Watermark Issue 26.05: WAVE Award WInners

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e d E si in l RID 9 ia eC A P 201 P sp E TAMGUID

Tampa Bay Edition

Celebrating 25 Years of

Your LGBTQ Life.

CATCHING

THE WAVE Tampa Bay and Central Florida celebrate their local favorites!

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

I S S U e 2 6 . 0 5 • M A R C H 7 - M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 1 9 • wAt e R M A R KO N L I N e . CO M

This issue features two covers!

In this issue we feature some of our WAVE winners from both Tampa Bay and Central Florida.

Central Florida Edition

Celebrating 25 Years of

Your LGBTQ Life.

CATCHING

THE WAVE Tampa Bay and Central Florida celebrate their local favorites! daYtona beaCh • orlando • tampa • st. petersburg • ClearWater • sarasota

I S S U e 2 6 . 0 5 • M A R C H 7 - M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 1 9 • wAt e R M A R KO N L I N e . CO M

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departments 7 // puBlisher’s desk

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8 // Central flOrida news 15 // tampa Bay news

I’ve seen how dramatically Florida has changed for the better over the past 20 years and I’ve seen the dangers of being complacent and forgetting how hard fought our victories have been. I want to protect what we’ve gained and ensure our work brings equity not just equality.

—WAVE WiNNER AND EQUALitY fLORiDA EXECUtiVE DiRECtOR NADiNE SMith

20 // state news 22 // natiOn & wOrld news 31 // talkinG pOints 59 // COmmunity Calendar 61 // tampa Bay Out + aBOut 63 // Central fl Out + aBOut 64 // tampa Bay marketplaCe 66 // Central fl marketplaCe 69 // weddinG Bells/ annOunCements 70 // last paGe On the COver

PAGE sinGer’s strenGth

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PAGE CATCHING THE

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WAVE: Central Florida

and Tampa Bay celebrate their local favorites!

Tampa Bay Edition photo by Dylan Todd Central FL Edition photo by Jake Stevens

sCan Qr COde fOr

watermarkOnline.COm

Jackie Evancho talks about her upcoming album, transgender sister and LGBTQ fans.

watermark issue 26.05 // marCh 7 - marCh 20, 2019

sea Of red

end Of an era

rise up

sweet divinity

PAGE The nonprofit KindRED Pride Foundation forms to continue Orlando’s red shirt tradition.

PAGE Hamburger Mary’s in Brandon and St. Petersburg announce impending closure.

Watermark and other LGBTQ publications are being featured in the Newseum’s Stonewall exhibit.

Divine Grace shows us how she handles political disputes within the family.

read it online!

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

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publisher’s

rick Claggett PUBLISHeR

Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

I

desk

tRY NOt tO WAtCh thE PRESiDENt

when he’s on TV. I’m sure somewhere there is an argument to be made that I should watch so I am informed, but I’d rather just read about the highlights. It’s like watching a comedian fail. I get uneasy, embarrassed for him and the country. Why is it so difficult to speak in coherent sentences?

Now I have this image of the commander in chief hugging the American flag while mouthing, what appears to be, the word “mama” at the Conservative Political Action Convention. This of course preceded an hours-long stream of consciousness oration that mimicked a cocaine-induced rant.

I hate to get too wrapped up in politics on this page since I understand, like all communities, Watermark attracts both conservatives and liberals. I’d rather debate issues than people, but I find it impossible to believe that anyone

could watch this man on TV and look up to him.

In this issue of Watermark we release the results of our annual Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence (WAVE). Rather than dwell on a perceived lack of presidential leadership, let’s celebrate our community and those that rise to the top.

It was a record-breaking year for voting in the WAVE Awards.

Watermark supporters are asked to vote in two rounds, the first being our nomination round which launches every January. Readers are asked to

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 Sadler • ext. 101 Kathleen@Watermarkonline.com

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

fill in the blank for their favorites in roughly 50 categories. From that our team calculates the top three vote getters and launches our finalist round. Here, voters are simply asked to click on their favorites from the list of three.

From year to year, some of the categories change. We look at popularity of categories as well as reader suggestions to determine what will be asked the following year.

I’m looking at you, DJs. We hear you.

The one constant in this poll is that the results are 100 percent reader generated. The winners are truly your collective favorites.

Straying from tradition, our editorial team has decided this year to highlight some of their favorites in areas not voted on by readers.

Keeping in that spirit I will be highlighting what stands out in our community for me.

I have the unique privilege of living in both Central Florida and Tampa Bay. A constant theme of excellence in both areas is the arts. The Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center and Straz Center for the Performing Arts both brought stellar performances to this season’s Broadway tour. Local performances are equally impressive. Blue and her talented Venue family put together more eclectic and amazing performances than what seems humanly possible. Tampa Bay’s glass art scene is a wonder of its own.

The Imagine Museum highlights the history of glass art beautifully.

The Morean Center offers you the opportunity to make your own glass art. One session with them and I was hooked.

Central Florida and Tampa Bay also feature great community leaders, who are often praised in these pages. This WAVE issue is no exception. It warms my heart to see Tampa’s Nancy and John Desmond getting so much recognition this year. In addition, rising stars are emerging as the future of the LGBTQ community. Impressive among them are QLatinx’s Christopher Cuevas.

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.com Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • ext. 103 Sam@Watermarkonline.com

Orlando Account Manager: Brianna Rockmore • ext. 105 brianna@Watermarkonline.com Senior Tampa Bay Account Manager: Russ Martin • ext. 303 Russ@Watermarkonline.com Tampa Bay Account Manager: Anja Saine • ext. 301 Anja@Watermarkonline.com National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

I recently sat on an advisory panel with Christopher and their passion for giving visibility to the nonbinary community was eye opening and impressive. Metro Inclusive Health’s Cole Foust is equally inspiring. His artistry and passion for community work gives me hope on the forward progression of the LGBTQ movement.

Both are genuinely good people.

You can’t talk about excellence without saying that Central Florida and Tampa Bay are killing it when it comes to food. Trina Gregory’s baked goods at Se7en Bites are what inspired me to start baking. I can’t walk into her restaurant without buying five or six different treats.

My Tampa Bay must eats are St. Pete’s Central Melt grilled cheese sandwiches and Old Key West’s fries.

rather than dwell on a perceived lack of presidential leadership, let’s celebrate our community and those that rise to the top.

I can’t pick a favorite there; it’s like the ultimate “Sophie’s Choice.”

In addition to celebrating the best of the area, Watermark talks to “America’s Got Talent” contestant Jackie Evancho about her new album and her performance at Trump’s inauguration. In Central Florida news we announce the KindRED Pride Foundation and their plans for Red Shirt Pride Day at Disney. Tampa Bay news focuses on the closing of two more Hamburger Mary’s restaurants as well as the upcoming Manatee Pride. Our Last Page returns this issue with a focus on Watermark staff member Dylan Todd.

We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue.

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tampa Bay OffiCe 2529 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33713 TEL: 813-655-9890

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COntriButOrs DiViNE gRACE

is an Orlandobased trouble maker with a forked tongue and all the charm you can imagine. Page 25

JASON LECLERC

is a near lifelong resident of the I-4 corridor, currently in South Tampa. He publishes poetry online at PoetEconomist. blogspot.com. His first book, “Momentitiousness,” was published in 2014. His book, “Black Kettle,” was published in 2016. Page 27

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 69 saBrina amBra, nathan Bruemmer, sCOttie CampBell, miGuel fuller, divine GraCe, hOlly kapherr aleJOs, JasOn leClerC, melOdy maia mOnet, JeriCk mediavilla, GreG stemm, miChael wanZie, dr. steve yaCOvelli

phOtOGraphy Brian BeCnel, niCk CardellO, BruCe hardin, JamarQus mOsley, Chris stephensOn, lee vanderGrift

distriButiOn lvnlif2 distriButinG, ken Carraway, vanessa maresCa-CruZ CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher.

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central florida news

Orlando to host LGBTQ Leadership Summit Abigail Brashear

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RLANDO | Featuring LGBTQ leaders from all throughout Florida and the Orlando area, a day of intensive training for political advocacy and advancement will be held in Orlando during the annual LGBTQ Leadership Summit on March 16.

The free summit is hosted by Victory Institute, the only national organization specifically focused on assisting open LGBTQ leaders on all levels of government, and Equality Florida, the largest political advocacy group dedicated to LGBTQ equality in Florida. It will be held at the Double Tree hotel in downtown Orlando and is open to anyone who wishes to attend, including high school and college students.

The LGBTQ Leadership Summit is one of Victory Institute’s many training programs, summits and workshops that aid both national and international politicians who wish to advocate for equality or are a part of the LGBTQ community.

The deadline to register for this event is March 15. Space is limited and is reserved on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information and to register, visit VictoryInstitute. org/Event/OrlandoSummit.

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan announces Bid for re-election

RLANDO | Patty Sheehan, Central Florida’s first openly gay city commissioner, announced Feb. 19 via Facebook that she is running for re-election.

Sheehan is city commissioner for Orlando’s District 4, which consists of the majority of historic districts in downtown. During her time as commissioner, Sheehan has overseen the restoration of the Lake Eola fountain, the preservation of the Eola House, the addition of 1.3 acres to Lake Eola Park and the construction of sidewalks for children going to and from school.

Sheehan—alongside former Orlando Police Chief John Mina—passed the OPD Safe Place Initiative, which provides safe spots for those within the LGBTQ community throughout Orlando should they find themselves victims of crime. It was passed six months after the Pulse nightclub shooting. In addition, Sheehan also helped to create the Orlando Youth Empowerment Summit, which is a free conference dedicating to empowering LGBTQ youth and allies through education and support.

First elected in 2000, Sheehan was re-elected in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2015. She also serves as vice chair of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council and is the founder and chair for Wheels for Kids, a program that has provided over 1,000 bikes to elementary and middle school students.

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Photo by Jeremy Williams

Sea of Red KindRED Pride Foundation forms to continue Orlando’s red shirt tradition

Abigail Brashear

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#RSPD: A group of Disney World visitors show their “Red Shirt Pride” at the Magic Kingdom in June 2018.

Jeremy Williams

O

RLANDO | KindRED Pride Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed by One Magical Weekend owners Tom Christ and Billy Looper, announced in a press release March 7 their intent to have as many people as possible wear red shirts on June 1.

“On St. Patrick’s Day everyone is inclined to express connection to what that day represents by wearing green on March 17— whether they are Irish or not,” the organization said in the press release.” So the first Saturday of June will continue to be the day that kindred spirits around the world wear RED in solidarity.”

The event is being called “RED Shirt Pride Day (#RSPD) Around the World!” KindRED Pride Foundation’s goal is to get more than a million ”like-minded people” to wear red shirts on

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

June 1, no matter where in the world they are.

KindRED Pride Foundation was formed in the wake of GayDayS, Inc.’s announcement in 2018 that starting this year the group’s annual events would be moving from the traditional first weekend of June to mid-August. While the weekend events held during early June each year were collectively called “Gay Days” by some, the events have been presented by a variety of groups including GayDayS, One Magical Weekend, Girls in Wonderland, Tidal Wave and Black Gay Pride.

Each of these organizations, with the exception of GayDayS, will maintain their events and presence in Orlando on the first weekend in June to carry on “the magic created by the 28-year tradition of the original Gay Day at Magic Kingdom.”

KindRED Pride Foundation “is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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whose mission is to support the endeavors of like-minded charities for the education, promotion and celebration of diversity, inclusion, equality, safe expression and kindness and create a global movement for the first Saturday of June each year where all LGBT+ persons and allies wear a RED Shirt as a message of our ‘KindRED’ spirit,” according to its website.

The organization goes on, saying it wants to “honor the kindred spirit, bravery and courage of the original attendees back in 1991 by expanding the ‘grass roots’ desire to bring the community together to celebrate our differences as well as our ‘oneness’ and to support endeavors by like-minded charities within the LGBTQIA community by producing sporting, music and other special events.”

The first event to be produced

by KindRED Pride Foundation will be “We Are One - An Extravaganza Benefit For Diversity & Inclusion,” a star-studded fundraiser and benefit held at House of Blues at Disney Springs in Orlando May 30.

“Picture your favorite performers—music, dance, comedy, drag —all at one venue

Continued on pg. 11 | uu |

JUNE 2019 NYCPRIDE.ORG/2019

PRODUCED BY

WORLDPRIDE LICENSOR

H O S T PA R T N E R

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central florida news

united arts names new manaGer Of Grants and art eduCatiOn Lauren Lee

O

RLANDO | United Arts of Central Florida has named Rafael Torres as the new manager of grants and art education.

“This is my dream job and something I’ve wanted to do since graduate school,” says Torres, who immediately applied for the position the day it was posted.

Torres, who is openly gay, is both an artist and philanthropic manager in Central Florida, and two weeks into his new position.

As the new manager of grants and art education, Torres grants money to different art organizations around Central Florida that then uses the money for operating support and encouraging diversity in art.

Torres works with school boards from the four main counties that United Art services

to provide resources to art teachers, students and artists in the community.

United Arts is a nonprofit designed to enrich the community in the arts, science and history.

United Arts has supported 910,000 experiences for students and invested over $150 million into the Central Florida arts community.

“Rafael hit the ground running and we are so lucky to have him with us,” says Flora Garcia, CEO and president of United Arts. “He loves the arts and loves this organization and is even an artist himself so he’s a perfect fit. We are just so thrilled to have someone so qualified with such a terrific personality working with us.”

Torres has been interested in philanthropic work since high school. While in college, Torres worked with creating a safe space for LGBTQ students and

helped archive art work produced by artists that were dying due to AIDS. Before moving back to Florida, Torres was involved with Arcus Foundation, which tied his philanthropic expertise with the LGBTQ community. He also worked with United Way of NYC where he put his knowledge of grant management to use.

“I got my feet wet and wanted to do something meaningful like most people in the art field,” says Torres. “So every day I get to come work with people who are passionate about the arts.”

Torres, who grew up in Central Florida, studied fine arts at New York University. After being recruited by the onePULSE Foundation and getting engaged and married to Stonewall’s Taylor Bulloch in 2017, he moved back to Orlando.

“I am one of the lucky few that get to support the arts,” says Torres. “I want to return the favor and help support the diverse voices of the arts. This is my calling.”

| uu | Sea of Red

from pg.8

helping to raise awareness for the nonprofits we support,” the event page states. The entertainment lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

KindRED Pride Foundation also has plans to launch The Pride Cup, a multi-sport competition held annually at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex starting in 2020.

While the event is more than a year away, the organization’s website has teased what sports fans can expect June 5-7, 2020.

“Athletics have been a life saver for many in our community over the decades,” the website states. “Why not introduce athletics to the kick-off of Pride Month, especially when Walt Disney World Resorts has the only multi-sport venue in the world where you can play softball and still watch your friends play dodgeball or tennis or kickball or

E-Sports or many other events all within walking distance.”

KindRED Pride Foundation’s website lists several nonprofits, both nationally and locally, as beneficiaries. They include The Trevor Project, Julian’s Fountain of Youth and the One Orlando Alliance, to name a few.

“We believe in the Power of KINDNESS and we believe in the Power of RED,” KindRED Pride Foundation states. ”The red in the pride flag represents life.

The original organizers chose this color in order to recognize other kindred spirits at that first gathering. What better way to kick off Pride Month than people around the world wearing RED as a celebration of life in all of its different colors, shapes, sizes, genders, orientations, nationalities, ages, abilities and status.”

To learn more about KindRED Pride Foundation and find out how to become a #BeKindChampion, visit KindREDPride.org.

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tampa bay news

lGBtQ authOr alleGes disCriminatiOn after CathOliC sChOOl CanCels appearanCe COMMUNitY CLOSURE: A

Hamburger Mary’s statue greets guests at Hamburger Mary’s Brandon. The location and its sister site in St. Petersburg will close on or before March 31.

Photo by ryaN Williams-JeNt

End of an era Hamburger Mary’s Brandon, St. Petersburg announce impending closure Ryan Williams-Jent

S

t. PEtERSBURg | Hamburger Mary’s Brandon and Hamburger Mary’s St. Petersburg will permanently close on or before March 31, owner Kurt King shared Feb. 26.

“Both locations have suffered sustained losses from the continuing effects of the slanderous assault on Mary’s good name and that of her employees from the Hillsborough office of the State Health Department,” King released via Facebook, “which forced their sister locations in Ybor City to close in November.”

King announced the permanent, same-day closure of Hamburger Mary’s Tampa and Pub House in Ybor Nov. 6 after a brief closure Oct. 24-25. The Florida Dept. of Health (DOH) in Hillsborough County reported a positive case of hepatitis A in an employee, a highly-contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis virus. They subsequently offered vaccinations

to anyone who frequented the establishments Oct. 4-20.

Tampa Bay ABC affiliate WFTS reported Nov. 2 that the closure “was actually due to live roaches and rodents in the kitchen.” King advised Watermark this was remedied ahead of the locale’s permanent closure.

In January, King alleged homophobia led to the closure of his Tampa location, advising the employee in question tested negative for hepatitis A and that the Hillsborough County Health Department’s Director Dr. Douglas Holt targeted Mary’s “because we are gay owned and operated.”

King provided Watermark with lab results conducted by Tampa General that were dated Oct. 21. They showed a negative test result, though no patient name was included.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that the individual had hepatitis A,” the DOH in Hillsborough County’s Public Information Officer Kevin Watler advised Watermark Jan. 24. “We are limited in what else we can say about the case due to health privacy laws.”

Following his announcement that he would be closing the Brandon and St. Petersburg locations, King appeared on WFTS to reiterate his view that the DOH had targeted the chain.

“The state of Florida has ripped my family apart,” King said. He advised that the Brandon and St. Petersburg restaurants had remained open in hopes that “as the truth of the Health Department’s false accusations about the Ybor restaurants became known, business would return to its former levels.”

“The Brandon and St. Petersburg locations of Hamburger Mary’s will try to stay open until March 31, 2019 to give Mary’s dedicated staff time to find new jobs,” King concluded.

“Please show your support for these hardworking men and women by visiting Mary’s in either Brandon or St. Petersburg during March.”

Hamburger Mary’s Clearwater, which King also owned until Sept. 2018, will not close. “We at Hamburger Mary’s Clearwater would like to send our love to our Brandon and St. Pete brothers and sisters,” the location shared via social media. “We welcome everyone to come Eat, Drink and Be... Mary!”

Watermark reached out to King for additional information but as of press time has received no response. For more information about Hamburger Mary’s Brandon or St. Petersburg, visit Facebook. com/HamburgerMarysBrandon or Facebook.com/ HamburgerMarysStPete.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Tiffany Razzano

S

t. PEtERSBURg | Gale Massey, who released her novel “The Girl from Blind River” last summer, says that the Cathedral School of St. Jude in St. Petersburg canceled her scheduled appearance because she is a lesbian.

In January, a St. Jude student emailed Massey about her book for a project. “I was delighted,” she says.

“When someone has read your book and reaches out, it’s wonderful.”

The student’s teacher, Marilyn Montroy, thanked Massey for her assistance in a Jan. 23 email and invited her to speak to students Jan. 30 during Catholic Schools Week. “We would love to have you here,” Montroy wrote. “The girls would be surprised and thrilled to meet you.”

Massey agreed to the appearance but Montroy rescinded the invitation the following day. In a Jan. 24 email, Montroy wrote, “Seems like we have packed a few too many extra activities in our schedule.”

This didn’t sit well with Massey or her publicist, Erin Mitchell. Both felt the appearance had been cancelled because Massey is a lesbian. Earlier that day, Lambda Literary had published a roundtable interview with three southern queer authors, including Massey.

Mitchell contacted Bishop Gregory L. Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg about her concerns. “This novel … concerns themes of the challenges of poverty, difficult family circumstances and redemption,” she wrote. “It is a story worthy of discussion. Gale has engaged in these conversations at other local schools, receiving excellent feedback from teachers, administrators and, importantly, students.”

At Parkes’ urging, the superintendent of Catholic schools and centers for the diocese, Christopher Pastura, emailed Mitchell to say that “day-to-day instructional matters in our Catholic schools are handled at the local level.”

“As a matter of policy, we require all schools to carefully vet every person that comes in to speak to our students,” he continued. “We do this to ensure that speakers align with Catholic teaching and have appropriate background screening.”

That same day, St. Jude Principal Jesse Gaudette emailed Mitchell to set up a Feb. 6 meeting. During this meeting, Mitchell says that Gaudette confirmed that the school canceled Massey’s appearance because she is a lesbian.

In a Feb. 27 email to Watermark, Mitchell wrote that Gaudette “said that had they checked [online] before inviting her (they did not), [Massey] would not have been invited. He also said that personally, he felt bad about this decision, but given the circumstances … he had to cancel.”

Mitchell notes that Gaudette hasn’t read Massey’s book.

“Does he understand that Gale’s book is about the reality

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Continued on pg. 18 | uu |

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IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Worsening of Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: } dofetilide } rifampin } any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: } Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. } Have any other health problems. } Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. } Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: } Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. } BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

MyDailyCharge.com

BVYC0103_BIKTARVY_B_9-25x10-1_Watermark_KeepLoving_DR4_r1v1jl.indd All Pages 16 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

(bik-TAR-vee)

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: } Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. } Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. } Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. } Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. } Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. } The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY. HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION } This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. } Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. } If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP LOVING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

Version date: December 2018 © 2019 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0103 02/19

Ma rch 7 - M a rch 20, 2019 // Issue 26 .05

e

es

h, r

ut t

m

AT’S es.

KEEP LOVING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. To learn more, visit BIKTARVY.com.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Ma rch 7 - M a rch 20, 2019 // Issue 26 .05

17

2/28/19 10:03 AM

tampa bay news

manatee pride hOlds sixth annual CeleBratiOn

| uu | LGBTQ Author Discrimination from pg.15 of poverty in modern America? It’s not a manual for how to grow up and be gay,” she says.

“I just wanted to surprise the kids with something nice,” Massey adds. “How silly is it to think that having a gay woman speak to students is somehow threatening?”

Several parents whose children attend St. Jude indicated that they would have welcomed Massey’s appearance— including Scott Stevens. He was aware that Massey’s visit had been canceled because she is a lesbian and says that he doesn’t agree with the decision.

“Just because [our family] belongs here doesn’t mean we don’t like anyone for reasons like this,” he says. Still, he adds, “It is what it is. All I know is it’s a Catholic school and Catholic schools have their beliefs.”

Mitchell and Massey say they hoped that dialogue with the school and the diocese would lead to St. Jude rescheduling Massey’s appearance.

“That’s all I wanted,” Massey shares. “I’ve had experiences talking to students and I think they get a lot out of it. They deserve to see somebody growing up in their same town having accomplished something. They deserve having the opportunity to talk to someone who achieved something big. If I could still make it happen, I would.”

As of press time, Gaudette, Montroy, Pastura and Teresa Lantigua Peterson, executive director of communications for the diocese, did not respond to Watermark’s multiple requests for comment.

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Ryan Williams-Jent

B

RADENtON, fla. | The Manatee Pride Festival will hold its sixth annual celebration at the Bradenton Riverwalk on March 16.

Manatee Pride, which consists entirely of volunteers, is aimed at empowering the LGBTQ community who love, live in or visit Bradenton, its nearby communities and the greater Manatee County area. It serves as a fundraiser for Prism Youth Initiative, the nonprofit dedicated to providing services and support for LGBTQ youth throughout the county since 2010.

“The Manatee Pride Festival has grown through the years,” the organization announced via press release Feb. 28. “This year, the event will have the largest number of live entertainers, and more vendors than ever, providing fun for the whole family.”

“We’ve held five consecutive Pride events and have been warmly

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

welcomed by the community,” Prism Youth Initiative board president and Manatee Pride committee chair Valerie Fisher says. “It’s grown every year and we’re so thrilled. We very much appreciate the city’s approval of and support for this event.”

While Pride kicks off at noon, Fisher says, the day’s festivities will actually begin at 11:45 a.m. with an interfaith service led by clergy from local faith communities. “It’s a blessing,” she shares. “We’re happy that they want to do that with and for us.”

The festival’s extensive entertainment spearheaded by fan-favorite performer Beneva Fruitville will follow. “She will be our mistress of ceremonies and we are so thrilled about that,” Fisher says. “She has been at every Pride we’ve had.”

Additional drag entertainment will also be featured, including the debut performance of drag king and area youth Ciel Storm. The Players Kids from The Players Centre for Performing Arts, The Jami Gee Trio, Moxie Moxie, Big City Steve,

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Divine AF and Sandi Grecco will also perform live as DJ Oliver Dill spins.

Over 50 sponsors and vendors will be highlighted, Fisher adds, including the event’s returning sponsor CAN Community Health. The organization will be onsite to offer free health screenings.

“Manatee Pride is family friendly and it’s fun,” Fisher explains. “Our mission is to provide a safe, warm and welcoming place for LGBTQ youth and I’m happy to say that we’re doing that. There’s a lot to see and a lot to do; it’s just a wonderful venue.”

“We have food, music, drag queens and raffles,” Fisher muses. “We just encourage everyone to come for the day or just stop by—we’re celebrating our community and everyone is welcome.”

The sixth annual Manatee Pride will be held Saturday, March 16 from noon–5 p.m. Public parking for the free event is available along the Riverwalk. For more information, including remaining sponsorship and vendor opportunities, visit ManateePride.com.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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19

state news

fla. hOuse advanCes Bill tO update state’s hiv CriminaliZatiOn law

Gay teen shunned By flOrida parents starts COlleGe fund fOr Others

Lauren Lee

Wire Report

J

ACKSONViLLE, fla. | A Florida teen who raised tens of thousands of dollars for college after his parents ostracized him for being gay now wants to pay it forward.

Seth Owen’s story was widely shared after his Biology teacher raised $140,000 on the crowd-funding website GoFundMe. He also got a $25,000 check from Ellen DeGeneres’ TV talk show.

Georgetown University offered the Jacksonville valedictorian a full-ride scholarship, and he told WTLV he used the windfall to start a nonprofit group to help other teenagers in similar circumstances.

The organization Unbroken Horizons Scholarship Foundation will be awarding three scholarships this summer.

Owen’s parents kicked him out a year ago following disagreements over his sexuality and an ultimatum: attend their Southern Baptist church or leave.

Cape COral tO hOst first-ever pride event

APE CORAL, fla. | Cape Coral has not been seen as being supportive to the LGBTQ community, at least not based on the scores the city has received from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

Cape Coral has scored at or near the bottom of Florida cities every year, receiving a final score of 39 out of 100 on the 2018 index; but some organizations in the city want to change that.

The South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations, in conjunction with PRIDE SWFL, are hosting Cape Coral’s first-ever Pride parade and festival April 6-7.

“We have to bring awareness, and as the mother of a gay son, I need to make that happen,” said Shelly Walton, president of South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations, to NBC2 News.

PRIDE Cape Coral will kick off on April 6 with an evening parade down SE 47th Terrace in the heart of the city’s downtown area starting at 5:30 p.m. The parade will feature PRIDE Cape Coral’s Grand Marshal, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Sonique.

After the parade, Sonique will lead performers, including “The Voice” contestant and Southwest Florida native Sheena Brook, on PRIDE’s big stage from 7-10 p.m.

The celebration will continue on April 7 with a brunch in the street as well as more live entertainment.

PRIDE Cape Coral’s parade and big stage are free to attend and open to the public. For more information, visit SouthCapeEntertianment.com or the events list on South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations’ Facebook page.

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2 staBBed at lGBtQ pride festival in sOuth flOrida Wire Report

f

Jeremy Williams

C

T

allahassee, fla. | The Florida House’s Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 10-3 to advance House Bill (HB) 79, also known as the Florida HIV Modernization Bill, on Feb. 22.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Nick Duran (D-Miami), would modify Florida’s existing HIV criminalization statutes which state that if a person knowingly transmits HIV or engages in intimate contact with another person knowing their HIV status is positive it is a third-degree felony with up to five years in prison.

“HB 79 seeks to modernize Florida’s HIV specific criminal laws to bring them [into alignment] with current medical science and understanding of HIV,” said Duran during the hearing.

The bill will change nondisclosure of HIV to a first-degree misdemeanor, which is the same degree for other sexually transmitted diseases if a person acts with intent to transmit.

“Once you get educated you know how it is to live with this disease, the stigma that we have that people are afraid to say anything about their HIV status because they get looked at wrong and beat up. I’ve been through that,” said Brenda Dye, who has been living with HIV for 32 years.

Dye, a member with the Florida HIV Justice Coalition, provided public testimony at the hearing in support of the bill.

Dr. Paul Arons, who served as Medical Director for the Florida Department of Health Bureau of HIV/AIDS for 18 years, also provided public testimony on the advancements in current HIV medications as well as the availability of PreP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.

Florida continues to have the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the country, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Similar legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 846, has been filed by Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Miami) in the Florida Senate but has not received a hearing as of press time.

ORt LAUDERDALE, fla. | Police say two people were stabbed at an LGBTQ Pride festival in Florida.

Fort Lauderdale Police did not say what caused the altercation

at the Feb. 24 beach bash, but said the two victims are expected to survive.

Two people are in custody but neither the suspects nor victims have been identified.

The beach bash is part of the city’s annual LGBTQ pride festivities which includes a

Carnaval-style parade along A1A featuring marching bands and floats and a block party with drag queens and live music.

The Sun Sentinel reports the stabbings took place near the event’s main stage on Fort Lauderdale’s beach.

work, and we’ll keep preaching that inclusion, diversity and equality are what will grow Florida.”

Alongside Gaskill, Nik Harris will serve as the caucus vice president.

Harris has worked as assistant general counsel with the Florida Department of Transportation and as vice president of the organization’s Broward County chapter.

Adam N. Sabin, a certified public accountant for Citrix Systems, Inc., was elected as treasurer and, like Harris, comes to the organization by way of the caucus’ Broward County chapter where Sabin was also treasurer.

Dave Cutler, who has worked for Quest and LabCorp, was re-elected for a second term as the caucus secretary.

All leadership for the Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus serves two-year terms.

The winter conference also featured an array of speeches and

presentations from several state leaders, including openly LGBTQ State Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Jennifer Webb and Shevrin, as well as community ally Rep. Anna Eskamani.

Next up on the Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus’ agenda will be Lobby Days March 11-12.

Lobby Days is an annual event that puts activists and supporters in front of political leaders to urge them to pass statewide nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community as well as lobby for other issues that are on concern to the community. Equality Florida will hold comprehensive training for all registered participants. The training will include an update on the current climate of the Florida legislature, lobby techniques and in-depth information regarding LGBTQ equality, reproductive justice and gun violence prevention for the 2019 session.

flOrida lGBta demOCratiC CauCus eleCts new leaders, prepares fOr lOBBy days Lauren Lee

J

ACKSONViLLE, fla. | The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus elected new leadership at Moving Forward Together, the organization’s Winter Conference, held in Jacksonville Feb. 23-24.

The caucus represents LGBTA Floridians as part of the Florida Democratic Party.

Stephen Gaskill was named the new caucus president after working as the organization’s communications director. Gaskill is one of the organization’s founding members after it was reformed in 2004.

“Our goal is simple: to elect Democrats who support the LGBTQ community and who will enact policies that advance equality,” said Gaskill in a press release. “The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus has demonstrated that we’ll do the

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MA rCh 7 - M A rCh 20, 2019 // ISSuE 26 .05

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21

nation+world news

in other news

Second man seems to be free of AIDS virus after transplant

Washington’s Newseum features Watermark, other LGBTQ publications in new exhibit to honor Stonewall 50th anniversary

Wire Report

S

Jeremy Williams

W

ashington | Newseum, a museum located in the nation’s capitol dedicated to increasing the public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment, will unveil a new exhibit dedicated to the LGBTQ community March 8.

“Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement,” will explore the modern fight for LGBTQ equality. It began 50 years ago when a police raid of the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village turned into riots and protests from the community due to the treatment by local police.

“The protests following the raid are considered to be the catalyst that inspired the modern gay liberation movement and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ civil rights,” a Newseum press release states.

The exhibit—which runs from March 8-Dec. 31—will feature artifacts, images and historical print publications that explore key moments in LGBTQ rights history; including an original eight-stripe rainbow flag signed by its designer Gilbert Baker and the fused wedding rings of the 2015 marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell and his late husband John Arthur.

In celebration of the new exhibit, the Newseum will feature nearly a dozen LGBTQ publications—including Watermark—in their daily exhibit, “Today’s Front Pages” on March 8.

“Today’s Front Pages” showcases the front page from hundreds of newspapers from across the country online, and physically displays a handful of them at the museum daily.

Along with the “Rise Up” exhibit, the Newseum will host several events throughout the rest of the year in honor of Stonewall’s 50th anniversary. A conversation with Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming will take place on March 18 where he will speak about his own social activism.

The Fourth Annual Free Expression Awards, hosted

by Katie Couric, will subsequently be held on April 4.

Award recipients include “Queer Eye” co-hosts Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness.

The Newseum will celebrate the exhibit and Capitol Pride during Pride month with the Newseum Nights Party on June 28.

For more information on the Newseum, the “Rise Up” exhibit and all LGBTQ-related events, visit Newseum.org. You can view the covers of the LGBTQ publications—including Watermark’s current WAVE Award issue—selected for “Today’s Front Pages” online at Newseum.org/TodaysFrontPages on March 8.

22

EATTLE | A London man appears to be free of the AIDS virus after a stem cell transplant, a second success after the “Berlin patient,” doctors reported.

The therapy had an early success with Timothy Ray Brown, a U.S. man treated in Germany who is 12 years post-transplant and still free of HIV. Until now, Brown is the only person thought to have been cured of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Such transplants are dangerous and have failed in other patients. They’re also impractical to try to cure the millions already infected.

The latest case “shows the cure of Timothy Brown was not a fluke and can be recreated,” said Dr. Keith Jerome of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle who had no role. He added that it could lead to a simpler approach that could be used more widely.

The case was published online March 4, by the journal Nature March 5, and will be presented at an HIV conference in Seattle.

The patient has not been identified.

He was diagnosed with HIV in 2003

and started taking drugs to control the infection in 2012. It’s unclear why he waited that long. He developed Hodgkin lymphoma that year and agreed to a stem cell transplant to treat the cancer in 2016.

With the right kind of donor, his doctors figured, the London patient might get a bonus beyond treating his cancer: a possible HIV cure.

Doctors found a donor with a gene mutation that confers natural resistance to HIV. About 1 percent of people descended from northern Europeans have inherited the mutation from both parents and are immune to most HIV. The donor had this double copy of the mutation.

That was “an improbable event,” said lead researcher Ravindra Gupta of University College London. “That’s why this has not been observed more frequently.”

The transplant changed the London patient’s immune system, giving him the donor’s mutation and HIV resistance.

The patient voluntarily stopped taking HIV drugs to see if the virus would come back.

Usually, HIV patients expect to stay on daily pills for life to suppress the virus. When drugs

are stopped, the virus roars back, usually in two to three weeks.

That didn’t happen with the London patient. There is still no trace of the virus after 18 months off the drugs.

Brown said he would like to meet the London patient and would encourage him to go public because “it’s been very useful for science and for giving hope to HIV-positive people, to people living with HIV,” he told The Associated Press March 4.

Stem cell transplants typically are harsh procedures which start with radiation or chemotherapy to damage the body’s existing immune system and make room for a new one. There are complications too. Brown had to have a second stem cell transplant when his leukemia returned.

Compared to Brown, the London patient had a less punishing form of chemotherapy to get ready for the transplant, didn’t have radiation and had only a mild reaction to the transplant.

Dr. Gero Hutter, the German doctor who treated Brown, called the new case “great news” and “one piece in the HIV cure puzzle.”

and body in the right balance. I am supposed to slow down to half speed and rest for the next 30 days,” Duran said in the post, adding that he will “be back as feisty as ever very soon.”

Duran’s council term expires in November 2020.

The other council members cannot oust him but they were scheduled to meet March 4 to consider other options, which could include formally stripping Duran of the mayor’s title, censuring him and denying him expense reimbursements for city-related business, City Attorney Michael Jenkins told the Times.

Protesters have been demanding Duran’s ouster in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.

Three current or former members of the Gay Men’s Chorus

of Los Angeles have alleged that Duran made crude sexual remarks or touched them inappropriately. Three years ago the city also paid $500,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Duran’s former council deputy.

Duran has also faced criticism for his past work as an attorney for Ed Buck, a prominent Democratic donor who is well-known in LGBTQ political circles. Authorities are investigating the January death of a man at Buck’s West Hollywood home, which followed the death of another man there in 2017 from a drug overdose. Buck’s current attorney has also said the January death was an accidental drug overdose.

West Hollywood mayor cedes position amid sex harass claims from 3 gay men Wire Report

W

EST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. | Mayor John Duran announced March 4 that he will resign the largely ceremonial position for health reasons amid sexual harassment allegations.

Duran said he will relinquish the title — which is rotated annually among City Council members — with two months to go but will remain on the council, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Duran was recently hospitalized for a week with blood clots and in a Facebook post cited health issues for his decision to pass the gavel to Mayor pro tem John D’Amico.

“I continue to work with my doctors to try and get my blood

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viewpoint

Divine Grace

Sweet

Divinity Red Like R̶ e̶ a̶g̶ a̶ n̶ Russian

H

ello, Dolls!

Here’s something that you might not know about me, but many of you will find no surprise in. In spite of growing up in the greasy ass crack of Western Frogspit, North Cackalacky, I was raised by two astonishingly liberal and progressive Baby Boomers.

My mother was raised on a farm in the sticks. Her mother was German, and her father was of Scottish Highlander stock. Devout Christians, they started their family early by today’s standards. My point is that my mother’s family was older than Methuselah’s foreskin by the time she gave birth to me and my evil twin brother at the age of 33.

While my mother’s side of the family was Democrat before racism was co-opted by the Republican Southern Strategy, she was not raised racist. The general idea was to leave all of the heavy lifting that comes with pious judgment to God, Himself.

Having been raised on a diet of “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” my mother was an inquisitive child that noticed things such as back-of-the-bus seating and a lack of toilet facilities and water fountains for people of color. My father’s family: Not so much.

Born and bred on a heavy dose of racist ideologies, every aunt and uncle from my father’s side of the family couldn’t use the N-word enough.

They were two Christian families, but only one of them was actually Christ-like when it came to the worth and value of all of America’s citizens.

This week, I received an email and attached video from a paternal cousin who, no doubt, has grown tired of hearing me alert the other members of my mother’s household to what a dumpster fire the current president is.

The video was a twangy, country, red-state anthem titled, “Red Like Reagan” by some bumpkin named Buddy Brown. The lyrics were just about as ignorant and obnoxious as we have all come to expect from the supporters of the failed reality game show host and admitted sexual assailant that is currently transmitting Whopper grease and Cheeto dust from his miniscule hands to White House door knobs.

I would like to break it all down for my cousin, and you, my gentle readers. (The video for the song is on YouTube, so if you’d like to hear it, crank up the volume while lowering your standards.)

“Red Like Reagan” I can read your mind (Nobody is buying that you can read, Cletus.)

We ain’t about to get along / And I know why / You think we owe you and we don’t (You raise this same argument with your utility providers. Sit down.)

Yeah there’s a welfare line / Wrapping round main street / That money ought to help our boys / Coming back from overseas (True story: 1.5 million recipients of welfare benefits are veterans. While you and your sister-wife are using those same benefits to feed your 12 filthy children Vienna Sausages, you ignore the fact that your sympathy for bone spurs and draft deferments fly in the face of this logic.)

We’re gonna paint this country red like Reagan (Ronald Reagan was cognitively-impaired during his second-term and later years, which ended with his demise from Alzheimer’s disease.

Considering that you currently support a tiny-fisted tyrant in the throes of dementia, I’m not at all surprised that you worship Reagan.)

Gonna shoot our guns, gonna eat our bacon / There’s a great big bald eagle who’s smiling on us / And soldiers who died for your privilege to fuss / If you wanna leave / ‘Cause you can’t take it no more / Man I’ll show you to that door (While I have no problem believing that you can point

heavy words / And I’m just wondering /How the hell’d you get off work?

(We risked losing our jobs to protest and demonstrate; something that started with tea being thrown overboard in Boston Harbor by other patriots. You should try it sometime instead of singing

reruns of “Duck Dynasty” if you want to mix it up a little, Roscoe.)

Anthems such as these serve only to rouse the rabble and empower broke-down rednecks with nothing to lose or gain so they feel important.

Rather than actually being a part of the political process,

to the busted screen door that keeps all of the insects from escaping your hovel, those of us who have been employed have seen every penny we have ever earned, saved and spent TAXED. We paid for the right to stay in our motherland and call out the blatant stupidity of the moron that you’re yee-hawing to.)

And all these protests / You’re throwing out some

this stupid song around the Skoal dripping from your wonky, jack o’ lantern mouth.)

‘Cause I got 65 long hours / That I just put in last week (How are those “trickle-down” Reagan economics working out for you now, Skeeter?)

Now I gotta go back home / And hear you whining on TV (Try watching something other than Fox News and

these country-fried hayseed yokels choose instead to buy a Chinese-made flag at Wal-Mart and blast the likes of Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to be an American” from behind their rickety gun racks.

Racism sure is hard, ain’t it, ‘cuz? If you want empowerment, turn off the radio and get to a library.

Amen, The Divine Grace

Anthems such as these serve only to rouse the rabble and empower broke-down rednecks with nothing to lose or gain so they feel important.

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25

“NOTHING SHORT OF BRILLIANT” – Cherry and Spoon (Minneapolis)

MAY 1 - JUNE 1

Mark Benninghoffen and Sally Wingert in Theatre Latté Da (Minneapolis) production.

Photo by George Byron Griffiths.

APR 5 – APR 28

Previews Apr 3 & 4

By BEKAH BRUNSTETTER Directed by LAVINA JADHWANI

“Deeply personal, delightfully down home.”

–Stage and Cinema

asolorep Season Sponsors Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation

26

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

MA rCh 7 - M A rCh 20, 2019 // ISSuE 26 .05

800.361.8388 asolorep.org

viewpoint

Jason Leclerc

The other side

of life Lent and the Twin Abstentions

M

y fellow God-

fearers, know that we are two days into the Lenten season, bookended by Mardi Gras and the Resurrection. Like Jesus fasted in the wilderness before launching his ministry, we are to give up something that sates us. Although my usual self-denial is metaphorized by 40 days without swearing or chocolate, I’m giving up on something much more gosh darn important and savory and much more central to who I am.

Abstention one: I’m giving up on defending Republicans. Abstention two: I’m taking a break from actively bashing Trump.

That isn’t to say that I’m abandoning my party of Lincoln, Reagan, Kemp and Bush or my “compassionate conservatism”—which I’ve branded as “radical centrism”— but I can no longer defend the party that has abandoned me. It has become a party that excuses Donald Trump’s quasi-fact-infused ineptitude, a party that has all but ignored runaway deficits. It has allowed the American people to be held hostage for 35 days, costing the economy billions of dollars, without any appreciable result, while turning its back on the core ideals of small government and rule-of-law, economic sustainability and the Constitution. It has looked the other way as the responsibilities of the bully pulpit have been abandoned for petty, personal-made-meta attacks upon individuals and institutions.

OK, I’m starting abstention two right now.

In the midst of this, I have turned my eyes toward the ultra-local, where all politics are most important and where a nonpartisan race is a breath of fresh and salty, sea-blown air. To the extent that we are always being blown about by the turbulence of national and interplanetary politics, a retreat to the safety of our neighborhoods—whether in Daytona, Orlando, Gainesville, or Sebring—reminds us that,

at our dinner tables and in the Publix deli, we are all just family and neighbors arguing over whether we should or shouldn’t put paprika on deviled eggs.

We are not born as partisans, we are made into them.

Because of the nature of deadlines and the fact that Watermark is on a two week publication schedule, I have written and submitted

pedestrian concerns around potholes and parking.

I can’t help but be invigorated by the lack of nastiness around this race.

The last time I watched a white septuagenarian gazillionaire take on a just-fine, pants-suit-wearing, career public servant, the stakes—and the related, rhetorical-political drama—were hotter than Tampa in late July. Of course, the players in our local race

Day through the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox. The timing means that Lent will be over for exactly two days by the time of the municipal election.

Easter, in that sense, will probably serve as a resurrection of my own twin inclinations toward rabid concerns that the Republican Party is far better equipped—if it can reclaim its soul from the imposter Trump—to

this piece in advance—a prognostication—with the Tampa nonpartisan mayoral election 10 days in the future for me and just completed a couple days ago for you, the reader. (I also use this timing anomaly as justification for what seems to you like having broken abstention two after only two days).

Likely, Tampa’s mayoral race has resulted in a runoff between Jane Castor—with her bona fides as both a law-and-order candidate and a member of the LGBTQ family—and David Straz, with his bona fides as a successful businessman-and-diplomat and persistent community leader.

Full disclosure: I donated to both campaigns (a little more to Castor’s), and am otherwise equivocal between the two.

They’d both be fine, thoroughly unexciting and yet competent leaders for Tampa as it begins to take on the as-yet-theoretical effects of climate change (see also, Cohen) as well as the more

are both upstanding citizens, neither of whom seems capable of being anything but honest and cordial.

Since this is a local, nonpartisan race, I’m not inclined to break my Lenten promises. I don’t need to defend a Republican, although one of the candidates voted for Trump and the other is the former police chief. One has seen the error of his ways, “He simply does not agree with [Trump’s] values,” while the other probably only recently developed a set of political ideas.

The closest thing to a low blow that I’ve witnessed between Mr. Straz and Ms. Castor is a veiled implication about racial profiling in Tampa.

I may have even read too much into this.

As I think about how I’ll pass the time between Fat Tuesday and the runoff on April 23rd, I’m reminded that there are lots of great celebrations along the way, from St. Patrick’s

lead on the biggest and most consequential, existential questions that our nation faces, and that Donald Trump is wholly ill-equipped to lead that party. (Technically, not a breach of my Lenten promises, but rather a prediction of what I may say after Easter).

Eventually, our city parks become national monuments; our nonpartisanship devolves into our national concerns.

Whoever wins, I hope she leads the same way she ran, inoffensively and competently, far differently than what the post-Lenten-non-local elections will bring soon enough.

Until then, I’ll be counting beads and throwing cabbages, tossing the luxuries of partisanship to the wind as I hide Easter eggs. I plan to indulge in the blandest, most politically refreshing yet unsatisfying political springs I’ve ever lived through.

We are not born as partisans, we are made into them.

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Best ENTERTAINMENT! SUNDAY: Broadway Brunch Showtime @ Noon!

Showtunes with DJ Cap’n Kirk Sunday: 3-7pm

TUESDAY: Best Darn “Drag Bingo” Ever!

Miss Sammy & Carol Lee Callin the balls! 6:30pm

2nd WEDNESDAY: Doug’s Trivia Night 2-4-1 All Drinks 7-10pm

Voted #1

Favorite Restaurant

10

Thank You Orlando!

FRIDAY: Dining with the Divas Showtime at 8:00pm

SATURDAY: Leigh Shannon’s Cabaret Dinner Show Showtime at 8:30pm

Build -aBurger for Lunch $5.95

Eat In Take Out Deliver: - BiteSquad -UberEats

Celebrating 11 Years in Orlando!

ORLANDO 110 W. Church St. Orlando, FL | HamburgerMarys-Orlando.com | 321-319-0600 28

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Ma rch 7 - M a rch 20, 2019 // Issue 26 .05

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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Drop in and get your FREE PASS today.

Includes a full week of unlimited classes and a one-hour personal training session.

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1551 E Semoran Blvd, Apopka, FL 32703 407-415-5290 Ma rch 7 - M a rch 20, 2019 // Issue 26 .05

talking points

49

What I preach is: People fall in love with people, not gender, not looks, not whatever.

What I’m in love with exists on almost a spiritual level. It has nothing to do with sexuality.

there are

ACTIVE

ANTI-LGBTQ HATE GROUPS in

THE U.S.

—MiLEY CYRUS, WhO RECENtLY WED LONgtiME BOYfRiEND LiAM hEMSWORth, DESCRiBiNg WhAt it’S LiKE BEiNg A QUEER PERSON iN A ‘hEtERO RELAtiONShiP’ DURiNg A VANitY fAiR iNtERViEW

China to release ‘bohemian rhapsodY’

With lgbtQ Content Censored

“B

OhEMiAN RhAPSODY” WiLL BE giVEN A LiMitED RELEASE in China staring mid-March but the film will be censored for LGBTQ and drug content. Footage of Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) kissing other men will be removed from the film. Scenes depicting drug use will also be edited out of the film. Overall, an estimated one minute of footage will be cut. If the movie is popular enough it could receive a wide release. The news comes after China censored Malek’s acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. “We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself,” Malek said. In the translation subtitles, a China-based live streaming website switched the words “a gay man” to “a special group.”

4 ARE BASED OUT OF FLORIDA: AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PEDIATRICIANS in gainesville,

D. JAMES KENNEDY MINISTRIES in fort lauderdale,

LIBERTY COUNSEL in orlando

and STEDFAST BAPTIST CHURCH in jaCksonville.

FLORIDA ALSO RANKS 2ND FOR OVERALL ACTIVE HATE GROUPS, ONLY BEHIND CALIFORNIA.

—Southern Poverty Law Center’s 2019 Intelligence Report

don Cheadle stands up for trans Youth on ‘snl’

D

ON ChEADLE MADE A QUiEt BUt BOLD StAtEMENt Of SUPPORt for transgender youth on the Feb. 16 episode of “Saturday Night Live.”

The “House of Lies” star, who was hosting the show, wore a T-shirt that read “Protect Trans Kids” when he introduced musical guest Gary Clark Jr. He didn’t say a word beyond making the introduction but the shirt spoke volumes. The T-shirt was praised on social media, where Cheadle acknowledged the wave of support, tweeting: “I awoke to so much support and love. Thank you [NBC] for the opportunity to play and respect and throw shade in an [sic] historic space in an historic time. Keep fighting, y’all. Evil grows in the dark.”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

ariana grande to headline manChester pride

A

RiANA gRANDE iS SChEDULED tO hEADLiNE Manchester Pride in England Aug. 26, the organization’s CEO Mark Fletcher announced Feb. 25. The show will come two years after a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured more than 100 others when he blew himself up at Manchester Arena after a Grande concert. Critics of the decision to invite Grande took to social media upset that a straight-identifying performer was booked for Pride and that the ticket prices had doubled from the year before. Grande went to Twitter defending her involvement saying she does not set ticket prices and she looks forward to celebrating with her LGBTQ fans.

“The relationships I have with my LGBTQ fans, friends and family make me so so happy,” she wrote.

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athlete allY drops martina navratilova over anti-trans Comments

T

ENNiS gREAt MARtiNA NAVRAtiLOVA iS tAKiNg HEAT for her recent comments on transgender athletes. Navratilova, a lesbian and an 18-times Grand Slam winner, called it “cheating” for trans women to compete in women’s sports.

“It’s insane,” she wrote in an article in the Sunday Times, a British newspaper.

“I am happy to address a transgender woman in whatever form she prefers, but I would not be happy to compete against her. It would not be fair.” In the piece, she also implied trans people choose to be trans. Athlete Ally, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homophobia and transphobia in sports, called Navratilova’s comments transphobic, dropped her from its advisory board and removed her from its ambassadors program.

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B M A L d e r e The hamm

S K N A H T !

U YO

FIRST PLACE FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH

SECOND PLACE FAVORITE LOCAL ALLY BAR/CLUB

THIRD PLACE

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER (LITTLE LAMB CATERING)

WE THANK YOU FOR OUR WINS AND FOR SUPPORTING US !

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CATCHING

THE WAVE Tampa Bay and Central Florida celebrate their local favorites!

W

Jeremy Williams

hEN WE fiRSt iNtRODUCED A

two-part voting structure for our annual Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence, or WAVEs, we wondered if the added step would leave a lower turnout at the polls.

We were surprised to find that the first year with the new system fetched us more votes than we had ever had before. In the past two years, we have continued with the two-part voting process and you have continued to surprise us with your turnout.

This year, we had thousands of more votes than any other year since

we started the WAVEs. We could not be more proud of the amazing people, places and organizations that you all choose to spotlight and honor.

To recap: We asked you, our loyal readers, to write in your favorites in 50 categories. They ranged from favorite politician, activist and actor to favorite restaurant, fitness center

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

and theater. Then we calculated all of your votes, determined the top three in each category and gave you another crack at voting. In these pages are your winners.

We also asked you who you would like to see in this issue’s center spread. The battle was fierce but in the end Central Florida and Tampa Bay each voted on their chosen model and, as we do every year with the cover, each area has its own unique centerfold.

So as we wrap another successful WAVEs campaign we say congratulations to all the winners and extend a huge thank you to all of our faithful readers. Cheers to you all!

Continued on pg. 35 | uu |

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THANK YOU WATERMARK READERS FOR VOTING RANGER’S

PET OUTPOST

AND

T

RETREA

®

2019 BEST PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET

WAVE

Award Winner

r u o y r o f u Thank Yo ! t r o p p u S Love and - CommissionerPatty Sheehan 34

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| uu | WAVE Awards 2019 from pg.33

CENTRAL FL’S

WINNERS FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN First: Buddy Dyer, Orlando Mayor Second: patty Sheehan, orlando City Commissioner Third: Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida representativedistrict 49

FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE/ ORGANIZATION First: Orlando City Soccer Second: orlando pride Soccer Third: Central Florida Softball league

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER/JOURNALIST First: Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel Second: Jeremy Williams, Watermark Third: rick Claggett, Watermark

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE

First: Patty Sheehan, Orlando City Commissioner

First: WatermarkOnline.com

Second: dr. edwin deJesus, orlando immunology Center

Third: Bungalower.com

Third: Ben Johansen, the ribbon Maker

FAVORITE PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE

GREATEST ALLY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY First: Buddy Dyer, Orlando Mayor Second: Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, 7th district of Florida Third: Congressman darren Soto, 9th district of Florida

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATION First: The LGBT+ Center of Central Florida Second: Zebra Coalition Third: Human rights Campaign orlando

Second: oiCorlando.com

First: Lake Eola Park Second: leu Gardens Third: Better than Sex

FAVORITE CHARITABLE EVENT First: Come Out With Pride Second: oiC’s Big Gay Brunch Third: Community rainbow run

MOST PRIDEFUL EVENT First: Come Out With Pride Second: Gay days Third: oiC’s Big Gay Brunch

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR/CLUB (OVER ONE YEAR OLD) First: Orlando Immunology Center Second: ritzy rags Third: embellish FX

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS (LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD) First: Bites & Bubbles Second: the lGBt+ Center kissimmee Third: Biz Buzz, llC

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL First: Dr. Edwin DeJesus, Orlando Immunology Center Second: dr. rafael pinero, pinero preventive Medical Care Third: dr. dan Cruz, orlando immunology Center

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON First: Vamp hair Studio Second: trend Studios orlando Third: leslie Colleen Salon

FAVORITE LOCAL SPA First: Club Orlando Second: Massage envy Third: eo inn

FAVORITE FITNESS CENTER First: L.A. Fitness Second: Club orlando Third: rock Hard Fitness Continued on pg. 39 | uu |

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Pure

Pom

POM MOONGAUKLANG: CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF, FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING (POM POM’S TEAHOUSE AND SANDWICHERIA)

W

ALKiNg iNtO POM POM’S tEAhOUSE AND SANDWiChERiA in Orlando is like stepping into a blend of Willy Wonka and The Mad Hatter. The restaurant’s colorful decor mixed with owner Pom Moongauklang’s amazing teas, sandwiches, salads, desserts and more are only limited by Moongauklang’s pure imagination.

It’s no wonder that she was voted Central Florida’s Favorite Local Chef. When opening Pom Pom’s—which took first place as Favorite Local Late Night Dining and second place as Favorite Restaurant—Moongauklang says she wanted a place with “no hate, no side eye, no discrimination; just a place to eat really good food, have a good time and have good conversation.”

One of Moongauklang’s goals with Pom Pom’s is to make sure it is a safe place for customers to come to, even at 2 a.m. Pom Pom’s is open until 5 a.m. on Thursdays and 24 hours a day on weekends.

What is Moongauklang’s favorite menu item? That would be the same thing as asking a mother to pick her favorite child, she says, but the sandwich that has the most meaning to her is Mama Ling Ling’s Thanksgiving sandwich. “It was the first meal my mother cooked and mastered when she came here,” she says. — amanda espinosa

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35

A

t NEARLY 6 fEEt 6 iNChES tALL, fans and friends notice when Daphne Ferraro enters a room and takes center stage. It isn’t just because of her height, however, even if she is affectionately referred to as the “Tallest Drag Queen in Captivity.” It’s also because of her heart.

“We have such an incredible community,” Ferraro says of her four years of entertaining as show director at Enigma St. Pete, the WAVE Award winner for Favorite Local Club/Bar and more. “I’ve found a

home at Enigma. Every week when I’m getting ready I think about the people I’m going to see—and when I go home I think about how grateful I am for those people. They’re a part of me and I’m so glad to be a part of them. I’ve never felt so energized and excited by any other booking.”

To which there have been many. Ferraro has been entertaining in drag for 20 years—snatching crowns in pageants like Miss Comedy Queen, Miss Large and

DAPHNE FERRARO: TAMPA BAY’S FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG, WHO SHOULD BE THE CENTERFOLD OF WATERMARK’S WAVE ISSUE

Queen of Heart

Photo by DylaN toDD

Lovely, Miss Orlando and more—but notes that she’s experimented with the art form for even longer.

“I’ve done some form of drag since I was three or four,” Ferraro says. “I have pictures of me with my shirt tucked in, acting like a girl with towels on my head and dancing around. I was always doing some kind of a show.” That continued into high school, where Ferraro’s senior play was rewritten so that she could play the female lead.

A career in local theater and later at “the happiest place on earth” followed, where she donned “green-face drag” to open Disney World’s popular production “Fantasmic!” as Maleficent.

“I was hired because of my height,” Ferraro recalls.

“I started as Goofy and I left as Maleficent. They have a man play her because the costume and scepter are really heavy. They shoot you up on this lift, 40 feet in the air, wearing this giant costume and carrying this awkward scepter while flames are shooting up at your face.

“At the time it was such an honor. I beat out every homosexual that wanted to play her and was the gay that got to play Maleficent—but for $7 an hour I was risking my life,” she laughs. “Looking back you realize you’re willing to do some crazy things for what you love.”

Since then, Ferraro has risen to new (and safer) heights throughout Tampa Bay and specifically at Enigma. It’s there that the entertainer has welcomed crowds to “40 Years of Ferraro,” her birthday celebration and career roast, and multiple seasons of “Fresh Fridays,” weekly shows dedicated to cultivating new and local talent.

“I’ve never thought of myself as a figurehead or a leader in the community and just like that, it’s happening because of Enigma and the people there,” Ferraro says. “I want people to know how grateful I am for this opportunity and for their support.” —ryan Williams-Jent

Photo by JaKe steVeNs

36

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Patty’s Passion

ORLANDO DISTRICT 4 CITY COMMISSIONER PATTY SHEEHAN: CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST, FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST, WHO SHOULD BE THE CENTERFOLD OF WATERMARK’S WAVE ISSUE

P

AttY ShEEhAN hAS A COUPLE Of thiNgS ShE iS PARtiCULARLY PASSiONAtE ABOUt: her community and her art. So it is rather fitting that Watermark readers recognized her for being their Favorite Local Activist and Favorite Local Artist in Central Florida.

There is one other recognition the Central Florida readers of Watermark bestowed upon Orlando’s first openly gay city commissioner: The person who should be the centerfold of Watermark’s WAVE issue.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard that,” Sheehan says with a laugh.

“I mean I love David Bromstad. I just think he is so hot and figured he would get centerfold.”

But it was Sheehan that came out on top, besting Bromstad—host of HGTV’s “My Lottery Dream Home”—and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to be Central Florida’s Centerfold.

Just as impressive as her modeling skills, Sheehan’s passion as an LGBTQ activist is well documented. Even before being elected as the first openly gay city commissioner in 2000, she was out on the front lines trying to make her city and state more LGBTQ inclusive and accepting. It is that kind of love for community that has led her district to re-elect her four more times. Sheehan announced last month that she is running for a sixth term.

“I’m so proud of the work we have been able to do in this city. I do not take anything for granted and if the people of my district re-elect me than I would love to continue to work for them and for this community that I love,” she says.

Besides all the first place love Sheehan received, she also came in second place for Favorite Local Politician, an award she has no shame in receiving considering who came in first. “[Buddy Dyer] so deserves it,” Sheehan says.

While Sheehan is grateful for all of her WAVE Awards this year, she has a special place in her heart for Favorite Local Artist. Sheehan, who has a B.A. in art, has painted many things throughout the years, but there is one particular subject that has become as iconic as Sheehan herself — Bad Kitty.

“Bad Kitty actually came about by me trying to make lemonade out of some lemons,” she says. Sheehan’s Bad Kitty is based on her black cat Louie who went with Sheehan’s ex after they divorced.

“I was feeling low and all I had left was some canvases and paints, so I started painting,” Sheehan says. “A friend of mine encouraged me to do an art exhibit with all my Bad Kitty paintings.”

Sheehan held her first Bad Kitty Art Show, selling every painting, and the rest is art history. Sheehan’s Bad Kitty has since become a cultural icon—appearing on canvas sporting a variety of holiday costumes, showing off the peace and equal signs and even wearing a bright pink head piece made popular by the Women’s March.

“I love seeing Bad Kitty wearing the pink pussy hat,” Sheehan says, laughing. “It’s just so perfect.” — Jeremy Williams

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T hank y ou f or v o t ing t he

RAYS YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM! 38

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| uu | WAVE Awards 2019 from pg.35

FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN First: Dr. Jim Martin, Loch haven Veterinary hospital

FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING VENUE

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH

First: Paradise Cove

First: The hammered Lamb

Second: Celebration Gardens Third: the acre

Second: dr. Jason M. palm, Hiawassee Veterinary Clinic

FAVORITE LOCAL FLORIST

Third: dr. Bilal Qasim, dr. phillips animal Hospital

First: harry’s Famous Flowers

FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET First: ranger’s Pet Outpost and retreat Second: Woof! orlando Third: Happy paws pet resort

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR First: Scott Benson, Green house realty Second: Justin dalrymple, Mainframe real estate Third: david dorman, Century 21

FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO SALESPERSON First: russ Fowler, Fields BMW Second: Fred Berliner, Mullinax Ford Third: Manny Sotomayor, Mini

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING/ ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT First: Mills 50 District Second: disney Springs Third: Mall at Millenia

FAVORITE LOCAL GEEK SPOT First: Gods and Monsters Second: thinkGeek Third: Coliseum of Comics

Second: lee James Floral designs Third: lee Forrest design

FAVORITE AREA MUSEUM OR GALLERY First: Orlando Science Center Second: orlando Museum of art Third: Morse Museum of american art

FAVORITE LOCAL FRAMING SHOP First: Let us Frame It Second: Michaels Third: Sam Flax

Second: april Fresh’s Comedy Brunch Third: First Watch

FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria Second: Santiago’s Bodega Third: iHop

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER First: John Michael Exquisite Weddings and Catering Second: Sonny’s BBQ Third: little lamb Catering

FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF First: Pom Moongauklang

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

Second: kevin Fonzo

First: Patty Sheehan

Third: trina Gregory-propst

Second: Chad Booth Third: Christie Miga

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER First: J.D. Casto Second: Jake Stevens Third: dylan todd

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT First: hamburger Mary’s Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL/B&B First: Parliament house Second: aloft orlando downtown Third: eo inn

FAVORITE LGBTQ CLUB/BAR First: Parliament house Second: Stonewall orlando Third: Savoy

Second: pom pom’s teahouse & Sandwicheria Third: tako Cheena

Continued on pg. 41 | uu |

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Our House

PARLIAMENT HOUSE: CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL/B&B, FAVORITE LGBTQ CLUB/BAR, FAVORITE PLACE TO PICK UP A WATERMARK, WHICH LOCAL PERSON OR GROUP NEEDS A REALITY SHOW? (MS. DARCEL STEVENS)

P

ARLiAMENt hOUSE iS thE OLDESt gAY RESORt in Central Florida, has been selected as the most popular LGBTQ bar in the United States by marketing organizations and has been home to such iconic stars as Miss P, Ms. Darcel Stevens and Tashae Royale Sherrington. It’s no wonder that they’ve won so many awards.

Parliament House was founded as a gay resort in 1975 and since then has become a bar, a theatre, a timeshare and a nightclub, featuring drag queens and LGBTQ icons. It’s seen as both a safe space and as a place where people from all walks of life can relax and have a good time.

Parliament House came in first place for three awards: Favorite Local Hotel/B&B, Favorite LGBTQ Club/Bar and Favorite Place To Pick Up A Watermark. In addition, Parliament House’s Ms. Darcel Stevens won first place for which local person or group the community thinks needs their own reality show.

The resort/nightclub also came in second place for three awards: Favorite Local Happy Hour for Parliament House’s Bear Den bar and Pat O’Rourke’s Orlando Game Night—which is also held in the Bear Den—for Favorite LocalKaraoke, Trivia or Bingo Night. The entire staff of Parliament House also came in second, just behind Ms. Darcel, for which local person or group needs a reality show.

— abigail Brashear

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39

2019 WAVE

Award Winner!

- First Place -

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING/ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

Thank You Watermark Readers!

LHVH_Wave Ad 9.25" x 4.95" 2019_Final.pdf

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| uu | WAVE Awards 2019

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE

FAVORITE ADULT NOVELTY STORE

First: Blue Star

Second: the Hammered lamb

Second: Michael Wanzie

First: Fairvilla Megastore

Third: latitudes

Third: doug Ba’aser

Second: Mojoman Swimwear

FAVORITE HAPPY HOUR

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN

from pg.39

FAVORITE ALLIED BAR/CLUB First: Ember

First: Stonewall Orlando Second: Bear den at parliament House

First: St. Augustine

Second: kelly deWayne richards

Third: Wekiva river

Third: Violectric

FAVORITE KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

Second: pat o’rourke, orlando Game night at Bear den at parliament House Third: lacie Browning, rupaul’s drag race Viewing party at Stonewall orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER/ SERVER First: Michael Fender, Stonewall Orlando

First: Loc robertson, homo happy hour on OutLoudOrlandoLive.com Second: Sabrina, the news Junkie on real radio 104.1 Third: Moira, the philips phile on real radio 104.1

FAVORITE LOCAL TV NEWS ANCHOR First: Jorge Estevez, WFTV Channel 9

Second: Brandon Bracalellewellyn, Savoy

Second: Matt austin, news 6

Third: travis Whitt, Savoy

Third: amy kaufeldt, FoX 35

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG First: Miss Sammy Second: leigh Shannon Third: lacie Browning

FAVORITE DAY TRIP SPOT

First: Taylor Bulloch

Third: Savoy

First: Doug Ba’aser, Trivia at hamburger Mary’s Orlando

Third: Barcodes

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE First: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Second: the Venue orlando Third: orlando Shakespeare theater

Second: Cocoa Beach

FAVORITE PLACE TO PICK UP A WATERMARK First: Parliament house Second: Stonewall orlando Third: orlando immunology Center

WHO SHOULD BE THE CENTERFOLD OF WATERMARK’S WAVES ISSUE? First: Patty Sheehan, Orlando City Commissioner Second: david Bromstad, Host of “My lottery dream Home” Third: Buddy dyer, orlando Mayor

WHICH LOCAL PERSON OR GROUP NEEDS A REALITY SHOW? First: Ms. Darcel Stevens Second: parliament House staff Third: orlando Immunology Center staff

Continued on pg. 43 | uu |

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Loc’d In

LOC ROBERTSON: CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

“I

LiKE tO ENtERtAiN, i LiKE MAKiNg PEOPLE SMiLE or making people laugh and making people feel emotions,” says Loc Robertson, Central Florida’s Favorite Local Radio Personality. “That brings joy to my life.”

Robertson regularly appears on “The Homo Happy Hour,” an LGBTQ entertainment talk radio show and podcast based out of Orlando, which airs Tuesdays at 4 p.m. at OutloudOrlandoLive.com.

“I never know how many people tune into the show so to be nominated and recognized even when radio is changing, is really exciting,” says Robertson.

Becoming a radio personality fell into Robertson’s lap as he was out promoting his quarterly drag event, April Fresh’s Comedy Brunch, which took home second place as Central Florida’s Favorite Local Brunch.

Robertson, whose drag persona is April Fresh, has been doing drag for 20 years. He started out as a drag queen photographer but soon was so involved in the drag scene that he wanted to try it himself. Two decades later, April Fresh is still going strong.

Robertson has been a part of Orlando’s LGBTQ community for 25 years. Along with being a radio personality, drag queen and photographer, he is a bartender for the world famous Parliament House and isone of Central Florida’s favorite funnymen.

“Comedy in everything is important,” says Robertson. “It is important that we all laugh; it lifts our spirits and take us to a happier place.”

—lauren lee

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u o Y k n Tha

Watermark Readers for choosing Russ Fowler as your Favorite Auto Person in Central Florida.

Fields BMW Winter Park 963 N Wymore Road, Winter Park · 855 583 0653 · fieldsbmworlando.com

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Photo by DylaN toDD

| uu | WAVE Awards 2019 from pg.41

TAMPA BAY’S

WINNERS FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN First: rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg Mayor Second: Bob Buckhorn, tampa Mayor Third: Jennifer Webb, Florida House representative - district 69

FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST First: Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Second: todd richardson, equality Florida Third: nancy desmond, pFlaG

GREATEST ALLY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY First: rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg Mayor

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE/ ORGANIZATION First: Tampa Bay rays Second: Suncoast Softball league Third: tampa Bay Bucs

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER/ JOURNALIST First: ryan WilliamsJent, Watermark Second: aaron drake, Watermark Third: rick Claggett, Watermark

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS (LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD) First: G St. Pete Second: Cristoph’s Third: Blush Beauty Center

First: Dr. Jeanette Cancel, AhF

Second: GayStpete.com Third: tampaBayGay.com

Second: dr. Chicky desmarais, Metro inclusive Health

FAVORITE PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON

First: The Canopy at the Birchwood Second: BellaBrava

FAVORITE CHARITABLE EVENT

Third: equality Florida

Third: 6S Boutique

First: WatermarkOnline.com

Third: Bob Buckhorn, tampa Mayor

Second: St pete pride

Second: Watermark publishing Group

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE

Third: la V Vietnamese Fusion

First: Metro Inclusive health

First: Out of the Closet

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

Second: nancy desmond, pFlaG

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATION

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR/CLUB (OVER ONE YEAR OLD)

First: Equality Florida’s St. Pete Gala

Third: dr. david lyter, diversity Health Center

First: Tyler’z Barbershop Second: Bambu the eco Salon Third: Salon Swank

FAVORITE LOCAL SPA First: The Woodhouse Day Spa Second: Cortiva institute

Second: St pete pride’s red & Green party

Third: european Wax Center

Third: the SMart ride

FAVORITE FITNESS CENTER

MOST PRIDEFUL EVENT First: St Pete Pride Second: Come oUt St. pete

First: Planet Fitness Second: l.a. Fitness Third: amped Fitness

Third: tampa pride Continued on pg. 45 | uu |

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Accessible

Artist

JOHN GASCOT: TAMPA BAY’S FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

“A

Rt ShOULD BE fOR EVERYONE,” St. Petersburg’s John Gascot says. “It shouldn’t only be for the educated or only for people with a lot of money.”

That’s why the artist’s work is accessible not only in its subject matter and aesthetic, but also its price point. “You can go into my studio and get a hand painted magnet for $5 or a painting for $3,000,” he explains. “I don’t want anyone to come in and feel like they can’t leave with something.”

Gascot spent the first 12 years of his life in Puerto Rico, to which he attributes his love of the bold colors consistent throughout many of his paintings. “They’re bright, colorful and cheerful for the most part,” he says. “There’s a strong Latin influence from my background. I affectionately coined my style ‘Latin Pop’ after years of trying to put it into one category or another.”

Diversity is also essential for the artist, evidenced in the creation of his nonprofit Diversity Arts. It aims to serve disenfranchised, mostly LGBTQ youth by providing safety, guidance and materials for creative self-discovery, expression or sociocultural interaction.

“That’s really important to me,” Gascot says. “If you look at my paintings there are people of every shade and orientation. Whether you’re a little gay boy or a little girl of color, you should be able to go into a museum or gallery and see yourself in the work. Art should be about everyone.”

—ryan Williams-Jent

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Strategic- Knowledgeable -Creative

Wa t e r m a r k ’s WAV E Aw a r d s

Favorite New Business

Finalist

WE WANT TO THANK WATERMARK READERS FOR VOTING US: #1 FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF #1 FAVORITE LATE NIGHT DINING #2 FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT!

Thank you for your support!!!

F R E E Ve n d o r Screening Business Consulting Project Management

2019 WINNER 67 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando, FL 32803

www.pompomsteahouse.com

www.BizBuzz.biz • (407)988-BUZZ

FREE B USINESS H EALTH C HECK

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OPEN 24 HOURS FRIDAY & SATURDAY

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FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN First: SPCA Tampa Bay Second: pet pal animal Shelter Third: Gulfport Veterinarian

FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET First: The Bow Wow Barber Second: two Mutts and a poodle pet Salon Third: petSmart

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR First: Eric Wilson, Keller Williams realty Second: ryan thompson, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida properties Group

FAVORITE LOCAL GEEK SPOT

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

First: Park & rec Downtown St. Pete

First: Punky’s Bar and Grill

Second: emerald City Comics Third: apple, international plaza

FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING VENUE First: Sunken Gardens Second: Vinoy park Third: Flamingo resort

FAVORITE LOCAL FLORIST First: Karen’s Florist of Gulfport Second: the Flower Centre Third: Carter’s Florist

FAVORITE AREA MUSEUM OR GALLERY First: Salvador Dali Museum

Third: Bobby poth, poth & associates real estate

Second: Museum of Fine arts

FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO SALESPERSON

FAVORITE LOCAL FRAMING SHOP

First: Sonny Gonzales, Tyrone Square Mazda

Second: tyrone Frame and Mirror

Second: John Crapper, dimmitt automotive Group Third: Carlos allicock, Sun toyota

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING/ ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT First: Downtown St. Pete Second: the Grand Central district Third: the edge district

Third: tampa Museum of art

First: Michaels Third: Gallery Barbas

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST First: John Gascot Second: Chad Mize Third: Cam parker

Second: BellaBrava Third: pom pom’s teahouse and Sandwicheria

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH First: Old Key West Bar & Grill Second: punky’s Bar and Grill Third: Hamburger Mary’s Brandon

FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING First: Iberian rooster Second: punky’s Bar and Grill Third: 2nd and Second

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER First: The Stuffed Mushroom Second: Catering by the Family Third: Flamingo resort

FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF First: Darlene herrick Second: david Weiss Third: Jeffrey Jew

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL/B&B

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

First: hollander hotel

First: Dylan Todd

Third: Gay St. pete House

Second: Jamarcus Mosley

Second: Flamingo resort

Third: robert Castelli Continued on pg. 47 | uu |

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Photo by DylaN toDD

(Bow) Wow

Factor

THE BOW WOW BARBER: TAMPA BAY’S FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET

L

iKE hiS fOUR-LEggED CLiENtELE AND thE hUMANS who “own” them, Bill Leuck sees walking into The Bow Wow Barber in St. Petersburg as a real treat.

“We’re extremely pet friendly,” the owner says of his grooming business. “We like to play with the dogs and they love coming here.”

Still, being the Bow Wow Barber wasn’t always Leuck’s plan. “It all started as a fluke,” he muses. “A friend of mine owned a grooming shop and I worked in their doggy treat bakery. One day a groomer of his didn’t show up and he asked if I wanted to learn how to do his job.

I’ve been grooming ever since.”

Leuck, who now has over 15 years of experience beneath his barber belt, has maintained his 900 square-foot St. Pete storefront with the help of two bathers for nearly three years. The facility is crate free, relying on spacious pens to welcome five dogs at once with a maximum of 10. “A lot of them get to run the shop by themselves,” he adds.

“We don’t take a lot of dogs at a time so that our focus is really on the current dog we’re working with,” Leuck continues. “I keep up with all of the latest equipment to make things more efficient and easier for the dogs, but we’re not a factory groomer and we don’t have speed grooming.”

“We enjoy what we do and we have fun,” he says. “This is my life.

I love doing it.” —ryan Williams-Jent

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Green House Realty is Proud to Congratulate Our Own Scott Benson for being Voted Orlando’s Favorite Realtor!!!

First Place Winner

FAVORITE ADULT NOVELTY STORE

Join Scott at The LGBT+ Center on Mills Ave for a HOME BUYERS SEMINAR on Wed, March 27th from 6-8 or Sat, Apr 13th from 2-4.

Information will be provided along with drinks & nibbles of course Visit the link to register: https://homemar27.eventbrite.com 623 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL, 32803 • 321-352-7129

1st Place

Favorite Local Wedding Venue Thank you Watermark Readers for voting us

- First Place as your

FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING VENUE 13245 L ake Br yan Dr, Orlando, FL 32821 407.239.6939 ParadiseCoveOrlando.com facebook.com/ParadiseCoveOrlando 46

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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| uu | WAVE Awards 2019 from pg.45

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE

FAVORITE LGBTQ CLUB/BAR

First: Matthew McGee

First: Enigma St. Pete

Second: Johnny Sparks

Second: Flamingo resort

Third: robert rigsby

Third: punky’s Bar and Grill

FAVORITE ALLIED BAR/CLUB First: Iberian rooster Second: thirsty First Third: reservoir Bar

FAVORITE HAPPY HOUR First: Enigma St. Pete Second: punky’s Bar and Grill Third: Quench lounge

FAVORITE KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT First: Victoria Michaels, Bingo at Punky’s Bar and Grill Second: alexis de la Mer, Bingo at Flamingo resort Third: duane Cook, karaoke at G St. pete

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER/SERVER First: Jeremy Fetters, Enigma St. Pete Second: Michael ackeret, enigma St. pete Third: Chris Hannay, enigma St. pete

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG First: Daphne Ferraro Second: alexis de la Mer

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN First: Jennifer real Second: alyssa Third: Boys’ entrance

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY First: Miguel Fuller, Miguel & holly on hOT 101.5 Second: Holly o’Connor, Miguel & Holly on Hot 101.5 Third: rockell Blu, lip Service on GHSradio.com

FAVORITE LOCAL TV NEWS ANCHOR First: Veronica Cintron, Spectrum Bay News 9

FAVORITE ADULT NOVELTY STORE First: XTC Adult Supercenter Second: todd Couples Superstore Third: Jack and Jill adult

FAVORITE DAY TRIP SPOT First: Fort De Soto Park Second: Sunset Beach Third: Busch Gardens tampa Bay

FAVORITE PLACE TO PICK UP A WATERMARK First: Enigma St. Pete Second: punky’s Bar and Grill Third: Flamingo resort

WHO SHOULD BE THE CENTERFOLD OF WATERMARK’S WAVES ISSUE?

Second: Chuck Henson, Spectrum Bay news 9

First: Daphne Ferraro

Third: trevor pettiford, Spectrum Bay news 9

Third: Boys’ entrance

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE First: Straz Center for the Performing Arts Second: freeFall theatre Company Third: american Stage theatre Company

Photo by DylaN toDD

Second: Jon Jusino

WHICH LOCAL PERSON OR GROUP NEEDS A REALITY SHOW? First: Flamingo Resort staff Second: daphne Ferraro Third: John Gascot

Third: kori Stevens

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Equality Fighter

NADINE SMITH: TAMPA BAY’S FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST, FAVORITE CHARITABLE EVENT (EQUALITY FLORIDA’S ST. PETE GALA)

A

S thE EXECUtiVE DiRECtOR Of EQUALitY fLORiDA, the state’s largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for all LGBTQ Floridians, Nadine Smith is no stranger to activism.

In addition to her work with the organization, she was one of the four national co-chairs of the 1993 March on Washington and made history by taking part in the first Oval Office meeting between a sitting president and LGBTQ community leaders.

Smith also served on the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization and serves as chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Florida Advisory Committee.

Under her leadership, while fighting on many fronts, Equality Florida’s commitment to the community it serves has recently allowed it to expand its Safe & Healthy Schools Project. It has worked with over 60 school districts to deliver LGBTQ+ sensitivity trainings to over 6,500 education professionals, meeting with over 20 superintendents throughout the state to expand its reach.

Smith says the organization has also secured “more bipartisan legislative support than ever for our statewide nondiscrimination bill that would ban discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment statewide.”

“I’ve seen how dramatically Florida has changed for the better over the past 20 years and I’ve seen the dangers of being complacent and forgetting how hard fought our victories have been,” Smith says. It’s what motivates her to continue the fight.

“I want to protect what we’ve gained and ensure our work brings equity not just equality.” —ryan Williams-Jent

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Thank You! CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR HONORING OIC IN THIS YEAR'S WAVE AWARDS!

Favorite Health Care Professional Edwin DeJesus, MD, FACP, FIDSA - 1st Place Favorite LGBTQ Business Not a Bar (Over One Year Old) - 1st Place

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WATERMARK WAVE AWARDS EDITORIAL PICKS

CENTRAL FLORIDA FAVORITE LOCAL BOOTY:

The Lady Boys of the Peek-A-Boo Lounge

B

LUE StAR hAS BECOME A hUgE ...

WELL, StAR (pun intended) in Orlando because she is an entertainer who takes risks and has a feel for what her audience wants. Her love and understanding of the sensual art of burlesque has given Central Florida the pleasure of seeing amazing troupes like VarieTEASE and The Ladies of the Peek-A-Boo Lounge perform. But in the fall of 2017, Star gave us something different and just as pleasurable, The Lady Boys of the Peek-A-Boo Lounge.

With the Lady Boys, Star—or Mama, as they call her— gave a stage to an amazing group of performers who bend and mold the lines of “gender norms” and in the process bend the audience to their will. As the Lady Boys show off their talents, skills and skin you realize that it doesn’t matter how you identified when you came into the show, while you are there you identify to the beauty on stage.

You can check out The Lady Boys on the first Monday of each month at The Venue Orlando.

FAVORITE LOCAL AMBASSADOR OF GLOBAL LOVE:

‘The Ribbon Maker’ Ben Johansen

M

ANY SYMBOLS Of LOVE AND COMMUNitY CAME OUt Of thE tRAgEDY at Pulse in June 2016, but arguably none have had the same impact and reach as that small rainbow ribbon with the black band across it seen pinned onto hundreds of thousands of people. The birth of that ribbon was started on one of Orlando’s darkest days by Ben Johansen, or as he has come to be known throughout the world — The Ribbon Maker.

“The ribbon came from a conversation with my dad,” Johansen says. “He was a police officer for 30 years and he told me ‘Even if I don’t know what to do, do something.’”

Johansen took a symbol used by police officers in mourning. To honor the fallen, fellow officers will wrap a black band around their shield.

What started out as a project to keep his mind busy became a worldwide movement. Since June 2016, Johansen has made 715,000 ribbons. That is enough ribbon to stretch

66 miles. He has also sent them to all 50 states, as well as 65 countries on six different continents.

“I have sent them to China, Japan, Iceland, Istanbul,” he says. “All these different countries, even ones I have never heard of. I had to look them up.”

Johansen even gets requests from places like Russia, a country that has laws that would consider having a rainbow ribbon to be illegal.

“It’s considered gay contraband but they still insist I send it,” he says. “For them it has become a symbol as well.”

FAVORITE LOCAL BURIED TREASURE:

One-Eyed Willy’s ‘Never Say Die’ Lounge at Joysticks Retro Bar

A

NY ChiLD Of thE 80S KNOWS NO MAttER hOW BAD thiNgS gEt, gOONiES NEVER SAY DiE. So our inner geek started buzzing when we visited Joysticks in downtown Orlando and saw Joystick’s “Never Say Die” Goonies Lounge.

Where else can you order a specialty cocktail called the Chester Copperpot—a Moscow Mule made with ginger beer, Captain Morgan spiced rum and blackberries—and settle in with One-Eyed Willy himself? The “Never Say Die” Goonies Lounge recreates the pirate captain in the treasure chamber of his ship putting you right in the middle of one of the movies most exciting scenes.

So gather your Goonies crew, practice your Truffle Shuffle and get ready for an adventure of your own downtown. Just keep an eye out for the Fratellis.

TAMPA BAY

FAVORITE LOCAL READING RAINBOWS:

Drag Queen Story Hour

D

RAg QUEEN StORY hOUR hAS CONfiRMED NAtiONWiDE that reading is fundamental. It’s also proven that it’s for everyone, including LGBTQ community advocates, allies and young readers throughout Tampa Bay. The educational hour features drag entertainers reading stories to children in schools, stores and other safe spaces. While taking a fabulous look inside an all-inclusive book, it aims to capture the imagination and play of childhood while giving children glamorous, positive role models.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Currently, Drag Queen Story Hour Tampa Bay holds monthly readings in St. Petersburg, often at Community Cafe, and Pasco Pride presents monthly sessions at The Paperback Exchange Bookstore in Port Richey.

Read on, ladies. You can find out more by searching for “Drag Queen Story Hour Tampa Bay” or “Pasco Pride” on Facebook.

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE IT CHEESY:

Central Melt

W

E LOVE A gRiLLED ChEESE. Thankfully, so does Ed Allen—who moved to St. Pete in 2010, had always dreamed of owning a sandwich shop and opened Central Melt on the 600 Block in St. Petersburg in July 2016.

The sandwich staple has one goal: to provide gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches with fresh ingredients.

To do that, they offer “a no frills spot in the heart of Downtown St. Pete,” Central Melt shares, “serving up sammies from your childhood and creating some new memories with our specialty sandwiches. Our bread is fresh and the fries are hand-cut—soft inside and fried twice for a crispy exterior.” What’s more, “they are affordable!”

You can #TakeItCheesy with them at 685 Central Ave. and visit CentralMelt.com to learn more.

FAVORITE LOCAL SIGN OF THE TIMES:

Allendale United Methodist Church

A

LLENDALE UNitED MEthODiSt ChURCh iN St. PEtERSBURg CALLS itSELf a reconciling congregation, one that affirms the sacred worth of all people.

That’s evident in the congregation’s frequently updated, often buzzworthy church sign.

After it was vandalized with anti-LGBTQ messaging in 2018, it was updated to feature rainbow-colored hearts and “Love Always Wins!”

After the general conference of the United Methodist Church voted to uphold its opposition to same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy in February, Allendale spoke out again. Beneath the same rainbow-colored hearts, the sign was updated to advise “For harm done by the church, we are sorry.”

“Dissent not departure,” Rev. Andy Oliver shared.

“Allendale will not conform to the bigotry of The United Methodist Church, but will continue to be a voice crying in the wilderness of our denomination that LGBTQ people are beloved!” For more information about Allendale, visit AllendaleUMC.org.

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THANK

YOU

Watermark readers for voting our very own: 727.551.3106 • www.sunkengardens.org

Thank you for voting us your

Favorite Local Wedding Venue

Jeremy Williams

Central Florida Bureau Chief 2ND PLACE CFL Favorite Local Writer/Journalist

Ryan Williams-Jent

Tampa Bay Bureau Chief 1ST PLACE TB Favorite Local Writer/Journalist

Rick Clagget

Call today to book your

Owner, Publisher 3RD PLACE CFL Favorite Local Writer/Journalist 3RD PLACE TB Favorite Local Writer/Journalist

Garden Wedding Thank you for voting us Favorite Local Caterer!

Jake Stevens

THE STUFFED MUSHROOM

Art Director 2ND PLACE CFL Favorite Local Photographer

CREATIVE CATERING ELEGANT ENTERTAINING

The perfect place to order food for your next party

AND

find the perfect gift for everyone!

Entertaining Accessories • Judaica • Hostess Gifts Ornaments

•

Wedding & Shower Gifts

•

Candles

Dylan Todd

Creative Assistant, Staff Photographer 1ST PLACE TB Favorite Local Photographer 3RD PLACE CFL Favorite Local Photographer

Watermark Publishing Group 1ST PLACE TB Favorite Local Business (Not a bar/club)

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE Central Florida Tampa Bay

1st WatermarkOnline.com 1st WatermarkOnline.com

Thank you for your

Visit us today in downtown Safety Harbor 825 Main Street • Safety Harbor, FL 34695 • 727.726.8686 TheStuffedMushroom.com

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Photo by JosePh cartright

arts and entertainment

JACKIE’S

STRENGTH

Classical singer jackie evancho talks about love of music, movies and her transgender sister

S

Gregg Shapiro

iNgER JACKiE EVANChO MAY BE

just shy of her 19th birthday but she’s already had enough of a performance career to last a lifetime. A young woman with a soaring operatic range, Evancho began participating in talent competitions when she was still in the single digits.

Evancho’s big break and greatest exposure came when she placed second during season five of NBC’s hit reality competition show, “America’s Got Talent.” From there Evancho became a popular classical

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

crossover artist, releasing EPs and full-length albums, including 2017’s “Two Hearts” and the upcoming “The Debut,” out in April 2019.

Watermark spoke with Evancho shortly before the

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start of her concert tour, which brings the young songstress to Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre March 16.

WATERMARK: Your

2017 alBuM “TWo hearTs” includes Wonderful renditions of modern pop tunes bY artists suCh as saM sMiTh (“WriTing’s on the Wall”), Christina perri (“a Thousand years”) and Taylor sWifT (“safe and sound”). What Was Your proCess for seleCting eaCh Cover for that album?

jaCkie evanCho: I know that it’s different for everybody and

Continued on pg. 55 | uu |

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Thank you to all of our voters!

475 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 iberianrooster.com • (727) 258-8753 and Drink as a personal 10% Off Food thank you from us.

Framing Watermark readers since 2003

Bevel and Flat Mirrors Cut To Your Specifications 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 54

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Ma rch 7 - M a rch 20, 2019 // Issue 26 .05

making us Thank For your Favorite

YOU FRAME SHOP

I really hope so. That is actually one of my ultimate goals in my career, as well. A whole album of just my originals.

| uu | Jackie’s Strength from pg.53

every artist. But for me, personally, it’s listening to songs that really speak to me and trying to find ways that you can recreate songs and present them in a way that nobody expects. Creating your own version so that maybe someday someone says, “I want to sing this song, but the Jackie Evancho version.” I always think of that when I do covers.

As someone who has been performing on TV and in concert from a very early age, do you have words of advice for other young performers who are considering a similar path?

I would say that it’s not always easy. I know that a lot of times you want to be a kid and play outside or whatever and you have to perform or something. Just remember that if you truly love it, everything falls into place. Despite how you feel in that moment, years later you may understand it more and you’ll understand why you did it.

You perform a cover of “The Way We Were,” a song originally sung by Barbra Streisand. What can you tell me about her influence on you as a performer?

Barbra actually had a big influence on me, more than a lot of other influencers of mine. She really inspires me with her stage presence and the control she has over her voice. A lot of people say that it seems so effortless for her when she sings. That’s exactly what I want people to think when they see me.

It seems like it feels good for her to sing. I know that it definitely feels good for me to sing. I just hope that one day I can be like Barbra.

Good advice! Donald Trump has recently renewed his attacks on the transgender community. As the sister of a trans person, your sister Juliet, can you please say something about how that makes you feel?

Personally, it makes me really disappointed and also concerned about the future of America. We always talk about how America is the land of the free, but I really don’t think that’s the case anymore with the way things are going. I feel like people should have the right to be who they want, present themselves how they want and live the way they want. I don’t think anybody should have a say in how they control their own lives. I’m very disappointed.

Have you ever met Barbra?

No. Well, technically, years ago at David Foster’s wedding, we were both there, but I didn’t say hi or anything [laughs].

[Foster is a musician, songwriter and record producer who has worked with both Evancho and Streisand, as well as the likes of Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Andrea Bocelli, Madonna, Josh Groban, Whitney Houston and more. Foster was married to Dutch model Yolanda Hadid in 2011. The couple divorced in 2017.]

The songs “The Way We Were,” “Safe and Sound,” “Writing’s On the Wall” and “May It Be” are from the movies “The Way We Were,” “The Hunger Games,” “Spectre” and “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” respectively.

What would it mean to you to originate the theme song to a movie?

That would be an absolute dream of mine. That is actually one of my top goals as an artist. Within my career, I would love to do that.

There’s something so classic and legendary about theme songs and ending credit songs. For example, “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic.” It creates this whole other status of legendary that I would love to achieve.

Finally, would you mind saying something about your awareness of a following in the LGBTQ community and what it means to you?

SUPPORTIVE SINGER: Jackie Evancho says that having an LGBTQ following is very important to her, noting that she wants LGBTQ fans “to know that I am full-on supporting them in any way, shape and form that I can.” Photo by Joseph cartright Speaking of movies, your 2012 album “Songs from the Silver Screen” consisted of songs from movies. Do you consider yourself to be a movie buff, and if so, what are some of your favorites?

I think that I would consider myself that. I love movies. With what I do, I’m constantly traveling and I always have free time so I’m always watching movies. I think some of my top movies would be The “Phantom of the Opera,” and I really love “Pride & Prejudice” with Keira Knightley, I think it’s so beautiful.

I also love “The Great Gatsby” with Leonardo DiCaprio because it’s so colorful and they do such a great job of incorporating the music

from our time and making it sound like the 1920s.

You also acted in the movie “The Company You Keep,” playing the daughter of Robert Redford. Would you like to do more acting in movies?

I would love to do more acting.

Especially since that part of me has matured, so I think my performance would be a little better [laughs].

I want to dabble with acting after I feel like I’ve mastered my music.

One of the most exciting things about “Two Hearts” is the second disc, “Part Two,” which features four original songs written by you. How would you describe your songwriting process?

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

My songwriting process is pretty different depending on what pops into my head. Sometimes it could just be a lyric piece that I need to write down and create a melody to go with it. Other times it’s the opposite where the melody comes first and I write lyrics to it. Sometimes I feel like I just want to create a song, so I open [the computer program] Garage Band and just mess around until something pieces it together.

Are you continuing to write songs?

Absolutely! I love writing music.

Do you think you would ever record an album of just your original songs?

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Having an LGBTQ following is very important to me. I feel a lot of the community thinks that I’m against them because I performed at Trump’s inauguration. The truth is that I didn’t perform for Trump.

I performed for America. It has always been something on my bucket list and I thought this might be the only chance I get. I performed, but I want my fans in the LGBTQ community to know that I am full-on supporting them in any way, shape and form that I can.

Not just because my sister is part of the community or [because] I have family members who are part of the community, but because I personally believe that they should have every right to live their lives, just as someone who is heterosexual or not a part of the community. It shouldn’t be an issue.

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You loved The Beatles...

Show them why.

The hit Netflix show inspired by music made famous by The Beatles, is live onstage!

Saturdays & Sundays

March 2 THROUGH

April 7 407.896.7365 | orlandorep.com 58

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community calendar

event planner arts+entertainment

Central florida

Central florida

“The Golden Gals LIVE!” fRiDAY, MARCh 8-SUNDAY, MARCh 11, 7:30 P.M. PARLiAMENt hOUSE, ORLANDO

“Fiddler on the Roof,” March 5-10, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org lgbt+ monthly business mixer, March 8, LGBT+ Center of Central Florida, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org “the golden gals liVe!,” March 8-11, Footlight Theater at the Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com cirque Du soleil’s “luzia,” March 8-24, The Florida Mall, Orlando. 407-851-6255; CirqueDuSoleilTix.info “a gentleman’s guide to love and murder,” March 8-24, Cocoa Village Playhouse, Cocoa. 321-636-5050; CococaVillagePlayhouse.com color me Wet orlando: lgbtQ Paint Party, March 9, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com

Queen bee “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 11 sensation Plastique tiara performs live at Southern Nights in Orlando March 15 and Southern Nights in Tampa March 16. Photo coUrtesy tWitter @PlastiQUetiara

baldwin Park st. Patrick’s Festival, March 16, Lake Baldwin, Orlando. 407-801-9562; BaldwinParkEvents.com

“legally blonde the musical,” March 10, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

Naysha lopez from “Drag Race,” March 9, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StoneWallOrlando.com

orlando Water lantern Festival, March 16, Orlando Watersports Complex, Orlando. 407-251-3100; WaterLanternFestival.com

ms. broken slut 2019, March 10, Metro Inclusive Health, St. Petersburg. 727-321-3854; MetroTampaBay.org

Falsetto’s and stilleto’s, March 10, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StoneWallOrlando.com

orlando Women’s Fest, March 16, Eagle Nest Park, Orlando.407-442-2663; Facebook.com/CFLFestivals

Plastique tiara from “Drag Race,” March 15, Southern Nights, Orlando.

407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

blatino luau, March 17, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, March 15-17, Central Park, Winter Park.

407-644-7207; wpsaf.org blair st. clair, March 16, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com Felix chevremont, March 16, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StoneWallOrlando.com

tampa baY tiglFF presents “tucked,” March 9, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg.

813-879-4220; TIGLFF.com Pride bowling hillsborough 2019, March 9, Pin Chasers Midtown, Tampa. 727-336-0080; BBBSTampaBay.org/Event/ Tampa-Pride-Bowl/ Divine AF, March 9, Flamingo Resort, St. Petersburg.

727-321-5000; FlamingoFLa.com

Pride Skate, March 11, Pride Skate Tampa, Tampa. 813-876-5826; UnitedSkates.com community conversation: the lgbtQ+ community & Domestic Violence, March 12, Metro Inclusive Health, St. Petersburg. 727-321-3854; MetroTampaBay.org Watermark Wednesday, March 13, Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar, Tampa. 813-655-9890; Facebook.com/WatermarkFL bingo for the bard Fundraiser, March 13, Hamburger Mary’s, St. Petersburg. 727-851-9386; HamburgerMarys.com/StPete Plastique tiara from “Drag Race,” March 16, Southern Nights, Tampa.

813-559-8625; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsTampa

Grab yourself a cheesecake and join Ginger Minj, MRMS Adrian, Divine Grace, Gidget Galore and Doug Ba’aser as they pay tribute to one of the most iconic sitcoms in television history, “The Golden Girls.” These “Golden Gals” bring to life two classic episodes live on stage at the Footlight Theatre. General admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Upgrade to a VIP experience for only $35. For more information, visit ParliamentHouse.com.

The 2nd Annual Satchel Soiree SUNDAY, MARCh 10, 3-7 P.M. thE VENUE, ORLANDO The Barber Fund returns to The Venue Orlando for the second annual Satchel Soiree on March 10. Come out and support this Barber Fundraiser and see host Blue Star auction off beautiful bags filled with amazing gifts donated by community businesses and organizations. All proceeds go to The Barber Fund. Auction starts at 4:20 p.m. For more information, visit TheVenueOrlando.com.

Drag Queen story hour w/ miss Pasco Pride stephanie Stuart, March 17, The Paperback Exchange Bookstore, Port Richey. 727-359-6670; PascoPrideProud.org spring for the arts, March 20, Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. 727-300-1700; ImagineMuseum.com cocktails & collections, March 21, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg.

727-896-2667; MFAStPete.org

sarasota

tampa baY

LGBTQ+ Women Artist Exhibit WEDNESDAY, MARCh 13, 7-9 P.M. MEtRO iNCLUSiVE hEALth, St. PEtERSBURg In celebration of Women’s History Month, Metro invites you to join them for an art exhibition showcasing the work of LGBTQ+ women artists in the Tampa Bay area.

Pieces of art on display will be available for purchase.

The event will include light refreshments, raffle prizes and a special musical performance by Lisa Noe. For more information, visit MetroTampaBay.org.

“the lion King,” March 15-31, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota.

941-953-3368; VanWezel.org

sarasota

red ribbon Gala: reshaping the Face of hIV

Manatee Pride Festival, March 16, Bradenton Riverwalk, Sarasota. 941-357-0111; ManateePride.com Ringling by the bay, March 18, The Ringling, Sarasota.

941-358-3180, Ringling.org

SAtURDAY MARCh 16, 6:30 P.M. thE RitZ-CARLtON, SARASOtA CAN Community Health invites you to join them for the inaugural Red Ribbon Gala, “Reshaping the Face of HIV.” The black-tie event will feature a cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment, as well as guest speakers Billy Porter and MJ Rodriguez from the hit FX series “Pose.” Tickets start at $450. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit CanCommunityHealth.org.

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

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

www.diversitytampabay.org

Wrap. Test. Repeat.

IfYouSex.org

a member of

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overheard

tampa baY out+about

eQualitY evening

E

QUALitY fLORiDA hELD itS ANNUAL tAMPA gALA at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre Feb. 23, highlighting the organization’s fight for statewide equality.

The gathering featured live entertainment from Mr. Lounge, auctions benefiting the organization and honored community champions throughout the evening. John and Nancy Desmond received the 2019 Voice for Equality Award, Prin Ocea received the 2019 Youth Voice for Equality Award, the University of South Florida’s Office of Multicultural Affairs received with the 2019 Partner in Equality Award and Gene Webster-English received the 2019 Community Service Award.

Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith delivered the evening’s keynote address, stressing the organization’s work in cities and counties statewide and specifically in Tallahassee. “We have a record of defeating every anti-LGBTQ piece of legislation that’s ever come in front of us since we’ve existed,” she shared with attendees.

“Imagine the place that you want to see, that you deserve to be born into, and that is what you’ve invested in here at Equality Florida—that’s the world that we work every day to create,” Smith concluded. “We couldn’t do any of it without you.

Thank you all so much for making everything we’ve achieved possible and everything we have yet to achieve imaginable.”

proud eats

f

OOD, DRiNK AND ARt ENthUSiAStS gAthERED March 2 at the historic Coliseum for St Pete Pride’s annual Taste of Pride.

Celebrants were treated to sweet and savory samplings from nearly 20 of Tampa Bay’s favorite restaurants, breweries, catering companies and more. Taste participants included Dr. BBQ, Flamingo Resort, Iberian Rooster, Old Key West Bar & Grill, Orange Blossom Catering, Punky’s Bar & Grill and The Queenshead.

As artists Cole Foust, John Gascot and Linda Reschner shared their artwork with guests and The Cheaters provided live music, attendees were given the chance to vote for their favorite feasts in 2019’s Taste of Pride (TOP) Awards.

Upon entering, guests were given two tokens and encouraged to drop them into the voting boxes of their favorite tasting locations.

For their chocolate fondue station, carved prime rib and more, Flamingo Resort took home the traveling TOP trophy. As a part of their prize, the St Pete Pride Community Grants Program also provided a $1,000 grant to Project No Labels, the nonprofit the resort had chosen to represent.

“Taste of Pride had some of the most fabulous contestants this year,” St Pete Pride shared following the celebration. “A big thanks to everyone who came out. We hope to see you again next year and make it an even bigger hit!” Get a taste of Watermark’s photos at WatermarkOnline.com.

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COMMUNitY ChAMPS: (L-R) gary howell presents Nancy and John Desmond with the 2019 Voice for Equality Award at Equality Florida’s Tampa Gala Feb. 23.

Photo by DylaN toDD

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tOP ChEfS: Jon Jusino (L) and Kenya black represent the winning Flamingo Resort during Taste of Pride at the Coliseum March 2.

Photo by ryaN Williams-JeNt

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WELCOME tO thE JUNgLE: The boys of roca Productions get wild for Jungle Fever at Flamingo Feb. 24. Photo by

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ryaN Williams-JeNt

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tAMPA PROUD: (L-R) Tampa Pride President carrie West and the newly-crowned Victoria mateo and Aries Mateo Kelly celebrate their Mr. & Miss Tampa Pride wins at Hamburger Mary’s Brandon Feb. 24. Photo

coUrtesy tamPa PriDe

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fRiDAZE: Ryan Menke (L) and Jeff lucas share an evening at Enigma March 1. Photo by RyAN Williams-JeNt

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PLAYED BALL: Players from i’d hit that relax after a game during Suncoast Softball League’s Extra Innings at Hamburger Mary’s St. Petersburg March 3. Photo by ricK claggett

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fOR thE ChiLDREN: (L-R) St. Pete LGBTQ Liaison Jim Nixon, Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika tomalin and Metro Inclusive Health’s cole Foust enjoy the organization’s 5th Annual LGBTQ+ Youth Summit March 2. Photo

coUrtesy Dr. KaNiKa tomaliN

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WAVE WiNNERS: (L-R) Realtor eric Wilson, St Pete Pride President chrys bundy and Metro Inclusive Health’s brian bailey strike another pose after shooting Tampa Bay’s WAVE Award cover at Demen’s Landing Feb. 28. Photo by DylaN toDD

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overheard

Central florida out+about

CommunitY rainboW run releases neW medal design

R

EgiStRAtiON hAS OPENED fOR thE thiRD ANNUAL 4.9K COMMUNitY RAiNBOW RUN, scheduled to take place on June 8. The event is hosted by Orlando Health and Nike, and produced in partnership with UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Management Program. Organizers of the 2019 Rainbow Run, which honors the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting by benefiting the onePULSE Foundation, have also released images of the run’s new medal.

According to a press release sent out by the onePULSE Foundation, this year’s medal is full of symbolism. Designed by the Yellow Shoes Creative Group at the Walt Disney World Resort and the onePULSE Foundation, the front of the medal is etched with a rainbow feature and the onePULSE logo in place of the zero in 2019. On the back of the medal is a pair of angel wings with 49 feathers, in addition to the quote, “We will not let hate win.” To top it off, the medal hangs from a white lanyard with 49 doves on it.

“We took great care in the design of the medal as it was important to recognize that the event is about reflection and remembrance, yet we wanted to have the medal reveal a feeling of celebration, hope, and to look forward together as a community,” said Steve Carsella, senior art director of the Yellow Shoes Creative Group.

The 4.9k CommUNITY Rainbow Run’s early bird registration, which runs through April 1, is $40.

Registration goes to $49 after that and to $60 the day of the race.

To see pictures of the new medal design and for more information on the run, visit WatermarkOnline.com.

l.a. muralist paints freddie merCurY on side of floYd’s in mills/50

J

ONAS NEVER, A MURALiSt fROM LOS ANgELES, brought his art skills to Central Florida to paint a pair of murals of cultural icons on the outside walls of two Floyd’s 99 Barbershops in Orlando.

Never painted a large mural of Queen front man Freddie Mercury at the Mills/50 Floyd’s 99 located at 842 N Mills Ave. The second mural is of the legendary Mr. Rogers and is painted on the side of Winter Park’s Floyd’s 99, located at 610 W Fairbanks Ave. Both Mercury and Rogers were in the news in 2018 as the subjects of two critically and commercially successful films. The Oscar-winning film “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which is a biopic on the life of Mercury and the birth of the rock band Queen, became the highest grossing LGBTQ-themed film in cinema history. The Mr. Rogers documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” was the highest grossing documentary of 2018.

Never has painted more than 65 murals throughout Southern California including pieces featuring The Lakers, MMA fighter Ronda Rousey and actor Burt Reynolds. For more of Never’s work, visit Never1959 on Instagram.

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coUrtesy bobby agaNiNa

Patty sheehaN

PLAY BALL: swing left, a brand new team in the Central Florida Softball League, show off their skills (and stylish jerseys) at the season’s opening day at the Seminole County Softball Complex in Altamonte Springs Feb. 24. Photo

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3RD fROM CENtER: (L-R) cathy meyers-Keene, Dawn Kallio and lisa brown mingle over drinks at Watermark’s Third Thursday at The LGBT+ Center in Orlando Feb. 21.

Photo by DaNa Ng

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tEAM PLAYER: (L-R) Steve yacovelli and chev lovett celebrate with Jerick Mediavilla as he joins the board of directors of Two Spirit Health Services in Orlando Feb. 28. Photo

coUrtesy JericK meDiaVilla

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BESt DAMN RUNNER: Former Watermark editorial assistant Samantha Rosenthal shows off her medal as she rings the PR Bell at the completion of the Best Damn Race at Lake Eola in Orlando March 2. Photo coUrtesy

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ORLANDO QUEEN: City Commissioner Patty Sheehan throws a fist in the air alongside the new Freddy Mercury mural on the side of Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in the Mills/50 District March 4. Photo coUrtesy

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hAPPiESt PLACE ON EARth: Jeremy connor (L) and cesar gipson looking cool at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Feb. 23. Photo

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coUrtesy Jeremy coNNor

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gREEN tEAM: Rep. anna V. eskamani (3rd from R) with her team march in the 41st annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Winter Park March 3. Photo by emily Wray, coUrtesy aNNa esKamaNi

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RiBBON MAKiNg: “The Ribbon Maker” ben Johansen is excited to receive a shipment of rainbow ribbon supplies at Embellish FX in Orlando March 5. Photo coUrtesy beN JohaNseN

samaNtha roseNthal

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announcements

Wedding bells

William Taylor bulloch and rafael torres from Orlando, Florida

enGaGement date:

Jan. 11, 2017

weddinG date:

Jan. 11, 2019

venue:

Urban Wetlands at Greenwood park

COlOrs:

Black & White

weddinG sOnG/artist:

“this Must Be the place” by talking Heads

OffiCiant:

Colin Moore

phOtOGrapher:

Meche ausina photography Photo by meche aUsiNa PhotograPhy

W

iLLiAM tAYLOR BULLOCh AND

Rafael Torres went on their first date to Urban Wetlands at Greenwood Park.

“It was supposed to be just a lunch date and it turned into a whole afternoon thing,” Taylor says.

“I remember thinking at the end of our first date, I could so marry this guy,” Rafael says.

“Then after two years of talking and dating long distance, I was going back to New York after a long holiday visit together and I knew this is the one I wanted to keep.”

Rafael adds, “My job was in New York City, of all places, with thousands of gay men and

I wasn’t interested in any of them.” Taylor laughs.

Taylor is General Manager at Stonewall Bar in Orlando, where he moved from Tallahassee.

Rafael is a philanthropist and moved back to Orlando, where the couple now lives together.

“I knew I was going to ask him [to marry me] at the Red Rooster in Harlem,” Taylor says.

“We were talking about moving forward and how we were going to go about things as we had been dating long distance for three years. I just was talking

about whether I was going to end up moving to New York or he was going to move down here, and I said to him, ‘For when we get married … you are going to marry me, right?’ and he said ‘of course,’ then all of a sudden he went, ‘Wait a minute, did you just ask me to marry you?’”

“I was like, ‘Back up! Wait, repeat that?!’” Rafael says.

“Then he did the formal ask, ‘Will you marry me?’, and then I said yes. The waiter came by and asked us the status. She high-fived us and brought us champagne on the house. It was very sweet that she was in on it, too.”

Taylor and Rafael married two years from the date of their engagement. They shared it was an outdoor wedding ceremony at the same place as their first date. The ceremony was very casual with just their immediate families and a few very close friends. They wrote their own vows.

“I thought it was special that we came back to the location of our first date five years ago,” Rafael says. “Having our families and loved ones brought together in one place as witnesses made it even more meaningful.”

“Lots of happy tears,” Taylor shares.

The ceremony was followed by casual drinks at Stonewall and soul food at Chef Eddies Restaurant. The couple says that there was one touch in particular that made the day even more amazing.

“Rafael made our rings with his own hands,” Taylor shares.

“I have an arts background.

I always wanted to design and make our own rings.

I forged them two days before the wedding. Talk about last minute,” Rafael laughs.

—Aaron Drake

COndOlenCes

College Park resident angelyn conklin passed away Feb. 18. The activist and community champion was loved by many and will be missed.

COnGratulatiOns

6s boutique celebrated its eighth anniversary Feb. 20.

Publisher/Owner/Editor rick claggett celebrated 17 years with Watermark Feb. 28. bradley’s on 7th celebrated its eighth anniversary March 2.

lOCal Birthdays

St. Petersburg muralist Dereck Donnelly, Tampa Bay political expert Randy Smith (March 7); Orlando Sentinel columnist scott maxwell, Orlando actor erik branch, St. Petersburg realtor matt lawrence, Jobsite Theater’s David Jenkins (March 8); St. Petersburg mail carrier Derek Wilkins, Sarasota woman about town misty smeltzer, St. Petersburg Practice Management Consulting president Jacob hamm, Southern Nights bartender cathy binkewicz (March 9); Halcyon singer/songwriter Deb hunseder, Gulfport gal caitlyn DeWitt, St. Petersburg City Councilwoman gina Driscoll, Punky’s bartender Aaron Mcbeth, Biz Buzz Inc’s bryant Dannic (March 10); O-Town actor Kevin Kelly, Orlando activist/ arts supporter margo Dixon, artist terry hummel, Dunedin dentist mike hopkins, St Pete Pride President D. chrys bundy, Foreign film aficionado bob Austin, Former Doggie Door co-owner Jeff brow (March 11); Wells Fargo regional president David guzman, Burlesque performer “Lady Siren” shena lollar (March 12); Tampa muscle man Danny Watson, Orlando Hamburger Mary’s John Paonessa, St. Pete community leader larry biddle (March 13); Quench bartender Mitch Demmons, Tampa event planner tim thompson, Orlando softball superstar Mary Johnson, Ember bartender Ramon hernandez (March 14); Tampa nutritional biochemist Debra Roche, St. Petersburg realtor bobby Poth, United Health’s Paul bradford (March 15); Publix Headquarters PR man chris mcNally (March 16); St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornell, skincare genius tabor Winstead, Talkin’ Pets co-host Jon Patrick, Enigma staple Indrek Karner (March 17); Ember bartender brian Kabbash, Central Florida recruiter charles elliott (March 18); St. Petersburg massage therapist terrell Ray, Sheriff deputy becca riley storozuk, ABM Orlando’s Sheila block (March 19); Central Florida radio personality Moira, Central Florida performer William bruce, Two Spirit guru alex rey cardona (March 20).

dO yOu have an annOunCement? send your announcement to editor@Watermarkonline.com

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.

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the last page

Photo by DylaN toDD

aGe:

27

hOmetOwn:

dunnellon, Fl

identifies as: Gay

Out year:

2004

hire date: 6/18/18

70

Dylan todd

prOfessiOnal rOle mOdel:

Fine art portrait photographer and educator philip-lorca diCorcia

Cr e at i V e a S Si ta n t/ pHotoGr a pHer

D

autOBiOGraphy title:

YLAN tODD hAS BEEN WAtERMARK’S

Creative Assistant and Photographer for nearly three-quarters of a year, but his quest to join Watermark’s staff began well before that.

“Todd – An Inaccurate Synopsis”

hOBBies:

In 2015, Dylan was impressed with the quality and community nature of Watermark and wanted to be a part of that mission. He logged onto WatermarkOnline. com and emailed the domain asking how his photography services could be used in the newspaper. He then posted the same inquiry on Facebook. At the time, a position was not open.

Fast forward to March 2018, when Dylan won Second Place in the Watermark WAVE Awards for Favorite New Business in Tampa Bay with Dylan Todd Photography, a successful business he still operates today at The Studios @ 5663 in Pinellas Park’s art district.

When receiving his award at the Hamburger Mary’s Tampa WAVE Award celebration, Dylan again expressed his interest in working for Watermark. Still, no position was available. Although, Dylan was able to photograph for the cover of Watermark’s 2018 Wedding Guide and St Pete Pride issue, as well as freelance for a few creative designs for advertisers. As soon as a positioned opened up, Watermark jumped at the chance to hire him full time.

“Typically, I build ads for advertising clients, photograph portraits, events and editorial content for the newspaper,” Dylan says of his position. As to why he wanted to work for Watermark, he says, “I wanted to be in a place where I could include my passion—photography—with helping others in the community.

Watermark affords me this great opportunity.”

photographing, traveling, working on my Fine Art.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

MA rCh 7 - M A rCh 20, 2019 // ISSuE 26 .05

Immediately after his hiring, Dylan took it upon himself to see how his talent could be used to benefit Watermark, its clients and the community. He concocted a plan to offer photography services through Watermark, allowing the company to expand its service in ways it had not previously done.

Dylan’s inspiration for photography comes from Fine Art portrait photographer and educator Philip-Lorca diCorcia.

“His work is reflective of social commentary. He did a series on LGBTQ prostitutes and another of everyday people walking the streets of New York. His use of light distinguishes the subject from the environment,” Dylan describes.

His own work, he says, “was dark, dealing with how I viewed my identity in its relationship to LGBTQ society. It has evolved into a lighter, more flattering view of life.”

Dylan jokes about the perils of having two first names. “I’m often called Todd by mistake.

That’s why my autobiography is called, ‘Todd – An Inaccurate Synopsis,’” he laughs.

Regardless of what you call him, Dylan’s talent is undeniable.

This year he will accept the First Place WAVE Award for Favorite Photographer in Tampa Bay and Third Place in Central Florida.

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.

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