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Enjoy trick or treating throughout both venues along with live entertainment, a scavenger hunt, creepy crafts, games, and (of course) candy!
Jeremy Williams
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com
DESK EDITOR’S
IHAVE WRITTEN IN THIS SPACE ON
numerous occasions stating “Well, it’s the busy time of the year again.” I think I have now realized that it isn’t
“the busy time of the year” anymore, it is just busy all year round.
There doesn’t seem to be any breaks in “Pride season,” as we have Pride celebrations every month now it seems. There isn’t a break in the news cycle that seems to run at “dialed-to-11-chaos-mode” 24/7. And there is no break in the ever-moving pieces of our personal lives.
With so many moving parts in our existence, you have to make sure you are prioritizing what is important and that you are taking time for your own personal mental wellbeing. I know that is easier said than done but that doesn’t make it any less important.
Over the last few months, I have dealt with car issues, the need for new tires and brakes, a
cracked windshield and a damaged bumper; health scares, for me — I had an issue getting my blood pressure under control — and my mother, who recently had a triple bypass surgery; and a few financial annoyances.
Basically, that pesky thing called life getting in the way of me doing the things I enjoy doing, i.e., building Lego sets and drinking wine.
Now, if you listen to Watermark’s podcast, “Wine, Wine Not: A Queer Podcast,” you have no doubt heard me share, vent and drink my way through talking these issues out. I must say, if you are unable or unwilling to talk to a therapist, hosting a podcast is the next best thing. If you
enjoy reading my monthly desk, I encourage you to check out the podcast, and if you too are dealing with life, I encourage you to start a podcast. I know everyone has one these days but if you listen to mine, I’ll listen to yours and we can be each other’s fans.
Something I know that is causing a lot of stress for everyone these days is the current election cycle. I know you are just as burnt out hearing about it as I am but that road, while almost over, is so important right now. This is my final Editor’s Desk before election day on Nov. 5 but there are several other dates that you need to be aware of too. The deadline to register to vote passed on Oct. 7, so if you aren’t already registered then you’ll be sitting this one out. If you are registered and want to vote by mail, the deadline to request your mail-in ballot is Oct. 24. Early voting in Florida runs Oct. 26-Nov. 2. I cannot recommend enough that you visit Vote.org and put your voting plan together as early as you can. Vote. org is a great resource that will let you check your voter registration status, see what is on your ballot, help you set up election reminders and so much more.
Once you have your plan in place, do your research. Know who is running and what they stand for, and that goes for all races, not just president, senator and House reps. Know who is running for your local school boards, judges, county and city commission races. Most of the oxygen in the election cycle gets sucked up by these national races but your life will be impacted more by those local races.
Once that is set up, call at least three friends and ask them what their voting plan is. Democracy is a team sport and we are only as good as our weakest player.
Hopefully, by the time I am writing in this space next month, life has kicked us a few extra good days and brought us some good news about our future.
Meanwhile, take some time to read this current issue as we have some great stories for you. This issue is our annual Halloween extravaganza. This year we highlight drag entertainers participating in an upcoming Halloween Health-O-Thon, a Tampa Bay-area fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month brought to you by Moffitt Cancer Center and Found Family Collective. We also look at some costume ideas inspired by a few of 2024’s most anticipated films and bring you a Halloween-focused event planner so you can make sure you don’t miss any scary good times.
In Central Florida news, we speak with Central Florida’s
Democracy is a team sport and we are only as good as our weakest player.
Queers For Palestine after they were involved in a violent incident with the Orlando Police Department and check in with drag icon Leigh Shannon about her annual free wig giveaway in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In Tampa Bay news, we look at how Inclusive Care Group and Bell Pharmacy are expanding into Tampa, Project Pride is gearing up for the inaugural Gulfcoast Pride and how the area is helping in the hurricane relief efforts.
In arts and entertainment, we chat with the all-girl, queer rock group BETTY, who recently released an album, and Zee Machine as he gears up to play at Gulfcoast Pride.
MELODY MAIA MONET has her own trans lesbian themed YouTube channel at YouTube.com/MelodyMaia and is the vice president of the board for Come Out With Pride Orlando. To find more information on Pride, visit ComeOutWithPride.org. Page 21
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 23
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
BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, J.D. CASTO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARCUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT PHOTOGRAPHY CMJM ENTERPRISES LLC, KEN CARRAWAY
RITZY RAGS HONORS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
FOR 12TH YEAR WITH WIG GIVEAWAY
Camila Escobar
ORLANDO | To a woman, hair is everything. Martin “Leigh Shannon” Fugate, entertainer and owner of Ritzy Rags & More, knows this and understands that something as materialistic as a wig can be a small light at the end of the tunnel for cancer patients.
Fugate’s journey to bring a sense of confidence and normalcy to cancer patients started with his mother, who passed away due to breast cancer when he was just 24 years old.
“She was a beautiful woman, very sexy, and she had beautiful hair. The sad part is that when we went to get a wig for her, there were just old lady wigs. She got one of those, but she never felt good in it. So now I feel like I give a woman a nice hairdo every day,” says Fugate.
Cancer is a rigorous journey that impacts individuals not only mentally and physically but also financially.
For the past 12 years, Fugate has donated wigs every October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in hopes of helping women feel good about themselves every day.
“It started years ago when I happened to be talking with my company about doing it because there are a lot of people who cannot afford a good wig. Healthcare is part of wigs, and unfortunately, the insurance companies have started dropping the coverage for wigs. While the major companies still do, some don’t. With the high cost of cancer already, it puts the patient in a more bad shape,” says Fugate.
Fugate partners with Adreans Hair Goods, which donates 12 to 15 wigs and about 20 turbans to be given away every October.
To qualify, all patients need to do is email Fugate at RitzyRagsEmail@aol.com, explaining the challenges they are facing, including a picture and the reason they cannot afford a wig.
Human hair wigs are no longer recommended, so as an extra treat this year, Fugate is offering 25% off medical-grade synthetic wigs to anyone.
For those who do not qualify for a donated wig, they are still encouraged to come by the store and find that perfect wig match.
The process from the moment a client walks through the door to when they leave starts with Fugate using a little psychiatry and his “superpower.”
“Not to toot my own horn, but I can look at a woman when she comes in and already have a wig in my mind. But I have to do a little psychiatry; I have to see what mood they’re in because some women are not ready at all,” says Fugate.
Fugate strongly believes that strong customer service is what has kept his business going all these years. A mix of simply lending an ear to his clients and a genuinely caring persona goes a long way in his line of work.
central florida news
Excessive Force?
Queers For Palestine speaks out on incident with officers that led Orlando Police Department to open use of force investigation
Gabrielle Giles
ORLANDO | Central Florida
Queers for Palestine held a peaceful protest at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando Sept. 21; however following the event, several pro-Palestine protesters were arrested after an incident broke out with Orlando police. The incident began when an individual who supports Israel began to argue with a small group of the pro-Palestine protesters as they left Lake Eola. To keep the situation from imploding, officers with the Orlando Police Department began to escort the pro-Israel individual to their vehicle. Shortly after, an altercation between the pro-Palestinian civilians and OPD took place.
OPD released bodycam footage and a statement on their Facebook page about the incident, pledging “transparency” considering the event.
“A demonstration took place at Lake Eola where 20 individuals peacefully walked around the area, monitored by officers from the Downtown and Parramore Bike Units,” OPD said in a statement.
The statement goes on to say that “the demonstrations concluded peacefully” at 5:15 p.m. and at around 5:30 p.m., bike officers responded to a disturbance near the E. Central Blvd. Publix.
“Upon arrival, they found some demonstrators in an argument with a person of opposing views,” the statement continues.
OPD then states that the bodycam footage shows one of the arresting officers attempting to
USE
Orlando police are investigating an incident where one of its officers is accused of assaulting a pro-Palestinian protester.
“keep the parties separated and prevent a physical altercation in the interest of safety for both parties.”
The bodycam footage shows moments before the altercation between several of the protesters and a police officer on a bike. At around 59 seconds, a police officer can be seen pushing a protester to the ground, which then led to multiple arrests from the OPD.
OPD has said that a use of force investigation is underway.
Co-founder of the Central Florida Queers For Palestine, Lamia Moukaddam was the protester who was seen being pushed by the OPD officer. They say that they had just been leaving the protest when OPD began following them and the group back to their cars. As the group started moving, the heckler began yelling at them and Moukaddam wanted to record the moment.
“I pull out my phone and I start walking back towards the group and I pull out my phone specifically toward this woman and the police trying to record their collaboration,” Moukaddam says. “It was just bizarre, I wanted to document it.”
Then, the officer on the bicycle pushed Moukaddam into a tree. The officer has said that Moukaddam “lunged toward him” in a threatening manner. In a video that shows the incident from another angle and that was shared with Watermark by CFL Queers for Palestine, it does not appear that Moukaddam “lunged” toward anyone.
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That positive attitude shines through both in person and over the phone. One client, Monika Koleva, a breast cancer survivor, was profoundly uplifted by her experience receiving a donated wig.
“I walked in, and Leigh saw me, hugged me, and it was just like being old friends. I cried; I cried, and there was no judgment—nothing. They were so sweet, so helpful,” says Koleva.
The moment Koleva found her ideal wig that matched her old hair, she felt immense relief, a sense of normalcy, beauty, and newfound confidence.
“Because, you know, yes, I felt really bad internally because of the chemo meds, and I felt bad because I had just had a double mastectomy, so I lost my breast. But, you know, at least externally, I kind of looked the same. So it was definitely a confidence thing,” says Koleva.
While Fugate has been in this business for 38 years, he is looking to sell in the next two or three years.
In hopes of keeping his creative vision alive, he is waiting to sell to someone in the LGBTQ+ community.
“I would like an entertainer, a person in the LGBTQ+ community, to buy it because I’d like my legacy to live on and the service, of course, because we provide for ballet dancers with their hairpieces and makeup. As well as mainstream women, we have all kinds of people who shop here. I’d like to keep it that way,” says Fugate.
central florida news
After Moukaddam landed and hit the tree, protesters came to check on her leading OPD to arrest several of the protesters in the video.
Moukaddam says the situation has put things into a bigger perspective.
“It was just the irony going from a pro-peace, anti-war, anti-genocide, anti-violence protest to then be turned into a brutal scene by the Orlando Police Department and specifically for their claim at attempting to keep the peace,” Moukaddam says.
J Brown was seen in the video huddling over Moukaddam after the altercation. As a member of the CFL Queers For Palestine, their job was to serve as a first aid and assist those who may become hurt or injured while out protesting. Brown was arrested along with Moukaddam and was placed in a jail bus shortly after the incident occurred.
“We were given no orders for dispersal, we were given no warnings,” says Brown. “There
was no statement of why we were being detained as we were being handcuffed.”
Both of them were escorted to jail with little to no understanding of what they were arrested for. They were searched, stripped and then placed in solitary confinement for more than five hours before learning what they were charged with. Brown says they were withheld from food for over 11 hours in jail.
“The entire process just reminds me of what my transgender elders have gone through at the hands of police radicalization and the violence that trans and gender nonconforming people have experienced,” Brown says.
Throughout all of this, both Moukaddam and Brown remain committed to speaking out against the bombings in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Their focus and strength rely heavily on the community supporting them, in and outside the state. Part of the aid used to bail out Moukaddam and Brown came from a Gaza-based organization called Healing Our Homeland. Moukaddam says that the support they receive,
along with the knowledge that people from all over are helping them, serves as a motivation to keep moving forward.
“I feel like even in this moment, the people of Gaza and the people of Palestine through genocide are still taking care of us here,” says Moukaddam. “It is them who’s supporting us and it is our people here in Central Florida supporting us as well.”
After being released from jail, Brown says they are still dealing with the psychological effects of being incarcerated. Instead of backing down though, both expressed that this has only strengthened their resolve.
“It has further emboldened my commitment to participating in any way I can for liberation (and) for the end of genocide and the end of all colonial powers, and that includes the empire that we live in today,” says Brown.
Watermark reached out to OPD for more information on the incident and the investigation but did not hear back as of press time.
| uu | Queers For Palestine FROM PG.8 | uu | Ritzy Rags
PG.8
LOCAL LEADERS, ORGS HOST HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF
Ryan Williams-Jent
ST. PETERSBURG | State Rep. Michele Rayner hosted a Hurricane Helene supply drive through Oct. 5, partnering with local organizations and leaders to help those dealing with the storm’s impact.
Helene made landfall late Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane in Perry, Florida after causing historic storm surge in the region. Many waterfront communities like Clearwater, Gulfport, St. Petersburg, Tampa and more were left devastated. Rayner, who represents Pinellas and Hillsborough County’s District 62, announced the relief drive Sept. 27.
The venture was a partnership with the social justice center Justice Over Everything — which she co-founded with Dr. Byron Green-Calisch, also St Pete Pride’s president — as well as Democratic organizations and leaders. They included the Pinellas County Democratic Party, the Florida Democratic Party and current or hopeful elected officials like Florida District 60’s Rep. Lindsay Cross, Florida District 61 candidate Nathan Bruemmer and U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Organizers collected and distributed supplies at the Pinellas County Democratic Party’s South County Office in St. Petersburg through Oct. 5 and at 1211 Tech Blvd. in Tampa.
Pinellas Democratic Party Chair Jennifer Griffith says the urgency of the situation compelled organizers to act. She called Helene “the biggest hurricane impact situation anyone who is alive today in Pinellas County has ever experienced.”
“We knew we needed to hop into action,” Griffith says. “Based on previous storms, we knew the impacts here in Pinellas would be more severe than anyone had ever seen.”
“For me, it’s important to get to the work,” Rayner adds. “I’ve been very blessed to have a platform to be able to do the things that I do, and if I don’t do that in service to other people, then why do I even have it?
“We saw the impact of this storm firsthand — from our neighbors and our friends — and as someone who is a generational Floridian who’s lived here, it was devastating,” she continues. “It’s heartbreaking, because people have lost so much. That’s what it’s about, making sure our neighbors have what they need, because we are literally, truly all we have.”
Justice Over Everything accepted monetary donations as well, with funds going directly to purchase supplies and secure housing for those in need. Efforts continue as the region rebuilds.
“I’m incredibly grateful for Tampa Bay residents that are willing to band together to help members of our community,” Green-Calisch says. “I’m really excited by how much we can come together in times like this.”
For more information about supporting Hurricane Helene relief and other initiatives, visit JusticeOverEverything.com and PinellasDemocrats.org.
tampa bay news
Proud Partnership
Inclusive Care Group, Bell Pharmacy expand in Tampa
Ryan Williams-Jent
TAMPA | Inclusive Care Group and Bell Pharmacy opened a new Tampa location Sept. 24, celebrating their shared commitment to LGBTQ+ health care.
ICG, led by Dr. Antonio Luis, previously opened its Pinellas Park location in Sept. 2023 to offer “healthcare beyond the binary.” Bell Pharmacy and CEO Dr. Tony Trunzo began offering LGBTQ+ services in St. Petersburg just two months prior.
“My major takeaway from our first year of business is that ultimately, this is a service business,” Trunzo says. “It may seem like we sell prescriptions, but we are selling a service … it’s about creating an environment where patients feel safe and cared for.
“I think a lot of medical practices, and just the medical space in general right now is overlooking that,” he continues. “It’s become a very commercialized space, and we’re trying to bring back a little bit of care to the area.”
It’s an ideology that appeals to Luis, who began working with Trunzo in November before
opening their shared space last month. While their entities remain separate, he says their missions have always aligned.
“I’m a minority. I’m in the LGBTQ community and I’m also Hispanic — and through my career, I’ve worked for several places, big hospital systems, an LGBTQ community center, and I noticed that people got lost in the numbers,” he explains.
“I also noticed that a lot of my friends got lost in it by not getting appropriate care.
“I finally got to a position in my life that I was tired of dealing with corporations and tired of them telling me that I’m not supposed to do my job well,” Luis continues. “I said, ‘I think I can do this better than you all, and I’m going to give this a shot.’”
That coincided with the height of the Mpox endemic. Luis began working with the Dept. of Health to serve patients other local facilities would not, offering telemedicine before opening his two offices.
“Tony really put his head out there for me,” Luis says of the Tampa expansion. “He has faith in what Inclusive Care Group is doing … and the queer and transgender
SERVING ALL:
patients that have come to my practice and trusted me with all their care have really pushed me to do this even more.”
The Tampa site is divided between Bell’s full pharmacy and ICG’s practice, which has three exam rooms. Trunzo and Luis say the expansion was made possible with support from the Tampa Housing Authority, the City of Tampa, the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber and others, and that centering LGBTQ+ care is just as critical as ever. Especially given Florida’s anti-transgender healthcare laws.
“I practice medicine. I don’t practice medicine based on the color of your skin, religion, who you love, what you look like, who you feel like. I practice medicine — and I expect everyone to do the same, but I know they don’t,” Luis says. “There are still providers that send people away when they have Mpox, providers that don’t know about PrEP or understand sexuality and STDs or are scared to talk about sex.”
“A lot of us want a world where any type of patient could go anywhere and get the same level of care, but ultimately, everybody specializes in something,” Trunzo adds. “There are certain issues that the LGBTQ+ community faces that other communities don’t, and it’s our job to make sure that those issues are addressed.”
Bell Pharmacy and ICG’s new Tampa location is located at 1246 Ray Charles Blvd. in Tampa. For more information about their other locations and services offered, visit BellSpecialtyPharmacy.com and ICGFL.com.
Dr. Antonio Luis (L) and Dr. Tony Trunzo at Inclusive Care Group and Bell Pharmacy’s new Tampa facility.
PHOTO COURTESY ICG
PROJECT PRIDE LEADS WITH LOVE FOR INAUGURAL GULFCOAST PRIDE IN SARASOTA
Ryan Williams-Jent
SARASOTA | Project Pride
will present the inaugural Gulfcoast Pride Oct. 19 from 2-11 p.m., finalizing the merger of the region’s traditional Sarasota and Manatee Pride celebrations.
Last year’s Sarasota Pride welcomed over 3,000 people to the Rosemary District. It was the 32nd celebration but only the first presented solely by Project Pride, which merged with Sarasota Pride, Inc. in 2022.
The group subsequently inherited the Bradenton-based Manatee Pride, traditionally a fundraiser for local nonprofits serving LGBTQ+ youth. Rather than produce two Prides for the region organizers chose to better focus their efforts by rebranding.
“Project Pride services Manatee River to Peace River, which encompasses the whole Gulf coast area,” President Jason Champion
explains. “With the name, we wanted to make sure that everyone knew we were covering both Manatee and Sarasota counties, putting on events focused around our entire community.”
Gulfcoast Pride was born.
“Celebrate love, diversity, and equality at Gulfcoast Pride!” Project Pride’s announced earlier this year. “Join us in this joyous celebration and let your true colors shine as we embrace a future where love knows no bounds.”
The inaugural event’s theme — “Lead with Love” — is a reflection of that message. Project Pride hopes to “showcase the positive aspects of our lives and Sarasota as an inclusive community with partners and allies who appreciate the diversity of its citizens.”
That’s made possible by attendees and supporters like the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, this year’s presenting sponsor. The nonprofit “has transformed the
region through bold and proactive philanthropy for nearly 30 years.”
Festivities will take place from 2-11 p.m. along Boulevard of the Arts from Florida Ave. to Lemon Ave. They’ll begin with a car parade starting at 400 S. Orange Ave., where entries will be eligible to win prizes.
For “the most eye-catching and creative decorations that radiate pride, color and individuality,” or Most Fabulous Car, a participant will win $500. Best Theme Representation, awarded to the car that best embodies “Lead with Love,” will receive $250.
A Community Spirit Award recognizing a car that represents unity, inclusivity and the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride will also receive four tickets to Project Pride’s brunch. On Oct. 20, the recurring event will feature Gulfcoast Pride headliner Victoria “Porkchop” Parker, the celebrated drag artist who became the first-ever contestant to be
eliminated from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2009.
The car parade’s lineup will highlight Grand Marshal Ken Shelin, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist who has served as a Sarasota city commissioner and vice mayor. He’ll also be honored with an award during Gulfcoast Pride’s festival, scheduled from 3-8 p.m.
The gathering is expected to feature around 100 vendors and a pet pageant. Sarasota TV host, actor and personality Joey Panek will host, introducing a wide variety of entertainment and more.
The Sarasota Opera, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Azara Ballet, Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota, Chixie Dix, Harvest Band and Pride Zumba will perform on the main stage. They’ll be complemented by DJ Brianna Lee and drag entertainers Sadie T. Elise, Tik Tak Holiday, Tamarra Love Dupree, Porsha Evermore Ross, Alice Marie Gripp and Brianna Summers.
After Porkchop performs from 7:30-8 p.m., fellow headliner Zee Machine will follow from 8-9 p.m. The singer-songwriter is a multi-instrumentalist who offers “infections hooks, soaring vocals, cutting lyrics and empowering live sets” last seen in Sarasota for Project Pride’s 2023 Grand Carnival.
Since then, the LA-based, independent artist has toured and released his latest EP. Read our interview with him on p. 43.
The evening will wrap with music from SRQ Beats. Champion says from start to finish, Pridegoers can expect “high energy, a big turnout and a lot of love.”
“This is a time for our community to come together,” he notes. “We need to let our rainbow light of love shine as a beacon of hope to everyone.”
The inaugural Gulfcoast Pride will be held Oct. 19 from 2-11 p.m. in Downtown Sarasota. For more information, visit PPSRQ.org.
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LGBTQ+ DEMS URGE VOTING
Ryan Williams-Jent
The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is calling on LGBTQ+ Floridians to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by voting on or before Nov. 5.
While registration ended Oct. 7, there is no deadline to change party affiliation ahead of the general election Nov. 5. Early voting is scheduled Oct. 26-Nov. 2.
“We often say that each election is the most important ever, but that’s because each cycle the anti-LGBTQ+ fringes try to force their way closer to power,” Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Kristen Browde said. “Sadly, we are once again facing those times. Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes are on the rise, plainly the result of Republican candidates who disparage the LGBTQ+ community — especially transgender Americans.
“We can change this, for the good of our community and our country,” she continued. “There has never been a more stark contrast between the candidates and the parties. It’s not just a matter of ‘not going back.’ It’s a matter of life, liberty, and the ability to enjoy the freedoms our country was founded for.”
For more information about the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, visit LGBTQDems.org. Check your voter registration and more at Vote.org.
BROWARD, PALM BEACH SCHOOLS EMBRACE LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH, MIAMI REFUSES
Clinton Engelberger via OUT South Florida
The Miami-Dade school board rejected a resolution to recognize LGBTQ+ History Month for the third consecutive year, according to The Miami Herald.
The resolution, proposed by board member Lucia Baez-Geller and rejected in a 5-3 vote, would be a symbolic gesture that advocates say would help create a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ children and their families in schools. It would not alter classroom curriculums or require student participation.
LGBTQ+ laws and proposals affecting public schools have been a hot-button issue as of late. HB 1069, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” by critics, was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year to prevent schools from teaching about sexual
orientation and gender identity in classrooms.
Despite the controversy surrounding the presence of queer topics in public schools, proposals like Baez-Geller’s aren’t a new concept. In 2012, Broward County was the first major school board to pass a resolution in support of LGBTQ+ History Month.
This year, the Broward County school board approved to recognize LGBTQ+ History Month in a 6-3 vote despite conservative pushback, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Broward County’s resolution stated that October serves as a reminder of the “important contributions of LGBTQ people in shaping the social, historical, legal, and political worlds we live in today.”
Other Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Orange and Palm Beach, voted for measures to recognize the month in its schools with little controversy.
The Miami-Dade school board meeting attracted hundreds of people from both sides of the issue. Christian Family Coalition Executive Director Antonio Verdugo said the organization reached about 60,000 of its members in Miami-Dade to encourage them to attend the meeting.
Christians who spoke at the meeting, like Marsha Hertig, said recognizing LGBTQ+ History Month “is not right in the sight of God. He made us male and female and told us to reproduce.”
Maxx Fenning, founder of LGBTQ-youth focused org. PRISM, said approving the resolution would create more unity.
“There is more that unites us than divides us; we will not be persuaded by hate,” he said.
Miami-Dade approved a proposal to recognize LGBTQ+ History Month in 2021 for the first time, but has since backtracked amidst laws targeting queer rights in the state.
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MAJOR CASES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT DEAL WITH TRANS RIGHTS, GUNS AND MORE
Wire Report
The Supreme Court’s new term began this month with a handful of important cases set to be heard and the possibility that the justices will be asked to get involved in election disputes.
Here are some of the top cases that will be argued in the coming months:
Transgender rights
The Biden administration and families of transgender minors in Tennessee are challenging a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Roughly half the states have enacted similar restrictions.
Ghost guns
The administration is appealing a federal appeals court ruling striking down a regulation aimed
at reducing the proliferation of hard-to-trace ghost guns, which lack serial numbers.
Death penalty
Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general has joined with death row inmate Richard Glossip in calling for the high court to throw out Glossip’s conviction and death sentence in a 1977 murder-for-hire scheme.
Pornography
The adult entertainment industry is challenging a provision of Texas law, upheld by a federal appeals court, mandating that pornographic websites verify the age of their users.
Mexico’s gun lawsuit
Leading U.S. gun manufacturers want the Supreme Court to overturn an appellate ruling keeping alive a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against over allegations that the companies’ practices are responsible for violence in Mexico.
Nuclear waste
The Nuclear Regulatory Commissions wants the court to restore licenses it issued for temporary nuclear waste storage facilities in rural New Mexico and Texas after a federal appeals court invalidated them.
Job discrimination
A woman in Ohio is asking the court to revive her workplace discrimination lawsuit in which she claims she unfairly lost out on state jobs to LGBTQ people, in violation of federal law.
Flavored vapes
The Food and Drug Administration is asking the justices to overturn a decision that would allow the marketing of sweet e-cigarette products amid concern about a surge in youth vaping in recent years.
GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SIGNS ANTI-LGBTQ+ LAW AFTER PRESIDENT REFUSES
Wire Report
TBILISI, GEORGIA | The speaker of the Georgian parliament signed into law Oct. 3 a bill that severely curtails LGBTQ+ rights in the country and mirrors legislation adopted in neighboring Russia.
Shalva Papuashvili, the parliament speaker, said on social media that the legislation does “not reflect current, temporary, changing ideas and ideologies, but is based on common sense, historical experience and centuries-old Christian, Georgian and European values.”
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili had refused to sign the bill and returned it to parliament on Oct. 2. It was introduced by the governing Georgian Dream party and approved by lawmakers last month.
The bill includes bans on same-sex marriages, adoptions by same-sex couples and public endorsement and depictions of LGBTQ+ relations and people in the media. It also bans gender-affirming care and
changing gender designations in official documents.
“This law protects the rights of all citizens, including freedom of expression, so that the rights of others are not violated, which is the essence and idea of true democracy,” Papuashvili wrote.
Parliament gave the legislation its final approval as Georgia, a largely conservative country where the Orthodox Church wields significant influence, prepares to vote in a parliamentary election. The law has been widely seen as an effort by the governing party to shore up support among conservative groups. It was decried by human rights advocates and LGBTQ+ activists, who said it further marginalized an already vulnerable community.
By signing the law, Georgian Dream “have taken homophobia to a new level, and that is political and institutional homophobia,” said Ana Tavadze, an activist with Tbilisi Pride, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.
Georgian Dream’s aim is to “fabricate” problems ahead of the election to distract people
from “their failure” to solve issues involving unemployment, education and healthcare, Tavadze told The Associated Press.
The law has drawn comparisons with Russia, where the Kremlin has been highlighting what it calls traditional family values. Russian authorities in the last decade have banned public endorsement of “nontraditional sexual relations” and introduced laws against gender-affirming care, among other measures. Its Supreme Court effectively outlawed LGBTQ+ activism by labeling what the authorities called the LGBTQ+ “movement” operating in Russia as an extremist organization and banning it.
In Georgia, the LGBTQ+ community has struggled even before the legislation was introduced. Demonstrations and violent outbursts against LGBTQ+ people have been common, and last year hundreds of opponents of gay rights stormed an LGBTQ+ festival in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, forcing the event’s cancellation.
IN OTHER NEWS
PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL BOARDS UP WINDOW OPENINGS THAT ALLOWED VIEWS INTO ITS GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS
A Pennsylvania school district has reversed course and boarded up window openings it recently installed that allowed people in a middle school hallway to peer into two gender-neutral-designated bathrooms, the superintendent said Oct. 4. The two windows were installed in recent weeks following a vote in August of the South Western School District’s conservative-majority school board, a move the board president said was designed to monitor and prevent misbehavior. Such openings weren’t installed in any of the school’s non-gender-neutral bathrooms. The openings were covered by plywood on the advice of lawyers from the Harrisburg-based Independence Law Center.
COURT WILL HEAR WOMAN’S CLAIM SHE LOST JOB BECAUSE SHE’S STRAIGHT
The Supreme Court is taking up the case of an Ohio woman who claims she suffered sex discrimination in her employment because she is straight. The justices on Friday agreed to review an appellate ruling that upheld the dismissal of the discrimination lawsuit filed by the woman, Marlean Ames, against the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Arguments probably will take place early next year. Ames, who has worked for the department for 20 years, contends she was passed over for a promotion and then demoted because she is heterosexual. Both the job she sought and the one she had held were given to LGBTQ people. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars sex discrimination in the workplace. A trial court and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Ames.
AUSTRIAN GAY ACTIVIST WINS CASE AGAINST META
The European Union’s top court said Friday that social media company Meta can’t use public information about a user’s sexual orientation obtained outside its platforms for personalized advertising under the bloc’s strict data privacy rules. The decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg is a victory for Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems, who has been a thorn in the side of Big Tech companies over their compliance with 27-nation bloc’s data privacy rules. The EU court issued its ruling after Austria’s supreme court asked for guidance in Schrems’ case on how to apply the privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. Schrems had complained that Facebook had processed personal data including information about his sexual orientation to target him with online advertising, even though he had never disclosed on his account that he was gay. The only time he had publicly revealed this fact was during a panel discussion.
TRANS OF THOUGHT
Voting for my life
WITHOUT A DOUBT,
IT has been a tough time for trans people these last few months.
The hate messaging has become overwhelming as Republicans have weaponized our existence as symbolic of liberalism run amok. It has been hard to keep our chin up while public figures on the political right openly call us filth and demons or claim that we want to mutilate children and brutalize cisgender women in boxing rings.
In Florida, we’ve also had to endure the agony of winning back our medical freedoms in court only to have the barriers of SB 254 reinstated a month later by Trump-appointed judges. The fear for their children this has caused the parents of trans kids I know has been heartbreaking. Parents like my sister.
Tragically, an appeal to a higher court will likely not put things to right because the next stop would be the Supreme Court, and they have not exactly been proponents of bodily autonomy lately. Our last defense against the transphobic onslaught at this point has been narrowed down to the ballot box.
In order to protect my rights as a trans person, I will vote blue no matter who in November, but that won’t be the cure-all trans people need. That was made crystal clear when the White House kowtowed to conservatives a few months ago by making a public statement opposing gender-affirming surgeries for minors. Something that almost never happens with trans kids but are performed far more often on cisgender teen girls who want bigger breasts or teen boys who want to get rid of theirs.
At the time, it was obviously a desperate appeal to the MAGA masses as the Biden campaign circled the drain. However, the message it sent to trans people was transparent: “Our support has limits.” Sometimes the only thing worse than our enemies are our allies. Democrats in general have been scared to death of the “trans issue.” They have been running away and
hiding instead of affirming our medical needs and basic humanity. All in an effort to seem more palatable to anti-Trump conservatives who might protest vote for Democrats this election cycle. I would faint if Harris were to even utter the word transgender in a stump speech or dare to counter one of the many anti-trans statements Trump has made in his.
It’s a classic case of Dems wanting their cake and to eat it too. Even so, I am praying that they win because at least with them we have the chance that they will ultimately support the rights of trans people to happiness and gender affirming medical care. Some hope is better than the open hostility offered by a Republican administration.
Outside of an episode of “Survivor,” nobody should have their existence put up to a vote, but I definitely feel that is where I and every trans person in the United States is at right now. I am fully terrified to my core that Trump and his brand of hate will prevail on Nov. 5. I am a livewire of anxiety mixed with existential dread because, unlike 2016, this time we know what is coming thanks to Project 2025 and its apocalyptic solution to what it calls the “toxic normalization of transgenderism” in society.
Trump has called it “transgender insanity” in his meandering speeches and followed it up with the shameless lie that schools are conducting “sex changes” so he can gin up outrage and support for his Project 2025 approved plans to stop “transgenderism.” In short, a Trump administration would issue an executive order ending the legal recognition of gender identity in favor of birth sex. Being transgender in the eyes of the government would cease to exist. Not surprisingly, his base has lapped it up and cheered him on. They love that he is a walking, talking
viewpoint
hate-machine intent on making the lives of anyone who isn’t white, male, cisgender, heterosexual and rich, very difficult if not outright impossible. He has said out loud what they can only say in hushed tones in private. And by being so outrageous he has given the
and misogynistic as they liked without being made to feel like they were bad people. It’s certainly easier than to learn and adapt to a constantly changing America. And so we’ve arrived at the point where I would usually entreat
convicted of 34 felonies with likely jail time to come, and already had a presidency based on the kind of greed and self-interest that kept our founding fathers up at night, then I don’t think this reminder that my humanity is worth a vote to protect it will sway you.
In order to protect my rights as a trans person, I will vote blue no matter who in November, but that won’t be the cure-all trans people need.
cover they crave to turn back the clock to a time when they didn’t have to be what they derisively call “woke,” but is in actuality kindness and consideration for people who are different than themselves.
That is the true meaning behind “Make America Great Again.” It was great back when they could be as racist, homophobic, transphobic
you gentle reader to get up, get motivated and do something, but by the time you read this if you haven’t been convinced to register and vote, nothing will. Certainly not my little essay and it’s too late to register anyway. And if you are still intent on voting for a man who mishandled a pandemic, was impeached twice, attempted a coup, was
What I would ask instead is that you do nothing. Stay home. But to the rest of you I say, vote like your life depends on it. I know mine certainly does.
Melody Maia Monet has her own trans lesbian themed YouTube channel at YouTube.com/MelodyMaia.
Melody Maia Monet
viewpoint
Steve Blanchard
FIT FOR PRINT
IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO
celebrate spooky season, but we finally made it to October. My favorite time of year.
Oktoberfest, the hope of somewhat cooler weather and, of course, my absolute favorite holiday, Halloween. It’s a day I look forward to all year and begin planning for the minute the last trick or treater leaves my door!
Those clearance racks always call my name and I have friends who are always on the lookout for future display props. But is that too early to start planning? Not at all.
As funny as it sounds, things really kick into full gear for us when the sun rises the day after Independence Day. After all, July 5 is when spooky season begins.
I don’t make the rules, it’s just how it is.
We keep our Tampa Bay Bed & Breakfast themed to the spooky and paranormal all year round. Of course, we turn things up a notch once Labor Day hits and we start expanding the yard into the seasonal expression of Fall and Halloween. I know we are the exception and that decorating for holidays that early isn’t always for everyone — especially with the constant threat of tropical weather blowing everything over or away.
I’ve heard people complain about retail chains jumping on holiday displays and sales way too soon. “It’s only July” is a common utterance heard in stores like Michaels, Big Lots and JOANN Fabric — stores which always jump onto the Halloween Hearse earlier in the year. Or “It’s not even Halloween, why is there a lighted reindeer display in this hardware store?”
For those of us who are passionate about holidays — especially Halloween — July 5 is when our planning kicks into full gear. With the help of these retail giants, we can plan more accurately, appropriately and economically.
Okay, so maybe not economically, but you get my point.
Think back to all the amazing Halloween displays you’ve seen over the years. The ones that have you questioning how they did it and attracts vehicles into
the neighborhood to witness something unbelievable and seasonal.
Do you think those who planned those created them in just a few days? No. They started months in advance. How else could they get such spectacular displays to appear seemingly by magic (or Magick)?
In August 2023, we began building tombstones and other props for the B&B that have since become staples in our yard’s décor. This year, we started crafting our 2024 display in April — because we know just how brutal Florida summers can be and wanted to avoid feeling too rushed.
We still felt rushed because we had big plans. But it certainly feels good to have some of the bigger steps already marked off the list and props built and ready to be placed in the haunted scene. The rush you feel when someone compliments your holiday display is unbelievable. And it’s a moment when you realize that your months of hard work have paid off and someone out there appreciates the effort.
And of course, this early planning isn’t just for Halloween. Christmas lovers are in the same boat — although they’re using a very different aesthetic. Our air conditioners are still in full blast mode and the first holiday ornaments and trees are already appearing on store shelves. It can be a shock to see a huge grim reaper squaring off against a massive Santa Clause in Lowes or a 12-foot skeleton standing near a Mickey Mouse smiling from inside an inflatable candy cane-colored helicopter.
But that’s okay. It means there is a crowd out there who is already working to make sure that their creative impact is felt on their favorite season. In the world we live in, shouldn’t we have something to look forward to? We could use a distraction.
The 2024 election is terrifying, and the news constantly covers war, school
shootings and, most recently, destructive and unbelievably fierce hurricanes. Regardless of faith or background, a vast majority of people look forward to the holiday season — including Halloween. If your neighbor started putting up the huge skeleton
and it is a fun way to get my creativity out into the world. Holiday decorating provides a chance to escape the insanity of real life and focus on not only personal joy but bringing joy to others.
Those incredible light displays that provide
beach-going equipment, remember that those creepy displays are making someone very happy and excited about sharing their love of their favorite holiday.
Let them enjoy the preparation. After all, it’s the rest of us who get to
July 5 is when spooky season begins. I don’t make the rules.
in August, what’s the problem? It makes them happy and it doesn’t impact you. If you see a Christmas tree pop up in someone’s window in late October and it bothers you, get over it. They’re happy and they’re making the oppressive world we’re in bearable, at least for a few months.
For me, building an impressive Halloween display is cathartic. It’s therapeutic
drive-through viewing pleasure in December are already being planned and, in some instances, they’re already being installed!
I know we already have a plan in place for the Christmas season, and we’ll start working on that display Nov. 1.
When you see those Halloween displays going up as you’re browsing for your favorite sunblock or
benefit when the season officially arrives. Happy October! Welcome to spooky season!
Steve Blanchard is the former editor of Watermark. He works in public relations and runs Tampa Bay’s Phantom History House Bed & Breakfast with his husband. Learn more at PhantomHistory.com.
Journalism matters. Journalism provides information. Information is knowledge and knowledge is power.
Watermark matters. Our mission is to advance LGBTQ+ interests. We do that by connecting community, informing you of what is happening around you that might not be on your radar. We celebrate our triumphs and, at times, we question our missteps. We uplift those fighting the good fight and hold those accountable who seek to silence you.
We need your help to continue our mission. In honor of our 30-year anniversary, Watermark is asking 1,000 of our readers to support local queer journalism by gifting $30.
Visit WatermarkOnline.com/30th or scan the QR code to show your support.
Unlike other news outlets, Watermark covers the LGBTQ+ community from a local perspective, year-round, providing depth and context for our readers they can’t get elsewhere.
Your gift will help go towards investigative journalism, expanding our freelance team and creating opportunities for more LGBTQ+ journalists, hopefully providing us with the resources to hire more staff to provide a better experience for you, our readers.
Watermark’s Anniversary
Samantha Lena Welch (Rosenthal)
Editorial Assistant, 2014-2015
IREMEMBER SEEING THE AD ON THE
Society of Professional Journalists Facebook page and Craigslist: a local LGBTQ+ newsmagazine was looking for a part-time editorial assistant. As a senior UCF journalism student who was graduating later that year, I thought that would be a perfect opportunity for both work and writing experience. I had seen and read issues of Watermark on campus before, so I was very excited when I ended up getting the job. I thought how this was such a unique and fortunate experience for a green journalist like myself who was still figuring out how to use an Oxford comma.
Little did I know, this would not just be my first journalism job, but it would be an incredible experience that would shape me as a writer and leave an impact on me as a person.
From memorable stories I wrote like interviewing the first legally married same-sex couples in Central Florida to my first cover story about the intersectionality between the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities for Hispanic Heritage Month, Watermark became a safe place for me to find my voice, make mistakes and grow as a journalist. Both Jamie Hyman and Steve Blanchard always encouraged me to contribute, but they also made sure I learned the basics along the way as well. I got to see change being advocated for every day through the newsmagazine we put out, along with the staff of people who put their all into each issue. That kind of passion and advocacy encouraged me to want to learn how to be a better writer and, even more so, a better ally to this wonderful community.
During my time at Watermark, I got to interview “Glee” star Alex Newell, former WFTV Channel 9 anchor Jorge Estevez and countless couples with the creation of Watermark’s Wedding Bells column. One of my favorite articles
was a cover story that I collaborated on with then-Editor-in-Chief Steve Blanchard that highlighted the history and culture behind the leather community. I also made friendships that remain with me to this day, including one of my most incredible friends, current Director of Sales Danny Garcia, who I’m still close with and was the officiant at my wedding last year.
I remember going to the 20th anniversary party when I was working there and seeing the Central Florida community celebrate the newsmagazine, and I felt so honored to be a part of something special even as just an editorial assistant.
Now getting to reflect 10 years later as Watermark celebrates its 30th anniversary, I still feel so honored to know that Watermark is what started it all for me as a storyteller, paving and shaping the path for me as a writer. Learning the fundamentals of journalism and writing are important, but Watermark taught me it is equally important to find your voice and use it to tell stories that impact those around you.
Greg Stemm
Freelance writer and Viewpoint Columnist
OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO I HAVE
been blessed to cover some truly remarkable stories about our LGBTQ+ community for Watermark.
In June 2013 I covered the story where the Hillsborough County Commissioners debated to remove a ban on Pride activities in the county. It was extremely controversial and damaging to Tampa’s recognition as an evolving, first-tier city.
After listening to almost two hours of dreadful bigotry in public comment, each of the commissioners was given an opportunity to make a statement before they voted. I remember one rising to inform us he was a deacon of a Southern Baptist Church.
You could audibly hear some audience members gasp, saying things like “here we go,” but to everyone’s surprise the commissioner schooled the crowd. He said Jesus was about loving people, not excluding them.
“I have seen discrimination eyeball to eye in this very city wearing the uniform of this country so I know all too well what it looks like,” then-Commissioner Lester Miller, Jr. said. “Discrimination is discrimination regardless of it form. It’s always destructive and it’s always wrong. I vote to repeal.” He got a standing ovation, and the commission voted unanimously to remove the ban.
Another powerful story I covered was a special piece for our December 2017 World AIDS Day edition. I explored how both gay and straight women were the “Florence Nightingales” for sick and dying gay men at a time early in the epidemic where even some health care professionals didn’t want to be close to AIDS patients.
One that really stands out was a Linda Jaeger in Orlando, a member of the Church of God “megachurch.” Their
theology isn’t friendly to LGBTQ+ people but when a friend asked her to join him in attending an informational seminar on HIV/AIDS, she did.
“All I can say is that I was ‘moved’ by the scope and the tragic circumstances that many of these young men were facing,” she said. “I felt at that moment God tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Linda, you need to do something to help here and you need to do it right now.”
She said she read everything she could find about the disease. Eventually, she started having condoms on hand wherever she went — she told Watermark she started feeling a little uncomfortable when members of her congregation started referring to her as “the Pentecostal Condom Lady.”
Eventually Jaeger’s passion led her to establish “A PLACE for Comfort” (PLACE stands for People with AIDS Caring for Each Other), an AIDS support organization which eventually grew to have offices in four counties, Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Lake.
Today she serves on the board of both Hope and Health and the AIDS Institute, a national organization with offices in Tampa and Washington, D.C.
The queer community of the I-4 corridor is rich, diverse and outspoken. The best, most interesting and readable stories come directly from this remarkable community. It’s really a blessing to be able to share their stories with you!
talking points
It will be a gay explosion by the end of it.
—AUBREY PLAZA TALKING ABOUT “AGATHA ALL ALONG,” THE LATEST MARVEL STUDIOS SHOW IN WHICH SHE PLAYS RIO VIDAL
GAVIN CREEL, A BROADWAY MUSICAL THEATER VETERAN WHO WON A TONY AWARD FOR “HELLO, DOLLY!” and nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” died Sept. 30 of a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He was 48. Publicist Matt Polk said Creel died at his home in Manhattan of metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma. He was diagnosed in July 2024. Creel had a knack for Golden Age Broadway revivals, but he also performed in modern fare like the role of Dr. Pomatter in Sara Bareilles’ musical “Waitress” on Broadway in 2019 and on the West End in 2020. He won an Olivier Award for “The Book of Mormon.” Creel became a primary voice within the theater industry by working to pass the federal Marriage Equality Act. He teamed up with friends Rory O’Malley and Jenny Kanelos to co-found the nonprofit organization Broadway Impact. He is survived by his mother, Nancy Clemens Creel, and father, James William Creel; his sisters, Heather Elise Creel and Allyson Jo Creel; and his partner, Alex Temple Ward.
TONY AWARDS TO HEAD BACK TO RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
FANS OF BROADWAY, CIRCLE THIS DATE: THIS SEASON’S TONY AWARDS WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 8 at its familiar home of Radio City Music Hall. Producers of the show announced the date and location Sept. 23. For the last few years, the telecast has bounced around the city — two years ago originating from the United Palace Theatre, in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, and this year at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Square. Radio City can seat 6,000 people and has in the past been the long-time home of the awards. The host will be revealed later. The 2025 awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
BARBRA STREISAND APPROVES MULTI-PART DOCUMENTARY
AYEAR AFTER TELLING HER STORY IN A 1,000-PAGE MEMOIR, BARBRA STREISAND HAS APPROVED A MULTI-PART DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HER LIFE — to be directed by fellow Oscar winner Frank Marshall. The documentary, announced Sept. 26 by Sony Music Vision, is currently untitled and does not have a release date. It will feature rarely seen video, photographs and audio recordings from Streisand’s personal archives. Oscar-winning documentary maker Alex Gibney, whose many credits include films about Paul Simon and Steve Jobs, will serve as producer. Sony Music Vision is presenting and distributing the project in partnership with her longtime record label, Columbia Records.
LADY
GAGA INSPIRED BY ‘JOKER’ SEQUEL ON NEW ALBUM
LADY GAGA’S LATEST ROLE IN “JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX” HAS LED TO THE CREATION OF HER NEW ALBUM “HARLEQUIN,” released Sept. 27. “Harlequin” is a companion album for the “Joker” sequel, in theaters now, in which Gaga stars as Lee, also better known as the unhinged villain Harley Quinn. Her character served as the driving force behind the album, which seamlessly blends jazz, funk, blues and early American music while drawing from vintage and modern pop. “Harlequin” marks Gaga’s first jazz-inspired album since the death of her longtime collaborator and close friend Tony Bennett. Along with her companion album, Gaga said she expects to release a studio album in February.
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Screen Team
Ryan Williams-Jent
OCTOBER ISN’T JUST LGBTQ+
History Month — or a time for the community to enjoy spooky season’s frights and delights, detailed here in Watermark’s annual Halloween coverage — it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The international health campaign raises awareness and funds to combat the disease, which impacts hundreds of thousands annually. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and in the U.S. this year alone, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with a type that spreads into surrounding tissue.
Binary statistics like these don’t account for many LGBTQ+ Americans, however, something Tampa Bay’s Moffitt Cancer Center and Found Family Collective agree upon. It’s what led the organizations to partner for a forthcoming Halloween Health-O-Thon, coming to City Side Lounge Oct. 26 from 1-8 p.m.
“Moffitt Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach, Engagement and Equity has teamed up with Found Family Collective for a special LGBTQ+ focused Breast Cancer
(L-R) APOLLO INFINITI, ESME RUSSELL AND JAY MIAH. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
happened to attend one such gathering. He saw a potential partnership in the process.
Awareness event to remind LGBTQ+ folks that cancer affects all body types regardless of gender and sexual orientation,” they announced.
The event will focus on the inclusion of lesbian, trans masculine, nonbinary and trans feminine communities while utilizing LGBTQ+-inclusive language and addressing the community’s unique concerns. There will also be drag performances centering on early detection screening, survivor’s testimonials and preventative self-examination 101 tutorials.
Moffitt is Florida’s first National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Its mission is “to save more lives,” something it works to do by “accelerating the science with greater urgency than ever before.”
Found Family Collective, an LGBTQ+-focused grassroots nonprofit, has served Tampa Bay since 2022. It exists to “encourage vibrancy, resiliency, joy and connectedness within the queer and trans community,” something it’s done by producing events like health and wellness fairs.
Topher Larkin — a community outreach worker specialist for Moffitt’s Office of Community Outreach, Engagement and Equity —
“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the conversation surrounding that is usually around cisgender women,” Larkin explains. “Oftentimes the LGBTQ+ community is not explicitly recorded in studies. We wanted
people face, particularly when it comes to matters like cancer, is something that doesn’t happen enough.
“We get a lot of information about HIV and STIs — there can never be too much information about it — but sometimes that’s the only thing people are discussing with us,” he says. “Sexual health is an important
for the early detection of breast cancer.
It provides Dr. Ryan Polselli — who D’Angelo notes is gender identity competent, meaning “he will be able to screen you regardless of your chest type” — to interpret mammograms and diagnostics in real-time. This allows most patients to get same-day results and
October is Breast Cancer Awareness
Month and the conversation surrounding that is usually around cisgender women. We wanted this event to speak to all members of the community, especially those who are lesbian, trans and nonbinary, so they can feel included and comfortable in this environment.
— TOPHER LARKIN, MOFFITT CANCER CENTER’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY
this event to speak to all members of the community, especially those who are lesbian, trans and nonbinary, so they can feel included and comfortable in this environment.”
Found Family Collective was eager to partner. Co-Executive Director Angel D’Angelo says highlighting the significant health disparities LGBTQ+
topic but it is not the only topic that matters when it comes LGBTQI health equity. There are so many more that we have to worry about.”
Beginning at 1 p.m., 3D Mobile Mammography will be on site to provide free screening mammograms, regardless of sex and age limitations. The bus utilizes the only FDA-approved 3D mammography technology
appointments are available in 10-minute increments until 7:50 p.m.
Barbeque will also be available from 4-7 p.m., donated by City Side Lounge, and a health fair with local vendors will run simultaneously.
Participants include Farkas Chiropractic Care, Inclusive Care Group and CAN Community
Health, which will provide HIV testing.
City Side Lounge Entertainment Director Jay Miah, known for competing on FOX’s “Alter Ego” and more, will host the event’s two drag shows. She’ll be joined by fellow fan favorite entertainers Mr. Vyn Suazion, Esme Russell, Kiali Santi and Apollo Infiniti at 6:30 and 7:20 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to the collaboration with Found Family Collective and Moffitt Cancer Center to bring awareness to our community,” Miah says. “I know how important it is to be informed about our health care. Take advantage of the free screenings. Its so important to take control of our health. Be proactive!”
The cast will subsequently judge a Halloween costume contest at 7:50 p.m., with gift cards in the amount of $100, $75 and $50 going to the first, second and third place winners.
“We’re really excited about this event,” Larkin says. “It’s a fun and innovative way to get the message of cancer prevention out there and we’re hoping it’s just the beginning of this partnership with Found Family Collective.”
Moffitt Cancer Center and Found Family Collective’s Halloween Health-O-Thon will be held at City Side Lounge Oct. 26, located at 3703 Henderson Blvd. in Tampa. Learn more at Moffitt.org and Facebook.com/FoundFamilyCollective, and visit 3D Mobile Mammography at 3DMobileMammography.com to reserve a screening time.
| uu | Screen Team FROM PG.31
MOBILE CARE: 3D Mobile Mammography’s bus, which utilizes the only FDA-approved 3D mammography technology for the early detection of breast cancer. PHOTO COURTESY 3D MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY
SHOWING UP: Inclusive Care Group tables at Found Family Collective’s health fair in St. Petersburg earlier this year. PHOTO COURTESY FOUND FAMILY COLLECTIVE
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
“BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE”
The sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 oddball horror comedy, “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” reunites original cast members Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara with a slue of new characters played by Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe.
“DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE”
After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (played by Keaton), Lydia’s (Ryder) life is turned upside down when her rebellious daughter (Ortega) discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the afterlife is accidentally opened.
Recreating “the ghost with the most” look requires a black and white suit, a green wig and some face paint but what will really sell it is leaning completely into Beetlejuice’s personality. If you’re more an introvert, you can always swap out the black and white suit for a yellow one and go as the real star of the show, Bob.
O“WICKED”
K, so “Wicked” doesn’t come out for a few more weeks but does anyone not think this movie is going to be a huge hit?
“Wicked” is based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that has become a cultural phenomenon. It is the untold story of Elphaba, the green-skinned outcast — played by Cynthia Erivo — who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the popular and privileged future Witch of the North, played by Ariana Grande, and how they end up forming an unlikely friendship while attending Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz.
We feel pretty confident in saying that you’ll be seeing a lot of Elphabas and Glindas running around Halloween night as two of the holiday’s most iconic looks — witches and princesses — are based off of these Oz characters. For Elphaba, a black gown, cape and boots can be topped off with the traditional pointed, black witch hat and a broom. As for Glinda, anything pink will do, and the lacier and poofier the better. Finish that look off with a shiny tiara and sparkly wand, and you are ready for the Oz Dust Ball, or for a night begging your neighbors for candy. Without a doubt you’ll be pop-u-lar.
Marvel was back in a big way this year with its billion-dollar hit “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Ryan Reynolds suits up as the Merc with a Mouth for the third installment in one of the genre’s most popular film series and this time he brought Mr. Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman, along for the ride.
The film sees Wade Wilson with his morally flexible past behind him, until he suddenly finds himself in a fight for the survival of his homeworld and must suit-up again — and convince a reluctant Wolverine to help him.
Thanks to the multiverse, all you need to start is Deadpool’s basic red costume and then you can customize it to be any one of the Deadpool variants. Want to be Ladypool?
Add in an Ariana Grande blonde ponytail. Kidpool?
Toss a Deadpool hoodie over the costume. Peterpool? Add more carbs to the diet. There are so many options. Throw a Wolverine costume into the mix and this movie makes an excellent couple’s costume.
“JOKER:
FOLIE À DEUX”
Not to be out done this Halloween, DC Comics has its own dynamic duo for you just in time for Halloween. No, not that dynamic duo, we’re talking about Joker and Harley Quinn. Following up on its own billion-dollar flick, Warner Bros. is releasing the sequel to 2019’s “Joker.”
WJeremy Williams
HETHER IT WAS DONNING ONE of the colorful costumes of America’s favorite plastic couple from “Barbie,” shaking the sea water off your fins to pay homage to “The Little Mermaid” or sporting the top hat and cane of your favorite chocolatier from “Wonka,” last year’s hit films inspired a lot of Halloween night’s looks, and 2024’s cinemas are shaping up to inspire many a trick-or-treater.
On this page, we highlight a few movies that we think are going to be inspiring a lot of looks this year and
hopefully it can help you get started in putting together a look that is sure to kill on Halloween night.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” finds Arthur Fleck, once again played by Joaquin Phoenix, institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only falls in love with Lee Quinzel (played by Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga) but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.
While both Fleck and Quinzel sport several looks throughout the film, certain to be the most iconic — and most duplicated Halloween night — will be Joker’s infamous red suit and Harley’s red jacket over the black and white diamond top. Oh, and don’t forget the clown make-up that’ll help you put
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Happy Frights / Haunting Nights, select dates thru Oct. 31, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407-246-2620; LeuGardens.org
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary
Halloween Party, select dates thru Oct. 31, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. 407-939-5277; DisneyWorld. Disney.go.com
8th annual Trick-or-Treat, Oct. 26, Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa. TheTampaRiverwalk.com
Hallokween Drag Brunch, Oct. 26, Red Mesa Cantina, St. Petersburg. 727-202-8026; RedMesaEvents.com
LGBTQ+ Halloween HealthO-Thon, Oct. 26, City Side Lounge, Tampa. Facebook.com/ FoundFamilyCollective Halloween on Central ft. FrankenPride, Cock-o-Ween and more, Oct. 27, Central Ave., St. Petersburg. HalloweenOnCentral.com
HALLOWEEN ON CENTRAL: Halloween enthusiasts enjoy Halloween on Central last year, which returns to St. Petersburg’s Grand Central and Edge districts this month. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
NOV 2-3 at the Central Florida Fa
The Center Orlando presents OUTCON ORLANDO! An exciting and inclusive celebration of all things pop culture. This vibrant convention highlights the creativity and diversity of the LGBT+ community, offering a welcoming space for fans of Anime, comics, movies, TV shows, gaming, and more
PANELS
SATURDAY
1:00-2:00 PM -Discussion With The Orlando Gaming League
2:00-3:30 PM -Virtual Safe Spaces for Fury Community
4:00-4:30 PM - Dungeons & Drag Queen Bingo
5:00-8:00 PM - Animation Domination Kiki Ball
SUNDAY
10:30-11:30 AM - Orlando's Live Action Roll Play
12:00-1:00 PM - Queer Between The Pages: Comic Books & Manga in Orlando
1:30 - 2:30 PM - Game Development Panel
3:00 - 4:00 PM - Family Feud Hosted By Glenn Scarpelli
VENDORS
BETTY’s Alyson Palmer, Amy Ziff and Elizabeth Ziff talk about their new album
Gregg Shapiro
ANEW ALBUM BY A BAND YOU
love, especially one that takes its time between releases is cause for celebration. For me, that celebration takes on special meaning when it comes to BETTY, an all-female trio I have been following since the mid-1980s, during the band’s early years.
Since that time, BETTY have amassed a sizeable following via its connection to “The L Word,” performing on the HBO/CTW series “Encyclopedia,” appearing in an original off-Broadway musical and playing Pride and women’s music festival events.
The newly released “EAT” has everything we’ve come to know and love about BETTY: fabulous harmonies, a splendid cover tune and songs with messages of empowerment as well as humor.
Alyson Palmer and sisters Amy Ziff and Elizabeth Ziff generously
made time for an interview to discuss the new album and their career.
WATERMARK: FOR THOSE FEW WHO MAY NOT BE IN THE KNOW, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT HOW BETTY, THE NAME OF THE BAND, CAME TO BE.
Alyson Palmer: We just needed a name fast for a party for Dodie Bowers, dancer and music mogul who ran the legendary 9:30 Club on F Street in DC. She invited us to sing without our full band at the time, On Beyond Zebra. There
was a Nair ad on TV at the time where long-legged ladies walked past a besotted guy who said, “Helloooo, Betty!” and that’s what stuck with me. Surfer slang with a timeless appeal and just a smidge of street harassment.
Elizabeth Ziff: We said we would love to and thought she wanted the whole band but she just wanted the three of us. We had no idea we would be BETTY for almost 40 more years.
Amy Ziff: BETTY is the all-American, smart, sassy, can-do gal with a twist. That’s us!
IN BETTY’S EARLY DAYS, THE BAND BEGAN SELLING T-SHIRTS THAT READ BETTY RULES. HOW DID THAT SLOGAN COME ABOUT?
AZ: It didn’t come from us! I think it’s a catch phrase that fans and friends started.
EZ: I remember that people would shout it to us on the street in D.C. It just stuck. It was better than BETTY rocks … and it’s stood the test of time. Some people have
theirs from back in the day but lots of new, young fans are buying them now and wearing them proudly. It’s definitely a cult [laughs].
IN ADDITION TO BETTY, THE D.C. MUSIC SCENE HAS PRODUCED SOME LEGENDARY MUSICAL ACTS INCLUDING ROBERTA FLACK, MARY TIMONY, FUGAZI, TROUBLE FUNK, SHUDDER TO THINK, MINOR THREAT, E.U., TOMMY KEENE, CRYSTAL WATERS AND MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THAT BETTY IS PART OF THAT LEGACY?
AZ: It means a lot. I love being part of that incredible music community.
EZ: It means everything. We played with a lot of those people. Roberta Flack, Trouble Funk, MCC and the list goes on. It was such a great scene in D.C. in the ‘80s. The underground go-go scene and the harDCore scene and the new wave scene. We all supported each other. As a matter of fact, Jason Carmer, who was in a lot of D.C. bands
including 9353, is the producer on our new album “EAT.” D.C. was and always will be seminal to BETTY and our life.
AP: BETTY wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the bubbling gumbo of music, art, spoken word and politics that defined D.C. in the ‘80s. All of us were raging against [President Ronald] Reagan and the diabolical, hateful conservatives who swept into town. Regardless of our mode of expression, we all poured our passion for a better world into our art.
Because the scene was relatively small, we supported each other and ran from party to venue to see what and how other artists were busting out. Essex Hemphill and Wayson Jones were at packed house parties with Brenda Files and other poets like you Gregg, everyone snapping fingers at the smooth truths flowing. Trouble Funk played out on the street where we all danced wildly on swampy summer nights
PHOTO BY GENE REED; COURTESY SIREN’S CALL PR
while Bad Brains showed us how to slam dance in steamy venues.
Chapin sang at Kramer Books and pop idol Tommy Keene was everywhere. The nexus of all new music was the 9:30 Club where a wild blonde wailed an entire set from the top of a grand piano jammed onto the tiny stage with her band, soon to sing solo as Cyndi Lauper. Natalie Merchant hid behind drums, REM jangled, Iggy Pop bled, The Bus Boys preened, Red Hot Chili Peppers came out for their encore stark naked with just sweat socks covering their johnsons and Henry Rollins mesmerized the packed room of sweating punk boys by grinding slowly for long delicious minutes as he sang and grew the biggest bone I’ve ever seen on stage, literally having sex with the crowd and popping minds open left and right.
Fine artists flourished, including Mapplethorpe causing scandal at the Corcoran with his show. It was an amazing time to be a feminist art rock trio with a lot to say!
BETTY HAS ALSO MADE A NAME FOR ITSELF VIA THE ACTIVISM OF ITS MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE FOUNDING OF THE 501(C)3 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THE BETTY EFFECT. IS BEING AN ACTIVIST SOMETHING THAT WAS INGRAINED IN YOU BY YOUR FAMILY OR WAS IT SOMETHING YOU CAME TO ON YOUR OWN?
AP: Great question, Gregg! I think each of us had formative experiences that made us warriors.
My dad grew up with severe corporal punishment and tried to lessen the degree with my brother and me but used it liberally. I found it abusive, unfair and unacceptable even at a young age – not so much for myself, but when this raging giant of a man would lash my gentle, artistic brother I couldn’t take it. When I was about 10, I threw myself between the two
of the wrongs in the world, the more you want it to be right.
AZ: BETTY was born in D.C. We knew early on that it was our responsibility and privilege to speak (and sing) out as artists about things that needed to change, and causes we believe in.
PLEASE TELL THE READERS SOMETHING ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE BETTY EFFECT.
mission and believing you are the right messenger. It’s so simple but can seem impossibly hard, until you have your crew wo believes in you. The BETTY Effect builds crews from inside out.
IN LATE AUGUST, BETTY PERFORMED AT THE WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY EVENT AT KENNEDY CENTER. WHAT IS THAT LIKE FOR EACH OF YOU PLAYING FOR
I am 1,000% about community.
The older I get the more I see that having a tribe, village, family, your bevy is everything.
— BETTY’S ALYSON PALMER
of them and yelled from my soul that never again would I allow him to take out his anger on a small defenseless being, never. He never did again. I became a protector. Some would say bossy, but I can’t tolerate unfairness and cruelty to weaker beings.
EZ: It was ingrained in me as a kid. We were Air Force brats living overseas and we grew up Jewish in some very anti-Semitic places. Paris, Virginia, etc. So, I learned at a very young age that life wasn’t fair, and people could be mean for no reason. I grew up knowing that girls were getting the raw end of the deal, and I wanted things to be fair … it’s never stopped. The more you know, the more you become aware
AP: The BETTY Effect is an organization that uses music and performance techniques to help strengthen, embolden and empower women, girls and LGBTQ+ folks. BETTY has found that anything can be achieved if done in harmony with community, no matter how long it may take. That’s why we travel around the world holding workshops and concerts to connect people in need of bolstering with the beauty of their inner rockstar, with their posses and with local organizations that can serve their immediate needs and continue to help grow confidence. At the end of the day, that’s all it takes – believing in your
THE HOMETOWN CROWD?
AZ: Wonderful!
AP: I love D.C. So many memories! Parties, playing and protests, like our first Pride Day hidden-away behind the trees on 21st Street to protect the still-closeted, Take Back the Night Rallies and glorious Adams Morgan Day. At Kennedy Center we received our first award, “Entertainer of the Year,” so it’s a delight to be back at such a gorgeous place for celebrating all the arts, the best D.C. has to offer.
EZ: It’s been a long time since we’ve lived in D.C. I love it there but consider myself a full-on New Yorker at this point. I still love
going back to D.C. It’s so cool there and political and fun. And it’s beautiful and the Kennedy Center is very posh, so I’ll have to wear clothes [laughs].
“EAT” IS BETTY’S FIRST NEW FULL-LENGTH ALBUM IN A NUMBER OF YEARS. WERE ALL THE SONGS WRITTEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE PERIOD OR WERE THEY WRITTEN IN ONE BURST FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ALBUM?
AZ: Great question! Some were written recently and a couple were actually rewritten and changed while recording.
AP: Every seven years we get the itch and pop out another album. Some of the songs have been incubating for quite a while but two burst out from skeletal beginnings in the studio with our fabulous producer, Jason Carmer and Human Fader, who are wildly creative and fun artists to create with in sexy Mexico City.
EZ: Some songs have been churning around and changing and forming for a few years, some were written during the pandemic, and some came together for this album. All of them are new in the way that they have changed and grown.
“EAT” OPENS WITH THE SONG “TOGETHER,” WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY RECORDED IN A ROCK/ FUNK VERSION ON 1999’S “BETTY 3,” AND IS NOW HEARD IN A DANCE MUSIC VERSION. PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT WHY YOU CHOSE TO RE-RECORD THAT SONG.
AP: I am 1,000% about community. The older I get the more I see that having a tribe, village, family, your bevy is
| uu | Hello Again!
FROM PG.39
BETTY ROCK: (L-R) BETTY’s Elizabeth Ziff, Alyson Palmer and Amy Ziff. PHOTO BY GENE REED; COURTESY SIREN’S CALL PR
FANS ARE EATING GOOD: BETTY’s latest album, “EAT,” is out now. PHOTO FROM HELLOBETTY.COM
everything. To accomplish the biggest goal, the actual changing of society, the only way is by connecting a web of like-minded souls to rise against an unfair status quo and create change. Ever since that nauseating November day when we woke to understand that America had elected a hateful, ignorant boor for president instead of a brilliantly over-qualified woman, it has been my daily mission to correct that wrong. As Gloria Steinem says, “outrageous rebellions start with everyday acts.” Creating unity with joy is a radical act, especially with music, together. It can’t be said enough.
AZ: Now, more than ever, we need unity. Otherwise, the world will not survive.
THE ANTHEMIC “PRIDE,” THE FIRST SINGLE FROM “EAT,” WAS RELEASED IN ADVANCE OF PRIDE 2024. WHAT DOES BETTY’S EMBRACE BY THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY MEAN TO YOU, AS EITHER A MEMBER OR AN ALLY?
EZ: Being a big lez, and also a gay man in lesbian clothing, I’m all about it. I pretty much assume everyone is gay until I find out shockingly that they’re not.
AP: It. Is. Everything. The two times I felt myself break bounds
I realized that society had wrapped around me were the first time I saw LaBelle on TV as a child, where, terrified, I saw for the first conscious time that women could be fantastical and scary and explode with power without caring what men or anyone thought, and my first Pride parade in D.C. seeing the riot of wit and color unleashed by people who had just as much right as anyone to love and be loved but had to fight to exist, I had the epiphany that I stood surrounded by joyful warriors. They risked it all, proud on the streets, snapping their fingers under the nose of anyone who tried to deny them. I saw they were the evolved ones, the ones who lived like artists at least in that moment, freely, and I fell in love spiritually, not physically, with this tribe I understood.
“PRIDE,” AS WELL AS “FLOW,” “SOUNDPROOF,” “GANGWAY” AND “BIG SIZE LOVE,” HAVE IRRESISTIBLE DANCE ENERGY. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AT A CLUB AND HEARD A DJ SPIN A BETTY SONG? IF SO, HOW DID IT FEEL?
EZ: I’m a DJ (DJ ezgirl), so I’ve spun them, and it feels great to watch people dance to our music. Recently, we had the pleasure of hearing our song “Pride” and the
remix by Bill Coleman and Peace Biscuit spun by the amazing and infamous DJ Lina Bradford in front of thousands of new folks and they dug it. So, that’s amazing. Let’s hope DJ’s all over the world spin our stuff.
AP: It’s a rollercoaster! At first you think. “I know this song. Who IS this?” Then you realize. Then you’re slightly embarrassed. Then you fling yourself into the experience with joyful abandon, loving it even more as it’s released into the wild!
AZ: Seeing people groove, dance and respond to our music is what it’s all about!
BETTY IS NO STRANGER TO COVER TUNES. OVER THE YEARS BETTY HAS COVERED THE ASSOCIATION (“WINDY”), THE BEATLES (“LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS”) AND SAMMY CAHN AND JIMMY VAN HEUSEN (“HIGH HOPES”), TO NAME A FEW. “EAT” CONTAINS BETTY’S RENDITION OF BURT BACHARACH AND HAL DAVID’S “WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE.” PLEASE TELL THE READERS WHY THAT SONG WAS CHOSEN.
AP: That was Elizabeth’s idea. We‘re all mad for slinky cool vocals like Dionne Warwick and Shirley Bassey, so when she suggested it, we all dove right in!
EZ: We fought so much when we were arranging this song acapella. It’s so hard to sing and was intense to work out but all three of us love this song and we chose to put it on this album because it’s acapella and important to us to do that. Also, in this time of division and strife, it’s important to us to remember that love is what we all need.
AZ: The world is upside down now. Especially since Oct. 7. I’ve never seen so much hatred and misinformation spewed in my lifetime. I’ve also never felt more unsafe being part of the Jewish community, for myself and my family. If love can’t find a way to survive and thrive, I worry for us all.
BETTY HAS SOME TOUR DATES THIS FALL. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT THOSE SHOWS?
AZ: Playing our new songs, seeing old friends and connecting with new people. And wearing groovy new clothes and getting lots of prezzies from fans [laughs].
EZ: Playing our new music and meeting new fans. And, of course, continuing our wonderful career that never ends.
AP: I love playing live! Like I said, flinging yourself with wild abandon into a song you adore as
it’s amplified into the wild is a thrill everyone should have a chance to feel. Like a chef serving a great meal to a crowd or an athlete moving with the stands cheering her on, experiencing the flow of your creative energy connecting with the electric desire of others is a feeling that ignites your whole being like a lighthouse. People flowing along with us by singing along to our songs feels absolutely incandescent.
ARE THERE MORE TOUR DATES IN THE WORKS?
AP: Always. That’s the profound beauty of what we do. No matter how terrible, and there have been nightmares, or how glorious a show is, there’s always another one. Another adventure is waiting just ahead, with friends old and new to share it. We’re taking “EAT” to beloved Provincetown Oct. 17-20 for Women’s Week at the Post Office and 2025 has some great escapades brewing. The BETTY Rulers on our email list are always the first to know!
BETTY’s new album “EAT” is out now and available on all platforms. For tour dates and more information on the band, visit HelloBETTY.com.
Gulfcoast Pride headliner
Zee Machine on authentic music and more
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Ryan Williams-Jent
THE LA-BASED ZEE MACHINE — A multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who offers “infections hooks, soaring vocals, cutting lyrics and empowering live sets” — bills himself not just as the “best singer in the entire history of the world,” but also “the biggest exaggerator.”
Even so, it’s his honesty that’s made waves as of late. The openly LGBTQ+ independent artist released his 7-track EP “Can I Be Honest..?” to widespread support in July, calling the experience “a game changer.”
“It’s been incredible, especially compared to the first time I dropped a body of work rather than a single, which is what I’ve been doing for the past five years,” Zee says. “This time I was Top 10 on the iTunes Pop charts, Top 40 overall, and there’s been an onslaught of love that’s been truly overwhelming in the best possible way.”
That and other work has amassed millions of streams across various platforms, hype that helped sell out his international “Tears & Gears” tour with Bentley Robles. He says seeing fans connect with his work has been affirming.
“People have said they felt very seen by it, and everyone has been choosing different favorite songs, which have been pretty evenly divided across the track list,” Zee explains. “It’s wonderful to see how many people have been connecting with it on a personal level … at the end of the day, that’s what I really want. I love making music and performing music, but the real validation comes from seeing the way people connect with it in their heart.”
Sarasota last had the chance to do that in June 2023. That’s when the artist performed at Project Pride’s annual Grand Carnival.
Now he’s coming back to headline the inaugural Gulfcoast Pride Oct. 19, detailed on p. 14. He’ll close the main stage entertainment from 8-9 p.m.
PHOTO
“You just don’t get any better energy from a crowd than you do at festivals and events like these,” Zee says. “People show up because they want to celebrate and just be completely unbridled and open and who they are. I feel like that is the best kind of crowd you can be playing to.
“Even if they don’t even know you, they are giving you back so much good energy,” he adds. “It’s a really nice exchange of love and music.”
Watermark caught up with Zee Machine ahead of the performance to talk his Pride performance, new EP and more.
WATERMARK: WHAT DREW YOU TO MUSIC AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY?
Zee Machine: There’s a little bit of a difference between being in the entertainment industry and wanting to make music. (Laughs.) Just to put it plain and simple, music was the only thing that, growing up, I felt like I just had a knack for intuitively. I kind of seemed to be better at it than the kids around me. But it was also the thing that brought me a very unfiltered joy without expectation. Then when I started to play shows with bands and things like that, it was just the happiness that brought sharing that with people. And as time went on and I went to school, and the stuff I started to write was connecting with people. That’s really what kicked it off.
The entertainment industry isn’t really the sole focus, but I have really liked the aspect of it that’s allowed me to connect with more and more people as time has gone on. Especially these last couple years, and this past tour and the album that just came out, which has been really a game changer. Being able to see how it’s impacting people and meeting them face to face has been very moving and fulfilling.
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE STATE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND WHERE DO YOU FIND YOURSELF IN IT?
It’s a little all over the place. I think it is maybe the best time to be an independent artist, because we have so many resources at our disposal to be able to do this ourselves. Also, the way record labels work now is that finding new talent is a little bit of thing
in the past. Right now, you sort of have to establish your brand first before they want to take a risk on you.
I’m not saying that like I don’t want to be signed — if that opportunity comes around at some point when I need it, and when I feel like I have enough momentum and leverage going for me — I will absolutely go for it. But I’m really enjoying being independent the way I am, because I can kind of just do whatever I want, in a way … I enjoy having essentially 100% full ownership of everything I do, and creative direction. I’ve found that doing whatever I do authentically seems to have done me pretty well. I’m going to keep doing that because it’s fun and people seem to like it.
WHAT’S YOUR WRITING PROCESS LIKE?
It’s funny, because I honestly feel like I’ve been in a bit of a rut for the last few months because I put so much into this EP that I wasn’t focusing a whole lot on writing new things. But I am starting to see some cracks in that dam starting to form and
I think new stuff is going to be flowing soon.
I’ll have something I really want to write about, and I’ll hear a vibe just in my mind forming around that. It almost kind of feels like I’m hearing a song in a dream, where it’s not fully formed, like it’s a little off in the distance. So I’ll record a little bit of it into a voice memo or something on my phone, and I’ll do my best to try to bring that to life. Then I get to a place where I can bring it to life in a tangible form.
I’ve not been known to be the fastest writer, and that’s okay … that’s not really how my ideas flow. I’m slow and steady. I guess I tend to create my the demos of the song on at home, usually on my own.
I have been trying to work with some other co-writers now, just to kind of try some new things lately, but I’m pretty good at creating the initial demo on my own, on my computer. Then I have a few producers that I work with who are brilliant engineers and very good at bringing the track to life in a more polished way. We’ll
WHAT IS IT YOU LIKE ABOUT PERFORMING AT PRIDES? YOU’LL BE HEADLINING GULFCOAST PRIDE THIS MONTH.
I’m very, very, very excited to be there. You don’t get any better energy from a crowd than you do at festivals and events like that. People show up because they want to celebrate and just be completely unbridled and open and who they are. I feel like that is the best kind of crowd you can be playing to.
Even if they don’t even know you, they are giving you back so much good energy and then you give it back to them, and they give it right back. It’s a really nice exchange of love and music, even if that sounds corny. They are the most fun shows to play.
THIS WILL BE YOUR SECOND TIME IN SARASOTA. WHAT TAKEAWAYS DO YOU HAVE FROM YOUR LAST EXPERIENCE?
create it from there and build it up — and when I get stuck, they help me break through things.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MUSIC’S LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION? HAVE YOU FACED ANY CHALLENGES?
If I’m being honest, I don’t know that I’ve faced a lot of challenges directly. I don’t think there’s anything I’m doing right now with my music that would be different if I were straight. I think we’re kind of in the best time we’ve ever been to be a queer artist … just in terms of queer music, we’ve got Troye [Sivan] and Charli [XCX] on the biggest tour of the country. Not to say that Charli is queer, but let’s be real, who’s given her a career?
We’ve also got Chappell Roan being the talk of the town; there’s more presence in the charts openly than there’s been in the past. A lot of Prides are also focusing on hiring more queer artists, which is nice.
They treated us like superstars and I really I had the absolute best time there. I’m really glad we could make it work again. You know, people talk shit about Florida but I’ve only had good experiences there. I feel as though the people I meet there do not represent the culture and the policies that I feel the rest of the country seems to have an impression about them, and I love that because I think that’s something we can take away from a lot of parts of the country. I really, really had an amazing time there, and I can’t wait to be back. We’ve got a lot of new stuff cooking for you.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT FROM YOUR SHOW?
For Pride shows, I usually tend to keep it pretty high energy. I feel like people aren’t really coming to Pride to cry. Like for shows on tour, I start high energy and give a little bit of an emotional moment. But I try to keep Pride a celebration and I think in the past, people appreciate that. I’m going to be playing some of the stuff from the new EP that I haven’t had a chance to play because it came out after the tour ended, and then I also have something brand new that no one’s heard that I think I want to debut there, so we’ll see!
Zee Machine’s EP and more are available now wherever music is streamed or sold. He headlines Gulfcoast Pride Oct. 19 from 8-9 p.m., detailed on p. 14. For more information, visit ProjectPrideSRQ.org and Linktr.ee/ZeeMachineMusic.
INDEPENDENT’S DAY: Zee Machine’s celebrated EP “Can I Be Honest..?” was released this year. PHOTO BY TREVOR PAUL
announcements TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS
Niomi L. Knight and Amari Lavish were crowned Miss and Mr. Tampa Pride 2025 Sept. 23. Inclusive Care Group and Bell Pharmacy expanded in Tampa Sept. 24. Read more on p. 12. OUT Sports League celebrates one year in Tampa Oct. 14.
CLOSURES/ POSTPONEMENTS
Cider Press Vegan Gastropub announced Oct. 3 that it will permanently close after 10 years of serving St. Petersburg. “To our loyal regulars, we can’t thank you enough for your support — you became family, and we couldn’t have made it this far without you,” they shared. Read more at Facebook.com/CiderPressStPete.
Woodfield Fine Art Gallery announced its permanent closure Oct. 6. “Woodfield Fine Art Gallery has represented some of the area’s most brilliant artists for the last 9 years,” they shared. “We have met many fine customers and shared our beautiful art with scores of art enthusiasts.” Read more at Facebook.com/WoodfieldFineArtGallery
Come OUT St. Pete postponed their annual Family Day, originally set for Oct. 12, on Oct. 7 due to Hurricane Milton. Learn more at ComeOUTStPete.org.
HURRICANE RELIEF
FEMA is working with state and federal partners to assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, calling 800-621-3362 or via the FEMA app.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Tampa Bay hairdresser Krissy Kiss, St. Pete data specialist Stephen Gillin, Pasco Pride’s Nina Borders, Plant aficionado John Lopez (Oct. 10); Former Grand Central District Executive Director David Foote, Tampa Bay entertainer Lady Janet, Cosplay queen Lilabelle Quaintrelle, (Oct. 12); Tampa mainstay Mark Bias West, WellCare Manager Michael Clouse, Tampa Bay salesman Jeff Beadle (Oct. 13); Freelance writer Michael Kilgore, Ybor City Barbering Co. owner Lisa Ann Harmon, Ybor legend Joey Brooks, Sarasota PrimeTimer Dan Warren, Optum Vice President Tyler Grisham, Democratic activist Christian Hotchkiss (Oct. 14); St. Pete socialite Art Lawrence (Oct. 15); Suncoast softballer Michael Monnich, Out & About host Tyler Butler, Tampa Bay entertainer Phaedra E. Rose (Oct. 16); Tampa political guru Mitch Kates, Geico expert Barry Stemle, Metro Inclusive Health nurse Amanda Graves (Oct. 17); Pinellas County Young Democrat President Blaine Lawson, DJ Cubby Pat O’Rourke (Oct. 18); St. Pete strategic advisor Mike Callahan, Cider Press Cafe owner Johan Everstijn, Tampa photographer Byron Schaerr, Tampa Bay Pride Band’s Daniel Stevens, Chago’s Barbershop barber Kevin Rix (Oct. 19); Flamingo Car Club president Robert “Tiny” Nasworthy, Ybor entertainer Blu Yake (Oct. 20); DJ Jayson Chancey, Tampa Bay activist SueZie Hawkes (Oct. 21); former Lady’s Room owner Vicki Gibson, Former Honey Pot co-owner Steven Donahue (Oct. 23).
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GOTHAM GUY: “The Boy Who Loved Batman” Director Jeff Calhoun holds a copy of the memoir that inspired the play Oct. 4 at the Straz Center. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
2
LMA FEST: Watermark Publisher Rick Todd (L) and Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent attend the Local Media Association’s annual conference in Chicago Sept. 23. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
3 TAMPA’S PRIDE: Miss Tampa Pride 2025 Niomi L. Knight (L) and Mr. Tampa Pride 2025 Amari Lavish step into their new roles Sept. 22 at Southern Nights Tampa. PHOTO FROM TAMPA PRIDE’S FACEBOOK
4 THIS IS HALLOWEEN: Joey Stalker (L) and Anthony Gonzalez enjoy Bradley’s on 7th’s spooky vibes Sept. 27. PHOTO FROM BRADLEY’S ON 7TH’S FACEBOOK
5 TEAM 13: Garage on Central Ave. entertainers and directors take the stage Sept. 28 to celebrate the bar’s 13th anniversary. PHOTO FROM THE GARAGE’S FACEBOOK
6
SHARING SPACE: Inclusive Care Group and Bell Pharmacy members welcome supporters to their new Tampa location Sept. 24. PHOTO COURTESY INCLUSIVE CARE GROUP
7 OUT FOR HARRIS: Democrats celebrate the opening of the Hillsborough County LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus’ Get Out the Vote office Sept. 25. PHOTO FROM THE CAUCUS’ FACEBOOK
8 COMING SOON: India X Miller strikes a pose with a Gulfcoast Pride billboard in Bradenton Oct. 4. PHOTO FROM PROJECT PRIDE’S FACEBOOK
Join comedians Real Radio 104.1’s
Sabrina Ambra & drag entertainer Trixie Deluxxe for Watermark’s Movies Out Loud as they hilariously roast the camp classic “Another Gay Movie.”
Proceeds from this event will benefit Orlando’s Come Out With Pride presents
Stay for an intimate Q&A with cast and creators of the documentary. Special performance of the original song “City Beautiful” by Ginger Minj.
Presenting Sponsor: Supporting Sponsors:
announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS
Se7enBites celebrates 11 years this month. The Renaissance Theatre Company celebrated three years Oct. 2.
Pop icon Kylie Minogue announced Oct. 3 the North American dates for her 2025 “Tension” tour, which will include a stop at Orlando’s Kia Center om April 13, 2025, her debut at the venue. “I am beyond excited to announce the 2025 Tension Tour,” Minogue said in a statement. “I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more!” Tickets will go on sale to the general public Oct. 11.
CLOSURES
Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria closed the doors of its Milk District restaurant Oct. 4. Owner Pom Moongauklang has stated that she will be returning to her roots of innovation and consultation as she “moves on to the next phase of my career.” She has also stated that she is in no way retiring and to “stay tuned for the announcement of her next concept and creation.”
The Garden Theatre in downtown Winter Garden announced Oct. 2 that it has closed down. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closing of Garden Theatre, Inc. due to financial challenges that have proven insurmountable. Despite our best efforts to continue providing a space for creativity, community, and the performing arts, we can no longer sustain the operational costs and demands necessary to keep our doors open,” the theatre wrote on its website.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
USAA BOLD Leadership’s Michael Paonessa (Oct. 11); Orlando DJ and magician VJ Nick Comis, Mills50 director Joanne Grant, Orlando businessman Tim Leddy (Oct. 12); Watermark freelancer and LGBTQ activist Jerick Mediavilla (Oct. 13); Pink Flamingo Group Trips coordinator Dan Warren (Oct. 14); Orlando realtor Scott Benson, Central Florida Sounds of Freedom musician Melissa Fallcenbury, Art curator Mendi Cowles (Oct. 15); Divas in Dialogue founder Mulan Montrese Williams, Orlando Fringe show director Michael Marinaccio, Orlando ally Joey Williams, Real estate agent Kase Elders, Orlando attorney Mary Meeks (Oct. 16); Gecko accountant Judy L. Hines, singer Sunshine Matthews, Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph (Oct. 17); Come Out with Pride Executive Director Tatiana Quiroga, LGBTQ advocate David Moran (Oct. 18); Softball star Jennifer Friedman, Orlando make-up artist Scott Juszczak (Oct. 19); Orlando’s own “Divine Miss M” Jennica McCleary, Quality Analyst Chris Hamlett, Orlando photographer Chris Stephenson (Oct. 20); Hope CommUnity Center’s Andrea Montanez, DJ Ants Adam Brenner (Oct. 21); Karaoke legend Nick Rogers, Orlando maintenance specialist Joe Arlotta, America-lover Jaime DeFrancesco, Orlando Hamburger Mary’s bartender Juan Torres, Sprinkles Custom Cakes owner Richard Gregory (Oct. 23).
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SING OUT LOUD: AJ Morales performs at the Singhaus Scholarship’s “Anything Goes! Cabaret” at the Renaissance Theatre Company in Orlando Oct. 6. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
2
FAMILY MAN: Orlando activist Josh Bell attends the Family Court Professional Coalition Annual Conference in Sarasota Oct. 4. PHOTO FROM JOSH BELL’S FACEBOOK
3
SCARY GOOD TIME: Andres Acosta Ardilla (L) and Yosmar Rumbos check out Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Oct. 3. PHOTO FROM ANDRES ACOSTA ARDILLA’S FACEBOOK
4
EDUCATING VETS: Keri Griffin brings LGBTQ+ health care information to veterans during the Orlando VA’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Oct. 4. PHOTO FROM KERI GRIFFIN’S FACEBOOK
5
INCLUSIVE HEALTH: Pineapple Healthcare CEO Ethan Suarez presents to an audience of nurses and doctors regarding DEI in primary care Sept. 27. PHOTO FROM PINEAPPLE HEALTHCARE’S FACEBOOK
6 GAME SHOW FUN: Orlando entertainer Heather Abood appears on FOX’s game show “The Floor” Oct. 2. SCREENSHOT FROM FOX
7 GOTTA HAVE A WAWA: Orlando-based actor Nick Smith appears in national TV spot for Wawa, which premiered this month. SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE
8 GET OUT THE VOTE: Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani reminds folks on Facebook to have a voting plan as she shares that she received her ballot in the mail Oct. 3. PHOTO FROM REP. ANNA V. ESKAMANI’S FACEBOOK
SOLAR SERVICES
REALTOR
YOGA STUDIO
community calendar
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Watermark’s Movies Out Loud: “Another Gay Movie”
THURSDAY, OCT. 17, 6:30-9:30 P.M.
THE STARLITE ROOM @ SAVOY, ORLANDO
Join Watermark, in partnership with the LGBT+ Center Orlando, for another hilarious installment of Movie’s Out Loud. Real Radio 104.1’s Sabrina Ambra and drag entertainer Trixie Deluxxe roast the 2006 camp classic “Another Gay Movie.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 7:15 p.m. Drink and food specials will be available. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. You can find the link to purchase tickets on Watermark’s Facebook page.
“Greetings From Queertown: Orlando”
SUNDAY, OCT. 20, 4-8 P.M.
THE PLAZA LIVE, ORLANDO
Join Watermark for a screening of the awardwinning documentary “Greetings From Queertown: Orlando.” The film will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a panel discussion to follow featuring the creators and stars of the film. The event will also include a live performance by Ginger Minj singing her original song from the film. Tickets are $10 for the first 100 people and $15 after that. For more information, call 407-481-2243 or visit WatermarkOnline.com.
TAMPA BAY
Hillary Clinton Live
TUESDAY, OCT. 15, 7 P.M.
STRAZ CENTER, TAMPA
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses her newest book, “Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love & Liberty.” Tickets begin at $79 and are available at Straz.org.
SARASOTA
Gulfcoast Pride
SATURDAY, OCT. 19, 3-11 P.M.
ROSEMARY DISTRICT, SARASOTA
Project Pride presents the first Gulfcoast Pride, having merged the region’s Sarasota and Manatee LGBTQ+ celebrations. Festivities will include a car parade, vendor’s market, pet pageant and entertainment from local favorites and headliners Pork Chop and Zee Machine. Read more on p. 14.
EVENT PLANNER
SHORT N’ SWEET
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Meet in the Middle For Hope rally, Oct. 12, Kit Land Nelson Park, Apopka. 407-880-4673; HCC-OFFM.org
Gold Over America Tour w/ Simone Biles, Oct. 12, Kia Center, Orladno. 407-440-7900; KiaCenter.com
Strikes For Stripes, Oct. 13, Aloma Bowling Center, Winter Park. 407-228-1446; ZebraYouth.org
Pride Variety Show, Oct. 15, First United Methodist Church, Orlando. OPPro.org
Colors of Courage: Celebrating the Diversity of the LGBTQ+ Community, Oct. 16, First United Methodist Church, Orlando. ComeOutWithPride.org
Retro Reels: “Labyrinth,” Oct. 17, Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando. 407-836-8500; TheHistoryCenter.org
“Romeo and Juliet,” Oct. 17-20, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-436-1733; OrlandoBallet.org
Soft Opening, Oct. 11, Location upon RSVP, Sarasota. FabAF.org
Disco Brunch:
Pride Edition ft. Gulfocast Pride headliner Porkchop, Oct. 20, Embassy Suites, Sarasota. PPRSQ.org
Sabrina Carpenter brings her “Short n’ Sweet” tour to the Kia Center in Orlando Oct. 24 and the Amalie Arena in Tampa Oct. 25. PHOTO FROM SABRINACARPENTER.COM
Healthcare That Supports You.
We know that every woman is unique, and so are your healthcare needs. That’s why at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, 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.
