Watermark Issue 27.07: Where can they Go? by Watermark Publishing Group

Your LGBTQ Life.

April 2 - 15, 2020 • Issue 27.07

Tampa Bay LGBTQ spaces announce COVID-19 closures Tidal Wave cancels June 2020 parties

Local organizations take on the issue of LGBTQ homelessness in these uncertain times

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

20 Min Results Walk-Ins Welcome

departments 7 // Bureau Chief’s Desk

page

10 // Central Florida News 12// Tampa Bay News

Homelessness is really a symptom to a problem. It’s a symptom of a lack of inclusion in society, in the workplace and in people’s families … If we can treat the root cause, which is inclusion, then we hope to see homelessness decrease. – OneOrlando Alliance Executive Director Jennifer Foster

15// State, Nation & World news 17// Talking Points 25// Tampa Bay Inside + Out 27// Central Fl Inside + Out 28// Tampa Bay Marketplace 30// Central Fl Marketplace 34// Community & COVID-19 On the cover

page Where can they Go?:

page WHERE CAN THEY

GO? Organizations take

on LGBTQ homelessness.

Photo sourced public domain stock imagery.

scan qr code for

WatermarkOnline.com

Central Florida and Tampa Bay activists discuss LGBTQ homelessness in uncertain times.

Watermark Issue 27.07 // April 2 - April 15, 2020

Extended Hibernation community champ

Tough Spot

CAN’s Plan

page Tidal Wave Party cancels June events.

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

page Activist and realtor Robert Barnum passes away.

Postponed AIDS Walk worries Florida nonprofits.

CAN Community Health CEO discusses COVID-19.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

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tampa bay

bureau chief’s

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

Desk

f my 35 years on this planet

and love of ridiculous memes have taught me anything, it’s that life comes at you fast.

The last few months have certainly reminded me that’s the case. “I’ve never had a particular affinity for cars,” I wrote in this very column Feb. 6, a lifetime ago now that the world is grappling with COVID-19. “I’ve always been grateful to own the ones I have … I’ve just never been one to covet the latest make or model to move about town.” All true, leading me to detail the very long, bumpy road I traveled to my car payment-less 30s. After nearly two decades behind the wheel, I finally understood the importance of regularly scheduled maintenance and thanks to YouTube learned to become somewhat of a makeshift mechanic myself. “I’ve rededicated myself to a car payment-free existence,” I asserted, celebrating more than

five years without one. “I have a newfound respect for showing cars some much-needed tender loving care.” My car died almost immediately afterwards. It was as if it had read my column, in which I declared my penchant for expecting the unexpected, and decided to play daily rounds of roadside roulette. Completely at random, my engine began slipping into low power mode. Turning the ignition yielded either the ability to go wherever I wanted, sometimes as if nothing had changed and more often at a maximum of five miles per hour, or to go nowhere at all. What an adventure it was. I tried to save my not-so-trusty steed. It was only a 2009 so I was convinced that I could, having grown up gallivanting across

town in my stepfather’s ’57 Chevy. An 11-year old car of the same make could certainly rev again from the ashes. As the old saying goes, they don’t make ‘em like they used to. It was a fact stressed to me by not one, not two, but three mechanics that refused to even pop its hood. The fourth graciously offered to charge me $100 to diagnose the problem, if I could pay for a tow to their shop, a potential precursor to thousands more in repairs. Just like that, I had rededicated myself to a car payment-clad existence. From behind the significantly more beautiful wheel of my Kia Soul, I’d also finally developed that affinity for cars. My commutes had leapt nearly a decade into the future. I had features I could’ve only dreamed of just days prior – CarPlay, a rearview camera, functioning turn signals and speakers with sound – and I couldn’t have been happier. While I wasn’t ecstatic about making a monthly payment, I recognized that at long last I was making one that was worth it. A new day had dawned. It quickly set. Just days after I readied my initial payment, our country collectively seemed to begin grasping how woefully unprepared we were as a nation for COVID-19. In the blink of an eye, we became the epicenter of the deadly virus. It certainly prompted in me much more widespread fears than making a car payment. Fears for my parents in Ohio; my lifelines. Fears for my family elsewhere, for my husband and for our friends-turned-family in Florida, without whom we’d be lost. They’re fears we’re all facing as we collectively confront the unprecedented economic and social fallout of this global pandemic, one we can only triumph over if we do so together. From the nonprofits that fight

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

for the LGBTQ community in Tampa Bay and beyond to the drag performers who entertain us at our benefits and bars, we must support those that support us. That includes Watermark, which has proudly served Tampa Bay and Central Florida for more than 25 years, bringing you LGBTQ-focused local, state and national stories. Your stories. We fully intend to continue bringing that community-based, independent journalism to you via our eNewsletter, website, the PDF flipthrough of our newspaper and of course, our print edition. That’s why we’ve been working diligently to detail COVID-19’s impact on our communities in ways only our community can.

We must support those that support us.

As sales decline in our family of advertisers, however, so do ours. We ask that you please support them, all of whom support you, and if you would like to purchase a subscription or make a one-time monetary contribution to our efforts, please do so at WatermarkOnline.com. Every bit helps. In these uncertain times and before, organizations in Tampa Bay and Central Florida have dedicated themselves to addressing homelessness in the LGBTQ community. We examine their efforts at length in this issue. In news, we continue our COVID-19 coverage, detailing its wide-ranging impact on LGBTQ businesses, individuals and organizations throughout Tampa Bay and Central Florida. We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. Thank you for making that possible.

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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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

contributors Lora Korpar is

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

Richard E. Carlisle

became CAN’s third president and CEO in 2015 and served as vice president of Sarasota Memorial Hospital for 15 years. CAN Community Health is headquartered in Sarasota and is the third-largest private provider of HIV services in the nation. Page 34

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.

central florida

bureau chief’s

Jeremy Williams cfl bureau chief

Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

Desk

had been in the U.S. Air Force for seven months when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened.

It being nearly 20 years ago since that life-changing event happened, I can’t remember everything that occurred in my life after Sept. 11, 2001; however, I do remember people being shocked and scared. I remember my family and friends being worried and not knowing what was coming next. I also remember seeing celebrities and politicians on television, and hearing ordinary people in letters and on the street thanking me for my service. Thanking every man and woman in uniform for their sacrifice. They thanked our first responders and our leaders for acting fast and selflessly protecting and safeguarding our communities in uncertain times. Congress passed legislation to increase military pay and benefits and songs were written praising all these heroes. Rightfully so we treated servicemembers and

first responders the way we treat celebrities and influencers. Now here we are in 2020 with a global pandemic that is crippling the world’s economy and impacting the health of hundreds of thousands of people and killing off tens of thousands. We have absorbed new words into our daily lives like coronavirus, social distancing and flattening the curve. We’ve also started to notice new groups of workers who, during a time of crisis, have stepped up and become our heroes: Healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, fast food workers, truck drivers, stay-at-home caregivers, delivery drivers and many, many more who continue to tend to the sick, stock shelves and deliver goods, putting their own health in jeopardy to keep you safe and sound in your homes. These are workers who have been declared by local and federal

governments as “essential” during this pandemic, and are being praised on social media by some of the same individuals who just a few months ago complained that someone “flipping burgers” or “stocking cans” doesn’t deserve $15 an hour. Those same people who you call on to deliver your medicine, food and diapers so you can stay safe are the same people who last year many of you said weren’t doing jobs that warranted being paid a living wage and getting health benefits. My hope after this pandemic ends is that we remember these heroes who sacrificed for us and, just as we did for the military after 9/11, fight for them to get pay raises and benefits. If this pandemic has taught us anything it is that no person is expendable, no job is more needed than any other and in order for our communities to thrive we must respect and depend on everyone and recognize that everyone has worth and purpose. I also hope that after the fear of this situation fades we all remember those elected leaders who fought for these things even before a pandemic and continue to vote to keep them in office. I also hope we remember the elected officials who said certain lives were worth sacrificing in order to have a great economy and remember those senators who knew how bad this pandemic was going to get and decided to sell off stocks instead of warning the country, and let’s make sure that they are never allowed to make decisions for us again. Times are tough for nearly everyone right now, this company included, so I also want to thank every single Watermark employee for stepping up, I want to thank every advertiser who was able to stick it out with us even as our cities and counties began shutting down and I want to thank you who

watermark staff Owner & Publisher: Rick Claggett • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Business Manager: Kathleen Sadler • Ext. 101 Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com

is taking the time to read this and every other story in Watermark. I believe in this newspaper, in the mission we serve and the service we provide, and if we all look out for each other we too will get through this. In this issue, we take an in-depth look at LGBTQ homelessness in Central Florida and Tampa Bay and ways that community organizations are trying to help. In Central Florida news, Tidal Wave Party announces it is the first group to bow out of Orlando’s Big LGBTQ weekend in June and a pair of Orlando’s biggest festivals adjust schedules. In Tampa Bay news, we say goodbye to a local hero who lost his battle

My hope after this pandemic ends is that we remember these heroes who sacrificed for us. with COVID-19 and check in with more closures. Due to the economic impact of the coronavirus, Watermark will not have any Arts & Entertainment features or Viewpoint columns in this issue; however, we do check in with a local healthcare professional to get an update on the current pandemic. These are chaotic times we are in right now so be safe, take care and please stay informed. The hardest thing to see in a time like this is the spread of false medical information that can be dangerous to a person’s health. Make sure what you share is verified and factual. Remember, you and the truth both matter so be sure to take care of both.

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.

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

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

contributors Lora Korpar is

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

Richard E. Carlisle

photography Brian Becnel, Nick Cardello, Bruce Hardin, Jamarqus Mosley, Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift

distribution LVNLIF2 Distributing, Ken Carraway, Vanessa Maresca-Cruz

Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

Reach local LGBT communities across the nation. Start connecting with over a million loyal readers in print and online across the country. 212-242-6863 info@nationallgbtmediaassociation.com www.nationallgbtmediaassociation.com

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

Barbara Leach is here to support Watermark and the LGBTQ community.

Barbara LEACH 407-672-1252 barbara@contimoorelaw.com

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

central florida news

Orlando festivals announce date changes, cancellations Jeremy Williams

RLANDO | The Florida Film Festival and the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival both announced changes to their schedules as more and more Central Florida events are postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Enzian Theater announced March 17 that its annual Florida Film Festival , scheduled for April 17-26, would be postponed to a later date this year. “While this postponement is regretful and hard to swallow considering the thousands of hours that the staff and selection committees have devoted to creating an amazing festival, moving it from April is clearly the safest thing for our audiences and filmmakers, and the right thing to do. Every effort will be made to bring as much of the lineup back as possible for the reschedule later in the year. We’re confident that Central Florida film lovers and visiting filmmakers will be just as excited, and have an incredible time a few months from now,” said Matthew Curtis, Florida Film Festival programming director, in a statement. Enzian is tentatively aiming to reschedule the festival for August; however, no exact dates have been announced. Two days later, Orlando Fringe — scheduled for May 12-25 — announced it would be cancelling its 29th festival outright and launch the next full festival in May 2021. “This is an extremely hard decision. Please know how much conversation and thought has brought us to this point,” said Orlando Fringe Executive Director Alauna Frickics in a statement. “We have worked countless financial scenarios, and considered all stakeholders. We believe this is the most prudent course so the festival can come back strong next year.” The statement goes on to encourage those who planned to attend the festival to make a donation to the United Arts of Central Florida’s Collaborative Campaign for the Arts, which helps support local arts and culture. “You love this festival. You are driven by passion and a love for an event that brings people together in a way that binds us like family. We will hold onto that feeling during this unsettling time, and know we will be back better and stronger next year,” the statement reads. The Florida Film Festival and Orlando Fringe are some of the largest entertainment festivals in Central Florida. Orlando Fringe is the oldest and largest Fringe Festival in the U.S. The 14-day festival hosts upwards of 75,000 patrons at theaters throughout Central Florida each year. This year’s Florida Film Festival had received 2,845 submissions from 101 countries. The festival intended to screen 195 films, representing 41 countries. Of the films selected, 174 had premiere status, including 29 world premieres. This year’s lineup also would have featured 97 films from women directors. The Florida Film Festival is attended by more than 23,000 people each year.

For more information on the Florida Film Festival’s programming and future dates, visit FloridaFilmFestival.com. For information on the Orlando Fringe and its future events, visit OrlandoFringe.org.

Extended Hybernation: A Tidal Wave bear pool party in 2018. Photo by

Jake Stevens

Bear Party Cancelled Tidal Wave cancels June events, scammers try to capitalize Jeremy Williams

RLANDO | As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow in the U.S., Tidal Wave Party has officially become the first group to cancel its 2020 events for Orlando’s first weekend of June LGBTQ celebration. “Tidal Wave is a labor of love for us and we did not come to this decision easily,” the group wrote in a statement posted to its website March 28. Tidal Wave has hosted the bear community’s annual celebration during Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom weekend for the last 14 years and planned to hold this year’s event at the B Resort & Spa June 4-8. Tidal Wave 14 will now take place June 3-7, 2021. “We did consider rescheduling it for later in the year,” the group wrote. “But with all the uncertainty about the progression of the virus and when things will return to ‘normal’ we just aren’t comfortable rescheduling the event for later this year. We want to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible to adjust their plans.”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Tidal Wave has been working with the B Resort and Expo Pass, the group’s ticket vendor, and presented two options to individuals who purchased tickets and hotel packages for this year’s event. The first option is to move your 2020 Tidal Wave ticket and B Resort reservations to the 2021 dates. The second option is to cancel the room and tickets for a full refund. “We are pleased to announce that we were able to negotiate current contract room pricing with the B Resort,” Tidal Wave states. “If you maintain your 2020 Tidal Wave tickets & hotel room reservation as is, we will transfer both ticket and hotel room type for 2021, ensuring that current pricing structure is honored.” Cancellations will incur a 4.95% processing fee unless your cancellation was done before April 1 and result in a forfeiture of the room reservation, meaning if later you decide to attend in 2021 you will need to rebook the room and tickets. Tidal Wave states that anyone who booked at the DoubleTree, the group’s overflow hotel, and do not cancel will get first choice

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

of available rooms at the B Resort for 2021. Less than a day after Tidal Wave made the announcement, scammers began trying to take advantage of those who had tickets and room reservations, the group said. Tidal Wave made several posts on its Facebook page, one with a text message and one with an event’s page, both falsely stating the group was purchased and the 2020 events were still going on as planned. “All of the accurate and factual information can be found on our website,” Tidal Wave wrote. “Please report this event and share to ensure no one is harmed by this person.” The fake event page lists a website PigletWeek.ecwid.com with a Fort Lauderdale phone number (area code 954). The text message, which reads “We bought out their cancellation at the B. Tidal Wave Orlando is back on,” came from a Central Florida number (321 area code) and refers back to the 954 number. The website address for the fake event takes you to the Beach Bear Weekend page. Beach Bear Weekend is an LGBTQ event which in the past has been promoted by Craig Jungwirth, a Florida man who was arrested in 2016 in connection to social media posts threatening a Pulse-style attack against the LGBTQ community in South Florida. The case was later dropped due to “weak” evidence against him. For more information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit TidalWaveParty.com.

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

tampa bay news

LGBTQ bars, restaurants announce covid-19 closures Ryan Williams-Jent

AMPA BAY | A number of LGBTQ establishments have announced closures and suspensions in response to COVID-19, which prompted Florida to halt on-site dining and alcohol consumption in facilities March 20. Governor Ron DeSantis issued his executive order to reduce the coronavirus’ spread. It limited restaurants to takeout or delivery and followed his mandate to close nightclubs and bars beginning March 17 for 30 days. The Asylum in New Port Richey, Pasco County’s premiere LGBTQ bar, announced its permanent closure just one day later. “The COVID-19 outbreak continues to cause more suspensions, business closures and community bans across the country until further notice and it’s these current events, unfortunately, that come at the crossroad of also wanting to move on,” its owners shared March 18. “Effective immediately, The Asylum Nightclub will be closed permanently.” The two subsequently thanked supporters. “Your consistent patronage and constant support for our community and this venue has not, and nor will it ever, go unnoticed or unappreciated,” they wrote. DeSantis’ order also prompted the postponement of Dining Out for Life (DOFL) Tampa Bay, originally scheduled to take place in various restaurants and bars April 30. The 15th annual fundraiser benefits Empath Partners in Care (EPIC) and raised more than $47,000 last year. “As an organization that provides comprehensive services to people at risk of, or living with HIV, EPIC has an obligation to protect the health and wellbeing of our community,” EPIC shared March 23. “We have taken several steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to provide our most essential services.” EPIC added that they hope to reschedule DOFL for late summer or early fall. They are currently working with national and statewide partners to choose a new date. “Thank you for your patience and support as we navigate this difficult time in our communities and our country,” they noted. St. Petersburg staple Punky’s Bar and Grill subsequently suspended operations March 23, launching an “SOS: Save Our Staff” fundraiser for employees. “This is an unprecedented time for all of us, especially our servers, bartenders and cooks,” they shared. “We are so thankful for the 17 employees who work so hard every day at Punky’s,” it reads. “The reality is they are STRESSED! They don’t know how they will pay their rent, bills, and put food on the table for their families. We are hopeful this will be short lived and we can get back to normal soon but it may be awhile.” As of press time, the employee fund has raised more than half of its $5,000 goal. “We love you all,” organizers shared. “A big celebration is to come for all on the other side of this!”

For more information about EPIC, visit MyEPIC.org. For more information about Punky’s or to donate to their SOS fund, visit PunkysBar.com.

DEARLY MISSED: Robert

Barnum passed away March 27 at 64. Photo courtesy Barnum’s Facebook

Legacy of love Community champion Robert Barnum dies from COVID-19 complications Ryan Williams-Jent

T. PETERSBURG | Community champion and realtor Robert “Bob” Barnum died March 27 from complications of COVID-19. He was 64. Barnum’s death was among three coronavirus-related deaths confirmed by the Florida Department of Health of Pinellas County March 28. Barnum was the broker and owner of Earnest Realty, Inc. as well as its sister company. He worked as a Pinellas County realtor for more than 25 years, where he was also an ardent supporter of the arts and adjunct professor at the University of South Florida. His advocacy extended to a number of community organizations. He worked closely with Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) St. Petersburg, Equality Florida and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Community leaders and organizations from throughout Tampa Bay responded to the news, sharing their condolences and reflecting on Barnum’s impact. CASA, which serves as the official domestic

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

violence center for Pinellas County, called him a cherished leader. “We are deeply saddened by the news of Bob Barnum’s passing due to complications from COVID-19,” they shared March 30. “CASA is made of many dynamic volunteers – some working in the trenches while others serve in a leadership role. CASA’s volunteers serve as the 3rd leg of a stool – supporting along with the staff and community – those we serve. “He lived CASA’s mission and vision,” they continued. “In all the various positions held over his 9 years serving on the CASA Board, he was consistently passionate, funny, candid, genuine and loving. As a community leader, he opened up doors for CASA, raised money and enlisted individuals who became board members. He was never shy about sharing why he was passionate and was willing to refocus conversations back to CASA’s core issue – providing services to those seeking safety.” His legacy and contributions continue, they noted, asking supporters to stand up to silence through advocacy, prevention, intervention and support services in his honor.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

“COVID-19 hitting closer and closer to home,” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman shared March 28. “Bob Barnum was a great guy. He was especially kind to the St. Petersburg Police Department and dedicated himself to many causes in our city. I will miss our friend and forever be thankful for his support.” The St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) subsequently reacted to the news, noting that Barnum had sponsored the annual Civilian of the Year Award since 2015. It recognizes civilian police employees for their personal dedication and professional contributions. “The St. Petersburg Police Family is heartbroken over the death of Bob Barnum,” SPPD shared. “He was a thoughtful and generous friend to our department … We will miss Bob’s genuine sincerity and support.” Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith also reflected on the loss. “He was a generous supporter of Equality Florida in our early days and he was a passionate advocate for survivors of domestic violence,” she shared March 28. “He had all the dirt on the ‘Golden Girls’ and he introduced me to circus art,” she continued. “My condolences to his family and the network of close friends his big, generous personality drew into his life.” Barnum is survived by his brother Scott. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private burial was livestreamed March 30 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Largo.

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state, nation+world news

Postponement of AIDS Walk puts Florida nonprofits in tough spot Jason Parsley of South Florida Gay News

ort Lauderdale, Fla. | Local nonprofits are starting to feel the impacts of the coronavirus and are asking for financial support from the community following The Florida AIDS Walk and Music Festival’s postponement. The event is South Florida’s largest fundraisers. Proceeds raised benefit the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Aqua Foundation for Women, Equality Florida Institute, Latinos Salud, The Poverello Center, The Pride Center at Equality Park, SAVE Foundation, SunServe, The Urban League of Broward County and the World AIDS Museum and Education Center (WAM). “We’re certainly busier than ever, and in need of financial donations,” Poverello Center Tom Pietrogallo shared. “We have never made enough through grant

programming to fully fund all the food we give away, we’ve always depended upon donations to the thrift store, financial donations and thrift store sales to make our system work.” The AIDS Walk was originally scheduled to take place on Fort Lauderdale beach March 21 and fundraising is still in full swing. AHF hopes to reschedule the event and will continue to match donations through April 30. WAM also anticipates an upcoming cash crunch and is worried about its long term survival. “The COVID-19 crisis is touching everyone’s lives, and presents significant financial challenges,” a statement to supporters after the postponement read. “If we can raise the remaining $53,000 of our goal, the World AIDS Museum will be able to survive this crisis. If we don’t meet our goal, the future of the Museum will have some serious challenges.” According to WAM, the Florida AIDS Walk is an

essential fundraising tool for the organization. “[This crisis] interrupts our most important fundraising season – The Florida AIDS Walk,” the statement read. “If you’re already registered as a walker – we need you to start asking your friends to support the Museum through your walk page.” “We know our staff and volunteers are looking forward to participating in the AIDS Walk when it is rescheduled, but remain grateful for the opportunity for supporters of Equality Florida to have their donations matched by AIDS Healthcare Foundation,” Equality Florida Media Relations Manager Brandon Wolf shared. “Our community is resilient and we thank AHF for helping us ensure the fight for full equality goes on.” As of press time, Equality Florida had raised 51% of their goal. Latinos Salud had raised 88%. For information about the Florida AIDS Walk and donating to its beneficiaries, visit FloridaAIDSWalk.org.

Trans legal group releases COVID-19 guide Michelle Siegel of the Washington Blade, Courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

he Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) has prepared a free online guide, available in both English and Spanish, for transgender and nonbinary individuals attempting to navigate life during the coronavirus pandemic. “A Know Your Rights Guide for Transgender People Navigating COVID-19,” which contains information that was accurate as of March 22, explores both trans-specific concerns and equity concerns that disproportionately impact trans and non-binary individuals, such as issues involving employment, housing

and health care. It also features a national appendix of health and advocacy resources. The guide stresses the existence of a pandemic does not void the fact that trans and nonbinary individuals are entitled to receive care and access to services. As TLDEF interprets federal law within this guide, medical providers must address individuals by the names and pronouns that they use and provide individuals access to facilities consistent with their identities. The guide encourages trans and nonbinary individuals to self-advocate by knowing their rights and, if feeling ill, contacting a medical provider or a state health department hotline. According to the guide, the “extraordinary public health crisis” may lead trans and nonbinary individuals to experience delays in receiving transition-related services, including operations

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that hospitals have classified as “non-emergency surgeries” and business that courts and government agencies has deemed “non-essential,” which may or may not entail changing one’s legal name and gender marker. If a trans or nonbinary individual feels that they are being subject to discrimination; the guide advises that the individual report each incident to the appropriate staff, take notes, obtain names, save copies of any documents and file a complaint. TLDEF describes itself as “a nonprofit whose mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities.” As of March 30, there were more than 140,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S., with more than 2,400 deaths.

News Briefs Miami Party attendee dies A 40-year-old gay man from North Miami Beach died March 26 of complications from the coronavirus. Israel Carrera tested positive for COVID-19 March 21. His boyfriend Franco Conquista told his local NBC affiliate station Carrera had no major underlying issues. “Israel was just a lovable man,” he shared. He advised Carrera got sick after attending the week-long Miami celebration of beach parties and nightclub dancing March 4-10, which serves as a fundraiser for the National LGBT Task Force. According to organizers, the official number of attendees at the event was 5,500 people and there have been additional reports of other attendees also testing positive.

DC’s Capital Pride postponed The Capital Pride Alliance, which organizes D.C.’s annual Pride parade and festival, announced March 30 that it has postponed all of its Pride related events scheduled for May and June, including the parade and festival, due to the escalating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Capital Pride announced the postponement would include its affiliated Pride events, including Capital Trans Pride, Asian Pacific Islander Pride, Youth Pride, Silver Pride and DC Latinx Pride. New dates for the events will be announced in the coming weeks. In a separate announcement, the Center for Black Equity, which organizes D.C.’s annual Black Pride events on Memorial Day weekend, said it has cancelled all D.C. Black Pride events for 2020 as well.

Man convicted in killings of 2 gay men, trans woman Devon Kareem Robinson, 19, was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder and felony firearm March 17 for the 2019 killings of 21-year-old Alunte Davis, and 20-year-olds Timothy Blancher and Paris Cameron. Prosecutors said Davis and Blancher were gay men and Cameron was a transgender woman and they and police believe the victims were targeted for their sexual orientation and gender identity. The three victims were slain in the living room of a Detroit home following a party attended by about 15 people. Robinson could face life behind bars without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced April 13 for the May 2019 killings.

Irish track champ comes out Denis Finnegan, a 10-time national track-and-field title winner in Ireland, came out as gay on the “Five Rings To Rule Them All” podcast March 23. Finnegan said he has been “drifting” toward coming out in recent years even though being gay is only a small part of who he is “as a person, and an even smaller part as an athlete,” in order to help other LGBTQ people in sports feel less alone. Finnegan, who won his 10 championships in triple jump, said that he eventually gravitated toward track and field – as opposed to team sports like basketball and Gaelic football, which he played in his younger years – because he found the atmosphere more welcoming.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

talking points I had some gay friends in school. The reason I left my church is that they weren’t being accepted … I had a really hard time with that, and I had a hard time with me finding my sexuality too.

More than

100 groups

– Miley Cyrus discusses leaving her Christian church on her Instagram Live

led by

Disney doubles down on LGBTQ inclusion

LGBTQ organizations say the

LGBTQ community is at a greater risk

n anti-LGBTQ propagandist was rebuffed during Disney’s annual shareholder meeting in mid-March by Bob Chapek, a 27-year Disney veteran and the company’s new CEO. Caroline Farrow, representing the conservative group CitizenGo, attended the event to pressure the entertainment giant over its promotion of “LGBT ideology.” Farrow asserted that families “no longer feel safe” engaging with Disney because of the inclusion of LGBTQ characters in its programming. “At Disney we strongly believe we should reflect in our creative content the diversity that we find in our fanbase and our audience,” Chapek responded. “I believe that will continue with an increased commitment as we move forward. We want to represent our audience. We believe we want to tell stories that our audience wants to hear that reflects their lives.” Chapek’s words were greeted with enthusiastic applause from the crowd of attending shareholders.

for contracting COVID-19. The illness is respiratory-related and LGBTQ people smoke at rates

50%

higher than others.

–National LGBT Cancer Network, GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, Whitman-Walker Health, SAGE, New York Transgender Advocacy Group and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, March 2020

Buttigieg boldly goes to late night

ormer Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg guest hosted “Jimmy Kimmel Live” March 12, welcoming “Star Trek: Picard” star Patrick Stewart and facing the actor in a round of “Star Trek” trivia. Buttigieg, a self-professed Trekkie, was visibly excited to interview the legendary actor who is one of the most popular “Star Trek” actors in the franchise’s history. The trivia portion, “Who Is the Captain Now?,” also welcomed fellow “Star Trek” alum and former “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton. While Buttigieg lost to Stewart, he left with a Trek treasure. At the end of his interview, Stewart presented him with a signed copy of one of his working scripts from an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

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David Hockney paints hopeful piece

avid Hockney, 82, delivered a message of hope with a new painting March 19. The openly gay artist is a painter, draftsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer known as one of the key figures in the pop art movement of the 1960s. He has long explored sexuality through pieces such as “We Two Boys Together Clinging,” named after a poem by Walt Whitman. He shared his latest piece through Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, a response to growing isolation amidst COVID-19. The work depicts a cluster of bright yellow daffodils blossoming in the midst of a green field with a grey and barren landscape in the distant background. It is titled, “Do Remember They Can’t Cancel the Spring.”

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‘The Rosie O’Donnell Show’ returns

osie O’Donnell and her talk show returned March 22 for a live, one-night fundraiser for the Actor’s Fund, a charitable organization that assists entertainment industry workers. The nearly three-and-a-half hour show welcomed an impressive list of screen and stage stars, including Tituss Burgess, Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Audra McDonald, Alan Menken, Idina Menzel, Ben Platt, Billy Porter and more. It was streamed via YouTube and Broadway.com and raised more than $600K, $100K of which came from O’Donnell, for those impacted by COVID-19. “This is the ultimate win-win proposition,” Producer Erich Bergen shared. “The Actors Fund needs our support, and we’re all desperate for some fabulous entertainment we can enjoy from the safety of our own homes.”

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Local organizations take on the issue of LGBTQ homelessness in these uncertain times

Lora Korpar

loridians are no

strangers to the issue of homelessness. If they are not experiencing it themselves, they have probably seen someone who is experiencing it out on the street on a daily basis.

Florida ranks third in the nation for the highest population of homeless people, a 2018 report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness says. That same report states that approximately 5.6% of the 552,830 people experiencing homelessness on any given night that year lived in Florida. The issue has also greatly impacted the LGBTQ community, especially LGBTQ youth, who are more vulnerable due to them running away from or being driven out of homes that are not accepting of their identities. Larry Biddle, who has recently retired, worked with nonprofits at PlanningWorks, LLC in Tampa Bay for more than 20 years and worked with Family Resources in St. Petersburg to complete research on homeless youth in Pinellas County. “I think all problems with homelessness are awful, but I think they’re more acutely awful for LGBTQ kids because it’s an added opportunity for them to feel further alienated than they would otherwise,” Biddle says. Biddle says that one of the biggest issues for homeless LGBTQ youth in Pinellas County was a lack of funding for

Continued on pg. 22 | uu |

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| uu | Where can they go? from pg.21

shelters and other services that they need. “Without the services, these kids end up sleeping at beaches and are very much targets for human traffickers,” he says. “So this is a very big problem because these young people are immensely vulnerable to someone who comes along and says ‘I know you don’t have any food and don’t have any money, but I can help you,’ ‘Come with me,’ and all that stuff. They get into that net. It’s a huge problem that’s barely being addressed at all by anybody.” Communities in Florida have begun to take steps to try to decrease LGBTQ homelessness and to limit the struggles that they experience within homeless shelters. The OneOrlando Alliance, which is a coalition of LGBTQ-serving organizations in the Orlando area formed days after the Pulse tragedy, is starting an initiative to do exactly that. “When the Alliance was first formed, we really set out to look at reshaping the future of Central Florida and making it a more safe and inclusive place for all LGBTQ people,” says Jennifer Foster, the organization’s executive director. “So we said collectively, ‘What are the top issues that we could really focus on, what are the root causes, to really try to make some significant change?’” Every year since 2017, the OneOrlando Alliance has published an Alliance Agenda listing the top 10 issues the local LGBTQ community is facing. Homelessness was a big issue on the agenda, so they decided to start with that. “That was one of the very first initiatives that I dug into when I took this role [of Executive Director] because as long as the most vulnerable among us aren’t protected, it’s tough to really focus on doing things like making an economic impact and other things that we’re interested in doing,” Foster says. “We really wanted to start with, ‘Who has it the worst in our community?’ and by making sure that people who are experiencing homelessness have access and can go to the same service providers in the

Community Fighter: Larry Biddle talks about the Family Resource’s Homeless Youth Project in a promotional video in 2017. Photo from Family Resource’s YouTube community that everybody else can; that they feel safe and included.” The Alliance created a task force of representatives from six member organizations that are focused on tackling the issue of homelessness. Each organization has an area of expertise to contribute to the initiative. The first organization, Zebra Coalition, is dedicated to helping LGBTQ people ages 13-24 struggling with bullying, homelessness, abuse and

through “information, education, advocacy and support.” Family Equality is dedicated to the advancement of equality for LGBTQ families, focusing on both family support and family building. Rounding out the task force is Florida’s largest civil rights organization, Equality Florida. In addition to these six, there are also a few members of the LGBTQ community who have experienced homelessness themselves who have joined

According to Foster, 35% of Central Florida’s homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, so the OneOrlando Alliance is especially committed to making sure LGBTQ youth homelessness is being addressed. True Colors United found in its research that while about 7% of young people in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ, 40% of youth experiencing homelessness in the U.S. are LGBTQ. “We’re looking at it holistically because homelessness is really

I think all problems with homelessness are awful, but I think they’re more acutely awful for LGBTQ kids because it’s an added opportunity for them to feel further alienated than — Larry Biddle they would otherwise. isolation from their families. They provide housing, mental health services, community events and more. Next is Bliss Cares, an organization that provides immediate care for anyone who is worried they have a sexually transmitted disease. The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association provides volunteer attorneys to take cases for people who cannot afford one. Also part of the task force is the LGBT+ Center Orlando, a center for the Orlando LGBTQ community whose mission is to empower those it serves

the task force. “What happened in the past was that just one organization would be trying to do this work on their own,” Foster says. “They wouldn’t be able to have as big of an impact as they would by having the alliance lead it, by being able to go in collectively as a group. There’s power in numbers so we can kind of go in [together.] “The Alliance has a certain amount of respect in the community because they know that we bring in experts to really look at issues,” she continues. “So it’s a much more effective approach than anything we’ve done as a community before.”

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a symptom to a problem. It’s not the problem itself,” Foster shares. “It’s a symptom of a lack of inclusion in society, in the workplace and in people’s families, when it comes to youth usually. If we can treat the root cause, which is inclusion, then we hope to see homelessness decrease here in Central Florida in a couple years.” The OneOrlando Alliance’s initiative is centered around getting more funding both for shelters and for preventing homelessness as well as holding cultural competency training sessions for the employees of homeless shelters.

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Low funding and a lack of services are a big issue both locally and nationally. Biddle says those were some of the biggest issues he found while doing his research in Pinellas County, as there is “virtually no funding” from the city or state to create programs to help homeless LGBTQ youth. According to Biddle, in Pinellas County alone there are approximately 800 to 1,000 young people who are homeless at any point in time. There are likely even more, he notes, as those figures came from just the homeless youth who were willing to fill out the questionnaires they were given. “The problem is that the funding is so sparse that there are only a few beds in comparison to the need for these kids,” Biddle says. In the Central Florida area, the OneOrlando Alliance has had a bit more luck with funding. Though they are still looking for more grants, they did receive a grant from the City of Orlando to help fund their cultural competency training. The cultural competency training consists of a series of lessons from representatives of OneOrlando Alliance member organizations on topics such as policies and procedures, state and federal regulations and LGBTQ terminology. These lessons are followed by a question and answer session. Foster says that the questions varied from very base-level questions on LGBTQ terms to deeper questions, showing that the shelter employees’ backgrounds and knowledge of the LGBTQ community were very different from person to person. In May 2019, the OneOrlando Alliance provided training for about 100 homeless shelter employees. Unfortunately, some of the federal protections for transgender people that had been taught in the training were rolled back as soon as the next day, but Foster says the training was still valuable and effective. “That was a pretty big blow to our community in general,” she says. “But the nice thing was we were able to have all those people in there. We were able to have those conversations and really talk with them about why it’s important to treat everyone equally, why it’s important to have inclusive shelter

environments and how to keep everybody safe.” This cultural competency training is being done all over the country not only to educate homeless shelter employees on the LGBTQ community, but to increase acceptance and inclusion in these facilities. Through his work in Pinellas County, Biddle found that it can be harder to identify younger LGBTQ people in homeless shelters, which can be a positive as it makes them less of a target. “It is very difficult and sometimes impossible unless it’s something that is volunteered by someone to know whether they’re LGBTQ or not,” Biddle says. “As you know, today, that is less of a tag that [young people] use, so it makes it even more difficult. But that’s OK.” Transgender and other gender-diverse people are frequently not as fortunate. The National Center for Transgender Equality found that one in five transgender people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Transgender people are also much more likely to be turned away from homeless shelters or housed with the incorrect gender. Foster says the OneOrlando Alliance is also focusing its efforts on the inclusion of the gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness, as many facilities are not set up with them in mind. “It’s easier for a cisgender, perhaps gay man or lesbian to go to a facility and fly under the radar than it is for a transgender individual. That’s not something that we want to be happening,” Foster says. “We want everybody to be able to identify as their true, authentic self when they go to spaces.” Besides cultural competency training, the OneOrlando Alliance is also focused on working with other organizations to help them achieve their goals. For their LGBTQ homelessness initiative, the Alliance’s task force has been meeting and working with organizations like the Salvation Army. The task force members sit down with Salvation Army leadership to discuss any problems they might be having and offer guidance.

Winning Partnership: One Orlando Alliance is represented by Heather Wilkie and Jennifer Foster (center) at the

Citrus Club in Orlando as the organization is recognized by the Salvation Army as the 2020 Outstanding Non-Profit Partner March 7. Photo courtesy Jennifer Foster

“This issue is not going to be fixed overnight,” Foster says. “It didn’t happen overnight, so it’s not going to be solved overnight. But the more we can strengthen the relationships with these organizations that are providing services in our community, the better it is for our LGBTQ population.” Foster also says that strengthening these relationships can help the community on an individual level, so if someone who is homeless and LGBTQ reaches out to the Alliance, they know how to connect them to an organization that might be able to help them. Because the Salvation Army has its roots in religion, it has had controversies in the past regarding their treatment of LGBTQ individuals, such as a spokesman calling same-sex relationships “sinful” in 2012 or claims of several facilities turning away or mistreating transgender people. In recent years, the organization has added an “LGBT Support” section to their website, vowing to serve everyone with no discrimination. Foster says that though she can’t speak for the rest of the country, the Salvation Army in

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Central Florida has been nothing but helpful in their collective fight against homelessness. “I think that we have to meet people where they’re at,” Foster says. “The Salvation Army in Central Florida is showing every intention and has been over the past year that we’ve been working with them to be fully inclusive,” she continues. “We are delighted to work with them, to partner with them and to help them grow and help them become a safer and inclusive environment for all people. That’s what they’re committed to and that’s what they want.” Despite all these efforts, the current COVID-19 outbreak has not only slowed the OneOrlando Alliance’s LGBTQ homelessness battle but has created uncertainty for homeless people around the world. With multiple beds in every room and many large communal areas, the vast majority of homeless shelters are neither designed nor equipped for a pandemic. “I would imagine that the last thing [homeless youth are] going to be thinking about is what they have to do to be careful to not get this virus when they’re so desperate for something to eat

and a place to sleep,” Biddle says. “The choices are so limited that it makes it, I think, very possible to be more vulnerable.” The National LGBT Cancer Network published a letter that was signed by more than 100 national organizations stating that the LGBTQ community could be more vulnerable to the virus as well. They cited a higher population of smokers and people with HIV as well as healthcare discrimination and barriers as reasons why. Foster says the virus could make even more trouble for homeless LGBTQ youth in Central Florida because there are only eight beds in the region specifically for LGBTQ youth and many people that will be looking for shelter. “Our biggest focus right now is making sure that people are safe and that they have the services that they need,” she says. “When it comes to homelessness, the shelters are already overrun and there’s a lack of space, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ+ youth. “Our focus is going to be trying to help people first stay housed if they are housed, and keep them safe,” she continues. “Then, if they do need to go to a shelter,

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working with those shelters to make sure that there’s a space for them and that they’re fully included when they are in those spaces.” Despite the setbacks caused by COVID-19, Foster is hopeful that the OneOrlando Alliance’s initiative will make clear and positive change. “Our shelters today are in a much better place than they were one year ago in terms of being inclusive and being safe spaces for people in the LGBTQ+ community to go,” Foster says. “So I think the problem’s getting worse, but fortunately our shelters are more competent and able to be inclusive of our community.” The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that on any given night, there are more than 31,000 homeless people in Florida, with more than 8,000 of them in the Central Florida and Tampa Bay areas alone. Of all these people, only 56% are currently sheltered. With the current health and political climate, both Foster and Biddle agree that homelessness in Florida is getting worse. They also agree that the OneOrlando Alliance’s initiative is a step in the right direction. “A lot of the kids that are homeless are not local. They come from other parts of the state where they were stigmatized and not cared for,” Biddle says. “So I think it’s a wonderful thing and maybe [the OneOrlando Alliance] can come up with a model that can be used by the rest of the state. “I think that organizations that could potentially serve them are not collaborating at all,” he continues. “We discovered that here in Pinellas. So I think a collaboration of a number of organizations working together would be a wonderful idea.” “I’m sure that in the next five years, the impact of the work that we’re doing now, we’re going to see it translate in big ways,” Foster says. “Right now we’re seeing it in small ways and it’s good that we’re seeing it, but I believe we’re going to see that affect the numbers within the next few years.”

For more information about the OneOrlando Alliance’s member organizations and to donate to their efforts, visit OneOrlandoAlliance.org.

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announcements

tampa bay Inside + Out

Congratulations

Josh Beadle and Katie McCurry launched the Sarasota-based Project Pride SRQ last month. Cole Foust and Britt Upchurch were engaged March 13. “The Miguel & Holly Show” celebrated five years on HOT 101.5 March 30.

Condolences

Lawrence V. McCann, husband of Kurt King, passed away March 17. Playwright Terrance McNally passed away March 24. Realtor and activist Robert Barnum passed away March 27.

Cancellations/ Postponements

The Sarasota Film Festival, originally scheduled from March 27-April 5, has been indefinitely postponed. Equality Florida’s St. Pete Gala, originally scheduled for May 9, has been indefinitely postponed. The Tampa International Fringe Festival, originally scheduled for April 30-May 10, has been rescheduled for July 23-Aug. 2. Jobsite Theater has cancelled “The Resistable Rise of Arturo UI,” originally scheduled May 15-June 7 and “Animals Out of Paper,” originally scheduled July 17-Aug. 9. The North American tour of “Miss Saigon” has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled at the Straz Center.

Local Birthdays

Tampa Bay-based Concept Bait’s Frank Clemente, St. Pete social media marketer Philip Gustin-Helms (April 2); St. Pete airman Kevin Joe, Tampa Bay-based flight attendant Trenton Ferris (April 3); Sarasota actor Matt Craft, Disco Donnie Presents production manager James Dinnan (April 4); Tampa banker Jeff Baker, St. Petersburg nurse Brian Feist, St. Petersburg entertainer Michael Jones, Tampa MCC activist Mac McGowan, Sage Sarasota’s Jordan Rose, St. Petersburg director Eric Casaccio, Paychex specialist Jacob Ahrens-Rich, Largo Vice Mayor and City Commissioner Michael Smith (April 5); C2Q’s Donny Hill, Public accountant Joel Schmitz (April 6); Sarasota real estate e-marketing director Ken Demmons, Cristoph’s Tampa owner Jacqueline McRay, All Hallows aficionado Nick Okeson (April 7); St. Petersburg HIV/ AIDS activist Joe Dobson, Avidchick Design president Jennifer Carter, Project Pride SRQ co-founder Katie McCurry, Sarasota entertainer Grandma Pearl (April 8); St. Petersburg Metro employee Mike Hollis, Tampa Bay activist Jean Batronie (April 10); Community Cafe owner Mandy Keyes, freeFall Theatre’s Susan Haldeman (April 11); Tampa MCC’s facility manager Mac Williams (April 12); St. Petersburg ROTC twirler Scott Heli, Tampa Bay internet guru Jordan Butterworth, Tampa Bay entertainer Esme Russell (April 13); St. Pete Dance owner Michael Raisch (April 14); Tampa Bay DJ Bill Kody (April 15).

2 3

TLC: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor delivers homemade lunch to the Emergency Operations Center team March 21. PHOTO

COURTESY JANE CASTOR

DIGITAL DAYS: Entertainment Chair John Chambrone streams his support of Tampa Pride’s digital weekend March 28. PHOTO COURTESY TAMPA PRIDE

LOCAL LOVE: State Rep. Jennifer Webb picks up her To Go order from Neptune Grill March 24.

PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER WEBB

TAMPA STRONG: Ana Cruz delivers food to the Tampa Police Dept. March 23.

PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF TAMPA

STREAMING SERVICE: Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw prepares to live stream MCC Tampa’s Sunday service March 22.

PHOTO COURTESY JAKOB HERO-SHAw

PLEASE STAY AT HOME FOR US: St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman (C), Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin (2nd from L), St. Pete Fire Rescue and Police Dept. share an important message March 26. PHOTO COURTESY

CITY OF ST. PETE

SAFETY FIRST: Metro Inclusive Health’s screening team greets patients at their St. Pete facility March 23. PHOTO COURTESY

METRO INCLUSIVE HEALTH

FIVE YEARS STRONG: (L-R) Miguel Fuller, Will Calder and Holly O’Connor mark five years of “The Miguel & Holly Show” on HOT 101.5 March 30.

PHOTO COURTESY HOT 101.5

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Kids Fun Run: 9:15 am CommUNITY Festival: 7:00 am-10:30 am

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Official Host Hotel

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

announcements

central florida inside + out

Congratulations

Michael Orsini-Collins and Joshua Orsini-Collins announce, in a gender reveal, they are having a baby girl with their kangaroo (she doesn’t like the sound of surrogate) Kaley Harris. The new baby’s name will be Addilyn Orsini-Collins.

Virtual Shows

Ginger Minj and Gidget Galore star in “Showtunes & Shit,” a night of fun, laughs and Broadway, on StageIt. com/DigitalDragFest April 6.

Local Birthdays

Former cover model Aaron Sanford-Wetherell, Orlando-based flight attendant James Sparkman (April 2); Darren Charles aka Bridgette Galore, Bowled Over Promotions’ Karyn Bell, Orlando’s Didi Panache (April 3); Orlando playwright David Lee, SOLE Orlando leader Kate Murray, burlesque performer Kissa Von Addams, Bowled Over Promotions’ Dawn Kallio (April 4); Orlando Front Runner Scott Feneck, Miss Florida Bearded Queen Anthony Chiocchi (April 5); Orlando accountant Leah James, Former PFLAG Orlando president Pat Padilla (April 6); graphic designer Jason Donnelly, Intrepid traveler Jon Taylor, Rollins College costume studio manager Seth Schrager, Appiled Veterinary Solutions owner Jean-David Parlier, Ally and owner of Dictor Financial Wayne Dictor (April 7); Orange County Mayor’s LGBTQ liaison Marc Espeso (April 9); Orlando lovebird Bobby McCall (April 10); Equality Florida’s Joe Saunders, Orlando Log Cabin Republican Patrick Howell, Orlando dentist Elena Puig (April 12); Florida Hospital’s Stacy Pease, Former OGC director Aubrey Connelly, Florida Paradise Weddings owner Steven Russell (April 13); Elizabeth “Sister Koochie Koo” of the Orlando Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Orlando attorney Cory Beetly, Drag chanteuse Chantel Reshae (April 14); Ocala-based horse trainer Randy Eeckhout, Southern Nights Orlando DJ Nela Aguirre (April 15).

courtesy Patty Sheehan

Photo by Jeremy Williams

Work From Home: City Commissioner Patty Sheehan grabs a selfie from her virtual office at home in Orlando March 28. Photo

At Home Baking: Performer Blue Star gets down in the dough while she social distances at her home in Orlando March 28. Photo courtesy Blue Star

See your news in Watermark! Send your announcement to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com or go to WatermarkOnline.com/Submit-a-Transition.

It’s that easy!

courtesy Jerick Mediavilla

courtesy Anna V. Eskamani

Keep Your Distance: BFF’s Jerick Mediavilla (front) and Ida V. Eskamani exchange vegan food and tequila at a safe distance in Orlando March 20. Photo

Hair Ideas: State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani shows off her naturally curly hair March 29 as social distancing has kept blowouts from the salon on hold. Photo

Get Some Reading Done: Watermark founder Tom Dyer picks up the latest issue outside his office in Orlando March 25.

Keeping Busy: Performer Philip Ancheta gets his fitness, work and gaming on all at once as he multitasks during the Stay-At-Home in Orlando March 30. Photo courtesy Philip Ancheta

Do you have an announcement? Having a birthday or anniversary? Did you get a new job or promotion?

Online Meetings: Brendan O’Connor gets all dolled up in his royal best for a Zoom meeting at his home in Orlando March 31. photo

courtesy Brendan O’Connor

Virtual Entertainment: Central Florida drag queen Gidget Galore reads to the kids remotely for Drag Queen Story Hour at the LGBT+ Center Orlando March 26. Photo

courtesy LGBT+ Center Orlando

8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

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Read It Online!

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Thank you to those who have made contributions: Jeremy Williams, Jason LeClerc, Jennifer Foster, GayStPeteHouse.com, Boyd Lindsley, Dylan Todd Photography, Jeffrey Lucas, Stephen Roberts, Eric Wilson, Steve Yacovelli and Tom Dyer.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

viewpoint

Richard E. Carlisle, CAN Community Health President & CEO

Covid-19 and the Community

he global spread of

novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting all of us. At CAN Community Health, our top priority is the health and safety of our clients and employees.

Our effort to protect the most vulnerable requires our communities’ compassion and all our participation. As national not-for-profit whose mission is to inspire and contribute to the well-being of those affected by HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted diseases. We do that by providing care through outreach, integrated clinical practice, advocacy, education and research. Our mission is supported by collaborations with local organizations that serve high-risk populations. Established in Sarasota in 1991, we now provide services in Arizona, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia. Our 36 sites offer treatment, education and support services. We have been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and have a team of experts to address the potential threat of the virus following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This cross-functional task force meets daily. We have taken rigorous efforts to follow CDC guidance in crafting protocols for our clinics. We launched our Telehealth platform March 19, which clients can utilize to access healthcare professionals by video or telephone. In addition, we have implemented plans to help shield our clients and employees, enhancing our already comprehensive cleaning and sanitization processes. We have also continued to emphasize proper hygiene, including more frequent handwashing and the appropriate use of hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment, or PPE. Providers have discussed COVID-19 prevention methods with patients during telephone visits, including rigorous hand hygiene, appropriate respiratory etiquette and frequent disinfection of high touch surfaces. Furthermore, we have established workflows to preserve our ability to offer care. These services include

HIV and viral hepatitis testing, initiation and continuation of HIV treatment without interruption of the treatment course, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, initiation and continuation of hepatitis C treatment without interruption of the treatment course, laboratory monitoring as clinically appropriate and screening and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. If an in-person visit cannot be avoided, providers are advised to strictly adhere to the use of PPE. All patients arriving for in-person clinic visits are screened for respiratory symptoms, fever and travel in the last 14 days upon check-in at the front desk. If any of these are present, patients are given a surgical face mask to wear in the waiting room. Each clinic is advised to maintain at least six feet between patients in the waiting area, to designate only one patient room per clinic for evaluation of patients with acute fever or respiratory illness and to reinforce protocols for daily terminal cleaning of all rooms in the clinic by existing environmental service providers. The consensus among HIV specialists is that persons on antiretroviral medications who are not immunosuppressed have similar risk from infection as the general population. In these persons, the risk is best defined by typical risk factors for severe infection such as elderly age and chronic medical conditions. Conversely, persons who are immunosuppressed with T-cell count ≤ 200 are at elevated risk for severe infection in guidance to patients. Currently, there is no published literature or case studies on the impact of COVID-19 on persons living with HIV. CAN is regularly reviewing and updating protocols to adhere to CDC guidance for our healthcare workers and the clinical care of persons under investigation for COVID-19. Any patient with respiratory

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

symptoms is screened for warning symptoms which, if present, would prompt a recommendation for evaluation in an emergency department. If such warning symptoms are not present, but respiratory illness with fever is, providers are encouraged strongly to evaluate these

treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Staff is required to self-monitor temperature at least twice daily and self-report any subjective fever or respiratory symptoms to an occupational health provider. Persons with symptoms of infection

the recommendations of our medical professionals in a further effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The entire CAN family is indebted to the heroic efforts of our nations’ first responders, doctors, nurses, researchers, and public health experts. We do not yet

patients by telephone visits and avoid in-person visits. In support of national efforts to promote social distancing, CAN has implemented widespread use of teleworking for clinical and non-clinical staff. In-person clinic consultations are being limited to only once per week for medically necessary visits, such as directly observed

are encouraged to obtain COVID-19 testing locally and are self-quarantined at home. Healthcare workers have been discouraged from traveling domestically or internationally. Likewise, clients are encouraged to avoid similar travel and to avoid any gatherings of over 10 people. We must come together as a community and heed

know with certainty when the most significant risk will be behind us but are committed to continuing in our role as dedicated community partners.

We must come together as a community and heed the recommendations of our medical professionals in a further effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

Richard E. Carlisle became CAN’s third president and CEO in 2015 and served as vice president of Sarasota Memorial Hospital for 15 years. CAN Community Health is the third-largest private provider of HIV services in the nation.

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April 2 - A pr il 15 , 2020 // Issue 27.07 wat e r m a r konline .com

Watermark Issue 27.07: Where can they Go?

Articles inside

Tampa Bay Ne s

State, Nation & Wor d

Centra Fl orida Ne s

Community & CO VID -19

Bureau Chief’s Desk