Watermark Issue 19.13: St. Pete Pride

DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 19.13 • JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

ORLANDO GAYS

INVADE FOX NEWS

Christine O’Leary just wants to have fun as St. Pete Pride’s Mistress of Ceremonies

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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CELEBRATE

FAMILY+FRIENDS

LOVE+LIFE EQUALITY+RESPECT

PRIDE

+JOY MACY’S TYRONE SQUARE FRIDAY, JUNE 29TH @ 6PM MEN’S DEPT./1ST FLOOR

Treat yourself to an evening of fashion, fun and surprises with Jai Rodriguez, best known as the culture guide on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy; Alec Mapa, America’s Gaysian Sweetheart and award-winning comedienne Christine O’Leary. Watch as our models strut the hottest styles for the weekend’s many Pride festivites as you enjoy refreshments* courtesy of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and Bud Light Lime.

Show your love for the newly crowned Mr. and Mrs. St. Pete Pride, and don’t miss out on a little pampering with Aveda Institute St. Petersburg.

Plus, with any Men’s purchase or $75 or more, you’ll receive a “Show Your Pride” kit and have your photo taken with our fabulous hosts.† Also, with any feel it papi underwear purchase of $5O or more, you’ll receive a free tank.** And, if that wasn’t enough, when you donate $1O to the St. Pete Pride organization, you’ll receive a $1O Macy’s Gift Card.††

GO TO MACYS.COM/PRIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION and to test your knowledge of Pride history for a chance to win a $1OO Macy’s Gift Card!***

Macy’s proudly supports The Human Rights Campaign and all of its initiatives.

Find us.

Follow us.

Events subject to change or cancellation. *Must be at least 21 years old to be served. While supplies last. †While supplies last and while time permits. **While supplies last. Qualifying purchase must be made at Macy’s Tyrone Square on Friday, June 29, 2O12. ††Only valid on pruchases made at Macy’s Tyrone Square on Friday, June 29, 2O12. ***No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, (D.C.), Puerto Rico and Guam, 18 and older. Void where prohibited. Contest runs 5/28 through 6/3O/12. For complete official rules, visit www.macys.com/pride 36959_n2050676a.indd 1

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

5/21/12 7:28 PM watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE. 3

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We offer Happy Hour Tuesday-Saturday from 5pm to 7 pm featuring House Wines, Bottled Beer & House Well Drinks.

Our glass enclosed garden room is perfect for groups of up to 36 including bridal showers and wedding rehearsal dinners.

Outdoor seating is also available in our courtyard.

Before or after your dining experience at the Bistro, you can visit the other fine businesses located in the Hidden Gardens. Located in our courtyard is the Ancient Olive, an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting bar. We use some of their unique flavored oils and vinegars in several of our recipes along with spices from The Spice & Tea Exchange, located directly across the street.

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

WWW.BISTROONPARKAVENUE.COM 348 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 539-6520

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I’m like the ‘Ethel’ to Reba’s ‘Lucy’ or ‘Jack’ 48 to her ‘Karen.’

DEPARTMENTS 6 // MAIL 13 // ORLANDO NEWS 17 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 21 // STATE 22 // NATION & WORLD 31 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 37 // EVENT PLANNER 39 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 41 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 52 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 53 // TRANSITIONS 54 // ADVICE 55 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE 60 // CLASSIFIEDS 62 // GALLERY W

PAGE

—JAI RODRIGUEZ

ON THE COVER

PAGE Christine O’Leary returns

31

to St. Petersburg as St. Pete Pride’s Mistress of Ceremonies June 28-30. She’ll also perform her standup the evening after the street festival on June 30.

Photo courtesy Kenneth Hopkins

SCAN QR CODE FOR

WATERMARKONLINE.COM

Preview

PAGE

45

PROUD MOMENT: She doesn’t consider herself a diva, but Deborah Cox will take the main stage of St. Pete Pride during the Street Festival on June 30. The dance queen talks to us about her career, a new album and her love of all things LGBT Pride.

W A T E R M A R K I S S U E 1 9 . 1 3 // J U N E 2 1 - J U L Y 4 , 2 0 1 2

ORLANDO NEWS

TAMPA BAY NEWS

PAGE Come Out With Pride

PAGE The Tampa Bay order of the

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GALLERY W

Read it online!

In addition to a Web site with daily LGBT updates, a digital version of each issue of the publication is made available on WatermarkOnline.com

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targets FOX for its PSA campaign; A Presbyterian church splits over gay issues; LGBT lawyers gather to discuss strategy; more.

17

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are more active than ever while prepping their Red Dress Ball to benefit St. Pete Pride: Partners can register in the City of Tampa when the clerk’s office opens on June 25; more.

PAGE Comedian Christine O’Leary

31

returns to St. Petersburg as St. Pete Pride’s Mistress of Ceremonies, but she’s also got a stand-up show planned. She talks to us about her love-love relationship with Tampa Bay; more.

PAGE Each year, tens of thousands

celebrate St. Pete 62 ofPridepeople on Central Avenue.

During the festivities last year, our art director Jake Stevens caught a touching reunion amid the chaos, and we get the story behind the photos.

TO SEE PHOTOS FROM ALL OF THE ST. PETE PRIDE FESTIVITIES, CHECK OUT WATERMARKONLINE.COM FOR OUR EXTENSIVE ONLINE GALLERIES! JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

5

ERIC

Du Bo i s

Vote on August 14th!

Thanks for remembering us

FOR

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

DuBoisForJudge.com Political advertisements paid for and approved by The Committee to Elect Eric DuBois, Circuit Court Judge Group 7.

Thank you to Steve Blanchard for remembering that there are many gay men out there who are raising children [Editor’s Desk, Issue 19.12].

So many people both within and outside the LGBT community believe that gay men are only interested in dancing shirtless at night clubs and looking for the next sexual encounter, when in fact many of us are working hard at raising well-adjusted, successful children. My partner and I have a beautiful four-year-old son who has made our life more complete than any late night party or night out with friends ever could. It’s true that our lives changed signi�icantly four years ago when our son came into our lives, but it’s a change neither of us ever regrets for a microsecond.

Thank you for reminding your readers that gay men are fathers and that those of us raising children are still part of the LGBT community!

JAMIE LINDSEY VIA E-MAIL

Gay Days connections Congratulations to everyone involved in organizing the events surrounding and including Gay Days this year. I haven’t been to Orlando’s biggest

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

“Many believe gay men are only interested in dancing shirtless at night clubs, when in fact many of us are working hard at raising welladjusted, successful children.”

—JAMIE LINDSEY

gay weekend in years, but was encouraged by friends to check it out this June, and I’m glad I did.

I saw so many old friends and connected with a ton of new ones. It’s heartening to see so many LGBT people and families in one place at one time. It’s a message of unity rarely seen so publicly.

LUIS TIERNEY JACKSONVILLE

Not surprised at Crist allegations Why are we so fascinated with Charlie Crist’s sexuality?

He’s no longer our governor and he’s out of the spotlight.

Plus, what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms is nobody else’s business.

If Crist is in fact gay, that’s something he and his wife need to discuss, without the eyes of the media and the state staring them down.

More than likely this will disappear, since it’s a transparent attempt by

watermarkonline.com

Jim Greer to distract from his own wrongdoings.

But unfortunately, gossip columnists and drama seekers will keep this “news” alive as long as they can. Whatever happened to keeping private and professional lives separate?

MOLLY AGRIPINA LAKELAND

Plenty to celebrate This year as LGBT Pride season kicks into high gear, we have much to celebrate: President Obama became the �irst sitting president to support the freedom to marry, public support for the freedom to marry continues to grow, and gay and lesbian soldiers can now serve openly.

We still have so much work to do, but now is a great moment to celebrate our victories and recharge for the work ahead.

MICHAEL CRAWFORD FREEDOM TO MARRY

CONTRIBUTORS

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

A

Desk

FEW WEEKS AGO I HEARD SOMEONE

refer to Pride events as “Gay Christmas.”

There’s a huge buildup, lots of preparation and then, once the celebration is over, a feeling of disappointment that the festivities have come and gone.

I laughed and essentially agreed with the sentiment—not to say that Christmas isn’t for everyone, regardless of sexuality.

It wasn’t until a week or so later when I thought about that conversation again. I was in stand-still traf�ic on the Howard Frankland Bridge crossing Tampa Bay when I noticed a sticker on the vehicle in front of me. It was a white outline of characters portraying a manger scene with the message, “Remember the Reason for the Season.” It was obviously a sticker commemorating Christmas.

WATERMARK STAFF

It’s a message we hear every winter. The December holiday is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Christ. Yet, the shopping, parties, gift wrapping, candy and Santa Claus hoopla often overshadows the simple message of “Peace on Earth.”

It’s a concern we hear from church leaders the moment the Thanksgiving Day Parade wraps up its route on that cold November morning.

It’s frustrating to many when the reasons behind a celebration are overlooked, and it’s not a far stretch to feel that same

Publisher: Tom Dyer • Ext. 305 • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Chief Financial Officer: Rick Claggett • Ext. 108 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Administrative Assistant: Erik Caban • Ext. 100 • Erik@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Steve Blanchard • 813-470-0899 • SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com Online Media Director: Jamie Hyman • Ext. 106 • Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Production Assistant: Andrés Duputel • Ext. 107 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com Sales Manager: Mark Cady • Ext. 102 [Orlando] • Mark@WatermarkOnline.com

frustration during Pride month.

St. Pete Pride is arguably the biggest LGBT Pride event in the state—Come Out With Pride boasts similar numbers, so who’s to say which is the largest. But beginning in late May, St. Pete Pride rolls out its of�icial program, published by Watermark, and events pepper every week of the June calendar. It all leads up to daily Pride events the last week of the month and culminating in the Promenade, Street Festival and after-parties. It’s a whole lot of fun spanning a long, hot month.

As we prepare for the big day, gay men and women �lood the gyms so their bodies are ready to be bared in the June heat.

Designing costumes, �loats and booths take priority for a majority of the businesses represented along Central Avenue. It’s a distracting month that celebrates our diversity, our families and our Pride.

But how often do we, as a community, remember the true reason for this season?

When the Stonewall Riots of New York unfolded on that June night in 1969, I wasn’t even a thought in my parents’ minds. I didn’t learn about the riots until I was halfway through college and could �inally think the words, “I’m gay,” in my own mind. When someone would ask me why we have LGBT Pride, I couldn’t come up with an answer until I educated myself about our history.

Every year I hear comments about the Florida heat and the “inconvenience” of sweaty, shirtless men and mid-drift baring lesbians celebrating who they are in the June sun. “Why don’t they move it to the spring,” is often suggested, as is, “Couldn’t we have this in the winter?”

But if we truly believe in the real meaning of Pride, why reschedule it just because a different time of year may be more bearable? Most LGBT people see the Stonewall Riots as the birth of the modern LGBT equality movement. When that original group of drag queens �inally had enough of the constant raids on their favorite gay bar and decided to stand up to authorities, its doubtful they were thinking about the summer heat. They were thinking it was time to change the way our country looks at its LGBT citizens.

While some of those who were involved in the original riots are still with us, a growing number of them have passed on, leaving us to cultivate the movement they started more than four decades ago. And look at what we’ve accomplished!

Same-sex marriage is legal in a handful of states and more and more same-sex coupled households are raising children. A glimpse at pop culture shows acceptance unimaginable even 10 years ago, when St. Pete Pride began.

As we celebrate our diversity, our sexuality and our community this year, maybe we should stop for a moment or two between �loats, parties and drinks to think about those who came before us.

Because really, aren’t they the true reason for our season? |  |

How often do we, as a community, remember the true reason for this season?

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JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

ZACH CARUSO

is a musician and journalist from New Jersey who now lives in St. Petersburg. He has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and an MA in writing. Page 43

KEN KUNDIS

is a Florida native and a longtime contributor to Watermark.

He lives in New York City. Page 25

Greg Burton, Erik Caban, Scottie Campbell, Amy Dees, Kirk Hartlage, Rev. Phyllis Hunt, Joseph Kissel, Ken Kundis, Mary Meeks, Stephen Miller, David Moran, Anthony Paull, Greg Stemm, Brett Stout, Louanne Walters, Stephen Warne

PHOTOGRAPHY KENNETH HOPKINS

is a Connecticutbased photographer who trained and worked in New York with photographer Jack Mitchell. His photography hs appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Time and The Advocate. Cover, Page 31

Nick Cardello, Angie Folks, Tom Eckert, Julie Milford, Travis Moore, Chris Stephenson

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE. Watermark

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Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to prevent passing COMPLERA can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in HIV to other people. some people who take COMPLERA or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. Lactic Who should not take COMPLERA? acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death.

• Do not take COMPLERA if your HIV infection has been previously treated with Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like HIV medicines. symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you • Do not take COMPLERA if you are taking certain other medicines. For more get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of lactic acidosis: information about medicines that must not be taken with COMPLERA, see “What • feeling very weak or tired should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA?” • have unusual (not normal) muscle pain • have trouble breathing What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking COMPLERA? • have stomach pain with Before you take COMPLERA, tell your healthcare provider if you: - nausea (feel sick to your stomach) • have liver problems, including hepatitis B or C virus infection - vomiting • have kidney problems • feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • have ever had a mental health problem • feel dizzy or lightheaded • have bone problems • have a fast or irregular heartbeat • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COMPLERA can harm your unborn child Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral medicines during pregnancy. Its purpose is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms • are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. The Centers for Disease Control and of liver problems: Prevention recommends that mothers with HIV not breastfeed because they can pass • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice). the HIV through their milk to the baby. It is not known if COMPLERA can pass through • dark “tea-colored” urine your breast milk and harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best • light-colored bowel movements (stools) way to feed your baby.

• loss of appetite for several days or longer Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription • nausea and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

• stomach pain 2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take COMPLERA or similar medicines. In some cases these liver problems can lead to death.

Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis) when you take COMPLERA.

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are COMPLERA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking COMPLERA or a similar affect how COMPLERA works, and may cause serious side effects. If you take certain medicines with COMPLERA, the amount of COMPLERA in your body may be too low and medicine containing nucleoside analogs for a long time. it may not work to help control your HIV infection. The HIV virus in your body may become 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you also have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection resistant to COMPLERA or other HIV medicines that are like it. and you stop taking COMPLERA, your HBV infection may become worse (flare-up). A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Do not take COMPLERA if you also take these medicines: COMPLERA is not approved for the treatment of HBV, so you must discuss your HBV • COMPLERA provides a complete treatment for HIV infection. Do not take other HIV medicines with COMPLERA. therapy with your healthcare provider.

• the anti-seizure medicines carbamazepine (CARBATROL®, EQUETRO®, TEGRETOL®, • Do not let your COMPLERA run out. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare TEGRETOL-XR®, TERIL®, EPITOL®), oxcarbazepine (TRILEPTAL®), phenobarbital provider before your COMPLERA is all gone.

(LUMINAL®), phenytoin (DILANTIN®, DILANTIN-125®, PHENYTEK®) • Do not stop taking COMPLERA without first talking to your healthcare provider. ® ® • If you stop taking COMPLERA, your healthcare provider will need to check your health • the anti-tuberculosis medicines rifabutin (MYCOBUTIN ), rifampin (RIFATER , ® ® ® ® RIFAMATE , RIMACTANE , RIFADIN ) and rifapentine (PRIFTIN ) often and do regular blood tests to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking • a proton pump inhibitor medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems, including esomeprazole (NEXIUM®, VIMOVO®), lansoprazole (PREVACID®), omeprazole COMPLERA. (PRILOSEC®), pantoprazole sodium (PROTONIX®), rabeprazole (ACIPHEX®) • more than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium What is COMPLERA? COMPLERA is a prescription HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) medicine that: phosphate • is used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV medicines before. HIV is the • St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

If you are taking COMPLERA, you should not take: • contains 3 medicines, (rilpivirine, emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) • other medicines that contain tenofovir (VIREAD®, TRUVADA®, ATRIPLA®) combined in one tablet. EMTRIVA and VIREAD are HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency • other medicines that contain emtricitabine or lamivudine (EMTRIVA®, COMBIVIR®, virus) nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and EDURANT is an EPIVIR® or EPIVIR-HBV®, EPZICOM®, TRIZIVIR®) HIV-1 non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

• rilpivirine (EDURANT™) It is not known if COMPLERA is safe and effective in children under the age of 18 years. • adefovir (HEPSERA®)

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Also tell your healthcare provider if you take: The most common side effects of COMPLERA include: an antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium • trouble sleeping (insomnia) carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take • abnormal dreams COMPLERA. • headache • a histamine-2 blocker medicine, including famotidine (PEPCID®), cimetidine • dizziness (TAGAMET®), nizatidine (AXID®), or ranitidine hydrochloride (ZANTAC®). Take these • diarrhea medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take COMPLERA. • nausea ® ® ® • the antibiotic medicines clarithromycin (BIAXIN ), erythromycin (E-MYCIN , ERYC , • rash ® ® ® ® ® ERY-TAB , PCE , PEDIAZOLE , ILOSONE ), and troleandomycin (TAO ) • tiredness • an antifungal medicine by mouth, including fluconazole (DIFLUCAN®), itraconazole ® ® ® (SPORANOX ), ketoconazole (NIZORAL ), posaconazole (NOXAFIL ), voriconazole • depression (VFEND®) Additional common side effects include: • methadone (DOLOPHINE®) • vomiting Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is • stomach pain or discomfort one that is listed above.

• skin discoloration (small spots or freckles) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your • pain •

healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Your healthcare provider and your pharmacist can tell you if you can take these medicines with COMPLERA. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking COMPLERA without first talking with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that can interact with COMPLERA. How should I take COMPLERA? • Stay under the care of your healthcare provider during treatment with COMPLERA. • Take COMPLERA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.

• Always take COMPLERA with a meal. Taking COMPLERA with a meal is important to help get the right amount of medicine in your body. A protein drink does not replace a meal.

• Do not change your dose or stop taking COMPLERA without first talking with your healthcare provider. See your healthcare provider regularly while taking COMPLERA. • If you miss a dose of COMPLERA within 12 hours of the time you usually take it, take your dose of COMPLERA with a meal as soon as possible. Then, take your next dose of COMPLERA at the regularly scheduled time. If you miss a dose of COMPLERA by more than 12 hours of the time you usually take it, wait and then take the next dose of COMPLERA at the regularly scheduled time.

• Do not take more than your prescribed dose to make up for a missed dose.

• When your COMPLERA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. It is very important not to run out of COMPLERA. The amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time.

• If you take too much COMPLERA, contact your local poison control center or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of COMPLERA? COMPLERA may cause the following serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about COMPLERA?” • New or worse kidney problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. If you have had kidney problems in the past or take other medicines that can cause kidney problems, your healthcare provider may need to do blood tests to check your kidneys during your treatment with COMPLERA. • Depression or mood changes. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms: - feeling sad or hopeless - feeling anxious or restless - have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself • Bone problems can happen in some people who take COMPLERA. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do additional tests to check your bones.

• Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the main part of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The cause and long term health effect of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time.

Tell your healthcare provider if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of COMPLERA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

How do I store COMPLERA? • Store COMPLERA at room temperature 77 °F (25 °C).

• Keep COMPLERA in its original container and keep the container tightly closed.

• Do not use COMPLERA if the seal over the bottle opening is broken or missing.

Keep COMPLERA and all other medicines out of reach of children.

General information about COMPLERA: Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use COMPLERA for a condition for which it was not prescribed.

Do not give COMPLERA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes the most important information about COMPLERA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about COMPLERA that is written for health professionals. For more information, call (1-800-445-3235) or go to www.COMPLERA.com.

What are the ingredients of COMPLERA? Active ingredients: emtricitabine, rilpivirine hydrochloride, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Inactive ingredients: pregelatinized starch, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, povidone, polysorbate 20. The tablet film coating contains polyethylene glycol, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, triacetin, titanium dioxide, iron oxide red, FD&C Blue #2 aluminum lake, FD&C Yellow #6 aluminum lake.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Manufactured and distributed by: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Foster City, CA 94404 Issued: August 2011 COMPLERA, the COMPLERA Logo, EMTRIVA, HEPSERA, TRUVADA, VIREAD, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. or its related companies.

ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.

202123-GS-000 02AUG2011 CON12407 4/12

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NEWS

CALL ME TONY: Orlando’s Kenny Howard (fourth from right) celebrated with Porgy and Bess cast members and other members of The Broadway Consortium after their Tony win. AP PHOTO

Jamie Hyman

JAMIE@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

A

n Orlando director has of�icially gone Broadway—and he has the hardware to prove it.

Kenny Howard is a founder and managing member of The Broadway Consortium, a group of investors who pool funds to produce Broadway shows.

The Consortium won a Tony for “Best Revival of a Musical” for The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess earlier this month.

Howard’s partner, Orlando attorney Barry Miller, is also a member and the Consortium’s other founder and managing member is Van Dean, a New Yorkbased producer. The Broadway Consortium was founded in August 2011. Miller and Howard invested in two shows the previous year and met Dean because he was the producer for one of those shows.

Their idea was to invest

in Broadway shows while minimizing risk. The group of investors—eight currently—pool their �inancial resources and produce various Broadway shows each season.

“I know people who invested heavily in one show and the show did poorly,” Howard said.

He said in more traditional models, investor and producers both raise money for shows. But depending on how much capital producers are able to score, they

Evita on Broadway in the spring.

They also invested in Master Class, a show in London.

The consortium members were hopeful at the Tony Awards, but they knew it wasn’t a sure thing.

Howard said as it got closer to Porgy and Bess’ category, many of the awards were going to Follies.

When the win was announced, “All I heard was ‘Gersch-,’ and I started going crazy,” Howard said.

The Tony win comes after a tough start for The Broadway Consortium. Howard said their �irst two shows did not fare well �inancially.

However, Howard said he believes in the shows they produced.

They’re also expanding into music and launched Broadway Records in January.

“Currently we have three albums out and another that’s recording at the end of the month,” Howard said.

The couple splits its time between New York and Orlando, but don’t plan to move north permanently.

“I like the snowbird thing,” Howard said. “It gets really cold here [in New York].” |  |

“All I heard was ‘Gersch-,’ and I started going crazy.”

—KENNY HOWARD

can get costs recouped that are not shared with the investors.

In the Broadway Consortium, “everything goes into the pot and we divide it equally,” Howard said.

The group invested in Bonnie and Clyde and Chinglish last fall and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man and

PHOTO BY MARK CADY

Veterans’ Affairs focus on transgender issues

From Mickey to Tony Orlando couple strike it big on Broadway with Broadway Consortium

medical and mental healthcare professionals on providing healthcare to transgendered veterans at the Orlando VA July 7.

orlando

IN THE KNOW: Rachel Hunt presented a seminar for

Staff Report

O

RLANDO | The Orlando VA Medical Center is working toward its goal of providing better support to transgender veterans. On July 7, it hosted an hour long seminar titled “Deep Inside My Brain—A Transgender Woman’s Journey” by Rachel Hunt of Orlando. The presentation was aimed at helping medical and mental healthcare professionals provide healthcare to transgendered veterans.

Keri Grif�in-Eden�ield, a therapist at the Orlando VA, said about 30 people attended the event and it’s likely Hunt will appear again for a Q & A session or more educational presentations. Grif�in-Eden�ield has run an LGBT veterans support group for two years and one regular attendee is transgender. She’s works to get the VA to provide more support for Orlando’s LGBT veterans.

Grif�in-Eden�ield said there have been some positive moves on the transgender front at the VA national level and “locally, it trickles down to us.

There’s still some resistance but we’re getting there.”

She said more of the VA’s nurses are being trained on hormone therapies and she’d like to see more staff trained on the therapies that transgender veterans need pre- and post-op.

“I myself am in the process of getting trained on [transgender] speci�ic therapy needs,” Grif�inEden�ield said.

A 2008 study by the University of California identi�ied that more than 300,000 U.S. Military Veterans identify as transgendered. Presently, active duty military men and women who identify as transgendered are discharged for mental illness. |  |

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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orlando NEWS

Two Presbyterian Churches dismissed

COWP will run PSAs on major networks, including FOX News

Staff Report

Staff Report

O

RLANDO | The Central Florida Presbytery has dismissed two churches—The First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Satellite Beach—so their congregations could join denominations believing LGBTs are not eligible for ordination.

The two dismissed churches talked with the local Presbytery about their decision to leave the congregation for a year before their dismissal. The controversy started when the denomination debated allowing partnered, gay clergy to be ordained, even though Florida prohibits same-sex marriage.

The issue has caused a split at the First Church of Orlando. Some members are meeting at Park Lake Presbyterian Church while they seek a more permanent location. That group is called Orlando Presbyterian Church and that pastor will be named the last week of June.

When the Presbytery dismissed First Church of Orlando,it recognized Orlando Presbyterian Church. |  |

O

RLANDO | Come Out With Pride (COWP) organizers are running a series of public service announcements (PSAs) on stations such as FX, Fox News, CNN, ESPN and SPIKE for most of the summer.

According to Mikael Audebert, COWP executive director, the spots’ frequency is based on availability via Brighthouse to all of Central Florida with the exception of Tampa and St. Petersburg, because those cities have a different cable provider. He said Bright House estimated that the PSAs would run twice a day. The �irst spot focuses on same-sex marriage and the second spot is about gay families. Two other PSAs are

scheduled to run later.

“One will more likely be military-oriented because we believe that can connect with the more conservative base,” Audebert said. “The second will either be youth- or religionoriented.”

The PSAs were created by Nils Taranger, a director who is studying �ilm at UCF. “We’ve received huge compliments from Bright House on how well-produced [the PSAs] are,” Audebert said.

He said the only cost is the production itself and the cost of the two that have been produced did not exceed $1,000.

“This is what Pride is for,” he said. “This is what we raise

money for throughout the year, so we can reinvest not only in grants to our community but in actions like this one, This is what we raise money for, not just for the [COWP] event.”

He said they speci�ically chose stations that are not necessarily the ones that gay people watch.

“The purpose was not to preach to the choir, but to get the message out to people who don’t support our rights,” he said.

“They’re airing on stations none of my friends watch.”

Audebert said that at the end of July, COWP will receive a report from Bright House on how frequently the PSAs ran. |  |

To view Come Out With Pride’s PSAs, go to watermarkonline.com!

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EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

SISTERS OF MERCY: The Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, shown here at last year’s AIDS Walk St. Petersburg, continue their charitable causes year-round. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

Having a ball Tampa Bay Sisters to show humility and raise cash at Red Dress Ball Joe Kissell

KISSELL@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T

AMPA | Red dresses and white faces will party with a purpose 9 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at Bradley’s on 7th in Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence host their “Red Dress Ball”—symbolizing the red ribbon of HIV/AIDS awareness—as the promotion project of Tootie Truly Grateful, making her a full member of the order.

Launched in 1979 in order to give San Francisco’s gay community a cast of players encompassing more than Tom of Finland, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence spread around the world—in and out of whiteface—and eight years ago in Tampa.

It was the �irst order of sisters in the southeast and has since been joined in Florida by a full-�ledged house in Orlando and a “mission” in Fort Lauderdale.

Tootie is truly grateful for �inally living in a city with an order of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a community service organization with an uncommon focus on performance and having fun.

“I knew right away at the �irst meetings that this was what I wanted to do, this was the right group for me,” Tootie said, who requested his legal name be withheld from publication.

“We work anonymously and give back to the community anonymously,” said Sister Merry Widow, Tootie’s “big sister” who will oversees her work at the ball.

Part of the anonymity is the group’s signature whiteface. It’s a

becoming a nun.

Culminating Tootie’s tutelage under Sister Merry is the Red Dress Ball, featuring Jell-o shots, a 50/50 raf�le, drawings and a drag show with Bradley’s entertainers. A $10 suggested donation is requested.

The proceeds of the event will bene�it St. Pete Pride and Francis House.

Before moving to Tampa, Tootie lived between St. Paul and Chicago, and worked for the Illinois Department of Health on its HIV/ AIDS task force.

“I was always two and half hours from an order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” said Tootie, who’s been aware of the group since her college days.

Sure, the sisters like to have fun.

“But the indulgence also means having a good time with friends and being able to help,” she said.

The Sisters also raise money for the American Cancer Society with their wig drive for cancer patients as well as passing out condoms and providing safer-sex education.

The Red Dress Ball coincides with the launch of the Sister’s revamped website—TampaSisters. org—which will offer interactive video explaining what the group is about. |  |

“The whiteface is about anonymity but it’s also a conversation starter.”

—TOOTIE TRULY GRATEFUL

practice dating back to the origins of the sisterhood, whose founders included several members with high-pro�ile jobs.

“The whiteface is about anonymity but it’s also a conversation starter,” said Tootie. “People just look very different in whiteface.”

Order members choose colorful names, and becoming a member is a year-long process similar to that of

T

AMPA | Lines are expected to form outside the Tampa City Clerk’s of�ice on Monday, June 25 as couples begin registering as domestic partners beginning at 9 a.m. The of�ice, located on the third �loor of Old City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd., does not provide appointments, so large, celebratory crowds are expected.

The city became the �irst along Florida’s West Coast to approve a domestic partnership registry when the council unanimously approved it in March. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn signed the ordinance shortly thereafter.

The Tampa registry, modeled after the one in Orlando, produced no controversy when it was introduced in council chambers in February. It allows partners, gay or straight the rights to visit each other in the hospital, make health care decisions for an incapacitated partner, be noti�ied as a family member in an emergency affecting their partner and overseeing funeral and burial arrangements for each other.

According to the City of Tampa’s website, partners must produce a driver’s license or other state-issued identi�ication so their signatures can be notarized at the Clerk’s Of�ice. Registrants can also expect to pay a $30 fee.

The neighboring cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg approved their respective domestic partnership registries on June 7.

A crowd of supporters waited throughout the morning in the St. Petersburg City Council chambers for the item to come up on the agenda—and at one moment it looked as if a vote on the ordinance would be postponed while proposed changes were considered by the council. After a short recess, however, the council voted to approve the changes, which included allowing non-residents of the city to take part in the registry—which is similar to the language adopted by the City of Tampa in March.

Before the council’s decision, seven people, including the president of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, urged the council to approve the law.

“Passing this domestic registry,” Darden Rice told the council, “would be a love letter to the entire community.”

After the vote, attendees had reason to celebrate.

“We’re very pleased the City Council gave us this right,” said Todd Richardson, of Equality Florida. “It’s a huge step for the gay community.”

Later that evening, Clearwater’s City Council followed suit with a unanimous vote for the ordinance.

Both ordinances in Clearwater and St. Petersburg should take affect sometime this summer, although a speci�ic date for registration wasn’t immediately available. The registry allows for same-sex and oppositesex unmarried couples to register with the city and provides access to hospital visitation, medical decisions and funeral planning. |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

tampa bay

Steve Blanchard

NEWS

Tampa to register partners on June 25

17

tampa bay NEWS

Consortium brings together HIV researchers Gideon Grudo

T

AMPA | There’s no longer a need for HIV researchers in Florida to reinvent the wheel—unless they want to.

It’s called the Florida Consortium for HIV/AIDS Research (FCHAR), and its of�ices in Tampa and Washington D.C. bring scientists together.

From webinars to brochures to databases, the consortium aims at mitigating some of the time and dollar restraints that many researchers face by giving them the tools that have already been invented, and the know-how that’s already been tested.

FCHAR’s HIV/AIDS Research Coordinator Spencer Lieb said the idea is to get people to work together and

share what works, and what doesn’t.

“The emphasis here is on collaboration,” he said.

“Without collaboration, you’re not going to attract as many funds from the government.”

Up until now, Lieb said, research on HIV/AIDS has been done in what he called silos, or secluded environments where a scientist may waste time �iguring out a foundation for research (like a test group) when that foundation was already created by another researcher a mere few hours away. FCHAR has 110 researchers, ranging in specialties from virology to basic science.

There are studies in South Florida pertaining to the prevalence of HIV in homeless populations. Another study at the University of Miami’s focuses on a phase one

vaccine for HIV that’ll act therapeutically. The results of these �indings, and very well the information that was gathered, can now be shared among scientists looking into similar things. Lab results are another focus of FCHAR— both providers and patients often times don’t understand the results of various tests, Lieb said.

A state-wide AIDS research inventory has about 450 current or ongoing studies, allowing researchers to see common problems.

“Our mission is to impact social change,” said Michael Ruppal, executive director of the Florida AIDS Institute. “In Florida alone, just in talking to the universities we work with, we found there was an array of studies being conducted in partnerships with universities all over the country. There are universities in our state they

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“It helped us break down some walls of competitiveness around the state.”

FCHAR is a sign to other states that Florida is an HIV/AIDS force to be reckoned with.

“It also outs us in the map in the research community— that Florida’s got its act together,” Ruppal said. “And not just talking about it, we’re actually making those frontline impacts.”

And the frontline is the bottom line for this endeavor—it’s the front of the struggle, where an HIV patient or someone coming in to get tested connects with the scienti�ic community and receives the most up-to-date information possible. |  |

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could have partnered with.”

These partnerships can help Florida save research dollars for more studies and ultimately results in bigger and better results. And it helps in getting the government or other agencies to grant money to a partnered study.

“It’s all about getting the right people at the right time to sit around and talk about the right thing,” Ruppal said. “When you join two or three universities together, it simpli�ies those things— everyone’s talking the same language.”

Lieb reminisced to January’s symposium in Orlando, the second time that it occurred, allowing researchers to meet face-to-face.

“Those were both educational in terms of informing ourselves of what kind of research was going on around the state,” Lieb said.

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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sarasota NEWS

‘Complexus’ sculpture closer to being a permanent fixture Staff Report

S

ARASOTA | “Complexus,” a monumental work by the Tennessee-based sculptor John Henry, is closer to having a permanent home in Sarasota.

At a public meeting on June 18, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously approved the Sarasota Public Art Fund’s request to purchase the work and gift it to the city of Sarasota.

“Public art helps de�ine a community,” says Thomas J. Savage, president of the Sarasota Public Art Fund (SPAF). “Art in public view plays a vital role in a city’s appeal, quality of life and economic viability. That’s why so many of us are extremely motivated to keep ‘Complexus’ in Sarasota.”

The 70-foot tall, bold and

bright red steel sculpture was the star of the show at this year’s Sarasota Season of Sculpture’s outdoor sculpture exhibition. As that exhibition drew to a close, the Sarasota Pubic Art Fund launched a campaign to purchase the piece of art, created by John Henry. The sculpture is at the corner of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue, in front of One Sarasota Tower, in downtown Sarasota.

Savage notes that a signi�icant concession on the artist’s part helped make this purchase possible. Although the original price tag for “Complexus” was $850,000, Henry agreed to sell it for $500,000. Savage explains that the Sarasota Public Art Fund’s goal is to raise a total of $600,000 to cover costs involved with maintaining and insuring the sculpture. An additional $50,000 of the total amount raised will be

ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE

donated to the Sarasota Season of Sculpture for future exhibitions.

The sculpture will ultimately belong to the city of Sarasota as a permanent part of its art collection.

Savage said the acquisition helps connect the community to the larger cultural tapestry of the international art scene—where Henry is a major �igure.

Henry’s career spans 45 years and is critically renowned for his large-scale, hard-edged works of art, often described as resembling Pick Up Sticks. Recognized as powerful statements that bisect visual space and easily integrate into the psyche, his works have become icons in important public art collections and are found in the permanent collections of museums, galleries and other corporate, public and private venues around the world.

HOME SWEET HOME: “Complexus,” by sculptor John Henry, could become a permanent fixture in downtown Sarasota.

“John’s de�initive style is both grand in scale and yet deceptively simple; a paradoxical approach that has been labeled Zen engineering,” says Savage. “‘Complexus’ is one of his most signi�icant pieces—a signature piece that cries out, ‘Hey, look at me! I’m big, bold and beautiful!’

This physically powerful work makes an immediate impact on all who see it.”

The recent decision on the part of the Sarasota County Commission and the Sarasota Public Art Fund’s fundraising

campaign brings the piece closer to calling Sarasota home.

“The good news is that we’re already more than halfway there,” says Savage, noting that Sarasota resident, Jan Schmidt, started the campaign off in April with a $250,000 donation. Since then, the organization has raised an additional $100,000.

“We think this overwhelming show of support re�lects the enthusiasm area residents have for this signi�icant work of art—and for this project,” said Savage. |  |

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ALLAHASSEE | New charges have emerged from the ongoing claims over former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s sexuality and his desire to keep his alleged gay affairs secret. The latest claim is that the Republican governor appointed Sen. George LeMieux to keep him quiet about Crist’s secret life.

Crist has denied the claims, which were �irst given press attention on June 8.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Investigative Report, Republican Party of Florida President Jim Greer’s attorney Damon Chase had threatened to reveal in a potential deposition of Crist that the then-governor was gay and

“had homosexual relationships with at least two men who were paid to leave the state to avoid embarrassing” him.

In other allegations, reported by the Huf�ington Post, Chase also claimed that he would testify that Crist had “kissed or attempted to kiss Greer” at a California hotel, and in a separate incident had attempted to “run people over while intoxicated and operating a golf cart.”

Crist, who in the past has expressed concern that Greer was trying to extort him, has called the claims “a bunch of delusional lies.”

Greer is now accusing LeMieux of extorting Crist in order to get his Senate appointment, according to a report from television station WTSP. According to Greer, LeMieux, who was initially a long-shot pick for the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez, was set to be removed from the

Gideon Grudo CLOSET TALK: New allegations

claim Florida Governor Charlie Crist had gay affairs he desired to keep secret.

running. When Greer and Crist’s chief of staff went to deliver the news, however, Greer says LeMieux responded by telling them, “After all I did for him, we’ll see.”

WTSP goes on to report that Greer says Lemieux had an unscheduled meeting with the governor and, 20 minutes later, he got a call saying LeMieux was the Senate choice.

Greer thinks LeMieux pressured Crist. However, LeMieux simply expains, “I asked for an interview. I got an interview. And that’s how it happened.” |  |

Gainesville pastor hangs effigy of Obama Staff Report GAINESVILLE | The Secret Service is investigating Pastor Terry Jones’ Dove World Outreach Center for hanging a dummy of President Barack Obama outside of its church.

Jones made headlines last year for his very public burning of the Koran.

This time, Jones’ very public protest was against President Barak Obama and was fueled by the president’s recent support for same-sex marriage.

“President Obama’s policies on same-sex marriage, his policies on

abortion, President Obama has no problem killing babies. He has no problem supporting radical Islam, he has no problem supporting and giving �inancial support to the Muslim Brotherhood...” Jones wrote on his site. “It is time for the United States to stand up.”

Once the secret service became involved, Jones and his church replaced the hanging replica of the president with a dummy representing Uncle Sam. The Obama mannequin is now standing next to the gallows waving a Pride �lag.

“We have chosen the hanging of Uncle Sam to represent how Hussein

Obama is destroying our nation,” Jones continues. “ And that is why we have now chosen the hanging of Hussein Obama to represent how the American people must, in a peaceful way, stand up and reject President Obama, reject his antiAmerican policies.”

Regardless, the secret service isn’t taking the symbolic gesture lightly.

“The Secret Service is aware of this incident and will conduct appropriate follow-up,” Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary told the Huf�ington Post. |  |

said the 18-year-old. “When I started attending the campass hope youth group, I knew that I needed to work for equality for all of us. “ Pierre is an avid advocate for civil equality. When his father paid his cousins to “beat him into being a real man,” Pierre moved into hiis

mother’s home, but that only lasted two years.

“I lived with my best friend,” he said.

Today, he’s a major recruitor for the Compass Program, helping LGBT youth �ind safety. For more on Pierre, visit WatermarkOnline.com. |  |

Young, gay artist stands up for equality Donald Cavanaugh Kyle Pierre stands up for equality.

“Qhen I went to my �irst pridefest event and discovered all those other people just like me, I knew I had to get involved in everything I could,”

MIAMI | Danny Barry was in a group of eight students at University of Miami’s PhilADthropy project. They had 25 hours to come up with and implement an ad campaign for their client, Miami-Dade’s top HIV/AIDS resource center Care Resource “We found all these articles about how, in the next few years, scientists hoped to have a cure for AIDS,” the junior advertising major said. “People in our age range like results that are immediate. Here’s a chance to present a clear end to HIV/AIDS. So we �lipped the common ‘AIDS Kills’ to ‘Kill AIDS.’” And so it went. The group focused on the under-25year-old demographic, from which 50 percent of all new HIV infections are reported.

“Maybe Danny’s generation, this could be their moment. So we thought, ‘Let’s go out there and kill AIDS,’” said Serge Castagno, a part-time UM professor who acted as a mentor to Barry’s group. “Let’s just go after it, close the deal and call it a day.”

After meeting with Care Resource and coming up with a strategy, the group was ready to execute, its last obligation in the day-long project.

So they thought of what would represent their idea.

Shock and drive were the two main focuses of Kill AIDS, Barry explained.

“Some of these are a sort of a punch in the gut,” he said. Print ads, for example, are dark. There’s no image, just text, like: ‘End the �ight, start the kill.’ “It’s not the type of thing you’ll expect to see while walking down the street. The words are big and bold, they’re not hidden. They make you think.”

And Care Resource seemed very pleased with the results, Castagna said.

“This was the �irst time I saw a client whose jaw dropped,” he said. They were extremely wowed. From the strategic idea of the campaign — you just can’t have creative work without backing it up — to the execution, they backed up everything they wanted to say. There were no holes in this campaign.”

The Kill AIDS campaign kicked off in April’s Miami AIDS Walk, and has become Care Resource’s premiere ad campaign. Barry said he’s happy to see it grow into this magnitude and hopes it makes a change for an otherwise apathetic age group that is not concerned with HIV/AIDS until they’ve been diagnosed.

According to KillAIDS.org, more than 50% of new HIV infections are among those under 25 years of age and an estimated 21% of people living with HIV in the US are undiagnosed.

Gay and bisexual men continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV infection, accounting for an estimated 53% of new HIV infections.

Women now account for 27 percent of HIV infections in the US. |  |

state

Staff Report

Miami HIV/AIDS program focus on youth

NEWS

New gay allegations surround Charlie Crist

Editor’s Note: Gideon Grudo is a reporter with the South Florida Gay News and this article is used with permission.

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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Wire Report

its gay pride event—the �irst of its kind—will be held June 26 in the Pentagon. It will feature remarks

by Jeh Johnson, the top Pentagon lawyer, as well as a panel discussion of the value of gay service and diversity, with gay and lesbian service members participating.

Panetta said last month that military leaders had concluded that the repeal had not affected morale or readiness. A report to Panetta with assessments from the individual military service branches said that as of May 1 they had seen no ill effects. |  |

FDA delays decision on first drug to prevent HIV Wire Report WASHINGTON, D.C. | Federal health regulators have delayed a decision on whether to approve the �irst pill shown to prevent HIV infection, the drug’s manufacturer says.

Gilead Sciences disclosed June 8 that the Food and Drug Administration will take three more months to review its application for Truvada, after the company submitted additional materials to the agency earlier this month.

In May, a panel of experts recommended approval of the daily

pill for healthy people who are at high risk of contracting HIV, including gay and bisexual men. The vote was nonbinding, though the FDA often follows the group’s advice.

Gilead said it submitted updated information on its planned safety materials for patients and doctors using the drug. The FDA is now expected to rule by Sept. 14.

Truvada made headlines in 2010, when government researchers showed it could actually prevent people from contracting HIV when used as a precautionary measure.

A three-year study found that daily doses cut the risk of infection in

healthy gay and bisexual men by 42%, when accompanied by condoms and counseling. Last year another study found that Truvada reduced infection by 75% in serodiscordant heterosexual couples.

But Truvada’s groundbreaking preventive ability has exposed stark disagreements on prevention among those in the HIV community. While Truvada’s supporters say the drug is an important new option to stop the spread of AIDS, critics worry that the drug could give users a false sense of security and encourage risky behavior. |  |

Scouts’ board member opposes gay ban Wire Report NEW YORK, N.Y. | A high-pro�ile member of the Boy Scouts of America’s governing board says he doesn’t support the Scouts’ policy of excluding gays and will work from within to seek a change.

Ernst & Young CEO James Turley, whose accounting �irm has welcomed gays and lesbians in its own work force, becomes the �irst member of the Scouts’ Executive Board known to publicly disapprove of the policy.

“I support the meaningful work of the Boy Scouts in preparing young people for adventure, leadership,

learning and service; however, the membership policy is not one I would personally endorse,’’ Turley said in a June 12 statement.

Earlier this month, the Scouts con�irmed there will be a review of a resolution that would allow individual units to accept gays as adult leaders. The organization issued a statement, however, saying the review was merely routine procedure, and there were no plans to change the membership policy.

The resolution was presented in late May at the Scouts’ national meeting in Orlando, Florida.

During the national meeting, the Scouts were also presented with a

President Barack Obama spoke to LGBT guests during a June 15 White House reception marking LGBT Pride Month. He touted his administration’s work on gay rights issues, including repealing the military’s ban on openly gay service members. The president said that while some Americans may still be evolving on same-sex marriage, he and wife, Michelle, “have made up our minds on this issue.’’ The remark drew extended applause.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND OBJECTS TO GAY MARRIAGE PLAN The Church of England and Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales formally objected June 12 to the government’s proposal to permit civil marriages for gay couples, asserting that marriage is the union of a woman and a man. Prime Minister David Cameron is backing the proposal despite the strong opposition of members of his Conservative Party. Gay couples are already allowed to have civil partnerships, with the first such ceremony in 2005.

ILLINOIS STATE ATTORNEY SIDES WITH GAY PLAINTIFFS Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez contends Illinois’ gay marriage ban is unconstitutional and is filing a motion supporting a lawsuit opposing the law.

Alvarez said June 14 she agrees with the plaintiffs’ assertion that Illinois’ Constitution upholds marriage equality for same-sex couples just as it does for opposite-sex couples. Cook County Clerk David Orr says he has filed a response in which he also agrees with the lawsuits filed against his office.

nation+world

W

ASHINGTON, D.C. | Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on June 15 thanked gay and lesbian military members for their service, as the Pentagon prepares to mark June as gay pride month with an of�icial salute.

In a remarkable sign of a cultural change in the U.S. military, Panetta said that with the repeal last year of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ law that prohibited gays from serving openly in the military, gays and lesbians can now be proud to be in uniform.

“Now you can be proud of serving your country, and be proud of who you are,’’ Panetta said.

The defense chief also said he is committed to removing as many barriers as possible to making the military a model of equal opportunity.

Panetta’s video message was part of a Pentagon salute to LGBT troops as the Pentagon joined the rest of the U.S. government for the �irst time in marking June as gay pride month.

It comes nine months after repeal of the policy that had prohibited gay troops from serving openly and forced more than 13,500 service members out of the armed forces.

The Pentagon announced that

OBAMA HOLDS GAY PRIDE RECEPTION AT WHITE HOUSE

NEWS

Defense chief salutes LGBTs in military

IN OTHER NEWS

VIRGINIA COURT APPOINTS 1ST GAY JUDGE The Richmond Circuit Court on June 14 appointed a gay Richmond prosecutor to an unfilled General District Court judgeship a month after legislators blocked the appointment. Chief Judge Richard D. Taylor, Jr. signed an order naming Tracy Thorne-Begland to the seat beginning July 1 and expiring 30 days after the start of the next General Assembly session. Gay rights advocates have said he would be Virginia’s first openly gay jurist.

RIGHTS GROUP SAYS GAY MAN KILLED IN SOUTH AFRICA

petition bearing more than 275,000 names that protested the ouster of a lesbian mother, Jennifer Tyrrell, who’d been serving as a Scout den mother in Ohio. ``We are at a tipping point, with national leaders within the Boy Scouts now taking a �irm stand to help end discrimination,’’ Tyrrell said.

She called on another prominent Boy Scout executive board member, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, to join Turley in speaking out against the Scouts’ anti-gay policy.

The Scouts, who celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2010, have a long-standing policy of excluding gays and atheists. |  |

A South African gay rights group says a 23-year-old gay Johannesburg man was killed and his body mutilated in a hate crime. Thapelo Makutle, an outspoken supporter of gay rights, was found dead early June 9 with his throat cut. Police say they are investigating the case as a murder and the motive is unknown, but Jabu Pereira, the spokeswoman for the gay rights group in northwestern South Africa, insists the killing was a hate crime.

DENMARK APPROVES GAY WEDDINGS IN CHURCH Denmark’s Parliament on June 7 approved a law allowing same-sex couples to get married in formal church weddings instead of the short blessing ceremonies that the state’s Lutheran Church currently offers. The law takes effect June 15 and will put Denmark on par with countries such as Iceland and Sweden that allow full wedding ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples.

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Ken Kundis KEN@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

A

NYONE WHO KNOWS ME

knows that I don’t really have a spiritual side. I am one of those wretched ‘souls’ who believes that, upon death, our bodies are put into pine boxes and buried 72 inches below ground and that’s pretty much it.

No, I don’t believe in Heaven or Hell (how stupid would I be to believe in Hell but not Heaven? One of my favorite all time non-sequiturs is the time a woman who was a friend of my born-again Christian sister asked me if I was afraid that being an agnostic would result in me going to Hell. Uh, no, I don’t believe humans have souls that are tangible, de�inable things.

Of course, I have no issue with anyone believing anything they like. If it gives you a moral center that prevents you from killing me or taking my stuff, I’m all for it. But for me, I could just never separate the veracity of contemporary Christian teachings from Greek mythology, or the stories of the Quran or the Talmud. At the risk of offending the virtuous out there, I stopped believing in Jesus at roughly the same time I stopped believing in Santa Claus.

I’m prepared to be wrong. Actually I’d really like to be wrong. It’s a lovely idea that we don’t really die when we die. And I don’t have another answer. Truthfully,

I’ve never regarded myself as smart enough to �igure out exactly how the world came to be or what, if anything, comes after. And I have yet to �ind anyone else I regarded as smart enough to explain it to me in a way that makes sense.

Phil doesn’t agree. My partner of two years is a practicing Jew. In short, he believes. And I see the sense of peace, comfort and connection to his world, his family and his friends that his belief in Judaism provides him. I’m a little envious, frankly. I would love to believe in something, anything. But my analytical mind just won’t let me go there.

However, whatever you believe about spirituality, contemporary organized religions aren’t just about standing behind a version of creationism. They’re also about ritual, community and practices. In the two years Phil and I have been together, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a number of Jewish ceremoni—Rosh Hashanah services with 1000s of gay and lesbian Jews at Town Hall in NYC, Phil’s niece’s Bat Mitzvah, Sader dinner for Passover. I’ve immensely enjoyed each of these events, even without being a true believer. And this is by no means my �irst exposure to Judaism.

Tulane University of Louisiana, entrenched in the �irmament of New Orleans, had a large population of Jewish students from around the country. So many in fact, that it acquired the regrettable, and possibly mildly anti-Semitic, nickname of ‘Jewlane.’

At that time in my life, I was in the throes of the �inal struggle for my spirituality. I had been raised Russian Orthodox, and had even been an altar boy. But it never took hold in me.

While living in New Orleans, I had the chance to attend Catholic mass with my friend, Evan. I went to Southern Baptist services with my friend, Gwen. And my friend Lesli took me to Temple more than once. I also took a class called “Science and the Christian Experiment,” which approached creationism from a scienti�ic perspective. In the process of coming out at the time, I was desperate to �ind some answer to the seemingly unanswerable questions swirling in my head, and sought answers in all those places.

While none of them permeated my subconscious, I feel I got a very well-rounded religious education. (It’s always fun for me when a Christian

quotes the Bible to me like I’ve never read it. Their expression as I reference Bible verses is priceless to me.) And at the end of the day, if I had to pick a religion without having to buy into the ultimate ‘faith’ all religions require, I’d be a Jew. There is something very common-sensical, thoughtful and uplifting about Jewish traditions and services, that contemporary Christian teachings don’t hold for me.

In fact, my favorite wedding I’ve ever attended was my friend Lesli’s to her husband Todd. Instead of mystical pronouncements and language about obeying, their service was a wonderful, warm celebration of love and family.

People have asked me if it’s dif�icult to be in a relationship where one person believes, and the other doesn’t. In my experience, being Jewadjacent—as I like to say—doesn’t make me a Jew. But it does make me see the world in a more holistic way.

Many equate agnosticism with being jaded. I don’t think that is the case for me at all. I believe in the good in people and the poetry of life. I think that true believers contribute to every part of that. I can live alongside a believer, literally in the bed next to him every night, and not have it say anything about what either of us believes. |  |

I stopped believing in Jesus at roughly the same time I stopped believing in Santa Claus.

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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S

URE, INFORMATION WANTS

to be free, but that doesn’t mean information on the Internet is a free-for-all. Content, design and images are still created by a person, and that person deserves credit—and many times, payment—for those creations.

Unfortunately, the wildly easy access and speed of the Internet has resulted in lots and lots of adults who know better, reaching their grubby hands into the content pile and taking whatever they want then using it for themselves without so much as an acknowledgement or a thank you to the content creators.

Would you go to a stranger’s house on Thanksgiving, yank their turkey out of the oven, �inish it at your place then serve it up to your loved ones as your own tasty creation? No? Then there is no excuse for why so many people think this is topnotch behavior just because they’ve opened a web browser.

Most content thieves fall into two camps.

The smaller camp holds malicious thieves who systematically steal other people’s content and then post it onto their own sites in the hopes of garnering traf�ic and as a result, advertiser pro�it. They are

fast and soulless and apparently making some scratch off this scheme because there are a lot of them out there. Because they have no sense of decency, they are beyond help.

Content thieves who pitch their camps in the bigger camp, though, can be rehabilitated because most of them don’t realize what they’re doing is wrong. The pace of the Internet and its endless array of social networking options has moved too fast for the rules of proper attribution to keep up.

It’s very possible that their friends and families are content thieves, too. So they haven’t been told that what they’re doing is not cool, and we all know it’s super awkward to tell someone on Facebook that what they’re doing is uncool.

Fortunately, I have a column and I’m here to help.

Let’s start with images.

Yes, comment creators should watermark their images, but in many cases that’s an impractical solution. WatermarkOnline.com is a great example—every story is headlined by what we call an abstract, which is an image that contains a small headline and brie�ly illustrates the story inside.

A watermark (yes, I note the irony) on each one would look like total crap and completely ruin the visual �low of our website. Regardless, every abstract is a small piece of original art created by Watermark’s paid artists, so it drives me up the wall when people mouse over, right click on the image and then repost it as their own. Because it isn’t their own. It belongs to Watermark and we deserve proper attribution for creating that image, as does every other website and artist out there making art.

It’s even worse when people do this after �inding the image on Facebook, because for all their faults, this is one thing Facebook gets right—they put a share button right there, making it easy as can be to share an image with proper attribution.

All you have to do is click one thing—“share”— and the image is reposted wherever you want with the proper attribution trail leading back to the creator. Instead, some people insist on right clicking (one click), choosing Save Image (two clicks), then reposting (three clicks) the image on their own page. Not only have you taken three steps to complete a one-step job, but you’ve

stolen that art from its creator with the clear implication that it was created by you. That is theft.

What about words? There is a procedure in place for reposing writing and it’s been around for a long time. It’s also dead simple.

If you would like to post something someone else has written, and you haven’t paid for that piece of writing, the way to do it is to post a small excerpt of that writing to your own page, with a link back to the creator’s original, complete source material. That way you get to show the good bits on your site, but the writer still gets traf�ic from people who want to

read the whole thing, proper credit for writing those cool words you like so much and the added bonus of being able to check their traf�ic stats, follow your link and read the interesting feedback you have posted about that piece of writing.

I have had people copy entire pieces of my writing, paste them to create a jpg (why? Why? Why?) then repost that jpg as an image with no attribution.

The crazy thing about so many of these content thefts is many times, it’s a lot easier not to steal stuff.

So save time. Don’t be a thief. Give credit where it’s due. |  |

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TALKING POINTS

I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly,

the people that we want to love.

60% of AMERICANS

say they have a close friend or family member who is gay

COMPARED TO

49%

who said so in 2010

—According to a CNN/ORC International survey released June 6

—CARRIE UNDERWOOD, OFFERING HER SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

I

F YOU THOUGHT LGBT PRIDE CELEBRATIONS WERE ALREADY PLENTY COLORFUL, imagine if they had the backing of those sugar-fueled cartoon characters that hype cereal as “part of a balanced breakfast!” Now, those characters do exactly that, in a way. General Mills, the Minnesota company responsible for Trix the Rabbit

TRUMP TRUMPS BEAUTY QUEEN’S ACCUSATIONS

D

ONALD TRUMP TOLD SHEENA MONNIN THAT SHE SHOULDN’T BAD MOUTH THE MISS USA PAGEANT. But did she listen? Apparently not.

Trump, who owns the pageant, is suing the ex-Miss Pennsylvania for saying that the pageant is �ixed.

Monnin said that the Miss USA pageant predetermines its winners, and it’s a claim she stood by even after Trump threatened to take legal action. Right now it’s unclear when the suit will actually be �iled, but experts expect paperwork to start entering the courts by the end of the summer. |  |

PEOPLE ARE TALKING AT WATERMARKONLINE.COM

ON THE DEFENSE “The Supreme ON THE HIV ON THE Court right now is OF MARRIAGE PREVENTION NEW GAY conservative. However PILL: ACT’S MOVE ALLEGATIONS if they weigh the TOWARD THE SURROUNDING “I’m not sure it is legal issues they SUPREME COURT: could only come to CHARLIE CRIST: going to make any difference other than “Guess he might “Then [anti-gay one answer, banning just giving people activists] will find need the services of rights to some a daily reminder ways to rewrite the Morgan and Morgan.” when others have that they need to Constitution to read it is against the U.S. —ALAN BALL take precautions... as they wish and still constitution and there something they should keep full equality for would have to be doing anyway.” but a dream.” become legal for all.”

—MARK CADY —TERRY MCGUIRE —RON FORD

TRAVOLTA TROUBLES

CEREAL FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

and the lovable leprechaun Lucky Charms, released a statement earlier this year opposing a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state.

“We value diversity.

We value inclusion,” the company said in a statement.

It almost makes you want to volunteer for a sugar high tomorrow morning. |  |

CAKE BOSS’

TRANSPHOBIC

I

T HAS BEEN RUMORED FOR YEARS that super-celebrity John Travolta was gay. Now, it seems that allegations supporting those claims are piling on. After several massage therapists said the movie star approached them for more than a traditional rubdown, allegations by his former personal secretary told the National Inquirer Travolta had a six year affair with his private pilot. The pilot’s ex-boyfriend added that his former partner confessed to a sexual relationship with Travolta in the 1980s. |  |

WATERMARKONLINE.COM POLL A mom in Indiana sent her gay son to school with a stun gun after she said administrators didn’t do enough to stop bullying against him. School police arrested him.

THE MOTHER IN THE RIGHT? D I S A S T E R WAS No.

T

LC STEPPED IN IT WITH ITS JUNE 11 EPISODE OF CAKE BOSS, IN WHICH transgender reality star Carmen Carrera was called an “it” by Buddy Valastro.

The line accompanied a “prank” in which Carrera �lirted with Anthony Bellefemine at a party with the goal of getting him interested in asking for her number. When Valastro was supposed to shock him with the revelation that Carrera he used the term “it” to describe her.

Valastro apologized after 8,000 people signed an online petition demanding it. |  |

Her son will likely face worse consequences for bringing the stun gun to school than the bullies will for bullying.

No. Violence is violence, and

two wrongs don’t make a right.

Yes.

She tried to talk to school officials and did what she had to do to protect her son.

Yes. If those

bullies got stunned they probably deserved it.

Maybe. If her son wasn’t properly

trained on how to use the stun gun, she and her son put the other students at risk by bringing a weapon.

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Tampa, FL 33607 813-287-2555 www.marriott.com/tpawe

ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT

MISTRESS OF

EVERYTHING Christine O’Leary just wants to have fun

S

Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T. PETERSBURG | MANY LOCALS

believe Christine O’Leary lives near Tampa Bay. In fact, the comedian receives a respectable number of votes for “Favorite Local Comedian” in Watermark’s annual WAVE Awards each fall.

However, the lovable funny girl actually hails from New England, where she lives with her “luzband,” the term she lovingly uses to describe her long-term partner. After her �irst experience with St. Pete Pride in 2008, O’Leary remained attached to the area and the community. This year she returns as the Mistress of Ceremonies, and will be in the spotlight throughout Pride Weekend June 28-30.

“You have incredible people in that community and I just want to be with people who

thrive on being as great as they are,” O’Leary says. “When you have so many people in one community it can be hard to shine a spotlight on all of them. But here you have the Tampa Bay community with such a high percentage of movers and shakers that it’s an honor to be included!”

The love seems to be mutual. After performing at Laughter in Paradise in 2008, St. Pete Pride invited O’Leary back the following year, where

Continued on page 34 |  |

Photo courtesy Kenneth Hopkins Hair/Makeup by Drew Mancuso (aka impersonation artist Sassie Saltimboca of Milford, Conn.)

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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watermarkonline.com

Snow White’s evil Charlize Theron

Rock of Ages has Tom Crusie.

Snow White and the Huntsman Starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Spruell

Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, and Michael Hall D’Addario in People Like Us.

Screened Out MOVIE REVIEWS

A Middling Summer Night

P

EOPLE LIKE US IS PROBABLY THE

People Like Us Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Hall D’Addario

reason a large portion of American moviegoers hate critics. Many customers will laugh, cry, and feel they got their money’s worth. Honestly, though, this nifty �ilm could’ve been slightly less cloying.

Stephen Miller

STEPHEN@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

Pine (Star Trek) is a wheeler-dealer sinking into debt and legal trouble. He’s also estranged from his family, including momma Pfeiffer. When dad dies, Pine �lies home in hopes he’s inheriting some money. Dad left moolah, all right: $150,000. However, the cash is meant for Banks, a half-sister Pine never knew he had.

Pine already seems ethically challenged, so he could just take the money and run. However, something in his strained relationship with dad causes Pine to seek out his lost sister. She’s a recovering alcoholic, and she’s

raising a very smart, reckless kid (D’Addario).

The performances are simply wonderful, especially Pfeiffer’s. Yet, much of People Like Us tries too hard to make us weep. We may appreciate the warm, cozy lighting, or we may feel manipulated.

We may be swept up by the swelling music, or we may feel it’s too calculating.

This �lick is directed and written by Alex Kurtzman, a screenwriter whose credits include the worst sequels in the Transformers and Mission: Impossible franchises. Besides People Like Us, he’s only directed a couple episodes of Alias. A more seasoned director might have been more dispassionate, letting the excellent acting and story—based on real events— speak for themselves. |  |

Rock of Ages Starring Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige

This stadium musical believes This is the second major motion that 80s hair metal was pure cheese, picture this year based on the Snow so they take a very cheesy approach.

White fable, and—despite absolutely Really, the success of RoA depends on stunning visuals—it’s only slightly your viewpoint. Model Tawny Kitaen better than Mirror Mirror. SW&tH has sprawling all over a Jaguar while guys style to spare, as well as a wonderfully in lipstick played to a wall of sparks is evil queen. Elsewhere in the kingdom, either stupid or supremely awesome. lugubrious acting and pacing (rock �ingers!) shortchange a happy ending.

It’s 1987. Poor singer girl Hough Theron is the malevolent sorceress moves from Tulsa to L.A. to become whose dark magic has snagged famous. She starts waiting her eternal youth. She stops tables in a legendary bar next men’s hearts; she sucks the to rocker boyfriend Boneta.

RATINGS GUIDE beauty out of young women.

Baldwin (having a blast) owns When she starts lusting for the bar. Baldwin needs money the heart of stepdaughter for taxes—and to �ight evil doOverflowing Snow (Stewart), the princess gooder Zeta-Jones, who thinks with glittery runs into the woods, metal is Satan’s lullaby. So, fabulousness aided by hunky, depressed Baldwin calls rock god Stacey huntsman Hemsworth.

Jaxx (an excellently campy It’s all here: the magic Pretty damn Cruise) to perform. good, but it’s no mirror, the enchanted forest, It’s all pretty cliché, a Sunset Boulevard the poisoned apple, and the surprise Broadway hit, and curse-breaking kiss. However, a jukebox musical. Bon Jovi, it takes so long to get to the An entertaining Foreigner, Journey, Poison, dwarves, I was wondering enough flick Guns-n-Roses—if you know with perhaps whether the script might these bands, you can sing a few holes forego them. Sure, it’s called along to the mash-up medleys.

Huntsman, but the intense The voices are very good, but focus on back-story sucks the Ever so slightly that doesn’t seem to matter. life out of the plot. watchable, just Goo�iness reigns. The jokes are SW&tH soars visually, but for that hot actor numerous, because the movie its missteps are frustrating. believes there’s no way to take Theron has a creepy, pale the music seriously. In fact, I Two hours of brother (Spruell), who seems your life you’ll wince at �ilms where talented directly borrowed from the never get back actors act like morons. But I albino in The DaVinci Code. admit millions of others love Mythical creatures and lands are it when their favorite performers introduced simply because they’re cool do embarrassing things. So, here’s to look at. Even the epic �inal battle is a movie musical for those people. It uninspiring. In that way, this ending is certainly isn’t for anyone who thinks like Stewart’s acting “talent.” metal is awesome. You’re the butt of Yet, if you can swallow the several jokes here. |  | poisonously slow, dull bits (read: Stewart), Theron and her sorcery are actually awe-inspiring. |  |

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I literally get off on making people laugh.

It makes people feel better.

—CHRISTINE O’LEARY

Photo courtesy Kenneth Hopkins

|  | Christine O’Leary from pg.31

she opened for Varla Jean Merman.

O’Leary was one of the hosts of Pride in Fashion its inaugural year and has returned for special events—including the birthday roast of St. Pete Pride co-founder Brian Longstreth last year.

“I really want to meet and have fun with anyone who wants me,” O’Leary says. “That’s really the truth.

If you want to have fun, feel included and fabulous and feel special, I’m the girl you want to be near because I want to feel that way too.”

Whether she’s behind a microphone performing her standup routine—which she’ll do at the St. Petersburg Metro Center on June 30, the evening of the street

34

festival—or simply chatting over a glass of wine, O’Leary is always ready with a punch line or funny observation. O’Leary says that’s truly part of her personality.

“If you know who I am, you understand what I have to bring,” O’Leary says. “That’s kind of who I am. I’m just waiting for the next party.”

Throughout the year, O’Leary travels to LGBT events around the country. She’s performed at Omaha Pride, was a guest at Key West Pride and emcees fundraising events near her home in New England. It’s a serious role to make people laugh.

“To describe my role, I think of Bette Midler in the bath house with the boys,” she says. “I sing a little, dance a little, and �ind it hard to do both and not tinkle. I like to tell jokes. I literally get off

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

on making people laugh. It makes people feel better.”

While she focuses on the laughter, O’Leary isn’t unaware of the drama in the world—or the in�ighting that can sometimes erupt within the LGBT community. She has a theory as to why that in�ighting exists and is hopeful that it’s something we can control.

“We have a lot of drama in gay communities because we do not have equality in the world,” O’Leary says. “So for me, I like to be the common, neutral party saying let’s just rally for the good.

Our folks have already been disenfranchised enough.”

O’Leary knows that belonging to the LGBT community in Florida can be tough—especially concerning laws—but she also knows Floridians are organized and committed to

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

enacting change.

“Florida queers know what they’re doing more than any other state I’ve been to,” O’Leary says.

“There’s something generous about your hearts and spirit. But when you get mad, you get vicious, and that leads to action.”

As long as that viciousness is directed toward change, O’Leary applauds it.

“I believe gay people have to be better to each other,” she says. “Just because. Period. The end. Let the straight people, the Republicans and the crazy church people �ight.

Let’s just have a good time.”

Each time she comes to St. Petersburg, O’Leary says she has an incredible time. The generosity of the community and the welcoming attitude isn’t lost on her and she uses those experiences in her act.

“I stayed at the St. Pete Guest House before and I was invited to naked yoga,” she recalls. “I mean that was something I was happy to be invited to. So I wore my turtle neck and sneaked out the bathroom window.”

One of her favorite stories—

watermarkonline.com

although not from Florida— involves her encounter with Ozzy Osbourne while at a fundraiser outside the superstar’s California home. She says she sneaked into the house to use the restroom— and to poke around a little.

“I wanted to see everything,” she admits. “They have these huge, wrought iron arch doors with mirrors on them. So I’m looking at myself in the mirror and the door rumbles. I can tell someone is trying to get out of the bathroom.

I lean in and say, ‘I think it’s a pull door.’ Then eight little black, square �ingernails creep out and pull the doors open. I was like, ‘Oh my God, Ozzy, honey!’

“It’s fantastic to help someone out of the bathroom, but it’s a little awkward when it’s in their own house. You worry about them.”

It’s stories like that O’Leary uses to make her routine relatable, she says. She says she’s a storyteller who happens to use comedy as a way to tell the truth.

“True stories give people a way to relate or to feel lucky that they dodged that bullet,” O’Leary laughs.

St. Pete Pride is one of O’Leary’s favorite events, and she says she’s not just saying that because she’s front and center throughout the festivities this year. The day of the promenade and street festival is about self-worth and celebrating who we are as individuals and as a community.

“People work so hard to have this day where they can feel good about who they are just the way they are,” she says. “You work all year to have those elements and I want to make it as fun as possible, especially for a community that cares so much about its gay identity. I want to shine all over you and as long as no one protests me returning, I plan to keep coming back. I feel claimed by you.” |  |

MORE INFORMATION

WHAT: An Evening

with Christine O’Leary

WHERE: Metro Center, St. Petersburg

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 30 TICKETS: StPetePride.com

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JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT EVENT PLANNER QUICK PICKS Tampa

One Direction

JUNE 29 Ask Gary Amphitheatre TicketMaster.com

St. Petersburg Little Ashes JUNE 23 Dali Museum TheDali.org

Pride Square Dance

ORLANDO

Next To Normal

I

YOU EVER THOUGHT YOUR FAMILY WAS STRESSED, wait until you meet the family presented in the 2009 Tony Awardwinning musical Next to Normal. The Mad Cow Theatre of Orlando presents the show through July 8.

This emotional powerhouse musical—featuring some amazing rock songs—deals directly with bipolar disorder and its effects on a supposedly “normal” family. In it, a family of four deals with some intense and emotional situations all while trying to face an unsure

future. To say the experience is powerful would be an understatement. It’s no wonder why the production also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

For tickets and show times, visit MadCowTheatre.com. |  |

GULFPORT

CLEARWATER

Interactive Wizard of Oz

Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band

If you enjoy the interactive, dialogue-fueled energy of a Rocky Horror performance, then you’ll surely enjoy the same atmosphere in the setting of the Land of Oz. The St. Pete Quakers are payin tribute to St. Pete Pride with a special screening of The Wizard of Oz on Saturday, June 23, and fans of the musical are encouraged to dress the part.

This campy, funny and alcoholfree tribute is more than a

sing-a-long. It’s an experience that ties in perfectly to the festive atmosphere of Pride Month in Pinellas County.

The show starts promptly at 7 p.m. and those attending should just “follow the yellow brick road” to the door of the Quaker Meeting House at 190 19th Ave. SE in Gulfport.

For more information, search for “Wizard of Oz Meets Rocky Horror” on Facebook. |  |

Former Beatle Ringo Starr will return to Ruth Eckerd Hall with his All-Star Band for the fourth time on Sunday, July 1. This tour marks the 13th time he’s captured stars from numerous bands to bring their musical talents to the same stage.

This year’s All-Starrs feature Steve Lukather of Toto fame, Gregg Rolie from Journey and returning performers Richard Page, Todd Rundgren and Gregg

Orlando

Hadley’s Hope JUNE 23 Taste Restaurant Facebook.com/ HadleysHopeMusic

New Port Richey Talent Quest Florida Metro Center fundraiser

Bissonette. The group is known for its mixture of hits that include Ringo classics like “It Don’t Come Easy,” “Photograph,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “Yellow Submarine” and “Wings.” Also expect to hear “Rosanna,” “Broken Wings” and “Back Magic Woman.”

Past tours at Ruth Eckerd Hall have sold out so promoters encourage fans to purchase tickets early. For details, visit RuthEckerdHall.com. |  |

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

JUNE 26 King of Peace MCC 727-323-5857 KingOfPeaceMCC.com

JUNE 24 Wild Stallions MetroTampaBay.org 727-494-76-7625

MORE INFORMATION For more events or to submit your upcoming show, concert or performance, visit WatermarkOnline.com.

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

37

You can get a virus as simple as your computer can.

And you can protect yourself just as easily.

AIDS Service Association of Pinellas (ASAP) is a community resource for HIV education and prevention and for those already infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. With one in five U.S. adults or teenagers unaware of their HIV status — which may later turn to AIDS without care and treatment — it’s something you shouldn’t ignore for your own health.

Get the facts. Visit ASAPservices.org to learn more about HIV testing in our community. For those 20 and under, visit our youth site at GTECCH.org.

FOLLOW US

38

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4 1

ShotonSite

Tampa Bay

1- NEXT!: Renee Cossette, seated, checks in Eunice Fisher before the Tampa Bay Business Guild’s Pride social at American Stage earlier this month. PHOTO BY ANTHONY BARROS 2- COMMANDER & CHIEF: GLBT Democratic Caucus president Sally Phillips and partner Ercilia Albistu enjoy a bite to eat while visiting Ybor City recently. PHOTO BY CARRIE WEST

2

3

5

3- TWO BITS: Peggy De Lara as ‘Eliza Doolittle’ and Tina Beasley offered flowers for a dollar before Windows on Broadway at King of Peace MCC June 8. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 4-THE RIGHT STUFF: Contestant Jasmine Skiis answers her on-stage question before winning Miss St. Pete Pride 2012 at the Flamingo on June 17. PHOTO COURTESY RAINBOW411 5- WHAT A DOLL: Kori Stevens wows the crowd at Bradley’s on 7th during her June 10 performance. PHOTO BY CARRIE WEST 6- CRUISIN’: Those aboard the annual St. Pete Pride “booze” cruise enjoyed some incredibly warm weather and a sunset on a beautiful day along the Gulf of Mexico June 9. PHOTO BY ANTHONY

BARROS

7- PASSING THE CROWN: Vinnie Marconi is crowned Mr. St. Pete Pride 2012 by Aiden Taylor, Mr. St. Pete Pride 2011, at the Flamingo June 17. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 8- COMIC GOLD: Emcees Meagan Towers and Faith Michaels take a break between Mr. and Miss St. Pete Pride pageants at the Flamingo June 17. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

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OVERHEARD NEW ROYALTY IN TOWN As with tradition, St. Pete Pride has crowned a new king and queen to represent the organization for the next year.

This year’s Mr. and Miss St. Pete Pride pageants were held at the Flamingo Resort on Sunday, June 17, right at the height of the popular T-Dance.

The Mr. St. Pete Pride pageant started about an hour late, which in “drag time” means it started on time. With four contestants, the entire competition lasted about three hours and Vinnie Marconi took the crown after winning nearly every category. He especially wowed the crowd and judges with his talent number,

featuring several backup “band mates” on keyboards and guitars.

Nearly two hours after Marconi was crowned, Miss St. Pete Pride got underway with its four contestants. Despite a late start, crowds again packed the main bar of the Flamingo to cheer on their favorites before the crown was awarded to Jasmine Skiis, who won every single category of the pageant.

Throughout the evening, the crowds got a chance to see former Mr. and Miss St. Pete Pride title holders perform, including Kori Stevens, Jaeda Fuentes, Ken D’Artanan and Aiden Taylor.

The newly crowned royalty will perform on the Detour Stage during St. Pete Pride on June 30.

GOING GAY ON WESTSHORE? As Adele would say, “rumor has it” that the LGBT community is quietly invading the Westshore Business District. So many samesex couples and gay singles are moving into the area’s condos and apartments that a new gay bar could be making an appearance in the area as early as January 1, 2013.

There isn’t any of�icial word on the exact location of the new club or exactly what it would be called. But a reliable source close to Watermark shared that a possible sports pub—similar to that of Georgie’s Alibi—could welcome LGBTs and allies alike. The venture is

an interesting one, considering the area is more known for its business community rather than its social one.

We’ll keep our ears to the ground and report if there are any new developments on this one that could pertain to your New Year’s Eve plans.

RAIN COULDN’T STOP WINDOWS ON BROADWAY The Windows on Broadway cabaret event was a huge success at King of Peace MCC Jan. 8, according to organizers.

The mixture of comedy, dance and vocal performances brought more than 350 people to the church on one of the most

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dreary, rainy evenings of the year. The celebration of music, which was a fundraiser for St. Pete Pride and the King of Peace Music Team, broke records with its attendance numbers. Last year, for example, the team’s big fundraiser brought in an estimated 75 ticket holders.

The interactivity of this year’s cabaret provided guests an opportunity to meet the performers in a non-traditional way. Peggy De Lara and Tina Beasley, or example, were dressed in early 20th century costumes and selling �lowers to attendees before the show.

A magician and red carpet photo area were also on hand for the crowd. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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ORLANDO

1- TEAM GLORY BOWL: (L to R) Chad Baransky, Jason Cook, David Fake and Keith McVeen take a beer break at the Gay and Lesbian Bowling League (GLBL) bowling night June 16 at Colonial Lanes. PHOTO BY RICK CLAGGETT 2- CHARITY FLASH: MyOptics softball team player Luis Lopez loses his pants for charity during the MyOptics Strip Poker Tournament fundraiser at Wyldes on June 16. PHOTO BY ERIK CABAN 3- CHOW LINE: TheDailyCity.com’s Food Truck Bazaar set up shop in Longwood on June 16. About nine food trucks participated. PHOTO COURTESY THERESA ROGERS

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4- RECRUITMENT: The Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls hosted a pool party June 16, where the league’s newest class of recruits got placed on one of three home teams: Arkham Assailants, Serial Thrillers or Sunnyland Slammers. PHOTO COURTESY PHANTOM

PHOTOGRAPHICS

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5- AWARD WINNER: Author and Watermark contributor Liz Langley (second from left) celebrates her Independent Book Publisher’s Award June 4 at the Peacock Room. PHOTO BY TOM DYER 6- BENEFICIAL CHAT: (L-R) Mark Cady, Keri Griffin-Edenfield and Omar Zeciri talked about benefits for veterans at a VA job fair June 15 at The Center. PHOTO BY MARK CADY 7- SUMMER FLING: (L to R) Sue Callaway, Lorrie Hansen, Claire Fournier and Cassie Carpenter are the women of Summer Fling, bowlers with GLBL. PHOTO BY RICK CLAGGETT 8- SUPPLY AND DEMAND: Thor Falk attends IBM’s supplier diversity event June 18 to find ways for local LGBT businesses to be included in IBM’s supply chain. PHOTO BY JASON HOLSTEIN

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OVERHEARD PATTY PARTS COMPANY Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Jocelynn White have parted company. The couple was front and center when the City of Orlando began registering domestic partners back in January.

And then Sheehan easily won re-election to a fourth term in March. When asked for a comment about the recent breakup, Sheehan predictably took the high road. “After seven years our relationship has ended,” Sheehan said. “I continue to believe in the importance of domestic partner registry, and I support those couples already registered and the many more that will be covered in years to come.” Sheehan met White during a speaking engagement at

Stetson University in 2005. In a pro�ile the following year, Sheehan told Watermark, “I’ve always been the poster child for the single gay lifestyle. For me to be in a healthy, functioning, committed relationship is just amazing to me.” We wish both Sheehan and White well.

GAY POWER

Need proof that Orlando is evolving? Look no further than the upcoming July issue of Orlando Magazine, which proclaims Ted Maines and Jeff Miller as the city’s number one “Power Couple.”

They unseat Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan and his politically active wife, Helen, atop the list, which also

includes outspoken LGBT allies Scott and Susannah Randolph in the number �ive position. Maines just announced a new name— Ted Maines Interiors—for his successful design �irm. Miller is a respected attorney. The magazine noted that they are bundlers for the Obama campaign and actively support several other candidates and causes, including Equality Florida and the Hope & Help Center.

TACKY BUT LOVEABLE Travel + Leisure magazine readers rated Orlando as the fourth-worst dressed city.

Destinations were ranked based on several factors, including style. While tourists spend a

lot of money and drive Central Florida’s economy, all those Mickey Mouse ears, tank tops and �lip-�lops de�initely don’t scream couture. According to the magazine, “Orlando was voted the No. 1 family vacation destination, so visitors were likely focused on people seen around the theme parks, which aren’t exactly crowded with fashionistas — enduring Disney World’s winding lines in stilettos would be crazy.” The worst-dressed city?

Anchorage, Alaska.

While we didn’t score points in the fashion department, Orlando did rank among the top 10 most romantic U.S. cities, according to MissTravel.com. Whether it’s the theme parks or scenic Lake Eola, the city beautiful de�initely has

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

amorous appeal. The dating site’s members were surveyed based on more than 20,000 trips they’ve taken since the website launched two months ago, Brandon Wade, the company’s founder told the Orlando Sentinel. The site pairs wealthy men seeking travel companions with women who want to travel, but don’t have the money to do it. Nice. Wade told the Sentinel that theme parks like Magic Kingdom, Universal Orlando, and Animal Kingdom are not just for families. “Couples are visiting Lake Eola for a romantic picnic or walk,” he said. “It’s a great place to fall in love.” Tampa came in at number 17, Orlando at number 7 and Miami at number 2. New York City topped the list. |  |

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H T P E IN D IDE

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P E T E P ST.

Ten years ago, founders met and planned a new kind of Pride event for Florida’s west coast

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Zach Caruso CARUSO@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T. PETERSBURG | TEN YEARS AGO, THINGS

were different in St. Petersburg. The LGBT community was alive and well, but it lacked something— celebration. Not just any kind of celebration, the right celebration. It was a different time, but thanks to a small spark and a dedicated and driven team that came together in early 2003, things were about to change.

“I attended Tampa Pride events in previous years, and I had talked to several people in St. Petersburg who felt that it wasn’t the type of Pride celebration they

wanted to attend,” says founding co-chair Brian Longstreth. “It had gone the way of big concerts and ticketed events, and the people here were looking for something

that was more public, more age-friendly and more family inclusive.”

After listening to the opinions of the local community, Longstreth set to work organizing a Pride event for the city of St. Petersburg. He was joined by a team of seasoned and enthusiastic players, including founding promenade chair Greg Stemm and founding co-chair Ellen Levett.

“I actually happened to stumble across Brian online at one point early on, and he started to �ill me in on what was happening,” Stemm recalls. “I told him, ‘I would de�initely be interested in being a part of this.’ I was originally planning on helping with media and marketing, but he [Brian] said to me, ‘No, no, I want you to JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

help with the parade.’ I mean, how many people do you know who know how to organize and run a parade?”

Stemm’s resume included his time as a public relations director for the Festival of States in St. Petersburg. The festival was a three-week long event that included parades featuring marching bands from around the country, and required a yearround staff of six people—just the right background to land him in the promenade chair position for the �irst St. Pete Pride.

Ellen Levett had been involved in Pride events in New York during the 1970s and 80s but hadn’t yet had her hand in Continued on page 51 |  |

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STRIKING A

CHORD Deborah Cox brings her love to the St. Pete Pride main stage

S

Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T. PETERSBURG | SINCE THE MID-1990S,

Deborah Cox has been a staple at dance clubs around the world. Her powerful, relatable anthems like “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here” and “Absolutely Not” bring LGBTs to the dance �loor year after year, and have helped secure her status as a pop culture icon.

Today, the Miami resident and mother of three is still performing her hits, but she’s also taking on meaty roles on the Broadway stage.

She played the lead role in AIDA, and this year she’s portraying “Lucy” in a touring revival of Jekyll & Hyde.

As if that isn’t enough, Cox is playing LGBT pride festivals across the country, and will make a special stop at the St. Pete Pride Street Festival on Saturday, June 30, when she performs on the main stage at 1 p.m.

This is the �irst year the state’s

largest Pride celebration has had a major headliner, and Cox is thrilled to help St. Pete Pride celebrate its 10th anniversary. The singer spoke with Watermark from her Miami home to talk about her performances, what it means to be embraced by the LGBT community and the potential for some new music later this year:

WATERMARK: SEVERAL YEARS AGO YOU SAID YOU DIDN’T LIKE THE TERM “DIVA” USED TO DESCRIBE YOU. HAS THAT CHANGED?

DEBORAH COX: The ‘diva’ word has such a negative connotation to it. To me a diva is someone who is so rooted and grounded in their craft. When I said I didn’t see myself as one—that was four years ago and I felt sort of green. When people refer to me as a diva I think my personality is so different from that. I’m a more down-to-earth person. I �ind a way to connect with people on a human level, from the heart level, rather than grandstanding. Maybe in my later years I will be considered a diva, but not yet. Although there are moments I have a diva attitude.

YOU’RE PREPARING TO RETURN

Continued on page 46 |  |

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|  | Deborah Cox from pg.45

TO BROADWAY THIS FALL AS “LUCY” IN JEKYLL & HYDE. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE BETWEEN BROADWAY PERFORMANCES AND CONCERT PERFORMANCES?

TWO STAGES WILL STAY BUSY DURING ST. PETE PRIDE 2012

JAGERMEISTER

MAIN STAGE CENTRAL AVENUE AT 21ST STREET

10:30 a.m.: National Anthem, performed by Miss Gay Florida USofA, Anjila Cavalier 10:35 a.m.: Reading of City Proclamation 10:45 a.m.: Double M Band 11:15 a.m. Mr. & Miss St. Pete Pride 2011 Jeada Fuentes and Aiden Taylor 11:30 a.m.: Jennifer Real Noon: Mr. & Miss St. Pete Pride 2012 12:15: Karmic Tattoo 12: 45: Miss USofA at Large Desiree Demornay and Miss ASAP Aspen Love 1 p.m.: Deborah Cox 1:30 p.m.: Alisa Summers and Alexis Mateo of RuPaul’s Drag Race 2 p.m.: Halcyon 2:30 p.m.: Iman Travieso, Empress of the Flamingo Resort 2:40 p.m.: Miss Florida USofA Anjila Cavalier

DETOUR STAGE

CENTRAL AVENUE AT 26TH STREET 11:15 a.m.: DJ Skittles Noon: Alexis De La Mer 12:15 p.m.: Franki Markstone 12:30 p.m.: Jasmine Skiies, Miss Carolina Continental 1:45 p.m.: Talent Quest Florida 3 p.m.: DJ Skittles

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On Broadway, I’m playing a character and I’m within that character. I’m part of a huge painting with many different people on stage. Plus, you’re working with an orchestra, so it’s a completely different sensation and performance than a concert.

I get the same joy because it’s me in front of an audience and I’m really singing from my heart. Performing concerts of my own songs is a different kind of love because some of the story lines are familiar with me and those songs have resonated with the audience in a way I’ll never be able to understand or comprehend.

But truly, being a part of a piece with other actors and orchestra—that’s an artist’s dream.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO RETURN TO A BROADWAY SHOW?

Since AIDA, I’ve been craving a meaty role with meaty songs.

When they approached me about playing “Lucy,” I thought it was an interesting casting twist to use someone like me. I wasn’t familiar with the previous production, but once I read the script and talked to the director about breathing new life into the show, I got really excited. I knew I could play around with the role and make my own mark with the songs. I understand it will be a big challenge because it’s already been done and that challenge is how do I continue to make it fresh and do my own thing without messing with the piece? It’s going to be more contemporary but its about �inding that common and delicate balance.

BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH PRIDE SEASON. HAVE YOU BEEN TO ST. PETERSBURG BEFORE?

I’ve never been to St. Petersburg but I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be damn hot. I was in Clearwater with Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors tour. I’m really looking forward to seeing the crowds. Everyone should come

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

Pride is about celebrating who you are, that chord really strikes something for me.

expecting to celebrate and have a good time.

YOU HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE. WHY DO YOU DO PRIDE EVENTS?

Pride events are just a lot of fun.

Doing Pride events is different than any other performance in that everyone is there for a big coming together. They are celebrating who they are and being true to themselves.

A concert is more about me giving a part of myself, a piece of myself and my story to the audience. At Pride I’m celebrating with you. It’s like being at a huge birthday party.

WHY ARE YOU SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY?

The connection between me and the LGBT community seems to be related to the subject matter of my music. It’s about love. Everything I’ve sung is on a topic everyone has dealt with or situations they have been through. They �ind a part of themselves in each song.

The gay community is about the big voices. Everyone is doing dance mixes now, but originally it was about the big voices and the divas, and that was the persona all of the drag queens wanted to live up to or be. I think that’s the connection there. The rest is profound. I don’t know what it is. Every year the calls come in from different Pride events and each year I try to go to places I haven’t been before.

Pride takes me all over the world and since Pride is about celebrating who you are, that

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chord really strikes something for me. I can’t imagine what it’s like growing up and not being able to be who you truly are. So I try to show my support the best way I can, and for me that’s through music.

SPEAKING OF MUSIC, WHEN WILL WE GET SOME NEW DEBORAH COX ANTHEMS?

(Laughs) Actually, I just �inished a single. I have so many songs and stuff I’ve recorded that I’m trying to get an EP done. Right now I’m looking for a distributor and trying to hone in on the right deal before releasing. My hope is to have an EP out by late this summer.

WHEN YOU DO START TOURING WITH JEKYLL & HYDE, YOU’LL BE WORKING WITH CONSTANTINE MAROULIS OF AMERICAN IDOL FAME. DO YOU WATCH MUCH REALITY MUSIC TELEVISION?

Really? (Laughs) I am way too busy with three kids and touring, so I don’t have the time to tune into be a faithful viewer.

I’m aware of X Factor and American Idol.

The music industry is such

watermarkonline.com

—DEBORAH COX

a different beast now. A lot of these singers haven’t really earned their stripes or done any kind of performance outside of being plucked from a mall. It’s bittersweet. There’s this whole thing now about being famous— that’s what everyone wants. It’s the fame, not the background.

YOU HAVE BOTH. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU AT ST. PETE PRIDE?

They should come expecting a high-energy show and to enjoy themselves. Come to celebrate and have a good time, because that’s what Pride is all about. |  |

MORE INFORMATION

WHO: Deborah Cox WHERE: Main Stage, St. Pete Pride WHEN: Saturday, June 30, 1 p.m.

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IT DOESN’T TAKE

A QUEER EYE Jai Rodriguez shows off his Pride and Fashion

S

Erik R. Caban ERIK@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T. PETERSBURG | JAI RODRIGUEZ, WHO

made a name for himself on the television series Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, is returning to Florida to host the Pride in Fashion event at Macy’s Tyrone Square Mall on Friday, June 29, alongside comedian Alec Mapa.

Last summer, Rodriguez headlined the 2011 Summer Shorts Theatre Festival in South Florida. After many years on the Broadway stages of New York and making several guest appearances on popular television shows, Rodriguez now resides in L.A., still acting and singing at various clubs in the area.

St. Pete Pride audiences will be able to get a glimpse of his hosting and performing skills during Pride in Fashion. Rodriguez spoke with Watermark about the upcoming Pride festivities, his return to television and shedding his Queer Eye image.

WATERMARK: SO, TELL US ABOUT

PRIDE IN FASHION. ARE YOU HOSTING? PERFORMING? WORKING A RUNWAY?

JAI RODRIGUEZ: [Laughs] I don’t know if I’m going to be allowed to work the runway but I might try.

Maybe if there’s any fashion road kill—if anyone falls or trips. I am

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actually going to do a couple of numbers, probably Top 40.

RECENTLY, ST. PETERSBURG APPROVED A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP ORDINANCE. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH GAY RIGHTS TODAY?

It’s still a huge concern. Domestic partnerships are not the same thing as marriage. There are many rights we are not allowed with domestic partnerships that straight couples are allowed with marriage. We’ve still got a long way to go. We’re at the precipice of this election and who knows what’s going to happen.

Our president said he believes gay couples should be able to get married. While those words are wonderful and empowering and hopefully they’ll inspire change, the real truth is that those are not legal words that will bind us to any contract that allows us to move forward.

The �irst thing I thought when

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

you �irst mentioned [D.P.R.s], which is going to sound kind of sel�ish, is, ‘Oh, my God. How great!

I’m going to St. Pete Pride and instead of having all these guys try to hook up with me, they’re going to try and marry me! Oh how nice would it be to be bi-coastal.’

[Laughs]

WITH THAT, I HAVE TO ASK: ARE YOU DATING ANYONE?

No. I’m very single, so hopefully, I’ll meet a nice Florida guy. Here in L.A. it’s a very different—wonderful, but different—vibe. Every now and again, when I run into a New Yorker or East Coast-er, there’s just something so nice and warmhearted about it.

I’m excited to be doing this Macy’s event because I actually shop at Macy’s. I’m not a fashionista; I like simplicity. It’s warm here, so I wear short sleeves, Levis and stuff. I �igure when I’m done with the show, I’ll probably just go shopping. I’ll leave some room in my luggage. [Laughs] WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY?

I did 100 episodes of Queer Eye. I’ve done probably over 100 episodes of television shows since then. What I didn’t realize is that before Queer Eye, I had a great acting career. I

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

FASHION EYE: Queer guy Jai Rodriguez co-hosts the Pride in Fashion event during St. Pete Pride weekend on Friday, June 29. PHOTO COURTESY MACY’S MEDIA RELATIONS was in New York, starring in big Broadway shows, from Rent to plays at Lincoln Center that were critically acclaimed to being on All My Children. Then, Queer Eye came along and it was this happy coincidence.

I think my �irst big acting gig was about �ive years ago when I guest starred on Nip/Tuck. I was able to get my feet wet on scripted acting. For the past two years, I’ve co-executive produced and created a series for LOGO called Bad Sex. All in all, I’m thankful that I’ve been left with a really great career and that I’ve been able to shift what people know me for. I’ve done everything from a transgendered woman on Harry’s Law to working with Coco

watermarkonline.com

Peru on Detroit 1-8-7, the law drama.

I’m recurring on Days of Our Lives.

Recently, I shot a pilot for ABC which is now going to be a series this fall.

It’s a sitcom starring Reba McEntire, Lily Tomlin, Sarah Rue and Jai Rodriguez!

YOU’VE BEEN A PERFORMER SINCE YOUR YOUTH. SINCE COMING OUT, DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE EVER BEEN TYPECAST AS JUST BEING ABLE TO PLAY ONE TYPE OF ROLE?

When I �irst started acting, people said, “Don’t play a gay part because you’ll get pigeonholed. You’ll never get to play anything else.” Here’s what I say to that: I severely doubt Meryl Streep goes to bed every night thinking, ‘Lord, let there come a

Where do you want to go today?

FUNNY MAN: Comedian Alec Mapa will co-host Pride in Fashion June 29 at Macy’s at Tyrone Square Mall. PHOTO COURTESY MACY’S MEDIA RELATIONS Sophia [from Golden Girls] between lesbian role down the pipe line so I can prove to everyone I’m a great actress.’

Reba and Lily. She has two kids but I’m sure she doesn’t. I’m sure she’s then realizes she’s going to have three content playing heterosexual characters with her mom. I play the marketing because she, herself is heterosexual. executive at the record label she’s I’m gay. If I want to play gay characters with. Unfortunately, since it’s the [21st for the rest of my life, I’m ok with that Century], we now want “cool” people because the kind of roles that are now like Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj. So, I’m being written for the kind of a total douche bag LGBTQA community to her initially, but her are so complex, so persistence wins me juicy, you’re no longer over and I end up the cliché. Not to becoming her mention, the openly one ally in the gay actors who are music industry. booking straight I’m like the work, like Jane Lynch Ethel to her and Neil Patrick Lucy or Jack to Harris, are now her Karen. It’ll huge stars. be us getting I think it’s less into lots of about your sexual trouble together orientation and The role more about, ‘Can you was actually actually do the work; written for an can you embody urban, ethnic this character?’ guy. So, when I —JAI RODRIGUEZ ON THE YOU MENTIONED CREATION OF DOMESTIC PARTNER walked into the YOUR NEW ABC audition, I made REGISTRIES IN ST. PETERSBURG. SERIES, MALIBU the decision to COUNTRY. CAN YOU do it as New TELL US ANYTHING MORE ABOUT York City-Puerto-Rican-gay-fabulous.

YOUR ROLE? I pretty much rewrote the lines and it The show’s about a country singer, was super funny and I cracked up Reba. played by Reba McEntire, who is I ended up booking it and it was such married to another country singer, who a nice, validating moment to be picked she’s had a couple kids with. The show up by a big network like ABC. It was opens at a press conference where her intense but it was a cool experience and husband announces he’s been cheating I’m happy to be doing it! It airs Nov. 2 on and that he and his wife are going to be ABC at 8:30 p.m. |  | working on their marriage. She ends up breaking up with him and moves MORE INFORMATION cross country with their two kids and grandmother, played by Lily Tomlin. She WHO: Jai Rodriguez wants to restart her career in Malibu.

WHERE: Pride in Fashion, Macy’s It’s edgier than her last show, [Reba.] It’s Tyrone Square Mall sort of the new modern family.

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|  | 10 Years of Pride

This is when it happened, and this is when we need to celebrate it.

from pg.43

any of Florida’s Pride celebrations.

That was about to change, and Levett would soon take the reins as founding co-chair.

“The original co-chair had to step down, and I decided to step up,” recalls Levett. “I initially went to a meeting to �ind out about all that was going on, and a few meetings later, I was co-chair.”

KEEPING IT AFFORDABLE

From the start, the team had a list of goals that would make the event different than other Pride events— including the avoidance of ticketed events, and ensuring low booth fees for participating businesses.

“Part of the original plan was making sure we had enough income from sponsors to cover most of the costs so we could keep the event free, and keep booth prices affordable,” says Longstreth. “I’ve seen other Pride events where everything is ticketed, and the booth fees are so high that it prevents a lot of small businesses and non-pro�its from even participating.”

While their eyes were �ixed on the goal of creating a stand-out event, time was not on their side.

“We had the �irst community meeting in February of 2003, and it was such a short time-frame, but I think that actually helped,” Longstreth says. “We couldn’t overthink things, we just had to do it.”

Not only did they make it happen, they did it in a span of only 16 weeks.

“We were constantly looking at the clock saying, ‘Oh my god, oh my god! But by June, it all came together,” recalls Stemm. “But we were very cautious of every decision we made, because we were very cognitive that we were setting a precedent.”

“I remember during that time just looking around and realizing there were all these people in this community who wanted something that was more of a widespread pride event,” says Longstreth. “And there were so many people here with so much experience in participating in and planning this type of event, and we just ran with it.”

The affair also prides itself on the fact that it is an all-ages and allinclusive event—a detail that not all Pride-related events can boast— and the founders feel the ideals of diversity and acceptance that are being conveyed and put on display

DREAM TEAM: In 2003, the founders of St. Pete Pride only had 16 weeks to plant the seeds of what

would become the state’s largest LGBT Pride celebration. PHOTO COURTESY ST. PETE PRIDE

are some of the most important aspects of the event.

“We wanted something that kids could come to, that parents and grandparents could participate in,” says Longstreth.

“We really wanted to involve everyone,” says Levett. “People from the gay community and non-gay community, gay churches and nongay churches, gay businesses and non-gay businesses. We wanted everybody to be a part of it.”

EARLY SUPPORT

Their hopes were realized early on when they saw �irst-hand that the parade route was peppered with families enjoying the celebration and showing a wealth of support.

“I remember the �irst year when we were going through Kenwood, we saw a lot of families with children watching the parade,” says Longstreth. “When we talked to some of the parents they told us, ‘We wanted to bring our kids down here and show them and talk to them about diversity, and this was a great way to do it.’”

“After the event was all over that �irst year, we got such remarkable feedback from people,” says Stemm.

One story in particular stands out to the founders. It was a single event that seemed all at once to con�irm that they had the community’s support, and that their efforts were already paying off in a tremendous fashion.

“We got a letter from a family that lived on the parade route in Kenwood, and they wrote to us to tell us that they had taken their oneyear-old boy to the parade,” says Stemm. “Their intention was to take him to that event every year to teach him about diversity and love and inclusion. It was very moving to me personally, because it validated what we were doing.”

“They sat out in their front yard and watched the entire parade, and it was the �irst parade this little boy had ever seen,” says Levett.

And while the family may have been moved by the event, the founders were moved by the values this family sought to instill in their child.

“They loved it, and wanted to know if we were going to be doing it again the next year. I thought that was just a terri�ic moment,” says Levett.

“In many cases, you have media that sometimes just focuses on some of the more outlandish parts, the costumes and things of that nature,” says Longstreth. “One of the things I love about the St. Pete event is that, from our original desire to keep it friendly for everyone, it really gave people a chance to see the true diversity of the community.”

THE HEAT IS ON

Along with seeing diversity came experiencing the sweltering heat of summer in Florida. But while the

—ST. PETE PRIDE FOUNDING CO-CHAIR ELLEN LEVETT ON THE EVENT’S WARM, JUNE DATE

temperatures have the potential to reach near triple digits, the signi�icance of June to Pride events far outweighs the discomfort of few droplets of sweat.

“I think you can put up with a little sweating for one day,” says Longstreth. “It was pretty hot in New York in June 1969.”

“You don’t change Christmas because it’s cold,” says Stemm. “It’s written in our by-laws that the celebration will take place on the last Saturday in June. The reason being, that marks the anniversary of Stonewall.”

The Stonewall Riots of 1969 echoed through the streets of New York City, and it is marked as the �irst time in the history of the United States that the gay community fought back against the persecution of sexual minorities. It is the spark that started the modern gay rights movement, and the founders of St. Pete Pride are in unanimous agreement that to celebrate Pride at any other time of year would be a disservice to the historical events that led the community to where they are today.

“Would you have Fourth of July in December?” asks Levett with a chuckle. “This is when it happened, and this is when we need to celebrate it.”

AN OPTIMISTIC FUTURE

As St. Pete Pride enters its 10th year, the original founding members

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

recall memories fondly from the event’s infancy and are optimistic about its future.

“This, I think, has really helped put St. Petersburg on the map as a ‘destination’, and that is very satisfying,” says Longstreth. “It’s about the diversity of the crowd; it’s people from strollers to scooters, and seeing the smiles on their faces.”

“We’re starting to get such mainstream recognition,” says Stemm. “You go onto the pride website, and 98.7 is listed as the of�icial pride radio station.”

Levett agrees, and is glad to see the support and acceptance of not only the local community but of the powers-that-be, as well.

“The acceptance of the general community continues to be greater and greater as time goes on,” says Levett. “But in addition, politicians are realizing they have to recognize us, and they participate with us, and I think that is a big step forward.”

Stemm holds a similar sentiment, and has high hopes for the future.

“I would love to see one day a classy car coming down the parade route and have the mayor sitting in it waving to the crowd,” says Stemm.

“It took decades for the mayor of New York to march in the Gay Pride Parade, and now it’s almost a given that the mayor will be there.

And for us, I think that day will come too.” |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

51

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SAYING GOODBYE: Fern Fournier (left) and his partner, Elliot Barber, ride in Joy MCC’s Come Out

With Pride 2011 parade car decorated to celebrate their 48-year relationship. The couple was together 49 years when Fourner passed away earlier this month. PHOTO COURTESY JEFF HENDERSON

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CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations Orlando’s Metropolitan Business Association filed its articles of incorporation on June 22, 1992.

Happy 30th birthday!

Former MBA president Dr. David Baker-Hargrove and his partner, Robert Hargrove, will celebrate their 18th anniversary together on June 23.

The Francis House, Tampa’s HIV/AIDS respite center for those infected or affected by the disease, celebrates its 22nd anniversary on July 1.

Orlando couple Richard Egan, VP of retail planning and design for Colorvision International, and Steve Yacovelli, owner of TopDog Learning Group, LLC, celebrate their 14th anniversary on June 27.

Passings Photographer Charity Rivera of Zephyrhills passed away on Sunday, June 10, following a motorcycle accident on I-4. She was best known for her photography during events at the now-closed Flirt Nightclub in Ybor City. She was a motorcycle enthusiast as well as an ally to the LGBT community, participating in several events, including Pride on 7th.

Fernand Fournier, 86, passed away June 8 at his home in Orlando. He is survived by his partner of 49 years, Elliot Barber. Fournier was a Navy Veteran of World War II and managed Ivey’s Beauty Salon for more than three decades.

Richard A. Ctibor, 71, died on June 11 at his home in the Thornton Park. Dick was a longtime resident of Orlando and a former member of the Orlando Gay Chorus who loved travel and Trivial Pursuit. He is survived by his nephew David Ctibor of Orlando, and his dear friend Jimmy Lee of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Long-time Georgie’s Alibi bartender Greg Sparks passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 16 at his home. He was 46. Sparks began working at Alibi’s in St. Petersburg in 2003 and was a staple at the popular restaurant and sports bar throughout his tenure there. The Ohio native is survived by his mother, father, a sister and two brothers. A memorial service will be held at A Life Tribute Chapel in Gulfport on Thursday, June 21, at 4 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at 6 p.m. at Georgie’s Alibi.

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Local birthdays Tampa bay limo chauffer Marty Theriot and diehard Steelers fan Jimmy Guzic (June 21); Tampa’s Sweatshop proprietor and fitness guru Christine Myers, St. Petersburg Yoga enthusiast/ instructor Andre Sur and Tampa Bay Elder Sister Agatha Frisky (AKA Daniel Lancaster) (June 22); Tampa Keller Realty star Bill Knecht and Treasure Island politico Gail Caldwell (June 23); Tampa U.b.U. Salon artist Jeremy Beauchamp (June 24); Tampa Bay community activist Guadalupe Vargas, St. Pete twirler and Tampa Bay Leather Boy 2010 Dan Radwanski and Tampa outdoor enthusiast Scott Buttelwerth (June 25); mohawked roller derby team captain Amber Luu (June 26); Tampa Stageworks Theatre Artistic Director Anna Brennan (June 27); Bradenton Temple Beth El Rabbi Harold Caminker (June 28); O-Town DJ Chris “Cub” Mendez (June 29); Orlando Pride producer Mikael Audebert (June 30); St. Petersburg leatherman Matt Wolf, Italian ice queen/former Watermark sales diva Erica Franco and fab photog Dixie Lee Todd (July 1); Tampa philanthropist Matt Bachman, Tampa Bay Metro Charities director Lorraine Langlois, Orlando resident and Sawmill performer Sofonda Cox, former Miss Gay USA Coco Montrese and frequent Orlando thespian Tommy Wooten (July 2); Orlando restaurateur Pom Moongauklang, Tampa Bay massage therapist Cory Jeffries (July 3); Orlando Fringe entertainer Rob “Pepe” Ward, Equality Florida Deputy Director Stratton Pollitzer (July 4).

Are you making a Transition? Having a birthday or anniversary? Did you get a new job or promotion? See your news in Watermark! Send your Transition to Editor@WatermarkOnline.com or go to WatermarkOnline.com/Submit-a-Transition - it’s that easy!

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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y girlfriend, Casey, and I were in Orlando for Gay Days with a bunch of our friends from New York and Miami. We party hard when we all get together, so there was a lot of alcoholfueled �lirting going on all weekend. While we were at one of the parties, I ran into my ex-girlfriend Daniela. I hadn’t seen her in about two years, though I recently friended her on Facebook. Daniela and I were both pretty cocktailed and before I knew it we were making out. After about a minute I pulled away, said my goodbyes and went back to my girls.

So far, no one has said anything to Casey or me about the kiss, but I’m worried that one of our friends might have seen it. Casey will freak if she �inds out—she’s very jealous of Daniela—so I don’t want to stir the pot unnecessarily.

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y boyfriend, Jack, and I have been dating for about six months. We have a lot in common and I am incredibly attracted to him. Jack is really sweet and is always looking out for me, even going so far as to walk my dog and make me dinner when I work late. The problem is that Jack is too clingy. He always wants to hold my hand or be touching— even when I’m driving—and he gets upset if don’t respond the same way.

When we go out, he never leaves me side and constantly paws me. I like to hug and be held as much as the next guy, but I also need my own space.

When I tell Jack he’s crowding me, he gets hurt and pouts. I really like this guy, but I’m losing my patience with all his touchy-feely neediness. How do I get Jack to back off?

—Hands Off in Hyde Park

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Dear Edward Freehands, On the surface, it sounds like you’ve found a devoted boyfriend, but underneath I wonder if he has some unresolved issues with a past partner. You don’t say, but I would guess that Jack has had a bad experience with a boyfriend before, and his inability to give you your own space may re�lect his vulnerability.

Having said that, however, I also wonder why you’re so worried about physical contact, especially in public. It sounds like you may have some intimacy issues of your own or that you may be a bit worried how others will perceive you.

Here comes the truth: talk to Jack about his over-reaching clinginess and reassure him of your devotion. But remember that you have a responsibility to show you care, so don’t be so quick to brush away a loving gesture.

Dear GRG, Running into an ex is something we all have dealt with. The LGBT community is a lot smaller than many think, so working around our pasts isn’t foreign territory. Having said that, it’s important that we conduct ourselves appropriately when we’re around those we once shared a bed with. It sounds like you failed at that miserably.

You don’t say how long you were in a relationship with Daniela, but it sounds like it may have ended prematurely. I’m a believer that while alcohol makes us do things we wouldn’t normally do, it also acts as a truth serum. It sounds like you have some unresolved feelings or your ex.

Honesty is always the best medicine. If you are truly worried about someone tattling to Casey, then you should put on your big-girl panties and confess to your indiscretion. While it may hurt her at �irst, it won’t be nearly as painful as if she heard it from a third party. |  |

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407-244-1222 Peer-to-peer support group and social activities for LGBTQ youth ages 13 – 24.

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NFL’s Wade Davis comes out N

EW YORK, N.Y. | A former NFL player has come out as being gay, joining a small but growing number of former athletes who are publicly acknowledging they are gay or lesbian.

Wade Davis, a cornerback who spent four preseasons with three NFL teams and also played in NFL Europe, said he didn’t tell his teammates he was gay because he feared the impact it would have in the locker room.

“You just want to be one of the guys, and you don’t want to lose that sense of family,” Davis said in an interview with Outsports.com.

Wade played in college at Weber State and spent the 2000 and 2002 preseasons with the Titans. Jevon Kearse and Samari Rolle were among his closest friends in Tennessee,

and he would later be invited to Rolle’s wedding.

Kearse said he doesn’t think Davis being openly gay would have changed anything.

“I know there have been a lot more than just Wade,” Kearse told Outsports. “It’s just becoming more acceptable, which is a good thing so they can come out and not feel secluded.”

While there has yet to be an openly gay player in any of the four major American professional leagues, several players have come out after retiring, including former NBA forward John Amaechi, NFL lineman Esera Tuaolo and major leaguer Billy Bean. Rick Welts, president and chief operating of�icer of the Golden State Warriors, is openly gay.

Davis’ football career ended in 2003, after he got hurt in training camp. He is now a staff member at the Hetrick-Martin Institute in New York, which

serves, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.

In interviews with OutSports and SBNation, Davis, 34, talked about the challenges of being closeted in an NFL locker room.

“I think subconsciously, I understood that being gay—the way I was raised—was ‘wrong,’ and there was no way that my family would accept me,” Davis told SBNation. “And also that my football family would (not) accept me just because of the perception of being gay meant that you’re less masculine.”

That meant holding himself back personally even as he grew close to heterosexual teammates like Kearse and Rolle.

Davis was even advised to avoid another unidenti�ied player on the Titans who was labeled as “different” with the thought that such an association would jeopardize Davis’ ability to make the team.

John R. Dickson,

BREAKING OUT: Former

Tennessee Titans cornerback Wade Davis recently came out of the closet.

“There was a part of me that was a little relieved because, when I knew football was over, my life would begin,” Davis said to OutSports. “Most of the guys had a family and a wife, but I had football and nothing else.”

He says he �irst realized he was gay in 11th grade.

“I can remember being in gym class and having the desire to look at a boy in a way that I should look at girls,” he told SBNation.

If that sounds like a red �lag to players who might be skittish with him in their inner circle, Davis says it absolutely shouldn’t be

sports

Staff Report

the case.

“At no point (during) my NFL playing career did I take advantage of the privilege that I had to see a man naked. I never even remotely got aroused in the locker room. It’s a place where those guys are your family, and the last thing that you want to do is make anyone in your family feel uncomfortable. It’s not even a thought,” he said.

“I think the players have to understand that there’s nothing that’s gonna happen.”

What hasn’t happened so far is a pro player in a major North American pro league to reveal he’s gay during his career. And even Davis admits that might fall to a star player.

“I’m gonna be �lat-out honest with you, it probably shouldn’t (be a reserve player) if he wants to keep his job,” he said. “If he’s the 53rd man on the roster, if he’s a free agent who’s �ighting for a job, maybe he shouldn’t.”

Is such a courageous step in the of�ing?

“I can’t say it’s in the next �ive or 10 years, but I de�initely think it’s on the horizon,” said Davis. |  |

OW N E R

A N D TA K E YO U R P E RS O N A L T R A I N I N G B U S I N ES S TO N E W H E I G H T S AT FLO R I DA FI T N ES S CO N C E P T S! V I S I T W W W. F L O R I D A F I T N E S S C O N C E P T S . C O M /N E W T R A I N E R

TO H I R E A N FFC T R A I N E R O R FO R M O R E I N FO, V I S I T

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Jake Stevens 62

JAKE@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

Galleryw I

ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHING

St. Pete Pride’s promenade each year. It’s a sea of bright colors, beads, fun �loats, and people begging to have their photo taken—

especially the bodypainted topless chick who somehow sneaks into half of the

walking �lotillas. Don’t worry, we see you girl.

Last year, I caught a piece of Pride magic. I found a spot

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

PHOTOGRAPHY on Central Avenue where a nice crowd lined the street and trained my camera on the �irst throng of marching revelers.

Each �lotilla is a small vignette of the colorful facets of our community and I voraciously try to capture them all. While I’m snapping pictures, I hear, “Oh my God! I haven’t seen you in years!”

I positioned my camera just in time to capture a succession of shots of a man emerging from the crowd to embrace his friend on the �loat. They hugged each other in their warm embrace for as long a parade on the move

JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

can allow and I heard them make plans to catch up later.

That moment stuck with me long after the parade had �inished and compelled me to make it a part of Gallery W in our coverage (Issue 18.14). After the photo ran, we heard from an overjoyed Thom Bland. Thom, who was in the crowd, hadn’t seen his friend Paul in more than two years. It happened to be the �irst time Paul had attended a Pride event in Tampa Bay since the mid-80s.

“I don’t know how you got this shot,” Thom wrote. “It was a great joy to see him. I’ve

watermarkonline.com

dealt with some very serious health issues since mid-2006 and he was always there to help and support both me and my best friend. Paul is one of the most giving members of our community and he never ceases to be an inspiration to so many people—without making himself the focus. I love him more than he will ever know.”

Without quite fully realizing it, I became the documentarian for these two men in a moment they’ll never forget. And these moments happen every year, and are just a small part of what makes St. Pete Pride so special. |  |

A little paint…a lit tle wine, and a whole lot of fun.

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Private Parties Available Make a Reservation & Visit the Painting Calendar Online 6700 Conroy-Windermere Road, Suite 125 • (407) 601-7800 www.paintingwithatwist.com/orlando Painting with a Twist-Orlando-FL

To eat well is to live well.

BELLINI BRUNCH

Sat.-Sun. 11am-3pm

REGULAR HOURS Sun.-Thurs. 11am-10pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-11pm

407-351-8909 • The Mall at Millenia • BrioItalian.com JUNE 21-JULY 4, 2012 // ISSUE 19.13

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