Watermark's Issue 26.10: The Red Sea

9 kend E: 1 D 0 SI wee 2 IN gay L IA ide o’s big EC SP Gu Orland ED guide to

#Rcomplete

our

Celebrating 25 years of

Your LGBTQ Life.

The RED Sea RED Shirt Pride Day looks to continue Orlando’s traditional Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom

Gulfport Public Library

Zebra Coalition

wins national award

to throw LGBTQ Youth Pride Prom

D A Y T O N A B E A C H • O R L A N D O • T A M P A • S T . P E T E R S B U R G • c l ea r w ate r • S A R A S O T A

I s s u e 2 6 .1 0 • M ay 1 6 - M ay 2 9 , 2 0 1 9 • Wat e r m a r kO n l i n e . com

TH E WO R LD TO U R

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

BUY TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER.COM.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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- Pride Apparel - Novelties - Jewelry - Art Love Has No Gender 348 N Alexander Street, Downtown Mount Dora, FL Toll Free: (844) 441-LHNG (5464) www.LoveHasNoGender.net

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

departments 7 // Bureau Chief’s Desk

page

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8 // Central Florida News 10 // Tampa Bay News

We are very excited this year at how the community has come together to make sure we put our own stamp on and have our own voice around the first Saturday of June, and the tradition Doug [Swallow] and his friends created.

— Alison Burgos of Girls In Wonderland

12 // State News 13// Nation & World News 21// Talking Points 43// Community Calendar 45// Tampa Bay Out + About 47// Central Fl Out + About 48// Tampa Bay Marketplace 50// Central FL Marketplace 53// Wedding Bells Announcements On the cover

page Rob the Builder

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page The RED Sea

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RED Shirt Pride Day looks to continue Orlando’s traditional Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom.

Photo by Jake Stevens

scan qr code for

WatermarkOnline.com

Tampa Bay author Rob Sanders’ “Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.” revolutionizes picture books.

Watermark Issue 26.10 // May 16 - May 29, 2019

For The Kids

Gulfport’s Pride

Seeing ReD

page Zebra Coalition to host first ever LGBTQ youth prom during Pride month.

page Gulfport Public Library celebrates Pride and receives a national honor.

page

Once Upon A Time

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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10

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Orlando’s Big LGBTQ Weekend still has something for everyone.

page

31

Orlando artist Nick Smith turns literary classics into original works of art.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WatermarkOnline and Like us on Facebook. watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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central florida

bureau chief’s

Jeremy Williams cfl bureau chief

Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

C

Desk

hange scares a lot of people.

You get so comfortable with the way things are—whether they are ideal for you or not—and you figure why change it up? What if you make things worse? What if the payout isn’t what you thought it would be in the end?

I have always been a fan of change. I’ve rarely lived in the same place more than a few years, opting to pack up and change homes, roommates and, in some cases, entire states for a change of scenery. It’s why I always fit well in the military lifestyle, a lifestyle I would most likely still be a part of if not for that pesky “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” thing. No, I wasn’t discharged because I was gay but the hardship of hiding who I was and having to come up with inventive, new ways to explain to my commander why my “roommate” accompanied me to all

work functions, family gatherings and annual vacations was more work than I wanted to put into a lie.

Watermark is about to go through some big changes. If you don’t already know, our art director of more than 12 years, Jake Stevens, is moving on to be the lead designer for the Tampa Bay Business Journal and this is the final issue he is designing. Jake came on board at Watermark long before I started here but I have heard the tales of his impact and understand that the look and design of Watermark, its website and branding is all thanks to

watermark staff Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Owner & Publisher: Rick Claggett • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Business Manager: Kathleen Sadler • Ext. 101 Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com

CFL Bureau Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Tampa Bay Bureau Chief: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

Jake’s artistic talent. His will be huge shoes to fill and witnessing firsthand his abilities and humor in the office on a daily basis will be missed.

While losing all that sounds terrifying, there is also an excitement in the idea of not knowing what is next. When I became a member of Watermark’s editorial department in 2015, I had a team of seasoned veterans who knew their shit. Along with designer extraordinaire Jake, I had the brilliant journalistic mind of Jamie Hyman to guide me through writing, both in print and digitally. We also had the excellent leadership of Steve Blanchard, our editor-in-chief. I leaned heavily on all three when I got here, never having to worry that if I screwed something up I wouldn’t have this talented team to fix it.

One-by-one they moved on, but not before letting me know as they left that I shouldn’t worry because I’ve got this. Since my first day, Watermark has had amazingly talented people come and go and each one of them have helped me through fantastic highs and crushing lows in our community and I am just as proud and confident in the team we have now as I was of the team when I first started.

Jake, I wish you all the luck in the world. Thank you for your years of dedication to this publication that I know we both love so much and thank you for the (sometimes long) days and nights creating a newspaper I couldn’t be prouder of.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal is lucky to have your talent, and don’t worry about this amazing product you helped to build and grow.

We got this.

Speaking of change, our in-depth feature this issue is all about the changes coming to Orlando’s Big Gay Weekend. When GayDayS announced last year that it was moving its events to

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: Daniel Lancaster • Ext. 301 Daniel@WatermarkOnline.com National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

mid-August, the question of what would happen to the first weekend of June entered everyone’s mind.

What happened was the creation of a new name for the weekend, Red Shirt Pride Days, and the creation of the KindRED Pride Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the history of the first weekend in June. In this issue, we talk to some of the key players involved and get the full scoop on what you can expect at this year’s events.

In arts and entertainment, Orlando artist Nick Smith has a creative way of expressing his love for his favorite books, sheet music and comics, and will be bringing his latest artistic work to an exhibit at Southern Craft. Also, Tampa Bay’s

Watermark is about to go through some big changes.

Rob Sanders, the author behind the children’s book “Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag,” debuts his new picture book, “Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising.

A Revolution.”

In Central Florida news, the Zebra Coalition is hosting its first ever LGBTQ youth prom during Pride month and four local transgender leaders announced their new web series “Unapologetically Trans,” premiering this fall.

In Tampa Bay news, the Gulfport Library is being nationally recognized as one of 10 libraries to receive the National Medal for Museum and Library Service and Jane Castor is sworn in as Tampa’s first openly gay mayor.

By the time I write my next column we will already be into June and on the other side of Red Shirt Pride Days, so be safe, have fun and Happy Pride Month y’all!

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

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

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

contributors Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw

is the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa. He and his husband are the proud parents of two teenagers.. Page 17

Scottie Campbell

is a longtime activist as a member the LGBT community. His work has resulted in a thriving community in the Lake Ivanhoe region and his wit has melted at least a few Orlando candles. Page 19

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 53 Sabrina Ambra, Nathan Bruemmer, Scottie Campbell, Miguel Fuller, Divine Grace, Holly Kapherr Alejos, Jason Leclerc, Melody Maia Monet, Jerick Mediavilla, Greg Stemm, Dr. Steve yacovelli, Michael wanzie

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

407 E Central Blvd / Orlando, FL 32801 / 407-753-7333

www.TreBambine.com May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

tampa bay

bureau chief’s

Ryan Williams-Jent TB bureau chief Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

I

Desk

despised many things as a child.

Some were warranted—like corn, which remains my arch nemesis—but others not as much, like doing nothing on a Saturday. Of the many things that cultivated my childhood angst, however, one in particular stands out: Easter.

I didn’t hate the holiday.

There wasn’t much to hate in my family because we rarely did anything for it; gatherings were reserved for “major holidays” like Christmas. I wasn’t even aware families congregated for Easter until I was in college, and I was still surprised this year when Publix was closed for the day.

What I hated was hunting for eggs, so much so that I remember my first Easter egg hunt at around seven years old. Since our family did so little for the day, my mother insisted I attend a hunt

hosted in our apartment complex, several buildings away from ours at the playground surrounded by more trees and taller weeds.

In case there are those who aren’t familiar, an Easter egg hunt is supposedly a game.

They typically involve adults hiding eggs from children, either hard-boiled or plastic, usually for some type of reward inside of or in exchange for the eggs they’re able to find. While most children love them, I spent my first Easter egg hunt inside of a tube slide. By choice.

watermark staff Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Owner & Publisher: Rick Claggett • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Business Manager: Kathleen Sadler • Ext. 101 Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com

CFL Bureau Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Tampa Bay Bureau Chief: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

I remember it well, from the muted sounds of my peers diving and dodging one another to collect their prizes to the warmth of a cylinder hiding me from their view. I also remember hoping that my mother didn’t notice I wasn’t outside “having fun” as I clutched my empty basket in solitude.

While the majority of participants were consumed with conquest, lost in the day’s egg-citement, I was consumed with what would have happened if I’d joined them and hadn’t found a single egg. Would it have disappointed the adults?

Would they have felt sorry for me? Would the other children make fun of me?

If it sounds like I was a pretty weird kid, in a lot of ways I was.

But while I can laugh at quite a bit about that day at 34, I now realize it was one of the earliest signs of the social anxiety that I still struggle with today.

It’s something that followed me through my youth in a number of ways, from pretending I’d never seen gifts I already owned as I received them again to missing extra days of school after I was sick. There were fewer questions if you went back to class on a Monday instead of mid-week.

I was able to manage my anxiety until my mid-20s, when I started having panic attacks.

Clinically, they’re described as episodes of intense fear that trigger physical reactions without real danger. Personally, they’re hell.

With the help of loved ones and because I was in a position to seek medical care, a doctor introduced me to anxiety medication. The attacks subsided and life became more manageable for years, so much so that I weaned myself from medication entirely until my attacks recently returned.

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: Daniel Lancaster • Ext. 301 Daniel@WatermarkOnline.com National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

This may be shocking, but because I’d worked hard to stop taking it, I had anxiety about returning to anxiety medication.

But thanks to the support of my husband, friends and doctor, things are returning to my version of normal.

I share this not for sympathy or attention, which my anxiety dictates that I mention, but because May is Mental Health Month. Studies have shown that the LGBTQ community faces a number of health disparities linked to stigma, discrimination and denial of our civil rights, and our mental health is important.

Whoever you are, you’re not alone and you matter.

Help is out there and you can

I spent my first Easter egg hunt inside of a tube slide. By choice.

find it—otherwise I’d still be stuck in a slide.

On a much more lighthearted note, our in-depth coverage this issue focuses on Central Florida’s inaugural RED Shirt Pride Day. We detail the best that the KindRED Pride Foundation has to offer for the first weekend of Pride season.

In Tampa Bay news, we check into the Gulfport Public Library as it receives the nation’s highest honor given to libraries. In Central Florida, we go to prom with the Zebra Coalition.

In arts and entertainment, we turn to literature with artist Nick Smith and author Rob Sanders.

Smith turns literary classics into art and Sanders revolutionizes picture books with “Stonewall.”

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

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

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

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

contributors Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw

is the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa. He and his husband are the proud parents of two teenagers.. Page 17

Scottie Campbell

is a longtime activist as a member the LGBT community. His work has resulted in a thriving community in the Lake Ivanhoe region and his wit has melted at least a few Orlando candles. Page 19

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 53 Sabrina Ambra, Nathan Bruemmer, Scottie Campbell, Miguel Fuller, Divine Grace, Holly Kapherr Alejos, Jason Leclerc, Melody Maia Monet, Jerick Mediavilla, Greg Stemm, Dr. Steve yacovelli, Michael wanzie

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

7

central florida news

Central Florida-based web series to feature four local trans leaders Jeremy Williams

O

RLANDO | “Unapologetically Trans,” a new web series filmed in Central Florida and featuring four local transgender community leaders, was announced via social media on May 11.

JordynVictoria Laos, Holly Gramm, Ashley Figueroa and Nikole Parker will host the series “about life through trans eyes while in the pursuit of happiness.” The show will feature candid conversations with community members and allies about various topics.

“Transgender people are often talked about, but rarely understood. Everyone has a different experience and perspective on what happiness means to them. What makes this web series especially unique is the diverse cast and guests who bring important perspectives to the table,” read the show’s first official Facebook post. The post also asks future viewers to submit questions they have wanted to ask a transgender person about the trans experience.

The page also revealed the first official photos of the series—photographed by Erika Wagner— with all four hosts nude and draped in the transgender flag. Several of the show’s hosts took to their personal Facebook pages to make the announcement.

“So excited to finally announce this project,” Parker wrote. “These conversations will include members of the transgender community and allies. We will talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. Communication and action are the keys to creating change.”

Parker, who is also the Events & Community Outreach Coordinator for onePULSE Foundation, was named one of Watermark’s 2018 Most Remarkable People.

Laos expressed the emotion she was feeling when taking the photos for the new series on her own Facebook page, saying she never thought she would see the day that she can look at a photo of herself and “finally see the woman I truly am looking back at me.”

“It’s difficult to find a genuine support system nowadays. Why is that? Why can’t we all just support one another,” Laos wrote in another post.”This web series will show how four different life experiences come together to share their journey on their pursuit of happiness.

I never expected to be able to have so much in common with many people you will see featured in this web series.

Friends having genuine conversations about life. Different perceptions bring different solutions.”

Figueroa, who also works with Bliss Healthcare, took to social media saying that the words “vulnerability, transparency and Unapologetically Trans” are words she uses to describe the new series and the photo session for the project.

“To our fellow transgender, [gender nonconforming], [gender nonbinary]individuals, your lives matter, your voices matter, your stories matter,” Figueroa wrote.

“Unapologetically Trans” is scheduled for release this fall.

8

ZEBRA PRIDE: The

Zebra Coalition celebrates Come Out With Pride on their float during the parade in downtown Orlando last year.

Photo courtesy for Zebra Coalition

For The Kids Zebra Coalition to host first-ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Prom Jeremy Williams

O

RLANDO | The Zebra Coalition is hosting its first-ever Youth Pride Prom at the Orlando Museum of Art June 22 from 6-10 p.m. for LGBTQ youth ages 14-20.

Zebra is partnering with more than a dozen coalition partners and a youth committee to plan the event.

“Our youth committee and coalition partners decided that for the first year there shouldn’t necessarily be a theme,” says Zebra Coalition Executive Director Heather Wilkie, “but since we are having our first-ever prom during Pride month we thought calling it ‘Pride Prom’ fit perfectly.”

Along with the Orlando Museum of Art, Zebra’s prom coalition partners include the One Orlando Alliance, who is a part of the decorating committee; the Gay-Straight Alliance from Boone High School, who is helping to get the word out to the LGBTQ youth in Central Florida; and Rose Dynasty Foundation, an entertainment company based in Lakeland.

“Rose Dynasty Foundation has access to a lot of drag queens and performers and DJs,” Wilkie says.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

“They are graciously donating all of their time and talent to help make this an amazing prom for the kids.”

Another coalition partner working with the Zebra Coalition for the Youth Pride Prom is the Central Florida chapter of the Gay Officer Action League (GOAL).

“We know that with an event like this there are some security concerns from a couple of the parents, so several officers with GOAL have volunteered their time for security and chaperoning,” Wilkie says.

The Youth Pride Prom is semi-formal to formal dress and all forms of gender expression are welcome.

“We are saying it is semi-formal to formal but of course you can present however you feel most comfortable,” Wilkie says. “We want to make sure the kids feel comfortable bringing the person they want to bring to prom. Just come, have fun and bring who you want.”

The prom will have food provided by Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria and Se7enbites, as well as desserts donated by Marriott Orlando.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

“All the food will be rainbow themed of course for Pride month,” says Wilkie.

The Orlando Museum of Art will also have a selection of art exhibits opened to the youth and the entertainment will consist of drag performances, a lip sync contest and more.

“We are also doing raffle prizes,” says Wilkie. “We have some great organizations that have donated some really cool items for the kids so we will have swag bags as well.”

The Zebra Coalition, in order to make sure every LGBTQ youth is able to attend Pride Prom, has been accepting donations of prom attire so if there is anyone who can’t afford to get an outfit they will have access to some. They will also have a glam committee available the day of prom.

“We are going to have a whole group of some of our local friends, led by onePULSE Foundation’s Nikole Parker, who will be our glam committee. There will be makeup artists and hair stylists who are there to help with any kids who aren’t able to have access to those services,” Wilkie says. “So anyone not able to afford a dress or hair and makeup, go to our website at ZebraYouth.org and you just need to fill out a few questions and we will get you hooked up.”

Youth Pride Prom 2019 is June 22 from 6-10 p.m. at the Orlando Museum of Art. For tickets and more information, visit ZebraYouth.org.

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

9

tampa bay news

Jane Castor sworn in as Tampa’s 59th, first openly LGBTQ mayor Ryan Williams-Jent

T

AMPA | Jane Castor was officially sworn into office in a historical ceremony at Armature Works May 1, becoming Tampa’s 59th and first openly LGBTQ mayor.

The gathering began with a procession of Mayor Castor and her family, including longtime partner Ana Cruz and sons Sergei and Seely. Her oath was administered after an invocation, several performances and the swearing in of Tampa’s city council members Joseph Citro, Charlie Miranda, John Dingfelder, Bill Carlson, Orlando Gudes, Guido Maniscalco and Luis Viera.

“I see so many friends here this morning and I am so happy and thankful that you’ve taken the time to share this moment with me and our city,” Castor addressed attendees.

“I would not be standing here today if it were not for your support and friendship.

“When I began this process of running for mayor 12 very long months ago, I asked you to stand with me and for this city that we all love so much, and boy did you deliver.

Your unwavering support, your boundless generosity and your votes all made this day possible. I will remain forever grateful for your encouragement and I will work tirelessly every day to maintain your trust.”

Castor subsequently thanked her sons, advising they will “remain the greatest accomplishment of my life,” as well as Cruz. “I’m so thankful that you’re in my life,” she shared. “You’re my best friend, my confidant. My critic, my most ardent supporter … I love you.”

Addressing the city’s former mayors in attendance, including her predecessor Bob Buckhorn, Castor praised Tampa’s trajectory and credited them for their contributions. She also thanked the city’s outgoing council members and congratulated its returning and new members, noting she looked forward to working together.

During the ceremony, Castor advised Tampa is a community that embraces its diversity, celebrating success and tackling tough issues. “Because I believe Tampa’s rich narrative is only as compelling and relevant as the collection of individual narratives that comprise our diverse community,” she added, “it is my hope that someday we will reach a point where everyone is judged by the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin. That no one loses their life because of the god they worship, and that who you love does not matter as much as that you love, and that you are loved.”

Castor also shared a favorite quote from poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail,” vowing to do exactly that.

“The significance of my standing before you today is certainly not lost on me,” she concluded. “We have an amazing opportunity to build something really special here, a world class city … Join me in making Tampa the city we know it can be. As your next mayor, I want you to know that I have never been more hopeful and excited about Tampa’s future than I am today.”

10

HIGH HONOR:

(L-R) Mayor Sam Henderson, Library Director David Mather, Congressman Charlie Crist, LGBTQ Resource Center Chair Susan Gore and Council Member Michael Fridovich celebrate the Gulfport Public Library’s national award May 7. pHOTO COURTESY REP. CRIST

Gulfport’s Pride Gulfport Public Library, LGBTQ Resource Center celebrate Pride, national honor Ryan Williams-Jent

G

ULFPORT |The Gulfport Public Library has received the nation’s highest honor given to libraries and museums ahead of the LGBTQ Resource Center’s month of Pride programming.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced the library as one of 10 recipients of the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service May 7.

The winners were chosen from 30 nationwide finalists for addressing unique issues and challenges confronting communities through their services. Programming provided by the LGBTQ Resource Center, housed in the library and established as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in April, was singled out for recognition.

“I am simply over the moon with this latest honor highlighting all of the work that the Resource Center does,” LGBTQ Resource Center Chair Susan Gore says, praising library director David Mather, his staff and volunteers. “Especially during Pride

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

month with our very full schedule of events.”

The LGBTQ Resource Center’s Pride programming will begin May 30 with a Friends of Dorothy March. Participants will gather at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. and follow a marching band to the library to raise the Pride flag. City and state officials will gather for the event, including Rep. Jennifer Webb, the first openly LGBTQ woman elected to the Florida legislature.

The opening reception of ArtOut will follow, the third annual exhibition highlighting local LGBTQ artists. The show runs through June and the reception will recognize participating artists.

On June 6, the Resource Center will once again welcome Rep. Webb for an interactive overview of Florida’s legislative session. At 7 p.m., she will discuss legislation impacting the LGBTQ community, including the Florida Competitive Workforce Act and more.

A presentation by Broward Circuit Court Judge Robert W. Lee, the first openly LGBTQ person appointed to the Florida Court, will follow June 12. “Welcome to

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

Florida: LGBTQ Attorneys Need Not Apply” will begin at 7 p.m. and detail discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community practicing law.

“Stonewall Uprising,” a documentary examining the LGBTQ civil rights movement, will be held June 13 at 7 p.m. The gathering will feature commentary from area resident Jay Chetney who was present during the riots.

In a fundraiser benefiting the LGBTQ Resource Center, entertainers Scott Daniel and Matthew McGee will bring their fan favorite Scott & Patti Show to the Catherine Hickman Theater June 20 from 7-9 p.m. The duo will highlight showtunes and standards of yesterday and today.

After the Resource Center participates in St Pete Pride’s street festival June 23, programming will return to the library June 27 for BranchOut, a celebration featuring live music. The organization will unveil the recipient of the inaugural LGBTQ+ Scholar Award, presenting a $1,000 scholarship to an LGBTQ student from Gulfport, and officially celebrate their recognition as an independent nonprofit.

“We’re deeply grateful to Circle of Friends for creating the LGBTQ Resource Center,” Gore says. “Now it’s time for us to be launched for the next phase.”

For more information about the Gulfport Public Library, the LGBTQ Resource Center or its month of programming, visit MyGulfport.us/LGBTQ-Resources.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

11

state news

As Florida’s 2019 legislative session ends nondiscrimination bills make no movement Jason Parsley of South Florida Gay News

T

ALLAHASSEE, Fla. | It’s been 10 years since the Florida Workplace Competitive Act (FCWA) was first introduced into the state legislature. Since then it’s received one committee hearing in 2015 despite attracting more and more co-sponsors each year.

In early April, Equality Florida—the bill’s main supporter—announced FWCA had achieved a record level of support with 73 legislators backing the bill, including many Republicans.

“Floridians across party lines and across the state strongly support equal rights, and we are confident that this legislation

would pass if leadership allowed a floor vote,” said Equality Florida Public Policy Director Jon Harris Maurer. “Governor DeSantis, Speaker Oliva and President Galvano must let the state follow the will of Floridians and join the twenty other states that have these LGBTQ protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations.”

This year’s bill fared no better than most of the other years, not even receiving a committee hearing. It’s that lack of legislative progress that prompted SAVE and Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, among others, to try a different approach: introducing a limited nondiscrimination bill focused only on employment— the Florida Inclusion Workforce Act. They found a big name to sponsor their bill—State Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), a

Trump-supporting Republican, who also happens to be the chair of the Republican Party of Florida.

The new bill faced a backlash from progressives and Equality Florida. They advised it was anti-trans and would set the LGBTQ rights movement back in Florida. It didn’t take long before the religious right also weighed in on the bill, blasting it and Gruters.

“If passed, this bill will be used as a weapon to punish Christians for simply acting out their faith as small businessmen or private individuals,” John Stemberger, president of the anti-LGBTQ Florida Family Policy Council, said in a statement.

“No state Republican Party chairman in the history of America has ever supported a bill this dangerous and irresponsible,” he continued. “Gruters is totally out of step with the base of the

GOP, state legislative leadership, Governor DeSantis’ agenda, the Republican president of the United States and even the most recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion on similar statutes.”

Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, sounded hopeful months ago when FWCA was introduced, going so far as to say Gov. Ron DeSantis might sign the bill.

“He has done some things [to] surprise people. We should not write him off,” she said at the time.

She also pointed out that the LGBTQ movement has been making progress in “deep red territory” in Florida in places like Jacksonville and Kissimmee.

“The Florida Competitive Workforce Act continues to draw strong bipartisan support,” Smith now says. “The bill which would

simply add sexual orientation and gender identity to state civil rights law was one of the most cosponsored bills this session yet leadership refused to allow a hearing Speaker Olivia started session by saying that debate should lean on the strength of arguments but instead leadership has silenced the scores of legislators supporting this bill, the business and faith communities backing this this bill, and the millions of Floridians who support comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community.”

According to Florida Politics, Gruters is not likely to revisit his bill. “But the good news is the U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the bill,” he told the outlet, referring to the case that SCOTUS recently announced they will consider to determine whether Title IX protections prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. If they rule in favor it would take care of the workplace protections.

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nation+world news

Buttigieg describes his coming out, need to bridge divides Wire Report

L

AS VEGAS | Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg described his public coming out as a gay man in 2015 and how the exclusion he experienced made him conscious of what it means to belong and the need to overcome divisions.

The 37-year-old described “a crisis of belonging in this country” experienced by LGBTQ people, women, immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities, workers and more and the need for “hopeful and audacious voices” to unite people in a changing time.

“What every gay person has in common with every excluded person of any kind is knowing what it’s like to see a wall between you and the rest of the world and wonder what it’s like on the other side,” Buttigieg said as he gave the keynote address in Las Vegas on May 11 at a gala for the Human Rights Campaign.

The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, made the appearance at the LGBTQ

civil rights group event while making his second campaign swing this year through Nevada, which is third in line to cast votes for the Democratic presidential nomination next year.

Despite having held only one public office leading a community of about 100,000 people, the mayor’s name recognition and popularity have surged as he has jumped into the race for the White House.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that we’re a little surprised too at the speed of this trajectory,” he said.

As a sign of the mayor’s rising visibility, President Donald Trump mocked Buttigieg at a rally and likened him to Mad magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman in an interview with Politico.

Buttigieg said that 20 years ago, if someone told his teenaged self that that in 2019, he’d wake up to reports “that the president of the United States was apparently trying to get his attention, he would have wondered what you were talking about. Let alone if you told him that the president somehow pronounced his name right.”

Buttigieg appeared to hint at former Vice President Joe Biden’s recent

allusions to the Obama administration when he said the country can’t and won’t move backward.

“Democrats can’t take us back to 2008 or 1998 any more than conservatives can take us back to the 50s,” he said.

The former Naval intelligence officer also described his decision while serving as mayor and preparing to deploy to Afghanistan to publicly come out as gay.

“I was seized with the awareness that I could be killed in action at the age of 33, a grown man and an elected official, with no idea what it was like to be in love,” he said. “I knew that I had to be who I am.”

He noted that the op-ed article he published where he announced he was gay came when Vice President Mike Pence was serving as Indiana’s governor — a fact that drew boos from the crowd.

The audience of about 750 members and supporters gave Buttigieg two standing ovations, including when his husband, Chasten, joined him on stage and they embraced at the end of his speech.

Before Buttigieg appeared on the stage at Caesars Palace, he met earlier that day with members of Nevada’s Asian American Pacific Islander Democratic Caucus in Las Vegas.

Cuban LGBTQ rights groups hold unauthorized march in Havana Wire Report

H

AVANA | LGBTQ-rights activists organizing on social media held an unauthorized march May 11 down eight blocks of one of Havana’s main thoroughfares before they were stopped by police.

The march was the second by a non-governmental organization in Cuba in slightly more than a month.

That’s highly unusual in a country where the only legal civil society groups are de facto arms of the Communist government. Any sort of unofficial march or demonstration has long been met with a swift and overwhelming police response.

On April 7, more than 400 animal-lovers received an official permit and peacefully marched more than a mile through Havana, shouting slogans and waving signs calling for an end to animal cruelty.

The May 11 march received no such permit but police and plainclothes state-security agents allowed it to proceed from a gathering point in Havana’s Central Park, along the

Prado boulevard until it reached the Malecon, the capital’s famous seaside promenade.

A handful of marchers were arrested when they attempted to push through a massive police presence and continue onto the Malecon.

“It was a complete success because we got so many people together despite all the expectations of government interference,” said Raul Soublett, a 26-year-old gay rights activist. “It’s historic.”

The march was organized largely using Cuba’s new mobile internet, with LGBTQ-rights activists and groups of friends calling for a march over Facebook and WhatsApp after the main government-run equal rights organization, the Center for Sex Education, canceled the march.

The government group known its Spanish acronym CENESEX said it was canceling its annual Conga Against Homophobia and Transphobia because unnamed groups were attempting “to distort the reality of Cuba and use our Conga to discredit, divide and substitute the true meaning of the event.”

In response, activists called for the May 11 gathering at 4 p.m. in Havana’s Central Park, a plaza in the heart of the capital’s historic center.

Some LGBTQ-rights activists said online that police had tried to prevent them from leaving their homes with threats of unspecified repercussions.

But more than 100 assembled and marched, chanting “It could be done!” and “Diverse Cuba!” and waving rainbow flags.

“This is because we don’t want to lose our rights to public space,” said Lidia Romero, 49, who works in a private design store.

“We’re not here in opposition to anybody,” Soublett said.

Cuba repressed homosexuals in the decades after its 1959 revolution, sending many to forced-labor camps, but the government has since barred anti-LGBTQ discrimination and CENESEX, led by Mariela Castro, the daughter of Communist leader Raul Castro, has been internationally recognized for campaigning for LGBTQ rights.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

in other news Ex-Chicago sergeant faces felony counts in gay club fight Eric J. Elkins, 45, faces two felony aggravated battery counts in the Sept. 29 attack at a gay club that left two men seriously injured, Chicago police said May 7. Another man, 34-year-old Giovanni Rodriguez of Chicago, also faces felony counts. Elkins resigned from the Chicago Police Department earlier this year. He previously was charged in Michigan in 2016 with criminal sexual conduct involving a teenager between the ages of 13 and 15. The sex charge was dropped and Elkins pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of disorderly conduct. Michigan records show he was sentenced to probation, community service and substance abuse treatment. Police say Elkins and Rodriguez turned themselves in on May 6.

Kentucky city rejects antidiscrimination ordinance Officials in a south central Kentucky city have again voted against an ordinance that would add specific housing and employment protections for LGBTQ residents. The Bowling Green City Commission voted 3-2 on May 7 to reject the second reading of the ordinance. The vote came after three hours of impassioned discussion and comments from 85 speakers. There were 55 people who spoke in favor of the ordinance, with many citing instances of discrimination.

Those who spoke against it cited fears that it would infringe on religious liberties and lead to costly litigation. Bowling Green is the largest city in the state that hasn’t added formal protections for residents based on sexual orientation and identity.

Transgender Illinois inmate seeks clemency from governor Advocates for Strawberry Hampton, a transgender inmate who received rare approval from Illinois prison authorities to move from a men’s to a women’s prison, have asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to grant her clemency so she can be released immediately. Hampton’s lawyers say authorities are penalizing the 28-year-old and delaying her release for reporting she was abused in prison and being vocal about it. Hampton has been serving a 10-year sentence for burglary. Her release date was in February. It’s now Nov. 27. Her lawyer, Shelia Bedi, says Hampton has been unable to participate in programs to earn cuts in prison time and accuses Illinois Department of Corrections officials of filing false disciplinary reports against Hampton.

Human Rights Watch reports new wave of Chechnya gay abuse Human Rights Watch is reporting a new wave of gay men being detained and tortured in the Russian republic of Chechnya. The group said it interviewed four gay men who had fled the conservative, predominantly Muslim region saying they were harshly abused by police, who they said used electric shocks and beat them while they were strung up by the legs. It said their accounts were consistent with a complaint filed by an LGBT activist in January. In 2017, activists said more than 100 gay men had been detained, tortured and some of them killed in Chechnya.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

13

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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.

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.

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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.

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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QUEERLY BELOVED Unlearning the Lies We’ve Been Told

Y

ears ago, in one of

my seminary classes, someone posed the question, “Why do we trust people with our bodies who we wouldn’t trust with the keys to our car?” This was in a class on queer theology (yes, you find classes like that in seminaries, at least in the seminaries that are worth attending.)

The question was not an attack on queer life and it was not a critique of the sexual freedoms so many people in LGBTQ spaces enjoy. Instead, it questioned where in our lives we assign value and how we choose to protect our bodies, our possessions and our hearts.

This question has stayed with me for at least 15 years and over the years my own answer to this has changed a few times. The reality is that many of us do value what we drive more than we value our own bodies. This statement is not a criticism; rather it is an invitation to consider how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.

If you are having trouble reading this because you are rolling your eyes and thinking, “there goes

another pastor judging people for having sex,” hang in there and keep reading, because that is not what I am saying.

My problem is not with the sex that happens in our community—sex is awesome, sex is a gift from God, yay sex!!—my concern is that sometimes we lose who we are in the pursuit of it.

Sexuality is a blessing, no matter who you are.

I truly believe that being queer is a gift from God. Whichever way you are oriented, you are blessed!

But being queer is also a challenge and being different is very hard.

It can be so very lonely.

When we look around our LGBTQ spaces, we see pride parades and dance parties. We also see beautiful people on the pages of magazines, and sometimes we really don’t see ourselves.

What does it mean to truly be seen? I remember being unsure of exactly who I was meant to be in life in my much younger years. While I was not sure who I was, I was acutely aware that I was different.

I craved the experience of truly being seen by someone else and I longed to know someone whose difference reflected my own difference. When you are queer and feeling alone, it is easy to believe you are irreparably broken. In that place of brokenness, we desperately want to put the pieces back together—but instead of reaching for glue, we grab a sledgehammer.

We are taught that those who are different should just accept any harm that comes to us. We are taught this at a young age by our families, by our faith communities and by our peers in school. By the time we reach adulthood, we have already been well trained in inflicting harm on ourselves. Perhaps nothing can damage us more than believing the

lies we are told about ourselves. We have been well trained in self-doubt.

For generations our people have been told that we should not ask for a seat at the table, and we should be grateful to eat the crumbs

the hateful language of “clean” and “unclean” to discuss HIV status. We have heard from pulpits and pundits that we are not whole; not worthy; not equal and not worthwhile human beings.

The good news is that those of us in the queer community do not need the approval of those who willfully choose to not understand us. We do not have to perpetuate the mistreatment we were

that fall from it.

Just a few short years ago we watched as people, whose marriages are never questioned, debated whether ours could possibly be equal to theirs.

For many years we have seen transgender women of color misgendered as the media reports their murders. We have adopted

We have been lied to about the value of the love we share. Is it any wonder that so many of us treat our cars with more care than we do our own bodies and the bodies of those we desire? Do we even need to wonder why we sometimes lose ourselves in the pursuit of affection and validation?

taught was normal. The love we share and the communities we build are beautiful and sacred. We get to define our value for ourselves. We do not have to beg for a space at their table. If there is no room for us, we get to build our own.

When you are queer and feeling alone, it is easy to believe you are irreparably broken … we desperately want to put the pieces back together—but instead of reaching for glue, we grab a sledgehammer.

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

viewpoint

Photo by Jess regan

Scottie Campbell

The Tender

activist Building the Next President

I

appear to be experiencing

a bout of ennui. As we begin wading into the muck and mire of the presidential election cycle, I have wrapped myself in yellow plastic caution ribbon. Cautioning myself from falling into the pit that passes for discussion these days, and serving as a barrier to protect people from my own ire.

I prefer to term it ennui. It makes me seem like a troubled romantic, instead of how I feel below the surface: chicken shit.

While I’m certain I’m not alone, I can really only speak for myself when I say I’m still raw from the 2016 election.

That’s not because of who wound up in The White House, it’s because of the path we took to get there. On election night while many of my like-minded friends were stunned by the results, it seemed an unsurprising end of a rocky vitriolic road. A logical end, even. In the film of my life, this scene concludes with a “Citizen Kane” close-up of my lips mouthing the words: that figures.

Look, I was doing pensive long before I knew who Hamlet was, so I could go on for this entire column about my alleged ennui and only my partner and a couple of loyal friends would read it through. Instead, I’m going to try a little experiment on myself and I’m hoping you might find it helpful too.

What do I want in a president? The way these things tend to go, we are told so-and-so has thrown their hat in the ring and we throw them under the microscope to

take a look at what we have.

If you’re on the opposite side, your task is to find the chinks in the armor; said chinks being whatever your party has decided is bad. In this exercise we throw the personalities out the window, we chuck the party system aside, we forget our allegiances and Erector Set our leader.

I think when a candidate runs they should remind citizens that, while the candidate might get to reside in The White House and eat off fancy china and have a private movie theater where they get to watch new releases before us, often with an Avenger seated next to them, we are not electing said candidate, we are electing us.

Real change and sustaining a just and thriving America takes all of us.

Campaigns lose their way when they become about who gets to be on the top of the mountain; when egos take control. Running for office is most helpful to the public when it is regarded as a process. A campaign can be, and in my opinion should be, about bettering our world. The candidate can exchange ideas, listen, change minds, have their mind changed— and acknowledge that process. If your candidate was truly in it for betterment, you’ll see them continue to work towards viable ideas when they haven’t received a nomination.

I put kindness high on the list. Imagine a president who every day wakes up with gratitude acknowledging that to make their day happen, already so many kindnesses have been done for them.

They understand that to have their morning egg, there is a myriad of people to thank— the cook, the person who made the stove it was cooked on, the person who delivered, the workers who built the truck it was delivered in, the people working for the fuel company. You can follow that line of thinking on your own, but don’t forget the chicken.

When you try to keep this a forethought, then it makes sense to be kind, because you aren’t in this alone.

If you happen to be among those who think being kind is a weakness, that a kind person can’t be strong when they need to, I encourage you take a closer look at the life and lessons of Fred Rogers.

Yes, really.

Can we have a little

acknowledge the tragedy without regard for who might have written a campaign check, and assure us we will be okay? They are, when truth be told, the parent of our country.

In this case, though, we get to choose our parent.

For some readers, my next

While I was writing this column, I discovered our kitchen overrun by coffee.

I had forgotten to put a piece of the pot back in place. I’m human and I recognize that my Build-A-Prez is as well, in fact I want them to be human.

Humility is key to leadership.

decorum up in here? A well-spoken leader who can handle their temper under pressure and speak respectfully to their opponents. While I’m at it maybe a bit of the culture should change here; instead of opponents, maybe they should only be referred to as fellow candidates. Take a moment to imagine your candidate in a crisis. Will they be able to steadily look into a camera,

point will be controversial, but I think a president does need to be a person of faith. That is not to say the person needs to be of a particular religion, but I think they should have a solid belief system. During the election, they should be open about their faith, while acknowledging that there are so many in our country and we all have the right to practice without fear.

If my president forgets to put a piece of the coffeemaker in place, then they will acknowledge the mistake and clean up the kitchen.

It is our task to sift through the onslaught of internet detritus to determine who deserves our vote. Decide who you’re looking for beforehand and maybe it will help keep you present.

Can we have a little decorum up in here? A wellspoken leader who can handle their temper under pressure and speak respectfully to their opponents.

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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talking points For the first time I saw men kissing men, girls dressed like boys, boys wearing hot pants, insane, incredible dancing and a kind of freedom and joy and happiness that I had never seen before … I felt at home and it gave me hope.

–Madonna Remembering her first LGBTQ club while accepting GLAAD’s Advocate for Change Award

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the met gala

C

elebrities gathered for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art May 6 for “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” the Costume Institute’s newest exhibit. “People are very quick to dismiss camp as being trite, glib, frivolous,” curator Andrew Bolton shared, adding it originated in LGBTQ culture. “But it actually has a lot of history, it’s really serious, it’s political—and it’s tragic too, disguised as humor.” LGBTQ icons turned heads all evening, including “Pose” star Billy Porter. Porter was carried in by six shirtless pharaohs on an Egyptian bed while wearing a golden cat suit and 10-foot wings. “Camp means as hugely over-the-top and grand and what some may feel is ridiculous and silly,” he told Variety, “and embracing all of those creative impulses inside us that very often are squelched.”

of

LGBTQ

Floridians is

39.4, compared to the average age of 50 for non-LGBTQ Floridians.

—The Williams Institute

Ellen DeGeneres gives $10K to viral valedictorian

B

righam Young University (BYU) valedictorian Matthew Easton, who came out during his commencement speech in a now viral video, appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” May 6 to explain his decision. BYU, owned by the Mormon Church, has an “honor code” restricting contact between members of the same sex; even a handshake could result in expulsion. “This is a new chapter in my life,” Easton told DeGeneres. “I’m graduating and I want to live more authentically, live more honestly— and more than that, I want to give visibility to the other students who are gay who maybe aren’t so ready to come out.” To reward his bravery, DeGeneres presented Easton with a check for $10,000.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Out ‘American Idol’ contestant eliminated

O

ut contestant Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon was eliminated from “American Idol” on May 5, ending his journey on the reality singing competition. The talented singer is the son of a pastor and during the show revealed his family had a hard time accepting him for being gay. The Catonsville, Md. native performed Barbra Streisand’s “Somewhere” and Joan Baez’s “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”

While he received praise from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Ritchie, he did not garner enough votes from America. The judges opted not to use their one “save” of the season on Harmon, advancing competitor Laci Kaye Booth to the top five. “Your value is never up for a vote. #Mantra,” Harmon later shared on Twitter..

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

‘First Family’ Pete and Chasten Buttigieg cover TIME

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residential candidatePete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was featured on the May 13 cover of TIME Magazine beside his husband Chasten. The couple, who met on a dating app in 2015 and married three years later, is shown standing outside of their Indiana home with the headline “First Family.” The issue details “the unlikely, untested and unprecedented campaign of Mayor Pete Buttigieg,” highlighting the candidate’s surge in popularity since announcing his campaign in mid-April. Chasten, a former teacher who currently works as an adviser and campaign spokesman to his husband, celebrated the cover via social media after its release, writing: “If only 13-year-old Chasten could’ve seen 29-year-old Chasten.”

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The RED Sea RED Shirt Pride Day looks to continue Orlando’s traditional Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom

I

Jeremy Williams

n June 1991, a group of LGBTQ

Central Floridians—led by openly gay Orlando resident Doug Swallow—decided to meet at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to say to “The Most Magical Place On Earth” that “We’re here, we’re queer and we’d like to see Cinderella’s Castle!”

“[Doug said] ‘let’s go be somewhere where we can be ourselves and let people see that we’re normal people, but let them know that we are gay … we’ll do something like wear a red shirt so we can know who each other are.’ That was totally Doug’s idea, to make that day what it is,” said Michael Wanzie, a Central Florida entertainer who was at the very first

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

event, in an interview with Watermark in 2018.

Swallow’s simple suggestion to wear red shirts so that everyone could be visible became the symbol for this event. Gay Day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom was celebrated that first Saturday of June and has been the day which the entire weekend of events has

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

Continued on pg. 25 | uu |

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

| uu | The RED Sea from pg.23

been built around. While many organizers and promoters over the years hold events that week, the term “Gay Days” became shorthand for the entire weekend.

Last year, the organization known as GayDayS announced it was moving its events from that traditional weekend to mid-August. It opened up a conversation of whether all the other groups would follow GayDayS to the new dates or if they would remain on the original weekend.

Representatives from the weekend’s other event promoters—One Magical Weekend, Girls In Wonderland and Tidal Wave Party— along with the Parliament House, banded together and announced that while GayDayS was changing dates, they would still be celebrating the first weekend of June.

“The genesis of it all started actually because of an article in Watermark,” says Billy Looper, co-founder of One Magical Weekend. “Specifically the response from the community on Watermark’s social media after they posted the story that GayDayS was moving.”

Chris Alexander-Manley, co-owner of GayDayS, Inc., announced in April 2018 that starting in 2019 the company GayDayS, Inc.—which is not affiliated with Gay Day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom—would be moving its events.

“The response was the first time I realized that Orlando truly owns this weekend,” Looper says.

“It’s not owned by a company or a bar or an individual, it’s owned by the community. And this community is very proud of this event.”

The first weekend of June carries significance for the LGBTQ community for multiple reasons, says Danny Gallegos, founder of Tidal Wave Party.

“It’s not only remembering this historical moment started in 1991, but it is also the kickoff to Pride Month,” Gallegos says.

“There is a lot more involved than GayDayS. That’s the name of this group of events that happened on this historical weekend but the term is just a brand name, it isn’t the product. Just like Kleenex is to facial tissues. It’s bigger than any one brand.”

There is a lot more involved than GayDayS. That’s the name of this group of events that happened on this historical weekend but the term is just a brand name, it isn’t the product ... It’s bigger than any one brand.

—Danny Gallegos, founder of Tidal Wave Party

The term GayDayS was trademarked in the early 2000s, and now with the organization moving, the term no longer made sense as shorthand for the entire weekend. A new name would be needed.

“We felt that the red shirt had a bigger legacy that we wanted to honor and we wanted to recognize the courage and the bravery that it took for these individuals to come together,” Looper says. “We wanted to combine that symbol with what the month as a whole meant to the LGBTQ community.”

The day was given the name RED Shirt Pride Day with the tagline “Always the first Saturday in June.”

“We are very excited this year at how the community has come together to make sure we put our own stamp on and have our own voice around the first Saturday of June, and the tradition Doug and his friends

created,” says Alison Burgos, one of the original creators of the Girls In Wonderland events. “Billy reached out to me and it was this piece of clay that we all molded together. As we all talked it just made perfect sense.”

The conversation became more than just renaming the day. All parties involved saw an opportunity to create something bigger than any one part of the weekend. Out of the need to honor the legacy of this weekend was born the KindRED Pride Foundation, a nonprofit organization that will host events during RED Shirt Pride Days to raise funds for other LGBTQ nonprofits.

“This was really Billy’s idea, and it was an automatic yes for me,” Burgos says. “I think it’s really visionary how we stand as a community for each other, how we support each other, how we celebrate kindness and decency.

In this atmosphere that we’re in

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

today as a country, celebrating kindness couldn’t be any more important.”

“The mission of the KindRED Pride Foundation is to help likeminded organizations increase awareness and increase funds by creating special events, sporting events, musical events and special programming,” Looper says. “We’ve done that with three pretty simple but big initiatives.”

The first of these initiatives is Red Shirt Pride Day Around The World. The worldwide event looks to use social media to document 1 million people wearing red on June 1, the first Saturday of the month.

“No matter where you are in the world, we want to see you show your red shirt pride to help spread the message of inclusion, equality and kindness,” Looper says. “So on that date, the first Saturday of June, we want everyone to wear red. Get

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your friends together and make sure they wear red too and take pictures. Then upload those photos to your social media accounts with #RSPD.” To take the support of nonprofits a step further, you can go to KindREDPride.org and purchase a red T-shirt with the logo of one of the participating nonprofits. The list consists of nearly 30 local, regional and national nonprofits; including the One Orlando Alliance, The Trevor Project, Come Out With Pride, Julian’s Foundation, The 49 Fund, the Orlando Youth Alliance, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, You Can Play and more.

A donation of $9 per shirt will go to the nonprofit you select when ordering your official KindRED Pride Fountain red shirt.

The next initiative is the benefit concert “We Are One: An Extravaganza for Diversity & Inclusion” at Disney Spring’s House of Blues on May 30.

“For the first time all the organizations who hold events on this weekend are coming together to be a part of this event,” Looper says, “and we are covering all types of music and entertainment from country western to Latin music to drag performances, dance and comedy. It’s going to be an amazing variety show that really takes the weekend to the next level.”

“We Are One” will be hosted by WFTV news anchor Jorge Estevez and out comedian Erin Foley, and will feature performances from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” sensation Shangela (sponsored by Two Spirit Health Services), country singer Ty Herndon, Brandon Stansell, Latin super group MDO (formerly known as Menudo), recording artist Beth Sacks and “America’s Got Talent” performer Brody Ray. The evening will also feature some of Orlando’s best local talent including Blue Star’s dance troupe VarieTEASE, acrobatic performers AntiGravity and drag entertainers Natalie Nayles and Cara.

“Orlando is full of so much talent, so along with national and international performers, it’s great that we will be able to showcase local talent on stage and behind the scenes as we put this show together,” Looper says.

The third part of the KindRED Pride Foundation’s initiative is something that won’t be fully realized until 2020. The Pride Cup will be a multi-sport LGBTQ

Continued on pg. 27 | uu |

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

| uu | The RED Sea from pg.25

athletic competition at the ESPN Worldwide of Sports Complex.

“We have been developing a women’s sports program that we’re hoping to launch in 2019,” says Burgos. “Billy came to me last year and said let’s do something really next level and bring it to a place like ESPN Wide World of Sports. This takes our little idea and it takes it super next level. I think it’s amazing and I cannot wait to launch it in 2020.”

Now just because the Pride Cup doesn’t kickoff until next year, that doesn’t mean the KindRED Pride Foundation won’t be getting active this year. For its initial launch, The Pride Cup is going to be a virtual sport-a-thon.

Go to the KindRED Pride Foundation website and register—either as an individual or a team—and from now until Red Shirt Pride Day, KindRED Pride wants LGBTQ athletes, sports leagues and anyone supporting kindness to wear red and get active wherever you are in the world.

“That’s the cool part about technology today,” Looper says, “you could do a virtual walk or virtually play volleyball, play basketball, play your favorite sport, whatever that may be. Just participate in some fun activity.

If your fun activity is going to the mall and shopping, do that. All we request is that you wear red and use our hashtag on social media.”

Once you’re registered, share your unique link to get people to support you and/or your team by donating to the nonprofit of your choice. Make sure to share stories, videos and images of your activities on social media with the hashtags #RSPD, #ThePrideCup, #KindREDPride and #BeKindChampion.

“We each have our share of what goes on in our community this weekend,” says Gallegos.

“But once we come together it’s just about being together and just being us. We have a place in the world, everybody. Every one person in our community has a place in this world. We want to make Orlando a place where everybody can feel safe and be welcome.”

For more information on the KindRED Pride Foundation or to purchase a RED Shirt Pride Day T-shirt, visit KindREDPride.org.

Miracle of Love’s Angus Bradshaw

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan

David Rodriguez of Impulse Group and Hope & Help

Girls In Wonderland’s Alison Burgos

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

The LGBT+ Center Orlando’s Roxy Santiago

Tidal Wave Party’s Danny Gallegos

One Orlando Alliance’s Jennifer Foster

Michael Jungen, KindRED Pride board member

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Seeing

RED

Orlando’s Big LGBTQ Weekend still has something for everyone

T

Jeremy Williams

he newly created KindRED

Pride Foundation is bringing some of the weekend’s most anticipated events, but the kickoff weekend to Orlando’s big Pride Month is packed full of some returning favorites and big surprises.

Just as with the last several years, RED Shirt Pride Days has a designated Disney theme park for each day from May 30-June 2.

“There is a mission to get 1 million people to wear red around the world; however, we do not want to forget that the catalyst for this whole event started at Magic Kingdom in front of the castle,” says One Magical Weekend co-creator Tom Christ. “As one of the longest running, iconic LGBTQ events in the world, Walt Disney World will be center stage. So it’s Animal Kingdom on Thursday, May 30 and Hollywood Studios on Friday, May 31. Then we go, of course, to the

Magic Kingdom on Saturday, June 1 and Epcot on Sunday, June 2.”

So now that you have the Disney theme parks mapped out during the day, what’s the plan to dance the night away into the early morning hours?

The world famous Parliament House gets its weekend started on Thursday with PI @ PH. Parliament House’s annual kickoff to Orlando’s Big Gay Weekend is a throwback to the days of Disney’s Pleasure Island parties.

You have One Magical Weekend’s RIPTIDE at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon on Friday and this year the

weekend’s longest-running party is partnering up with some friends.

“Typhoon Lagoon is a 52-acre water park and has the ability to accommodate a lot of people,” says Christ. “The guys at Tidal Wave used to hold their big event at Wet ‘n’ Wild but since that park’s closing haven’t gone to another water park, so we asked them to join us at RIPTIDE.” Tidal Wave will host Bear Lagoon at RIPTIDE which will feature its own lounge area, dance floor and DJs near the Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster. RIPTIDE will also premiere this year Bliss Beach, sponsored by Bliss Cares.

“Bliss Cares is a fantastic nonprofit organization in Central Florida and they are hosting Bliss Beach, which is an area that will be a meeting, mix and mingle spot for the transgender community,” Christ says.

Parliament House’s Footlight Theatre is bringing back the hit stage show “The Golden Gals Live!” starring Ginger Minj, MRMS Adrian, Divine Grace, Gidget

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Galore, Doug Ba’aser and Douglas Orlando Gay Black Pride hosts White, recreating some of most Orlando Live Entertainment’s iconic episodes of “The Golden one-year anniversary with an Girls.” The show will feature two All-White/All-Black Party at performances—one on Friday and VIXEN. Don your best all white or one on Sunday. all black outfit as host OJ Simmons Girls In Wonderland will begin keeps you partying until 4 a.m.

Friday night with the Out For Girls In Wonderland is back at Laughs Comedy Show at the Grand Pointe Orlando on Saturday with Orlando Resort at Celebration. its Signature Event: Wonderland “Out For Laughs is one of our at BB Kings. The event will be most popular events with nearly headlined by Australian pop duo 400 people attending,” Burgos The Veronicas. says. “This year we have a great “BB Kings is such a fun place to show with our big headliner being bring the girls and just have a big, Erin Foley. She performed at this fun night,” Burgos says. “And to bring event five years ago and we are so The Veronicas there makes it all the excited to have her back.” The event better. They have a huge LGBTQ is hosted by Anna Lepeley and the following and have been a really hilarious Kaycee Conlee will be the positive voice for LGBTQ issues for opening comedian. many years.”

The Girls In Wonderland Girls In Wonderland eases back continue the party later that night into the fun Sunday morning with with the Climax dance party at Cuba Drag Brunch, hosted by Blue Star Libra at Pointe Orlando. at the Grand Orlando Resort at Orlando Gay Black Pride Celebration. will feature openly gay hip hop The Broadway Brunch Bunch performer Milan Christopher, best will also be serving up some brunch known from the VH1 series “Love entertainment as they take the stage & Hip Hop: Hollywood,” at ClubLIT at Hamburger Mary’s on Church in Orlando. The event is hosted by Street in downtown Orlando with Suzie Sopranos. their traditional Disney-themed Parliament House brings its brunch show.

Big Gay Weekend poolside concert Later that evening, the Girls are series back as well with talent back with one final opportunity to busting at the seams. Friday night find the next Miss Right with the features drag singer-songwriter Last Chance Party at the Grand Adore Delano of “American Idol” Orlando Resort at Celebration. and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame.

One Magical Weekend gets the Saturday night brings you a concert Aqua Net ready for the first-ever from 90s dance queen Crystal Wig Party at the Sheraton Lake Waters and a performance by “Drag Buena Vista Resort. Hosted Race” alum Manila Luzon. Sunday

by Kai’ja Adonis and Peaches, is the drag queen triple threat of the event features “RuPaul’s Plastique Tiara, Miss Vanjie and Drag Race” sensation Kameron Yvie Oddly, all of “Drag Race” fame.

Michaels, presented by Impulse Saturday has parties from one Group Orlando, and a bevy of drag end of the city to the other. Tidal performers so good it will leave your Wave Party gathers the bears at wig snatched. the DoubleTree Suites Orlando “This a new kind of party and it’s Disney Springs for the big Bearaoke going to be a lot of fun,” Christ says.

Finals, Tidal Wave’s inaugural “It’s our first time really bringing karaoke competition hosted by “The in a lot of drag performers to One Voice” alum Nakia.

Magical Weekend and we can’t At Disney Springs’ House of Blues, wait for everyone to see what we One Magical Weekend launches have planned.” the next party in its red series with For more information on hotel expos, pool RED Volume IV: Galaxy. “You parties and ticket information, check know, Saturday is the day everyone out Watermark’s #RED 2019 guide wears red so it just makes sense to at WatermarkOnline.com. For event have our big red party that night,” information for One Magical Weekend, visit Christ says. “The theme is galaxy, so OneMagicalWeekend.com; for Girls In we’re going to take you to the outer Wonderland, visit GirlsInWonderland.com; limits of space.” for Tidal Wave Party, visit TidalWaveParty.

Stonewall Orlando gets in on com; for Orlando Gay Black Pride, visit the RED hot weekend on Saturday Eventbrite.com/e/Orlando-Gay-Black-Pride; with AMOR’s Pride of Love. It for Parliament House, visit ParliamentHouse. features performances by drag com; for AMOR at Stonewall Orlando, visit sensations Shantell D’Marco, Natalie Latin Saturdays on Facebook; for Broadway Nayles, Nouba Soleil, Isabella, Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s, visit Brandy Saint Lorans, Dianca and HamburgerMarys.com/Orlando.

Angelica Sanchez.

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once Upon A TimE

arts and Entertainment

Orlando artist Nick Smith turns literary classics into original works of art

O

Jeremy Williams

nce upon a time, in a land

far, far away known as Orlando, an artist by the name of Nick Smith was rediscovering his love of art and began creating original pieces based on classic novels and popular stories.

“I’ve been drawing since I was a wee little lad,” Smith says.

“I actually started tracing, that’s one of the things I always tell people, learn how to trace when you’re young so you get an idea of shapes and figures.”

Smith moved onto sketching cartoons and comic strips throughout middle and high school, even drawing for his school newspaper, but shortly after graduating he took a break from art.

“I went into the corporate world,” he says. “I was working six, seven days a week, and I decided I didn’t want to do that anymore.

I quit my day job and got back into art after 15 years or so.”

Continued on pg. 33 | uu |

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THE BARBER FUND HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH CANCER

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

ONE LOVE!

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In Memory of John “Tweeka” Barber 1972 - 2011

| uu | Once Upon a Time from pg.31

In December of 2018, Smith started experimenting with ways to take existing works of art in literature, music and pop culture, and turn them into visual representations of a character from that story.

“I had seen a piece art created using sheet music, and I thought that was really interesting,” he says. “It’s two types of art; you’re taking the music, which is art, and then adding a different layer to it.”

Smith began creating his new pieces using sheet music. He pasted the music to the canvas of his first piece and drew his subject—a young woman—on top of it, but he wasn’t finished.

“I took a sheet of the music and created a 3D flower from it and attached it to the canvas so it looked like it was in her hair,” Smith says.

“I was trying to make the piece feel more original, like it’s mine. She is my favorite piece I’ve done so far.”

After a series of drawings based on sheet music, Smith had an idea to create pieces based on some of his favorite books. The first one would be based on the Lewis Carroll classic “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

“I started with this idea of taking Alice reading her own Wonderland story in the piece,” Smith says.

“I thought she was a good one to start with since in the story she is literally reading the book.”

Smith started by laying the pages on the canvas, but he didn’t place the pages randomly. Even the canvas itself tells the story.

“So when I make these pieces, and I’ve read most of the books I use, I’ll go through and relive some of those memories and then I put them on the piece,” Smith says.

He starts with the top left of the canvas and places the book’s first page. The bottom right is the last page. He then takes you through important scenes from the story.

Smith adds 3D elements to the piece letting the character literally leap off the pages. He completes the piece by adding in the book itself.

“So in the finished product not only do you have a character, reading a book or interacting with the book, but if you actually read the canvas, you’ll see big moments from the story, and you also get these 3D parts of the story in the piece as well,” Smith says.

Even with just starting back on his art six months ago, Smith has created nearly 25 pieces featuring some of pop culture’s most beloved characters. One piece features The

In these pages: Nick Smith (pictured) shows off some of his works including pieces based on “Star Wars,” “Game of Thrones,” Alice in Wonderland,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and more.

Cat In the Hat reading the popular Dr. Seuss children’s book “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” In another, Christopher Robin holds Winnie the Pooh in his arms while he reads about their adventures in A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-The-Pooh” surrounded in honey-soaked pages.

As he created more and more pieces, Smith started to add in more elements to his works.

A piece based on Walt Disney’s first animated film “Snow White and

Photos by jake stevens

the Seven Dwarfs,” itself adapted from The Brothers Grimm fairytale, depicts the Evil Queen inside the magic mirror. In one hand she has the poisoned apple she feeds to Snow White, and in the other is a copy of the classic fairytale.

Another piece showcases Pennywise the Dancing Clown on the pages of Stephen King’s horror novel “It.” Pennywise has the iconic red balloon in hand as he reads from a blood-soaked copy of book.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

“I really like to add more of the 3D effects to the pieces because it makes them harder to recreate, which makes each piece more original,” Smith says. “It isn’t something that can be mass produced. Each piece is what it is all its own every time.”

Smith has posted photos of his work on social media and is getting noticed through his Instagram (@NickSmith.Art), Twitter (@ NickOfTime85) and his Facebook page. Pieces drawing a lot of

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

attention include a glow-in-the-dark canvas of characters reading the story of “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a 4-foot canvas of the character Tyrion Lannister reading one of the books from George R. R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series, and a pair of pieces from the first two books in J.K. Rowling’s massively popular “Harry Potter” series.

Continued on pg. 35 | uu |

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Art Alive!: Many of the pieces feature 3D effects, such as this Snow White-inspired work with the poisoned apple coming off the canvas. Photo by Jake Stevens | uu | Once Upon a Time from pg.33

“Harry Potter and Dooby got people excited, so I am planning on doing a set based on the series of books,” he says. “I’ll feature one character from each book in a popular scene.”

The social media acknowledgement that excited Smith the most?

“Candace Bushnell liked my photo of her ‘Sex and the City’ book on Instagram. That is my favorite show and I was so thrilled when not only did realize she saw it but liked it too,” he says.

Smith is bringing his work to an art exhibit at Southern Craft in Orlando’s Milk District on June 5.

At the exhibit, more than a dozen pieces will be up for sale.

“There will be more pieces on display at the show but 13 of them will available to buy,” Smith say. “A percentage of the sales from those pieces that are sold that day will be donated to The Barber Fund.”

The Barber Fund is a small, grassroots nonprofit organization established to help those in Central Florida living with cancer.

It was launched in 2014

by Blue Star to honor John “Tweeka” Barber who lost is fight cancer in 2011. The organization uses funds raised to pay mortgages, power bills, medical bills, phone bills, purchase groceries, chaperon appointments, help care for animals and more.

Smith is also using the event to hold a book drive for the organization Books For Troops, a nonprofit group that supplies books to active duty members of the military, veterans and family members.

“I really enjoy making these pieces, but I felt kind of bad tearing up books to do it, so I thought if I am taking a book out of this world I want to figure a way to put them back in,” Smith says. “Books For Troops is based here in Florida and they are a terrific organization. You drop off books to them and they send them out to deployed troops, homes with military families, VA hospitals and

clinics. I have a lot of family members who were or are in the military so it’s something that is near and dear to me.”

While the event itself is for one day, Smith’s pieces up for sale will hang in Southern Craft throughout June. Smith says that he will be looking to do commissioned pieces as well down the road.

“I created one piece specifically for my AP English teacher from high school. She has a special place in my heart and she asked for ‘Fahrenheit 451’ so I made it, but commissioned work is a bit hard with these pieces because if I haven’t read the book I won’t have an understanding of the character, so it makes it difficult but I’m working on a process to do that.”

In the meantime, Smith is always open to recommendations from his fans onlne of what his next piece should be.

“I have some things in mind for future pieces but I’m always looking for new and original suggestions,” Smith says.

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

books

Rob The Builder

Author Rob Sanders revolutionizes pictures books with ‘Stonewall’

(above)

AUTHOR AND ADVOCATE: Rob Sanders has introduced readers young and old to Harvey Milk and Stonewall with his groundbreaking picture books.

Photo courtesy rob sanders

S

Ryan Williams-Jent

elf-described “writer who

teaches and teacher who writes” Rob Sanders appreciates anniversaries. In celebration of the LGBTQ pride flag’s 40th in 2018, he released “Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag,” the first picture book detailing the LGBTQ symbol’s origin.

Now, just ahead of the Stonewall Uprising’s 50th, he’s made history again with “Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.” watermark Your LGBTQ life.

The openly LGBTQ author’s follow up is the first picture book to detail the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.

Its story of strength, unity and equality was released April 23 from Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books; the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher.

“In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City,” its synopsis reads. “Though the inn had been raided before, that night would be different. It would be the night when empowered members of the LGBTQ+ community—in and around the Stonewall Inn—began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States.”

Featuring colorful illustrations by openly LGBTQ artist Jamey Christoph, whose work has been featured in The New York Times, “Stonewall” proudly introduces young readers to one of America’s largest civil rights movements.

Narrated by the Stonewall Inn itself, the book begins in the 1840s when the building boarded horses in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

“One of the difficult things, whenever you’re writing a children’s book, is figuring out where to start,” Sanders says.

“Figuring out how to create a tone that kids can relate to and that will carry them through a story.” He says the first few drafts of “Stonewall” were focused strictly on the protest and were too militant.

“I was getting all of the history down,” he says. “I was getting the emotions of the story but it wasn’t really something that I knew would interest kids or sustain their interest. But in one of my drafts, I just happened to write at the very top, ‘For more than 100 years, they witnessed history. Until the night they became a part of history.’”

His editor, the same who’d edited “Pride,” suggested the author utilize the voice found within those two lines. “I thought of the old adage

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

‘If these walls could talk,’” Sanders recalls. “I went back and decided to trace the building’s history with the culminating event of when they became a part of history on that night in June 1969.”

Sanders had already studied the fateful evening at length, consulting even a decades-old Farmer’s Almanac to confirm its nearly full moon, but the decision led him to extensively research the Inn’s entire history. Thankfully, he found that Greenwich Village had begun one of its earliest classifications as a historical district the year of the uprising.

“There are reams of information about all of the buildings in the streets, from the size of windows to the kind of bricks used in different buildings,” he says. “That was all part of documenting the historical nature of the neighborhood to preserve it.”

It was valuable to his research, though challenges remained. There were discrepancies about the streets in the 1800s, information he needed to fully realize the building’s beginnings. “I found a diary entry of a 12-year-old girl from the late 1800s who had lived in Greenwich Village,” he says. “She’d written about the rough rumble of carriages on the cobblestone streets outside of her bedroom window.”

Details like these allowed Sanders to more accurately relay Stonewall’s origins, showcasing it from the pair of stable houses built in 1843 and 1846 to what is now 51-53 Christopher St. in Greenwich Village. The book highlights the structures joining together as Bonnie’s Stone Wall restaurant in 1930 to opening as the modern LGBTQ hotspot recognizable today.

While authors and illustrators don’t collaborate during the publishing process, Sanders says Christoph’s research mirrored his own. “It was all very exciting,” the author says of seeing the book’s first completed pages. “I tend to have a picture in my mind of what a book might look like, but it always fall short of what an illustrator actually does. It’s been a great thing to see come to life, and to see that he did as much research as I did.

To see that reflected on the page is very thrilling.”

Continued on pg. 39 | uu |

37

Reach local LGBT communities across the nation.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

2019

JUNE 8-15 covering new ground: Rob Sanders’ “Stonewall” is the first picture book to detail the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. Photo courtesy random house

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To ensure the book’s more modern accuracy, the team behind “Stonewall” also relied on LGBTQ activist Martin Boyce, who participated in the uprising. He and a group of diverse consultants provided feedback in an effort to accurately represent the riots and all of the individuals present in 1969.

“We became aware that we really needed more input,” Sanders says. “We needed someone who could represent a lesbian perspective, a transgender perspective, an African American perspective, since so many groups of people were represented at the uprising. Eight different people read and gave input, and every single one of them affected the text and even the illustrations in one way or another.”

As his tale is told in broad strokes and through the eyes of the building, he adds, it’s his hope that more books from other perspectives follow. “One historian told me that your

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THU inn-TERIOR: The tale of “Stonewall” culminates on the evening of June 28, 1969. Photo courtesy random house view of history depends on where you’re standing at the moment,” he says.

“There’s no reason to think that one book would ever represent everything there is to know about an event. Hopefully we’ll have others to add to our canon of LGBTQ children’s books with additional perspectives of the uprising, and with authentic voices telling them.”

In the meantime, Sanders will lend his voice to a number of upcoming projects, including the LGBTQ tales of a transgender Civil War soldier and the first same-sex couple to marry via legal loophole in 1971.

“There’s a college professor who said that children need books that

are mirrors and windows,” Sanders says, “mirrors to see themselves and windows that allow them to see into a world beyond themselves.

Some kids are already aware of their sexuality or gender, or they know family members who might be gay or have parents who are in the community. To see people like themselves and their family represented on the page is important.”

“Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising.

A Revolution.” is currently available wherever books are sold. The Paperback Exchange Bookstore will host Rob Sanders for a special reading May 25 in Port Richey, Fla. For more information on the event, visit PaperbackExchangeBookstore. com. For more information about Sanders, visit RobSandersWrites.com.

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

community calendar

event planner arts+entertainment

CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Teal Tie 2019: A New Orleans Masquerade

Orlando International Fringe Festival, May 14-27, Loch Haven Park, Orlando. 407-648-0077; OrlandoFringe.org

Saturday, May 18, 7-11 p.m.

Orchid Garden at Church Street, Orlando

MegaCon Orlando, May 16-19, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando. 407-685-9800; MegaConOrlando.com “Southern Fried Funeral,” May 17-26, Daytona Playhouse, Daytona. 386-255-2431; DaytonaPlayhouse.org Chasing Rainbows Fashion Show presented

by Bloomingdale’s, May 18, The Mall at Millenia, Orlando. 407-363-3555; OnePulseFoundation.org Books & Brews: Meet the Authors of MegaCon (and Friends), May 18, Dead Lizard Brewing Company, Orlando. 407-777-3060; WordierThanThou.com Trae Crowder, May 19, Orlando Improv Comedy Club, Orlando. 407-480-5233; TheImprovOrlando.com Creating Hope, May 21, Holden Heights Community Center, Orlando. 407-317-7636; PeerSupprtSpace.org BARE BEEF Bear-B-Q, May 24, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com Kim Chi from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8, May 24, Southern Nights, Orlando.

407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando Memorial Weekend with Mimi Marks, May 25, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com Memorial Day Saturday w/ Pepper MaShay, May 25, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com

Thank u, next

Beignets, Bourbon & Beads, Oh My! Two Spirits Health is proud to present “Teal Tie 2019: A New Orleans Masquerade,” where you’ll feel like you’re in the French Quarter with all they have in store. Mark your calendars and start planning your outfits now for this free event, which welcomes “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queens Raven and Jujubee. For more information, visit TwoSpiritHealth.org.

5th Annual Mister and Miss Lady Comedy Queen Pageant Wednesday, May 29, 8-11 p.m.

Parliament House, Orlando

Pop icon Ariana Grande’s “Sweetener World Tour” stops at Amalie Arena in Tampa May 28 and the Amway Center in Orlando May 29. PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK.COM/ARIANAGRANDE

Rainbow Venue Closing Night Party, May 26, LGBT+ Center, Orlando.407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org

Kristen Chenoweth, May 17, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

Child Gender Identity and Caregiver Group, May 26, LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org

“Kinky Boots,” May 17-19, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org Tampa Bay Bears Pool Party, May 18, GayStPeteHouse, St. Petersburg. 727-365-0544; GayStPeteHouse.com

WERK It Wednesday Launch Party, May 29, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com

Trans Community Meetup, May 18, The Hyppo, St. Petersburg. 727-321-3854; MetroTampaBay.org

Ariana Grande, May 29, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7900; AmwayCenter.com

TAMPA BAY “Buyer & Cellar,” May 11-June 9, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; freeFallTheatre.com Bear Soup Weekend 2019, May 16-19, Flamingo Resort St. Pete, St. Petersburg. 727-321-5000; FlamingoFla.com

QALM, May 18, Love Food Central, St. Petersburg.

727-317-2034; Queeret.

SquareSpace.com/City/St-Pete Wheeling Warrior, SMART Ride 16 Charity Bingo, May 21, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Rainbow Housing Coalition Community Meeting, May 22, King of Peace MCC, St. Petersburg. 727-323-5857; RainbowHousingCoalition.com

Kim Chi from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8, May 25, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsTampa Back to the Beach!

May 26, Metro Inclusive Health, Treasure Island. 727-321-3854; MetroTampaBay.org Showtune Sing-Along, May 26, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Ariana Grande, May 28, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com.

SARASOTA ALSO Youth LGBTQ Young Adult Group, May 22, ALSO Youth, Sarasota. 941-951-2576; ALSOYouth.org Senior LGBTQ Loss & Grief Support Group, May 28, Friendship Centers, Sarasota. 941-556-3223; FriendshipCenters.org

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

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

ANR Productions’ 5th annual Mister & Miss Lady Comedy Queen Pageant returns to Parliament House for this fundraiser benefiting The Barber Fund! Come watch your Mister and Miss Ladies compete in this hilarious event, hosted by Miss Comedy Queen Dixie Surewood.

Mister Comedy Queen Franqui Starz and Miss Lady Comedy Queen Pistol Mercy will be honored. Admission $10. For more information, visit ANRTickets.com.

TAMPA BAY

Miss St Pete Pride 2019 Sunday, May 19, 7-10 p.m.

Metro Inclusive Health, St. Petersburg The Miss St Pete Pride pageant celebrates its 10-year anniversary and honors Star Montrese Love for a decade of service. Join entertainers for an evening of laughs, good company and for the crowning of Miss St Pete Pride 2019. Featuring performances by former titleholders Star Montrese Love, Kori Stevens, Jaeda Fuentes, Jasmine Skiies, Muffy Vanbeaverhousen, Stephanie Stuart, Nicole T. Lane and Chanel P. Cartier.

Free with cash bar, doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, visit StPetePride.com.

Prism Party Sunday, May 26, 8 p.m.- 3 a.m.

Enigma, St. Petersburg Join the Red Ribbon Cyclists Memorial Day weekend to celebrate all the colors of the prism for a SMART Ride 2019 charity fundraiser. Hosted by PheYonce Montrese, featuring performances by Bridget from Rehab, Dixie Lynn Michaels, Star Montrese Love, Esme Russell, Lady Janet, Victoria Michaels and Brianna Summers. Begins at 8 p.m., performances at 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. For more information, visit EnigmaStPete.com

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

overheard

E

EQUALITY EVENING

quality Florida welcomed supporters to the Mahaffey Theater on May 11 to celebrate their 2019 St. Pete Gala.

The evening began by honoring Linda Lerner with the Voice for Equality Award. Lerner, an advocate for LGBTQ issues on the Pinellas County Schools board, retired in 2018 as its longest-serving member. Artist John Gascot then received the Amy S. Mandel Service & Leadership Award for his work with Diversity Arts, his nonprofit serving youth. Professor Nan Hunter and activist David Mixner also received Equality Florida’s first Edie Windsor Lifetime Achievement Awards for their dedication to the LGBTQ community.

“This is where the base of support has always been strong for the work that Equality Florida does, so thank you all,” Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith shared with attendees. “Many of you are longtime supporters and I see a lot of allies out there. Most encouragingly, I see a lot of new faces who are stepping into the ring to stand up for equality statewide—and you’ve arrived just in the nick of time.”

View a full gallery of Watermark’s photos at WatermarkOnline.com.

T

tampa bay out+about

DECADES OF DRAG

he Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF) has announced “The Evolution of Drag: Drag through the Decades!”—scheduled for June 1 at the Palladium in St. Petersburg—will serve as a fabulous fundraiser benefiting their upcoming 30th anniversary.

The drag production is described as a mixture of comedy, dance and history. Through the eyes of a drag queen, it transports audiences with “an exhilarating voyage through ten decades and has packed houses near and far!”

The show is produced by Daphne Ferraro, Tampa Bay WAVE Award winner for best drag performer, who will be joined by 11 of the area’s top performers. “I am excited to bring ‘The Evolution of Drag: Drag Through the Decades’ back to the Tampa Bay area just in time for Pride and the 50 year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising,” Ferraro shared. “It’s a unique experience for the audience and cast alike … the room will definitely be filled with our love for each other and the love of those who support us (and what we do.) It’s a true honor for us to represent our community and we’re thrilled to be able to partner with TIGLFF on this fundraising event.”

“We are excited to celebrate drag performances and the queens who are often at the front lines of fundraising with this hilarious look at 10 decades of drag,” TIGLFF Co-President Mariruth Kennedy added. “I can’t think of a better way to kick off our 30th anniversary.”

General admission is $30 and VIP is available for $45. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit TIGLFF.com.

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BIRTHDAY BOY: Corey Malyzska (R) celebrates his birthday at La V with Jan Flowers May 4. PHOTO BY RYAN

WILLIAMS-JENT

2

DYNAMIC DUO: CEO Nadine Smith (R) and Pete the Pelican welcome guests to Equality Florida’s 2019 St. Pete Gala at Mahaffey Theater May 11.

PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

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FUN RUN: ALSO Youth preps for the Harvey Milk Festival’s inaugural Run4Love Fun-K at JD Hamel Park May 4. PHOTO

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COURTESY ALSO YOUTH

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PRIDE BUILDERS: (L-R) Val Brinkley, Brian Longstreth, James Keane, Chrys Bundy and Robert Brennan attend Watermark Wednesday benefiting Habitat for Humanity at Red Mesa Cantina May 8.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

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ART HISTORY: (L-R) Christina Valastin-Fraser, Harvey Milk Festival Executive Director Shannon Fortner and Ed Midler attend the “Before Harvey” exhibit at Art Center Sarasota May 9. PHOTO

COURTESY HMF

6

FOR THE CAUSE: Equality Florida staff and volunteers welcome supporters to the 10th annual Harvey Milk Festival May 11. PHOTO COURTESY

6

EQUALITY FLORIDA

7

FIRST FAMILY: (L-R) Sergei Bevan, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Ana Cruz and Seely Bevan celebrate Castor’s mayoral milestone at her swearing in ceremony May 1. PHOTO COURTESY MAYOR CASTOR

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SHE IS GROOT: Daphne Ferraro (L) welcomes Wayne Gabb to the stage for an Enigma tree-t May 3. PHOTO BY RYAN

8

WILLIAMS-JENT

7 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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www.NationsLandscaping.com

Precious Pollinators

featuring the Central Florida Watercolor Society

MAY 7 AUGust 25, 2019 633 Osceola Avenue Winter Park, Florida 32789 | polasek.org 46

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

overheard

central florida out+about

Long live the queen

T

his year has been an amazing one for Parliament House queens. Just two months after Jazell Barbie Royale was crowned Miss International Queen in Thailand, Parliament House’s Entertainment Director, and local legend, Darcel Stevens went to Chicago and became 2019’s Miss Continental Plus.

These pageant victories have attracted a lot of attention to The City Beautiful and have showcased the immense talent we have here in Central Florida.

Someone who is already aware of the talent within Parliament House and the local LGBTQ community is Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

After recognizing Royale’s accomplishments with a city proclamation on April 11, Dyer congratulated Stevens on his victory and thanked the drag icon for years of service to the community. Stevens shared the letter on Facebook May 9.

“On behalf of the City of Orlando, I would like to congratulate you for winning the Miss Continental Plus 2019 pageant. Your resilience is inspiring to all of us,” wrote Dyer. “We are so grateful for your efforts to ensure that Orlando is a city for everyone!

Our inclusive city is a place where all residents, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, place of origin, gender identity or sexual orientation, are welcomed and valued.

“Your work as a performer and as a local activist has supported thousands in our community,” he continued. “Your ability to bring smiles to the faces of so many, to be a role model for young people and your voice as a local activist make our community better. Your voice is a beacon of hope for thousands in our community and I can’t think of a better person to receive this great honor. I appreciate your dedication and wish you continued success in all your efforts.”

Congratulations Ms. Darcel Stevens and a big thank you from us here at Watermark for your years of being a community champion and impassioned leader.

No mo Poe politics

A

fter six decades as a Floridian, openly gay businessman, activist and former Congressional candidate Bob Poe is leaving the Sunshine State. FloridaPolitics.com reports that Poe and husband, Ken Brown, are moving to Los Angeles.

The couple has maintained residences on both coasts for years.

Poe made headlines in 2016 when he sat with Watermark founder Tom Dyer to announce that if he were to win the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 10th District, he would be the first openly HIV-positive person elected to Congress.

While Poe lost that bid to the current Congresswoman Val Demings, he actively continued his support of democratic candidates—both nationally and locally. While speaking with FloridaPolitics.com, Poe said that his move to California is also a move out of partisan politics.

“I think it’s time for folks my age; I’ll be turning 65 in August, to pass the torch. And places like Central Florida have such new young voices, you know, folks like Carlos and Anna. It’s really exciting to see the crop of new folks coming along,” he said.

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SWEATING FOR AS CAUSE: LGBTQ Community members get together for a Community Sweat benefiting Equality Florida at Rock Hard Fitness May 12. Photo courtesy

Rock Hard Fitness

2

HAPPY WIVES: Cholticha “Tish” Pruitithep (L) and Natassia Pruitithep say “I do!” at the Parliament House in Orlando May 9. Photo courtesy Tish Pruitithep

3

SPEKtacular Party: Joseph Knoll (L) and Jarrett Kime celebrate Spektrum Health’s White Party at Southern Nights in Orlando May 10. Photo courtesy Jarrett Kime

4

WEARING RED: Former Watermark intern Rachel DeCecco shows off her brand new Red Shirt Pride Day tee in Orlando May 10. Photo

courtesy Rachel DeCecco

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: (L-R) Dr. Steve Yacovelli, Abby Green, David Parker and Ben Laube at the MBA Orlando May Business Connect event, hosted

by Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando May 1. Photo by Jeremy Williams

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PET PROJECT: Joshua Siniscalco (L) and Jeff Jones (dressed as their Animatronicans characters) get to know a baby gator during the filming of Attraction Magazine’s promotional video at Fun Spot in Orlando, released May 6. Photo

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courtesy Jeff Jones

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FAREWELL JAKE: Watermark’s Orlando office said goodbye to longtime Art Director Jake Stevens (4th from R) with a lunch at Ale House in Orlando May 10. Photo

courtesy Jeremy Williams

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FUNDRAISING: Michael Wanzie speaks on stage during the “Greetings From Queertown: Orlando” fundraiser at The Abbey in Orlando May 13.

Photo by Dylan Todd

8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

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May 16 - M ay 29, 2019 // Issue 26 .10

announcements

wedding bells

Tommy and Nathan Whitehead from Brandon, Florida

Engagement date:

Nov. 6, 2016

Wedding date:

Sept. 22, 2018

Wedding venue:

Yacht Starship II

First dance song: “Marry Me”

by Train

Wedding theme/coLors:

Navy blue and yellow; nautical

Florist :

Bloomingdale Flowers

Officiant:

Captain Eric Watson

Cake Bakery:

Petite Madelyn’s Bakery

Cake Flavors:

Vanilla with cookies & cream frosting and a chocolate ganache/fudge icing center

Photographer:

Dorothy Smith, LightHeart Photography

Photo by Dorothy Smith Lightheart photography

“I

wanted to make our

engagement special. Nathan had always been going on and on about taking me on a cruise. Since I had never been, I thought it would be a great idea to propose on our first trip.”

Tommy Whitehead says about his proposal to hubby Nathan Whitehead on Carnival Valor. “I brought a bottle of key lime sparkling wine onboard, which was one of Nathan’s favorites. As the sun was going down, I suggested we open the bottle and have a glass while we are sitting on our balcony. Little did he know that I had a ring hidden in my pocket.”

“He immediately asked me if I was joking!” Tommy laughs.

“It took him a moment to realize that I had a ring in my hand, and

when he did, I asked him again and he said yes!”

Tommy is a Lakeland native and the proud owner/ president of TomCo Solutions, a construction firm in Tampa which is currently in the final steps of being certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Nathan is a property insurance adjuster for a local Tampa Bay carrier and grew up in St. Petersburg. The couple now lives in Brandon.

“It’s sort of a running joke that we are both native

Congratulations

Enigma St. Pete celebrated five years of business May 5.

The Harvey Milk Festival celebrated 10 years May 9-12.

Hamburger Mary’s Orlando celebrated 11 years in business May 8.

Floridians,” Tommy says. “When we tell people where we are from they always joke that we are a few of the natives left in the state.”

The two met on Aug. 5, 2014, after chatting online and deciding to meet up for a drink at The Canopy rooftop bar in downtown St. Pete. “We set up a date for 10 p.m. Little did I know that when Nathan agreed to 10 p.m. he had to work until 10 p.m. so he didn’t show up until 11,” Tommy says. “I was texting my friend for an hour saying how this was a waste of time and I should have never waited that long.”

“Then at 11 he comes walking off the elevator,” Tommy continues. “There he was in red shorts and a shirt, and my first thought was, finally! And then my second thought was, why is he wearing shorts to such a nice place? I still hear about those shorts every few months when he brings it up and I deserve it! The rest of the night we bar hopped downtown and had an amazing time.”

Nathan was sold that Tommy was the one not long after.

“I think it was the first time Tommy introduced me to his son, Matthew. He seemed like a great father and I knew I wanted to be with him.”

The two married on Yacht Starship II in fall 2018 with their family and friends.

They danced to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”

“We think one of the most memorable moments was Nathan’s best man’s speech,” Tommy says. “His longtime friend Patrick gave a well-thought-out, detailed, funny and loving speech that we will never forget.”

Miss Sammy and Carol Lee celebrated 11 years of Twisted Sisters Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s Orlando May 9.

Local Birthdays

Tampa Bay fitness instructor Bryan Lloyd, St. Pete ROTC leader Frank Hay, Tampa artist Ric Moreir (May 16); Orlando trainer Migael Schieder, Sarasota photographer Ming “Troy” Ming, Orlando Ballet Dancer Alberto Blanco Perez, St. Pete staple Marc Calvillo, Dog-adoring Tom Singer, Sarasota helping hand Jennifer Chalfa (May 17); Gypsy Productions founder Trevor Keller, Central Florida photographer Julie Milford Textor, Central Florida drag performer Kai’ja Taylor Adonis, Equality Florida’s Jarred Wilson (May 18); Joy MCC’s Terri Steed Pierce (May 19); State House Rep. Anna Eskamani, Rep. Smith’s former legislative aide Ida Eskamani, Yow Dance owner Eric Yow, Tampa Bay bartender James Bailey, Olde Town Brokers realtor Brett Winters, Wordier Than Thou founder Tiffany Razzano (May 20); Tampa Bay entertainer Josie Jay, Orlando real estate agent Wes Miller, St. Pete photographer Jamarcus Mosley, Human Rights Campaign’s John Ruffier, Tampa Bay bear Rick Grayson (May 21); University of Tampa professor Jack Crepeau, Hunks Orlando Promoter Jeffrey Torres, Orlando artist Cake Marques, Harvey Milk Festival president Shannon Fortner, Central Florida photographer Tabitha Whidby (May 22); Orlando Realtor Alex Zweydoff, Ted Maines Interiors owner Ted Maines, St. Pete photographer Tori Baird (May 23); Lowe and Behold owner Randy Lowe, Balance Tampa Bay’s Jason Fields (May 24); Tampa Bay bartender Kerissa Hickey (May 25); Watermark husband Keith Sadler, Tampa Bay entertainer Holly Louya, Queen of the Wardrobe Marcy Singhaus; Flamingo bartender Charlie Bird (May 26); Tampa Drag Queen Bingo maven Amy DeMilo, Tampa Bay real estate agent Marvin Meeks, Orlando hairstylist Jesse Colin Yeager, Sarasota country line dancer David Russell, Southern Nights photographer Hannah Jordan, Florida Orchestra manager Daryn Bauer (May 27); Marketing guru Alex Wall, Tampa Bay director Jonathan Van Dyke (May 28); St. Pete photographer Laurie Ross, St. Pete theater supporter Jon Hughes, Orlando behind-the-scenes theater guru Bill St. Yves, Dunedin stylist Corey Judge (May 29).

—Aaron Drake

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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