Watermark Issue 31.05: The WAVEs

Readers recognize their favorites in the Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence

No awards season is complete without the WAVEs and we’re proud to present your results from 2024. A special thank you to all of the voters who made their voices heard this year — including those who chose to recognize Watermark’s podcast, website, writers and more — and congratulations to all of the winners, second and third place finishers and nominees! – WATERMARK STAFF

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Jeremy Williams

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

ADESK EDITOR’S

S I STATED IN MY LAST DESK, WE

are in my favorite time of the year — Oscar season. This is publishing less than two weeks away from The 96th Academy Awards and I have now just completed watching all 10 Best Picture nominated �ilms.

Some years, it is a nail biter all the way to the last category of the evening, and some years — like this one — it is pretty obvious which �ilm will walk away with Best Picture. Barring some kind of mind-shattering upset, your Best Picture for 2023 will be Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” All things considered, it’s not a bad choice either. But I thought I would rank the 10 nominees based on what I thought were the best movies.

I will say that there were no terrible picks for Best Picture this year. Also, what someone likes is subjective, just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you can’t.

10.) “Maestro.” This �ilm was more about Bradley Cooper than it was about Leonard Berstein. His passion project; Cooper wrote it, produced it, directed it and starred in it. Of all the hats he wore, his performance is the best one. In fact, the best part of this �ilm is its performances. The �ilm feels like a by-the-numbers biopic and left me a little bored.

9.) “The Zone of Interest.” When I heard about the way this movie was �ilmed I was intrigued to see it. Its �ly-on-the-wall look at a Nazi family living next to a concentration camp was a way of telling a Holocaust story I had never seen before. The end result, while thought provoking, was

slow-paced and watching it felt more like doing homework.

8.) “Past Lives.” Celine Song’s feature directorial debut is a small love story across two countries over 24 years. It is the kind of small �ilm that I think plays better in a more intimate setting like at home rather than in a theater, focusing on conversations with its characters over action. It is a quiet, lovely �ilm.

7.) “Barbie.” I know I’m going to catch hell for having this one so low on the list. “Barbie” was a fun, sweet and funny �ilm and I enjoyed it a lot. I’ll just say that “Barbie” was not as bad as the haters on X said it was and it was not as amazing as the diehard fans said it was.

6.) “The Holdovers.” A throwback to the 1970s, both in story and style. This �ilm — like “Past Lives” — is all about the performances. Also, because of the way it is shot, it feels like a �ilm made in the story’s time period instead of a �ilm about the ‘70s made today and I appreciate its look and style.

5.) “Poor Things.” Most of what I read about this �ilm before I saw it said it was a retelling of the “Frankenstein” story, and I can see that, but this felt more to me like a retelling of “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” with lots of sex added in. It is a weird story, one that has caught heat from some because of the subject matter, but it has a lot of style and the actors devour these roles, especially Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo.

4.) “Killers of a Flower Moon.” Martin Scorsese is a legend and is incapable of making a bad movie. Is this movie way too long? Yes. Can I tell you what he could have taken out to shorten it down? No. Just like his last �ilm, “The Irishman” (which is also three-and-a-half hours long), every scene feels important and carries the story forward. Not only does this movie tell an important story but it is also one

of the most beautifully shot �ilms I have ever seen.

3.) “Oppenheimer.” Every year there is a frontrunner and this year it is this �ilm, and not without reason. Just as with “Flower Moon,” this movie is long (clocking in at three hours) but just like “Flower Moon” every scene seems intentional and needed. Whether you’re a mega fan or not, you cannot deny that Christopher Nolan knows how to make compelling, beautifully crafted �ilms.

2.) “Anatomy of a Fall.” The biggest surprise for me this year was “Anatomy.” A French legal drama/murder mystery spoken in

What someone likes is subjective, just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you can’t.

English, French and German. My favorite things about this �ilm was learning about the French court system and learning who Sandra Hüller is. Hüller not only stars in this �ilm, she is this �ilm. Her performance is mesmerizing.

1.) “American Fiction.” I loved everything about this �ilm. Comedies rarely get the recognition they deserve from The Academy, so the likelihood of “American Fiction” coming out on top is slim to none but I am hoping for a Best Adapted Screenplay win for the �ilm’s queer writer-director Cord Jefferson. He is best known for his television credits — which include “The Good Place” and “Watchmen” — and this is his �irst feature �ilm and he knocked it out of the park.

TATIANA QUIROGA is the executive director for Come Out With Pride. She is a proud mother, wife and LGBTQ+ advocate in Central Florida. Page 19

STEVE BLANCHARD is the former editor of Watermark He currently works in public relations and hosts the paranormal podcast “Phantom History.” Listen at PhantomHistory. com and more. Page 21

HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCKKELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, NICHOLAS MACHUCA, TIFFANY RAZZANO, SISTER JUANA REACTION, MOMMA ASHLEY ROSE, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, MICHAEL WANZIE, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI

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

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Ryan Williams-Jent MANAGING EDITOR Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

DESK EDITOR’S

ALOT HAPPENED IN 1997. BILL

Clinton was sworn in for a second term, probably sure it’d be shaped by U.S. policy; WebMD launched to plague hypochondriacs forever and Ellen DeGeneres told the nation “I’m gay,” right on primetime TV.

Her coming out wasn’t pop culture’s only highlight. Kenny kicked off his cycle of life and death with the “South Park” premiere, Celine Dion confirmed her heart would go on and on and J.K. Rowling published “Harry Potter,” way before we knew how awful she’d become.

The most impactful pop culture moment for me came on Sept. 20. That’s when the 76th and final episode of “X-Men: The Animated Series” aired, bringing my five-year tradition of Saturday morning matinees to a close.

I was only 12, so five years was a substantial investment for a preteen. I started watching the series a few months before

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I turned eight and never looked back — “Previously, on X-Men…” were my favorite three words for years, and still rank pretty high.

This was well before the world at large recognized Captain America or Iron Man or had a favorite Spider-Man, and you can forget about characters like Black Panther. Prior to Disney’s purchase of the company, the X-Men were undisputedly Marvel’s top property.

“In the Marvel Comics universe, mutants, people with genetically endowed superpowers, are persecuted by a hateful and fearful populace,” the 1992 series is now summarized on Disney+. Born differently and

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hated for it, Marvel’s mutants have served as an allegory for minorities since their inception in 1963.

It’s something that spoke to my little gay heart well before I understood why — and that their late co-creator Stan Lee perfectly addressed back in 1968.

“Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today,” he wrote. “But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are.

“The bigot … hates people he’s never seen — people he’s never known — with equal intensity — with equal venom,” he continued. “Now, we’re not trying to say it’s unreasonable for one human being to bug another. But, although anyone has the right to dislike another individual, it’s totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race — to despise an entire nation — to vilify an entire religion. Sooner or later … if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny, we must fill out hearts with tolerance.”

That’s what the X-Men instilled in me from a very young age and a part of why I’m so excited for “X-Men ’97,” its sequel series coming to Disney+ March 20. The world needs that message more than ever.

Notably, it will pick up where the original left off and rely on more than allegory to make a statement. A fan favorite character will be portrayed as nonbinary, something that “X-Men ‘97” showrunner Beau DeMayo — a Black, gay man bringing his unique perspective to the show — has confirmed won’t be its only LGBTQ+ representation.

In a time when a 16-year-old nonbinary student can die after being bullied in school and anti-LGBTQ+ state legislatures are the new normal, positive visibility like that is more important than ever. It’s going to take a lot more than the X-Men to change things, but I’m thrilled they’ll be a part of the fight again. For my generation and the next. We highlight local changemakers in our new issue with the results of 2024 Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence. We share your favorite activists, entertainers and more.

The world needs that message more than ever.

In Tampa Bay that includes cover models Silver Foxx, favorite local drag king; Brianna Summers, favorite local drag queen and Dr. Byron Green-Calisch, president of St Pete Pride, favorite local LGBTQ+ event and more. We were also joined by Jordan Monroe Green, owner of Sunshine City Massage, the favorite local place to pamper yourself, and Mr. Vyn Suazion. He was voted favorite local musician.

The photo was taken by favorite local photographer Dylan Todd, Watermark’s creative designer, at the St. Pete Pier, favorite place to play tourist. Thank you to each of them for joining us and to readers for naming me your favorite local journalist. I’m so thankful to do what I love with your support.

Watermark is proud to be your LGBTQ+ news source, so thanks for reading and supporting our advertisers. Please stay safe, stay informed and enjoy this latest issue.

TATIANA QUIROGA is the executive director for Come Out With Pride. She is a proud mother, wife and LGBTQ+ advocate in Central Florida. Page 19

STEVE BLANCHARD is the former editor of Watermark He currently works in public relations and hosts the paranormal podcast “Phantom History.” Listen at PhantomHistory. com and more. Page 21

HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCKKELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, NICHOLAS MACHUCA, TIFFANY RAZZANO, SISTER JUANA REACTION, MOMMA ASHLEY ROSE, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, MICHAEL WANZIE, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI

PHOTOGRAPHY

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

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MISS ROSE DYNASTY PAGEANT IS BACK

Bellanee Plaza

ORLANDO | The annual Miss Rose Dynasty Pageant is returning to the Wyndham Celebration for a night of glitz, glam and entertainment.

Miss Rose Dynasty Pageant is the only family-friendly, charity-based drag pageant in the U.S. The Rose Dynasty Foundation has raised thousands of dollars for various charities and community outreaches since 2017, according to its website.

Momma Ashley Rose, founder and president of Rose Dynasty Foundation, Inc., says last year the charity raised $28,000.

“We call it the pageant that makes a difference,” Rose says. “It not only makes a difference in the community of people that come and get a chance to hear an amazing, positive message and see beautiful entertainment but also giving back to the community financially and promoting other charities and organizations.”

This year, there will be 10 contestants raising money for charity, performing and competing for the crown.

The winner will be crowned Miss Rose Dynasty 2024 with a prize package valued at over $5,000. Rose says sponsors will help donate money and items for the grand prize and runner-up. She adds that the winner gets the chance to have opportunities that others wouldn’t.

“They get a cash prize along with booking, they get paid bookings with me throughout the year,” Rose says. “We have local places that have donated makeup and wigs. We partner with Austin International Drag Festival and they get a chance to go out and perform.”

Guests can find a safe space filled with various ages in attendance watching the drag pageant. The pageant is broken down into categories by interviews, presentation, talent, evening gown, fundraising and social media.

Last year was a difficult one for the foundation, Rose says. The pageant had been held at the Dr. Phillips Center for several years but due to Florida’s anti-drag law that was eventually blocked, the pageant had to relocate with less than a week’s time.

“We had to find a new venue to do this pageant and we did. The Wyndham ... opened their doors,” she says.

Rose says she feels honored to be the only family-friendly charity drag queen pageant based in the nation.

“Throughout the year we host family-friendly drag brunches and bingos and fundraisers, art festivals and the list goes on,” Rose says. “It’s definitely a huge weight but we thrive on providing a safe space for all people and we’ll continue to do that.”

The Miss Rose Dynasty Pageant, sponsored by Pineapple Healthcare, will be on March 9 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort & Conference Center in Kissimmee. To purchase tickets, go to MissRoseDynasty.com.

Players Concern Players with disabilities call foul over CFSL rule change

Connor Barry

ORLANDO | The Central Florida Softball League is catching some heat after a recent change to their rules surrounding disabled players.

Steve Roberts, a member of CFSL, says that the softball league has regressed the Americans with Disabilities Act rule that it had for at least the past seven years. The rule allowed disabled players to have another player run for them after they hit the ball.

The rule now states, “The ADA player will be eligible to receive a runner once they have reached first base on their bat.”

For Roberts and other disabled players in the CFSL, he says, the game is almost unplayable now.

“If an average runner can run from home to first in five seconds, it takes me 15 or 20 seconds to walk fast to home plate,” he says.

As a result of the change, Roberts and another player on his team have quit playing, leaving only one other disabled person on the team still attempting to play.

Roberts claims that CFSL is in violation of the ADA and therefore is breaking the law.

“We had an ADA runner, running from home for at least seven years, so regressing on that is really against the law as far as I am concerned,” says Roberts.

Bobby Agagnina, the CFSL Commissioner, says that the rule change was not a league decision, rather one from its parent organization the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance.

“That change occurred there and we as a league adopted their language to be in compliance with our national organization,” Agagnina says.

However, Roberts says that where the rule comes from doesn’t matter because CFSL still chose to adopt it, adding there are several rules CFSL doesn’t follow that are a part of NAGAAA and USA Softball.

While the league is not required to adopt all the same rules as the membership organization, it is highly recommended says Agagnina.

Agagnina agrees that the league does not follow every USA Softball

rule but states CFSL does adopt every NAGAAA rule. After a lengthy discussion over USA Softball rules as they evolve, the CFSL executive commission then decides whether or not to adopt certain rules to be more in line with USA Softball as well.

Roberts says he is worried about those who are still playing, risking injuring themselves. He is also concerned that because the disabled players are slower, they are more likely to be hit by the ball when it is thrown to get them out.

“Safety is a great concern for us,” says Agagnina. “We would hope that through different fielding drills that that would not happen, but of course accidents do occur.”

Despite the change, Agagnina stresses that CFSL does not expect or encourage players to run if they cannot, adding the rule says they just have to reach first base.

“We pride ourselves on being inclusive, respectful and supportive like one big family, and in no way are we trying to exclude anyone,” Agagnina says. “But we have to be in alignment with our national organization.”

While he is upset, Roberts says he does not believe there was any ill intent with the change.

“I don’t think they’re doing it to be mean. I don’t think they’re trying to injure anybody. I just think it’s a bunch of able-bodied players that don’t understand what it’s like to be disabled,” says Roberts.

PLAY BALL: Players taking the field for CFSL’s 25th season in 2022.

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

CONGRESSMAN FROST’S MADSOUL FESTIVAL MERGES MUSIC AND POLITICS

Connor Barry

ORLANDO | Speaking with U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, the Congressman from Florida’s 10th District, ahead of the sixth Madsoul music festival, excitement could be seen in his eyes has he spoke enthusiastically about the festival’s return.

“[Madsoul] is the first ever music festival hosted by a member of Congress at this scale,” Frost says. “Usually, you go to a music festival and you’re being sold things, but at Madsoul you’re being told things, you’re learning about how you can get involved.”

For Frost, the major idea behind Madsoul is that it bridges the gap between “cool and conscious,” helping to reach the people who wouldn’t go to a political rally. Madsoul, he says, will reach those people in a way that has not been done before.

A key aspect of Madsoul is that profits are donated to local charity organizations, including Zebra Youth, which provides services and resources to LGBTQ+ youth. Madsoul will also benefit the Florida Access Network, Equal Ground and SWAN of Orlando.

Frost says due to the targeting of transgender people, especially trans youth, in Florida, it is now more important than ever to support LGBTQ+ groups.

“We identified four problems in our state that are really poignant right now,” Frost says. “We know it’s a rough time in Florida, mutual aid and organizations that recognize the difficult position were in but organize to make it a better state anyway are really what’s going to help save us.”

On top of benefiting an LGBTQ+ organization, Madsoul is also helping to highlight queer artists. Muna, the band headlining the festival, is a queer indie pop band.

“We have Muna headlining. Which is an amazing queer band that has never performed in Florida before, in part, because Florida is a scary place for a lot of queer people,” Frost says. “And they’re bringing their full show.”

Since its founding in 2015 by Frost and his friends Niyah Lowell and Chris Muriel, Madsoul has put on five festivals. Frost says that for its return, this year’s sixth Madsoul will be the biggest it has ever been.

“We started this years ago and we’ve always dedicated 100% of the profits to a local nonprofit, my friend Niyah and I would actually put up the funds for the event ourselves,” Frost says. “The first few times we lost a ton of money and we still donated money of our own to organizations because we wanted to make sure there was some sort of impact.”

Now, with the funding and resources from his campaign’s backing, Madsoul can open up to more people and reach a wider

audience. With a sliding ticket scale people can spend from $20 to $100 per ticket, depending on what they feel like contributing. Frost says that this helps them offer free tickets as well.

“Ten dollars or even five, that could be what keeps someone from going, and I believe this is going to be such a powerful event that we don’t want anyone in our community to not go because money is a barrier,” Frost says. “We might say that $10 isn’t expensive, but we never know what someone is going through.”

This year’s Madsoul features an impressive lineup of artists and speakers, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Melanie Faye, Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, Nohemy, Kaelin Ellis, Palomino Blond, Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani and many more. Madsoul also recently announced the addition of Tony Award-winning performer Lin-Manuel Miranda to the guest list.

“Madsoul is multi-genre, it’s going to be weird, it’s going to be so many different styles. I tell people it’s like I made everybody a playlist and we’re just listening to it live,” Frost says.

Frost even slyly hinted at the possibility of himself getting on a drum set to help close out the night with Venture Motel, another band that will be performing.

The biggest hope for Madsoul is that people have fun while also making a difference, that’s what it is all about, says Frost.

“I want to make sure that I’m not just some politician in D.C. making laws, but that I’m also involved here locally on the ground,” he adds. “Using my influence to help raise resources, and also awareness, for these amazing organizations.”

Madsoul Music & Arts Festival will take place at Loch Haven Park In Orlando March 2, starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at FrostForCongress.com/Madsoul.

COME OUT ST. PETE TO HOST CHILI COOK-OFF

Ryan Williams-Jent

ST. PETERSBURG | Come OUT St. Pete will host the return of the Grand Central District Chili Cook-Off March 10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the district’s 3000 block and The Studio Public House.

The annual competition was a GCD staple for over a decade, bolstered by local restaurants and other supporters of St. Petersburg’s historical “gayborhood.” COSP was tasked with its return last year but rescheduled to ensure “the vibrant competition and diverse tasting experience that we know our community loves and deserves.”

“Get ready to spice up your weekend at the return of the Grand Central District Chili Cook-Off!” COSP shared in a press release Feb. 23. “Bringing together the finest chili chefs St. Pete has to offer, this sizzling event promises a feast for the senses and a celebration of culinary creativity that’ll leave your taste buds tingling!”

The cook-off is free to enter and registration closes March 9 at noon. Electricity will not be provided and exposed flames are prohibited, but participants may utilize propane, sterno products or a generator to provide at least one gallon of chili by 11 a.m. to be judged in two categories.

The first is People’s Choice, determined via chip drop from those who pay a $10 tasting fee. Voting will close at 3:30 p.m. A panel of judges will determine the other in a blind taste test completed by 2:30 p.m. Prizes are $200 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third in each category, along with a plaque for bragging rights.

“As every year, we invite you, the people who live in our neighborhoods to join the judging panel and add your taste buds to the mix! Bring your family, indulge in the savory symphony of chili and let’s crown the champion together,” COSP’s website reads. “It’s not just about the cookoff, it’s a celebration of shared moments, flavorful stories and the warmth that comes from coming together.”

The competition will feature music from DJ Jayson Chancey and entertainment from Silver Foxx and Veronica Vixen, the reigning Mr. and Miss COSP. Art vendors, a caricature artist and raffles are also expected.

“We’re fired up to bring the community together for another year of chili-centric festivities,” COSP Board Chair Chris Jones says. “This event is not only a celebration of culinary talent but also a testament to the vibrant spirit of our welcoming diverse community.

“St. Pete’s welcoming diverse community makes events like these truly special,” he continues. “Whether you’re competing or simply joining us to sample some mouthwatering chili, we guarantee a day filled with flavor, fun and fond memories.”

ORIGINAL

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, one of this year’s grand marshals and an early supporter of the organization. PHOTO COURTESY BOB BUCKHORN

Tampa Honors

Tampa Pride details 2024 grand marshals and more

Ryan Williams-Jent

TAMPA | Tampa Pride has announced the grand marshals for their 10th celebration, scheduled to return to Ybor March 23.

The organization and its board accepted nominations from Jan. 3-Feb. 4. They sought honorees in multiple categories: grand marshal, community leader, grand couple, trailblazer and community business.

“Tampa Pride is pleased to announce our Grand Marshals for Tampa Pride 2024 … our 10th anniversary celebration,” they shared Feb. 13. Honorees include two organizations and five individuals, which Tampa Pride President Carrie West calls a “great cross-selection of people in the area.”

The first are Grand Marshals Dr. Gary Howell, “a renowned psychiatrist at the Institute for LGBT Health [who] has a remarkable history of serving and supporting the Ybor community,”

and Tampa Bay entertainer Gabrielle Fearce Santi.

“Gabby [Santi], a compassionate [B]lack drag queen, actively contributes to various fundraising events focused on addressing the LGBTQ community and related challenges,” Tampa Pride shared.

The Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be honored as this year’s Community Leader. Tampa Pride noted they “are admired for their leadership in the community, consistently embodying the values of empathy, acceptance and inclusion.”

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is this year’s trailblazer. The organization noted he “played a pivotal role in launching Tampa Pride a decade ago, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and diverse city.”

Rounding out the list are Daniel and Dustin Johnson, 2024’s grand couple. The husbands adopted six siblings last year and subsequently began the process of adopting a seventh. Tampa Pride noted they have been “recognized nationally for their outstanding contributions [and] lovingly adopted six or more

children, setting an inspiring example for others.”

Rounding out the list is the LGBTQ+ resource Out Coast, led by Publisher Rachel Covello. Tampa Pride noted their business honoree “not only offers exceptional content but also organizes engaging and inclusive events specifically tailored for the LGBTQ communities in Florida.”

Tampa Pride supporters will be able to mingle with this year’s honorees at the organization’s 2024 Grand Marshal Gala, scheduled for March 7 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Hilton Tampa Downtown. Tickets are $30 and include hors oeuvres and a drink. The evening will feature special performances from Tampa Pride’s Royal Court.

Tampa Pride’s newest event will follow March 9 from 7 a.m. until noon at Al Lopez Park. Their inaugural Rainbow Run will feature a Fun and Fabulous 5K, Anything Goes 1 Mile and the pet-friendly Fetch the Rainbow 1 Mile.

“Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience,” Tampa Pride’s website reads. “Join us at the Tampa Pride Rainbow Run and let your true colors shine. Together, we can spread love, acceptance and joy throughout Tampa and beyond.”

For more information about Tampa Pride 2024 and this year’s events, visit TampaPride.org.

PINK TRIANGLE LEGACIES: FLORIDA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM TO HOST LGBTQ+ HISTORIAN

Ryan Williams-Jent

ST. PETERSBURG | The Florida Holocaust Museum will host LGBTQ+ historian Dr. Jake Newsome March 14 from 6:30-8 p.m. for a special presentation, highlighting his book “Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust” and more.

The FHM is one of only three nationally accredited Holocaust museums. It will welcome Newsome as a part of its work to teach others “the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.”

“Dr. Newsome will trace the history of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge to a widespread emblem of queer liberation, pride and community,” FHM announced in a press release Feb. 20. “He draws from archival sources and original interviews as he

shares stories of those who found meaning in the pink triangle in a post-Holocaust world.”

“While Jewish people were the primary victims of the Nazis’ racial policies and murderous activity, homosexuals were also targeted,’” added Michael Igel, FHM’s board chairman. “The Museum is dedicated to remembering all victims of the Holocaust, and Dr. Newsome’s work is a vital partner in honoring lives lost in the queer community.”

An award-winning scholar, Newsome’s work has been published in academic journals and national outlets like The Washington Post. He currently works as a museum professional in Washington, D.C. and published “Pink Triangle Legacies” in 2022. His book “provides an overview of the Nazis’ targeted violence against LGBTQ+ people and details queer survivors’ fraught and ongoing fight for the

acknowledgement, compensation and memorialization of LGBTQ+ victims,” it’s officially described. “Within this context, a new generation of queer activists used the pink triangle — a reminder of Germany’s fascist past — as the visual marker of gay liberation, seeking to end the practice of second-class citizenship by asserting they had the right to express their queer identity openly.

“The reclamation of the pink triangle occurred first in West Germany, but soon activists in the USA adopted this chapter of German history as their own,” its synopsis continues. “As gay activists on opposite sides of the Atlantic grafted pink triangle memories into new contexts, they connected two national communities and helped form the basis of a shared gay history, indeed a new gay identity, that transcended national borders.”

Newsome’s book also inspired the creation of the Pink Triangle Legacies Project. The nonprofit initiative launched Jan. 27, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, to honor “the memory of the Nazis’ queer victims and [carry] on their legacy by fighting homophobia and transphobia today through education, empowerment and advocacy.”

The historian said the timing wasn’t a coincidence, citing “a staggering rise in antisemitism, homophobia, and transphobia across the world.”

“Our motto is ‘Queer History for Queer Liberation,’” he shared via social media. “While we’re working to liberate our history from erasure, we’re also working to liberate our communities from fear, stigma and persecution. The history of the pink triangle shows us how far homophobia and transphobia can go. It’s up

to us to decide how far we let it go today.”

“The pink triangle is just one among several badges denoting enemies of the state,” he also noted. “To me, the lesson is that the work of queer liberation must be committed to the liberation of other marginalized groups. Solidarity is a strength.”

Newsome is expected to discuss this and more during his FHM presentation. The evening will also include a Q&A and book signing.

Dr. Jake Newsome’s special presentation will take place March 14 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Florida Holocaust Museum, located at 55 Fifth St. S. in St. Petersburg. Exhibition and event attendance is $5 or no cost for FHM members. Learn more and RSVP at TheFHM.org.

For more information about Newsome and his work, visit WJakeNewsome.com.

Historian Dr. Jake Newsome tells the dynamic and inspiring history of the LGBTQ+ community’s original pride symbol by tracing the transformation of the pink triangle from a Nazi concentration camp badge into a widespread emblem of queer liberation, pride, and community.

Drawing from unexplored archival sources and original interviews, Dr. Newsome showcases the voices of LGBTQ+ Holocaust victims and a rich tapestry of queer lives who found meaning in the pink triangle in a post-Holocaust world. The presentation will be followed by Q&A and a book signing.

ARREST MADE AFTER PRIDE CROSSWALK VANDALIZED

Christiana Lilly via Out South Florida

A19-year-old man who burned out his truck over the Pride intersection in downtown Delray Beach was arrested Feb. 12.

Dylan Brewer of Clearwater was caught by city cameras and onlookers’ cell phones as he drove his black truck over the intersection and appeared to intentionally burn out his tires over the rainbow design. On the video, a person can be heard saying, “Oh my God, oh my God,” as Brewer drives away, a flag flying from the bed of his truck.

He turned himself in to the Delray Beach Police and was charged with criminal mischief and a moving traffic violation. Police said that Brewer did not provide a statement and that “significant damage” was done to the intersection.

“Law enforcement actively worked the case for more than a week,” the police department said in a media release. “We received multiple reports from concerned citizens who witnessed Brewer engaging in these destructive acts. Several witnesses provided smartphone video of the crime.”

This is the second time that someone has burned out their truck over the intersection. Just days after it was dedicated in 2021, Alexander Jerich did the same while participating in a birthday rally for former President Donald Trump. A video of the act was posted to Facebook, and according to his arrest report, a fellow driver yelled “tear up that gay intersection.”

After two years of court appearances, he was given probation after writing a report on each of the 49 victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando. Judge Scott Suskauer ended Jerich’s probation early in December.

“Defacement of the memorial to the LGBTQ+ community should be considered a hate crime,” said Rand Hoch, the president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. “However, local State Attorney David Aronberg previously determined that since the intersection is owned by a municipality and not an individual, Florida’s hate crime statute does not apply.”

Hundreds of people have now donated over $28,000 to Brewer, including a $10,000 donation from right-wing commentator Tim Pool. A GiveSendGo fundraiser has a goal of $100,000 for his defense.

“This fund not only supports Brewer’s legal defense but also champions the fundamental American values of freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial,” the GiveSendGo organizer wrote. “By contributing, you stand for the principles that underpin our democracy, advocating for a balanced and just examination of the case.”

Brewer’s next hearing is March 14, when the state will file charges.

RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! GIFTING FREE BOOK TO FLORIDIANS IN RESPONSE TO BANNING

Bellanee Plaza

Three of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! titles are under review due to officials in Florida’s Escambia County Public Schools removing and flagging over 1,600 books for potential banning.

From the 1,600 books, eight are encyclopedias, five are dictionaries and hundreds are reference books.

In response, Ripley’s has decided to gift their annual book to Florida residents for free, an initiative that began on Feb. 20 and concludes May 15. Florida residents can request a book be mailed to them through Ripley’s website with one book available per household or in person at a

Florida Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Panama City Beach, Orlando and St. Augustine with a Florida ID while supplies last.

“The very idea of banning these books is worthy of entry to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!,” Ryan DeSear, Vice President of Attraction Operations for Ripley Entertainment, said in a press release. “Ironically, Escambia County officials are practically authoring our next book for us!

While Ripley’s response to this issue is a bit tongue-in-cheek, we very much encourage all Florida residents to claim their free copy and decide for themselves.”

Ripley’s books have entertained both adults and children alike for generations, as researchers,

writers and fact-checkers scour the globe looking for stories of the weird and wonderful, according to the press release.

The potentially banned books captivate and educate, making them valuable resources for even the most reluctant reader, according to its website.

“Our focus for the last 105 years has always been a lighthearted look at the curiosities that make up society,” DeSear said in the release. “We celebrate uniqueness, a responsibility that we take to heart and will continue to for years to come.”

Visit Ripleys.com/General/FloridaBooks to request a copy.

DESANTIS CALLS DISNEY TAKEOVER A ‘SUCCESS’ Wire Report

Almost a year after state lawmakers passed a law giving Florida’s governor control over Walt Disney World’s governing district, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Feb. 22 called the takeover a success, despite an exodus of workers, ongoing litigation and scandal surrounding one of his appointees.

DeSantis made a victory lap of sorts during a news conference at Disney World, touting a first-round victory in litigation with Disney over who controls the district, which had been led by Disney supporters for more than five decades until the takeover last year.

The governor also said the takeover of the district with his appointees had created more transparency and accountability, reduced the tax burden for Disney and outside shops and restaurants at the theme park resort and made the awarding of contracts by the district more competitive.

“That is a win, not just for people in this region, but the state of Florida,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis’ visit to Disney World came three weeks after

a federal judge in Tallahassee dismissed Disney’s free speech lawsuit against the governor and his appointees to the board of the governing district. Disney is appealing the ruling.

Disney had argued that the legislation which transferred control of the district from Disney supporters to DeSantis appointees was in retaliation for the company publicly opposing the state’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law. The 2022 law banned classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who had used Disney as a punching bag in speeches on the campaign trail until he suspended his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination earlier this year. A separate lawsuit over who controls the district is still pending in state court in Orlando. Before control of the district changed hands early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers, and the district sued

the company in state court to have the contracts voided.

Disney has filed counterclaims that include asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable.

Since the takeover, around 50 of the district’s 370 employees have departed, raising questions about how well the district is able to operate with so many vacancies. Many of the departing workers complained that the district has become politicized, that politically-connected associates have been hired or awarded contracts, and that the backgrounds of the five DeSantis appointees have been distracting.

One of the appointees, Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, has been called out for hypocrisy after admitting to a sexual relationship with her husband and another woman, even though the Zieglers very publicly have fought against LGBTQ+ rights. Her husband, Christian Ziegler, recently was ousted as the head of the Republican Party of Florida, and the Sarasota Police Department has asked prosecutors to charge him with illegally video recording the sexual encounter he had with the woman.

HOW THE DEATH OF A NONBINARY OKLAHOMA TEEN HAS RENEWED SCRUTINY ON ANTI-TRANS POLICIES

Wire Report

OKLAHOMA CITY | The death of a 16-year-old nonbinary high school student in Oklahoma whose family says was bullied has renewed scrutiny of anti-trans polices and political rhetoric over gender identity.

Nex Benedict identified as nonbinary and used they/them pronouns, according to their family. Benedict died Feb. 8, one day after a fight inside a girl’s bathroom at Owasso High School. Police in the Tulsa suburb have not released a cause of death but said the teenager did not die as a result of injuries from the fight.

“At this time, any further comments on the cause of death are currently pending until toxicology results and other ancillary testing results are received,” Owasso police said in a statement. Police Lt. Nick Boatman has said detectives are interviewing staff and students at the school to learn more about what happened.

A vigil for the teenager took place Feb. 25 in Owasso.

Nex Benedict’s mother, Sue Benedict said in a statement on a GoFundMe page set up to help cover funeral expenses that the family was still learning to use the teen’s preferred name and pronouns. The statement came after the family had posted Nex Benedict’s deadname.

“Please do not judge us as Nex was judged, please do not bully us for our ignorance on the subject,” she wrote. “Nex gave us that respect and we are sorry in our grief that we overlooked them.”

Here are some things to know about Benedict’s death and the investigation:

AN ALTERCATION IN THE SCHOOL BATHROOM

Benedict was able to walk out of the bathroom after the Feb. 7 fight but was taken to a hospital by their family and sent home that night. The next day, paramedics were dispatched to the home for a medical emergency and took Benedict to a hospital emergency room, where they later died, police said.

Sue Benedict told The Independent that the teen suffered bruises all over their face and eyes in the fight involving a transgender student and three older girls.

The school district has said the students were in the restroom for less than two minutes before the fight was broken up by other students and a staff member.

Police and school officials have not said what provoked the fight. In a statement, the family has said they have launched their own independent investigation into what happened.

YOUTH CRISIS

HOTLINE SEES SPIKE

In the days since news of Benedict’s death became public, calls from Oklahoma to a national crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ youths have spiked by more than 500%, said Lance Preston, the founder and director of the Indiana-based Rainbow Youth Project USA, a group that aims to improve the safety and wellness of LGBTQ+ young people.

The group’s mental health crisis hotline typically receives an average of 87 calls per week from Oklahoma, a number that jumped to 474 calls through Thursday, Preston said.

“Unfortunately, this incident not only has scared these young people in Oklahoma, but we’re seeing kids from all over the country,” Preston said. “It’s really created kind of a storm.”

Of the calls from Oklahoma, Preston said 85% of those reported being bullied at school or on social media and nearly 80% reported fear of a physical assault. Nearly three dozen people who called the hotline identified as students at Owasso High School and more than a dozen identified as parents of students at the school.

BULLYING AT SCHOOL

While bullying at school is not uncommon, experts say the problem is particularly acute for students who identify as nonbinary or transgender, and particularly for those who are transitioning.

Al Stone-Gebhardt, a transgender man who graduated last year from Tulsa Union Public Schools, less than 15 miles from Owasso, said

he noticed an increase in anti-trans bullying and discrimination as state lawmakers started to introduce bills targeting trans youths.

“I absolutely felt there was increased tension and vulnerability for trans people to attend school in Oklahoma,” he said. “It got pretty bad.”

Owasso Public Schools said in a statement this week that district officials are committed to student safety and ensuring an inclusive environment for all students.

“We recognize the impact that this event has had on the entire school community and it is our priority to foster an environment where everyone feels heard, supported, and safe,” the statement said.

District spokesperson Jordan Korphage says the high school also has a student-led Equality Club that meets weekly and supports equality across all people, races, sexual orientations and religions.

ANTI-TRANS EFFORTS IN OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma’s Republican-led Legislature has passed several new laws targeting transgender and nonbinary people in recent years.

Among the many anti-trans bills being considered this year in Oklahoma are measures to ban gender-affirming care for adults, prohibit school employees from using a student’s preferred pronouns if they don’t correspond with the sex assigned at birth, and prohibit state laws or executive orders that recognize any gender besides male and female.

Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Schools, Ryan Walters, also has embraced anti-trans policies and faced bipartisan blowback after he appointed a right-wing social media influencer from New York known for posting anti-trans rhetoric to a state library panel. One of Chaya Raichik’s posts on her Libs of TikTok account on X showed an edited video critical of a public school librarian in Tulsa, led to several consecutive days of bomb threats to schools in the district.

IN OTHER NEWS

ALABAMA LAWMAKERS TO DEFINE GENDER BASED ON SPERM AND OVA

Alabama lawmakers are advancing legislation that would strictly define who is considered female and male based on their reproductive systems. “There are only two sexes, and every individual is either male or female,” declares the Senate bill approved in committee Feb. 20. It defines sex based on reproductive anatomy and says schools and local governments can establish single-sex spaces, such as bathrooms, based on those definitions.

GREENE TARGETS LEVINE WITH TRANSPHOBIC INSULTS

In a Feb. 17 X post, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene lobbed transphobic insults at Adm. Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the highest ranking transgender government official. The congresswoman was responding to a video posted by Levine on X, which highlighted the disproportionate harms wrought by climate change on “the physical and mental health of Black communities” along with HHS’s work addressing these issues. The Congresswoman has repeatedly targeted Levine, largely over her support for gender-affirming care.

ALITO RENEWS CRITICISM OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY RULING

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito renewed Feb. 20 his criticism of the landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that established the nationwide constitutional right to same-sex marriage. His remarks came in an order written in connection with the High Court’s decision not to hear Missouri Department of Corrections v. Jean Finney — a dispute over whether a juror’s position that “homosexuality, according to the Bible, is a sin” can be the basis for striking him from an employment discrimination case that was brought by a lesbian. The conflict, Alito argued, “exemplifies the danger” he foresaw in the court’s same-sex marriage ruling.

RUSSIAN POLICE INVESTIGATE ‘MY LITTLE PONY’ CONVENTION

Police in Moscow were called to investigate alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda at a fan event dedicated to the cartoon series “My Little Pony” Feb. 18. The convention was closed by organizers after officers arrived at the venue, despite police being unable to find evidence of illegal activity. Although aimed at children and focused on the magical power of friendship, “My Little Pony” has featured queer-positive messages and has a large LGBTQ+ fanbase. Russian movie database Kinopoisk changed its rating for the animated series to an adult-only “18+” in December 2023 not long after a Russian court declared the “global LGBTQ+ movement” to be an extremist organization.

MY NEW YEAR’S resolutions are long forgotten. My motivation to drink more water and workout regularly have been quickly substituted by the heavenly taste of Girl Scout cookies. Oh, these sirens call out to me. After all, how can I not empower young entrepreneurs and ensure their success? So, here we go — another new year. I dig deep to find the enthusiasm to break old habits and start new ones.

Between flash cards, spelling words and red lights, every morning, as I drop off my kiddos to school, I sneak in a conversation about things we are grateful for. My goal is to acknowledge three things, they can be big or small. Depending on the hectic morning or night before, it could be anything from the beautiful day, great night sleep, the upcoming weekend, each other and/or our pets, who tend to be the most popular. As a parent, I admit, I have an ulterior motive: to keep me accountable and honest. Some days, I’m overwhelmed, stressed and distracted. I try to hide my hesitation and scramble to fill the awkward silence as my kids wait for my list. Then, I am reminded and forced to pause and to be present.

Time is so puzzling. It’s a human construct yet it feels out of our control, slipping away or dragging on, depends completely on us. Five minutes on a treadmill cannot possibly be in the same five minutes on a theme park ride, no way! But it is. Learning to manage my time has been an ongoing roller coaster. There are apps, calendars, webinars and seminars on how to better manage your time. Yet, to quote the holy saint Taylor Swift, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” I’m the one who struggles making time for myself and recognizing its value. But forcing myself to take a

breath, admire a clear blue sky or feel a warm breeze, I’m learning to slow down to savor those seconds.

If you aren’t part of a marginalized group, most all spaces are your space. If you are part of a marginalized group, most spaces aren’t your space and you have to actively seek out these opportunities, looking for folks with commonalities, be it your appearance, identity, lived experience, language, ability or shared beliefs. Others unite! And when we do, magic happens. We find solace in unity. Relaxing our guard, no longer code switching, allowing for joy to enter our souls and celebrating as we are. For most of us who live in marginalized intersections, these spaces don’t happen too often. Our daily interactions are guarded, swallowing and tolerating bad jokes, stupidities and ignorance because we are too exhausted to correct our friends or partners. Fake smiles. Leaving us feeling alone and empty. However, I’ve come to recognize that my remedy and response from this daily grind is creating experiences to be amongst my people. Igniting my passion, I am driven to build these spaces for myself and others. The others.

Those of us who don’t fit into the categories placed on us. Those of us who break the mold. Those of us who shatter the expectations that we never promised to keep. I can’t sit still. I know our community desperately needs to gather. We need our space. We need to feel that we aren’t alone. We are loved as we are. We are part of something bigger. Hence why I’m in the thick of constructing our 2024 Pride Prom.

With much hesitation, I recall my prom in high school and I cringe.

I didn’t want to go. I wasn’t comfortable. I hated my dress. I hated my date, who was a boy and not the girl that I desired to go with. I hated myself for allowing

myself to be in that situation. Despite those pictures being long gone, I still try to erase those memories.

I know I’m not alone in this shared experience and dread associated with prom. So many of us weren’t allowed to be ourselves. We may not have known what we were,

again. Pride Prom is our magical night to step outside of our daily routine. It’s our extraordinary chance to dress up, feel our best and together dance the night away amongst our friends, free of judgment. No one is questioning our relationship. No one is

I know our community desperately needs to gather.

… Hence why I’m in the thick of constructing our 2024 Pride Prom.

but we definitely knew what we weren’t.

So, NOW I can have a do over my way! I can feel confident in myself, my skin and my spirit. I can wear what I want to wear and bring who I want as my date. I’m still waiting on a prom proposal from my wife (insert eye roll). I may have to take matters into my own hands and ask her

looking at us. No one is whispering or smirking. Just us being us and our closest 1,000 friends!

I’ll admit, as a grown woman in my mid 40’s, I’m way too excited about dress shopping. I haven’t found my shoes yet, and I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing with my hair. But, filled with giddiness, I’m energized by the excitement

and anticipation of prom night. And THIS is part of my self-care. One prom night won’t take care of all of life’s obstacles but in these cherished moments I feel warm and fuzzy. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to embrace my queer joy as my authentic self, be in a shared space with my community and dance until my feet hurt and my heart is full!

Come Out With Pride’s 2024 Pride Prom will be at the Orlando Science Center April 12.

Tatiana Quiroga is the executive director for Come Out With Pride. She is a proud mother, wife and LGBTQ advocate in Central Florida.

Steve Blanchard

FIT FOR PRINT

Please, keep your pants on

WHEN YOU LITERALLY make it your business to welcome people into your home, you expect

to get some interesting questions.

More than a year ago, my husband and I decided to create the ultimate paranormal-themed bed and breakfast location in Tampa. Phantom History House caters to fans of the creepy, weird, paranormal and quirky, but in an elegant, upscale way.

We have put a lot of time and effort into creating a space that is special, uniquely themed and comfortable for everyone to enjoy. We put together a plan and evolved along with the business and the requests of our guests. We’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way.

It’s been a blast and we’ve met people from all walks of life and from around the world. But sometimes an unexpected question sneaks into the regular roster.

“How long have you wanted to run a bed and breakfast?” For at least 20 years.

“Is the place haunted?” Probably so, but it depends on whom you ask.

“Have you ever seen a ghost?” Yes.

“What’s your scariest room?” People tend to have different opinions on this one.

“Can I be nude in your library?” Wait. What?

No judgement here, but that last question has popped up, pardon the pun, in one form or another more often than either of us had ever expected. In fact, in all our preparation to open our paranormal B&B experience, we never once thought this would be a thing, as the kids say.

The haunted question? Sure, we expected that one. We have two antique urns in the house, after all, and psychics are regularly doing readings in our library and paranormal investigators lurking about.

But the short answer to that last question is no, and not just because of the elevated paper cut concerns a

library might impose during a clothing optional situation. It’s more about creating an inclusive space and keeping with a theme.

We ask that our guests please refrain from enjoying the tickle of any alleged paranormal cold spots found in our public spaces on their genitalia. And we’d prefer that the antique chairs in our Potion Room avoided direct contact with anyone’s dangly bits.

Feel free, however, to drop trou in your bedchamber every time you close the door behind you. That space is private and reserved just for you!

Before you start writing that angry email to me, please understand I am not anti-nudity. And I am not a prude. Our space just isn’t set up for that activity.

Guests come and go throughout the day and sometimes neighbors pop over to check out what’s been freshly baked and taken out of the oven.

I’m guessing there’s also an additional licensure or something required to become a clothing optional destination. I don’t know the answer to that because that’s never been our business model.

By the way, clothing optional resorts are a fantastic way to embrace nature and to be free in all sorts of ways. In fact, I have experienced them, and despite the almost translucent shade of my very fair skin, I even participated once or twice — with the assistance of copious amounts of sunblock.

So, I can see the appeal. It’s freeing, and some forms of clothing can be restricting, uncomfortable and just better regulated to a heaping pile on the floor. But no, sir, you may not plant your bare rump on our vintage chair while you boot up your laptop in our dining room.

While my references have pointed to the male gender thus far, I do understand that there are members of all genders who enjoy releasing

their derrieres from the captivity of denim constrains among friends. But so far in the young life of our B&B, it’s only been potential guests of the male persuasion who have asked if they’d be rebuffed if they roam our hallways, well, in the buff.

all over the world have been to Phantom History House. We’ve had guests from as nearby as Brandon to as far away as Europe — Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic.

Straight married couples, same-gendered partners, mothers and daughters and

As for our little creepy corner of the world, one full moon a month is plenty.

More specifically, it’s gay males, a population of which we are certainly a part. And granted, those requests come through one specific booking site that caters specifically to gay men. We’re gay men, so it makes sense to put ourselves out in that market, so to speak.

But we are not strictly LGBTQIA. We’re open to everyone of all backgrounds and even some guests below the age of 21. Travelers from

transgender guests have all been wonderful to have here, and we like to think that when they leave us, they’re more like friends than guests.

Most notably, however, they’re friends who have not shown their junk while they enjoyed extra cream cheese on their morning bagel or have had to be extra careful not to spill hot coffee on any excessively exposed, sensitive skin.

Again, absolutely no judgement on those who enjoy clothing optional spaces. Enjoy them, embrace them and celebrate the freedom they provide. There’s a part of our community who deserves to have that option and, fortunately, Florida weather makes those options even more attractive.

But as for our little creepy corner of the world, one full moon a month is plenty.

Steve Blanchard is the former editor of Watermark. He works in public relations and hosts the paranormal podcast “Phantom History” at PhantomHistory.com.

The Art of Elliot Tiber

Born April 15, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY, Elliot attended local public schools and enrolled in a B.F.A. curriculum at Brooklyn College. In 1955 the family bought a motel in upstate Bethel, New York, where they set out to discover the American Dream of financial independence. Following a change of schools to Hunter College, Elliot received his arts degree and worked weekdays in Greenwich Village, New York City, as an interior designer and weekends in Bethel to help his parents at the motel. Unknown to his parents, Elliot led a gay lifestyle during the week and a straight lifestyle on weekends. His weekday interior design business developed nicely so that by 1969 he had become a successful designer recognized for his creative projects. He was active in the

gay community, socializing with many musicians, actors, poets, and writers, including Tennessee Williams, Marlon Brando and others. In June of 1969, he participated in the Stonewall Inn riots where gays and lesbians fought with the NYPD for seven days, the beginning of the Gay Pride Movement. A month later, Elliot learned that the producers of a planned art and music festival in the town of Wallkill, NY, had the permit for the event rescinded by the town council just thirty days prior to the planned event. Elliot, who had been holding small festivals in nearby Bethel, possessed a permit and successfully brought together the festival producers with Max Yasgur,

the owner of a 600-acre dairy farm. Elliot saved the day and the Woodstock Art & Music Festival 1969 was on! The family motel property became ground zero for the planning and preparation for a three-day event that would change American music and culture. Elliot’s first memoir, Taking Woodstock, captured the frenzy of that tumultuous

time in his life when he announced that he was a proud gay man. Elliot became well-known because of Woodstock and his interior design reputation took him to the upscale in Greater New York City, including Judy Garland and other actors. His second memoir, Palm Trees on the Hudson, captured those exotic days of designing interiors for the rich and famous, even members of the Mafia.

The next phase of his life, when he became even more well known as a script writer, stand-up comic, playwright, and professor are brought forth in his third memoir, After Woodstock. In it, Elliot reveals his decades long relationship with Belgian scriptwriter and theatre and movie director André Ernotte, who brought Elliot a more relaxed life than he had ever enjoyed before. Together, they produced several award-winning films, including Rue Haute, the French language film written by Elliot that was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film

at the Oscars in 1977.

While Elliot had studied art with some of the best abstract expressionists in America, including Mark Rothko, Al Reinhardt, Robert Motherwell, and others, he never became famous for his own art, largely because he stayed focused on his love of movies and the stage, working alongside his life partner. Throughout his career, Elliot always shared that he was a proud gay man and he worked tirelessly to promote the Gay Pride Movement and LGBTQ so others would succeed, too. Elliot’s art is now available through the efforts of Ocean Art Gallery owner / director Frank Gromling, who promised Elliot before his death that he would do everything he could to make Elliot’s art successful. In fulfilling that promise, Frank has made available 20 of Elliot Tiber’s original drawings, along with prints of 20 different images. These special memories keep Elliot’s spirit alive as we prepare to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Woodstock 1969.

Visit www.oagart.com/elliottiber to select your Elliot Tiber original or print.

talking points

I think it is morally right to tell stories from under-represented people. Unfortunately, this industry does not operate on morality, it operates on success … If [my film] serves as a reminder that taking a risk is good, then that will be a delight to me.

— “AMERICAN FICTION” WRITER-DIRECTOR CORD JEFFERSON AFTER WINNING A BAFTA FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY FEB. 18

MARVEL STUDIOS RELEASED THE FIRST TRAILER FOR “X-MEN ‘97” FEB. 15, THE SEQUEL TO THE 90S-ERA “X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES,” while also confirming a fan favorite character will be nonbinary. Along with returning characters like Cyclops, Storm and Wolverine will be fan favorite Morph. “X-Men ‘97” showrunner Beau DeMayo, a native of Winter Park, Florida, revealed Morph would be nonbinary as early as 2022 at San Diego Comic Con. The website AIPT reported afterwards that DeMayo “changed the pronouns for Morph to they/them in his presentation.” DeMayo also discussed the character with media outlet Empire, noting the series features “a lighter take on the character, who is nonbinary and has an interesting buddy relationship with Wolverine.” Notably, DeMayo shared with fans last year that Marvel Studios was “truly interested in what my experience as a Black gay man was” in shaping “X-Men ’97.” The 10-episode series premieres on Disney+ March 20.

400+ CELEBS SHOW SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL’S EUROVISION INCLUSION

OVER 400 LEADERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, INCLUDING BOY GEORGE, DEBRA MESSING, HELEN MIRREN, MAYIM BIALIK, SELMA BLAIR AND JULIANNA MARGULIES signed an open letter Feb. 14 released by Creative Community For Peace in support of the European Broadcasting Union’s public commitment to include Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. The letter is a response to a call from more than 1,000 Swedish artists who have demanded that Israel be disinvited from the contest over the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict. Israel announced Feb. 8 that 20-year-old Eden Golan would be representing them at the contest this year, which is being held in Sweden May 7-11.

‘WICKED’ TRAILER SHOWN DURING SUPER BOWL

ATOTAL OF 11 FILMS AIRED TRAILERS DURING THE SUPER BOWL FEB.

11. Among them was the trailer for “Wicked,” the upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical that follows the green-skinned Elphaba and how she became the Wicked Witch of the West. The highly anticipated film features a star-studded cast including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Bailey. The trailer shows off much of the iconic imagery associated with “Wicked” and “The Wizard of Oz,” opening with the classic witch hat, flying monkeys, the Emerald City and ending with Dorothy and Toto. “Wicked” will be released in theaters on Thanksgiving 2024.

HENRY HOKE AMONG AUTHORS ON AWARD LONGLIST

HENRY HOKE’S “OPEN THROAT,” A NOVELLA ABOUT A QUEER

MOUNTAIN LION LIVING in the shadow of the Hollywood sign, is among the 10 books on the longlist for one of the literary world’s top prizes, the PEN/Faulkner award for fiction. The list also includes James McBride’s “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” Alice McDermott’s “Absolution,” Jamel Brinkley’s “Witness,” Catherine Lacey’s “Biography of X,” Emma Cline’s “The Guest,” Daniel Clowes’ “Monica,” Claire Jiménez’s “What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez,” Nishanth Injam’s “The Best Possible Experience” and Colin Winnette’s “Users.” The list will be pared to five finalists in March, with the winner to be announced in April.

47% OF TRANS INDIVIDUALS THOUGHT ABOUT MOVING TO ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE OF STATE GOVERNMENT LAWS THAT TARGET TRANS PEOPLE FOR UNEQUAL TREATMENT.

THANK YOU For The Support!

1st Place

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ BAR/CLUB: Savoy

FAVORITE LOCAL DJ: DJ Joanie

2nd Place

FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR: Savoy

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER / SERVER: Saul Lopez

FAVORITE LOCAL KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT: Lacie Browning's "RuPaul's Drag Race" Viewing Party

3rd place

FAVORITE LOCAL KARAOKE TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT: Dr George Wallace's Trivia Night

AVORITE KARAOKE, Dr. Wallace s N

CAL FUNDRAISING EVENT: S vo ’s Celebri Bartending, benefiting the LGBT+

FAVORITE LOC o + Center Orlando

The WAVES

Readers recognize their favorites in the Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence

Jeremy Williams and Ryan Williams-Jent

THE WATERMARK AWARDS FOR

Variety and Excellence have recognized the LGBTQ+ communities of Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s for more than two decades. As always, the results are determined by readers in each region through multiple rounds.

The 2024 WAVEs began on Jan. 2, when we asked readers to nominate the best in Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ communities in the areas of activism, service, entertainment and more. You shared your favorites in droves.

That determined the Top 5 nominees in more than 50 categories — activists, bars,

entertainers, nonprofits and safe spaces which received enough nominations to make the voting round.

It opened Jan. 22 and closed Feb. 9, setting a new record for responses in the process. Now, after all of your campaigning, promoting and voting, we have your verified results.

In these pages you’ll find Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s winners in each category, along with the second and third place finishers. We also highlight a few of this year’s individuals and businesses who came out on top.

No awards season is complete without the WAVEs and we’re proud to present your results from 2024. A special thank you to all of the voters who made their voices heard this year — including those who chose to recognize Watermark’s podcast, website, writers and more — and congratulations to all of the 2024 winners, second and third place finishers and nominees!

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2024 WAVE AWARDS

CENTRAL FLORIDA WINNERS

FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN

First: Anna V. Eskamani, Florida House District 42

SECOND: Jennifer “Rita” Harris, Florida House District 44

THIRD: Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando Mayor

FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST

First: Darcel Stevens, Central Florida drag performer

SECOND: Jennifer “Rita” Harris, Florida House District 44

THIRD: Dr. George Wallace, CEO, LGBT+ Center Orlando

GREATEST ALLY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

First: Jennifer “Rita” Harris, Florida House District 44

SECOND: Anna V. Eskamani, Florida House District 42

THIRD: Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando Mayor

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

First: LGBT+ Center Orlando

SECOND: Zebra Youth

THIRD: Harmony Healthcare Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANSAFFIRMING ORGANIZATION

First: Zebra Youth

SECOND: LGBT+ Center Orlando

THIRD: Divas in Dialogue

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE / ORGANIZATION

First: OUT Sports League

SECOND: Orlando City Soccer

THIRD: Orlando Otters Rugby Football Club

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER / JOURNALIST

First: Jeremy Williams, Watermark

SECOND: Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel

THIRD: Marty “Leigh Shannon” Fugate, Watermark

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE

First: Watermark, WatermarkOnline.com

SECOND: Orlando Weekly, OrlandoWeekly.com

THIRD: Bungalower, Bungalower.com

FAVORITE LOCAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

First: Come Out With Pride’s parade/festival, benefiting COWP

SECOND: Love is a Drag Brunch, benefiting Zebra Youth

THIRD: Savoy’s Celebrity Bartending, benefiting the LGBT+ Center Orlando

FAVORITE ANNUAL LOCAL LGBTQ+ EVENT

First: Come Out With Pride’s parade/festival

SECOND: DeLand Pride’s Love is Love festival

THIRD: GayDays

FAVORITE LOCAL

TRANS-AFFIRMING EVENT

First: All the Queen’s Men

SECOND: Come Out With Pride’s Trans Rally/March

THIRD: Unity Nite at Southern Nights

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ+ YOUTH EVENT

First: Zebra Youth’s Pride Prom

Second: Come Out With Pride’s Youth Pride

Third: CampOUT LGBTQ+ Youth Summer Camp

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR/CLUB

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

SECOND: MojoMan Swimwear & Clothing

THIRD: Ritzy Rags Wigs & More

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

First: Orange Blossom Law

SECOND: Jack & Honey’s

THIRD: Stiffy’s Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY

First: Health Care Center for the Homeless

SECOND: Harmony Healthcare Orlando (tie)

SECOND: Pineapple Healthcare (tie)

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON / BARBER SHOP

First: The Red Scarlet Salon

SECOND: Floyd’s Barbershop

THIRD: Vamp Hair Studio

FAVORITE LOCAL MAKEUP ARTIST

First: Gina Barbanera, Gina B Orlando Hair and Makeup Artist

SECOND: Justin Jimenez, Renaissance Theatre Company

THIRD: Noel Garcia, aka Marie Laveau

QUEER SPORTS

OOUT Sports League

Central Florida’s 1st place Favorite Sports League/Organization

UT Sports League is more than a sports league, it’s a community and safe space, and it is this year’s WAVE winner for Favorite Sports Organization.

John Teixeira, founder and commissioner of OUT Sports League, says he feels very humbled to see the organization win. He says it’s validating for what the league is doing for the queer community in Orlando.

“That just lets us know that we’re doing a good job and that the community appreciates that,” Teixeira says. “It’s letting us know that hopefully we’re living up to our standards as a very queer-friendly sports organization.”

OUT Sports League, which stands for Orlando United Together, is an LGBTQ+ recreational sports league that serves Central Florida.

Teixeira says the big secret about recreational queer sports is that a lot of people don’t join the league to play sports, they do it because they want to meet people.

“The league has gotten so enormous that I’ve had to quit my job, so this is now my full-time responsibility to give back to the league,” Teixeira says. “It is very gratifying and humbling that this is now my responsibility to give back to the community.”

In 2023, the league had 1,900 active players participating and since the league started has had over 3,000 players. The league currently offers kickball, dodgeball, cornhole, soccer, sand volleyball and indoor volleyball.

With the state of politics in Florida, Teixeira says it’s important to have a space for the LGBTQ+ community to feel safe in.

“It’s kind of nice to be an oasis in the desert for a lot of people in our community,” Teixeira says.

Teixeira says none of this would have happened without the community responding and participating.

“I like to tell people it takes players to have a league and it takes people to have a league,” Teixeira says.

— BELLANEE PLAZA

SERVICES

*

Comprehensive Primary Care

Gender A rming Care

HIV, STI & Viral Hepatitis Testing & Treatment

Prevention, Education & Outreach

LOCATIONS

CLEARWATER

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

eFax: (866) 622-3009

Lab Draws

Linkage to Care Services

Medical Peer Navigators

On-Site Pharmacy

Patient Care Coordination

PrEP & nPEP Services

Ryan White Provider

Spanish Speaking Sta Support Groups

Telehealth Services

Transportation Services

NEW PORT RICHEY

4758 Rowan Road

New Port Richey, FL 34653

O ce: (727) 312-2040

eFax: (888) 806-9655

ST. PETERSBURG

3251 3rd Ave N #125

St. Petersburg, FL 33713

O ce: (727) 498-4969

WALK-INS WELCOME AT ALL LOCATIONS

* services vary by location

ORLANDO

1301 W. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32804

O: (407) 246-1946

F: (855) 895-5749

TAMPA

2105 N Nebraska Ave. Tampa, FL 33602

O ce: (813) 769-7207

FAVORITE LOCAL FITNESS CENTER

First: Red Fire Gym

SECOND: LA Fitness (Colonial Drive East)

THIRD: Planet Fitness (Fashion Square)

FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN CLINIC

First: Curry Ford Animal Hospital

SECOND: Winter Park Veterinary Hospital

THIRD: Animal Veterinary Hospital of Orlando

FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET

First: Plush Paws Pet Salon

SECOND: Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming

THIRD: Ranger’s Pet Outpost and Retreat

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

First: David Dorman, CENTURY 21 Real Estate

SECOND: Scott Benson, Green House Realty

THIRD: Central Florida Home Boys (Shawn Layton & Jimmy Hendrickson)

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY

First: George Gibeault, Private Counsel

SECOND: Dan Newlin, Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys

THIRD: Barry Miller, Barry Miller Law

FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY A CAR

First: Toyota of Orlando

SECOND: Fields BMW Winter Park

THIRD: CarMax Sanford

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING / ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

First: Ivanhoe Village

SECOND: Disney Springs

THIRD: Mills/50 District

FAVORITE LOCAL CLOTHING STORE

First: Out of the Closet Orlando

SECOND: MojoMan Swimwear & Clothing

THIRD: LACASTRO

Clothing & Swimwear

FAVORITE LOCAL GEEK SPOT

First: Player 1 Video Game Bar

SECOND: Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar

THIRD: Gods & Monsters

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANSAFFIRMING SPACE

First: Zebra Youth Drop-In Center

SECOND: LGBT+ Center Orlando

THIRD: Divas in Dialogue at Stafford House

FAVORITE LOCAL FAITHBASED ESTABLISHMENT

First: Joy Metropolitan Community Church - Joy MCC

SECOND: First Unitarian Church of Orlando

THIRD: First United Church of Christ Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL FLORIST

First: In Bloom Florist

SECOND: PlantDaddy Pro

THIRD: Lee Forrest Design

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUM

First: Orlando Science Center

SECOND: Orlando Museum of Art

THIRD: Orange County Regional History Center

FAVORITE LOCAL SPACE TO BUY ART

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

SECOND: Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

THIRD: LGBT+ Center Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL / B&B

First: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando Downtown

SECOND: Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando

THIRD: The Alfond Inn at Rollins

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

First: Parker Sketch

SECOND: Kelly Stewart

THIRD: Kim Murphy / Nick Smith (tie)

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

First: Jesse Giles, Jesse Giles Photography

SECOND: Loc Robertson

THIRD: Maia Monet, Monet Boudoir Photography

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

First: White Wolf Cafe

SECOND: Hamburger Mary’s Orlando

THIRD: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH SPOT

First: White Wolf Cafe

SECOND: Hamburger Mary’s Orlando

THIRD: The Hammered Lamb

FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

SECOND: Santiago’s Bodega

THIRD: Gringos Locos (Robinson)

FAVORITE LOCAL UNIQUE DRINK/EAT/TREAT

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria’s Mama Ling

Ling’s Thanksgiving Sandwich

SECOND: Disney’s Magic Kingdom’s DOLE Whip

THIRD: Gideon’s Bakehouse’s Original Chocolate Chip

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

First: Cocktails Catering

SECOND: Little Lamb Catering

THIRD: John Michael Catering and Weddings

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SING OUT LOUD

Billy Mick

Central Florida’s 1st place Favorite Local Performer: Musician

When it comes to making music, Billy Mick, a gay singer and songwriter, says he promotes positivity, self-expression and love.

Mick is this year’s WAVE winner for Favorite Local Performer: Musician and he says it means the world to him. He is based out of Orlando and has performed at Pride celebrations throughout Central Florida and Tampa Bay.

“I really try hard to make sure I’m always putting on a good show,” Mick says. “I really love going out and supporting other artists as well. So, to have people appreciate not only my talent but the things that I’m doing in the community feels great to me. It makes me feel like I’m doing the right things.”

Mick says everyone could use more positivity, self-expression and love in their everyday life. He thinks people can get caught up in the negativity and miss all the good that’s around.

“We just need to really be appreciating and respecting everyone that is around us too and the differences that we all have,” Mick says. “That’s really what makes us such a unique and wonderful and rich society.”

Mick is currently completing his third album to be released later this year while developing new video and show concepts. He says he started doing shows at retirement homes and he loves it.

As a gay musician, Mick says he is blessed to give back to the LGBTQ+ community. He says he wants to live and sing his truth.

“I really want to stand up for my people,” Mick says. “I really want to sing about my people. It’s really nice to get out there and feel recognized, seen and heard.”

— BELLANEE PLAZA

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ+ BAR / CLUB

First: Savoy

SECOND: Southern Nights Orlando

THIRD: Barcodes

FAVORITE LOCAL ALLIED BAR / CLUB

First: The Hammered Lamb

SECOND: Barbarella Orlando

THIRD: Cafe Da Vinci

FAVORITE LOCAL NON-ALCOHOLIC HANGOUT

First: Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria

SECOND: Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar

THIRD: The Glass Knife

FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR

First: Santiago’s Bodega

SECOND: Savoy

THIRD: District Dive

FAVORITE LOCAL KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT

First: Gregory Metts’ Comedy Night at Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar

SECOND: Lacie Browning’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Viewing Party at Savoy

THIRD: Dr. George Wallace’s Trivia Night at Savoy

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER / SERVER

First: Tommy Ryan Greene, Barcodes

SECOND: Saul Lopez, Savoy

THIRD: Tia Devine, Southern Nights Orlando

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG QUEEN

First: Darcel Stevens

SECOND: Crystal Vahzz

THIRD: April Fresh

FAVORITE LOCAL

PERFORMER: DRAG KING

First: Karl Withakay

SECOND: Axel Andrews

THIRD: Bobby Iman

FAVORITE LOCAL

PERFORMER: STAGE (NON-DRAG)

First: Gregory Metts

SECOND: Ivy Les Vixens

THIRD: Risa Risque

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN

First: Billy Mick

SECOND: Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard

THIRD: Heather Abood

FAVORITE LOCAL

PERFORMER: DJ

First:: DJ Joanie

SECOND: Scott Robert

THIRD: Blue Star

FAVORITE LOCAL BREAKOUT PERFORMER

First: Hunter Rogers

SECOND: Daisy Dior

THIRD: Kendall Leamy

FAVORITE LOCAL TV / WEB PERSONALITY

First: Lisa Bell, WKMG News 6

SECOND: Nancy Alvarez, WESH 2

THIRD: Sheldon Dutes, WESH 2

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO SHOW / PODCAST

First: “Wine, Wine Not: A Queer Podcast” with Rick Todd & Jeremy Williams

SECOND: Johnny’s House, XL 106.7

THIRD: “Tea & Glitter” with Ivy Les Vixens

FAVORITE LOCAL INFLUENCER

First: Daniel Downer, @daniel.j.downer

SECOND: Ivy Les Vixens, @eveleena

THIRD: Trixie Deluxxe, @trixiedeluxxe

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE

First: Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts

SECOND: Breakthrough Theatre Company

THIRD: Renaissance Theatre Company

FAVORITE LOCAL THEATRICAL SHOW

First: “The Prom,” Theatre UCF

SECOND: “Nosferatu,” Renaissance Theatre Company

THIRD: “The White Lotus: Orlando,” Orlando Fringe

FAVORITE LOCAL ADULT NOVELTY STORE

First: The Store at Barcodes

SECOND: Fairvilla Megastore

THIRD: MojoMan Swimwear & Clothing

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PLAY TOURIST

First: Lake Eola Park

SECOND: Epcot

THIRD: Universal Studios

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PAMPER YOURSELF

First: The Spa Orlando

SECOND: Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando

THIRD: VIO Med Spa

FAVORITE

LOCAL HIDDEN GEM

First: Yellow Dog Eats

SECOND: Downtown Sanford

THIRD: Barcodes Orlando

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HCARE FOR ALL

Health Care Center for the Homeless

Central Florida’s 1st place Favorite Local Health Care Facility

ealth Care Center for the Homeless is a nonprofit committed to meeting the health care needs of homeless and housed but uninsured and under-insured residents in Central Florida in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

It was founded in 1993 as a program by Dr. Rick Baxley, who saw the need to provide quality health care for persons experiencing homelessness in the Orlando area.

In 2003, HCCH was designated a federally qualified health center and its services expanded to also include providing care for those who are uninsured and under-insured. That is also when Bakari F. Burns came on as the organization’s president and CEO.

“Our mission is to ensure that every member of our community has access to quality health care services, regardless of their ability to pay,” Burns says. “We do that in a compassionate manner, ensuring that everyone feels welcome when they come into either one of our facilities.”

HCCH operates through Orange Blossom Family Health in both Orange and Osceola Counties, offering primary and preventive medical care, integrated oral health and behavioral health, substance use disorder counseling services, HIV testing, mobile health services and more.

“We have far too many individuals who experience homelessness, so being able to bring these health care services to them, hopefully we can build their health up to help them move from a life of homelessness to one of self-sufficiency,” Burns says. “Also by helping those who are uninsured or underinsured, we can help to limit people inappropriately utilizing emergency departments.”

This commitment to care for everyone led our readers to pick HCCH as Central Florida’s favorite health care facility.

“We really appreciate the recognition,” he says. “We have amazing outreach workers who are focused on getting out into the community, spreading the work, doing HIV testing, doing linkages to care and providing a lot of health education.”

—JEREMY WILLIAMS

2024 WAVE AWARDS

TAMPA BAY WINNERS

FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN

First: Tampa

Mayor Jane Castor

SECOND: St. Petersburg

Mayor Ken Welch

THIRD: State Rep. Michele Rayner

FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST

First: Angelique Young, Equality Florida

SECOND: Susan Gore, LGBTQ Resource Center

THIRD: Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

GREATEST ALLY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

First: Molly Robison, St Pete Pride

SECOND: Rev. Andy Oliver, Allendale United Methodist Church

THIRD: Lynne Whitehead, LGBTQ Resource Center

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

First: St Pete Pride

SECOND: Metro Inclusive Health

THIRD: Equality Florida

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANS-AFFIRMING ORGANIZATION

First: Equality Florida

SECOND: TransNetwork

THIRD: Inclusive Care Group

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE / ORGANIZATION

First: Tampa Bay Rays

SECOND: Tampa Bay Rowdies

THIRD: HotMess Sports St. Petersburg

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER / JOURNALIST

First: Ryan Williams-Jent, Watermark

SECOND: Joshua Valdez, “You Didn’t Hear This From Me”

THIRD: Immani Love, Blaque/OUT Magazine

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE

First: Watermark, WatermarkOnline.com

SECOND: I Love The Burg, ILoveTheBurg.com

THIRD: Tampa Bay Gay, TampaBayGay.com

FAVORITE LOCAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

First: St. Pete Gala, Equality Florida

SECOND: Red & Green Annual Fundraiser, St Pete Pride

THIRD: Pride & Passion, Tampa Museum of Art

FAVORITE ANNUAL LOCAL LGBTQ+ EVENT

First: St Pete Pride

SECOND: Tampa Pride

THIRD: Come OUT St. Pete

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANS-AFFIRMING EVENT

First: Pride @ The Village

SECOND: TransPride March, St Pete Pride

THIRD: Tampa Bay

Transgender Film Festival, TIGLFF

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ+ YOUTH EVENT

First: CampOUT LGBTQ+ Youth Summer Camp, CampOUT

SECOND: LGBTQ+ Youth Pride & Family Day, St Pete Pride

THIRD: LGBTQ+ Youth Pride Prom, PFLAG Riverview

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR/CLUB

First: Atlas Body + Home

SECOND: Bulge Apparel & Gifts

THIRD: ZaZoo’d

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS

First: MR D’z Men’s Emporium

SECOND: Sunshine City Popcorn Company

THIRD: Mari Jean Hotel

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY

First: Metro Inclusive Health

SECOND: Love the Golden Rule

THIRD: CAN Community Health

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON / BARBER SHOP

First: Tyler’z Barbershop

SECOND: Sergeant Mike’s Getup

THIRD: Top Notch Barber Co

FAVORITE LOCAL MAKEUP ARTIST

First: Jaeda Fuentes

SECOND: Ian Glending

THIRD: Naomi Wright

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MR. MUSIC & MORE

Mr. Vyn Suazion

Tampa Bay’s 1st place Favorite Local Performer: Musician

Mr. Vyn Suazion isn’t just Tampa Bay’s favorite local musician, he’s one of the community’s biggest cheerleaders. The LGBTQ+ advocate and entertainer brings his unique brand of love and light to everything he does.

That’s usually with a microphone through music he calls “an invigorating experience of self-love and empowerment for the entire family to enjoy.” It’s available on all major streaming platforms.

It can also regularly be heard at events from organizations like Pasco Pride and PFLAG Safety Harbor, which he proudly represents, and at venues like Cocktail and Enigma. He does it to “share joy through kindness, love and openness.”

“I have been in entertainment since I was a child,” Suazion told Watermark last year.

“My earliest memory is dancing with my elementary school class at six years young, and when I turned 17 I started competing in shows and pageantry.”

His most recent title is Mr. St Pete Pride, a reign representing the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Florida. Among other accolades, the organization secured first place for most effective local nonprofit organization and favorite annual local LGBTQ+ event in this year’s WAVEs.

“To be Mr. St Pete Pride as an ambassador has been an effortless blessing,” Suazion says. “I am treated with such great hospitality and honor by the St Pete Pride team, and I’m grateful to be able to partner with a board of such open and loving humans.

“I stand for a community that sources love — and never at the expense of others,” he continues. “I truly believe that in being kind, loving and open, we can create spaces safe for all spectrums of our community to feel respected and cherished … I honor the WAVE Awards for honoring our queer and allied excellence, and I’m grateful to continue making great music so we can all dance together!”

—RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

FROM

FAVORITE LOCAL FITNESS CENTER

First: CrossFit9

SECOND: Crunch Fitness St. Pete Northeast

THIRD: Planet Fitness St. Petersburg

FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN CLINIC

First: Pet Pal Veterinary Clinic

SECOND: Harmony Vet Care

THIRD: Bay Animal and Aquatic Hospital

FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR PET

First: The Dog Bar

SECOND: The Bow Wow Barber

THIRD: Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming St Petersburg

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

First: Ryan Thompson, Florida Properties Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

SECOND: Bruce Beckner, REMAX Metro Tampa Bay

THIRD: Gabe Alves, Smith & Associates

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY

First: Nathan Bruemmer, Blackburn Law Firm

SECOND: Douglas G. Jackson, Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson

THIRD: Bobby King, The King Law Firm

FAVORITE PLACE

TO BUY A CAR

First: CarMax Clearwater

SECOND: Crown Kia St Petersburg

THIRD: Crown Hyundai

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING / ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

First: The Grand Central District

SECOND: St. Pete Pier District

THIRD: Ybor

FAVORITE LOCAL CLOTHING STORE

First: Atlas Body + Home

SECOND: Out of the Closet St. Petersburg

THIRD: Bulge Apparel & Gifts

FAVORITE LOCAL GEEK SPOT

First: Mad Hatters Kava Bar

SECOND: Emerald City Comics

THIRD: Tombolo Books

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANS-AFFIRMING SPACE

First: Studios @ 5663

SECOND: TransNetwork Events

THIRD: MCC Tampa

FAVORITE LOCAL

FAITH-BASED ESTABLISHMENT

First: King of Peace MCC

SECOND: Allendale UMC

THIRD: MCC Tampa

FAVORITE

LOCAL FLORIST

First: Absolutely Beautiful Flowers

SECOND: Bruce Wayne Florals

THIRD: Green Bench Flowers

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUM

First: The Dali Museum

SECOND: Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete

THIRD: Imagine Museum

FAVORITE LOCAL SPACE TO BUY ART

First: The Factory St. Pete

SECOND: Studios @ 5663

THIRD: The Werk Gallery

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL / B&B

First: Hollander Hotel

SECOND: Casa del

Merman at GayStPete House

THIRD: Mari Jean Hotel

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

First: John Gascot

SECOND: Chad Mize

THIRD: Nelson Perez

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

First: Dylan Todd

SECOND: Jamarcus Mosley

THIRD: Morgan Le Shade

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

First: Salty Nun

SECOND: Social Roost

THIRD: LALA St. Pete

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH SPOT

First: Neptune Grill

SECOND: Salty Nun

THIRD: The Library Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL LATE NIGHT DINING

First: New York New York

Pizza Ybor

SECOND: LALA St. Pete

THIRD: Angelo’s Grill & Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL UNIQUE DRINK/EAT/TREAT

First: Fried Green

Tomato BLT, Salty Nun

SECOND: Seven Deadly

Sins: Sloth, The Saint

THIRD: Grower Not a Shower, Cocktail

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

First: Memphis Style BBQ Co

SECOND: The Stuffed Mushroom

THIRD: Funky Flamingo

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ+ BAR / CLUB

First: Cocktail

SECOND: Enigma

THIRD: Bradley’s on 7th

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HELPING HANDS

Sunshine City Massage

Tampa Bay’s 1st place Favorite Local Place

Sto Pamper Yourself

t. Petersburg’s Jordan Monroe Green worked as a bartender for most of his 20s and 30s, “a fun way to be able to travel and always have a job,” but wanted a change in recent years. It’s what led him to massage.

“I was always kind of a natural,” he says. “It eventually made sense to follow that with actual professional training and switch to a career where I could have a positive impact on people’s health and wellness.”

Green’s career as a licensed massage therapist, license numbers MA85312 and MM40114, began with schooling and work in a local spa. The experience allowed him to hone his skills and build a private clientele to start Sunshine City Massage, now Tampa Bay’s favorite local place to pamper yourself.

“I happened to go solo just before we went into lockdown for COVID,” he says. “It was a challenge to keep afloat through the pandemic, but I persevered and am so proud to still be self-employed doing what I love.”

Sunshine City Massage offers a variety of services, utilizing techniques for relaxation, deep tissue therapeutics and more. Cupping, hot stones and other service enhancements are also available.

“Massage is such an amazing fit for me. I love being able to help people feel better and live better,” Green says. “Every client is different and every massage is uniquely tailored for how they’re feeling that day.

“It’s never a one size fits all, and that’s part of what keeps it so exciting for me,” he continues. “I take a lot of pride in the continuing education and am always looking for new techniques to bring to the table … I truly love what I do and to be recognized by my clients for the work I put into helping them is so gratifying!”

—RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

FAVORITE LOCAL ALLIED BAR / CLUB

First: The Dog Bar

SECOND: The Castle

THIRD: Lost & Found

FAVORITE LOCAL NON-ALCOHOLIC HANGOUT

First: Black Crow Coffee Co.

SECOND: Studios @ 5663

THIRD: Mad Hatters Kava Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR

First: Enigma

SECOND: Cocktail

THIRD: Bradley’s on 7th

FAVORITE LOCAL KARAOKE, TRIVIA OR BINGO NIGHT

First: Greg Anderson, Afternoon Trivia at Neptune Grill

SECOND: Alexis De La Mer, Drag Queen Bingo at Quench Lounge

THIRD: KC Starrz, Drag Queen Bingo at City Side Lounge

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER / SERVER

First: Chris Hannay, Enigma

SECOND: Sebastian Hathcock, Cocktail

THIRD: Adam Scott, Enigma

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG QUEEN

First: Brianna Summers

SECOND: Adriana Sparkle

THIRD: Daphne Ferraro

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG KING

First: Silver Foxx

SECOND: Apollo Infiniti

THIRD: Mr. Gripp

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE (NON-DRAG)

First: Matthew McGee

SECOND: Robert Rigsby

THIRD: Newt Rametta

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN

First: Mr. Vyn Suazion

SECOND: Stephanie Callahan

THIRD: Steven Begert-Clark

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DJ

First: DJ Greg Anderson

SECOND: DJ Mike Sklarz

THIRD: DJ Ace Vedo

FAVORITE LOCAL BREAKOUT PERFORMER

First: Silver Foxx

SECOND: Alice Marie Gripp

THIRD: Keirra Ka’oir Summers

FAVORITE LOCAL TV / WEB PERSONALITY

First: Trevor Pettiford

SECOND: Greg Dee, ABC Action News

THIRD: Sean Daly, ABC Action News

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO SHOW / PODCAST

First: “The Big Gay Radio Show,” 88.5 WMNF

SECOND: “MJ Morning Show,” Q105

THIRD: “Let’s Bark About It Tampa Bay,” Urban Dog Studio

FAVORITE LOCAL INFLUENCER

First: Chris Gibson, @Skin_So_Fabulous

SECOND: Gabe Alves, @MyAgentGabe

THIRD: Painkiller Cam, @PainkillerCamIsYourDaddy

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE

First: Straz Center for the Performing Arts

SECOND: Ruth Eckerd Hall

THIRD: freeFall Theatre

FAVORITE LOCAL THEATRICAL SHOW

First: “Frankenstein,” Jobsite Theater

SECOND: Zubrick Magic Theatre

THIRD: “Miracle on 34th Street,” freeFall Theatre

FAVORITE LOCAL ADULT NOVELTY STORE

First: The Back Room By ZaZoo’d

SECOND: Bulge Apparel & Gifts

THIRD: XTC Adult Supercenter

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PLAY TOURIST

First: St. Pete Pier

SECOND: Busch Gardens

THIRD: Tampa Riverwalk

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PAMPER YOURSELF

First: Sunshine City Massage

SECOND: Spa @ 5663

THIRD: Stone Temple Massage

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM

First: Lucky Star Lounge

SECOND: Mazzaro’s Italian Market

THIRD: MR D’z Men’s Emporium

Silver Foxx

Tampa Bay’s 1st place

Favorite Local Performer: Drag King; 1st place Favorite Local Breakout Performer

Performing is Dr. Beverly Lynn Boyarsky’s passion, something that’s been evident through her alter ego Silver Foxx since 1989. That’s when he first took a New York stage by storm.

The entertainer is also a celebrated rock ‘n roll singer who impressed audiences there for over four decades before relocating to Tampa Bay in 2021. That’s when Foxx found new life in the region, winning a drag competition at a local lesbian bar.

“When I came to Florida I tried to find a band but was discriminated against because of my age,” says Foxx, now in his mid-60s. “I was doing some karaoke stuff and a friend of mine told me about the competition. I thought, ‘well, why not?’ and entered it and won. It brought the bug back.”

It came back in a big way. Foxx not only secured first place for Tampa Bay’s favorite local drag king this year, he was also voted the region’s favorite local breakout performer.

“I was in complete shock, but I’m humbled to know that all my hard work and love for my craft is recognized and appreciated by the community, my peers and my drag family,” he says. “It proves that no matter what your age, if you put your mind to something you can get it. Nothing is impossible.”

It’s a message Foxx also champions while representing Come OUT St. Pete, which placed third for Tampa Bay’s favorite annual local LGBTQ+ event. He was crowned Mr. COSP last September.

“I entered because people said they needed someone like me to represent,” he says. “I won every category and took the title which is still unbelievable to me. I take it very seriously and I’m here to represent Beverly, Silver Foxx and St. Pete — it means the world to me and I’m absolutely enjoying this year.”

—RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

‘T e ‘B e’

Queer singer-songwriter

Katy Kirby on her new album, ‘Blue Raspberry’

Gregg Shapiro

IT’S ONLY MID-FEBRUARY AS THIS IS BEING written, but there’s no doubt that “Blue Raspberry,” the new album by out singer-songwriter Katy Kirby, will have a place on my best of 2024 list. Texas-native Kirby, now based in Brooklyn, is a distinctive young songwriter, and she performs her songs with a confidence that belies her age. “Blue Raspberry” has been on repeated spins since it arrived, and I’ve been enthusiastically recommending songs including “Drop Dead,” “Table,” “Cubic Zirconia,” “Fences” and “Redemption Arc” to friends and family for their artistry and irresistible sound.

Kirby was kind enough to make time for an interview to discuss “Blue Raspberry.”

WATERMARK: IN THE “THANK YOUS” FOR “BLUE RASPBERRY,” YOU MENTION

“THE ARCHIVES OF ARTHUR RUSSELL AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.” PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF THE LATE GAY SONGWRITER RUSSELL ON YOUR WORK.

KATY KIRBY: I have been a fan of his songwriting for years. I found out through a friend of a friend that the New York Public Library had received his archives recently and had started opening them to the public. My

CONTINUED ON PG. 43 | uu |

guitar player and producer Logan (Chung) did the bureaucratic research to figure out how to get in there. Those librarians were so helpful. They were like, “Yeah, touch all these pieces of paper with your hands.” They have some of Arthur Russell’s pencils! They want people to see it. It was so exciting. We got to hear a bunch of demo tapes and stuff from sessions. If I’m just basing it off his scribbled notes, he was just as wacky of a guy as one might think. It made me feel very seen.

HE HAD SUCH A BROAD SPECTRUM OF MUSICAL TALENT. THERE’S HIS ELECTRONIC AND DANCE MUSIC STUFF, BUT THEN THERE’S ALL THIS STUFF THAT’S FOLKY AND COUNTRY INFLUENCED.

He had such range, and I love the type of folk music that he was doing. It was so fascinating and it’s good.

ARE THERE OTHER MUSICAL INFLUENCES AND INSPIRATIONS YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?

I like the way that Angel Olsen records always sound pretty sweeping, even when they’re quiet. We’ve been listening to a lot of Sam Cooke recently before we started to make the record. And songs that were very obviously love songs from that era.

REGARDING YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS, THE SONGS “CUBIC ZIRCONIA,” “PART OF THE CENTURY” AND “TABLE” WERE CO-WRITTEN BY YOU AND MEMBERS OF YOUR BAND WHO PERFORM THEM WITH YOU ON

THE “BLUE RASPBERRY” ALBUM. ARE THESE COMPOSITIONS THE KIND THAT WERE CREATED IN THE STUDIO OR WERE THEY WRITTEN BEFOREHAND?

It’s kind of both. My band is such a part of how the songs end up sounding that it seemed only reasonable to credit them with writing some of them. I believe I wrote all the lyrics myself. For some of those that were written later, I realized that sometimes I don’t feel like I’m done with a song until I bring it to Logan and Alberto (Sewald) and Austin (Hoke) and Lane (Rodges). It depends but they are such an enormous part of the process of what those songs turn into that it’s certainly not just me.

YOUR ANTI- LABELMATE, CHRISTIAN LEE HUTSON, WHO HAS WORKED WITH PHOEBE BRIDGERS, IS ALSO CREDITED AS A CO-WRITER ON “PART OF THE CENTURY.” HOW DID YOU COME TO COLLABORATE WITH HIM?

We became friends on the internet and then we hung out in real life. We wrote that (song) over FaceTime just for fun a couple of years ago, I guess. We threw a bunch of things at the wall and then weren’t really sure if we had made anything good or not. Then I whittled it down a little bit, and as it turned out there was kind of a little bit of a story in that song. So, that was nice.

THERE WERE SOME RECURRING THEMES IN THE SONGS. FOR EXAMPLE, CUBIC ZIRCONIA IN THE SONG OF THE SAME NAME, AS WELL AS “ALEXANDRIA” AND “SALT CRYSTAL”; SALT CRYSTAL IN THE SONG OF THE SAME NAME AND THE TITLE TRACK, AND

FENCES IN THE SONG OF THE SAME NAME, AS WELL AS “WAIT LISTEN.” PLEASE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE USE OF THIS WORDPLAY AND REPETITION.

The way that those songs were coming to me at the time, they all felt connected, or they were part of sort of the same thought. Some of those images were interesting enough to me that I wanted to use them twice. Once I did, I liked how it put the songs in dialogue with each other. I would like that if another songwriter did that. I think Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend has a couple of songs where he says, “I don’t want to live like this, but I don’t want to die.” I always thought was super fun to think about. I liked it as a listener, so I thought I would try to get away with it myself, I guess. WE THINK YOU SUCCEEDED. Okay, I’m glad!

WE KNOW FROM YOUR BIO THAT YOU COME FROM AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND, LIKE QUEER SINGER-SONGWRITER BECCA MANCARI WHO HAD A SIMILAR UPBRINGING. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER QUEER PERFORMERS WHO HAD A RELATED EXPERIENCE. HOW DID YOUR FAMILY REACT TO YOUR COMING OUT?

It was interesting. I really didn’t have a coming out experience per se with them. I was 26 when I started dating a girl for the first time. It was someone that they had known for a while. She was someone I went to college with. I didn’t really feel like I made an announcement. We just started seeing each other. Then I told my mom, I told my dad and I told my siblings. They were all like, “Okay!” I don’t know

if I ever said it out loud, like “I’m gay.” I just said, “I’m dating.”

YOU’RE VERY LUCKY.

I am so absurdly lucky that I almost don’t feel entitled to say that I came out. It barely counts because they were just, my parents were like standard evangelicals at some point and they didn’t love gay stuff. But they never said anything cruel or were super intense about that. Especially now, they’ve mellowed into their older age. There was literally zero drama or clutching of pearls attached to any of it. It was pretty good. I got off so easy.

ANTI- RECORDS HAS A LONG HISTORY OF QUEER ACTS ON ITS ROSTER INCLUDING THE DRUMS, BOB MOULD AND EZRA FURMAN. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE IN SUCH COMPANY?

Honestly, being on AntiRecords was at the top of my internal bucket list of goals. It felt really weird after signing with them because I didn’t think I would achieve that goal as early in my career. I had no other goal to work towards. I felt adrift because I really have loved that label so much and respected how they’ve been. I was completely unmoored by signing with them. It was great.

WE’RE SPEAKING A FEW DAYS AFTER THE GRAMMY AWARDS WHERE QUEER WOMEN, INCLUDING BOYGENIUS, MILEY CYRUS, TRACY CHAPMAN, VICTORIA MONÉT, BILLIE EILISH, JANELLE MONÁE AND BRANDY CLARK, TO NAME A FEW, WERE REPRESENTED AMONG THE WINNERS AND NOMINEES. AS AN OUT ARTIST, WHAT DOES THAT KIND OF REPRESENTATION MEAN TO YOU?

The thing that I thought about the Grammys the most recently is how precious it is. There are these pictures of boygenius with their Grammys that I saw, and Julien Baker obviously has just been weeping. Not like celebrity, “I won a Grammy” happy weeping, but she looks like she’s actively crying. It’s so cute! It makes me feel a little more confident that the songs on “Blue Raspberry” can enter the category of love songs without necessarily having the queer label indelibly attached to it. I think it’s important that they’re queer love songs, but also, they get to expand a little bit out of that world as well. It’s not such a niche category.

LOVE IS LOVE. IT’S A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

Right, it’s not like it’s exotic or some weird angle. They’re just love songs.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT THE CONCERT TOUR ON WHICH YOU ARE EMBARKING?

We’ve played a couple of shows on this tour, so far, and it’s been very fun. I’ve really been enjoying playing some of the songs on this record that I was scared to perform live, like “Redemption Arc” or “Hand to Hand,” or some of the slower, weirder ones. Those have been challenging, but fun. A couple of people have been singing along to those in some of those crowds, which is shocking, but nice.

Katy Kirby’s “Blue Raspberry,” released Jan. 26, is available wherever you get music

| uu | True Blue

FROM PG.41

COVER ART: “Blue Raspberry” album image. PHOTO COURTESY ANTI- RECORDS OUT NOW: Kirby’s new album is available now. PHOTO BY TONJE THILESEN

NEW LOVE: “Blue Raspberry” is an “exegesis of Kirby’s first queer relationship.” PHOTO BY TONJE THILESEN

CONGRATULATIONS

Tampa Pride announced the grand marshals for this year’s 10th celebration Feb. 13. Dr. Gary Howell, Gabrielle Santi, the Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Dustin and Daniel Johnson will each be honored. Read more on p. 12. Empath Partners in Care announced the return of Dining Out for Life Tampa Bay Feb. 20, scheduled to benefit the nonprofit on April 18. Learn more at DiningOutForLife.com/ City/Tampa-Bay.

Atlas Body + Home announced a second St. Petersburg location Feb. 23. Learn more at Facebook.com/ AtlasBodyAndHome.

The Dog Bar will mark eight years in St. Petersburg March 1 with a Glow Foam Pawty, a “sea of non-toxic, dog-safe glow foam for your pups to jump, play and frolic in.”

Bradley’s on 7th will celebrate 13 years in Ybor March 2 with two shows, free cake and more.

POSTPONEMENT

Pride at the Village will skip 2024 due to major renovations at Studios at 5663. It is expected to return in February 2025. Learn more at Facebook.com/Studios5663.

CONDOLENCES

Reggie Vieta died Feb. 15 at 81. He will be missed.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

Watermark contributor Abby Baker (March 1); Tampa Bay activist Jason Toleldo, Hollander Hotel’s Tim Calandrino, Tampa Bay bowler Carmen Aguilar (March 2); Tampa photographer Todd Montgomery, Florida Rep. Fentrice Driskell, St. Petersburg realtor DJ Soucy, Tampa staple Debbie Wilson Cano Ducko, Volunteer superstar Pete Schlensker (March 3); Tampa Bay songstress Judy B. Goode, Sarasota activist Mark Kidd, Yankees Fan Martin Jeavons, Tampa mama Patty Cannon (Mar. 4); Carnival Cruise Line’s Seth Grunes, St. Pete socialite David Hines, Tiny Woods Campground owner Vaughn Howell (March 5); TIGLFF Program Director KJ Mohr (March 6); St. Petersburg muralist Derek Donnelly, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas & West Pasco’s Val Brinkley, Tampa Bay political expert Randy Smith, Tampa Bay bear David Sparks, Ponytail princess Cheryl Prestero (March 7); St. Petersburg realtor Matt Lawrence, Jobsite Theater Producing Artistic Director David Jenkins, St Pete Pride Board Member Darius Lightsey (March 8); St. Petersburg mail carrier Derek Wilkins, Sarasota advocate Misty Smeltzer, City of Tampa Communications Director Adam Smith, Tampa Bay bartender Vernon Vaden (March 9); Tampa Bay licensed mental health counselor Blake Williamson, St. Petersburg City Councilmember Gina Driscoll, St. Petersburg artist Tom Amidon, St. Pete gal Caitlin Esposito (March 10); Dunedin dentist Mike Hopkins, St. Petersburg advocate Chrys Bundy, Photographer Jamie Lawry, Foreign film aficionado Bob Austin (March 11); Burlesque performer Shena Lollar (March 12); Tampa muscle man Danny Watson, Longtime LGBTQ activist Larry Biddle (March 13).

1 PASCO PROUD: PFLAG Safety Harbor celebrates Pasco Pride Feb. 24 with this year’s entertainers in Land O’Lakes. PHOTO FROM PFLAG SAFETY HARBOR’S FACEBOOK

2 WARMING UP: Mark Maxwell (L) and Ron Frank welcome players to Southern Nights Tampa for the Gasparilla Softball Classic check-in party Feb.

16. PHOTO FROM GASPARILLA SOFTBALL CLASSIC’S FACEBOOK

3 LOCAL LOVE: St Pete Pride Board Members Darius Lightsey (L) and Molly Robison share St Pete Pride love at Localtopia Feb. 24.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

4 ON THEIR MARKS: Tampa Pride meets with volunteers Feb. 25 to plan their inaugural Rainbow Run. PHOTO FROM TAMPA PRIDE’S FACEBOOK

5

ROCKING OUT: Divine AF takes center stage at the Gasparilla Music Festival Feb. 18. PHOTO

BY SCEIRO STUDIOS FROM DIVINE AF’S FACEBOOK

6 HOW BAZZAR: The cast of Cirque du Soleil Bazzar takes a bow Feb. 22 for opening night in St. Petersburg.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

7 STAR STRUCK: Dylan (L) and Rick Todd attend American Stage’s Gala for Our Stars fundraiser Feb. 23 at the James Museum.

PHOTO COURTESY RICK TODD

8 (NOT SO) SINGLE LADIES: Stephanie Morge (L) and Misty McDevitt enjoy a Beyonce-themed drag show at The Floridian Social Feb. 22.

PHOTO BY WADE WILLIAMS-JENT

CONGRATULATIONS

Kirk T. DaVinci was named last month the new Director of Events for Central Florida’s Chapter for SOMOS LOUD (Latino Outreach and Understanding Division), a division of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation that addresses the social and health disparities that threaten the Latin community through innovative programmatic, marketing and direct-action strategies.

Kay Rawlins, co-founder of the Orlando City SC and the Orlando Pride and senior vice president of Community and Social Impact, was named Feb. 9 the newly created Executive and Club Ambassador role for both clubs.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announced the lineup for the 2024-25 Broadway season in Orlando Feb. 16. The 11-show lineup will be shown in the Walt Disney Theater and features “Girl From The North Country” – Sept. 24-29, 2024; “THE BOOK OF MORMON” – Oct. 22-27, 2024; “The Cher Show” – Nov. 12-17, 2024; “Some Like it Hot” – Dec. 17-22, 2024; “MAMMA MIA!” – Jan. 14-26, 2025; “A Beautiful Noise” – Feb. 4-9, 2025; “MJ The Musical” – March 4-16, 2025; “Mean Girls” – March 28-30, 2025; “Disney’s The Lion King” –April 23 – May 18, 2025; STOMP – June 6-7, 2025; and “SHUCKED” – June 24-29, 2025. For more information, go to DrPhillipsCenter.org.

Mojoman Swimwear & Clothing celebrated Feb. 28 the grand opening of its new location at 633 Commonwealth Ave. in Orlando.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

Transgender community activist Wolfgang Choi (Feb. 28); Fields Motorcars Orlando’s Russ Fowler (Feb. 29); Drag beauty Chrysanthe Mum (March 1); Former Joy MCC pastor Lisa Heilig, Orlando community activist Heather Leibowitz, Girls in Wonderland’s Yesl Leon (March 2); Former Watermark intern Tomas Diniz Santos (March 3); Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Senior Specialist for the City of Orlando and chair of the One Orlando Alliance Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Club Orlando attendant Arthur Adams (March 4); Old Town Kissimmee marketing director Jason Saucier (March 5); Orlando playwright, actor and Watermark contributor Michael Wanzie, Orlando realtor Rustin Davis, Rollins College theater director Thomas Ouellette, Les Vixens dancer Allyna NiKohl (March 6); WAVE-winning Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell, Orlando actor Erik Branch, Co-owner of E.M. & Voss Solutions Event and Wedding Services Eric Muenks (March 8); St. Matthews Tavern bartender Cathy Binkewicz (March 9); Founder and executive director of Gender Advancement Project Ashley Figueroa, Halcyon singer/songwriter Deb Hunseder, Biz Buzz Inc’s Bryant Dannic (March 10); O-Town actor Kevin Kelly, Orlando WAVE-winning activist Margo Dixon, Central Florida artist Terry Hummel, BodyStreet Fitness Center co-owner Steffen Brandt, Former Doggie Door co-owner Jeff Brow (March 11); The Florida/Georgia Gay Rodeo Association’s Todd Garrett (March 12); Orlando Hamburger Mary’s co-owner John Paonessa (March 13).

1 PRIDE LOVE: Miss DeLand Pride 2018 J’Miyah Lewinsky (center) takes photos with attendees at DeLand Pride’s Love is Love festival in DeLand Feb. 17.

PHOTO BY BUBBA TRAHAN

2 NETWORKING NIGHT: George Wallace (L) and Darrell Lake attend Watermark’s Third Thursday social at Savoy in Orlando Feb. 22. PHOTO BY BUBBA TRAHAN

3

RAINING MILK: Shoppers didn’t let a little rain keep them from Milk Mart’s Lazy Lovers event at Orlando’s Milk District Feb. 18. PHOTO BY BUBBA TRAHAN

4

PLAY BALL: The Pride Chamber’s president/CEO Daniel Sohn throws out the first pitch for the opening to Central Florida Softball League’s spring season at Lake Fairview Park in Orlando Feb. 25. PHOTO BY RICK TODD

5 WRESTLING FANS: Jeremy Williams (L) and his brother Joey Williams attend the Micro Wrestling Federation event at Wing Shack in Orlando Feb. 14.

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

6

PARK PETS: Bill Stevens (L) and Patty Sheehan let the dogs out at Pet Alliance hosts its 30th annual Paws in the Park at Lake Eola Park in Orlando Feb. 10. PHOTO BY BUBBA TRAHAN

7

WORKING WITH HOPE: Debo Osfowitz outside of the Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka Feb. 19.

PHOTO BY FEDERICO SOTO

LOVE PHOTOS: Noel Garcia (L) with Kim Murphy at Garcia’s “Love & HIV” photo exhibit at the LGBT+ Center Orlando Feb. 25. PHOTO FROM KIM MURPHY’S FACEBOOK

Let’s get physical!

Grab your team, get your leg warmers, and meet us at Harbor Park for a Retro Run 5K!

Join Hope & Help as we throw it back to the 80s and honor the strides we've made in our fight against HIV.

Register Today!

May 5, 2024 8am to 12pm Harbor Park

4990 New Broad St, Orlando, FL 32814

community calendar

CENTRAL FLORIDA

Pride Night at the Central Florida Fair

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 6 P.M.-12 A.M.

CENTRAL FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS,

ORLANDO

Come out to the second annual Pride Night at Central Florida Fair, presented by the LGBT+ Center Orlando, SAVOY Orlando and Watermark, in partnership with Central Florida Fair. Pride Night will feature more than 40 LGBTQ+ vendors, two drag shows hosted by Chantel Reshae and a VIP section with private bar. Swag bag for the first 150 guests. Admission is only $5 when you use the code PRIDE at CentralFloridaFair.com.

SINGHAUS Oscar Party

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 5:30 P.M.

THE ABBEY, ORLANDO

Spend your Oscar night with hosts Ginger Minj and Gidget Galore for the third annual SINGHAUS Oscar Party at The Abbey. It will be a night of fun with friends, food, fashion, cocktails, a silent auction and more. A special opening number will be performed by WAVE award-winning drag legend, Darcel Stevens. Proceeds from this event will fund scholarships for Central Florida’s LGBTQ young talent looking to fulfill their dream of a career in the performing arts. Tickets start at $30. More information can be found at SinghausScholarship.org.

TAMPA BAY

Tampa Pride Rainbow Run

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 7 A.M.-12 P.M.

AL LOPEZ PARK, TAMPA

Tampa Pride marks 10 years with the inaugural Rainbow Run, featuring three different ways to participate. The first is the Fun and Fabulous 5K, the second is the Anything Goes 1 Mile and the third is a pets-inclusive Fetch the Rainbow 1 Mile. Admission is $40. Learn more and register at TampaPride.org.

COSP Chili Cook Off

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 11 A.M.-4 P.M.

THE STUDIO PUBLIC HOUSE, ST. PETERSBURG

Come OUT St. Pete hosts the Grand Central District’s popular chili cook-off. Prizes are $200 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third and the competition is free to enter. Participants will be judged by a panel of judges and people’s choice, which costs $10 to vote. For more information visit ComeOUTStPete.org.

EVENT PLANNER

LIVE ON STAGE

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

CENTRAL FLORIDA

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” Through March 3, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

2024 Central Florida WAVE Award Celebration, Feb. 29, Savoy, Orlando. 407-481-2243; WatermarkOnline.com

MadSoul Music & Arts Festival, March 2, Loch Haven Park, Orlando. FrostForCongress.com/ MadSoul

Central Florida Sounds of Freedom’s “Love is Universal” concert, March 3, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Life and Music of George Michael, March 3, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 407-228-1220; PlazaLiveOrlando.org

Olivia Rodrigo, March 5, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; KiaCenter.com

Carlos for Senate Fundraising Reception, March 6, Maxine’s on Shine, Orlando. 407-674-6841; MaxineOnShine.com

The Pride Chamber’s March Business Connect, March 6, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-420-4895; ThePrideChamber.org

Mandy Patinkin, March 7, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Uncorked, March 7, Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, Orlando. 407-426-1733; OrlandoBallet.org

April Fresh’s ladies of the 80s, March 8, Jack & Honey’s, Orlando. 407-440-4079; JackAndHoneys.com

Bryan Adams, March 8, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; KiaCenter.com

Dionne Warwick, March 13, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Jimbo’s Drag Circus, March 15, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 407-228-1220; PlazaLiveOrlando.org

TAMPA BAY

“Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater,” Through March 10, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; freeFallTheatre.com

Cirque du Soleil Bazzar, Through March 24, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg. CirsqueDuSoleil.com

2024 Tampa Bay WAVE Awards Celebration, March 1, Cocktail, St. Petersburg. 813-655-9890; WatermarkOnline.com

Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay Cabaret, March 2, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

54th Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, March 2-3, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa. 813-876-1747; GasparillaArts.com

“Come From Away,” March 3, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” March 5-10, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Brittany Baldwin

Karaoke, March 6, VFW Post No. 39, St. Petersburg. 229-232-0011; Facebook.com/ BrittanyBaldwinMusic

Karaoke Nights, March 6; 13, The Garage, St. Petersburg. 727-258-4850; Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage

Tampa Bay Lightning Pride Night, March 7, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com

“Metamorphosis: A Journey Through Transformation,” March 9, Art at 400, St. Petersburg. ArtAt-400.com

Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull & Ricky Martin, March 10, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com

Botanical Bash, March 10, Tampa Bay Watch, Tierra Verde. 727-867-8188; TampaBayWatch.org

“The Beauty Queen Of Leenane,” March 13-April 7, Jobsite Theater, Tampa. 813-476-7378; JobsiteTheater.org

Varla Jean Merman’s

“Stand By Your Drag,” March 15, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; freeFallTheatre.com.

SARASOTA

Blooming Friendships

2024, Feb. 29, Selby Gardens, Sarasota. 941-955-2122; FriendshipCenter.org

Tony and Emmy Award-winning performer Mandy Patinkin brings his “Being Alive” tour to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando March 7. PHOTO FROM DRPHILLIPSCENTER.ORG

We’re expanding on the women’s care you know and trust and bringing it closer to you. At the new Orlando Health Women’s Institute, we draw on years of award-winning women’s care to deliver an exclusively designed healthcare experience as unique as you are — for every phase and every age. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/Women

be seen.

We know that every woman is unique, and so are your healthcare needs. That’s why at Bayfront Health, we offer a wide range of women’s health services, including gynecological care, preventative and diagnostic screenings, breast imaging, maternity care, and pelvic health treatments. From routine well-woman exams to leading-edge minimally invasive procedures, you can trust our health specialists to meet your unique needs.

Our scope of care includes:

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