Watermark Issue 21.18: Tampa Bay Bucs

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daytOna beach • OrlandO • tampa • St. peterSburg • SaraSOta • iSSue 21.18 • auguSt 28 - September 10, 2014 • WatermarkOnline.cOm

L IA C

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IT’S

GAME TIME An NFL first: Tampa Bay Bucs announce its inaugural LGBT Community Gameday

ORANGE COUNTY’S

TERESA JACOBS:

“I support marriage equality.”

Federal judge:

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Departments 6 // mail 8 // orlanDo news 12 // tampa bay news 16 // state 19 // nation & worlD news 27 // arts & entertainment 39 // community calenDar 41 // tampa bay oVerHearD 43 // orlanDo oVerHearD 45 // transitions 46 // tampa bay marketplace 47 // sports 48 // orlanDo marketplace 54 // lookinG back

PAGE

21

those who enter opposite-sex marriages are harmed not at all

when others...are given the liberty to choose their own life partners and are shown the respect that comes with formal marriage.

— u.s. DisTricT JuDge roberT l. hinkle

PAGE

on tHe coVer

PAGE The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

launched the first12 have ever regular season NFL

event to cater to an LGBT audience.

The LGBT Community Gameday is scheduled for Sept. 14 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, when the Bucs face the St. Louis Rams.

preview

27 Horror career: The iconic Kathy Bates won another Emmy for her portrayal as a centuries old witch in American Horror Story: Coven. Now she’s preparing for a new role on the fourth season of the FX Miniseries and tells us about her long time connection with the LGBT community.

watermark issue 21.18 //auGust 28 - sept ember 10, 2014

orlanDo news

tampa bay news

real stories

PAGE Orange County Mayor

PAGE The Tampa Bay

PAGE Two women in

lookinG back

Illustration by Patrick O’Connor

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

08

Teresa Jacobs discusses her views on marriage equality and LGBT rights with Watermark publisher Tom Dyer; Carver Middle School sued again for denying GSA; UCF recognized as a top LGBT-friendly school; more.

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Buccaneers will host an LGBT Community Game Day at Raymond James Stadium; Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith will receive an award from Metro Wellness at its annual gala; AIDS Walk St. Pete preps for a busy Sept. 6 event.

31

St. Petersburg’s LGBT community have turned the stories of minorities over the years into an art show that mixes theater, digital media and photography.

Your Real Stories has unveiled its first full season, dedicated to the day workers of the 20th century.

PAGE Watermark is just weeks

from celebrating 54 away its 20th anniversary

and publisher Tom Dyer wraps up his retrospective with a look at the year that was 2013. If you missed one of these looks backs, don’t worry, they’ll reappear in our upcoming anniversary issue.

make watermark better! cominG soon to watermarkonline.com—our 2014 reaDer surVey! watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

5

top web comments from watermarkonline.com On Scottie Campbell’s story remembering Paul Wegman:

2304

ALOMA & ST. ANDREWS

407-245-1166 Dr. David Rice is now working with EOLA EYES

519 North Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32803

“T

hank you for the great tribute to the amazing Paul Wegman.

I came to Orlando in 1984 and instantly fell for P’s individuality and tightrope humor, partially because when she reared her head back and let that full-throated laugh out, you felt the heart behind the wit.

“Meeting Paul Proper years later told me that there wasn’t as much difference between the character and the man as I had imagined. The wit and passion for fun were there, and his heart was too big to be held by any stage. I’m really sorry that Paul never wrote the memoir he kept threatening to write—I think he said he wanted to call it “And There’s A Bathtub In The Kitchen.”

“Now that would be one hell of a read, just like Paul and P were one hell of a guy.”

—Stephen Grayce

“Wow. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone 10 years. I still remember his message to me in my Crucifer of Blood

6

watermark Your lgbt life.

“So to all you Anita Bryants, Ronda Storms, Rick Scotts, and Pam Bondis out there… ’Wake up and smell the money!’”

—Mark Ferguson

program—I wish I could build a theater have capture you to work in it!

Crucifer and She Stoops— two shows that are very memorable for me from my time at Valencia!”

—James R. McQuiggan On a federal judge ruling Florida’s samesex marriage ban unconstitutional:

“One of three Florida cases in favor of equality, and one of three dozen federal court decisions in favor of equality in the past year, but the big deal will be the Supreme Court hearing.

Since Chief Justice John Roberts realizes that he does not want to be on the wrong side of history, look for him to join the winning side, resulting in a 6-3 win for marriage equality in the coming year.”

—Jerry Reiter

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

On the marriage equality fight in Missouri moving from state to federal court:

“Attorney General Chris Koster is showing common sense. All of these samesex marriage cases will ultimately be decided by the supreme court. There’s no point in wasting time in the state courts.”

—csmyth3025

On the financial benefits of legalizing gay marriage in Florida:

“I been saying this for years, and I know, I know, and I know that all Floridians, gay and straight, would greatly benefit from marriage equality. So to all you Anita Bryants, Ronda Storms, Rick Scotts, and Pam Bondis out there …..’Wake up and smell the money!’”

—Mark Ferguson

contributors

editor’s

Steve Blanchard EDITOR

SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com

A

Desk

s a late-30-something who

lives 900 miles away from his hometown, waking up in the room I lived in as a child and a teenager is unsettling. I open my eyes, stretch and briefly panic as I try to remember if it’s a school day and wonder if the last two decades of my life has been a dream.

Of course, neither is the case.

But for me, that morning experience seems to set the tone for the version of myself I present to my family whenever I stop in Missouri for my annual August visit. Unfortunately, and disappointedly, the Midwestern version of “Steve” is a different, edited recreation of my true self when I walk through the doors of my childhood home.

What’s so disturbing is I didn’t even realize I was doing edited portrayal until it was commented

on by my significant other. He has only seen me in my “Florida element” and was surprised to see and hear how I presented myself back home.

My family knows I’m gay. They’ve known that for almost 16 years.

Their initial discovery of that fact wasn’t a pleasant time in my life. There were plenty of tears, threats and painful letters and phone conversations. Time helped ease that pain, and after some work and a lot of patience, we’ve

watermark staff Publisher: Tom Dyer • Ext. 305 • Tom@WatermarkOnline.com Chief Financial Officer: Rick Claggett • Ext. 108 • Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Admin. Assistant: Kathleen Harper • Ext. 100 • Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Steve Blanchard • 813-470-0899 • SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com Reporter: Samantha Rosenthal • 104 • Samantha@WatermarkOnline.com Online Media Director: Jamie Hyman • Ext. 106 • Jamie@WatermarkOnline.com Proofreading: Ed Blaisdell Art Director: Jake Stevens • Ext. 109 • Jake@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Assistant: Patrick O’Connor • Ext. 109 • AdProduction@WatermarkOnline.com

patched up the relationship and managed to redefine the parents/ son dynamic. Unfortunately, that means a large portion of what makes me “me” gets pushed into a vault somewhere in the back of my mind.

When I’m in the presence of my parents and even my extended family, my sexuality is the big pink elephant in the room. It’s a subject not really discussed and only mentioned in passing when I talk about my life in Florida.

When a story comes on the local or national news about marriage equality, same-sex benefits or transgender rights, a large, uncomfortable weight appears in the room as a pinhole of light hits on the subject we’ve all dutifully swept under the rug and avoid like a dead body.

It’s a very different presentation than the “real” me I am free to be when I’m in the Sunshine State.

Here, I’m the editor of the state’s leading LGBT newsmagazine, an advocate for transgender rights and a vocal critic of all who fight against marriage equality or place religion above equality.

The Florida Steve is the one who is well-known in Tampa Bay and Orlando and is nurturing a relationship with a wonderful man a year after a previous long-term relationship faded. I encourage others to come out, talk about changing minds and constantly promote acceptance of others, regardless of differences.

But when I visit Missouri, it’s like a light switch flips. I’m quiet, rather reserved, and I avoid topics of conflict. The rules are simple: I don’t talk about politics of any kind, I ignore the constant blaring of the ridiculousness that is FOX News on the television and I never bring up my personal relationships unless I am directly asked.

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watermark Your lgbt life.

I’m not proud of this behavior.

I write this to challenge myself to do better. But it’s no wonder why these trips are only once a year.

A very good friend of mine once told me that all relationships are like business connections and agreements. Things change, circumstances evolve and contracts need to be renegotiated.

I’m at the point in my life where that should be done. It’s time to renegotiate.

When I was 21 and newly out, I

I can feel the uncomfortable weight in the room as a pinhole of light hits on the subject we’ve all dutifully swept under the rug.

dutifully accepted the restrictions placed on me by my family out of fear of losing them. In return, they would avoid the subject of my sexuality and the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” mentality would permeate our relationship for the next decade and beyond.

But that policy didn’t work for the military, and it certainly doesn’t work for familial bonds.

Families are fragile, yes. But if I act ashamed of who I am, then my family will continue to think being LGBT is something shameful.

If I truly want the world to continue to evolve on LGBT rights, then I have to expect—no, demand—the same from the people responsible for putting me on this planet.

Orlando Office P. O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655 TEL: 407-481-2243 FAX: 407-481-2246

Tampa Bay Office TEL: 813-655-9890 FAX: 813-849-2986

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

Dr. Steve Yacovelli

is Owner & Principal of TopDog Learning Group, LLC, a learning and development consulting firm based in Orlando that provides guidance and solutions in diversity and inclusion. Page 23

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 27

Chris Muscardin

is a student at the University of Central Florida where he is studying journalism and literature.

He is also a 2013 graduate of Valencia College. Page 31

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

distribution Debbie Oliver, Phil Garris, Ken Caraway CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher.

Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers.

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7

orlando news

aclu wants final JuDGment in fiGHt for Gsa at carVer miDDle scHool Staff report

T

averes | The American Civil Liberties Union is still fighting for a Gay-Straight Alliance at Carver Middle School.

The ACLU filed a motion asking for summary judgment in a lawsuit filed against the Lake County School District, as district officials have so far refused to allow Carver students to form a GSA. The lawsuit was filed in December of 2013, on behalf of Hannah Faughnan, 12, a former seventhgrader who is attempting to form a GSA at her school.

Faughnan is representing a group of students who want to create the GSA. There was a hearing before Judge William Terrell Hodges at the United States District Court Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division Feb. 10, but no action since.

This is the second lawsuit filed over a GSA at Carver Middle School in the past year. The last time the ACLU sued Lake County Schools, they were representing openly bisexual Bayli Silberstein, who at the time was a 14-year-old 8th grader at Carver Middle School. After months of legal wrangling and school board meeting debates, a judge granted Silberstein permission to form the club for the remainder of her 8th grade year, which ended in the summer of 2013.

That settlement has expired, Bayli has moved onto high school and now, the GSA no longer meets at Carver Middle School. Before the club became inactive, Faughan and her friends tried to keep it going but ran into administrative roadblocks similar to the ones Silberstein faced.

The motion filed Aug. 22 asks Federal District Judge William Terrell Hodges to issue an order stating that the school board’s efforts violated the federal Equal Access Act—a law which says that all student clubs must be given equal treatment by school administrators—and allowing the club to meet and be treated the same as any other student club on campus, according to the ACLU. “The new school year has just begun. The School Board through its Superintendent has violated the Equal Access Act in disallowing the Carver GSA to form and operate as a student group,” the motion reads. “Plaintiffs request that the Court ensure that they are given equal access to all of the benefits afforded to any other noncurriculum related student group as the school year resumes.”

The Federal Access Act, passed in 1984, requires secondary schools to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs. Religious groups initially lobbied for the law, to ensure students have the right to conduct Bible Study programs after school.

8

an ongoing JourneY:

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, photographed at Orlando’s Watermark office, says her journey with the LGBT community has progressed and changed her way of thinking on a number of issues.

PHOTO By JAKE STEVEnS

“I support It” Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs’ journey toward marriage equality Tom Dyer

o

rlanDo | I spoke with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs at the Watermark offices on Thursday, Aug. 21.

The headline coming out of the interview is that Jacobs announced her support for marriage equality.

But she also offered unique insights into her journey on LGBT issues and her relationship with the local community.

With Florida court cases lined up like jets on a tarmac, and support for marriage equality vocalized by Orlando’s Buddy Dyer and mayors throughout the region, pressure has been mounting on Jacobs to weigh in.

In a 2009 interview with Watermark, Jacobs expressed support for civil unions but stated that ‘marriage should be reserved for a

watermark Your lgbt life.

man and a woman.’ She also endorsed Florida’s ban on gay adoption.

But after winning election in 2010, Jacobs backed inclusion of sexual orientation in the county’s human rights ordinance. One of her first acts as mayor was approval of domestic partner benefits for county employees. And though a countywide domestic partner registry was more problematic, it passed with Jacobs’ vote in 2012.

Based on that record, some high profile Democrats supported Jacobs’ re-election in 2014. But when Democratic opponent Val Demings dropped out of the race in May, there was concern that Jacobs—a Republican and devout Catholic—would sidestep LGBT issues, especially marriage equality.

On July 25, she released a puzzling statement expressing support for religious freedom and

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

confidence in the court system to resolve marriage equality.

“Although, as mayor, I have no jurisdiction on this issue, I have read the Miami-Dade lawsuit and believe that a very strong case was made.”

The statement disappointed detractors and supporters. We had plenty to talk about.

My impression? For Jacobs, embracing LGBT equality is not a political calculation—as it has been for many elected officials on the national level—but instead an exercise in shedding cultural stereotypes and deeply held religious beliefs. She believes her greatest value may be to help advance the thinking of those who are similarly situated; who believe in fairness and equality, but struggle to align that with conservative notions of family and church. Speaking to this audience, and not the LGBT community, may account for some of her missteps.

What follows are excerpts from a wide-ranging and sometimes emotional conversation of more than an hour.

On marriage eQuality:

I support it. Will it be upheld by the courts? I don’t know.

cOntinued On pg. 10 | uu |

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Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

9

orlando news

FL Supreme Court rules in lesbian custody case Staff report

T

he Florida Supreme Court has ruled that a Seminole County woman can have visitation rights to the son she adopted with her ex-partner.

The couple, identified in court documents only as C.P. and G.P., broke up and the birth mother took their 6-year-old and cut off contact.

The Aug. 11 Supreme Court ruling backs a previous ruling in Daytona Circuit Court that the adoptive mother has custody rights. It was a single-page order signed by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and four of the other six justices concurred: Barbara Pariente, Charles Canady, Ricky Polston and James Perry, but not Justices Peggy Quince or R. Fred Lewis.

The Daytona circuit ruling, which came down in May, overturned a previous ruling by a Seminole County judge who nullified the adoption.

The women were in a committed relationship from 2005 to 2012 and conceived the child in 2007 using an anonymous donor.

The birth mother changed her last name to match her partner’s and child’s, and the two women raised the child together. In 2011, they petitioned the court to allow the birth mother’s partner to legally adopt their child, and the adoption was granted in 2012.

The couple received a birth certificate listing both of their names as parents. The women separated and co-parented for a year, but then the birth mother requested that the adoption be voided. The Seminole County judge granted that request.

The May Daytona ruling states that the child was raised by both women, regards them equally as parents and the birth mother is wrong to argue otherwise.

“It would be unconscionable to allow [birth mother] to invoke the jurisdiction of the court for the sole purpose of creating a parent-child relationship between [partner] and [child] and then to allow her to destroy that same relationship because her relationship with [partner] has ended,” the ruling states.

Gays were prohibited from adopting children in Florida from 1977 to 2010. It was the case of Martin Gill, who wanted to adopt the foster children he and his partner were caring for, that turned the tide on gay adoption in the Sunshine State. A state appeals court upheld a ruling by a lower court that the law preventing gay residents from adopting violated equal protection rights of same-sex couples and gay individuals. The governor and attorney general declined to appeal that ruling, which ended the 33year ban on gays adopting children in Florida.

10

UCF listed among top 50 most LGBT-friendly colleges and universities Staff Report

O

rlando | Campus Pride released is annual “Campus Pride Top LGBT-Friendly Colleges & Universities” listing for 2014 and the UCF Knights made the cut.

The University of Central Florida graced the list of institutions of higher learning that were considered the most LGBT-friendly, making it the only school in Florida to appear on the list. Normally, Campus Pride releases a “Top 25 List,” but this year was the first year it released the fifty “Best of the Best.”

A report from Campus Pride

| uu | Teresa Jacobs from pg.8

I think so. I hope so.

On why she changed her mind:

My opinion is that gay couples should have the same rights and benefits as any other couple. I used to think that civil unions would get you there. But I see now that civil unions don’t provide the same rights and benefits. People should be able to share their lives with the person they love. Government should treat these couples the same. Once you establish that, it takes you to marriage equality.

On her previous reluctance to address marriage equality:

Members of the LGBT community want to know that I understand how important their relationships are. But I don’t have any jurisdiction over marriage equality. My role is the same as any individual with an opportunity to vote. So it has taken some time for me to come to terms with the fact that people want to know how I feel on this issue.

On her July 25 statement on the Miami-Dade lawsuit:

If I had realized people might find it unclear, I would have written it differently. I thought the arguments on the plaintiff’s behalf were

watermark Your lgbt life.

stated that a university of college must receive a five stars overall rating and achieve the highest percentages from eight benchmarks that grade the school’s LGBT-friendliness based on “policy, program and practice.”

UCF opened its doors to LGBTQ Services in 2011 and also announced in December 2012 the opening of Pride Commons—a communal area with services for LGBT students on campus—in coordination with Pride Coalition starting on campus.

After a dispute between the UCF Student Body Senate and Pride Coalition over the misuse of funds, the Senate voted Feb. 27 to terminate Pride Coalition as Student Government Association agency, restructuring

it as a committee under the Multicultural Student Center (MSC). LGBTTQ Services and Pride Commons still exist on campus, while Pride Coalition was disbanded.

UCF also held its first Pride event, Knight Pride, in October 2013.

The Campus Pride Index was constructed to help inform LGBT students at schools across the nation with comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the safety and academic life on various campuses.

The list isn’t ranked in any particular order and includes other universities such as Princeton, Harvard and Rutgers.

very compelling. I think that the courts will find the ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.

what my Catholic church teaches.

My next door neighbor can still get married and have all the rights and privileges of marriage without taking anything away from my church.’

I got married 33 years ago this week. My husband is Jewish. I’m Catholic. We did not get married in the church or in a synagogue. Neither would permit it. Yet I continue to be Catholic and my husband continues to be Jewish. I don’t think they were right, but I would nonetheless defend my church’s right not to marry me.

I think it’s extremely important that government not be so reaching that it interferes with the right of religions to have their own doctrines.

On future court pronouncements:

We’ve seen over the last couple years that this patchwork quilt of how we address marriage, state by state, is a disaster. Hopefully this issue will be settled by the Supreme Court.

On her focus on religious freedom in the context of marriage equality:

For a long time when I heard the word ‘marriage’ I thought religion—my Catholic religion—

I think that I can change some peoples’ opinions on this issue.

—Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs

and what I have been raised to believe. I think a lot of people still see marriage as a sacrament.

I wanted to be clear [in my July 25 statement] because I think it’s important, as we move this conversation forward and as society becomes more accepting, that people realize that they don’t have to feel threatened. I put that statement in because I wanted people to go, ‘Wait… this isn’t about what my Baptist church teaches or

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

I think that is a big part of what this country was founded on.

On her role in advocating for marriage equality:

I hope that as mayor I have the opportunity to change opinions on a number of things. And I think that, with the right kind of communication, I can change some

Continued on pg. 11 | uu |

orlando news | uu | Teresa Jacobs frOm pg.10

people’s opinions on this issue.

On Whether She’S been apprOached by OppOnentS Of marriage eQuality:

Oh, gosh yes.

On What She haS tOld Or Will tell them:

The same thing I told you. People should be free to choose whom they live with, and government shouldn’t discriminate against them for that choice.

On Whether that Will influence them:

Hopefully. But some will not be changed at this point in time.

On adOptiOn by gayS and leSbianS:

I’ve changed my mind on that.

After our interview people got a hold of me and said, ‘Let me show you my family. Let me introduce you to my kids.’ And it was eye-

opening to see how accepted they are in their neighborhoods and in their schools. I don’t know that you could find that everywhere in this country, but society is definitely moving in that direction and I’m glad we are where we are.

My daughter babysits for a [gay] couple that has twins.

They are great parents.

On making dOmeStic partner benefitS a pOSt-electiOn priOrity:

When I expressed concerns about the financial impact you asked me a rather profound question, Tom, which was, ‘Why should cost matter for same-sex couples in a way that’s different than other couples?’ And I remember thinking, ‘Hmm… there’s something wrong with my thinking here. That doesn’t sit well with me.’ I quickly realized that we need to take this on… and it was the very first thing we did.

On the prOtracted prOceSS tOWard a dOmeStic partner regiStry:

If we would have started with what this was really about, we would have

gotten to a result much quicker. It’s amazing how quickly things move when there is trust, and how much they slow down when there isn’t.

A friend of mine asked me, ‘Why is this taking so long?’ I told him it was because we were considering legal ramifications… this issue and that issue. He said, ‘What about the fact that a registry will make people feel validated?’ That was the point where I understood the importance of putting ‘domestic partner registry’ in the title.

I take responsibility for the process. I think knowing what I know today, I would have done it very differently.

On cOmpariSOnS With mayOr dyer:

We’re generally trying to move in a similar direction on a lot of issues, but we have different styles.

Collectively, I happen to think it serves this community pretty well.

I think it’s generally good to have someone who is pushing the envelope and somebody who is slowing down and exploring things.

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Dispute oVer Gay icon DiVine’s estate settleD Staff report

o

rlanDo | An Orlando district judge has settled a dispute over the estate of gay icon Divine, most famous for being the muse of director John Waters.

Divine’s legal name is Harris Glenn Milstead, and he died in 1988 at the age of 42 from an enlarged heart. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael O’Quinn, a friend of Milstead’s mother, Frances, became Frances’ business manager and then was named as beneficiary of Milstead’s estate in her will.

Frances later revised the will to leave the estate to her nieces and nephews. The court ruled that O’Quinn willfully ignored the revision and took over the estate.

The misappropriation was discovered by O’Quinn’s business partner in 2011 and led to the court case. The case was settled July 10.

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11

tampa bay news

progressive FooTball: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among the first NFL teams to actively reach out to the LGBT community by hosting a tailgate party exclusively for LGBT organizations and fans.

FighTing The gooD FighT: Equality Florida CEO nadine Smith spoke at the King of Peace MCC Church in July when a South Florida judge ruled the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. PHOTO By STEVE BLAnCHARD

metro to Honor naDine smitH at seconD Gala Dylan Drobet

T

ampa bay | Metro Wellness and Community Center will honor Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith at its second annual Tampa Bay Gala on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Smith will receive the Robert Pope Distinguished Leadership Award for the work she’s done for equality in Florida. The award is given each year to honor someone in the community whose work exemplifies great leadership and accomplishment with regard to the LGBT or HIV communities.

The award’s namesake is Robert Pope, one of the founders of Metropolitan Charities.

More than 20 years ago, Pope and his partner, Lawrence Konrad, were at the forefront of helping to make Metro Charities a reality. His desire to help those in the community led the way for our organization.

According to Chris Rudisill, Director of LGBT Programs at Metro Wellness and Community Center, it is not a coincidence that Pope also lobbied the Florida Legislature as a board member of the former Florida Gay & Lesbian Task Force and continues to stand up for equality in Tampa Bay. With a love of over 50 years, Pope and Konrad recently made a statement as part of Equality Florida’s Day of Decision celebration.

“Nadine Smith exemplifies the strength and courage in leadership that Robert Pope set as a standard in our LGBT community and we are proud to honor her with this year’s Robert Pope Distinguished Leadership Award, recognizing the work she continues to do, day in and day out to ensure full equality for everyone in our state,” Rudisill said.

The decision is made by a group of staff and community members that make up the host committee for the event.

Smith is the second person to receive this award.

cOntinued On pg. 14 | uu |

12

Football pride Bucs to hold NFL’s first regular season LGBT Community Gameday Sept. 14 Steve Blanchard

T

aMpa | For the first time in the NFL’s history, teams are finally reaching out, specifically, to the LGBT community. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among those teams involved and will host an LGBT Community Gameday on Sunday, Sept. 14.

The celebration is essentially a tailgate party outside of Raymond James Stadium that incorporates Tampa Bay’s LGBT community, the You Can Play Project and the historic addition of Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay player.

The Bucs take on the St. Louis Rams—the team that drafted Sam earlier this year—on Sept. 14 at 4:05 p.m.

“We’ve been trying to get this going for three years now, and in January I got the goahead,” said Bree Parker, a group account executive with the Bucs organization. “Shortly after that, Michael Sam came out and was drafted. Holding this day when we

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play the Rams makes sense.”

It’s important to note that this LGBT Community Gameday is not a Pride night at Raymond James stadium. That misperception initially caused some irritation among some community leaders, who felt the team was using the LGBT community rather than promoting it. But once the details were hammered out, Parker said more groups were excited to participate.

“I really wanted to promote this at St. Pete Pride in order to get the details out there, but the Pride festival fell in a time when the Buccaneers organization was on vacation and everyone was out,” Parker recalled. “Next year, I want us to have a presence there.”

The work has already started.

Parker said she reached out to Eric Skains, St. Pete Pride’s executive director, to start the conversation about the LGBT Community Gameday. Skains put her in touch with several community organizations who were excited for the opportunity to finally blend the LGBT community with

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

an NFL organization.

“Everyone is so excited about the laws changing in Tampa and in Florida to respect LGBT people,” Parker said. “We’re excited there will be a Tampa Pride next year and I’m encouraged that we’ll have a presence there as well.”

Parker said the idea for this event stemmed from the large number of LGBT season ticket holders and fans who attend the Bucs games each week. Building on that relationship just makes sense, she said.

Anyone wanting to attend the tailgate party may do so as long as they hold a valid Bucs ticket for that Sept. 14 game. A $5 donation per ticket will be made to the You Can Play Project, which encourages LGBT youths to participate in sports. That organization’s founder, Wade Davis, is expected to attend the celebration.

Usually, a tailgate party like this involves an additional fee, but Parker said the Bucs have waived it for this event, which will be at Lot 14. It’s also a chance for community groups to network.

“Because of exclusive deals with our sponsors, the groups can’t put up signs, but they can wear a shirt with their logo on it, pass out brochures or tchotchkes if they want,” Parker said. “Bottom line, we want folks to have a big party and have a good time

cOntinued On pg. 14 | uu |

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13

tampa bay news

Teen retaliates to possible outing by breaking into uncle’s home Staff Report

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ampa | A 50-year-old man shot and wounded an intruder Aug. 24, and that home invader happened to be his nephew.

According to police reports, the 15-year-old boy broke into the Tampa home shortly after 1:30 a.m. The resident, Maya Williams, heard a crash and someone walking around the home and he grabbed a gun.

Williams, who is legally blind, said that he recognized the voice of his nephew, who had cut the power lines to Williams’ home and had broken in through a bedroom window. The teen had armed himself with two knives.

Williams said he believed the teen wanted to retaliate against him for possibly outing him to his family.

“I was like, ‘What are you doing in my house?’’”

Williams told Bay News 9. “He was like, ‘I come to see you.’ ‘You come to see me, cut the lights out, arm yourself with two knives,’ you know? ‘But you come ... what, you gonna serve me tea?’

“I was defending myself.”

Williams told police that he thought his nephew was there to harm him, so he fired the gun to protect himself.

The teen was taken to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition. Officials say his injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening.

Williams said he doesn’t know why his nephew was in his home but suspects the teen could have been retaliating against something Williams said about him.

| uu | Nadine Smith from pg.12 The first award was given at last year’s inaugural Metro Tampa Bay Gala to Lorraine Langlois, Metro’s CEO, for her exceptional leadership and in celebration of Metro’s 20th Anniversary.

Additionally, Metro Wellness and Community Centers will also honor Rep. Kathy Castor with the Spirit of Service Excellence Award. That award recognizes the former Tampa council woman for her service to Tampa Bay›s HIV/AIDS community and Metro Wellness.

One other award, the Dr. John Barnett Service Award, will be given to the HIV Team at Specialty Care Clinic within the Hillsborough County Health Department. That award honors Dr. Barnett and his exceptional devotion and compassionate service to those living with HIV/AIDS. This year’s gala, to be held at Lowry Park Zoo, has a “Wild” theme. Tickets are available online at MetroTampaBay.org or by calling 727-321-3854.

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AIDS Walk Tampa Bay returns Sept. 6 Dylan Drobet

S

t. Petersburg | This year’s AIDS Walk Tampa Bay is on course to be a record breaker. The 11th annual walk along St. Petersburg’s waterfront returns Sept. 6 and early fundraising numbers have nearly doubled those of 2012, the walk’s most successful year.

“At this point in 2012, we were only at $48,000,” said Jay Aller, the resource development manager for the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas.

In 2012, AIDS Walk Tampa Bay raised more than $120,000. And with donated airtime from Bright House Networks and 93.3 FLZ, the total was closer to $200,000.

This year, FLZ will provide DJs and sound equipment, and Clear Channel has aired commercials on every one of its radio stations. That’s a value of $50,000, Aller said.

For the first time in AIDS Walk Tampa Bay history, 100 percent of

| uu | Tampa Bay Bucs from pg.12

before the game.”

Some of the LGBT groups planning to attend stretch across the state. St. Pete Pride and the Orlando Metropolitan Business Association are both scheduled to attend. Parker is hopeful that more groups will join in to make the inaugural LGBT Community Gameday a success.

Barefoot Refresh will be on hand with wine samples and giveaways, and members of the Buccaneers organization will present games and other activities.

“Of course, anyone attending is invited to bring a football to throw around or a corn hole game, which is a huge tailgate game,” she said.

While the Bucs are one of the first NFL teams to reach out to the LGBT community, they unfortunately won’t be the first. The Miami Dolphins are planning a similar event during the preseason. But that doesn’t discourage Parker.

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the event is paid for in corporate donations so everything that anyone raises goes directly to ASAP, which assists clients with HIV/AIDS throughout Tampa Bay. The walk begins and ends at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg and check-in is at 8 a.m. for participants. Registration is $35 and includes a T-shirt.

The walk, which is 2-1/2 miles, steps off at 10 a.m. and encompasses much of scenic St. Petersburg. So far this year, AIDS Walk Tampa Bay has nearly 100 teams and 700 registered participants, another record.

The walk is presented by CVS Caremark and sponsors include Clear Channel Outdoor Tampa, St. Pete Pride, Quench Lounge, Georgie’s Alibi St. Petersburg, Rainbow411.com and TampaBayGay.com.

Local restaurants and businesses such as Hamburger Mary’s, Georgie’s Alibi, Quench Lounge and the Flamingo Resort have already hosted benefits and shows at their

bars to raise money for their teams.

Corporate sponsors have also been doing a lot inside their companies to increase added awareness and funds.

“Teams raising money has really come into effect this year,” Aller said.

Currently, the top team in fundraising is GTE Financial with $12,806 in donations. Joseph Brancucci is the individual with the highest fundraising success so far with just over $8,500 donated.

In addition to the phenomenal participation on both a corporate and independent level, Aller is grateful for the 120 volunteers that have signed up to help out on the day of the event.

The fundraising goal of the walk is to raise $150,000, but with the way things are going there is the potential for even more records to be broken.

For more information on AIDS Walk Tampa Bay, to register online or donate visit AIDSWalkTampaBay.org.

“We can say we have the first regular season LGBT event at an NFL game,” Parker said. “It’s exciting to me that we’re at the forefront of this.”

Parker is no stranger to coordinating LGBT events in sports. For seven years, she coordinated a similar celebration with Major League Baseball’s

to bring grills, games, chairs, tables and tents to the tailgate party and they can arrive as early as 1:30 p.m.

Tickets to the Rams vs. Bucs game start at $40 and can run as high as $130 for box seats. There is no LGBT-specific seating in the stadium, but the tickets will give entry to the tailgate party, which

“We can say we have the first regular season LGBT event at an NFL game; it’s exciting to me that we’re at the forefront of this.”

—Bree Parker, Bucs representative

Washington Nationals in D.C. “What we did there was bring in about 800 or so people that first time,” she said. “We ended up with bringing in 4,000 people each time, and that’s because we sold out of seats. We would have had more if space would have allowed. Football is different. We have to do an event like this in the parking lot, which has room this year for 1,000.”

Attendees are encouraged

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

will have security monitoring it.

“I don’t think security is necessary, but after the Boston Marathon bombing, we’ve stepped up our security everywhere,” Parker said. “We stepped it up for our fans and for our players. So there are normal patrols.”

For details or to order tickets, contact Bree Parker at 813870-2700 ext. 2213 or email at bparker@buccaneers.nfl.com.

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15

state news

Marriage equality would mean big bucks for Florida

Federal judge rules Florida’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional

Staff report

Jamie Hyman

A

T

ccording to a new study from The Williams Institue, Florida stands to gain more than $182 million in spending and $12 million in tax revenue over the next three years if it legalizes same-sex marriage.

The study predicts that nearly 25,000 of Florida’s same-sex couples would choose to marry in their home state over the next three years should Florida’s ban on gay marriage be lifted. That’s 50 percent of the state’s same-sex couples, according to U.S. Census data.

If each couple spends an average $5,722 per wedding, over three years, that equals nearly $140 million.

The study predicts out-of-state wedding guests would generate another $42 million for Florida. New spending generated by same-sex couples’ weddings could create an additional 875 to 2,626 jobs for Florida residents.

The study does not take into account out-ofstate same-sex couples who would choose to wed in Florida—those couples would generate an even larger economic gain.

16

allahassee | A federal district judge has ruled that the 2008 voter-approved constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

“The decision does have statewide implications, however it was immediately stayed immediately pending expected appeals,” said Baylor Johnson, American Civil Liberties Union spokesperson.

The ruling stems from two lawsuits. One, filed by the ACLU on behalf of eight married same-sex couples and SAVE, a South Florida LGBT rights organization, fought for legal recognition of same-sex marriages performed in another state. The other lawsuit was filed in Jacksonville on behalf of two

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couples, one who wants to get married and one who wants their marriage recognized in the state of Florida.

The Aug. 21 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle applies to the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida and the recognition of marriage for same-sex couples legally married out-of-state, according to the ACLU. Hinkle ruled that the argument in favor of denying marriage equality has no rational basis and would fail in any higher court, stating, “[t]he undeniable truth is that the Florida ban on same-sex marriage stems entirely, or almost entirely, from moral disapproval of the practice,” and that “moral disapproval alone cannot sustain” the ban.

“Liberty, tolerance, and respect are not zero-sum concepts,” the

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

ruling reads. “Those who enter opposite-sex marriages are harmed not at all when others, including these plaintiffs, are given the liberty to choose their own life partners and are shown the respect that comes with formal marriage.”

Daniel Tilley, the ACLU of Florida’s staff attorney for LGBT rights, said the organization is “thrilled” with the decision.

“Florida’s refusal to recognize their marriages serves no legitimate purpose and is hurtful to Florida families,” Tilley said in a media release. “We’re very pleased to see the ban held unconstitutional in such unequivocal terms so that all Florida families will soon finally have the same protections.”

Florida is now the 16th state where a federal court has struck down a marriage ban.

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nation+world news

Berlin’s first openly gay mayor to resign at end of the year Wire Report

B

erlin, Germany | Charismatic Berlin mayor Klaus Wowsereit, whose reputation has taken a beating over struggles in the construction of the German capital’s new international airport, said Aug. 26 he will step down by the end of the year.

Wowereit told reporters he would resign Dec. 11 after more than 13 years in office.

Berlin’s first openly gay mayor, Wowereit helped turn the city into a top tourist destination.

Wowereit coined its famous “Poor, but sexy” slogan, which helped attract hip youngsters from around the globe to the city’s famous nightlife and highlighted Berlin’s low living costs. He said he was

grateful to have been in charge as “Berlin became an international metropolis.”

“It’s good that the city has internationalized itself, but it’s also as important that the city remains livable,” the Social Democrat said.

Wowereit, who still had two more years in office, says continued speculation over his future amid his plummeting popularity had made it difficult to govern.

“The decision did not come easily,” he said.

He said his “greatest defeat” was that the Willy Brandt airport planned for the capital has not yet opened.

It was first scheduled to be ready late 2011 but has been repeatedly delayed. Costs have more than doubled to some 5.4 billion euros ($7.1 billion) and it is still not clear when it will open.

Wowereit governed for a decade in a coalition with the formerly communist Left Party, but had to form a coalition with the state branch of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats after elections in 2011.

National Left Party leader Gregor Gysi said that while Wowereit leaves behind him the airport debacle and other issues, he should also be given credit for an “important chapter in the development of Berlin.”

“He had a big role in ensuring that the German capital has become a metropolis. Especially culturally Berlin has significantly advanced,” Gysi said in a statement.

“It was also to Klaus Wowereit’s great credit that he was the first politician to openly declare his homosexuality, which clearly gave great support to the fight for equality by lesbians and gay men.”

place where our differences are celebrated.”

Cuomo said that if he is elected to a second term this fall, he will push to outlaw discrimination based on a person’s gender identity or expression when it comes to things like housing, employment and public accommodations. The state already prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, disability and gender.

Legislation that would add gender identity and expression to the list has passed the state Assembly but not the Senate.

Empire State Pride Agenda, an organization that advocates for gay and transgender rights, released the letter from Cuomo the same day it announced it was endorsing him for a second term. It applauded his work to pass gay marriage and rescind

a policy that required transgender people to offer proof of surgery when they ask to change the gender on their birth certificates.

“We look forward to working closely with Gov. Cuomo during his second term to ensure that all LGBT New Yorkers and our families are protected under the law,” said the organization’s executive director, Nathan Schaefer.

Cuomo faces Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout in the Democratic primary. Republican Rob Astorino and Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins are also running.

The organization also announced endorsements of Cuomo’s running mate, lieutenant governor candidate Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

N.Y. governor wants to outlaw gender identity discrimination Wire Report

Albany, N.Y. | Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling on the state to outlaw discrimination against transgender people, saying gender identity and expression should be included in the state’s civil rights law alongside race, religion and disability.

In a letter to the Empire State Pride Agenda dated Aug. 19, Cuomo said transgender people face significant discrimination, citing surveys that show three-fourths of transgender New Yorkers experience workplace harassment or mistreatment.

“It is not who we are as New Yorkers to permit this type of pervasive discrimination to continue,” he said. “New York is a

Oldest US gay bookstore to reopen in Philadelphia Wire Report Philadelphia | The nation’s oldest gay bookstore will reopen next month in Philadelphia after closing three months ago due to financial problems.

Philly AIDS Thrift says it’s taking over the shop called Giovanni’s

Room. It had closed in May after 41 years, citing competition from online outlets.

Philly AIDS Thrift already operates a secondhand store whose proceeds benefit local organizations fighting HIV and AIDS. The group now has a two-year lease to operate Giovanni’s Room.

The group says it plans to sell

books, plus house wares and vintage clothing, starting early next month.

Giovanni’s Room has long served as a resource, safe haven and gathering place for the city’s gay community. It’s named for the 1956 James Baldwin novel about a young man in postwar Paris struggling with his sexual identity.

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in other news cuba: First ever ‘no’ vote cast to prevent discrimination Mariela Castro, the daughter of President Raul Castro and niece of Fidel Castro, gave the thumbs-down to a Parlimentary workers’ rights bill that she felt didn’t go far enough to prevent discrimination against people with HIV or with unconventional gender identities. No experts could recall another “no” vote in the 612-seat Cuban National Assembly, which meets briefly twice a year and approves laws by unanimous show of hands.

Colorado federal appeals court rules an extended stay A federal appeals court Aug. 21 extended a stay on a ruling from last month that found the state’s gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals noted that the court has stayed similar rulings in other states. Gay couples had sued hoping to take advantage of recent rulings to immediately invalidate Colorado’s gay marriage ban. The Aug. 21 ruling makes clear the federal courts will wait until the U.S. Supreme Court has final say.

Supreme Court puts gay marriage on hold in Virginia Same-sex couples will have to wait longer to begin marrying in Virginia after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed Aug. 20 to delay an appeals court ruling striking down the state’s gay marriage ban. The nation’s highest court granted a request from a county clerk in northern Virginia to delay a decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond that would have allowed for same-sex couples to marry and have to start recognizing gay marriages from out of state beginning Aug. 21 morning.

Same-sex couple settle wedding venue dispute The owners of a lodge in Little Falls, Minn., have agreed to pick up the tab for the wedding and reception of a same-sex couple they initially turned away. Cole Frey, 20, and Adam Block, 18, have settled their discrimination complaint filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against the owners of Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation after the venue’s owners rejected their business because they were gay.

Block and Frey will be married Aug. 29 at Camp Ripley in Little Falls.

Spain has its openly gay beauty queen Patricia Yurena, a former Miss Spain who won the title in 2008 and 2013 and was the runner up in the Miss Universe competition last year, came out as the country’s first openly gay beauty queen. The news was received via Instagram Aug. 19, where Yurena posted a photo to her and her girlfriend Vanesa Cortes captioned “Romeo and Juliet.”

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

8/14/14 10:23 AM

viewpoint

As with many in the gay community, the way we looked was important. Then, slowly, I began to have cramping in my legs and abs, and twitching in my arms and legs. I thought nothing of it until after two days of hiking and bike riding, I collapsed when I got off my bike.

Several visits to neurologists, including two visits to the Mayo clinic, revealed the truth we were dreading— I was diagnosed with ALS. Ben and I were devastated. In

what kills you—the inability to breathe. Most people spend the last part of their lives as quadriplegics, needing a machine to breathe and being fed through a tube.

It is not pretty.

Not unlike HIV/AIDS, ALS is seen by most as something that happens to other people.

Unlike AIDS, ALS is not contagious. That is not the scary part. What should scare us all is that it affects anyone without regard to age, race, gender, sexuality or anything else. It is an indiscriminate killer. Only 20 percent of the time the cause is hereditary.

The rest, as in my case, is sporadic. It just happens and we don’t know why.

Some see the diagnosis as a death sentence, others as a challenge. A doctor friend who was on the forefront of the AIDS epidemic, told Ben and me that many of those to whom he delivered the AIDS diagnosis chose to fight and are still with us today. Ben and I chose, not only to fight, but also to become actively involved in education and research. If possible, I would volunteer for any trial that would help find a solution.

My future can’t be the one Ben and I imagined before all of this, so we chose to fight like hell to find a solution.

Frankly, it’s the only thing that makes sense now and my reason for being. We are thankful for the gift of time, as I am lucky to have a slowly progressing form of ALS. Ben and I looked for

an instant everything changed and little made sense. We didn’t know much about the disease, just as most people didn’t prior to the phenomenon of social media ice bucket challenges. We quickly learned it leads to death, on average, in three to five years.

ALS has no real treatment and no cure. There is not even a definitive test for it. While research has continued and some progress has been made, 75 years after the death of the baseball player that bears its name, Lou Gehrig’s Disease continues to be a killer.

It attacks the nervous system and kills the motor neurons—the nerve cells that connect the brain and spinal cord with muscles. It robs the ability to walk, grasp, talk, swallow and, eventually, breathe. That is

groups at the global forefront of research to find treatments and a cure. We found the non-profit biotech, ALS Therapy Development Institute in Cambridge, Mass.

The dedicated professionals there have a single-focus goal they keep with an incredible sense of urgency: to find treatments for people living with ALS today. In essence, in our lifetime—the abbreviated lifetime of those of us living

José Cofiño

Guest column Beyond the ice bucket challenge

M

Y parTner oF 16 Years,

Ben Trust (pictured on the left), and I figured we would live a long life together. We were both healthy, regulars at the gym, and also loved to hike. We ate the right things and used sunscreen.

with ALS. They also have incredible compassion and support of gay men and women living with ALS and their partners.

As with HIV/AIDS, the idea is to get people to live longer, with a better quality of life while work continues on a cure. It may come in the form of a cocktail of drugs and supplements.

As Rob Goldstein, the

openly gay Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Development at ALS TDI told me, “It is not that there will be no cure, it is that we don’t know it yet. It has happened before with many other diseases.”

Ben and I enjoy every day now like we never did before.

We love each other more, and spend as much time together as we can. We hold each other

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viewpoint

Steve Yacovelli

Guest column Transgender people need non-trans advocates

O

ne of the things I do

for work and am pretty darn passionate about is teaching diversity and inclusion.

Whether it’s helping corporate folks understand the different “internal dimensions” of diversity (such as age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or race) and “external dimensions” of diversity (like education, salary, work experience, appearance and marital status), I really enjoy helping people see the differences and similarities in each of us. Exploring topics like “stereotyping,” “bias behavior,“ “inclusive communication” and “silent collusion” in the workplace gives me a sense of purpose and I feel I’m making a small difference toward the greater good of embracing and understanding others not like ourselves.

Many businesses understand that solid diversity and inclusion policies are not just the right thing to do but make great business sense, and my role as a corporate educator is to bring that message to the company’s peeps in a memorable and meaningful way.

I’ve had the pleasure of presenting topics related to diversity and inclusion at several conferences both locally and on the national level over the past several years. Some topics were general in nature and could really fit into the broader theme of diversity and inclusion (like “inclusive communication”) while others were more targeted toward a certain areas within the dimensions of diversity (such as “public speaking for the LGBT advocate”).

Earlier this year I submitted several topics to present at a national conference I’ve spoken at over the past few years. The conference is focused on LGBT issues in the workplace and consists of many Fortune 500 companies and their efforts to leverage LGBT Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help facilitate change from within the business and beyond. It’s a fantastic organization and one I’m very happy to be affiliated with, so I submitted one of my topics focused on how a colleague and I have worked with companies to effectively roll out “Gender Identity and Gender Expression” training (both self-paced, on-line training as well as instructor-led, face-to-face programs)

on the corporate level.

I was sure the timeliness of the topic coupled with our experience as learning and development professionals would provide great information for other companies to use. Surely we’d be given the chance to share what we learned and how things could be more effective for other organizations teaching this topic.

Alas, this session was not accepted, but for reasons that I found pretty surprising. The written feedback from the reviewers was shared with me on why we were denied, and this quote from one reviewer summarizes it best: “… neither [speakers] are listed as from the trans community—I would suggest that a transgender voice would be important to include …”.

So basically we were denied because we—the gay guy and the straight woman—weren’t from the trans community.

At first I could see their point: how are you to advocate and share your expertise if you aren’t from that community?

But then I started thinking about this statement and it screamed bias: “How dare a straight woman and a gay man speak on behalf of the trans community? What could they possibly know about the trans experience?” … was suddenly what I interpreted as the meaning of the feedback.

And that got me both mad and disappointed as the same time.

Bias is defined as “a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair,” and it really seems to be at play in this situation.

My colleague and I have spent the past few years working with trans community members as well as diversity experts to create our training program. We researched best practices for companies to incorporate transfriendly policies into their corporate anti-discrimination documents, and captured healthy approaches leaders can take to support employees who transition.

watermark Your lgbt life.

As I shared some of these key learnings with my LGB friends, I found this huge gap in understanding. It justified and encouraged my desire to help others understand the trans community and dispel misconceptions of our “T” brothers and sisters, both

call shenanigans. Some of the loudest and most clearly heard advocates for—insert social injustice category here—are those who aren’t necessarily from that demographic: whites speaking on behalf of blacks in the 1960s, men calling for gender quality, and of course

within the LGBT community and beyond. I also came to understand where companies lack supporting trans employees, and how the work my colleague and I were doing could really make a difference.

So what’s fundamentally wrong with my perception of the reviewers’ perspective is that they were arguing you can’t advocate on behalf of a particular group if you’re not a member of said group. I

our straight allies speaking on behalf of LGBT equality.

You can find so many specific examples of people who were not from the discriminatedagainst-group sharing their perspective and it made a difference.

For some people it takes someone that looks like me but has a differing opinion than my own to voice and challenge my way of thinking for change to take root. For

So basically we were denied because we—the gay guy and the straight woman—weren’t from the trans community.

every Elton John there’s a Ben Cohen, and it’s through a collective chorus of equality versus the single soloist that helps turn perspectives and cause change.

The reviewer’s bias against me and my colleague because we weren’t part of the trans community is hurtful and short-sighted, and undermines the very thing we’re trying to achieve: helping others understand and appreciate us for who we are. Biases are powerful blinders: it can make us see the good in people even when they’re bad, and the bad in people even when they appear to be good. While we all have bias, to move forward on all equality and to spread the concepts of respecting and appreciating diversity and inclusion we need to hold our own biases—and each others’—in check.

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talking points

geOrge takei SaveS THE DAY

“Me and Todd in 2003.

Still very happy today… And NOT engaged!

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makes shit up

#duh —phoTo & TweeT bY BIG BANG THEORY sTar JiM parsons reFuTing a sTorY he is engageD

a

caMpaign To raise $100k For CAMP ABERCORN, a web-based video series about gay scouts, was pushing up to its deadline and short of its goal by more than $10,000 on Indiegogo.

It looked like it might fail. As luck would have it, actor George Takei came to the rescue. The former Star Trek star and LGBT advocate posted to his Facebook page, which has 7.4 million likes, that the web series will “shine a light” on the Boy Scouts of America. “As a former Boy Scout myself, it pains me deeply that the BSA still boots out gay scouts when they turn 18,” he wrote. “This web series will help educate and inform, as well as entertain. That gets a big thumbs up from me.” His fans came through pushing the campaign to just $427 over goal by the deadline. Series creator Jeffery Simon, a gay Eagle Scout, based the series on his many summers at camp. The campaign is over, but you can still contribute at CampAbercorn. com/donate.

tOny Winner JOinS human rightS campaign

T

onY anD eMMY-winning acTress krisTin chenoweTh is the latest celebrity to join the Human Rights Campaign’s Americans for Marriage Equality effort. “Look, the bottom line is that regardless of how you were made or who you love, you should be able to get married if you want to get married,” the Wicked star says in the new clip. Chenoweth joins Susan Sarandon, Anthony Bourdain and Tony Hawk in the HRC Campaign. The actress returns to Broadway in On the Twentieth Century next year.

watermark Your lgbt life.

68

%

of

REPUBLICANS

would support a

GAY CANDIDATE

—McClatchy and Marist College poll

gay-themed exhibit a hit at hOllyWOOd muSeum

i

n an eFForT To show how FilM lags behinD Television when it comes to gay characters, the Hollywood Museum organized Real to Reel: Portrayals and Perceptions of Gays in Hollywood. The exhibit includes the first tuxedo costumes from Days of Our Lives’ gay wedding and the pink coffin from True Blood. There are highlights from Will & Grace, Modern Family and Brokeback Mountain. It’s been so popular, the curator has extended the exhibit through September.

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

engaged rivalS, really

b

riTTneY griner MaDe heaDlines when she came out after she left Louisiana Tech and joined the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. She’s made headlines again, this time as the first professional athlete to propose to a rival player within the same league. Earlier this month, Griner 24, proposed to Glory Johnson of the Tulsa Shock. Johnson said “yes” and the two are working on wedding plans. No details yet as to where they would tie the knot or how a marriage will affect that oncourt rivalry.

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

THE

arts+entertainment

TRUE

COLORS OF KATHY

BATES

l

Chris Azzopardi

ong beFore Dishing lesbian wisDoM

tHe awarD-winninG HollywooD luminary talks lesbians, DraG anD american Horror story

to Melissa McCarthy’s mess of a character in the summer’s road-trip comedy Tammy, Kathy Bates had the gay community in shackles. It didn’t take a sledgehammer to maintain our obsession with her—it just took the Hollywood icon’s every turn on television (Six Feet Under, American Horror Story), Broadway (‘night, Mother) and the big screen (Titanic, Misery).

Notably with Fried Green Tomatoes, her 1991 girl dramedy, and then with Dolores Claiborne and Primary Colors, Bates has kept us captivated for over four decades, bound to her boundless

watermark Your lgbt life.

greatness. On Aug. 25, Bates won a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her role in season three of American Horror Story: Coven as the racist witch Marie LaLaurie. The role gained her

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

even more fans, if that’s possible, and the star is slated to appear in the FX miniseries’ fourth incarnation set to launch in October.

It’s not clear what role she’ll play in American Horror Story: Freak Show, since producers of the series are notoriously secretive. And Bates didn’t have the details herself when we spoke to her before her Emmy win.

There are hints, however, that it could be set in Florida—or more specifically, Gibsonton, near Sarasota.

Watermark talked with Bates about her roles as a lesbian and her ongoing love affair with the LGBT community.

American Horror Story: Freak Show, premieres Oct. 8 on FX. cOntinued On pg. 36 | uu |

27

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Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

/orlandoshakes

re-enacTor: Actress Paula Barco shares a story from Real Stories’ “Decades of Day Work.”

PHOTO COuRTESy REAL STORIES

getting personal tHeater Through modern and traditional media, Your real stories breaks social boundaries

s

Chris Muscardin

T. peTersburg | The 2011

dramatic film The Help had quite an impact on St. Petersburg resident Lillian Dunlap. It inspired her to take a look at the stories of the real life ‘help.’ What started as a small project to showcase “Decades of Day Work” has turned into a journey of stories turned into plays turned into art shows.

Now, Your Real Stories, the organization that produces the show, has announced its first official season.

“Our goal is to generate conversation in the community, across things that usually divide us—things like race, gender and sexual orientation,” says Dunlap, who is African-American and a member of the LGBT community..

“And we think that part of the way to do that is to get peoples’ stories

watermark Your lgbt life.

told who usually are not heard, and get people to come together.”

The key to the women’s mission is encouraging dialogue, says Your Real Stories co-founder and artistic director Jaye Sheldon.

“We think that if we get people together in a darkened theater and experience things together, they may be more likely to talk about things they weren’t willing to before,” Sheldon says. “So far, that’s been working.”

Based in Pinellas County, Your Real Stories is an innovative performing arts organization that uses its platform to address controversial subjects and break down social boundaries.

The organization is manned by all sexualities and has touched on LGBT issues throughout its history. Described by founder Dunlap as “theatrical journalism,” the group uses a combination of digital media platforms and old-

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

fashioned theater performances to illustrate their stories, most of which are actually first-hand accounts related to them by people in the community.

Dunlap, having been in the storytelling business for nearly 40 years, is extremely passionate about this project. Along with co-founder Sheldon and the rest of their team, the two have been working on the Your Real Stories project since 2006, traveling around Florida collecting stories from people in different cultures and communities.

The group’s current project, “Decades of Day Work,” has been ongoing since 2011 and focuses on race relations efforts in the community. It’s no accident that 2011 is the same year The Help was released in theaters.

What started as one small

cOntinued On pg. 34 | uu |

31

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Founding mothers: (L-R) Jaye Sheldon and Lillian Dunlap introduce selections from “Decades of Day Work” at FreeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg. Photo courtesy Real Stories

| uu | Real Stories from pg.31

34

project quickly snowballed, leading to four “Decades of Day Work” productions in as many years, and a fifth one to be included in this year’s season.

“Our overarching goal is to tell stories across many divides… [but] once we started getting these particular stories we realized there were so many more to get and so much more conversation to have,” said Sheldon. “So this project [‘Decades of Day Work’] became long-term because it’s really necessary to have a relationship with your entire community in regard to this. It takes time to be able to communicate it.”

The “Decades” project, which is the main focus of this year’s season, looks at stories of day workers and the people who have employed them, and the relationships that form between them. The stories, which are at first related through theatrical performance are followed by a second-half panel of the original storytellers and moderated by journalist Jaye Anne Terry. The stories themselves are not always the most pleasant, but are always powerful and insightful.

“We knew that what we were going to be talking about was difficult… things that people don’t really discuss across race and

watermark Your lgbt life.

sometimes even within families. We’re talking about things that people don’t necessarily always have the language to discuss,” Sheldon says. “So many times [the storytellers are] sharing stories that they’ve never shared with anyone else, and there are things that come up and trigger us all emotionally, because we’re talking about really hot-button things.”

2 with a photographic exhibit showing at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum in St. Petersburg. Following the close of the exhibit, Your Real Stories will be hosting “Story Days in Tampa Bay,” a four day event Sept. 1013 featuring two seminars presented by special guest Andrew W. Thornhill, who is the author of The Digital Television Report.

With this year’s season however, the group is looking to expand beyond just the annual “Decades of Day Work” format.

“This is our first full season,” Sheldon informed.

“For the past three years we’ve been working behind the scenes to ensure that our project has longevity, but the only thing that the community has actually seen us produce is ‘Decades of Day Work.’”

Although “Decades of Day Work V” will be a part of the season in March 2015, Your Real Stories has a number of other activities lined up.

The season opens September

November opens with “The Making of Decades of Day Work,” a panel discussion with Dunlap and Sheldon. Next year features the opening of “Decades of Day Work V” at the end of March at the freeFall Theatre, and a special event at The Studio@620 in April to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Malcolm X. More information about Your Real Stories and the activities they have planned this season can be found on their blog at YourRealStories.org.

“We think that if we get people together in a darkened theater and experience things together, they may be more likely to talk about things they weren’t willing to before.” —Jaye Sheldon

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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35

and I thought she was pretty cool.

I could see doing a movie with her and having a lesbian relationship— although I’m much too old for her! (Laughs)

| uu | Kathy Bates from pg.27

WATERMARK: Let’s talk about your involvement in the upcoming season of American Horror Story: Freak Show. What can you tell us so far?

These days, Kathy, that doesn’t matter.

Yeah, that would probably be a fantasy movie relationship. Who else? I don’t know really. I’m just so in love and married to Sandra that I don’t know if I could come up with anybody else. It would feel like cheating! (Laughs)

KATHY BATES: I gotta be honest

with you, I don’t know yet. I have not read a script. Ryan [Murphy] keeps promising scripts. He says I’m supposed to get some this week, and I’m really hoping I do because I’m leaving town to head to New Orleans. I’m just now beginning to work on the character, so I have no idea.

Including the fact that almost all of the names of the characters on American Horror Story: Coven—Myrtle Snow, Madame LaLaurie, Misty Day, Cordelia Foxx—are ones you’d likely hear in a drag queen contest…

Myrtle—oh my god!

Right? Coven was widely regarded as being very gay.

How aware are you, or have you become, that the show has really resonated with drag queens and the gay community?

Not at all! This is the first I’m hearing of it. I mean, I don’t know if it was a male or female because he was so far away from us, but when we were doing the PaleyFest (in Hollywood) there was a guy—I think it was a guy—in a Myrtle Snow wig, which we were delighting in. She just lends herself to that, I think.

But so does your character, Madame LaLaurie. And I’ve seen boys do her in drag.

When that happens, can’t you retire? Inspiring drag queens—that’s really the ultimate life goal, right?

(Laughs) I hear there’s a gay bar here in West Hollywood where they do Dolores Claiborne a lot.

Listen, it’s great to have your reputation still alive and kickin’ at my age, so I appreciate it wherever it comes from.

Growing up in the South and in the Methodist church, what was your introduction to the gay community?

I really didn’t know what gay was until I got to college, but I was really in love with two of the guys who were in the theater department and

36

It’s refreshing to see a gay couple portrayed as the most “together” part of the story.

What do you think that says about how far we’ve come as a society regarding gay issues?

Award-worthy: Kathy Bates has another new trophy to add to her collection after winning a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her role in American Horror Story: Coven.

I’ve known and loved many lesbians in my life…

but I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten them all into the same room at the same time!

—Kathy Bates then I realized they were in love with each other. It was like, “Oh. Fuck,”—excuse my language—“that just cut my opportunities in half here. It’s hard enough to find a guy, and now that means there’s 50 percent less!”

See, my parents were more of the age of grandparents in the ’60s, which made it difficult for both parties. It took a little bit of doing.

So, when I brought gay friends home to visit, it was really kind of funny to see them react. But they embraced them. They just thought it was hysterical that one of my friends, Milton, was walking around in a nightshirt that had been pressed beautifully. They got along with them pretty well. My parents never said anything to me derogatory about them, which was cool.

Unfortunately, one of the guys I was in love with passed away a few years ago from lung cancer, but I’m still very close to the other love of my life. I just saw him in New York—he actually wrote the Vanities play that we did off-Broadway for many, many years; his name is Jack Heifner—and so it’s wonderful that that relationship has continued.

I’ve never been to an all-

lesbian party, but based on the one your character, Lenore, throws in Tammy, clearly I’ve been missing out.

You have. It was a lot of fun! It really was. And there was a scene that was cut out of the movie where all the lesbian women on the dock were singing “Fire,” the Bruce Springsteen song, which was pretty fun.

You really can’t go wrong with some lesbians and “The Boss.”

No, no, no. It’s a sure thing.

Tell me about the best lesbian party you’ve ever been to.

I don’t know if I’ve been to a lesbian party quite like the one we had in Tammy. (Laughs) I’ve known and loved many lesbians in my life … but I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten them all into the same room at the same time! I always imagined that my and [Sandra Oh’s] characters lived in a very small town, so I think many of these lesbians they’ve known were shipped in and probably work in Lenore’s (pet) shops in other towns, that it’s an annual thing and they come in and hang out for the holiday.

watermark Your lgbt life.

Melissa said your chemistry with Sandra was instantly palpable. Who are some other women you could see yourself going lesbian for onscreen?

Let me think about that. I do know that I’m just absolutely in love with Sandra, and let me just say that she really brought our relationship to bloom. She brought a lot of love and warmth, and it was her idea to have wedding rings—because of course!—which I hadn’t thought about, and also, really, to think that our relationship is the healthiest relationship in the movie.

You know, we’re non-judgmental, and my scene on the dock with Melissa—it was important for me to be able to ad-lib how difficult it is, or was, especially 20, 25 years ago, for lesbian women to come out. I think almost more difficult than for men to come out as gay.

She brought just so much love, and she really helped create the little bubble of our relationship, and now I have forgotten your question. Oh, whom else would I like to be with.

Ahh, let’s see. Who do I love? Oh, I could totally see this: I shared a plane trip with Uma Thurman once

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

Going back to the scene on the dock, I wanted to improvise about Sandra and how she stood by me when the times were tough, how big her heart was and how comforting she was.

I remember being at a wedding; it was a male gay couple and they must’ve been in their 70s. They had been together for 50 years, and for the first time they had been able to go to Massachusetts and get married. It was so moving to me that they were able to have a wedding and celebrate their love in front of their friends and stand up together and say, “We love each other,” and be open about it and have the union blessed after all those years.

One of your earliest lesbian roles was in Primary Colors, which is notable for the big wet one you exchanged with your co-star, Stacy Edwards.

She was a doll.

What do you remember of shooting that kissing scene?

I was really nervous! (Laughs) I wanted to make it look like we’ve always done it. At the same time, it had to be a shock for Adrian Lester’s character, and Stacy’s so adorable.

I loved the fact that everybody assumes she’s straight, or maybe she swings—who knows! I think there’s also that: People are on the spectrum sometimes. So, I just wanted to make it look real and tough and sexy.

more information

WHO: Kathy Bates WHAT: American Horror Story: Freak Show WHEN: Premieres Oct 8 on FX

watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

37

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

eventplanner

arts+entertainment

community calenDar

OrlandO

St. peterSburg

Tori Amos, Aug. 28, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 407-246-4262; OrlandoVenues.net.

georgie’s 14th Anniversary bash

Blake Shelton: Ten Times Crazier Tour 2014, Aug. 30, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com.

aug. 28-31 georgie’s alibi, 3100 3rD ave. n.

Believe it or not, Georgie’s Alibi has been a staple in St. Petersburg’s LGBT community for 14 years now, and the sports bar is ready to celebrate. The Kenwood business has a 14th Anniversary Extravaganza planned throughout the weekend that includes special drinks, food, entertainment and gifts. There is no cover charge and hostess Kori Stevens will no doubt be appearing throughout the weekend.

An Evening with DEEP PuRPLE, Aug. 30, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; Hardrock.com/live/locations/ Orlando.

Peter Pan, through Aug. 31, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee. 407-846-6257; Ocfta.com.

3 Doors Down Acoustic: Songs from the Basement, Sept. 3, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com/Orlando.

Disney On Ice presents Frozen, Sept. 4-7, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com.

The Music Man, Sept. 4 and 5, Northland Church, Longwood.

407-937-1800; Cfcarts.com/ the-Music-Man. D.L. Hughley, Sept.

5-7, Orlando Improv, Orlando. 407-480-5233; TheOrlandoImprov.com.

Orlando Philharmonic presents Casa de Mexico, Sept. 6, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando. 407-246-4262; OrlandoVenues.net.

The History Boys, through Sept. 7, The Harriett Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com.

Sheezus is coming

Full Nude male revue 8 p.M., sunDaY, aug. 31 skin TaMpa, 1620 e. aDaMo Dr. The Men of Liquid will bare all at its annual Full Nude Male Revue held at Skin Tampa on Aug. 31.

Hostess Alexis De La Mer will welcome special guests from South Beach, who will perform at club Liquid in Ybor City. From there, patrons can catch a free shuttle to the show at Skin Tampa. Plan to arrive early because last year the event was packed!

Get details at the Men of Liquid Bares All Facebook event page. $15 cover for men, $25 for women.

Songwriter, singer and performer Lily Allen brings her Sheezus tour to Orlando’s House of Blues on Wednesday, Sept. 10. For tickets, call 407-934-2583 or visit Houseofblues.com/Orlando.

Lily Allen, Sept. 10, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; Houseofblues.com/Orlando.

The Letters, through Sept. 21, TheZehngebotStonerock Theatre,Orlando.

407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater 2014-2015 Annual Season Gala, Sept. 7, Margeson Theater, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org.

I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Sept. 19-21 and 26-28, Breakthrough Theatre, Winter Park. 407-920-4034; BreakthroughTheatre.com.

Luis fonsi, Sept. 9, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; Houseofblues.com/Orlando.

tampa

Les Miserables (Preview Night), Sept.

10, Mafregson Theater, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org.

tampa

Tampa Bay Theatre festival presents Death Row, Aug. 29, Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org.

Tampa Bay Theatre festival presents Saul’s Juke Joint, Aug. 30, Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org.

Tampa Bay Theatre festival presents Seasons: The Musical, Aug. 31, Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org.

The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Sept. 3-28, Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org.

The Center Singers “Music of Broadway” Concert, Sept. 6 and 7, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee. 407-846-6257; Ocfta.com.

Steve Martin & Martin Short in A Very Stupid Conversation, Sept. 7, The Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-892-5767; Themahaffey.com.

My Unspeakable Confessions: Gala Dali Declines to Explain Herself, Sept. 8, Raymond James Community Room, St. Petersburg. 727-823-3767; TheDali.org.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, through Sept. 14, freefall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; FreeFallTheatre.com.

6:30 p.M., ThursDaY, sepT. 4 TaMpa MuseuM oF arT 120 w. gasparilla plaza Join the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival as it announces its 2014 festival lineup at the Tampa museum of Art on Thursday, Sept. 4. Attendees to the celebration can pick up a new guide to this year’s festival, hear from board members and the executive director about how TIGLFF will celebrate its 25 year, all while enjoying cocktails and light bites. Get tickets at TIGLFF.com.

OrlandO

SaraSOta

Fall Fashion give

Alice in Wonderland, Sept.

11-21, Venice Theatre, Venice. 941-488-1115; VeniceStage.com.

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

watermark Your lgbt life.

tIgLFF Launch party

6 p.M., FriDaY, sepT. 12 neiMan Marcus orlanDo, The Man’s sTore – level one A night of fashion and fun comes once a year with the Fashion Give Back event, presented by Neiman Marcus. Come out to enjoy an evening with designers, amazing raffles, light bites, drinks and a couple of great surprises. All proceeds from the event benefit The Zebra Coalition.

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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Tampa Bay 1- Moving Day: More than 30 Balance Tampa Bay volunteers helped move Francis House from its original building into its brand new facility on Aug. 9. Photo courtesy Balance Tampa Bay

2- Bowling for Dollars: Bowlers of all ages and races participated in Francis House’s annual Strike Out For AIDS Fundraiser at Pinchasers Tampa. Photo courtesy Bruce Hardin 3- Going girly: David Karst goes “feminine” for the Flamingo Resort Turnabout held Aug. 21.

Photo by Paul Kinchen of TinkerFluff.com

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4- Catching up: (L-R) Janice Prince, Cindy Barnes and Mary Connelly enjoy a drink at Enigma in St. Petersburg during Watermark Wednesday Aug. 21. Photo by Rick Claggett 5- Big Winners: Partners Marc Retzlaff and Don Kiceina are all smiles after Don’s raffle win at Watermark Wednesday held at Enigma in St. Petersburg Aug. 21. Photo by Rick Claggett 6- New Royalty: (L-R) Stephanie Stuart, Emoni Sanchez, Dede Taylor, Sofonda Cox, Imani Valentino, Jeffrey Abess and Alexis Mateo celebrate Valentino’s win as Miss Sawmill 2015 at the Dade City Campground Aug. 23. Photo by Steve Blanchard 7- Blessed Bowling: The Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were ready to bowl at the annual Strike Out For AIDS Fundraiser for Francis House held at Pinchasers in Tampa Aug. 16. Photo courtesy Bruce Hardin

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8- Probably not Maybelline: GSHRadio. com’s Greg Henchar got beautified for the Flamingo Resort Turnabout Aug. 21 benefiting ASAP. Photo by Paul Kinchen of TinkerFluff.com

Overheard Sawmill has new royalty LGBT actors ight contestants get tons of nods competed for the

E

coveted title of Miss Sawmill 2015 on Aug. 23, but only one could walk away with the crown. Orlando performer Imani Valentino wowed the panel of nine judges and secured the title. First runner-up was Emoni Sanchez and second runner-up was Stephanie Stuart. The night was a fun one with emcees and former Miss Sawmill title holders Sofonda Cox, Dede Taylor and Alexis Mateo sharing duties behind the podium.

Valentino will now appear in ads and promotions for the Dade City Campground in LGBT publications and on websites.

T

heatre Tampa Bay announced its nominees for its annual awards ceremony, and it reads like a who’s who of LGBT actors, designers, directors and theaters. Out performers Eric Davis has eight nominations including one for his starring role in The Normal Heart, Karla Hartley has three, designer and actor Scott Daniel has three and musician Michael Raabe has two, as does actor Matthew McGee. Speaking of The Normal Heart, the drama secured seven nominations total, as did The Divine Sister, and Two Trains

Running. The theater company with the most nominations is FreeFall, with 43, followed by American Stage with 24. Both theater companies have large contingents of LGBT actors, directors and employees, as well as LGBT-centric plays.

See the full list of nominees at TheatreTampaBay.org. Winners will be announced Oct. 6 at the Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg.

star and former Miss America never forgets her roots in Florida, and will return Labor Day weekend for a special appearance at Club Liquid in Ybor City. Tickets are $10 in advance through Liquid’s Facebook page and there’s an option for a VIP meet and greet with the star. The night’s hostess is Conundrum Infiniti and special guests performances will include Drag Clyo and DaniDanica Panic.

Coco comes home—again Cool down after AIDS Walk oco Montrese

C

is essentially a household name—at least among LGBT households.

The Season 4 RuPaul’s Drag Race

watermark Your lgbt life.

W

hile September is slightly cooler than August in Florida (at least we tell

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

ourselves that) it’s still easy to get overheated during AIDS Walk Tampa Bay, which is Sept. 6 this year. So to help folks cool down, and maybe raise a little more money, Gay St. Pete House will host a post-AIDS Walk swimming party from noon to 4 p.m. The B&B, owned by Brian Longstreth, is known for its hospitality and fundraising party poolside.

Walkers can eat free and some drinks will be available. Donations will be accepted and will help boost the AIDS Walk Tampa Bay totals. Details on the walk are in the Tampa Bay news section of this issue of Watermark.

You can also get details at AIDSWalkTampaBay.org.

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orlando 1- DOUBLE DOWN: Drew Sizemore tries his luck during Vegas night at Parliament House, benefitting Hope and Help of Central Florida Inc. Aug. 16. Photo by Danny Garcia 2- CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Wes Hodge rubs elbows with Annette Taddeo, Charlie Crist’s running mate, at a fundraiser benefiting Crist’s campaign for Governor Aug. 14 at Langford Park. Photo courtesy of Hodge 3- CHUCK E’S IN LOVE: Rickie Lee Jones performs at a fundraiser for Alan Grayson Aug. 23. She’s pictured at the event, which was held in a private home, with Randy Stephens. Photo by Margo Dixon

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4- HONORING: (L to R) Michael Wanzie, Frankie Messina, Scottie Campbell and Denna Beena remember an icon at the screening of the documentary “Paul Wegman: A Tribute” Aug. 18 at The Venue. Photo by Rick Claggett 5- IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Team Watermark gets ready to roll for the HRC Disco Bowl, at Colonial Lanes Aug. 17. Photo by Barbara England 6- ANNUAL HONOR: Prime Timers of Central Florida member Bob Frew (left) receives the 2014 Prime Timer of the Year Award from President Edwin Barnes. Prime Timers is a group for mature gay and bisexual men and their friends. Photo by Ron Burns 7- LUXURY LIVING: (L to R) Watermark sales rep Mark Cady and Stephen and Diane Halpin are all smiles at Watermark’s Third Thursday Social Aug. 21 at Gilded Home. Photo by Danny Garcia

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8- GODDESS OF POP: Kevin Callahan channels Cher for Fashionista at Parliament House, a fundraiser for Hope and Help of Central Florida, Inc. Aug. 16. Photo by Danny Garcia

Overheard Flagging again

F

lying High this October will be the (in)famous rainbow flags which have flown around the Come Out With Pride parade route. The “diversity flags” have flown consistently each year for nearly a decade, but gained national attention in 1998 when Pat Robertson threatened divine intervention. The televangelist’s crusade led to the flags only flying in restricted parts of the city. But in 2014, things have changed. Come Out With Pride now flies the flags all the way around Lake Eola.

Community organizing gets overhaul

T

he MBA of Orlando and The GLBT Center have announced the creation of The TEAM EQUAL Community Calendar. Team Equal is coordination of non-profit LGBT and allied groups working together like a modern day Justice League. These do-gooders created an event calendar to allow for proper planning of events and fundraisers while avoiding stepping on each other’s toes. The calendar promises schedules to be listed months to even years in advance for annual events. Check out EventCalendarOrlando.com to plan your year.

Getting Wanzie wet

M

ichael Wanzie, Blue Star and friends have accepted an ALS Ice Bucket challenge that has already raised over $1K for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosi research. The disease, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has gained national exposure thanks to a social media campaign where folks nominate others to dump ice water on themselves or donate a lot of cash. Many have chosen to do both. The social media craze has been going non-stop for several weeks but you can watch it live as Wanzie and friends will get drenched in freezing water Aug. 30 poolside

watermark Your lgbt life.

at the Parliament House Resort.

Pledges can be made at Wanzie’s Facebook page.

Chick-fil-a and Pride? Yes

C

ome Out with Pride has announced a partnership with Chick-Fil-A. Yes, you read that right. Chick-Fil-A hasn’t had a stellar relationship with the LGBT community since their CEO, Dan Cathy, came out against marriage equality and mixed business with his ultraconservative and religious views.

The move caused emotional indigestion for many who enjoyed the chicken and those

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

waffle fries and the corporation’s stance lead to a countrywide boycott that still stands today.

Although this partnership may come to a surprise for many, this is just chicken-scratching the surface. Mikael Audebert recently posted the announcement on his Facebook page “Chick-Fil-A local area Marketing Director agreed to support Come Out With Pride Orlando, openly and unconditionally, by providing meals for volunteers and added value to VIP guests.” He went on to say that he will have a sit down with the leadership and executive team in late October. It’s a good thing Come Out with Pride remains on Saturday and hasn’t reverted back to Sundays!

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Join us for Pet Celebration and Rescue Bash On October 25th Special guests: Florida Little Dog Rescue Visit our Facebook for details on rescuing a new friend Pet Rescue By Judy Entertainment by longtime Orlando favorite

Joseph Martens Food by B&B Junction Parts of the proceeds to benefit participating rescues.

Thank you B&B!

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Games and activities for prizes!

100% of proceeds from game ticket sales to benefit rescue Stay tuned for more announcements Check our facebook for participants, prizes, deals‌ Storewide savings and a portion of all sales will be donated to participating rescues.

Free Admission Complementary beverages.

Make sure to bring your little four legged friends!

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

property maintenance

transitions

Community announcements gooDnighT, cowboY: Sarasota

cowboy and “orange” spokesperson Wolfgang “Wolf” Keller, 47, passed away suddenly on Aug. 7. The former Kansas resident was active with the Florida Gay Rodeo Association and was a staple at fundraisers and events across the state. He was known for his love of the color orange.

Good Earth Crematory is handling the arrangements, to be determined.

losing a longTiMe FrienD: Church

of the Trinity member Marian Schoenwether, 94, passed away Aug. 17. Marian touched many with her humor and devotion to her family and friends. Passing away just shy of her 95th birthday, she was truly a one-of-a-kind person with a great vigor for life. She will be deeply loved and missed by her Church of the Trinity and MCC family.

conGratulations The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival announced Aug. 9 its officers and board members for 2014-15. The Board of Directors includes: Elected President Joyce Arbucias; Vice-President Alyson Innes; Secretary Brian Sikorski; Treasurer Douglas Davis; returning Board Members David Baldree, Matthew McGrath, neal Renuart and Heather Wilkie; and newly elected Board Members Zachary Alfson, Daniel Blumberg, Kenneth Howard, Darci Safreed and Alina Williams.

Antonio Tapia accepted a job Aug. 12 as a professor at FAMU College of Law teaching intellectual property practice.

Maitland couple Jeff Spitler and Bryan Bevins will celebrate their 25th anniversary on Aug. 28. They are registered domestic partners in Orange County and look forward to being able to legally get married in Florida in the near future.

On Aug. 29, Georgie’s Alibi in St. Petersburg will celebrate its 14th anniversary.

903 Mills Market marks its 11th anniversary on Sept. 7. The market & deli offers gourmet beer and wines, coffee and fresh grocery staples.

Arie Groen’s

a suDDen loss: Kelly

Murphy, 42, of Dallas Tex., formerly of Fort Myers, Fla., died Tuesday Aug. 13.

The creative director, on left, at Mary K Cosmetics was the partner of sometime Watermark contributor Jim Walker. Murphy was the art director for the Dallas Voice for five years. He is survived by Walker, his parents and siblings. A memorial service will be held at UCC Cathedral of Hope in Dallas on Sept. 7 at 4 p.m.

local birtHDays Orlando artist Keith Theriot, St. Petersburg and Gypsy Productions’ Darryl Epperly, St. Pete songstress Lorna Bracewell, Clearwater bear Chris Miller, handsome Tampa Verizon guy Jim Green (Aug. 28); Orlando Miller’s Ale House kitchen coach nicole Phillips, leather stud Randy Sullivan, Seminole painting expert Karen Santos, Studio@620 founder and friend to the arts Bob Devin Jones, Orlando artist and photographer Lee Vandergrift (Aug. 29); Lakeland bear Bob Lloyd, The Center Board member Jeffrey Buak, (Sept. 2); Sarasota entertainer and comic Beneva fruitville (Sept. 3); Orlando server and arts lover Richard Hicks (Sept. 4); Sarasota’s Asolo Rep social media coordinator David Valdez, St. Petersburgbased TIGLFF husband Erik Carroll, butch bear and Tampa pharmacist Brian Wehling, St. Pete software genius David Palio, Gulfport party host Ed Dunn (Sept.

5); Rollins College honcho A. Eddie Mehnert, Tampa Bay everywoman and KJ Monica Lefavre, Sarasota Starbucks junkie and teacher Steve Eller (Sept. 6); St. Pete convenience store specialist Scott Petersen, Tampa leather man Todd Crutchfield (Sept. 7); Orlando drag icon Darcel Stevens, St. Pete pet portrait artist Eunice fisher, Tampa’s Colombia transplant Ricardo Mendez, HSN bigwig Darryl Blaker, Tampa bear Mike Scott, Disney entertainment tech Charles Cantrell, Sarasota hottie Angel Perez, sexy Tampa athlete and Watermark coverboy Marty Walsh (Sept. 8); Hope & Help Center Event Manager Chris Hessler, St. Pete-based big bear David Reynolds, St. Pete chiropractor Karen Reese (Sept. 9); Tampa account manager Jim Steinle, Tampa animal lover and Watermark contributor Greg Burton, Tampa Gallery curator Albert Burruezo (Sept. 11).

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!

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Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

sports

Silver winners: Team Orlando bowlers (l to r) Cody Reed, Darryl

Johnson, David Lindley and Tom Ophardt took the silver medal in team bowling at the Cleveland Gay Games earlier this month. Photo courtesy Darryl Johnson

Floridians score Gay Games medals Staff Report

S

everal local Floridians left Cleveland’s Gay Games IX with some new hardware.

Athletes from both Orlando and Tampa Bay claimed top prizes and posted about their victories on Facebook or contacted Watermark directly about their wins.

Interestingly, the Gay Games

organization does not issue the press a list of medal winners, so there is no comprehensive way of knowing exactly who won what, unless individual athletes share it on social media or e-mail outlets directly.

Team Orlando took the silver medal in team bowling. Darryl Johnson of Orlando was joined by teammates Cody Reed of Ohio, David Lindley of California and Tom Ophardt of New York.

“My original team wasn’t able to bowl, so I went on the Gay Games website and there they had a blog where you could post and get placed on a team,” Johnson said. “My teammates and I just clicked from the beginning.”

This marked Johnson’s 5th Gay Games experience—his first was in Amsterdam in 1998 where he won three medals. He’s planning to attend Gay Games X in 2018 when they’re held in Paris.

Other local winners include Christopher Hethcox of Tampa, who took the gold in Tennis after defeating his opponent 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their support,” Hethcox posted on Facebook. “I’m dedicating this tournament and this gold medal to one of my mentors in tennis, Mr. Skip Lanier. Without him I would have never been the player or man that I am today.”

St. Pete Pride’s Ducks softball team also left the Midwest with medals in hand. The team was awarded the bronze medal in the tournament.

watermark Your lgbt life.

Kluwe, Vikings, avoid lawsuit and reach settlement Wire Report

M

inneapolis, Minn. | Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe said Aug. 19 that he reached a settlement with the team to avert a threatened lawsuit over his release, saying the club had agreed to donate to several groups that support gay rights.

Kluwe accused the Vikings of cutting him in 2013 over his support for marriage equality. Financial details of the settlement were sealed, but Kluwe gets no money. Five different charities will benefit over the next five years.

“This will help a lot of people that really do need that help,” Kluwe said.

The Vikings confirmed the settlement on its website.

It also includes sensitivity training throughout the organization and plans for a national symposium on LGBT tolerance in Minneapolis in the spring.

The Vikings have agreed to donate to several LGBTrelated non-profits, including the Matthew Shepard Foundation and a charity run by gay retired NFL player Wade Davis.

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

attorney

O R L A N D O

attOrney

M A R K e T P L A C e

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Please join us for our patient appreciation day May 29,2014 10 AM - 6 PM

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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49

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50

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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watermark Your lgbt life.

Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

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Augus t 28 - Sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

53

pHoto captions 1- When Bayli Silberstein’s application to form a Gay Straight Alliance was turned down by her Leesburg Middle School, the ACLU got involved. A court finally ordered the school to sanction the GSA. 2- Den leader Jennifer Tyrell hugs Pascal Tessier, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout, after the Boy Scouts of America announced that it would accept gay Scouts, but not gay adult Scout leaders.

2013

3- Edie Windsor became an LGBT icon when her lawsuit against the government led to the dismantling of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA).

9

4- Come Out With Pride drew a recordbreaking 120,000 to downtown Orlando.

5- When Amy foster (left) and Darden Rice won election to the St. Petersburg City Council, they joined Steve Kornell to create an openly gay contingent of three on the eight-person body. Foster, Kornell and Rice were our Most Remarkable People of 2013 for Tampa Bay.

7 1

6- Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins became the first active NBA player to come out.

10

7- Popular drag performer “Miss Wanda” was shot and killed during an East Tampa home invasion in May. 8- The Headdress Ball raised more than $500,000 for Orlando’s Hope and Help Center, celeberating its 25th year.

2

4

6

9- 18-year-old Indian River County resident Katlyn Hunt was arrested for having sexual relations with her 14-year-old girlfriend.

10- In June, Exodus International founder and president Alan Chambers apologized for practicing ‘conversion’ therapy at the Orlando-based ex-gay ministry.

11- Metropolitan Business Association president Mikael Audebert was our Most Remarkable Person of 2013 for Orlando.

1 YEAR AGO mOSt pOpular SOng

Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

beSt Selling album

The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake

3

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 2013.

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3

higheSt rated tv ShOW

NCIS

higheSt grOSSing film

Iron Man 3

beSt picture OScar

12 Years a Slave

Out celebritieS

Brian Boytano (Olympic skater), Jason Collins (NBA player), Clive Davis (Sony Music CeO), Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs) StateS With marriage eQuality

15, including in 2013: Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah

54

5

This cover summed it up after the Hillsborough County Commission went against the grain and voted down a domestic partner registry in January. The 4-3 voted galvanized local LGBT activists who vowed to work to defeat Ken Hagan, Al Higgenbotham, Sandra Murman and Victor Crist. Pinellas, Orange and Volusia counties have recently created registries.

“People look at us and say, ‘What is wrong with Hillsborough County?” said Commissioner Les Miller.

J

8

lookinG back

une 26, 2013, was a

landmark in LGBT history. That’s when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense Of Marriage Tom Dyer Act (DOMA), which denied federal PUBLISHER benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

The case, based on New Yorker Edie Windsor’s fight to be treated as a widow for estate tax purposes, is now the basis for the legal dismantling of marriage bans throughout the nation, including Florida.

In another case, the Supreme Court sidestepped a direct ruling on marriage equality, but let stand a court decision legalizing marriage in California.

In all, eight new states began allowing same-sex marriages in 2013, bringing the total to 15 and the District of Columbia.

Across the pond, both England and France legalized same-sex marriage. Down under, Australia’s High Court

watermark Your lgbt life.

11

ruled against marriage equality.

And India made homosexual acts criminal again.

In Republican-controlled Tallahassee, the Competitive Workforce Act and a statewide domestic partner registry failed to make it out of committee, despite valiant efforts by Rep. Joe Saunders (D-Orlando) and others. And Sen. Marco Rubio reinforced his anti-gay cred by blocking appointment of an openly gay judge to a federal bench. New polling indicated that 75% of Floridians now favor marriage equality— including Sen. Bill Nelson and former Gov. Charlie Crist.

It was one step forward, two

Augus t 28 - sep t emb er 10, 2014 // Issue 21.18

steps back for the Hillsborough County Commission in 2013.

In January, they rejected a domestic partner registry by a 4-3 vote, leading to protests throughout the region. But in June, they repealed an ordinance banning public displays of LGBT pride. Pinellas, on the other hand, approved a countywide DPR and elected a second and third openly gay city commissioner in St. Pete.

And despite thunderstorms, St. Pete Pride drew 120,000 to the nearby Grand Central District.

In Orlando, Come Out With Pride also drew 120,000 to Lake Eola Park in October.

Dallas Buyers Club became a sensation when both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto won Oscars for portraying edgy AIDS sufferers. Kinky Boots, penned by Harvey Fierstein with music by Cyndi Lauper, was the Tony-winning toast of Broadway. And to absolutely no one’s surprise, Jodie Foster and Brian Boytano came out.

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