Watermark Issue 26.26: Making History, 2019 Year in Review

December 26 - January 8, 2020 Issue 26.26

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

departments 7 // Bureau Chief’s Desk 8 // Central Florida News 10 // Tampa Bay News 12 // State News 13 // Nation & World News 19 // Talking Points 33 // Community Calendar 35 // Tampa Bay Out + About 37 // Central Florida Out + About 38 // Tampa Bay Marketplace 40 // Central Florida

Marketplace 45 // Wedding Bells/

Announcements 46 // The Last Page

page

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Today, more than ever, it doesn’t matter what religion you practice. You don’t have to believe that Christ is your God in order to do good and be good to one another.

–Actress Eartha Kitt, as recalled by viewpoint columnist Michael Wanzie

On the cover

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MAKING HISTORY: Watermark reviews 2019, a year for the LGBTQ record books.

Design by diBenedetto/Wiedemann

scan qr code for

WatermarkOnline.com

page 26 POPS FOR 2019:

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A look back at this year’s record-breaking moments in LGBTQ entertainment.

Watermark Issue 26.26 // Dec. 26, 2019 - Jan. 8, 2020

Holiday Gift

Ybor Attack

The Other Side

The Last Page

page onePULSE Foundation receives $1 million donation.

page Assault at Bradley’s on 7th stirs questions and controversy.

page

page

Read It Online!

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

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Viewpoint columnist Jason Leclerc prepares for American Boxing Day 2019.

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Get to know Tampa Bay’s 6S Boutique owners Andy and Sasha Citino.

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

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

central florida

bureau chief’s

Jeremy Williams cfl bureau chief

Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

“F

Desk

ive hundred twenty-five

thousand six hundred minutes / How do you measure, measure a year?”

If you are familiar with the Broadway show “RENT” — and let’s face it, if you’re reading this then you probably are — you know the answer to that question is “love, seasons of love.” Well, for me I measure a year by pop culture’s five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred “best of” year-end lists. All the greatest magazines, entertainment shows, YouTube channels and Starbucks baristas have them. Heck, this very issue of Watermark, our annual Year in Review, has an A-Z list of the best moments in LGBTQ pop culture.

One of my favorite lists growing up was the year-end collection of TV Guide’s weekly “Cheers & Jeers” column. It looked at the best (Cheers) and worst (Jeers) that television had to offer over the course of that year. As a kid I actually dreamed of working for TV Guide as its “Cheers & Jeers” guy, but these days no one uses a TV Guide and I don’t even know if

the column exists. I do work here though so in this, our last issue of 2019, I offer up my own version of the TV Guide classic that I’m calling 2019’s “Fab & Drab.”

Fab - Ronan Farrow If you read my column a few issues ago then you know why this first one is Ronan Farrow. Farrow is my professional idol, and possible future husband – call me if things don’t work out with Jon, Ronan – and had a fab year with the release of his best-selling book, “Catch and Kill.” Farrow’s recount of the events leading up to Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer’s downfalls was by far the best book of 2019. Farrow also launched his podcast of the same name and it is by far the most compelling podcast of the year.

Drab - “The Masked Singer” The drabness of Fox’s latest reality competition show, “The Masked Singer,” isn’t necessarily from the concept of the show, which brings masked celebrities on

stage to sing without the audience knowing who they are. The drabness comes from the collection of “celebrity panelists” they have.

Robin Thicke is creepy, Nicole Scherzinger is boring, Ken Jeong is loud and Jenny McCarthy is a crazy anti-vaxxer. Throw Nick Cannon, the worst TV host ever, on top of that and you officially have the worst show of 2019.

Fab - “Watchmen” If you are looking for fabulous television from 2019, just turn to HBO, and no I’m not talking about the final season of “Game of Thrones,” I’m talking about “Watchmen.” The show continues the story of DC Comics’ original “Watchmen” graphic novel and recounts racial tensions in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a world with superheroes. The cast includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Jean Smart, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and full-frontal, male nudity. That is neither here nor there, just a nice surprise from, what I consider, the best show on television in 2019 – although it’s not really TV, it’s HBO. Drab - Celine Dion The drabness here is not directed at the goddess Celine Dion.

I have had the power of love for her since I first heard her voice all by myself in the early 90s, continued to love her every time a new day has come and my heart will go on for her always and that’s the way it is.

The drabness is I have never seen my beloved in concert and when she announced tour dates this year, it was revealed that she would be going to Tampa but not Orlando. No worries my dear Celine, I shall get a ticket and go to you no matter how near, far, where ever you are.

Fab/Drab - Streaming services This is a part fab, part drab entry on the list. While several streaming services have been around longer than this past year, 2019 was the period where it kicked into overdrive and every company

watermark staff 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 Creative/Photographer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 102 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com

launched or announced one of there own. Adding to what were the big three — Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime — we got Disney+ and Apple TV+, as well as announcements that Time Warner would launch HBO Max and NBC/Universal would launch Peacock in 2020. These services all cost under $20 a month and have content they refuse to share across other platforms.

When streaming first kicked off, it was like a gift from the gods. We had a couple of services to get and it let us, the little people viewing the content, stick it to big cable who for years were charging way too much for a number of channels no one was watching. Now, if you want to watch the shows everyone

It has been our privilege and honor to be your LGBTQ news source and I can’t wait to see what 2020 has to offer.

is talking about, you have to pay as much if not more than what you were paying for cable. All of these companies need to agree on like three streaming services and put everything on them. That being said, Disney+ is the fabulous exception.

You keep giving me Baby Yoda, Baby Groot and all my childhood classics and you can have my firstborn kid if you want.

Of course, the biggest fab of 2019 has been you, our readers.

Thank you for making this one of the most fabulous queer years in Central Florida and Tampa Bay. It has been our privilege and honor to be your LGBTQ news source and I can’t wait to see what 2020 has to offer. Happy New Year!

Orlando Office Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Senior Tampa Bay Account Manager: Russ Martin • Ext. 303 Russ@WatermarkOnline.com Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer Tom@WatermarkOnline.com National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

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Tampa Bay Office 401 33rd Street N. St. Petersburg, FL 33713 TEL: 813-655-9890

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

contributors Michael Wanzie is

an Orlando-based playwright, actor and ordained minister. He is most recognized for his direction of productions in the Orlando area. Page 15

Jason Leclerc

is a near lifelong resident of the I-4 corridor, currently in South Tampa. He publishes poetry online at PoetEconomist. blogspot.com. His first book, Momentitiousness, was published in 2014. His book, Black Kettle, was published in 2016. Page 17

Lora Korpar is

a journalism student at the University of Central Florida and a former Watermark intern with a passion for storytelling. She plans to graduate in Spring 2020. Page 45

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

tampa bay

bureau chief’s

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

A

Desk

s December comes to a

close, taking 2019 with it, I’m most thrilled to reflect on the fact that I’ll be entering the next decade of my life as a nonsmoker. While I spent the majority of the last 10 years craving my next cigarette or shackled to a smoking section, I proudly celebrated one year smoke free this month.

I hit the milestone on Dec. 17, just one day before writing this column and six days after hitting another personal milestone, my second year as Tampa Bay Bureau Chief.

I couldn’t be more grateful that I’m still serving in this position here at Watermark – it’s been another incredible year and an amazing December, even if I did turn 35.

It was the day I turned 34 that I started the smoking cessation drug Chantix and began my journey to a tobacco-free life, something I shared in my first

column of 2019. “As a gift to myself, I started on my birthday,” I wrote. “I joke that I gave myself the gift of life, but even after this short amount of time I feel so much better. I owed it to myself, my husband and even to our dogs to stick around as long as I can.” After a year, I feel like a new person.

I didn’t share that I’d quit to boast about a “new year, new me” – I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions and it hadn’t been one – but rather to hold myself accountable. It was the second time I had attempted

to kick the habit, having faltered six months into my first attempt after my father passed away, and I intended for it to be my last. I still do.

As of press time I’ve skipped 8,107 cigarettes, which I’d have spent 28 days’ worth of time smoking, and saved a grand total of $2,027. The sum averages out to saving $5.50 per day, $38.50 per week and $165 per month, though I admittedly use the term “saved” loosely; the money’s really just gone elsewhere, most likely to the Walt Disney Company.

Between the theatrical releases of “Avengers: Endgame,” “Frozen II,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and more this year, the entertainment juggernaut kept me pretty busy in 2019 – and that’s only with their offerings on the silver screen.

On the small screen, they brought new streaming staples like “The Mandalorian” and childhood classics like “X-Men” and “Gargoyles” into my home with Disney+, transporting me with televised bliss and giving my husband the perfect anniversary gift in perpetuity.

The service was released on our third wedding anniversary this year, and thus will renew on that date for the rest of our lives.

As an added bonus for what I can only assume was to show their support for my decision to quit, Walt Disney World even banned smoking on property this year. They’re really dedicated to their passholders, which is where the rest of my money went.

It wasn’t the magic of Disney that helped me stay smoke free this year, though the amount of time I spent in movie theaters and at the Magic Kingdom certainly didn’t

watermark staff 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 Creative/Photographer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 102 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com

hurt. It was having an amazing support group.

I was fortunate enough to share details about my quit with my husband, family and friends during every milestone I hit, from one day smoke free to one year, broadcasting the amount of cigarettes I’d avoided and the funds I’d “saved.”

I also leaned heavily on support sites and apps, pledging daily not to smoke and encouraging others who’d quit to do the same. Receiving messages from strangers around the world to “keep the quit” is surprisingly effective.

I’m so very grateful to everyone who encouraged me over the course of 2019. If you’re

Community is key.

someone who’s considering a quit in 2020, above all else I would encourage you to seek out support, of which I’m happy to give. Community is key.

Members of the LGBTQ community and our many allies throughout Tampa Bay, Central Florida, the state, nation and world made that clear over the course of 2019. That’s why in this issue we present Watermark’s annual Year in Review, showcasing the many ups and downs we’ve collectively faced in the last 365 days.

In each of our news sections, you’ll find the top five news features you read on our website WatermarkOnline.com in 2019.

We also explore the ABC’s of the year’s most definitive moments in LGBTQ pop culture.

Watermark strives to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue – and from all of us here, thank you for an incredible 2019. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Orlando Office Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Senior Tampa Bay Account Manager: Russ Martin • Ext. 303 Russ@WatermarkOnline.com Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer Tom@WatermarkOnline.com National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

1300 N. Semoran Blvd.

Ste 250 Orlando, FL 32807 TEL: 407-481-2243

Tampa Bay Office 401 33rd Street N. St. Petersburg, FL 33713 TEL: 813-655-9890

December 26, 2019 - J a nua r y 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

contributors Michael Wanzie is

an Orlando-based playwright, actor and ordained minister. He is most recognized for his direction of productions in the Orlando area. Page 15

Jason Leclerc

is a near lifelong resident of the I-4 corridor, currently in South Tampa. He publishes poetry online at PoetEconomist. blogspot.com. His first book, Momentitiousness, was published in 2014. His book, Black Kettle, was published in 2016. Page 17

Lora Korpar is

a journalism student at the University of Central Florida and a former Watermark intern with a passion for storytelling. She plans to graduate in Spring 2020. Page 45

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 Watermark’s Top 5 most read

online headlines of 2019 1. Legendary ‘Grand Ole Gal of the South’ Carmella Marcella Garcia passes away at age 57 George Timothy Reed, better known in the community as Carmella Marcella Garcia, passed away on Oct. 15 after a long-fought battle with cancer. He was 57. Reed, who was known in the drag community as the “Grand Ole Gal of the South” — or just Mella to friends — was responsible for creating Orlando’s Easter fixture Babes in Bonnets.

Holiday Gift:

2. Central Florida LGBTQ pioneer Joel Strack passes away at age 59

AdventHealth’s donation brings onePULSE Foundation closer to completing the memorial and museum.

Joel Strack — an LGBTQ leader, activist and pioneer in Central Florida’s fight for equality — passed away in the early morning hours of July 15. He was 59. Strack was instrumental in launching what would become known as Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom, helped create Orlando’s first Pride parade and assisted in founding both the Orlando Gay Chorus and the Gay and Lesbian History Museum.

Photo courtesy onePULSE Foundation

A Million Steps Closer

3. Winter Haven man found guilty of murder in death of Mercedes Successful A Polk County jury deliberated for less than five hours before convicting 19-year-old Re’shaunte Jermaines Anglin for the 2016 murder of 32-year-old drag entertainer Mercedes Successful. Successful was found, shot to death, by a dumpster at a Haines City shopping plaza May 15, 2016. Jurors also found Anglin guilty of robbery and tampering with physical evidence.

Successful’s pockets were emptied, making it look like it was a robbery and her vehicle was found, with blood on the seat, nearby in Lake Alfred.

4. Florida House candidate Elizabeth McCarthy’s credibility questioned

onePULSE Foundation receives $1 million donation from AdventHealth Jeremy Williams

O

Elizabeth McCarthy — the openly LGBTQ, Democratic candidate who ran for Florida House District 28 — came under fire in June for inconsistencies about her past, most notably her claims of working as a cardiologist at Orlando Regional Medical Center the night of the Pulse tragedy. McCarthy suspended her campaign and less than a month later admitted she lied.

5. Parliament House’s Jazell Barbie Royale crowned Miss International Queen Jazell Barbie Royale — a performer at Parliament House in Orlando — was crowned Miss International Queen on March 8. Kanwara Kaewjin from Thailand and Yaya from China were named first and second runner-up, respectively. The Miss International Queen Pageant is a worldwide beauty pageant for transgender women held every year in Pattaya City, Thailand. Royale became the first black trans woman to take the crown as Miss International Queen and the first contestant from the U.S. to win the top prize since Mimi Marks in 2005.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

RLANDO | The onePULSE Foundation announced Dec. 11 that AdventHealth will be donating $1 million to the nonprofit to help in building the National Pulse Memorial & Museum.

The donation will also fund a healthcare-focused scholarship and assist in developing the museum’s educational curriculum.

“AdventHealth is a faith-based organization committed to whole-person care in our community, which includes treating body, mind and spirit,” said Daryl Tol, president and CEO of AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, in a press release.

More than a dozen victims of the attack were treated at AdventHealth Orlando and AdventHealth chaplains offered support to victims’ loved ones both at the hospital and at the family support center in the hours, days and weeks after the tragedy, onePULSE stated in the release.

“Part of that commitment is healing broken hearts and helping mend the brokenhearted,” Tol said. “Our hope is this memorial

will foster the healing process, and inspire a spirit of love and compassion, as well as a sense of gratitude for the first responders, clinical professionals and other heroes who acted so selflessly after the unspeakable attack on our community.”

AdventHealth’s donation will be made to onePULSE over a three-year period. A portion of the donation will initially go toward the construction of the memorial and museum. In the subsequent years, the donation will support onePULSE Academy, a diversity and inclusion curriculum that will be available inside the museum, for use in schools and in corporate environments. The donation will also provide an annual scholarship of $15,000 to be awarded to a student seeking a career in healthcare.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous gift from AdventHealth and their outstanding commitment to whole-person care in our community,” said Barbara Poma, onePULSE Foundation CEO, in a statement. “Donations like this are critical to help us fulfill our mission and we appreciate their leadership in inspiring others to give.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, onePULSE has now raised $18 million of the projected $40 million needed to build the museum and memorial.

AdventHealth’s gift comes less than two weeks after onePULSE began its application period for the inaugural 49 Legacy Scholarships.

The 49 Legacy Scholarships program, which launched online Dec. 1, will award 49 individual scholarships annually — each up to $10,000 — for use at an accredited institution of higher learning, including career and technical schools. Each of the 49 scholarships will be for a field of study based on the interests, careers or aspirations of each of the 49 victims. The scholarship application submission deadline is Jan. 31. The 49 scholarship recipients will be notified in the spring of 2020 and will be available for use during the 2020-21 academic year. onePULSE Foundation took the first step in establishing the permanent memorial in October by selecting the winning design for the Pulse Memorial & Museum. The winning design team’s concept includes a fountain, shallow reflecting pool, a garden filled with 49 trees and a corridor allowing visitors to pass through the structure with a crescent moon canopy half-encircling the building.

The project is expected to be completed in 2022.

For more information, visit onePULSEFoundation.org.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

9

tampa bay news Watermark’s Top 5 most read

online headlines of 2019 1. Flamingo Resort St. Pete announces imminent closure

After serving Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ community in St. Petersburg for more than 10 years, Flamingo Resort announced it would close July 31. Speculation about its closure began July 20 after an auction company posted a yard sign on resort property advertising an “absolute auction, everything goes” sale for Aug. 6. It was soon revealed that the resort would be demolished and replaced with an eight-story, 245-unit apartment building.

2. Lorenzo Gilbert becomes first openly gay, male Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader

YBOR STAPLE: Bradley’s on 7th patrons flood the bar’s sidewalk each weekend. PHOTO

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced their 2019 cheerleading squad April 6, making Lorenzo Gilbert the first openly gay, male cheerleader in the NFL team’s 44-year history. Over 100 athletes auditioned for the squad and a total of 32 hopefuls were appointed. “You have to go for what you truly want,” Gilbert told Watermark. “The journey itself is more important than the prize.”

VIA FACEBOOK.

Ybor Attack

3. Hamburger Mary’s Tampa files suit against Dept. of Health

Former Hamburger Mary’s franchise owner Kurt King shared in Oct. that he was suing the Florida Dept. of Health in Hillsborough County and Director Dr. Douglas Holt for discrimination after the closure of his Brandon, St. Petersburg and Tampa restaurants.

He alleges that one year prior, they reported a positive case of hepatitis A in an employee because the establishment was LGBTQ-owned and operated.

4. ‘Activist Mommy’ targets Drag Queen Story Hour Tampa Bay

Drag Queen Story Hour Tampa Bay, its host venue Community Cafe and the city of St. Petersburg became targets of the national anti-LGBTQ vlogger “The Activist Mommy” in August for supporting the family-friendly event. “The city of St Petersburg is a city that prides itself on its diversity and inclusive practices,” Mayor Rick Kriseman’s office officially responded. “Hate has no home here.”

Assaulted bar patron asserts, establishment disputes neglect Ryan Williams-Jent

T

5. Tampa couple’s ‘Captain Marvel’ proposal goes viral

Tampa’s John Chambrone and fiance Richard Owen went viral Oct. 12 after getting engaged during an ACE Comic Con photo op in Illinois with “Captain Marvel” actress Brie Larson. “Y’all I was present for a proposal and I am CHANGED,” she tweeted. “Much love to the happy couple!!!!”

Chambrone told Watermark the exposure was amazing. “I can’t believe how this is blowing up,” he said. “I just wanted to share my special moment with our favorite superhero and now the world is embracing us!”

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

AMPA | A patron of Bradley’s on 7th in Ybor who was assaulted in early December is asserting the LGBTQ establishment neglected to assist him during or after the altercation, a claim the bar’s owner disputes.

Video surveillance shows that Tampa resident Shawn Goodman was assaulted by two individuals outside of Bradley’s early Dec. 6, just before 12:30 a.m. According to Goodman, who first publicly shared details about the assault Dec. 12, he went to Bradley’s on the evening of Dec. 5.

“This is supposed to be a safe haven for the gay community,” he shared via social media under the alias Shawn Edwards. “Every gay friendly bar should be a safe haven for people who have struggled with hate [their] whole life … Unfortunately, that was not the case on the 5th, where I was jumped by multiple people in front of security of Bradley’s.”

His post asserts that the bar’s head of security ignored the

matter. It later adds “they left me on the ground in front of Bradley’s without any help.”

He also alleged that police were advised the bar’s cameras were inoperable. The post says he attempted to contact owner Bradley Nelson but received no response.

Nelson publicly responded via his establishment’s social media Dec. 16 after the bar was inundated with negative reviews.

He shared a recording of the assault, noting that Goodman had not attempted to contact him and advising his assertions were “filled with half-truths.”

“My purpose in writing this post is not [to] try and discredit the injury that Mr. [Goodman] sustained,” Nelson wrote. “Fight injuries are [a] big deal regardless of who is at fault. And no one deserves to be hurt. My purpose in writing this is to explain what happened from Bradley’s perspective, and maybe calm the mob mentality that has resulted from Mr. [Goodman’s] post.”

Nelson subsequently detailed the incident, which occurred on

public property. “Security who was working the front door [saw] the fight,” he shared, “but [were] not allowed to intervene. Security is strictly forbidden to deal with anything over the property line ...

The police secure public property.

“It has been this way since day one when Bradley’s opened, the night of this incident, and will continue to be this way,” he continued. “No business has any coverage on public property.”

The altercation began inside of the bar between two additional parties. Goodman says he attempted to assist one of them and alerted security, eventually resulting in their ejection. Once outside, Goodman was attacked.

“The fight lasts less than one minute,” Nelson posted. “The police arrive within 30 seconds of the fight ending … As anyone can see from the video, Mr. [Goodman] is never alone on the ground.”

Watermark confirmed with the Tampa Police Department that an investigation into the attack, which was not a hate crime, is underway.

Spokesperson Eddy Durkin says a detective “has been working closely with the staff and owner of Bradley’s in an effort to identify and apprehend the suspects from that night.”

“The people who attacked me definitely need to be charged,” Goodman says. He adds that “as a community, we should be better about watching each other … we can’t idly stand by.”

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

11

state news Watermark’s Top 5 most read

Fort Lauderdale to host Pride of the Americas

online headlines of 2019 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis excludes LGBTQ protections from executive order

Gov. Ron DeSantis failed to include LGBTQ protections in an executive order that reaffirmed other protections.

2. Bee Love killed in South Florida, 18th trans murder this year

Bee Love Slater was found burned to death in a vehicle in Clewiston, Fla. on Sept. 4.

Ryan Williams-Jent

F

3. Rep. Mike Hill caught on recording making homophobic remarks

Audio of State Rep. Mike Hill laughing about proposed homophobic legislation was made public May 31.

4. Bill threatening every LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinance in Florida moves forward

The Florida House debated HB 3, which threatened every LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinance and conversion therapy ban in Florida.

5. south florida housing project for elderly LGBTQ residents breaks ground

A South Florida nonprofit broke ground on a 48-unit apartment building in Wilton Manors, Fla. for LGBTQ seniors.

ort Lauderdale, Fla. | The Greater Fort Lauderdale area will host the inaugural Pride of the Americas on April 21-26, 2020.

Pride of the Americas will be presented by Pride Fort Lauderdale, the oldest Pride celebration in the state of Florida. The organization began in 1977.

Pride Fort Lauderdale attracted 40,000 people for its 40th anniversary on Fort Lauderdale Beach in 2017. Its 2019 venture welcomed nearly 100,000 attendees for the first beach-side parade in the city’s history. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will serve as Pride of the Americas’ presenting sponsor.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County is the perfect launch destination for Pride of the Americas 2020 as we are world-renowned for our open embrace of the LGBT+ community and to all visitors from

across the globe,” CEO and president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau Stacy Ritter said in a statement.

“We are excited for Pride of the Americas’ attendees to experience our cosmopolitan destination, as well as our beautiful melting pot of cultures.”

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to a thriving LGBT+ community, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming hundreds of thousands of LGBT+ visitors and allies to our destination where diversity shines brightly,” the bureau’s senior vice president of diversity and inclusion Richard Gray added.

Six days of events, which will bring together attendees from two continents and 53 nations, will begin with April 21 in downtown Fort Lauderdale with opening ceremonies. They will conclude April 26 with a beach festival and fireworks display.

Social events include an arts festival, beach party, 5K run and an

array of entertainment including sunset concerts, top DJs and drag brunches. Organizers also promise fashion shows featuring designs by Bravo’s “Project Runway” alumni modeled by diverse models at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is a community that celebrates diversity and inclusion in every way, each and every day, where Pride is our daily way of life,” Pride Fort Lauderdale President Miik Martorell’s statement reads. “Pride Fort Lauderdale and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau are committed to leveraging Pride of the Americas to strengthen the LGBT+ communities and the Pride movement in the Caribbean and Latin America.”

More than 350,000 visitors from Alaska to Argentina are expected to attend the inaugural Pride of the Americas. For more information and for a full schedule of events, visit PrideOfTheAmericas.org.

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

nation+world news

Congress agrees to boost in funds for Trump Administration’s HIV plan

I

n a positive move in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the spending package Congress unveiled this week more-or-less meets President Trump’s request for an additional $300 million for his plan on the domestic front, but also rejects his proposed cuts for research and global programs.

House and Senate appropriators announced a bipartisan agreement Dec. 17 to keep the government in operation for fiscal year 2020. The deal was reached days before a government shutdown would occur without additional funds and with limited time before Congress is set to adjourn for the holidays.

With respect to the additional $300 million Trump sought in February for his administration’s plan to beat HIV by 2030, Congress just about hit the request on the nose.

The funds would provide the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention with an additional $140 million to implement the plan as requested by the administration, as well as $70 million for the Ryan White Health Care Act and $50 million for the Health Resources & Services Administration.

Carl Schmid, deputy director of the AIDS Institute and co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, hailed the agreement to appropriate the plan as “very good news.”

The administration had also sought an additional $25 million as part of the HIV/AIDS plan for Indian Health Services. However, that money wasn’t included as part of the

viewpoint columnist

spending package, according to the AIDS Institute.

Schmid said that omission is “not a good start by the Congress for ramping up Hep C and HIV efforts in Indian country.”

Trump had requested the additional funds for HIV/AIDS programs as part of the initiative to beat HIV he announced at the State of the Union address this year. The plan, which fell on skeptical ears to those familiar with his anti-LGBTQ record, seeks to target specific places with high rates of new infections with prevention and treatment services, including free access to PrEP. Under the plan, which targets 48 counties in the United States, D.C. and San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as seven states where the epidemic is mostly in rural areas, the goal is to reduce new HIV diagnoses by 75% within five years, and by 90% within 10 years.

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1. Bullied gay teen recorded fighting back goes viral A video of LaPorte High School student Jordan Steffy fighting a bully who called him a “faggot” went viral.

2. D.C. restaurant agrees to second trans nondiscrimination settlement D.C.’s attorney general announced Jan. 16 he reached a settlement with Cuba Libre Rum that requires the restaurant to adopt policies to prevent discriminating against trans people.

3. Jussie Smollett attacked in Chicago

by MAGA supporters

Jussie Smollett, best known for playing Jamal Lyon in “Empire,” claimed to be attacked outside of a Chicago Subway Jan. 29 in an apparent hate crime.

4. Women’s soccer stars Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris get engaged Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris announced that they had been engaged since September in an interview with People on March 13.

5. The US House of Representatives has passed the Equality Act The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act by a vote of 236-173 on May 17.

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

10981861

Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade, Courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

Watermark’s Top 5 most read

online headlines of 2019

13

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

viewpoint

Michael Wanzie

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WANZIE

I

Wanzie wishes you an Eartha Kitt Christmas

f you were Voguing in

the early 90s you likely associate “Santa Baby,” the iconic song of Christmas greed, with Madonna’s 1987 version. Those a bit younger might be more familiar with versions by Kylie Minogue or Gwen Stefani.

No matter how enjoyable any of the enumerable covers may be, none holds a Christmas candle to the original 1953 debut so slowly and provocatively sung by that raspy-voiced enigma that was the late, great Eartha Kitt.

The outspoken Kitt made a name for herself as an activist and champion of the civil rights movement while simultaneously making her mark on Broadway, in nightclubs and on TV. Kitt openly welcomed and respected her considerable gay fan base, even performing a concert at the Parliament House.

Back in the 60s, Kitt replaced Julie Newmar as Catwoman on TV’s campy “Batman” during its final season. Much like their parents before them, kids were captivated by Kitt’s signature cat-like purr and that inimitable warble-throated voice.

It was at this point, the height of her fame, that Kitt would receive the invitation that would change her life.

In 1968, Kitt was invited to join other prominent woman at The White House for a ladies luncheon to discuss juvenile delinquency and its related crime. When word reached Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that Kitt intended to refuse the invitation as a means of protest, the great civil rights crusader contacted Kitt personally and asked her to please reconsider. Kitt reticently accepted the invitation.

On that fateful day, The White House sent a limousine to transport Kitt to the luncheon. Kitt felt guilty for riding in it as she viewed the limo as an unnecessary extravagance. She was further put off by the extravagance of the meal and elaborate floral centerpieces, all while so many of her people — especially in the Deep South — were living in squalor, many literally starving. Kitt was

also becoming livid over the vapid lady-like conversations taking place about everything but the topic that was meant to be the central theme of the whole affair.

When President Johnson made an unexpected appearance and stood next to his hostess wife, Lady Bird Johnson, the attendees fawned over him further incensing Kitt. Kitt waived her hand and asked why the Army seemed to be systemically deploying mostly black soldiers to the forefront of the fighting in the Vietnam War? The president excused himself without comment but Kitt laid into the First Lady. Lady Bird burst into tears and abruptly left the room. Kitt was collectively shunned by the other women.

After the luncheon, as limos pulled away with each of the guests, Kitt sat alone, the last person to be called. As she exited, she realized the uniformed men were gone and there, under the White House portico, was a D.C. taxi cab. She opened the door herself and stepped in.

Back at her hotel the singer found dozens of phone messages and telegrams informing her that, due to her flagrant disrespect shown to Lady Bird Johnson and her lack of support for our troops, her scheduled appearances had all been canceled. In one afternoon she had effectively been blacklisted. Unable to earn a living in the U.S. she moved to France to sing in nightclubs.

I loved Kitt long before I read about this incident but became an absolutely devoted fan once I learned of her comments. To me, she was a national hero. So you can imagine my delight when Epcot booked my beloved Kitt to narrate The Candlelight Processional. My friend Sam Singhaus went with me to see her. It was a bit surreal hearing Catwoman snarl, growl and warble her way through the story of the Nativity. Her appearance was not long after 9/11 unleashed its own brand of senseless acts of violence and discrimination against

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

anyone who appeared to be Middle Eastern.

At the end of the processional, this beautiful soul looked out over the sea of people and said (and I’m quoting this from memory so it is not exact): “Tonight I recounted the story of the birth of Christ, but you don’t have to be a Christian to benefit from this story and its

applause. We were stunned to see that only a fraction of the 1,800 seated stood with us.

We were surrounded by angry, stern-faced Christians who remained seated, defiantly withholding their applause.

As we exited there was a cacophony of voices loudly criticizing Kitt and sating their intention to register their disgust with Disney over her

Of all the “Santa Baby” recordings, I love Kitt’s version best and her appearance at Epcot’s processional is thus far my favorite I have watched. Sadly there’s another connection between Kitt and Christmas; after suffering the effects of colon cancer, the disease claimed her life on Dec. 25, 2008.

Kitt entertained three

goal of peace on earth, good will toward men. Today, more than ever, it doesn’t matter what religion you practice.

You don’t have to believe that Christ is your God in order to do good and be good to one another.”

Tears ran down my face as Sam and I leapt to our feet in

egregious remarks. It was unsettling to feel the palpable hostility in the air over what we thought was a meaningful and beautiful message. That night and incident will always remain one of my favorite, albeit most disturbing, Christmas memories thanks to Kitt.

generations of fans to great delight and she spoke her mind at both the White House and at Epcot. My hope this Christmas is that we all take to heart the words she spoke more than a decade ago and that we all pull together in the spirit of “peace on Earth, good will toward men.”

I loved [Eartha] Kitt long before I read about [The White House] incident but became an absolutely devoted fan once I learned of her comments. To me, she was a national hero.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

20 Min Results Walk-Ins Welcome

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

viewpoint

Jason Leclerc

The other side

of life American Boxing Day

C

hristmas, in 2019

America, is as much a secular holiday as it is a religious one. It caps the annual era of good feelings that starts with Thanksgiving and lasts until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 25.

We’ve often taken the interstice between Christmas and New Years as a celebratory dead zone, a time to recover and prepare for the seeing-out of the old year.

History has proven that Dec. 26 has been a date with ups and downs, ranging from the revolutionary to the mundane. It was the day after Christmas 1776 when Washington crossed the Delaware to deliver a punchy Revolutionary War victory over the British. There’s also the day after Christmas in Year Zero, when hungry shepherds loitered around a crowded stable, a young mother picked hay-straw out of a child-king’s swaddling and Jesus’ stepfather huffed frankincense while imploring an innkeeper to let them stay another day in the manger.

Some cultures around the world, including our Canadian friends to the north and our greatest allies across the pond, celebrate Dec. 26 with vigor. Most United Kingdom countries refer to it as “Boxing Day.” This celebration started as a time for the gentry to provide servants and workers with gifts and gratuities in “boxes” as rewards for their hard work on Christmas Day. Boxing Day has since, in many of these countries, evolved into a legal day off for engagement in conspicuous consumerism.

Other nations have designated a single day to celebrate what we, as Americans, have ingrained into our everyday activities for that period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every holiday, really – from Memorial Day to Easter to Independence Day to Thanksgiving to Christmas – is an opportunity for Americans to take a day off and conspicuously consume. Every day in America, holiday or not, is an opportunity to give gratuities and display generosity.

So, we, the wealthiest and most generous people in the world, don’t need a Boxing Day like our friends in other countries may.

But perhaps this year we should consider our own Boxing Day, with a uniquely American twist that nods to our special institutions and our fanatical approach to civics. In 2019, we can have an unofficial “American Boxing Day.” It can mark the end of the good feelings with which the Christmas spirit coats the land. Glitter, bows and twinkling lights will give way on this American Boxing Day to something more pugilistic.

Dec. 26, 2019 is the day when the gloves will come off in the 2020 national political contest. The Democrats have been – except for some whispered homophobic and ageist insinuations coming from the fringes – respectful and mostly reserved in their broad-fielded primary campaigning. They’ve been more consumed with their eventual general election foe (who, by the way, is a full-time, year-round bare-knuckler) than with each other. That is about to change.

Expect the boxing to commence.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas this year – the theater of impeachment, notwithstanding – the American people have seen fit to be on their better behavior.

Yes, this has been Americans at our best-possible given the polarizing forces that are constantly ringing bells around us. But on this American Boxing Day in 2019, expect the free-for-all to commence. The fringes will come swinging for the centrists who know deep down that floating like butterflies must be matched with bee-like stinging.

Get ready to duck, Mayor Pete, and to hear, “You aren’t gay enough.” Set your feet and swing back with reasonable policy and steady, sustainable jabs. Get ready to weave, Mike Bloomberg, and to hear, “You’re too rich.” Swing back with a proven record

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

of executive leadership, entrepreneurial genius, and active philanthropy. Get ready to counter, Joe Biden, and to hear, “You’re too old and white.” Swing back with a long career of public service and alignment with good ol’ Barry O. More rough-and-tumble will be the radical progressives swinging at each other as they fight for the same insular set of ultra-vocal voters who will

exhibited fly out of the ring.

There will be blows below the belt and sucker punches. We will see a rumble – rowdy fans throwing chairs and fighting amongst themselves in the stands – unlike anything we’ve seen since the Jacksonian Era. This American Boxing Day 2019 will be less a celebration of American generosity and neighborliness than it will signal the first round of a big, nasty fight: brothers

against each other. Fists will fly without account and the nation will endure eleven months of bruising, scraping, jaw-crackling fighting. Don’t count on another Electoral College TKO; the winners of Election 2020 will need to deliver a legitimate, Battle-of-Trenton-like knockout: quell this discord, baby-Jesus-like, and end the fighting.

But for now, let’s get ready

prove to be much smaller, more intransigent and less given-to-compromise than pollsters have let on. Watch the punches fly wildly and without a view to the fifth and sixth rounds.

On this American Boxing Day 2019, we will see what little bit of restraint the current president has

against brothers, neighbors against neighbors, Americans against Americans. Be ready for the media-elites to hype and instigate from their microphones dangling at the center of the squared circle.

The traditional Republican and Democrat Parties will fight amongst themselves while also trying to fight

to rumble! Happy American Boxing Day.

December 26, 2019 is the day when the gloves will come off in the 2020 national political contest.

Jason Leclerc is chief economist and partner at Crescent Consulting, a technology consulting firm. He has published two short story collections, “Momentitiousness” and “Black Kettle,” shares poetry at PoetEconomist. blogspot.com and contributes to the Orlando Sentinel and Tampa Bay Times.

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

talking points It did bother me that he dreams about me. I don’t know exactly what goes on in this president’s dreams, but I’m certain I want nothing to do with them.

Law enforcement

agencies reported

7,120

U.S. hate crimes in 2018.

Incidents targeting gays, lesbians and bisexuals

increased

–Mayor Pete Buttigieg responding to Donald Trump’s admission that he’d dreamed about the 2020 hopeful

Hallmark Channel pulls, reinstates ad featuring same-sex kiss

T

he Hallmark Channel, the cable network owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc., announced Dec. 15 that it would reverse its decision to pull ads featuring a same-sex kiss. The commercials were among a series of six ads for Zola, one of which focused on lesbian brides who were shown kissing. After anti-LGBTQ activists lobbied Hallmark to drop the commercials, the network deemed their content “controversial” and did so.

LGBTQ advocates quickly responded, prompting calls for a boycott and for the network to reinstate the ads. Hallmark Cards President Mike Perry subsequently apologized, calling their removal the wrong decision. “Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives,” he shared. “Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are. We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”

by nearly 6% and

incidents targeting

transgender individuals increased by 41%.

–The FBI’s latest Hate Crime Statistics Report, released Nov. 2019

TIME honors U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

T

he U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, co-captained by out athlete Megan Rapinoe, was named “Athlete of the Year” by TIME. The magazine’s annual “Person of the Year” issue honors those “who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill.” The team’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory brought worldwide attention to Rapinoe, who publicly sparred with Donald Trump and drew ire from some conservatives. “People always wonder, ‘How the hell do these women act the way they do?’”

Rapinoe told TIME. “That’s the world we live in. There’s so much joy in realizing that the president of the United States can come at us, and we’re like, pfffffff … There’s joy in realizing your power.”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Golden Globes recognize LGBTQ content

T

he Hollywood Foreign Press has nominated a number of LGBTQ-inclusive films, actors and content for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards. Several openly LGBTQ performers were nominated, including Billy Porter for Best Performance on “Pose.” In the same category, Ben Platt was nominated for his role on Netflix’s “The Politician,” and the show was also nominated for series. The Elton John-inspired “Rocketman” received a nod for Best Motion Picture, and John was nominated for Best Original Song for “I’m Gonna Love Me Again.” The nominations served as “a reminder for how audiences and critics alike support and applaud authentic LGBTQ storytelling,” GLAAD shared. NBC will air the ceremony live on Jan. 5, 2020.

‘They’ declared 2019 word of the year

M

erriam-Webster has declared the personal pronoun “they” as the dictionary’s word of the year, based on a 313% increase in look-ups on Merriam-Webster.com in 2019. “I have to say it’s surprising to me,” shared Peter Sokolowski, a lexicographer and Merriam-Webster editor at large. “It’s a word we all know and love. So many people were talking about this word.”

Sokolowski and his team monitor search spikes and said “they” got an early start last January with the rise of nonbinary model Oslo Grace on top fashion runways. It also surged after pop star Sam Smith listed their preferred pronouns as they/them.

Nick Adams, director of transgender representation for GLAAD, said the choice is a positive step in acknowledging nonbinary people.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

19

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

Jeremy Williams and Ryan Williams-Jent

S

hould auld

acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Of course not! That’s why after a historical 365 days, Watermark has assembled our annual year in review.

2019 was a landmark year for us here at Watermark.

In August, we proudly celebrated 25 years of serving Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s ever-expanding LGBTQ communities.

“Watermark is your LGBTQ life, wherever you fall on the spectrum,” owner, publisher and editor Rick Claggett shared at the time. “Watermark is the voice of the LGBTQ community and that is vital. This makes Watermark more important than any one person – it’s a collective, it’s all of you.”

We think you’ll see that here. We’ve compiled a community calendar that looks back on some of the biggest moments of the year – recapping the headlines in Central Florida, Tampa Bay and across the state, nation and world that prove 2019 was a year for the LGBTQ record books.

So bid your LGBTQ year goodbye one final time and from all of us here at Watermark, Happy New Year!

Continued on pg. 23

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

January

▶ In the pages of Watermark, we start off 2019 on a healthy note. We look at the local LGBTQ community and the road to addiction recovery , as well as gather some LGBTQ-specific healthcare questions you should be discussing with your provider. ▶ In Tampa Bay, Metro announces its state-of-the art health and community center in St. Petersburg will be having its grand re-opening. They also unveil their new company name, Metro Inclusive Health.

▶ In Orlando, entertainer Blue Star announces that after six years in the Ivanhoe Village, her theater space, The Venue, would be closing in September. Speaking of The Venue, it plays host to Come Out With Pride as they release the news that they intend to bid for WorldPride in 2026. ▶ On the state level, it was good news/bad news to start

February

the year as newly sworn in Gov. Ron DeSantis issues an executive order to reaffirm the state’s commitment to diversity, but fails to mention anything about sexual orientation or gender identity. New Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, however, takes the start of her term in office to add sexual orientation and gender identity to her department’s list of workplace protections. ▶ Nationally, the news looks pretty grim as the Supreme Court lets the Trump administration’s transgender military ban go into effect, Grindr shutters its digital publication and Vice President Mike Pence applauds mother’s new job as a teacher at an anti-LGBTQ school (in case you were wondering, the VP refers to his wife, Karen Pence, as mother).

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

▶ Florida lawmakers introduce two differing LGBTQ Equality Bills which divide statewide activists. State Rep. Jennifer Webb and state Sen. Darryl Rouson introduce the Florida Competitive Workforce Act (FCWA) which was backed

by Equality Florida, state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and others. Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters introduces the Florida Inclusive Workforce Act (FIWA), which is backed by Miami-based LGBTQ group SAVE, the Palm Beach HRC, TransLatina and others. Shortly after both bills are introduced, Watermark devotes an in-depth look at each bill in our second February issue. ▶ Along with Watermark’s in-depth look at the Florida Equality bills, we feature 10 eligible singles in Central Florida and Tampa Bay for our annual Valentine’s Day Singles issue.

▶ Tampa sees a setback in its citywide conversion therapy ban when a federal magistrate recommends Tampa be barred from enforcing parts of its ban.

The magistrate judge’s report will be sent to a federal judge to issue a ruling on the ban.

▶ In Orlando, Pulse survivor Brandon Wolf accepts a position at Equality Florida as the Central Florida development officer and the organization’s statewide media relations manager.

▶ In Chicago, the openly gay star of “Empire,” Jussie Smollett, reports that he was attacked by two masked men who yelled racial and anti-gay slurs at him. Smollett claims the men wrapped a rope around his neck and poured a chemical on him.

Through the month, Chicago police will eventually turn to Smollett who they say faked the attack as a way to advance his name and career.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

23

March

▶ Watermark celebrates its local LGBTQ favorites on the covers of our annual WAVES issue. We also showcase Tampa’s soon-to-be first openly gay mayor, Jane Castor. ▶ In Orlando, One Magical Weekend owners Billy Looper and Tom Christ announce the creation of the KindRED Pride Foundation, a nonprofit formed to help other LGBTQ nonprofits and to help keep the spirit of the first weekend of June in Central Florida alive as Red Shirt Pride Days.

▶ Parliament House entertainer Jazell Barbie Royale is crowned Miss International Queen in Thailand. She is only the second U.S. contestant and the first black trans woman to win the pageant. ▶ In Tampa Bay, the atmosphere is less celebratory as Hamburger Mary’s owner Kurt King announces he will

24

April

also be closing the Mary’s in Brandon and St. Petersburg, after shutting down his Ybor City Mary’s. King says it is due to the Florida Department of Health’s “slanderous assault on Mary’s good name” after a reported positive case of hepatitis A at the Ybor location. ▶ The Florida House State Affairs Committee debate on a bill that would strip all local nondiscrimination ordinances and conversion therapy bans across Florida. After making its way through Legislative committees, the bill dies before making it to the full House or Senate.

▶ In Washington, with the House now under Democratic control, the Equality Act returns with overwhelming support.

It will go on to pass in the House but that’s as far as it goes as the U.S. Senate is still Republican country.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

▶ April brings about our first in a series of in-depth stories looking at those who are LGBTQ experiencing discrimination within their very own community. This issue looks at the racial divide within the LGBTQ community. Watermark also says all bodies are beach ready as we feature models with a variety of body types sporting fun swimwear. ▶ Orlando becomes the first city in the state to recognize LGBTQ-certified businesses as Mayor Buddy Dyer signs the LGBTQ+ Business Inclusion Resolution which will allow the city to develop a database and registry of LGBTQ-certified businesses. The legendary Ms. Darcel Stevens, Parliament House’s drag sensation and entertainment director, is crowned Miss Continental Plus 2019.

▶ In Tampa, Watermark chats with Lorenzo Gilbert, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first openly gay, male cheerleader.

Speaking of firsts, Tampa elects their former police chief , Jane Castor, as mayor and makes her the city’s first openly LGBTQ person to hold the office. ▶ Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried continues to make us proud up in Tallahassee as she appoints the department’s first ever LGBTQ Liaison. The position is held by Nik Harris.

▶ The LGBTQ community sees more firsts as openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg declares his candidacy for President of the Untied States. Even as there is much to celebrate, April brings with it a few showers as the Trump administration’s trans military ban officially goes into effect.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

May

▶ As we approach the summer months, Watermark shares stories from members of the community who express how they are able to live as their authentic selves while maintaining a religious relationship with church. We also take an in-depth look into what June’s Red Shirt Pride Days is all about from members of the KindRED Pride Foundation’s board.

▶ The month kicks off in Tampa Bay with Mayor Jane Castor being sworn in, as well as the Gulfport Public Library being recognized with the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

▶ The LGBT+ Center honors local heroes with the 2019 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast.

The organization recognizes newscaster Jorge Estevez, super ally Lynn Dictor, Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb,

June

the business team at Addition Financial and Watermark’s very own owner/publisher/editor Rick Claggett.

▶ In Tallahassee, Florida’s 2019 Legislative session ends and, once again, the FCWA is not passed. This is the 10th year it has been introduced and the 10th year it has not been voted on.

▶ Nationally, the House of Representatives passes the Equality Act. While it is a big win for the LGBTQ community, it is mostly for show as the Republican-led Senate will not even take it up in committee. ▶ On the other side of the world, Taiwan becomes the first country in Asia to allow marriage equality after lawmakers approve a bill that would extend the rights to same-sex couples.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

▶ Watermark starts off the busiest month of the queer year — LGBTQ Pride Month — with Red Shirt Pride Days in Orlando. Australian pop duo The Veronicas grace our cover as they play to a packed house for Girls In Wonderland.

Watermark’s other June cover features musical sensation Lisa Loeb, who takes the stage during St Pete Pride. Scheduled performer Rita Ora cancels.

▶ In Central Florida, Environmental activist Eric Rollings leads a team of LGBTQ activists which helps get single-use straws, plastic bags and foam containers banned at all City of Orlando properties.

MBA Orlando also announces a name change as the business group will now be known as The Pride Chamber. Orlando also remembers the three-year mark of the Pulse tragedy.

▶ Tampa Bay gets into the business of LGBTQ certification as St. Petersburg recognizes LGBTQ-certified businesses. In New Port Richey, Pasco Pride adopts a one-mile stretch of Moon Lake Road, a section formerly claimed by the Ku Klux Klan.

▶ State Rep. Mike Hill apologizes to the LGBTQ community after an audio recording is released of a public meeting in which Hill can be heard laughing after one of his constituents suggests Hill file legislation requiring LGBTQ people be put to death.

▶ The end of June brings on a global celebration as the LGBTQ community remembers the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots. New York City is filled with millions as #Stonewall50 trends on social media and the Big Apple welcomes the year’s biggest party, WorldPride.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

July

▶ As drag entertainers enchant readers young and old with Drag Queen Story Hours across the nation, Watermark begins July with some light reading. We chat with Story Hour sensations from across Central Florida and Tampa Bay about the pride and prejudice surrounding their family-friendly gatherings.

▶ In Central Florida, Embrace Families – an organization that manages the foster care and adoption system for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties – bolsters its efforts to reach same-sex couples. LGBTQ activist Joel Strack, a pioneer in Central Florida’s fight for equality, passes away at 59. ▶ Another era ends in Tampa Bay as the Flamingo Resort announces its imminent closure after serving the area’s LGBTQ community for more than 10 years. The Florida

August

LGBTA Democratic Caucus, which has 19 statewide chapters and will rebrand later in the year, holds it summer conference in Tampa.

▶ In South Florida, the LGBTQ advocacy organization SAVE terminates its executive director after four men charged with hate crimes in an anti-LGBTQ attack attended the group’s annual gala.

Advocates also raise awareness about LGBTQ-related sexual assault and domestic violence. ▶ Just days after celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, the state of LGBTQ equality is called into question across the nation. The U.S. Supreme Court announces it will hear arguments on whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to cases of anti-LGBTQ discrimination on Oct. 8, setting up a civil rights showdown.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

▶ Watermark proudly celebrates 25 years of serving Central Florida and Tampa Bay in August, reflecting on a quarter century of our community’s collective tragedies and triumphs. We review the heartbreaks, heroism and headlines that have filled our pages since 1994. ▶ Traditionally held in June, Orlando’s GayDayS holds its first and possibly only August outing.

Organizers announce a return to form in 2020. Activists also call for Orange County to ban conversion therapy.

▶ The Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce welcomes the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to Tampa for the 2019 International Business & Leadership Conference mid-August, the largest gathering of LGBT business leaders and allies in the world. Mayor Jane Castor

announces an executive order directing the city to recognize LGBT-certified businesses in contracting opportunities.

▶ Florida Rep. Shevrin Jones, who will become Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ state senator in 2020 if elected, receives an early endorsement from Equality Florida. State officials also declare a public health emergency over the rising number of hepatitis A cases in Florida.

▶ In a reversal from 2016, the National Log Cabin Republicans endorse Donald Trump for reelection in 2020. The group asserts the president “met his commitments” to members of the LGBTQ community in the same week his administration proposes a rule to allow federal contractors to fire and refuse to hire LGBTQ employees for religious objections.

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September

▶ Watermark turns to the future in September with our inaugural list of Tomorrow’s Leaders Today. We showcase 10 LGBTQ youth under 30 who are making a difference in their communities throughout Central Florida and Tampa Bay. We also preview the 30th annual Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. ▶ Equality Florida Action PAC endorses Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s reelection efforts, calling him “a champion for our LGBTQ community.” The expanding Hope & Help Center of Central Florida also announces it will move to a new location. ▶ Bipartisan Tampa Bay lawmakers lead the fight for statewide LGBTQ protections, vowing to pass the FCWA with widespread bipartisan support next year.

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October

▶ Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida elects Dr. Boyd Lindsley to chair its board of directors. The 23-member board consists of a 22-county region across the state and he becomes the first openly gay man to serve in the role. South Florida’s Bee Love Slater, a transgender woman of color, becomes the 18th transgender person killed in the U.S. this year. According to an investigative report, it’s also revealed that Sen. Rick Scott rejected $70 million in federal funds to address HIV in Florida while governor.

▶ In mid-September, a same-sex married couple from Maryland files a federal lawsuit against the State Dept. over its refusal to recognize their daughter’s U.S. citizenship. Their daughter was born via surrogate in Canada in February.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

▶ For LGBTQ History Month, Mayor Pete Buttigieg covers Watermark in an exclusive interview with the National LGBT Media Association, the coalition of LGBTQ print and web publications spanning coast-to-coast of which we are a part. He talks his historic bid for president and more.

▶ In Orlando, Come Out With Pride makes history in its 15th year. The celebration is the most eco-friendly event in the City Beautiful’s history. Two Spirit Health Services rebrands as 26 Health and Central Florida mourns the loss of “Grand Ole Gal of the South” Carmella Marcella Garcia. ▶ Tampa sustains another type of loss as a federal judge strikes down the city’s conversion therapy ban. Former Hamburger Mary’s owner Kurt King announces that he is suing the Florida Dept. of Health

in Hillsborough County for discrimination after the closure of his Brandon, St. Petersburg and Tampa restaurants. ▶ The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, formerly the LGBTA Democratic Caucus, deliberately unveils its new name on National Coming Out Day. In D.C., the Supreme Court weighs whether civil rights law protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment, with a decision expected by early summer 2020. Colombian Sen. Claudia Lopez becomes the first lesbian and woman elected mayor of her country’s capital city.

▶ With a potential conversion therapy ban on the horizon in Central Florida and after the legal loss in Tampa, Watermark closes LGBTQ History Month by talking to survivors of the discredited practice. They bravely share their stories.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

November

▶ After attending the inaugural National Transgender Visibility March in D.C., a young transgender woman shares her journey to activism with readers. Watermark also examines U=U, or Undetectable = Untransmittable, ahead of World AIDS Day 2019. ▶ In Orlando, details emerge about the winning design team for the Pulse Memorial & Museum, expected to be completed in 2022. The winning design will feature a fountain, shallow reflecting pool and a garden filled with 49 trees.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is overwhelmingly re-elected. ▶ The city of Tampa appeals the ruling striking down its conversion therapy ban, vowing to fight for LGBTQ youth. Its dedication to equality is also evident when the Human Rights Campaign unveils that the city – along with St. Petersburg

December

and Orlando – received perfect scores of 100 in the organization’s annual Municipal Equality Index.

▶ While more than 20 cities, counties and municipalities throughout Florida have enacted bans on conversion therapy, lawmakers move to ban it on the state level. The 16th annual SMART Ride also raises a record $1.3 million for HIV/AIDS services throughout Florida.

▶ As a rainbow wave sweeps the U.S., with 81 openly LGBTQ candidates winning political races across the country, the Trans Murder Monitoring research project reports grimmer worldwide news. Ahead of International Transgender Day of Remembrance 2019, they note 331 murders of transgender and gender-diverse individuals occurred from Oct. 1, 2018 – Sept. 2019.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

▶ Watermark closes out 2019 by presenting 19 community advocates and allies who made the year such a remarkable one. We release our annual list of Most Remarkable People, showcasing individuals who made a difference in Central Florida and Tampa Bay throughout the year.

▶ The Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival looks to make a difference in 2020 as the Orlando gathering announces its formation of a new LGBTQ+ committee. The onePULSE Foundation receives a $1 million donation from AdventHealth to fund a healthcare-focused scholarship and assist in the forthcoming museum’s educational curriculum.

▶ The NFL looks to 2021 in Tampa, where planning for Super Bowl LV is underway. The organization announces it’s seeking LGBT-owned businesses

for contracting opportunities ahead of their Tampa Bay touchdown. Pasco Pride looks to the future in another way, with more than 100 community advocates attending a Pasco County School Board meeting in support of LGBTQ youth.

▶ Eyes turn to a federal court in Georgia as a judge weighs the restroom use by a transgender Florida student. The ruling could push the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.

▶ As Canadian Prime Minister and LGBTQ ally Justin Trudeau calls for a ban on conversion therapy across his country, the U.S. settles in for another election year. Donald Trump becomes the third president in U.S. history to be impeached in late December and 2020 Democratic hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg asserts that the U.S. is ready for a gay president.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

A

2019 26 Pops for

rthur - The PBS children’s show features a same-sex wedding when Arthur’s teacher, Mr. Ratburn, marries an aardvark named Patrick. Interestingly, some conservative groups boycott the show because of the same-sex couple and not because it is an interspecies marriage.

B

illy - A pair of openly gay Billys rule the screens — both big and small —as Billy Porter wins an Emmy for his role in “Pose” and Billy Eichner, as the voice of Timon, is the best part in the billion-dollar remake of “The Lion King.”

C

hella Man - Deaf, genderqueer actor and model Chella Man enters the DC Universe as superhero Jericho in the critically-acclaimed series “Titans.”

D

ouble Dare Nickelodeon doesn’t shy away from same-sex couples (we’re looking at you Hallmark Channel) on its network as it features a family with two dads on its hit game show “Double Dare” for the first time.

E F

mojis - The world of emojis got more accepting as couple emojis are introduced featuring a variety of gender identities and skin tones.

arrow, Ronan - The investigative journalist who helped bring down Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer releases his behind the reporting bestseller “Catch and Kill.” Farrow uses the book to also propose to his longtime boyfriend, aww.

A look back at some record-breaking moments in LGBTQ entertainment

I

assault, “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway steps in as Singer’s replacement to write and direct the remake to the 1985 film “Red Sonja.”

K

risten Stewart - Stewart stars in the “Charlie Angels” reboot. While the film itself is panned by critics and ignored by audiences, Stewart is called one of the film’s brightest spots. The “Twilight” star also made headlines with a Harper’s Bazaar interview where she claims she was urged to stop being affectionate with her girlfriend in public if she ever hopes to make it into a Marvel film.

G H

M

aus Laboratories Lady Gaga wants all her Little Monsters to beat their face to the gawds as she launches her new makeup line exclusively on Amazon.

I

nheritance, The - “The Inheritance,” an epic drama about gay lives in New York, is the big winner at British theater’s Olivier Awards, receiving four trophies including Best Play.

J

ill Soloway - As director Brian Singer goes down in flames dealing with allegations of rape and sexual

t was a history-making year in film, TV, music,

sports, even cartoons and toylines, for the LGBTQ community in 2019. We look back on a few of those amazing moments in our annual LGBTQ Pop Culture ABCs.

L

otham City - Batman and Robin take a back seat to the Gotham City crime fighter Batwoman (played

by Ruby Rose) as she flies on The CW with the premiere of her own show.

Jeremy Williams

ana Wachowski - The trans filmmaker gets the internet buzzing when she announces a sequel to her original “Matrix” trilogy. She also makes headlines by adding to cast out actors Neil Patrick Harris and Jonathan Groff.

attel - The toy company behind some of the most popular toy lines in the world including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, launch a new series of gender-neutral dolls called Creatable World. The inclusive toyline is labeled “a doll line designed to keep labels out and invite everyone in.”

N

etflix - The No. 1 streaming service was THE place for LGBTQ content in 2019. Along with LGBTQ shows like “Special,” “The Politician” and “Tales of the City,”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

it also announced huge deals with Ryan Murphy, Janet Mock and Sean Hayes. We also got the trailer to RuPaul’s new Netflix show as well as Oscar-winning film “Moonlight.” Plenty of LGBTQ content for Netflix and Chilling.

soccer team to victory at the women’s World Cup, but Rapinoe became one of the new faces of Nike, scored a book deal and was named Sportsperson of the Year

by Sports Illustrated.

O

S

P

T

scars - The Oscars go hostless in 2019 after Kevin Hart steps down due to homophobic and transphobic tweets. The ceremony is the first to go forward without a host in nearly 30 years. The show gets mostly positive reviews and features one of TV’s most talked about moments — Lady Gaga and Brad Cooper performing “Shallow” from their movie “A Star is Born.”

ortrait of a Lady on Fire” - The highly-praised French lesbian love story wins the Queer Palm prize at the Cannes Film Festival. To celebrate, the film’s distributor announces that the small, indie period romance would be getting a wide release over Valentine’s Day 2020. Ooh la la!

Q

uinlivan, Teddy - The American supermodel became the face of Chanel in 2019 making Quinlivan the first openly transgender model to work for the luxury French brand.

Again, we say ooh la la!

R

apinoe, Megan - With her arms stretched out, as if to say “ta da,” Rapinoe, in her signature pose and on the field, is magic to watch. She not only helps to lead the women’s

am Smith - Smith spent the whole of 2019 finding themselves and let the whole world come along for the journey. In March, Smith came out as nonbinary and six months later declared they would be using the pronouns of “they/ them.” In part, thanks to the spotlight Smith placed on the identifier, Merriam-Webster added the pronoun “they” to the dictionary and declared it the Word of the Year.

aylor Swift - The global superstar, who had up until now been mostly quiet on the political front, kicks down her own closet door and declares herself a super ally with the music video for her LGBTQ anthem “You Need To Calm Down.”

In the video — which features a lot of queer entertainers — Swift calls on the Senate to pass the Equality Act and encourages her fans to sign a petition on Change.org.

U

niverse, Steven - The popular Cartoon Network show introduces a transgender storyline in its season five finale as the titular character struggles to be accepted by his family as he deals with issues of gender identity. This isn’t the first time “Steven Universe” has taken on LGBTQ

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

storylines. The show was praised by advocacy groups in 2018 when it featured a same-sex marriage between its characters Ruby and Sapphire.

V

an Ness, Jonathan The “Queer Eye” grooming expert has an open-book year as he releases his memoir “Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love” where he reveals that he is HIV-positive. Earlier in the year, Van Ness also declares that he identifies as nonbinary. The hair guru takes his book, stories and life lessons on the road for a world tour.

W

aithe, Lena - The out and proud, Emmy-winning writer/producer/actor made the entertainment industry stand up and take notice with two high profile projects. First writing the screenplay for the critically-acclaimed film “Queen & Slim,” then following that up with the trailer for her much anticipated project “Twenties,” BET’s first original series to center on an LGBTQ character.

X

, Lil Nas - The rapper and his song “Old Town Road” take the radio by storm in 2019. The remix of the part country-part rap song featuring Billy Ray Cyrus tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 19 weeks.

In June, X comes out as gay on Twitter and, in doing so, becomes the first artist to do so while having a No. 1 hit song. The year will also see X become the first openly gay performer to win a CMA Award.

Y

ang, Bowen - The Chinese-American comic joins the cast of SNL in its 45th season and in doing so became the show’s first cast member of Chinese decent, as well as only the third openly LGBTQ and the fourth Asian American member. Yang was a writer for the show the year prior and was responsible for the popular “GP Yass” sketch.

Z

endaya - Former Disney Channel starlet shows the world she’s all grown up starring in HBO’s “Euphoria,” a series about a group of high school students experiencing sex, addiction, relationships and trauma. Zendaya earns rave reviews as does the show’s handling of real-life subject matter including LGBTQ relationships.

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

community calendar

event planner arts+entertainment

Central Florida

Central Florida

Roaring 20’s New Year Gala

A Drag Queen Christmas, Dec. 27, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 407-770-0071; PlazaLiveOrlando.com Pints for Pride Night, Dec. 27, Castle Church Brewing, Orlando. 407-635-9410; CastleChurchBrewing.com Kelly Richards Paino Bar Sing-A-Long, Dec. 27, Jan. 3 & 10, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com Jim Gaffigan, Dec. 27, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org “Swan Lake,” Dec. 27, King Center, Melbourne.

321-242-2219; KingCenter.com 50 Shades of Lacie, Dec. 28, Stonewall Bar, Orlando. 407-373-0888; StonewallOrlando.com NYE Dinner in the Rainbow Cafe, Dec. 31, Parliament House’s Rainbow Cafe, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com Singin’ at the Savoy - NYE Edition, Dec. 31, Savoy, Orlando. 407-898-6766; SavoyOrlando.com “The Great Gatsby” NYE Party, Dec. 31, Enzian Theater, Maitland.

407-629-0054; Enzian.org Ginger & Gidget “Bond-Style” NYE Show, Dec. 31, Hamburger Mary’s, Orlando. 321-319-0600; HamburgerMarys.com/Orlando A “Wicked” NYE w/ The Queens of Broadway, Dec. 31, Mount Dora Plaza Live, Mount Dora. 352-234-3755; MountDoraPlazaLive.com NYE’s $25 All You Can Drink, Dec. 31, Southern Nights, Orlando.

407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando New Year’s Eve w/ Yvie Oddly and Brooke Lynn Hytes, Dec. 31, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

LGBT+ Center, Orlando Ring in 2020 by going back to the roaring 1920s with the LGBT+ Center in Orlando as they, in partnership with PrePare a Program of Aspire Health Partners and Peer Support Space, host its first-ever alcoholfree NYE Gala. The celebration will feature live music, drag performances, mocktails, food and a ball drop countdown. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit TheCenterOrlando.org.

Disney Magic

Orlando Fringe Winter Mini-Fest Thursday, Jan. 9, 3 p.m.-Sunday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m.

Lowndes Shakespeare Center, Orlando

Disney’s “Aladdin” heads to the Straz Center in Tampa Dec. 19-Jan. 5. The hit Broadway musical will make its way to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Jan. 22-Feb. 9.

Wonderland 2020, Dec. 31, Savoy, Orlando. 407-898-6766; SavoyOrlando.com GenderQueer Community Group, Jan. 6, LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org Dean Napolitano, Jan. 10, Clermont Performing Arts Center, Clermont. 352-394-4800; ClermontPerformingArts.com

Tampa Bay “Aladdin,” Dec. 19-Jan. 5, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org Victoria Works Central, Dec. 21, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Christie Lenee, Dec. 27, Hideaway Cafe, St. Petersburg.

HideawayCafe.biz The Final Shade Showcase, Dec. 27, City Side Lounge, Tampa. 813-350-0600; CitySideLoungeTampa.com

Fuego/Pumped Friday, Dec. 27, Southern Nights, Tampa.

813-559-8625; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsTampa

Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. 813-350-6500; RaymondJamesStadium.com

Iberian Rooster Drag Brunch, Dec. 28 & Jan. 4, Iberian Rooster, St. Petersburg. 727-258-8753; IberianRooster.com

Abbafab, Jan. 3, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Dog Bar New Years Pawty, Dec. 28, Dog Bar St. Pete, St. Petersburg. 727-317-4968; DogBarStPete.com Jim Gaffigan, Dec. 31, Yuengling Center, Tampa. 813-974-3111; YuenglingCenter.com NYE’s Roaring 20s $15 All You Can Drink, Dec. 31, Southern Nights, Tampa.

813-559-8625; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsTampa NYE Silent Party, Dec. 31, Old Key West Bar & Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-623-0969; OldKeyWestBarAndGrill.com HaNgOvEr BrUnCh, Jan. 1, Pom Pom’s, St. Petersburg. 727-873-6992; PomPomsStPete.com

“Jurassic World” Live Tour, Jan. 4-5, Amalie Arena, Tampa.

813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com Tampa Pride Community Update Meeting, Jan. 7, Tampa Pride, Tampa. TampaPride.org

Sarasota NYE Pineapple Drop 2020, Dec. 31, Downtown, Sarasota. 727-542-3000; VisitDowntownSarasota.com NYE Four Course Dinner, Dec. 31, Sage SRQ, Sarasota.

941-445-5660; SageSRQ.com “The Book of Mormon,” Jan. 7, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 941-953-3368; VanWezel.org

Join the Orlando Fringe for its 4th Annual Winter MiniFest at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. This 4-day mini live theater festival will feature 22 shows, some new and some returning favorites from past Fringe Festivals, ranging from comedies and musicals to dramas and solo performances. Tickets are $15 per show. Some shows contain strong language, mature themes, violence and/or nudity. To read on each show and for more information on the mini-fest, visit OrlandoFringe.org.

Central Florida Tampa Bay’s Largest LGBT NYE Party Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Honey Pot, Tampa Absolut Elyx presents Tampa Bay’s largest LGBT New Year’s Eve party. All three floors open for this annual Masquerade Ball, featuring party favors, a free midnight champagne toast, a $1,000 balloon drop and more.

Music provided all night by international sensation DJ Ranny. $1 drinks until 10 p.m. and no cover before 9:30 p.m. After 9:30, cover is $10. For more information, visit Honey Pot’s Facebook page.

GMCTB Drag Queen Bingo Monday, Jan. 6, 7-10 p.m.

Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg Come out to Punky’s Drag Queen Bingo, hosted by Victoria Michaels, to benefit The Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay (GMCTB). The GMCTB celebrates the diversity of the community in song and membership. Enjoy 10 games of Bingo for the suggested donation of $10.

The event will feature a 50/50 raffle as well. For more information, visit GMCTB.org. To make a reservation, call Punky’s at 727-201-4712.

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

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

overheard

tampa bay out+about

RAPID RESPONSE

T

he Tampa Police Department (TPD) arrested a man Dec. 18 on the charge of threatening mass violence against members of the city’s LGBTQ community.

Officers were alerted Dec. 17 about a “concerning conversation” held on a dating app. After being rejected for an offer he made for companionship, Tampa resident Ralph J. Perkins threatened the entirety of Tampa’s gay community via social media.

Officers shared three of the statements Dec. 18 following Perkins’ arrest. “I like to take a gun I like to wipe the whole gay community out in Tampa and then kill myself,” the first reads. The second asserts “that’s what I want to do that’s going to be my Christmas.”

In the third, he says “That’s going to be my ultimate present to Tampa Florida is the annihilator the gay community before I kill myself.”

TPD shared Dec. 18 that officers were able to quickly confirm Perkins’ identity and begin an investigation into the matter. Perkins was taken into custody and charged with Written Threats to Commit Mass Violence or an Act of Terrorism. He subsequently advised a post-Miranda confession.

According to public record, Perkins has a long history of charges and convictions. In 2004, he was found guilty of a sex offense in Alabama and became a registered sex offender. He was also arrested in Hillsborough County Oct. 15 for failing to register as such and is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

L

GBT Truckers, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about diversity within the trucking industry, is hitting the road in Tampa Bay to spread some holiday cheer.

The organization has six core members and represents more than 4,000 LGBTQ and ally truckers and supporters nationwide. They will team with the Pasco County-based, equality-focused Florida Trans Proud to host a variety of events beginning Dec. 25 with a “Meals for 18 Wheels” event in Dade City. A Busch Gardens Tampa outing will follow Dec. 27.

Organizers will close out 2019 with a year-end bash benefiting St. Petersburg’s VFW Post No. 39 led by Tampa Bay entertainer Victoria Michaels on Dec. 28. Michaels has worked throughout the year to restore its 175-seat theater.

The evening will feature two inaugural pageants, Miss New Face and Miss Florida Trans Proud, and be held Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. Entry is $5. Each of the events will feature the group’s “Rainbow Rider,” a rig painted in the colors of the rainbow.

“We’re taking steps to create outings within the LGBT community across the nation,” LGBT Truckers VP and Marketing Director Bobby Coffey-Loy says. “We love helping others and as the opportunity came about with Victoria, the VFW and Florida Trans Proud, it certainly has created some excitement.”

For more information, visit Facebook.com/ LGBTTruckers or email LGBTTruckers.Marketing@ Gmail.com.

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TEAM PETE: (L-R) Bryan Farris, Pete Buttigieg’s Southeast Organizing Director Ayodele Okeowo and Katie Hodges discuss the 2020 candidate’s vision at Metro’s LGBTQ Welcome Center Dec. 11.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

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POOL TIME: James Watson (L) and Jamarcus Mosley play a round of pool at Enigma Dec. 14.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

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TIS THE SEASON: (L-R) Son Seely Bevan, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and partner Ana Cruz stroll down Ybor’s annual Snow on 7th Parade Dec. 14.

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PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF TAMPA

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FOR THE CHILDREN: (L-R) Santa Nick, Christie Hattersley, Valerie McDonald, Luke Franchina, Matthew Chernesky and Justice Gennari during the Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber’s annual holiday party with Balance Tampa Bay at Eddie V’s Dec. 17.

PHOTO COURTESY NICHOLAS CARDELLO

5

TURNT: Brian Longstreth (L) and Kevin Thornton celebrate four years of Punky’s Bar and Grille during the eatery’s turnabout Dec. 15.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

6

FOR THE CAUSE: Youth volunteers and Metro Inclusive Health staff assemble 500 HIV testing kits during the youth volunteer day Dec. 14 at the Metro LGBTQ Welcome Center.

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PHOTO COURTESY METRO INCLUSIVE HEALTH

7

LET IT SNOW: Cijai Rush takes in the sights at Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field Dec. 18.

PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA

8

GREASED UP: Troy Smith (L) and Daniel Harris share some winter lovin’ ahead of the live Grease Sing-Along at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Dec. 14.

PHOTO COURTESY DANIEL HARRIS

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

overheard

central florida out+about

New Miss Gay Orlando

P

arliament House hosted the 47th Annual Miss Gay Orlando Pageant in its Footlight Theatre Dec. 16. The event was attended by a who’s who of pageant royalty including Miss International Queen 2019 Jazell Barbie Royale, Miss Parliament House 2019 Yeisa Jovovich, Miss Florida Supreme 2019 Erika Norell and Miss Continental Plus 2019 Ms. Darcel Stevens.

The pageant featured reigning Miss Gay Orlando Brittany Moore as she passed the crown to a new queen for the year. The evening’s pageant saw Tashae Royale Sherrington crowned Miss Gay Orlando 2019 with Imani Valentino taking first runner up and Ginger Beer being named second runner up.

Sherrington also received the inaugural Dale Dees Outstanding Hair Award. The award, a beautiful hand-blown glass teardrop, is named in honor of world champion hair designer Dale Dees who recently passed away.

2

Brief filed to protect HRO

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A

coalition of statewide civil rights groups and nonprofit organizations filed an amicus brief Dec. 17 urging Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal to reverse a trial court ruling against Orange County’s Human Rights Ordinance (HRO).

The brief requests the court to reverse the ruling in the sex discrimination lawsuit filed by Brittney Smith and Anita Yanes who say they were denied access to Rachel’s Orlando because they were not accompanied by a male companion, which the brief says violates Orange County’s HRO. The trial judge dismissed the case in May 2018 ruling the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) overrules local HROs. Smith and Yanes filed an appeal to the court’s decision in June and are awaiting the appeal court’s decision.

Support for everyone

T

he nonprofit Peer Support Space (PSS) is launching a peer respite. It will be the first of its kind in Central Florida and only the second in the entire state.

The PSS Respite, located at 880 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Kissimmee, will provide those struggling with their mental health a safe space and various free mental health resources.

The respite center is “a place they can stay overnight for up to seven nights and be surrounded by trained peers,” It will also be “a space individuals can go after leaving a crisis unit when they may feel ready to take their treatment into their own hands but not quite ready to go home yet,” PSS’ website states.

While the space was donated by Park Place behavior Health, PSS is currently trying to raise funds to renovate the space and remain fully functional for a year.

To donate and to find more information on PSS, visit PeerSupportSpace.org/Overview.

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Photo courtesy Kathleen Sadler

Liaison Team: Orlando Police Department’s new team of LGBTQ+ Liaisons representing diversity and inclusion in Orlando Dec. 12. Photo courtesy OPD

OGC Sleigh Ride: The Orlando Gay Chorus get into the holiday spirit for their Sleigh Queen concert at Rosen JCC in Orlando Dec. 14.

Photo courtesy Joe Monnin

3

Farewell Champion: City Commissioner Patty Sheehan (L) and newscaster Jorge Estevez are all smiles at Estevez’s going away party at Oudom Thai & Sushi in Orlando Dec. 13. Photo courtesy Jorge Estevez

4

Santa Carlos: Danielle Sasson Thomas (L) grabs a selfie with District 49’s festive Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith as he narrates OGC’s Sleigh Queen concert at Rosen JCC in Orlando Dec. 15. Photo courtesy

Danielle Sasson Thomas

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

From Us To You: The Watermark staff wishes you a happy holidays from the company holiday party at business manager Kathleen Sadler’s home in Orlando Dec. 13.

6

Stage Performers: Fox 35’s Amy Brown(L) and Danielle Knox (R), with Robert Hill, prepare for their walk-on roles at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando for “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Orlando Ballet, Dec. 15.

7

Photo courtesy Amy Brown

7

Holiday Hogwarts: The Queens of Broadway cast have wands at the ready after their Harry Potter-themed holiday show “Drag-on Alley” at the Mount Dora Plaza Live in Mount Dora Dec. 14. Photo by Jeremy Williams

8

Orlando Royalty: (L-R) Ginger Beer, Tashae Royale Sherrington and Imani Valentino at the Miss Gay Orlando 2019 pageant at Parliament House Dec. 17. Photo courtesy Darcel Stevens

8 December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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Up to 20,000 copies of ourlesbian, biweeklybisexual newspaper Be see in the largest gay and lesbian market in the USA. other Thursday Central Florida, copies Tampa Bay and surrounding communities. distributed every community in Central and Westthroughout Florida. Up to 20,000 of our biweekly newspaper are Incoming mailbox size limit is 10MB per email.

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Reach local LGBT communities across the nation.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

announcements

wedding bells

Nick Oyler, and Tyler Winik, from Orlando, Florida

Local Birthdays

Engagement Date:

Jan. 8, 2018

Wedding Date:

Sept. 9, 2019

Officiant:

The Honorable Gary Cooney

Venue:

Orange County Regional History Center

Colors:

Black and White (Black Tie)

Wedding Song /Artist:

“Come What May” - Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor

Caterer:

Cocktails Catering

Bakery:

P is for Pie

Photographer/ Videographer:

Rudy & Marta Photography

DJ/ Entertainment:

Our DJ Rocks (DJ Jennie)

Day Of Coordinator:

Taylor Rae Events

Congratulations

SarasotaOUT won judges choice in the 24th annual Sarasota Holiday parade Dec. 7.

The Metro LGBTQ Welcome Center celebrated its fifth anniversary Dec. 12.

Photo by Rudy & Marta Photography

T

yler Winik and Nick Oyler first connected through Growlr, a “by bears for bears” dating app.

Tyler sent the first “woof.”

Nick accepted, having previously seen a photo of Tyler on an acquaintance’s Facebook page, and the rest is history.

“Our relationship has been through so many different chapters, from an emergency appendectomy on vacation, to being stranded in L.A. for a night, to sharing our special day at our rehearsal dinner, our wedding and our reception,” Tyler said.

The pair got engaged in January 2018. Tyler would leave sticky notes for Nick around their apartment when he was leaving for work and Nick decided to incorporate this into his proposal to Tyler.

“Some of [the notes] were cute, some funny, some about needing to clean the cat box,” Tyler said. “Nevertheless, on the back of the stickies that he taped together, Nick added one of his own: ‘Will you marry me?’”

They tied the knot a year and a half later at the Orange County Regional History Center. Tyler had worked in the state court system for over a decade and asked friend and former coworker Gary Cooney - Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court - to officiate.

“The officiant showed up and brought his signature style and humor to the event, including reading the wedding vows from a paperback version of the Florida Rules of Court,” Tyler said. “We both wrote unique vows for one another, with Nick’s stealing the show as he listed just a few of the trials we had been through during our relationship, including the results of the 2016 election.”

One of the couple’s favorite wedding moments includes when they danced with their mothers, with Nick and his mother dancing to a surprise song that had played at one of her military ceremonies years before.

The couple also enjoyed an endless supply of cocktails leaving them feeling “pretty loved (and blitzed!)” as well as speeches by Tyler’s maid of honor and Nick’s best man.

“They were so heartfelt and touching that we couldn’t keep from crying,” Tyler said.

“We had the best time dancing with all of our family and friends and our seasoned DJ was great at getting everyone on the dance floor. Even those who usually don’t dance were cutting a rug.”

Another of the couple’s wedding highlights is being able to walk through the Pulse exhibit that was currently on display at the history center.

“It was a beautiful time to reflect on ourselves as two people becoming husbands and on the love, unity, and support our collective LGBTQ+ community has in Orlando and the greater Central Florida region,” Tyler said.

— Lora Korpar

St. Petersburg bartender Jeff Nicolaus, puppeteer and gay rights activist Hannah Miller, Parliament House bartender Jeff Munzing, Darden’s Boyd Geary, Metro Inclusive Health’s Chad Chaddington, Southern Nights Orlando General Manager Danny Vega (Dec. 26); Sarasota realtor Nate Brooks, Clearwater realtor Keith Gill, Tampa Bay talent coordinator Tom Penman, WAVE-winning drag performer Lacie Browning (Dec. 27); 6S Boutique owner Andrew Citino, Stonewall Orlando owner Steven Watkins, Founder of Gay Day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Doug Swallow, Equality Florida Pinellas County coordinator Esme Rodriguez (Dec. 28); Watermark contributor Greg Stemm, Phish Phest phenom and realtor Sue-Bee Laginess, Former Miss America Ericka Dunlap (Dec. 29); Tampa Bay DJ Mike Sklarz, Tampa ROTC member Steve Deal, Tampa Bay entertainer Stephanie Stuart, Equality Florida Communications Director Michael Womack (Dec. 30); Mr. Ybor Eagle 2010 Carlos “Wolfy” Diaz, Tampa massage therapist Russell Fox, St Pete Pride volunteer Paul LeCouris, The Center Orlando’s Executive Director George Wallace, Orlando bear Justin Homer, Teacher and activist Clinton McCracken, Florida Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Tampa historian David K. Johnson (Dec. 31); Hot 101.5 Miguel & Holly’s Holly O’Connor, Chanel enthusiast Jeremy Skidmore, St. Petersburg socialite Corey Malyszka, YouTuber Joe Dodd, St. Pete Young Professionals organizer Brandon Dysard, Family Resources president Lisa Davis (Jan. 1); St Pete business analyst Jason Bracewell, University of Central Florida lecturer Boyd Lindsley, Gators gal Deidre Favero, Orlando attorney Joe Seagle (Jan. 2); Sarasota graphic designer Tim Cameresi, Tampa photographer Charles Allen, Lady Boys performer Jose Navarro, Promoter Chris Pittman, Ginger Minj’s husband CJ Russell, Lakeland entertainer Momma Ashley Rose, Equality Florida Field Director Wes Davis (Jan. 3); Tampa Bay DJ LaMonte Monnell aka L Mo, veteran and die-hard Pittsburgh fan Bill Stiller, Punky’s owner Brian Longstreth (Jan. 4); Southern Nights Tampa manager Chou Chou Guilder, Orlando psychologist Guillermo Navarro, Founder of the Trans Sister Radio video podcast Tiara Latrice Kelly, Tampa realtor Nicholas Buchanan, Stonewall Bar bartender Timi Hedrich (Jan. 5); Tampa activist Bill Polley, former owner of Partners Emmi Grainger (Jan. 6); Watermark contributor Sylvie Griffiths (Jan. 7); Mr. Bear Bust 2017 Shaun Boyd, St. Petersburg bartender Michael Joseph (Jan. 8).

Do you have an interesting wedding or engagement story you’d like to share with Watermark readers? If so, email the details to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com for consideration as a future feature on this page.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

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the last page Hometowns:

Andy: Rochester, New York; Sasha: originally from Brooklyn, raised in Glencoe, Trinidad

Andy and Sasha Citino C o - O wners 6 S B o u tiq u e

Identifies As:

Andy: transgender; Sasha: pansexual.

Pronouns:

Andy: He/Him/His; Sasha: She/Her/Hers.

Out Years:

Andy: 1983; Sasha: 1998.

How did your marriage prepare you for owning and operating 6S together?

Professions:

6S Boutique co-owners; Andy is also an author and Sasha a Senior Data Engineer

Professional Role Models:

Andy: Equality Florida’s Nadine Smith; Sasha: Bill Gates and Bridgette Hyacinth.

Autobiography Titles:

Andy: “She Almost Killed Me,” not about Sasha; Sasha: “Crash Course in Life: My 30s”

Hobbies:

Store design, nature, binging television and other arts & entertainment

T

he Last Page is dedicated to

individuals who are making a positive impact on the LGBTQ community in Central Florida and Tampa Bay. This issue, we check in with 6S Boutique owners Andy and Sasha Citino from St. Petersburg. Keep an eye on this space to learn more about the movers and shakers of your community.

What do you do professionally?

Andy is 6S Boutique’s make-up dealer and an author.

Sasha handles 6S Boutique’s back office and is a data engineer for a prominent health care service company.

Recommend People to: Central Florida Bureau Chief Jeremy Williams at: Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Tampa Bay Bureau Chief Ryan Williams-Jent at: Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

46

longer be persistent. Knowing your truth will save you from decades of pain, danger and loss of freedom. Many will look to you for support. You are a good and decent man.

Sasha: You are enough, you do fit into this world and will belong to a loving community that accepts you for who you are. Hang tight, your family loves you; it takes time for them to catch up to your openness. Pay attention in History and Math classes, one will help you to respect and understand the past and how we got here, the other will help you to design systems across many industries that help hundreds of thousands of people and pay the bills.

How do you champion for the local LGBTQ community?

We are organizers of the annual St. Pete Transgender Day of Remembrance and when asked, speak at colleges, organizations and political events. We exercise our civic duty and vote for candidates, bills and laws that support and protect the LGBTQ community

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

and support our local LGBTQ organizations. 6S Boutique is also a safe place; we have resources available for most needs. We’re always ready to speak up and out for the rights, protections and equality for our community. We are anonymous, small time philanthropists that do what we can.

What is your favorite thing to read in Watermark?

Andy: Desk columns; Sasha: Overheard.

What is your favorite local LGBTQ event?

St Pete Pride.

What is your favorite thing about your local LGBTQ community?

We are mighty, large in numbers and when push comes to shove we always have each other’s backs.

What would you like to see improved in your local LGBTQ community?

More venues for LGBTQ performers and their fans.

What would you like our readers to know about you?

We are human and we have human relationships with love, laughter, compassion, respectful disagreement and healthy debate. While we are social we enjoy our quiet times at home with our four-legged son AJ, and privacy.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Andy: You are not alone, please look up “transgender.”

Once you do you will know your truth and why you feel so lost.

You will find support and love – your need to escape will no

Marriage is teamwork and so is building a business. Having open communication, learning to pick our battles, trust and listening to each other’s ideas to find middle ground. There is always risk with love as there is with business – we have learned how to balance the risk and still have fun and adventure with many rewards.

What have been some of the most rewarding or challenging aspects of running 6S?

It’s been so rewarding helping people around the country feel beautiful, supported and embraced. Witnessing someone see their true self in the mirror for the first time makes our hearts burst.

Parents bringing their LGBTQ children to the store, allowing them to be free to express who they are is a reward like no other. It can be challenging to keep up with the ebb and flow of daily business.

Recent LGBTQ venue closures adversely affect the spending freedom of our customers, affecting 6S Boutique. Operating a retail and small brick and mortar business in the age of “Amazon” is proving to be our greatest challenge, but the rewards are far greater than the challenges. We are happy to be here.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

December 26, 2019 - J a nua ry 8 , 2020 // Issue 26 . 26 wat e r m a r konline .com

47

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