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Congratulations James Rode, who has been teaching at Celebration High School for 10 years, was named Osceola County School District’s Secondary Arts Teacher of the Year. At Watermark’s 2021 Splash Awards, “Fucking Men” won Favorite LGBTQ Show, Favorite LGBTQ Director for Jamie DeHay and Favorite LGBTQ Supporting Performance for Niko Felizzola. “Arden” won Favorite LGBTQ Writer for Tyler Scott and Favorite LGBTQ Lead Performer for Ginger Minj.
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Del Ambiente and Alianza Center honored members of the LGBTQ community during Pride Month on June 4, awarding state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith the Champion Award, Orange County Public Schools with the Ally Award, Gabriella Rodríguez with the Vanguard Award, Jordyn Victoria Laos with the Community Service Award, Nemma Bahrami with the Entrepreneur Award, Jose Luis Dieppa with the Visibility Award and Yolie Cintrón with the Community Service Award.
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RESEARCH STUDY Three of the nation’s largest blood centers — Vitalant, OneBlood, and the American Red Cross — in partnership with The LGBT+ Center Orlando are seeking participants to join a new groundbreaking FDA-funded study in Orlando to consider new approaches for determining blood donation eligibility for men who have sex with men. If you are a gay or bisexual male between 18-39 years old and interested in becoming a blood donor, you may be eligible to participate. To gather the necessary data the blood centers are partnering with LGBTQ Centers in eight cities across the nation. The study looks to enroll 250–300 gay and bi men in Central Florida who meet the study eligibility criteria.
Local Birthdays Central Florida teacher Jochy Cora-Santiago, Flag World Orlando’s GM Rocky Ruvola (June 11); Watermark Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams, Orlando activist Wendy Elkes (June 12); Department of Transportation employee John Stimis, Former Watermark sales rep Dalton Connell (June 13); Orlando DJ and model Marisa Maddox, Opera Orlando’s Grand Preisser, The Glass Knife’s Steve Brown (June 14); Central Florida pianist Tim Turner (June 15); Central Florida Sounds of Freedom president Joe Kennedy (June 16); CTS Agency’s Carolyn Capern, Central Florida LGBTQ history buff Ken Kazmerski (June 17); Intersex activist Juleigh Mayfield, CBP Martial Arts Academy Orlando’s Milena Ofsowitz (June 18); Watermark sales manager Danny Garcia (June 19); Flight attendant Andrew Elder, Miracle of Love’s Mpowerment program coordinator Lester Burges, Chiropractor and Joie De Vivr owner Dr. Will Llewelyn (June 20); Drag legend Angel Sheridan, Steelers fan Jimmy Guzic, Central Florida Softball League diva Eric Hans (June 21); Central Florida immigration attorney Henry Lim (June 22); Theater West End director of marketing and public relations A.J. Demps, UCF Musical Theatre Specialist Jim Brown (June 23).
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Photo by Jeremy Williams
by Tomás Diniz Santos
Community Champion: QIC’s Frank Hannigan (L) presents a check for $25,000 to executive director George Wallace at the LGBT+ Center Orlando June 4.
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Kicking it off: Martha Haynie (L) and Nicolette Springer during Springer’s candidacy for Orlando City Commissioner – District 3 kick-off event at College Park Gallery in Orlando June 7. Photo by Jeremy Williams
Winning Run: A pair of runners show off their medals after participating in the fifth annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run in Orlando’s Wadeview Park June 5. Photo
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Favorite Show: The cast of “Fucking Men” joins Watermark’s Jeremy Williams and Rick Todd on stage as they are presented with the Splash Award for “Favorite Show” during Orlando Fringe’s closing ceremony May 31. Photo by Danny Garcia
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Coming Together: Community Leaders attend One Orlando Alliance’s “An Evening of Reflection and Promise” at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival June 7. Photo by Jeremy Williams
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Stars of Hope: Bobby Hermida (L) and Eddie Diaz attend Kim Murphy’s “Together Again” art installation at the LGBT+ Center Orlando June 3. Photo by Jeremy Williams
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watermark Your LGBTQ life.
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Girls Night Out: (L-R) Wendi Bush, Amy Comerfor, Tatiana Quiroga and Jen West enjoy the Indigo Girls concert at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival May 29. Photo by Danny Garcia
Gay Day: A group of red shirts pose with Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom for Gay day at Disney June 5. Photo courtesy Zac Deer
8 June 10 - 2 3, 2021 // Issue 28 .12 wat e r m a r konline .com
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