Watermark Issue 20.13: St. Pete Pride

DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 20.13 • JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

ST. PETE PRIDE GEARS UP FOR ITS 11TH YEAR ON CENTRAL AVENUE PLUS: Pride’s entertainment schedule 27/82 Concert kicks off the celebration early Meet the grand marshals

Beckner:

Come Out With Pride in Orlando,

FOR A FEE?

‘STILL WORK TO BE DONE’ IN HILLSBOROUGH

Copyright Benson 2013. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced.

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DEPARTMENTS 6 // MAIL 8 // ORLANDO NEWS 12 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 16 // STATE 19 // NATION & WORLD 29 // IN DEPTH 39 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 49 // EVENT PLANNER 51 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 53 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 54 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 55 // TRANSITIONS 56 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE 61 // SPORTS

PAGE

16

If this bill has something in it that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill. I’m done.

—SEN. MARCO RUBIO

ON THE COVER

PAGE Mark Bias and Carrie West,

right, and members 29 farof Metro Wellness and

Community Centers prepare for St. Pete Pride as 2013 grand marshals. Not pictured, Susan McGrath.

Photo by Nick Cardello Illustration by Jake Stevens

Preview

PAGE

39 LOCATION, LOCATION LOCATION: The 27/82 Concert will bring Pride revelers to their feet—literally—the night before the state’s largest LGBT street festival. Uh Huh Her is headlining a concert that also features Burlesque.

WATERMARK ISSUE 20.13 //J UNE 20 - J ULY 3 , 2013

ORLANDO NEWS

TAMPA BAY NEWS

PAGE Organizers of Come Out

PAGE Amy Foster enters the race

AMY GRANT

GALLERY W

Read it online!

SCAN QR CODE FOR

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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

08

With Pride may consider adding a fee to help offset costs; An annual LGBT sports festival could come to Orlando beginning in 2015; Vandals deface The Center; Pride rally slated for June 27; more.

12

to become a St. Petersburg City Council member and tells us why she’s right for the job; Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner talks about the county’s unanimous vote repealing its notorious ‘Pride ban’; more.

PAGE Christian singer turned 90s

42

pop icon Amy Grant has a new album out this month, and for the first time talks to LGBT press about her music, her views and the large number of gay fans that attend her concerts.

PAGE Orlando was the site of a

A Mile In Her Shoes 62 Walk fundraiser, which raised

awareness and funds for domestic violence programs. The event was more than just a walk. Participants were encouraged to wear festive footwear.

KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE FIVE-DAYS OF ST. PETE PRIDE EVENTS AT WATERMARKONLINE.COM. JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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VER SINCE PRIDE LAST YEAR, I’VE BEEN CARRYING IN MY POCKET THE BUTTON I’d like to give to the man who asked me for it. I had thought for a long time that, if I didn’t reconnect with him in the meantime, I might �ind him again at Pride this year. But recently I made plans to go to Silver Threads North in Rehoboth Beach, DE, which is June 20-23, and after that I’ll be staying with a friend in Raleigh, NC, for a while, so I will— alas!—miss St. Pete Pride this year (I think the �irst I’ve missed since it began in St. Pete).

I’m hoping to �ind a way to reach out to him and get the button to him if he does hear that it’s waiting for him.

I hope someone can help.

EUNICE FISHER ST. PETERSBURG

Editor’s Note: .For the full story on the “Button Lady,” search for the story on WatermarkOnline.com.

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ENATOR RUBIO’S STATEMENTS REGARDING IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THE EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT are indefensible and heartless. I challenge Sen. Marco Rubio to meet with families torn apart by current laws. Let him sit with couples

“Rubio’s recent rhetoric is a slap in the face to his constituency and the families directly harmed by the current laws.”

—NADINE SMITH

who have been forced apart and children who are denied access to both parents because the law does not recognize their family.

Rubio’s recent rhetoric about pulling his support for immigration reform if samesex couples are included is a slap in the face to his constituency and the families directly harmed by the current laws.

Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) support protecting gay and transgender people from workplace discrimination.

This support cuts across political party af�iliation, with 81% of Democrats, 74% of independents and 66% of Republicans supporting workplace nondiscrimination laws for LGBT people.

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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watermarkonline.com

IS DECLARING THAT GAY YOUTH SHOULD BE REJECTED AND OSTRACIZED by approving a resolution condemning the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) decision to allow openly-gay Scouts, simply because of how God made them. As someone who was raised in the Southern Baptist Church, I know �irsthand the importance faith has in the lives of young people.

This move by the Southern Baptist Convention will cause deeper divisions within families, and will harm young people who seek church as a place of love and acceptance. The last thing that kids need—especially LGBT kids—is one more voice telling them they’re not good enough.

Sadly, the Southern Baptist Convention has taken a position that goes against the central teachings of the Bible and has planted itself �irmly on the wrong side of history. .

CHAD GRIFFIN HRC PRESIDENT

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

I

Desk

’M DISAPPOINTED IN BILL FOSTER, AND

the LGBT community as a whole should be too. The St. Petersburg Mayor has again declined to sign a proclamation recognizing June as LGBT Pride month in his city. It isn’t a surprise, mind you, since he nor his predecessor Rick Baker ever signed the proclamation before.

That’s 11 years straight, no pun intended, that the mayor of the city hosting the state’s largest LGBT Pride festival has essentially ignored the festival’s existence.

This year, I expected more from Mayor Foster. There have been a rash of equality measures moving through the country and the state.

Marriage Equality has seen a historic push in a growing number of states and communities around Florida—including St. Petersburg and Pinellas County—now have

WATERMARK STAFF

domestic partner registries for unmarried couples.

It’s past time to recognize the history of the LGBT community and its impact—socially, culturally and economically—on St. Petersburg.

But Foster continues to ignore the importance of LGBTs. Instead, he waf�les on issues of equality and shows up at fundraising events simply for the photo ops. He spoke at the Equality Florida Gala earlier this year held within the Dali Museum and spoke about the

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cultural diversity of St. Petersburg and the importance of opposing discrimination. But Foster always seems one step shy of fully supporting the LGBT community.

On June 13, the St. Petersburg City Council made history when all eight of�icials signed the Pride proclamation. I was in the council chambers and witnessed the proud moment when Councilman Jeff Danner noted the historical signi�icance of a council that fully supported St. Pete Pride. Then, when Pride representatives posed with the supportive council for a photo, Foster positioned himself with the group, smiling broadly for my camera.

How can you celebrate a Pride proclamation but directly oppose it by not signing it yourself? A glance at the photo indicates his support. A look at the proclamation clearly says otherwise.

Following the council meeting, Foster spoke brie�ly with the group of Pride representatives outside of the chambers. He shook our hands and noted that St. Pete Pride was just too “adult-themed” for him to sign the proclamation. He didn’t elaborate. Maybe one “kid zone” full of bouncy castles on Central Avenue in previous years just wasn’t family-friendly enough.

There has been much made about the mayor from across the Bay recognizing St. Pete Pride this year. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has signed a proclamation recognizing Gay Pride Month

and as this issue of Watermark was going to press, St. Pete Pride announced that Buckhorn plans to participate in the annual parade on June 29.

Say what you will about the “unof�icial rivalry” between St. Petersburg and Tampa, but it says a lot when a mayor is willing to cross the water and participate in a Pride festival that’s not even held in his own city—especially when that city’s own mayor doesn’t plan to attend.

St. Pete Pride brings 100,000plus people to Central Avenue and has grown to become one of Tampa Bay’s largest festivals.

Reaching out to elected of�icials throughout the region is an important step for the growth and health of the festival, and just because St. Petersburg’s own mayor doesn’t recognize the LGBT community’s value doesn’t mean other mayors can’t join the �ight for equality in a very public way.

Fortunately, a nearby mayor has done just that.

Foster should be embarrassed. Never mind that St. Pete Pride brings in nearly $11 million to his city every summer, which is typically a slow season for Florida.

And maybe even overlook that St. Pete Pride puts a spotlight on his city that earns positive national— even global—attention.

But to shun the responsibility of recognizing an important segment of society and leaving it to “some other mayor” is incredibly arrogant.

Pride is about celebrating diversity, combating discrimination and recognizing the contributions and history of a part of the community that has struggled to have its voice heard for decades.

Foster has turned his back on those principals of Pride, and no number of photo opportunities can hide that. |  |

How can you celebrate a Pride proclamation but directly oppose it by not signing it yourself?

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JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

CONTRIBUTORS 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 12

GREG STEMM

lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 12, 21

Greg Burton, Scottie Campbell, Zach Caruso, Amy Dees, Kirk Hartlage, Rev. Phyllis Hunt, Joseph Kissel, Ken Kundis, Mary Meeks, Stephen Miller, David Moran, Gregg Shipiro, Greg Stemm, Brett Stout, Jim Walker

PHOTOGRAPHY NICK CARDELLO

is the owner of Cardello Photography and he lives and works in Tampa Bay. He is the official photographer for several area events and organizations. Cover, Page 32

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

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

7

orlando NEWS 8

Annual LGBT sports festival in the works for Orlando Jamie Hyman JAMIE@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

O

RLANDO | Orlando may be out of the running for the Gay Games, but two organizations are still trying to make a name for Orlando when it comes to LGBT sports.

Converge Orlando, Central Florida’s LGBT tourism bureau, and the Central Florida Sports Commission (CFSC) are working to create an annual sports festival where athletes from South America, Central America and North America would gather in Orlando compete.

Mikael Audebert, Converge Orlando’s executive director, said the event’s “code name” is Pan American Games, but that is not the �inal title. He said Converge and CFSC partnered for the Gay Games bid and had talked about developing an annual sports festival should the bid not be successful. Orlando was eliminated as a potential Gay Games host city June 1.

“We got the exposure through the Gay Games; we might as well ride the momentum,” Audebert said.

According to Audebert, the event has the potential to bring millions of dollars of business to the Central Florida area.

“At the peak of this event, it could be close to 85, 90 million dollars every time we hold it,” Audebert said. “For the �irst two years, I think we’ll be closer to 40-50 million.”

He said much of that money will come from Orlando’s destination appeal.

“You don’t come here to just compete, you come to do the theme parks,” he said. “Individuals will come to compete and then will stay a few days more to enjoy what we have to offer. That’s what we’re really counting on.”

He said the Federation of Gay Games has shown an interest in the idea, “We have their support and are going to continue working with them on developing this,” Audebert said.

The �irst step is to identify venues, then select eight sports and then �inally, focus on marketing the event.

“There’s another crucial element—securing �inancial support,” Audebert said.

He said they’re looking at state, county and Visit Orlando grants.

The event would be open to LGBT athletes and LGBT ally athletes, just like the Gay Games.

Audebert said the plan is to hold the inaugural sporting event in September 2015.

In the meantime, the group is working on putting together a contingent of 300 Orlando athletes to travel to Cleveland next August and participate in the Gay Games. Audebert said the Federation of Gay Games told Orlando’s bid committee that a reason they were eliminated was because Orlando has never made an effort to participate in the Gay Games. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

PRIDE PAY?: With annual attendance approaching 100,000, Come Out With Pride organizers say a dollar or two from each attendee would easily pay for the cost of hosting Orlando’s annual pride event.

Pay for Pride?

Once again, Come Out With Pride organizers consider charging admission Jamie Hyman

JAMIE@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

O

RLANDO | It’s a discussion that arises every year and 2013 is no exception: how should organizers pay for Come Out With Pride, Orlando’s annual Pride parade and festival in the fall?

It costs approximately $130,000 to put on the event, according to COWP executive director Mikael Audebert. Each year, the COWP committee solicits sponsorships, charges vendor and parade fees and hosts fundraisers to cover that cost. Audebert said since he became director in 2011, the policy has been to ensure the funds are raised before the event kicks off, but fundraising goals are 40% behind schedule this year.

Robert Azzarito, COWP board member, said the organization is “shy on sponsorships” this year and “a lot of the fundraising events leading up to the event don’t’ get very well attended.”

Audebert echoed that statement, saying that every year there is “less and less attendance of fundraisers.”

In the meantime, the cost of the event is rising.

“It’s hard to determine if we’re

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

going to be okay,” Audebert said.

“Costs are going up. The city is not reducing its costs. The [rising] number of [attendees] requires that we take more space, so that goes up as well.”

Audebert said the fundraising goals are only about $10,000 and the organization is at about $5,000 raised with two main events left—an Epcot Tuscan-themed party June 21

keeping COWP free.

“I’ll kill somebody �irst,” he said.

“I hate the idea of putting people at the gates and charging to get into the park. It just seems wrong.”

Audebert said the current discussion is a call to action and not a decision.

“I’ve been 150% opposed to it past years,” he said. “I have to be honest with you; I’m getting exhausted, working with very few individuals in this community that are paying for everyone.”

He said a $1 or $2 admission is fair for all.

“People in this community are willing to pay $150 at bars and clubs to become wasted but they’re not willing to contribute to their celebration,” Audebert said.

“It’s frustrating.”

Despite that frustration, Audebert said it’s unlikely that they’ll charge at the gates for COWP 2013 because the logistics alone are too complicated to �igure out on such a tight deadline.

“But I have to be honest with you; if this year we break even or lose money again as we did last year, next year there will be no question about [charging admission for COWP],” he said.

Audebert said last year’s COWP lost about $5,000. |  |

“People in this community are willing to pay $150 at bars and clubs to become wasted but they’re not willing to contribute to their celebration.”

—MIKAEL AUDEBERT

and bowling fundraiser July 13.

So… will they or won’t they charge at the gate?

Azzarito said the discussion always comes up during planning because there is a new committee every year and “somebody always suggests that, especially if they’ve worked on other Prides.”

Azzarito is �irmly in the camp of

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orlando NEWS

Vandals deface The Center Marriage equality rally set for June 27

Susan Clary SUSAN@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

O

Staff report

O

RLANDO | Marriage equality supporters will gather at Lake Eola June 27 to “Paint the Town Red” for a marriage equality rally. The event is in anticipation of the two Supreme Court rulings expected to be handed down sometime at the end of June on DOMA and Prop 8.

The rally starts at 7 p.m. and is hosted by The GLBT Center along with Come Out With Pride, the Human Rights Campaign, Equality Florida, ACLU, Watermark and Hot Spots.

Ahead of the rally, volunteers will place red luminaries around Lake Eola. Red has traditionally been a symbol of support for gay rights.

Scheduled speakers include Congressman Alan Grayson, Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Nadine Smith, Patrick Howell, Rob Domenico and representatives from the Orlando Gay Chorus and Orlando Gay Parents. After the speeches, the celebration will continue with food trucks, cash bar, music by DJ Ants and a walk around Lake Eola.

Supreme Court experts are predicting the court to issue a decision on the marriage equality cases the week of June 24. |  |

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RLANDO | Strange drawings and words appeared in gold spray paint over the weekend on the building that houses The GLBT Center.

Vandals painted symbols, lettering and names in Spanish on the back of The Center sometime between 9 p.m. June 8 and 8 a.m. June 9. Executive Director Randy Stephens said it does not appear to be directed toward the LGBT community.

“Not everything that happens here is a hate crime,” Stephens said.

Employees from the Funky Monkey Wine Company next door contacted Stephens early Sunday to tell him the turquoisecolored wall had been defaced.

Photos posted on Facebook show a large checkmark, a PACmanlooking �igure and some nearly indistinguishable Spanish names and words.

MARKINGS: Gold grafitti marked the back wall of The Center. PHOTO COURTESY THE CENTER Volunteers and employees of The Center didn’t notice the damage because they park in front of the building and only use the back lot for garbage pickup. Funky Monkey employees park behind their building.

Stephens noti�ied the Orlando Police Gang Unit June 10 and sent photographs to detectives.

Orlando Police Sgt. Kelly Lowe, who supervises the unit, said the photos would be loaded into the city’s graf�iti tracker, which analyzes the drawings and classi�ies them as gang-related or tagging, the name used to describe signatures that some vandals use

to mark their work.

Lowe said gold is not an Orlando gang color. If caught, the perpetrator faces a misdemeanor for criminal mischief.

The Center’s volunteer coordinator painted over the graf�iti and by late Monday, it was gone.

A rainbow covers one side of the nonpro�it where hateful words were painted many years ago. These days it’s mostly gangrelated scribbles or doodles.

“It was mischievous, I think,” Stephens said. “My main thing is to make sure everyone stays safe.” |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.5/3/13 5:34 11 PM

tampa bay NEWS

MARKING A MILESTONE: During a June 5

Hillsborough County Commission meeting, Commissioner Kevin Beckner led the way to repeal of an ordinance prohibiting the county from recognizing gay pride. PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

Beckner: ‘Still much work to be done’ Greg Stemm GREG@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T

AMPA | Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, representing the countywide District 6 has been called a “hero” in his successful bid to repeal an ordinance in the county that prohibited county of�icials from recognizing gay pride celebrations.

His motion to repeal the eight-year-old ordinance resulted in hours of debate from the public and from the commissioners. Ultimately, the commissioners voted 7-0 June 5 to repeal the ordinance, that, thanks to former Commissioner Ronda Storms, needed a supermajority to repeal.

For the full story on the meeting, visit WatermarkOnline.com.

A few days after the vote, Beckner spoke with Watermark about the commission meeting, his thoughts on the surprising unanimous vote and what’s next for the county with a less-than-stellar record of handling LGBT rights issues.

“What we saw with this vote was an important step in rebranding our community as one that is more diverse and accepting of LGBT people,” said Beckner. “I guess I thought in my heart that the vote would be unanimous.

What surprised me was the level of conversation around amendments that would have muddied the waters and were clearly designed to help appease some of the other commissioners’ more conservative base.”

Beckner said he was also surprised when commissioners exaggerated facts to make a point. He referenced the conversation about the library display that prompted the ordinance in the �irst place. One commissioner tried to make the display sound like it contained adults-only material that many might �ind offensive. The display, in fact, was a celebration of widely recognized and acclaimed literary authors who also Continued on page 14 |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

FINDING HER FOCUS: Amy Foster, a former St. Pete Pride volunteer, hopes to represent District 8 on the St. Petersburg City Council. PHOTO COURTESY AMY FOSTER

Understanding Amy Amy Foster talks about her campaign to represent St. Petersburg’s District 8 Zach Caruso

ZACH@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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T. PETERSBURG | To understand Amy Foster as a politician, you must �irst understand Amy Foster as a person. Her beliefs, her platform, and her political plans as she seeks the District 8 seat on the St. Petersburg City Council all come from a life dedicated to helping others, developing leaders, and understanding how to solve problems ef�iciently and effectively. And, believe it or not, the political world is the last place she thought she would be.

“I never thought I would end up in politics,” said Foster, who is a former St. Pete Pride volunteer.

“It’s weird that I’m sitting here in this spot, a year ago I never thought this is where I would be.”

She began her career as a substance abuse counselor for girls at a correctional facility in Denver, but realized within the �irst year that it wasn’t for her.

Instead she found her calling in a seemingly unlikely place.

“There was a Girl Scout group

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that came in and I was like ‘Girl Scouts come to correctional facilities?’” she said.

Soon she was designing programs for youth-living and working with youth with disabilities. When she came to the Tampa Bay area 10 years ago, she continued her work with the organization.

“I worked for Girl Scouts here as well, and managed eight counties and two departments— one for adult development, as well as their program department, and a part of that was managing eight properties,” said Foster.

It was work that would show her the importance of leadership development—now a key part of her political platform.

“It was really by girls, for girls,” she said. “We trained them how to lobby for issues, we had lobbyists teach them the necessary skills, and in the spring I would take girls to Tallahassee to lobby their legislators for things they cared about.”

Foster soon became involved at the state level the Florida Girls Collaborative Project. The national team (The National Girls

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Collaborative Project) approached Foster to join that team.

“I did it, ended up getting $2.5 million in funding, and I now manage 39 states and teach them how to do what I did in Florida,” she said.

It is now that the picture of Amy Foster the politician starts to come into focus. Her platform is based around three goals— building safer neighborhoods, creating jobs and developing the workforce, and preparing our next generation of leaders. And in her eyes, these three issues are all tied very closely together.

“Here’s where I think my background translates really well to City Council—it’s not about the funding,” she said. “Money isn’t the sole answer to everything.

You bring together government and industry and educators and organizations, and you get them all to the table and you say ‘Ok, here’s the problem, how do we �ix it?”

Foster feels that the only way the city will be able to bridge the pay equity issues, and the only way people can pull themselves from poverty issues, is to have something that, regardless of education level, has more job stability and higher income from

Continued on page 14 |  |

DIVERSITY. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK. AT MACY’S, IT’S PART OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

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MACY’S TYRONE SQUARE MEN’S DEPARTMENT, 1ST FLOOR FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 5:30PM Join us and E! News correspondent Robbie Laughlin as we celebrate Pride Month! Sample hors d’oeuvres, enjoy beer and wine† compliments of Barefoot Bubbly and Bud Light, and groove to live music. With every $10 donation made at the door to the St. Pete Pride organization, receive a $10 Macy’s Gift Card*! Plus, get a free gift with any regular priced Papi purchase!

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|  | Hillsborough Pride Ban from pg.12 happened to be gay.

The display was removed from the library by its board after some were uncomfortable with the topic.

“It is not the role of government to blatantly discriminate against any of its citizens,” said Beckner, who is gay. “In fact, our country’s founders intended a democracy based on all people having been created equally. The vote by my colleagues aligns Hillsborough County more closely with those guiding principles, and chips away at a perception that we are intolerant of diversity, especially pertaining to LGBT taxpayers.”

During the June 5 commission meeting, Beckner refused to allow the conversation to turn to de�initions of what was obscene and he diffused proposed amendments which would have made the repeal one in name only.

Contrary to information circulated by supporters of the ordinance, Beckner’s initiative simply requested repeal of the policy; it did not request taxpayer funding for or county endorsement of future LGBT events.

Beckner is hopeful those requests will eventually come from the community, but he cautions that every single request would be considered by the commission on an individual basis as it considers its annual budgeting.

Hillsborough is the fourth largest county in Florida, but lags behind a host of other municipalities and counties that have passed policies that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity expression, as well as others that provide domestic partner registries and health insurance bene�its for unmarried partners. Despite obvious movement by leaders of both political parties toward embracing gay rights as fundamental issues of human rights, the Hillsborough County Commission has resisted change.

Beckner acknowledged the most recent victory, but tempered it.

“Those of us who support human rights without condition made progress that day, and for that we deserve to be proud,” he said. “We must also be mindful that there is still much work to be done.”

In May, all commissioners signed a proclamation proclaiming Memorial Day weekend GaYbor Days weekend, which recognizes the positive impact the GaYbor District Coalition has had on Ybor City.

Other issues that have brought headlines to Hillsborough include the failure of it creating a domestic partner registry and the faltering of its diversity council.

Beckner said those are issues unrelated to the repeal of “Pride ban” ordinance, and must be taken on individually.

“My colleagues continue to evolve in their thinking when it comes to LGBT rights,” said Beckner. “I have cause for hope, but there are no guarantees as we face each item as it comes up.”

One of the reasons Beckner ran for the commission was because of the ban and how it made him feel as a proud and openly gay man living in Hillsborough. He made it one of his missions to repeal the ban. He said he does feel vindicated and he hopes that others that might be considering a run for political of�ice realize their dreams too.

“I believe that other than serving in the military, seeking to serve the public through political of�ice is one of the most patriotic things you can do to show your love of your country,” said Beckner. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

|  | Amy Foster from pg.12 the beginning.

“I wanted those anecdotal stories,” she said. “Are there no jobs in St. Pete? So I started talking to people in the area, lawyers, businesses, and they said ‘I have jobs, I just can’t �ind people skilled enough to work them.’

There’s no way we can create these jobs unless we eliminate this talent mismatch.”

This idea of giving opportunity for talent match and achievement is one that, Foster feels, starts with the youth of the community and may be linked to building safer neighborhoods in the process.

“After school programs are key,” she said. “If you have kids involved in enrichment opportunities from 3-6 p.m., they are less likely to be involved in alcohol abuse,” Foster said. “ Foster also wants to see the dissolution of the separatist mentality of South and North St. Petersburg.

“There’s a big misconception,” she said. “Everyone says ‘All this crime, it moves up to the north end from the south.’ Well, if we say the drug problem is moving north, my question is, ‘Where is the demand coming from, if that’s the case?’ It’s this perception that ‘South St. Pete is problematic,’ but I think we need to come together and determine what the issues are and how to solve them.”

Foster feels that one of the

biggest potential solutions to this issue is the local police force.

“If you look at Tampa, they have very different crime rates than we do, and they have 2.9 of�icers to every 1,000 residents—here we only have two,” she said. “They also have a proactive policing policy where they are required to do more self-initiated calls than response calls, meaning basically, they will be riding around, stop, and talk to residents about what’s going on in the neighborhood.”

This, she feels, is a key component to helping the city of St. Petersburg. This type of policing was formerly used in the city, but Foster said it wasn’t used in the most effective manner, and therefore eventually dissolved.

“There were certain neighborhoods that didn’t really need community policing.”

they move to Clearwater, they move to the suburbs,” she said.

With primaries right around the corner in August, Foster is optimistic and feels that a strong female presence on the council would be very bene�icial to the city.

“I can assure you not everyone is going to agree on every issue,” she said. “The reality is that my skill-set is all about brining everyone to the table and trying to �igure out that win-win. We still may end up disagreeing, but I think it’s important to hear out every stakeholder.”

She cites the recent debates surrounding the new Pier design as a prime example.

“Sixty percent of our voters feel disenfranchised, so something didn’t go right,” she said.

In the end, Foster feels positive about the future of the city, and is hopeful that she will be an integral part of its transformation.

“We’re already a great city,” she said “But I feel like we’re on the verge of something really amazing, and I’m looking forward to hopefully being a part of that.”

If elected, Foster, who is gay, would hold the seat currently held by Jeff Danner, who can’t seek re-election due to term limits. District 8 encompasses the Grand Central District and Historic Kenwood, which are at the heart of St. Petersburg’s LGBT community. |  |

“It’s not about the funding; money isn’t the sole answer to everything.”

—AMY FOSTER Foster feels that community policing should be based on a needs-assessment approach.

She is also passionate about building the city of St. Petersburg and making it a better community.

“I think it’s really important for our city to grow, because if people don’t feel safe, then as soon as they have kids, what happens—

All 8 council members sign pride proclamation Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

ST. PETERSBURG | For the �irst time in its 11 year history, St. Pete Pride has a proclamation signed by all sitting members of the St. Petersburg City Council.

On June 13, the council presented a proclamation declaring June Pride month in the city. Council Member Jeff Danner, whose district encompasses the Grand Central District, where the annual promenade and street festival is held, read aloud the proclamation which stated: “the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is inclusive of our

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sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, nieces and nephews who contribute to making St Petersburg a beautiful place to live, work and play.” He concluded the proclamation by stating, “we ... urge all citizens to join in eliminating discrimination in all forms, and to celebrate the diversity of our community.”

Noticeably absent from the proclamation again this year was the signature of St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster, who told representatives of Pride after the presentation that the “adultthemed” festivities are what dissuaded him from signing.

“We are extremely excited to receive this proclamation today,” Skains told the city council. “Only

watermarkonline.com

those of us within St Pete would have imaged the largest Pride in Florida would have happened in just 10 short years, an event that brings to the city an economic impact of over $10 million.”

Earlier in June Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn signed a proclamation declaring June as Pride month in Tampa. His proclamation does not directly mention St. Pete Pride, but came after St. Pete Pride board members approached him.

St. Pete Pride 2013 events, which is dubbed Pride Carnivale, begins on Wednesday, June 26, and runs through Sunday, June 30. The Street Festival and Promenade is Saturday, June 29 at 9 a.m. on Central Avenue.|  |

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state NEWS

Museum charges gay family more Staff report

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ACKSONVILLE | A Jacksonville museum is changing the rules of family membership for a family with two moms.

Karen Lee-Duffel, her partner and their two daughters have had a family membership at the Hands On Children’s Museum for three years.

This year, when the family went to renew, an employee told Lee-Duffel she’d have to pay an extra ten dollars for her partner, because “a family membership consists of one mom and one dad,” LeeDuffel told WTLV news. In a statement to media, the Museum Director substantiated the claim, saying family memberships are very speci�ic and do not allow substitutions.

Since the state of Florida does not recognize same-sex marriages, the museum doesn’t have to either and is legally allowed to limit memberships as it sees �it.

The Lee-Duffels will be getting their culture at a different museum this summer, WTLV news reports. |  |

Miami Beach approves tax equity policy Staff report

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

Wire Report

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ERO BEACH, FLA. | The attorney for a young Florida woman who was charged with a felony for having sexual contact with her 14-yearold girlfriend has �iled a motion asking the judge to remove himself from the case.

Circuit Judge Robert Pegg chose September as a trial date for 18-year-old Kaitlyn Hunt, who was charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a child 12 to 16 in February.

In a motion �iled Monday, Hunt’s attorney, Julia Graves, said she was never noti�ied of the trial date and alleged that Pegg moved the case ahead of 200 other pending criminal cases because he is biased against Hunt, who is gay. A similar case Pegg handled involving a male defendant and female victim took 19 months to conclude, Graves

said in her motion.

The judge did not immediately respond to a telephone message Tuesday seeking comment.

Hunt’s story received international media attention and prompted gay rights advocates to say she is being unfairly targeted for what would be considered a common romance if she was not gay. They have argued that older high schoolers dating their younger counterparts is an innocuous, everyday occurrence that is not prosecuted — regardless of sexual orientation — and not a crime on par with predatory sex offenses.

Hunt’s family has alleged that the day before she was arrested, police and the younger girl’s parents secretly recorded a phone conversation in which the two girls discussed kissing in the school bathroom.

State Attorney Bruce Colton, however, said he would have brought charges regardless of the

defendant’s sexual preference because Hunt violated a law that prohibits adults from having sexual contact with underage children.

Prosecutors have offered Hunt a plea deal that would allow her to avoid registering as a sex offender if she pleads guilty to lesser charges of child abuse. He said he would recommend two years of house arrest followed by one year of probation if she takes the deal.

But the Hunt family has said they would accept a plea deal only if the charges are dropped to a misdemeanor.

The alleged victim is identi�ied only by her initials in court documents, and her parents have not been publicly identi�ied.

The AP does not identify alleged victims of sex crimes.

Colton said the victim’s family is not pushing for prison but wants Hunt to be held responsible in some way.

but by and large I think all Americans should be protected,” Rubio said. “I’m not for any special protections based on orientation.”

His message about the immigration bill was communicated on the Andrea Tantaros Show on Fox News Channel.

“If this bill has something in it that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill. I’m done,” Rubio said.

“I’m off it, and I’ve said that repeatedly. I don’t think that’s going to happen and it shouldn’t happen. This is already a dif�icult enough issue as it is.”

Rubio has made repeated threats to walk away from his own comprehensive immigration reform bill over the amendment to provide the same immigration bene�its to LGBT couples as heterosexual ones.

A recent poll show that 7 out of 10 Florida voters favor the concept of the bipartisan immigration reform plan, according to a new survey

released by the Republicanleaning Harper Polling and Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling.

Rubio had received pushback from the conservative media elite and immigration hardliners, according to the Miami Herald. Yet Florida Republicans overwhelmingly back the proposal: 71-22%, with 43% saying they “strongly support,” according to the poll of 500 voters.

An amendment from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) would allow same-sex married couples to petition for green cards for foreignborn spouses in the same way heterosexual married couples can, which currently is banned because of the Defense of Marriage Act. The status quo means many same-sex couples are either forced to live apart or to leave the country to be together, but could be recti�ied if the Supreme Court overturns the DOMA. |  |

Rubio delivers anti-gay messages on immigration, employment Staff Report

MIAMI BEACH | Health insurance for LGBTs is getting more equitable in Miami Beach.

The Miami Beach City Commission and Mayor Matti Bower have unanimously approved a new tax equity policy that ensures city employees with domestic partners will be freed from the extra taxes they’d been paying on their partners’ health insurance. These taxes are thousands more than straight married employees pay.

According to Equality Florida, the plan passed in Miami Beach June 5 is the strongest and most comprehensive of its kind in the U.S., and it’s been in the works for just over a year.

“EQFL staff assisted the Miami Beach LGBT Business Enhancement Committee in bringing the issue forward in the spring of 2012,” said Stratton Pollitzer, Equality Florida Deputy Director, in a media release. “We have provided ongoing technical support, background research, and economic studies to city staff drafting the policy. And we have participated in every public hearing and workshop on the policy.”

Florida leads the nation on tax equity policies and has passed six of these policies already this year— more than have ever been passed in the rest of the country combined, according to EQFL. |  |

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Attorney: Judge in Hunt trial should step down

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Just hours after Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) reaf�irmed on a TV show June 13 that he would not support immigration reform if it extended to gay families, he told another interviewer it shouldn’t be illegal to �ire someone for being gay.

Rubio was speaking at the Faith and Freedom Forum when he was asked by a reporter with the progressive political blog ThinkProgress about the Employment NonDiscrimination Act (ENDA), a bill to make discrimination against LGBT individuals illegal across the country.

Rubio, who has been touted as a top GOP presidential prospect in 2016, was asked whether he supported the bill, expected to be taken up this summer by the Senate, which would make it illegal to �ire someone for being gay.

“I haven’t read the legislation,

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ATICAN CITY | In private remarks to the leadership of a key Latin American church group, Pope Francis lamented that a “gay lobby’’ was at work at the Vatican.

It was an apparent reference to allegations in the Italian media that blackmail was taking place within the Vatican against highranking prelates who are gay.

The Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religions—the regional organization for priests and nuns of religious orders—con�irmed June 11 that its leaders had written a synthesis of Francis’ remarks after their June 6 audience. The group, known by its Spanish acronym CLAR, said it was greatly distressed that the

document had been published and apologized to the pope.

In the document, Francis is quoted as saying that while there were many holy people in the Vatican, there was also a current of corruption. “The `gay lobby’ is mentioned, and it is true, it is there ... We need to see what we can do ...’’ the synthesis reads.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the audience was private and that as a result he had nothing to say.

In the days leading up to Pope Benedict XVI’s Feb. 28 resignation, Italian media were rife with reports of a “gay lobby’’ in�luencing papal decision-making and Vatican policy through blackmail, and suggestions that the scandal had led in part to Benedict’s decision to resign.

The un-sourced reports, in the Rome daily La Repubblica and the

RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS PASS ANTI-GAY BILL IN 436-0 VOTE

news magazine Panorama, said details of the scandal were laid out in the secret dossier prepared for Benedict by three trusted cardinals who investigated the leaks of papal documents last year. Benedict left the dossier for Francis.

At the time, the Vatican denounced the reporting as defamatory, ``unveri�ied, unveri�iable or completely false.’’

The initial reporting has never been precise on what exactly was meant by a ``gay lobby,’’ but Repubblica and Panorama went beyond saying there was merely a homosexual subculture at the Vatican. Rather, they raised allegations that high-ranking prelates were being blackmailed because they were gay. |  |

A Kremlin-backed bill that stigmatizes gay people and bans giving children any information about homosexuality passed by an overwhelming 436-0 vote on June 11 in Russia’s lower house of parliament. The legislation banning the ``propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” imposes hefty fines for providing information about the LGBT community to minors or holding gay pride rallies. Foreign citizens arrested under the new law can be deported or jailed for up to 15 days and then deported.

IDAHO GOPS: ERASE LGBT PROTECTIONS Republican Party leaders are urging the Idaho Legislature to put a stop to local communities’ efforts to provide discrimination protections for LGBT individuals. The approval of the nonbinding resolution came June 15 at the GOP’s annual Central Committee summer meeting in McCall. The GOP-dominated Idaho Legislature has refused to add housing and workplace protections for gays and lesbians to the Idaho Human Rights Act.

SOUTHERN BAPTISTS OFFICIALLY OPPOSE GAY SCOUT RULE The Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution June 12 expressing its opposition to the Boy Scouts of America’s new policy allowing gay Scouts, though it doesn’t explicitly call for churches to drop all ties with the organization. It also calls on the Boy Scouts to remove executive and board leaders who tried to allow gays as both members and leaders.

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In private remarks, Pope confirms a ‘gay lobby’ at work within Vatican

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Celebrating when no one cared we were dying

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Abby Dees ABBY@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

HE MOTTO OF MY FIRST

Pride parade was “Unity and More in ’84.” If you think this is ancient history, I can assure you it’s not. Pride in ’84 meant then, as now, that despite the insults and assaults we faced other days, for one weekend at least, we had each other and we were beautiful.

Next came “Alive with Pride in ’85,” with “alive” being the operative word. If it was possible to spend 1984 having only heard about the “gay plague,” by 1985 AIDS had touched almost every one of us. Pride in ’85 felt like a wake.

President Reagan, “the Great Communicator,” stayed resolutely silent about AIDS as the death toll kept climbing. Members of his administration, though, freely told the press that it was our own damn fault. So much for policy. In 1986 at a centennial celebration of the Statue of Liberty, comedy legend Bob Hope cracked, “I hear Lady Liberty has AIDS.

Nobody knows if she got it from the mouth of the Hudson or the Staten Island Ferry.”

The Reagans, who were present, laughed. By the end of that year, US AIDS deaths topped 11,000, with tens of thousands infected and no treatment in sight—my friends among them.

Can you imagine if Leno joked about the victims of the Boston bombings or the Oklahoma tornadoes? What if the president did nothing but laugh? It was as bad as it sounds. To quote a 1986 episode of Designing Women, AIDS was “killing all the right people.” Clearly, to survive, we could only truly count on those personally affected by it.

In 1987, �ive years in, the Reagan administration �inally took some measure of leadership. AIDS historians still argue about what could have happened and what should have happened, but they surely must agree on what spurred the progress we made in this country to �ight AIDS: relentless, un�linching activism by LGBT people and our allies.

Now that it’s been 18 years since anyone in my life died from AIDS, my anger has softened. I even publically praised Dubya for his commitment to the issue.

Yes, yes, I know about the abstinence-only garbage that passed for public-health education, but Bush did show commitment that his predecessors were afraid to. I’ll give him that.

We have drugs that—for those with reliable access to them—can keep HIV at bay. No one is putting an AIDS quarantine initiative on the ballot like Lyndon LaRouche once did, or advocating branding people with AIDS like William F. Buckley once did. Childhood AIDS in the US is now virtually nonexistent.

Why am I talking about this now, then? Precisely because it’s easy to forget how bad things used to be, even if we were there.

And when we forget how bad things used to be, two things happen: First, we get complacent about where we are now.

The purpose of knowing our history isn’t to pat ourselves on the back for being wiser than people were

The purpose of knowing our history isn’t to pat ourselves on the back for being wiser than people were back in the day; it’s to remind us to keep checking our assumptions and questioning our fears.

back in the day; it’s to remind us to keep checking our assumptions and questioning our fears. They have always gotten humanity into serious trouble.

The second thing that happens is that we lose our faith in the possibility of cultural progress.

When state legislators can sponsor a bill prohibiting teachers from mentioning gay people at all— except to “out” a child (this year in Tennessee), or when a young man can be gay-bashed and left for dead in his gay-Mecca neighborhood (this month in West Hollywood), it’s easy to think that we will never, ever get

to a place of rational acceptance, let alone equality.

But big change is possible and the history of AIDS in the US is just one example. Of course, people had to �ight with the profound knowledge that their lives and those of their loved ones depended on it. And lives still depend on it.

This is why, for this year’s Pride, I’m remembering those who fought so hard not so long ago, many of whom are gone now. They would still be �ighting today, I know, because there’s so much left to do. |  |

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E

Marching with moral authority

Greg Stemm GREG@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

ACH PRIDE SEASON I ASK

myself, “Why am I marching?”

This year’s motivation is from an experience that �ired up the old passion—the same passion that led me to join the group that started St. Pete Pride 11 years ago.

St. Pete Pride isn’t just a big popular gay party. It is a highly respected event for the entire community. Straight allies and their families regularly join us in throngs, and the economic impact of Pinellas County’s single largest one-day event is in the range of almost 11 million dollars.

And for the most part, St. Petersburg loves us.

That’s why the idea of the “gay pride ban” in neighboring Hillsborough County and the nonsense it took to repeal it baf�les me.

When my editor asked me to cover the recent Hillsborough commission meeting where the eight-yearold ordinance was up for repeal, I had no idea of what kind of impact it would have on me.

I’m pretty accepting of just about any kind of loving spiritual message about God or our place in the universe.

What I am not accepting of, however, is when people try and use the Bible or their faith in God as an excuse to justify discrimination.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I heard. Person after person stepped up to the podium to tell us how God

feels about homosexuals. One person even went so far as to say that if the commission voted to repeal the ban that Tampa would “lose God’s favor.”

The audience laughed at him.

Others implied that LGBT people sought special rights and that being LGBT was a “lifestyle choice.” The level of offense I felt was amazing. Exactly how many times do we have to let people know it’s not a choice?

But this nonsense didn’t stop when the public session ended. Far from it.

The conversation that followed among the commissioners sounded like a conversation about obscenity laws in 1963. I was particularly offended at the implication that gay pride events are somehow obscene. And there was conversation about St. Pete Pride.

St. Pete Pride was presented as something that could never happen in Tampa. Apparently we beach people in Pinellas have the audacity to say that LGBT people have merit and worth.

There was even the implication that somehow our own celebration was in some way obscene.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner wasn’t having anything to do with this banter. He stood his ground and insisted that it was a simple matter in front of the commission—either government should be in the business of discriminating against one category of people or it should not. It was his leadership and unwavering support of repeal that lead to the unanimous vote that eventually came.

Equality Florida executive director Nadine Smith called Beckner a hero.

I concur.

I personally think Commissioner Les Miller should be nominated for civil rights leader of the year. Miller, an African-American, told the audience he had faced discrimination “eyeball to eyeball” in 1951 while wearing the uniform of our nation. He also told us that he is a deacon of a Southern Baptist congregation.

He said he was tired of people using the Bible to justify discrimination and hatred. He reminded the chamber that the KKK had used the Bible to justify their particular brand of hate.

“Discrimination is discrimination.

Prejudice is prejudice. Hatred is hatred. It’s always painful and it’s always wrong and it’s why I’m voting for repeal.” He got a well-deserved standing ovation.

Commissioner Mark Sharp is another candidate for man of the year in my book. Admitting you are wrong isn’t something any of us like to do.

It took a very big person indeed to admit it publicly and then to take the appropriate steps to make it right.

When this whole three hour civil rights extravaganza was over and the vote had been taken, I asked Smith if she had any words speci�ically for the gay community following this vote.

Her words to me were, “The voice of moral authority has come down clearly on the side of equality and justice today.”

We have the moral authority on our side. As I have seen in that commission chamber, we still have battles to �ight on our way to full equality, but clearly the tide has turned in our favor.

The hatred and bigotry disguised as religious values is no longer acceptable. We haven’t yet achieved our full place in the light of acceptance, but we are progressing. I’m taking my pain from those awful comments and transforming it into a renewed vigor to pursue the values I know are right.

So when I pick up the rainbow �lag at St. Pete Pride and join with 100,000 of my friends, I will be marching this year with invigorated moral authority.

Let’s celebrate our victories and rededicate ourselves to using that authority to uphold and expand those values we know are our rights as human beings. |  |

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perspective

PUBLISHER’S

Pride at the White House

Tom Dyer TOM@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

W

ASHINGTON, D.C. CAN

feel like a fortress. Thick, imposing, off-white buildings line downtown streets, all the same serious height—between seven and 15 stories—to conform with municipal height restrictions.

There are airport-like security lines everywhere: at the Capitol, government of�ice buildings, and even museums and tourist attractions.

Nowhere is security tighter than the White House, where snipers keep watch on the roof. But as I lined up to gain entrance to the President’s LGBT Pride Reception last Thursday, the four-step security process—including snif�ing dogs—felt anything but oppressive. When a late afternoon thunderstorm caught many of us without an umbrella, we set our hair drama aside and erupted with spontaneous joy.

We were headed into the White House, baby, at the invitation of a President whose support now feels as unconditional as a mother’s love.

I was the fortunate guest of Stuart Milk, who has been a frequent visitor to the Obama White House since he accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of his Uncle Harvey in 2009. Not me—as tourist or invited guest. So I worried that the teal shirt and tie I’d chosen to wear might be outside bounds. I needn’t have. Those wearing yellow, pink, lime green and rainbow-colored suits only

contributed to the festive mood.

As more than 300 of us waited for the President to appear in the East Room—cell phones set on camera mode—I overheard a Washington insider say that she felt truly welcome at the White House, for the �irst time.

“Since he came out for same-sex marriage, I’m not doing a slow miniburn anymore,” she said. “It’s like a weight’s been lifted or something.”

And when the President appeared, with a beaming Vice President Biden at his side, he offered the verbal equivalent of a group hug.

“From Minnesota to Maryland, from the United States Senate to the NBA, it’s clear we’ve reached a turning point. We’ve become not just more accepting, we’ve become more loving—as a country and as a people,” Obama said. “If we truly are created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.”

His administration’s support of our community was reinforced earlier that day at a three-hour LGBT Pride Month Brie�ing at the Eisenhower Executive Of�ice Building. To ensure unrestricted communication, the meeting was off-limits to the press. But administration of�icials, including Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, addressed topics ranging from HIV/AIDS and immigration policy to getting a job with the federal government. Support was unequivocal. Many of the high-level speakers were gay themselves.

And that was my take away from this trip to the nation’s capital.

Whether re�lecting popular opinion or leading it, this administration— and Democrats in general—now feel free to support us without doing an offensive political cost/bene�it analysis �irst. We’re equal citizens.

Like our peers, anything that makes us more secure and hence more productive is to the good.

It’s as simple as that, and always should’ve been.

This unequivocal support was reinforced on Friday, over lunch with Rep. Alan Grayson at the Capitol Building. The �irebrand Congressman had just made a rousing speech on the House Floor about the NSA surveillance program (“As American as apply-spy”) that’s become a YouTube sensation. But he was thoughtful when asked about LGBT equality and his philosophy of government.

“It’s been co-opted by the Marines, but I like the phrase ‘Be all that you can be’ because that’s

what I believe government should do… it should help people be all that they can be,” Grayson said. “And that includes removing impediments to employment, health care, marriage, parenting… all the things that matter.” (The full interview, touching and provocative, will appear in a later issue.)

The same Friday, the White House announced the nominations of James Costos as Ambassador to Spain, Rufus Gifford as Ambassador to Denmark, and Daniel Baer as Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). If all three are con�irmed, they would become the fourth, �ifth and sixth openly-LGBT people to serve as U.S. Ambassadors.

Contrast that with pronouncements by Marco Rubio, made the same day, reacting to rumors that Democrats may seek rights for same-sex couples in a pending immigration bill.

“If this bill has in it something

that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill,” said the Senator from Florida, a potential GOP presidential candidate. “I’m done. I’m off it.”

In his most generous comments about LGBT equality to date, Rubio has said, “The debate is about what society should tolerate.”

Not at the LGBT Reception at the White House. Not for President Obama.

“I hope that when we gather here next year, and the year after that, we’ll be able to say that together we made our fellow citizens a little more free. We’ve made this country a little more equal. We’ve made our world a little more full of love.” |  |

When a late afternoon thunderstorm caught many of us without an umbrella, we set our hair drama aside and erupted with spontaneous joy.

Your Place to Celebrate the Passions of

Life,

&

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p i s d n e i r FSee you soon!

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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TALKING POINTS

%

OF SAME-SEX COUPLES IN SALT LAKE CITY are raising children, the highest rate in the US. —Williams Institute Poll

Probably 6, 7.

Young.

—NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IN AN INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH WINFREY ON WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS GAY.

STUDY FINDS NO STATISTICAL DIFFERENCE

IN SAME-GENDER HOUSEHOLDS

T

HE WORLD’S LARGEST STUDY ON THE CHILDREN OF SAME-SEX PARENTS IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AT MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY. The Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families collected data on 500 children nationwide, up to the age of 17.

An interim report found there was no statistical difference between children of samesex couples and the rest of the population on indicators including self-esteem, emotional behavior and the amount of time spent with parents.

Children of same-sex couples, however, scored higher than the national average for overall health and family cohesion, measuring how well the family members get along. Of the 315 gay, lesbian and bisexual parents who completed the globally recognized Child Health Questionnaire, 80% were women. |  |

PEOPLE ARE TALKING AT WATERMARKONLINE.COM SEE YOUR COMMENT HERE! Head over to

watermark online.com and tell us what YOU think.

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If not, you should today!

Experience immersive photo galleries, mobile and tablet friendly browsing, breaking news updates and much, much more!

ON KATE HUNT, A GAY 18-YEAR-OLD IN HOT WATER FOR HER RELATIONSHIP WITH A YOUNGER CLASSMATE: “All of this is about her age. Is there anything indicating that the relationship was actually predatory? So far it looks like my name is staying on the petition, and it would also be there if it happened to a straight couple. I’m a 23-year-old dating an 18-year-old. If we had been together exactly one year ago, it would have been illegal. People need to stop paying attention to numbers and start to actually look at the people.”

—ERICA JONES “A high school senior is facing multiple felony charges that each carry the possibility of 15 years in prison because of a

relationship with a teenager on the same varsity basketball team.

That is just wrong, no matter the gender or sexual orientation of the students. A similar case in Florida led to a pardon from the governor because the two students ended up married as the trial unfolded. Not really an option for gay students.”

—NADINE SMITH “It could be that a younger person is the predator but it seems in this case, the younger was the prey. She’s made some really poor choices that sadly one day she will deeply regret. No doubt one day Kate will too.”

—PRINW

LOTTO WINNER SPLITS JACKPOT

WITH GAY SON

W

HAT’S AN 84-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TO DO WHEN SHE RECEIVES A MULTIMILLIONDOLLAR WINDFALL? Share it with the gays, of course!

Gloria Mackenzie, the elderly Florida woman who scored a cool $590 million in the largest single lottery Powerball in history, will share her massive fortune with her 57-year-old gay son, Scott, and his 65-year-old boyfriend, Jerry Cruz.

The Daily Mail reports that as Gloria waits to receive her winnings, the threesome was recently seen shopping at—gasp—Wal-Mart and living large on $22 “steam pots” at Joe’s Crab Shack in Jacksonville. Not the spending we would expect from the average overnight millionaire.

Scott and Gloria have “gone into hiding” since hitting the jackpot, but Scott’s ex-wife, Ella, has talked to him. “I have spoken to [Scott] a few times,” she said. “I don’t know if he is giving me any money but it doesn’t really matter—if he does he does, if he doesn’t he doesn’t.’ |  |

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF PRIDE

W

VII. THOU SHALL SPREAD THE LOVE SAFELY. VIII. THOU SHALL IV. THOU SHALL BE PREPARED. STEP OUT OF YOUR IX. REMEMBER COMFORT ZONE. THE ESSENCE V. THOU SHALL MEET OF PRIDE AND THY NEIGHBOR. KEEP IT SACRED. VI. THOU SHALL SHARE X. THOU SHALL THE EXPERIENCE HONOR THY WITH OTHERS. COMMUNITY.

ITH PRIDE SEASON HERE, GRINDR— THE GAY MOBILE SOCIAL APP—HAS COME UP WITH “GRINDR’S 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR GAY PRIDE.” The app folks want to remind the community about what Thou shall or shall not do this Pride season.

I. THOU SHALL NOT BE A HOT MESS. II. THOU SHALL NOT COCK-BLOCK. III. THOU SHALL DANCE LIKE A DRAG QUEEN.

||

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watermark

IN DEPTH ST. PETE PRIDE 2013

An EPIC

Carnivale THIS YEAR’S ST. PETE PRIDE COULD EASILY PRODUCE RECORD NUMBERS—AGAIN

S

Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T. PETERSBURG | FOR A SOLID DECADE,

St. Pete Pride has brought the LGBT community and its allies to the streets of the Grand Central District every June, shattering attendance records every time. Executive Director Eric Skains sees Pride continuing that tradition in 2013.

“Everybody focuses on numbers, but you can’t really determine what kind of crowd is going to turn out this early on,” Skains says while sitting in his of�ice in St. Petersburg.

“But I do expect we’ll see an increase over last year. I’m hearing that hotels are already sold out.”

In 2012, varying news organizations, including Watermark,

estimated attendance around 100,000 at the street festival. One news outlet even estimated as high as 120,000. That was a signi�icant jump from the previous record of 85,000 marked in 2011.

But as Skains says, predicting the number of revelers is impossible.

What he can do, however, is share that other numbers are way up this

year, including vendor participation and promenade participation.

“We’ve exceeded space for vendors, bringing the largest numbers ever to Central,” Skains says. “Financially we’re doing very well. We’ve exceeded our sponsorship goals.”

Skains credits an ambitious push by St. Pete Pride earlier this year to get vendors and sponsors on board. Vendor registration began just after the new year and, while he admits he was worried that later registration would suffer, Skains pushed a similar program concerning promenade entries.

This year, expect a larger parade with nearly 150 individual units walking, driving, dancing and

Continued on page 36 |  |

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THE WORKS OF ART DON’T STOP WITH OUR BEACHES. A breezy white-sand beach is a masterpiece in its own right. But you’ll find cultural treasures throughout St. Pete/Clearwater. As you enjoy the St. Pete Pride festivities, June 26-30, we invite you to explore our vibrant arts scene. From art walks to live music to the acclaimed Dalí Museum, we’ll show you the art of a really good time.

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Meet Your Marshals Compiled by Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM Photos by Nick Cardello NICKCARDELLOPHOTO.COM

T

HIS YEAR, ST. PETE PRIDE LET

the community decide who it would like representing them at Florida’s largest LGBT Pride celebration. Nominees were divided into three categories: male identi�ied, female identi�ied and community group. Nearly 4,000 votes rolled into the St. Pete Pride website and Mark Bias and Carrie West were named male grand marshals, Susan McGrath was selected as the female grand marshal and the Metro Wellness and Community Centers represents the group category. Here is a quick introduction to our 2013 grand marshals.

32

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

Metro Wellness and Community Centers This year’s community group is committed to providing premier HIV services, social networking, LGBT programs and other health and wellness programs to enhance the quality of life for the local community in Tampa Bay. Metro has been serving the community for 20 years.

St. Pete Pride celebrations attended: All of them.

What being a Grand Marshal means: The role of any Grand Marshal is to exemplify the best in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay—to be role models for those in the community.

Metro hopes to continue to go above and beyond in serving the LGBT and allied communities both with our community centers and HIV services.

On St. Pete Pride’s influence on equality gains: “Pride events today are more about celebration than activism.

However, it’s important to remember how visibility of our community increases acceptance

MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2013 // ISSUE 20.11

and equality among the greater population. There are still many people in our area who we serve who don’t feel free to be who they are day to day in their families, jobs or communities.

Events like St. Pete Pride provide that acceptance—a chance to be proud of who you are and showcase the diverse community that we are all so proud of here in St. Petersburg.

The definition of Pride: “Pride is part of everything we do,” says CEO Lorraine Langlois.

“Metro’s programs and services exist because of a need in the community. Through our programs, case management, counseling and social activities we extend that hope and pride

watermarkonline.com

into the people that walk through our doors. From youth to seniors to those affected by HIV—all of the LGBT community—our programs empower them to live to their fullest potential and be proud every day.”

On Metro’s influence: Metro celebrates its 20th anniversary and has big plans for the future.

We continue to grow and extend LGBT activities and programs so that everyone can enjoy the centers. Our Center in Ybor City will start offering full medical services this month. We’ll be opening up a similar medical clinic in our St. Pete Center within the coming months.

By the end of the year— we’ll open our LGBT Welcome Center right in the heart of the Grand Central District and St. Pete Pride route. This project, sponsored

by Visit Florida, will be only the second LGBT Welcome Center in the country and will serve as a hub for visitors and residents alike. |  |

Carrie West and Mark Bias There really is no other couple in Tampa Bay that is more of a “staple” than Carrie West and Mark Bias, who happen to be founding members of St. Pete Pride.

The pair moved to Tampa in 1980 from the Midwest and opened their first MC Film store in 1989 and it has seen six different locations on both sides of the bay. The pair just reached “35 years of bliss,” as they say, and are founders of the GaYbor District Coalition.

St. Pete Pride celebrations attended: All What being a Grand Marshal means: “It means that the community has noticed our hard efforts in making Tampa Bay a better place to live, work, be educated, volunteer, socialize and have fun while enjoying life. We both are committed to work hard for Human rights and LGBT causes making for a better equal and fair community.”

On St. Pete Pride’s influence on equality gains: “St Pete Pride is so different than other Prides we have attended around the country. City political leaders are witnessing the positive energy our community offers. And we are winning some of those political of�ices in both St. Pete and across the waters in Tampa.

The definition of Pride: “Pride is who we are, Mark & Carrie! We don’t believe in second �iddle if you get our drift!”

Susan McGrath Susan McGrath is a Tampa Bay native and grew up in Bradenton before settling in St. Petersburg. She currently lives in the Historic Kenwood neighborhood and is the president of the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County.

St. Pete Pride celebrations attended: All but one

What being a Grand Marshal means: “The message I want to promote is important and that’s what convinced me to pursue the grand marshal role.”

On St. Pete Pride’s influence on equality gains: “Change comes through education and exposure.

People see that their neighbors, their accountants, their kid’s teachers are gay or even transgender and the stereotypes and the misperceptions

Advice for other couples: As a couple, you not only represent the “male” aspect of the grand marshals, but also partners and couples. Bias says, “Alcohol.” West says, “Laughter.” “You have to work at it just like having a successful job,” West adds. “We have a very unique relationship. Working together, cooking, listening, relaxing, snoring, understanding, sleeping together 24/7. It’s been 35 years together and it seems like we just met yesterday.” |  |

begin to melt away.”

The definition of Pride: “Pride means everyone is welcome and we are all equal. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin says, ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.’ Pride is the celebration of how far we’ve come and our vision for what the future looks like.”

Advice on continuing equality’s success: “Progress is being made every day, but it only happens when we’re all in the game. If you want a world where we’re all treated MAY 23 - JUNE 5, 2013 // ISSUE 20.11

fairly, are protected from workplace discrimination and can marry the one we love, we have to work for it.

Support the people that support you and your family. Make phone calls, knock doors or give a few dollars.

Then, by all means, vote and get everyone you know to do the same.

It’s too important. We can change the world, and we are, but it starts with us.” |  |

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RETURN OF TRADITION?: The large rainbow flag seen here in 2011 was noticebly absent after the parade in 2012 after vehicle trouble stalled its transportation from Fort Lauderdale. There are expectations that it will return in 2013. PHOTO BY JAKE STEVENS

|  | St. Pete Pride 2013 from pg. 29

twirling down Central Avenue.

And this year, each unit will be announced from Pride sponsor Clear Channel, who will have radio personalities on hand. Judges will also determine who has the best presentation in the promenade, including best �loat and best music.

So expect a large contingent of participants in St. Pete Pride 2013, dubbed Pride Carnivale. But as far as overall attendance numbers go, that’s anyone’s guess.

“What did they hit in Sao Paulo, [Brazil], 4 million?” Skains jokes. “I’d like to see that.”

THE POLITICS OF PRIDE

St. Pete Pride will undoubtedly fall on the hottest day of the year. A blazing sun mixed with dark asphalt and scantily clad participants will ensure plenty of sweaty revelers take to the streets. But while many may feel a little uncomfortable in

36

It’s obvious that Pride has a huge impact, not only socially on this city, but financially; the City Council and the community —ERIC SKAINS, ST. PETE PRIDE at large now recognizes that.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the heat, it’s important to remember what St. Pete Pride recognizes.

“Stonewall happened in June,” Skains said. “We commemorate those riots every year. And while we’ve come a long way, we have a long way to go.”

For the �irst time ever, all eight St. Pete City Council members signed a proclamation declaring June LGBT Pride month. Also for the �irst time, a local mayor has signed a proclamation as well—it just so happens that it was Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and not St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster.

“We honestly thought getting Buckhorn to sign a proclamation would have been accepted more than it has been,” Skains says.

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

“People are criticizing Pride for not getting Foster or for us letting Buckhorn do it at all.”

Skains says that when Pride reached out to Foster’s of�ice, the calls always resulted in the mayor’s voicemail. When Buckhorn’s of�ice was reached, the mayor was on the phone with Pride representatives immediately.

“We got nothing but silence from Foster’s of�ice,” Skains explains. “I thought people would be more upset with Foster than they have been.”

On June 13, some Pride board members thought Foster might change course and sign a proclamation for Pride month. But even after a dig from St. Petersburg City Council woman Leslie Curran,

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

who offered to make a line on the proclamation for the sitting mayor, Foster remained silent.

No St. Petersburg mayor has ever signed a proclamation recognizing St. Pete Pride or Pride Month.

“Foster considers St. Pete Pride an adult-themed event,” Skains said. That sentiment was echoed

by Foster himself when he met brie�ly with Pride members after the council presented its unanimous proclamation. “But he didn’t offer any clari�ication. Look at Pride vs. the Grand Prix. It’s not like families are piled in and driving those cars.”

According to an economic impact study done by the Research Data Services of Tampa, St. Pete Pride brings a windfall of more than $10

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million to the area. That same study found that more than 85% of those who stayed in hotels at previous St. Pete Pride celebrations planned to return the following year.

“It’s obvious that Pride has a huge impact not only socially on this city, but �inancially,” Skains says. “The City Council and the community at large now recognizes that.”

MORE THAN A DAY

St. Pete Pride’s big day is Saturday, June 29. That’s the day of the promenade and the street festival on Central Avenue. But there is special focus this year on the extended weekend of events celebrating diversity in St. Petersburg.

“There were missed opportunities, I think, before,” Skains says. “On the road at other Pride events people would talk about the drive to St. Petersburg for ‘just one day.’ So the idea for a destinationtype Pride emerged.”

And that meant bringing in more than locals for a weekend of

activities and bring back others who may have experienced the promenade before, but are hesitant to “see the same thing” they saw before.

“So we incorporated an art show, a �ilm with Hedda Lettuce, and a pre-Pride concert,” Skains says. “The positive feedback has been amazing.

We’re seeing ticket sales move steadily and I feel like we’re going to have a string of successful events.”

There is also a revamped VIP program for this year’s Saturday festival. For $35, attendees can attend the VIP lounge throughout the day and get complimentary food and beverages. The only catch is that alcohol cannot leave the VIP area.

“We’ll have beer trucks and food vendors like we always do,” says Skains. “But the VIP area is away from those wet zones, so people can come in, enjoy some food and a beverage, and then go back out to the festival.”

The VIP lounge is at the Neuro Science Building at 22nd Street and Central Avenue.

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

This year is the �irst time Skains will experience St. Pete Pride �irst hand. He took on the role of executive director last October after heading Houston Pride’s large event for several years before that.

The experience, he says, has been welcoming and rewarding.

“I’ve noticed that there’s a correlation between St. Petersburg and Texas,” Skains says. “Texas is a very proud state but it’s very welcoming. St. Pete Pride is a proud city. It’s a very beautiful and fun place to live and the people here are proud of their city. They’ve been nothing but accommodating and accessible since I moved here.”

After a decade of growth, many may think that an event the size of St. Pete Pride has evolved as much as it can. But that’s simply not true, according to Skains. Plans are already underway for future festivals, which he says will prove that St. Pete Pride is a force that will continue to bring people and money to the city, as well as awareness to LGBT equality.

“St. Petersburg and St. Pete Pride is a fun experience,” Skains says.

“Without all the decades of shaming that gay men and women were made to feel, there would have been no need to create a day in which we stand up to be seen. And as time has slowly gone on, marches have become parades, and parades have become celebrations.” |  |

AN ENTERTAINING

LINEUP Two stages make for one full day of music and performances at St. Pete Pride Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

S

T. PETERSBURG | The day of St. Pete Pride is about the parade, the vendors, the hot men and women—and of course the entertainment.

No outdoor festival would be complete without an impressive lineup of entertainers, and St. Pete Pride once again has a packed schedule. Below is a quick look at the two stages and the line-up of acts ranging from bands, solo artists and drag performers.

Times and performances are subject to change without notice, but as of press time, this is how the lineup appeared:

MAIN STAGE

(CENTRAL AND 22ND STREET)

10 a.m.: Karmic Tatoo 10:30 a.m.: Star Montrese Love 10:35 a.m.: Franki Markstone 10:40 a.m.: Marcus Boarders Dancer 10:50 a.m.: Naomi Wynters, Miss Mardi Gras/Miss Chill Chamber 10:55 a.m.: Brittany Moore , Miss Heart of Florida 11 a.m.: Akylis, Mr. St Pete Pride 11:05 a.m.: Rico Taylor, Mister St Pete Pride 11:10 a.m.: Muffy Van Beaverhousen, Miss St Pete Pride 11:15 a.m.: Jeffrey Kelly, Mr. Flamingo 11:20 a.m.: Alexis Mateo, Miss Tampa Bay International 11:25 a.m.: Madisyn Michaels 11:30 a.m.: Nathaniel Marshall Noon: Double M Band 1 p.m.: Nicky Monet, Miss Gaybor 1:05 p.m.: Stephanie Stuart 1:10 p.m.: Aaron Phoenix 1:15 p.m.: Jaeda Fuentes 1:20 p.m.: Alexis De La Mer 1:25 p.m.: Una Voce: The Gay Men’s Corus 2 p.m.: Versage Holt 2:05 p.m.: Amy DeMilo, Miss Gay USofA Classic

BEAKS STAGE

Fabulous Food , Amazing Ambiance

(11A – 3P, CENTRAL AND 25TH STREET)

11 .am.: Anjila Cavalier, Miss ASAP 11:30 a.m.: Aspen Love, Miss Heart of Pasco 11:45 a.m.: Alyssa Hailey Walker 12:15 p.m.: D Debonaire, Mr. Florida USofA 12:45 p.m.: Marc Castle 1:15 p.m.: Kamden Cass, Miss Suncoast AAG @ Large 1:20 p.m.: Alexis De La Mer 1:25 p.m.: Jami Gee 2 p.m.: The Trails Band

TAMPA | ST PETE | CLEARWATER SARASOTA | ORLANDO www.ceviche.com JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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2012–2013 SEASON

Mark Sforzini, Artistic Director

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The Medium June 29, 7:30 pm

June 30, 2:00 pm

PALLADIUM THEATER, 253 FIFTH AVE. N., ST. PETERSBURG

FOR TICKETS CALL 727-823-2040 OR ONLINE AT WWW.STPETEOPERA.ORG 38

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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DON’T MISS:

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June 21, 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church

701 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg Tickets $15 at 727-823-2040

HEADLINERS: Lesbian duo Uh Huh Her will headline the inaugural 27/82 Concert at the State Theater on Friday, June 28.

ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT

Music, fashion at

27/82

UH HUH HER HEADLINES AN INAUGURAL PRE-FESTIVAL CONCERT

S

Steve Blanchard EDITOR@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

T. PETERSBURG | ST. PETE PRIDE’S

executive director Eric SKains has pushed one very strong message the past year—St. Pete Pride is more than just a one-day street festival featuring a massive parade. And this year, the community will get a chance to begin celebrating Pride just a little bit earlier.

The night before the annual street festival and promenade— renamed Pride Carnivale in 2013— a pre-Pride concert will light up the State Theatre downtown. Dubbed the “27/82 Concert,” the name signi�ies the longitude and latitude coordinates of the city.

The concert features three musical acts—Uh Huh Her, Lesiha Hailey (‘Alice’ from The L-Word) and special guests Geri-X and Daphne Willis. The concert also incorporates the popular

Butchlesque fashion show that originated in Sarasota.

“I love this idea,” says Tara Liaschenko of Girl2Girl Productions, the organizational mind behind the show. Last year a similar idea sputtered to life, but it was not a Pride-sanctioned event. That’s not the case this year.

“I like the thought of turning our Pride into a destination weekend

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

Continued on page 47 |  |

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39

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JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

In Sarasota on US 41 next to the Ringling Museum

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Modern love muddles Much Ado About Nothing.

Much Ado About Nothing Starring Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Fran Kranz, Nathan Fillion

D

MONSTER LAUGHS: Sully and Wasowski (John Goodman and Billy Crystal) in Monsters University.

Screened Out MOVIE REVIEWS

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REQUELS HAVE TO TELL US NEW

stuff and show us new things, or what’s the point? Despite Pixar being the Harvard of computer-animated �ilm—I personally love their art direction and technology—Monsters University doesn’t quite make the grade.

Stephen Miller

STEPHEN@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

Flashback from Monsters Inc.: legendary monsters Wasowski (Crystal) and Sullivan (Goodman) meet in college. At �irst they’re bitter rivals, but we know how that’s going to end up. Also attending is creepy chameleon Randall (Buscemi) who is at �irst a friend—and we know how this ends, too. After several mishaps, the monsters need to prove their terrifying mettle to university dean (and fantastically creepy creature) Mirren. This formulates into a kooky, kid-friendly version of Revenge of the Nerds.

The voices are fantastic, the humor is gently consistent, and the visuals are well rendered.

Nobody does textures and lighting like Pixar.

The real nightmare is that there aren’t any big plot twists or cool character revelations to carry this creature feature. I wanted the university to be a place of unlimited wonder—a sort of Hogwarts �illed with freaks and �iends.

These critters are cute, but they never quite capture our imagination. The action lacks the roller-coaster thrills of the �irst �ilm.

It’s Pixar, so it’d take a lot to create a total �lop. Monsters University is sweet, but it isn’t shocking, scary, or otherwise surprising. For a fantastic-looking �ilm �illed with monsters, this one is actually pretty tame. |  |

Henry Cavill is a darker, grimmer Man of Steel.

Man of Steel Starring Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne

S

UPERMAN NEEDED SOME IRECTOR JOSH WHEDON IS REAL CONFLICT. Thank Batman ON A ROLL WITH HIS CABIN director Christopher Nolan IN THE WOODS AND THE for stepping in as producer. What AVENGERS. Presumably to stretch Man of Steel didn’t need was grossly himself, he decided to take on one excessive, overlong violence—full of Shakespeare’s lighter works—a cities in rubble with, presumably, sort of DIY project, shooting it in piles of corpses underneath. Thank 28 days over weekend. It’s inviting director Zack Snyder (300, Sucker though inconsistent.

Punch) for that.

Much Ado is the classic, �luffy tale Clark Kent (super sexy Cavill) fears of two couples—one set of he will be ostracized by the lovebirds is ready to marry, human race for his powers, the other pair trade barbs and so he hides. Then some other RATINGS GUIDE insults to hide true passion.

Kryptonians (Shannon and An evil prince is dropped into his crew) claim Earth as the middle of the story, simply their new planet, and Kent See it now! Buy so he can gossip and stir up has to become Superman to the DVD! Quote trouble. In other words, typical save us all. lines at parties! early Shakespeare comedy.

The acting is really quite Whedon sets the scene in good, and so is the art Definitely worth modern times with modern direction—even though this the price of dress, letting the language humorless endeavor is all admission and referential anachronisms overkill, literally. stand. That’s neither good nor Overblown scenes of bad, but it does call attention It’s useful as a carnage and mayhem stretch to the more dated points of distraction on and on, proving to us that Shakespeare’s work.

Superman is invincible while More troublesome is scads of humans die. It made Maybe if someone Whedon’s erroneous use of else pays and you my head pound and my heart handheld digital like it’s black need a nap hurt for the endless death and and white �ilm. The images are destruction. It’s a problem I too sharp, lacking the warm have with egregious violence Slightly worse fuzziness that traditional like this. It’s a reminder of than eternal celluloid possesses. Each Snyder’s other stuff, and damnation texture is so crisp that it’s even Independence Day and distracting. On top of that, there the terrible Transformer series. It’s are a few gaffs and some actors who that moment when half the planet is cannot quite grasp the Bard’s language. in ruins, but there are no shredded Whedon wrote his own sumptuous human parts or puddles of gore to call musical score. It’s as rich and regal as the attention to what we lost. original Shakespeare text but not �itting Instead, the few characters we the hipper modern elements he added. care about step out of the Apocalypse So, inconsistencies abound. Overall, and smile at the rising sun while, it’s an admirable toe-dip into the classics underneath them, the body count but not anywhere near where Whedon’s piles up. If this is the new dawn for strengths lie. |  | Superman, it’s built on bloodlust. |  |

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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41

incredible freedom. It feels like this is going to be the least required of me as a person to sell the songs. As a woman, when you’re younger, so much of it has to do with looking pretty, doing a video and wearing the right clothes, because a lot of music is visual.

But there is real freedom in going, “I never have to worry about what I’m going to look like in a bikini again.” Not that I ever looked good in one, but I would feel weird even just putting one on, because I’m old … er. Older!

(Laughs.) You sort of go, “Whew.

That pressure’s not going to be there.” And I feel that way about the music. To me, it feels essentially about the message of the songs and not even a re�lection of me. It just feels like collective life experience.

WHEN THE BIGGEST CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTIST OF ALL TIME IS DOING GAY PRESS, YOU KNOW WE’VE COME A LONG WAY. WERE YOU KEPT AT BAY FROM GAY PRESS BEFOREHAND, EARLIER IN YOUR CAREER?

It never came up.

SHOWING MERCY: Amy Grant released her first studio album of new material in 10 years, How Mercy Looks from Here, earlier this summer.

Heart in Motion MUSIC

A conversation with Christian music legend Amy Grant Chris Azzopardi CHRISAZZOPARDI@PRIDESOURCE.COM

T

HE CALL FROM AMY GRANT STARTED

as these promo chats usually do. Hellos were exchanged, small talk was made and questions about her �irst studio album of all-new material in 10 years, How Mercy Looks From Here, were answered.

Then we shifted into territory the most successful Christian music artist of all time, now

42

52, has never spoken about publicly. Grant hit the scene in the ’70s with her spiritual pop,

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and her 1991 release Heart in Motion turned her into a crossover success.

During her �irst gay press interview, and for an entire hour, the Grammy winner re�lected on her loyal gay fan base, how she reconciles Christianity and homosexuality, her “compassion” for gay marriage and the unforgettable dinner she shared with out ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero.

WATERMARK: HAVE YOU HAD

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM YOUR NEW MUSIC LIVE?

AMY GRANT: I just did, with the band, a kind of unplugged performance for SiriusXM Radio.

It was the �irst time I have sung some of those songs for an audience and, you know, you can create muscle memory with a song. You just work on your technique and then it becomes like muscle memory. But the �irst couple of times you do it, it engages all the emotions around the song—and I just kept getting choked up.

WHICH SONGS FROM THE ALBUM WERE YOU PERFORMING?

The �irst one was “How Mercy Looks From Here,” and with all the stuff going on I could hardly get the song out. I was going, “Well, great, they’ll be playing this over and over on XM.” So, there were the nerves of this being the �irst time performing those songs for anybody.

HOW DOES THIS NEW ALBUM REFLECT YOUR LIFE AT THIS POINT?

It’s funny, being 52 and putting a record out, I have felt this

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BUT YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY HAD A BIG GAY FOLLOWING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WHY HAVE GAY PEOPLE CONNECTED TO YOU IN SUCH PROFOUND WAYS?

All of us sometimes feel disenfranchised or, for whatever reason, like we’re just on the periphery or marginalized. People feel that for all kinds of reasons, and by the time you’ve lived any amount of life, I think anybody has had that experience somewhere.

I remember doing concerts back in the early ’80s and going shopping with some of the singers that I was working with and one of them, Donna McElroy, had to get some makeup— and she’s African-American—and I said, “Hey, I’ll meet you back here.” I ran my errands and I came back and said, “Are you done?” She said, “No one’s waited on me.”

Everybody is outside of some circle, but what I’ve always wanted to do is have a message of honesty and welcoming, and being willing to say this is the good, bad and the ugly. This is who I am. And if I’m saying that about myself, it’s like, jump in, the water’s �ine.

So I love that. I love that people connect to my music.

AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER, ARE YOU AT ALL CONCERNED ABOUT

Continued on page 44 |  |

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43

|  | Amy Grant from pg.42 PEOPLE PASSING JUDGMENT ON YOU FOR TALKING TO GAY PRESS?

We all ultimately need to know that we’re loved, and I think it would be really crazy if you said, “I’m not going to talk to this group of people because someone’s looking on that’s not a part of the conversation and might have an opinion about it.” I mean, my whole life has been that. (Laughs.)

It takes all of our energy to navigate whatever road we’re on.

What’s interesting is, this last year I was invited on Monday mornings to go to a woman’s house—also a songwriter, also a singer—and just have some time of quiet stillness all together. But her house wasn’t even quiet. There were workers there sometimes, or there was nowhere to get that was quiet.

She told me, “When we learn to observe without judgment, then we have the ability to observe and learn, or to observe and be.”

And I said, “Do you know how exhausting it is to observe with judgment all the time? It’s just exhausting.” I have thanked her many times. We could all stand to hear that.

YOU CAME FROM A DILIGENT RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE’S BEEN AN EVOLUTION IN THE WAY YOU SEE PEOPLE.

I remember when we moved to Texas and my parents went to this really, I guess, conservative church—a Church of Christ— and something incredible was happening within that church community. I remember seeing this transformation in my mom and dad. I was old enough to remember that. What I remember about our home after that was that it was welcoming … to everybody.

TO BLACK PEOPLE? TO GAY PEOPLE?

Just to people.

DID YOU EVER FEEL THAT YOU HAD TO RECONCILE YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH WITH YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF HOMOSEXUALITY?

That’s not my life experience. In the same way, if you put my shoes on, you would go, “I thought this experience was going to be one way and it was totally different.”

None of us has any idea what somebody’s life experience is like.

44

Someone will come up and say, ‘You know, I saw a guy with a boa on,’ and I’ll say, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, I’ve always had a big gay following.

—AMY GRANT

He told me good things about his job and hard things about his job.

It was two human beings that have had very different lifestyles sitting next to each other and sharing life. Given 10 choices, would Anthony and I choose the same things? Maybe so. Maybe not. But I felt so changed by that.

I kept his card for a long time, and I hoped that our paths would cross again. I felt a lot of compassion for his parents, �irstgeneration immigrants, and he described his childhood and what it was like. I went, “This makes total sense that he has invested his life coming to the aid of the people in his world that are disenfranchised because, for a whole different set of reasons, his parents were marginalized.”

AND YOU FOUND THAT INSPIRING?

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST GAY PERSON YOU KNEW? DID YOU HAVE A CLOSE GAY FRIEND?

Absolutely. But my �irst—maybe college. Someone might have just seemed theatrical or, I don’t know, effeminate, but when I was in high school— I graduated in ’78—I had friends in high school who eventually said, “I’m living a gay lifestyle,” but they didn’t say it then. People were very private about their sexuality, period.

Maybe not everywhere, but I just don’t remember, “I’m exploring this, I’m exploring that.”

WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU HAD A GAY FAN BASE?

Probably by the time I was 18.

If people come to my shows, this is what they say: “Wow, there are people of all ages and lifestyles in your crowd.” That’s what they always say. But then someone will come up and say, “You know, I saw a guy with a boa on,” and I’ll say, “Oh yeah, yeah, I’ve always had a big gay following.” (Laughs.)

WEREN’T YOU INVITED TO PERFORM AT THE WEDDING OF ONE OF YOUR GAY FANS BUT COULDN’T DUE TO YOUR SCHEDULE?

I was invited. I was honored to be invited. I have to tell you: Anytime somebody asks me to perform at a wedding, I say, “I do not have a good track record.” (Laughs.) A lot of the weddings I’ve performed at, the marriages have ended poorly.

HAVE YOU FELT JUDGED FOR GETTING DIVORCED, OR JUDGED

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

FOR YOUR POP CROSSOVER, EVEN?

her husband) the day after the election. (Laughs.)

No, no. Do people from a distance But I think my response is, I have an opinion? Yeah, that’s have had so many occasions in human nature to have an opinion. my life where I have felt really Whatever was going on in a rag strongly about something— but magazine, or whatever someone that feeling has changed. Those was saying behind my back or feelings change about different in a heated conversation, I was situations, and so because I’m never in that circle. I wasn’t part a public person— and because of that conversation. I never, ever I want always pursued one to bring people chat room. If together—I really there was an do say this is article or some a world that’s argument— “I unfamiliar to me can’t believe and I am always you’re doing trying to observe this”—I just with compassion. never pursued it because THIS ISN’T A CUTI thought, AND-DRY ISSUE “We don’t FOR YOU, THEN. understand Well, nothing is each other.”

There are MERCIFUL LOOK: For the first time cut-and-dry. You a lot of times in a decade, Amy Grant returns to the pop know, one of the that I wind up charts with How Mercy Looks From Here. most fascinating dinners I’ve ever in situations spent sitting that I do not next to somebody I had not met see eye-to-eye with somebody. was at a large function with my And it doesn’t help to throw gas family. We were all seated with on the �ire. Clearly they’re going place cards; it was a large group to have their opinion. Carry on. and I introduced myself to the And I’m gonna go do what I’m fellow next to me. It was Anthony gonna go do.

Romero (executive director of the ACLU). I mean, we didn’t line HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO PEOPLE up our views; I just said, “Oh my WHEN THEY ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ON GAY MARRIAGE? goodness.” And he said, “I think they probably thought this was In the same way that I did not going to be very funny having us tell one person who I voted for. I sit next to each other.” (Laughs.) don’t. I never talk about anything I just said, “Tell me about your like that. I did tell Vince (Gill, life.” He asked me the same thing.

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Yes. You know what, we all face challenges in our life that we didn’t anticipate, and the most important thing is that we not face them alone. To me, if there’s anything that comes out of this conversation, in the same way that a relationship cannot be nurturing if it’s competitive, it’s this: When you don’t understand something, you can either default to judgment or you can default to compassion.

Those take you down completely different roads.

ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT YOURSELF?

I’m just talking about life in general. This is interesting because I have never done an interview where it feels every question is saying, “Tell me I’m okay.” That’s what feels like the underlying energy behind the questions, and I’m just going, “That’s a powerful kind of energy”—and for different reasons. Maybe not sexuality.

Because that’s what every person’s crying out for.

I know that the religious community has not been very welcoming, but I just want to stress that the journey of faith brings us into community, but it’s really about one relationship. The journey of faith is just being willing and open to have a relationship with God. And everybody is welcome.

Everybody. |  |

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opportunity to show what “butch” means to them. So offering a blanket statement |  | 27-82 Concert from pg.39 of what it means to be “butch” isn’t easy for Herbel, who says she’s attracted to scenario,” Liaschenko adds. “People are butch lesbians. going to stay in town the entire weekend “Some might have a narrow de�inition and it’s great for St. Petersburg, for and think buzz haircut,” Herbel laughs. “But restaurants. This is just a great formula.” does hairstyle de�ine someone as a butch?

Liaschenko said that when she It might not have anything to do with look. approached St. Pete Pride about a It might be more of a mindset.” partnership, the organization was quick Since beginning Butchlesque in 2011, to jump on board. Skains says the concert Herbel says she’s always impressed with gave Pride an opportunity to overcome what is presented on stage, but she adds one criticism it has heard in the past—that that she’s never been really surprised. there weren’t enough women-focused “I think the whole point of the show events coordinated through St. Pete Pride. is to get different de�initions of ‘butch,’” “This was the perfect solution and I’m Herbel says. “I don’t know if it’s something expecting this inaugural concert to exceed I could do—get up there and perform.” our expectations,” Skains said.

And there will be plenty of And with such a strong, out, lesbian performances at the 27-82 Concert, group headlining, Liaschenko is certain which in itself shows that St. Pete that Girl2Girl Productions is giving the Pride is still growing from year-to-year, Tampa Bay community what it wants.

Liaschenko says.

“We’re compiling acts that are “This is a great opportunity for the compatible with the audience,” she says. community to experience another location “But realize this is a co-ed event and within St. Petersburg and showcase the fact we want to provide entertainment for that St. Pete Pride is expanding,” she says. men and women.”

Pulling together such a large production And while takes time, and patience, Butchlesque is according to Liaschenko. technically a lesbianBut fortunately she themed event, both and partner Tara men and women will Weldon have plenty enjoy the addition of of experience. the creative fashion “We have a strong show, says Kim planning background,” Herbel, who started Liaschenko explains. the Butchlesque “So for us that part is show in 2011. simple. The challenge “Butchlesque is like is on the marketing and preschool for drag,” promotion side. Pride Herbel laughs. “Our is strong with that and participants create we’re partnering with their own look and TwirlGirl Productions it’s staged like a highand they will promote energy fashion show.

—TARA LIASCHENKO the concert as well. It’s It’s women showcasing about getting the word what they see as the out and aligning with a strong team.” ‘butch’ look, and everyone’s de�inition of The concert begins at 8 p.m. and butch is different.” doors open at 7:30. Tickets are $25 in In fact, 2012’s Mr. St. Pete Pride, Vinnie advance at StPetePride.com or $30 at the Marconi, got his start in Butchlesque, door the night of the concert. There is Herbel says, adding that without that no seating in the State Theater and it can opportunity, Marconi may not have ever hold 705 people. Liaschenko expects a tried male impersonation. big, cozy crowd.

Typically Butchlesque is a contest, with “The State Theatre is familiar with Pride the audience voting for their favorite butch and is happy to be a part of it,” Liaschenko performer. But for the 27/82 concert, more says. “This is an exciting event for the attention will be paid to the performance community and shows that St. Pete Pride aspect of the show. is expanding.”

“We’re so excited to do this with Pride,” For everyone else, the community, great Herbel says. “We’ll have a choreographed to experience another location and the fact dance to Psy’s ‘Gentleman’ and we’ll that pride is expanding. |  | be in our signature colors of red, black and silver.”

MORE INFORMATION And for the �irst time, Butchlesque will add a “Fem” element to the mix.

WHAT: 27/82 Concert “It’s exciting to think that maybe some WHEN: Friday, June 28, doors open at 7:30 p.m. of our audience will be there and we’ll be TICKETS: $25 in advance at getting greater exposure,” Herbel adds.

StPetePride.com, $30 at the door Butchlesque gives women an

“This is a great opportunity for the community to experience another location within St. Petersburg and showcase the fact that St. Pete Pride is expanding.”

SEPTEMBER 21 AT 8PM ON SALE NOW

Tickets available by calling the Hard Rock Live HARDROCKLIVE.COM Artist & Showtimes Subject to Change • No Cameras, No Backpacks, No Videos

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watermarkonline.com

ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT EVENT PLANNER

QUICK PICKS Tampa

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

Juanes

JUNE 20-JULY 7 Stageworks Theater 813-251-8994 StageworksTheater.com

Clearwater

West Side Story JUNE 21-23 727-791-7400 RuthEckerdHall.com

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Eustis

THROUGH JULY 21 Baystreet Players 352-357-7777 BayStreetPlayers.org

Sarasota

My Brilliant Divorce

JUNE 26-JULY 14 Asolo Reparatory Theatre 941-351-8000 Asolo.org

Orlando

SUNDAY, JULY 7 Grand Bohemian Hotel 407-900-8885 DimancheChic.EventBrite.com For more events or to submit your upcoming show, concert or performance, visit

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RAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST

Juanes will visit Orlando on his Loud & Unplugged Tour on Friday, June 28, at Hard Rock Live. The hot Colombian musician won Best Latin Pop Album for his solo album Fijate Bien in 2000. He has won 19 Latin Grammy Awards, more than any other male artist. Juanes, who was formerly with heavy metal band Ekhmosis, has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. For tickets call 407-351-LIVE or visit HardRockLive.com. |  |

Hairspray

Dimanche Chic, Orlando’s Fashion Party

ORLANDO

M

ST. PETERSBURG Blown by the Wind

OST PARODIES CAN BE FOUND IN SHORT SKITS ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Luckily, American Stage is here to amuse us with a fresh, funny take on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 Pulitzer Prize winning novel Gone With the Wind. The bawdy send-up

of the time-honored classic, Prelude to Pride: Blown by the Wind, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 24.

It will bene�it People With AIDS (PWA) programs at Metropolitan Charities of Pinellas. For tickets, call 727823-PLAY (7529) or go to AmericanStage.org. |  |

G

ORLANDO Karaoke from the 70s

ET GROOVY WITH KARAOKE FROM THE 70S WHEN DICK AND CONSTANCE SWINGER (played by Liz Langley and Sam Singhaus) bring their funky show to Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner Theatre. Patrons can participate in games like Swingo (70s bingo) and the

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

Soul Train Scramble Board on Thursdays, June 20, 27, and July 11 at 8:30 p.m. The Swingers like to think of themselves as the “kindest karaoke in town,” singing along with shy patrons.

Sleuth’s bartenders serve up classic 70s cocktails and shots.

For tickets, call 407-363-1985 or Sleuths.com. |  |

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ShotonSite

Tampa Bay

1- FOR THE MUSIC: (L-R) Lamond Smith, Lee Hilton, Armand Vrunet and Charles Vantine attend the Watermark Wednesday social benefitting Una Voce at the Straz Center on June 12. PHOTO BY SUSAN CLARY

2- PROCLAIMING PRIDE: (L-R) Aaron Horcha, Susan McGrath and Eric Skains hold the Proclamation declaring June as LGBT Pride month in St. Petersburg outside of the City Council Chambers at City Hall June 13. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

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3- SWIM TEAM: (L-R) Eddie Pruett and Steve Smith wait for clouds to clear before getting in the pool at the St. Pete Pride Pool Party at the Gay St. Pete Guest House. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 4- SOCIALIZING STRATEGY: (L-R) Scott Durfee and Rick Goodwin smile during Watermark Wednesday at the Straz Center in Tampa June 12. PHOTO BY SUSAN CLARY 5- STAMP OF APPROVAL: Ernie Webb gives a gesture of approval at Honey Pot in Ybor City the weekend of June 8. PHOTO BY CARRIE WEST 6- STANDING O: The audience reacts to the Hillsborough County Commission’s unanimous vote to repeal an ordinance banning gay pride recognition on June 5. PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO 7- MAKING HER POINT: Nadine Smith addresses the Hillsborough County Commission during a debate concerning the repeal of an ordinance that prohibited the county from recognizing gay pride events. PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

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8- WELCOME PARTY: Kori Stevens, Eric Skains and Stanley Solomons greet visitors to the annual St. Pete Pride Pool Party at St. Pete Guest House on June 15. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

OVERHEARD HONORING HIZONNER

T

HE GAYBOR DISTRICT COALITION WILL HONOR TAMPA MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN for his inclusive LGBT policies and views during its annual Mayor’s Luncheon at Hamburger Mary’s on Thursday, June 27. The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and the light program will feature a performance by the Una Voce Rays and a short awards ceremony. Advance tickets are available at the Ybor City Wine Bar, MC Film Fest and Hamburger Mary’s. The $20 tickets include a choice of entree, a side and a drink. Expect to hear from Buckhorn himself, who has been a longtime supporter of the LGBT

community and of the GaYbor District Coalition.

OFFICIALLY KICK OFF PRIDE AT QUENCH

S

T. PETE PRIDE RUNS A FULL FIVE DAYS THIS YEAR WITH THE BIG EVENT, the Street Festival, landing on Saturday, June 29. But be sure to attend the of�icial Pride Kick Off party scheduled for Thursday, June 27, at Quench Lounge in Largo.

The young bar was aggressive in getting involved with St. Pete Pride this year, and the kick off party will feature dancers, VJ Justin Schaefer and representatives from Ketel One Vodka handing out giveaways and drink/shot samples.

The festivities begin at 9 p.m. and

run until the samples and your energy runs out. Expect to see representatives of St. Pete Pride on hand throughout the night as well.

DAY OF DECISION RALLY COMING

A

NY DAY NOW THE SUPREME COURT WILL RULE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DOMA AND PROPOSITION 8 IN CALIFORNIA. Once that decision is handed down, organizers will descend upon the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Federal Courthouse at 801 N. Florida Avenue in downtown Tampa. The rally will either be a celebration or a peaceful protest, depending on the ruling. Organizers have

created a Facebook event page and encourage all those who are interested in attending to join.

TIME TO COME OUT

N

OT SO LONG AGO, THE BAR AT 4685 28TH ST. NORTH IN ST. PETERSBURG WAS A LOT DARKER AND A LOT LOUDER. But then again, that’s when it was Mac Daddy’s, a biker bar, and not the LGBT inclusive bar it is today.

The Broken Tusk has evolved over the past year and is now known for its wildly popular drag shows and numerous fundraisers bene�itting different aspects of the community. To thank its patrons for their patience and commitment to its improvements,

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The Broken Tusk is holding a “Coming Out Party” on Friday, June 21. Of course, the bar will celebrate the best way it knows how—with a pair of drag shows at 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. “After a lot of tweaking, cleaning, painting and renovating, we have come to call this place home,” Levi Love wrote about his bar. “Thank you to the old friends that have stuck by us through it all and the new friends we are meeting every day.”

DJ LMO will spin before and after the drag shows and expect a ton of free swag from the bar’s liquor reps. It might be a good night to pick the designated driver early or program that taxi service into your smartphone. |  |

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ORLANDO

1- PROUD RECEPTION: (L-R) Watermark publisher Tom Dyer, Anthony Armstrong, Bob Poe, Sophia Rayam, Ken Brown and Stuart Milk attend a Pride Reception hosted by President Obama at the White House. PHOTO COURTESY TOM DYER 2- ON AIR: Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan (left) chats with Erica Lee on the Wake up with Erika show on WLOQ 102.5 June 14. PHOTO VIA SHEEHAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE

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3- REWARDING AWARD: Paul David Queen (right), VP of Marketing at Converge Orlando, receives an Award for the Best Large Company Marketing in the Orlando area from Rob Graham, President of the Central Florida Chapter of the American Marketing Association. PHOTO COURTESY MIKAEL AUDEBERT 4- HONORING VETS: Ashley Filimon, Chris Stepheson, Dr. David Baker Hargorve and Keri Griffin Edenfield honor LGBT veterans at the 3rd annual LGBT Celebration at the Orlando VA Medical Center June 14. PHOTO BY MARK CADY

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5- LIGHTER SIDE: (L to R) Representatives Joe Saunders, Shevrin Jones and Ricardo Rangel share a laugh at an EQFL/ Planned Parenthood reception hosted by Representative Joe Gibbons June 15. PHOTO COURTESY EQFL 6- MINGLING WITH THE GOV: Equality Florida statewide field director, Michael Farmer, mingles with former Governor Charlie Crist at the “Sex, Equality and Cocktails” reception hosted by EQFL and Planned Parenthood June 15 in Hollywood, Fla. PHOTO COURTESY EQFL 7- HAPPILY EVER AFTER: (L-R) Jack Lord and Adam Hunter show their marriage certificate May 31 in Maine.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK LORD AND ADAM HUNTER

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8- SPINNING LIVE: DJ Cub keeps the beer garden shaking at Virginia Drive Live June 14. PHOTO COURTESY JESS REGAN PHOTOGRAPHY

OVERHEARD TWO FOOD FAVORITES MOVING TO I-DRIVE

I

F YOU’VE DRIVEN PAST THE SOUTH EOLA LOCATION OF THE PRICKLY PEAR OR NICK’S ITALIAN KITCHEN, you may have noticed that both restaurants are now closed. But we have good news: both will relocate to I-Drive. Owners Eddie Nickell and Nicholas Olivieri created the FMI Restaurant Group and the popular Banana’s Modern American Diner on Mills Avenue. The exact location of the new restaurants hasn’t been announced, but FMI already operates the successful Funky Monkey Wine Company at The Pointe. As far as the old locations are concerned, the Orlando

Sentinel speculated that new eateries will soon �ill the vacant spaces on the �irst �loor of The Sanctuary.

RETHINKING URBAN RETHINK

U

RBAN RETHINK HAS UNDERGONE SOME CHANGES THIS SUMMER, thanks to new ops manager Shaina Anderson and programming coordinator Brendan O’Connor. The creative and collaborative hub in Thornton Park is known for unexpected events. Now Anderson and O’Connor, the openly gay artists responsible for chairs chained to bus stops,

are tearing up the schedule. New offerings include a superhero bike ride, rooftop drive-in movies, and a total makeover of the co-working/event space by the end of the year. But �irst up is a “Central Florida Of�ice Hour Day,” which will coax executives and professionals to host young entrepreneurs for an hour on Friday, June 28.

Watch for developments at WatermarkOnline.com.

BODEGA BUZZ

T

HERE HAVE BEEN SOME UNEXPECTED DELAYS IN THE OPENING OF SANTIAGO’S BODEGA on Virginia Drive, but the wait may well be worth it. The eatery

provided some paella during Virginia Drive Live on June 14, and the dish was a huge hit.

The street party was abuzz with the news of the bodega’s food, as well as with the talents of DJ Cub, who kept the Beer Garden hopping with tunes throughout the event. News on a �irm opening date for Santiago’s is expected by the end of this month.

THIS IDEA IS AWESOME!

A

BRAND NEW CHAPTER OF “THE AWESOME FOUNDATION” HAS BEEN FORMED RIGHT HERE IN ORLANDO. The foundation

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

has an inspiring name, but the mission is simple: to create a network of people devoted to promoting awesomeness in the universe. Chapters nationwide pool money from the coffers of 10 or more self-organizing people, called “Micro-trustees.

Monthly grants are then awarded to worthy projects in their local communities.

The Orlando chapter was started by well-known arts entrepreneur Terry Olson.

Those interested in wowing The Awesome Foundation should submit their ideas online at AwesomeFoundation.org. The next thing you know, a check may arrive in the mail. It’s that simple, that awesome. |  |

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“Ignorance to HIV is Not Holy”

SAYING GOODBYE: Gulfport resident Bucky Fergus passed away at 42 after a long-fought battle with cancer.

An Open Mic discussion on HIV/AIDS and the Silence in the Black Church

Transitions

CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Passings Gulfport resident Bucky Fergus lost his battle with cancer on June 2. He was 42. Fergus worked several jobs, but was mostly known for his crosscountry trips as an over-the-road trucker. Friends and family gathered for a memorial service and celebration of his life at Fort DeSoto Park on June 8, where those attending shared stories and comforted one another. Fergus is survived by a sister, a brother, several cousins and his partner.

Congratulations Orlando’s LGBT chamber of commerce and networking organization the Metropolitan Business Association filed its articles of incorporation on June 22, 1992. Happy 31st birthday!

Former MBA president Dr. David Baker-Hargrove and his partner, Robert Hargrove, will celebrate their 19th anniversary together on June 23.

The Francis House, Tampa’s HIV/AIDS respite center for those infected or affected by the disease celebrates its 23rd 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 15th anniversary on June 27.

Local birthdays Tampa bay limo chauffer Marty Theriot, 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, St. Pete WAVE-Award winning drag performer Jeremy Fetters, St. Petersburg realtor and Watermark contributing photographer Todd Fixler, Largo’s TinkerFluff photographer and Watermark contributor Paul Kinchen, Arkham Assailant Amanda Hippensteel (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); Alaska farming intern Christine Rubino, Tampa Stageworks Theatre Artistic Director Anna Brennan (June 27); Gulfport RV enthusiast Terry Cook and Bradenton’s Temple Beth El Rabbi Harold Caminker (June 28); O-Town DJ and aspiring MD Chris “Cub” Mendez (June 29); Orlando Pride producer Mikael Audebert (June 30); St. Petersburg leather community mover and shaker Matt Wolf, Italian ice queen/ former Watermark sales diva Erica Franco, and fab photog Dixie Lee Todd (July 1); Tampa philanthropist and sometime model Matt Bachman, Mons Venus strip club owner and conveniently-gay-for-a-lawsuit Joe Redner, Tampa Bay Metro Charities director Lorraine Langlois, Orlando resident and Sawmill performer Sofonda Cox, St. Pete graphic guru Michael O’Connell, sometime St. Petersburg resident Martin Cooper (aka Coco Montrese) and frequent Orlando thespian Tommy Wooten (July 2); Keep Orlando Beautiful environmental scientist Ronnie Long, keeping-sandwiches-wonderful Orlando restaurateur Pom Moongauklang, Tampa Bay WAVE-Award-winning massage therapist Cory Jeffries and Tampa-based colorguard-loving bear Brad Kuehl (July 3).

Program Begins at 6:00 PM with Praise & Worship Adult and Youth Break-out Sessions to follow

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 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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High school swimmer comes out during graduation speech

B

ELTON, TEX. | A Texas high school senior used his graduation speech this month to announce to his family, friends and fellow students that he’s gay.

Mitch Anderson, a member of Belton High School’s 2013 graduating class, told a local radio station that he had never come out to anyone before his salutatorian speech at the Bell County Expo.

“Once I got up there and started talking, I felt completely �ine,” Anderson, who lives in Temple, Texas, told KTEM News Radio.

In his speech, Anderson said that he was guilty of self doubt and “relying on others to give my life de�inition.”

Then, he revealed his sexuality.

“But that time has passed,” he told his fellow graduates, “and I feel the moment has arrived for me to be publicly true to my personal identity. So now, I can say, I’m gay. It is both a

signi�icant portion of who I am and an inconsequential aspect.

It’s as natural and effortless to me as breathing. I couldn’t change myself even if I wanted and, believe me, I have.”

After the speech, Anderson spoke with several reporters, telling them that he had contemplated suicide at times during his high school career and that his feeling of self-worth was all but diminished.

“I became so dejected, that many times I thought of killing myself not just because I saw no point to life, but because I had been convinced that doing so would actually make the world better,” he told Yahoo News. “And so, for many years, I continued the cyclical, destructive thought patterns. This happened both before and after I thought about my sexuality. And after I had realized I was gay, I hated myself. I wished and prayed endlessly that I could just go on with life normally, that I could be like everyone else.

Being different felt like a curse,

an unfair sentence to the life of an outcast.”

Anderson said he was inspired

by Madonna, Lady Gaga and Star Trek star Zachary Quinto to come out.

“I believe Zachary Quinto put it best by saying, ‘If people don’t want to work with me because of my sexual orientation, then I have no interest in working with them to begin with,” Anderson said.”

After his speech, he received a standing ovation and most of the reaction since has been positive, said Anderson, who was part of his high school’s swimming team.

But that doesn’t mean there has been no negative reaction to his very public coming out.

“It’s a little bit hurtful,” he told KTEM. “But it’s really no big deal. I’d rather they direct their hate and anger at me, rather than someone else, because I know I can take it and blow it off.”

Anderson will attend the University of Texas this fall. |  |

Show dual Pride with NFL apparel Wire Report

A

lways wanted to show your NFL team spirit and your gay pride at the same time? Now you can.

The NFL Players Association has teamed up with Athlete Alley, a nonpro�it �ighting for equality in organized sports, to produce a line of rainbow football T-shirts entitled, The One Team Pride Shirts. The shirts feature a rainbow-colored NFLPA logo and the #Pride hashtag. Football fans can choose from the jersey numbers of nine NFL players, all of whom have elected to put their names on display for the advancement of LGBT rights and awareness. The players are: free-agent linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin, former Broncos cornerback Domonique Foxworth, former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita, former Saints safety Steve Gleason, free-agent linebacker Chris Gocong, Raiders punter Chris Kluwe, Redskins wide receiver Donte Stallworth, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and free-agent offensive tackle Eric Winston. A shirt is also available Domonique Foxworth, the current president of the NFL Players Association’s executive committee. The shirts are available just in time for LGBT Pride Month (June) and can be found on the NFL Players Association websiteShopNFLPA.com. |  |

sports

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407.403.0880 JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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PHOTOGRAPHY: WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES

Galleryw Go see more photos at

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

M

ORE THAN 200 WALKERS, MOSTLY MEN, STRAPPED ON HIGH HEELS TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE on June 13. Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, Orlando raised more than $20,000 for Harbor House, domestic violence shelter.

Though every male elected of�icial in Orange County was invited to walk, credit goes to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando City Councilmen Robert Stuart and Tony Ortiz along with Orange County Commissioners Scott Boyd, Pete Clarke and Jim Gray for painfully making the stroll from the Orange County Courthouse to the Orange County Regional History Center in high heels.

JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

Photography

by Lonnie Thompson TRUERESULTSCC@GMAIL.COM

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THERE’S POWER IN OUR PRIDE

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JUNE 20 - JULY 3, 2013 // ISSUE 20.13

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