Watemrark Issue 21.23: WAVE Awards

DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 20.23 • NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

ORLANDO EDITION

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

EQUALITY FLORIDA

RAISES

$139K

2013

waves OF HONOR Watermark readers’ favorites revealed!

WITH ORLANDO GALA

HEADDRESS

SELLS OUT, RAISES HALF A MILLION DOLLARS

NEVER FEAR, WATERMARK’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS HERE!

We created special edition covers!

As we have for the past three years, we created featured two separate covers for our WAVE Awards issue, (an Orlando edition and a Tampa Bay edition) each featuring features winners from their areas.

DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 20.23 • NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

TAMPA BAY EDITION

YOUR LGBT LIFE.

waves WITHIN REACH Watermark’s 2013 list of readers’ favorites

FOSTER, RICE

CLAIM ST. PETE COUNCIL SEATS

BOOK OF MORMON

ARRIVES IN TAMPA

NEVER FEAR, WATERMARK’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS HERE!

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Changing laws changed their lives The recent Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act led Jane and Diane to take a serious look at their investment planning needs. The rapidly changing legal landscape meant it was crucial that they worked with someone who was knowledgeable, so they turned to Wells Fargo Advisors. Our Financial Advisors who have the Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor℠ (ADPA®) designation are well-versed on the current set of challenges, so Jane and Diane walked away with a solid plan and confidence in the future.

Let’s talk about your long-term investment planning needs. Because when people talk, great things happen. To find one of our ADPA-certified Financial Advisors in your area, visit wellsfargoadvisors.com/adpa today.

Wells Fargo Advisors is the trade name used by two separate registered broker-dealers: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. Accredited Domestic Partnership AdvisorSM and ADPASM are service marks of the College for Financial Planning®. © 2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC. All rights reserved.

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NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

watermarkonline.com

I think society continues to evolve on 17 the issue of gay rights.

DEPARTMENTS 6 // MAIL 10 // ORLANDO NEWS 12 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 16 // STATE NEWS 18 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 27 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 35 // EVENT PLANNER 59 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 61 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 62 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 63 // TRANSITIONS 64 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE 69 // SPORTS

PAGE

—SEN. SUSAN COLLINS R-MAINE

ON THE COVER

PAGE

ORLANDO EDITION, TAMPA BAY PAGE 39 EDITION, PAGE 49 Orlando 2013 WAVE winners (Clockwise) Tod Kimbo, Sam Singhaus, Timi Hedrich, Darcel Stevens, Gary Lambert and Terri Steed wave a thank you to Watermark readers for selecting them this year.

Photo by Jake Stevens

Tampa Bay 2013 WAVE winners (L-R) Jeffrey Lyle, Andy Citino, Darlene Herrick, Kori Stevens and Sasha Citino reach for an award held by Watermark editor Steve Blanchard in front of the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

Preview

27 THE GOOD BOOK:

The Book of Mormon wraps its run in Orlando this weekend before spending two weeks at the Straz Center in Tampa. Creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker share their thoughts on why they decided to tackle religion in this Tony Award-winning musical.

WATERMARK ISSUE 20.23 //NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013

ORLANDO NEWS

TAMPA BAY NEWS

PAGE Equality Florida raised

PAGE Amy Foster, Darden Rice

SOPHIE B. HAWKINS

GALLERY W

Photo by Nick Cardello

Read it online!

SCAN QR CODE FOR

WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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

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nearly $140,000 at its Orlando Gala and recognized Billy Manes and Bayli Silberstein as Voices for Equality; The Headdress Ball sold out this year and earned $500,000 for Hope and Help; more.

12

won their races for St. Petersburg City Council and Rick Kriseman unseats incumbent mayor Bill Foster; St. Pete Pride will produce a night parade on Central Ave. in 2014; more.

PAGE The first-ever Pussycat

29

Festival in Bradenton will help raise money for animals with the help of headliner Sophie B. Hawkins. Hawkins spoke with Watermark about her love of animals and her rough experience in the music biz.

PAGE The annual Headdress

returned to Orlando in 70 Ball October and raised a half-

million dollars for charity. As always, the presentations were immaculate, and we caught them all through our photographer’s lens.

WATERMARK’S WAVE AWARD PARTIES ARE NOV. 7. CHECK OUT ALL THE PICS AT WATERMARKONLINE.COM. NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GREAT HEADDRESS COVERAGE

“I love how the community is sharing the wrap up article and photos all over social media.”

I

JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT AND LET YOU KNOW HOW PLEASED I AM with the two interview/ articles that have been written about Hope & Help— one leading up to Headdress Ball and one following it.

These were both so fantastic and exactly the kind of writing about the agency that I’ve been looking for .

You have a gem with Susan Clary. Jake Stevens’ photos are without a doubt some of the best taken by any of the media outlets there. I love how the community is sharing the wrap up article and photos all over social media CHRIS HESSLER HOPE AND HELP EVENTS MANAGER

GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT

I

WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW DEEPLY WE APPRECIATE WATERMARK’S GENEROUS IN-KIND SPONSORSHIP of the 2013 Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

It was a great success and that wouldn’t have been possible without your outstanding support. Our attendance reached 6,000.

We have just completed an audience survey and TIGLFF again, received very high ratings for the �ilms and the overall experience.

We really do appreciate all

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—CHRIS HESSLER

that you have done for us.

LARRY BIDDLE TIGLFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AN INSPIRING COVER

I

THOROUGHLY ENJOYED TOM DYER’S INTERVIEW WITH THE LEGENDARY BILLIE JEAN KING (Issue 20.22). I don’t think our younger generation of LGBTs understand what it took for King to come out the way she did—way before the years of Will & Grace. It was refreshing to hear her talk about her struggles and the spotlight that shone on her during those years.

I am thrilled she’s coming to the Wide World of Sports and appreciate Watermark sharing her story with us and letting us know of this important fundraising event.

SHAWN JORDAN ORLANDO

SALVATION ARMY SUPPORTER

I

WANT TO COMMEND STEVE BLANCHARD ON HIS COLUMN

watermarkonline.com

ABOUT SUPPORTING THE SALVATION ARMY (Issue 20.22). Our community has a reputation for looking for the worst when it comes to anything with a religious af�iliation. Fortunately, Mr. Blanchard was able to look through the smoke in this situation and shine a clear light on the charity.

The Salvation Army helped me years ago when I lost my Cleveland home to a �ire. Not only did their facility provide shelter for me and for my partner at the time, but their thrift stores helped us restart our lives on a small budget when we moved into our new apartment that same year.

The red kettles and bell ringers always make me smile, and just because one member of their organization has voiced opposition to us doesn’t make the organization a bad one. They will continue to receive my support, and I hope Mr. Blanchard’s words encourage others to do the same.

LISA CORRAY SARASOTA

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

O

Desk

N TUESDAY, NOV. 5, THE CITY OF

St. Petersburg made major history. Voters overwhelmingly elected Darden Rice and Amy Foster, two openly gay women, to its City Council.

They join Steve Kornell, who is also gay and serving his second term. That makes three-of-the-eight members of the St. Petersburg City Council members of the LGBT community. That’s 37.5% of the council who bat for our team, for those keeping track.

It’s an amazing feat for a city that held its �irst Pride festival in 2003 under the shadow of then-Mayor Rick Baker, a de�iant enemy of LGBT equality.

It’s important to recognize that the women didn’t run on their sexuality. In fact, both did an incredible job focusing strictly on the issues facing the city— The Tampa Bay Rays, the pier,

WATERMARK STAFF

Midtown—even when speaking to gay-friendly press like Watermark or the Tampa Bay Times. Strangely, the regular anti-gay crusaders within the city limits kept pretty silent throughout this election cycle. Amy Foster’s challenger, Steve Galvin, received harsh criticism when through a robocall he tried to highlight her involvement as Vice President of St. Pete Pride as a

Publisher: Tom Dyer • Ext. 305 • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Chief Financial Officer: Rick Claggett • Ext. 108 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Admin. Assistant: Stephanie Saylor • Ext. 100 • Stephanie@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Steve Blanchard • 813-470-0899 • SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com Reporter: Susan Clary • 104 • Susan@WatermarkOnline.com Online Media Director: Jamie Hyman • Ext. 106 • Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Production Assistant: Andrés Duputel • Ext. 107 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com

drawback to her appeal. Of course, he didn’t mention he marched in the festival on that rainy June afternoon.

So what does this mean? Has St. Petersburg �inally grown up? It looks like it. Will we now have LGBT Pride very weekend of the year?

De�initely not.

St. Petersburg is ready to step into the future. The city that was once known as a retirement capitol has slowly accepted a diverse and ever-changing future. On Nov. 4, its residents proved they are ready for leadership based on ability, experience and vision rather than outdated views of sexuality.

Now it’s up to Foster and Rice to show residents that they were the right choice to move us forward. And, if their campaigns are an indication, they certainly are.

— Every year my love/hate relationship with this issue of Watermark rears its ugly head. It’s my favorite issue because it has the most community involvement.

It contains lists of our readers’ favorite people, businesses and locations across Central Florida. The Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence (WAVE) also give those of us behind the scenes a chance to reach out and talk directly to those within the community who have inspired interactions with our readers.

And, to be perfectly honest,

these cover shoots are always a riot.

Everyone is in a great mood and Florida’s weather always cooperates.

The challenge that comes with this issue of the newsmagazine is the time and energy the staff of Watermark puts into the awards, the layout, the quadruple-checking of names and hunting down the correct people when voters leave off last names or places of employment in their nomination process.

Watermark publisher Tom Dyer can’t say the exact year we started this tradition, but it was somewhere around the turn of the millennium.

Each year the format by which we poll our readers changes. This year we had two rounds of voting—a nomination round and then a �inal vote round.

More changes will come in 2014—or, should I say, 2015.

Next year’s WAVE Awards ballots will be pushed from the fall to the following January.

There are two reasons for this.

Next year mark’s Watermark’s 20th anniversary and we have some great things planned for next fall; and voting for 2014 favorites in early 2015 makes more sense.

For example, if you open a new business in November or December, you could still have a chance at that “Favorite New Business” award for the calendar year of 2014. The way we currently do things, any new business opening in the next two months wouldn’t have a shot to be recognized.

Evolution is a fact of life, and it typically makes things better.

Enjoy this special issue of Watermark and congratulate our 2013 winners. They’re recognition is very well-deserved. |  |

The WAVES give those of us behind the scenes a chance to reach out and talk directly to those within the community who have inspired interactions with our readers.

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NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

CLARIFICATION

Photographer Dan Cunico of DC PhotoGraphics contributed a photo of Mark Cady’s ordination as Deacon on the Transitions page of Issue 20.22. His photo credit was mistakenly excluded from the photo.

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 29

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.

Tampa Bay Edition cover

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

DISTRIBUTION Debbie Oliver, Phil Garris, Ken Caraway CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing in WATERMARK is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members of such organizations.

WATERMARK is published every second Thursday.

Subscription rate is $55 (1st class) and $26 (standard mail).

The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns, letters and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s owner or management. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication.

WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors.

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

9

orlando NEWS

Headdress Ball raises more than $500,000 Susan Clary

O

RLANDO | Glitzy costumes, circus acts, colorful lasers and nonstop entertainment were the highlights of the 2013 Headdress Ball, which drew 1,000 people to the Hilton Orlando to raise money for the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc. And raise money they did— more than $500,000 this year, which set a new record. In black ties and gowns, some donning masks for the masquerade theme, attendees on Oct. 26 opened their wallets and gave money for tickets at $300 a pop, live and silent auctions and dancers who accepted $5, $10 and $20 bills in their g-strings.

“Everybody had a very, very good time and that was re�lected in the amount of money we raised,” said Chris Hessler, event manager for Hope and Help, which provides medical assistance and support for people with HIV/AIDS. “The headdress entries were spectacular.”

Seven local businesses entered the main headdress competition. Attendees paid $1 a vote to choose the crowd favorite. The People’s Choice Award went to Savoy for its futuristic 2080 Intergalactic Lord from the Isle of Savoy, with a feathered harness, extravagant cloak and mirrored mask.

The winner of this year’s judged competition was the Parliament House’s breathtaking smiling skeleton with black �lowing see-through gown, reminiscent of Day of the Dead or Tim Burton. Like a large puppet, its carrier moved the skeleton arms with two large poles and both were dressed in black pirate hats. Parliament House’s headdress was the tallest entry by far.

The second place trophy went to Win�ield Murdock Creative Works for a Renaissance-themed European opera house combined with the Wandering Palazzos of Venice.

The third place trophy was awarded to Heirloom Cutting Boards, whose headdress had a carousel theme.

The Chuck Hummer Visionary Awards were given to Aerial Rigging and LMG, vendors who donated the ceiling rigging and video screens and equipment.

The event chair this year was Michelle Damon, wife of former Major League Baseball (MLB) out�ielder Johnny Damon. Johnny Damon, a graduate of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, has played for a half dozen teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays.

Next year’s fundraiser will mark the 25th anniversary of Headdress Ball and is scheduled for Saturday, Sept.

20, 2014. In an effort to make room for more people, organizers hope to reorganize the Hilton ballroom to accommodate additional tables. This year, the event sold out on Saturday and people were turned away at the door.

“Next year’s celebration will have a montage of the history of headdress, which started with �lorists and hair stylists,” Hessler said. “So, we want to open it up to anyone who wants to attend, and drag people out of retirement to participate to show just how much we have been able to accomplish.” |  | See additional photos from Headdress Ball at WatermarkOnline.com.

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

PROUD VOICES: Billy Manes, left, and Bayli Silberstein flank Nadine Smith as they proudly show off their Voices for Equality Awards with Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith at the Greater Orlando Gala at The Mezz Nov. 1. | PHOTO BY LONNIE THOMPSON

Engaging Event Equality Florida Orlando Gala raises record-breaking $139,000 Susan Clary

O

above and beyond in the �ight for LGBT equality. The Greater Orlando Chapter awarded Orlando Weekly writer Billy Manes and Lake County student Bayli Silberstein with its Voice for Equality Awards.

Manes was honored for telling the story of his partner Alan Jordan’s suicide and the dif�icult emotional

RLANDO | Every year all over the state, Equality Florida hosts fundraisers to harness dollars for its programs, including the “Get Engaged” campaign to push for marriage equality in Florida.

The Greater Orlando chapter surpassed its goal raising $139,000, a record, and drawing more than 300 people to the gala on Nov. 1 at The Mezz downtown. The chapter includes Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties.

Michael Farmer, Statewide Field Director for Equality Florida, said the �inancial boost couldn’t have —MICHAEL FARMER come at a better time.

“We have reached a place in this movement where we are at a tipping and legal issues that resulted because the couple was unable to point and people understand we legally marry. Vicki Nance created have to decide whether we want the award-winning documentary to sit back and hope we win on the Billy & Alan based on that story. wings of inevitability or do we want “You gave me a chance to take double down,” Farmer said. “The something that could have ended fundraising at the gala shows people my life and made me do something want to win.” that made my life better,” Manes In addition to the food, drink said, thanking Equality Florida and fundraising, Equality Florida members for their support. “I am honors people who have gone

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twice the man I was when he died and ten times the man I was when I met him.”

Bayli Silberstein, the former eighth grader at Carver Middle School who fought for the right to start a Gay-Straight Alliance Club (GSA), accepted the other Voice for Equality Award. With the legal support of the ACLU, openly bisexual Silberstein took on the Lake County School Board and stood up for bullied students everywhere.

“Thank you so much; it means a lot,” Silberstein said as she told the story of wanting to start a GSA club because her friend Megan was bullied for having a girlfriend.

Megan accompanied Silberstein and her mother to the Gala.

Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith gave her “State of the State” address and talked about the 120-plus local ordinances that have been created around the state that help the LGBT community.

“This is an amazing time,” Smith said. “We want to thank those who have been with us from the very beginning and those who have just started with us

“We have to decide whether we want to sit back and hope we win on the wings of inevitability or do we want to double down.”

watermarkonline.com

Continued on page 10 |  |

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orlando NEWS

|  | EQFL Gala from pg.8 because our �ight in Florida is not complete.”

Contributors to Equality Florida were able to choose whether they wanted their donation to go to the Equality Florida Institute for grassroots lobbying or to Equality Florida for educational programs.

“We really want to work toward expanding our staff, particularly in Orlando,” Farmer said.

“As we look to winning marriage equality in Florida, we need to double in size.

When that time comes, we want to be ready to go.”

Similar galas are scheduled for chapters in Key West, Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, Naples, Sarasota, Tampa, Pinellas, Gainesville, Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

The Tampa Chapter has scheduled its event on Feb. 22 at The Vault, and Sarasota will have its gala on May 3 at The Francis. |  |

Zebra Coalition wins $650K grant, partners with Orange schools to fight bullies Susan Clary

O

RLANDO | The Zebra Coalition has received a $625,000 federal grant, the largest in its history, for programs to help prevent substance abuse among young people.

The money will come from the White House’s Of�ice of National Drug Control Policy over a �iveyear period and all but guarantees the stability of the organization.

“This new funding will allow the Zebra Coalition to help place more young people on the path toward success and enable them to live healthier and safer lives,” said Dexter Foxworth, director of the Zebra Coalition, in a media release.

The Zebra Coalition is a network of social service providers, government agencies, schools, and colleges and universities. Member

organizations provide essential services for LGBT youth in Central Florida.

The money for Zebra, awarded to the Center for Drug-Free Living as �iscal agent, is part of $19.8 million in new Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program money awarded to 147 communities across the country.

The awards are in addition to the $59.4 million in continuation grants simultaneously released to 477 currently funded coalitions.

“The key to preventing substance abuse is harnessing the talents, resources, and interests of all segments of our local communities,” said Pamela S. Hyde, Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA).

The Zebra Coalition will speci�ically work to address perceptions of the harm of alcohol, prescription drugs and

marijuana use among LGBT youth and reduce community norms favoring drug use through a strategic education and public awareness plan.

In addition, the Zebra Coalition is teaming up with 102 Orange County schools to �ight bullying.

Zebra announced Oct. 23 that the organization will work through Student Assistance and Family Empowerment (SAFE) on an anti-bullying campaign for middle, high and charter schools within the district beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to learn without being subjected to harassment,” said Foxworth. “I believe that our partnership with Orange County Public Schools helps send a message to those kids that they are not alone.”

Zebra of�icials point to a study that showed the vast majority of LGBT students in Florida regularly

hear homophobic, sexist and negative remarks about gender expression.

The National School Climate Survey, conducted by the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) reported that many students in Florida have been victimized at school and most of these incidents were not reported to authorities.

The Zebra Coalition reached out the principals at the various schools about hanging up antibullying posters with unique QR codes that direct students, parents and teachers to a website with information.

The Coalition will also work with clubs, including the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), in various schools to provide support and training.

“Personally, I think it’s fantastic to know not only is there support from the schools, but also from the community,” said Michele Fierle, the GSA teacher/sponsor at Freedom High School. “Zebra has always been fantastic and friendly, so it’s exciting that all students, no matter their sexual orientation of color of their skin, as bullying can affect anyone.” |  |

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tampa bay NEWS 14

St. Pete Pride 2014 to feature night parade Steve Blanchard

S

T. PETERSBURG | There are a lot of changes coming to St. Pete Pride in 2014, and it’s in an effort to boost attendance, make festival-goers more comfortable and spread Pride throughout the last weekend in June.

The most notable change affects the parade, which shifts to an evening event on Saturday, June 28. The annual festival will continue the celebration on Sunday, June 30, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

“Parade goers will no longer have to compete for viewing space with exhibitor’s tents, making it easier to view the parade,” St. Pete Pride executive director Eric Skains said in a press release. “This allows for additional viewing spaces and we anticipate more elaborate parade entries as organizations will have more time to decorate and build their entry.”

The change is a response to attendees who have asked for a cooler parade experience. Moving it to night removes the heat from the sun from the equation while still staying warm enough to enjoy an outdoor activity. The parade route will remain the same as in years past, beginning across from Georgie’s Alibi, winding through Kenwood and then turning east on Central Avenue.

And those entries will look totally different in 2014 sincelights will be incorporated into �loats. According to Skains, the change will mean St. Pete Pride is home to the only night Pride parade in the state of Florida.

“We know this is a new challenge for �loats in the parade and we’re going to hold several workshops in the new year as a way of offering tips on how to decorate so your entry can be the most visible,” Skains said. “We’ll announce those workshops on StPetePride.com.”

With the parade separated from the street festival, vendors will feel much less crowded on Sunday.

“We’ve added features to the street festival for 2014,” Skains explained. “The new Street Colour Fest will have a Family Zone featuring rides and games, a Health Wellness Zone and live music throughout the day.”

There will also be a Trans Pride March and a Womyn’s March down Central Avenue that will incorporate colorful celebration powder.

“Celebration Colour Powder has been used throughout the world to celebrate diversity and special occasions,” Skains said. “We hope this becomes a new tradition that keeps St. Pete Pride just as unique as the City of St. Petersburg.”

The colorful powder, Skains added, is washable from all clothing and will not stain the concrete on Central Avenue.

Next year will mark St. Pete Pride’s 12th year, and splitting the parade and the street festival into two separate events on two different days will help grow the annual event into a destination event for locals and visitors, Skains said. He also anticipates the change will create a stronger impact on the economy of Tampa Bay. For more information on the changes to St. Pete Pride 2014, visit StPetePride.com. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

NEW LEADERSHIP: St. Petersburg Mayor-Elect Rick Kriseman addresses supporters at Nova 535 on Nov. 5. PHOTO COURTESY JAMES JACKSON

St. Petersburg makes history Amy Foster, Darden Rice win City Council seats; Kriseman unseats Mayor Bill Foster Steve Blanchard

S

T. PETERSBURG | And then there were three—as in three members of the LGBT community sitting on the St. Petersburg City Council. At least there will be, once Amy Foster and Darden Rice are sworn into their District 8 and District 4 seats, respectively.

The two women handily beat their opponents, with Rice getting nearly 55% of the vote to Carolyn Fries’ 45%. Fries and Rice were running to replace veteran Council member Leslie Curran, who is termlimited, in a district that includes the neighborhoods of Crescent Lake, Euclid Heights, Euclid-St. Paul’s and Meadowlawn.

Foster easy thwarted Steve Galvin with 67% of the vote to his 33%. Foster, 36, works for a Seattlebased nonpro�it and campaigned on a platform of stepped-up policing.

She and Galvin emerged as the top two candidates out of a fourway primary in August and she

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The other big election news in St. Petersburg was challenger Rick Kriseman, a former St. Petersburg City Councilman, unseating incumbent mayor Bill Foster with 56% of the vote to Bill Foster’s 45%.

It’s the �irst time in more than 20 has led, both in the polls and in years that an incumbent mayor has fundraising, for most of the election. not won re-election in St. Pete.

Galvin, 55, a music producer, is Foster seemed to take the defeat also a political newcomer and in stride during his election night made headlines in early October watch party, however, sharing part when he approved a robo-call that of his concession conversation with seemed to attack Foster’s sexuality Kriseman with his audience. and her involvement as St. Pete “She’s all yours,” Foster said he Pride’s vice president. Rice and told Kriseman. “Don’t wreck it.”

Foster join Steve Kornell, who is He congratulated Kriseman on a spirited and well-run campaign and then said that he had few regrets.

“It’s been an incredible city,” Foster said.

—RICK KRISEMAN, ST. PETERSBURG MAYOR-ELECT “I can say I’m leaving this city serving his second term on the City better than it was four years ago.”

Council, as representatives of the Kriseman spoke from a podium LGBT community. at Nova 535 downtown after an Incumbent councilman Karl enthusiastic crowd �inally let him Nurse, who serves as chairman take the microphone. of the St. Petersburg City Council, “We’re all going to have to have crushed challenger Sharon Russ, a hand in building St. Petersburg’s while fellow incumbent Jim Kennedy future,” said Kriseman during his Jr. prevailed over community acceptance speech. “We can resolve activist Lorraine Margeson by a considerable margin.

Continued on page 14 |  |

“City Hall must lead by example, and with a progressive-minded mayor and city council, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

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15

from pg.10

DISTRICT 8: Amy Foster prepares to address supporters at her victory party at Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro in St. Petersburg Nov. 5. PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS TATE

NEWS

tampa bay

|  | St. Pete Elections

DISTRICT 4: Darden Rice celebrates her election to the St. Petersburg City Council with her campaign manager, Nick Janovsky, at Red Mesa Cantina. PHOTO

the issues surrounding the pier and baseball.”

Kriseman acknowledged the wins of Amy Foster and Rice, as well as the support of four seated council members who endorsed him during the campaign.

“We can make all areas of this city—south, west, and north—as vibrant as downtown and northeast,” he said. “But we can only do it if we are united. If we move forward together, as I said on primary night, and we bring a wide range of people together to win this campaign, we must do the same to solve St. Petersburg’s problems and ful�ill our potential.

“City Hall must lead by example,” he continued. “And with a progressive-minded mayor and city council, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” |  |

COURTESY NICK JANOVSKY

Teen found guilty in attempted murder of trans woman Staff Report

T

AMPA | A Tampa teen was accused of trying to kill a member of the transgender community has been found guilty of attempted murder. Tavares Spencer was tried as an adult on charges that included attempted �irst-degree felony murder, attempted second-degree murder and robbery. He was found guilty on Oct. 31 for the April 9 crime.

On that date, authorities say the victim, who is legally known as Terrience McDonald, 22, agreed to meet with a teenager he knew only as “Vares.” He had met Vares a week before at a party, and the two had agreed to meet up again.

When they met at a vacant house, Spencer stole McDonald’s cell phone and purse. When McDonald tried

to leave, Spencer pulled a gun and �ired. Records say the victim pretended to be dead, and when Spencer walked away, McDonald �led the scene.

He told investigators the teen �ired another shot, but missed McDonald.

Homophobic and transphobic-laced text messages Spencer sent after the incident bragging about the shooting were presented in court, and helped lead to his conviction and also led to the attempted murder charge to be deemed a hate crime.

The teenager has been arrested 12 times since 2009 on charges ranging from possession of cocaine to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, records show. He remains in Hillsborough County Jail until sentencing. |  |

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state NEWS

Gay FAU student says he was refused a laptop for being too feminine Staff report

B

OCA RATON | A gay Florida Atlantic University (FAU) student is speaking out about allegedly being turned away from borrowing a laptop because he looked too much like a woman.

Abdul Asquith said he was wearing a FAU hoodie, shorts and had his long hair pulled back when he tried to check out the laptop from the campus library for his communications class. “[The library employee] looked at the ID and looked down at it. She said, ‘You sound, look and act like a girl and in this ID is a man, therefore I’m not giving you a laptop,’” Asquith told WPTV. He said his FAU ID was issued in 2012 and “It looked just like me.”

Asquith told WPTV he was “appalled” and “embarrassed” because the exchange happened in front of students standing behind him in line. It also happened in front of his friend Samantha Lemessy.

“Because he acts a certain way, he can’t possibly be this? It shouldn’t even be like that,” Lemessy said.

Asquith said he’s reached out to the campus diversity council to see if any action can be taken. The library did not comment on record. |  |

Crist announces gubernatorial bid, says views have shifted on LGBT issues Staff Report

S

T. PETERSBURG | During his tenure as governor of Florida, Charlie Crist actively fought against equality for the state’s LGBT community. He opposed adoption rights for gays and lesbians and signed a petition supporting Amendment 2, which voters passed in 2008 to outlaw marriage equality in the state’s constitution.

But that was when he was a Republican. Now, he’s a Democrat, and has said he regrets signing that petition.

“Would I do it today? No,” Crist told the Tampa Bay Times in December 2012.

Crist hopes his evolution on social issues and his new membership in the Democratic party will help him unseat Republican Governor Rick Scott.

Crist of�icially announced his

2014 campaign on Nov. 4 in front of about 200 supporters at the St. Petersburg waterfront.

“Governing for the people has been replaced with cronyism and government on the fringes,” Crist told the crowd. “The voice of the people has been silenced by the �inancial bullies and the special interests.”

Crist’s rally occurred exactly one year before Florida voters decide whether to give Scott a second term.

Immediately, supporters of Scott and Republican organizations began attacking Crist. During his speech, a plane �lew overhead with a banner directing viewers to a website mocking the former governor as a �lip-�lopping politician.

But Crist seems poised to attack Scott, and he launched his offensive when he spoke at the waterfront.

“Gov. Scott has led like this:

Embrace the ideological fringes, take care of his friends, bully his opponents, hide from the public and the press and run from tough issues. Shouldn’t really come as a surprise, though. Think about it: He hid from federal investigators as a businessman and his company had to pay the largest �ine at the time for fraud in the history of America,” Crist said, referring to Scott’s former career leading the Columbia/ HCA hospital chain and its record $1.7 billion �ine for alleged Medicare fraud.

Currently, Crist leads Scott in polls by double digits. But he still isn’t guaranteed to be the democratic nominee. Former Democratic Nan Rich of Broward County announced her campaign more than a year ago, but has received little media attention or funding.

“Charlie is a Democrat now— but he’s changed more than his party registration—he’s changed his stance on many major issues and voters I’ve met with wonder how committed he is to his newfound positions,” Rich said.

Rich is a long-time supporter of LGBT equality. |  |

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nation+world NEWS 20

IN OTHER NEWS WEST POINT HOSTS FIRST WEDDING BETWEEN 2 MEN Two West Point graduates were married Nov. 2 in the military academy’s first wedding between two men. Larry Choate III, 27, married Daniel Lennox, 28, before about 20 guests. West Point hosted two same-sex weddings of women in late 2012, more than a year after New York state legalized gay marriage.

TRANSGENDER STUDENT AT COLO. SCHOOL PROMPTS COMPLAINT Three Colorado high school girls are alleging harassment because a transgender student is using the girl’s bathroom.

In an Oct. 10 letter to Florence High School Principal Brian Schipper, the girls’ attorney, Matthew McReynolds, says allowing a ``biologically teenage boy’’ in a girl’s bathroom ``is inherently harassing.’’ The school asked Florence police to investigate the harassment allegations, but authorities said they’ve closed the case because the girls would not cooperate.

Bipartisan support boosts gay rights legislation Wire Report

W

ASHINGTON, D.C. | Gay rights advocates— including both Republicans and Democrats—are newly upbeat about the prospects for Senate passage of a bill that would prohibit employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

sexual orientation, people come to realize that they are their neighbors, their family members, their friends, their co-workers. That’s made a big difference.’’

ENDA cleared a major hurdle Nov. 4 when the Senate voted 61-30 to end debate. Fifty-four Democrats and seven Republicans voted for cloture, virtually guaranteeing its passage on a �inal vote later this week. |  |

couple �iled their suit Nov. 1.

They claim that the law violates their rights to free speech and freedom of religion, as well as their 14th Amendment right to equal protection, by “denying minors the opportunity to pursue a particular course of action that can help them address the con�licts between their religious and moral values and same-sex attractions, behaviors or identity.”

The law signed by Gov. Chris Christie in August bars licensed therapists from trying to turn gay teenagers straight. Christie said the health risks of trying to change a child’s sexual orientation outweigh concerns over the government setting limits on parental choice.

California passed a similar law in 2012, and a federal appeals court upheld it in August against a constitutional challenge. |  |

N.J. parents sue state over gay conversion therapy ban

CHILE: 4 SENTENCED IN BRUTAL MURDER OF GAY MAN

Wire Report

Chilean judges on Oct. 28 sentenced a man to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Daniel Zamudio—a gay man whose body was carved with swastikas—and gave lesser sentences to three others. The four men burned Zamudio with cigarettes, beat him with glass bottles and broke his right leg with a heavy rock before abandoning him in a park in the capital of Santiago on March 3, 2012. The killing prompted Chile’s Congress to pass an anti-discrimination law.

NEWARK, N.J. | New Jersey’s law banning so-called gay conversion therapy is facing a federal court challenge from a couple who claim their constitutional rights are being violated because the law prevents them from seeking treatment for their 15-year-old son.

The unidenti�ied New Jersey

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The outlook for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) re�lects the nation’s growing tolerance of homosexuality and Republicans’ political calculation as they look for supporters beyond their core base of older voters. ``I think society continues to evolve on the issue of gay rights,’’ said Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a co-sponsor of the measure. ``As more and more gay individuals are open about their

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Thank you to our fantastic Headdress Ball Chairwomen Michelle Damon.

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perspective

PUBLISHER’S

Are you at the Tea Party (without knowing it)?

Tom Dyer TOM@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

W

E’RE NOW LESS THAN A

year out from 2014 midterm elections. Candidates are gearing up. Fundraising is at full steam. Like a Thanksgiving sale, Charlie Crist’s recent announcement that he will run for governor—this time as a Democrat—made the season of�icial.

Crist’s race to unseat incumbent Republican Rick Scott—Skeletor, but with less charisma—will be fascinating and consequential. After all, Florida has a half million more Democrats than Republicans but hasn’t elected a Democrat as governor in twenty years.

But my �ight is elsewhere. The insanity of the recent government shutdown and threatened default remains seared on my political psyche. Our nation has been hijacked by right wing conservatives willing to test Armageddon rather than compromise on their extremist anti-government agenda. This contingent of the U.S. House of Representatives is thwarting the economic recovery, standing in the way of much-needed healthcare and other reforms, and doing us all a great deal of damage.

Throughout the shutdown I took solace in the naïve belief that these were representatives from some “other” America; a less enlightened place. I was outraged when I learned that my congressman—Republican John Mica— was in bed with the Tea Party and ultimately voted for default. He was one of 144 Republican House members who voted to deny the Treasury the ability to borrow the money it needs to pay expenses that Congress has already authorized—unless their unspeci�ied

demands to delay Obamacare and cut government spending were met, in advance.

If you live along the I-4 corridor, chances are your congressman was also among them. It infuriates me, and it should infuriate you. How can they think this is what we want?

Traveling west to east, the I-4 corridor runs through U.S. House districts 13, 14, 15, 10, 9, 5, 7 and 6. Included in these districts are urban centers like Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach.

This is hardly a conservative swath of the state: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Osceola and Orange Counties voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012.

In fact, I-4’s eight congressional districts include 1.5 million registered Democrats, compared to 1.2 million Republicans and 900,000 voters with no party af�iliation. Yet �ive districts are represented by Republicans, compared to just three Democrats.

How is this possible? Despite a 2010 constitutional amendment requiring fair district maps, Florida’s Republican legislature has drawn I-4 districts so that Democrats are corralled into three house seats with huge Democratic majorities.

They are currently represented by Corrine Brown, Alan Grayson and Kathy Castor.

Brown’s serpentine District 5 extends from south Orlando through Gainesville and then over to Jacksonville. This kind of gerrymandering allowed the remaining �ive districts, including mine and possibly yours, to be drawn with smaller but still signi�icant Republican pluralities of anywhere from 5,000 to 40,000 votes.

I was deluded because I live in Winter Park, a nice suburb north of Orlando that is home to Rollins College and a well-educated populace, including Mica. The district is gerrymandered to expand north and east to create a Republican majority, but it is by no means overwhelming or extremist. Mica, currently serving his 11th term, defeated Tea Party candidate Sandy Adams in the 2012 Republican primary by pitching himself as the pragmatic alternative.

But during the shutdown, and using the threat of catastrophic default as blackmail, Mica was in lock step with his Tea Party comrades.

“What [other] leverage do you have?”

Mica told the Orlando Sentinel. When asked what they hoped to achieve, he was unable to articulate any speci�ic goals.

All �ive I-4 Republicans supported the shutdown, and only Daniel Webster in District 10 voted against default.

Does Mica really believe that holding the nation’s economic wellbeing hostage is a valid way to legislate?

Doubtful. He has clearly done a cost-bene�it analysis and decided he has more to fear from the rich bullies on the right than the unengaged middle. In so doing, he aligned my hometown with the Tea Party.

Now we have to show him that he did the math wrong.

A year from now, or three years from now—however long it takes— the 175,000 Republicans, 155,000 Democrats and 125,000 unaf�iliated voters in District 7 must register our strong disapproval by ousting

Throughout the shutdown I took solace in the naïve belief that these were representatives from some ‘other’ America; a less enlightened place.

•

Mica from his seat. The same is true in I-4 Districts 6, 10, 13 and 15, where Republican majorities are slim and Republican moderates are growing disenchanted with arrogant, unproductive obstructionism.

To unseat destructive Republicans, Democrats will have to put up strong candidates and mount effective campaigns that speak to the electorate’s frustrations. Local politicos tell me that’s a tall order in a mid-term election, with no presidential coattails driving young and irregular voters to the polls.

But Democrat Alex Sink has thrown her hat into the ring to replace District 13’s Bill Young, who died last month.

She has to be considered a frontrunner to replace the venerable Republican in the balanced mostly Pinellas County district.

A year from now, if we have a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, Sink representing District 13 and a few more Democrats chipping away at the Republican majority in the state legislature, important progress will have been made.

Then in 2016, we hang onto the White House… and take I-4. |  |

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TALKING POINTS

Unfortunately, I am not homosexual. In technical fact, I am humansexual. I am attracted to humans.

But, of course... not many.

68

—MORRISSEY, RESPONDING TO REVELATIONS IN HIS BOOK, AUTOBIOGRAPHY, OF AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN.

%

HAVE A SWEET TOOTH?

ACTOR SEAN HAYES

BAG OF

FOR TAKING SO LONG

of

Americans support the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) —Americans for Workplace Opportunity

DON’T REACH FOR THAT

JELLY BELLIES

Y

OU CAN ADD JELLY BELLY CANDIES TO THE LIST OF FOODS you should stop spending your money on because of expressed bigotry, following in the trend of Barilla pasta and ChickFil-A fast food. Herman Rowland, Sr., chairman of the board for Jelly Belly, donated $5,000 to a group dedicated to overturning California Assembly Bill 1266, a law that guarantees

PEOPLE ARE TALKING AT WATERMARKONLINE.COM ON WHETHER TO SEE THE ENDER’S GAME FILM, IN LIGHT OF ANTI-GAY COMMENTS

BY THE BOOK’S AUTHOR, ORSON SCOTT CARD: “NOT going to see it. Cannot in good conscience support this poor excuse for a man.”

—JAMES KELLEY

ON HALLMARK’S DECISION TO CENSOR THE WORD “GAY” FROM A HOLIDAY ORNAMENT: “I think it stinks. It just shows that they believe the word ‘gay’ has a negative connotation.”

—BRIAN CAHILL

ON ZEBRA COALITION SCORING A $625K GRANT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: “Wow! What a fantastic accomplishment.

Congratulations to all members of the Zebra Coalition.”

—KEN KAZMERSKI

ON THE COUPLE WHO LEFT A GAY CARRABBA’S SERVER A RELIGIOUS, ANTIGAY MESSAGE INSTEAD OF A TIP: “And they wonder why religion is becoming less and less relevant and losing ground every day? Most people

these days are too educated and sophisticated to buy into this garbage. I know not all Christians are this way but the ones who are give the group a bad name. Sane rational people don’t want to align themselves with a hateful ignorant group like this. Imagine all the ‘sins’ that could be pointed out about this couple. This is why separation of church and state is so important. It would be Nazi Germany all over again if these people had no restraints. Gays now and the next group they didn’t like would follow. So sad.”

—LARRY BAINS

transgender students have equal access to bathrooms, locker rooms, sport teams and other gender-segregated facilities at school. A group called Privacy for All Students is gathering signatures to have the law, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in August, repealed. The group is run

by Frank Schubert, wellknown for his messaging on behalf of the National Organization for Marriage in its quest to stop marriage equality. NOM is also actively campaigning to repeal the law, arguing most recently that “forcing boys and girls to share bathrooms is bullying.” |  |

APOLOGIZES

C

OMEDIC ACTOR SEAN HAYES, OF WILL AND GRACE FAME, has issued an apology to the gay community for coming out late.

Hayes, who stars in the new NBC series Sean Saves the World, about a single gay parent, said he was overwhelmed in his 20s and didn’t want the responsibility of speaking for an entire community. “I always felt like I owed them a huge apology for coming out too late,” Hayes told the Los Angeles Times.

“Some people in the gay community were very upset with me for not coming out on their terms. They don’t stop to think about what’s going on in somebody’s personal life, and the struggles that they’re having. It was all very scary.

We got death threats. It was a really rough time for me, but I was also having the time of my life.” |  |

LOVE CONQUERS HATE

SHIRTS FIGHT BIGOTRY IN RUSSIA

A

S PART OF THE CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT HATE IN RUSSIA, celebrities are donning “Love Conquers Hate” T-shirts in Russian. The T-shirts are part of a Human Rights Campaign program to battle back against a new law banning “pro-gay” propaganda. Celebrities joining the T-shirt campaign include: Ricky Martin, Kevin Bacon, Tim Gunn, Perez Hilton, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Collins, Johan Hill and Kristen Bell. Gay rights activists have asked the International Olympic Committee to call for the law’s repeal ahead of the Winter Olympics, to be held in Russia in February. All proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will support gay rights efforts in Russia.

To buy one, visit HRC.org. |  |

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UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER ORNAMENT

IS UGLY IN MORE THAN ONE WAY

H

ALLMARK HAS DECIDED TO REWRITE THE LYRICS to popular Christmas carol “Deck the Halls,” to remove the word “gay.” The greeting card company released an “ugly Christmas sweater” ornament with the words “Don we now our fun apparel.” Following a social media maelstrom, Hallmark tried to explain with a bunch of gobbledygook about the translation from Gaelic, but their convoluted explanation only in�lamed the outrage. The company released another statement: “We’ve been surprised at the wide range of reactions expressed about the change of lyrics on this ornament ...We never intend to offend or make political statements with our products and, in hindsight, we realize we shouldn’t have changed the lyrics on the ornament.” The ornaments have been on sale in Hallmark Gold Crown stores since October. |  |

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ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT

AN OPEN BOOK BOOK OF MORMON INVADES FLORIDA, AND BRINGS LEGIONS OF LGBT FANS WITH IT

I

Joseph Kissel

N THE SPRING OF 2011, THE WORLD

was reintroduced to a religion that was just over 100 years old. The vulgar, offensive—and hilarious—The Book of Mormon went on to win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

A year later, the original cast recording won a Grammy Award, a rarity these days in the world of Broadway. The musical is the brain child of South Park creators Matt

Stone and Trey Parker, and Robert Lopez, the mind behind Avenue Q. Now it’s touring the country and stops at the Bob Carr Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando now through

Nov. 8 and the Straz Center in Tampa Nov. 12-24.

The popularity of the musical is so large that when the Straz Center began selling tickets online in September, web traf�ic shut down the site for several hours.

The idea for The Book of Mormon was truly an example of being in the right place at the right time for the three men.

“Matt and I went to see Avenue Q when it opened in 2003, and we were like, ‘Wow, this is actually really good,’” says Parker. “When it was over I was thinking, This is exactly the

kind of thing we’ve dreamed about doing.”

During intermission, Parker and Stone met with Lopez, who said that the 1999 animated �ilm South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut inspired him to create Avenue Q. The conversation veered toward future projects and all three men said they wanted to make a musical about Mormons.

The subject, of course, is provocative and, for some, offensive. But that’s exactly why the trio chose the religion as its target.

“There’s a catharsis in being

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able to really laugh at some of the goo�ier ideas of religion without necessarily laughing at the people practicing them,” Stone says. “We want to give you room to feel what the show is saying to you. We don’t want to tell anybody what the point is or what the politics are. It’s up to you to �igure out what it meant.”

But there is a line that The Book of Mormon gladly crosses.

“You can cross it as long as you have a reason for doing it,” Parker explains. “If it has a

Continued on page 32 |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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“H

AL!”Pass C I R E e YST ackstag —B

“Shee r brill ianc — Th e!” e Stage

Radio host and Broadway performer Seth Rudetsky hilariously deconstructs why some performances are amazing and others are a travesty!

You’ll never experience musical theater the same again.

NOV. 9 & 10 • JAEB THEATER

STRAZ CENTER IT’S MORE THAN JUST A SHOW. Tickets: 813.229.STAR (7827) • STRAZCENTER.ORG Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.

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watermarkonline.com

ANIMAL ATTRACTION: Sophie B. Hawkins has worked for several animal-related charities and organizers of the Pussycat Festival contacted her following her work to help wildlife after the BP Oil Spill.

Cat Person MUSIC/CHARITY

Sophie B. Hawkins headlines Pussycat Festival to benefit adoptable pets

“O

Zach Caruso

F COURSE I’M A CAT PERSON! I’M

an animal lover in general, but I’m de�initely a cat lover.” says Grammynominated singer/songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins.

So it makes perfect sense that Hawkins will headline on Nov. 9 as part of the �irst annual Pussycat Festival in Bradenton.

The event will bene�it the Gulf Shore Animal League, which helps free up shelter space for adoptable dogs and cats, aiding in Manatee County’s “no-kill” effort.

“When the BP oil spill

happened in the Gulf, I went down to Grand Isle and helped with the clean-up,” says Hawkins, who has been with her partner for 17 years. “So that’s what turned them on to me and how they knew I was an activist, so they contacted me through my management and asked if I would be a part of this festival,” Hawkins recalls.

“It’s special; I love being around people who are putting their energy into helping people and creatures in need.”

Hawkins, who is best known for her hit singles “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” (‘lover’ being code for her same-sex relationship) and “As I Lay Me Down,” began her career in the early ‘90s after a chance encounter with another up-and-coming artist.

“I was discovered while I was working at Orso Restaurant in New York as a coat check,” says Hawkins. “So one day [folk-rock singer/songwriter] Marc Cohn came in, and this was before he

did ‘Walking In Memphis’—he for the change in mainstream was doing jingles at the time— music as it started to move toward and he said to me ‘I really love a more big-business mentality, your speaking voice, you must and she saw �irst-hand the effect it have a great singing voice,’ and I had on the artists. said ‘Actually I’m a songwriter.’ So “The labels stopped wanting to I gave him a tape with about 50 support the artists, this was the songs on it and that’s how I ended time that major label music was up getting discovered.” really shifting towards a more She was signed to Sony corporate-type direction, and so and soon began work on her now suddenly they have all these debut album. ‘shareholders,’ and it just became “It was tough, I’d been an too big of a business,” she says. independent artist for so long “I fought for the integrity of doing my thing, and now I’m on artists and musicians, and I gained a label,” she says. “But I fought a lot of support from places hard for the integrity like Billboard and all,” of that album, says Hawkins. and when it came “My stance out people really was that if you liked it and it got a don’t maintain the great reaction, so it integrity of the wasn’t in vain.” art, then the labels The album, will become too Tongues and Tails, corporate. If they was a major success, don’t feel that they and garnered understand it or can Hawkins a Grammy control it, then they nod for Best New can’t be bothered.

Artist. But what And that isn’t art at should have been the all! That’s never been most exciting time of what people want, her life was marred they want something with internal politics —SOPHIE B. HAWKINS that elicits a reaction, and negativity. that gets down “I should have in your soul.” been excited, the problem was She goes on to explain that in that I just wasn’t because of the conjunction with this shift, she amount of politics surrounding sees a troubling change in the it,” she says. relationship between artist and “My manager was sitting fans, one that she has watched there telling me, ‘Don’t go disintegrate over the years. to the Grammys, your label And as for the mainstream isn’t supporting you, they’re artists of today? supporting so-and-so.’ And in “They’re really awful,” she the end all of that just ruined says. “But they’re huge, and you it all. It should have been the put them next to these great greatest time of my life, and I old artists and it just blows didn’t even go to the Grammys, it your mind that anyone would was just really hard to enjoy the buy this garbage. Why do we entire process.” accept such crap?”

One of her most famous The Pussycat Festival is Sat., battles with Sony was over the Nov. 9 from 4-10 p.m. at the inclusion of a banjo on her single Tarpon Pointe Tiki Bar and Grill in “Lose Your Way” from her third Bradenton. For more information album Timbre. and tickets, visit PussycatFestival.

“The banjo,” she says with a GSALINC.org. |  | laugh. “I fought for the banjo, it seemed like most of my career was one �ight after another. They To read bonus content were telling me ‘You can’t have from this interview go to a banjo in a pop song,’ and I said watermarkonline.com.

‘No, it’s integral to the song, and I’ll be playing the banjo when I perform it.’

MORE INFORMATION “And I prevailed and the banjo was left on the song, and it was a WHO: Sophie B. Hawkins hit. It still gets radio play today, it WHERE: Pussycat Festival, Tarpon was on Dawson’s Creek, so it was Pointe Tiki Bar and Grill,Bradenton nice to have that victory.”

WHEN: 4-10 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9 Hawkins says she was present

NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

“It’s special, I love being around people who are putting their energy into helping people and creatures in need.”

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There’s a catharsis in being able to really laugh at some of the goofier ideas of religion without necessarily laughing at the people practicing them.

—MATT STONE

|  | Book of Mormon from pg.27

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point and it has a story that has genuine, real characters and emotion, then you can pretty much do whatever you want as long as you’re being truthful.”

Caught in the middle of the production is out actor Grey Henson, who plays Elder McKinley, a straight-laced missionary leader struggling with his sexuality. But the role couldn’t be farther from Henson’s own experience.

“I never had to hide who I was,” says the 6-foot-3-inch Henson as he prepares for another performance of the show in New Orleans.

“It never seemed wrong. So my coming out process was pretty natural.”

Elder McKinley’s advice to the new arrivals is “Turn It Off,” Henson’s big number about repression and one of the most hummable songs from the show.

“When you start to get confused about thoughts in your head,” Henson sings.

“Turn it off like a light switch, just go click. It’s a cool little Mormon trick.”

Unlike McKinley, Henson came out to his family while studying drama at Carnegie Mellon University.

“It seemed like a nobrainer. If something’s bubbling under the surface, you need to pay attention to it. It’s important to acknowledge every part of ourselves.”

And not too long after graduation, Henson won

his spot in the national tour of the blockbuster musical comedy known for its shock value.

“They use the crass humor to prove their points,” Henson says. “Stay to the end. I’ve seen a few people leave. But it’s really a touching story.”

With more than 500 performances to his credit, Henson is considered one of the veterans of the tour.

When you’ve done the show that many times, the laughter sometimes erupts on stage, too.

“It’s important to enjoy the production,” he says.

“We crack each other up all the time.”

He’s noticed the jokes play differently in different cities.

“Sometimes one line gets a huge laugh and another won’t get anything,” he says.

“With 2,000 people getting together, somehow the audience collectively reacts the same way.”

Henson is particularly intrigued by the reception awaiting in Orlando, which is a frequent subject and target of the musical and even gets its own song.

“The show hasn’t been through Florida yet,” he said.

“So it will be interesting to see how that’s received.”

Being from Georgia, and vacationing through the years in Florida, Henson has a more informed experience of the sunshine state than most.

“I think of Florida as its own place,” he says. “It’s not a major part of the south but it’s so big and so many

watermarkonline.com

people come to Florida from everywhere. It’s a melting pot.”

As for Henson, he sees himself moving to New York after Mormon ends its run on the road to pursue another role in musical theater.

And while a life in the closet may seem like a curse, Henson sees hope for Elder McKinley.

“He might have a more liberated future.”

It takes a liberated mind to enjoy this production, and Lopez understands that not everyone can look at a sensitive subject like religion—or profanities intertwined—in such a way.

“The musical is a machine that’s designed to bring you down and raise you up, and to give you a positive, uplifting experience,” Lopez says. “I want the musical to show people the nadir of human experience. For this musical, it’s about faith. It’s about religious feeling. And I think we show a character that loses his faith, and we give his faith back to him in a better way at the end. And I hope that the experience of the audience mirrors that, whether it’s a religious experience or just feeling entertained.” |  |

MORE INFORMATION

WHAT: The Book of Mormon WHERE: Orlando’s Bob Carr, now through Nov. 8; Tampa’s Straz Center, Nov. 12-24

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ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT EVENT PLANNER

QUICK PICKS

Cyndi Lauper

Melbourne Craig Ferguson NOV. 15 King Center for the Performing Arts 321-242-2219 KingCenter.com

Daytona Beach Kenny G.

NOV. 12 Peabody Auditorium 386-671-3461 PeabodyAuditorium.org

Orlando

God is a Scottish Drag Queen NOV. 8-10 Footlight Theatre 407-252-8129 FootlightTheatre.com

Sarasota

N

NOV. 9-10 Sarasota Opera 941-366-8450 SarasotaOpera.org

Tampa

Venus in Fur

For more events or to submit your upcoming show, concert or performance, visit

watermarkonline.com.

OT TO MAKE ANYONE FEEL OLD OR ANYTHING,

but it’s been 30 years since Cyndi Lauper launched onto the international stage with her debut album, She’s So Unusual. To celebrate the milestone (and the multiple Tony Awards her Kinky Boots musical won this year) the iconic entertainer created her “She’s SO Unusual Tour” to crisscross the country.

The Little Sweep

NOV. 7-22 Stageworks Theater 813-251-8984 StageworksTheater.com

CLEARWATER+ORLANDO

I

ORLANDO L’Eighties Night

F YOU CAN’T MAKE THE CYNDI LAUPER CONCERT, THE VENUE IS OFFERING THE NEXT BEST THING. Priscilla Bagley will be crooning all the greatest hits from the women of the 1980s including Lauper, Sheena Easton, Whitney Houston, Irene Cara, and Pat Benatar. “L’Eighties Night: Great

Songstresses of the ‘80s” is a cabaret-style show with Bagley on vocals, Steve MacKinnon on keyboard and Justin Martin on guitar and vocals. The show is Friday, Nov. 8, at 511 Virginia Drive. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m.

For tickets, call 407-412-6895 or visit TheVenueOrlando.com. |  |

J

She will make two stops in our area, one on Friday, Nov. 8, at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, followed by a Sunday, Nov. 10 performance at the House of Blues in Orlando.

Lauper, a long-time advocate of LGBT rights, will play the album in its entirety as part of the show each night to honor and thank her legion of fans that have stood by her since the beginning.

Special guest Hunter Valentine will open the show.

For tickets and more information, visit RuthEckerdHall.com or HOB.com. |  |

TAMPA Josh Groban

OSH GROBAN IS ONE ARTIST WHO SUCCEEDS IN GIVING A LARGE ARENA THE FEEL OF AN INTIMATE CONCERT venue when he comes to town.

Groban will perform Nov. 8 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum with his tour titled “In the Round.” It places the 32-year

NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

old classically-trained baritone in the middle of the venue.

As an added bonus, Judith Hill, a former back-up singer for Michael Jackson and contestant on The Voice, opens the show.

For tickets, call 813-301-2500 or visit TampaBayTimesForum.com. |  |

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watermark

IN DEPTH 2013 WAVE AWARDS

BALLOT

BOXING

A NEW SYSTEM OF BALLOTING BROUGHT RECORD NUMBERS TO THE 2013 WAVE BALLOTS

B

EFORE WE DIVE HEADLONG INTO

another holiday season (don’t groan, you’ve already seen those Christmas decorations at the discount stores) we here at Watermark love to celebrate our community. That’s what our favorite—and most popular issue of the year— strives to do, and this year is no exception.

The LGBT community is mainstreaming, there’s no doubt, but only those within the LGBT community, or our close allies, really know what makes us tick.

So that’s why we ask our readers annually to share with us their

favorites. And boy did you really respond this year!

Votes have been counted and your Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence (WAVE Awards) have been tallied and listed in the following pages. But

before you scour the list, consider how these selections were made.

If you’re holding this copy of the paper, more than likely you had a hand in the �inal decisions.

We shook things up a bit this year and had two rounds of online balloting. We asked for your nominations in each category in early September, whittled things down to your top selections and released a new ballot in October.

The new system worked, and we saw record numbers visit WatermarkOnline.com to cast their ballots. (We also saw some very creative e-mail addresses this year since there can only be one

ballot cast per e-mail account).

Our winners have been noti�ied and will accept their awards at WAVE parties in Orlando and in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Nov. 7. Expect an in�lux of photos on Facebook come the morning of Nov. 8.

Your selections were entertaining, enlightened, educational and sometimes confusing. But your voices were heard. So grab a drink, get comfortable and read our lengthy 2013 WAVE Award results spread through the following pages!

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Continued on page 39 |  |

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ORLANDO ’ S PREMIERE BOUTIQUE HOTEL & URBAN DAY SPA

wave

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A W A R D

2013 For the 6th Year-in-a-Row, Watermark readers have voted us First Place for Best Local Spa!

Not just a hotel. Not just a spa. An experience.

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FAVORITE DRAG PERFORMER

Darcel Stevens

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) website 1. WatermarkOnline.com 2. Wanzie.com 3. FlameOnShow.com

Favorite place for a date night 1. Stonewall Bar, Orlando 2. Wildside Bar & Grille 3. The Abbey

F

OR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, the impeccable Darcel Stevens has performed at the iconic Parliament House Resort in Orlando. It’s no wonder she was voted this year’s Favorite Drag Performer. Stevens started at the resort in 1992 and is the entertainment director— meaning she’s not only in charge of her own fabulousness, but the fabulousness of every entertainer gracing the stage of the popular LGBT complex. Her spirited performances and direct wit cause audiences to gasp and laugh in one swooping moment, and we know she’ll continue her legendary career for decades to come!

ORLANDO WAVE AWARDS |  | WAVE Award

Winners from pg.37

Favorite local politician/activist 1. Patty Sheehan, Orlando City Commissioner 2. Buddy Dyer, Orlando Mayor 3. Randy Ross 4. Joe Saunders, State Representative

Greatest straight ally to the local LGBT community 1. Linda Stewart, State Representative 2. Buddy Dyer, Orlando Mayor 3. Jack and Margo Dixon

Most effective local LGBT organization 1.GLBT Community Center of Central Florida 2.Hope & Help Center of Central Florida

Favorite local LGBT-affirming faith community 1. Joy Metropolitan Community Church 2. St. Luke’s United Methodist 3. Christ Church Unity

Favorite local LGBT sports league/ organization 1. Central Florida Softball League 2. Gay and Lesbian Bowling League 3. Orange Blossom Bowling Association

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) writer/journalist

Favorite charitable event 1. Headdress Ball 2. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 3. A Very Beary Christmas

Gayest local event 1. Come Out With Pride 2. Gay Days 3. Headdress Ball

Favorite new local LGBT business 1. Hungry Bear Pizza 2. Mojoman Swimwear 3. Embellish FX

Favorite local healthcare professional 1. Dr. David Baker Hargrove, BHC Assessment & Consulting 2. Dr. Rafael Pinero, Pinero Preventative Medical Care 3. Dr. Roberto Ortiz, Orlando Immunology Center 4. Dr. Daniel Giaquinto, House of Health

Favorite local personal trainer/ fitness instructor 1. Tony Edge 2. Randy Simms 3. Bill Bennett

CALLING ALL HOT DOGS AND FAT CATS! It’s Party Time at Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital featuring DJ Kitty and the Loch Haven Doc’s Dancers!

Dr. Jim Martin, DVM 2013 WAVE Award Winner for Favorite Local Veterinarian!

Jim Martin, DVM Dianne Rey, DVM

1. Billy Manes, Orlando Weekly

2013

THANK YOU WATERMARK READERS

2. Jamie Hyman, Watermark 3. Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel

3.The Zebra Coalition Continued on page 40|  |

Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital 2000 N. Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32803 www.lochhavenvet.com NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

407.896.0941

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FAVORITE STRAIGHT ALLY TO THE LOCAL LGBT COMMUNITY

Rep. Linda Stewart

Photo by Tony Firriolo

E

Patty Sheehan FAVORITE LOCAL LGBT (FRIENDLY) ARTIST FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN

P

Jamie Hyman

ABLO PICASSO FAMOUSLY SAID THAT

“art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life,” and City Commissioner Patty Sheehan will sign off on that.

Sheehan, who studied art at the University of Central Florida before becoming Orlando’s �irst openly gay city commissioner, credits her newfound art gig with helping her conquer depression after a breakup and resurface from some debt.

She primarily paints cats under the series title “Bad Kitty,” which she says started three years ago.

Each cat Sheehan paints is based on a real-life cat, the original Bad Kitty being her pet, Louie, who

went missing.

“I missed him, and it was my way of reconnecting with him,” Sheehan says. “I just started painting cats as therapy.”

She said after showing 10 paintings to a friend, the friend offered to help her do a show at The Peacock Room. Attendance exceeded Sheehan’s wildest expectations and she was surprised to sell out—especially since she had committed to a show at The GLBT Center immediately

following, and had to hustle to have enough to display.

“I didn’t sleep for three days!” she says.

Since then, she’s shown at The Falcon and Dandelion, and although there are currently no Bad Kitty showings, fans can see and purchase paintings at two retail locations: Urbanista and Embellish FX. Sheehan also posts paintings for sale on her Facebook page and is working on ful�illing orders for holiday commissions.

“I never would have thought in a million years I’d paint these crazy cats and people would love them so much,” Sheehan says.

Bad Kitty has a good side, too— all sales from her gallery showings bene�it the SPCA. |  |

VEN BEFORE SHE WON HER BID to become the representative of Florida’s District 19 in the state senate, Linda Stewart was an advocate for LGBT rights. She has worked hard to ensure equality for her constituents, even when she was an Orange County commissioner, so her earning the title of Favorite Straight Ally makes perfect sense. Stewart was instrumental in Orange County’s anti-discrimination ordinance seeing life in 2010, pushed for a countywide domestic partner registry and as a representative, praised this summer’s Supreme Court decision ruling part of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Allies like Stewart help make the path to equality for LGBTs a little smoother. |  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.39

Favorite local massage therapist

Favorite place to pamper your pet

1. Carlos Mendez, CFL Healthybear Professional Massage Service

1. Sparky’s Pet Salon

2. Dea Toscano, EO Inn & Spa

3. Woof ‘N Purr

3. Lu Mueller-Kaul, Balance Orlando

Favorite local spa 1. EO Inn & Spa 2. 180Medspa 3. Spa at Thornton Park

2. Ranger’s Pet Outpost and Retreat

Favorite local realtor 1. David Dorman, Century 21 2. Eric Rollings, U Own Real Estate

4. Club Orlando

3. Sue-Bee Laginess, Olde Town Brokers

Favorite local veterinarian

Favorite local auto salesperson

1. Dr. Jim Martin, Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital

1. David Maus

2. Animal Medical Clinic of Orlando

3. Fred Berliner, Don Reid Ford

3. Dr. Olfat Mansour, Michigan Street Animal Hospital

2. Russ Fowler, Fields Automotive

Favorite local mall 1. Mall at Millenia 2. Fashion Square Mall 3. Florida Mall

Continued on page 43 |  |

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watermarkonline.com

321.293.2240 DavidDorman.com

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WE TIP OUR HAT TO WATERMARK’S READERS FOR VOTING US #1 STONEWALL BAR WINS FIRST PLACE… FAVORITE PLACE FOR A DATE NIGHT

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FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER/SERVER Timi Hedrich - 1st Place FAVORITE LGBT HAPPY HOUR LOCAL LGBT COMMUNITY’S BEST KEPT SECRET and voted as WHO YOU THINK SHOULD BE PUT ON THE COVER OF WATERMARK MAGAZINE FAVORITE LGBT CLUB/BAR 2nd place FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER, DJ DJ Vegas - 2nd Place FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER, DRAG Chrysanthemum - 3rd Place

We All Thank You For Votıng For Us!

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WANTS TO THANK WATERMARK wave READERS FOR VOTING US #1 FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF OR CATERER AND 2013 #1 FAVORITE LATE NIGHT DINING

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FAVORITE FITNESS TRAINER

I

T’S NO SECRET THAT ORLANDO’S FAVORITE FITNESS TRAINER has the goods to back up the title. Tony Edge is one ripped guy! But it’s the way he works one-onone with his clients that helped him earn the top WAVE Award in this category again this year. His Edge Fitness has supported numerous locals as they reach their �itness goals at �itness centers across Central Florida. Edge was inspired to pursue a career in the �itness world in high school, and has continued to inspire and in�luence the �itness goals of others ever since he landed in Orlando from his native home in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Photo courtesy of Yum Yum Truck

Tony Edge

Yum Yum Truck

|  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.40

Favorite local decorator or designer

Favorite frame shop

1. Ted Maines Interiors

3. Great Escape Frame & Art

2. Ted Carroll 3. Julie Koran Interior Design

Favorite local hair stylist 1. Gary Lambert 2. Timi Hedrich 3. Staci Parent, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop

Favorite local florist

1. Let Us Frame It 2. Framing of Central Florida

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) artist 1. Patty Sheehan 2. Donna Dowless 3. Jarrod Pope

Favorite upscale restaurant 1. Funky Monkey 2. Wine Company

1. Lee James Floral Designs

3. California Grill, Walt Disney World Resort

2. Jonathan’s Flowers

4. 310 Lakeside

3. Forever Young Floral Designs

Favorite area museum or gallery

Favorite casual restaurant 1. Hamburger Mary’s

1. Orlando Museum of Art

2. Wildside Bar & Grille

2. Orlando Science Center

3. Bananas A Modern American Diner

3. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art

FAV O R I T E L O C A L F O O D T R U C K

Y

Jamie Hyman

UM YUM TRUCK OWNERS AND

partners Joey Conicella and Alex Marin have a lot in common with other couples who own food trucks: they wanted to own their own business, they knew they worked well as a team and they wanted to take control of their destiny.

In the case of Team Yum Yum, though, it helps that Marin is an “awesome baker,” Conicella says.

The proof is in the growth.

The pair began Yum Yum humbly, with a single truck �inanced via their personal credit line in 2011, dispensing their sweet cupcakes.

Just two years later, they operate two trucks, employ eight employees, are one of the few

vendors permitted to sell at Walt Disney World and are the sole food truck permitted to sell at the University of Central Florida.

The pair got an early boost with an appearance on the Food Network’s Eat Street, a TV program featuring great food trucks across North America.

“You think that everyone has heard of you, and then you

go on national television and then everyone hears of you,” Conicella says.

They also appear in an Eat Street cookbook, with a recipe for their Orange Dream Cream Cupcake.

Being Watemark readers’ pick for “Favorite Local Food Truck,” a new category for 2013, is “such an honor,” says Conicella.

“I’m so excited we got this award,” he shares. “I always felt like the community here gave us this big hug of support.”

What’s next for Yum Yum Truck?

Conicella said a brick-and-mortar retail space has always been a goal, and they plan to begin online orders because after appearing on TV, “not a day goes by without getting an email,” requesting they ship cupcakes around the country. |  |

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FAVORITE STAGE PERFORMER

Baby Blue Starr

Favorite host for karaoke, trivia or bingo 1. Carol Lee and Miss Sammy, Hamburger Mary’s 2. Doug Ba’aser, Hamburger Mary’s 3. Cubby KJ Pat, The Parliament House Resort

Bar with the hottest eye candy 1. The Parliament House Resort

N

O MATTER WHAT SHE’S DOING—dancing, DJ-ing, acting, modeling, creating, or, most likely, some simultaneous combination of any or all of the above— Baby Blue Starr knows how to command attention from the stage. That’s why our readers named her their Favorite Stage Performer of 2013. Not only is Blue Starr a regular emcee and entertainer around Central Florida, she’s also the proprietor of her own performance space, called The Venue.

Blue also serves on the Ivanhoe Village Main Street Board.

With so many credits to her name, we’re not surprised she took so many votes in this category this year. |  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.43

Favorite restaurant for breakfast/brunch

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) chef or caterer

1. Hamburger Mary’s

1. Pom Moongauklang

2. Bananas A Modern American Diner

2. John Michael Weddings and Events

3. International House of Pancakes

3. Nathan Schifflett

Favorite local restaurant for late-night dining 1. Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria 2. Bananas A Modern American Diner 3. International House of Pancakes

Favorite local hotel/B&B

1. The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck 2. Sushi Seoul on the Roll (formerly Fish out of Water Sushi Truck) 3. Croutons Orlando Food Truck

3. Savoy

Favorite local bartender/server 1. Timi Hedrich, Stonewall Bar, Orlando 2. Vinnie Colon, The Parliament House Resort 3. Derek Keister, The Parliament House Resort

Favorite local drag performer 1. Darcel Stevens 2. Chantel Reshae 3. Chrysanthe Mum

Favorite local stage performer 1. Baby Blue Starr 2. Doug Ba’aser 3. Jeff Jones

1. Grand Bohemian Hotel, Orlando

Favorite local musician

2. The Parliament House Resort

1. Tod Kimbro

3. EO Inn & Spa

2. Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band

Favorite LGBT club/bar

3. Emily Kopp

1. The Parliament House Resort

Favorite local food truck

2. Pulse Orlando

2. Stonewall Bar, Orlando 3. Savoy 4. Pulse Orlando

Favorite LGBT happy hour 1. Stonewall Bar, Orlando 2. Savoy 3. Hammered Lamb

Favorite local DJ 1. Briana Lee 2. DJ Vegas J. Strumsky 3. DJ Scott Robert

Favorite local photographer 1. Pat O’Rourke 2. Chris Stephenson 3. Jamey Walls

Continued on page 47 |  |

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A DECADE OF WAVE AWARDS wave

watermark’s

A W A R D

2013

And Congratulations for 28 Years of Making Your Customers Feel Like Winners!

In Every WAVE Awards Since 2004, You’ve Voted Fred Berliner at Don Reid Ford One of Your

Greek, Mediterranean, and Vegeterian Cuisine

FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO SALESPERSONS!

WE HAVE A LOT TO THANK THE GREEKS FOR...

MEDITERRANEAN BLUE IS JUST ONE MORE.

435 E. Michigan St.,Orlando, FL 32806 www.mediterraneanblue.net 407-422-2583

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FAVORITE LOCAL LGBT (FRIENDLY) CHEF/CATERER

Pom Moongauklang, Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria and Tako Cheena

Photo by Jake Stevens

F

OR YEARS, POM MOONGAUKLANG HAS SERVED freshly brewed tea and sandwiches to Orlando’s hungry citizens, and the welcoming atmosphere of her Teahouse and Sandwicheria has brought in a very diverse clientele.

Readers selected Moongauklang as their Favorite Local LGBT (Friendly) Chef/Caterer in 2013 and it’s easy to see why. Her ongoing support of the LGBT community through special events makes the restaurant the place to be and her new Tako Cheena restaurant on Mills offers fusion cuisine. She earned a degree as a pastry chef and for notable, celebrity-laden restaurants in New York. That’s when she decided to open a more laid back eatery in downtown Orlando. Visit her at 67 Bumby Ave.

Timi Hedrich

|  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.44

Favorite radio station 1. Real Radio 104.1

Favorite adult novelty store

2. XL 106.7

1. Fairvilla Megastore

3. MIX 105.1

2. Mojoman Swimwear

Favorite local TV station 1. WKMG-6 2. WESH-2

Favorite local performing arts venue 1. The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival 2. The Abbey 3. The Venue

The local LGBT community’s best-kept secret 1. Stonewall Bar, Orlando 2. GLBT Community Center of Central Florida 3. Broadway Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s

Who should be on Watermark’s cover?

1. Stonewall Bar, Orlando

Your go-to app for getting laid

FAVO R I T E L O C A L B A R T E N D E R

3. Barcodes

Randy Ross 2. Bears in the City

1. Grindr

3. Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard

2. Scruff

4. Mikael Audebert

3. Growlr

S

Jamie Hyman

TONEWALL BAR ALWAYS HAS A GOOD

showing in the WAVE Awards, but it’s a �irst time win for Watermark readers’ pick for Favorite Local Bartender, Timi Hedrich. Last year he placed second in the category but for 2013, he edged into the top spot.

Hedrich mans the bar on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights and his signature drink is “Timi’s Titty Twister,” a sweet concoction that combines Baileys, Amaretto, caramel vodka and butterscotch schnapps.

Hedrich says the key to being a great bartender is personality.

“Knowing the drinks is part of

it but having a great personality is important,” he says. “You have to be able to talk to everybody and listen to everybody’s problems.”

Hedrich said it’s also key to have fun while you’re slinging cocktails.

“It shows if you’re working and enjoying it,” he says. “I think that translates.”

For Hedrich, it’s easy for him to have fun while working because he loves his job.

“Stephen Watkins, the owner (of Stonewall), is an amazing guy to work for,” he says. “Everyone there is like family. All the co-workers, all the regulars that come in.”

Speaking of the regulars, Hedrich says winning his WAVE Award is “awesome because it meant a lot of my regulars took the time to vote for me. It meant a whole lot to me, made me feel really good.”

Haven’t met Hedrich yet? Good news— there is a lots of time to stop by and say hello. Hedrich said he plans to work at Stonewall for many years to come. |  |

Continued on page 49 |  |

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Arie Groen’s property maintenance Commercial and Residential Licensed

specializing

in:

■ installation

Awards Presented at the 2013 WAVE Awards are framed

by Tyrone Frame and Mirror

■ Mulch of sod ■ Irrigation ■ Ornamentals ■ pressure ■ Trimming washing ■ Elevating Palms ■ Trees

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Arie Groen’s Property Maintenance (727)505-0205 • agroen33@yahoo.com 50

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FAVORITE LOCAL ACTIVIST

S

T. PETERSBURG RESIDENT NADINE SMITH HAS COME A LONG WAY from when she was a daily news reporter back in the 1990s. The executive director of Equality Florida is now recognized across the Sunshine State as a voice for equality, particularly concerning the LGBT community.

Under Smith’s leadership, Equality Florida has helped numerous cities and townships create and pass domestic partnership registries, inclusive Human Rights Ordinances and protections for transgender Floridians. We �ind it comforting that also listed in this category are Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and Rep. Kathy Castor, both of whom support Equality Florida and continue to promote equality from their elected seats.

Photo by Nick Cardello

Nadine Smith

Jeffrey Gavin Lyle

TAMPA BAY WAVE AWARDS

|  | WAVE Award

Winners from pg.47

Favorite local politician/activist 1. Nadine Smith, Equality Florida 2. Kevin Beckner, Hillsborough County Commissioner 3. Congresswoman Kathy Castor

Greatest straight ally to the local LGBT community

Favorite local LGBT-affirming faith community 2. Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa 3. Latter House Ministries

Favorite local LGBT sports league/ organization 1. Suncoast Softball League

1. Pam Iorio, former Tampa Mayor

2. Gay Bowling at Dunedin Lanes

2. Rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg Mayor-Elect

3. Advantage Tampa Bay Tennis

3. Bob Buckhorn, Tampa Mayor

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) writer/journalist

4. Congresswoman Kathy Castor

Most effective local LGBT organization 1. St. Pete Pride 2. Equality Florida

FAVO R I T E H A I R S T Y L I S T

1. King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church, St. Pete

1. Steve Blanchard, Watermark editor 2. Chuck Henson, Bay News 9 traffic reporter 3. Dave Borman, Tampa Bay Gay

3. Metro Wellness & Community Centers

J

Steve Blanchard

EFFREY GAVIN LYLE IS QUICK TO POINT

out that, while he was voted Favorite Hair Stylist by Watermark readers this year, the honor is really a re�lection of his team at David Gavin Salons. There are salons by the same name in several states—New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. But it’s the Tampa location, opened in 2006, that earned Lyle this award.

“From 1974 to 1985 I worked in New York Salons as well as doing commercial work,” Lyle says.

“During those years I developed a large celebrity clientele.”

In 1986, the �irst David Gavin Salon opened in New York. It was a goal of his to run his own salon, from as far back as he can remember.

“I had always had an interest in art and style,” he says. “Combining that with my love of people—this seemed natural.”

And it’s that interaction with people that makes him love his job. He says he has met thousands of people throughout his career and befriended a majority of those clients.

“There are many clients who stand out to me over the last four decades,” he says. “I’ve met a multitude of diverse, interesting men and women.”

And it is both men and women who frequent David Gavin Salons.

And Lyle admits that a large portion of his clients are gay men and lesbians.

“Our clientele is as diverse as our team,” he says. “Women and men, both of color and not and certainly a large gay male and female base. I have found the Tampa gay community to be extremely supportive.

He says he shares this year’s WAVE Award with his entire team at his salon.

“It’s a testament to the team at David Gavin that I have been fortunate enough to assemble.” |  |

Continued on page 51 |  |

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FAVORITE LOCAL MASSAGE THERAPIST

T

AMPA’S CORY JEFFRIES IS A MULTIPLE-WAVE AWARD WINNER and even appeared on our WAVE cover a few years ago. This year’s win is especially impressive since 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of his business, Tampa Pro Massage. His tireless work and growing client base have helped him earn the title of Favorite Massage Therapist through his dedication to rehabilitative massage and an array of techniques to ensure relaxation. Jeffries is also active in the community, having served on several LGBT boards and participating in charitable events on both sides of Tampa Bay.

Photo by Nick Cardello

Cory Jeffries

6S Boutique

|  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.49

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) website

Favorite new local LGBT business

1. WatermarkOnline.com

1. Hamburger Mary’s Clearwater

2. Dishing with Mark and Carrie (MCFilm.com)

2. Broken Tusk, St. Petersburg 3. Quench Lounge, Largo

3. ShoutOutTampaBay.com

Favorite place for a date night 1. Ybor City 2. Painting with a Twist 3. Bayshore

Favorite charitable event 1. AIDS Walk Tampa Bay 2. Red & Green Ball 3. Pride & Passion

Gayest local event

Favorite local health care professional 1. Dr. Mike Dunn 2. Dr. Roy Finley 3. Tristan Byrnes 4. Dr. Mike Hopkins

Favorite local personal trainer/ fitness instructor 1. Chris Albert 2. Chip Wright 3. Brian Lloyd

1. St. Pete Pride 2. Pride & Passion 3. Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

TAMPA BAY’S BES T K E P T SE C RE T WHO SHOULD BE ON WATERMARK’S COVER?

T

Steve Blanchard

HREE YEARS AGO, ANDY AND SASHA

Citino opened their small boutique on St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue, hoping to cater to stage performers throughout the region. Today, they are the go-to spot for all things performance, whether it is makeup, wigs, out�its, accessories, or even colored contacts.

Our readers selected the boutique as Tampa Bay’s Best Kept Secret and also shared that the boutique should be on our cover.

While the building isn’t on our cover, the Citinos are, and shared a little bit about what makes their shop tick.

“Our motivation for bringing 6S Boutique to life was the need for entertainers and performers of all kinds to have a safe and comfortable place,” explains Andy Citino, who performed throughout the country before opening the store. “Our services are very

important as well, the greatest being our makeover service.”

The boutique’s clientele ranges from drag performers and cross dressers to pageant moms looking for the perfect accessories for their young beauty queens.

While people from all walks of life frequent the shop, Sasha Citino estimates that 60% of its customers are LGBT. “One customer experience that sticks out in our minds is one of our recent cross-dresser makeovers,” Sasha Citino recalls.

“The customer came in with his

family and was very reserved.

He was painfully shy. After the makeover the customer was talkative, smiling and excited about the upcoming evening’s event. This quick change affected him deeply, as well as his family, our makeup artist and both of us.”

It’s experiences like that which set 6S Boutique apart from other stores in Tampa Bay and what will soon prevent the store from remaining a “secret” to the region.

“We’re not just a store,” Andy Citino says. “We’re a resource for the community. We enjoy brainstorming with our customers, talking about current events, acting as a bridge between the LGBT and non-LGBT communities.”

Both Citinos are also quick to add that there is always coffee and some great candy available to customers, who may just want to stop in for a chat.

6S Boutique is located at 7213 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. |  |

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Got Mustard? Jeff Beadle, Quench Lounge FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER

We’ve got more weiner than we can handle.

Favorite local mall 1. International Mall 2. Tyrone Square Mall 3. Countryside Mall

Favorite local decorator or designer 1. Frank Clemente, Concept BAIT 2. Debbie Armstrong, The Frugal Decorator 3. Ashley Brundage

www.DareToRescue.com

T

HE BAR HASN’T EVEN HAD ITS DOORS OPEN A YEAR YET, but that didn’t stop Tampa Bay voters from selecting Jeff Beadle, the bar manager of Quench Lounge in Largo, as their favorite bartender in 2013. Beadle, second from left, is behind the bar most nights at the popular night club, tucked away at the corner of Ulmerton and 66th Street North. In fact, he was there the very �irst day the bar opened its doors to the public back in the spring. Beadle has also worked closely with several organizations to ensure they have a place to gather and hold events, and his interaction with customers puts everyone in a relaxed frame of mind. Also nabbing a nomination in this category is C. Jay Tauber, who joined the staff at Quench only a month or two after the club opened its doors.

|  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.52

Favorite local massage therapist

Favorite place to pamper your pet

1. Cory Jeffries

1. Two Poodles and a Mutt Salon & Boutique, St. Petersburg

2. Michael Scranton 3. Roger Medrano

Favorite local spa 1. Ybor Resort & Spa 2. Hopkins Aesthetics 3. Radiance Med Spa

2. Health Mutt, Seminole Heights

Favorite local hair stylist 1. Jeffrey Gavin Lyle, David Gavin Salon, Tampa 2. Stephen Chapelle 3. Linda Militello, Salon 2510, St. Petersburg

Favorite local florist 1. Apple Blossom Floral Design & Gifts 2. Absolutely Beautiful Flowers 3. Floral FX 4. Carters

Favorite area museum or gallery 1. Dali Museum 2.Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) 3. Tampa Museum of Art

3. Bark Place Hotel, Largo

Favorite Frame Shop

Favorite local realtor

1. Tyrone Frame and Mirror

1. Brian Longstreth, Your Neighborhood Realty

2. Four Corners

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) artist

4. Rande James Spa at the Hollander

2. Bill Knect, Keller Williams

Favorite local veterinarian

Favorite local auto salesperson

1. Haines Road Animal Hospital, St. Petersburg

1. Sonny Gonzales, Tyrone Square Mazda

3. Thompson Davis Kellett

2. Dr. Carmen Saladino, Tampa

2. Keith Roberts, Reeves BMW

3. Dr. Taylor Ohman, Gulfport

3. John Crapper, Ferman BMW

Favorite upscale restaurant

3. Ken Hodges, Coldwell Banker

1. James Michael McCracken 2. Scott Dufree

1. Bern’s Steakhouse 2. Ocean Prime 3. Mise en Place

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FAVORITE LOCAL STAGE PERFORMER

I

F YOU WERE TO WRITE UP A RECIPE FOR WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE the perfect stage performer, you’d need three ingredients—a strong stage presence, a �lawless look and some incredible talent. In the case of Iman Travieaso, the 2013 Favorite Local Stage Performer has all three ingredients and then some! Since 2009, fans have seen Iman perform live vocals at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg. But she is also a regular in Ybor City at Hamburger Mary’s gospel brunch on Sunday mornings and is the newest edition to the show cast of Hamburger Mary’s Clearwater during Fabulous Fridays.

Iman is truly a Tampa Bay treasure, and has performed on both sides of the Bay even before headlining at The Flamingo Resort. Stage performers come in all varieties, but as our readers know, Iman captures a stage unlike any other.

Favorite casual restaurant 1. Hamburger Mary’s, Ybor City

Favorite local LGBT (friendly) chef or caterer

2. Georgie’s Alibi

1. Darlene Herrick

3. Outback Steakhouse

2. Jeannie Pierola

Favorite restaurant for breakfast/ brunch

3. Domenica Macchia

Favorite local hotel/B&B

1. Hamburger Mary’s, Ybor City

1. GayStPete House

2. First Watch

2. Flamingo Resort

3. The Brunchery

3. Hollander Hotel

Favorite local restaurant for late night dining

Favorite LGBT club/bar

1. Georgie’s Alibi

2. Bradley’s on 7th

2. Village Inn

3. G Bar

3. International House of Pancakes

Favorite local food truck

1. Georgie’s Alibi

Favorite LGBT happy hour 1. Georgie’s Alibi

1. Taco Bus

2. Quench Lounge, Largo

2. Freddo’s

3. Liquid Tampa

3. Wicked ‘Wiches

Photo by Nick Cardello

Iman Travieaso

Kori Stevens FAVO R I T E D R A G P E R F O R M E R

T

Steve Blanchard

AMPA BAY’S KORI STEVENS IS FINE IF

you call her a drag queen. Or a female impersonator for that matter. This year, our readers selected Stevens as their “Favorite Drag Queen” and it’s a title she fully embraces.

“In my opinion, ‘drag’ and ‘female impersonation’ are the same thing,” Stevens says, adding that not everyone within her industry would agree with her. “Most people use the term ‘female impersonator’ to sound more professional.”

Whatever you call her, you can’t deny the entertainment value behind Stevens’ onstage persona, which actually started developing back in 1995 at the Parliament House Resort in Orlando.

“A boyfriend made plans to dress as a construction worker for Halloween and asked me to be a hooker on his arm,” Stevens laughs.

“It was comical trying to strut around the Parliament House in �ive-inch stilettos, having never really worn them before. But I did okay and my drag mother, Darcel Stevens, saw something in me that night and I have been in the business ever since.”

Of course, things have changed a lot for Stevens since then. She’s a regular at Georgie’s Alibi, The Broken Tusk and throughout Ybor City. She’s also a charitable entertainer, hosting an annual toy drive show at Georgie’s over the holidays and various bene�it shows throughout the year. It’s that giving spirit, and her approachable personality, that have helped her win the WAVE in 2013.

“I make it a point to try to be the same person on and off stage,” Stevens said. “I think it is always important to be real and approachable to the audience and fans who support me constantly.

However, I am different at home and I’m very reserved and ‘to myself.’ I enjoy down time.”

But even during her down time, Stevens is working on her next fabulous out�it. She’s a self-made seamstress who almost always wears

her own fashions.

“It can be very expensive to have costuming and clothing made for you,” Stevens said. “And being as tall as I am (6-foot-3-inches), it’s very rare that anything off the rack would ever �it me. So I made it a point to teach myself how to create my own wardrobe.”

And Stevens also makes costumes for other performers throughout Tampa Bay. “The most challenging thing about being a drag performer is trying to make sure everything I do is going to be pleasing to the audience that looks on,” Stevens says. “I know it’s impossible to please everyone, but it never hurts to try. Through paying close attention to the people around me and trying to approach performances with a creative and/ or emotional edge, I think I do pretty well.”

And seeing the audience enjoy what she brings to the stage is what performing is all about for Stevens.

“I want everyone who’s reading this to hold a mirror to their faces,” Stevens said. “That’s the most rewarding thing. Being able to see all of your faces in an audience is more than enough reward for me. I really do love you. Thank you.” |  |

Continued on page 54 |  |

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FAVORITE LOCAL LGBT (FRIENDLY) CHEF/CATERER

Darlene Herrick at Gaspar’s Grotto

5210 Webb Road Road, Ta Tampa, FFL 33615

813-882-9986

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2. Laurie Ross 3. Nick Cardello

Favorite radio station 2.WUSF 3. Hot 101.5

Areas of treatment, Lips, Chin, Sideburns, Underarms, Hands, Feet, Ears, Front or Back of Neck.

Favorite local TV station

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Favorite local photographer

1. Bay News 9 004283-01

Academic Alliance in Dermatology SM/TM

Panos Vasiloudes, MD, PhD, FAAD, FAAP, FASMS David Lam, MD, FAAD, FASMS Iriana Belongie, MD, FAAD Catherine Marcum, MD, FAAD Bonita Drake, MD, FAAD Matt Zook, MD, PhD, FAAD Brett Hirsch, DO Jennifer Landy, MD Kelley Yokum, MD

and the entire AAD TEAM invite you and your guests to celebrate with us!

Please join us for an Open House and an Evening of Beauty See live demonstrations and discuss the latest services in skin rejuvenation Thursday, November 21, 2013 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm 5210 Webb Road Tampa, FL 33615 813.882.9986 Kindly RSVP to MCarlo@TampaDermatology.com by Nov 14th

A

2. WMOR-TV

T A YOUNG AGE, DARLENE HERRICK WAS INSPIRED to become a chef by her grandmother, who owned The Paramount restaurant in Ybor City in the early 1960s. Back then, Herrick “helped” out in the kitchen. Today, Herrick serves up amazing dishes at Gaspar’s Grotto on 7th Avenue in Ybor City, and is known for her Cuban Sandwich, which won The Best Cuban Sandwich (nontraditional) Contest in 2012. Herrick says she tends to favor Latin/Creole food and praises her own Caribbean Shrimp dish on Gaspar’s menu. Winning Favorite Chef is an honor Herrick—who is on our Tampa Bay cover—doesn’t take lightly. But it’s recognition she has de�initely earned, thanks not only to her culinary skills but also her advocacy for equality in the community.

3. WFLA (NBC)

Favorite local performing arts venue 1. freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg 2. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa 3. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Go-to website/app for getting laid 1. Adam4Adam.com 2. Grindr

|  | WAVE Award Winners from pg.53

Favorite host for karaoke, trivia or bingo

Favorite local drag performer

1. DJ Lmo at Broken Tusk

2. Amy DeMilo

2. Amy DeMilo at Hamburger Mary’s

3. Kamden T. Cass

3. Melanie Mignon at Hamburger Mary’s

Favorite local stage performer

Bar with the hottest eye candy

1. Iman Travieaso

1. Georgie’s Alibi 2. Liquid Tampa 3. Flamingo Resort 4. G Bar

1. Kori Stevens

2. DJ Holt 3. Matthew McGee

Favorite local musician 1. Jami Gee

Favorite local bartender/server

2. Double M. Band

1. Jeff Beadle, Quench Lounge

Favorite local DJ

2. CJ, Liquid Tampa 3. C. Jay Tauber, Quench Lounge

3. Judy B. Goode

1. DJ Lmo (LaMonte) 2. DJ Greg Anderson 3. DJ O (Eric Overstreet)

3. Scruff

Favorite adult novelty store 1. MC Film Fest, Ybor City 2. Buddies of Largo 3. Todd Couples Superstore, Tampa

Local LGBT community’s best kept secret 1. 6S Boutique, St. Petersburg 2. The Broken Tusk, St. Petersburg 3. Quench Lounge, Largo

Who should be on Watermark’s cover?

1. 6S Boutique 2. Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner 3. Congresswoman Kathy Castor Continued on page 56 |  |

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WHO SHOULD WATERMARK PUT ON THE COVER?

Beneva Fruitville

E

VERY YEAR WE LIKE TO THROW A CURVE BALL AT OUR READERS by asking a question out of left �ield. This year, readers in Sarasota shared that they would really like to see local entertainer Beneva Fruitville on our cover. And why not? She’s incredibly well known, vocally talented and, let’s face it, hilarious. The performer is everything Sarasota— even her name re�lects a popular intersection. But she’s become so much more. De�initely cover-worthy.

SARASOTA WAVE AWARDS

|  | WAVE Award

Winners from pg.54

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art FA V O R I T E A R E A M U S E U M / G A L L E R Y

A

NYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN TO

Sarasota has no-doubt passed by the gigantic, U-shaped pink palace at 5401 Bay Shore Rd. The 21 galleries house John and Mable Ringling’s extensive collection of paintings and more than 10,000 art objects, and it has done so since the mid-1920s.

58

of famous Classical, Renaissance and Baroque sculptures, including Michelangelo’s “David.”

Visitors have more options than art, as well—the compound houses a circus museum that includes “the world’s largest miniature circus,”

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

a scale replica of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919–1938.

In his will, Ringling bequeathed the museum to the people of Florida in hopes it would create a cultural and educational center in Sarasota, which it did—the museum is the of�icial state art museum for Florida.

Museum staff just wrapped up the 5th annual Ringling International Arts Festival, a huge event that happens every October in partnership with the Baryshnikov Arts Center.

On top if its impressive art and pedigree, Ringling Museum of Art is very LGBT-friendly, welcoming families of all kinds to tour its massive interior. |  |

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1. Oleary’s Tiki Bar & Grill 2. Puccini’s Restaurant

1. Ken Shelin, former City Commissioner

3. Clasico Café & Bar

2. Suzanne Atwell, Sarasota Mayor

Favorite local home furnishing retailer

3. Marcia Foote

Most effective local LGBT organization

1. Sarasota Architectural Salvage 2. August Third 3. Baer’s Furniture

1. ALSO Out Youth 2. Step Out Sarasota

Jamie Hyman

While the museum’s interior is dedicated to priceless paintings, sculptures and a variety of art, the grounds outside are just as impressive. The central courtyard features a remarkable group of early 20th century bronze and stone casts

Favorite local politician/activist

Favorite place to take a date

3. Sarasota Pride

Favorite local performing arts venue 1. The Players of Sarasota 2. Asolo Repertory Theatre 3. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Favorite area museum or gallery 1. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art 2. Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy 3. Dabbert Gallery

Favorite restaurant

4. Florida Studio Theatre

1. Puccini’s Restaurant

Favorite local realtor

3. Cafe Americano

1. Tony Boothby, Michael Saunders & Company

Who should be on Watermark’s cover?

2. Jim Jablonski, Michael Saunders & Company 3. Donald Geikie, Michael Saunders & Company

watermarkonline.com

2. Cafe Epicure

1. Beneva Fruitville 2. Damon “Dr. Sporty” Harper 3. Tim Fitzgerald

Thanks for voting TAMPAPROMASSAGE your Favorite Local LMT for 5 years!

TAMPAPROMASSAGE

Our editorial board recognizes a few more individuals

E

VERY YEAR THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF

Watermark takes a stab has some interesting—and sometimes heated—debates surrounding the WAVE Award ballots. This year was no different and inspired our Editorial Board Picks for 2013.

Event Planner extraordinaire

M

IKAEL AUDEBERT SPEARHEADED THE BEST COME OUT WITH PRIDE IN ITS HISTORY the �irst weekend of October and continues to be an ardent warrior for LGBT equality in several factions of the community. Chris Hessler should also be commended for a fantastic Headdress Ball this year, which raised half a million dollars to help the HIV/AIDS community! Cindy Barnes, organizer of Sarasota Pride, outdid herself again this year and created an incredible experience Oct. 19 despite ongoing construction at J.D. Hamel Park in downtown Sarasota.

Favorite Local Politician

S

T. PETERSBURG CITY COUNCILMAN STEVE KORNELL WAS MENTIONED

BY MANY VOTERS in our nomination round but was edged out because the category also asked for favorite activist.

Kornell keeps the city on track and remains the voice of equality in the ‘Burg. Rep. Linda Stewart was also recommended by many voters and went on to win “Favorite Local Ally.” But it’s because of her elected position that she’s able to make so many advances for equality. We can’t forget that.

Favorite Local LGBT (Friendly) Journalists

T

MA22480 MM22769

PRO

These selections by no means belittle the winners in the preceding pages. And one of these categories listed weren’t even part of the of�icial online ballot. We just want to make sure that the people who deserve a shout-out get it.

So here, we humbly present our Editorial Board Picks for the 2013 WAVE Awards:

Wm. Cory Jeffries, LMT 813-368-0532 • 6506 N. Florida Ave #204, Tampa, FL 33604 www.TAMPAPROMASSAGE.com

OF

Honorable Mentions

Mention this Watermark Ad and get 15% your next session through 11/20/2013

HERE ARE MANY MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND ITS ALLIES WHO WORK IN LOCAL MEDIA. We want to give credit where it’s due to Creative Loa�ing editor David Warner, Bay News 9 reporter Trevor Pettiford, Tampa Bay Times columnist Sue Carlton, Greg Henchar and Victor Lopez of GSH Radio, and Watermark contributors Greg Stemm, Susan Clary, Zach Caruso, David Moran, Michelle Rinaca and Kirk Hartlage. We can’t forget our favorite photographer’s either: Chris Stephenson, Paul Kinchen, Hazel Jandick, Charlotte Nash, MacBeth Photography and Lee Vandergrift. |  |

TONY BOOTHBY

1801 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

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NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

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CraftArt Festival · November 23 & 24, 2013 10am-5pm

·

Downtown St. Petersburg Central Ave. & 5th Street Featuring the nation’s finest, newest and most exciting American craft artists Artists demonstrations, interactive activities, delicious food truck fare and the best in locally crafted beers.

John Mascoll

Florida Craftsmen A statewide non-profit organization for fine craft art Visit www.floridacraftsmen.net for more information.

Kathryn Howd

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watermarkonline.com

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ShotonSite

Tampa Bay

1- SEXY MILITIA: Tony LaColla, second from left, and Jose Garboza, second from right, pose on the streets of Ybor City prior to the All Hallows Ball on Oct. 26. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 2- A COSTUME OF COSTUMES: The Twat Sisters made an appearance on Halloween night at Bradley’s on 7th. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST

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3- HALLOWEEN BREAK: Bonnie Plumbtree enjoys a Halloween cocktail on the balcony of Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 4- BAR AFFECTION: (L-R) Harry Correa hugs Eric Whidden during Balance Tampa Bay’s October social at Crumb & Cork in downtown Tampa Oct. 23. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 5- TO DO LIST: Joy Bomshell and Brad Stevens talk about upcoming charitable projects for Balance Tampa Bay at the Crumb & Cork Oct. 23. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 6- HOT WINGS: The Hooters Girls make quite an impact at Sawmill Campground during annual Halloween festivities on Oct. 26. PHOTO BY TOM DYER 7- HOCUS POCUS SEQUEL?: (L-R) Jade Chambers, Alexis De La Mer and Cameron Jackson portray the Sanderson Sisters of Hocus Pocus behind Gia Banks at the Social Club on Halloween night. PHOTO COURTESY LEXX DE LA MER 8- READY TO SERVE: Crumb & Cork owner Joshua Pillock stands with one of his bartenders on Oct. 23 before serving a packed house for the Balance Tampa Bay social. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

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OVERHEARD THE DALI REALLY LOVES ITS LAWN

T

HE COVER FOR THIS ISSUE’S TAMPA BAY EDITION WAS TAKEN ON HALLOWEEN morning in front of the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Pete. And boy, does that place love its beautiful lawn. As our models were positioning themselves on a rock near the museum’s patio, a security guard was immediately dispatched to chase them away.

While Watermark did ask for permission to use the Dali as a backdrop, we didn’t say what our speci�ic plan was. Despite our best efforts to explain the situation and our goal of including the Dali since it won “Favorite Local Museum” in the WAVE Awards, the guard

was having none of it, and pulled his best “you kids get off my lawn” routine. Fortunately there were plenty of other photographic opportunities for the cover that featured the iconic structure. But lesson learned: If you’re visiting the Dali, stay on the concrete paths!

BUNGALOWFEST HIGHLIGHTS REBUILT HOME

I

N THE SUMMER OF 2012, MITCH HARRISON’S HOME WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND following a horri�ic act of violence that took the lives of two of his friends. Harrison spent all of 2013 thus far rebuilding his home and on Nov. 2, his new

bungalow was featured as part of the Bungalowfest tour within Historic Kenwood. Area residents were excited about the new construction, since it’s a rarity in the historic area. The new home is built to code, of course, and re�lects the architecture of the neighboring houses. Harrison gladly accepted the invitation to have his home featured, and welcomed hundreds of guests through his doors over the weekend.

SHORT VIDEO PROMOTES NEW ST. PETE PRIDE

Y

OU’VE PROBABLY ALREADY READ THE STORY in this issue about

St. Pete Pride separating its annual parade from its street festival and turning it into a night parade. But did you know the organization has released a video promoting that news? StPetePride.com boasts the video, which also unveils the theme for 2014: “Global Equality.” The 31-second video features some techno-style music and animated graphics to share the news, and is accompanied by a Q&A so readers can get some quick news about the reasons behind the change.

We’re excited about the change and can’t wait to see what the inventive minds of Tampa Bay’s LGBT community come up with for nighttime �loats next summer.

NEIBEARHOOD

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TAKEOVER TURNS 1

I

T’S HARD TO BELIEVE IT’S ALREADY BEEN A YEAR since the �irst of�icial NeiBEARhood Takeover party invaded Ybor City, yet here we are. The monthly gathering of the hirsute in Tampa Bay will celebrate its birthday on Saturday, Nov. 16, at The Social. Both �loors of the popular club will be open to bears and their admirers and drink specials will keep the party going again until 3 a.m. As always, there will be no women allowed through the doors, so prepare for testosterone overload during this celebration. For details, check out NeiBEARhood Takeover’s event page on Facebook. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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1- DRESSY AFFAIR: (L-R) Jeremy Neiman, Brent Grunig, Tony Sandonato and Tracer Foster enjoy cocktails and networking at the Equality Florida Gala on Nov. 1 at The Mezz. PHOTO BY LONNIE THOMPSON 2- BEAUTIFYING WITH HISTORY: Orlando artist Andrew Spear paints a utility box honoring actor Paul Wegman, first in a series of nine boxes depicting the history of Ivanhoe Village. PHOTO BY

SCOTTIE CAMPBELL

3- SKEPTICAL LOOK: (L-R) World renowned scientific skeptic James Randi, with D.J. Grothe in Orlando, speaks at the Florida Freethought Conference on Nov. 2 at the Radisson. Randi, who came out at age 81, married his partner of 27 years earlier this year in Washington DC.

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PHOTO BY LONNIE THOMPSON

4- HALLOWEEN READY: (L to R) Vince Wall, Leo Lopez, Joan Mena and Alejandro Saez party at Parliament House on Halloween Night.

PHOTO BY DAVID THOMAS MORAN

4

5- SHOW TIME!: Volunteers for the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida take in a show at Parliament House’s Footlight Theatre after enjoying a Volunteer Appreciation night hosted at The Gardens Nov. 2. PHOTO BY RANDY STEPHENS 6- CRAB SHACK: Ben Garcia wants party-goers to get crabs from him at Parliament House on Oct. 31. PHOTO BY DAVID THOMAS MORAN 7- TALLAHASSEE TEAM: Orlando resident Gina Duncan (left) and Equality Florida Public Policy Director Mallory Wells visit the Capitol Building in Tallahassee to advocate in favor of Workforce Nondiscrimination legislation. PHOTO BY MICHAEL FARMER

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6

8 - COMMON GOAL: (L-R) Rollins College Provost Dr. Carol Bresnahan and Michelle Stecker, Equality Florida Steering Committee member, rub shoulders at the Equality Florida Gala on Nov. 1 at The Mezz. PHOTO BY LONNIE THOMPSON

8

OVERHEARD EAST END MARKET OPENING DELAYED

T

HE MUCH-ANTICIPATED EAST END MARKET HELD A FABULOUS GRAND OPENING in the Audubon Park Garden District in late October, but closed quickly with code problems.

John Rife, developer of the culinary masterpiece, which boasts farmers, chefs and food artists, has worked out the kinks and it has reopened. The two-story building, at 3201 Corrine Drive, houses a dozen merchants, of�ices, retail, event space, and a restaurant. It will feature monthly events and classes—everything from wine tastings to yoga. Local businesses offer seafood, meats, breads, fresh roasted coffee, raw food

specialties, soups and sauces, local produce and �lowers. It’s open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. A restaurant, Txokos Basque Kitchen, will open at the end of the year.

FROM THE FARM TO EPCOT

T

HE FABULOUS BEEKMAN BOYS, FAMOUS FOR THEIR COOKING CHANNEL REALITY TV show following their life on their upstate New York Farm, have some Orlando ties. Several weeks ago the duo, husbands Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, appeared on the Derk and Romaine Sirius XM Radio show, where they announced their

products will soon be sold at Epcot.

The Beekman 1802 products are at American Adventure. Romaine is a big Disney Parks fan and knows many Disney execs. Josh and Brent are frequent guests on the radio show, so Disney asked if Romaine would introduce them to Josh and Brent. The Beekman boys will be at Epcot Nov. 27 for the of�icial debut.

CAMERA READY

O

RLANDO SALON OWNER DALE DEES OFFERS COSMETIC TIPS IN A NEW TV SPOT for Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Wal-Mart.

The commercial, which began airing during the show Being Mary Jane on Nov. 3, will appear on BET nationally through the

holidays, according to iSpot. In the ad, Dees says he has a few tips to “glam up your look and get camera-ready” while promoting Queen Latifah’s “Queen Collection”

by Covergirl. Dees opened Dale Dees Salon on Mills Avenue in March 2007. In 2008, he earned a gold medal at the Hairworld Championships in Chicago and was highlighted in the 2006 PBS documentary Hairworld: The Pursuit of Excellence.

TAKE YOUR SINGING FROM THE SHOWER TO THE STAGE

T

HINK YOU’VE HONED A STRONG SIGNING VOICE IN THE SHOWER EVERY

NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

MORNING? The Orlando Gay Chorus, with more than 150 members, is holding auditions on Jan. 4-5 for its spring concert.

Whether you are gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, straight, ally, questioning—all are welcome. If you want to check out the 24-year old singing group before scheduling an appointment, the chorus will have its holiday concert Dec. 14-15 at the Plaza Theater.

Spring concert dates are May 17-18. Singers do not need to prepare a song for the audition, but will work on vocalizations with Artistic Director Jim Brown.

To schedule an audition, visit OrlandoGayChorus.org. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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Transitions

CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS WEDDED BLISS: (L-R)

Luanne Walters and Sharon Saraga of St. Petersburg celebrated their commitment ceremony at Club Treasure Island on Oct. 26. The pair were legally married in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5.

HE’LL BE MISSED: Kevin Michael Thompson, 44, of Orlando, died on Oct. 23 from an asthma attack. He was born in Orlando and graduated from Boone High School. He was a hair stylist at Vamp Hair Studio in Thornton Park.

DOING GOOD DEEDS:

GONE TOO SOON:

Passings

Director of Marketing for the Orlando Museum of Art effective Nov. 18. Ross will help the museum with its 90th Anniversary Celebration next year.

Pierpont celebrate the anniversary of their commitment ceremony on Nov. 20.

Steven Gardner Sandlin, 37, of Orlando, died Oct. 26. Sandlin, who graduated from Boone High School and attended Valencia College, was a musician and a hair stylist at Split Endz Salon.

Congratulations After almost a dozen years as partners, Warren Spencer and Richard Watkins of New Smyrna Beach-side were married in Annapolis, Md., on Oct. 23.

David Dorman of Orlando is the proud new owner of Century 21 Professional Group Inc., responsible for 55 agents and the day-to-day operation in Windermere/Ocoee.

Randy Ross was named interim

Congratulations to the winners of the City of Orlando Main Street Awards on Oct. 29 at Historic Dubsdread.

Among them, Zac Alfson was named Volunteer of the Year for the Church Street District and Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival was named Business of the Year for Ivanhoe Village.

After seven years, DJ Scott Roberts is leaving Pulse to join The Parliament House.

Revolution Nightclub celebrates its fifth business anniversary on Nov. 14.

Sarasota’s Bart Coyle and Jim Jablonski celebrate 44 years together on Nov. 15.

What’s Happening publishers Peter Aguas-Garcia and Frank AguasGarcia celebrate 21 years together on Nov. 17.

Orlando’s Nick Massoni and Mark

St. Petersburg resident Lou Sandone passed away suddenly on Oct. 23. He was 59. Lou was a guest host on GSH Radio and a member of King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church. He moved to Florida in 1999 and was retired from GMAC Mortgage. He was laid to rest in Woodbury Heights, NJ.

Local Birthdays Park Avenue salon owner Gary Lambert (Nov. 10); top zebra Chad Cason (Nov. 12); St. Petersburg ASAP star Jonathan Aller, Orlando performer Miss Aiysia Black (Nov. 13); Orlando bear-bartender Christopher Torge, Ritz Ybor Marketing Director Okie Tilo (Nov. 14); Sarasota activist Bart Coyle (Nov. 15); Godfather of the Orlando International Fringe Festival Barry Miller (Nov. 16); Sarasota diva Angelique Monet (Nov. 17); Orlando Gay Chorus belter Pattie Noah (Nov. 19); Orlando hair artist Dale Dees, St. Petersburg Equality Florida spokesperson Todd Richardson, Honey Pot show director Toby Brees (Nov. 20).

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!

NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

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Putin: No discrimination against gays at Olympics

S

OCHI, RUSSIA | President Vladimir Putin promised Monday that gay athletes and guests at the Winter Olympics in Sochi will feel at ease, seeking to assuage fears fueled by a recent Russian law banning gay ``propaganda.’’

Speaking at a meeting with heads of Russian winter sports federations, which was also attended by visiting IOC President Thomas Bach, Putin said Sochi would be fully tolerant.

“On my own and on your behalf, I have assured Mr. President (Bach) that we will do our best, and our athletes and fans will do their best too, so that both participants and guests feel themselves comfortable at Sochi Olympics regardless of their ethnicity, race or sexual orientation,’’ Putin said. ``I would like to underline that.’’

Preparations for the Sochi Olympics have been overshadowed by international criticism of a

recently enacted Russian law outlawing ``propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors.’’ Many worry that law may apply to gay athletes and visitors to the games.

The IOC has said it received assurances from the Russian government that it will respect the Olympic Charter, which prohibits discrimination of any kind at the games. Gay rights groups have accused the IOC of not doing enough to pressure Russia on the issue.

Human Rights Watch on Monday urged the IOC to call on Russia to repeal the law. ``The Sochi Olympics risk being remembered as the anti-gay games, unless the IOC is willing to stand up and defend the principles of its own Olympic Charter,’’ Jane Buchanan, associate director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

The advocacy group also wants Bach to pressure Russia to end alleged abuses linked to Russia’s preparations for the games,

including illegal detentions and deportations of migrant workers involved in Olympic construction, harassment of journalists critical of the government’s policies in Sochi and evictions of some Sochi homeowners and their families without proper compensation.

Bach, who also had a one-on-one meeting with Putin on Monday, voiced con�idence that Russia will deliver a successful games.

Making his �irst trip to Sochi since being elected head of the IOC last month, Bach told Putin he was deeply impressed with the amount of work Russia has done to prepare for the Feb. 7-23 games. Bach said he expects the games will be held on a ``magni�icent level.’’

Russia is spending more than $50 billion on the Olympics, Putin’s pet project. He said Monday the Olympic construction is largely complete, with only some details remaining to be completed. |  |

Weir retires, promises to not cause stir in Russia Wire Report

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hree-time U.S. �igure skating champion Johnny Weir has retired and will join NBC for its coverage of the Sochi Games. But don’t expect the openly gay Olympian to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay laws.

Known as much for his outlandish costumes and statements as for his strong skating, Weir spent 16 years in the sport, going to two Olympics. He began his broadcasting career last month during the NBC’s coverage of Skate Canada. Weir won the 2004, 2005 and 2006 titles, and �inished �ifth at the 2006 Olympics and sixth in 2010.

So it makes sense that he’d be an analyst for the popular sport—and he’ll stick just to the sport.

“I risk jail time just going there, but the Olympics are not the place to make a political statement,” Weir said.

“I’m not a politician and I don’t really talk about politics.

You don’t have to agree with the politics, but you have to respect the culture of a country you are visiting.”

Joining Weir on NBC’s team will be 1998 gold medalist Tara Lipinski, the youngest Olympic �igure skating champion, and 2006 silver medalist Tanith Belbin.

The Winter Olympics begin Feb. 6. |  |

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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LITZY COSTUMES, CIRCUS ACTS AND NONSTOP ENTERTAINMENT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2013 Headdress Ball, which drew 1,000 people to the Hilton Orlando to raise $500,000 for the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc. Tickets for the Oct. 26 fundraiser sold out this year, which marked its 24th anniversary.

Lasers and nonstop entertainment were the highlights of the 2013 Headdress Ball, which drew 1,000 people to the Hilton Orlando to raise money for the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc.

NOV. 7 - NOV. 20, 2013 // ISSUE 20.23

Photography

by Jake Stevens JAKE@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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Equality Florida 11.10.2013 Suncoast Gala P

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The Francis 1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota Sunday, November 10, 2013 6:00 – 8:30pm

Cindy Barnes

Please join us for this wonderful event that includes drinks, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and an exciting program including a State of the State Address by our Chief Executive Officer, Nadine Smith.

We will be our 2013 Voice for Equality Honoree Cindy Barnes.

celebrating

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Dr. Dorothy Tiberii, DMD Life is better with great teeth!

SARASOTA PRIDE

Cindy Barnes is a longtime LGBT rights activist who is well-known for her involvement in Sarasota Pride. Cindy has served as Chairwoman for Sarasota Pride since 2010 and was the driving force behind bringing the annual pride festival “out” to the open streets of Sarasota. Cindy also organized the inaugural march of the mile long pride flag across the John Ringling Bridge. Cindy is widely recognized for her deep commitment to advancing the cause of equality and donates a great deal of her time volunteering for LGBT related causes and organizations. Cindy’s work has contributed greatly to the profile of our community in Sarasota and has provided an important platform for LGBT and allied Sarasotans to showcase our collective political power and the broad base of support for equality for all people.

Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at www.eqfl.org/suncoastgala or (407) 462-9692 Sponsorship opportunities begin at $500. Please contact Row at row@eqfl.org or 305-335-2102 for details.

All proceeds directly benefit the important work of Equality Florida Institute, a tax exempt 501c3 non-profit organization.

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©2013 Ashton Woods USA L.L.C. Plans, specifications, prices, and other items are subject to changes without notice and/or may vary by elevation. Images are only the artist’s conception. Square footage is approximate. See Sales Agents for details. CRC # 1517613. Printed 09/2013