CENTRAL FL OUT + ABOUT

announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS

Peer Support Space celebrated three years on Feb. 1. BarCodes Orlando celebrates 13 years on March 5.

RESEARCH STUDY

Three of the nation’s largest blood centers — Vitaliano, OneBlood and the American Red Cross — in partnership with the LGBT+ Center Orlando are seeking participants to join a new groundbreaking FDA-funded study in Orlando to consider new approaches for determining blood donation eligibility for men who have sex with men. If you are a gay or bisexual male between 18-39 years old and interested in becoming a blood donor, you may be eligible to participate. Go to ADVANCEStudy.org for more details.

COVID TESTING SITES

Orange County and the City of Orlando have four COVID-19 testing sites: Barnett Park, located at 4801 W. Colonial Dr.; Econ Soccer Complex, located at 8035 Yates Rd.; South Orange Youth Sports Complex, located at 11800 S. Orange Ave.; and Camping World Stadium, located at 1 Citrus Bowl Place. All four locations are open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached. All locations are all offering Molecular PCR and Rapid Antigen (both nasal) tests at no cost. No appointments are necessary but online pre-registration is required. Go to PatientPortalFL.com to pre-register.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

Downtown Arts District board member Ben Laube, Orlando playwright-actor John Ryan, Disney entertainment guru John Bearse (Feb. 17); Orange County arts hero Terry Olsen (Feb. 18); Owner of Crabtree Healthy Living Toni Crabtree; Orlando realtor Sam Gallaher, Central Florida funeral director Sam Odom (Feb. 20); Orlando educator John Albritton (Feb. 21); Contigo Fund’s Andres Acosta Ardila, Central Florida performer Heather Abood, Roller girl Jessy “Spikey” Wayles, Orlando photographer/videographer Savannah Powell (Feb. 22); Orlando’s singing cowboy cub CiJay Bailey, The Hammered Lamb owner Jason Lambert, Central Florida realtor David Dorman (Feb. 23); Metro City Realty owner Jon Sheehan (Feb. 24); Songbird Megan Monesmith, Geek Easy’s Oral Frier, Orlando graphic designer Lisa Buck, Framing of Central Florida co-owner Mike Van Der Leest (Feb. 25); Central Florida Community Arts founder and executive director Joshua Vickery, Former Come Out With Pride board member Matthew Riha (Feb. 26); A/V technician at The Social/Beacham Peter Smith, Orlando aesthete extraordinaire Jim Cundiff (Feb. 27); Orlando photographer J.D. Casto, Disney Cruise Line’s David Baldree (Feb. 28); Fields Motorcars Orlando’s Russ Fowler (Feb. 29); Drag beauty Chrysanthe Mum (March 1); Former Joy MCC pastor Lisa Heilig, Indigo Hotel’s Tim Calandrino, Orlando community activist Heather Leibowitz, Girls in Wonderland’s Yesl Leon (March 2). 4

1IN CONCERT: Jerick Mediavilla (L) and state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith see Dua Lipa perform at the Amway Center in Orlando

Feb. 11. PHOTO COURTESY CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH

2ALLYSHIP: (L-R) Andres Acosta Ardilla, Marco Antonio Quiroga and Tatiana Quiroga show their Trans Ally Awards from Divas in Dialogue during the Divas in Dialogue graduation at Maggiano’s in Orlando Feb. 5. PHOTO

COURTESY ANDRES ACOSTA ARDILLA

3EXHIBIT OPENING: Jose Luis Dieppa (L) and Marc Espeso at the members-only opening reception of “Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat, The Thaddeus Mumford, Jr. Venice Collection” at the Orlando Museum of Art Feb. 10. PHOTO

COURTESY JOSE LUIS DIEPPA

4STRAWBERRY FIELDS: Tim Leddy picks an impressive batch of strawberries at Southern Hill Farms in Clermont Feb. 12.

PHOTO COURTESY TIM LEDDY

5AFTERNOON TIME: Heather Wilkie (L) and Ted Bogert at a Zebra Coalition fundraiser, organized by VIP Mortgage Group, at Island Time in Orlando Feb. 11. PHOTO

COURTESY HEATHER WILKIE

6MARY’S DRAG: Chyna Cravens channels Dua Lipa at Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando Feb. 11.

PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA

7FASHION ICONS: Participants and attendees during the 8th annual Trash 2 Trends fundraiser at SeaWorld’s Ports of Call in Orlando Feb.

5. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

8THAT’S YOUR SIGN: Josh Bell shows off some of the signs made during a volunteer event at the LGBT+ Center Orlando Feb. 12. The signs will be used during the Rally for Our Collective Rights at City Hall Feb. 26.

PHOTO COURTESY JOSH BELL

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