Watermark Issue 21.11: Coco Montrese Gay Days Weekend

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DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • ISSUE 21.11 • MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 • WATERMARKONLINE.COM

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That ruling means that our lawsuit PAGE goes full speed ahead towards a 16 final hearing and ruling.

DEPARTMENTS 6 // MAIL 8 // ORLANDO NEWS 12 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 16 // STATE 19 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 35 //ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 47 // COMMUNITY CALENDAR 49 // TAMPA BAY OVERHEARD 51 // ORLANDO OVERHEARD 53 // TRANSITIONS 54 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 55 // SPORTS 56 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE 61 // LOOKING BACK

—MARY MEEKS

ON THE COVER

PAGE

PAGE Female impersonator and

Drag Race alum 25 RuPaul’s Coco Montrese is heading

back to Orlando for GayDays this month. She will take the weekend off from performing at Divas Las Vegas and entertain at the host hotel.

Preview

35 BACKWOODS BARBIE:

Dolly Parton has a new album out and even more love for her LGBT fans. She talks with Chris Azzopardi about her album, her fans, drag impersonators and her notorious bust.

WATERMARK ISSUE 21.11 //MAY 22 - J UNE 4 , 2014

ORLANDO NEWS

TAMPA BAY NEWS

PAGE RBARR opens to a long line

PAGE St. Petersburg Mayor Rick

STEEL MAGNOLIAS

LOOKING BACK

Photo by Brett Saari

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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of patrons in the home of the former Southern Nights; a new study reveals the risks faced

by LGBT youth in Orlando; Bananas to close, reopen as pub; Morgan receives Milk Award; more

12

Kriseman plans to paint the city rainbow during Pride month this year; Stephanie Stuart and Aaron Phoenix are the first trans couple to capture Pride titles; a lesbian couple is denied divorce in Hillsborough; more.

PAGE American Stage tackles

38

the gay classic Steel Magnolias and adds an African-American perspective.

Director Bob Devin Jones and the actresses discuss the challenges of bringing the popular tale to life.

PAGE In 1999 and 2000, Will &

was just beginning 61 Grace to make an impact on

mid-America and we witnessed the most contested Presidential election in our history. Publisher Tom Dyer continues is look back at Watermark’s first 20 years.

WONDERING WHAT FRINGE SHOW TO SEE? READ OUR REVIEWS AT WATERMARKONLINE.COM. MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR APPRECIATIVE OF THE ATTENTION

T

HANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FEATURING ALSO’S ALTERNATIVE PROM in Watermark [Issue 21.10].

We really appreciate the support you have shown ALSO throughout the years and are happy for the attention you brought to our biggest youth event, with 134 attendees from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

We look forward to keeping you posted on the progress of the ALSO Gala, where our adult supporters will experience their own version of an ideal inclusive Prom with “The Prom You Wish You’d Had.” Thank you again!

MARK STEINWACHS AND SEAN MCDONALD ALTERNATIVE PROM CO-CHAIRS

A HERO’S IMPACT

T

HANK YOU TO STEVE BLANCHARD for his Editor’s Desk expressing his thrill in meeting Edith Windsor [Issue 21.10].

I couldn’t agree with him more when he compares

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“We appreciate the support you have shown ALSO throughout the years.”

—MARK STEINWACHS AND SEAN MCDONALD

her with iconic historical �igures like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King.

Windsor is the equality leader of our time and I can only imagine the thrill of meeting someone who will forever be in the history books as a “game changer” in our country.

I had the opportunity to meet President Clinton during a campaign stop here in Florida years ago, back when he was considered the �irst “black president” because of his support of minorities. The impression he left on me is larger than any other single person I have met during my 68 years on this planet.

I am sure Windsor’s impact will be even stronger for those she met during her recent trip to Tampa Bay. JOSEPH HAUSER VIA E-MAIL

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TOP WEB COMMENTS ON WATERMARK’S GAY GUIDE TO ORLANDO FRINGE (FEATURING LOCAL ACTOR LOGAN DONAHOO): “I can’t express how much I love all the Lil’ Logans all over the Fringe coverage! I’m very excited for this year’s Orlando Fringe!”

—DANNYG ON THE KEY WEST JUDGE WHO STEPPED DOWN AFTER HIS MANHUNT PROFILE WAS MADE PUBLIC: “For what it’s worth, his profile is really quite benign and normal. I think that it’s time that we as a society declare that having an online profile is just a part of life and that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. We’re all just humans.”

—JAKE STEVENS

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

S

Desk

ITTING IN THE MAYOR’S OFFICE ON

the second �loor of St. Petersburg City Hall felt like a homecoming of sorts. Over the past seven or so years, I have consistently asked the Mayor of St. Petersburg to chat with me about the LGBT community and the festivities surrounding and including the annual St. Pete Pride parade and street festival.

Each time I received either no response at all, or a polite “not interested” message from a City Hall staffer that worked directly with the mayor.

Translation: The mayor’s of�ice wanted me to bug off.

For more than a decade, it’s felt like the LGBT community of St. Petersburg was akin to an unwanted step child that was simply tolerated but never embraced by a disconnected father �igure.

WATERMARK STAFF

When St. Pete Pride and Rick Baker met, the elected patron of St. Petersburg who was at the helm during the organization’s birth refused to acknowledge the organization’s existence. By extension, he decidedly refused to acknowledge the LGBT community.

Even as the celebration grew to 80,000-plus attendees, Baker turned his gaze away from the �inancial bene�its and impact on his city hosting the largest Pride event in the Southeast and let

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the “other leaders” of the city sign proclamations and attend the celebration.

It was so bad under Baker that when his successor, Mayor Bill Foster, simply acknowledged Pride’s existence, we basked in what felt like a long-awaited warm embrace from City Hall.

Sure, the one-term mayor told us outright that he didn’t approve of the parade and that he would never participate in it. But at least he showed up at Prideaf�iliated events like the Stonewall Reception. He even spoke at an Equality Florida gala held at the Dali Museum and preached about the importance of diversity.

In the months leading up to the 2013 celebration, the then-mayor didn’t want to sign a simple proclamation declaring June St. Pete Pride month. It was at the urging— okay, constant bugging—by local activists and one grand marshal in particular who �inally got him to sign something welcoming people to St. Pete Pride. And that proclamation avoided directly mentioning the LGBT community— much like his speeches on “diversity” managed to do.

But it was a �irst, and it felt great.

This year, however, it’s a whole new ball game. Sitting in Mayor Rick Kriseman’s of�ice, looking at his collection of awards from Equality Florida, Watermark, The

Tampa Bay Business Guild and The Gazette, I was able to ask him about his participation in this year’s Pride festivities and share directly in his excitement about Pride month.

As St. Pete Pride continues to grow in its 12th year—remember, it’s now a weekend-long event with a concert on Friday, a night parade on Saturday and a street festival on Sunday—it’s about time that it gets the respect it deserves from the leader of the city.

Not only will Kriseman walk in the parade—something he’s done numerous times as a councilman, a state representative and as a mayoral candidate—he said he will encourage city employees to walk as well. So don’t be surprised if uniformed policemen, �iremen and more are part of his entourage the evening of June 28, the date of the parade.

He also hints at some other momentous actions coming out of City Hall next month, such as plans to sign the Mayors for Freedom to Marry petition and other “colorful” expressions of Pride to pop up throughout the month.

If I sound giddy, I apologize. But this is a big deal.

Not only did the mayor seem excited about St. Pete Pride this year, he was more than willing to share stories about his introduction to the LGBT community and the motivation behind support. (His sister is a lesbian, and his best man was a gay man.)

St. Pete Pride has always been a monumental achievement.

Conservative Florida has come a long way in a dozen years, and so has the city the festival calls home.

But �inally, in 2014, a welcome mat has been put out for LGBT residents of the city, and the state.

And that it’s in front of City Hall is simply amazing. |  |

Sitting in Mayor Kriseman’s office, I directly shared in his excitement about Pride month.

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CONTRIBUTORS KIRK HARTLAGE

is an Orlandobased journalist a DJ and a former full time employee of Watermark. He specializes in celebrity interviews. Page 25, 28

CHRIS AZZOPARDI

is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service and has interviewed a wide range of celebrities, including Cher and Lady Gaga. He lives in Canton, Mich., and can be reached via his website at Chris-Azzopardi.com. Page 35

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 38

Greg Burton, Scottie Campbell, Zach Caruso, Susan Clary, 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, Angie Folks, Tom Eckert, Julie Milford, Travis Moore, Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift, Tinkerfluff, Lonnie Thompson

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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orlando NEWS 8

Orange County gay teens at higher risk for suicide, drug abuse Veronica Brezina

O

RLANDO | Nearly 30% of Orange County’s lesbian, gay or bisexual high school students have attempted suicide, compared to just 6.8 percent of heterosexual students.

New data showing LGB students are at signi�icantly higher risk for suicide, substance abuse and other risky behaviors was released at a town hall meeting at Rollins College on May 19. The survey was taken in spring of 2013, when researchers polled 1,658 students from 19 Orange County high school campuses. The Zebra Coalition, Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Drug-Free Coalition and Orlando Police Department hosted the town hall meeting where the data was presented. Police Sgt. Jim Young led the panel.

Young reported that when compared to their heterosexual peers, substance abuse among LGB teenagers skyrockets. Eight out of 10, or 83%, of LGB students drank alcohol on one or more days of their life while 60% of heterosexuals had. More than half of LGB youth have used marijuana and twice as many LGB students used prescription drugs than heterosexual students. Lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers also proved more likely to practice unsafe sex and smoke cigarettes.

“For the �irst time we have data that shows the harsh reality our lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are facing in our community,” said Dexter Foxworth, executive director of The Zebra Coalition.

Brett Burlone, clinical manager at the Zebra Coalition, pointed out that this is the �irst time there is unique data for the local community.

“We’ve always known based on national surveys and data that LGBT youth have high substance abuse rates,” Burlone said. “And for the �irst time in Orange County schools, we actually have data to back that up and show that.”

The survey also showed LGB youth are at higher risk for external dangers. They are four times more likely to be threatened or injured with a weapon on school property and are at higher risk for rape, bullying and violence from someone they’re dating.

Brenda Christopher-Muench, a health education resource teacher who oversaw the survey, said that the district has adopted an anti-bullying campaign.

“We see that schools can assist by implanting clear policies and procedures, by considering activities designed to prevent violence and designed to help our youth who are gay, lesbian and bisexual through gaystraight alliance clubs,” Muench said.

The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey is a part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System developed by the CDC and Prevention in collaboration with representatives from state and local departments. |  |

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

READY TO PARTY: Eager patrons line up outside of RBARR for the nightclub’s grand opening on May 15. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA ROSENTHAL

Southern Revival RBARR’s grand opening a sample of what’s to come Samantha Rosenthal

O

RLANDO | RBARR, formerly Revolution, opened its doors May 15, reviving the famous Southern Nights Theater.

Crowds lined up outside the newly painted building were greeted by stilt walkers as they were led into a fully redecorated venue, complete with topless cocktail servers and dancers throughout.

VH1’s Master of the Mix Brian Dawe deejayed the night with help from national touring deejay and RBARR’s music/entertainment director Justin James.

“The problem with a lot of the gay nightclubs or bars before is they weren’t really talent-centric,” James said. “They weren’t booking any names outside of Orlando.

My goal, and the goal of RBARR, is to showcase local, national and international talent.”

With a local DJ lineup for the grand opening weekend, James said people are going to be delightfully surprised by the talent and different celebrities that

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

they are going to bring to RBARR, something he mentioned not many other Orlando clubs or bars are doing. He hopes this too will draw in people of all demographics— LGBT and straight alike.

“I’m taking it upon myself to

art of drag, where people took “the time to go to a show and sit down at table, and it was like going to a Broadway show or a theatrical show.”

“We want people just to have a good time and reminisce what Southern Nights used to be like, and the RBARR aspect of having something new that Orlando already doesn’t have to offer,” Hunter said.

She recalled when she �irst began performing almost 20 years ago, the perception of doing drag and being gay was pretty much taboo. Clubs and venues like Southern Nights allowed for people to be themselves and freer, and Hunter said she hopes to bring that same feeling back with RBARR and the reintroduction of Southern Nights Theater.

“There’s a certain time in your life when you’re prime and you can do anything, and we want to capture that here,” said Wild Bill, manager of RBARR. “We want to bring out that feeling with music and entertainment, bring something new to the community that they haven’t seen before — like the Southern Nights Theater.” |  |

“My goal, and the goal of RBARR, is to showcase local, national and international talent.”

—JUSTIN JAMES help change people’s perceptions of ‘gay clubs,’” James said, mentioning that for many straight DJs, playing at a gay club isn’t always received very well.

The weekend of May 17 also marked the return of the Southern Nights Theater at RBARR. Danielle Hunter, the entertainment director for Southern Nights, was a part of the original cast when the theater originally opened. She said she hopes to bring back to life that image and the appreciation of the

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KEY WEST

June 11-15 keywestpride.org

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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orlando NEWS

Bananas going from diner to pub Jamie Hyman

O

RLANDO | About 200 people packed Bananas Modern Diner for a �inal Gospel Brunch May 11 before the restaurant shut down to remodel and re-open as Mills Brewpub and Eatery sometime in July.

Eddie Nickell, who co-owns Bananas and several other Orlando restaurants alongside his partner, Nicholas Olivieri, said Bananas has been open for four years now and they have six years left on the lease.

“Bananas still makes money, still does very well, still very popular,” Nickell said. “We just have to keep up with the trends. People want more pub kind of food.

They don’t like the diner kind of food anymore. It’s not a bad thing. It’s time for a change.”

He said the new restaurant will stay open until 2 a.m., so the Mills 50 area will still have that option for late night dining.

They’ll offer a wide variety of bottle and draught beers plus a smaller, pub-type menu.

“The restaurant will have a more lounge-y feel,” Nickell said. “The booths are coming out. The �loors are coming out, the ceiling is coming out.”

The Mills Brewpub open date is set for July, and Nickell said they’re planning for about 60 days of remodel work between now and then.

He said staff members at Bananas are being relocated to Funky Monkey’s Pointe Orlando location, and the Gospel Brunch will move there, too. |  |

Appeal deadline approaches in fight over anti-gay study Susan Clary

DAYTONA BEACH | LGBT blogger John Becker is expected to �ile a new appeal in his ongoing �ight to obtain records from the University of Central Florida about a controversial study on gay parenting.

A clerk with the Fifth District Court of Appeals said May 20 the notice of a new case had been created in Becker v. UCF, though no documents had been �iled.

The study, which was conducted by Texas professor Mark Regnerus and appeared in the Social Science Research journal, has been widely discredited.

Becker made a public records request for emails and documents related to the study, which is edited and published at UCF. The school was ordered to give Becker records by one Orlando judge, and it shared some information, but later �iled an appeal.

In late April, a second Orlando judge held a hearing and determined UCF was not required to turn over the information. Becker had until May 28 to let the 5th DCA know of his plan to appeal. |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

FOR THE PEOPLE: Orlando attorney John Morgan, left, and Watermark publisher Tom Dyer both received awards during the 2014 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast May 12. PHOTO BY CHRIS STEPHENSON

Morgan honored at Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Jamie Hyman

O

RLANDO | Orlando attorney John Morgan was the recipient of the 2014 Harvey Milk Diversity Award, presented at the 2nd Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast.

Morgan was recognized for his support in the battle against 2008’s Amendment 2, which banned the recognition of same-sex marriages in Florida, plus his many involvements in the community, including his generosity to the

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Radio host Jim Philips and Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie were the 2014 Champion of Equality honorees.

Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, was the keynote speaker and he ended his address with a surprise.

“This individual… is really one of the giants,” Milk said, addressing a ballroom �illed with leaders of Orlando’s LGBT community. “He’s one of… the people who are the real Rosa Parks.”

Milk then presented a surprise

Champion of Equality Award to Watermark publisher Tom Dyer, saying “This gentleman even took hard economic times and made sure we had a publication to read that would address the LGBT community, even when it wasn’t easy to do so.”

The event was held at the Double Tree Hilton in downtown Orlando and presented by The GLBT Center of Central Florida, Metropolitan Business Association and Watermark. |  |

among other issues—in making sure they had a voice.

Demings raised nearly $60,000 this quarter, compared to the $20,000 Mayor Jacobs received in contributions, according to Demings campaign consultant Kate Coyne-McCoy. “I am humbled by and grateful for the support I have received from every corner of our county,” Demings said in a statement released by her campaign. “After careful analysis I have determined that this is just not the right race at this time.”

No further reasons for her departure have been disclosed. As of May 20, the Demings campaign website was deactivated.

Demings was arguably the more gay-friendly candidate for Orange County Mayor. She spoke at a marriage equality rally in January and has frequently, publicly supported LGBT equality. Jacobs has drawn criticism for her record on LGBT issues. She resisted the passage of a domestic partner registry for Orange County and has never publicly state her support for marriage equality. |  |

Val Demings drops out of Orange County mayoral race Staff Report ORLANDO | Former Orlando police Chief Val Demings stunned many of her supporters when she announced she was ending her campaign to unseat Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs on May 20, explaining that it was “not the right race at this time.”

Demings, an active supporter of LGBT rights in Orlando, announced her bid to unseat the �irst-term mayor in January, saying she would be representing the small businesses of Orange County—

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tampa bay NEWS

PRIDE ROYALTY: Stephanie Stuart, center and Aaron

Phoenix, right, are Miss and Mister St. Pete Pride 2014. They are pictured with Isaiah Sanchez-Hilton, who won Mr. St. Pete Pride. PHOTO COURTESY RAINBOW411.COM

Trans couple capture St. Pete Pride titles Steve Blanchard

S

T. PETERSBURG | Every year, performers vie for a chance to represent St. Pete Pride in its annual pageant, held at Georgie’s Alibi. Every win is special, of course, but there’s something spectacularly ground-breaking about the 2014 pageant. The Miss and Mister St. Pete Pride titles went to a transgender couple.

Stephanie Stuart and Aaron Phoenix captured the titles on May 12. A third title of “Mr.” went to Isaiah Sanchez -Hilton.

Stuart, 48, and Phoenix, 24, both identify as transgender and live in New Port Richey. When Phoenix competed in 2013 and placed as �irst-runner-up, he knew he wanted to try again in 2014.

“I wanted to bring my own level of style to the pageant and to prove to myself as well as everyone else that kings can be just as glamorous and entertaining as the queens,” Phoenix said. “This year it was about carrying on a tradition. When I heard interest in the [Male Impersonation] pageant had dropped, I wanted to do everything I could to remind the judges and the audience that kings deserve their space on the stage and in the community.”

And Stuart was encouraged to enter after Phoenix’s near win last year. The couple discussed the possibility of both competing and winning in 2014.

“We laughed about it and thought, ‘Yes, what a dream,’” Stuart said. “I really feel both blessed and honored to reign, especially with him.”

Stuart is originally from Lakeland, where she worked for many years as a performer. It was after the death of her late partner in 2011 that she relocated to Clearwater, then to New Port Richey. Stuart and Phoenix met at a Kings for a Cause bene�it at Bayou Bleu in New Port Richey two years ago.

“She grabbed my attention,” Phoenix said. “I went to her show that night and it was love at �irst sight.”

Stuart equates their meeting to the �ilm An Of�icer Continued on page 14 |  |

12

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

A NEW TRADITION: Rick Kriseman, right, marched in the 2013 St. Pete Pride Parade as a candidate for mayor. This year he’ll be the first mayor of St. Pete to participate in the parade. PHOTO BY JAKE STEVENS

Pride from City Hall Supportive mayor could result in most inclusive St. Pete Pride yet Steve Blanchard

S

T. PETERSBURG | Every St. Pete Pride celebration seems to be more festive and colorful than the previous. But expect Gay Pride to truly rain down this June, thanks to the supportive nature of the city’s newly elected mayor, Rick Kriseman.

“I will absolutely participate in the parade this year,” Kriseman told Watermark. “And not only will I be participating, I’m encouraging all city employees who would like to join us to walk with us in the parade. Including police and �ire, which has never happened before.”

This will mark the �irst time in the 12-year history of St. Pete Pride that a sitting St. Petersburg mayor actively participates in the parade.

“We have a whole lot of things planned for June, Pride month,” Kriseman continued. “We’re going to be doing some fun things and announcing things that will really celebrate and recognize the month as a whole. It’s important.”

Kriseman alluded to the Mayors for Marriage Equality petition,

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

which asks mayors from around the country to declare support for marriage equality in the United States. According to Kevin King, his chief of staff, the mayor will add his signature to that sometime in June.

“Not only will I be participating, I’m encouraging all city employees who would like to join us to walk with us.”

—MAYOR RICK KRISEMAN

“Freedom to Marry contacted us and said mayors were doing big announcements in May, and we told them to go ahead without us because we wanted to do something in June,” King said.

“Doing something like that in Pride month makes more sense.”

Kriseman said he supports marriage equality and shared the story of his sister’s marriage to her wife. She is a resident of Georgia,

watermarkonline.com

he said, and since that state doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, the couple had to travel to Washington, D.C. to be legally wed.

“It’s sad that people have to leave the state they live in to get married,” Kriseman said. “It shouldn’t be that way. It’s possible [Florida could achieve marriage equality] but we need to see changes in the legislature and in the administration of the state.”

In the meantime, Kriseman wants to make sure the LGBT community knows it is welcome in his city and that St. Pete Pride has his full support. He applauds the organization’s growth and its decision to divide the festival and the parade into a two-day event.

“The festival and the parade both grew and it came to a point where it was dif�icult for the two to exist,” Kriseman said. “They were on top of each other—vendors and businesses setting up booths and contending with the large crowds of the parade. This is a problem you want to have. I give a lot of credit to the organizers for recognizing that it may have outgrown its status as a single, solo event.”

Kriseman is no stranger to St. Pete Pride. As a St. Petersburg city councilman, he was the �irst elected

Continued on page 14 |  |

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|  | St. Pete Pride Royalty from pg.12 and a Gentleman.

“I do remember meeting him at Bayou Bleu and then he walked into Chill Chamber, walked all the way around the bar coming straight at me,” Stuart said.

So how can two transgender individuals compete in a pageant that’s about impersonation? Easily. Neither has completely transitioned just yet.

But that doesn’t mean both Stuart and Phoenix aren’t happy in the genders they represent on a regular basis.

“Transition isn’t necessarily about the medical or legal technicalities of what you do,” Stuart explains.

“It’s a whole lot more of who you are and how you live your life.”

Stuart had her name legally changed years ago and Phoenix is in the process of doing just that. But regardless of the legalities, both are happy and in love.

“We do hear some negativity from those who believe we don’t belong in the drag community because we live our lives as the gender we represent on stage,” Stuart said. “However, we’ve received far more love and support than negativity from the LGBT community.”

Phoenix admits that life hasn’t always been so cheerful. He moved to St. Petersburg before there were protections for transgender individuals and, because of a lack of non-discrimination laws, he was �ired from three jobs because of his plans to transition.

Stuart, Phoenix and Sanchez-Hilton will perform at the St. Pete Pride street festival on June 29 and will also ride in the St. Pete Pride Parade Saturday, June 28. |  |

Lesbian couple denied divorce in Hillsborough Staff Report

T

AMPA | A lesbian couple living in Hillsborough County cannot divorce in Florida, a county judge ruled on May 9. The decision has set up an appeal of the state law that bans marriage

|  | St. Pete Pride from pg.12

of�icial in the city to sign the St. Pete Pride proclamation when it started in 2003. He continued to sign the proclamation until 2006, the year he left St. Petersburg and served as a representative in Tallahassee.

In 2013 he and his campaign marched in the parade and he and King both believe that was a shifting point in the election cycle. But what really stuck with Kriseman was the community’s commitment to St. Pete Pride.

“The weather last year wasn’t very cooperative to say the least,”

equality in Florida.

Circuit Judge Laurel M. Lee dismissed the divorce petition of Mariama Monique Changamire Shaw and Keiba Lynn Shaw.

The couple was married in Massachusetts in 2010 and now lives in Tampa. They �iled for divorce through the Florida courts

Kriseman laughed. “We had several downpours over the span of the day and what amazed me was, despite that, people had a great time and didn’t care. The rain would let up and they’d come back into the street. It was wonderful!”

The mayor is working on other ways to make St. Petersburg more welcoming to the LGBT community outside of his participation in St. Pete Pride. He plans to announce a new LGBT liaison sometime in June and he wants his city to get a higher score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipality Index.

“We’ve been doing things in this community for a long time that I don’t know that we’re getting

in January of this year.

The judge cited a constitutional amendment that fails to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

Brett Rahall, attorney for Changamire Shaw, said his client would appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal, |  |

credit for,” Kriseman said. “We want to make sure those things are recognized and expand what we’re doing to include the LGBT community. We want to do that because it’s the right thing to do and because we want the rest of the world to know what kind of city we have.”

While a lot of the LGBT-themed activities are still under wraps for city hall this year—the mayor wouldn’t comment on rumors of a rainbow �lag �lying overhead all month long—one thing on the agenda is certain. Kriseman and the City Council will read and sign the St. Pete Pride proclamation on June 12. |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

15

state NEWS

Judge resigns after Manhunt profile leaked Wire report

K

EY WEST | A judge in the Florida Keys said his decision to retire early came after an ``inappropriate invasion of my privacy.’’

Judge David Audlin announced in April that he was retiring with four years left on his term. May 9 was the Monroe County chief circuit judge’s last day.

A blogger found a pro�ile for Audlin in January on Manhunt, The Miami Herald reported. The next day a website called Above the Law posted a story about the blog.

Audlin, 56, did nothing illegal and no one has called on him to resign. But Audlin said after contemplating the matter for several months he decided to return to private practice. ``I’m looking forward to my constitutional rights being restored - my right to privacy and to be left alone in my private life,’’ he said.

Audlin said he has never tried to hide his sexuality.

Smith and his partner, Daniel Skahen became the �irst openly gay couple to adopt a child in Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott will appoint a judge to �ill the vacancy. |  |

Date set for Florida marriage lawsuit Jamie Hyman

M

IAMI | Marriage equality in Florida will of�icially get its day in court.

According to Mary Meeks, an Orlando attorney who is a member of the legal team �ighting to legalize same-sex marriage, the motion for summary judgment has been set for hearing July 2.

“Big day in court for Florida!”

Meeks said.

In the meantime, there have been some smaller rulings and maneuvers in the lawsuit on behalf of six South Florida samesex couples and the Equality Florida Institute challenging that Amendment 2 and other Florida laws banning marriage equality are unconstitutional.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel was expected to rule May 14 on whether the Liberty Counsel can intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of three anti-gay groups, but the Judge postponed

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

her ruling and as of press time, still had not issued a decision.

“We have argued that those groups have no legal standing to intervene, but regardless of how the court rules on that Motion, it should not affect the progress of our case,” Meeks said. “We are moving forward to marriage equality, with or without those groups in the lawsuit.”

According to Meeks, dozens of anti-gay protesters attended the hearing on the motion, wearing stickers telling the Judge “support motion to abate” and protect Florida from homosexual marriage.

“The motion to abate was argued at a hearing last week, and had been withdrawn by the defendant clerk of court,” she said.

“They didn’t seem to know that.”

The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court, the defendant in the case, �iled that motion asking the judge to halt the lawsuit and wait for the federal court in the Northern District of Florida to rule on similar issues in that case. After withdrawing

the motion, the defendant �iled “pleadings that were �iled in the federal suit by the Florida Attorney General,” Meeks said.

Judge Zabel then denied the motion to abate.

“That ruling means that our lawsuit goes full speed ahead towards a �inal hearing and ruling,” Meeks said.

The legal team representing the plaintiffs is made up of law �irm Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, attorney Elizabeth F. Schwartz, Meeks and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR).

The plaintiffs, all MiamiDade County-based couples, are: Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello; Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez and David Price; Vanessa and Melanie Alenier; Todd and Jeff Delmay; Summer Greene and Pamela Faerber; and Don Price Johnston and Jorge Isaias Diaz.

The initial lawsuit was �iled in January, and the still undecided motion to intervene was �iled in February. |  |

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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Staff Report

legalize same-sex marriage throughout the Northeast.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs say the law in�licts harm on samesex couples and their children by depriving them of the legal protections and tax bene�its afforded to married couples.

The Pennsylvania lawsuit, �iled July 9, was the �irst known challenge to the state law that effectively bans same-sex marriage and the recognition of same-sex marriages from other states. Pennsylvania does not have a constitutional provision prohibiting same-sex marriage.

At least �ive later challenges have surfaced in state and federal courts since the lawsuit was �iled, including one in which a county of�icial is defending his decision to issue 174 marriage licenses to same-sex couples. |  |

plaintiffs nothing more or less than our own families,” he wrote.

“Families who we would expect our constitution to protect, if not exalt, in equal measure.”

State of�icials earlier refused to defend Oregon’s constitutional ban, and said they’d be prepared to carry out same-sex marriages almost immediately if McShane struck it down.

Jubilant couples began applying for marriage licenses immediately after McShane issued his ruling, and many were married hours later. In Portland, Multnomah County issued more than 70 licenses, according to the gayrights group Oregon United for Marriage. Among them were Laurie Brown and Julie Engbloom, who got engaged on their 10th

anniversary in April.

“We always knew we wanted to spend our whole life together,” Brown said. “This opportunity has come. It feels right. Everything has fallen into place.”

The National Organization for Marriage sought to intervene in the cases brought by four gay and lesbian couples, and defend the ban on behalf of its Oregon members.

But McShane rejected its request.

The group then appealed, and on Monday a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied its bid for an emergency stay.

McShane, who is openly gay, joins judges in seven other states who have struck down same-sex marriage bans, though appeals are underway. |  |

Oregon ruling marks 13th straight marriage equality win Wire Report PORTLAND, ORE. | A federal judge threw out Oregon’s samesex marriage ban on May 19, marking the 13th consecutive legal victory for marriage equality advocates since last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned part of the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal ban on same-sex marriage.

U.S. District Judge Michael McShane in Eugene ruled the voterapproved ban unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples, and he ordered the state to stop enforcing it.

“I believe that if we can look for a moment past gender and sexuality, we can see in these

Utah Supreme Court halts same-sex adoption cases Wire Report SALT LAKE CITY | The Utah Supreme Court has ordered a temporary halt of several district judges’ orders requiring the Utah Department of Health to issue birth certi�icates in same-sex parent adoptions.

The stay was granted May 16 in response to a Utah Attorney General’s Of�ice request for clarity on whether the department can issue the birth certi�icates if directed by court order.

The attorney general’s of�ice praised the decision, saying the stay will remain in effect until the issue has been resolved

by the court. The court has not yet announced a date for oral arguments.

The stay appears to apply to a district judge’s order requiring Attorney General Sean Reyes and two top health of�icials to explain the state’s refusal to recognize a same-sex couple’s adoption, the attorney general’s of�ice said. |  |

MAINE: ANTI-GAY GROUP MAY FACE $50,000 FINE A national anti-marriage equality group that helped defeat Maine’s same-sex marriage law in 2009 could face more than $50,000 in fines for violating campaign finance laws. The Maine Ethics Commission on May 19 said it found that National Organization for Marriage (NOM) should be fined for failing to register as a ballot question committee and to file campaign finance reports.

JUDGE ORDERS UTAH TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGES A Utah federal judge on May 19 ordered state officials to recognize more than 1,000 gay marriages that took place in the state over a two-week period before the U.S. Supreme Court halted same-sex weddings with an emergency stay. U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball said the stay put the couples in an unacceptable legal limbo regarding adoptions, child care and custody, medical decisions and inheritance. Kimball put a 21-day hold on his ruling to allow the state a chance to appeal.

COSTA RICA LEADER RAISES GAY PRIDE FLAG Costa Rica’s new president on May 16 raised a gay pride flag next to the country’s national flag at the presidential residence as part of an anti-discrimination celebration.

President Luis Guillermo Solis said at the flag ceremony that human rights will be a priority during his administration. Solis said the rainbow flag was hoisted as part of ``the world’s day to fight against sexual orientation discrimination.’’

nation+world

P

HILADELPHIA | Pennsylvania’s statutory ban on same-sex marriage was overturned by a federal judge Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III called the plaintiffs—a widow, 11 couples and one of the couples’ two teenage daughters—courageous.

“We now join the 12 federal district courts across the country which, when confronted with these inequities in their own states, have concluded that all couples deserve equal dignity in the realm of civil,” Jones wrote.

An appeal to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is likely.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s of�ice had defended the law after Attorney

General Kathleen Kane called it unconstitutional and refused to defend it.

State marriage bans have been falling around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Tuesday’s result in Pennsylvania is the 14th consecutive victory for proponents of marriage equality since the DOMA decision.

In his opinion, Jones wrote, “[I]n future generations the label same-sex marriage will be abandoned, to be replaced simply by marriage. We are better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.”

In all, 18 states give legal status to same-sex marriage. If Jones’ decision stands, Pennsylvania would become the 19th and

IN OTHER NEWS

NEWS

Pennsylvania marriage ban overturned by judge

REPORT: 17 GAYS KILLED IN PERU SINCE 2012 A Peruvian gay rights group says at least 17 gays have been killed in the Andean nation since 2012 because of their sexual orientation. The Peruvian Network of Trans, Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals said May 16 that a suspect been arrested in just one of those cases and the others are not even being investigated. The 115-page report details the unsolved case of 19-year-old Joel Molero, a gay man who was asphyxiated and suffered genital mutilation before his body was burned.

CYPRUS TO HOLD FIRST GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL Cyprus’ Orthodox Christian Church lashed out against homosexuality May 15 after activists announced the country’s first gay pride festival. ``The Church and science consider homosexuality to be the human being’s fall from grace and an illness and not a natural way of life or choice,’’ said The Holy Synod, the Church’s highest decision-making body.

The statement came after activists said a two-week festival would culminate in a May 31 parade in the capital, Nicosia.

MARYLAND GOV. SIGNS BILL TO STOP TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION Gov. Martin O’Malley on May 15 signed a measure to stop discrimination against transgender people, but opponents say they will try to have the new law rescinded at the ballot box in November. The measure prohibits discrimination based on gender identity on matters relating to housing, unemployment, credit and use of public accommodations. ``We are closer today to creating that open, respectful, inclusive world that we want for all of our children,’’ O’Malley said.

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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search proves it! tPOP is considered her fans. So there you dy Gaga also seems to gave them strength or were the focus of pating in the study llowers to embrace n differences and hers found that o follow the kward” feel more al media presence Y OF MISSOURITUDY FROM THE

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converted

preaching to the

A

Scripting a Shaming

Ken Kundis KEN@WATERMARKONLINE.COM

CCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA,

JavaScript is a dynamic computer programming language. It is most commonly used as part of web browsers, whose implementations allow client-side scripts to interact with the user, control the browser, communicate asynchronously, and alter the document content that is displayed.

Its okay if you don’t understand any of that.

I’ve worked in IT my entire career, and I can barely keep up.

Suf�ice to say that if you use, or have used, a PC, tablet, or smartphone in the past ten years, you have interacted with JavaScript. It was developed in 1995

by Brendan Eich. It’s easy to call people visionary, but Eich is one of a small subset of American technologists who genuinely and meaningfully changed the technology landscape for business and society.

And he’s currently looking for a job. As many of you know, Eich was the CEO of Mozilla, an open-source company (and creator of the Firefox browsing platform) that is more of a co-op than a corporation. His appointment to CEO was the result of a career’s long campaign to revolutionize the industry. However, shortly after his appointment, Eich’s support for, and contribution to, the campaign

to pass Proposition 8 in California came to light. After much outcry from many sectors, including lots of gays and lesbians, the Mozilla board came to the conclusion that Eich’s continuing presence was a black eye, and that the company, long supportive of gays and lesbian inclusion and equal rights, could no longer continue with him at the helm.

This move was roundly cheered by most gays and lesbians I know.

I was not one of them. In this day, where gays and lesbians are continuing to make remarkable strides in acceptance and legal coverage, it’s easy to forget where we were just a couple of years ago. Public opinion has swung so quickly and so radically that it has far surpassed even the most optimistic among us. Considering that just in 2012 we were all lamenting the passage of one antigay-marriage state resolution after the other, to have the pendulum swing this far in the other direction is truly a historic moment in our history.

The problem with swinging pendulums is that sometimes they can hit you on the head.

Here is someone who wrote a $1,000 check to support Prop 8 a dozen years ago. And now he has been drummed out of of�ice by a board that grew fearful of the public backlash initiative by gay and lesbian activists. Some have even compared him to Donald Sterling, and gay pundits, most notably Michaelangelo Signorile, have said that a double standard is at play—where Sterling’s bigotry is universally decried, while others have, including some gays and lesbians, become apologists for Eich.

I guess you can put me in the latter category. To my mind, Eich got caught between the shifting tectonic plates of societal change.

If we were to make a list of CEOs (and local, state and federal elected of�icials) worthy of our condemnation, Brendan Eich wouldn’t make the top 50. The top 100. There are some truly dangerous bigots out there, but Eich isn’t one of them.

And no one can convince me there is a legitimate comparison to make between Sterling, who federal and local courts have decided has directly and historically discriminated against racial minorities, and someone who in their own time, exercising their right of free speech, made

a donation to a political cause.

There is a chilling effect that is risked when our polemic becomes so binary and strident that we don’t give people the opportunity to change their mind. We accept it when the president says his viewpoints about gay marriage have ‘evolved.’ But we don’t take this as an opportunity to educate and groom a success story; we throw the baby—and the CEO—out with the bathwater.

And he’s an easy target. Despite the ubiquity of the technology he pioneered, most Americans don’t have a clear idea on how the work of Brendan Eich affects their daily life. Since as previously mentioned, I work in IT, his work is a little closer to home obviously. But for me it uncovers a hypocrisy.

If every person who called for Eich’s head would advocate a similar boycott of any product or services company that has a CEO whose personal beliefs they don’t

agree with, they would have a very unsatisfying and frustrating trip to the grocery store. Or choosing a hotel or an airline. Or picking out computer software or handheld devices.

There was never any evidence that Mozilla would become less gay-friendly with Eich as the head. He made no comments about any changes in policy. Further, he has said he regrets the stance he took. At a time when tides are �lowing in our favor, isn’t incumbent on us to not get power hungry and abuse the new status for which we have all worked so hard, and waited so long?

When the bullied becomes the bullies, we have to start taking a look at ourselves. When we employ the same strong-arm tactics that we’ve been victim of all these years, we run the risk of being no better than those that held us down all this time. |  |

To my mind, Eich got caught between the shifting tectonic plates of societal change.

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TALKING POINTS

“OMG” and “Horrible”

5.3 IN 2013,

—TWEET BY MIAMI DOLPHINS SAFETY DON JONES AFTER NEWLY DRAFTED ST. LOUIS RAM MICHAEL SAM KISSED HIS BOYFRIEND ON NATIONAL TV.

RICKY MARTIN WANTS TO RELIVE HIS OUT MOMENT

NEW CASES OF

H

OT LATIN SINGER RICKY MARTIN said he enjoyed the feeling of coming out so much that he wishes he could do it again. Martin, who revealed his sexuality in 2010, told L.A. radio station KIIS-FM in a May 15 interview that the moment was bliss. “It really feels amazing and then when it happens you realize all your fears were in your head. The amount of support I received... was amazing. Unfortunately, society just pushes us to believe that our feelings are evil.” Martin said he �inally con�irmed his sexuality because he felt his surrogate twins Matteo and Valentino deserved to grow up in an open household where they “didn’t have to lie about their daddy.” |  |

SYPHILIS WERE REPORTED PER 100,000 PEOPLE (MOSTLY GAY MEN)

THAT’S A JUMP FROM THE 2001 RATE OF 2.1 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE. —Center for Disease Control

BEARDED DRAG QUEEN SWEEPS EUROPEAN SONG CONTEST

A

USTRIAN BEARDED DRAG QUEEN CONCHITA WURST won the 59th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with a James Bond-inspired power ballad on May 10 in Copenhagen. The song, Rise Like A Phoenix, helped Wurst secure Austria’s second victory in the competition.

The country’s �irst win was in 1966.

After her victory, Wurst, 25, told The Australian that she hopes LGBT people around the world are getting stronger in their �ight for human rights. The competition, which is supposed to be void of politics, saw votes for Russia booed and, ultimately, the Ukraine’s eight points for Wurst pushing her to victory. The show was seen by 180 million people in 45 counties. |  |

MILEY CYRUS TRIES TO CORNER THE MARKET ON SHOCK VALUE

I

STONEWALL TAKES THE HIGH ROAD

N CASE YOU MISSED IT, Miley Cyrus performed at London’s G-A-Y Nightclub on May 9 with a team of scantily clad dancers. It seems she was trying to top her controversial performance last year at the 2013 Video Music Awards, when she twerked on stage with Robin Thicke and a giant tongue. The recent raunchy performance by Cyrus included her bringing a giant, in�latable penis on stage, which she tried to put in her mouth, before mounting it. |  |

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A

NUMBER OF A-LIST CELEBRITIES AND MOGULS have boycotted a chain of luxury hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, who plans to punish gays in his country with death by stoning under Sharia law. Comedian Jay Leno, Virgin Airlines owner Steve Branson and most in the movie industry no longer visit the popular Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills, a Dorchester Hotel. It seems like a no brainer, right? Stonewall, the LGBT charity, disagrees. Ruth Hunt, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We’re renowned for our belief that talking is usually more effective than protests— however satisfying protests may be, in the short term they’re often most rewarding to the individuals taking part.” Not sure a leader who enforces 40 cane lashings for drunkenness and amputations by sword for theft is in the mood to talk. |  |

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watermark

Photo by Brett Saari

IN DEPTH ORLANDO’S

BIG GAY WEEKEND

Queen

Homecoming

AFTER TAKING ON RUPAUL AND PERFORMING IN VEGAS,

COCO

MONTRESE RETURNS TO HER ROOTS FOR GAY DAYS

M

Kirk Hartlage

OST OF AMERICA WAS

introduced to drag performer Coco Montrese from her Season Five stint on RuPaul’s Drag Race. But those of us in Central Florida knew her �irst as a local entertainer who called the area home for over a decade.

While here she appeared on a myriad of local stages including The Parliament House in Orlando, both the Flamingo and Suncoast Resorts in St. Petersburg; Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando and Tampa; and Pulse Nightclubs in Orlando

and Lakeland. And while she called Central Florida home she also amassed a collection of pageant titles.

She’s a former Miss Hernando County, former Miss Lakeland, former Miss Gay Orlando, former Miss Parliament House, and a former Miss

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

Gay America.

For this year’s Gay Days festivities we’re bestowing another title on Montrese: Homecoming Queen.

Montrese—and Martin Cooper, her real-world alter ego—return to Orlando for the annual �irst-weekend-ofJune pilgrimage of LGBTs. She will host the Miss Gay Days Pageant on Wednesday, June 4, and the Glow Pool Party on Saturday, June 7, both at the GayDayS host hotel, the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld.

And while she’s here she also plans to enjoy a bit of the

Continued on page 32 |  |

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FIGHT TO THE DEATH: Transformers: The Ride, opened just after Gay Days last year, and now takes passengers on a 3-D adventure through the franchise’s universe.

Amusements Au Courant ORLANDO’S BIG GAY WEEKEND

Though the biggest changes are on the way, there’s still plenty of “new” to do in the theme parks this Gay Days

E

Kirk Hartlage

VERY FEW YEARS OUR AREA’S THEME

parks go through a phase where they each launch new shows, rides and attractions.

Whether the ultimate goal is to provide guests with additional unique experiences and memories…or if it’s a bottom line-based attempt to capture as much market share of tourism dollars as possible is debatable.

28

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

But hey: if it means fun and exciting new thrills for us, we’re good. And while you might think that the theme park engineers and designers would have their newest offerings all ready to go by Gay Days—because, seriously, who’s better at creating buzz around anything new than we are?—try as they might, sometimes they just can’t get everything running correctly, and safely, until later in the summer.

No worries, though. Even if

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you hit all of the area’s theme parks last year, there’s still plenty new to be found this year.

DISNEY WORLD’S EXPANSION

Since Gay Day takes place at the Magic Kingdom each �irst Saturday of June, let’s start our “What’s New” tour there.

The park recently completed its Fantasyland expansion project—the largest expansion in the history of the park. The land is divided into two sections, the Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus. Fantasyland’s signature ride, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, just opened and takes riders into the mineshaft workplace of Snow White’s seven best friends. Never mind that an attraction themed to dwarfs comes with a 38-inch height requirement, it’s a familyfriendly roller coaster that features �irst-of-its-kind ride vehicles mounted in cradle-like pivots that allow the vehicles to gently sway during the ride’s twists and turns.

The ride, which still somehow manages to look like a junior version of Big Thunder Mountain, joins several previously opened attractions. Those include an above-ground (and nearly

watermarkonline.com

waterless) Under the Sea Little Mermaid ride; an expanded Dumbo attraction with two rotating sets of �lying elephants; and the Be Our Guest Beauty and the Beast-themed restaurant, which is the �irst and only place in the park to serve alcohol.

Don’t get too excited partygoers: wine and beer are only available here with dinner and cannot be carried into the park.

One of the biggest highlights of Gay Day is the conglomeration of red-shirted LGBTs in front of Cinderella’s Castle for the park’s daily 3 p.m. parade. Gay Day guests this year will be treated to an all-new street show, the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, which celebrates the opening of New Fantasyland. While there’s the requisite collection of innovative �loats, colorful costumes and a soundtrack featuring beloved Disney songs, there are several unique �lourishes to this parade. Hipsters are sure to appreciate the Steampunkinspired Male�icent Dragon that stretches 53 feet in length and 26 feet tall. And gingers will no doubt appreciate seeing Scottish dancers and an enormous bagpipe �loat announce the arrival of the ever-Brave Merida.

But the hottest Disney characters these days are Frozen sisters Anna and Elsa. The duo were recently relocated from EPCOT’s Norway pavilion to the Magic Kingdom’s Princess Fairytale Hall; it’s a women-only meeting place for visiting Disney royalty such as Cinderella and Rapunzel which apparently has not reached the gender-equality radar of the ACLU. It’s not just Gay Day that Disney World hosts this �irst weekend of June. It’s also one of the resort’s Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Special shopping at “Darth’s Mall,” a parade, and nighttime pyrotechnics all themed to the classic Sci-Fi saga are featured, in addition to appearances by various Star Wars celebrities.

Slated to appear the weekend of June 6 to June 8 are Mark Hamill and Billie Dee Williams!

Viola Davis helps launch “Harambe Nights,” an all-new evening entertainment and dining experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on June 7. Held every Saturday this summer,

Continued on page 30 |  |

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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JUST FOR MUGGLES: Universal Studios continues its expansion into the World of Harry Potter with its Escape from Gringotts’ Bank ride.

|  | What’s New at the Parks from pg.28

the special event celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Oscar-winning �ilm The Lion King with a celebrity narrator, a live orchestra and choir, a street party featuring Afropop rhythms, and an exotic culinary buffet.

Other new changes abound at the Walt Disney World Resort. The popular live musical Festival of the Lion King show at the Animal Kingdom, which tells the story of the lion cub who would be king despite numerous obstacles faced in the open wild, moves indoors to an all-new theater. Downtown Disney continues its multi-year transformation into Disney Springs, the shopping/dining/ entertainment destination that sacri�iced Pleasure Island’s unique nightclubs for more restaurants and retail.

UNIVERSAL UPDATES

The biggest change at Universal Studios is the highly anticipated multi-park expansion of the resort’s Wizarding

30

BIRD OF PREY: The newest attraction at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, is Falcon’s Fury, which is North America’s highest drop tower.

It’s the chilliest reception to be found anywhere this Gay Day weekend, outside of a possible run-in with unforgiving right-wing protestors.

World of Harry Potter…which, unfortunately doesn’t expect to be open in time for Gay Days Weekend. But based on the press releases and YouTube clips we’ve seen, it might be more than enough for another attempt at creating a Gay Day at Universal Orlando, just in time for next year’s 25th anniversary of the original Gay Day at Disney.

But this year there’s still plenty new to do at Universal since last year’s Gay Days weekend. Transformers: The Ride opened late last June and sends riders on a man versus machine, good versus evil battle to save planet Earth. The 3D action-adventure attraction features hyper animation and massive sets, and continues a long-standing tradition of “Gonna Getcha” storytelling on

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

Universal’s rides. (See: “Jaws,” where a shark attacked boat riders; “Kongfrontation,” where a giant ape chased aerial tram evacuees; “E.T. Adventure,” where the police once �ired on guests riding �lying bike; “Revenge of the Mummy,” where Imhotep attempts to capture guests’ souls but settles for Brendan Fraser’s career; et al.)

Fans of The Simpsons can now visit Downtown Spring�ield after disembarking The Simpsons Ride. While in town guests can enjoy food from Krusty Burger and Lard Lad Donuts, and drink Flaming Moe’s at Moe’s Tavern or a Duff Beer at Duff Brewery. Evil alien duo Kang & Kodo have even showed up to host a new outdoor ride, the Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. Speaking of monsters, they’ve all shown up to sing and dance classic rock

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

hits in a brand-new production of “Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue.”

SEAWORLD OF CHANGES

Over at SeaWorld, guests are in no short need of A/C relief when they visit Antarctica: Empire of the Penquins. This new attraction features a family-friendly ride that allows riders to choose from a “wild” or “mild” exploration, which culminates in an up-close encounter with a huge colony of penguins in their 30-degree world. It’s a unique habitat �illed with wind, snow, rock and chilly water, making Antarctica the coldest theme park attraction in Orlando. New technologies combine to create a freezing—but dry—climate, allowing guests to spend time in the penguins’ amazing world. It’s the chilliest reception to be found anywhere

watermarkonline.com

this Gay Day weekend, outside of a possible run-in with unforgiving right-wing protestors.

SeaWorld’s water park Aquatica just opened the tallest, steepest and only multi-drop tower slide of its kind in town, Ihu’s Breakaway Falls. At the top of an eight-story tower, riders step into one of three breakaway boxes never knowing when the �loor beneath them will disappear.

Facing each other, riders watch as their fellow riders fall…unless of course their �loor dropped out �irst. And when the �loor does disappear riders drop 20-24 feet per second launching them into a spiraling speed slide culminating in a �inal splashdown.

Apparently continuing a corporate mandate to install drop rides is SeaWorld’s sister park Busch Gardens Tampa.

After ascending Falcon Fury’s 335 feet tall tower, like its bird of prey namesake, riders will pivot 90 degrees in midair to a face-down dive position and soar 60 mph straight down. The soonto-opened attraction will be the tallest freestanding drop tower in North America. |  |

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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|  | CoCo Montrese from pg.25

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festivities.

“Oh, I have to go into the park,” Montrese says, referring to Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom; this year’s gathering marks the 24th anniversary of the LGBT community visiting Walt Disney World’s signature theme park en masse on the �irst Saturday of June.

“I’m going to see old friends perform. It will be a trip down memory lane.”

Montrese, err….Cooper worked at Disney World for 11 years as an entertainer, primarily with the nightly Phantasmic show at the Disney Hollywood Studios. Though he admits performing in the same show for years on end could be tedious, Cooper worked as both a trainer and a swing performer in the show, which saw him portraying a wide variety of characters from night

to night. Cooper recalls how each June’s Gay Day would energize him and his friends year after year.

“It’s such an exciting event, not just for the people who come to it, but for those of us working there as well,” Montrese says. “I remember people saying four or �ive months out that that they had to start training—they had to get back in the gym— so they could look great for Gay Days!”

Working for the Mouse provided not just a steady paycheck but also a �lexible schedule for Montrese to perfect her craft en route to winning all those pageant titles. In 2010, Montrese was crowned Miss Gay America when that year’s original winner Alyssa Edwards had her title revoked. Montrese and Edwards were later reunited as contestants in Season Five of RuPaul’s Drag Race where past issues with the pageant created an

watermarkonline.com

immediate tension between the two…which of course became one of that season’s most popular story lines on the reality competition show. Still, Montrese says Drag Race was a great experience that opened a lot of doors for her.

But it was during her reign as Miss Gay America where the current chapter of Montrese’s career kicked off. While performing as the reigning Miss Gay America at one of the pageant’s preliminaries in Las Vegas, she was discovered

by Frank Marino, the man behind the longestrunning drag celebrity impersonation show on the Vegas Strip. Marino was so impressed with Montrese’s spot-on performance as Janet Jackson that he offered her a spot in his Divas Las Vegas show at the Quad Resort and Casino.

“Everyone dreams of becoming that Vegas showgirl and I can’t believe that actually happened

yone dreams ecoming that Vegas wgirl and I can’t elieve that actually appened for me!

—COCO MONTRESE

Coco IN DEPTH Montrese watermark ORLANDO’S BIG GAY WEEKEND

The Diva hosts the Miss Gay Days Pageant the Glow Pool Party at the GayDays host hotel FAVORITE SALTY SNACK? FAVORITE SWEET SNACK? Snickers—both salty and sweet!

FAVORITE THEME PARK ATTRACTION, RIDE OR SHOW? The Festival of the Lion King show

for me!” Montrese says. “I’ve lived here four years now and everything is still an adventure.

I live right in the hustle and bustle of everything: my condo is actually on the Strip. I live in the middle of it all. Living here is amazing; I don’t think I could live anywhere else.”

Working for Disney provided a solid background in performing the same roles day after day; the Divas show runs nightly six nights a week. When Montrese �irst joined the cast she performed only as Janet Jackson and Rihanna, but soon after Marino challenged his latest discovery to try recreating the legendary singer Dionne Warwick as well…and gave Montrese a week to do so.

“Not only did I watch her performances, but I watched her interviews,” Montrese says. “It’s important to capture who they are not just on stage, but off it as well, to truly capture a celebrity’s essence. That’s how you get the character.”

It’s also important to get the “look” right—including makeup and costumes.

“That replica needs to be almost exact to what they wore,” Montrese says. “Learning their mannerisms, working with signature songs…it’s like going back to school.”

When a Watermark writer

suggests Montrese take on Toni Braxton as another celebrity to recreate, Montrese has a good laugh.

“Everybody tells me I look like Toni Braxton, but I don’t see it!” she says. “But she is a character I’m actually developing right now—it’s so funny that you said her!”

Still, sometimes Coco gets to be just Coco—she’s also in residency, as they say in drag circles, at Las Vegas’ newest gay club, Share. And while she brings the same dedication and passion to the stage whether she’s performing as a celebrity or just as Coco, Montrese admits there can be a difference between performing at gay clubs and events versus shows like Frank Marino’s Divas.

“Performing in a casino, it’s predominately a straight crowd, and they don’t see you as a drag queen, they see you as an artist,” Montrese says. “It’s lots of bachelorette parties, divorce parties, lots of conferences. Drag has gone so mainstream, it’s good that we have something like Frank Marino’s to introduce mainstream audiences to drag performances. They’re more prone to go to a show like Marino’s than to go see a drag show at their local gay club.”

And with numerous Cirque du Soleil incarnations and other

high caliber shows nearby, Divas has to be an equally extravagant, high-class production in order to attract any audience at all.

When friends who’ve only know her from the clubs see Montrese perform in Divas, they often admit they didn’t realize the show was going to be as high-level as it is. Montrese says it’s also fun to see people compare headliners appearing in shows on the Strip—like Britney Spears—to their Divas drag doppelgangers.

But for a few days in June she’ll leave all that behind to visit the Orlando locales she once called home, no doubt gaining even more Marshmellows—as she calls her fans—along the way…because what’s hot Coco without a few Marshmellows?

“Even though I don’t live in Orlando anymore I’m extremely excited about coming back,” Montrese says. “Gay Day is a place where we can all come together and celebrate who we are.” |  |

MORE INFORMATION

WHO: Coco Montrese WHAT: Gay Days Pageant, Wednesday, June 4; Glow Pool Party, Saturday, June 7

FAVORITE DISNEY CHARACTER? Tinkerbell

LAST BOOK YOU READ? How Stella Got Her Groove Back, by Terry McMillan.

WHAT’S THE LAST REALLY GOOD MOVIE YOU SAW? The Hunger Games

WHAT SONG – CURRENT OR RETRO – ALWAYS MAKES YOU WANT TO DANCE? Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”

FAVORITE ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT FLAVOR?

SUPERPOWER YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE?

FALLBACK KARAOKE TRACK?

X-Ray vision

R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly”

FAVORITE TV SHOW/ GUILTIEST TV PLEASURE? Scandal

YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? Brad Pitt

WHO SHOULD PLAY YOU IN THE MOTION PICTURE OF YOUR LIFE? Rihanna

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SURPRISED TO LEARN? I actually almost married a woman.

I come from a really religious background. She was a great girl, we’re still friends to this day, but it was in the works.

A TYPICAL NIGHT’S SLEEP FOR YOU LASTS HOW LONG? 4 hours

COMPETITION REALITY SHOW, REAL OR IMAGINARY, YOU’D CERTAINLY WIN? The Apprentice

WHAT’S TYPICALLY PLAYING IN YOUR CAR WHILE DRIVING? Miley Cyrus

WHAT’S THE LAST SONG OR ALBUM YOU PURCHASED? Beyonce

WHAT’S THE LAST ARTICLE OF CLOTHING OR FASHION ACCESSORY YOU PURCHASED FOR YOURSELF? Christian Louboutin

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST-EVER HALLOWEEN COSTUME? Michael Jackson

Vanilla Bean

WHERE: Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at Seaworld

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watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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ARTS &

ENTERTAINMENT

Dolly

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LEGEND TALKS BOOBS, DRAG AND CHRISTIANITY

W

Chris Azzopardi

HEN DOLLY PARTON CALLS

you, greeting you by name with her unmistakable Tennessee twang, it’s a good idea to immediately establish that the lady on the line is the actual legend herself.

“Am I talking to the real Dolly or is this an impersonator?” I ask, just to be sure.

Proving she’s as sharp as the icon she’s become over the last six decades—easily the most

honored female country music artist of all time, inspiring drag queens galore—Parton is quick with her comeback: “Oh, there’s no such thing as a real Dolly. I’m as real as you’re gonna get!”

Very real, as it turns out.

Currently promoting her 42nd studio album, Blue Smoke, Parton talked about the country music community evolving beyond labeling gay people “perverse,” addressed rumors of her recent lesbian

wedding and dished tit tips to drag queens (more stuf�ing, girls).

WATERMARK: OUTSIDE OF

THE RHINESTONES AND BIG PLATINUM HAIR, WHY DO GAY PEOPLE IDENTIFY AND EMPATHIZE WITH YOU?

DOLLY PARTON: Did you say empathize or sympathize?

(Laughs) I think there’s some of both! Actually, I’ve been

Continued on page 42 |  |

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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37

TIGHT BOND: The cast of American Stage’s Steel Magnolias honors the popular play and film, but offers an African-American perspective.

Tough, yet delicate THEATER

Gay favorite Steel Magnolias celebrates the bonds of friendship at American Stage

S

Zach Caruso

T. PETERSBURG | AMERICAN STAGE IS

ready to start the summer off right—with a play as tough as steel, but as delicate as magnolias.

The newest production of the popular 1987 Robert Harling play Steel Magnolias opens on May 23 and runs through June 15, and at the helm is St. Petersburg’s Bob Devin Jones.

“Sisterhood, love, and laughter,” says Jones of the central theme of the play. “It’s the glue that binds these women together.”

The play, which has twice been adapted to �ilm, follows the familial bond of six women in northwest Louisiana.

“It’s one of my favorite movies, coming into it, so many people

38

have seen the movie and they have expectations,” says Erica Sutherlin, who plays the role of Clairee Belcher, made popular by Olympia Dukakis in the 1989 �ilm. “I think that it’s going to be interesting to hear the responses to their expectations and what we give them. For me as an actor, I have to constantly tell myself to move away from what I’m accustomed to and know [about the �ilm], and �ind the character myself.”

Newcomer Whitney Drake, who plays Shelby, echoes Sutherlin’s sentiment and knows of the �ilm’s

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

popularity, especially among the LGBT community.

“I’m nervous, the original [1989 �ilm] is very popular so people do have those expectations,” she says.“I don’t want to fail at delivering in this role that Julia Roberts played, and did such an amazing job with.”

Jones explains how this production is somewhat unique.

“The play, as written, is about six white women in the South.

This version that I’m directing is six African-American women in the South. The commonality is their love and bond of friendship,” he says. “This might be a bit of a stretch of an analogy, but it’s like going to a Catholic mass, and a southern Baptist church. These women are always responding, because that’s how

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

they occur together. And I don’t and its characters. have to elicit that; it’s natural. I “I’m looking around the room just have to shape it.” and I’m seeing girls that are The stellar group of actors gorgeous, and I’m talking to began with the casting of them and they’re saying ‘Oh I’ve Sutherlin, who was cast in an worked on this, and done this unexpected role. play, and won this award,’ and “When I got the email saying I’m thinking ‘Oh my God, why am ‘We would like to invite you to I here?’” she says. “Then it came play the role of Clairee’ I thought time to read, and something got ‘Oh….Clairee?’” she says. “I in me, and when I had the script �igured if I was going to be in the in front of me, I wasn’t nervous, I show there were only certain felt con�ident, and here I am.” roles I could play, and when It’s that energy that Jones Clairee came up I thought, ‘Oh thrives on as a director. my! But they feel like I can do, so “Every project is new, and I I’m going to do it.’” am a very intuitive director and The character of Clairee is very much base my direction twice Sutherlin’s age, however off of the actors’ sprit, how they the actress has found that occur as an artist. So I have no she’s coming to enjoy playing preconceived notions coming an older role. into any play “I’m �inding other than that I that she has just want to get some great to the heart of the moments, some matter,” he says. great lines, Now, only days I’m having a away from opening good time with night, the cast and her,” she says. director �ind they “Channeling an each have unique older character, perspectives you get to on their —ERICA SUTHERLIN, explore things, journey together.

WHO PLAYS CLARIEE BELCHER you get to try “The journey things. I can sit is the yummiest the way I want to sit, if I get up part,” says Sutherlin. and my knees hurt when I do, it’s “The performance is for the truly ok to let out a little groan.” audience to enjoy what we’ve Drake’s journey to the role of birthed through the process.”

Shelby was decidedly different.

Drake agrees, and �inds the Jones spotted her while she �inal product to be the most was rehearsing for her role as appetizing. “For me, it’s the Dorothy in American Stage’s performance, I love to see the recent production of The Wiz, and audience’s reactions. The journey saw in her the perfect energy for is amazing, it’s hard, and I can’t the role of Shelby. wait to have it all locked in and “When I saw Whitney in then look back on the journey it rehearsal [for The Wiz], she was took to get there.” working full-out, and that’s the And for Jones, there is a more only way you can work,” he says. internal sense of peace that What Jones didn’t know at comes with the creative process. the time was that Drake was a “The best part of it for me is seasoned musical actress, but the process, and the performance had never acted in a play before. is the joy of release of what you “Musicals? Yes, plenty. But have discovered in rehearsal. a play? No, I’ve never done Whatever it ends up being, I’ll be anything that didn’t involve a changed by the experience, and break for singing or dancing, so will these women,” he says. so this is nerve wracking,” says For more information, and to Drake, who admits she initially get tickets for Steel Magnolias, didn’t expect to land the part of visit AmericanStage.org. |  | Shelby. “This isn’t like The Wiz; this isn’t like any musical. I have MORE INFORMATION monologues, I have a lot to say.

Give me a song, I can learn it in WHAT: Steel Magnolias 15 minutes. But now I’m learning WHEN: May 23-June 15 lines, it’s very different.”

WHERE: American Stage, Shelby is described as the St. Petersburg “prettiest girl in town” according TICKETS: AmericanStage.org to materials describing the play

“It’s going to be interesting to hear the responses to their expectations and what we give them.”

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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39

THE BOYS: (L-R) Adam Boarman, Rob DelMedico and Tim Bass play “Odell,” “G.W.”, and “Wardell,” respectively, in Theatre Downtown’s Sordid Lives. PHOTO COURTESY KIRK WOODS

Sordid fun THEATER

Theatre Downtown celebrates its anniversary with the return of Sordid Lives

O

Christal Hayes

RLANDO | LONG BEFORE IT WAS A

cult hit on �ilm, Sordid Lives was near and dear to LGBT theater lovers around the country. The Del Shores-penned play won 14 Drama-Logue awards and was recreated on stages of independent theaters everywhere.

The southern comedy, which gained another mass audience when it was released as a �ilm in 2000 and made Leslie Jordan a household name, has made it’s grand return to Orlando’s Theatre Downtown, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

40

The revival of Sordid Lives runs through June 7.

“I’ve been doing this for 45 years, almost 50 years and I don’t know if I’ve ever done another show that I think is any funnier,” says Frank Hilgenberg, who directs the play alongside

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

his wife, Fran. “It is hilarious and completely politically incorrect.”

For the uninitiated, Sordid Lives tells the tale of one family coming together for a funeral after their matriarch dies in a tragic accident during a scandalous affair. Each of these characters suffers major personality �laws, which makes for some giddy comedy.

Describing this small-town Texas family as colorful would be an understatement.

“All the characters are so relatable,” Frank Hilgenberg said.

“This is the most colorful cast I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The play stars some local notables, including Jeff Hole as

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

OH, BROTHER: Jeff Hole plays ‘Brother Boy,’ who consistently disappoints his therapist, Dr. Eve., played by Natalie Doliner Schneider. PHOTO COURTESY KIRK WOODS Brother Boy. Also in the cast are the craziest people they know in Robert Del Medico, Peri Hope their family and you put them in Goldberg, Cameron Hentz and the same place, you have a hoot, Marion Marsh. a real hoot.”

Hole’s character The play’s of Earl Ingram, climax happens also known as at the funeral Brother Boy, was when all things made famous when are settled as Rev. Jordan played him Barnes presides. in the �ilm. In the In 2008, the story, the character LOGO channel is institutionalized resurrected for over 20 years Sordid Lives in because of his series format. cross-dressing The single season and homosexual of the show tendencies. Other covered the favorite characters —FRANK HILGENBERG events leading are portrayed up to the �ilm, on stage as well, and saw the return of many of the including Juanita Bartlett, who original cast members to reprise is known as the town drunk and their roles. talks to everything from herself to Similarly, Theatre Downtown chairs, and Latrelle Williamson, has brought back many of its who is a very tight wound bundle original cast members from its of denial.

2010 presentation of the play.

“The beauty of this show It was one of the theater’s most when anybody that looks at it, is popular productions, so it made they know some people or have sense to bring it back for the some people like this in their 25th anniversary. family,” Frank Hilgenberg said.

Tickets are $22 for general “The bottom line is that when admission and $18 for seniors you put them all together, when and students. For details, visit you add up everybody’s ideas of TheatreDowntown.net. |  |

“I’ve been doing this for 45 years almost 50 years and I don’t know if I’ve ever done another show that I think is any funnier.”

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41

I am not gay, but if I were I would be the first one running out of the closet.

|  | Dolly Parton from pg.35

around so long people just kind of feel like they know me. They’ve seen me enough. I’m more like a favorite aunt or an older sister or somethin’, so I just think people know so much about me they just feel like I’m part of them. I hope that’s what they think. That’s what it seems like!

I SEE YOU AS OUR FAIRY GODMOTHER.

—DOLLY PARTON

(Laughs) Yeah, I do look like the fairy godmother!

YOU’VE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT YOU FELT LIKE AN OUTSIDER SINCE YOU WERE A KID. “COAT OF MANY COLORS” REALLY IS ABOUT FEELING DIFFERENT. WHAT ROLE HAS THAT FEELING OF BEING AN OUTSIDER PLAYED IN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE LGBT COMMUNITY?

Well, I do believe that I have a lot of gay fans because I think they do accept me as I am—the differences in me—and I think they know that I see that and love that in everybody else. I am not a judgmental person. I’m a very loving and accepting person. I try to see the good in everybody, and I don’t care who people are

42

as long as they’re themselves, whatever that is. That old saying “to thine own self be true”—no truer words were ever spoken, and I’m just honored and proud to be accepted.

YOU SAID GROWING UP YOU FELT DIFFERENT, SOMETHING MANY GAY PEOPLE CAN EMPATHIZE WITH. DO YOU SENSE THAT RELATIONSHIP?

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

Yes, I do. I’ve always felt that.

I’ve always felt that’s one of the things that’s drawn my gay fans to me. They do know that I do feel different, and all of my life I will be different. I always have been. But I enjoy and appreciate and respect that difference in myself just like I do in other people. God made me the way that I am and it’s my business to be true to that.

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

IF EVERYONE WAS FREE OF JUDGMENT LIKE YOU ARE, WHAT MIGHT THE WORLD BE LIKE?

It’d be a lot better, I can tell you that. But people love to hate, and it’s just unfortunate but that’s the way it is. People like to judge, they like to condemn, they won’t accept anything they don’t understand— that’s just too bad. We have to

watermarkonline.com

work at those things anyway, but most people are not willing to. A lot of people are just blind and they’re not seeing through the spiritual eye, and we need to look that way and then we would be more forgiving, more loving and more accepting.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR COUNTRY ARTISTS TO ADVOCATE

FOR GAY RIGHTS. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE THAT STEP AND STAND UP FOR LGBT EQUALITY?

Why wouldn’t I stand up for everybody, for all people? In the country �ield, we’re brought up in spiritual homes, we’re taught to “judge not lest you be judged,” and it’s always been a mystery to me how people jump all over things just to criticize, condemn and judge other people when that is so un-Christian—and they claim to be good Christians! We’re supposed to love one another.

We’re supposed to accept and love one another. Whether we do or not, that’s a different story. But that’s what we’re supposed to do.

Gay wedding music?

Dolly Parton’s newest creation, Blue Sky, is the entertainer’s 42nd studio album.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PROGRESS THE COUNTRY MUSIC COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MAKING AS A WHOLE WHEN IT COMES TO EMBRACING ITS GAY LISTENERS?

In defense of a lot of people, they didn’t have as true of an understanding as they do now.

Now people really see that this is real, these are real people with real feelings, that this is who they really are. I think a lot of people, anytime you talked about gay people, thought “perverse.”

Now, they’re being more educated that this is who people really are. There’s just been so much made of (gay rights) in the last two or three years, and it’s been brought to the front so people can really see it and be like, “Yeah, I guess there are a lot more gay people than we ever knew! I have a better understanding of it now. I know that these people are for real.” I think they’re getting that now.

I think it was just a lack of knowledge. And when you’re with someone, of course you should have your rights. You’re gonna be with who you’re gonna be with even if you starve to death and have no privileges and no rights. I think people understand that more now.

YOU’VE BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL ALLY TO US ... SO MUCH SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY MISTAKEN YOU AS A LESBIAN YOURSELF.

(Laughs) Well, you know what, it’s true. In fact, there was some story recently (in the National Enquirer) where I was supposedly marrying my longtime friend Judy (Ogle) and that my husband was okay with it! I thought, “Where did they come up with all this?” I am not

gay, but if I were I would be the �irst one running out of the closet.

AND RIGHT INTO JUDY’S ARMS?

Yeah, who knows! I might’ve said, “Judy, you wanna get something going with me?” (Laughs) But our friendship is just a precious friendship.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO “FROM HERE TO THE MOON AND BACK,” YOUR LOVE DUET WITH WILLIE NELSON ON BLUE SMOKE, BEING USED FOR THE FIRST DANCE AT A GAY WEDDING?

I would be honored. That would be a beautiful wedding song, “From Here to the Moon and Back”— wow! People often use “I Will Always Love You”—I wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a wedding song too – and it really kind of speaks to that, but yeah, “From Here to the Moon and Back” would be a beautiful wedding song. If you get married, you can play it!

WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR LIFE THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE MOST SURPRISED BY?

I can’t imagine a thing that people don’t already know about me. I think people would be surprised at how really at-home I am. I look like a party doll but I’m very home-lovin’. I’m a homebody, and I’m family-oriented. I don’t get out much unless it’s a special occasion. So I guess people might be surprised at just how calm I really am.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I see ways to improve myself.

I’ve never been a true beauty and I’m always thinking, “I need to do this, or I could look better than that,” but I guess we all have that.

YOU’VE SAID THAT DRAG QUEENS DO YOU BETTER THAN YOU. HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF FROM WATCHING PEOPLE IMPERSONATE YOU?

Most of the drag queens are about six feet tall already ... and then they put on those high heels! I ain’t big as a minute, so I always think, what I’ve learned about myself is, I’m not tall. I’m de�initely even shorter than I knew I was!

But actually, I am very honored when the drag queens all do their thing because I think it’s a big compliment. I get a big kick out of some of them. Some of them are really good! Some of them are… comical.

SOME OF THEM ARE SO GOOD YOU ONCE LOST A LOOK-ALIKE CONTEST THAT YOU WERE IN.

(Laughs) I entered one of the Dolly look-alike contests down on Santa Monica at one of the gay clubs down there—I lived right up the street—so I just kind of over exaggerated myself and went and joined the party and walked across the stage. I got less applause than anybody.

It’s pretty bad when I lose a Dolly Parton look-alike contest!

IF YOU WERE A DRAG QUEEN, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DRAG NAME?

P. Titty—like P. Diddy!

WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR DRAG QUEENS WHO WANT TO GET YOUR BUST SIZE JUST RIGHT?

Oh heavens ... I’m so little is why my boobs look so big. But (drag queens) are already big! They’re gonna need to really do some paddin’! I’m larger than life, so just get them boobs the way that they �it into proportion to your body. Put it out there, whatever your imagination is of me. |  |

MORE INFORMATION

WHO Dolly Parton WHAT: Blue Sky WHEN: Released May 13 FOR SALE: Amazon, iTunes

KNOCKING DOWN

WALLS Country music is slowly accepting LGBT artists and fans

N

Staff Report

ASHVILLE | IN THE SERIES NAMED

for the capitol of music, a series regular shared with his wife that he’s gay. Thus is how the season �inale of ABC’s hit Nashville ended in May.

The country music soap opera may be trying to mirror real life, where LGBT equality is gaining acceptance and marriage equality is spreading throughout the country by the day—literally.

Will Lexington, the character played by Chris Carmack, will no doubt have to face the homophobic realities of living in Nashville and the world of country music. But while this may be groundbreaking for the series, it’s actually a little behind the times.

“America’s heartland is changing and support for equality continues to grow across party lines, in our faith institutions and in country music,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis after country star Kacey Musgraves appeared at the GLAAD Media Awards in May. “Kacey is ushering in a new era in the country music industry, where supporting all loving families is now a core country value.”

Last year, Steve Grand burst onto the stage with his anthem about same-gender attraction, and he was quickly dubbed country music’s �irst gay artist. Grand, who headlined at Come Out With Pride in Orlando last fall, has said he never considered himself a country music singer. But, he wasn’t going to knock the title either.

He told Watermark last year that he was just grateful for the attention, and that he was thrilled to be a spokesperson for the LGBT community, whatever the platform.

Grand came on the scene three years after Chely Wright, a topselling female country artist, came out of the closet in 2010. Her career suffered because of the announcement, but she still performs, records and speaks out on LGBT equality around the country. She has also made a stop in Orlando in recent years, sharing her story and performing to adoring fans.

In 2013, American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood faced some backlash from fans when she said she supported marriage equality.

“I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love,” the star told The Independent, a British magazine.

While there was some early backlash from conservative fans, her career seems to be unaffected.

Dolly Parton’s support of same-sex unions isn’t news to her adoring fans. But they may be surprised she’s not alone, even among the more legendary performers.

Reba McEntire, Leann Rimes, The Dixie Chicks, SheDaisy, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Garth Brooks have all shared their desire to see marriage equality sweep the nation. Even the conservative performer Toby Keith and comedian Larry The Cable Guy announced support for marriage equality last year. |  |

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ST. PETERSBURG

Balance Tampa Bay Social 6-8 P.M., THURSDAY, MAY 22 THE GREEN BENCH BREWING CO. 1133 BAUM AVE. N., ST. PETERSBURG The good folks of Balance Tampa Bay are returning to St. Petersburg for the May social.

This time around the volunteer organization will meet at Green Bench Brewing Company at 1133 Baum Ave. N. in downtown St. Petersburg Green Bench Brewing Company will offer 15% off beers for Balance Tampa Bay members and Ricky P’s Cajun Café will provide the appetizers. The social starts at 6 p.m.

More than a whisper

Our Town with Nadine Smith 6:30 P.M., THURSDAY, MAY 29 SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM, ST. PETERSBURG

Neon Trees will bring their sounds to the Orlando Hard Rock May 27 and Tampa’s The Ritz Ybor May 28.

ORLANDO Romeo Santos,

May 30, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com

Hair, June 4 to

July 6, The Harriet Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com

Sordid Lives, Through

June 7, Theatre Downtown, Orlando. 407-841-0083; TheatreDowntown.net

Sing Your Dreams: The Cabaret,

May 23, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee.

407-846-7902; OCFTA.com

Butter�lies Are Free, May 22-25, The

Little Theatre, New Smyrna Beach. 386-423-1246; NSBPlayers.org

Davis Gaines’ Double Standards: An Intimate Cabaret,

May 29- June 1, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com

Event Planner ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

On Golden Pond,

Through May 25, Moonlight Players Warehouse Theatre, Orlando. 352-243-5875; MoonlightPlayers.com

Spotlight Cabaret Series: Kevin Kelly, May 28, The Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterparkPlayhouse.org

Slippery When Wet: The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute,

May 31, House of Blues Orlando, Orlando.

407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues. com/Orlando

Neon Trees, May 27, Hard Rock Live Orlando, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRock.com/Live

An Evening with CHICAGO, June 1,

Hard Rock Live Orlando, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRock.com/Live

SARASOTA Hero: The Musical, through June 1, Asolo Reparatory Theater, Sarasota. 941-351-8000; AsoloRep.org

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti,

through June 15, Asolo Reparatory Theater, Sarasota. 941-351-8000; AsoloRep.org

Pump Boys & Dinettes, June 4-29,

Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota. 941-366-9000; FloridaStudioTheatre.org

TAMPA BAY April Carrion, May 23, Liquid Tampa, Ybor City.

LiquidTampa.com

Morrissey, May 30, The Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg.

727-892-5767; TheMahaffey.com All New People,

Jazz on the Bay, May 23, Maestro’s Restaurant at the Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Neon Trees,

May 28, The Ritz Ybor, Tampa. 813-247-2555; TheRitzYbor.com

Marly Music Chamber Series: Claire Huangci, Piano, June 1, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg.

727-896-2667; Fine-Arts.org

Through June 1, Straz Center, Tampa; 813-229-7827; JobSiteTheater.org

Hawk & Wayne’s It’s a Living, June 1, American Stage, St. Petersburg; 727-823-7529; AmericanStage.org

Steel Magnolias,

May 21-June 15, American Stage, St. Petersburg; 727-823-7529; AmericanStage.org

The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, June 6-22, MAD Theatre, Tampa; 813-386-6173; MadTheatre.com

Each month, Dr. Carol Mickett talks about significant issues affecting the community.

This month her guest is Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida. Smith will discuss current issues facing the LGBT community and the role of Equality Florida in securing equality for Floridians. Admission is free to museum members and $5 for guests.

DAYTONA

Garbo’s Lounge Grand Opening 2 P.M.-?, SATURDAY, MAY 24 2842 S. RIDGEWOOD AVE., SOUTH DAYTONA Very little has been released publicly about this new nightclub in Daytona, but it appears to be LGBT-specific and has dubbed itself as a nightclub and show bar. In fact, a show starts at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 24. So we’re expecting some drag shows and live performances. Get updates on the club’s Facebook page or through GarbosLounge.com.

TAMPA

Sunset Music Festival MAY 24 & 25 RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA Now expanded for two days, Sunset Music Festival will play host to performances from artists all around the globe and some spectacular visuals to boot. Expect surprises and more during the third-annual celebration that will nodoubt pack the stadium. For details and a full lineup of performers, visit SMFTampa.com.

To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com.

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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TAMPA BAY

1- GETTING SASHED: Mr. St. Pete Pride 2014 Isaiah Sanchez-Hilton receives his sash and trophy from previous winner Akyllis, left, and Mister St. Pete Pride 2013 Rico at Georgie’s Alibi May 12. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

2- MAKING IT OFFICIAL: Sarasota County Commissioner Suzanne Atwell reads the proclamation declaring May 17 Harvey Milk Festival day in Sarasota during the festival at Five Points Park. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

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3- DRESSED TO IMPRESS: (L-R) Don Kiceina and Portia Weiss share a moment at the annual Pride & Passion event at the Tampa Museum of Art on May 17. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 4- TURN THE RADIO UP: Scott Elliott, left, and partner Stephen celebrate at Tropical Heat Wave in Tampa May 10, benefitting WMNF Radio. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 5- REPRESENTING LEATHER: Matt Wolfe shows off his leather during a trip to Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City the weekend of May 10. PHOTO COURTESY CARRIE WEST 6- CHARITABLE SATURDAY: Nearly 30 volunteers with Balance Tampa Bay volunteered to renovate the new Metro Wellness LGBT Welcome Center in St. Petersburg on May 10, but not before presenting a $7,000 check to the project, which will open this summer. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD 7- CHECKING THE LIST: A frantic Scott Daniel takes a break from his duties as “wedding coordinator” and entertainment director outside the Tampa Museum of Art during Pride & Passion May 17. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

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8- SPREADING THE WORD: The team from Church of the Trinity Metropolitan Community Church mans their booth at the Harvey Milk Festival May 17 in Sarasota. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

OVERHEARD ALL DOORS LEAD TO POM POM’S

R

ETIRED ORANGE COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF TOM WOODARD has been busy renovating an old gas station in the Grand Central District for his new restaurant, set to open in late June. Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria, a popular, eclectic hangout near downtown Orlando, is scheduled to open its second location at 2950 Central Avenue in time for St. Pete Pride. In the meantime, Woodard is looking for people to donate old exterior doors and for artists who want to paint them. The completed artwork will be featured in the �irst “Art at Pom Pom’s St. Pete,” when the restaurant opens. If you have an exterior door—plain, cracked, decorated—to donate or you want to lend your skills to the project, please call Woodard at 407.451.5705.

THE LURE OF YOGURT

THE MIND BEHIND OUTINGS & ADVENTURES IS AT IT AGAIN, and this time he’s using yogurt as bait! Robert Geller is once again raising money for the SMART Ride by inviting friends and acquaintances to socials. Last year it was a fondue experience. This year Geller has coordinated socials at Yogurtology, and the �irst one is at the 3017 Gandy Blvd. in Tampa location on Tuesday, May 27. The gay twist on the classic ice-cream social begins at 6 p.m. and is a mix-and-mingle to introduce attendees to the ride and to learn how they can help raise money for HIV organizations. Geller said that 20 percent of the purchase price of each sale goes directly to the fundraising, and those feeling especially generous are invited to bring cash or checks as well. Get details on upcoming socials on both sides of the bay at OutingsAndAdventures.com.

MR. CODE ANNOUNCES FIRST CHARITABLE EVENT

I

T’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PLAN— OR RAISE MONEY. So Mr. Code 2014, Woody Barnes, is preparing for his 2015 trip to International Mr. Leather.

And yes, you read that date correctly.

Barnes won the title in March and has a full year to raise money and awareness for his appearance on a national stage.

His �irst charitable event will be held July 11-13 at Flamingo Resort and bene�its the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas.

Expect to see local celebrities in a swimsuit competition, ranging from drag queens, Sisters of Perpetual indulgence and men dressed as, well, men. Plans will also include a dunk tank and special drinks to help �ill the coffers for ASAP.

MCCRAY-TAYLOR TAKES COMEDY QUEEN TITLE

T

AMPA BAY HAS A BRAND NEW COMEDY QUEEN—Kyla McCrayTaylor. The performer took the title during the annual Tampa Bay Comedy Queen pageant held at The Honey Pot in Ybor City on Sunday, May 18. The Fort Lauderdale resident is known for her comedy, and is the current Miss Fort Lauderdale Comedy Queen as well. When she’s not on stage, Kyla (also known as Trenton) is the assistant manager at Hair Cuttery in Wilton Manors. First runner-up in the 2014 pageant was Alyssa Lemay and second runner-up was Muffy VanBeaverhousen. |  |

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Men’s Health Program New Patients recieve 50% off Initial Consultation during the month of June!

THE ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART IS PROUD TO HOST "VISUAL" FRINGE ART BAZAAR Saturday & Sunday May 17th & 18th + May 24th & 25th From 12-4pm Admission to the Art Bazaar is FREE! 50% OFF Museum admission, with official Fringe Pin or ticket stub, from May 14 - May 27th.

Orlando Museum of Art / 2416 N. Mills Ave. / Orlando, FL 32803 / 407.896.4231 / www.omart.org

On average, men die at a significantly younger age than women. The average life expectancy for American men is almost five years less than women (presently 76 compared to 81), however there is no biological reason for this. In general, men are less likely to discuss their health and how they're feeling. In fact, there is even a reluctance to take action when men don't feel physically or mentally well.

Our Men's Health Program provides each patient a customized approach to establishing routines that ensure optimal wellness. For the month of June we will offer new patients 50% off an initial consultation, which includes: A thorough review of patient's health history Hormonal Evaluation Nutritional Analysis Customized Patient Care Plan which will give you a preventative/proactive approach to your care This introductory initial consultation will be offered to new patients at a reduced rate of $187.50 (reg. $375) throughout the month of June.

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ORLANDO

1- THE KICKOFF: Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, flanked by theatre and community leaders, prepares to cut the ribbon May 14 at the official kickoff of the 23rd Orlando Fringe Festival at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. PHOTO BY PATRICK O’CONNOR 2- MILK MORNING: Ben Johansen (left) and Tim Vargas sip coffee and honor local equality heroes at the 2nd Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, May 12 at the Double Tree

by Hilton Orlando Downtown. PHOTO BY JAMIE HYMAN

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3- ALL PINK EVERYTHING: This mother/daughter team came out May 10 for Scooters 4 Hooters hosted by Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation at Lake Eola Park. The event raised $115,000. PHOTO BY P ATRICK O’CONNOR 4- ALL SMILES: (L-R) Brooklynn Mack, Roy Castro and Margarita Marco wait in line to check out RBARR on grand opening night May 15. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA ROSENTHAL 5- CHATTING IT UP: (L-R) Gary Kirkland, Jon Blitch and Daved Tabin share a drink at Watermark’s Third Thursday May 15 at the Regus Business Center sponsored by Stonewall. PHOTO BY PATRICK O’CONNOR 6- SEEING DOUBLE: Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan (right) buddies up with her doppelganger, actress Maria Ragen, who plays Sheehan in the Orlando Fringe show Escape From Baldwin Park. PHOTO BY DIANA HOPKINS 7– PUTTING THE FUN IN FUNERAL: (L to R) Shawn Keeton, Steve Yacovelli, Scott Dunkle and Rick Claggett get ready to be entertained by a revival of Sordid Lives at Theatre Downtown May 23. PHOTO BY JEN KUNSCH

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8- COOKING UP EXCELLENCE: Chef Edwin Cabrera of the Florida Hospital Center for Nutritional Excellence prepares spiced chicken and pineapple salsa May 14 in the Trina Hidalgo Demonstration Kitchen. PHOTO BY SUSAN CLARY

OVERHEARD RBARR VS. HATERS

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ITH SPOTLIGHTS AIMED TO THE SKY beckoning the Orlando nightlife crowd like moths to the �lame, RBarr had a line around the block on their opening night, May 15. With many cheers came a few jeers. Sadly, not everyone was too thrilled there was a new kid in town. A few people took to social media ripping the place apart, saying they were referred to as riff-raff and proceeded with recounts of discriminatory language launched by bar employees. Management responded with a statement: “Allow me to apologize for the sour experience you may have had when attending RBARR ... Just

to clarify that our staff does not use the term ‘fag.’ It is a term full of hate and it’s use is intolerable at our establishment.” RBarr said that despite some opening day hiccups, the crowds continued to visit throughout the weekend.

THE WOES OF FRINGE PARKING

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ITH THE ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL GROWING IN ATTENDANCE EVERY YEAR, you’d think the home of the Fringe and the tenants would welcome the crowds to the typically empty location. But it seems that some locations can be a bit of drama queens! Fringe patrons arrived

to a closed parking lot at the Rep (south side of Princeton) opening weekend. Attendants were met with security guards and a sign that read the parking lot was reserved for people attending the Rep and not the Fringe shows in the two venues located within the same building as the Rep. The parking lot that shared between the Shakespeare Theater (home to most of the venues) and Orlando Museum of Art was pretty tight as well, due to Sunday services held at the OMA. Luckily, signs directed Fringe lovers to park along Mills Ave. and to the hospital’s parking garage about a block away—plus it was free parking over the weekend.

IT’S NOT EASY WINNING GREEN FALLIN’ FOR FALLON

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FTER EIGHT GRUELING EPISODES ON THE SYFY CHANNEL’S JIM HENSON’S CREATURE SHOP CHALLENGE, local Orlando Artist Robert Bennett of Kissimmee was the winner of the show’s �irst season.

He has previously worked for Disney Imagineering, but after his big win he recently packed up and moved to Hollywood, Calif., with his partner. Robert’s years of experience and passion for his craft proved Central Florida has some incredible talent. We’re sure the grand prize of $100,000 the contract to work for the Jim Henson Creature shop certainly help motivate him as well.

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NIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT WILL HOST THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON as it tapes from June 16-19 with a smörgåsbord of celebrities to join in the fun.

The Tonight Show also promises a �irst look at the brand new Harry Potter Diagon Alley attraction at Universal Studios! Earlier this year, Fallon stood up for LGBT rights by poking fun at ABC’s The Bachelor star Juan Pablo after he made some anti-gay remarks, Fallon had audience members throw hot dogs at an open mouthed cut out of Juan Pablo.

Who knows what other hysterical gimmicks this SNL alum has in store for his visit! |  |

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watermarkonline.com

Transitions CHANGE-OF-LIFE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Congratulations On May 15, partners of 11 years David Dorman and Scott Penyak of Ocoee, Fla., celebrate one year of legal wedded bliss.

They were married in Seattle in 2013.

Also celebrating one year of marriage is Clay Emerson and Jesse Matney, who were married in Seattle in 2013.

E.M. & Voss Solutions Event & Wedding Services owners Sascha Voss and Eric Muenks celebrate 15 years together during Gay Days Weekend.

Local birthdays Orlando Weekly’s droll irony spewer Billy Manes, University of Tampa professor and Equality Florida Meetup volunteer Jack Crepeau, Iowa same-sex wedding planner and former Watermark subject Beau Fodor, Sarasota University Club’s Peter McClain Jr., Harvey Milk Festival president Shannon Fortner (May 22); Miss Sammy’s sister-in-law, elegant party hostess and glamorous costumer to Orlando’s theatrical stars Marcy Singhaus, St. Petersburg karaoke star Javier Dones, Superman-loving Seminole personal trainer Chip Wright, new graduate Sabrina Napolitano (May 25); Tampa Drag Queen Bingo maven Amy DeMilo, Sarasota country line dancer David Russell (May 27); neuromarketing guru Alex Wall (May 28); St. Pete theater supporter Jon Hughes, Dunedin stylist Corey Judge (May 29); Fairvilla peddler DC Bulla, world traveler, pilot and Orlando-based photographer Jim Barrett (May 30); Orlando restaurant magnate Nicholas Olivieri, St. Petersburg Target specialist and social butterfly Joe White (May 31); Ranger’s Pet Outpost founder Rick Merrifield, Lakeland tri-athlete Andy Orrell, City of Gulfport employee and furniture specialist Jon K. Ziegler (June 1); physical therapist Rob Ryan, St. Pete Twirling Project hottie Harry Correa (June 2); Equality Florida public policy director Mallory Wells, Ronda Storms nemesis and Brandon Pride founder Mark Ferguson, OMG Magazine marketing director Timothy Evans (June 3); Tampa catering genius Dan Denoyer, retired Orange County Sheriff’s Department law enforcer Tom Woodard, German-born bear and current Riverview resident Robert Paquette, USF professor Bo Clements (June 4).

WELCOME ABOARD: The Prime Timers of Central Florida

elected its board to serve through May 2015 at its May 13 meeting.

The board consists of, left to right: secretary Ron Bush, treasurer Jerry Danese, director and events chairman Urbie Madore, membership chairman George Sepso, publicity chairman Claude Aube, president Edward Barnes and vice president Ken Bernard.

When it comes to learning about the judicial candidates, it’s best to trust our friends.

Attorney Ashley Filimon: “I have known Patricia Strowbridge for 10 years – as both a trusted mentor and a valued colleague in the legal community. In addition to being the most qualified attorney in this race, she has proven her willingness and ability to serve our community well.

“Let’s rally in support of Patricia Strowbridge. As a Circuit Court judge she will make us proud!”

SHOW OF APPRECIATION: Representatives of the

Orlando Ballet honored the Orlando Health Physician Group with the Tender Care Award for the 2013-2014 season. John Carney, left, accepted the award and is pictured with Ava K. Doppelt, Robert Hill and Teresa Volkerson of the Orlando Ballet.

BIRTHDAY GIRL: Harvey Milk Festival president Shannon Fortner shares her birthday with the legendary namesake of the annual festival she organizes in Sarasota each year on May 22. This photo was taken at this year’s festival, held May 17 at Five Points Park. PHOTO BY STEVE BLANCHARD

FIT TO CELEBRATE: Pinellas County fitness trainer and owner of Kal-El Fitness Chip Wright celebrates a birthday on May 25.

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!

• Patricia is the only Florida Bar Board-Certified attorney in this race.

• Patricia’s legal experience includes 25 years in the family, juvenile, civil and appellate courts, and 2 Florida Supreme Court cases, earning her the respect and support of Central Florida’s top attorneys.

• Patricia’s Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating is a perfect 5.0 out of 5 in 12 practice areas (the highest in this race).

For more information and to show your support for Patricia Strowbridge, please visit

www.StrowbridgeForJudge.com

Non-Partisan Election Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by the Committee to Elect Patricia Strowbridge for Circuit Judge. Group 32.

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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Michael Sam ready to get back to football

sports

Wire Report

S

T. LOUIS | The over�low crowd at Rams Park did not intimidate Michael Sam. He seemed almost eager for the attention and scrutiny.

The �irst openly gay player drafted by an NFL team was con�ident and engaged May 13 as he was formally introduced by the St. Louis Rams, handling questions and scrutiny with aplomb well beyond that of a typical seventh-round pick. ``I’m determined to be great,’’ Sam said. ``I understand that right now you guys want to make a big deal of it.’’

Sam put his arm around coach Jeff Fisher after sharing the podium with other late-round picks.

He joked that he’d never before heard the term ``tweener’’ and even rose in his chair in mock intimidation of fellow Missouri draftee E.J. Gaines, a sixthrounder who’d been asked what the SEC co-defensive player of the year was like as a teammate.

Sam, who came out to teammates and coaches before his senior season at Missouri, disagreed that his sexuality had been a secret. ``Apparently, everybody else makes a big deal out of it,’’ Sam said. ``But my teammates and my school didn’t.’’ ``It’s OK to be who you are,’’ he added. ``Whether you’re gay, straight, black or white, it’s OK to be comfortable in your own skin.’’

After getting the go-ahead from owner Stan Kroenke and making the pick Saturday, Fisher called it a ``second historic moment’’ for a franchise that signed running back Kenny Washington in 1946 as the NFL’s �irst black player in the modern era.

Sam has had a few months to get accustomed to the role of trailblazer instead of a silent star.

Right now he’d much rather be the Rams’ description of ``designated pass rusher.’’ ``I will always support equality, period,’’ Sam said. ``But my job is to focus on football and help this team win a championship.’’

The appearance of perhaps the most famous seventh-round pick in NFL history attracted a massive amount of people.

A half-dozen TV trucks lined a crammed parking lot at Rams Park, an hour before the team’s two �irst-round picks were due at the podium.

About 80 media members attended the news conferences.

Three days earlier when the Rams

Michael Sam

chose Sam with the No. 249 overall pick, the media contingent was in single digits. ``There’s some energy here,’’ general manager Les Snead said with a smile between rounds of interviews. ``But I don’t think this is a circus. This deserves attention, but we’ll get it over and we’ll get to work.’’

For Sam’s subsequent solo session with reporters, he was �lanked by Fisher and Snead, with Rams chief operating of�icer Kevin Demoff joining the group.

Everyone seemed eager to embrace Sam. Second-round pick Lamarcus Joyner, a cornerback from Florida State, has never had an openly gay teammate. He applauded Sam’s decision. ``He’s a courageous young man,’’ Joyner said. ``He’s a brave young man that we need in this organization.’’

Offensive tackle Greg Robinson, a �irstround pick, welcomed Sam to the family.

Robinson and Sam did a TV commercial together for a credit card company. Aaron Donald met Sam at ceremonies for the Lombardi and Nagurski awards. ``He’s a cool guy,’’ Donald said. ``He’s a football player, he works his butt off and that’s what you want. “ The Rams drafted Sam even though they didn’t need help at defensive end, where they have a pair of �irst-round picks as starters.

Robert Quinn was second in the NFL with 19 sacks last season and Chris Long has been a standout since getting chosen second overall in 2008. But the Rams were well-stocked with picks, �inishing with 11 selections, putting them in unique position to make history. ``Shortly before we got to our pick, Michael’s value as a football player was off the charts,’’ Fisher said. ``He has an opportunity now to come in and compete to try to make our team.’’

Sam realizes it’s up to him to make the most of this chance, and he bristles at the naysayers who contend he’s in the NFL only because he came out. ``Will I make the cut?’’ he said, repeating a question. ``You want to �ind out in a couple months, huh?’’ |  | MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

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Mad Cow Theatre Presents

in the Zehngebot-Stonerock theatre “With the precious exception of literati like Oscar Wilde and his beloved Bosie, quarreling lovers are never as articulate and entertaining as they are in Cock …” – VARIETY

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

watermarkonline.com

PHOTO CAPTIONS

1999

1- By 1999, Will & Grace had established itself as a breakout hit. It would win umpteen Emmys, and change hearts and minds, through 2006. (L-R) Sean Hayes, Debra Messing, Erik McCormack, Megan Mullally.

2- Manny Alvarez was one of the developers behind an lgbt-fueled real estate boom in Ybor City.

3- These ladies of law enforcement volunteered to work Tampa’s Pride Parade. Jane Castor (3rd from right) currently serves as Tampa Police Chief.

1

6

2

4- When Rev. Jerry Falwell proclaimed Tinky Winky a ‘gay role model,’ the purple TeleTubby started showing up all over the place, including this version at Orlando’s PrideFest ’99.

5- Members of the Orlando Gay Chorus at the 8 th Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom. By 1999, estimated lgbt park attendance—apparent by the number of red shirts—had surged to over 50,000.

6- Halcyon’s Steph Callahan recruited audience members to play harmonica at the first Withlacoochee Women’s Music Festival at Sawmill Resort.

3

8

7- Host Russ Crumley at his first-ever ‘Devil’s Carnivale’ Halloween costume ball on I-Drive. Crumley later moved to St. Pete.

He died last year, leaving us far too early.

8- Animated head coach Carolyn Peck was one reason the brand new WNBA Orlando Miracle quickly developed a huge fan base amongst local lesbians. The Miracle became the Connecticut Suns in 2003.

9- The outrageous Twat Sisters of Tampa Bay at the July 3 Pride Parade, which started at Lykes Gas Light Park and ended at MetroPort Terminal VI.

5

4

ON THE COVER Watermark turns 20 this coming Labor Day. In the issues between now and then, founder and publisher Tom Dyer looks back at a remarkable two decades.

On this page, he returns to 1999.

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12

I took the eye-catching photo used on this “Queers in the Kingdom” Gay Days cover. It drew unexpected controversy, with one reader commenting: “Your cover is just how antigay people want to portray us—as a bunch of transvestite flames.”

A

9

LOOKING BACK

S PRECURSOR TO Y2K,

1999 was like a glorious gay holding pattern. But in Tom Dyer the “post-Ellen” lgbt world, there PUBLISHER were notable events.

With the trial of Matthew Shepard’s murderers looming, Alabaman Billy Jack Gaither’s throat was slit and his skull cracked open before his body was incinerated on a pile of tires. His attacker claimed Gaither he had made a pass at him.

James Hormel was named Ambassador to Luxembourg, becoming the �irst openly gay U.S. Ambassador. And before Christmas, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that committed samesex couples must be afforded the same bene�its and protections as opposite sex married couples.

Will & Grace became a hit, but gays were largely relegated to subplots in movies like American Beauty, Election and The Talented

7

Mr. Ripley. Cher was reborn as a gay icon with her auto-tune hit “Believe.”

Signi�icant progress was made in Tampa Bay schools. The Pinellas School Board passed a ban on anti-gay discrimination against students and employees.

Hillsborough relented and allowed a gay/straight alliance to form at Blake High School, a magnet school for the arts. And Hillsborough Community College became the �irst in the state to offer domestic partner bene�its.

Carrie West lost his bid in District 6, but District 2 elected Rose Ferlita to a mostly progressive Tampa City Council.

The biggest Tampa Bay Pride to date included a rainy downtown

15 YEARS AGO parade and business expo. With �ilms like Jeffrey and Better Than Chocolate, the 10th TIGLFF also broke records.

In Orlando, Patty Sheehan announced a second run for City Council. New GLBCC board president Barry Miller and executive director Chris Alexander-Manley shared ambitious plans for new headquarters on Mills Ave. But for the �irst time in 10 years there was no Pride Parade.

Attendance at Gay Days parties continued to burst. Watermark’s Beach Ball �illed Typhoon Lagoon to capacity. First time events for women and families were also successful. Hope & Help’s Headdress Ball marked 10 successful years. New owners Don Granatstein and Susan Unger undertook a major remodel of the iconic Parliament House Resort.

Finally, Watermark moved into new headquarters in South Colonialtown to celebrate �ive years. |  |

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

MOST POPULAR SONG

“Believe” by Cher

MOST POPULAR ALBUM

Millenium by Backstreet Boys

MOST POPULAR TV SHOW

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

HIGHEST GROSSING FILM

Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace BEST PICTURE OSCAR

American Beauty

CELEBRITIES WHO CAME OUT

Nathan Lane, former Major League Baseball player Billy Bean STATES WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY

None

NUMBER OF AIDS DEATHS

16,762 in U.S. (level since 1997)

429,825 in World (20,000 more than in 1998)

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

61

PHOTO CAPTIONS 1- Chi Chi Larue (pictured with Sterling Powell) was the headliner at an expanded PrideFest 2000, which included a parade, expo at TBPAC and Wet Party at the Florida Aquarium. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE E. REYNOLDS

2000

2- Mary Cheney (at left with sister Liz Cheney) became one the nation’s highest profile lesbians when her dad, Dick Cheney became vice president.

3- Rev. John Gill and a contingent from King of Peace MCC were among the half million who attended the Millenium March on Washington for Equality.

They were joined by k.d. lang, Melissa Etheridge and George Michael.

4- Remember Richard Hatch, the manipulative evil genius who won the first season of Survivor? He was openly gay… and often naked.

5- The Tampa Bay Business Guild named Bill Kanouff its “Citizen of the Year” and he deserved it.

1

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE E. REYNOLDS

6- Sparked by out visionaries like Phil Rampy, Barry Miller and Steve Kodsi, development in neighborhoods surrounding Lake Eola brought a hip, cosmopolitan feel to downtown Orlando. Rampy was chosen Person of the Year by Orlando magazine.

5

7- On her second try for Orlando City Council, Patty Sheehan defeated incumbent Bill Bagley in a runoff, and things haven’t been the same since.

6

9- Hilary Swank won a Best Actress Oscar for her heartbreaking performance in Boys Don’t Cry playing Brandon Tina, a transgender murder victim.

MOST POPULAR SONG “Breathe” by Faith Hill MOST POPULAR ALBUM

No Strings Attached by *NSYNC

3

Watermark turns 20 this coming Labor Day. In the issues between now and then, founder and publisher Tom Dyer looks back at a remarkable two decades.

On this page, he returns to 2000.

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 13

Survivor: The Australian Outback

HIGHEST GROSSING FILM

Mission: Impossible II

BEST PICTURE OSCAR

Gladiator

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

“They misunderestimated me.”–George W. Bush after the 2000 election

None

NUMBER OF AIDS DEATHS

14,499 in U.S. (down 2,000 since 1999)

448,060 in World (20,000 more than in 1999)

62

4

ON THE COVER

MOST POPULAR TV SHOW

STATES WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY

8

2

8- Center director Chris Alexander-Manley was arrested at a Soulforce demonstration at the Southern Baptist Convention at the Orange County Convention Center. 2000 was a banner year for GLBCC, which raised funds and moved into the high-profile Mills Ave. building where it remains.

14 YEARS AGO

7

I saw this beautiful couple on Main Street and felt that they captured the theme for our tenth anniversary coverage of what by 2000 had become the biggest annual lgbt event in the nation. We called it “The New Maturity of Gay Day Weekend.”

watermark YOUR LGBT LIFE.

9

T

LOOKING BACK

HERE WAS AN HISTORIC

presidential election and a Millennium March on Washington for Equality that drew Tom Dyer 500,000. But the biggest local story PUBLISHER of 2000 was Patty Sheehan—the �irst openly gay person elected to a major public of�ice in the area.

Her runoff win over incumbent Bill Bagley put a gay face on Orlando’s City Council, and marked a sea change for local politics. Within months the city had passed harassment and nondiscrimination protections for gay employees.

Orlando’s GLBCC also had a good year, raising $200,000 and moving into a remodeled building in the heart of what was then the ViMi District, and what is now Mills/50. And the Pride Parade returned, this time in the evening.

Universal joined Disney in

MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

offering domestic partner bene�its.

And police threatened the Oops Guys with closure because their Fringe show, The Naked Guy, featured full frontal. It was a hit. So was Michael Wanzie’s Trailer Trash Tabloid. Fringe was of�icially gay.

In Tampa Bay, several beloved HIV physicians left the area in 2000, including Drs. Dorece Norris, Susan Weir and Robert J. Wallace. And the Center of Tampa Bay closed when a $4,500 monthly shortfall was revealed.

Protestors forced local media outlets to drop “Tired of being

watermarkonline.com

gay?” ads promoting Focus on Family’s conversion therapy seminars. But the Hillsborough County Commission voted against rights protections for gays—“an embarrassment,” said Commissioner Pat Frank.

TIGLFF maintained record attendance with hits like Psycho Beach Party and The Broken Hearts Club. In St. Pete, Suncoast lured the huge International Mr. Drummer Contest from San Francisco.

Area activists area protested the new Dr. Laura talk show. Host Dr. Laura Schlesinger had labeled gays as “biological errors.”

Nationally, Matthew Shepard’s murderers were convicted. Ellen and Anne Heche broke up. And Showtime stretched limits with the sexy Queer As Folk.

Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris—remember the makeup?—joined with the Supreme Court of the United States to give us President George W. Bush. |  |

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MAY 22 - JUNE 4, 2014 // ISSUE 21.11

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FINAL OPPORTUNITY COPLEY SQUARE TOWNHOMES

Luxury Downtown Living, From the High $200s Low-Maintenance Townhomes in the SoDo Area This is your last chance to choose from a select few remaining townhomes in Copley Square, just a few steps away from the desirable SoDo area. The location caters to a vibrant lifestyle with gathering places for recreation, education, entertainment and shopping. The townhomes feature upscale designs by Cecconi Simone, an internationally known design firm.

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Only 10 homes remain, attached two-car garages Community pool and cabana Close to downtown, hospitals and I-4

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407.704.8939

Š 2014 Ashton Woods Homes. Plans, specifications, prices, and available items are subject to change without prior notice or obligation, and may vary by elevation. Square footage is approximate, and subject to change without prior notice or obligation. Images are an artist’s conception, and not a guarantee of final specifications. Please contact an Ashton Woods Homes Sales Agent for details and additional information. Ashton Woods received the highest numerical score in United States in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2014 Most Trusted Builder in America StudySM. Study based on 43,200 new home shoppers in 27 markets. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed between January and December 2013. CRC# 1517613