Watermark Issue 30.08: LGBTQ+ Travel

None of this is to say homophobic thought or legislation is OK. It is not. But we opened doors, we opened minds, we made connections and in the interim, we had a blast. – JOURNALIST SHERYL KAY ON VISITING MOROCCO

DESK EDITOR’S

built on lies, xenophobia and fear, and well after his Electoral College victory. Covering its fallout in-depth every Saturday and Sunday was always mentally taxing, but one weekend stands out as being especially rough.

On Aug. 11-12, 2017, the Unite the Right rally was held in Charlottesville, Virginia, a gathering of white nationalists and other domestic terrorists, many whom clearly supported the former president. They gathered to protest the removal of a Confederate monument honoring one of this nation’s most high-profile traitors, which eventually happened in 2021.

I knew I’d be reporting on it but didn’t know to what extent. Unfortunately, it became clear after a white supremacist deliberately drove his car into a crowd of peaceful counter protesters.

A total of 35 people were injured and one person was killed, right here on American soil by a domestic terrorist. It was an attack that any other U.S. president would clearly and quickly condemn.

Trump didn’t. Instead, he issued a statement from his golf course about the “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides — on many sides.” The response angered Americans of every political ideology.

in American history, both from his supporters and some of his detractors. The former argued, of course, that it was all a politically motivated attack, while the latter cautioned Americans should never celebrate someone becoming the first U.S. president to be charged with criminal activity.

I couldn’t disagree more. No one is above the law and the man has escaped accountability his entire public life. But even more than that — and to say nothing about the other indictments hopefully yet to come — when it comes to Trump, no day in U.S. history could be darker than the day he was elected.

Trump made it clear who he was before, on and for years after Nov.

MOMMA ASHLEY

ROSE has performed family friendly drag for over 20 years. She is a philanthropist, public speaker, activist and mentor who founded Rose Dynasty Foundation to help provide a safe space for all. Page 15

CHEVALIER LOVETT

(he/him, they/ them) proudly serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rising, an organization committed to building independent political power in Florida’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Page 17

9, 2016, so I was proud to see him head to court April 4. I won’t chant “Lock Him Up!” because I believe in due process, but I certainly won’t see a downside if it happens. I daresay it would help Make America Great Again.

To be fair, I’m not sure the corporate world is actually for anyone or anything other than the bottom line, but I was fortunate enough to leave it behind in 2017. That’s when I came on board full time here at Watermark, something I’ll save my gushing over since I’ve written about it at length over the years.

I freelanced here and elsewhere before and slightly after officially coming on board, including a website focused on LGBTQ civil rights and progressive politics. I oversaw it on weekends, sharing my opinion and aggregating content from other news sources through that lens.

WATERMARK STAFF

Owner & Publisher: Rick Todd • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

Editor-in-Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

Managing Editor: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

It was enjoyable but draining, particularly since my time there was set leading up to, during and in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. The experience helped me develop a healthy disdain for another product of corporate America and its greed: Donald Trump.

Anyone who knows me well, or who’s at least met me a few times, probably knows that I loathe everything that man stands for. Not just because Hillary Clinton was the most qualified candidate to seek the presidency in my lifetime but because it’s my view that he represents the worst of us.

That was evident throughout his campaign for president, one

Creative Designer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 107 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com

Creative Designer: Kyler Mills • Ext. 104 Kyler@WatermarkOnline.com

Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com

Being who he is, Trump quickly attacked the press for covering his own words. He subsequently doubled down during a news conference two days later — 48 hours after not clearly condemning white nationalism — using the opportunity to blame violence “on both sides.”

The entire situation told me everything I needed to know about the man, who should never have been president and certainly shouldn’t be again. It’s one of the many weekends I couldn’t help but reflect on this month after Trump’s arraignment in New York.

That’s because I heard repeatedly that it was a dark day

Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

Tampa Bay Account Manager: Sylvie Trevena • Ext. 105 Sylvie@WatermarkOnline.com

Central FL Account Manager: Daisy Chamberlin • Ext. 101 Daisy@WatermarkOnline.com

We turn our eyes away from the nation in this issue for an in-depth look at LGBTQ+ travel abroad. We head to India, Morocco and Cabo. We return stateside for our news coverage, introducing Phantom History House in Tampa and covering former Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith’s bid for the Florida Senate in Orlando. In arts and entertainment, we settle in for American Stage in the Park’s “Ragtime” in St. Petersburg and Orlando Shakes’ take on “Kinky Boots” in Central Florida.

Watermark strives to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. Please stay safe, stay informed and enjoy this latest issue.

ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

PHOTOGRAPHY

BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, J.D. CASTO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT

DISTRIBUTION

LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, ZACHARY WELCH

AFFILIATIONS

Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer 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

LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS, I HAVE A healthy disdain for corporate America. I worked in it for years, most recently writing correspondence for a Fortune 500, and while it had its benefits the drawbacks weren’t for me.

I won’t chant ‘Lock Him Up!’ … but I certainly won’t see a downside if it happens.

Ryan Williams-Jent MANAGING EDITOR Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

DESK

IS RAPIDLY CHANGING

Artificial Intelligence has been a topic of interest for many over the last few months. From AI image generators, which are being used to design works of art, to ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that is being used to write everything from stories, research papers and even part of a recent “South Park” episode, it seems like we are growing ever closer to a dystopian future that resembles those in films like “The Terminator,” “iRobot” or “The Matrix.”

This technology is already being used by tech-savvy criminals who are evolving the tried-and-true art of scamming people out of money over the phone. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert warning people of scammers using AI voice clone generators to make it sound like you are receiving a panicked call from a loved one. In the past, these crooks would call pretending to be a cop, a lawyer, a member of the IRS or any number of authority figures and try to get you to send them money to avoid any legal or criminal charges from being brought upon you. Now, they can pretend to be your own children, spouse, parent or anyone you care about.

With technology advancing at lightning speed, how can anyone safeguard themselves? The FTC is advising that if anyone calls you, even if it sounds like you know them, asking for money, hang up immediately and call the person who supposedly contacted you — even if they popped up on your caller ID because that can be manipulated too — and verify the story. Use a phone number you know is theirs. If you can’t reach your loved one, try to get in touch with them through another family member or their friends. Whatever you do, DO NOT send anyone any money.

Another way to help yourself is to not make it so easy to obtain a voice sample by posting so much

MOMMA ASHLEY

ROSE has performed family friendly drag for over 20 years. She is a philanthropist, public speaker, activist and mentor who founded Rose Dynasty Foundation to help provide a safe space for all. Page 15

CHEVALIER LOVETT

(he/him, they/ them) proudly serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rising, an organization committed to building independent political power in Florida’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Page 17

on social media. I know we live in a world where if you don’t post about it then it didn’t happen but the more videos, photos and recordings you post online, the more samples someone will have to digitally clone you.

When I was in college and went through my journalism classes, we were told to always have at least two sources — more if possible — to make sure that you have all the facts and angles of a story before reporting it. Being informed is not only a matter of knowledge, but also of responsibility. The more we know, the better we can understand the world around us and the better choices we can make.

Being informed means being aware of what is happening in the world, both locally and globally. It means keeping up with news,

WATERMARK STAFF

Owner & Publisher: Rick Todd • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

Editor-in-Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

Managing Editor: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

understanding current events and being knowledgeable about critical issues. This is especially important in today’s world where misinformation and fake news are rampant. In a world where news is readily accessible and shared on social media, it can be difficult to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources. Being informed means taking the time to research and verify information before accepting it as true. This is becoming even more important as we are entering into a world where we may not even be able to trust our own senses.

Creative Designer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 107 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com

Creative Designer: Kyler Mills • Ext. 104 Kyler@WatermarkOnline.com

Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com

“A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one,” the FTC states. “All he needs is a short audio clip of your family member’s voice — which he could get from content posted online — and a voice-cloning program. When the scammer calls you, he’ll sound just like your loved one.”

This scam isn’t just impacting naïve, older individuals who are being scammed out of hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars. There have already been instances where this technology has let scammers pretend to be bank managers and corporate CEOs and have hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen in the blink of an eye.

Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

Tampa Bay Account Manager: Sylvie Trevena • Ext. 105 Sylvie@WatermarkOnline.com

Central FL Account Manager: Daisy Chamberlin • Ext. 101 Daisy@WatermarkOnline.com

Be safe, be vigilant and be informed. You can start by reading the latest issue of your trusted LGBTQ+ news source, Watermark. In this issue, we look at LGBTQ+ travel around the world in some beautiful locations — India, Morocco and Cabo San Lucas.

In Arts and Entertainment, we look at American Stage’s latest In The Park production, “Ragtime,” playing now through May 14 in St. Petersburg’s Demens Landing Park. We also kick up our heels with Orlando Shakes as they bring the Broadway sensation, “Kinky Boots,” to their stage, playing now through April 30. Finally, we preview Orlando Ballet’s take on Tennessee Williams’ 1948 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

ORLANDO

Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer 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

SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

PHOTOGRAPHY

BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, J.D. CASTO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT

DISTRIBUTION

LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, ZACHARY WELCH

AFFILIATIONS

THE WORLD

and in the age of fast-paced information, it is important to be informed. Ignorance is no longer bliss. And being informed is not just knowing the facts but knowing what sources are reliable when it comes to getting those facts, because stories can be spun with bias so that even the facts can become fact-ish.

Be safe, be vigilant and be informed.

FORMER STATE REP. SMITH ANNOUNCES SENATE RUN

Jeremy Williams

ORLANDO | Former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is heading back onto the campaign trail and this time he is running to join the Florida Senate.

Smith announced his run for Florida Senate District 17 from the steps of Orlando City Hall April 8 surrounded by about 100 friends, family and supporters.

“It is a tremendous honor to be standing here,” Smith said, “shoulder to shoulder, with this incredible coalition of community leaders, elected officials, parents, union workers, renters, small business owners, college students, teachers, educators, arts and culture advocates, campaign volunteers and registered voters in District 17. This coalition will choose the next state senator from Central Florida.”

The 42-year-old Democrat, who represented Florida House District 49 from 2016-2022, is now looking to take up the senate seat currently held by state Sen. Linda Stewart, who is unable to seek reelection due to term limits set in the Florida Senate.

Smith was joined by several elected officials including Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, state Sen. Victor Torres and state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani.

“We need Carlos’ voice now more than ever. … As a member of the Florida House, his absence is felt,” Eskamani said. “We are fighting to increase access to gun safety and reduce community violence, to push back against efforts to erase the LGBTQ+ community, on efforts to ban drag shows, to ban books. We need Carlos’ voice, his representation matters.”

“I can tell you the most powerful thing that we have is our story,” Frost said. “When you look at the story of someone like Carlos Guillermo Smith, someone who represented us so bravely in Tallahassee. Someone who’s been fighting and fighting and fighting to see the world through the eyes of the most vulnerable through legislation, you see someone who has been personally impacted. Part of Carlos’ story involves a hate crime he was the victim of and in the face of that he stepped up to fight for everybody.”

Smith became Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ+ Latino lawmaker with his election to the state House of Representatives in 2016. After serving as the House District 49 representative for six years, Smith, due to redirecting, ran for District 37 and narrowly lost to Republican Susan Plasencia.

“Folks, I’ve got skin in the game,” Smith said. “Because the work that we have to do together to rebuild an inclusive Florida is something that my husband Jerrick, the man who I love, who inspires me every single day, it is something that we want for ourselves as well. We want an inclusive Florida that we are proud to call our home.”

For more information on Carlos Guillermo Smith’s senate run, visit CarlosGuillermoSmith.com.

Dancing Queen

Come Out With Pride returns with adults-only Pride Prom

Lex Schatten

ORLANDO | Come Out with Pride will host its annual, adults-only Pride Prom at The Orlando Science Center April 28.

Come Out With Pride hosted its inaugural Pride Prom last year to provide “an accepting space where each of us can be our authentic selves and bring the date, or dates, we perhaps couldn’t for our high school prom,” as stated on its website.

“We just really want to create this accepting and welcoming space for the LGBTQ+, specifically the trans community, to be able to use this as an opportunity to celebrate themselves, and really have that queer joy opportunity that we don’t see enough, especially right now in the current climate that we’re in,” Come Out With Pride executive director Tatiana Quiroga says.

Because the Pride Prom is being held at the Orlando Science Center, this year’s theme will be “Planet EVO: Evolution is Inclusion.”

Quiroga says the prom’s theme was chosen after the venue. Come Out With Pride wanted a theme that makes sense with the exhibits that are already in place at the venue. The main dance area will be in the DinoDigs room where guests can dance with the dinosaurs all night long.

“The thing about being at The Science Center is that there’s already some things that are built into the venue space,” Quiroga says. “We decided to lean into that.”

The Pride Prom advertises a “fun-filled night with all of the familiar prom festivities.” Attendees will get to dance, drink and take photos all night. There will be music provided by DJ Scott Robert, live entertainment and a photo booth provided by Firefly.

The Pride Prom headliner will be drag performer and openly trans woman Kerri Colby. Colby competed in the 14th season of the massively popular “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Pride Prom is a 21 and up only event and will have a bar with mocktail and nonalcoholic options as well.

THE

There will also be a VIP Lounge, which is available for an extra cost, that will include an open bar from 8-9 p.m. as well as two complimentary drink tickets for later. The VIP Lounge will also include light bites, a separate VIP entrance and exclusive Meet & Greets with the Pride Prom performers and headliner.

This year, a Royal Court will also be nominated, just like they would be at a high school prom.

“We decided that this was our opportunity to throw ourselves a prom and we really wanted to share and create the opportunity for the rest of our community, our LGBTQ+ community and allies, to be able to experience prom as their authentic selves,” Quiroga says. “People are welcome to dress as their authentic selves, be as nonbinary as they want or as fancy as they want. There’s absolutely no dress code.”

Last year’s Pride Prom was attended by 550 people and Quiroga expects that number to double at this year’s prom. Over 500 tickets have already been sold.

“Planet Evo: Evolution is Inclusion,” Come Out With Pride’s 2023 Pride Prom will be held on April 28, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., at the Orlando Science Center. General admission tickets are $45 ($55 on day of event if not sold out) and VIP Lounge tickets are $115 ($125 on day of event if not sold out). Tickets and more information are available at ComeOutWithPride.org/Prom-2.

TAKING

STAGE: Drag performer Kerri Colby will headline this year’s Pride Prom IMAGE FROM COME OUT WITH PRIDE

tampa bay news

CAN’S RED RIBBON GALA RAISES OVER $350K

Ryan Williams-Jent

TAMPA | CAN Community Health welcomed supporters to the Tampa Museum of Art April 1 for its 2023 Red Ribbon Gala, raising more than $350,000 for their community health initiatives.

The gathering raises awareness and funds for CAN’s medical, social and education services. It specifically benefited their Patient Assistance Fund, which helps underserved patients with personal and medical expenses.

“Many times our patients do not have transportation, the ability to pay for utilities or money to buy food,” CAN explains. “The Patient Assistance Fund is there to help patients who are facing extenuating circumstances that negatively impact their healthcare and other personal needs.”

A total of 225 people attended the gala, which featured LGBTQ+ activist and actress Laverne Cox. Speakers included political leaders like Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who highlighted the city’s gratitude for organizations like CAN while detailing its commitment to combating HIV.

The mayor also called on attendees to come together to address stigma impacting the region. “HIV, hepatitis and other diseases are deeply affecting our community when you look at the state of Florida and the Tampa Bay area … it’s no longer a death sentence, which we have to cheer, but we have to realize that there is so much that we can do and we have to do,” she said.

CAN President and CEO Dr. Rishi Patel spoke as well. After detailing the organization’s more than 30 years of service, he unveiled CAN’s new logo.

The design represents “the modernization of our organization and its future accomplishments in providing the best possible medical care,” Patel said. He noted that the illusion of the letter “A” represents a road and a patient’s “path toward accessible health care.”

“We are committed to being the best of what we do and are proud to be a part of the Tampa Bay area,” he added.

Cox participated in a Q&A ahead of the evening’s entertainment and live auction. The actress reflected on her trailblazing career, the importance of equity in health care and much more.

“Everyone should have access to health care and we know that is not the case in the United States,” Cox said. “It’s why organizations like this are so crucially important … this work is crucial and that’s why I’m here and philanthropy is so important.”

The evening concluded with a live auction in support of CAN’s mission and entertainment. “Your support and generosity will impact the lives of so many of the patients we serve,” the organization addressed sponsors and supporters afterwards via social media.

Happy Haunts

Phantom History House now open Ryan Williams-Jent

TAMPA | Phantom History House, a bed and breakfast from partners Steve Blanchard and Tim Hinton, is now welcoming guests to Westchase from in and outside of Tampa Bay.

The B&B began operating earlier this year, offering a combination of eerie elegance and creepy comforts. The couple promises their home is the ideal space to serve as “your final resting place — for your upcoming trip.” Blanchard, a former editor and current contributor of Watermark, says the B&B has long been a dream of his. Its theme is an extension of his love for history and the paranormal and also shares the name of his podcast “Phantom History.”

“I have always been interested in ghost stories,” he explains.

“Whenever I would travel, I would also learn about the history of whatever city I was in by taking a ghost tour. I kind of got hooked.”

Hinton, however, says with a laugh that he isn’t “the creepy one.” The musician was drawn to the project after he and Blanchard,

longtime friends, began dating during the pandemic.

“He mentioned to me that he’d always had this idea,” Hinton recalls. “I immediately thought, ‘that sounds that sounds fun.’ So when we decided to move in together, we found a place to buy that we could turn into a bed and breakfast.”

Their home offers four bedrooms, available individually or collectively. Each has its own rate, private restroom and theme, which the couple conceptualized together.

The first space is the Ouija Room, which offers a king bed and access to a private deck overlooking the property’s wooded area. The Cemetery Room features a queen bed and a reading corner, which also overlooks the B&B’s back yard and pond.

The Portrait Room allows guests to sleep “under the watchful eyes of numerous people — some living, some who have passed,” framed photos the couple obtained at antique shops and by other means, and the Castle Room rounds out the residence. While it’s the smallest of the four spaces, it allows guests to “feel like you’re within a castle’s bedchamber and

enjoy your stay as the King or Queen you are!”

Additionally, the B&B has four themed meeting spaces. Its dining room seats up to 10 people and its Victorian Library features an extensive array of books. The house also offers a potion room and outdoor lanai, all of which the owners say are perfect for group gatherings of every variety.

“If you’re into this stuff, you’ll want to immerse yourself in this world,” Blanchard explains. “You leave the ‘real world’ at the door for this whole new experience.”

“We want this to be a safe, comfortable place where everybody’s welcome,” Hinton adds. “You can come and be yourselves, that’s a part of it too. We have the opportunity to explore the paranormal and we’re just a safe place for the community.”

Regularly scheduled events will showcase that, including a Half-o-Ween party April 29. The evening will feature drag entertainers Daphne Ferraro, Chi Chi Lalique and Kathryn Nevets as the fan favorite Tampa Bay Sanderson Sisters.

“Whether you’re local or traveling, our goal is to offer an experience unlike any other that you’ve had,” Blanchard says. “Come check us out.”

Phantom History House is located at 12603 Corral Rd. in Tampa, FL. For more information about events, rates and booking at the B&B, call 407-927-7765 and visit PhantomHistory.com.

View a full photo gallery from the gala at WatermarkOnline.com. To learn more about CAN Community Health, visit CANCommunityHealth.org.

HAUNTED HOMEMAKERS: Steve Blanchard (L) and Tim Hinton at Phantom History House.

PHOTO BY BRUCE HARDIN

Jo i n y ou r l oc al L G BT C h a mber , a s w e ar e the p r em i er a d v oc a te s

f o r the T a mp a B ay A r e a’ s L G B T bus i ness commun i t y .

EPIC Sexual Health Center Provides Total Sexual Healthcare

EPIC’s Sexual Health Center offers essential sexual health and disease prevention services through education, support and resources, empowering all people to achieve better sexual health and well-being.

Services include STI diagnostic and treatment services, pregnancy testing and referrals, PrEP and PEP education and medication as well as sexual health education services and workshops with an onsite sexpert.

EPIC’s Sexual Health Center serves Tampa Bay at the following locations:

300 49th St. S. St. Petersburg, 33707 (727) 328-6420

4703 N. Florida Ave. Tampa, 33603 (813) 237-3066

EPIC SEXUAL HEALTH CENTER empath

www.tampabaylgbtchamber.org

HOUSE VOTES TO EXPAND ‘DON’T SAY GAY OR TRANS’ Wire Report

TALLAHASSEE | Florida could expand the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law that limits discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools under a bill the House approved March 31.

The bill, which passed on a party line 77-35 vote, would ban discussion on those issues through eighth grade. It also would prohibit school staffers or students from being required to refer to people by pronouns that align with their gender identity.

The measure was among several the House passed that still need Senate approval before going to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Democrats said the legislation is harmful to LGBTQ+ students, teachers and their families, and Republicans are trying to create fear where there doesn’t need to be any.

“Teachers ... are not indoctrinating our kids. They are heroes, not villains,” said Democratic Rep. Rita Harris. Republicans disputed that it was an anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

DISNEY-DESANTIS WAR OF WORDS HEATS UP

Wire Report

ORLANDO | Disney CEO

Bob Iger on April 3 said any retaliatory actions by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort is not only “anti-business ... but anti-Florida.”

Iger said that the Republican governor and lawmakers appeared to be retaliating against the company for exercising its constitutional rights. He referred to the incident last year when Disney criticized Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” while Bob Chapek was helming the company.

In response, Florida lawmakers passed, and DeSantis signed, legislation revamping the government-like board that oversees Walt Disney World’s 27,000-acre property outside Orlando. Among the changes the

legislation made was that the Florida governor got to pick the five supervisors of the governing board instead of it being controlled by Disney, as it had been in its previous 55 years.

During the shareholders’ meeting, Iger declared the company’s love for the state of Florida, noting it was the largest taxpayer in the state and employed around 75,000 workers. The company has plans to make $17 billion in investments at Disney World over the next 10 years that will create an additional 13,000 jobs, he said.

Iger acknowledged that there may have been some missteps in how Disney initially responded to the Florida legislation — the company took its time in speaking out against it publicly, and only after Disney employees exerted internal pressure. But he said the company, which is based in Burbank, California, had a right to free speech, just as individuals do.

Some shareholders during the question-and-answer period of the meeting criticized the company for promoting a “woke” agenda, while a Disney employee thanked Iger for supporting the company’s workers. Iger responded that Disney’s primary goal is to entertain and is not driven by an agenda.

By taking on Disney, DeSantis attempted to further his reputation as a culture warrior willing to battle perceived political enemies and wield the power of state government to accomplish political goals, a strategy that is expected to continue ahead of his potential White House run.

But the DeSantis-appointed supervisors said that their predecessors had pulled a fast one on them by passing restrictive covenants that strip the new board of most of its powers.

Disney has said all agreements were above board and took place in public.

IN OTHER NEWS

JUDGE BLOCKS TENNESSEE’S ANTI-DRAG LAW

Wire Report

NASHVILLE, TENN. | A federal judge on March 31 temporarily blocked Tennessee’s first-in-the-nation law placing strict limits on drag shows just hours before it was set to go into effect, siding with a group that filed a lawsuit claiming the statute violates the First Amendment.

The decision comes after Memphis-based Friends of George’s, an LGBTQ+ theater company, filed the federal lawsuit against Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and the state.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker issued the temporary injunction after hearing arguments on both sides March 30.

Parker wrote that the state has failed to make a compelling argument as to why Tennessee needed the new law, adding that

the court also agrees the statute is likely vague and overly broad.

The word “drag” doesn’t appear in the new law, which instead changed the definition of adult cabaret in Tennessee to mean “adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors.”

Furthermore, “male or female impersonators” are now classified as a form of adult cabaret, akin to strippers and topless, go-go and exotic dancers.

The law banned adult cabaret performances from public property or anywhere minors might be present. Performers who break the law risk being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony for a repeat offense.

“The law prohibits a drag performer wearing a crop top and mini skirt from dancing where minors might see it, but does not prohibit a Tennessee Titans cheerleader wearing an identical outfit from performing the exact

same dance in front of children,” the initial complaint contends.

Parker also listed concerns aligning with the group’s argument that the law was overly broad, questioning the location specifications of a cabaret entertainment venue that might be viewed by a minor.

“Does a citizen’s private residence count? How about a camping ground at a national park?” Parker wrote. “Ultimately, the Statute’s broad language clashes with the First Amendment’s tight constraints.”

A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Friday.

The Tennessee drag law marks the second major proposal targeting LGBTQ+ people passed by state lawmakers this year. Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed into law GOP-backed legislation banning most gender-affirming care.

INDIANA, IDAHO GOVS SIGN BANS ON TRANS CARE

Wire Report

INDIANAPOLIS | Republican governors in Indiana and Idaho have signed into law bills banning gender-affirming care for minors, making those states the latest to restrict transgender health care as Republican-led legislatures continue to curb LGBTQ+ rights this year.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation April 5 that will prohibit transgender youth from accessing medication or surgeries that aid in transition and mandate those currently taking medication to stop by the end of the year.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little had signed legislation April 4 that criminalizes gender-affirming care for youth.

More than a dozen other states are considering bills that would prohibit transgender youth from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers and transition surgeries, even after the approval of parents and the advice of doctors. Other proposals target transgender individuals’ everyday life — including sports, workplaces and schools.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit rapidly after Holcomb signed the Indiana legislation — something the group had promised to do after Republican supermajorities advanced the ban this session. The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho announced April 5 it also planned to sue over that state’s new law.

The Indiana ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of four transgender youth and an Indiana doctor who provides transgender medical treatment. It argues the ban violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection guarantees as well as federal laws regarding essential medical services.

Under the Indiana law that takes effect July 1, doctors who offer gender-affirming care to minors would be disciplined by a licensing board. And under the Idaho law set to go into effect next January, providing hormones, puberty blockers or other gender-affirming care to people under age 18 would be a felony crime.

Supporters of the legislation have contended the banned care is irreversible or carries side effects.

They argue that only an adult — and not a minor’s parent — can consent to the treatments.

But opponents say such care is vital and often lifesaving for trans kids, and medical providers say most of the procedures are reversible and safe. Transgender medical treatments for children and teens have also been available in the U.S. for more than a decade and are endorsed by major medical associations.

“When I started hormone therapy, it made me feel so much better about myself,” said Jessica Wayner, 16, at an Indiana House public health committee hearing last month.

At least 13 states have laws banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia. Federal judges have blocked enforcement of Alabama and Arkansas’ laws.

Nineteen other states have imposed restrictions on transgender athletes, most recently Wyoming.

NORTH DAKOTA ADVANCES SUITE OF RESTRICTIONS ON TRANS RIGHTS

The North Dakota Senate has passed a series of bills that would restrict transgender people’s rights in sports, health care, schools, workplaces and daily life. Doctors would be prohibited from providing gender-affirming care to people under 18, and transgender girls and women wouldn’t be allowed to join female sports teams in K-12 and college, under bills that passed with veto-proof majorities in the Senate and House.

VIDEO OF COLORADO NIGHTCLUB ATTACK KEPT OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW

Surveillance footage capturing the attack at a Colorado gay nightclub that left five people dead and 17 others wounded will not be made public until it is presented at trial, a judge ruled March 31. Prosecutors and defense attorneys had argued that releasing the gruesome video could make it difficult to seat an impartial jury and would further traumatize the survivors while disrespecting those who were killed in the Nov. 19, 2022, shooting. Judge Michael McHenry agreed not to make the footage public because attorneys on both sides were opposed. He said he had not received any media requests to do so.

COURT SAYS TRANS GIRL CAN RUN GIRLS TRACK IN WEST VIRGINIA

The Supreme Court on April 5 allowed a 12-year-old transgender girl in West Virginia to continue competing on her middle school’s girls sports teams while a lawsuit over a state ban continues. The justices refused to disturb an appeals court order that made it possible for the girl, Becky Pepper-Jackson, to continue playing on her school’s track and cross-country teams, where she regularly finishes near the back of the pack. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas would have allowed West Virginia to enforce its law against Pepper-Jackson.

SOUTH AFRICANS PROTEST UGANDA’S ANTI-LGBTQ BILL

More than 200 protesters in South Africa have demonstrated at the Uganda High Commission against the anti-gay bill recently passed by Ugandan lawmakers. The April 4 demonstration was led by South Africa’s leftist Economic Freedom Fighters opposition party, which urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni not to sign the bill into law. LGBTQ activists also joined the march and called on the South African government to speak out against the bill as it threatens the freedoms and safety of the LGBTQ community in Uganda. Homosexuality is outlawed in Uganda but the recent bill has introduced harsh punishment for several acts, including the death penalty and up to 20 years imprisonment. Almost all lawmakers of the 389 who attended the parliamentary session voted in favor of the bill.

Kusakabe Kimbei, Playing at Ball, c. 1880, Albumen Print, Gift of Ludmila and Bruce Dandrew from The Ludmila Dandrew and Chitranee Drapkin Collection

MOMMA KNOWS BEST

In Defense of Drag

DRAG PERFORMANCES

have been an integral part of the LGBTQ+ community for decades — and in recent years, they’ve gained wider recognition and acceptance across the world. As a performer who constantly works with families and communities, I have witnessed how drag has positively impacted the lives of many individuals.

At its core, drag is a form of self-expression and artistry that allows individuals to explore their gender identity and creativity in ways that may not be possible in their everyday lives. For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, drag provides a space for them to express themselves freely and authentically to connect with others who share similar experiences and struggles.

One of the most important aspects of drag is its ability to defy societal norms and expectations surrounding gender and sexuality. Drag performers often challenge the rigid gender binary that dominates our society. This can be a powerful and transformative

experience for both the performer and the audience, as it encourages individuals to embrace their own unique identities and to challenge the norms that restrict them. Moreover, drag performances have provided a platform for advocacy and activism. At Rose Dynasty Foundation, which I founded to help provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and families, we use our events to raise awareness about issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, like discrimination, violence and inequality. We want to promote the idea of being loved, accepted and wanted, all to help strengthen the fight against the stigmas and prejudices that continue to exist.

Drag is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds and identities. From small bars and clubs to large arenas and theaters, drag has become increasingly mainstream and has attracted audiences from all over the world. This has helped to promote greater visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, helping to break down some of the barriers that exist between different groups of people.

As a drag queen in Florida, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of drag and how it has positively impacted the lives of many individuals. For some people, drag is a form of therapy that allows them to escape the stresses and challenges of their everyday lives. It provides them with a safe space to express themselves and to connect with others who understand their struggles.

For others, drag is a way to connect with their community and to build relationships with others who share their experiences. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community feel isolated and alone — drag provides them with a sense of belonging and acceptance that they may not find elsewhere. This can be especially important

for young people who are struggling to come to terms with their identity and who may not have a supportive family or community.

Drag has also helped to promote greater visibility and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. Performers often use their platform to speak

performers use their platform to promote social justice and to fight against the stigmas and prejudices that exist in our society. They use their performances to create real change in the world.

Overall, drag performance is a crucial

I believe that through our performances and our activism, we can help to create a world that is more accepting, more diverse and more inclusive for all. In Florida and beyond, we will continue to spread the message that everyone is loved, accepted and wanted

out about issues that affect the community. They use their performances to raise awareness and to promote acceptance and inclusivity. This can have a powerful impact on both the audience and the wider community. It’s important to remember that drag is also a form of activism and advocacy. Many drag

aspect of LGBTQ+ culture and provides a powerful platform for self-expression, community building and advocacy. As a local Florida drag queen, I am proud to be part of this vibrant and transformative community, and I am committed to using my platform to promote acceptance, inclusivity and social justice.

for who they are.

Momma Ashley Rose has performed family friendly drag for over 20 years. She is a philanthropist, public speaker, activist and mentor who founded Rose Dynasty Foundation to help provide a safe space for all. Learn more at RoseDyanstyFoundationInc.org.

As a drag queen in Florida, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of drag and how it has positively impacted the lives of many individuals.

Momma Ashley Rose

7th Annual | 4.9 K

Rainbow Run Comm

In Partnership with UCF DeVos Sport Business Management Program

Join us In-Person or Virtually for the Seventh Annual 4.9 K CommUNITY Rainbow Run benefiting onePULSE Foundation, the National Pulse Memorial and the Orlando Health Survivors Walk.

SATURDAY

JUNE 3 Wadeview Park 2177 S

REGISTER

CommUNITY Festival and 26Health VIP Experience: 7:00 am-10:30 am

Kids Fun Run: 9:15 am

PNC Bank Virtual Run - From Anywhere

• In Person Run Registration: $49

Includes run medal, t-shirt, run bib and tote bag

• Virtual Run Registration: $54*

Can’t join us in person? Join us from anywhere in the world. Every participant receives the run medal, t-shirt, run bib and tote bag

• 26Health “Love is Love Lounge” $149

Upgrade your run experience. Get everything for the In-Person Run PLUS buffet breakfast and libations provided by Hard Rock Café

• Kids Fun Run: $5

Every child registered receives a run medal, t-shirt, run bib and tote bag

WINNER!

solidarity with one message: You cannot erase American history by trying to erase the communities that helped to shape the America of today.

Chevalier Lovett

ORGANIZED VOICES

and we acknowledge it every day.

Black history began very early on in U.S. history which also includes the full spectrum of the diaspora across the transatlantic. Immigration has been a long-standing battle around who particularly deserves opportunities to witness and thrive within the American Dream. Queer rights have had a decades-long battle and when those rights have been won there have been continuous conversations and legal battles attempting to overturn human freedoms. And the common denominator in all of these? The Sunshine State of Florida.

The road to liberation has been hard, however it is obtainable if those within marginalized communities, particularly Black, Brown and Queer communities forge and fight together against systems that were created to keep them oppressed and suppressed since its inception. Due to the firm stand of trans women of color and a national movement of solidarity seen throughout the Civil Rights era, in 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized the month of February as Black History Month and encouraged the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Black and Queer history IS American history, and we acknowledge it every day.

In Florida, current “leaders’’ of the state with the governor at the helm are attempting to do everything in their power to eliminate the existence of LGBTQIA+ communities and the history of Black Americans in every area by abolishing AP African American studies in high school, criminalizing communities of color by voting, prohibiting students and teachers from proclaiming their love, stripping away reproductive rights from families, attacking trans youth and their parents and punishing school districts that have created safe spaces for queer students and families to name a few. Now is the time for members of these communities and those with firm allyship to stand in

Florida’s super majority GOP legislature has sharply targeted marginalized communities within the state. This year, legislators have proposed bills HB 1521 and SB 1674 that would force those within the trans community to use public restrooms that align with the “gender assigned to them at birth.” Not only is this an invasion of privacy, but it also places those that identify as trans in harmful situations physically and mentally. To add, SB 1438 takes away business licenses or liquor licenses from places that have drag shows where minors may be present. This has already taken place at a hotel in Miami, as well as at a local venue in Orlando run by an arts nonprofit. For further context, HB 1069 expands the already hatefully targeted “Don’t Say Gay or Trans’’ bill to 8th grade students. Meanwhile, HB 1557 has already resulted in teachers losing their jobs, LGBTQIA+ safe spaces being shut down and pride flags being prohibited. This expansion will ban books by removing them from school libraries as soon as a parent objects to its content.

It was the queer community that catapulted the world into expressive freedom and gave voice to Black queer liberation. It was progressive and people first values that endorsed a homosexual rights platform at the Democratic national convention in August of 1980. Since then, what has been deemed as the “woke culture” has led a radical movement for inclusivity in our nation’s politics and in 2023 we find ourselves slowly repealing the progress that was made and placed into law by those afraid of the new majority and progress of this country. We are the fabric of Florida,

Those that support these types of bills and policies will tell you that the “intention” is to protect children in the state. However, the impact is that it deviates from the real issues that our children

Violence. Bullying, both cyber and in person. It’s mental health. Let us not forget that Florida is home to some of the most violent acts that have happened to the queer community with the Pulse massacre in 2016, and home to the mass killing of school-aged children

far greater risk to our children’s safety. We all have an obligation to be informed on the issues that most impact us. Whether you directly associate with a marginalized group — which is most of us — or you stand in solidarity and

and those that live in Florida must face every day. As a former educator, as someone who works closely and successfully within youth and community development and now as a new father, when I think about the future of my children and their children and the children after them, the data doesn’t support that drag queens and bathroom bans are the issue. It’s guns.

with the Parkland shooting in 2018. Where’s the legislation that addresses protecting our state from the number one issue that is taking the lives of so many innocent people? If you’re wondering, the response is the new open carry law that will go into effect July 1. This places more guns throughout communities in the state which is a

allyship — which should be all of us — remember you have a voice. That voice should be used to better humanity and not to attempt to erase it.

Chevalier Lovett (he/him, they/ them) proudly serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rising, an organization committed to building independent political power in Florida’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities.

OUR COUNTRY HAS HAD an “it’s complicated” relationship status when it comes to liberation.

You cannot erase American history by trying to erase the communities that helped to shape the America of today.

Visibili-T

VIVION RACHEL CLARKE

practicing psychologist, again in St. Petersburg.

Ryan Williams-Jent

VISIBILI-T

IS DEDICATED

TO transgender members of our community in Central Florida and Tampa Bay, some you know and many you don’t. It is designed to amplify their voices and detail their experiences in life.

This issue, we check in with Vivion Rachel Clarke, a designer, drag performer and so much more who proudly calls St. Petersburg and its LGBTQ+ community home. She has her entire life.

“I was born and raised here. I grew up here. I went to school here,” she explains. “My parents raised me as a trans kid in the 60s, which was unheard of.

“My dad was a physicist working with NASA and I grew up with bright people,” she continues. “My mom and dad met during the Civil Rights Movement, so I’ve always had very positive Black role models.”

Clarke, who had five siblings, knew something was different

about her from a young age. She says by the time she was eight or nine years old it’s something she opted to discuss with her family.

“As a kid they never told me I had to wear blue or play with trucks,” she says. “On my first day of school I realized I was different, so my mom and my sister — my two major heroes in life — told me ‘if you’re going to be a woman, you’re going to be the most absolute woman there ever was.”

That’s what Clarke’s done her entire life.

She graduated early from high school and continued her education in college, earning a Masters and Ph.D. She says she eventually worked for a time as a

“They didn’t question my gender and it sounds weird,” she remembers. “It’s just something that got pushed under the rug.”

Clarke believes that’s because she’s always been “stealth.” The term is used to describe trans people who are living authentically but haven’t openly discussed their gender identity with those around them. It’s also the name of the book Clarke says she’s been writing since she was 13.

“I once had a trans teenager tell me that because I was stealth all my life I didn’t know what struggle is,” she says. “I let her say what she had to say, but I do.”

Clarke has worked to overcome adversity her entire life.

“On top of being bullied for everything else, I’d get bullied because I didn’t sound Black enough,” she explains. “I went through a whole period of life where I didn’t feel Black enough because of that. Then on top of it you happen to be gay, or trans, or whatever you are. Identity-wise, that made it difficult for me, but I got through it.”

While she left the medical field behind years ago — “it was too much” — Clarke says her entire history is what empowers her to help others now. She currently does so by providing couture design services at Jay’s Fabric Center and by performing in drag, offering an escape for those in need.

Clarke has utilized design work and drag since the 80s. She currently performs in the latter role at Zoie’s, which opened last year in St. Petersburg’s LGBTQ-centric Grand Central District. The space was designed to “celebrate all beliefs and walks of life to provide a place for all to meet, eat and make memories.”

It’s a mission Clarke believes in.

“Considering all that’s going on in the world, it’s needed,” she says. “I love performing and I have been in performance since I was a kid, so that part of me, that’s what my whole drag persona does for me.”

When she isn’t performing or competing in drag — as she plans to do in the Mx St Pete

Pride pageant later this month — Clarke works on her portfolio.

“I’m a designer, so most of my time is spent designing and making clothes,” she says. “I’m hoping to do some things and build a company that way, and that’s kind of what I’m focused on. I’m in a different point in life, a different place.”

It’s something that’s led to a renewed sense of optimism for her. She says “I’ve never been where I’m at right now.”

“I don’t know if that’s because I’m older or it’s because of what I’ve learned in the last year, but I know that something really good is coming for me,” Clarke continues. “I was never one to believe in luck — I think life is about preparation meeting opportunity — but my whole goal from here on out is to be prepared. I know who I am and what I’ve been through, so I’m able to put that in front of me.”

Interested in being featured in Visibili-T?

Email Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams in Central Florida or Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent in Tampa Bay.

58, She/Her/Hers

talking points

MCCARTHY, SPEAKING WITH EW ABOUT HOW SHE TOOK INSPIRATION FROM DRAG QUEENS FOR HER PORTRAYAL OF URSULA IN THE LIVE-ACTION VERSION OF “THE LITTLE MERMAID”

LGBTQ+ ALLY DOLLY PARTON WILL RETURN FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR AS HOST OF THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS BUT THIS YEAR SHE’S BRINGING A NEW PLUS-ONE, AND FELLOW ALLY, TO HELP — GARTH BROOKS. The show is set for May 11 and will stream live on Amazon Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. A full rebroadcast of the ceremony and performances will stream the next day for free on Amazon Freevee. It’s the second consecutive year that the show will be hosted by Parton but marks the first time Brooks will take the stage to host an awards show. Both Parton and Brooks are longtime, outspoken supporters of the LGBTQ+ community with both taking home a GLAAD Media Award — Brooks in 1993 for his song “We Shall Be Free” and Parton in 2019 for her Netflix series “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings.”

30 STATES HAVE RESTRICTED ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE OR ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING LAWS

THAT WOULD DO SO, LEAVING

GLAAD HOSTS 34TH MEDIA AWARDS

GLAAD HONORED JEREMY POPE, BAD BUNNY AND CHRISTINA AGUILERA

AT ITS 34TH ANNUAL MEDIA AWARDS at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California March 30. Hosted by comedian Margaret Cho, the event recognized Pope, star of last year’s indie film “The Inspection,” with the Stephen F. Kolzak award for promoting LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance, Bunny with the Vanguard Award for his LGBTQ+ allyship and Christina Aguilera with the Advocate for Change award. The show also paid tribute to the late Leslie Jordan with a performance from country music star Orville Peck. The event will be available to stream on Hulu starting April 12.

RECORD EXEC WHO SIGNED UP MADONNA DIES AT 80

SEYMOUR STEIN, FOUNDER OF SIRE RECORDS WHO HELPED LAUNCHED THE CAREERS OF MADONNA, TALKING HEADS AND MANY OTHERS, died April 2 at the age of 80. Stein, who helped found the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and was himself inducted in 2005, died of cancer in Los Angeles. Obsessed with the Billboard music charts since childhood, he was known for his deep knowledge and appreciation of music and would prove an astute judge of talent during the 1970s era of New Wave. His most lucrative discovery happened in the early 1980s, when he heard the demo tape of a little-known singer-dancer from the downtown New York club scene, Madonna.

BARBARA EDEN FINDS MAGIC IN LGBTQ+ FANS

NBC’S “I DREAM OF JEANNIE” PREMIERED IN 1965, A SITCOM THAT’S CONTINUED TO FIND NEW LIFE ACROSS THE DECADES. Barbara Eden, 91, played the titular genie for 139 episodes and five seasons, something she discussed at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall April 2 for her live show “On The Magic Carpet.” The TV legend previewed it with Watermark ahead of time, remembering openly gay costar Hayden Rorke, who played Dr. Bellows and she called “her love,” while relaying a message to LGBTQ+ fans. “Be true to yourself,” she said. “That’s the most important thing. Be true to yourself with your friends, your family, your audience, whatever.” Read the full interview at WatermarkOnline.com.

144,500 TRANS YOUTH WITHOUT OR AT RISK OF BEING WITHOUT MEDICAL CARE.

—Williams Institute, March 2023

There’s a drag queen that lives in me. I’m always right on the verge of going full-time with her.

— MELISSA

Travel is the Only Thing You Buy That Makes You Richer

WHAT TO KNOW

Map it Out: Knowing what terminal your airline will be flying from will make everything so much easier. Below is a list of Terminals with Airlines.

Terminal A: Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Avianca Airlines, Breeze, Copa Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines (International Flights), Virgin Atlantic

Terminal B: Aeromexico, Air Canada, (Air Canada) Rouge, American Airlines, Bahamasair, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Airlines, Silver Airways, Spirit Airlines (Domestic Flights), Sun Country Airlines, Swoop, United Airlines, Volaris, WestJet

Terminal C: Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Emirates, Eurowings Discover, GOL, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lynx Air, Norse, Red Way, Sunwing Airlines

WHERE TO EAT

Finding a quick bite before your flight can be an important part of a stress-free travel day. Below is a partial list of restaurants sorted by gates.

Gates 1-29

• Airlines: Frontier, Silver, Spirit

• Lounge: The Club MCO

• Table service dining: On The Border

• Other dining options: Urban Crave, Le Grand Comptoir, La Madeleine, Burger King, and more

Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.

The whole navigating the airport part….well that is less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to food choices.

Gates 30-59

• Airlines: American, Breeze, United

• Lounges: American Admiral’s Club, United Club

• Table service dining: Ruby Tuesday

• Other dining options: Camden Food Co., Nature’s Table, Qdoba, Wendy’s, and more

Gates 70-99

• Airlines: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Transat, Avianca, Bahamasair, Copa, Delta, LATAM, Sun Country, Virgin Atlantic, Volaris, WestJet

• Lounges: Delta Sky Club, Club at MCO

• Table service dining: Bahama Breeze, Outback Steakhouse, Vino Volo, and more

• Other dining options: Cibo Express, Tacos Locos, Nathan’s, and more

Gates 100-129

• Airlines: Alaska, Avelo, Southwest

• Table service dining: Cask & Larder

• Other dining options: Villa Italian Kitchen, Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s, McDonald’s, and more

Gates C230-C245

• Airlines: Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean, Emirates, Eurowings Discover, GOL, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lynx Air, Norse, Sunwing

• Lounge: Plaza Premium Lounge

• Table service dining: Summer House, Sunshine Diner

• Other dining options: Cask & Larder, Desano Pizzeria, Wine Bar George, Shake Shack, and more

PARKING, SHUTTLES, AND RIDESHARE

Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. Each garage offers 20 minutes of free parking, 21-30 minutes for $2, and each additional 15 minutes for $1 up to a maximum of $19. Beyond that, the price per day is as listed:

• Parking Garages A, B, and C | $19/day

• Terminal Top Parking | $19/day

• North Park Place Economy Lot | $10/day

• South Park Place Economy Lot | $10/day

• West Park Place Economy Lot | $10/day (only open during holiday periods)

Valet Parking | $25/day

Cell Phone Waiting Lots

For those that do have a bestie, tell them to wait until you call them once you have retrieved your baggage and are on the curb

• North Cell Phone Lot | Free

• South Cell Phone Lot | Free

Rideshare pick-up locations:

• Arrivals Curb at Terminals A and B (on level 2)

• Departures Curb at Terminals A and B (on level 3) between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

• Arrivals Curb at Terminal C (on level 6)

Rideshare drop-off locations:

• Departures Curb at Terminal A and B (on level 3)

• Departures Curb at Terminal C (on level 2)

To help you navigate the day of your flight, be sure to download the MCO App. This app will give you current indoor turn-by-turn navigation and location awareness, TSA security wait times, flight updates, parking, ground transportation, dining & shopping information and so much more.

Inspiration

FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

Magical India It has everything queer travelers want

Heather Cassell, Courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

AS I’M PACKING MY BAGS TO return to India to visit my girlfriend’s family, I am revisiting my trip to India in 2020 right before the COVID pandemic. Sorting through interviews and photos, I have been transported back to that amazing journey. I only hope this trip will be just as wonderful.

On Christmas Day in 2019, my girlfriend and I boarded a plane for India to celebrate her parents’ 61st wedding anniversary at the turn of 2020 and for me to meet her extended family for the first time.

Late fall and winter are the best times of the year to visit India. The weather is perfect. It’s warm and balmy in the south and chilly in the north. Many people travel to India for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in the fall

and Holi, the festival of colors, in the spring.

I was also going to India to meet with LGBTQ+ travel experts for stories and activists for international news articles to learn more about the state of the LGBTQ+ movement in the country. In 2018, India’s Supreme Court struck down the British colonial-era anti-sodomy law, Section 377. The law was often used to criminalize LGBTQ+ people, especially gay and bisexual men. It was the second time Section 377 was struck down. The Delhi High Court first struck it down in 2009. India’s Supreme Court reinstated the law in 2013.

At the end of 2019, India’s parliament passed several controversial laws that impacted the transgender community, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, two national citizenship laws and two amendments to the country’s citizenship laws. The citizenship laws largely affected all non-Hindu people living in India but also LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, due to not having proper government IDs for various reasons. The laws prompted some deadly protests.

Three years later, as I prepared to return, the country’s Supreme Court began hearings for same-sex marriage March 13. It was exciting to see queer Indians’ response to the hearings at this momentous moment in the country’s history.

JOURNEY THROUGH INDIA

Planning an LGBTQ+ trip to India, even for the skilled traveler and journalist I have become, has its challenges. In the past – and even now – there are tour operators and hotels that said they were LGBTQ+-friendly but turned out only to be after the pink rupee (pink dollar), falling short on how to handle LGBTQ+ travelers’ needs once queer travelers are on the tour. Finding India’s queer community and businesses, especially for queer women, is getting easier in India’s most populous cities: New Delhi, the capital, and Mumbai, its financial center. Stepping outside these hubs, finding community continues to be a challenge because businesses aren’t publicly out for safety and financial reasons.

However, over the last 15 years, India has been opening up to queer Western travelers. Since 2009, some LGBTQ+ travel companies, both Indian- and foreign-owned, have paved the way by planning legitimate LGBTQ+-welcoming packaged trips. In 2020, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA.org) launched its India Task Force (now the India Initiative), of which I’m a member. The initiative is making headway into opening India to

queer travelers. In February, IGLTA hosted its first India LGBTQ+ travel symposium at LaLiT New Delhi (TheLaLiT.com/ the-lalit-delhi) and appointed Keshav Suri, a gay man, the new chair of the India Initiative.

The Indian luxury hotel chain is owned by the LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group (TheLaLiT. com) and operated by Suri. Suri was one of the plaintiffs in the case that repealed Section 377. The hotel’s nightclub, Kitty Su (KittySu.com), hosts drag shows and gay DJs on specific nights.

“It’s the perfect time to come” to India because the country is opening up to LGBTQ+ people and offers diverse experiences from culinary to wildlife, wrote Robindro “Robin” Saikhom, a gay man who is the founder of Serene Journeys (Serene Journeys.co), one of the Indian gay-owned travel companies, in an email interview with the Bay Area Reporter.

“India has virtually everything the world traveler is looking for, all set in a festive, friendly environment,” he added.

I selected New Zealand-based Out in India (OutInIndia.com) to help me plan most of my trip in India. I also booked an Intrepid Travel’s (IntrepidTravel.com/US)

eight-day Golden Triangle tour that started in New Delhi and traveled to Jaipur, known as the “Pink City,” and the Taj Mahal in Agra. Intrepid Travel launched a women-only tour of India in 2020.

To travel to India, Americans need a visa. I used a service, like Atlys or iVisa, but to save money, skip the additional administrative

fee on top of the visa fee and get an evisa directly from the Indian Consulate. This can take 24-48 hours.

My girlfriend and I traveled to Mumbai, Pune and Nashik in the Indian state of Maharashtra and Kochi (also known as Cochin) in the state of Kerala. I traveled on my own to Rajpipla in the state of Gujarat and then to New Delhi, before joining the tour. Traveling through India for five weeks was one of the best journeys I’ve ever experienced. I was taken in by the busy streets, the blend of spices that waft into the air from street markets and restaurants, the juxtaposed poverty and wealth neighboring each other, the art and culture, the layers of history and the friendliness and warmth of its people. I enjoyed meeting many LGTBQ+ Indians and learning about their fight for LGBTQ+ rights and their hopes for the future of their movement and country. India is truly an unforgettable adventure.

My girlfriend and I found a country growing into its modern identity, a fusion of old India and the Western world while keeping its native and colonial history. We found ourselves turning corners and eating at restaurants that made us question if we were in India at all and then being reminded around another corner that we were very much in the country.

ART, CULTURE AND HISTORY

India has a layered history from centuries of invasions, from the Mughals and the British, and people escaping persecution, such as Jews from Israel and the Parsis from Iran to the country’s own tribes and enslavement of Africans. Each community left its mark on the artistry, design and architecture in antiquities and present day India. In India’s cities, from the palaces and country clubs of the British Raj to the temples and edifices of the Mughals, art and history were etched in stone and evident in the engineering of each building. It was breathtaking and overwhelming at times and also thought-provoking.

I couldn’t have gone on my first trip to India without seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra. The ivory Mughal mausoleum lives up to its hype from its impressive stance and history. Perched above the Yamuna River, it is stunning at sunset when the marble gets that golden glow captured in thousands of photos but nothing will ever beat seeing it in real life.

Not as impressive, but close, is the Hawa Mahal (Pink Palace) in Jaipur. It was built out of red and pink sandstone in 1799 and is an extension of the Royal City Palace for women of the royal court to enjoy peering out into city life without being seen. There is also the mystical appearance of Jal Mahal (“Water Palace”) settled on top of the water as if it is floating in the middle of Man Sagar Lake; it is believed to be a former

summer palace of the royals built in 1699. The Amber Fort, built in 1592 out of red sandstone, rests on top of a hill over the small town of Amer. Each historical structure has an interesting story behind it.

In New Delhi, I enjoyed visiting the Lotus Temple and the famous Sikh temple, Sheeshganj Gurudwara, where they feed 10,000 people daily.

QUEER INDIA

Never in her wildest dreams did my girlfriend believe she would kiss her significant other at a queer party in her father’s hometown, she told me. Yet on New Year’s Eve 2020, we were surrounded by more than 700 LGBTQ+ partygoers at Mist LGBT Foundation’s (Facebook.com/ MistLGBT) party to ring in the new decade and year at the Hyatt Pune. At the stroke of midnight in a crowded room, we clinked glasses and locked lips.

India’s LGBTQ+ community is vibrant, creative and full of life. In Mumbai, I spent a fun evening at a lively queer trivia night hosted by Gaysi Mumbai (GaysiFamily. com), an LGBTQ+ group that promotes queer events, at the Independence Brewery Company in Andheri West.

One of the wonderful things about India is its art and culture and literary scene.

I was pleased to discover LGBTQ+ artists and art experts like Kalki Subramaniam, a transgender woman, who is gallery founder and director of Sahodari Art Gallery (Sahodari. org). The gallery, which features 45 LGBTQ+ artists, mostly transgender people, is located about four hours outside of Kochi by car.

In Mumbai and New Delhi, I learned about the city’s LGBTQ+ art scene and history with gay art historian Aditya Ruia, the owner of Bombay Art Gallery. Ruia also leads an LGBTQ+ art tour guide in Mumbai. On one of my memorable nights in Mumbai I randomly toured Colaba’s Art Deco architecture, art galleries and boutiques with filmmaker Faraz Arif Ansari.

In New Delhi, Serene Journeys’ Saikhom leads guests through about 55 public murals on the Lodhi Art Public Art Tour. Sambhav Dehlavi, the gay owner and tour guide of Purani Dilliwala

DELHI LGBTQ+ HISTORY TOUR: Sambhav Dehlavi, the gay owner and tour guide of Purani Dilliwala Iqbal, leads an LGBTQ+ history tour through New Delhi. PHOTO BY HEATHER CASSELL

|

uu | Magical India

Iqbal leads an LGBTQ+ history tour through the city. The tour with Dehlavi was one of the most memorable tours I experienced during my trip. One of the sites he showed me was a tomb of a king and his male or transgender lover buried side-by-side. There were many other sites throughout New Delhi where it is suspected that LGBTQ+ history took place.

India also hosts a number of LGBTQ+ festivals from Pride celebrations, including Queer Azaadi Mumbai (January/ February) and Delhi Pride (last Sunday of November), and the 18-day transgender festival, Koovagam (March/April) south of Tamil Nadu’s capital, Chennai. There are also events, like New Delhi’s Rainbow Lit Fest (RainbowLiteratureFestival.com) (December), and film festivals, like Mumbai’s KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (MumbaiQueerfest.com) (June).

FOOD, BEER AND WINE

Microbreweries are all the rage in India. Pune is the birthplace of India’s microbrewery scene. In 2020 there were 12 craft breweries in the city and many more throughout India. My girlfriend and I were thrilled to discover the craft breweries that served excellent beers with delicious bar food. We barhopped through

Pune and Mumbai, stopping at Effingut Brewery (Effingut.com), Independence Brewing Company (IndependenceBrewCo.com), and Toit Brewery (Toit.in) in Pune and Doolally Taproom (Doolally. in) and Drifters Tap Station (DriftersBrews.com) in Mumbai.

Nashik is the birthplace of India’s emerging wine industry. India’s wine country boasts more than 30 wineries. Nashik was inspired by, and has roots in, California’s wine country but it won’t be mistaken for California’s Napa Valley or Sonoma County. Nearly a quarter century since the first grapes were planted at Sula Vineyards (SulaVineyards.com) in 1996, to its first bottle crafted and corked in 1999, producing quality Indian wine is still a work in progress.

Sula Vineyards was founded by former Bay Area resident Rajeev Samant, who transformed his family’s table grape farm in 1996 into a winery with the help of his friend and Sonoma winemaker

Kerry Damskey

During the few days that we hung out with my girlfriend’s cousins on her mother’s side of the family in Nashik, we went to Sula and visited York Winery (YorkWinery.com).

However, the best Indian wine we discovered was at a bar in Fort Kochi, produced by Big Banyan Vineyard (BigBanyanResort. in) in Bengaluru. It gave us a glimpse of the possibility that India could one day produce California-quality wine.

Kochi, Kerala is where I got my fill of seafood. On the shores of the Arabian Sea the port town is

known for its Chinese fishing nets, beaches, and backwaters traversed by boat to see the wildlife.

WHERE TO EAT

We cautiously ate our way through India. We took recommendations from friends and looked for modern eateries that we would expect to see back home and places that looked clean. Some of our favorite restaurants included:

MUMBAI

The Birdsong Cafe (Facebook. com/BirdSongOrganicCafe), a charming organic eatery tucked away on a narrow street in Bandra West, and Loya (TajHotels.com/ en-in/taj/taj-palace-new-delhi/ restaurants/loya) at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and Jimmy Boy (JimmyBoy.in), a local Parsi restaurant that Ansari introduced me to in Colaba, Mumbai.

PUNE

We happened upon the Pan Asian restaurant Malaka Spice (MalakaSpice.com/restaurants) and enjoyed cocktails at Culture (Facebook.com/culturepune).

KOCHI

In Kochi, we enjoyed freshly caught fish grilled and poached at Fort Cochin around the corner from the Trident Hotel Cochin, where we stayed.

NEW DELHI

I enjoyed a variety of excellent cuisine in New Delhi. On my last night there I ate a wonderful

Italian dinner at lesbian-owned Diva (Diva-Italian.com) restaurant. Chef Ritu Dalmia, one of the plaintiffs in the 377 case, opened her new restaurant in Greater Kailash-2, an unofficial gayborhood where rainbow flags wave freely outside many businesses. I enjoyed another good Italian dinner at Fat Jar Cafe & Market (FatJar.cafe).

LaLiT New Delhi’s Pan Asian restaurant, OKO (TheLaLit.com/ the-lalit-delhi/eat-and-drink/ oko), offers the flavors of Asia and views of the city at the top of the hotel. The Spice Market - Kitchen & Bar (SpiceMarket.in) in the city’s Southern Park Mall served up spicy tandoori and flavorful dishes.

WHERE TO STAY

In Mumbai and New Delhi, I stayed at the LaLiT Hotel (thelalit.com). I also stayed at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai (Hyatt. com), India’s eco-friendly Orchid Hotel (OrchidHotel.com/ mumbai-vile-parle), and a vacation rental in Bandra West in Mumbai.

In Pune, we stayed at the Hyatt Pune (Hyatt.com). In Jaipur, our tour group stayed at the Hotel Arya Niwas, (AryaNiwas. com) and on our way to Agra we stayed at Hotel Bhanwar Vilas Palace (Karauli.com) in Karauli, a town in the mountains between Jaipur and Agra.

In Nashik, we stayed at the three-star business focused Ibis Hotel (All.Accor.coms).

Getting off India’s beaten path, I stayed as a guest of the LGBTQA+ Community Ashram, (Facebook. com/lgbtqaplusrajpipla) the

community center and retreat in Rajpipla owned gay Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil and his husband, DeAndre Richardson. The ashram was being built on the banks of the Karjan River to provide services for the local LGBTQ+ community and a retreat for queer organizations.

GETTING AROUND

My girlfriend and I flew on United Airlines (United.com) from San Francisco to Mumbai, stopping briefly in Newark airport in New Jersey. We flew Swiss Air (Swiss. com/us/en/homepage) from New Delhi through Zurich back to San Francisco for our return trip. We flew on IndiGo (Goindigo. in), an Indian domestic airline, to destinations within India. We used Uber to hail rickshaws and cars throughout our trip.

Heather Cassell (heather@girlsthatroam. com) is the publisher and editor of Girls That Roam, an online women’s travel magazine. For more information on the National LGBT media Association, visit NationalLGBTMediaAssociation.com.

FROM PG.25

CHINESE FISHING NETS: Sunset over the famed Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala on the Arabian Sea. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHNNY CHAOS/ADOBESTOCK

SULA WINERY: India’s first winery, Sula Vineyards, established 1999 in Nashik, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. PHOTO BY HEATHER CASSELL

SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE SINCE

Providing

Gender

Medical Peer Navigators

Speaking Sta Support Groups

2349 Sunset Point Road #405 Clearwater, FL 33765

O ce: (727) 216-6193

eFax: (877) 868-0981

PALMETTO

408 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221

O ce: (941) 803-7939

Fax: (941) 417-2328

Ryan

F: (855) 895-5749

ST.

3251 3rd

WALK-INS WELCOME AT ALL LOCATIONS

* services vary by location

Morocco Yes, it’s an LGBTQ+ Destination

Sheryl Kay

MIND-BLOWING HISTORY.

Breathtaking vistas. Fragrant, fabulous foods. If these are all vacation must-haves for you, listen closely.

Morocco.

But we’re talking a very conservative country whose LGBTQ+ rights are non-existent, you say. And in many ways, you’d be right.

Morocco is a true monarchy, ruled by King Mohammed VI of the ‘Alawi dynasty, and a country codified by Islamic law — which is interesting in its own right as 70% of the country are Imazighen, or Berbers, and were not originally Muslim. And yes,

family there (like almost all of Africa) must live underground as any sign of gay affection is illegal. BUT… take note, there is family there. Of course, there is. There is family everywhere. It’s harder to make contact with the community there, and there are no official bars, LGBTQ+ centers, etc.; as of now. Strangely enough, that is part of the reason we decided to go even in light of the country’s policies. We wanted people there to know we see them.

They are not forgotten and the fight goes on.

There were other reasons we went as well, even in light of this conundrum. Morocco is a land of many dichotomies. Yes, Islamic tradition is infused with the culture but many people there drink alcohol, which is technically forbidden by the religion (there are laws as to how and where to drink, but trust me, many there drink). Many women there do wear hajibs but many do not, and that is ok. We saw some influencers there taking photos in public and literally only 30% of their bodies were covered. No problems. In fact, even smoking is greatly looked down upon in

FROM PG.31

Islamic teachings and plenty of people there smoke too.

Is this all to say that LGBTQ+ PDA is actually OK? No. Honestly even displays of affection between men and women are not seen in public, and queer love is a firm no. But we felt if the people there do question other tenants, or at the very least, accept some non-Islamic behaviors, maybe there was room to leave people with alternative thoughts. And boy, did we. We planted many seeds with Moroccans who have learned all their lives that LGBTQ+ love is wrong and bad, a phobia passed from generation to generation. We befriended dozens of people without discussing our own sexuality, and using honey definitely paid off. More than once, when we gently prodded locals there to really defend why LGBTQ+ behavior was “wrong,” especially in light of a very deeply held Moroccan Imazighen belief that we are all free to be ourselves, our new friends had no come backs. We saw the real possibility for advancement, especially among the younger people we met.

Finally, we also decided to go because we know full well what it feels like to live in a country where we have free elections, and yet we still are embarrassed and enraged at right wing legislation here, including selecting a Supreme Court that overturned Roe v Wade. Would we want international tourists to avoid the U.S. because many of our laws are archaic? Do we want travelers to think that we all support policy makers that espouse denying 50% of our population the right to self-health decisions?

So yes, we did go to the magical land of Morocco, and I wouldn’t trade one second of it. We were with a guide/driver for two weeks, and we could have easily been with him for twice as long. It may not look big on a map, and for the most part, the roads are quite good, but there are mountains everywhere, and travel time is longer than you think. You’ll also need to add in about 10 stops a day where you just jump out and take photos. You’ll see snowcapped mountains, lush green valleys covered in date palms, dusty ancient Casbahs and the awe-inspiring dunes of the Sahara Desert.

Fez was a favorite of ours. The medina is made up of about 9,000 alleys, filled with butchers,

rugs makers, produce vendors, clothing stalls, spice displays, bakers and so much more. We went to several historical sites including an incredible tile-designed mosque and madrasa, the oldest still operating leather tanning business, a 14th century house, two medieval synagogues (pristinely maintained by the Arabic and Imazighen Muslims), and a bunch more. The Marrakesh medina was a bit similar, seeped in historical sites and sounds, although far busier with mopeds being a preferred method of travel, even in the alleyways. Be careful! Also be aware in any of the markets, the locals want to make a sale, and (especially having suffered greatly during the Covid lock down) some vendors can get very pushy. It’s OK to say no. Another favorite was Chefchaouen, also called the blue city, and it literally is blue. Get your camera ready. It’s only a one day stop but so well worth it. For some it is also the jumping off point to the Riff Mountains, the center of an enormous cannabis growing region in Morocco. Talk about contradictions. A discussion on hash and kief tourism in Morocco can be rolled into a whole other article, and since we didn’t partake this time, we’ll pass for now.

If you’re into beaches and swimming, check out Essaouira. This is one of the most laid-back

places in Morocco, and the fresh fish dinners are insane. You will have cats sitting right beside you as you eat by the Atlantic, by the way (Moroccans like cats!). And as for the cost of dinner? Here it was more pricey than other spots. We had a full dinner with salad, bread, bottled water and really all the fish we could possibly eat (and we hand selected each piece while it was on ice prior to grilling) and the bill was $10 PER PERSON, including the tip. Yes, I may have not mentioned that yet. Your money will go VERY far in Morocco. That is not to say you can’t find gourmet restaurants, and big glitzy five-star hotels. But if you like local food, and a great 3-4 star Riad, it’s a very affordable trip.

Casablanca retains some of the charm from the days of the same-named movie, but don’t be fooled. The port city is home to more than 3 million people, the ginormous and breathtaking Hassan ll mosque, the Morocco Mall, the King’s Castle and a big selection of international dining choices. And yes, there is a Rick’s Café where every single tourist takes a selfie — this writer included — but SPOILER ALERT! It opened about 18 years ago, only inspired by the movie. There was never a Rick’s Café in Morocco prior to that, only on a Hollywood set.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, do not miss the Sahara.

You’ve made it that far and Morocco is one of the best and safest places to do a camel trek into the desert. You’ll get to see rolling dunes, the sunrise, the sunset, eat the best Imazighen food, dance to local nomadic music, meet the G’nawa, look for fossils and yes, travel on camels. This was a huge highlight for us, especially since our driver’s family invited us to their home, on the edge of the desert, for a massive mouth-watering cous cous tajine lunch. His sister also did authentic Henna for us. All over the top.

Do we regret going to Morocco? No. Did we feel disingenuous for not being “out” to anyone straight? No. And it never came up. Make no mistake. None of this is to say homophobic thought or legislation is OK. It is not. But we opened doors, we opened minds, we made connections and in the interim, we had a blast. Not every trip is going to be that romantic or partying interlude. And that’s OK.

Sheryl Kay is a longtime print and photojournalist, having appeared in the St. Petersburg Times, the Washington Times, OUT Traveler and CURVE Magazine, to name a few. When pandemics comport themselves, she travels Florida and beyond looking for the exotic and exceptional to share with the community.

| uu | Morocco

LOCAL CUISINE: Amazing fresh food prepared every day, in every Medina. PHOTO BY SHERYL KAY

NIGHTLIFE: Marrakesh, the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco, at night. PHOTO BY SHERYL KAY

TRAVEL: CABO

The CheckOut

Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Ed Salvato, Courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

THE NEW CORAZÓN TOWER AT the Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa brings affordable luxury and upscale Mexican fiesta vibes to the very center of Cabo San Lucas. Located at the tip of Baja California, it is a direct, nonstop flight from New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles and other major U.S. destinations. Neither Cabo nor Corazón is an LGBTQ+ hot spot, but they’re both incredibly comfortable for and welcoming to LGBTQ+ folx, and particularly popular with gay couples.

AMENITIES

The resort offers sufficient amenities to keep you entertained and pampered during a long weekend stay. I’m almost embarrassed to say that during this trip we only left the resort once to visit a remote beach — see below. After months of hard work, it was exactly what we needed.

If you can tear yourself from your private balcony hot tub, you’ll want to head to the resort’s Beach Club to enjoy Playa El Medano. Book a plush cabana or side-by-side chaise lounges, order from the lunch and bar menu and enjoy the constant stream of city-sanctioned hawkers of massage and mariachi services, surprisingly well-crafted souvenirs, cheesy hats and bizarrely worded sashes (“Eat my booty”) destined for boozy bachelorette parties.

We ordered room service a shameful number of times — it’s incredibly prompt — but we also enjoyed the tasty treats at the resort’s numerous à la carte restaurant options, including Aleta, Rooftop 360 and Baja Brewery. Seafood is a specialty as is Mexican cuisine, naturally, but worry not: You can always order a hamburger and other familiar dishes.

Rooftop 360 is the highest open-air dining/cocktail spot in town and offers breathtaking views all around. It’s sublime at

while sipping your Caffe Lungo, or order a bottle of wine and ease into the steamy hot tub with your honey and watch the moon rise over the bay.

NEARBY EXPERIENCES

sunset. The brewery is breezy, laidback and fun with live music and streaming sports stations. Book a treatment at Sparitual, the onsite spa. It’s pricey, but the amenities (sauna, steam room, hot tub) and therapist quality are top-notch. An 80-minute massage ($180) left me pleasantly sore and ready for bed. Request Edgar or Brandon.

These amenities are important but the best one is the staff which is well trained and constantly working to keep the resort clean and you happy. When you visit, ask for Michel (pronounced “mitch-el”), Experience Manager. He takes care of everyone incredibly well and keeps a special eye out for LGBTQ+ guests.

ROOM/RATES

Book directly on the hotel website for the best deals. Our room in the remodeled tower, a 400-square-feet Infinity King Ocean View with Hot Tub, starts around $550 per night in the busy winter season. It sleeps two and includes a Nespresso machine, a safe and daily service. (Cabo is expensive — it’s surrounded by ocean, desert and mountains, so nearly everything must be shipped in — so that price is on par with similar resorts.) Marina and City View rooms are also lovely but we prefer ocean view accommodations where you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the busy bay and mountains

Long a tourist hub, Cabo San Lucas doesn’t offer significant historic or cultural assets. So, no demerits for simply staying at the hotel, although there are fun options outside Corazón, which is located in the center of Cabo’s hotel zone. You can easily walk to the charming marina where you can find the only Starbucks downtown or for a popular, delicious local taco spot, check out Wachinango’s Los Cabos (Wachinangos.com). There’s a fun gay bar that is a five-minute Uber ride away called Chandelier, (Facebook.com/ ChandeliersNightClub). It is best Thursday through Sunday nights starting around midnight. If you want to see what Cabo looked like 100 years ago, hop into an Uber and head to la Curva del Soldado beach, an untouched stretch of rocky coast, sandy beach and rough Pacific Ocean waves about an hour from the resort.

CABO TIPS

The best time to visit is December through April — with simply perfect hot, dry and sunny conditions — with March being the ideal time for whale watching, which you can enjoy without leaving the hotel! It’s easy to think of this part of the world as an extension of the U.S. We didn’t even end up exchanging any money. You can use your credit cards for almost everything but you’ll want to bring lots of small U.S. bills to distribute as tips. Arrange airport transfer with Baja Travel Transportation (BajaTravelTransportation. com), which is reliable and reasonably priced.

For more information on Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa or to book your stay, visit CorazonCabo.com.

NYC-based Ed Salvato is a freelance travel writer, instructor at NYU and the University of Texas at Austin’s NYC Center and an LGBTQ+ tourism marketing specialist. For more information on the National LGBT media Association, visit: NationalLGBTMediaAssociation.com.

AMERICAN TALES

Ryan Williams-Jent

AMERICAN STAGE HAS PRESENTED

“the most powerful stories of the moment and the most defining stories from our past” for decades. It’s a key part of their mission as Tampa Bay’s longest-running professional theatre company, work that’s included outdoor performances nearly every year since 1986.

A St. Petersburg staple, American Stage in the Park is held at Demens Landing Park to ensure the company’s art is even more accessible to the community it serves. The tradition first featured a musical for its 21st anniversary in 2006, becoming

American Stage’s new normal in the process.

By 2010, more than 15,000 people attended their production of “Hair,” a record that set the stage for recent musicals like “Mamma Mia!,” “The Producers” and “Footloose.” Next up is the

iconic “Ragtime,” a perfect fit for the park.

“Set in the melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together — that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician — united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future and the power of the human spirit to overcome,” American Stage describes “Ragtime.” The production opened April 12 and plays through May 14.

The celebrated musical is the winner of four 1998 Tony Awards including Best Score and Best Book, which was penned by the late, openly gay playwright and

St. Petersburg native Terrence McNally. Among other honors, he posthumously received Equality Florida’s Edie Windsor Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

“Our annual Park show is one of the most impactful services that we offer the City of St. Pete and the Tampa Bay area,” Producing Artistic Director Helen R. Murray said in a press release last month. “It is a beautiful intersection of our city and our art. We look forward to welcoming audiences from far and wide as they grab their picnic blankets or get a couple chairs, enjoy some tasty treats and watch great theatre under the stars.”

Theatergoers will have plenty of opportunities for that. “Ragtime” is scheduled to be held

at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays and will feature two event nights. That includes Pride Night on April 23, held in celebration of Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ community. “We’re here, we’re queer and we’re in the park having a local beer,” it’s described. “American Stage’s Pride in the Park night is your chance to wear your best rainbow, pack a picnic and enjoy ‘Ragtime’ in a fun, safe place. And what’s more LGBTQ+ than musical theatre? … Come early to enjoy the rainbow before the show kicks off.”

The pet-friendly “Wagtime in the Park” will follow April 30, which encourages guests to bring their “dogs, cats, chickens,

‘RAGTIME’ JOURNEYS TO AMERICAN STAGE IN THE PARK

ferrets” or other animals. They aren’t required for entry.

“‘Ragtime’ is a powerful story and we’re boldly telling it,” Director Erica Sutherlin says. “So far the community is showing up in beautiful ways.”

That’s something the theater veteran — also American Stage’s director of community engagement — discussed with Watermark ahead of opening night, reflecting on the show’s LGBTQ+ ties and more.

WATERMARK: WHAT DRAWS YOU TO DIRECTING?

Erica Sutherlin: There’s something very magical and special about taking a blank slate and transforming it into another place, whether it is a living room or magical forest, and having a script that we analyze and add subtext to. All the highs, all the aha moments, all the problem solving, I just love the teamwork and the collaboration. You can’t do it by yourself. It’s beautiful.

WHAT DREW YOU TO “RAGTIME” SPECIFICALLY?

I was gifted this show … so I fell in love with “Ragtime” differently. When I explored the book, the more I got inside the world of the characters and working with my actors and musicians, I saw that it really is a beautiful score. It really is, shall I say, a beautiful story? Or should I say it is a story that forces you to sit in your frustration?

HOW SO?

This story takes place at the turn of the century, and we look at three different journeys. We have Mother who is from New Rochelle, which we would call our idyllic world — our white world — and her journey. Then we have Tateh, who is immigrating from Russia into America, and then we have what they call in the book, Harlem, which is a representation of Black America. That is the journey that Coalhouse Walker, so we look at three journeys and three different aspects of America and the questions that come up. Is the American dream an attainable thing? Is it still the same dream? Has it shifted? If it has, what is it? If it hasn’t, why not? We can take this story and lay it right here in 2023 in our turn of the world … we’re having the same conversations now,

when this show was written for the turn of the century, the early 1900s. So that’s why I say, “do we sit in our frustration?”

THERE ARE A LOT OF LAYERS.

There are a lot of layers. (Laughs.) It’s not a happy show. The score is beautiful. You can say, ‘this story is beautiful. I love this story, it’s gorgeous,’ but when you really start to unearth it, is it? Or is it frustrating? Is it sad? Are you angered by it? Does it want to make you do things, change, stand up, or curl up in a little ball? Because there’s so much — does it say that we haven’t changed, that we can’t change?

But there is such beautiful singing; this cast can sing and act in some beautiful moments. The songs are gorgeous, even though the words can be hard to sit with at moments. And this is a very different show for our park shows, which are accustomed to being fun, sing-along, feel good types of shows. That’s not what this is.

WHY IS IT STILL A GOOD FIT?

This is an extension of American Stage for me. It’s our second stage, and I love the idea of putting provocative art on the stage in the park and bringing the masses to that. Because different people come to the park show than who come to the theater; we start looking at this idea of accessibility and people feeling like they don’t belong inside the theater. Some people can feel like it’s too high-brow, too high-class, or like they don’t fit. But the thing about the park is that it’s in the

community, it’s open, it’s outside, you can’t miss it. It pulls you in. People that would never have the opportunity, you just bring up a chair, you sit down, you can bring your own things and have a moment. I love that idea of making art accessible for all — even if you can’t afford a ticket to get into the grounds in which we exist, you can still hear the music, you can still hear the story. So I love this particular stage. It goes back to our mission, powerful stories boldly told.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THAT?

This is a powerful story and we’re boldly telling it, we’re not hiding it. We want to have conversations about it, but it is a training and a moment that our audience is not used to in the park. I think there was a moment where we thought that may be problematic, but the community is showing up … I’ve heard so many people that I do and don’t know talk about how excited they are to see this show, so it speaks to the greater idea of art to me.

WHY DO YOU THINK “RAGTIME” CAN APPEAL TO LGBTQ+ AUDIENCES?

I think it’s the journey of finding oneself, one’s worth, where one exists in America, and how you achieve the American dream. What is the American dream on your journey? I think it really speaks to everyone in that way. It speaks to all those people that are in America who are forced to find — or encouraged or challenged to find — ways to

exist in a world that is not always accessible for them. I think that’s what this story does.

So while no, there may not be written into the storyline as one of the lead characters someone who is clearly stated as LGBTQ+ , but the journeys that they take, the strife that they go through, the conflict and tension that they face in a world that doesn’t truly accept them, I think that’s where we find the commonalities with this story.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THE CAST AND CREW?

This is a huge show, normally done with like 30-40 cast members. We have 21, and so we have multiple people playing multiple roles and you will see that intersectionality of the world. It will blend during this production more than in other productions, just because of the sheer number of people we have.

That also becomes interesting, when you have like New Rochelle and Harlem in the same space, because it wasn’t written that way. If I have a person of color playing a person that was written to be white, that does bring something new. I think those are conversations that we can continue to have about also what it means to be an actor in roles that do not conform with your identity or your gender. How do you show up for that?

I’m very proud of our casting … I think American Stage is really moving forward in diversity and inclusion. I think you’ll be pleasantly happy with our diversification. It’s a great start.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE AND AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH “RAGTIME,” WHY IS THIS THE PERFECT PRODUCTION TO SEE?

It’s an important piece of theater. It’s an important piece of history. This is probably the perfect time to have this show because it creates and initiates conversations that we should be having, looking at our own political landscape right now and our own environmental landscape.

It’s also not a traditional set. I really wanted to look at the American dream and ask what liberty is, so we have a deconstructed Statue of Liberty as our set and it’s looming, it’s huge. The set is big because I wanted the actors to feel like they were small in this space, like the idea of the American dream is always looming over us. That pressure, the joy, the obstacles, all of it is constantly there in our lives, whether we know it or not.

This is a great story to experience theater. First of all, it’s a musical so people are singing to you — and the second thing is the stories themselves, I think they pull you into a world. Whatever your emotional journey, it will pull you in. I’m very excited about the work that we’ve done.

American Stage in the Park’s “Ragtime” plays Wednesdays-Sundays now through May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Demens Landing Park, located at Bayshore Dr. & 2nd Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. Pride Night is scheduled for April 23 and tickets begin at $25. For more information and to purchase yours, visit AmericanStage.org.

LEADING THE WAY: “Ragtime” Director Erica Sutherlin. PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN STAGE

SETTING THE STAGE: American Stage in the Park’s cast and crew of “Ragtime” rehearse at Demens Landing Park in St. Petersburg. PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN STAGE

(ABOVE) SHOW STOPPER:

Kick Up Your Heels

‘Kinky Boots’ steps onto the Orlando Shakes stage

his own relationship with his father, which ultimately convinced him to pursue the musical.

“This play is really a moment where Charlie and Lola are accepting each other,” Walsh says. “They both put in the work to really learn what the other needs from them in their relationship, and I think that’s an important story to tell.”

A main difference between this production and the Broadway production is that the Orlando cast will be performing the musical in a thrust. A thrust theatre has audience members on three sides of the stage, leaving one side for taller scenery. Banks says the audience will be all around the stage, giving the story a more intimate and personal feel.

Banks says this will be his first time performing in a thrust and that he can’t wait to be with the audience. This will be a different experience for Banks, who has played Lola in “Kinky Boots” on the international tour, where he says he couldn’t see past the second row.

Shayne Watson

FINISHING OFF THE 2022-23 SEASON,

Orlando Shakes debuted the Grammy-winning Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” on April 5. The musical plays through April 30.

Inspired by a true story, “Kinky Boots” follows the story of Charlie Price, an aspiring businessman forced to take over his father’s shoe factory after his passing. Struggling to save his late father’s bankrupt business, Charlie unexpectedly finds inspiration in Lola, a drag entertainer in need of sturdy stilettos. Charlie and Lola, also known as Simon, work to turn the factory around, and the unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they thought.

Jos Banks, who plays Lola/Simon, says the story’s deeper meaning is all about love and acceptance, whether it be with your biological family or your chosen family.

“On the first day, we talked about the two families that exist in this play — one is Lola’s drag family and one is the factory family — and watching how they come together and create one larger family,” Banks says. “And when you do that when you bring that love and acceptance into the world, that family gets even stronger and can do more to make change for good.”

Director Joseph Walsh says before agreeing to direct “Kinky Boots,” he listened to the song “Not My Father’s Son,” which is featured in act one of the Tony Award-winning musical. He says the song made him see the connection between Lola and Charlie and, in return, made him think of

usually take a couple of hours to do their makeup, but because Banks has done the show so many times, he says the quick changes from Lola to Simon have become easier.

Banks says the successful quick changes are possible thanks to the makeup crew. He says brown powder is placed on top of his blushed cheeks and eyeshadow to mute the colors while he is Simon. When Banks is ready to become Lola again, he says the brown powder is simply dusted off, leaving a little bit of color underneath, and with reapplying more pigmentation, Lola is back.

“We do go in and out of drag in the show, and I think it’s beautiful to see those different personalities with Lola and with Simon and seeing how they are so vastly different but yet the same person,” Banks says.

With a more personal stage and larger-than-life cast members, Walsh hopes audiences will feel like they are actually in the musical and engage directly with the show. He says the musical will sweep audience members into the journey, and by the end of the show, people will be screaming and cheering for Lola and her drag family.

After traveling the world and reprising his role as Lola over 300 times, Banks says he is excited to bring “Kinky Boots” to Orlando.

“The thing I look forward to the most is the different energies and personalities that bring these words to life,” Banks says. “I’ve done the show in the U.S. and Canada, and then I also toured China and Singapore. So, audiences all over have been different, and that always keeps the material fresh for me.”

Banks says Lola is special because she is full of heart and enters every room with her heart first. Walsh says he finds Banks very similar to Lola in this aspect because every morning, Banks walks around giving everyone a hug.

“I feel when Jos walks into the room, the temperature changes. And if we can get an audience to see that through him and Lola, what an amazing experience for them,” Walsh says.

Banks says he never did drag before “Kinky Boots,” but admits that when he is in drag, he has never felt stronger on stage. Drag performers

“My hope is that you will go home and think about [the show]. It’ll come back to you two days later, and you’ll say, ‘I loved her. I loved him. I loved that. I love the show. I want to go back again,’” Walsh says. “You have this amazing sense of joy and acceptance and love. I hope that wave of energy carries you out of the theater at the end of the night and comes back in two days and offers space for you to reflect on how you treat others and where they land in your life.”

Banks hopes audience members leave the musical knowing the importance of love and accepting one another even through the differences.

“It could be color, religion, sexual orientation, I just think that as a globe, we can learn more from each other by accepting to disagree with some things and knowing that there is beauty in difference,” Banks says. “Otherwise, we’d all be the same, and that’s boring.”

“Kinky Boots” is at Orlando Shakes, located at 812 E Rollins St. in Orlando, through April 30. Tickets start at $34 and can be purchased at OrlandoShakes.org.

The cast of “Kinky Boots” on stage at Orlando Shakes.

PHOTO BY TONY FIRRIOLO / ORLANDO SHAKES

2023 FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL 2023 FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL

QUEERING THE SCREEN

FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS DOZENS OF LGBTQIA+ FILMS IN ITS 32ND ANNUAL FESTIVAL

Each year the Florida Film Festival features dozens of films reflecting queer subject matter or made by queer creators. This year, we are proud to represent the past, present, and future of queer representation on the big screen. These delightful films are equal parts profound and impactful, answering such questions as: How far have we come? Where do we go from here?

Come see…

JOYLAND

Set in Lahore, Pakistan, Joyland is a family saga of lies, secrets, and transgender desire. When Haider, the younger son of the Rana family, secretly begins working as a backup dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque, little does he know the unraveling that is about to consume his entire household. Winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film.

KOKOMO CITY

Winner of the Next Innovator and Audience Awards at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Kokomo City presents the stories of Black transgender sex workers in New York, Georgia, and South Florida. Unfiltered, unabashed, and unapologetic, this landmark work o ers a refreshing rawness and vulnerability unconcerned with purity or politeness.

EVAN EVER AFTER

This short documentary explores the journey of Florida’s first transgender homecoming queen, Evan Bialosuknia, and her confidence and impact on youth faced with discrimination resulting from Florida’s newly signed “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

GREETINGS FROM QUEERTOWN: ORLANDO

Tracing the rich history of Central Florida's LGBTQIA+ community from the mid-1970s to today, Greetings from Queertown: Orlando highlights the pioneers who fought for equality, battled the AIDS crisis, built pride, created The Center, founded the Metropolitan Business Alliance, and laid the foundation to make Orlando strong and the city beautiful.

EGGHEAD & TWINKIE

After coming out to her parents, 17-year-old Twinkie takes o on a road trip to meet her online crush with the help of her best friend, Egghead, who also just happens to be in love with her in this inventive and delightful queer coming-of-age comedy based on the award-winning short from 2020.

CANS CAN’T STAND

Black trans women in New Orleans fight to repeal Louisiana’s Crimes Against Nature by Solicitation (CANS) law which forces those convicted to register as sex o enders.

HOW TO CARRY WATER

Shoog McDaniel is a fat, queer, and disabled photographer working in and around northern Florida’s vast network of freshwater springs. For over a decade, Shoog’s photographs have transformed the way fat people view themselves and how a fat-phobic society views their bodies. Bringing Shoog’s photography to life, director Sasha Wortzel immerses audiences in a world of fat beauty and liberation, one in which marginalized bodies—including bodies of water—are sacred.

UNICORN BOY

Matt Kiel’s gorgeous, pastel-drenched animated feature, Unicorn Boy, explores first heartbreak and gender identity as Matty gets sucked into an alternate unicorn dimension to work with a new unicorn friend, a prince who barfs rainbows, to conquer a dark force. Featuring a brilliant cast of voice actors including Patton Oswalt, Harold Perrineau, and Michelle Trachtenberg.

…and many more!

TICKETS AVAILABLE

‘A Streetcar Named Desire’

Orlando Ballet brings the Tennessee Williams classic to the stage

exactly that: just brilliant storytelling through movement.”

Watermark spoke with Ochoa about the show during her time in Orlando. WATERMARK: FOR THOSE WHO ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAY AND/ OR MOVIE, HOW DOES THE BALLET DIFFER FROM THOSE VERSIONS?

behind somebody’s back, so that’s how we approach those difficult situations. We have an intimacy coach that’s going to come and guide us on how we go about violent scenes and erotic scenes so that everybody feels at ease with those moments, and everybody can actually stop and we can discuss it and say, “Well, how far are you going?”

But I always say ballet is not a documentary that we’re doing, it’s not a movie. We don’t go completely naked; we don’t do the actual act. It remains poetry, the poetry of the body and the poetry of movement and how much movement can express without doing the actual motions.

Jeremy Williams

(ABOVE) DESIRED MOVES:

Choreographer

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.

PHOTO BY CHRIS HARDY

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS IS CONSIDERED by some to be the greatest American playwright of the 20th Century, and one of his most acclaimed works is coming to the Orlando stage, but not in the form you might be accustomed to.

Orlando Ballet presents “A Streetcar Named Desire” at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Steinmetz Hall in Orlando April 27-30.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” follows Blanche DuBois, a former Southern socialite who is left with no choice but to move in with her estranged sister Stella and brutal brother-in-law Stanley, who are living in a small, gritty apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Over the course of its more than 75-year history, Williams’ play has been revived and reinvented time and time again. It has been performed on stages and screens — both big and small. It has been parodied on “The Simpsons,” it has been an opera and, yes, it has even been a ballet.

“Sometimes you can’t say things with words but you can say things with movement,” says Jorden Morris, Orlando Ballet’s artistic director. “We can tell so many things with dance and sometimes we get stuck telling more of the lighter tales or the mythical tales or the fantasy tales and I want to open the doors for people to realize that

it’s also an art form that can tell very, very touching and gritty and complex stories as well.”

“A Streetcar Named Desire” definitely fits the description of “gritty and complex.” The play, a classic of American literature, features mature themes including depictions of sexual violence as well as physical and emotional abuse.

The first time “A Streetcar Named Desire” was staged as a ballet was in 1952, five years after the play premiered on Broadway. The version being performed by the Orlando Ballet was created and choreographed in 2012 by international choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Tennessee Williams, as well as a big fan of Annabelle’s work,” Morris says. “When the opportunity came up and I was curating the season, I wanted to put something in the season that was a little bit deeper, a little bit more intense, for the artist and for the audience, and what Annabelle has done with the choreography is

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa: When I read the book, it starts when she arrives in New Orleans and her past is revealed as we move through the story. At first when I shut the book, I thought, “Oh, well, she’s a liar. She deserves everything.” It’s not true. So to avoid that, we decided to first give the backstory of how Blanche DuBois became that liar, nymphomaniac, drinker and all of that, because she had to survive something in her past, she feels guilty about her past actions and that’s why she became that character. So that’s how we laid it out, very chronologically. So hopefully when the audience sees that, they will understand her more and not be as judgmental as I was.

THIS STORY DEALS WITH SOME HEAVY SUBJECTS. HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THE CHOREOGRAPHY TO PORTRAY THESE SUBJECTS IN DANCE WITHOUT COMING ACROSS AS GRATUITOUS?

I think that, in a good play, the tension is built on the subtext, on what is not revealed, not said but that you carry with you. I try to do that with movements and with situations. One of the characters happens to be a closeted gay man, but in the ‘50s people weren’t allowed to show that. I have a gay dancer who’s so happy to finally have a gay character. I’m like, “No, no, no, no. Actually, you’re not allowed to show it.” It’s just that subtlety between the characters and in the movements that’s going to make us feel the tension that there was. For all the situations, we’re trying to show the tension more than the actual act of everything. I’m hoping to convey that tension with the audience and with the dancers that there’s more pain in the characters and in the things that are not said, or things that are said behind closed doors or

MUCH OF THE MOVIE AND PLAY TAKE PLACE IN SMALL, CONFINED SPACES. HOW DO YOU CONVEY THAT FEELING OF CLAUSTROPHOBIA WITH DANCERS PERFORMING ACROSS A FULL STAGE?

With lighting. Every time they go into the apartment, the light creates a definite space they’re stuck in. But with ballet, we depend a lot on the imagination of the audience. There are no actual walls, you have to imagine it. But because of lighting, we’re confining the space.

“A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE” IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCLAIMED PLAYS OF THE 21ST CENTURY. WERE YOU INTIMIDATED AT ALL TAKING ON THIS STORY, WHICH IS LAUDED FOR ITS DIALOGUE, AND TELLING IT TO AN AUDIENCE JUST THROUGH DANCE?

Yes. When we had the U.S. premiere in New Orleans with the Scottish Ballet [in 2012], we were, of course, very curious how the American audience was going to react to something they all knew and read in school, and we got applause after each scene because they recognized the scene and were amazed how, as a silent movie, the scenes were recreated and they understood all the tension that were in the scenes. We did not have that applause when they were performing it in Scotland, but the applause came from them recognizing the scene and understanding the scenes. That was pretty funny. I think we did a good job with [director] Nancy Meckler, who knew the movie, knew the book and had done the show, I would say 25 years ago. She knew it inside out and she knew all the elements that were needed for us to understand each scene and each character. A lot of people say it feels like watching a silent movie.

“A Streetcar Named Desire,” presented by the Orlando Ballet, runs April 27-30 at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Steinmetz Hall in Orlando. Tickets start at $29 and are available to purchase at OrlandoBallet.org.

CONGRATULATIONS

TIGLFF held its third Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival March 31-April 2, its first with in-person events. Read more about the festival at WatermarkOnline.com.

CAN Community Health’s Red Ribbon Gala raised more than $350,000 April 1. Read more on p. 10.

Come OUT St. Pete held its Longstreth Scholarship

Spring Fling Fundraiser April 2 at Zoie’s, awarding LGBTQ+ students Jaime James with $2,500, Alexa Nicolas-Lara with $1,500 and Romi Armstrong with $1,000. Read more and view photos at WatermarkOnline.com.

CONDOLENCES

Tampa’s Brian Henry Neary died March 31 at 53. He will be missed.

Watermark mother Adrienne Swesey died April 3 at 59. She was a loving mother to Creative Designer and Photographer Dylan Todd and mother-in-law to Owner and Publisher Rick Todd

ONGOING INVESTIGATION

The Largo Police Department’s investigation into the murder of Largo attorney Steven Cozzi remains active. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call Detective Bolton at the Largo Police Department at 727-587-6730. The Miami-Dade Police Department is also seeking information regarding Tomasz Kosowski, who has been charged with first-degree murder, and his Red Toyota Corolla, license plate EMF K38. Those with information are asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Read more about the case at WatermarkOnline.com.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

Tampa Bay entertainer Esme Russell, St. Pete ROTC

twirler Scott Heli, Watermark mom Sama Bender (April 13); LGBTQ advocate Eunic Epstein-Ortiz, St. Pete Dance owner Michael Raisch (April 14); Tampa Bay performer

Isaiah Sanchez Hilton, St. Pete DJ Bill Kody (April 15); Tampa Bay artist John Gascot, Musician DeLaran Withers (April 16); Tampa educator Mitchell Ryan, Sarasota realtor

Joey McDonald, Tampa Bay realtor Eric Wilson (April 17); Stonewall Democrat Beth Fountain, St. Pete superwoman

Tammy Benjamin, Tampa Bay environmentalist Joey Stalker, USAA Insurance claims adjustor Andy Perry, Magic man Ryan Zubrick (April 18); Tampa Bay entertainer Vivion Rachel Clarke (April 20); Tampa burlesque producer Mayven Missbehavin, H&R Block team lead Tyler Hargrove (April 21); Tampa business owner Michael DiCamillo, Project No Labels founder Claire Elisan, Tampa Bay entertainer Cortez Blue aka Steven Meyers (April 22); former TIGLFF executive director Scott Skyberg, Tampa Leather Club’s Joseph Mastrapasqua, Metro Inclusive Health Operations Manager Allan HeroShaw, Hancock Whitney Bank VP John Balestrieri (April 23); St. Pete actor Tom Campbell, former Tampa actor Larry Buzzeo, US postal worker Scott Turner, Tampa bear Bill Vincent, Politico Valerie McDonald; TFO Principal Flutist Clay Ellerbroek-Pettiford, Red Ribbon Cyclist Drew Reed (April 24); Tampa dancer Jackie Huston (April 26)

TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT

1

SINFULLY SWEET: The Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, GaYbor District Coalition and supporters gather in Ybor after their bonnet crawl April 2. PHOTO FROM GAYBOR’S FACEBOOK

2

HAVING A BALL: Rick Vail (L) and Michael Scranton become a disco duo March 31 at The Vinoy for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco’s Disco Ball fundraiser. PHOTO FROM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY’S FACEBOOK

3

DOING THE WORK: Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County members Christian Hotchkiss (L) and Joe Carp table along Central Ave. March 7 to raise awareness for the organization and its mission.

4

ART ADVENTURE: (L-R) Tom Penman, Blaine Lawson, Bobbi Lindaman and ‘Lwaxana Troi’ trek through Art at 400 Studios for Art Walk April 8.

5

STAR POWER: Actress and activist Laverne Cox headlines CAN Community Health’s Red Ribbon Gala at the Tampa Museum of Art April 1. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

6 OUT & PROUD: Come OUT St. Pete board members, supporters and royal court representatives take center stage April 2 at Zoie’s for their Longstreth Scholarship Spring Fling Fundraiser.

DISCO DIVA: Daphne Ferraro feels the beat and wows the crowd at Enigma March 31.

7

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

8

COMING TOGETHER: Organizers and supporters from Project No Labels and TIGLFF’s Tampa Bay Trans Film Fest gather along the waterfront in St. Pete for the celebration’s April 1 picnic. PHOTO FROM PROJECT NO LABELS’ FACEBOOK

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

PHOTO BY TERRY SCOPELLITI

CONGRATULATIONS

Rich Kuntz, aka Gidget Galore, will compete in the upcoming series “Sew Fierce,” a drag reality show that brings eight of the world’s top drag designers to compete for a cash prize of $10,000 in the first ever drag designer competition. “Sew Fierce” premieres on OUTtv April 14.

David Dorman and Scott Penyak are now 100% owners of their Century 21 Professional Group.

Former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith announced his run for Florida Senate District 17 from the steps of Orlando City Hall April 8 surrounded by about 100 friends, family and supporters. Read more on pg. 8.

The White Elephant Theatre Company, founded by local entertainer and drag performer Robert Crane, announced that they will be opening the doors to the White Elephant Cabaret Theatre for the Orlando community on May 5. The goal of the theatre is to present and produce musical and non-musical, traditional, new and cabaret-style works as an outlet for performers, writers, musicians and directors. The multi-purpose performance space will also be used for special events to facilitate Orlando’s artistic community with a special focus on the LGBTQ community. The former church building, located at 1123 W. Fairbanks Ave., will be transformed into a 100-seat, cabaret-style performing arts venue and will not only be home to White Elephant Theatre Company productions but also any theatre production company, cabaret performer, pianist, vocalists and those needing a home to present their art. Crane will also serve as the theatre’s artistic director.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

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, Theatre West End co-owner Quinn Roberts, Orlando priest José Rodríguez (April 14); Ocala-based horse trainer Randy Eeckhout, Southern Nights Orlando

DJ Nela Aguirre, Nemours art therapist Kelly Burns (April 15); Orlando arts patron Jerry Baumeister (April 18); Orlando bartender Spencer Dalberth (April 19); YouTuber and transgender advocate Zinnia Jones (April 20); Central Florida realtor Scott Penyak, On-air personality for Magic 107.7 Chad Pitt (April 21); “Miss Pee-Vira” AJ Pratt, Central Florida promoter Neema Bahrini, Former Rollins College director of dance Bob Sherry (April 22); former Watermark sales rep Tammi Jones, artist Amanda Vickers(April 23); Florida Democratic Party Diversity & Inclusion chair Vivian Rodriguez, O-Town textbook editor Sara Lyna, Orlando photgrapher Lauren Lee (April 24); Watermark contributor and “News Junkie” Sabrina Ambra (April 25); WAVE Award-winning Orlando artist Chad Booth, Gender Identity in Florida Today president Jennifer Marvin (April 26).

CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

1

FLORIDA CHAMPIONS: (L-R) Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Carlos Guillermo Smith and Jerick Mediavilla outside Orlando City Hall April 8.

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

2

GREAT EATS: Axel Andrews (L) and Jamie Lee (R) try out the cold noodle bowls at Pom Moongauklang’s (C) Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria in Orlando April 5. PHOTO FROM AXEL ANDREW’S FACEBOOK

3

PRIDE IN BUSINESS: Bowled Over Promotion’s Dawn Kallio (L) and Lisa Brown attend The Pride Chamber’s Supplier Diversity Summit at the National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando April 4.

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

4

TRANS CELEBRATION: Hope CommUnity Center’s Andrea Montanez (L) celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility with Mil Mujeres Legal Services’ Lina Duque March 30. PHOTO FROM ANDREA MONTANEZ’S FACEBOOK

5

FUNNY BUSINESS: Comedian’s (L-R) Brianna Jaye, Gregory Metts and Alex Venci at the Heels on Wheels fundraiser event at The Parrot in Lakeland April 2. PHOTO FROM BRIANNA JAYE’S FACEBOOK

6

BIG SMILES: Andres Ardilla (L) and Nadia Garzón grab a selfie at Mecatos Bakery & Café in Orlando April 6. PHOTO FROM ANDRES ARDILLA’S FACEBOOK

7

WITH THE BAND: Watermark’s Jeremy Williams (L) and Rick Todd attend a media event for the boy band No Lonely Hearts at Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs April 10. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

8

VISIBLE ALLY: Ben Johansen displays the trans flag at Embellish FX in Orlando in celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility March 31. PHOTO FROM BEN JOHANSEN’S FACEBOOK

community calendar

CENTRAL FLORIDA Broadway’s Brightest Lights

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 7 P.M.

DR. PHILLIPS CENTER, ORLANDO

Broadway’s Brightest Lights shines the spotlight on some of the best and brightest talents of today. Curated and conducted by Luke Frazier, the evening features brand new arrangements performed by The American Pops Orchestra and features Tony Award-winning star Megan Hilty. You can be part of a concert that will be broadcast on PBS later this year. For more information, visit Arts.CAH.UCF.edu.

Third Thursday

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 6-8 P.M. FAIRVILLA MEGASTORE, ORLANDO

Join us for Watermark’s April Third Thursday, our free monthly networking social in Central Florida. This month’s event, hosted at Fairvilla Megastore, located at 1740 N. Orange Blossom Trail, will feature light bites, a cash bar with first drink on the house and raffle prizes with the proceeds going to PFLAG of Greater Orlando. This is a free event for 18 and up only. Read more at Facebook.com/WatermarkFL.

TAMPA BAY

Watermark Wednesday

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 6-8 P.M. ZOIE’S, ST. PETERSBURG

Join us for the return of Watermark Wednesdays, our free networking social benefiting local nonprofits. Bring cash for your chance to win fun and fabulous raffle prizes, with April’s proceeds benefiting PFLAG Riverview and their upcoming LGBTQ Prom. Light bites from Zoie’s will be provided and with your business card, the first drink is free. Read more at Facebook.com/WatermarkFL.

Dining Out for Life Tampa Bay

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, VARIOUS TIMES

MULTIPLE VENUES, TAMPA BAY

Dining Out for Life returns to support Empath Partners in Care for its 18th year, featuring restaurant and other partners in Clearwater, Dunedin, Gulfport, St. Petersburg and Tampa. During breakfast, lunch, dinner and more, participating locations will donate at least 15% of patrons’ checks to support EPIC’s work helping those living with HIV/AIDS in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Learn more at DineTB.org.

EVENT PLANNER

TOGETHER AGAIN

Rally for Our Rights, April 16, N. Straub Park, St. Petersburg. Facebook.com/ PinellasStonewallDems & Facebook.com/PCYD

Brunch on Grand Central, April 16; 23, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com

EPIC Generations Coffee Hour, April 17, Senior Center, Dunedin. 813-237-3066; MyEPIC.org

S.I.N. Pool Party, April 17; 24, Casa del Merman, St. Petersburg. 727-310-4130; GayStPeteHouse.com

Tuesday Trivia Night, April 18; 25, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com

Hand-Painted Sun Catchers, April 18, EPIC, St. Petersburg. 813-237-3066; MyEPIC.org

Speed Gayting and Social, April 20, Dirty Laundry, St. Petersburg. 727-493-0040; DirtyLaundryStPete.com

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

CENTRAL FLORIDA

“Kinky Boots,” April 5-30, Orlando Shakes, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org

Florida Film Festival, April 8-17, Enzian Theater, Maitland. 407-629-1088; Enzian.org

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Viewing Party, April 14 & 21, Savoy, Orlando. 407-898-6766; SavoyOrlando.com

Indigo Girls, April 16, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 407-228-1220; PlazaLiveOrlando.org

Wilco w/ The A’s, April 18, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRock.com

“Chicago: 25th Anniversary Tour,” April 18-23, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Janet Jackson, April 19, Amway Center, Orlando. 844-854-1450; AmwayCenter.com

Detox, April 21, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

“The Daughter of the Regiment,” April 2123, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-512-1900; OperaOrlando.org

“The Sound Inside,” April 21-30, Fringe ArtSpace, Orlando. 407-648-0077; OrlandoFringe.org

Central Florida Earth Day, April 22, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. 321-331-1859; CFEarthDay.org

Billy Idol, April 22, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com

“Mary Poppins,” April 22-23, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-937-1800; CFCArts.com

Hamburger Mary’s Charity Bingo benefiting The Center, April 27, Hamburger Mary’s Orlando. 321-319-0600; HamburgerMarys.com/Orlando

“A Streetcar Named Desire,” April 2730, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-426-1733; OrlandoBallet.org

2023 Pride Prom, April 28, Orlando Science Center, Orlando. 407-514-2000; OSC.org

TAMPA BAY

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” Through April 16, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Taylor Swift: “The Eras Tour,” April 13-15, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. 813-350-6500; RaymondJamesStadium.com

“Sorry You Missed Taylor Swift,” April 15, The Floridian Social, St. Petersburg. 727-322-4600; TheFloridianSocial.com

Elders on the Town, April 20, Salty Nun & Fairgrounds, St. Petersburg. 813-237-3066; MyEPIC.org

“Sweeney Todd,” April 21-23, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Earth Day 2023, April 22, St. Pete Youth Farm, St. Petersburg. 727-565-3930; StPeteYouthFarm.org

“Hamilton” Screening, April 25, EPIC, St. Petersburg. 813-237-3066; MyEPIC.org

Pet Pal Animal Shelter Drag Queen Bingo, April 25, Creative Grape, St. Petersburg. 727-803-6004; CreativeGrape.com

SARASOTA

“Mean Girls,” Through April 16, Van Wezel, Sarasota. 941-263-6799; VanWezel.org

Music icon Janet Jackson brings her tour, featuring Ludacris, to the Amway Center in Orlando April 19. PHOTO FROM JANETJACKSON.COM