Watermark Issue 30.24: Outrageous Fortune by Watermark Publishing Group

Your LGBTQ+ News Source.

Nov. 22 - Dec. 6, 2023 • Issue 30.24

Orlando, St. Pete, Tampa retain perfect HRC scores

Injectable options advance HIV treatment, prevention

Outrageous

Fortune Comedian Fortune Feimster brings her ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ tour to Florida

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DEPARTMENTS 7 // EDITOR’S DESK 8 // CENTRAL FL NEWS 10 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 12 // STATE NEWS 15 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 21 // VISIBILI-T 23 // TALKING POINTS 39 // TAMPA BAY OUT + ABOUT 41 // CENTRAL FL OUT + ABOUT 42 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 43 // CENTRAL FL MARKETPLACE 46 // EVENT PLANNER

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There are many reasons why someone might want to choose Apretude over Truvada or Descovy, but the biggest one is convenience. People who have very busy schedules and have difficulty keeping up on pills will find getting a shot every two months might work out better for them. —DR. STEVEN BARNETT, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH

ON THE COVER

page INJECTING OPTIONS:

page OUTRAGEOUS

FORTUNE: Comedian

Fortune Feimster brings her “Live, Laugh, Love” tour to Florida. PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG

SCAN QR CODE FOR

WATERMARKONLINE.COM

Advancements in HIV prevention, treatment offer choices when it comes to managing your care.

WATERMARK ISSUE 30.24 // NOV. 22 - DEC. 6, 2023

STATE LAW IMPACT

NEW RECORD

ALL STARS

CATEGORY IS…

page UCF excluded from Campus Pride’s “Best of the Best.”

page Equality Florida Tampa Gala raises at least $550K.

page

Read It Online! In addition to a website with daily LGBTQ+ updates, a digital version of each issue of the publication is made available on WatermarkOnline.com

Eight Florida cities receive perfect HRC scores.

John Gascot brings

to The 37 ballroom Werk Gallery.

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EDITOR’S

Jeremy Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

DESK

E ARE FIRMLY NESTLED IN

the holiday season with Halloween behind us, Thanksgiving knocking at the door and Florida’s version of fall weather — that being temperatures bouncing between the mid-70’s to the upper 80’s with drizzling rain mixed in — here.

But even with all that, the season really only belongs to one person — Santa Claus. Love it or hate it, Ole Saint Nick’s holiday now starts in August with retail stores selling Christmas trees and decorations alongside Halloween costumes and pumpkin spice-flavored everything. I see people complain about this every year but I love it. Christmas is my favorite time and I welcome its encroachment into every other month. I have already tuned my car radio to Magic 107.7 here in Orlando, which has been playing Christmas music 24/7 since Nov. 10, and I assembled my

holiday Lego sets back in October, which you can see on the cover of and throughout Watermark’s 2023 Holiday Guide. Christmas was also my dad’s favorite time of the year. Both he and mama did everything they could when we were kids to make it a fun and magical time. I can remember, starting with Thanksgiving and going through Christmas day, carols were always playing on the stereo, twinkling lights were hung — both inside and outside — and family and friends came over more frequently. However, one thing did not start on Thanksgiving

and that was putting up the Christmas tree. I’m not entirely sure when this tradition started, whether it was after all of us kids were born or something he did even before us, but my dad was adamant about getting a real tree every year, and we would pick it out and put it up on Dec. 6, his birthday. The raising of the Christmas tree in the Williams’ house was an event every year. As I get older the details become fuzzy, so I don’t remember being there when they picked the tree out and I’m not sure if both my parents picked it out of just my dad, but what I vividly remember is when they were ready to bring the tree in, us kids would gather in the living room while dad, wearing a Santa hat, dragged the tree in shouting “Children, children! I’m home” in a voice that was very reminiscent to me of Bill Murray’s from “Caddyshack.” My younger brother recalls it sounding more like Elmer Fudd, so I imagine it falls somewhere between those. We would cheer, jumping up and down, while mama tossed fake snow in the air. I recall one year, and we still laugh about it today, as dad wrestled with the tree in the doorway mama tossed a handful of snow that ended up in my dad’s mouth. For a moment he switched from his Clark Griswald-style family man to The Old Man from “A Christmas Story,” spitting white flakes and making dad noises. This is something we can watch whenever we want, and if a VCR is available, as mama was recording the fun with our 1980s over-the-shoulder camcorder. Once dad got the tree in the stand, he would then gather us kids around and tell a holiday tale. Most years it was a traditional story like “A Christmas Carol” or “The Grinch” but he would make us kids and other family members the characters. Then we would decorate the tree, and by that

WATERMARK STAFF Owner & Publisher: Rick Todd • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Managing Editor: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

I mean we would watch mama create a holiday masterpiece as we drank hot chocolate. My dad passed away in 2020, and while we still gather as a family and celebrate the holidays each year, it has felt less magical than it did before. It reminds me of that song from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” where Cindy Lou Who sings “Where are you Christmas, why can’t I find you? Why have you gone away?” That changed recently though, as I had a dream of my dad bringing home the Christmas tree. My parents and all of us kids were there in our old house in St. Petersburg and it was just like when I was a kid but we were all the age we are now. The snow

Make some memories that will last.

flying through the air was there, the hot chocolate was there and my dad’s “Caddyshack” voice was clear as crystal as he said “Children, I’m home!” I woke up feeling that Christmas spirit more than usual and thought even as time moves on and how we celebrate the holidays changes, there are always the memories. So remember to enjoy yourself with your loved ones this holiday season and make some memories that will last. In this issue, we chat with medical specialists about HIV treatment and prevention, focusing on the new injectable class of medications. We also chat with comedian Fortune Feimster about her latest national tour, “Live, Laugh, Love,” which she is bringing to Orlando and St. Petersburg next month.

ORLANDO OFFICE Creative Designer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 107 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Designer: Caitlin Sause • Ext. 104 Caitlin@WatermarkOnline.com

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CONTRIBUTORS JOHNNY V. BOYKINS

is a Democratic Strategist in Pinellas County, a husband, bow tie aficionado, amateur chef and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. He also serves as Director of Outreach with the Pinellas Democratic Party. Page 17

BRYANA SALDANA is a

25-year-old, Afro-Latina poet born and raised in Orlando. Saldana had her first published poem through “Women Who Roar.” Saldana’s pronouns are She/Her They. Page 19 HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

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

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EDITOR’S

Ryan Williams-Jent MANAGING EDITOR Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

DESK

HAVE MORE THAN ONE PROMINENT

Marvel tattoo and I’ve lost count of how many comic books I own. I’ve been collecting them for almost as long as I’ve been able to read.

Thankfully my house still has room for my husband and our two dogs. One is a Pomeranian he named Riverboat Cap’n before we started dating, coined after an eccentric dream, and the other is my baby and a Jack Russell mix he let me name Howard. It’s obviously short for Howard the Dog, whose namesake is Marvel’s Howard the Duck. So in short, I’m a pretty diehard Marvel fan. Over the decades I’ve enjoyed the company’s success across all sorts of mediums. Growing up in the ‘90s, that mostly meant through comic books, videogames and of course, cartoons. My absolute favorites were “X-Men” and “Spider-Man,” but I also enjoyed the relatively unknown “Marvel Action Hour.”

WATERMARK STAFF

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It featured less-celebrated superheroes via “Fantastic Four” and “Iron Man.” The general public didn’t care much for or about comic properties at the time, but that started to change by the early 2000s. “Blade” saved Marvel from bankruptcy in 1998 and in the early 2000s, Fox and Sony were pumping out fan-favorite films based on, yet again, the more-celebrated “X-Men” and “Spider-Man.” The franchises eventually began to flounder, but things changed drastically in 2008 when Marvel Studios took more control of their properties. That’s when they brought their armored Avenger to the silver screen. “Iron Man” not only made Tony Stark a household name

and reignited Robert Downey Jr.’s career, it launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whatever your thoughts on the MCU, now the highest-grossing film series of all time, it altered the trajectory of cinema forever. I couldn’t wait to see it on its preview night — which at the time meant heading to the theater at midnight on “Friday morning” — and that’s how I’ve watched every MCU entry since. Thankfully these screenings are now held at a reasonable hour on Thursday nights, most recently with this month’s “The Marvels.” I was eager to see the 33rd MCU film for a number of reasons. I enjoyed its predecessor “Captain Marvel” for one, and for another I’ve loved the character since I was a kid. Captain Marvel has been a cosmic powerhouse since 1968. In the comics and in cartoons she’s led the Avengers, worked closely with the X-Men and more — and as far as I’m concerned, she’s been portrayed in live action by another kind of superhero. Brie Larson is a notable feminist who’s spent years enraging fragile (usually white, straight, cisgender male) egos on the internet, often just by existing. It’s a win-win for me. The film also just looked and sounded fun, which is where I’ll note I’m not a total Marvel Studios loyalist. I’ll see any and everything, sure, but that doesn’t mean I’ll love it. “The Marvels,” which brought several key characters to the silver screen for the first time, just seemed to have a different kind of energy. From the first preview, it felt like it would be a welcome departure from this year’s delightful-but-harrowing “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3” and disappointing “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” I’m very happy to say that it was.

I went in with high expectations and as blind as I possibly could in the age of the internet, which is full of spoilers months before a film’s release, and I loved it from start to finish. I thought it was hilarious and heartfelt. As an added bonus, “The Marvels” was helmed by Nia DaCosta — the first Black, female director to lead an MCU film — and starred three women saving multiple worlds, two of whom were women of color. That kind of representation matters. Unfortunately, the film opened with the MCU’s lowest-ever debut, which critics of Marvel

I’m a pretty diehard Marvel fan.

Studios (and of course, those aforementioned fragile egos) trounced on. I strongly encourage casual and diehard Marvel fans alike to tune out the internet noise and go enjoy yourself at the cinema. I’m glad I did. We look at a few other marvels in this issue, like advancements in HIV care ahead of next month’s World AIDS Day. Orlando, St. Petersburg and Tampa also prove to be superheroes in their own right, retaining their perfect scores of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s 12th annual Municipal Equality Index. In arts and entertainment, we check in with comedian Fortune Feimster ahead of her stops in Central Florida and Tampa Bay. We also preview fan favorite artist John Gascot’s new show in St. Petersburg. Watermark strives to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. Please stay safe, stay informed and enjoy this latest issue.

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CONTRIBUTORS JOHNNY V. BOYKINS

BRYANA SALDANA is a

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

DISTRIBUTION LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, ZACHARY WELCH

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central florida news

ONEPULSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESIGNS Jeremy Williams

RLANDO | Deborah Bowie, onePULSE Foundation’s executive director, has stepped down from the organization, according to a report from WESH 2. Bowie was hired as the foundation’s executive director in June 2022 after the previous director, Barbara Poma — also onePULSE’s founder and original owner of the Pulse nightclub — stepped away from the organization. “We are saddened by Deborah’s resignation during this time of transition for the onePULSE Foundation. Deborah came into a situation that was difficult to say the least and faced a daunting set of challenges including the aftermath of COVID and the stalled negotiations over the Pulse property,” said Yolanda Londoño, onePULSE Foundation Board spokesperson, in a statement. “As a board comprised completely of volunteers, we rely on our professional staff to keep our efforts coordinated and focused, and we appreciate all Deborah has done to sustain the mission of the onePULSE Foundation, her respect for all stakeholders and her stewardship of staff and donors. We wish her nothing but success in her future endeavors. “With all of the recent developments, the onePULSE Foundation Board is in the process of reevaluating its mission to make sure it aligns with the new realities,” Londoño continued. “We will keep everyone updated as those discussions evolve, and decisions are made as to the best way to honor the lives of the 49 Angels and to help with the continuing healing of all those impacted by the Pulse tragedy.” Bowie’s departure is just the latest in a series of changes coming from the foundation this year that began in May when it was announced that a deal could not be reached between onePULSE and the Pulse owners for the sale of the property. That dispute led the City of Orlando to purchase the Pulse property from the owners last month. Following the sale announcement, board chair Earl Crittenden resigned from his position and onePULSE made the decision not to move forward with the planned Pulse Museum. That decision was met with concern from many as Orange County’s commissioners unanimously approved up to $10 million in hotel-tax revenue to the foundation for a museum on Oct. 30, 2018. According to Orange County, the foundation did not receive a lump sum of $10 million, rather $3.5 million was paid for the 1.7 acres of land that was purchased for the museum and $3 million for design services was paid from November 2019-March 2023. With no museum happening now, the purchased land will be turned over to the county and the remaining $3.5 million — unspent from the original grant — will remain in the TDT reserves.

SAFE SPACE:

UCF’s Pride Commons, an all-inclusive space that caters to the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. PHOTO BY CONNOR BARRY

State Law Impact UCF excluded from Campus Pride’s ‘Best of the Best’ list Connor Barry

RLANDO | Campus Pride announced that the University of Central Florida, along with other Florida universities, has been excluded from their 2023 Best of the Best list due to the passage of Senate Bill 266 in July. “The bill effectively bans LGBTQ+ services,” says Shane Windmeyer, executive director and founder of Campus Pride. “It just makes no sense why we would highlight a campus where the government is restricting, and in that way effectively banning, LGBTQ+ services.” Every year Campus Pride, a national nonprofit organization working to develop and improve campus resources for LGBTQ+ college students, releases a list highlighting the most LGBTQ+ inclusive universities in the United States. According to the Florida Senate website, under SB 266 “a Florida College System institution, state university, or associated support

organization may not expend funds for programs or campus activities that violate the FEEA; advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion; or promote or engage in political or social activism.” “Depending on the campus this could mean not having an LGBTQ resource office, it could be not having certain policies and not being able to provide support for LGBTQ+ students,” Windmeyer says. Some in the UCF community, both professors and students alike, mirror this fear for the impact the law may have going forward. “We have gotten rid of our diversity, equity and inclusion, and most of the resources for LGBTQ students fall under that,” says Dr. Martha Brenckle, a UCF professor and researcher of queer theory. “I find it totally embarrassing that we’re not on a list that talks about making students comfortable on campus. We can’t say, yes, we treat these students just like everybody else and we want them to be comfortable,” says Brenckle. UCF freshman and computer engineering major, Ivan Wong

seemed to feel similarly worried for the comfort of students. “UCF has a large LGBTQ community so its just disheartening to see a nosedive in the support they can provide because of all these restrictions,” Wong says. “A lot of people find their place in college and find a community to belong in… so the lack of support will scare people away from being who they want to be.” James Brown, a UCF professor of theatre and member of the LGBTQ community, also expressed fear for UCF’s ability to hiring good professors and a growing concern for UCF’s reputation as a caring and supportive university. “I love UCF and I know over the 23 years that I have been here I have seen UCF and the leadership grow,” Brown says. “I hate what’s going on [in Florida] and I hate that the integrity of UCF is being dragged down by this. Not only for students but for the faculty and staff.” Despite the changes, Brown remains unwavering in his belief in UCF as a strong community for LGBTQ+ students. “I think UCF is very inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, and I don’t think that the recent laws passed by the governor… are reflective of the UCF campus and UCF leadership,” Brown says. “They did not create these laws, but unfortunately they are bound to follow them.”

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tampa bay news

HRC, SHOWTIME RECOGNIZE BLAQUE/OUT Austin Hatch

T. PETERSBURG | The Human Rights Campaign and Showtime announced Nov. 9 that Blaque/OUT Magazine has been named as a 2023 beneficiary of their LGBTQ+ business preservation initiative. “Queer to Stay” launched in 2020 to address financial hardships during the pandemic. Now in its fourth year, the partnership has provided a total of $750,000 in funding to marginalized businesses nationwide like Blaque/OUT, which “centers Black Queer excellence through their monthly digital issues” in and beyond Tampa Bay. The initiative also works to combat a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ extremism, hateful rhetoric and targeted attacks that threaten the livelihood of business owners and the existence of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people. A total of 25 businesses were recognized this year across 19 states. “As LGBTQ+ Americans navigate a national state of emergency, LGBTQ+ owned businesses are confronting extremists who are trying to threaten our lives and livelihoods, push us out of our communities and force us back into the closet,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a press release. “We’re fighting back against anti-LGBTQ+ radicals and solidifying our place in cities across the country,” she continued. “We’re so excited to partner with Showtime once again to support LGBTQ+ employees and business owners as they continue to create inclusive spaces and brighten their communities.” “We care deeply about empowering all voices within the LGBTQ+ community and are proud to continue investing in LGBTQ+ businesses in partnership with HRC for the fourth year,” added Puja Vohra, EVP of Consumer Marketing, Paramount+ and Showtime. Blaque/OUT Founder and Editor Tamara Leigh noted in a press release that “every single writer, contributor and person whose story we tell is Black or Brown, Queer or Trans.” The outlet serves as “a home for Black, Brown and Trans stories” and works to “inspire readers to find their truths and be their authentic selves.” Leigh also reflected on the recognition in an email to supporters, noting that they have readers and writers around the world. “Although our homebase is now St. Petersburg, Florida, Blaque/OUT is proud to be born and raised in Rochester, New York!” she wrote. “Our first love, our first activism & advocacy, our first writers & readers were Rochesterians and in Rochester. We will continue to work hard to make wherever home is a more inclusive and safer space for all of us! “Thank you to all of our readers for keeping us relevant & growing,” she concluded, “but more than ANYTHING, thank you to our incredible creative team and family who have allowed us to tell their stories for 3 years!!”

Learn more about HRC and Showtime’s “Queer to Stay” initiative at QueerToStay.org. For more information about Blaque/OUT Magazine, visit BlaqueOUT.com.

TAMPA TRIO:

(L-R) Equality Florida’s Nicholas Machuca and Nadine Smith with “Drag2Talle” member Ericka PC Nov. 10. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

New Record Equality Florida Tampa Gala raises at least $550K Ryan Williams-Jent

AMPA | Equality Florida held its annual Tampa Gala Nov. 10 at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC, raising at least $550,000. The evening set a new fundraising record for the Tampa event and welcomed more than 400 supporters. It was emceed by Michael Womack and featured music from DJ Ace Vedo with donated décor from Tailored Twig. The night began with a special address from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “We do so much in the Tampa Bay area … to ensure that everyone feels welcome and included in our community,” she said. “It’s a little difficult in the state that we are in right now, literally and figuratively, but we do everything that we can. “We come together we celebrate, we come together when our issues need to be solved, and that’s what tonight is all about — solving big issues,” Castor continued. “No one can deny that our community is being attacked on a daily basis, and

Equality Florida is out there on the frontlines fighting for us every single day.” Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith subsequently delivered a keynote address. She noted that from marriage equality to attacks on transgender youth, “Florida has always been the frontline of a national fight.” “I don’t have to tell you about the books that they’re taking off the bookshelves. I don’t have to tell you about the ban on trans kids participating in sports,” she said. “This isn’t just about the attacks on the LGBTQ community. This is about the appeals to racism. It is about neo-Nazis marching in front of Disney World without our governor saying a word about it. “It is about a politics of division, of fear and hatred that tells us to be afraid of your neighbor,” Smith continued. “To be suspicious of someone who doesn’t worship like you, think like you, love like you, look like you. This is about the soul of our country … We are all the antidote to the misinformation.” The “Drag2Talle Nine” were also honored with the 2023

Voice for Equality Award during the ceremony. The activists and entertainers traveled to Tallahassee throughout the 2023 legislative session to speak out against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and more. Angelique Young, Ericka PC, Daniel Cruz, Lilith Black, Apollo Infiniti, Freya Rose Young, Dom Weeks, Brianna Summers and Jordan Rugh were each recognized. Young thanked Equality Florida for the honor and briefly addressed attendees. “The nine of us all are part of the local Tampa Bay community,” she said. “We are the true definition of what happens when you put community together, because you cannot have community without unity. It takes all of us coming together to do that ... when you use your voice, real things happen.” “This year’s Tampa Gala provided our community a much-needed evening to celebrate our resistance and resilience after a year of weathering blatant attacks on Florida’s LGBTQ community,” Equality Florida Deputy Director of Development Nicholas Machuca says. “The event gave us all space to uplift and empower those defending LGBTQ equality in this state, while ensuring Equality Florida goes into the new year with resources to continue our progress-making work.” View photos at WatermarkOnline.com.

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state news

LGBTQ+ ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP LAUNCHES Ryan Williams-Jent

he Alzheimer’s Association’s Florida chapters and Lambda Living have partnered to offer a statewide, virtual support group for LGBTQ+ Floridians facing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The AA is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s support and research. Lambda Living is a program of the Jewish Community Services of South Florida and was designed to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community who are 55 and older. According to the AA, age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. They advise that an estimated 2.7 million LGBTQ+ people are over 50 years old and 7.4% of the population is living with dementia. “The LGBTQ+ community may face particular challenges related to Alzheimer’s and dementia,” the organization’s website also notes. “These include finding inclusive and welcoming health care providers, less ability to call upon adult children for assistance, concerns about stigma and higher rates of poverty and social isolation.” The virtual support group was designed to combat this. Lambda Living Programing Manager Cindy Brown serves as the group’s facilitator and says it “is important for several reasons.” “Older LGBTQ+ folks have access to fewer services than their heterosexual counterparts,” she explains. “In addition, many older folks are not comfortable sharing personal information in a group that may have members who aren’t as supportive of them.” “Isolation is a common challenge for many facing Alzheimer’s, especially in the LGBTQ+ community,” adds Keith Gibson, Florida director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the AA. “This support group provides both caregivers and those living with the disease space to be themselves while addressing the issues that matter to them.” Gibson oversees Florida’s three chapters and notes the AA has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. He works to ensure marginalized groups throughout the state are able to receive the organization’s support. The AA’s LGBTQ+ support group meets via Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month from 2-3:30 p.m. Confidential and secure registration is required and accessible by calling the association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. “The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to being a true partner to the LGBTQ+ community because we really understand the challenges that they face,” Gibson says. “In this current climate, particularly here in Florida where we have so much political rhetoric, just know that the Alzheimer’s Association is not retreating, we are actually leaning in.” For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association and its Florida chapters, visit ALZ.org. Learn more about Lambda Living at JCSFL.org.

FLORIDA CITIES RETAIN PERFECT HRC SCORES Ryan Williams-Jent

he Human Rights Campaign released its 12th annual Municipal Equality Index Nov. 14, revealing a record number of cities excelled in protecting LGBTQ+ rights this year. A total of 506 were surveyed and scored on their non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s public position on equality. A record 129 received a final score of 100, including eight in Florida, deemed “all-star cities” for pushing back against the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Orlando, St. Petersburg and Tampa retained their perfect scores and were joined by Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Oakland Park, Miami and Wilton Manors. Daytona Beach received the lowest Florida score at 27 while Cape Coral received a 61; Coral Gables, 87; Hialeah, 53; Gainesville, 90; Jacksonville, 76; Miami Shores, 92; Pembroke Pines, 76; Port Saint Lucie, 75 and Tallahassee an 86. The scores were tallied amidst HRC’s first-ever “National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans,” declared in response to a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills signed into law this year. That includes in Florida, which HRC deemed a “state of emergency” for impacting the ability of cities to provide certain LGBTQ+ benefits.

“Cities and towns around the country are stepping up each and every day, finding new and innovative ways to empower LGBTQ+ people in the face of a dire national state of emergency,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said. “Even when anti-LGBTQ+ extremists in state capitals are working to undermine their progress, mayors and city councilmembers keep fighting to make sure that LGBTQ+ people in their communities — especially trans people — are supported and lifted up to the fullest extent possible.” Leaders in Orlando, Tampa and St. Petersburg each celebrated the recognition. “Our community’s collective work to ensure that Orlando remains an inclusive city for all residents and visitors has been recognized on the national stage,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer shared Nov. 16. “For years we have been putting inclusion and equity at the forefront of all that we do as a community,” he continued. “We have a lot to be proud of, but our work must and will continue, especially with all that is happening in our state, country and world.” Dyer also noted that “Orlando’s unity, love and compassion — as well as the example that we’re setting for other cities in Florida and around the nation — will not be suppressed.” “We’re proud to be recognized, once again, as a city that

welcomes and embraces the LGBT community,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told Watermark Nov. 16. “Tampa is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, in part because of our reputation as a friendly, diverse city that is a great place to live and work.” HRC also featured St. Petersburg as one of six success stories, the only city recognized as such in Florida. They cited the success of St Pete Pride, the city’s administrative policy requiring all-gender accessibility in single-occupant and family restrooms and the appointment of LGBTQ+ liaisons like Jim Nixon. “Achieving a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index for 10 consecutive years is a source of pride for all of St. Petersburg,” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said. “Not only does this accomplishment demonstrate our commitment to maintaining an inclusive environment for our LGBTQ+ community, but it shows that we embrace and affirm all residents, ensuring that our city remains a welcoming haven for everyone.” “For 10 consecutive years, we earned a perfect score on the HRC’s Municipal Equality Index,” Nixon added, “but we have not rested on our past scores … and the Human Rights Campaign recognizes it.”

injunction issued by a U.S. District Court judge in Tallahassee last June that the Florida drag ban law was unconstitutionally vague and overbroad and that will not be allowed to take effect. Florida’s law makes it a crime to admit a child to an “adult live performance” that the state deems sexually explicit. Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, the legislation makes it a misdemeanor offense. The Hill reported three of the high court’s conservatives — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch —

publicly dissented and voted to revive the law. Two other conservatives — Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — voted with the majority to rule against Florida, but the duo indicated their votes don’t signify whether they believe the law is constitutional. This year, courts have put a stop to comparable laws in several other states. The Hill also reported the case now returns to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the full appeal. After a final ruling, the case could ultimately return to the justices.

To view the HRC’s 2023 MEI report in full, visit HRC.org/MEI.

SCOTUS REFUSES TO HEAR ANTI-DRAG APPEAL Brody Levesque of The LA Blade, Courtesy of The National LGBT Media Association

he U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 16 rejected Florida’s emergency request to overturn two lower federal court rulings that blocked its law that targeted drag shows. In a ruling by the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta last month, the court upheld an

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nation+world news

HOUSE ETHICS PANEL SAYS IT FOUND EVIDENCE OF LAWBREAKING BY REP. GEORGE SANTOS Wire Report

ASHINGTON | The House Ethics committee in a scathing report Nov. 16 said it has amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Rep. George Santos of New York that has been sent to the Justice Department, concluding flatly that the Republican “cannot be trusted” after a monthslong investigation into his conduct. The panel said that Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; and engaged in violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to financial disclosure statements filed with the House.

Santos has maintained his innocence and has refused to resign despite calls from many of his colleagues to do so. The ethics panel’s report also detailed Santos’ lack of cooperation with its investigation and how he “evaded” straightforward requests for information. The report says that an investigative subcommittee decided to forgo bringing formal charges because it would have resulted in a “lengthy trial-like public adjudication and sanctions hearing” that only would have given Santos “further opportunity to delay any accountability.” The committee decided instead to send the full report to the House. It urges House members “to take any action they deem appropriate and necessary” based on the report. The findings by the investigative panel may be the least of Santos’

worries. The congressman faces a 23-count federal indictment that alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has pleaded not guilty, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pay his campaign coffers. Santos, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, is also accused of falsely reporting to the Federal Elections Commission that he had loaned his campaign $500,000 when he actually hadn’t given anything and had less than $8,000 in the bank. The fake loan was an attempt to convince Republican Party officials that he was a serious candidate, worth their financial support, the indictment says.

MEXICAN OFFICIALS SEND CONFLICTING MESSAGES OVER DEATH OF LGBTQ+ MAGISTRATE Wire Report

EXICO CITY | Mexican authorities sent conflicting messages Nov. 14 about the violent deaths of a leading LGBTQ+ figure and partner after thousands marched in the capital demanding justice. Jesús Ociel Baena, the first openly nonbinary person to assume a judicial post in Mexico, was found dead Nov. 13 with around 20 wounds lying next to the body of Dorian Herrera at the home they shared in the central city of Aguascalientes. Baena was one of the most visible LGBTQ+ figures in a country where sexual minorities are often violently targeted and had reported receiving death threats and hateful messages. The couple had received protection from state security, prompting many LGBQT+ activists to call the deaths a hate crime. The Aguascalientes state prosecutor’s office on Nov.

14 described the deaths as a murder-suicide, saying it appeared that Baena was murdered with razor blades by Herrera, who then committed suicide. “It may seem like a not very credible hypothesis to many, but we’re being very careful to leave a record and preserve all evidence,” state prosecutor Jesús Figueroa Ortega said. He said the magistrate’s cleaning lady found the bodies locked in the home and called Baena’s bodyguard. One of the wounds was on Baena’s jugular and that investigators found blood on the bed and bloody footprints leading through the home, the prosecutor added. Later in the day, the prosecutor’s office said Herrera had tested positive for methamphetamines. Federal authorities, however, urged caution in the investigation. Félix Arturo Medina, an official with Mexico’s Interior Ministry, said that “it’s important to not throw out any line of investigation.”

He said federal officials hoped to coordinate with state authorities to investigate the deaths. “It’s a relevant case for us, not just because of the activism the magistrate was carrying out,” but also because the government wants all crimes to be investigated, Medina said. Impunity runs rampant in Mexico. Only 1% of all crimes committed were reported, investigated and resolved in 2022, according to a survey by National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The state prosecutors’ hypothesis of a murder-suicide was quickly disputed by the family and friends of Baena and Herrera, who called it “completely unthinkable.” Máximo Carrasco, a friend of both for over five years who spoke on behalf of the couple’s relatives, said loved ones want the investigation taken out of the hands of the Aguascalientes state prosecutor’s office and handled by federal investigators.

IN OTHER NEWS NATION’S 1ST OPENLY GAY GOVERNOR TO RE-ENTER POLITICS Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, the nation’s first openly gay governor, announced Nov. 9 that he will seek the mayor’s office in Jersey City in 2025. He made the announcement in a video posted online and formally launched his campaign with a news conference later in the day. McGreevey, a Democrat, is a former Woodbridge Township mayor who was elected governor in 2002. He announced in August 2004 that he was “a gay American” and acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a male staffer. He resigned that year.

DANICA ROEM ELECTED TO VIRGINIA SENATE Virginia state Del. Danica Roem (D-Manassas) won her race the state Senate on Nov. 7. The Manassas Democrat defeated Republican Bill Woolf by a 51.5%48.2% margin. Roem is the second transgender person elected to the Virginia senate in the U.S. Roem, in 2018, became the first trans person seated in a state legislature in the country. Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride took office in 2021. Democrats also regained control of the Virginia House of Delegates, which they lost in 2021 when Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin won the governorship. Democrats maintained control of the state Senate.

OREGON MAN SENTENCED FOR LGBTQ+ HATE CRIMES IN IDAHO Matthew Lehigh, an Oregon man who pleaded guilty in connection with LGBTQ+ hate crimes, was sentenced Nov. 2 to 37 months followed by three years of supervised release and he must pay restitution, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Lehigh, 32, previously pleaded guilty to two felony charges of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Last October, Lehigh punched and threatened a transgender librarian in Boise before trying to run over a library security guard with his vehicle. Days later, Lehigh shouted threats and slurs at two women he “assumed, based on their appearance and dress” to be lesbians and accelerated his car toward them. Lehigh also admitted to punching someone else after using an anti-LGBTQ+ slur and setting a Pride flag on fire.

VATICAN SAYS TRANS PEOPLE CAN BE BAPTIZED, SERVE AS GODPARENTS The Vatican says transgender people, including those who have had gender-affirmation surgery, can be baptized, serve as godparents and serve as witnesses to Catholic weddings as long as there is no “risk of scandal” to the church. A document was signed by Pope Francis and a high-level Vatican cardinal and was released Nov. 8. It was released in response to a letter submitted in July by a Brazilian bishop raising questions about the possible participation of LGBTQ+ people in baptisms and weddings.

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viewpoint The precision, tone, and context in which words are employed can significantly alter their interpretation and influence. As such, the choice of words holds immense power, capable of fostering understanding, inciting change or causing misunderstanding

of his followers enjoy the entertainment value. Still, other followers of the former president believe they are answering a call for something far more sinister and darker. We have to listen to what Trump says and think that if he is ever returned to power,

language thoughtfully. We must understand that how we articulate our ideas can profoundly affect how others receive and understand them, which includes people who are simply observing your exchanges while scrolling. May we all be more intentional with how

and conflict. I am solidly aligned with the political left. Still, in recent months, I have observed intense debates on every topic, from climate change to the economy, and every time I see or engage in internet dialog, I tell myself that this conservation would be better served in person unless you are attending political rallies hosted by former President Donald Trump. It is clear that some

he will do exactly what he says — because again, words mean things. In the spirit of finding gratitude and Thanksgiving, I encourage us all to practice more grace, particularly on the internet. I encourage us all to engage more with one another in the community, real life, outside and touching the grass. Words mean things, underscoring our responsibility to use

we communicate with one another and recognize that words mean things.

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Johnny Boykins

DEMOCRATICALLY YOURS Words Mean Things

E ARE IN THE

season of Thanksgiving, and the holidays are on the horizon, but for me, it is hard to feel a sense of gratitude when the world seems out of sync.

The American gun violence sickness continues across the country, we have political instability in the United States, war in Ukraine and Russia, war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, inflation, student loan repayments, and an uncertain winter in the age of climate change. It all makes it very hard to settle into gratefulness. Over the past few months, I have watched my social media timelines divulge into cesspools of toxicity. We seem to have forgotten our collective humanity, so I am dedicating this column to the adage that “words mean things.” A month into the Israel-Hamas War, I witnessed two very close friends engage in a debate about the conflict where they hurled words, concepts and accusations at one another with a vengeance that was uncharacteristic of their personalities. These friends, solidly in the same political philosophy, have marched with one another for justice, jobs, and social and political rights and found themselves at an impasse in the comment section of social media. I asked myself if they would say these things in the same room face to face. I don’t think they would have because, in intense moments of debate, you must recognize their humanity when sitting across from another person. I observed the debate from the sidelines and took a moment to reflect on how I felt and posted the following status to Facebook: “The internet, for all of its wonder and connection, is toxic. We’ve collectively forgotten that words mean things. There are actual definitions and contexts. Typing on screens allows us to say things we would NEVER say if the person were standing before us. Keyboard warriors of all varieties, take a moment, log out and go touch some grass.” The adage “words mean things” encapsulates the powerful impact of language and communication. It

highlights the significance of carefully choosing and using words due to their inherent ability to convey meaning, evoke emotions and shape perceptions. Internet discourse elevates the most extreme voices at both ends of the political pendulum, and that reality is unhealthy. Days after the horrific terrorist attack in Israel, six-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea Al Fayoume was horrifically murdered along with his mother because they were Muslim. The political rhetoric in the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attacks was so atomic that a child was killed in Illinois, thousands of miles away from conflict and war. Words mean things. Wadea should be alive today. Around the same time, I watched with amusement and concern when the U.S. House of Representatives went Speakerless for nearly a month. The political circus created by the Grand Old Party was fueled by extreme rhetoric and chaos, leaving most of us wondering why our government failed to meet its most basic obligations. It’s why we also live with the constant threat of a government shutdown, where millions of lives and livelihoods hang in the balance. House Democrats and the U.S. Senate seem prepared to keep the government open and send critical aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the U.S. border, but a select group of House Republicans seems steadfast in maintaining a manufactured crisis. Words serve as vessels of expression, carrying the weight of our intentions, thoughts and beliefs. When we hide behind a keyboard, we don’t often present our true intentions, thoughts, or opinions, but instead, we participate in a game of despair and disunity. We are failing to see our collective humanity.

When we hide behind a keyboard … We are failing to see our collective humanity.

Johnny V. Boykins is a Democratic strategist and organizer in Pinellas County, a husband, bow tie aficionado, amateur chef, and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. He also serves as a board member of the Pinellas Democratic Party. Learn more at PinellasDemocrats.org.

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viewpoint

Bryana Saldana

DIARY OF A POET

Connections Lost, Serenity Found S HIGHLIGHTED IN

some of my previous pieces, I am on a daunting journey. It has not been easy in the least bit but I have the privilege of reveling in peace for the first time.

The chase has taken me through several states and two countries but wow, it was worth it to bathe in this sunshine. Despite all the rain and thunderstorms, I thought I was too weak to survive. I want to provide a trigger warning for anyone consuming my words. They are heavy and need to be taken in dosages. If anything makes you feel you need a break, take it and visit this when you’re ready. When I say revel in peace, I do not mean it lacks sorrow, heartbreak and pitfalls. Those things are part of it; they are what we reflect on when there is silence for the first time in our lives. When you no longer must anticipate the anger or frustrations of the world being thrown at you 100 miles per hour. Endless heartbreak and chaos are happening daily in the world, from high homelessness rates to wars of no end, which leaves us all with so much pain to shovel through. I have always felt so deeply and am deeply empathetic to all the pain we must witness. It’s easy to feel everything for me. I’ve been told all my life “You’re too sensitive” or “You’re too emotional,” and the list can go on. Growing up, I took these as charges against my character. It became this internalized negative attribute I fought against with the wrong people. I had to learn over the years who to reserve my discontent for, and it was for the adults responsible for my wellbeing before I could comprehend what I needed to feel safe. That is what my peace has allowed me to think about for the first time: safety. Granted, abuse within the parameters of my family, from mental and emotional to physical abuse, has always been around for decades, but

I made the hard choice of breaking away from the status quo. I took the chance, knowing it would be lonely. I tried in all kinds of ways to let these people who raised me realize I was hurting. Being sensitive to others and holding space to unfold has become my greatest strength as an adult. There is no weakness in my character traits. The perspective of being sensitive equals weakness stems from my mother’s father, who recently passed away. I could only hope the younger generation of my family would not feel the same wrath, but it is not for me to impose. I have stood in the place of observer for many years, and in the time I have stood up for or on principles surrounding peace, healing and genuine love, I’ve been discontent. Being met with such cognitive dissonance for a few years at this point has made me cut my family off. This was a long time coming, years in the making, but it came to a point where I could no longer accept the disrespect, dishonor and lack of emotional maturity. I held that idea most people do, “Oh, but it’s family”; no, they are people you are related to by blood but family gives space for unfolding emotions and genuine connection. After decades of feeling unworthy, suicidal ideations and attempts, I feel like I can breathe. This is the first time in a public way I have discussed this, and I think many people must hear. Some would say it is courageous of me to walk away from a family structure that harmed me far more than it has healed me. Most would say they could never do that, and I could understand both sides. It takes grit, determination and more strength than I ever thought I had to chase my peace until my legs hurt. There are no days without

tears, guilt and shame, all of which are being shed slowly, but it’s hard, nonetheless—challenging, yes, impossible, no. My freedom has grown in a beautiful forest of endless possibilities. I currently work for a fantastic company and

anyone out there reading this and trying to figure out what to do and how to navigate these toxic familial relationships, you are so far from alone and everything will be okay. You will get your peace and feel that freedom at your feet. Healing is natural, possible,

highlight reel of what might happen when we are born. We are born and raised at the hands of others, but that does not mean we owe anyone anything besides ourselves. This is a journey I anticipate staying on until other parts of my family unit join me and figure it

received my first promotion in my professional career. I have an amazing lady that I plan to marry as soon as possible. I live in a new place and explore my life on my terms. I have spoken to some family since the death of my mother’s father, but it has not been consistent because I know the work they need to do has not been done. For

endless and fulfilling beyond measure. I think many of us participate in family structures that are unsafe because we believe it is all we have in this world, but that’s not true. We have ourselves; we owe it to ourselves to choose peace, love and happiness to no limit. We are not given a roadmap to life or a

out. As for me, I am moving with peace in my spirit, and as always, please move in and with love.

We are born and raised at the hands of others, but that does not mean we owe anyone anything besides ourselves.

Bryana Saldana is an Afro-Latina poet born and raised in Orlando. Saldana had her first published poem through “Women Who Roar.” Saldana’s pronouns are She/Her/They.

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Visibili-T HAIZE 23, She/Her/Hers

Miranda Camp

ISIBILI-T IS DEDICATED TO

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

In this issue, we check in with Haize, a 23-year-old Casselberry resident, musician and performer. When Haize is not attending or performing at her friends’ raves, she’s organizing her own at the Castle Smoke Shop. “It feels like I’m in my pure divine form like I’m closest to God and my ancestors when I’m performing,” Haize says. “That’s when I feel 100% like I belong. There’s nothing anyone can say to me, and there is nothing anyone can do to me. I’m 100% in my purpose doing what I need to be doing.” Nothing gives Haize a greater connection with her identity than her music. She released her first EP, “222,” on Feb. 22,

2023. Haize’s music explores several topics, including love, commitment, loyalty and passion. One of her first songs, “F0RB!DDEN” explores the idea of forbidden love, something many LGBTQ+ people face when it comes to their relationships. “What I’m noticing for me is working right now in my songwriting process is the better I understand myself, the better I understand what I feel like writing about and how I want to write about it.” Haize says, regarding her music journey. She started her music career performing in small kava bars until she worked her way up to performing in local venues like Will’s Pub.

That’s when she found Techniculture, a group of underground LGBTQ+ creatives and DJs dedicated to fostering rave culture in Orlando. They host pop-up raves in tucked-away locations with several different DJ sets and artist vendors. Techniculture focuses on uplifting BIPOC LGBTQ+ people at their events, offering discounted rates of admissions for Black queer and trans attendees. Don Noel, the founder of Techniculture, states in an Instagram post about Techniculture’s mission that they are ”launching a recurring event to highlight local Black and queer creatives but also a much-needed safe space.” This safe space has helped shape Haize’s Identity as she better understands herself. Her haunting sound earned her the nickname Siren amongst her peers in the “Techniculture collective,” as she calls them. “The way that I performed at my shows, people just started calling me that,” Haize says. “In the last year, embracing who I am as a trans woman and feeling comfortable with my identity and how I present, that’s only happened from that love.”

Techniculture isn’t the only space Haize calls her own. Her other frequent spot is the Castle Smoke Shop, which Haize started working at this past August. Once she started there, Haize saw that the shop was missing out on a potential market. “Once I got the smoke shop job, I started reaching back to connections I made because I’m not getting customers in here!” Haize became an events coordinator and creative director, using the shop space as a community hub to draw in more customers. She says she simply “listens to what a lot of people ask for around the store.” Haize making the atmosphere more lounge-like is something her coworkers agree is fantastic for business, and now they also try to help her achieve it. They host regular open mic nights and raves at the smoke shop, all thanks to Haize. She also hosts and performs at benefit raves for fellow creatives facing displacement or needing medical assistance with her fellow creatives in Techniculture. According to the Williams Institute at the University of California, 17% of LGBTQ+ people were living in poverty in 2021. That percentage increases to 25%

for BIPOC LQBTQ+ people. Haize wants to help where she can within her community. “It’s awesome to me to be in this position that I’m in now, and I’m able to turn around and have a space that I can provide for the same people who helped me have stepped up,” she says. However, Haize does not do the raves or music for praise. “I feel like my definition of visibility is definitely going to change over time. Just because we all grow, we all change,” she says. “Me throwing the raves was never something I expected to have this conversation be a result of doing that. It’s never been about attention. I’m just doing what comes naturally to me. Even with the music, it’s not my pursuit to be this pop star on a raging stage. It’s because the music is what’s in me.” You can find Haize on Instagram at @houseofhaize and her EP, “222,” is available on Apple Music and Spotify. You can also catch her at the Castle Smoke Shop in Casselberry. Interested in being featured in Visibili-T? Email Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams in Central Florida or Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent in Tampa Bay. (Photos by Miranda Camp.)

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talking points It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color. We have made so many strides toward equality in this country, and no one should want to see this progress reversed. —P!NK, IN A STATEMENT RELEASED BY PEN AMERICA NOV. 13, ANNOUNCING SHE WOULD BE GIVING AWAY BANNED BOOKS AT HER FLORIDA CONCERTS

MEGAN RAPINOE’S CAREER ENDS WITH AN INJURY AS ALI KRIEGER’S ENDS WITH NWSL CHAMPIONSHIP

ITHER MEGAN RAPINOE OF THE OL REIGN OR ALI KRIEGER OF GOTHAM FC WAS GOING TO WALK OFF THE PITCH AND INTO RETIREMENT with the National Women’s Soccer League trophy. Krieger got the trophy. Rapinoe got a heartbreaking end to her brilliant career as she limped off the field for the last time with an apparent torn right Achilles tendon suffered in the first few minutes. World Cup winner Esther González scored the go-ahead goal on a header in first-half stoppage time and Gotham FC survived a wild final minute to beat OL Reign 2-1 on Nov. 11 in a NWSL championship match where Rapinoe hobbled off the pitch for good. “You don’t always get to have the perfect ending,” said Rapinoe, who was in good spirits afterward and wearing a walking boot on her right foot. Rapinoe announced before this summer’s Women’s World Cup that she was stepping away from the game after a career that included two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic bronze. Krieger was also on that 2019 team as well as the U.S. World Cup team that won the title in 2015. “I don’t think I could dream of a better ending for myself,” Krieger said. “I just want to ride off into the sunset and enjoy this with my family and friends and kids, most importantly, and my teammates.”

GAY ARTIST AND BROTHER WIN AT CMAS

OUNTRY MUSIC’S BIGGEST STARS GATHERED NOV. 8 FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS, hosted by country star Luke Bryan alongside former NFL star Peyton Manning. Walking away with Vocal Duo of the Year were sibling musicians John and T.J. Osborne. The Brothers Osborne as they are known, in previous years have won in this category, making this year their sixth win. T.J. Osborne, lead singer of the country duo, came out as gay in a 2021 TIME Magazine interview. While other ostensibly country artists are openly LGBTQ+, such as Orville Peck, Brandi Carlile, Lil Nas X, Chely Wright and Billy Gilman, Osborne’s revelation makes him the first — and so far, only — openly gay musical artist signed to a major country label.

BOY GEORGE HEADING BACK TO BROADWAY

OY GEORGE — THE CULTURE CLUB ICON OF THE 1980S — is returning to Broadway in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” The singer-songwriter will play Moulin Rouge club owner Harold Zidler in the jukebox adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s hyperactive 2001 movie. He starts Feb. 6 and ends May 12 at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre, taking over the role from Tituss Burgess. The show about the goings-on in a turn-of-the-century Parisian nightclub has been updated with tunes like “Single Ladies” and “Firework” alongside the big hit “Lady Marmalade.” It won 10 Tony Awards in 2021, including best new musical. Boy George was last represented on Broadway in 2003 with “Taboo,” for which he wrote music and lyrics.

‘QUEER EYE’ IS LOSING ITS INTERIOR DESIGNER

OBBY BERK, WHO HAS BEEN THE INTERIOR DESIGNER ON NETFLIX’S “QUEER EYE,” announced he is leaving the show after its eighth season. Berk, along with Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, and Tan France, comprised of the show’s Fab Five since the streaming giant rebooted the series in 2018. “It’s not been an easy decision to be at peace with, but a necessary one,” Berk wrote on X. “Although my journey with Queer Eye is over, my journey with you is not. You will be seeing more of me very soon.” Netflix has already renewed the series for a nineth season but has not released who will be replacing Berk in that season. “Queer Eye” season eight will premiere on Netflix Jan. 24, 2024.

105,200 TRANSGENDER

YOUTH

BAN LIVE IN STATES THAT

GENDER-AFFIRMING

CARE. 92,700 OF THEM LIVE IN STATES THAT PASSED BANS IN 2023. — Williams Institute’s “Impact of 2023 Legislation on Transgender Youth,” October 2023

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Audre Lorde

Sylvia Rivera

Bayard Rustin

Keith Haring

Harvey Milk

James Baldwin

Marsha P. Johnson

Gilbert Baker

Lorraine Hansberry

We provide care and services to all, regardl cancommunityhealth.org

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Barbara Smith

Gladys Bentley

Langston Hughes

David Bowie

Alvin Ailey

Billy Jean King

Ma Rainey

Wilson Cruz

Angela Davis

less of your insurance status or ﬁnancial circumstances. watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

AIDS WALK ORLANDO

K 5 n u R o r t e R MARCH 9TH, 2024 LAKE EOLA PARK

Let’s get physical! Run (or walk) your way back to the vibrant and dynamic 1980s to raise awareness, funds, and support for HIV prevention and treatment.

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Injecting Options

Advancements in HIV prevention, treatment offer choices when it comes to managing your care

Jeremy Williams

VERY FIRST OF DECEMBER SINCE

1988, the globe has recognized World AIDS Day. This annual event serves as a reminder of the global struggle to end HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to honor those we have lost and a rallying cry to continue working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat. There have been several key moments in the last 40 or so years that were genuine times to celebrate in the fight against HIV. One of those key moments was on July 16, 2012 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of PrEP.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication that reduces a person’s chances of contracting HIV. It is a safe and highly effective drug when taken as prescribed. The first drug approved by the FDA as PrEP was Truvada. This one-a-day pill was previously

approved as part of an HIV treatment regimen but was found to offer uninfected individuals protection against the virus. “If and when HIV infects the body, it has to incorporate genetic material into your cellular DNA and PrEP actually prevents that from happening,” says Dr. Steven Barnett, chief medical officer for CAN Community Health. “By taking this one pill every day you’ve essentially eliminated the risk of being infected with HIV.” For years, Truvada was the only pill approved by the FDA to be used as PrEP, until 2019, when Descovy was approved for the same purpose. “Descovy took away some of the issues that Truvada has,”

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What is the population of America? How many are HIV+? (then subtract)

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Barnett says. “Truvada, which also has a generic available now, is still a very safe and effective drug but Descovy took away the concerns in some people who saw bone loss and Truvada can be a tad bit harder on the kidneys in some people.” The issue with Descovy is it hasn’t been FDA approved for people assigned female at birth. “They haven’t completed the studies for that but we think it is going to be fine once they do. But because of that we prescribe Truvada for those born female at birth right now,” Barnett adds. With PrEP approved by the FDA and available to patients, who is the medication specifically for? Everyone, says Erick Suarez, nurse practitioner and chief medical officer for Pineapple Healthcare. “PrEP is for literally anyone who has sexual contact who is 77 pounds or greater. It is actually weight based and not age based,” Suarez says. “Because PrEP is preventative and not treatment you also cannot give it to a minor without parental consent in the state of Florida.” Suarez says that the initial trials for Descovy only being tested in people who were assigned male at birth turned out to have a silver lining. “The plus side to them not expanding the Descovy trials is everyone in the HIV-prevention world noticed, so when we started testing other medications they saw that we need to have a broader sample set in our studies,” he says.

INJECTABLE PREP

hen studies began for a PrEP injectable medication, they did just that and, in 2021, the FDA approved an injectable PrEP called Apretude — the brand name for the drug cabotegravir — for everyone. But why was the development of an injectable form of PrEP needed if the oral form was so effective? Because of the injectable med’s long-term nature, Suarez says. “Apretude is taken every two months after your first two injections,” he says. “So month one you do one injection, month two you do one injection and then

BI-MONTHLY MEDS: Cabenuva is a two-injectable regimen taken every two months at your health care provider’s office as an effective HIV treatment. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS after month two you do every two months.” “There are many reasons why someone might want to choose Apretude over Truvada or Descovy, but the biggest one is convenience,” Barnett says. “People who have very busy schedules and have difficulty keeping up on pills will find getting a shot every two months might work out better for them.” Convenience isn’t the only reason someone might elect to take the injectable over the daily pill. Both Barnett and Suarez suggested several reasons someone would prefer the injectable including individuals without a good housing situation which can lead to difficulties with daily regimens, fatigue in taking a pill every day and even the stigma that can come with taking PrEP. One of the big reasons that the injectable is appealing for patients, Suarez says, is because many people on PrEP pills forget to take them. “When I am speaking with a patient I give them permission to tell me when they have missed taking their pills. So instead of saying ‘Have you taken your pills every day?’ I say ‘How many times do you forget to take them?’ You give them permission to open up and talk about that,” he says. “That’s where we discover that daily compliance can be an issue, especially in the younger community where all they

take is PrEP, there’s no other medications so it is very easy for them to forget because there aren’t other conditions they are treating.” Compliance is a big issue when it comes to oral PrEP since just missing two doses can reduce the treatment’s efficaciousness to 55%. “You are basically flipping a coin at that point,” Suarez says. “That’s not giving you the protection that you need if you are taking PrEP.” One thing to consider if you are looking at switching your PrEP regimen from the daily pill to the bi-monthly shot is how you would need to get it. The current injectable PrEP available must be administered by a trained medical professional which means you are looking at more office visits with the injectable. “The injection is an intramuscular injection, so you are 90 degrees darting right into the muscle,” Suarez says. “It is usually injected into your backside but, because some people do have butt implants, studies have been done with the thigh muscle and it works there as well.” Barnett adds that receiving the medication has zero risks as long as it is being administered by a trained professional. “First, it is very difficult to give yourself an intramuscular shot in the buttocks,” he says.

“But doing it at home, even if you could tolerate giving yourself a shot that deep, you’ve got to make sure it isn’t going directly into the bloodstream.” Getting the injection into the muscle and not into the bloodstream is extremely important because of how this medication works. “It is an emulsion,” Barnett says. “It sits in the muscle where it is injected and it slowly releases it into the blood stream.” Suarez adds that the injection is a milky like substance that is quite gentle going in. “The solution creates this kind of clay and that’s how it dissolves slowly over two months,” he says. “It is perceptible to the patient but it is not perceptible to the outside world. You do not have a lump or a mark there but the patient can sometimes feel it there. We tell them if they do feel it then take that as a good sign that it is working how it is supposed to.” This technology for injectable medications isn’t new, says Barnett. “Probably the most commonly known of these types of medications is the birth control Depo-Provera,” he says. “That’s an injection that lasts for three months instead of taking a daily pill. It’s just a way that the drug is embedded into this solution that is very slow releasing.”

As with any medication there is a chance for side effects; however, both Barnett and Suarez say that for most people there are little to no side effects. “We have seen very few issues and those issues are the typical ones you see with all injectables —soreness or redness at the injection site,” Barnett says. According to the website of ViiV Healthcare, the company that manufactures Apretude, possible side effects can include fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, blisters, redness and swelling. It also warns against using Apretude if you take any of the following medications: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin or rifapentine. Be sure you share what medications you are taking when speaking with your health care provider about PrEP. While injectable PrEP is the popular new kid on the block, there are still reasons that taking the one-a-day pill might be a better option for some people. “The injectable isn’t for everyone,” Barnett says. “Some people just do not like injections. It isn’t a painful shot but we understand that some people just have a injection phobia. Something else to consider, you have to show up for your appointments for the injection. There is a window after your injection that you are protected and if you go beyond that window we can’t guarantee your protection. So you have to show up to the office for the injections.” Along with possibly needing to take that extra time off work for the appointments, Barnett says that blood needs to be drawn and tested more frequently. “With pills we usually require labs every three months, with the injectable it’s every two months,” he says. “So the time for that as well as the added cost of the office visits and the labs with copays and such is something to consider.” The cost of the drug is something that will come into play when working to cover it with your insurance plan. “I am actually one of the largest providers in Central Florida for injectable PrEP and it is kind of a 50/50 mixed bag,” Suarez says. “About 50% of insurances will cover it, the other half of our patients go through the patient assistance program

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Ending the HIV epidemic

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through the drug manufacturer. So if insurance will not cover it or they are uninsured or don’t have access to insurance, we advise them to access it through the patient assistance program.” Suarez adds that while the Affordable Care Act specifies PrEP is a preventive drug and needs to be covered, it doesn’t specify which type needs to be covered. “It allows the insurance company to pick and choose which one is best for their policies and limit patients to one or the other,” he says. “One might say we covered the generic Truvada, we did our job and complied with the Affordable Care Act, our job is done. Yes, they are following the law and doing what they are supposed to, but by limiting their patients to just one type they are leaving behind a lot of people that could benefit from this drug.”

INJECTABLE HIV TREAMENT

rEP isn’t the only form of treatment that has an injectable medication option now. In Jan. 2021, the FDA approved Cabenuva, an injectable, long-acting HIV treatment regimen. “Cabenuva is actually two injectables and has proven to be extremely effective,” Barnett says. “Because it is two medications, they are administered one into each buttock.” The regimen follows the same track as Apretude, with a pair of shots each of the first two months followed by a pair of shots every two months following that. The first of the two shots is actually the exact same medication taken as PrEP (that injection being 200 mg/mL of cabotegravir) with the second shot being 300 mg/mL of the drug rilpivirine. “The same rule applies with injectable HIV treatment as with injectable PrEP, do not massage the area,” Suarez says. “Let that little clay mass develop there and we want it to dissolve ever so slowly over time. We tell patients do not mess with it, if you feel it there then look at that as a reassurance that it is working.” Barnett says that just as with injectable PrEP, very few side effects have been observed in

INJECTING PROTECTION: Apretude is an injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, administered every two months by your health care provider. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS patients using the injectable HIV treatment. “Pain at the injection site occurs in about 10% of those you have gotten it, but we find that even that goes away by the second or third injection,” he says. “Honestly, the current medications that we have now, both oral and injectable, are extremely safe and void of side effects. We also are not seeing the resistance like we used to see in the older medications.” So why would someone who has had great results using oral HIV treatments switch to an injectable? The same reason someone would want the injectable PrEP, Suarez says: convenience. “We are at a place now with managing HIV that many people who are HIV positive and take HIV meds are healthy enough that they have no other conditions and this is the only pill they take,” he says. “Also for a lot of people, HIV was not a positive thing that happened in their life. It has its own negative connotation and psychologically it takes them

back to that moment every time they take the pill. So to have an injection every two months as opposed to taking a pill everyday means they can be triggered less by it.” Suarez does add that someone newly infected with HIV will need to start with an oral HIV treatment before switching over to the injectable. “The reason is their viral load needs to be below 50 before they can start the injectable,” Suarez says. “In fact most insurance companies will not approve the use of the injectable until there is proof the patient’s viral load is below 50.” Viral load is the amount of HIV in a person’s blood. It is measured by how many particles of HIV are in a blood sample with the results being given as the number of copies of HIV per milliliter of blood — for example 50 copies/ mL. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Someone with HIV is at an “undetectable level” when they have less than 200 copies/mL.

“We have found that when a patient starts with the injectable, they have a very difficult time in getting to an undetectable status,” Suarez says. “The injectable treatments are wonderful when it comes to maintenance but having the bite to really lower the viral load from someone who is newly detected, not so much.” The success of injectables used for HIV prevention and treatment has led to some medication advancements on the horizon. The most promising being the PrEP injectable Lencaprivir. “It is a new class that we call capsid inhibitors,” Barnett says. “It lasts for six months with one subcutaneous injection. Preliminary studies show that it is just as effective in preventing HIV all by itself.” A subcutaneous injection is a type of shot that is administered under the skin as opposed to the current intramuscular injection. That would mean the injection could be administered by the patient at their home. “That’s the holy grail of PrEP. The patient can administer

themselves and then they would just need to show up for their labs every six months,” Barnett says. “The hope is that it will be FDA approved within a year.” “I definitely feel like with PrEP, long-acting injectables will become common and whoever has the longest lasting injectable will win the gold,” Suarez says. “But we have to wait and see what that will look like. For example, if you have an injectable PrEP that lasts for a year but leaves you with green welts then you probably aren’t going to care that it protects you for a year.” As for HIV treatment, Bartnett says there are some possibilities of using Lencaprivir. “It is currently approved only for use as part of an HIV treatment regimen in those who have drug resistance to other HIV meds,” he says. “Some studies are looking at developing another long-acting injection to go along with Lencaprivir for HIV treatment or possibly taking the Lencaprivir shot along with a long lasting pill that you would take once a month or something like that but that is still a ways off.” For Suarez, he sees the future of HIV treatment going a different route. “To be honest, I don’t see injectables being the future of HIV treatment,” he says. “What I see going on right now in science, if I had to predict where we are going in the future with HIV treatment, I would say HIV would look like an infusion. Like an IV drip infusion in the doctor’s office once or twice a year. You come in for a 30-minute appointment and they hook you up to the first medication, flush you out and hook up the second one and then you are on your way.” Regardless of which treatment or prevention you choose, nothing will work if you’re not on it, Barnett says. “We have three options for PrEP, two pills and one injectable, but you have got to be on something,” he says. “If you are HIV positive, we currently have about five options for the one-a-day-pills and one injectable option, and those are all amazing treatments that work really well.” For more information on HIV prevention and treatment, you can visit Pineapple Healthcare at PineappleHealthcare.com or contact them at 407-553-6336. Visit CAN Community Health at CANCommunityHealth. org or contact them at 844-922-2777.

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Outrageous

Fortune Comedian Fortune Feimster brings her ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ tour to Florida

Gregg Shapiro

UEER COMEDIANS ARE FUNNIER

than they’ve ever been. From Wanda Sykes and Matteo Lane to Jessica Kirson and Jerrod Carmichael, they keep the non-stop laughs coming. There’s little doubt that Fortune Feimster is one of the funniest of the bunch. With two hilarious, full-length Netflix specials to her name — 2020’s “Sweet & Salty” and 2022’s “Good Fortune” — numerous acting roles and a brand new live stand-up comedy tour, aptly titled “Live, Love, Laugh,” there’s plenty of Fortune to go around. A genuinely kind and thoughtful soul, Feimster made time for an interview before heading out on tour.

PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG

WATERMARK: FORTUNE, IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU SAY YOUR STAND-UP HAS EVOLVED IN RECENT YEARS?

Fortune Feimster: I think my stand-up has evolved tremendously because in 2018 I had just done, the year before, my half-hour [special] for Netflix. So, I think it was with “Sweet & Salty,” which came out in early 2020, where I really found my voice. I landed on that storytelling,

talking about my life, sharing who I am, in a more vulnerable kind of way. I felt like that that resonated so much with audiences, that I was like, “Oh, this is what I like doing.” Not as much the set-up/punchline [kinds of comedy], which you feel the need to do more when you’re in a club because there are a lot more distractions. But with theaters, which I was able to move to after “Sweet & Salty,” it really allowed me to dig more into the story side of my stand-up.

SHORTLY AFTER WE SPOKE IN 2020, EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. YOU ADDRESSED THE SUBJECT OF THE PANDEMIC IN YOUR 2022 “GOOD FORTUNE” TOUR. HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PANDEMIC CHANGED YOU PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY?

Obviously it was a difficult time. People had no idea what live performance would look like. That was the first in our lifetimes that nobody could perform. No clubs were open. We always thought that live performance was kind of foolproof in that way.

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Category Is: A Celebration Of Ballroom Culture

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YOU ARE PERFORMING AT THE KRAVIS CENTER IN WEST PALM BEACH ON NEW YEAR’S EVE. IS THIS THE WAY YOU USUALLY RING IN THE NEW YEAR?

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But we saw that anything can happen. What came from that was resilience. A lot of comedians figured out a way they could still do what they love, still make people happy and help alleviate some of the anxiety that people were going through by still finding a way to do comedy and make people laugh. You saw a lot of Zoom shows happening. I did a bunch of outdoor shows. I did baseball fields. I did parking lots and outdoor movie theaters. It was a very interesting time and I think it showed a lot of us how much we love what we do and will do anything to try to figure out how to make it work. You saw the need for comedy in a way that we haven’t had in a very long time. People were so stressed and full of anxiety. It was a really tragic time. A lot of lives were lost. People needed to have that relief. I think it made me appreciate the medium more than ever. Once you can’t do it for a long time, it makes you that much more determined to do it. I approach it from a much more dedicated place. JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO CARRY ON WITH OUR LIVES, WAR BREAKS OUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. DO YOU FEEL THAT, AS A COMEDIAN, IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE COMEDY, OR AS YOU’VE SAID, “ADDING LEVITY TO THE WORLD”?

I think that’s how I approach comedy in general; with the idea of adding levity. I try to come from a more positive place, a more uplifting place. That’s where my focus has been for a while. There’s just so much going on in the world where we live. People are faced with challenges every day. There’s war. There are awful things happening all over the world. You go online and you can see a barrage of very intense, very negative, very difficult things that people are going through. If I can provide an hour and a half of relief from that, it’s something I’m glad that I can provide. I don’t know how to fix all these other bigger problems. Obviously, those are beyond many of our capabilities. We can’t control those things. All I can do is find ways to make people feel good, make people laugh and

TAKING THE STAGE: Fortune Feimster, holding her pup Biggie, during her 2022 Netflix comedy special, “Good Fortune.” PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBURG/NETFLIX

that’s where I approached my comedy from.

YOU HAVE A JOKE ABOUT MEETING YOUR WIFE JAX IN A PARKING LOT, DUE TO THE LACK OF LESBIAN BARS. LESBIAN WRITER KRISTA BURTON WROTE THE BOOK “MOBY DYKE,” SUBTITLED “AN OBSESSIVE QUEST TO TRACK DOWN THE LAST REMAINING LESBIAN BARS IN AMERICA.” IF YOU COULD OPEN A LESBIAN BAR, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT AND WHERE WOULD YOU OPEN IT?

[Laughs] Gosh, I don’t know! I would maybe open it back in my home state of North Carolina. I feel like those are the places where representation and community are needed even more. What would I call it? We were doing a radio show the other day and there was a big seagull there. I was like, “Oh, look at that chunky seagull.” And then I said, “That’s a great name for a bar!” So, maybe I would call it The Chunky Seagull [laughs].

JAX IS FROM CHICAGO, AND YOU HAVE SAID HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE CITY. WHEN YOU’VE BEEN THERE, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO STOP INTO THE NEW LESBIAN BAR NOBODY’S DARLING?

No! I didn’t even know about it.

IN FACT, IT’S DOING SO WELL, IT’S EXPANDING.

Where is this bar?

DO YOU KNOW WHERE WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST BOOKS IS IN ANDERSONVILLE?

I do!

IT’S A FEW BLOCKS WEST OF THAT.

Listen, any time there is a new bar for lesbians or owned by lesbians, I want it to succeed because it is difficult. I don’t know what the reasoning is behind that. I think, in general, it’s hard to keep a bar or restaurant afloat anyway, but we certainly lack those spots in our community, so I wish these places the best. WITH YOUR NEW SHOW “LIVE LOVE LAUGH,” YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN EMBARKING ON A STAND-UP TOUR. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT IT?

I feel like with every tour I hone my voice a little bit more each time. I know myself a little bit better each time. I’m having fun! That’s what’s most important to me. If I’m having fun, that means you’re going to have fun. I’m really enjoying the stories that I’m telling. I talk a lot about Jax, about our relationship. I’m telling stories about my mom. I always feel weird laughing at my own stories, but my stories about my mom genuinely crack me up. It’s been fun digging into that. I’ve also been interacting with the audience a lot more. Talking to them and having some fun crowd-work moments. This has been one of those where every time I’m on stage, I’m pumped to see what comes. With the crowd-work part, especially, you just never know what you’re going to get. I love that aspect because it keeps me on my toes.

SPEAKING OF BEING ON YOUR TOES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE ABOUT YOUR LIVE PERFORMANCES IS THE WAY YOU INCORPORATE LITTLE TOUCHES OF PHYSICAL COMEDY AND THAT YOU ARE KNOWN TO BREAK INTO SONG SHOWING OFF YOUR WONDERFUL SINGING VOICE. DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A MUSIC ALBUM, OR PERHAPS A ROLE IN A BROADWAY MUSICAL, IN YOUR FUTURE?

Oh, gosh, my mom would love that. Every time I bring up stand-up, she’s like, “When are you gonna start singing? People would love it!” I’m like, “I don’t know what you mean by that!” I’m not a songwriter. It’s not like I can go out with a guitar and be like, “All right guys, here’s a song I wrote.” Adam Sandler does that so beautifully. He writes songs and plays guitar, so it’s cool. I would just have to sing covers and [laughs] I don’t know exactly how that would work as far as being original. I do try to find ways to sing something in my set because it’s fun to show a different side of myself. I recently got onstage and sang a song with The Chicks in Nashville. I sang “Goodbye, Earl,” with them. People were like, “Oh, my gosh, you can actually sing!” I would love to, at some point, do something but I don’t know what that is; if it’s an acting thing or what. But I’m not gonna go on tour as a music act.

I have done it before. Normally, it was at comedy clubs. They always have a special night. At a club, you’re doing two shows in a night; the early show and the late show. After the late show, you get off the stage and then go back on and ring in the new year with everybody. I always felt a lot of pressure — like, “Oh, I’m gonna be the one counting down for everybody? The beginning of their new year is going to depend on me?” So, I stopped doing it for a while. We were going to go to Florida anyway, to see Jax’s family, and I thought, “Why not? Maybe let’s try it with a theater?” I thought it would be cool because the show’s earlier, at 7. You go to a show, and then everybody can do what they want after, go to dinner. They can have a fun, awesome night, but I don’t have to be responsible for their countdown and messing that up. Hopefully, it’ll be the start to their very fun evening. ARE YOU A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION MAKER?

Oh, yeah!

WHAT’S YOUR RECORD IN KEEPING THEM?

I would have to go look. Jax and I started this tradition about five years ago. Jax is not one of those L.A./hippie-dippie types at all, but she likes the idea of setting goals and intentions. I said, “Why don’t we start making a vision board,” which sounds very L.A. We would cut things out of magazines, and write our goals and intentions, and show each other what we did. Kind of put it out there — “This is what I’m hoping to do in the next year.” That felt like it gave it more weight, gave it more direction and purpose. That’s one of my favorite things that we do every year. It feels like we’re starting off the year on a good foot. I’ll have to go back and look and see if we’ve accomplished any of those things. I believe so! I think we’ve had some cool things unfold. Fortune Feimster’s “Live, Laugh, Love” tour comes to Florida in December with stops at The Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg Dec. 28 and the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Dec. 29. For ticket information, go to FortuneFeimster.com.

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

P hotography in your best light! Fine Art | Portrait | Wedding | Commercial

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

ARTS

Category Is…

John Gascot brings ballroom to The Werk Gallery

IN THE ZONE: John

Gascot paints in his studio earlier this month. PHOTO BY JENNIFER RING

Jennifer Ring

EOPLE ARE LATIN POP ARTIST JOHN

Gascot’s favorite subject. He’s painted people of every size, shape, color and gender during his 20+ year career as an artist, but he’d never painted anyone voguing — until this year. Gascot is bringing his new ballroom-inspired collection to The Werk Gallery in St. Petersburg this December in a series of celebratory paintings. “Category Is” will feature a selection of 10-15 pieces in the space. Watermark spoke with Gascot about ballroom culture and storytelling through art. He says he found his inspiration in Afrofuturism. Gascot was working on his first ballroom sketch when he received an email from The Studio@620 seeking art for “Bridges: Future/ Present, Future/Past,” part of the 2nd Tampa Bay Afrofuturism Festival. He read the description and immediately thought of ballroom. Afrofuturism is a genre of literature, art, film and music with many definitions. The email Gascot received spoke of Afrofuturism as an antidote to cultural erasure.

Gascot wrote back, “Well, yesterday I started sketching this painting about ballroom culture, which was started by queer brown and Black people who are constantly being under erasure. But later, it was appropriated by people like Madonna, by white culture. This seems kind of like a perfect piece.” But the more he thought about it, Gascot realized that he didn’t want his ballroom story to end with a single piece in a single show. “I wanted to do a whole show and not just one painting.’” Gascot says. “Because there are so many categories in ballroom. I want to do dips, and I want to do duck walks, and I want to do femme realness. So I reached out to Matthew [Barnes, at The Werk Gallery], and I was like, ‘Hey, is this something that would interest you? And just on the sketch, he was like, ‘Let’s do it.’” This openness to new ideas is one of the reasons Gascot approached The

Werk in the first place. He also enjoys the gallery’s opulent, boutique style — and then there’s the name. Werk is slang for bringing a mix of attitude and vigor to a performance. “The Werk was the first place I thought of,” Gascot says. “I could just show my own work [at The Studios@5663, which he owns], but I wanted to bring it over there and give them a taste of what’s going on here.” For Barnes, Gascot’s pitch came at exactly the right time. “John came to us and it was like an answer to a prayer,” Barnes explains. He was planning a holiday show that he hadn’t announced, so he leaned into Gascot’s ballroom idea, considering additional ways to bring ballroom culture to Tampa Bay. “Ballroom has been around since the 20s in Harlem,” Gascot notes. “But it kind of blew up around the 60s, 70s, 80s, and it seems to be making a resurgence after [the FX series] ‘Pose.’” Ballroom had its heyday in New York City in the 80s. Jennie Livingston documented the scene in the now classic film “Paris is Burning.” As parents disowned their LGBTQ+ children, leaving them homeless, they found family in the ballroom community, often taken in by house mothers who gave them shelter and community. Gascot’s collection includes one such character. “I want to make her really out there, but like somebody that the community would respect,” Gascot shared while creating the piece. “I want to make her opulent and kind of gaudy, but at the same time warm and exuding protection because that’s what mothers do. They picked up strays — people who had been kicked out by their parents and stuff like that, and they offered them a semblance of family.” It wasn’t easy to be an LGBTQ+ individual or a person of color in the 80s, and being both was even harder. “Paris is Burning” shows how these challenges inspired different ballroom categories, like executive realness. In the 80s, when there weren’t many opportunities for POC to become executives, the fantasy played out in balls.

“If the category is executive realness, you want it to look like you’re the CEO of a company,” says Gascot. “And whoever is most convincing at that wins. Or if it’s an opulent, Marie Antoinette-type category, big ball gowns are part of the presentation.” “The categories are endless,” he continues. “There are as many as you can come up with. There are categories that are famous and traditional, but then they come up with new stuff.” Gascot will paint at least 10 different categories for the show. He began the process by “jotting down some categories that I knew — face, dip, mutha” and “working my way through them as I went to see what I felt like sketching next.” The people painted in “Category Is” are like characters in a ballroom story. They come from his mind. Although he sometimes paints portraits for people in his style, the performers depicted in these paintings aren’t real people. “When I paint, I feel like I’m creating my own world,” Gascot says. “That’s the fun part of it for me. I think that’s why I don’t necessarily work with models or set up a still life. Because I like creating it.” To bring the opening reception for “Category Is” to life, Barnes and Gascot reached out to their connections to find local vogue performers. That was how they met Vodou Revlon, who will vogue live. Gascot looks forward to seeing Revlon vogue around his paintings. “I think it will be great, great stuff to share with people who follow me or the gallery,” Gascot explains. “And just to give examples of ways that you can combine different art forms.” Gascot enjoys making his artwork interactive. Just as people place themselves within Gascot’s “Diversity in Democracy” mural at 556 Central Ave., commissioned by the League of Women Voters St. Pete in 2020 as part of an LGBTQ+ Equality Voters campaign, Gascot hopes to see people pose next to, or in front of, his ballroom-inspired paintings at The Werk this December. Because of their large size, Gascot says they’ll make a great backdrop for selfies. So strike a pose and snap a selfie next to Gascot’s “Category Is” paintings this December. And don’t forget to tag the artist @JGascot and the gallery @ TheWerkGallery on Instagram. “Category Is” will be held Dec. 1-29, 2023 at The Werk, located at 2210 1st Ave. S., in St. Petersburg. The opening reception, featuring a ballroom performance by Vodou Revlon, happens Fri., Dec. 1. from 5-9 p.m. Learn more at TheWerk.Gallery.

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

announcements

TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS The Equality Florida Tampa Gala raised at least $550,000 Nov. 10, a new record for the annual event. The “Drag2Talle Nine” — Angelique Young, Ericka PC, Daniel Cruz, Lilith Black, Apollo Infiniti, Freya Rose Young, Dom Weeks, Brianna Summers and Jordan Rugh — were also honored with the 2023 Voice for Equality Award during the ceremony. Read more on p. 10 and view a full photo gallery at WatermarkOnline.com. The Human Rights Campaign and Showtime announced Nov. 9 that Blaque/OUT Magazine has been named as a 2023 beneficiary of their LGBTQ+ business preservation

initiative. Read more on p. 10.

Come OUT St. Pete held its rescheduled 2023 celebration Nov. 11 in recognition of last month’s National Coming Out Day. View a full photo gallery at WatermarkOnline.com. The 20th and final SMART Ride was held Nov. 1718, benefiting Empath Partners in Care in Tampa Bay. Local organizers held a final SMART Ride send-off Nov. 11 at Enigma, raising $1,500 for the cause. Read more at WatermarkOnline.com. Sarasota’s Dan and Steve Warren celebrated 35 years together Nov. 23. The Castle celebrates 31 years in Ybor Nov. 26.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Verizon IT computer engineer Mike Hammonds, Tampa Hospice admissions manager Peter Shute, St Pete Pride Secretary Molly Robison (Nov. 22); Tampa actor Lauren Clark, Tampa Bay Sisters member John Miller (Nov. 23); Project Pride President Jason Champion (Nov. 24); Hairstylist and drag entertainer Miranda Richards (Nov. 25); St. Petersburg nurse Ed Briggs (Nov. 26); St. Petersburg actor Ken Basque, Tampa Bay softballer Jason Bagwell, Tampa politico Tyler Barrett (Nov. 27); Tampa Bay chef Paege Chafin (Nov. 28); St. Petersburg actor Kris Doubles, Tampa softball bear Bubba De, St. Petersburg celebrity chef Jeffrey Jew, Delta flight attendant Trey Orihuela, Tampa Bay activist Stephen Hawk, Drag king James Jackson (Nov. 29); ALSO Youth board member Craig Kaplan (Nov. 30); Tampa hairstylist Marc Retzlaff, former Sarasota Pride board member Mary Hoch, Watermark contributor Deb Kelley (Dec. 1); St. Petersburg socialite Todd Wilber, Tampa trendsetter Cameron Williams (Dec. 2); City of Sarasota Human Rights Board member Michael Shelton, former Tampa bowler Dave Bauer, Watermark Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent (Dec. 3); Bambu the Eco Salon owner Joshua DeBlock, St. Petersburg staple Ron Diana (Dec. 4); Opera Tampa assistant conductor Luis Gonzalez, Spathouse’s Scott Durfee, Cider Press Cafe owner Roland Strobel (Dec. 5); Venice Theater GM and Director of Diversity Kristofer Geddie, Tampa Bay actor Daniel Harris, Quench Lounger Theresa McGivern (Dec. 6).

GUIDING LIGHT: Co-Founder Nancy Desmond represents PFLAG Tampa at Hillsborough Community College Nov. 8. PHOTO FROM PFLAG

TAMPA’S FACEBOOK

‘TIS THE SEASON: (L-R) Tampa City Councilmember Alan Clendenin, Mayor Jane Castor and Councilmember Luis Viera attend the Ybor City Tree Lighting Nov. 15.

PHOTO FROM CASTOR’S FACEBOOK

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Bradley’s on 7th owner Bradley Nelson (2nd from R) presents a donation to Metro Inclusive Health’s (L-R) Nate Taylor, Priya Rajkumar and James Keane Nov. 6.

PHOTO FROM METRO’S FACEBOOK

BLASTING OFF: SMART Ride supporters raise funds for the final ride at Enigma with “Wigs in Space” Nov. 11.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

FINAL RIDE: Chris Hannay makes a pit stop during the SMART Ride 20 on Nov. 17. PHOTO FROM SMART

RIDE’S FACEBOOK

VOICES FOR EQUALITY: Equality Florida Tampa Gala Host Michael Womack (L) and Chair Gary Howell flank the “Drag2Talle Nine” Nov. 10 while they’re recognized at the event.

PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

IN REMEMBRANCE: St Pete Pride attends the Nov. 9 St. Pete City Council meeting at City Hall for the reading of the Transgender Day of Remembrance proclamation. PHOTO FROM ST PETE PRIDE’S FACEBOOK

OUT AND PROUD: Come OUT St Pete welcomes supporters to their rescheduled event at Seminole Park Nov. 11.

PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

A Queer Podcast Presented by

Hosted By Rick Todd Jeremy Williams

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

announcements

CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS Pineapple Healthcare presented the LGBT+ Center Orlando with a check for $10,000 during The Center’s Turnabout fundraiser at Savoy in Orlando Nov. 14. In total, The Center Orlando took in $20,000 from the event. Comic shop Gods & Monsters celebrated its eighth anniversary, and the sixth anniversary of its geek-themed craft beer bar VAULT 5421, Nov. 14.

Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, executive director at Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka, was named one of the finalists for the Don Quijote Awards’ 2023 Professional of the Year on Nov. 14. The Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando and Prospera, the two largest Hispanic economic development organizations in Central Florida, annually present the Don Quijote Awards to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions made by individuals and businesses that

have demonstrated excellence, innovation and leadership within the Hispanic business sector. Sousa-Lazaballet was named a Professional of the Year finalist along with Dr. Cyndia Muñiz, UCF’s senior director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives and Partnerships, and Diahann Smith, director of marketing and business development communications at Florida Dairy Farmers. The winners will be announced at the 26th Don Quijote Awards Celebration at Epcot’s World Showplace Pavilion

on Dec. 9.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS State Rep. Linda Stewart, Outgoing One Orlando Alliance executive director Josh Bell, Orlando socialite John Babshaw (Nov. 23); Orlando lawyer Ed Blaisdell, drag legend Rich Kuntz, AKA Gidget Galore (Nov. 24); Pandora Events CEO Alison Burgos, Savoy bartender Max Morris, USA Today reporter and former Watermark intern Christal Hayes, Orlando artist Jennifer Benjamin (Nov. 26); Edible Orlando owner/publisher Kendra Lott (Nov. 27); former HRC president Joe Solmonese, Savoy Orlando bartender Lauren Pernell (Nov. 28); Orlando Bisexual Alliance founder Sarah Wissig (Nov. 29); Orlando Gay Chorus founding member David Schuler (Nov. 30); Orlandobased writer Jim Crescitelli (Dec. 1); Zebra Coalition executive director Heather Wilkie, Orlando realtor Jeff Earley, derby volunteer wrangler Cynthia “Cynfully Vicious” West (Dec. 2); Watermark freelancer Kirk Hartlage (Dec. 3); Watermark administrative assistant Alec Perez, “Flame On” podcast host Bryan Pittard,

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Drag queens Ginger Beer and Sappirah Cyte as well as members of the Orlando Otters Rugby Football Club volunteer for the Drag & Drive food pantry event at the LGBT+ Center Orlando Nov. 11. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Erick (L) and Ethan Suarez (Center) present Dr. George Wallace, The Center’s CEO, with a $10,000 check at Savoy in Orlando Nov. 14. PHOTO BY NOEL GARCÍA

DISNEY MAGIC: Jeremy Williams (L) and Rick Todd attend CFCArts’ Symphonic Disney concert at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Nov 17. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

DELICIOUS BITES: Se7en Bites owner Trina Gregory shows off the desserts she prepared for the James Beard Foundation’s “Friends of the Vine: A Magical Evening” event at Quantum Leap Winery in Orlando Nov. 9. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

SUNDAY FUNDAY: (L-R) Brandon Nelson, Wes Davis and Daniel Sohn catch up at District Dive in Orlando Nov. 19. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

TALK TURKEY: Magic 107.7’s Chad Pitt (L) and Leslye Gale hang at the Sedano’s Supermarket on Curry Ford Rd. in Orlando handing out free turkeys to contest winners Nov. 18. PHOTO FROM

MAGIC 107.7’S INSTAGRAM

7 8

SHOWSTOPPER: P!nk performs at the Amway Center in Orlando Nov.

18. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

PAIR OF QUEENS: Twila Holiday and Anastasia Deverreoux are queens of the bathroom selfie at Savoy in Orlando Nov. 12.

PHOTO FROM TWILA HOLIDAY’S FACEBOOK

Osceola Arts COO Jeremiah Krivinchuk, Bites and Bubbles entrepreneur Eddie Nickell (Dec. 6).

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community calendar

EVENT PLANNER EPIC Generations Coffee Hour, Nov. 24, Senior Center, Gulfport. 727-328-3260; MyEPIC.org

CENTRAL FLORIDA Central Florida World AIDS Day

Enchant Christmas, Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg. EnchantChristmas.com

FRIDAY, DEC. 1, 6-9 P.M. 1010 WEST, ORLANDO Join the Central Florida HIV Planning Council for its dynamic World AIDS Day Celebration, presented by Pineapple Healthcare. This year’s event will explore the experience of people living with HIV through art and will feature live entertainment, a lively DJ, arts showcase, delicious free food and a moment of remembrance with the Central Florida AIDS Quilt. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit CentralFloridaHIVPC.com.

Dec. Business Connect WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6, 6-8 P.M.

“A Very Darren Crissmas,” Nov. 25, Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

FUNNY TIMES

HUNGRY PANTS, ORLANDO The Pride Chamber invites you to join them for the December Business Connect. This monthly networking mixer provides the opportunity to meet other members, enjoy complimentary refreshments and get updates on upcoming events. For this month’s mixer, The Pride Chamber will be collecting pet-related items that will be donated to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. The event is free to members and $20 for guests. You can register at ThePrideChamber.org.

TAMPA BAY World AIDS Day Commemoration THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 6 P.M. CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH, TAMPA Join CAN Community Health and Moffitt Cancer Center for “Unite in Red,” a World AIDS Day Commemoration. The evening will welcome Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and feature a candlelight vigil, a musical performance by the USF Gospel Choir and a wide array of guest speakers and panelists. Visit CANCommunityHealth.org for more details.

Red & Green 2023 SATURDAY, DEC. 2, 7-10 P.M. SUNKEN GARDENS, ST. PETERSBURG St Pete Pride’s annual holiday fundraiser returns, hosted by Queen Sheba. Tickets are $75 and support St Pete Pride’s mission, benefiting their 2024 LGBTQ+ youth programming and community partner Family Resources. The St Pete Pride Court will perform throughout the evening, which features an open bar, light bites and more. Visit StPetePride.org for more details and to buy tickets.

The Broadway tour of “Funny Girl” comes to the Straz Center in Tampa Nov. 28-Dec. 3 and to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Dec. 5-10. PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY FOR MURPHY MADE

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT CENTRAL FLORIDA “A Swingin’ Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett,” Nov. 10-Dec. 16, Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterParkPlayHouse.org “A Christmas Carol The Musical,” Nov. 17-Dec. 10, The Heneger Center, Melbourne. 321-723-8698; Heneger.org ICE! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Nov. 17Jan. 3, Gaylord Palms Resort, Kissimmee. 407-586-0000; ChristmasAtGaylordPalms. Marriott.com Turkey Day 5K, Nov. 23, Downtown, Sanford. 407-688-5000; SanfordFL.gov Gobble Gobble “Come Get Stuffed” Thanksgiving Night, Nov. 23, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

Epcot’s Candlelight Processional, Nov. 24-Dec. 30, Epcot, Walt Disney World. 407-939-5277; DisneyWorld. Disney.Go.com Candlelight: The Best of Amy Winehouse, Nov. 25, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” Nov. 25Dec. 17, Athens Theatre, DeLand. 386-736-1500; AthensDeLand.com Darren Criss: A Very Darren Crissmas, Nov. 29, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 29-Dec. 24, Orlando Shakes, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org 45th Annual Christmas in the Park, Nov. 30, Central Park, Winter Park. 407-645-5311; MorseMuseum.org

2023 Tree Lighting Celebration, Dec. 1, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. 407-246-2121; Orlando.gov “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever The Musical,” Dec. 1-17, Osceola Arts, Kissimmee. 407-846-4643; OsceolaArts.org “Book of Mormon,” Dec. 4, Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach. 386-671-3472; PeabodyAuditorium.org “Funny Girl,” Dec. 5-10, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org Santa Visits The Center, Dec. 7, LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.com

TAMPA BAY “The Choir of Man,” Through Dec. 10, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org TurkeyOke!, Nov. 22, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com

Santa Parade & Tree Lighting, Nov. 25, Downtown St. Petersburg. 727-893-7441; StPeteParksRec.org “Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour,” Nov. 25, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com 93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball, Nov. 26, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com “Funny Girl,” Nov. 28Dec. 3, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org Mangsen Law Presentation, Nov. 29, Empath Partners in Care, St. Petersburg. 727-328-3260; MyEPIC.org Media Club, Nov. 30, Empath Partners in Care, St. Petersburg. 727-328-3260; MyEPIC.org “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org Pride Skate Tampa, Dec. 2, Skateworld, Tampa. 813-884-7688; Facebook.com/ PrideSkateTampa Festival of Wreaths Auction & Show, Dec. 3, The Garage on Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-258-4850; Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage

SARASOTA “Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour,” Nov. 29, Van Wezel, Sarasota. 941-263-6799; VanWezel.org

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watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMB ER 6 , 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0. 24 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

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