Watermark Issue 23.16: Badges of Courage

watermark Your LGBT Life.

iSSUe 23.16• aUGUSt 11 - aUGUSt 24, 2016 • wateRMaRKOnline.COM

BADGES OF

COURAGE Local authorities across Central Florida and Tampa Bay aim in the direction of tolerance, not discrimination

daytOna beach • OrLandO • taMpa • st. petersburg • cLearwater • sarasOta

grayson j u st i c e | e q ua l i t y | p e ac e

In the mIdst of our grIef, we must find patience, as the tectonic plates of society move ever-so-slowly toward equality. and look forward to victories to come, if we work together: complete equality in the raising of children. anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws.

Full health coverage for all lGBtq health needs. equality in social, government and employment benefits. and finally, freedom from fear that you will be hurt or punished because of whom you love. it won’t be easy, but together we can get it done.

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watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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departments 6 // MAIL 7 // EDITOR’S DESK 9 // ORLANDO NEWS 13 // TAMPA BAY NEWS 16 // STATE NEWS 18 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 33 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 39 // COMMUNITY CALENDAR 41 // TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT 43 // ORLANDO OUT+ABOUT 45 // ANNOUNCEMENTS/ WEDDING BELLS 48 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 50 // ORLANDO MARKETPLACE

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I am troubled by the very vague language of the Resolution... I don’t like to see our community, or certainly not victims of such a horrible tragedy, be cynically exploited for partisan political gain.

—mary meeks, ciViL righTs aTTOrNey speakiNg aBOuT The OraNge cOuNTy repuBLicaN deLegaTiON sigNiNg a resOLuTiON TO suppOrT The LgBT cOmmuNiTy

on the coVer

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PAGE POLICE STATE:

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Local authorities across Florida are trying to build relationships with the LGBT community.

PHOTO COURTESY TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT

scan Qr code For

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the charmer in the del: Orlando artist Del Cain may be 73 years old, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be expressive.

watermark i ssue 23 .16 //august 11 - august 24 , 2016

money matters

in memoriam

loVe mia

dcX For lgbt

PAGE The OneOrlando Fund held townhall meetings to inform the public on how the Pulse money will be distributed.

PAGE Cindy Barnes is coming back to Sarasota Pride to honor friend and Pulse victim Eddie Sotomayor.

PAGE

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read it Online!

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

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South Florida restaurant stands with transgender employee after customer verbally assaults her.

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The Dixie Chicks ready to run to Tampa. Check out 10 ways they supported the LGBT community.

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give us a fOLLOw On twitter and instagraM at @waterMarkOnLine and be sure tO Like us On facebOOk. watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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top web comments “I am OK with Orlando purchasing this site for a permanent memorial.

The first government sanctioned LGBT memorial? Absolutely.”

—Tracy Burridge

WatermarkOnline.com On Marco Rubio attending an anti-LGBT event in Orlando:

OES ORLANDO EMERGENCY SIGNAL BURGLAR ALARMS Helping Secure Central Florida’s LGBT Community with PRIDE

407-897-1300

“Please don’t let Rubio get away with this. Make him own it in public.”

—Roooth

On Orange County Republicans supporting LGBT non-discrimination bill:

“Where does this ‘new generation of Republicans’ stand on gun control?”

—Scottie Campbell

Watermark’s Facebook page

On Ugandan police raiding a gay Pride event:

“They can thank the Republican endorsed, anti-gay ‘ministries’ from America that go there and promote hate.”

—HenRy Mays

On a gay Syrian refugee being found beheaded in Turkey:

“So very sad. May he rest in peace. Should LGBTQ [people] be warned about travel to Istanbul?”

—Pam Hardin

On rumors that Caitlyn Jenner’s docu-series, I Am Cait, is getting cancelled:

“Such a disappointment. As a kid I worshiped Bruce. As an adult I am embarrassed

by Caitlyn.”

—Rob McCullough

“Good riddance, but can Candace or the other ladies have a show please?”

—David Edward

FL EC13003716 6

watermark Your LGBT life.

On Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer wanting the city to purchase Pulse:

“I am OK with Orlando purchasing this site for a permanent memorial. The first government sanctioned LGBT memorial? Absolutely.

Pulse can open next to it. The ground should be honored.

I would have reservations dancing on the same ground that our community members were killed. It’s like dancing on a grave. Just my opinion.”

—Tracy Burridge

“No, reopen the club bigger and better. The victims would want us to keep partying in their memory not succumb to fear and sadness.”

—Joey Medina

On the challenges and successes of non-binary gender pronoun usage:

“I am working on this but am not always on the mark in my interactions. I’m trying!”

—Ann Mount

On North Carolina governor allowing disaster relief money to be used defending anti-LGBT law:

“And when the next hurricane hits, he’ll go crying to the Feds and we’ll all end up footing the bill for hate.”

—Chuck Strom

“Well at least he got something right. It’s a disaster.”

—Joe DeLustro

On Orange County Republicans supporting LGBT non-discrimination bill:

“I am very proud of these

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leaders. Thank you.”

—Carrie Duvall Davis

On Cleveland Pride parade being cancelled:

“Surprising. Pride parades have always needed to consider hateful people showing up to disrupt the events, and the police are there to entrust safety.

Without more information, it looks like problems within the organization caused the cancellation.”

—John B. Dorris

“This is exactly what terrorists and perpetrators of hate crimes want to happen. It sounds like we don’t have enough details to know with any certainty whether it was justified or not, but with the little information we have, I’d say no.”

—Lynn Bradbury

On Marco Rubio attending an anti-LGBT event in Orlando:

“If the voters of Florida show up in November, Marco will see that Florida isn’t a backward southern state anymore.”

—Warren Rowley

“I’m sure the Log Cabins will be there, fully respected/ accepted by the crowd.

Continuing those vital conversations they’ve been having throughout the state. Making that progress Democrats and leftists have been unable to make. Patting themselves on the back for accomplishing nothing.”

—Garrett L. Grainger

“He couldn’t find work in the private sector when it became so public that he has one of the worst voting records in the U.S. Senate.

Even lobbyists have to show up for work. Desperate, so he’s whoring for donations.”

—Annette Walker

editor’s

billy Manes editOr

BIlly@WatermarkOnline.com

“y

desk

Ou haVe The righT TO

remain silent and refuse to answer questions.” Such is the launch of the monotonous Miranda poetry recited time and time again over the handcuffed arms of alleged criminals under the swirling bright blue and reds atop the cars of those out to convict them – sometimes rightfully, sometimes in error.

It is no secret to anyone that the lines between right and wrong blur frequently, generally aided by the vectors of pride, bravado, haste, fear and even innocence present in that singular arresting moment.

The cacophony of crisis often wins over, and in recent years, we’ve seen a widening schism between freedom and authority, right and wrong – so much so that we’re lining streets, packing political offices, peacefully demonstrating or violently exploding. Black Lives Matter, #sitinforthe49, the Dream

watermark staFF

Defenders. These trying times don’t represent our first revolution – political or otherwise – but they do remind us that we ought to be looking out for each other more.

We could try a little harder, listen a little more.

You think there’s no such thing as a social contract? You’re wrong.

And nothing has proven that fact to Central Floridians more clearly than the fights and flights that have punctuated both the personal and political explosions in recent months. On the one hand, we have

fresh memories of carcasses piled into corners in a local gay bar, lives lost and awaiting identification, sights, sounds, smells that have horrified families and authorities alike, according to reports. On the other, we have a growing sense that authority, in its broader terms, has been abused: Our state government has refused civil rights almost habitually; our federal government often close in tow on issues including LGBT freedoms, racial divides and economic inequality. We aren’t quite the perfect union, but we are a union nonetheless, one that flares up in times of tragedy – or, well, electoral democracy – but one that is much better displayed in our mirrored, one-on-one similarities than it is in our acrimonious differences.

At the risk of repeating myself – it happens – I’ve always wandered back to the tenet that we’re all better served by the most basic rules: Rules that don’t impede our realistic and harmless freedoms, but rules nonetheless. For me, it’s always been a case of, “if you hit me it hurts; if you help me up, it inspires.” Of course, these utopian ideals even at their basest of levels can sound ridiculous, but, like a construction level applied to the human condition, they generally reinforce a center, a society.

The reason for all of this gauzy and longwinded prose set to the tune of “Sowing the Seeds of Love” is that this week, Watermark looks into the evolving relationship between our own minority community – the LGBT community – and those who walk around with the badges, firearms and clubs. If there’s anything that we learned from the frightening blue-and-red light show on Orange Avenue in mid-June outside of Pulse Orlando, it’s that catastrophes bring us together, give us a better chance to learn about each other. We shouldn’t waste this opportunity to be a better society.

In police and sheriff departments statewide, initiatives have already been launched (even prior to the Pulse incident) to build connections

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watermark Your LGBT life.

If there’s anything that we learned from the frightening blueand-red light show on Orange Avenue in mid-June outside of Pulse Orlando, it’s that catastrophes bring us together. drearily newsy – also offers some hope and humor. We take a gander at the fantastic art of Orlando 73-year-old splash-painter Del Cain, fondly gaze upon the return of the Dixie Chicks, gaze into the face of THE Miss Divine Grace on issues of indentured servitude (or waiting tables) and welcome our newest columnist, proud trans-lesbian Maia Monet. Somewhere in the middle, a grilled-cheese sandwich debate involving bathroom bills pops up, and it’s awesome. There’s plenty to take in here in Watermark’s glorious guest room.

After all, we never remain silent.

Not on our lives!

orlando oFFice

Founder and Guiding Light: tom dyer • tom@Watermarkonline.com

Office Manager: Kathleen harper • ext. 100 • Kathleen@Watermarkonline.com

between the otherness of minority communities and the perception of uneven judgment from authorities.

Black Lives Matter protests (and Stand Your Ground laws) have already taught us that this isn’t an easy subject to broach. Yet, still, we try. Tolerance isn’t enough, clearly.

Equality is the only option.

If it seems like we’re traversing a dark road this summer, in many ways we are. But this issue – though stacked with some rancor about Donald Trump and Marco Rubio kowtowing to the religious right in Orlando, a heated political battle for a congressional seat in the Tampa Bay area and sundry other developments that make news so

414 N. Ferncreek Ave. Orlando, FL 32803 TEL: 407-481-2243 FAX: 407-481-2246

tampa bay oFFice TEL: 813-655-9890 FAX: 813-849-2986

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

contributors maia mONeT is a photographer at Southern Nights in Orlando and a singer with the band Mad Transit. Page 21

diViNe grace

is an Orlandobased trouble maker with a forked tongue and all the charm you can imagine. Page 23

samaNTha rOseNThaL

attended University of Central Florida and is a former Watermark editorial assistant. She is currently a freelance writer and regularly covers Wedding Bells. Page 45

aaron alper, scottie campbell, susan clary, krista ditucci, kirk hartlage, Joseph kissel, Jason leclerc, mary meeks, stephen miller, daVid moran, gregg shipiro, greg stemm, dr. steVe yacoVelli, , michael wanZie

photography brian becnel, nick cardello, angie Folks, bruce hardin, Julie milFord, traVis moore, chris stephenson, lee VandergriFt, tinkerFluFF

distribution lVnliF2 distributing, lisa Jordan, Jill bates, ken carraway 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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central florida news

The Florida Democratic Party makes some noise at opening for new Clinton campaign office Compassionate Counselor:

Billy Manes

O

RLANDO | The scene felt a little familiar. Tucked into an office building on Colonial Drive, upstairs in a world of beige cubicles and the walls that they hang upon, another Democratic presidential frontrunner was given the full grassroots treatment – knocking on doors, talking to your friends, hugs and buttons – that her predecessor Barack Obama received on the very same block, in the very same building.

On Aug. 4, local Democrats crowded the new offices to make it known that they were “with her,” and they were ready to fight. Clinton recently visited Orlando and returned for visits to Kissimmee and Tampa Bay in subsequent weeks.

Orlando District 5 city commissioner Regina Hill proved to be the highlight of the evening, speaking at the top of anybody’s vocal range to a community that has suffered such injustice, a community still staggered by the June 12 Pulse massacre.

“This time we are going to have to come together to defeat hate,” Hill shouted. “It’s about the sacrifice for tomorrow.”

Hill went on to deliver the zinger of the night when she spoke of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last month.

“The biggest Klan rally I ever saw,” she said. “You know what it was called? The Republican National Convention.”

Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph was also present, toddler daughter Hillary in tow.

“You’re in the I-4 corridor, the biggest prize,” he said.

“We can have rational, reasonable conversations,” he added. “America was not made great by fear … It was made great by reasonable, adult conversations.”

Pride Fund to End Gun Violence to launch Orlando campaign Billy Manes

A

s previously mentioned in Watermark, Washington, D.C., political action committee Pride Fund to End Gun Violence jumped into existence and immediate action following the June 12 Pulse shooting. The group, which claims, “It’s time to loosen the stranglehold that the gun lobby has on

Continued on pg. 10 | uu |

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Federally appointed leader of National Compassion Fund, attorney Ken Feinberg.

Photo: 2011, courtesy flickr

Money matters The OneOrlando Fund reaches for public transparency, mourns the deaths from the Pulse massacre Billy Manes

O

RLANDO | “Every time we’ve done one of these compensation programs, it is a horror,” attorney Kenneth R. Feinberg, the recently appointed leader of the National Compassion Fund, told a crowd of victims, their families and the media at one of two town halls scheduled at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. “We are here to serve the community. Like most Americans, we step up when asked.”

Feinberg, of course, was referring to the ongoing emotional and legal maze plaguing victims of the June 12 Pulse massacre in which 49 were killed and another 53 injured. While the city of Orlando has become a hotbed of discussion for media in search of angles – some ephemeral, some grounded in the enormity of an international tragedy – the families were given a moment to sort out their affairs in a quiet manner, away from the sunshine, media tents and flowers.

This was the time for questions.

It was no small affair at the 12:30 p.m. gathering on Aug. 4, a fact drilled home by the presence of survivors and families of victims from

watermark Your LGBT life.

mass killings in Aurora, Santa Barbara and Phoenix.

Mostly, however, the town halls (a second was held later in the evening) were devised as a means of clearing up confusion surrounding the distribution of some $23 million in donations that has come into the OneOrlando Fund (oneorlando.org).

A draft protocol, initially introduced on July 13, was explained in detail

by Feinberg, who, in no uncertain terms, tried to turn the tears into action and make the lives of those affected by the hate crime in Orlando a pecuniary priority.

Four divisions of affected individuals and experiences were explained – individual death claims, individual physical injury claims for victims requiring overnight hospitalization, individual physical injury claims of victims treated at Orlando area hospitals on an emergency outpatient basis and individual claims of victims present inside the Pulse nightclub [at the time of the incident]. As was expected, there were some gray areas of frustration among attendees. One woman spoke of being released from the hospital while still holding bullet fragments in her body, fragments

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

she’ll continue to deal with for the rest of her life; others spoke of fight-or-flight tendencies in which those who could get away, did get away, without speaking to police.

Feinberg assured those gathered that the authorities had a suitably finalized list of those who were involved in the incident and stated that the Compassion Fund was hard at work trying to award payouts in their various increments, from most severe to least.

Some of the victims have already received financial assistance from the state, and some mentioned that the state would not allow them to receive further payouts without refunding the state issued monies, according to documents they have received along with their checks. Others raised concerns about probate – the perpetual concern in death cases in which families cannot decide on an executor or personal representative for the estate – as to where the money, when awarded, would go.

Feinberg tried to keep it as clinical as possible, stating that the local courts would rush probate designations in this case should all family parties be in agreement as to who was in charge. Otherwise, he hinted, it could get ugly at trial.

That, however, is not OneOrlando’s business. The $23 million will be divvied out based on the severity of the cases in the most clinical manner possible.

In the end, Feinberg said that he hoped that through September, the funds would begin to roll out once the protocol was finalized. Also, all of the funds will go to the victims and those hurt, not to overhead.

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central florida news | uu | Pride Fund to End Gun Violence frOM pg.8 Congress and create the change we need to keep our communities safer,” is one of many philanthropic arms to this post-traumatic stress wake-up call. But it’s also one that could prove the most important on the political scale.

The Pride Fund is going straight to the root of the cause in a manner many organizations haven’t dared to do as of this date. “Pride Fund to End Gun Violence is America’s only LGBTQ organization dedicated to reforming our gun laws,” its press release reads.

“Our Orlando community is central to our vision of electing pro-LGBTQ candidates who will act on sensible gun reforms to help prevent acts of senseless gun violence.”

On Aug. 17, at the Hammered Lamb, Pride Fund Executive Director Jason Lindsay will join Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, Watermark editor Billy Manes and survivors and family members of the victims of the massacre to start the snowball rolling until it’s large enough to make a difference and break down the barriers of the gun lobby.

For more information, visit pridefund.org/ orlando-launch

orange county republicans pledge support to lgbt community without speciFics on law Jeremy Williams

O

rLaNdO | Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, along with nearly two dozen Central Florida Republican leaders, signed a resolution pledging support for statewide legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity July 28, according to website the Orlando Political Observer.

The resolution was presented

by Jacobs at the Orange County Republican Executive Committee Lincoln Day dinner.

“These are what I like to think are the new generation of Republicans,” said Jacobs. “What we grieved over a few weeks ago wasn’t a loss of gay people or Hispanic people, it was a loss of human beings.

Jacobs, in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, said the resolution came from a promise she made to the families of the Pulse victims.

“I gave them my word I would do everything I could to make sure ... that their lives and their love changes something for the better,” Jacobs said.

Orange County and the city of Orlando already offer protections for members of the LGBT community, as do nearly a dozen other counties and more than 30 cities and town; however, Florida at the state level does not.

Gov. Rick Scott headlined the Lincoln dinner. Scott was told ahead of time that the resolution would be presented at the dinner but was not asked to sign it, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Orlando civil rights attorney Mary Meeks is skeptical about the sincerity of some of the signors of the resolution, specifically Congressman John Mica.

Mica has been a vocal opponent against many bills in Congress that would protect the LGBT community.

“Mica has historically supported anti-LGBT legislation his entire career and opposed the [Employment Non-Discrimination Act] and other

THANKS THE LGBT COMMUNITY for everything they bring to Orlando and all of Central Florida.

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

pro-LGBT legislation” Meeks says. ”Even after Pulse, on the one month anniversary in fact, his committee had discussions on an anti-LGBT bill (the First Amendment Defense Act) that he is a sponsor on, that would affirmatively allow discrimination against LGBT people.”

Watermark reached out to Mica’s office for comment, but requests went unanswered.

While Meeks believes many of the signers, including Jacobs, are sincere and have good intentions, she is concerned that the resolution doesn’t go far enough.

“I am troubled by the very vague language of the resolution – which essentially says nothing concrete or binding – and wonder why it was drafted that way, particularly given the involvement of certain political operatives,” Meeks says.”I don’t like to see our community, or certainly not victims of such a horrible tragedy, be cynically exploited for partisan political gain.”

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watermark Your LGBT life.

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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tampa bay news

The gloves come off as the race for District 70 gets closer Jeremy Williams

S

T. PETERSBURG | The candidates are upping their attacks as the Democratic primary for District 70 gets closer.

St. Petersburg business owner, and openly gay candidate, Dan Fiorini has called Tampa Bay area lawyer CJ Czaia out for hiring Theresa “Momma Tee” Lassiter as a campaign consultant. “[This Czaia]guy has paid her $1,000 and put her on the payroll. This guy is a complete fraud, a complete fraud,” Fiorini says. “She goes on about how ‘Homos ain’t with God,’ and she absolutely tore apart Darden Rice and Steve Cornell when they ran for City Council.”

Lassiter, an African-American activist in St. Petersburg, has made many anti-LGBT and homophobic comments about several openly LGBT candidates in the past. Most notably in 2005, Lassiter confronted Councilwoman Darden Rice, at the time Rice’s first run for City Council, about her sexual orientation.

“Word has it on the street that you’re a lesbian,” Lassiter said to Rice at a community meeting. When Rice answered that she is, Lassiter responded, “God ain’t down with that,” and then stormed out.

Rice ended up losing that election, but won her bid in 2013. Rice, along with city council members Steve Kornell and Amy Foster, all being openly gay, has led Lassiter to nickname them “the honeycomb caucus.”

Czaia hired Lassiter as a political consultant for his run for District 70, paying her $1,000 in July.

“I created a firestorm it seems like,” Czaia says.

“I hired Momma Tee as a very strong, sometimes seemingly out of control, individual, but she is very beneficial in advising me and my campaign about the African-American community, the background of the community.”

Czaia says that even though Lassiter is providing advice on the African-American community in south St. Pete, it does not mean he follows everything she says.

“I’m going to listen to every community, I’m going to hear all sides, but I am not going to compromise my values. If Momma Tee makes a statement to me that is offensive, then I’m going to make it clear to her what I think and why we all need to stand with the LGBTQ community,” Czaia says.

In a previous interview with Watermark, Fiorini claimed Czaia recently moved to the district just to run for the House seat, a claim Czaia denies.

“I’ve been in and out of the St. Petersburg area since the late ‘70s. I’m a graduate of St. Petersburg Junior College; I attended the college for a year. I lived in South St. Pete for years. I think to say that I’ve been in the district for just a few moments is ridiculous.

Before he even thought of moving to Florida I was in the district. No, that’s an incredulous, irresponsible statement,” Czaia says.

Czaia has received an endorsement from the

Continued on pg. 14 | uu |

12

SARASOTA NATIVE: Edward

“Eddie” Sotomayor, one of the 49 victims from the Pulse massacre, was planning to meet with Cindy Barnes the week after the shooting to talk about coming back to Sarasota Pride.

In Memoriam Sarasota Pride to move forward, will honor Pulse victims Krista DiTucci

S

ARASOTA | Cindy Barnes has been the face of Sarasota Pride for almost a decade.

But a few months ago, Barnes had made the decision to step down as Pride director. However, her plan to resign recently took an unexpected turn.

Edward “Eddie” Sotomayor was one of the 49 victims killed in the Pulse shooting. Sotomayor was a Sarasota native and actively involved in Pride. Just before the shooting, he and Barnes arranged for a lunch meeting the following week to discuss Sarasota Pride’s future and Barnes’ decision not to continue with Pride. Sadly, Sotomayor was killed before the meeting took place.

“I know him well enough that he would have talked me into doing it and would have helped out a lot,” Barnes says. “Well, he’s getting his way because Pride is happening now!”

Barnes says she felt compelled to keep Sarasota Pride going largely due to Sotomayor’s

watermark Your LGBT life.

influence. As a result, this year’s Pride flyer features a top hat placed in the upper corner of the “We Are Orlando” slogan, a tribute to Sotomayor who was well-known for his signature top hat.

“He was quite a personality,” Barnes says. “Every time you saw Eddie, it was like you’ve been best friends with him for 100 years. He made you feel warm and accepted.”

Gail Foreman, Sarasota Pride board member and Booker High School teacher, says Sotomayor was a Booker High graduate and was highly respected at the school. Foreman also heads the school’s Gay Straight Alliance and Embracing Our Differences clubs; she says Sotomayor told her he was happy to see the clubs at school because there were no LGBT organizations there when he was a student.

Foreman says many Booker High students and staff volunteer for the Pride Fest each year. This year, Foreman would like to arrange for the arts and visuals club to perform a memorial piece for Sotomayor as well as a piece for the main Pride festivities.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

During the memorial, Barnes is planning to display St. Pete Pride’s posters of the 49 Pulse victims. Also, after meeting a Pulse bartender at St. Pete Pride, Barnes says she would like to invite some of the other bartenders from the club to participate in Sarasota Pride.

“I’d like to get them here, if for nothing else but to talk about the Pulse tragedy and share their experience as someone who has been there,” Barnes says. “This is not something people need to forget about.”

Rev. Glo Hoeft, Sarasota Pride board member, encourages community members to bring items of their choosing to present at the memorial.

“We are their (Pulse victims) family and their friends,” Hoeft says. “We are one with those who are wounded, both physically and emotionally.”

Barnes says the Pulse tragedy has drawn a lot of local attention to this year’s Pride Fest. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune doubled their participation and will provide media coverage. So far, Sarasota Pride is almost completely full with major sponsors.

“Of all the years, this is not the year to give this up,” Barnes says. “I did have some people say that maybe we’ve gotten to the point where we don’t need Pride anymore because we have

Continued on pg. 14 | uu |

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13

| uu | Sarasota Pride from pg.12

marriage equality and other LGBT rights. It didn’t take us long to find out we’ve taken a number of steps back. So we have to be vigilant and keep going.”

Hoeftsays she is happy the event will continue running and would like to see more involvement from male community members in particular. She also says she would like to see increased Pride activities throughout the year.

“I was saddened when Cindy said she wasn’t going to do it anymore,” Hoeft says. “I had been with Sarasota Pride even before Cindy took over.

But I understood. She works harder than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Foreman says when Barnes initially discussed stepping down, the two envisioned a more active role from younger community members.

“They don’t understand

the blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to get where we are,” Foreman says. “Cindy is very involved in the clubs with me at the schools and wanted them to appreciate all the people before them who have fought for the rights they have and help them get equality. Maybe we need to wait for the village to get stronger before someone else takes over.”

Hoeft is a living testimony to those who were among the first to fight for LGBT rights.

Hoeft, who is 73 and came out in 1961, was arrested in the 1980s during her participation in the National March on Washington and says she came from an era where LGBT people were forced to hide.

“I’m so pleased that today, the younger generations don’t have any qualms about being out,” Hoeft says. “It’s what we’ve been working for all our lives. We can stand up and say, ‘Yes, are proud to be gay and lesbian. We are here and are going to stand together.’”

tampa bay news | uu | District 70 Race from pg.12

Stonewall Democrats, an organization to which Fiorini is a founding charter member.

“I got the endorsement because I’m a legitimate candidate and would be a terrific representative. Even if I lose, I’m not leaving the community. I’m here. My better half and I have worked for years in working to make sure that we have a better community – and when I say community, it’s the Bay area” Czaia says.

The endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats came after meeting with each of the candidates and hearing their stance on issues of LGBT equality, says Jane Morris, Vice President of Political Action for the Stonewall Democrats. She chairs the endorsement committee.

“We were impressed with CJ,” Morris says. “He has an effective record for starting an organization for Latino

and African-American groups.

He has worked with LGBT couples on immigration issues.

He’s just been there, in the trenches, more than anybody it seems, more than Dan, and we don’t even want to talk about Wengay Newton.”

Newton is a former city councilman in St. Pete who is running for District 70 as well.

Morris says she is aware of Lassiter’s involvement with Czaia’s campaign and admits to not being a fan of Momma Tee, calling her a “homophobe,” but understands how Czaia can benefit from her council.

“He hired her after our endorsement,” Morris says. “He turned to her as a resource for the Black community, and I hope if he has issues with equality issues or LGBT issues that he will turn to us. That’s the bottom line. We can’t control that she has done valuable work in the African-American community.”

Fiorini cannot understand how the Stonewall Democrats can continue to support Czaia

after hiring someone who has been a vocal opponent of the LGBT community.

“This is absolutely incredible to me after everything Momma Tee said about Darden Rice and Steve Kornell, and Stonewall has endorsed him?” Fiorini says.

“You can’t at the same time say I am for LGBT rights and then hire a homophobe to run your campaign in Midtown. That’s absolutely incredible and the lack of leadership at Stonewall has caused this to happen; this is incredible. Susan McGrath ought to be ashamed of herself.”

McGrath is the president of the Stonewall Democrats and referred Watermark to Morris for comments.

“This is a four-county election and you need to talk about electability and money, and we were not impressed by Dan,” Morris says. “We endorse CJ because we think he is the most qualified.”

The Democratic primary for District 70 is Aug. 30.

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15

state news

in other news rep. daVid richardsON meT wiTh gOV. rick scOTT afTer The shOOTiNg aT puLse Florida rep. David richardson, D- Miami Beach, spoke privately with Gov. rick Scott days after the Pulse shooting in Orlando. Scott was seeking help reaching out to the LGBT community, according to richardson at an event hosted by the equality Forum at the national Museum of Jewish American History in conjunction with the Democratic national Convention in Philadelphia July 27.

“I’m willing to help you but only if you can do this on my terms, and my terms are no press and no photo opportunities,” richardson told the group on his response when speaking with Scott.

“I didn’t want to be used to facilitate him after he has not been responsive to our community.” richardson, in an interview with the news Service, said the two did not speak about specific laws, but that in the presence of his staff said that he is a grandfather and if any of his grandchildren happened to be gay he would want them to be treated with dignity and respect and have their rights.

“And he also told me that for anyone that might be critical of him and having these meetings, that he got elected to represent all 20 million Floridians,” richardson said. richardson said the meetings with Scott came after he texted the governor’s chief of staff to complain about the lack of mention the LGBT community was receiving from Scott after the shooting at Pulse.

fOrT LauderdaLe’s pride ceNTer heLps LOw-iNcOme sTudeNTs The Pride Center at equality Park in Fort Lauderdale is helping students and teachers of Title 1 schools throughout Broward County to get supplies for the upcoming school year. Donations, which can be made directly at the Pride Center through Aug. 15, will go to the Broward education Foundation’s Tools for Schools program.

“Many teachers in Title 1 schools have to pay out of pocket for supplies, and most students can’t afford supplies,” said roya Amirniroumand, Women With Pride coordinator at The Pride Center, in an interview with South Florida Gay News. “When you see the dedication from Tools for Schools by organizing the donations and how the teachers get supplies, it’s such a motivator for us to work for them to get as many donations as we can. It’s an amazing organization.”

The Pride Center is one of the main locations in Wilton Manors, bringing in most of the donations for Tools for Schools. Fifty percent of Broward County students are classified as low-income. Tools for Schools has received more than $10 million in supplies, which have gone on to help 300,000 students and 15,000 teachers since its inception in 1995.

16

sOciaL JusTice: New York Grilled

Cheese Co. posted the LOVE MIA meme on all their scoial media outlets.

Photo courtesy oF neW yorK Grilled cheese co.

VerBaL assauLT: Mia, an employee at New York Grilled Cheese Co., was harassed by a customer becasue she is transgender. Photo courtesy oF neW yorK Grilled cheese co.

south Florida restaurant deFends transgender employee Nicole Dudenhoefer

F

OrT LauderdaLe | New York Grilled Cheese Co., a restaurant in South Florida, defended a transgender employee after she was verbally harassed and cyber bullied.

Mary Bolda, a patron of NYGC’s Wilton Manors location, posted a complaint to the company’s Facebook wall July 26 detailing bad service and a long wait time during her visit to the store over the weekend.

However, patrons who were at the restaurant at the same time as Bolda say she was being disruptive by shouting loudly and calling a transgender waitress, identified as Mia, “he” and “him.” Bolda caused such a commotion that other customers left because they felt uncomfortable, says Sara Shake, a representative for NYGC. According to NYGC owner Leor Bakar, Mia, who he describes as a close friend and “thick-skinned, strong woman,” did not engage with Bolda, she simply asked for a five-minute break to collect herself before resuming work.

Another customer, River Azevedo, upholds the claim that Bolda is the party at fault within a Facebook comment that reads: “I was literally there at the same time you were and everything you wrote was a lie. Did

watermark Your LGBT life.

you forget that you discriminated against the waitress? Calling her a him over and over again? Did you forget that you stood up and started yelling at everyone?”

The company responded to Bolda via Facebook with an apology for the wait time, however they refused to tolerate the mistreatment of their employee and would not apologize for defending a member of their staff.

“New York Grilled Cheese is proud to support LGBTQ individuals from all backgrounds, employees and customers alike. We strive to create a safe, gender-neutral space so our patrons and staff feel comfortable and happy,” New York Grilled Cheese Co.’s response reads.

Robin Cross was another NYGC patron who took to the company’s Facebook page to air her grievances against the company’s open acceptance of transgender individuals.

“This place was delicious. But I wouldn’t go back. They only have transgender bathrooms,” reads Cross’ July 26 comment.

NYGC once again took the opportunity to defend their employee and the transgender community with a response including the following statement: “We believe that every person is born with dignity and humanity, and that includes gender expression.

We practice that belief by creating

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welcoming and inclusive spaces.

Our company supports bathroom facilities that are physically accessible (ADA compliant) and open to people of any gender, or “gender neutral,” as an important way to full welcome and inclusion.”

Bakar decided to make the single-use bathrooms in his restaurants gender-neutral two years ago, not only to show support for the LGBT community, but also for parents who must accompany children to the bathroom.

NYGC has also opted to change all of their social media profile pictures to a “LOVE MIA” graphic, which features a transgender symbol for the “O” and the blue, pink and white stripes of the transgender flag placed over the word Mia. Bakar says he feels partially responsible for the attack on Mia, since it occurred while she was working for him, and hopes other companies will stand up for their transgender employees.

“I felt it was important for the company to make a public stance that this is not acceptable for us, as a company,” says Bakar. “We’re in the hospitality industry, the customer is always right, but not always and not in this case. I accept everybody, but I won’t accept a dollar if it means putting my employee’s dignity on the line.

Since the incident was made public, Bakar says people have called to threaten Mia. However, both he and Mia refuse to back down from supporting transgender equality.

“It’s the trans community that is being picked on now, they’re an easy target,” says Bakar. “If we can do anything positive from this it would be just to spread the message that we’re all human beings and transgender beings have feelings and they get hurt. They’re human beings and deserve dignity, they deserve equality.”

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

17

nation+world news

in other news North Carolina governor allows disaster relief money to be used defending anti-LGBT law Gov. Pat McCrory decided against signing one bill sent by the legislature because money appropriated to defend House Bill 2 originated from a disaster relief fund. The bill became law without McCrory’s signature as a deadline passed July 31. It contained many tweaks to a larger budget measure, including $500,000 for the governor’s office for legal costs of defending House Bill 2, which limits anti-discrimination rules for LGBTQ people.

Supreme Court rules Virginia school can block transgender student from men’s restroom Wire Report

R

Seattle City Council bans ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBT youth The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed an ordinance to bar the practice of “conversion therapy” to try to make young LGBT people straight. The measure proposed by Councilmember M. Lorena González passed unanimously August 1. It will punish licensed medical or mental-health professionals with fines up to $1,000 for using the form of talk therapy for minors to ‘treat’ same-sex attractions. It will also put into effect misdemeanor charges for advertising the service.

ichmond, Va. | A Virginia school board can block a transgender male from using the boys restroom when school starts next month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on August 3.

In a 5-3 decision, the high court put on hold a lower court ruling that ordered the Gloucester County School Board to let Gavin Grimm use the bathroom that matches his gender identity. The school board is expected to ask the justices to further intervene in the case later this month.

The decision means Grimm will be barred from using the boys bathroom for at least the first half of his senior year, said Josh Block, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who’s representing Grimm.

“The school board welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision as the new school year approaches,” the Gloucester County School Board said in a news release. “The board continues to believe that its resolution of this complex matter fully considered the interests of all students and parents.”

The school board says it plans to formally ask the Supreme Court to review the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Grimm’s case by the end of August and then it will be months before the justices decide whether to do so.

Block said he’s disappointed the teen will have to begin another school year being “stigmatized and isolated from the rest of his peers just because he is transgender.”

But he said he remains hopeful that Grimm will ultimately prevail in the case.

Grimm, who was born female

but identifies as male, was allowed to use the boys restroom at his high school for several weeks in 2014.

But after some parents complained, the school board adopted a policy requiring students to use either the restroom that corresponds with their biological gender or a private, single-stall restroom.

Grimm argues the policy violates Title IX, a federal law that bars sex discrimination in schools.

The school board counters that allowing Grimm use the boys restroom raises privacy concerns and may cause some parents to pull their children out of school.

If the justices agree to hear Grimm’s case, the order will remain on hold until the court makes a final ruling, the court’s ruling said. If they deny the school board’s petition for review, the order requiring the board to let Grimm use the boys bathroom will be reinstated.

legally married in California in 2014.

Conley died in February 2015, before the Supreme Court decision.

The ACLU said in a news release that the Social Security Administration in Lafayette denied benefits to Beem even after the court decision.

“Gerald Beem is the surviving spouse of William Conley, and is entitled to the same social security benefits of any other surviving spouse,” Marjorie Esman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said in a news release. “The law is clear that his marriage must be recognized. Mr. Beem, having lost

his husband and his partner of more than three decades, deserves the respect that any other spouse would receive.”

The ACLU said the case will be heard Aug. 4 by a Social Security administrative judge. The Social Security Administration declined comment on the case, citing privacy concerns, in an email from its Dallas office August 2 evening.

Esman said in an email that the ACLU has filed confidential documents in the case and that the August hearing will be closed to the public.

with bishops from Poland during his pilgrimage there. The Vatican released a transcript August 2 of those closed-door remarks.

The pope said he wanted to conclude his remarks by reflecting on this: “We are living a moment of annihilation of man as image of God.” Francis said: “Today, in schools they are teaching this to children — to children! — that everyone can choose their gender.”

Without specifying, he blamed this on textbooks supplied by

“persons and institutions who donate money.” The pope blamed what he called “ideological colonizing” backed by “very influential countries” which he didn’t identify.

One such “colonization” he said — “I’ll say it clearly with its first and last name — is gender.”

The “colonization” theme is one he has railed against before, including during an Asian pilgrimage in 2015.

Gay Syrian refugee found beheaded in Turkey

Louisiana gay widower denied Social Security survivor benefits

A Turkish LGBT rights organization says a gay Syrian refugee has been found decapitated in Istanbul. In a statement Aug. 4, Kaos GL said the severely mutilated body of Muhammed Wisam Sankari was discovered on July 25, two days after he left his house, and that he was only identified by his house-mates by his clothing. Kaos GL said Sankari had been kidnapped and raped by a group of men in Istanbul in a previous attack and was trying to leave Turkey for another country believing his life was in danger. He had arrived in Istanbul a year ago, the rights group said, without providing any further information.

Wire Report

Uganda’s government vows to ‘suppress’ gay pride activities Uganda’s government said it “will continue to suppress” the public activities of homosexuals and that a rehabilitation program had been developed to allow them to “lead normal lives again.” Ugandan police last week arrested about 20 people attending a gay pride event at a nightclub in the capital, Kampala. They were questioned and released hours later, although some said they had been assaulted by police officers. Simon Lokodo, a Ugandan minister in charge of ethics and integrity, told reporters that gay pride activities are being organized “with the influence of some foreign forces” he didn’t name. He also accused gay people of trying to promote themselves. Homosexuality is criminalized in Uganda, as in many African countries.

18

New Orleans | A civil rights group said August 2 it is seeking Social Security survivor benefits for a Louisiana man who legally married his husband in California before a 2015 Supreme Court ruling established a nationwide right to same-sex marriage.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana said Gerald Allen Beem and William Floyd Conley had lived together since 1982. Louisiana residents since 1997, they were

Pope says it’s ‘terrible’ kids taught they can choose gender Wire Report VATICAN CITY | Pope Francis has lamented that children are being taught at school that gender can be a choice, adding that his predecessor, Benedict XVI has labeled current times “the epoch of sin against God the Creator.”

Francis weighed in with his view on gender and what he said was that of the emeritus pontiff while meeting privately last week

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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watermark Your LGBT life.

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8/3/16 12:04 PM

viewpoint

Maia Monet

trans oF thought Finding myself, meeting you

h

i, i am maia mONeT. Or

at least I am now. You see, there was a time I went by a different name in my other life. I won’t tell you what that name was, but suffice it to say I am transgender and Maia is much more to my liking.

Watermark has asked me to write in from time to time and provide you my perspective as someone who identifies with two letters in LGBTQ+ (hint: not the G, B, Q, or +). It seems they think I’m good with words, which isn’t surprising considering how much attention transgender people pay to words. Of course words, such as pronouns, have a particularly deep impact on how our identity is affirmed, or not, by the public.

As children, we are taught that sticks and stones will break our bones, but words can never hurt us. I loathe that saying. I’ve been driven to the brink of suicide by things that have been told to me during my transition, and I know many other transgender people feel the same. We have a suicide attempt rate that some studies suggest is as high as 43 percent. I recall on the day I completed my legal name change, I was profoundly moved by the enormity of the moment, and how it represented an outward positive expression of a lifelong inner turmoil. However, when I arrived home later that day, my mother greeted me by saying she wanted to adopt a little boy and give him my

by a society that taught her in a million different ways that being transgender was unnatural and she wanted to save me from myself. It is a common notion that persists today despite great strides in the acceptance of the LGB community by American society. Whereas the greater cultural conversation on the LGB has shifted away from the mechanics of gay sex to topics such as marriage equality, the T is still stuck in the physical aspects of our identity. The emphasis is firmly on what we are and not who we are.

For instance, the word transgender itself is often mangled to emphasize the obsession with trans bodies.

I have seen it mistakenly written as “transgendered” countless times by major news organizations. This may seem subtle, but it implies that transgender is a verb and something done to us instead of part of our identity. I understand there is a fascination with the physical transition that many of us undergo, but that focus centers and promotes the idea that gender is composed of secondary sex characteristics like breasts and genitals.

This is fine for a world that experiences their gender and their biological sex in a unified way, although I would argue mistakenly so. However, it can also place us outside the human condition.

I have been called brave and courageous more times than I can count. Yes, it is complimentary and I can accept it as such, but it has been overused to the point that I chafe a bit when I hear it. I realized that it was being used to do more than honor the fantastic nature of my journey,

Of course words, such as pronouns, have a particularly deep impact on how our identity is affirmed, or not, by the public.

old name so as to replace me. Her cutting remark was devastating and called to mind my suicide plan with its promise of release from pain. I did not succumb that day, but there would be other days with deep psychic wounds inflicted with nothing more than a sentence or two.

Now, it would be easy to say that my mother is a terrible person, but it isn’t true. She was just shaped

but to also place me on an extra-human pedestal as if to say, “Oh, I could never imagine feeling that way or doing that to my body.” Well, no, most people couldn’t, because most people don’t have to. Then

watermark Your LGBT life.

again, jumping out of the third story window of a building would seem impossible to me, unless that building were on fire. That is what it is like to be transgender. To have your soul set ablaze with the realization that who you are is at odds with your body to the extent that you must jump or perish.

If society could find just enough empathy to realize that transgender people are simply driven by

1972

extraordinary circumstances to seek what everyone else has at birth, it would go a long way toward demystifying our community. We have seen this before when “gay marriage” was reframed as “marriage equality.” The public viewpoint changed rapidly to see gay people as wanting to express the common emotion of love through a public institution long granted to straight people. If we could

2016

change the conversation about transgender people to similarly humanize us, perhaps it would make it harder to deny us basic services or, better yet, to hurt us.

Melody Maia Monet is a photographer at Southern Nights in Orlando and a singer with the band Mad Transit.

She can be reached at maia@ monetphoto.com.

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

viewpoint allowed to cast shade at your server because your blood sugar has dropped. You knew when you packed that blinking vibrator into the back pocket of your ill-fitting pleated chinos that you were in for a wait. Don’t take it out on your server.

Divine Grace

Sweet

Divinity Tips on eating out!

H

ello, Dolls!

Summer is here, and many of you are trading in your alabaster birthday suits for melanoma here in “The Sunshine State.” Florida is known for its exotic beaches almost as much as it’s known for its Mr. Magoolike drivers and bath-salt-smoking cannibals. And our summer months are much more than stationary traffic and skin cancer! There are also thousands of original, unique and flavorful restaurants for everyone to enjoy!

So, while you ignore all of those options completely for an Olive Garden or Applebee’s, here’s something to consider before you step out of your Honda Civic: This is not a banquet in your honor. Cool your tits. YOUR SERVER IS MAKING $2.13 AN HOUR! A “server” is not a “serVANT”. Here’s a few tips on how you can act like less of a colossal butthole to your waitstaff: Your “tip” is intended to bring the server’s wage up to a level that’s competitive with hobo panhandlers and park mimes. Your server’s paycheck is taxed by his/her sales... including your meal. When you don’t tip, you haven’t just refrained from leaving money; you have in fact stolen from your server. You just stole from someone working at a poverty-level wage. You are garbage, and you deserve a yeast infection.

After waiting for 45 minutes at the door, you are not

While your hideous children are crushing Cheerios and/or vomiting on the table, please keep in mind that the 20 year-old wiping that mess up is making less an hour than your kid’s crappy diaper.

Tip accordingly. Nobody owes you any special accommodations because you managed to reproduce. If a Kardashian can do it, it’s none too difficult.

These “endless,” “bottomless” and “all-you-can-eat” affairs suggest that you’ll be full when you leave. They aren’t some sort of Coney Island hot dog endurance challenge.

Your desire to alchemize your O-Positive blood into garlic butter is preventing your server from attending to the tables that actually tip.

If you show up 10 minutes before the place closes, you’re just going to piss everybody off. Yes, the sign on the door says, “Open until 10 p.m.,” but the idea is that the staff will be wrapping things up shortly after that. The library is open until five, but I don’t see you showing up at 4:50PM and cracking open Tolstoy. Your preference to dine at a time generally reserved for vampires means that the staff is now forced to add another one to one-and-a-half hours to their workday, as well as the server who you have forced to work late FOR TWO DOLLARS AND THIRTEEN CENTS!

Want to make a substitution? Okay. But if your order on paper resembles the Magna Carta, you are a high maintenance hobgoblin, and you’re probably the reason your father walked out and your mother is an alcoholic. It’s a restaurant, not a hospital. If your allergies are such that you require

watermark Your LGBT life.

immediate medical attention after consuming something that was prepared in the same zip code as a lemon wedge, you need to spend less time at a restaurant and more time feeding intravenously from within your plastic bubble.

Ranch dressing is not a beverage.

TIP 15 percent if you received your meal. Period.

If the waiter was good, tip 18-20 percent. If your server was fierce, break the glass ceiling and consider how much money you just saved by not purchasing the ingredients and having some poor asshole pat your back while you yack it all up.

Asking for a glass of water and a bowl of lemons does not instill a sense of pride in your server that you have chosen their section to open up an impromptu lemonade stand. If you order a hot water kettle and fish out a tea bag from your rattan pocketbook, please know that your server hopes your children will put you in a convalescent home.

Look, we’ve all had a crappy server and crappy service. We all have horror stories about some hideous dining experience. Not everybody is cut out to be a server. (Though I firmly believe that everybody should be forced to do it for a month of their lives.)

But it’s a thankless job. It’s physically and mentally exhausting. The hours usually

suck, the uniform becomes increasingly expensive to clean, repair and replace, the benefits are usually NOTHING and the actual paycheck is so tiny that it’s hardly ever even taken into consideration.

These are PEOPLE! Treat them as such, because for as many bad experiences as you’ve had dining out in

Tip accordingly. Nobody owes you any special accommodations because you managed to reproduce.

If a Kardashian can do it, it’s none too difficult. your life, the number of jerks your server has dealt with FOR TWO DOLLARS AND THIRTEEN CENTS AN HOUR is too many to count on any given day.

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watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

42 ATHLETES

cOMpeting at the

2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN RIO

talking points

today, in schools they are teaching this to children – to children! – that everyone can choose their gender.

—pOpe fraNcis, speakiNg agaiNsT geNder fLuidiTy TO BishOps duriNg a piLgrimage TO pOLaNd. TraNscripTs Of The remarks were reLeased By The VaTicaN aug. 2.

jOe biden first vp tO Officiate saMe-sex wedding

V

ice presideNT JOe BideN has OfficiaTed a gay weddiNg, a first for the early proponent of same-sex marriage. Biden presided over the union of Joe Mahshie and Brian Mosteller, both longtime White House aides. The White House says the couple asked Biden to officiate. Biden has never officiated a wedding before, so he got a special temporary certification from the District of Columbia to make it legal. The afternoon ceremony took place August 1 at the Naval Observatory, the vice president’s official residence, with immediate family attending. Biden tweeted shortly after the ceremony saying, “Proud to marry Brian and Joe at my house. Couldn’t be happier, two longtime White House staffers, two great guys.” Biden publicly backed same-sex marriage in 2012.

are

OPEN MEMBERS OF THE

LGBT

COMMUNITY. aLOng with the athLetes,

3 TEAM HEAD COACHES are aLsO Lgbt.

—OUTsports

navaL ship tO be naMed after harvey MiLk

h

arVey miLk has BeeN hONOred with a U.S. Postal Service stamp and an Oscar-winning film for being the first openly gay politician, and now it looks like the U.S. Navy will be honoring the civil rights leader as well. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus signed a Congressional notification to name a planned Military Sealift Command fleet oiler after Milk, according to USNI News.

The July 14 notification was obtained by the USNI News; however, the Navy is declining to comment further until an official announcement in made. The ship, which will carry the name USNS Harvey Milk, is a part of Georgia Rep. John Lewis’ class of oilers, all of which will be named after civil rights leaders.

watermark Your LGBT life.

“Miss cLeO” actress, Lgbt advOcate dies at 53

y

Ouree deLL harris, the actress who became famous playing the Jamaican psychic Miss Cleo, claiming to know callers’ futures in ubiquitous TV infomercials and commercials 15 years ago, died of cancer July 26. The Los Angeles-born Harris was a struggling actress when the Psychic Readers Network hired her in the late 1990s to play Miss Cleo.

She adopted her family’s Jamaican heritage for the role, persuading viewers to call for allegedly free psychic readings. After parting ways with the hotline business, Harris voiced a character in the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City video game and was an advocate for gay rights after coming out as a lesbian.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

LOgO tv annOunces pOLiticaL series tO air OnLine

A

New prOgram is cOmiNg TO LOgO TV just in time for election season. The LGBT-centric network announced July 28 that it is getting into the political arena with a new digital series.

The series will focus on the current presidential race and how the issues at hand affect LGBT Americans. The election series can be seen online at LogoTV.com. Clips from each episode will be available via Logo’s social media accounts on Snapchat and Facebook. The host, Logo TV contributor Raymond Braun, asks questions about the future of the LGBT community under the presidency of both current nominees. Braun is a YouTube personality and LGBT advocate. The first episode will feature an interview with Chelsea Clinton.

25

26

watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

in-depth: the pOLice fOrce

yOuNg aT hearT:

OPD’s lt. Jim young bridges the gap between the police and the LGBT community.

Photo by JaKe stevens

BADGES OF

COURAGE local authorities across central Florida and tampa bay aim in the direction oF tolerance, not discrimination

T

Anna M. Johnson

he OrLaNdO pOLice deparTmeNT

Headquarters is tucked away inconspicuously on the Amway side of I-4. The “Ultimate Improvement Project” construction blocks most of the adjacent parking, leaving the closest available open spaces directly under the overpass. A stone staircase leads to the office.

Inside, all visitors are required to wear bright neon visitor passes.

There is a small gift shop that sells police merchandise right next to the enclosed information desk. It is called the “Cop Shop.”

The United States’ relationship with its law enforcement officers has always been capricious. At its best, grateful but wary; and at its worst, the bulk of 2016.

This year has seen many police brutality-related deaths, especially

watermark Your LGBT life.

in minority communities; Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are two well-known cases. The July 7 attack in Dallas that killed five police officers was the deadliest for law enforcement since 9/11.

On June 12, when an active shooter opened fire on Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and wounding 53 more in the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history, the Orlando Police Department’s

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

relationship with the city’s LGBT residents was opened up for conversation – Pride parades in cities across the United States often had solemn displays of solidarity for Orlando and the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

A conversation about law enforcement’s history with gays is anything but quiet.

According to a 2015 report by

cOntinued On pg. 29 | uu |

27

CHAMBER OF LGBTCOMMERCE

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

| uu | Police frOM pg.27 the Williams Institute of Law at the University of California Los Angeles, “Liquor licensing laws were used to raid establishments patronized by gay and lesbian people long before the Stonewall riots of 1969. Police similarly relied on laws prohibiting lewdness, vagrancy and disorderly conduct to harass gay and lesbian people when congregating in public…as recently as the summer of 2009, four bar raids occurred in LGBT bars throughout the South.”

The study goes on to say, “A 2009 Williams Institute study of public sector employment discrimination found a long history of discrimination against LGBT law enforcement officers which was grounded in the use of anti-sodomy laws to deny employment based on sexual orientation…Federal, state and local governments denied law enforcement positions (among other positions) to LGBT people because they were potential felons under state sodomy laws. In some states, blanket policies expressly barred LGBT people from becoming law enforcement officers based on this rationale. These policies, as well as individualized decisions to exclude LGBT people from law enforcement positions, were often upheld by courts.”

The Orlando PD has been listening to the public since before the Pulse shooting and is making strides toward equality from the inside.

Lieutenant Jim Young is the LGBT liaison for the Orlando Police Department. He has worked at the department since 1997.

Lt. Young oversees what is called OPD’s LGBT taskforce, among other jobs. The taskforce is a combined unit of officers that identify as LGBTQ+ or as allies of the community. The main function of the unit is to address any issues that may come up in relation to their subjects.

“We just want the community to know that we are here for them,” Young says.

Orlando’s LGBT population has changed drastically in size over the 19 years Young has been with the Orlando Police. He recounts rancorous protests against the Orlando City Council for its passing of inclusive ordinances years ago and contrasts it to the flood of solidarity that’s been seen since the Pulse nightclub shooting.

“As [Mayor Buddy Dyer] said, we

fOr gOOd: Tampa’s police department works to evolve.

huggiNg iT OuT: Police and Pride unite.

PHOTO COURTESDY TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT

PHOTO COURTESDY TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT

aren’t going to let the tragedy define us,” Young says. “We are progressing from that and are coming together as a community.”

In the past, he’s had people who are not openly gay approach him citing fears of reporting hate crimes.

In light of Pulse, those concerns are more relevant than ever.

“They just didn’t feel comfortable going to the police,” Young

The LGBT taskforce works closely with outside organizations for these training exercises.

Equality Florida’s TransActionFlorida committee was formed two years ago in order to be at the forefront of the rapidly emerging transgender community. Its advisory council

“To know that there are agencies that not only accept you but would love to have you work for them should be the goal for every company,” Young adds.

Young also talks about how much policing has changed since he began – more advanced equipment, different uniforms and the revision of a “tolerance” policy between officers.

We just want the community to know that we are here for them.

—LT. Jim yOuNg

says. “Once they meet with me, though, they tend to feel much more comfortable talking to law enforcement.”

Lt. Young identifies as gay. His office is decorated with plaques honoring his policing achievements – “Saving a Civilian from an Active Shooter,” reads one. A small canvas with a hand-painted rainbow heart on it sits below his computer monitor, the background of which is a picture of him with his partner of four years. He says he was given that painting by a civilian as a thank you for his work.

Young says that the first and most important step for any department is to foster acceptance within the agency. He leads most of the diversity and inclusivity trainings for the Orlando Police.

spans the state of Florida with 30 transgender advocates. These advocates have hosted transgender inclusiveness trainings with major corporations, school boards and the medical community focusing on how to work with and address transgender people.

The Orlando Police Department is actively seeking out more officers that can empathize with LGBTs, whether those applicants identify as heterosexual or homosexual.

“We are utilizing some of our recruiting efforts specifically in the LGBT community,” Young says.

“This was in the works long before Pulse. We’ve been hosting recruiting booths at Pride events both in Orlando and all over the state of Florida.”

watermark Your LGBT life.

“Nobody wants to just be tolerated,” Young says. “They want to be accepted.”

When transgender woman India Clarke was found murdered in Tampa on July 21, 2015, the committee had to shift its effort to an entirely new organization.

At least 21 transgender individuals were murdered in 2015. As of press time, at least 16 transgender Americans have lost their lives this year.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was the department investigating Clarke’s murder.

Spokesman Larry McKinnon identified Clarke as “a transgender,” and a media outlet referred to her as “a man wearing women’s clothes.”

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

Two months before Clarke’s murder, the Department of Justice hosted a voluntary “Transgender Cultural Competency” training in Greater Tampa. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office did not attend.

The use of male pronouns to describe Clarke went so far as to actually impede the police investigation, according to Equality Florida’s Transgender Inclusion Director Gina Duncan.

Duncan credits this event with demonstrating the need to train specifically law enforcement on how to interact with transgender people.

“The best practices are in place here,” Duncan says. “When [other police departments] see what is working here in Orlando, they should be able to take those policies and embrace them.”

So far in 2016, Hillsborough County has declined to recognize June as LGBT Pride and History Month, citing the public’s opposition. A citizen commenting on the proposition to recognize LGBT Pride and History Month at a July 20 Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners board meeting is quoted, saying, “It’s not hate that we’re talking about but we also believe that the LGBT agenda is not God’s plan for humanity,” in a tweet by Tampa Bay Times reporter Steve Contorno.

Tampa does, however, host a Pride parade in March.

The Tampa Police Department was headed by Chief Jane Castor until her retirement in 2015. Castor was the Tampa PD’s first woman police chief, promoted from her role as the department’s liaison to the LGBT community. She’s also openly lesbian.

No activist organization expects every officer in a police department to be perfectly aligned with its values, but the City of Tampa has had various incidents of discrimination, specifically against the transgender population.

Tampa resident Shayla Davis has had mixed results in her interactions with police at two different traffic stops. Both times she was travelling with her then-boyfriend,who identifies as transgender.

“His name is changed but the ‘F’ is still on his license,because he hasn’t gotten the surgery yet,” Davis said in a Facebook message. “The first officer was really rude about it and kept calling him ‘ma’am’ after he explained his license to him, but the second officer didn’t search him or question his license.”

cOntinued On pg. 31 | uu |

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| uu | Police from pg.29 Duncan says that this inconsistency is exactly what the TransActionFlorida committee is aiming to eliminate.

Equality Florida and the Orlando PD have been doing their parts to teach law enforcement officials the proper way to talk about and talk to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The Valencia College Peace and Justice Initiative recently hosted an inclusivity workshop led by the Department of Justice, Equality Florida’s TransActionFlorida committee and the members LGBT police taskforce.

Duncan calls it a huge success.

“We had 120 people there from all branches of law enforcement: TSA agents, first responders, firefighters and regular OPD officers, with their holsters and pistols and everything,” Duncan says.

Lt. Young agrees.

“It’s not the community and then law enforcement,” Young says. “It’s the community and law enforcement working together.”

Training these officers is only one half of the solution to a time-sensitive problem for transgender citizens.

“This discrimination against transgender people shows two things,” Duncan says. “A lack of tolerance and a lack of education.”

People can be taught the appropriate way to treat the LGBTQ+ population, but they cannot be taught how to actually care, Duncan says.

“Hillsborough County has always been a challenge,” she says. “We find that it always starts at the top: city councils, the mayor’s office. When you outlaw having a Pride festival, it trickles down to the police department.”

Young credits the police’s success in Orlando to the strong relationship that they have with not only the LGBTQ+ community, but with the city’s people as a whole.

The Orlando Police Department frequently partners with the Parramore Kidz Zone and other organizations for at-risk youth. A popular event that the kids and officers collaborate on is called “Dragon Boating.” A team of officers and kids build and race in their own decorated long boat. Young shares that he’s been splashed with lake water from a stray paddle too many times to count.

His pride lies in what those connections with those kids help to do, though.

“They grow up understanding that the uniform isn’t necessarily who the person is inside,” he says. “They know that there’s

a person behind that badge and that uniform.”

Young says that those human relationships are what makes a police department successful, whether the connection is made over a shared identity, a positive experience or treating any civilian with plain respect.

Walking out of the Orlando PD Headquarters’ front doors deposits visitors on a small balcony raised just high enough to see over the front parking lot, but not too high to be blocked by the highway above. In stark contrast to the busy drivers stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, frustrated that the I-4 Ultimate “Unending Construction Project” has cursed them with what feels like an endless commute, the balcony is tranquil in its way.

The entire Orlando skyline can be seen from this balcony. As the sun sets past the SunTrust building, a warm glow bathes Church St., illuminating the silhouettes of policemen setting up barricades to block it off to through traffic for the night a mere mile north of the Pulse tragedy. Soon, drag queens will be descending on Hamburger Mary’s for that evening’s show, after all.

They, and the entire LGBT community will need to be protected and served.

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31

Plea se join us for the 27th Annual

Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Launch Party at the ta mpa club | 101 Ea st Kennedy BLVD

September 17, 2016 | 6:30PM

Enjoy tapas, a meat carving station, one complimentary drink, followed by a cash bar.

Join us for an evening with community, see the upcomming trailers and programming for the Film Festival, and participate in the Silent Auction. You can also purchase or pick-up your Crown Circle, and/or Simply Fabulous Passes. Free Parking in Bank of America Garage.

Schedule of Events:

6:30 – 8:30pm Enjoy the Night at The Tampa Club 8:30 – 9:00pm Launch Party Program / Awards

Tickets: $50 online | $65 at the door | www.tiglff.com

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Event Sponsor/Host: The Tampa Club Executive Producer’s $2,500 Thomas Isbon Chad Farmer & Matt Bachman Producers- $1,000 Level Mark Puskarich & John Tonnison Jeff Hartley & Chuck Cave Larry Biddle & David Warner - Planning Works Ed Lally & Phil Dinkins Star - $500 Level Connie Lancaster & Annie Hiotis Karen Goforth & Karen Garcia

32

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

arts and entertainMent

abstract painter del cain and the art oF the second act

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Billy Manes

“fixer-upper,” OrLaNdO arTisT deL caiN

called it when we arranged to meet. His house, which is effectively an artist’s studio, rests on the Lee Road outskirts of Orlando, where the weeds grow high and ambition barely shines through. Hank’s is around the corner; urbanity a ways up the road.

But none of that contextualization does justice to Cain’s work, his palate, his creative bursts as played out on giant canvases. There’s a lot of beauty here. To be clear, Cain says he’s only been experimenting – evolving, even – into a gentleman who throws paint in the style of Jackson Pollock (his reference, not ours). As a 73-year-old gay former medical librarian, Cain seems well-suited to the freedoms of abstract expressionism. Walking into his home mid-afternoon, the chaos of the artist is immediately apparent: There are giant canvases too big for their living room; there are friends gathered; a bottle of wine has been uncorked (Thanks, Del); colors come to life in swirls surrounding faces or the imprints of minds caught in flashing moments.

Though Cain has found his footing in the abstract corners of art, his talents – even in a suburban living room – run through

watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

juxtapositions in his own life. A former paper-pusher for the Veteran’s Administration, Cain is spending his retirement finding himself in multimedia art, kites as canvases, stained glass, automotive paint and an infectious sense of the impossible becoming possible.

He’s a self-made man living his dreams, thanks in part to Orlando’s thriving art scene, a scene he’ll be partaking in at CityArts Factory downtown during the August 18 Third Thursdays event with his exhibit, “After Jackson Pollock: Adventures in Thrown and Dripped Paint’ “I was screened by the Board members they want professional art - and then allowed to rent the gallery for $500 for a month,” he says.

“CityArts is a great facility. it is partly funded cOntinued On pg. 35 | uu |

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Got Mustard?

We’ve got more weiner than we can handle.

www.DareToRescue.com

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circle gets the square: Cain’s work from the inside out. Photo by Jake Stevens

| uu | Del Cain from pg.33 by the city and I probably would not have any sort of career if they had not been around six years ago when I started out. They are very inclusive and supportive of beginning artists.

Most cities have nothing like City Arts for their residents.

And from the swirling fantasies of Cain’s textures in art – the almost sap-like impression of exuberance caught in a still moment – most cities don’t have the likes of him, either.

Watermark: So, it’s kind of hard to believe you’re so new to this given the quality of your work here.

Del Cain: I’ve exhibited a couple of times. I entered the Jackson Pollock realm about six years ago.

Before that, I had done some stained glass and pottery. I’m poor boy from Maine and I went to Boston. I became a medical librarian and I worked for the Veterans Administration. I took an early retirement; I’ve been down here 16 years. Six years ago I got interested in Jackson Pollock and thought, “Hey, I can try to do that.” I just started out at the gay community Center and they had an art group.

They let me exhibit and were very supportive. Here I am six years later doing pretty good abstract art.

Only six years, though. That’s a pretty phenomenal ascent into the major leagues. These are

hot flash: A canvas explodes with color. Photo by Jake Stevens

My art depends on the fact that human beings see patterns when there aren’t really patterns. In the afternoon, when the leaves will make shapes, you’re making the pattern. My art depends on people seeing patterns. Luckily, people see — Del Cain different patterns. giant canvases. Most artists I know aren’t that ambitious.

Six years ago, I started with small canvases,12-by-15 or 12-by-24.

Each year, I seem to have done bigger ones. After a couple of years, I switched to oil, which is harder to work with, but it gives you more brilliant colors. Then I got into silver painting. There aren’t a lot of artists working with silver. You’ve got total freedom when you work with drip painting, but you’ve got to develop some kind of discipline with it.

Jackson Pollock, for so many years he pounded the canvas with the brush, then suddenly he puts the canvas on the floor, no brush. You paint it from four directions. He opened a whole new field of art. What happens is, people do abstract art, and as a fringe element, they’ll put some drips. I’m just doing what he did: I put the canvas in the backyard, or on a tarp. Usually I do a background. I put my fisherman’s goggles on, my swimmer’s goggles, so I don’t get oil paint in my eyes, and whew! And I

have about 15 minutes to tip or tilt a canvas, tape sticks and draw it out and draw my composition, before the sun dries it.

You do the background with acrylic?

Yes. This one here, you’ve got shafts of black and silver, those are all acrylic. And then the thrown paint is oil. I have a little tent, I stick it in the tent and it dries for about two months.

Are there individual inspirations for these pieces, or as abstract art is that up to the viewer?

It’s both. That yellow one and this one here, I dreamed in the morning.

I keep paper by the bed and I get the basic idea. That one there [points] has a cross and a blue circle. You know, at three in the morning, you get up and go to the bathroom, anyway. Some of them – that one over there is called “Face in Fire” – all

watermark Your LGBT life.

I did was do a silver shaft down the center. I pick my colors, but with that one, other that running a shaft down the center and blue down the sides, I had no design. I want to do a couple for the show to make it clear that I can work with a concept and not just throw paint. Actually, I dream up the things.

Well there are some clear concepts in your work.

This one is called “Silver Blue.” I found this automotive paint and I loved the color. It sort of crystallizes, and I had to have something that goes with this odd shade of blue, so that was black, white and silver. Some have more colors than the others.

The blue caused the painting.

Do you appreciate when people ask you the meanings of individual pieces, or does that put you off?

When I get into it with people, I say, “Over here is the ultra-realistic artist,” the painter who paints like it’s a photograph. Over here is the abstract, where I work, and we’re both trying present some kind of reality, either emotionally or visually.”

The abstract seems a little harder. My art depends on the fact that human beings see patterns when there aren’t really patterns.

How did this come about then; what was your art epiphany?

What happened was I worked as a medical librarian and I wanted to work with my hands. So I took

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pottery courses in Boston, did a bunch of pottery, and then I got into stained glass, because it was cheaper to do. I did five years of that. I always had a little bit of creative ability.

Six years doesn’t seem like a very long time.

Look, I’m 73 years old. I’m a war baby. I was born, I lived, I died. Well, not the last part.

What brought you here to Orlando?

I went to University of Florida and got a degree in English Literature, but didn’t use it. I was in Boston and I took an early retirement. I came to Gainesville thinking, “Oh!” I had a great time in college doing acid and mescaline and getting a degree in literature.

Well that explains the impressionism, then.

These are all old acid trips from my college days! Gainesville was an outsider community, so I got depressed there and I moved over here. And I’ve been very happy here for 16 years. It’s a beautiful town!

more information

What: Third Thursday Gallery Hop featuring Del Cain When: Aug. 18, 6-9 P.M. Where: Cityarts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave.

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music

DCX for LGBT

The Dixie Chicks are back! Here are 10 reasons you should be freaking out! even sent death threats to the band.

The fallout in the wake of Maines’ comment was filmed and released as a documentary called Shut Up and Sing in 2006. The same year, the Dixie Chicks released their last group album, Taking the Long Way, going double platinum and winning five Grammy Awards including the big three: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Recording of the Year. Then the Chicks stopped chirping.

Now here we are, 10 years later, and Maines, Robison and Maguire are back together and touring the U.S. again with their DCX MMXVI Tour. To celebrate the Chicks and their rise back to the top of the world, here are 10 times the Dixie Chicks stood with the LGBT community.

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The Dixie Chicks are extremely liberal. Speaking to USA Today, Maines said, “I’m pro-gay marriage. Pro-gay everything. I’m pro-choice. I’m liberal on every social aspect, probably. More liberal than people would even believe.”

(above)

THREE AMIGOS:

The Dixie Chicks, (L-R) Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Robison, hit the wide open spaces of the U.S. for the first time in 10 years with their DCX MMXVI Tour.

Photo provided

by Live Nation

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Jeremy Williams

he Dixie Chicks are touring the

U.S. for the first time in a decade, and they will be jamming out in Tampa at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds August 19.

Just like *NSYNC, The Backstreet Boys, Blink 182 and The Spice Girls, the Dixie Chicks were a music group in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s that added a fun, youthful voice to their respective genres, but the Chicks did something that no other group at the time did and that very few musical acts are able to do: They appealed to everyone: men and women, young and old. They reached out to fans of country, rock, pop and everything in-between, and yes, they appealed to the LGBT crowd.

The Dixie Chicks - Natalie Maines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire - are the top selling all-female band in recording history, selling more

than 30 million albums worldwide and winning 13 Grammy Awards.

The Chicks were on top of the world, until March 10, 2003, when, at a concert in London, Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush on invading Iraq.

“We’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas,” she said from the stage.

The reaction to Maines’ comments were fast, harsh and in nearly all cases, defied reason. The Chicks were banished from the country music industry, radio stations held events so disgruntled fans could have their Dixie Chicks albums destroyed and people

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They played Madison Square Garden in NYC the day after the Pulse shooting, ending the concert with Ben Harper’s “Better Way” with a rainbow heart in the background and a rainbow flag on the stage. “We cannot let the hatred and the anger win out,” Maines told the audience. “We can’t leave you guys not ready to make nice.”

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Maguire and Robison, both mothers, formed a side band Court Yard Hounds in 2010.

Their debut album featured the track “Ain’t No Son,” a song about a young man coming out to his judgmental father. Robison said in an interview discussing the song, “The idea, how can you have kids and love them so much and one day decide not to – it just boggled my mind.”

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They fan-girl out over Cher.

When Maguire was turning 40, she went to Vegas to see Cher in concert. “I’ve got a few connections, so I was able to go back and meet her,” she told GregInHollywood.com. “ Meeting her face to face was such a thrill. That was life-changing for me. I felt like I had a whole new outlook after that.”

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Maines has a girl crush on Rachel Maddow. Speaking with LGBT entertainment writer (and occasional Watermark contributor) Chris Azzopardi, Maines mentioned her love for Maddow after Azzopardi asked her if she felt her new, short haircut gave her more lesbian cred. “She’s hot! And she’s smart and beautiful ... and I like her hair,” Maines said.

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Gay rights are Chicks rights and Chicks rights are gay rights. Maines said after the controversy the connection between the band and their gay fans was strengthened. “We both know how it feels to be hated just for who we are – not for doing anything, bothering anyone, murdering anyone or being arrested. Just for being us. Apparently, that’s not good in some people’s eyes,” she said to Azzopardi.

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The Dixie Chicks have been under the attack from Rev. Jerry Falwell for “pushing lesbianism.” The 1990s summer music festival Lilith Fair was an all-female concert tour that had the Chicks playing on the same stage as music legends like Melissa Etheridge, Queen Latifah, the Indigo Girls and more.

Falwell’s National Liberty Journal came out against Lilith Fair calling it a concert to promote “paganism” and “lesbianism,” saying, “Many young people no doubt attend the Lilith Fair concerts not knowing the demonic legend of the mystical woman whose name the series manifests.” Falwell has also referred to the Dixie Chicks as “French hens.”

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In 2005, the Dixie Chicks supported same-sex marriage by joining Dolly Parton, Christina Aguilera, Yoko Ono and 28 other recording artists on the compilation album Love Rocks.

The Chicks contributed the song, “I Believe in Love.”

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The Dixie Chicks are not fans of the current Republican platform or their new leader. During their current tour, while they play their hit “Goodbye Earl,” a song about a woman and her bestie killing off her abusive husband, they run a photo of a defaced Trump all dressed up to look like Satan.

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The Dixie Chicks are huge supporters of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Foundation, an organization working to end homelessness among LGBTQ youth. Maines has also performed at Lauper’s Home for the Holidays benefit concert for the organization.

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Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

community calendar

event pLanner

arts+entertainment

OrLandO

OrLandO

PRIDe gALA Business Awards

I Love My Wife, July 29 – August 21, Winter Park Playhouse, Orlando. 407- 645-0145; WinterParkPlayHouse.org

friday, augusT 19 & saTurday, augusT 20 sheraTON NOrTh, OrLaNdO The Metropolitan Business Association and Come Out With Pride present the Pride Gala Business Awards at the Sheraton Orlando North. Hosted by Orlando’s dynamic duo Jorge Estevez and Miss Sammy, find out who the best in LGBT business was for 2016. The evening will feature a sit-down dinner and live entertainment from comedian Jeff Jones, the Orlando Gay Chorus and the sultry team of Blue Star and Tod Kimbro. Silent Auction, cash bar and an after party at Tobar Irish Pub. Make sure to book a room so you don’t miss the poolside brunch in the morning.

Tickets are available at Business.MBAOrlando.org.

The Big Meal, August 5–28, Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando. 407-297-8788; MadCowTheatre.com Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Free reading, August 13, The Geek Easy, Winter Park. 407-332-9636; MyGeekEasy.com spend the night with alice cooper, August 14, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-839-0119; DrPhillipsCenter.org spotlight cabaret series featuring Michael colavolpe, August 17 -18, Winter Park Playhouse, Orlando. 407- 645-0145; WinterParkPlayHouse.org two-year anniversary celebration of southern nights orlando, August 18 -20, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com Watermark’s third thursday, August 18, Fairvilla, Orlando. 407-481-2243; Watermarkonline.com lady luck: back to the ‘90s!, August 19, The Full Moon Lounge at Woodstock, Orlando. 407-802-2874; WoodstockOrlando.com

jOrdan sparkLes natasha leggero, August 24, CFE Arena, Orlando. 407- 823-3070; CFEArena.com leslie Jordan live!, August 24 and 25, Footlight Theatre at the Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com

Pulse latin night, August 20, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com sister Pajama Party, August 20, Barcodes, Orlando. 407-412-6917; OrlandoSisters.org

‘80s night, August 26, The Abbey, Orlando. 407- 704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com

boney James, August 20, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 877-435-9849; PlazaLiveOrlando.com

the orchestra starring former members of e.l.o, August 28, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 877-435-9849; PlazaLiveOrlando.com

australian Pink Floyd, August 24, Hard Rock Live, Orlando.

407-351-5483; HardRock.com

take the stage: A Youth talent show

TV legend leslie Jordan brings his quirky comedy to the Footlight Theatre at the Parliament House in Orlando August 24 and 25.

RPDR All Stars 2 viewing Party with roxxxy andrews, August 25, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com

central Florida Freethought community’s transgender dynamics in society, August 21, University Club of Winter Park, Winter Park. 407-644-6149; UClubWP.org

taMpa bay

taMpa bay ray laMontagne, August 12, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-971-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

love Will always Win Photo exhibit, August 13, LGBT Welcome Center, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4925; LGBTWelcomeCenter.org

tampa bay lobster Festival, August 20, Kapok Special Events Center, Clearwater. 727-667-0717; TampaBayLobsterFestival.com

shapeshifters opening reception, August 13, Pom Pom’s Teahouse, St. Petersburg. 727-873-6992; PomPomsStPete.com abc ‘anything but clothes’ Party, August 13, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813 -599-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com balance tampa bay’s august social, August 17, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Tampa. 813-877-7290; BalanceTampaBay.org disney semi-Finals so you think you can drag season 2, August 17, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813 599-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com oddities featuring Gen of the Genitortures, August 19, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813 -599-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com seal, August 19, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.727-971-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

anita Waistline birthday bash, August 20, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813 - 599-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com it’s a drag show, August 20, The Space at 2106, Tampa. 813-575-0230; TheSpaceAt2016.com

saTurday, augusT 20 meTrO weLLNess aNd cOmmuNiTy ceNTer, sT. peTersBurg Can you sing? Can you dance? Do you have a talent that will knock the judges socks off? Then come out to Metro Wellness and Community Center’s Youth Talent Show. Your host and emcee, PheYonce Montrese, will introduce the multi-talented youth of the community as they try and razzle and dazzle their way to one of the top prizes. Performers must be 13 to 22 years of age. First place wins two season tickets to American Stage Theater.

Tickets are $1 for youth 21 and under, and $5 for adults.

All proceeds help support Metro’s youth programming.

To register visit MetroTampaBay.org/Registration.

slip n slide, August 21, Flamingo Resort, St.Pete. 727-321-5000; FlamingoFla.com

sarasOta 42nd street, August 11- 28, Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradentown. 941-749-1111; ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com summer book club: None of the Above (Part 2), August 23, ALSO Youth, Sarasota. 941- 951-2576; ALSOYouth.org

sarasOta

suncoast equality Connection Thursday, augusT 25 aLOfT hOTeL dOwNTOwN, sarasOTa Equality Florida is partnering with the new Aloft Hotel in downtown Sarasota to bring you the next Equality Connection. Come gather, mingle and learn how Equality Florida is working to bring LGBT equality to Sarasota and the rest of the state of Florida. Light snacks and a cash bar will be provided. The event is free and open to the public, so bring a guest. For more information on the event and to RSVP, visit EQFL.org/EqualityConnection/2016Suncoast.

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

eVent planner and community calendar is brought to you by curtis protectiVe serVices • 1-800-551-8368 • curtissecurity.com watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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overheard

taMpa bay Out+abOut

the herOes taMpa bay deserves

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fTer ONe Of The mOsT TaLked aBOuT parTies LasT year, Balance Tampa Bay kicked it way up Saturday night, Aug. 6, for the second annual Masquerade Ball, presented by the AIDS Heathcare Foundation. This year’s Masquerade Ball had the theme “Rio,” and stepping into District 3 in downtown Tampa was like taking a step into Brazil’s Carnivàle. This year’s event benefited Francis House, a Tampa HIV supportive service charity serving about 450 clients each month, and early estimates have the event raising $30,000 for them.

The “Masquerade Ball: Rio” was attended by more than 400 people and featured stilt walkers, scantily clad beauties and more feathers than the Olympics’ Opening Ceremony. Once the party cooled at District 3, Balance Tampa Bay took the dancing to Southern Nights in Ybor City for an after-party that went on into the wee hours of the night. But helping the community doesn’t allow for sleeping in, not even on the weekends. A dozen or so of those dedicated Balancers got up at 7 a.m. Sunday morning and took to Hyde Park United Methodist Church to help feed the homeless. Charitable actions all weekend long; the power of Christ compels you!

May the Odds be ever in yOur favOr

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he cLOck is TickiNg dOwN and the nominees are campaigning hard. No, we aren’t talking about those political races whose commercials flood our TVs and yard signs irk our neighbors. We are talking about the Best of the Bay 2016. Creative Loafing’s annual list of who’s hot, who’s not and what’s the trendy new spot in people, places and things in the Tampa Bay area is alive and kicking. The categories are broken into four groups: People, Places and Politics; Food & Drink; Arts and Entertainment; Goods and Services. CL wants you to weigh in on the good (Best Restaurant, Best City, Best Beach), the bad (Worst Politician, Best Waste of Taxpayers’ Money) and the best kept secrets (Best Dive Bar, Best Sex Shop). With well over 200 different categories, we’re sure you will find a few that you can tell us about your favorite things. Voting is open through Aug. 17 at cltampa.com/botb.

MetrO gets taken fOr granted

m

eTrOpOLiTaN chariTies iNc., The OrgaNiZaTiON that operates the Metro Community Centers, Metro Thrift Store and the LGBT Welcome Center, along with HIV and healthcare services across Tampa Bay, was awarded a $375,000 federal grant from Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant, a part of the Re-Entry Community Linkages (RE-LINK) Program, is to support efforts to improve the health outcomes for minority and/or disadvantaged re-entrants, ages 18-26, in transition from jail to their communities. Metro Charities is among only seven organizations to receive the funding. The total funding awarded for the RE-LINK program is approximately $2.4 million.

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LegeNdary Leaders: (L-R) General Wesley clark, Senator bill nelson and Commissioner Kevin beckner at the Kennedy-King Dinner at the Doubletree by Hilton in Tampa Aug. 6. Photo courtesy oF Kevin becKner

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seasON Of LOVe: Johnette isham (L) gets her 2016 theater subscription hand delivered by Manatee Performing Arts Center’s brian craft at Realize Bradenton Aug. 5. Photo courtesy oF

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Johnette ishaM

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Trump’s aNgeLs: donald trump, or at least his face, gets cozy with the Southern Nights dancers at the Masquerade Ball: Rio at District 3 in Tampa Aug. 6. PHOTO BY NICK CARDELLO

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cLOwNiNg arOuNd: (L-R) veronica alfaro, t.M. Powell and Miguel Fuller review the new DC film Suicide Squad in the studio for “44 On the Town” in Tampa Aug. 3. PHOTO

courtesy oF MiGuel Fuller

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LaTe NighTs parTy: rob navarro (L) and chris hannay at the Masquerade Ball: Rio’s after-party at Southern Nights in Tampa Aug. 7. PHOTO

courtesy oF rob navarro

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daNce wiTh sOmeBOdy: (L-R) lady liemont, James Watson, Jeremy cureton, ashlee t. bangkx and Jon Jusino at the Flamingo Resort in St. Petersburg Aug. 3. Photo courtesy oF

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J. Marc Photo

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sTrONg message: brian longstreth stopped by the Coliseum in St. Petersburg to let Hillary Clinton know he is with her Aug. 8. PHOTO COURTESY

oF brian lonGstreth

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are yOu ready?: St. Petersburg mayor rick Kriseman speaking to a crowd before Hillary Clinton takes the stage at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg Aug. 8. PHOTO

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courtesy oF susan McGrath

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overheard

OrLandO Out+abOut

ian and eLLen’s OrLandO gaycatiOn

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fTer The Tragedy ON JuNe 12, Ellen Page and Ian Daniel, the hosts of Gaycation that airs on Viceland, were spotted around town. Ellen and Ian met with witnesses at Pulse and various other people of the community and even attended a few of the local gay bars with their cameras in hand. The special episode they were taping is set to premiere on August 24 at 10 p.m. Viceland’s Gaycation has taken the hosts globe-trotting to various locations that are both gay friendly and not: Brazil, Japan and Jamaica, among others. It was a natural fit that the attack on Pulse brought their docu-series to Orlando.

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sO stOned

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iTh much faNfare, Orlando’s Stonewall Bar officially had its grand (re-)opening. Years of construction resulted in a beautiful new bar that’s a huge improvement from its original black-box feel.

Earlier this year, we reported the second level at Stonewall, known as the Sky Bar, was open to the public, with a prime view of Downtown Orlando’s skyline and the construction of the upcoming Orlando City soccer stadium. A newly remodeled patio soon followed and finally the conclusion: The interior bar saw a new facelift with a new stage, DJ booth, interior water feature and a ton of LED lights. The grand opening weekend drew many to check out the new feel of Stonewall, a crew that featured a variety of entertainers and club kid performers.

caLLing aLL Lgbtq artists and artistic aLLies

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here’s a caLL TO LOcaL arTisTs in the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ allies as well.

The LGBTQ Together Art Show is presented

by Osceola Arts and will run from October 1-31. The exhibit will coincide with the theater’s production of the Laramie Project. All art mediums will be accepted; best of all, there is no fee to exhibit, and Osceola Arts will not take commissions on the sale of the art. If you would like to participate, please contact Marylin Cortes-Lovato, the director of visual arts at Osceola Arts, 407-749-6607.

One vOice

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pera OrLaNdO has aNNOuNced a special concert scheduled for September 11 at the Dr. Phillips Center. The One Voice Orlando concert will benefit Orlando Health’s Level One Trauma Center, the Orlando LGBTQ Community Center, the Interfaith Council of Central Florida, UpStanders and the Zebra Coalition. This one-night-only event will feature some of opera’s brightest national stars and musicians throughout Florida. Tickets will range from $25-$125 and will be available on sale at operaorlando.org starting August 19.

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hiLLZ hOuse: (L-R) Margo dixon, Jack dixon, regina hill and scott randolph at the opening of the Hillary/Kaine HQ in Orlando Aug. 4. PHOTO

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BY BILLY MANES

ViOLiNisT sOLO: Jose navarro (L) and super fan chris Findley at Navarro’s show “The Introduction” at The Venue in Orlando Aug. 8. Photo courtesy oF

chris Findley

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Bigger aNd BeTTer: (L-R) doug bowser, Tom Dyer, sam singhaus and Julian bain at the grand opening of Stonewall in Orlando Aug. 6. PHOTO COURTESY

oF toM dyer

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readiNg raiNBOw: Author Jason leclerc reads from his new release, Black Kettle, at the book launch at Daytona Playhouse Aug. 7. Photo courtesy oF

Jason leclerc

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kiNg Of The CASTLE: brian riha (L) and rt haanstra at the MBA’s August mixer at Castle Hotel in Orlando Aug. 3. Photo by Jd casto fLyiNg high: drew sizemore (R) is presented with his wings by daniel shultz at JetBlue University Aug. 2. Photo courtesy oF

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dreW siZeMore

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BirThday squad: (L-R) Joe Gallina, danny Garcia, James costello, darren hill and ollie Grossen celebrate Costello’s birthday at Walt Disney World Aug. 6. PHOTO

courtesy oF danny Garcia

8

aLexaNder The greaT: addison taylor (L) and adult film star Jay alexander hangout at Flesh Fridays at the Parliament House in Orlando Aug. 5. PHOTO courtesy oF ParliaMent HOUSE ORLANDO

8 watermark Your LGBT life.

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watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

announcements

wedding beLLs

anniVersaries

Lissette reyes, 36, and Karen gonzález, 23

two spirit health services celebrated their one-year anniversary August 3.

from Deltona, Florida

years together:

One year and six months

Photo courtesy Reyes and González

engagement date:

June 15, 2016

wedding date:

July 29, 2016

wedding colors:

navy blue

their song:

“nuestro Amor es Único” by Joey Montana

interesting Fact:

It was going to be just Lissette and Karen when they went to the courthouse but some family and close friends showed up.

“S

he’s Very adVeNTurOus.

She loves trying new things and just being herself and just being out there,” Lissette says about Karen. “She taught me that you just have to live life to the fullest and enjoy every day and not to be afraid of trying new things. If you fail, that’s just a part of the whole business of being alive.”

Lissette Reyes and Karen González met through a mutual friend. Lissette went to Miami to visit her friend. Karen was staying with her at that time, and that’s how they met – at a party at her friend’s house. Lissette said that from there they just hit it off and the rest was history.

“I thought that she was really a nice person,” Karen says about her first impression of Lisette when she met her at the party.

When they first met, Lissette was living in Deltona and Karen was living in Miami, so they would take turns traveling back and forth to visit each other: One week Lisette would drive down

to Miami to see Karen, and Karen would drive up to see her the next weekend.

“It got to the point where the four hours wasn’t a big deal, because it was so nice to see her every time I went,” Lissette says.

Karen says there are so many things she loves about Lissette, but the thing she loves the most is her personality. She’s fun and crazy, and she’s someone you can just have a good time with everywhere with everyone.

Their relationship progressed to the point where Karen decided she wanted to pop the question on a trip the couple took to New York City.

southern nights orlando celebrates its two-year anniversary Aug. 13.

“We were in New York for my birthday and we were walking around and I saw this sculpture,” Karen says. “We took a picture there and I asked her there.”

Karen says that at first when she stopped Lissette and told her she had to tell her something, she seemed nervous and mad because she thought it was going to be something bad, but she was then totally surprised.

When the couple came back, they planned on getting married at the courthouse with just the two of them.

“We wanted to just do it [get married] really quick, just the two of us,” Lisette says. “Her family is from Venezuela, so we wanted to do the whole thing with her family here. We just decided that it would be just the two of us, go to the courthouse and get married just to get that over with. In December, we will then celebrate it with everybody here.”

Even though they planned for it to be just the two of them, a bunch of friends and some family showed up from Miami to support them.

It touched them, and they ended up having a small celebration afterward at their house.

Lissette says she looks forward to having both their families together in December when they celebrate their marriage and how much they love each other.

They are not sure about exact plans for the big wedding celebration that will take place in December, but they said it will most likely take place in their home.

Karen is very excited about her family coming from Venezuela to celebrate with her.

“I’m from Venezuela, my family is from Venezuela,” Karen says.

“People from countries like that are really closed-minded, but my family is the opposite of that. They support me and they love me as I am, and they’re very happy that I’m happy and that I found Lissette.”

savoy orlando celebrates its 12th anniversary Aug. 14.

congratulations

The Parliament House’s drew sizemore earned his wings with Jet Blue as a flight attendant August 2.

local birthdays

Rotten S’more shiala Morales (Aug. 12); Tampa Bay leather bear daddy eric siglin, Stand Up Florida’s bryan arnette(Aug. 13); Regalia owner and beauty pageant emcee david lang (Aug. 14); Regalia owner and beauty pageant emcee david lang, Tampa performer robyn demornay (Aug. 14); Orlando entertainer tod Kimbro, Tony-winner Kenny howard, The Dali Museum’s Jim nixon, St. Petersburg interior designer scott velez (Aug. 17); Tampa Bay performer Macaviti, Orlando Congressional candidate and former Democratic party chair bob Poe, Orlando actor chris shepardson, Sarasota orthodontist Michael radall, Orlando lawyer Paul san Giovanni(Aug. 18); Orlando performer danielle hunter, Lakeland American Idol Hollywood week singer danny Pate, Tampa pastor scott Manning, former St. Pete ASAP Executive Director William harper, former Georgie’s Alibi bar maiden duffy iorio, Winter Park Playhouse’s todd long, Tampa economics specialist lJ sosa (Aug. 19); Clearwater bear Keith schorr, Brandon restaurant exec. rob roberts (Aug. 21); COWP member and Balance Orlando co-owner deb ofsowitz, Tampa radio station Hot 101.5 morning show host Miguel Fuller, LGBT activist lynn Mulder, LGBT alley and teacher tabatha schmidt (Aug. 22); Tampa Bay retailer charles Germaine, Orlando graphic artist Marcus vale (Aug. 23); writer and LGBT ally Karen brown, Sunnyland Slammer shana Moshen, American Stage Theatre Company’s Zachary hines, founder of Tampa’s The Taylor Company scott taylor, St. Petersburg actor/director steven Flaa (Aug. 24); OrlandoJobs.com sales manager brad Partridge, Spring Hill psychologist david chandler, St. Pete Twirling Project veteran steven caruso, Tampa bear and softballer andrew cohen (Aug. 25)

do you haVe an announcement? haVing a birthday or anniVersary? did you get a new Job or promotion? see your news in Watermark! send your announcement to editor@Watermarkonline.com or go to Watermarkonline.com/submit-a-transition.

it’s that easy!

—Samantha Rosenthal

do you have an interesting wedding or engagement story you’d like to share with Watermark readers? if so, email the details to editor@Watermarkonline.com for consideration as a future feature on this page.

watermark Your LGBT life.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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53

uprisings

aMerican psychO

so often, those of us who are in the majority, we are not forced to learn the ways of anybody else. And we can insulate or wall ourselves even without intending to. We have to force ourselves out of our comfort zone to learn about all of the beautiful parts about this American tapestry.

—demOcraTic Vice presideNTiaL caNdidaTe Tim kaiNe ON whiTe maLe priViLege

Murphy’s Law

T

eNsiONs haVe BeeN high between progressives and “establishment” Democrats since time immemorial, but with the recent spotlight on the Democratic National Committee’s swirls of influence-peddling and scale-stepping – not to mention an unnecessarily divisive contest between two qualified candidates for president, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders – the kitchen is only getting hotter.

Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat presents an interesting case study.

Though presidential nominee Clinton has publicly mended fences with former opponent Sanders the rift is strong further down the ballot. Palm Beach Congressman Patrick Murphy has gained support from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and, well, Clinton. All of which leaves Grayson – whose grass roots run deeper than most in the political field – in a conundrum. That’s politics, right?

Well, add another to the list. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer officially endorsed Murphy for the Senate on Aug. 8, calling him “the leader that my city and our state needs in the U.S. Senate.”

This should get ugly quickly.

54

in the backgrOund

T

he iNTerNeT was aBuZZ on the morning of Aug. 9, just one day after Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Tampa Bay area and Kissimmee on a campaigning blitz.

“We want everybody to understand. We have an agenda that we’re going to get working on the very first day that includes new jobs and infrastructure, comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship,” she said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “We are going to keep our country safe, and yes, we are going to go after to gun lobby and pass some common sense gun-safety measures.”

Pundits with magnifying glasses quickly took to looking behind Clinton, though, where the father of Pulse killer Omar Mateen, Seddique Mateen, was seated, apparently in support. When asked by television outlet WPTV whether people would be surprised to see him at a Clinton rally, Mateen said no.

“Why should they be surprised?” he said. “I love the United States and I’ve been living here a long time.”

I

hacking the rig

f There are TwO Terms we’Ve grOwN Tired Of – just two terms among many, mind – this election season, they are “rigged” and “hacked.”

The former implies a dismissive slice of sore losing; the latter, an active, Julian Assange-based bit of Watergate-to-Wikileak espionage.

This week, the statewide association of supervisors tried to put the convoluted controversies to rest.

There are backup plans, you see. You can’t hack paper.

“At the core of the security of Florida voting systems is the fact that we are a paper ballot state. Florida law mandates that ‘all voting’ be by the markstone ballot … Should any disruption or corruption in the transmission of vote totals occur, we can always refer to the original paper ballot.”

Also, the association’s president reminded people that even electronic voting systems are not internet-based, and other security measures are in place to protect from voter fraud.

In other words, we aren’t dealing with hanging chads anymore. We’ve learned our lesson.

watermark Your LGBT life.

I

Billy Manes

T mighT Be a Nicer wOrLd if we could simply direct our horror in the direction of a singular orange blob of money who barks at babies and has people punched in the gut and carried out of his rallies. Also, words like “nigger,” “faggot,” and their likes – presented here because they were reported in video form by the New York Times from a Trump rally, not because they make for comfortable parlance for anybody with a sane mind – have no business dragging their lexicon carcasses back into the mob rule of a Republican party run afoul.

It would certainly be a nicer election in 2016 if the standard bearers were actually on an even playing field. Sure, down-ticket on Aug. 30, we’ll have our a la carte picks at whom we think best represents our interests in our own local districts and municipal governments. And we should. But when people from the Republican Party are veritably leaping from its caustic platform (“corrective therapy,” anyone?), we have problems enough without having to worry about that ingrown hair that keeps coming back.

That follicular tragedy of whom we speak is Marco Rubio. Rubio, the troubled soul who re-entered the Senate race to fill his own seat (talk about gymnastics!) after failing to capture any interest in the presidential race.

Not only is Rubio politically carpetbagging on the Pulse tragedy of June 12 – he made a visit here a few weeks ago, just before the cameras left, and refused to admit that this was in fact a crime against LGBT people; he’s back on the Aug. 12 anniversary to speak out against gays at the convention center along with, gasp, Donald Trump – but he’s grandstanding on issues that are far out of his rather shallow depth.

The gay and Latino votes he’s trying to massage – those associated with the Pulse tragedy victims still reeling in grief; votes also associated with allies steeped in common decency – aren’t Rubio’s only misguided targets.

Rubio, a social conservative despite the fact that he got his by his Very Difficult Upbringing via the emigration of his parents to the U.S. (so, duh, he hates immigrants), is known to go on conservative legislative benders in between not showing up for votes.

When the news broke of 422 Zika cases ostensibly derived from mosquitos the Republican Party is harvesting in Florida, Rubio leapt straight to abortion. In a hot breath of intersectionality, Rubio has taken the Zika scourge into the realm of reproductive rights.

He said in a recent interview with Politico on the issue, “I believe all human life should be protected by our law, irrespective of the circumstances or condition of that life.”

Except those lives that actually need to be protected, apparently.

Augus t 11 - Augus t 24 , 2016 // Issue 2 3.16

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