Watermark Issue 24.16: Diamonds are Forever

Diamonds ARE

FOREVER

CeNtral florIDa and taMPa BaY softball leagues celebrate milestone anniversaries this season

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

I don’t agree with everything [Donald Trump] says, of course. I am an American citizen.

departments 6 // mail 7 // editors desk 9 // orlando news 15 // tampa bay news 19 // state news 21 // nation & world news 29 // talking points 45 // community calendar 47 // tampa bay out+about 49 // orlando out+about 50 // tampa bay marketplace 51 // wedding bells/ announcements 52 // orlando marketplace

PAGE

19

It’s not about me, it’s about the country. It’s about the community. If that man does anything anti-LgBt, I will be the first person to go to DC and protest.

— MiaMi beach drag QueeN elaiNe laNcasTer, who has beeN criTicized by The coMMuNiTy because of her supporT for presideNT TruMp.

on the cover

PAGE For real: St. Petersburg’s

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PAGE PLAY BALL:

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The Suncoast Softball League in Tampa Bay celebrates 25 years and the Central Florida Softball League will mark 20 years when the first pitches are thrown out this fall.

Illustration by Jake Stevens

scan Qr code For

watermarkonline.com

soulful songstress Jennifer Real sits down with Watermark to talk about taking it to the next level.

watermark i ssue 24 .16 //august 10 - august 23 , 2017

Fresh Faces

youth places

gop bullies

it’s showtime

PAGE Hope & Help get settled into their new facility as they plan for an all new kind of Headdress Ball.

PAGE Metro Wellness & Community Centers’ summer camp program wraps with an LGBTQ youth talent show.

PAGE

PAGE

read it Online!

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

09

15

The first rule of a school board defending anti-trans behavior in a lawsuit is you don’t talk about the lawsuit.

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Michael Wanzie is helping to bring comedy, live theater and showtunes to Savoy with the new Starlite Room.

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give us a fOllOw On TwiTTer and insTagram aT @waTermarkOnline and be sure TO like us On faCebOOk. watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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“The prevailing wind seems to be that unless it’s straight family or youth oriented, (forget it being gay) or reality TV, the major networks won’t touch it.”

—Trevor McNaughton

WatermarkOnline.com: On James Cordon bashing Trump’s trans military ban in song:

“So brilliant!”

—Scottie Campbell

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On Trump tweeting a ban on trans individuals in the U.S. military:

“Well, here we go with Trump hypocrisy for the LGBTQ family... looking at the photo from 2016 of a rainbow flag Trump held, no self-respecting LGBTQ person would mistakenly write on the rainbow flag upside down. We all know the red stripe is the top and the purple stripe is the bottom of the flag. I marched on Washington in the Gay & Lesbian March in the early ‘90s and will do it again if I have to.”

—Charlotte

Watermark’s Facebook: On the Haitian Senate approving a bill to ban same-sex marriage:

“This is not surprising at all. The Caribbean Islands are notably hostile to gay folk. Maybe Trump and the Evangelicals should go live there. The proper response is to kill them with kindness.”

—Anthony J Borka

On NBC’s Will & Grace reboot ignoring that the series finale ever happened:

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“It would be easy to do, just have Grace say she had a dream years ago that she had a kid and so did Jack .... and I wonder if that will ever really happen ?”

—Eddie Nickell

“Good, I never watched it.”

—David Edward

On the internet going crazy for the young, gay love animated short In A Heartbeat:

“Created right here in Florida. #RinglingCollege” —Amy B Nestor

On a gay, male Golden Girls reboot being delayed because of “ageism” and “homophobia” in Hollywood:

“It’s not even remotely possible that it’s simply tacky? I heard the cast choices and plot and I have zero interest. Am I an ageist homophobe?

Clearly not.”

—Kevin Wood

“Disappointing, but I can’t say as I’m surprised.

Hollywood has always been ageist, to say nothing of homophobic. I was watching an interview a few years ago with Linda Bloodworth Thomason’s husband, who produced Designing Women and he said he could never get that show on the air now (then). The prevailing wind seems to be that unless it’s straight family or youth oriented, (forget it being gay) or reality TV, the major networks won’t touch it.”

—Trevor McNaughton

“To be honest some things need to be left alone. You can make plays and so on, but this was perfect. These people and characters should live on forever.

Create NEW ideas in Hollywood. So tired of remakes and tired old new

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

versions, mix cultures. Like an Asian The Color Purple, LOL. Leave this alone and write a new great story.”

—Leigh Shannon

On Rick Perry supporting Trump’s trans military ban:

“A lot is not right to spend on military, unless it goes directly to the vets and healthcare of those that served. I don’t think Viagra or sex changes constitute [covered services], or continued sexuality care.”

—Adam Young

“Paying Rick Perry for anything is also not economically sound.”

—Tim Anderson

Watermark’s Twitter: On Sabrina Ambra’s Ladyfingers column about her adventure in rescuing kittens:

“You’re so funny! The same thing used to happen to me but with dogs! You’ll be a great mommy when/ if you’re ready! You were taught by the best!”

—@KatherineHunt15

On a gay, male Golden Girls reboot being delayed because of “ageism” and “homophobia” in Hollywood:

“Sad hearing this news @ zimmermanstan. Thanks everyone working to make this a reality in the near future. #LGBT #GoldenGirls” —@EmpDrue

On the Roseanne revival including a nine-year-old “gender creative” character:

“Are we gonna talk about how Roseanne Barr is a raving transmisogynist (amongst other things), or...?”

—@gothflamingos

publisher’s

rick Claggett publisher

Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

i

desk

Never uNdersTood sporTs as a

child. I played baseball from tee-ball to high school, but always under the shadow of much more talented siblings. When it came time to pick the all-star teams at the end of each season their names were at the top of the list, whereas mine wasn’t on it at all. “Sorry Ricky. We only have room for 13, but if we could add one more player you would be on the team,” was a familiar sentiment I received when the team rosters were announced.

I don’t begrudge them their spot on the top of the heap. They earned it. My brother Jimmy, as I called him back then, was a superstar. To say we didn’t have a lot of money growing up would be a gross understatement. Our extracurricular activities were whatever we could find to do at the park or whatever mischief we could get into. Someone from

the Braes Bayou Little League saw Jimmy throwing rocks in a park when he was nine years old and demanded he join the league. They paid his entry fee and bought him a glove. Thus began my family’s love affair with the sport.

My brother Jason was next in line and he proved the Claggetts weren’t a one hit wonder. He

watermark staFF

made it to the top of every team he played for and continues to do so 30 years later. If I didn’t love him so much I would hate him, but we’ll talk more about that later.

The hardest part about growing up mediocre in an otherwise rockstar sports family was the popularity effect. The better you were on the field, the more popular you were off the field. Although I was never picked on like some of the kids who didn’t play well —my brothers would never allow that to happen —I was never really part of the cool kids either. I didn’t like that dynamic so I took an interest in other things. I wanted to play soccer at one point, but that was too sissy for Texas in the ‘80s. My parents were awesome and let me take tap dance and ballet for a little while. I tried my hand at drums and volleyball as well.

Late in middle school I found my niche: education. I was good at learning. This discovery only took me further away from enjoying sports of any kind. When I went to college I outright resented sports. The best scholarship my school gave for education was a full-tuition scholarship. It came with many requirements, including a 3.0 or higher GPA and an unbelievable amount of community service hours. I was also responsible for coming up with my own room and board, which I am still paying for. Athletes, on the other hand, got full rides with extra spending cash and little responsibility for education.

This negativity toward sports all changed for me in my late 20s.

I was at the Lava Lounge, now The Hammered Lamb, and overheard one of the owners mention he was sponsoring a team in the Central Florida Softball League.

These guys were super cool and I wanted to be cool, so I stopped and asked if I could play. They

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laughed at first —I was a bit of a drunk in those days —but agreed in the end to give me a shot.

It turns out my mediocrity was welcome on the Lava Lounge Lizards. Shortly after I joined the team, my brother Jason went through a divorce from his wife.

He was looking for an outlet and the league welcomed him as well.

Being able to play on the same team brought us closer together.

As I mentioned earlier, he rises to the top in sports so we aren’t on the same team anymore.

However, he still plays in the LGBTQ league. That’s what is so great about LGBTQ sports: they accept you. I have built the strongest friendships of my life through the Central Florida

that’s what is so great about LGBTQ sports: they accept you.

Softball League.

The Suncoast Softball League and Central Florida Softball League have had such an amazing impact on the LGBTQ community and its allies that we have decided to honor their milestone anniversaries in this issue.

Former editor Steve Blanchard returns to tell this story.

Also in the issue we check in with Tampa Bay’s Jennifer Real as she expands the reach of her voice, Savoy Orlando raises the curtain with the Starlite Room, Eric Rollings gathers at Joy MCC with local politicians to stand with the transgender community and Metro Wellness & Community Centers showcases young LGBTQ talent.

We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue.

orlando oFFice 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 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

contributors Maia MoNeT is a photographer at Southern Nights in Orlando and a singer with the band Mad Transit. Page 25

jasoN leclerc

is a near lifelong resident of the I-4 corridor, currently in South Tampa. He publishes poetry online at PoetEconomist. blogspot.com. His first book, Momentitiousness, was published in 2014. His next book, Black Kettle, was published in 2016. Page 27

holly v.

Kapherr

is a food, travel and lifestyle writer and editor born and bred in Orlando, Florida. Her work has appeared in local, regional and national publications such as the New York Post, Florida Travel + Life, Cooking Light and Orlando Weekly.

She dreams of one day running a fish taco stand in Mexico. Page 51

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.

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

WATERMARK is published every second Thursday. Subscription rate is $55 (1st class) and $26 (standard mail).

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

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

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

MON – FRI 8am - 5pm SAT 9am -1pm

central florida news

hope & help moves into new Facility, prepare For annual headdress ball Natalie caballero and rachel dececco

o sTaNdiNg Tall: (L-R) Orange County District 5 Commissioner emily bonilla, Florida Senator linda Stewart, Orlando District 5 Commissioner regina hill, JOY MCC Senior PastorRev. terri Steed Pierce, Orange County District 3 Commissioner Pete clarke, Florida House District 49 Representative carlos Guillermo Smith, Orlando District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan after attending Sunday service at JOY MCC. Photo by Jeremy WilliamS

One team, one fight Central Florida elected officials gather at JOY MCC to stand with the transgender community Jeremy Williams

o

rlaNdo | Nearly two dozen elected officials are standing in solidarity with the transgender community after President Donald Trump last week announced by tweet a ban on trans people serving in the U.S. military.

Eric Rollings, Orange County’s Soil and Water Conservation chair, spoke from the pulpit at JOY Metropolitan Community Church July 30, reading from a list of Central Florida politicians who stated they unequivocally stand with the LGBTQ community, especially with the transgender community in light of the recent attacks.

“This past week was really tough for the LGBT community, with an emphasis on the T,” Rollings said. “It’s amazing what three tweets can do to rock 15,000 people’s lives directly, and

so many more indirectly.”

Rollings was joined at JOY MCC by several of the officials on the list, including: State Senator Linda Stewart, Orange County Commissioners Emily Bonilla and Pete Clarke, Orlando City Commissioners Patty Sheehan and Regina Hill, and State Representatives Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith.

“I talked to my neighbors, my co-workers and other elected officials; and they too were shocked, concerned and worried, and frankly I was mad,” Rollings said. “I don’t think I had been that mad for a very long time because all of us as a community have worked so hard to make this city and county one of love, one of support and one united.”

Trump’s tweets on July 26 not only left community members upset, but also left members in the military community confused and scrambling

for answers. While the first in the series of three tweets claimed that the president consulted with “generals and military experts,” no one in the Joint Chiefs of Staff was advised of any policy changes or aware that the tweets were being sent.

Smith, who represents Florida House District 49, says that all this confusion from Trump will do nothing but strengthen the bonds in the community, and that is why he felt compelled to be at JOY MCC. “It was important to be here to stand in solidarity with the transgender community during a very difficult time when the president of the United States is sending confusing, yet bigoted and transphobic, messages from the White House,” Smith says.

“The reality is that we all know very well that when someone within our community gets attacked then we all come together to support that community.”

Smith says that any transgender person who is interested in serving this country should still go out and enlist.

“I personally met with a member of the Joint Chiefs, the chief of the National Guard, and I was given the very clear indication that transgender troops who are actively serving aren’t going anywhere,” Smith says.

Sheehan, the city’s first openly gay elected official, says it was nice to see other elected officials out supporting

rlaNdo | Hope & Help opened up shop in a brand new location Aug. 1, with the launch of its new and improved website to follow shortly, all less than two months before its biggest charity event of the year, the annual Headdress Ball.

The non-profit organization, which opened in 1988, is now located at 707 Mendham Blvd in Orlando, and is Central Florida’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS testing, education and care center.

“We opened our doors Aug. 1 but will be having our grand opening on Thursday, Sept. 7, with a big celebration at noon,” says Hope & Help Community Development Director Joshua J. Myers. “We’re giving a personalized tour of the facility. People will get to see the people behind the scenes and get to meet them.

So, people can see those who go out and work towards preventing and eradicating HIV in our community. We want them to see everything Hope &Help does.”

Hope & Help will continue to offer the same resources at the new location such as sex education, peer support groups and testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and syphilis.

Hope & Help serves over 1,500 clients across Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole Counties.

Annually they distribute more than 75,000 condoms and have administered over 5,000 HIV tests.

Hope & Help’s new website was intended to be launched alongside the grand opening of the new facility, but required a bit more work before going live.

“We’re looking at it being up and running within the next week with all updated information on our leadership and executive director,” says Myers. “We also will have updated interactive information for clients and people interested in testing, learning about HIV and finding out what care options are available.

We want to improve the knowledge about us in the community.”

Hope & Help runs on the financial support of grants, sponsorships and donations from the community.

A large portion of those funds come from its annual black tie event, the Headdress Ball.

This will be the Headdress Ball’s 28th year and will carry the name “Imaginarium.” The event will be held at the Marriot World Center on Saturday, Sept. 23 and will feature a steampunk theme.

“It’s more like steampunk meets Moulin Rouge,” Myers says. “We encourage everyone to wear steampunk outfits.”

Hope & Help is also taking the 28th year to change things up a bit. Unlike previous years, the event will

COnTinued On pg. 11 | uu |

COnTinued On pg. 11 | uu |

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central florida news | uu | one team, one Fight frOm pg.9

the LGBTQ community.

“I’m delighted to see that we had so many elected officials, Republicans and Democrats, here for us. This is why it is so important to continue to say LGBTQ, to continue to talk about inclusion and not make us invisible.

That has been a real challenge for me this past year, challenging that, and this is what happens when you don’t celebrate inclusion and you don’t talk about the visibility of our community, these rights can be taken away way too easily,” Sheehan says.

JOY MCC’s Senior Pastor, Rev. Terri Steed Pierce, echoed that sentiment, calling the gathering of so many elected officials under one roof for a single cause “encouraging” and “promising.”

“I think it says that they recognize who we are, that we are voting citizens and that we have a voice, and by coming here and standing in this place we realize they will speak on our behalf. That’s what we need and we are looking for and we will be in support of any of those people who

stand with us, and stand for justice and equality,” Pierce says.

Pierce has seen attacks against members of the LGBTQ and minority community throughout the years and says the most important thing we can do is let those who are currently under attack know that we are standing with them.

“We had a transgender person visit our church for the first time today and I told her ‘honey, you are always welcome in this place,’ and she said to me ‘I will definitely be back,’” Pierce says. “I’m glad that there was a showing here today so all the people who feel unsafe and unwanted understand that we are here for them, always have been and always will be.”

A group of more than 50 members of Congress from the House Armed Services Committee, Judiciary Committee and LGBT Equality Caucus joined in with those standing with the transgender military community. They sent a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, urging that they not comply with Trump’s transgender ban. Of those who signed the letter was Florida

Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy.

“Our nation has always honored the sacrifice and patriotism of those who bravely volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces. Banning transgender Americans from serving violates those values. Building a strong military that can preserve our nation’s security means recruiting and retaining the best and brightest Americans, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the LGBT Equality Caucus, I’m committed to fighting for equality everywhere, including in our military,” said Murphy in a statement.

Back at JOY MCC, Rollings, standing in front of the congregation, said it is ok to be upset and mad about what is coming out of the White House as long as, as a community, we also push back.

“We are on the right side. We are on the side of equality and love,” he said. “Be mad, but be active.

Follow hope and follow love. Don’t let someone with a heavy hand on a keyboard on social media bring you down.”

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| uu | Hope and Help new Facilities frOm pg.9 not be a sit-down dinner; instead, it is being called “a strolling affair.”

“Guests will mingle with other guests and performers,” Myers says. “There will be food stations with very delicious food options inspired by French cuisine. We also will have two exciting custom made cocktails for people to drink exclusively at the event.”

Entertainment will be provided by America’s Got Talent’s master illusionist Drew Thomas, as well as Orlando’s own Blue Star, Michael Wanzie and Darcel Stevens. Local dancers, singers and acrobats are set to perform as well.

“Everything has a fresh face this year,” says Myers. “From the new strolling layout and we now have a lot more diversity among performers and entertainment with drag and dancers, and our featured magician this year.”

Sponsorships, tickets and VIP options are on sale now at HeaddressBallOrlando.org. As with every year, all proceeds go back into Hope & Help’s services.

“One hundred percent of proceeds goes towards our initiatives for lowering the cost of direct client care such as our food pantry, HIV testing, and educational services,” Myers says. “I’m so proud of the work this organization does.”

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What is TRUVADA for PrEP?

Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?

TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a prescription medicine that is used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex.

This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: ® Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. ® Also take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP? Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. ® Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. ® You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP: ® Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. ® If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. ® To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: ® Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners. ® Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you. ® Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners. ® Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. ® If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: ® Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and stop taking TRUVADA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: ® Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA. ® Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. ® Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. ® Bone problems, including bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP? ® All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis. ® If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA. ® If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can be passed to the baby in breast milk. ® All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. ® If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include certain medicines to treat hepatitis C (HCV) infection.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

I’m active, not unaware.

I know who I am. And I make choices that fit my life.

TRUVADA for PrEP™ is a once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when taken every day and used together with safer sex practices. ® TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex. ® You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

Learn more at truvada.com

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13

IMPORTANT FACTS

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEPTM (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

(tru-VAH-dah) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.

• You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you were exposed to HIV-1 or have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

• See the “How To Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information.

TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA for PrEP is a prescription medicine used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1.

• To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

• Take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

• Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• Use TRUVADA for PrEP together with condoms and safer sex practices.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP” section.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

• Bone problems.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis.

• Have any other medical conditions.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can pass to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners.

• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV infection.

• Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.

TRUVADA FOR PREP, the TRUVADA FOR PREP Logo, the TRUVADA Blue Pill Design, TRUVADA, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0166 08/17

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

tampa bay news

lgbtQ+ youth wow and “take the stage!” at metro wellness & community center ryan Williams-Jent

s raisiNg fuNds: Drag

performers from across Tampa Bay gather on the stage at Enigma to honor the late Ryan Stroehlein.

Photo by ryan WiliamS-Jent

Royal Treatment In move befitting royalty, 16 queens and Enigma raise $8000 for one of their own ryan Wiliams-Jent

s

T. peTersburg | Following a tragic motorcycle accident that cost Enigma bartender Ryan Stroehlein his life on July 11, the St. Petersburg LGBTQ community came together to honor his memory and raise funds for his surviving passenger.

On July 27, the Enigma family hosted its “Celebration of Life for Ryan Stroehlein,” which included a video tribute of the late bartender, a breathtaking floral arrangement in his honor and most dearly, words of remembrance, love and support from and for Stroehlein’s friends and family.

Lisa Stroehlein, who traveled from New York with other members of Ryan’s family to attend, publicly thanked Enigma and its staff for the beautiful experience. “You have provided us with another window into Ryan’s

life,” she wrote on their Facebook page, “allowing us to see other aspects of Ryan’s beautiful soul.”

“We will keep this experience in our hearts forever,” she continued.

“The overwhelming amount of sincere words, love, respect and kindness for Ryan was amazing.”

She personally thanked Enigma’s owner Ed Gonzelez and his staff of 19 for providing “a place for Ryan to flourish and experience many beautiful friendships,” and for extending their love to the entire Stroehlein family.

Enigma patron Carl Anderson publicly declared that the event was a “beautiful evening surrounded by Enigma family and friends,” a “touching tribute to a wonderful young man taken too soon.” It was a sentiment echoed by most in attendance.

Another paid his respects early, “still dealing with his emotions,” noting on the event’s page that “Ryan was a great man

whom I respect. Great flowers, beautiful photo for the easel,” Don Russell said.

Enigma closed early that Thursday evening, allowing both the Stroehlein and Enigma families to join as one and remember their mutually adored family member.

A benefit drag show followed the celebration on July 30. “Always in Our Hearts” was coordinated by Enigma’s show and entertainment director Daphne Ferraro, and featured 16 performers in total.

Each queen donated their time and their tips with one goal: to raise money for the Stroehlein family and for the medical expenses of Jordan Marcum, who was on Ryan’s motorcycle with him on that tragic night.

The show featured beloved performers from across the Tampa Bay area, beginning with Ferraro and co-host Kathryn Nevets. The co-hosting duo, as well as Kori Stevens, PheYonce Montrese, Conundrum, Anita Waistline, Dixie Lynn Michaels, Victoria Michaels, Anastasia B. Childs, Stephanie Delytes, Jaeda Fuentes, Crystal Reigns, RockellBlu, Evon Michelle, Juno Vibranz and Mya Valentine each showcased their selfless advocacy and support for the LGBTQ community with

COnTinued On pg. 17 | uu |

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

T. peTersburg | Who run the world? Youth.

On August 5, Metro Wellness & Community Center’s summer camp program for youth presented “Take the Stage!” – its second annual talent show featuring LGBTQ+ youth. The show gave its audience the chance to witness the many talents of Tampa Bay’s young LGBTQ+ community, with participants from middle school and up.

Friends, family members and a supportive community clapped, cheered and celebrated along with MC and community advocate Pheyonce Montrese, who doesn’t take programs such as these for granted. “When I was younger, we didn’t have anything like this,” Montrese said. “I’m very thankful that this organization provides that for this community.”

Montrese, who as Nate Taylor serves as secretary and on the Wellness and Community Center’s board, said the “goal of the program is to provide a safe place for LGBTQ+ youth,” giving them the opportunity to “come together and be who they are without any judgment or fear.”

The program did exactly that, as participants literally took to the stage to perform monologues, sing live versions of some of their favorite songs, perform spoken word, improvise comedy in the vein of William Shakespeare and perform in drag. Some of the summer camp’s youth even worked behind the scenes, ensuring proper lighting, music and sound as the event’s stage managers.

“The youth had a great time,” Montrese said, reflecting on their creativity and talent. “The winner was a drag performer that performed Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed a Girl.’”

The drag performer in question, who at 12 years old will soon enter the seventh grade, has been “into drag since he was nine,” his bio read. “He won them over with his looks, his moves and his energy,” Montrese said proudly.

The winner of the talent show was given $50 worth of products from 6S Boutique, the locally owned-and-operated makeup, wig and accessories store, courtesy of the MC. Montrese also noted that the shop donated the entry fee for each of the participants, allowing them to enter the contest at no cost.

“That is the great support this community offers,” Montrese affirmed, “from all across the board.”

Metro Wellness & Community Centers currently offers youth support services in both St. Petersburg and Tampa.

The St. Petersburg S.A.F.E. (Supporting young Adults for Equality) group meets Mondays from 6-7:30 PM, while the S.A.F.E. program for Tampa meets on Tuesdays at the same time.

You can visit their website at metrotampabay.org/ youth to learn more about HIV testing and prevention, coming out support, anti-bullying support and counseling services, or call (727) 327-7670.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

tampa bay news

calling out all artists: come out st. pete announces art exhibit and contest ryan Williams-Jent

s

T peTersburg | The inaugural Come OUT St. Pete is scheduled for the beginning of October, but local artists can kick start the event celebrating the importance of coming out by participating in its St. Pete Art Exhibit and Contest in September.

“This fall in St. Petersburg… the Grand Central District and neighboring districts will come alive in celebration of National Coming Out Day,” the contest’s announcement read. “The inaugural Come OUT St. Pete will be comprised of a series of events October 11-15, 2017, and will focus on, celebrate and raise awareness about self-truth, pride,

community and acceptance.”

“An important preceding event will be Come OUT St. Pete Art Exhibit & Contest,” it continued, “at which prizes will be awarded and an image will be chosen to represent this year’s festival in merchandise and promotions.”

John Gascot, artist, curator and gallery coordinator of Studios at 5663 as well as one of the contest’s jurors, is actively seeking entries for the pop up exhibit.

Artists are encouraged to submit up to five “quality images” at least 500 x 500 pixels and no larger than 1000 x 1000 pixels, with each entry measuring no less than 8x8 inches and no more than 30x40 inches.

Of note, the first place winner will have to grant Come OUT St. Pete the copyright for their

winning image, allowing the event to use it in merchandise and the festival’s promotion. They’re also required to provide a high quality 300dpi image of their submission to be considered for prizes.

For artists over 18, the first place winner will receive $500 in cash and prizes, as well as the inclusion in Come OUT St. Pete’s 2017 merchandise. Second place will receive $150 in cash and prizes, and third place will receive $75 in cash in prizes. The event will also feature a “young artist award” for those under 18, with $150 in cash and prizes.

Come OUT St. Pete’s Art Exhibit & Contest will be held at the E.P.I.C. ASAP Campus in St. Petersburg on September 15, 2017, from 6-9 PM. Gascot will be joined by Jim Woodfield, artist and owner of the Woodfield Fine Art Gallery, with additional jurors to be announced.

The deadline for artists to submit their work is August 27, 2017. For additional information on the submission process or the event itself, visit comeoutstpete.org.

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“Sixteen performers came together, in unity, to raise funds for a great cause,” Ferraro wrote on her Facebook page the following morning. “The love that was shown cannot be put into words, but I wanted to let you know that due to their kindness, and the amazing generosity of the audience, we raised close to $4,000.” The funds raised included a 50/50 raffle, with the prize of over $200 ultimately being returned as a donation to cheers from the crowd.

“I’ve never been more proud to be the show director at a venue,” Ferraro concluded, “and have never been more proud to be a queen. My heart is full of love and joy.”

The money raised was matched by Enigma’s owner, who announced his intent toward the end of the benefit with a humble solidarity that brought the total to nearly $8,000. Gonzalez later revealed that the Stroehlein family insisted all of the money raised be given to Ryan’s passenger Jordan for her medical expenses and recovery.

“It’s a testament to how amazing the Stroehlein family is,” Gonzalez said, “which makes it easy to understand why Ryan was so incredibly special.”

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

state news

miami beach drag Queen that supported trump changes pace over trans military ban Tucker Berardi cOurTesy Of sOuTh flOrida Gay NeWs

e

ver since publicly announcing her support for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, Miami Beach drag queen Elaine Lancaster has received countless criticisms from the LGBT community.

Following Trump’s announcement on Twitter that transgender people would be banned from serving in the military things were no different, and the community chastised her and the president for such an announcement.

This time, however, Lancaster didn’t have a response ready to defend Trump’s actions.

“I really don’t know what to say,” Lancaster, also known as James Davis told the Miami Herald last week. “I have to process it. I think he should expand freedoms and equality instead of restricting them. If transgender people want to serve in the military, they should be allowed to.”

“I feel for people who are transgender and currently serving who may be asked to vacate their posts,” Lancaster continued. “But I would hope they would be given honorable discharges.”

Earlier this month, Lancaster sat down for an interview with LGBT newsiteUnicornBooty to discuss her thoughts on Trump and her experiences with the LGBT community as a Trump supporter.

She said she is appalled at how she is treated for her support for Trump, but that at the end of the day she is still a proponent of LGBT rights, and would not stand if the president set into action any policy that negatively affects the LGBT community.

“I don’t agree with everything he says, of course,” Lancaster said. “I am an American citizen. It’s not about me, it’s about the country. It’s about the community.”

Lancaster continued, “If that man does anything anti-LGBT, I will be the first person to go to DC and protest.”

Lancaster’s statement was put to the test when Trump shocked the LGBT community on Twitter

last Wednesday.

The national Log Cabin Republicans also continuously receives criticisms from the LGBT community for their conservative ideals. During the campaign, however, they refused to endorse Trump as a candidate — although the Miami chapter broke ranks and endorsed him.

“The president’s statement this morning does a disservice to transgender military personnel and reintroduces the same hurtful stereotypes conjured when openly gay men and women were barred from service during the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era,” wrote The Log Cabin Republicans, last Wednesday. “As an organization that led the charge against the hateful policy, Log Cabin Republicans remains equally committed to standing up for transgender military personnel who put their lives on the line to keep us free.”

In 2015, Lancaster received an award at Diversity Honors, a fundraising annual gala hosted by the Harvey Milk Foundation and the Pride Center in Wilton Manors.

Stuart Milk, president of the Harvey Milk Foundation said at the time, “We were looking for people who are constantly giving back to the community or people who are tremendously authentic. James is both categories. He brings forth, with glitz and glamor, authenticity. And he brings forth, with glitz and glamor, giving back to the community. Our shared vision is coming into reality tonight. To once a year set aside an event which provides distinguished recognition of people who have made our entire community stronger, more just, more humane and more enlightened.”

Two years later, the LGBT community sees Lancaster in a much different light.

Along with her backing of Trump, Lancaster frequently portrayed herself as a victim, chastising the LGBT community for shunning her.

“I come from a community that touts that we are so inclusive, we are so embracing of what’s different, all we ask for is tolerance and equality,” Lancaster said. “When I came out as a supporter of Trump, I was

blackballed instantly. They got online campaigns. I was thrown off the [White Party] committee. I couldn’t be the emcee anymore. I got death threats. I have lawsuits pending against people. Oh, it’s horrible.”

Lancaster continued, “Now, I’m an enemy of the gay community. I worked 20 years and sacrificed my personal life for the betterment of the gay community. I want a place at a table.”

Many in the LGBT community, especially activists in South Florida and the Miami area do not buy her pleas for inclusivity, instead seeing it as an opportunity for her to grab attention.

“Elaine wants to go and cry and paint herself as a victim when the entire Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) community is suffering, little by little, by this president and his administration,” Dale Wilson, LGBT activist and South Florida DJ told the Miami Herald.

“She is not the only gay person who supported Trump. But she has made such an effort to paint herself as the token idiot for the village idiot.

Of course, things come back to her because she’s the loudest mouth.”

Wilson continued, “It’s very clear to anyone who God gave the brain of a billy goat to that [Trump] doesn’t give a [redacted] about us. But yet they, the ‘Roaches for Raid,’ will go and march and stand up for this man who won’t be bothered by them. That just irks me.”

The trans military ban is still up in the air, and it has united much of the LGBT community in support of the transgender community. Lancaster has called herself the voice of the LGBT community before, and so far disagrees with Trump’s proposed trans military ban.

“If something goes awry, I have a voice,” Lancaster said. “We aren’t going to stand for that. I want to be a champion of the gay community.”

But many are still skeptical that she can regain her voice and be said champion when she so ardently supports a president who impinges on LGBT rights so easily.

“It is not fair to discriminate against someone,” Wire Magazine publisher RafaCarvajal said. “But it is fair to choose who you support based on their views. And you cannot have it both ways. You cannot for years claim to be an LGBTQ leader and then openly and vocally support someone who wants to take away the rights of the LGBTQ community.”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

south Florida man shot dead aFter standing up For gay Friends staff report

A

Florida man was murdered outside a Lake Worth restaurant after one of the other patrons threatened his friends for being gay, according to the Palm Beach Post.

The fatal incident occurred after midnight Aug. 6 in front of Restaurante Y Pupuseria Las Flores, a Salvadoran restaurant in Lake Worth.

Several witnesses reported that 48-year-old Nelson Hernandez Mena came after a group leaving the restaurant and shouted, “If we were in my country I’d kill all of you like rats. I hate you damned gays. I’m going to kill you all here.”

The victim, Juan Javier Cruz, 22, reportedly stood up to Mena, who then pulled a handgun from his pants and began shooting.

Mena fatally shot Cruz and shot a bystander in the ankle. Mena admitted to police that he consumed between 15 and 20 beers prior to the incident.

Mena was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Mena made his first appearance in court Aug. 7 and was denied bond by Judge Dina Keever-Agrama.

Mena claimed that Cruz was not the intended target of his gunfire, and that he “never meant to hurt anyone.”

st. Johns school board member discusses trans bathroom lawsuit staff report

T

he St. Johns County School Board has publicly stated they will not be commenting in regard to an ongoing lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal on behalf of a transgender high school student; however, one board member does not seem to be in line with that stance.

In an email sent by St. Johns County Republican Party Chairman Bill Korach, St. Johns County School Board member Tommy Allen is looking to stir up conservative opposition to the lawsuit.

The email, which is titled “LBGT Bullies Sue St Johns Schools to Force Transgender Bathrooms,” begins “[Allen] asked me to get the word out to St. Johns families, that the school district is being sued to force the schools to adopt a transgender bathroom policy.”

The email goes on to say that the School District is opposed to changing the policy and asks concerned parents to contact Allen.

In an interview with The St. Augustine Record, Allen stated he did not contact Korach but that Korach contacted him. Allen also denies that he requested the email be sent out, saying that the introductory sentence in Allen’s email was “incorrect.”

Korach says between 80 and 100 emails have already been sent to Allen opposing a policy change.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

nation+world news

White House issues guidance on Trump’s transgender military ban Karen Ocamb of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

W

ASHINGTON | President Donald Trump may be on a 17- day vacation but his White House has been scrambling to hand him a “win” by the time he returns. Trump’s tweets July 26 announcing a ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the U.S. military was turned into a “guidance” policy for implementation that passed muster with the White House Counsel’s office Aug. 4.

Approved by Trump, the new policy

is expected to be now delivered into the hands of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has been quiet on the issue with approximately 15,000 trans service members under his command.

After his review, Mattis is expected to order a deliberate implementation by the Pentagon, which could take a period of time.

Though the policy—called “A Guidance Policy for Open Transgender Service Phase Out”—has not yet been made public, sources familiar with the planning said it would encourage early retirement, usher out any enlisted personnel after their contract is up, and would fire trans officers up for promotion. Basically, said a source, “the administration wants to get rid of transgender service members as fast

as they can.”

No one yet knows what will happen to the service members currently fighting in combat. The new policy does allow trans service members to continue serving but apparently does not offer any protection from harassment or other efforts to get them to quit.

Trump said in his tweets that the decision to ban trans military service was made after consultation with his generals and to safeguard the readiness of the armed forces.

Trump focused his attention on the cost of medical care for trans service members who want to transition on the job. But, the New York Times reported: “Paying for the procedures would cost the Pentagon between $2.9 million to $4.2 million a year, the report said. By comparison, the Pentagon each year spends $6 billion of its $610 billion budget on medical costs for active-duty service members.”

Ex-CEO of RentBoy.com gets 6 months prison Wire Report

N

EW YORK | The former CEO of a once-popular male escort service website who pleaded guilty last year to promoting prostitution has been sentenced to six months in prison by a judge who said it was necessary to send a deterrent message even though she knows the business did good things for people.

Jeffrey Hurant, who ran the Rentboy.com site, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie in Brooklyn.

“The very thing that is illegal – there is no question it did a lot of good,” Brodie said as she announced the sentence, which included a $7,500 fine.

Hurant said he created the website so sex workers could proceed in a safer manner.

Prosecutors wanted him to serve at least a short term to deter operators of other escort services from similar misconduct, while his lawyers have argued that he deserves no more than probation.

Before authorities arrested Hurant and seized the Rentboy site, it had

thousands of advertisers paying up to $300 a month, 500,000 visitors a day and revenues of $10 million in the past five years.

Homeland Security’s involvement in the takedown, along with an absence of any allegations that Rentboy was a menace to society beyond simple prostitution – like engaging in human trafficking or exploiting minors – stirred anger and fear in the gay community. Activists questioned why the agency would single out Rentboy when other escort websites, gay or straight, continue to do business.

of a same-sex marriage would face up to three years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Haitian gourdes or roughly $7,920. The measure would also ban what the news agency described as “public demonstration of support” for homosexuality.

Haitian LGBT rights advocates have criticized the measure.

Reginald Dupont, executive director of Fondation SEROvie, told the Washington Blade his country’s Senate has been “taken hostage by religious fundamentalists.”

Dupont noted senators earlier this year passed an anti-defamation bill that he described as “a hindrance to freedom of the press.” He also pointed

out same-sex marriage has never been legal in Haiti.

Agence France-Presse reported the bill will likely pass in the Haitian Chamber of Deputies, which is the lower house of the country’s National Assembly. President Jovenel Moise is expected to sign it into law.

“Haiti, the poorest country in the hemisphere, risks isolating itself by the action of certain leaders and the passivity of the others,” Dupont told the Blade.

The country decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations in 1986, but anti-LGBT attitudes continue to persist.

Haitian Senate approves bill to ban same-sex marriage Michael K. Lavers of The Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

T

he Haitian Senate approved a bill that would ban same-sex marriages and punish those who enter into them Aug. 1.

Le Nouvelliste, a Haitian newspaper, reported senators approved the measure that Sen. Carl Murat Cantave introduced by a 14-1 vote with one senator abstaining.

Agence France-Presse reported “the parties, co-parties and accomplices”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

in other news Rapper accused of murdering man he thought hit on him A New York prosecutor said rapper Kidd Creole, whose real name is Nathaniel Glover and is a founding member of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, stabbed a homeless man to death in Manhattan Aug. 3 after he became enraged because he thought the man believed he was gay and was hitting on him. Assistant District Attorney Mark Dahl said Glover was heading to his job at a building where he did security and maintenance when he encountered John Jolly, who asked him: “What’s up?” Dahl said Glover told him after his arrest that he thought Jolly was hitting on him and thought he was gay “and that infuriated him.” Glover then pulled out a steak knife and stabbed Jolly twice. Glover is being held without bail on a second-degree murder charge.

Arizona county bans paid “conversion therapy” for minors The Pima County Board of Supervisors in Arizona approved a resolution banning paid sexual orientation “conversion therapy” of minors. The decision made Aug. takes the public stance that sexual identity is not a disorder or mental illness.

The ordinance will restrict “efforts to change behaviors, sexual or gender identities or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards persons of the same sex.” The ordinance won’t restrict minors from having discussions with licensed therapists, religious practitioners or free counsel, only conversion therapies on minors where a fee is charged.

Transgender woman fatally shot in Georgia A transgender woman who was shot just outside Atlanta has died. College Park police Maj. Lance Patterson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that 32-year-old Troy “TeeTee” Dangerfield was shot in her car outside an apartment complex in College Park early morning July 31. She was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she later died. Patterson says police do not have information indicating that the shooting was a result of Dangerfield being transgender. No suspects are in custody. The investigation is ongoing.

Russian court stops deportation of gay journalist A Russian court stopped the deportation of a gay journalist who claims he would be tortured in his native Uzbekistan.

Police last week detained Khudoberdi Nurmatov, a reporter for the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta who writes under the pen name Ali Feruz, in Moscow. Nurmatov, who was born in Russia but grew up in Uzbekistan, fled the former Soviet republic in 2008 after authorities kidnapped him from his home and “tortured” him because of his “political views.” Nurmatov has been trying to receive asylum in Russia for more than two years. The European Court of Human Rights on Aug. 4 blocked Nurmatov’s deportation, pending the outcome of his appeal. Nurmatov will remain in a detention facility until the court rules in his case.

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YOU MATTER AND SO DOES YOUR HEALTH

That’s why starting and staying on HIV-1 treatment is so important.

WHAT IS DESCOVY®?

DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older.

DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. DESCOVY combines 2 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day. Because DESCOVY by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1, it must be used together with other HIV-1 medicines.

being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

•

Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

•

Bone problems, such as bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking DESCOVY. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about DESCOVY? DESCOVY may cause serious side effects: •

Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking DESCOVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse.

Do not stop taking DESCOVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking DESCOVY? •

All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.

•

All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Other medicines may affect how DESCOVY works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take DESCOVY with all of your other medicines.

•

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if DESCOVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking DESCOVY.

•

If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

What are the other possible side effects of DESCOVY? Serious side effects of DESCOVY may also include: •

•

•

Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking DESCOVY. Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys.

Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking DESCOVY if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain,

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Facts about DESCOVY, including important warnings, on the following page.

Ask your healthcare provider if an HIV-1 treatment that contains DESCOVY® is right for you.

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IMPORTANT FACTS

This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment. ®

(des-KOH-vee) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DESCOVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF DESCOVY

DESCOVY may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking DESCOVY. Do not stop taking DESCOVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

DESCOVY can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About DESCOVY” section.

• Changes in your immune system.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

• Bone problems.

The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea.

These are not all the possible side effects of DESCOVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking DESCOVY. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with DESCOVY.

ABOUT DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older. DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.

BEFORE TAKING DESCOVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

• Have any other medical condition.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with DESCOVY.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

• Go to DESCOVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit DESCOVY.com for program information.

HOW TO TAKE DESCOVY • DESCOVY is a one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine that is taken with other HIV-1 medicines.

• Take DESCOVY with or without food.

DESCOVY, the DESCOVY Logo, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. DVYC0056 07/17

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viewpoint

Maia Monet

trans oF thought Transphobia

h

ello, i’M a TraNsgeNder

woman and I am mentally unstable. My wellbeing is propped up on a razor’s edge by hormones, complicated and expensive medical procedures, as well as therapy.

I am a ticking time bomb and cannot be trusted around your children, women in the ladies’ room, or to do my job in combat situations. I suffer from a mental illness that deludes me into thinking I am a woman, but in actuality I am the sick byproduct of a patriarchy compelled to undermine female power and invade their spaces. I entrap straight men into committing unwitting homosexual acts and trick lesbians into sex with men. I am a deceiver and counterfeit with the intent of forcing the world to reject common sense views on gender and sexual identity. The only positive

aspect of my existence is that I am part of a group so small that my rights as a human being can be conveniently disregarded by society based on the slimmest of suspicions, but without any basis in proven fact.

You may think these statements sound ridiculous, but in the last two weeks alone I have seen examples of each of these in my personal life. All of them were put forward by earnest people who I am sure believe they are paragons of fair-mindedness lacking a prejudiced bone in their body. The fact that these are all examples of transphobia would be vehemently denied and justified as simple concern for safety and security. However, it is transphobia of the most insidious kind because it wraps itself in a cloak of noble intention.

One of the things I learned as a psychology undergrad at Princeton was the lengths to which ordinary people will go to protect their personal view of themselves as essentially decent. We do mental back flips to that end and dutifully ignore any evidence that might reveal us to be less than equitable. We suppress and explain to ourselves until we can continue to believe we are good people.

Early on in my transition, I saw examples of this play out in my own life. Back then I was heavily involved with my church in Houston,

to the point of being on the committee helping raise funds to construct a building for our rapidly growing congregation. After coming out as transgender, divorcing, and moving to Florida, I returned to my former community and wished to attend Sunday services to see the glorious new building I’d had a hand

welfare to justify their own transphobia.

Over the succeeding years I have seen similar examples play out over and over again. Most recently, I made a YouTube video with a friend, who is an Orlando lesbian, where we discussed the transphobic views that dissuade lesbians from dating trans

transphobia lurking beneath the surface that underpins the true motivation of these arguments.

The only way I know of to push back in these situations is to confront the lies and half-truths. This does entail work and means taking on real risk. As transgender people and allies, we must invest the time to find out

in making a reality. That’s when the word came back from unspecified sources that perhaps it wouldn’t be a good idea.

You see, in my time away my transition had advanced to the point that I was now only presenting to the world as my authentic female self. My former friends let it be known this made them nervous. They didn’t have any issue with my being transgender, they explained, but they didn’t know how they would explain my appearance to their children. It has been my experience that children are very accepting unless we teach them not to be. I also had the good fortune of being inconspicuously female in my presentation.

When I finally did attend services months later, nobody noticed. It was clear to me that these parents were using a false concern for their children’s

women. In response, there was a comment by one Orlando-based woman.

She made a point of calling me a man whose intent was to somehow discredit the homosexual identity of lesbians by “forcing” myself onto them. From her perspective her opinion wasn’t transphobic. Instead it was meant to protect lesbian women from male intrusion and aggression.

Of course, the most glaring examples have come about in defense of Trump’s recently tweeted ban of transgender people from military service.

Ever since, my newsfeed has lit up with the ugliest anti-transgender opinions delivered with patriotic fervor. What’s worse is that on the surface they all sound plausible, but any open and honest research into their veracity would find them untrue. Of course, learning the truth would expose the

the truth and to actively counter transphobia wherever we find it. We must dare to correct friends and even family when they propagate the myths. This admittedly can be incredibly uncomfortable and perhaps even break those relationships. However, when we do nothing we are actually doing something.

Silence is agreement and the lies will continue to spread unchallenged. It is up to all of us to speak out because there are real lives hanging in the balance. To those of you willing to take up this challenge, thank you. As the saying goes, history is on our side. We will prevail.

As transgender people and allies, we must invest the time to find out the truth and to actively counter transphobia wherever we find it.

Melody Maia Monet owns a YouTube channel where she creates videos on transgender topics. You can view them at https://www.youtube. com/melodymaia

No Better Place. No Better Time.

The Platinum Group is a team of full time Realtors that understands the importance of living in a community that welcomes you as an individual.

Community...

Equality is a right that all of us are entitled to, no matter our race, religion or sexuality. This dream can and will be realized as long as we continue to work together as a community.

St. Petersburg • Tampa Bay • Beaches

Pia Hiotis 614.561.5996

Cynthia Serra 727.580.3335

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Dan Casper 773.965.6465

Connie Lancaster 727.741.2000

The Platinum Group www.smithandassociates.com

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THE BARBER FUND HELPING THOSE LIVING WITH CANCER

www.thebarberfund.org WE HONOR THEIR COURAGE. WE HONOR THEIR STRENGTH. WE HONOR THEIR FIGHT!

ONE LOVE!

In Memory of John “Tweeka” Barber 1972 - 2011

WE WILL DONATE

$

100

TO THE GLBT CENTER OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INC. when you bring in this ad and open a new account with $800+ direct deposit.* First GREEN Bank is the first bank of its kind to promote positive environmental and social responsibility while providing traditional banking services.

Meredith Pagan

Winter Park Office

Proud Member of the GLBT Center of Central Florida Inc.

www.firstGREENbank.com Offices Throughout Florida *A $100.00 donation will be made to the GLBT Center of Central Florida Inc. when you bring in this ad and a new account is opened at any First GREEN Bank location. Must be New Money, defined as money not currently on deposit with First GREEN Bank. A monthly direct deposit of $800 or more is required. Promotion may end at any time at First GREEN Bank’s discretion.

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viewpoint

Jason Leclerc

the other side

Of life All That Freedom, And a Bag of Chips (eh?)

“w

e doN’T Need

two bags of chips,” I scowled, “but, I reckon they’ll keep.” Who was I to turn down a Publix BOGO sack of Ruffles. I expected full well that they’d be devoured in time for the next week’s grocery trip; all we had to do was pay full price for the first bag.

We started with the All-American Classics then scoured the shelf for the gimmicky “get-one.” Four curious eyes zeroed in on the maple leaf-decorated ‘All-Dressed’ flavor. Since our autumn visit to Toronto, we were open to things that our northern-nation neighbors had to offer. We joked, right there in the snack aisle, about poutines-as-fake-nachos.

We laughed about how a kilometer was only two-thirds of a mile and how a loonie was only three-fourths of a dollar. Even their easy-on-the-eyes leader is a scaled-down version of our own odd, party-sized POTUS. “Canada’s #1 Flavor,” proclaimed the bag. Even if only half as good as ‘Cheddar and Sour Cream’ then we’d find value. We bit.

Anybody who’s taken an Intro Economics class remembers learning that, “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.” In mine, we discussed “free lunch” programs that were meant to ensure that every student had equal access to the sustenance needed to keep young, hungry minds learning.

But, the cafeteria cooks earn salaries.

But, the school food buyer pays suppliers.

But, electric bills and administrators are covered.

While that “free” meal may not require a down-on-their-luck family to reallocate their shorted valuable resources, the cost side of the societal profit and loss statement is not empty. Of course, as a village, my astute professor reminded us, we also understand that we all gain by feeding education.

Economists quantify meal assistance benefits by cause-and-effecting lower incarceration rates, higher lifetime earnings, and more responsive citizenship.

We also learned, perhaps in Econ II, that there are certain resources—goods and services—which, in their creation, cannot be efficiently rationed. Public goods, such as national defense and interstate highway systems are immediately available to all citizens because the infrastructures necessary to enforce payment for the benefits-of-use outstrip the revenue they’d generate.

No rational person pays, without gimmicks or coercion, for something they can get for free. Society cannot, and shouldn’t want to, prevent a non-paying neighbor from reaping the benefits of protection by the strongest military in the world or from driving on I-75 from Detroit to Tampa.

We won’t address deficits here.

To the extent that the pay-per-use barriers—think Lexus lanes, college tuition, and insurance premiums— can be reduced and the incidence of enforcement can be spread more widely, certain goods and services can take on the deceptive appearance of public goods.

Our Canadian neighbors have bought into a paradigm in which, through the dilution of incidence across the entire populace— taxes—an individual’s costs for certain valuable goods approach zero. To many who can take advantage of

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

these private-turned-public resources, they seem free: without sacrifice or value.

Economists remind us that such freedom is a myth that leads consumers to misappropriate resources away from valuable providers of the goods and services which should have the most value. Witness the effect that “free” education has had on teacher salaries in America and what “free” healthcare has done to the earnings of doctors in Canada. Both systems— driven by the conversion of private services into public goods—undervalue the most

Freedom is also liberty; liberty isn’t free.

Like any other public good, we cannot efficiently limit freedom’s consumption. Our enemies, both within American borders and without, have reminded us that freedom is the ultimate public good. We enshrined freedoms in our Constitution so as to remind us, with every human interaction, that freedom is our most valued national product. Our history is one of fighting for freedom, of valuing the cost of freedom in terms of not merely dollars, but human souls.

eminent pricelessness.

Americans have coveted and protected freedom, sometimes to the deplorable exclusion of our fellowcitizens. The denial of freedom to other Americans over time, while gut-wrenching to own, highlights the extreme value that Americans have placed on freedom. We do not take the extension of liberties lightly.

As we continue to expand freedoms and rights, we do so with organic deliberation, calling upon the forces of culture to right the systemic failings to which a

consequential professions in the world: teachers and doctors directly affect our quality and quantity of life.

And so, with their dreamy, silver-spooned head-of-state and their systemic redistribution of resources from the wealthiest to the less wealthy, our Canadian neighbors upend not only the market-valuation of life-quality, but also slow the capitalization of innovations that might support their long-term sustainability. And all of this would be reasonable lest we oscillate our understanding of freedom from economic terms to the historical-poetic.

In 1867, Canada gained its partial independence from a monarchy that it still serenades. By 1867, America had twice fought in bloody and protracted wars for independence against a tyrannical Britain and reified freedom in a Civil War that preserved the union and ended slavery.

In 1867, America tasted Whitman’s, “Freedom - to walk free and own no superior.” Freedom, in America, is valued—not because the incidence of sacrifice was small— because it cost so much.

America may not have perfected freedoms all at once, but has never misunderstood their

prudent society has reacted sometimes excruciatingly slowly. Perhaps, in 2017, freedom means more than simply liberty from a tyrant king or plantation owner.

Perhaps, in 2017, it means widening the safety net, reducing barriers to health and education. Perhaps, in 2017, freedom means extending the right to love and marry and choose one’s own gender-identity. New rights alongside historical freedoms are fought for and earned and protected each day anew. In America, freedom is right-valued.

Third-full bag of stale, bland potato chips: free, to anybody who wants them.

America may not have perfected freedoms all at once, but has never misunderstood their eminent pricelessness.

Read It Online!

Head to WatermarkOnline.com and click on the Digital Publications link to a read a digital version of the printed newspaper!

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www.NationsLandscaping.com

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WORLDWIDE

talking points You had the hottest show in the country, my friend, and what did you do? You spit in our face. Now you’re done… we’re never going to give you the time of day, Megyn Kelly. Who’s left?

Liberal women won’t like you because you’re coming from Fox News and liberal men, well, they’re all gay or they don’t appreciate pretty women.

—coNservaTive radio hosT wayNe allyN rooT oN why MegyN Kelly’s Nbc News prograM has low raTiNgs

COmedian lil duval defends TransphObiC remarks,

refuses TO apOlOgize

L

il duval is defeNdiNg his TraNsphobic coMMeNTs he made on the radio show “Breakfast Club” and is refusing to apologize. When asked on the show how he would react if he found out he was dating a transgender woman, Duval responded that he would kill her. A Twitter hashtag campaign to boycott the popular morning radio show began shortly after the comments aired. Appearing on TMZ, Duval says his comments weren’t transphobic and were about “power of choice” and went on to say he doesn’t have a problem with the LGBTQ community. “I don’t got no problem with transgender, I ain’t got no problem with gay people. I got a problem with somebody trying to take something from me. That’s psychological damage,” Duval said. Transgender activists Janet Mock and Laverne Cox have both condemned Duval’s remarks and called on him to apologize.

NOW RECOGNIZE

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

The firsT COunTry TO legalize iT was

THE NETHERLANDS in 2000.

GERMANY AND MALTA

are The mOsT reCenT COunTries added TO The lisT legalizing iT This year.

—Pew Research Center

Will & Grace rebOOT will ignOre ThaT series finale ever happened

w

ILL & GRACE is reTurNiNg buT if faNs are woNderiNg how the revival will address Will and Grace’s husbands and kids, wonder no more. When the series ended in 2006, Will and his husband Vincent were raising their son, Ben. Grace and her husband Leo were also raising their own child, daughter Laila. Executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick told Entertainment Weekly that the new series will have Will and Grace single and childless, saying “if they have children, then it has to be about them being parents” but “if it wasn’t a priority in their lives, then they’re still parents, they’re just bad parents... We wanted them to be Will and Grace.” Will & Grace premieres Sept. 28 on NBC.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

anGels in aMerica playwrighT TOny kushner wOrking On Trump play

new animaTed shOrT, in a Heartbeat, abOuT yOung gay lOve gOes viral

laywrighT ToNy KushNer has revealed he is working on a new play about President Donald Trump. Speaking with The Daily Beast, Kushner says the play would focus on two characters, one being Trump, set two years before the 2016 election. He compared the play to Angels in America, his Pulitzer-winning play about the AIDS crisis in the Reagan era, and says the two time periods feel similar. “Angels is set in the Reagan era which I felt would be historically significant 30, 40, 50 years later, because something really fundamental had shifted under Reagan. The same thing is true with Trump,” he said. The Trump-inspired play is still in the early writing stages and no release date has been set.

New aNiMaTed shorT filM was released on YouTube and it hit everyone in the feels. In a Heartbeat, created

by Beth David and Esteban Bravo, was produced by Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla., and generated more than 20 million views in its first week. The film, which is just over four minutes long, is absent of any dialogue or narration and shows how powerful true emotion can be, especially for those not yet comfortable with who their heart chases after. In a Heartbeat is about a closeted boy who runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.

P

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in-depTh: lgbTQ sOfTball

r a b e t l i e ng C

A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT CENTRAL FLORIDA AND TAMPA BAY SOFTBALL LEAGUES CELEBRATE MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES THIS SEASON

f

steve Blanchard

or More ThaN Two decades,

LGBTQs in Central Florida have enjoyed friendship and sportsmanship on the softball field. The area’s two largest leagues are celebrating milestones this fall season.

The Suncoast Softball League in Tampa celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and the Central Florida Softball League will mark its 20th year when the first pitches are thrown out this fall. Besides their incredible growth over the years, both leagues have plenty of reasons to celebrate their respective

milestone anniversaries in 2017.

A quarter century ago, Central Florida LGBTQs didn’t have many options when it came to socializing within the community. Social networking was a thing of science fiction and bars were the only place where LGBTQs congregated to make friends, develop romances and learn

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

about the community.

But some people within the community wanted another option.

“A few friends gathered at a home and talked about ways to get the community to do something besides just going to the bar,” recalls Kyle Gaither, a long-time board member of the Central Florida Softball League and Orlando Meltdown tournament director. “Nothing against the bars, but they looked at ways to bring the gay community together through athletics. Softball seemed like the way to go.”

Soon, the Central Florida Softball League was formed with the assistance of the Suncoast Softball League in Tampa, which

started five years prior. The “sister cities” worked together to bring the grassroots league to fruition.

Partnerships are just as important today as they were in the early days, according to Bobby Schmahl, Suncoast Softball league commissioner.

“Community outreach has always helped us grow,’ Schmahl says.

“Word of mouth is the most efficient way to do it but we’ve also partnered with pride organizations and the GaYbor Coalition, all of which attract a good number of people who show interest in competitive and recreational softball.”

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| uu | LGBTQ Softball from pg.31

Gaither is thankful for the Suncoast Softball League’s influence in those early years and says the two organizations still work closely together.

“We took a little from Tampa and the Suncoast Softball League helped us get up and running,” Gaither says.

“One of our first managers I met at an exhibition game in Tampa.

It was a chance for us to see how things flow and I found my Orlando team that day.”

While Gaither says he was always an athlete, that’s not the case for all players. Both leagues offer a friendly environment for the athletically inclined and the new-to-athletic crowds to intermingle, learn softball skills and, most importantly, create friendships.

“My team has been together for 20 years,” Gaither says. “Friends bring friends to join the league and soon they bring more people out.

Some of my best friends are guys and women I’ve met on the field—gay and straight.”

While both leagues are co-ed, CFSL also grew large enough to have an all-women’s division, which has become much more than an athletic outlet for women athletes, according to Bonnie Marsh, who is part of CFSL and its Amateur Sports Alliance of North America (ASANA) liaison.

“Since its inception, the women’s division has become much more than just a safe place,” says Marsh. “It has become a place of intense rivalries and at the same time, creating unbreakable bonds and a fierce loyalty to each other.”

Marsh adds that the loyalty extends well beyond Sundays at the softball field and continues throughout the week through other social activities and life in general.

Schmahl admits that when he first stepped onto the softball field 22 years ago, he had no experience with the ball and glove. In fact, he never imagined he would be a part of any sporting event.

“Technically, this is my fifth year as commissioner,” Schmahl explains. He served his first term in 2004-2007 and was again elected to the post for 2017-2018. “I’ve been a team manager, a representative for teams at council meetings and I co-produced the Gasparilla Softball Classic for six years.”

But how does a novice at softball become so engaged in a sports league? For Schmahl, it was all about the environment and the timing.

He had just come out of the closet

rising to the top: Kieth’s is one of twelve teams that played in the Suncoast

Softball League in 2001. They are pictured here at the Gay Softball World Series. Watermark Archive

booty abounds!: Members of the Tampa Panthers hang out at the 2011 Gasparilla Softball Classic. Photo by Steve blanchard

she’s a hit: CFSL Team All For One scrappers delight: Last day of CFSL 2010 season. Photo by Tom Dyer

at 2007 NAGAA World Series, came in Second Place. photo courtesy steve roberts

There is no better way of breaking down gender barriers, even those that exist within the LGBTQ community, than being on a team together. I experienced nothing but love and support from my boys.

— Bonnie Marsh

as a gay man two years prior to joining the league and it was through word-of-mouth that he heard about a different way of socializing with other LGBTQs. “A friend of mine was dating someone in the league and he got me to come out and join a practice,” Schmahl recalls. “I could barely throw a ball when I started and I’m glad to say my skills have improved. I haven’t

stopped playing since that first day.”

Throughout the two decades he’s been involved, Schmahl has seen plenty of changes in the league. The divisions have changed somewhat, but the biggest—and in his opinion the best change—has been the increased number of transgender and allied players who have joined the league in recent years.

“Yes, we are a gay league,”

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Schmahl says. “But we are a very welcoming organization. I’ve had straight players who joined our league talk about their gay brother, cousin, sister or transgender aunt or uncle. They want to show their support and be a part of our community. I don’t see how that can be anything but a positive thing for our league and the community of Tampa Bay.”

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Gaither has seen the same thing with the Orlando league and the Orlando Meltdown tournament.

“The leagues shatter expectations and stereotypes on all sides,” Gaither says. “I am definitely supportive of our allies and they are supportive of us. They will tell you being part of this league and being side-by-side out there with gay men has proven that we can be just as athletic as straight men. It’s no longer a gay vs. straight mentality. However, we don’t want to change the league’s identity.

We are an LGBTQ league.”

Marsh recalls joining CFSL 20 years ago and being the lone woman on a team of men. She says she was welcomed with open arms.

“There is no better way of breaking down gender barriers, even those that exist within the LGBTQ community, than being on a team together,” Marsh says.

“I experienced nothing but love and support from my ‘boys.’ Over the many years, I have always encouraged the women in our league to experience the co-ed division, as it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Both leagues are open and welcoming places for anyone who loves playing the sport but they are conscious of the fact that they are LGBTQ-focused, and as such both donate to local LGBTQ causes, albeit in different forms.

In Tampa, the Suncoast Softball League raises money for local charities through its Miss and Mr. Suncoast Softball Pageant. Its annual food drive in the fall helps feed the less fortunate and its several pet drives supplying needed items to pet shelters is always successful.

Its annual Gasparilla Classic

Continued on pg. 35 | uu |

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2ND BASE

LEFT CENTER FIELD

1ST BASE

SHORTSTOP, OUTFIELD

Madeline Rodriguez

Chris Malone

Kelly Gartland

Russell Wallace

SUNCOAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE

SUNCOAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE

SUNCOAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE

SUNCOAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE

“This softball league is special to me because of the friendships I’ve made and just good competition from the other teams!”

“These are the best group of fools to always have your back.”

“I love the sport but it is a great way to meet other members of the LGBT community. I have even traveled to tournaments In Seattle and Atlanta.”

“I moved to Tampa from Texas just over 5 years ago.

I joined to meet and socialize with a great group of people. The league made me feel at home.”

ENIGMA STARLETS

WOLFPACK

CATCHER

1ST BASE

Paul Pecko

SAVAGE

PITCHER

WOOFPACK

COACH, CATCHER & 1ST BASE

SIP SERPENTS

ORLANDO UNDERTAKERS

David Santiago

Paolo Girard

Les Croy

CENTRAL FLORIDA SOFTBALL LEAGUE

CENTRAL FLORIDA SOFTBALL LEAGUE

CENTRAL FLORIDA SOFTBALL LEAGUE

SUNCOAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE

“I love Sunday, game day with my team, having fun and enjoying each other’s company!!”

“The friends I have played with, and out of town players I have made friends with, mean the most to me. We have become one big family.”

“I’ve been in CFSL for 10 years now, because I love the social aspect of the league, it’s how I met most of my friends when I moved to Orlando in 2007.”

“Love my players and teammates”

| uu | lGbtQ softball frOm pg.33

tournament, which celebrates 24 years in February 2018, helps fund its traveling teams throughout the rest of the year.

For the CFSL, charity takes the form of the annual Meltdown Tournament every Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

“Each team plays for a charity and where you place determines the size of the donation,” Gaither explains.

“Teams come from across the country to play, so we have donated to charities across the country. Money is determined by sponsorships and donations of course, so each year the amounts might differ.

But it shows how important the community is to our league and to our tournament. Bars, businesses,

individuals—all donate to help us give back to the community. Our one largest and consistent sponsor is the Parliament House, who also hosts our tournament’s sign-up night each year.”

In 2013, the CFSL also bid to host the ASANA World Series. CFSL prevailed and hosted 60 teams in October 2015.

“We’re still told by the ASANA members that it was the best tournament they had ever attended,” Marsh says. “The success of that tournament is a testament to all of the members of the CFSL.” When the two leagues started, each only had a handful of players and a few teams. Today, membership numbers for both the Suncoast Softball League and the Central Florida Softball League have exploded.

THE WICKED SOX

According to Schmahl, 26 teams encompassing nearly 500 players are expected to take to the fields this fall.

Gaither estimates the CFSL will have more than 35 teams participating in the fall 2017 season. Both leagues also offer a way for players’ families and friends to socialize each week without stepping foot on the diamond.

“We attract players’ families,” Gaither says. “One of the biggest changes off the field that I’ve seen in 20 years is the number of kids at our games. Our players bring their kids, nieces, nephews…and it’s great to see. We’re a family-friendly environment.”

When asked for his fondest memory about his two decades with CFSL, Gaither didn’t hesitate with his response.

“I had a player who never played

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

WOOFPACK

ball in his life come up to me and say ‘thank you for what you do,’” Gaither says. “He said that his father came out to see him play ball for the first time. He said that he had a hit and he was able to see his dad cheering for him. I teared up at that story because it is an experience I took for granted as an athletic kid—my dad was always in the stands. Now, here is a young player whose dad tells him he plans to be in the stands every week to watch his son play ball, and that memory reminds me of why I’m on the board and why it’s important to keep leagues like ours going.”

While both leagues are focused on their upcoming season, an even larger event is looming in the near-future. Tampa Bay will play host to the Gay Softball World Series in September 2018. The event not only brings in teams and players from

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across the nation to participate in a competitive tournament, but it also gives the Suncoast Softball League a chance to showcase Tampa Bay. “We have a number of complexes to play ball and a number of attractions here because we’re a tourist destination,” Schmahl says.

“This will attract more than 5,000 people to Tampa Bay and bring a few million dollars into the local economy. There is so much going on here that it’s the perfect time for us to host the World Series in our city.”

more inFormation

suncoast softball league’s season is Sept 17-Nov. 19 Central florida softball league begins play Sunday, Sept. 17

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arTs and enTerTainmenT

Photo by Jonathan Greye

THE

REAL WORLD

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aTch ouT, j.lo: TaMpa bay

has a Jennifer of its own, and she knows a thing or two about being “Real.”

Jennifer Real’s commitment to her craft has ensured that her career has flourished in the St. Petersburg community. The sultry singer won last year’s “Favorite Local Performer – Musician” WAVE Award and performs regularly throughout Tampa Bay, including last year’s WAVE Award celebration and (you may have heard of it), St. Pete Pride.

With a sound reminiscent of Nina Simone and Annie Lennox but uniquely her own, Real is gearing up for the release of her first full album. Watermark caught up with her to—you knew it was coming—get real.

WATERMARK: The lasT Time we Talked wiTh yOu, yOu

COnTinued On pg. 39 | uu |

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[My latest single] ‘Give It All’ is all heart. The response has been an incredible feeling of support, and reminds me to keep going. Sharing something you’ve created on an international level is exhilarating. I sometimes catch myself singing it and ask, ‘Is this me?!’ Ha! I can’t quite comprehend that it’s really me on Spotify. It’s definitely an out-of-body experience, for sure.

all ThaT: Jennifer Real’s latest single “Give It All” is available now on most major streaming services.

| uu | Jennifer real frOm pg.37

TOld us ThaT yOur faTher was an Opera singer and mused ThaT yOu’d been singing sinCe yOu COuld Talk. whaT are sOme Of yOur earliesT memOries Of singing and perfOrming?

JeNNIfer real: When I was very young, my parents made me learn songs to perform for our family on the weekends. Since music ran in the family, it was second nature for me.

Nearly everyone in my family can sing, but I always stood out. I was in gospel choir, chorus and started competing. Fun fact: I played the French horn in elementary school.

I feel the competition really began in 11th grade when I won my first talent show for singing. are There any mOmenTs ThaT sTiCk OuT ThaT made yOu wanT TO pursue yOur prOfessiOnal singing Career?

I saw Whitney Houston at Radio City Music Hall and was star struck. I was immediately inspired and started thinking that singing could actually be a career. when yOu aren’T singing, whaT musiC are yOu lisTening TO?

All genres really but my favorite stations and mixes are: Anita Baker, the Love Frequency (528 Hz) and Annie Lennox, primarily. whO have been yOur biggesT musiCal influenCes?

Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Sting, Heart, Melissa Etheridge, Jill Scott, India Arie, Cindi Lauper, the list of inspirations goes on and on. lOve iT. whaT abOuT Them inspires yOu?

Mainly that they are dynamic and

—jeNNifer real

versatile. The long breaths, high notes and range makes for deeper, more eclectic sound. That’s extremely inspiring to me. whaT was iT like TO perfOrm aT sT. peTe pride This year?

So exhilerating! I loved being up on that stage, singing to and with so many beautiful people. Seeing thousands of heads was a rush. Just wow! I want more! whaT’s been The mOsT rewarding Thing abOuT pursuing yOur Career?

I am doing what I love to do! Seeing opportunities open regularly is hugely rewarding – and justifies why I do what I do daily. The biggest reward is that my fans keep coming back for more, which makes me feel so supported. That’s priceless. whaT’s been The mOsT Challenging?

Almost two years ago I had a serious car accident. The car flipped three times and eventually landed on all four tires. It was totaled, but I walked away from it. I was shaken up for months after that and would occasionally have anxiety out of nowhere. That same year, only months later, I also underwent major knee surgery for an old basketball injury. Needless to say... that was quite a challenging year. I was unable

to perform comfortably for over a month, but gave myself time to heal and recover and ended up coming out even stronger on the other side.

Both were painful, but worth it. we’re CerTainly glad TO hear yOu OverCame all Of ThaT. dO yOu have any parTiCular fan inTeraCTiOns ThaT sTiCk OuT TO yOu, gOOd Or bad?

Just all love! Some of my closest friends originally started as fans – so I enjoy how social my career is. hOw dO yOu prepare fOr a perfOrmanCe?

Practicing music constantly is my norm for prepping...with vocal exercises, doing scales and ‘mouth yoga’. I just made that up! (laughs) Some of the more “fun” preparation is getting dressed before an event.

Clothing and heels are my deal! I can’t have enough heels. And lipstick. yOu’re CurrenTly wriTing fOr yOur firsT full album – whaT dOes yOur sOngwriTing prOCess lOOk like?

I’m surrounded by inspiration and get “zinged” with creativity throughout my day. I use the recorder on my phone when I need to get something out of my head. I write, record and collaborate with other musicians for guidance and expertise.

I am still learning.

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

yOur laTesT single is available nOw aCrOss all Of musiC’s mOsT pOpular plaTfOrms. whaT’s ThaT experienCe been like?

“Give It All” is all heart. The response has been an incredible feeling of support, and reminds me to keep going. Sharing something you’ve created on an international level is exhilarating. I sometimes catch myself singing it and ask, “Is this me?!” Ha! I can’t quite comprehend that it’s really me on Spotify. It’s definitely an out-of-body experience, for sure. hOw dOes singing an Original sOng differ frOm singing a COver fOr yOu?

Regardless of what I’m singing, it comes from the roots of the earth, into my cells, out of my mouth and is then heard by whomever choses to listen. Often times the response is incredible. It’s certainly wonderful to feel like I am an instrument for something larger than myself. whaT are yOur gOals fOr The album?

Since my style is so varied and eclectic, I am still fine tuning what I want to record and share with my fans. I have many ideas, and a few collaborations are happening right now. Stay tuned and please support.

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whaT are yOur Career gOals? whaT’s nexT fOr Jennifer real?

Bigger stages, bigger audiences; going regional, national and international. Utilizing my voice for studio session work, commercials and much more. whaT adviCe dO yOu have fOr ThOse seeking a Career in The musiC indusTry?

Don’t give up. Learn as much music as possible, experiment with more genres and be versatile. Develop your own sound: you are one-of-akind. And always, always come from your heart. finally, whaT else dO yOu wanT readers TO knOw abOuT yOu and yOur wOrk?

My passion for music, singing and connecting people back to their hearts is my life. I have a regular spiritual practice that is at the center of the conscious lifestyle I am living.

We all are here, now, for a reason.

Spend time figuring out what your gift is and share it with others. I can say with certainty - gratitude is powerful. Use it!

Jennifer Real’s single “Give It All” is available now on Spotify, Google Play, Amazon Music and iTunes. Writing on her first full album continues, and you can check in with her at JenniferReal.com.

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TheaTer

that’s Entertainment!

Savoy Orlando’s Starlite Room gets into the theater game

(abOve)

Magic MiKe:

King of Central Florida theater, Michael Wanzie, puts his magic touch on Savoy’s Starlite Room.

PhotoS courteSy michael WanZie

s

Jeremy Williams

avoy has beeN The lgbTQ bar wiTh

a small town feel for more than a decade. In fact, it celebrates 13 years as Orlando’s small town gay bar this month.

In the last few years Savoy has undergone renovations and upgrades to its interior, and while the main bar has maintained its success with cool drinks and hot dancers, the other half has struggled to find its identity. Enter Orlando’s theater god Michael Wanzie.

“I would go to Savoy and I would see that room and would think that it was so underutilized,” Wanzie says.

“Growing up I was an I Love Lucy fanatic

and watched the show in re-runs five evenings a week. I was mesmerized by the scenes that took place in Club Babaloo and The Tropicana Club.

I couldn’t wait to grow up and be old enough to go to a nightclub that featured a singer or a floor show.”

By the time Wanzie was old enough to get into these cabaret-style, one-person-act clubs, they had all but vanished. Only a few were still in

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

existence in New York.

“The era of the supper club is gone but I am still a sucker for an intimate cabaret space with close-up and personal entertainment,” Wanzie says.

“When I go to New York I love 54 Below, The Metropolitan Room and the back room at Don’t Tell Mama.”

Wanzie saw the space at Savoy and had an idea to bring an intimate cabaret space to Orlando that would satisfy both his “childhood fancy” and the need for a performance space of an intimate size.

“For Orlando Fringe 2016 they had so many more applications then they had space for so they were looking for some off-site, what they call BYOV, or Bring Your Own Venue,” Wanzie recalls.

“I talked to [Savoy owner] Brandon [Bracale-Llewellyn] about it and said, ‘Why don’t you dip your toe in the water and let’s try it as an experiment.’

We weren’t trying to be very ambitious with it, just trying it out to see if the people would come. That was the beginning of my relationship with Brandon and the room.”

Wanzie booked three shows that did a total of 11 performances for the 2016 festival, and it was a success. The following year they expanded to seven shows with a total of 32 performances.

Again, it was a hit.

“It proved people were willing to come around the corner a bit and down the block. Blue had already been doing this at The Venue, and it is a very popular off-site venue, as is St. Matthews Tavern, so it worked out really well,” Wanzie says.

The first step was getting the room ready as a more permanent theater space.

“There use to be a postage stamp-size stage in the middle of the long wall, so we tore the bar out at the end of the room and put in a nice size stage, 12 feet by 10 feet I believe, where the bar was and added curtains for a backdrop,” Wanzie says. “The stage itself was custom built for us. It’s in two sections, it’s mobile and can be versatile with the space placing the stage against a wall or in the center of the room.”

With some rewiring and lighting work, along with new seating and a fresh paint job, the Starlite Room at Savoy was born.

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“I think the Starlite Room is really going to fill a niche,” Wanzie says. “If you are doing something and you don’t have an established following yet or you’re doing something new without name recognition, you can come to the Starlite Room where 50 people in the space is a huge success and 90 is a sellout. It’s providing just the right size space that didn’t exist up until now.”

The entertainment has already started to line up. Wanzie has comedian Jeff Jones in the Starlite Room hosting “Comedy Showcase” every second Tuesday of the month. He also bought in the one and only Miss Sammy to host “Showtunes at Savoy” every Thursday.

If you are going to be seeing shows at the Starlite Room, who better to help keep theater on your mind then the stage legend herself?

Wanzie has also booked a new cabaret series that will kick off on Oct. 1. The “Twilight Cabaret at the Starlite Room” will be on Sundays with a 6:30 p.m. curtain time.

“The first one is going to be an actor and singer by the name of Ron Miles, and his show is called The Gospel According to My Old Man. It’s a wonderful cabaret about the influences in his life based on his father. He sings some familiar songs but mostly quirky, seldom heard songs and he has some guest artists who are going to join him,” Wanzie says.

Wanzie says that an official kickoff is planned around the time of the first cabaret. He also booked the Starlite Room’s first play which will run in the month of November.

“It’s an original play by a local actor, Scott Browning. He wrote a play called Wind Up 1957, about the gay bar scene in Los Angeles in the 1950s,” Wanzie says. “It isn’t an interactive play with audience participation, but it is immersive and the play will be going in and around the audience. It’s an intimate setting in a gay bar so we thought that the Starlite Room would be the perfect setting for that.”

Browning was inspired to write the play when he read the book Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s by Will Fellows and Helen P. Branson. It was the first piece of literature in the U.S. about gay culture that was allowed to be published.

Wanzie’s annual Christmas Show is set to open in December and will be performed in the Starlite Room as well.

Anyone seeking more information on how to get your show or act in the Starlite Room at Savoy can reach Wanzie at WanzieMichael@ gmail.com.

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OrlandO

OrlandO Summer camp 003: PtG edition ft. Widdler & thelem, Aug. 11-12, The Full Moon Lounge at Woodstock, Orlando. 407-613-5018; WoodstockOrlando.com taste of osceola 2017, Aug. 11, Kissimmee Civic Center, Kissimmee. 407-518-2503; Kissimmee.org a royale celebration, Aug. 12, Parliament House, Orlando. 407-425-7571; ParliamentHouse.com the molly ringwalds, Aug. 12, House of Blues, Orlando. 407-934-2583; HouseOfBlues.com/Orlando orlando cringe, Aug. 12, SAK Comedy Lab, Orlando.

407-648-0001; SAK.com inaugural rock hard take over, Aug. 13, The Hammered Lamb, Orlando. 407-802-4631; RockHardFitnessOrlando.com anna eskamani’s campaign kick off, Aug. 15, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-801-4896; AnnaForFlorida.com the Pulse tragedy: documenting a collective narrative, Aug. 17, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park.

407-647-6294; Polasek.org call to artists - once more With Feeling, Aug. 17-18, CityArts Factory, Orlando. 407-648-7060; OrlandoSlice.com/Group/ CityArtsFactory A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Aug. 18-28, AntiGravity Theater, Kissimmee. 407-507-3943; AntiGravityOrlando.com open house, Aug. 19, Orlando Shakes, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org Girl the Party’s return to hogwarts, Aug. 19, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com 2017 Solar eclipse, Aug. 21, Orlando Science Center, Orlando.

407-514-2000; OSC.org

Watermark’s August third thursday Thursday, aug. 17, 6:00 - 8:00 p.M. fairvilla MegasTore, orlaNdo

Cake,

Join Watermark for our LGBTQ networking mixer, held every month on the third Thursday. This month’s mixer will be at the Fairvilla Megastore. Light bites will be provided and the first drink is on the house. Raffle prizes will be available with proceeds going to Pug Rescue of Florida. As always, this event is free of charge. Due to this month’s location, attendees must be 18 years old or older.

Cake,

Cake

Dialogo: The Rainbow Sheep Thursday, aug. 24, 6:30 - 8:30 p.M. proyecTo soMos, orlaNdo

megan therese rippey is Marie Antoinette in David Adjmi’s play, closing out its run at the freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg the weekend of Aug. 11-13. Photo by andreW WoFFord

Southern nights 3yr anniversary, Aug. 2426, Southern Nights.

Orlando. 407-412-5039; SouthernNightsORL.com Titanic the Musical, Aug. 25-26, Calvary Assembly, Orlando. 407-644-1199; CalvaryOrlando.org

Tampa bay lionel richie w/ mariah carey, Aug. 11, Amalie Arena, Tampa.

813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com Marie Antoinette, July 15Aug. 13, freeFall Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-498-5205; freeFallTheatre.com Motown The Musical, Aug. 8-13, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org John mayer, Aug. 13, Amalie Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; AmalieArena.com

Georgie’s alibi reunion 2017, Aug. 14, The Zoo Studios, St. Petersburg. 727-350-5962; TheZooStudios.net

Queen of the night cosplay, Aug. 20, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; SouthernNightsTPA.com

bingo4charity Fundraiser and Superhero 5k kick-off, Aug. 16, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com

tampa equality connection, Aug. 22, Sacred Pepper, Tampa. 813-609-8000; SacredPepper.com

trans Support network open house Party, Aug. 19, Metro Health and Wellness, St. Petersburg. MetroTampaBay.org balance tampa bay’s august Service, Aug. 19, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Tampa. 727-321-3854; BalanceTampaBay.org big Gay brunch, Aug. 19, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg. 727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com Quench cooler Party, Aug. 19, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com

lGbtQ+ and ally ice cream Social, Aug. 24, MSC Ballroom, Tampa. 813-974-5111; USF.edu/ Multicultural

sarasOTa Film viewing of Moonlight, Aug. 12, ALSO Youth, Sarasota.

941-951-2576; ALSOYouth.org

Growing up in today’s fast paced and social media climate can be tough for any young person, but those issues and challenges can be much worse for members of the LGBTQ+ youth. The Hispanic Federation and Proyecto Somos Orlando are bringing Neil Rios, Viviana Troche and David Baker-Hargrove together to facilitate an intergenerational conversation around those challenges.

For more information visit ProyectoSomosOrlando.org.

Tampa bay

equality Florida’s 20 Year Reunion Party friday, aug. 11, 6:30 - 8:30 p.M. KiMpToN hoTel zaMora, sT. peTe beach Equality Florida’s statewide board of directors and staff invite you to celebrate with them, atop Kimpton’s Hotel Zamora on St. Pete Beach, their 20th anniversary reception. It’s hard to fully visualize how different the state was for LGBTQ Floridians when EQFL formed in 1997, so come out and hear some of the stories from those early days. The event will include light bites, a cash bar and a brief program. The event is free, but you are asked to RSVP at EQFL.org/event/anniversary_reception.

Swan Lake, Aug. 13, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota. 941-328-1300; SarasotaOpera.org brunch and a Show: The Producers, Aug. 20, Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton. 941-748-5875; ManateePerforming ArtsCenter.com

Strike Out For AIDS saTurday, aug. 19, 6:00 - 9:00 p.M. piN chasers MidTowN, TaMpa Are you ready to show off your skills on the lanes?

Well, the 11th annual Strike Out for AIDS fun bowl is here for you! Strike Out for AIDS is a fun night to raise funds for Empath Partners in Care, or EPIC, and HIV support service organization. Along with a night of bowling, there will also be raffles and silent auctions. For more information, visit MyEpic.org.

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

watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

45

profitable custom picture frame and mirror shop

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Located in the same St. Petersburg, FL., location for 10 years at Tyrone Blvd N and 66th St N. More than 2,000 cars a day park in this shopping center.

All equipment necessary to operate this business is included in the sale: Computerized Lifesaver point of sale system, computerized Wizard mat cutter, Universal double miter saw, Miter Mite VN144 joiner, VacuSeal 4468H drymounter, two work stations, Silent air compressor, 2000 GMC Savana delivery van, all existing stock.

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

overheard

Tampa bay OuT+abOuT

geOrgie’s alibi: The reuniOn

g

eorgie’s alibi, a sTaple iN The sT. peTersburg lgbTQ coMMuNiTy for fifteen years, closed its doors for the last time in September 2015. Now, a grassroots reunion has materialized nearly two years later.

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the rumors are true and Georgie’s Alibi St. Petersburg will cease operations,” the bar’s Facebook page abruptly announced in 2015, just over a week before its scheduled closure. (Employees found out not long before.) “The real estate and an adjoining parcel have been sold to a developer who plans on building new housing units... Technology and a greater acceptance of alternative lifestyles have impacted the viability of gay venues throughout the country, and The Alibi was not immune to this phenomena.”

It was a statement that didn’t resonate well with many in the community at the time, and revisiting it does it no favors: particularly since new venues have popped up -- and lasted -- and the empty shell of a building (and ghost of the Alibi sign) still remain in St. Petersburg.

It’s something that former patrons and staff are likely to discuss at the now-scheduled reunion, hosted

by DJ L Mo of Alibi et al and The ZOO Studios and Event Space, also in St. Petersburg.

“Come together for an evening with friends, staff, performers and shared memories!” the public Facebook event page reads. It promises “historic pics and videos” on projection screens throughout the event space, with “appearances and recognition of those we love and miss.”

The event is scheduled for Aug. 14, from 8pm until midnight with free admission. No word on the $2 Long Island Iced Teas in a Mason Jar.

eaT, drink and be... aarOn?

T

aMpa-borN aaroN carTer receNTly opeNed up about his attraction to both men and women in a heartfelt coming out on Twitter —and now, he’s come out again: to Hamburger Mary’s Brandon.

The former child star and Backstreet Boy sibling singer has faced backlash for several of his decisions in the last year, having faced an arrest for a suspected DUI and, before that, supporting Donald Trump. (He later retracted.)

But Carter’s coming out has been met with welcoming arms by many in the LGBTQ community, and his fans were certainly ready to “eat, drink and be Mary” with the singer as he performed live at the popular eatery Aug. 10 (OK, we’re assuming went well, as the event hasn’t happened yet as of press time).

“Looking forward to seeing all my fans in my hometown of Tampa Bay Aug. 10 at Hamburger Mary’s Brandon,” Carter shared on Facebook, calling the performance an “intimate evening and pop up acoustic showcase.”

Mary herself weighed in on the Mary’s Brandon Facebook page, calling it “a once in a lifetime intimate acoustic setting with Aaron Carter,” with “real and raw vocals [that are] only the best.”

And they were (again, we’re assuming. We feel so in the dark on this one), Congratulations Aaron!

1

2 3

1

sMooches: (L-R) Jeff lucas, kevin Johnson and corey malyszka enjoy their evening in St. Petersburg at Enigma Aug. 4. Photo by ryan WilliamS-Jent

2

baller: keith Suhr strikes a pose before striking some pins at Dunedin Lanes’ Pride Bowling Night Aug. 3 in Dunedin. Photo

courteSy Pride boWlinG

3

wig-ardiuM leviosa: victoria michaels dazzles before a wig reveal during a benefit for a fellow queen at Quench Lounge in Largo Aug. 2. Photo

4

5

courteSy chriS kiSS

4

TicKeT realNess: anastasia b. childs (L) sells tickets for the 50/50 Raffle to cale Woodward and del Fugler at the Broken Sluts’ “New Shoes and School Supplies” benefit at Enigma in St. Petersburg Aug. 6. Photo by

ryan WilliamS-Jent

5

The dr. is iN: Sean leigh (L) and eric casaccio strike a pose at Bradley’s on 7th in Tampa Aug. 4. Photo courteSy Sean leiGh

6

childreN are The fuTure: Pheyonce montrese (C) and the Metro Youth Summer Camp take a breather following their “Take the Stage!” performances at Metro Wellness in St. Petersburg Aug. 5. Photo courteSy

6

Pheyonce montreSe

7

siT, sTay, driNK: (L-R) Jacie ramsey, deidre Favero and (good boy) Jonas relax at Dog Bar in St. Petersburg Aug. 5. Photo by lindSey burkholder

8

spoTlighTs aNd secreTs: natalie buono (L) and dixie lynn michaels share the spotlight at Enigma’s benefit for their beloved late Ryan Strohelein July 30. Photo by ryan

8

WilliamS-Jent

7 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

47

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overheard

OrlandO OuT+abOuT

lOve is lOve

e

arlier This year we MeNTioNed ThaT MegacoN orlaNdo —the Southeast’s largest comics, sci-fi and gaming event —in conjunction with comic book writer Marc Andreyko of DC Comics hosted the “Love is Love” fundraiser in honor of the victims from the Pulse tragedy.

Andreyko, you may recall, was the project organizer for the graphic novel Love Is Love, the oversize comic containing tributes to the victims of Pulse and celebrating the LGBTQ community.

The event, which included a book signing and photo op with Andreyko, raised more than $18,000.

One hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to Equality Florida.

“The compassion and support shown by MegaCon and the contributors of the Love is Love comic anthology have been an inspiration,” said Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida.

Love is Love is available for purchase at idwpublishing.com.

2

remembering billy

1

3

5

6

T

he pride fuNd To eNd guN violeNce is hoNoriNg the late Billy Manes and his work in the community with the Billy Manes Memorial Fellowship, an educational fellowship that honors Billy’s lifelong commitment to political advocacy while also commemorating his mentorship and involvement in the Pride Fund. Billy was on the organization’s board of advisors and involved with the group at its inception.

“Billy was an integral member of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence and was one of the LGBTQ community’s most outspoken advocates. He touched so many lives as a selfless friend, community supporter and a willing mentor,” said Jason Lindsay, founder of Pride Fund.

Billy is also being remembered and honored with an event at The Beacham called Electric Barbarella: Tribute to Billy Manes, an 80’s new wave dance tribute to Billy featuring Smilin Dan on Aug. 30.

Proceeds raised from the event will benefit Organize Florida and Planned Parenthood.

mba OrlandO wins big in vegas

w

hile celebraTiNg 25 years, the Metropolitan Business Association was recently honored with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Chamber of the Year Award at their International Business & Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. The conference is one of the largest LGBTQ community business events and drew nearly 50 LGBTQ Chambers from across the U.S., as well as several international groups.

The annual conference had over 1,200 attendants.

35 of those members were from MBA Orlando, making them the second largest Chamber group at the conference after San Francisco.

Lu Mueller-Kaul, president of MBA Orlando, accepted the award on behalf of the chamber at the morning session held at Caesar’s Palace.

Congratulations to the MBA!

4

1

believe: While in Vegas for the NGLCC conference, (L-R) Watermark publisher rick claggett, carlos carbonell, kellie rae Parkin and Tom yaegers checked out the one and only Cher in concert at the Monte Carlo’s Park T heater in Las Vegas August 5. Photo courteSy carloS carbonell

2

world Traveler: Orlando Renaissance Man doug ba’aser checks out the sights in Budapest, Hungary Aug. 2. Photo courteSy douG ba’aSer

3

sToNewall suNdays: (L-R) keith conrad, bill Janssen and Paolo Girard enjoy some cocktails on the balcony of Stonewall Bar in Orlando Aug. 6. Photo courteSy Paolo Girard

4

birThday love: dave Fake embraces birthday boy and partner, Scott dunkle, at his poolside celebration in Orlando Aug. 6.

Photo by rick claGGett

5

orlaNdo’s guardiaNs: (L-R) michael thibodeau, Joshua Siniscalco and Jeff Jones stand in awe of Star Lord and Baby Groot, two members of Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy, at Hollywood Studios Aug. 2.

Photo courteSy JeFF JoneS

6

The bodyguard, parT 2: Justin Shakeri (R) scoops up billy mick in his arms at Hamburger Mary’s Broadway Brunch in Orlando Aug. 6. Photo courteSy billy mick

7

7

award wiNNers: The Metropolitan Business Association gathers to accept the award for NGLCC’s 2017 Chamber of the Year in Las Vegas Aug. 3. Photo courteSy michael deeyinG

8

opeN dialogue: (L-R) christopher cuevas, roxy Santiago, terry decarlo and carlos Guillermo Smith talk with members of the LGBTQ+ community about creating unity after the Pulse tragedy at Proyecto Somos Orlando July 27. Photo courteSy orlando immunoloGy center

8 watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

49

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watermark Your LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

announcements

wedding bells

Ryan and Wade Williams-Jent

congratulations

St. Petersburg, Florida

Southern nights Orlando celebrates its 3rd year anniversary Aug. 13.

engagement date:

Savoy orlando celebrates its 13th anniversary Aug. 14.

February 21, 2015

local birthdays

wedding date:

November 12, 2016

venue:

Friend’s backyard, St. Petersburg

colors:

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attire vendors:

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oFFiciant: Jan Flowers

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Photo by Jacie ramSey

i

T wasN’T love aT firsT sighT for Ryan and Wade, but four years later, they walked down the aisle together.

When Ryan, a Cincinnatti native, first met Wade from Port Charlotte, sparks didn’t fly immediately.

They were in the same friend group for about a year and a half before dating, but were never involved romantically.

One night, at Parliament House in Orlando, the two, just friends at that point, danced to Christina Aguilera’s “Your Body.”

And they kissed. “It was all very gay,” says Ryan, coyly. “It had to be fate. It wouldn’t have happened any other way.”

Ryan, a freelance writer and technical writer for an investment firm, loved Wade’s stability and emotional calm. “He’s solid. He balances me out,” says Ryan. That’s what initially attracted him to Wade as they got to know each other better over their courtship. “He’s very stable and able to stand on his own two feet,” he says. ‘Two strong individuals make a better whole unit.”

The couple started talking about marriage about two years into their relationship. “I always wanted to get married,” he says. “So many

generations of gay and lesbian individuals fought for that right.” So when same-sex marriage was made legal, Ryan and Wade knew it was something they wanted to do to honor that fight.

At the beginning of their relationship, they had taken a silly picture of Ryan lifting Wade out of a shopping cart. Wade had commented that it would make a hilarious engagement picture. Ryan was planning on proposing, but to throw Wade off the scent, he told Wade that he would never propose, so Wade would have to do it.

But Ryan had already printed the photo onto a puzzle with the words “Will you marry me?” on it. He’d distributed the puzzle pieces to Wade’s friends to give as a gift at Wade’s birthday party on February 21, 2015. Wade put the pieces together and said yes.

“I couldn’t imagine not knowing him and loving him forever,” says Ryan. “Also, we have a Pomeranian and a Jack Russell mix and those two dogs could never be apart if we broke up.”

They set a date about a year

into their engagement for when Florida is cooler, November 12, 2016, in the same friend’s backyard in St. Petersburg where Ryan had proposed.

Many of their friends pitched in to make the day special. “We’re simple people, but nothing can prepare you for the kind of wonderful chaos a wedding brings,” says Ryan. “It was intense.” Friends came from Michigan and Ohio and elsewhere to both be in the wedding and attend. The “guiding light” of their friend group, Jan Flowers, officiated.

Ryan and Wade walked down the aisle together to the instrumental score of The Little Mermaid, Ryan’s favorite movie.

Their walk was punctuated

by RuPaul’s voice-over saying “Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman win!”

As a nod to their passion for politics, instead of having religious readings, the couple chose to distribute sections of Justice Kennedy’s same-sex marriage SCOTUS ruling to be read during the ceremony. “It was very touching. As the wedding was just four days after Trump was elected, it was a reminder of just how far we’ve come,” says Ryan.

Hospice of Florida chaplain randall Forshee, St. Petersburg activist karen murray, Largo beautician Jay berwanger (Aug. 10); Orlando hair stylist bobby kantz, Rotten S’more Shiala morales (Aug. 12); Tampa Bay leather bear daddy eric Siglin, Stand Up Florida’s bryan arnette (Aug. 13); Sarasota activist chuck redding, 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 performer david almeida (Aug. 15); Tampa Bay photographer Josh Shipp (Aug. 16); Orlando entertainer tod kimbro, Tony-winner Kenny howard, St. Petersburg mayor’s LGBT liaison Jim nixon, St. Petersburg interior designer Scott velez, St. Petersburg drag performer alexis de la mer (Aug. 17); Tampa Bay performer macaviti, Orlando activist bob Poe, Orlando actor chris Shepardson, Sarasota orthodontist michael radall, Orlando lawyer Paul San Giovanni (Aug. 18); Orlando performer Danielle hunter, Lakeland singer danny Pate, Tampa pastor Scott manning, Former St. Pete ASAP Executive Director William harper, Orlando heartthrob temoc trevino, former Georgie’s Alibi bar maiden duffy iorio, Winter Park Playhouse’s todd long, Tampa economics specialist LJ Sosa (Aug. 19); OIC’s Sam Graper (Aug. 20); Clearwater bear keith Schorr, Brandon restaurant exec. rob roberts (Aug. 21); Edge Factory’s Deb ofsowitz, Tampa radio station morning show host miguel Fuller, LGBT activist lynn mulder (Aug. 22); Tampa Bay retailer charles Germaine, Orlando graphic artist marcus vale, The Hotchkiss Group’s Sonny hotchkiss (Aug. 23).

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!

—Holly V. Kapherr

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 LGBTQ life.

Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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Augus t 10 - Augus t 2 3, 2017 // Issue 24 .16

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