announcements
TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS Metro Inclusive Health’s new retail location, wifi cafe and health center inclusivitea officially opened Sept. 14. Formerly Metro Retro & Retail and located beside Metro’s LGBTQ Welcome Center, the space provides access to the organization’s more than 100 programs and services. Read more and view a gallery of photos from the grand opening at WatermarkOnline.com. Tampa Pride held the inaugural Pride on the River Sept. 18. Read more on p. 12 and view photos from the festivities at WatermarkOnline.com. Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw celebrated six years as senior pastor of MCC Tampa Sept. 20. Read more about the church which is celebrating 50 years of inclusive ministry on p. 12. Green Bench Brewing Co. celebrated 8 years in the Edge District Aug. 24. The Garage on Central Ave. celebrated 10 years in the Grand Central District Sept. 25. Casa del Merman, formerly GayStPete House, unveiled its new name and branding Sept. 27. Learn more at CasaDelMerman.com. The 32nd annual Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival returns Oct. 1-10 in a new form, offering a combination of streaming options available in Tampa Bay and in-person screenings in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. View trailers and read about this year’s celebration at WatermarkOnline.com and TIGLFF.com. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay will kick off its 20th season Oct. 15-16, returning to the stage for their first in-person concert in 18 months with “A Harvest of Memories.” Read more at WatermarkOnline.com and buy tickets at GMCTB.org.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services LGBTQ Consumer Advocate Nathan Bruemmer (Oct. 1); TriggerMouth Tee’s Luis Balaguer, Tampa Bay entertainer Darnell Bradley aka Crystal Reigns, Nurses Choice Inc. president Steve Sika (Oct. 2); Spectrum News 9 traffic expert Chuck Henson, Sarasota photographer Samantha Ponzillo (Oct. 4); St. Pete weather goddess Edith Lewis-Allen, St. Pete sprinter Gabe Michael, Tampa Bay nurse Daniel Ravioli (Oct. 5); Tampa realtor Mike Reedy, Gomez Law Firm of St. Petersburg’s Ian Gomez (Oct. 7); Tampa Bay photographer Robert Castelli, Allendale United Methodist Church pastor Rev. Andy Oliver (Oct. 8); Southern Nights Tampa manager Michael Wilson (Oct. 9); Tampa Bay hair stylist Krissy Kiss, St. Pete data specialist Stephen Gillin, Pasco Pride President Nina Borders, Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation vice president John Lopez (Oct. 10); King of Peace MCC pastor Candace Shultis, Grand Central District Executive Director David Foote, Tampa Bay entertainer Lady Janet (Oct. 12); Tampa Pride’s Mark “Tea Cup” West-Bias, WellCare Manager Michael Clouse, Former Tampa Bay bartender Jeff Beadle (Oct. 13).
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DYNAMIC DUO: Equality Florida Public Policy Director Jon Harris Maurer (L) checks in with State Rep. Michele Rayner Sept. 20 for the first day of the 2022 session. PHOTO COURTESY EQUALITY FLORIDA
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ALL STAR: “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season 6 winner Kylie Sonique Love takes Southern Nights Tampa by storm Sept. 18. PHOTO COURTESY
SOUTHERN NIGHTS TAMPA
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BIG REVEAL: (L-R) Lorraine Langlois, Brian Longstreth, Kori Stevens, Jim Nixon and Mya Valentine spill the tea Sept. 14 for inclusivitea’s grand opening.
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PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
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TEAM WELCH: (L-R) Selisse Berry, Jon Arterton, James Mack show their support for mayoral candidate Ken Welch at a Sept. 19 fundraiser. PHOTO COURTESY THE WELCH CAMPAIGN
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OPEN-ING UP: (L-R): The cast and crew of TampaRep’s “Open” welcome writer Skillman to the production’s Sept. 16 premiere at HCC Ybor.
PHOTO COURTESY TAMPAREP
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ON THE RIVER: (L-R) Tampa Pride President Carrie West, Brita Filter and Miguel Fuller strike a pose Sept. 18 at Pride on the River at Armature Works.
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PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
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FAB DAY: Sarasota Mayor Hagen Brody presents Fabulous Arts Foundation President Shannon Fortner with a proclamation Sept. 25. PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF SARASOTA
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BREW BUDS: Lindsey Burkholder (L) and Tammy Benjamin celebrate Green Bench’s 8-year anniversary Aug. 24. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
7 watermark Your LGBTQ life.
SEPT. 30 - O C T. 13, 2021 // ISSUE 28 . 20 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM
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