.com Offer Description goes here Take $20 off of your first five 4073315266 $100 Off Save $00 000-000-0000 Line two offer description cleanings.

Offer$20 Description goes here Take off of your first five Line two offer description cleanings.

accountant

Offer good through 00/00/0000. New customers only.

Not valid with other offers. Valid only at this location. Cash value 1/1000 of 1 cent.

Valid only at this location. ©2010 Merry Maids L.P.

merrymaids.com

Offer Description goes here Take off only. of your first five Offer good through 00/00/0000.

New customers only.

New $20 customers Line two description cleanings.

Not valid withoffer other offers.

Valid only at this location. Cash value 1/1000 of 1 cent.

Valid only at this location. ©2010 Merry Maids L.P. Offer good through 00/00/0000.

New customers only.

New customers only.

Not valid with other offers. Valid only at this location. Cash value 1/1000 of 1 cent.

Valid only at this location. ©2010 Merry Maids L.P.

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

Leah eah G. James, CPA, MSTax

Judy L. Hines, CQA, CPB, CPS, CAP 407.478.4513 • ContactUs@geckoCPA.com

air conditioning

chiropractor

counselor

• Pain Management • Auto Accidents • Acupuncture • Chiropractic Dr. Will Llewellyn • Massage Therapy Chiropractic Physician 1350 Orange Avenue, Suite 266 | Winter Park

407-435-9995

407-295-9231

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

FL License#: CAC056308

We have the perfect deal on

PERFECT AIR for your home attorney

Up to $1700

in Rebates plus additional utility company incentives on qualified units.

JDVHealth.com | 407.622.1616 Accepting Medicare and most Insurance Plans

Call for Rates

407-481-2243 58

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

C e n t r a L

F L O r i d a

M a r k e t p L a C e

funeral serviCes

Counselor

home improvement

$15 OFF NEXT SERVICE One time use only.

laWn Care

dentist

garden/nursery

Now OPEN Dr New Smile

CIT Y OA SIS

Full Service Interior Plantscaping Design & Maintenance Sales - Leasing - Maintenance

Your Downtown Dentist

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

Call Today!

Exotic Orchids Bonsai Ornamentals

407 856-5777 $350 $39

Exams, Dental X-Rays, and Cleanings

$1700

Implants and Crowns - All Included

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

health+fitness

lgbtQ mediCal

LGBT Primary Care

Most Insurances Accepted

Your Family Doctor’s Office

Piñero Preventive Medical Care

Offices of Dr. Charles Arias

Mon-Sat -New Patients Welcome 1720 S Orange Ave, Ste 200 | Orlando

www.DrNewSmile.com 508 N. Mills Ave., Suite A Orlando, FL 32803

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

Read It Online!

finanCial serviCes

Come see Dave, Ed & Staff for a Free Consultation! watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

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

59

C e n t r a L

F L O r i d a

M a r k e t p L a C e

roofing

lgbtQ mediCal

FREE ROOFING

ESTIMATE

CALL TODAY

407-240-1225

SE HABLA ESPANOL!

STATE CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR CC-C057239

• REPAIRS & RE-ROOF EXPERTS • STORM & HAIL DAMAGE SPECIALISTS • SHINGLE, FLAT & TILE ROOFS WWW.DRS-ROOFING.COM

non-profit organiZation

veterinarian

non-profit organiZation

Proudly Caring for the Pets and People of the LGBT Community since 1955 BOARDING

DOGGIE DAYCARE

NEW WELLNESS CENTER

1601 Lee Rd. Winter Park (407) 644-2676 personal training www.rockhardfitnessorlando.com

FREE TRIAL PASS Call 407-481-2243 for more information

60

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

youth serviCes Changing the lives of LGBTQ teens and young adults for over 25 years

1 WEEK UNLIMITED CLASSES 1 HOUR PERSONAL TRAINING

Social support groups Make friends Scholarships for college Weekly groups in Orange, Seminole & Polk counties

820 Lake Baldwin Lane p. 407.802.4631

info@orlandoyouthalliance.org www.orlandoyouthalliance.org

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

• Join • Volunteer • Donate

announcements

Wedding bells

Elie Harris and Grace Peek from Windermere, Florida

EngagEmEnt datE:

Aug.18, 2017

wEdding datE:

Aug. 18, 2018

vEnuE:

Bilmar Beach Resort, Treasure Island

colors:

Blue jay, sand and sliver

wEdding song/ artist:

“Say You won’t Let Go” by James Arthur

dJ sErvicE:

DJ Shannon with InterCross Entertainment

catErEr:

Bilmar Beach Resort

oFFiciant:

Terry DeCarlo

cakE bakEry:

Se7enBites

cakE/cupcakE Flavors:

wedding white with key lime filling and coconut rum buttercream frosting

thEmE:

Nautical

photographEr:

Stephanie Michelle Photography

Photo by StePhanie Michelle PhotograPhy

“W

E hAD BEEN iN ThE

same place at the same time many times before without knowing,” Elie Harris says about when she first met her wife Grace Peek. The couple says they first interacted in January 2017 at the funeral of a mutual friend.

“Our friend Becky had been trying to introduce us, but it never quite worked out. It took a few weeks after our first meeting before we exchanged numbers, and since then we have been inseparable,” Harris says.

Harris, who moved to Huber Heights, Ohio, is the Orlando police department’s community service officer. Her wife, Peek, is from Cleveland, Tenn., and is employed as the Orlando police

department’s master sergeant and LGBTQ liaison. The couple resides together in Windermere with their son Dylan.

Both knew the other was the one at the same time. “For me it was definitely when I was really sick right after we met.

I had just moved into a new house and I was sent home from my serving job,” Harris says. “Grace offered to bring me soup and a movie. There were boxes everywhere, the floors

congratulations

Sondra Valentino and Mel Tino welcomed newborn twin babies into the world Sept. 20.

Thearon Scurlock and alex Poland were engaged Sept. 21. lucky Star lounge celebrated its 10th anniversary Sept. 27.

were extremely dirty due to the movers and I did not have furniture yet. So she heated up the soup and sat down on my dirty floor to eat soup with me.”

“Elie took my answer on this one as I believe I realized then I would do anything for her and wanted her in my life,” Peek says. “I wasn’t sure how she felt but knew she was the one for me, whether we would marry or be the best of friends. I know it sounds cliché but I knew then that she ‘completed’ me and my son.”

They each say they “kind of” proposed to one another. Harris shared that early on, Peek had joked while they were at the beach that she would marry her with a bread tie—and they often discussed possible wedding dates—but Harris was the one who officially asked.

“Grace was working that day and we couldn’t get to the beach so she invited me to do a lunch picnic at Lake Ivanhoe,” Harris says. “After lunch, she pulled out two bread ties that were tied into little rings and asked if I would become her wife on Aug. 18, 2018. Of course the answer was yes.”

As intended, the couple married on that date on the beach at Treasure Island.

The wedding had a nautical theme, as Peek was formerly in the Navy and Harris in the Coast Guard.

“My favorite moment of the wedding has to be when we walked out on the beach for the ceremony and I was finally able to turn around and see Elie behind me with her father,” Peek says. “She took my breath away—she was so beautiful!

I loved our first dance and our family dance with our son. Elie is my one and I will be forever grateful she has taken a chance with me.”

edgefactory’s Debo ofsowitz proposed to her girlfriend Milena Jacobina on Sept. 29 ... and she said yes!

Se7enbites celebrated 5 years in business Oct. 1. g2h2 Sarasota celebrates its 7th anniversary Oct. 4.

condolEncEs

Hamburger Mary’s manager, friend and family member Rich Pierc passed away Sept. 23.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

local birthdays

Bay News 9 traffic expert chuck henson (Oct. 4); St. Pete Stormer edith lewis-allen, St. Pete sprinter gabe Michael, Tampa Bay nurse Daniel Ravioli, Bach Festival’s Zac alfon, Orlando bartender Tracy Thomas (Oct. 5); Lighthouse Realty broker/owner Mike trexler (Oct. 6); Tampa realtor Mike Reedy, Gomez Law Firm’s Ian Stanislaus, Orlando LGBT activist Michael Slaymaker, graphic designer Jocelynn White, Parliament House’s loc robertson (Oct. 7); Orlando Meltdown coordinator Kyle garther, Tampa Bay photographer robert castelli, D’Squared Productions’ Douglas White (Oct. 8); Hamburger Mary’s Brandon manager Michael Wilson, Mad Cow Theatre’s Mitzi Maxwell, Libby’s Legacy founder robin Maynard (Oct. 9); Bambu the Eco Salon owner chris Kiss, St. Pete data specialist Stephen gillin, Tampa Bay entertainer Victoria Michaels (Oct. 10); Parliament House’s robert arroyo, USAA BOLD Leadership’s Michael Paonessa (Oct. 11); King of Peace pastor candace Shultis, Orlando DJ nick comis, Orlando Health’s tim leddy (Oct. 12); Tampa Pride’s Mark West Bias, WellCare Manager Michael clouse, Flamingo St. Pete’s Jeff beadle (Oct. 13); Freelance writer Michael Kilgore, GaYbor entertainer Joey Brooks, Ybor City Barbering Co. owner lisa ann harmon (Oct. 14); Orlando realtor Scott Benson, Central Florida Sounds of Freedom musician Melissa Fallcenbury, Art curator Mendi cowles, St. Pete socialite art lawrence, Tampa retiree Howard Hawk (Oct. 15); Orlando Fringe producer Michael Marinaccio, Real estate agent Kase elders, Suncoast softballer Michael Monnich, Orlando attorney Mary Meeks (Oct. 16); Gecko accountant Judy l. hines, Tampa political guru Mitch Kates, singer Sunshine Matthews, Lakeland Geico expert barry Stemle, King Corona Cigar expert Willy emerson, Orange County Tax Collector Scott randolph (Oct. 17).

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

—Aaron Drake

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.

Oc tOb er 4 - Oc tOb er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

61

the last page

Photo by Dylan Todd

Age: 45

Hometown:

Tampa, FL

Identifies As:

Transgender man

Out Year:

Nathan Bruemmer

Autobiography Title:

“Proud Outlaw: A Tale of LGBTQ+ Advocacy”

V i e w p o i n t col u m n i s t

Hobbies:

What kind of writing do you do for Watermark?

Advocacy and the work, dinner and conversations with friends.

Right now I’m focusing on issues for LGBTQ+ youth, detailing their perspectives and the issues they face.

1990

What made you want to write for Watermark?

Professional Role Model:

The ability to focus on the issues of the next generation is important and I can write about that here.

I need to write about the truth.

Statistics are sometimes really ugly—but in putting the truth out, I try to find examples of hope and ways to show the possibilities.

We don’t need to be our statistics.

Nadine Smith, Mara Keisling and so many lesser known, unsung heroes

What is your favorite thing about writing for Watermark?

Watermark does a great job at covering so many things and areas; I enjoy being one of those voices. I appreciate that Watermark allows the space for all voices and all perspectives. That’s important. We’re a big, bold, beautiful rainbow and we’re all different. We have to learn from each other.

What is the name of your column with Watermark?

“Keeping It Real”

How did you come up with the name for your Viewpoint column?

I was brainstorming at ALSO Youth one day and it came from some of the kids. My job is to bring in programming that empowers LGBTQ+ youth and to work on building inclusive communities.

LGBTQ+ youth are already living with all kinds of realities, and sometimes we sugarcoat things and they know. A lot of youth talk to me about how other adults talk to them. They don’t want to be talked down to; they want to have real conversations. I keep it real with them.

What is your favorite LGBTQ Event?

The reality is that I love all of the events, because I remember when there were none.

62

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

What is your favorite thing about the local LGBTQ community?

Our connections to each other. I run into a lot of people at a lot of different things, sometimes in places where I’m not expecting to. It’s like when you go home after a long time after you haven’t seen your family. I don’t know if all communities are connected like that.

What would you like to see improved in the LGBTQ community?

I see in different regions—Orlando, Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota—I see different successes and I see areas where work is needed. It’s a little different in every community. Every region has different strengths. I would like all of the successes in all of the places. If we could figure out how to own that then it would make it better for everyone in the battle for equality.

What do you want the Watermark readers to know about you?

I’ve been working with kids for a long time, and it’s probably because in some ways I’m still a great big kid at heart. The other side of that is that doing advocacy work for so long is hard work. There’s been a lot of struggle and setbacks, but I don’t focus on that.

I celebrate the wins when they happen and that keeps me kid-like.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Believe in yourself, even if no one else does. Hard work does pay off—the work isn’t as hard when you do it with other people who work as hard as you do on what’s important. Find your community.

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.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Oc tob er 4 - Oc tob er 17, 2018 // Issue 25. 20

63

OrlandoHealth.com