Watermark Issue 29.03: Equality Audra

Your LGBTQ News Source.

February 3 - 16, 2022 • Issue 29.03

Equality

Audra Broadway legend Audra McDonald on representation and rebuilding

Come Out With Pride and The Pride Chamber part ways Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus comes to St. Pete

DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • CLEARWATER • SARASOTA

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Keeping the Romance (Novel) Alive: A Candid Conversation between Georgia Beers and Anne Shade

Introduced by Len Barot, Award-winning author and Founder of Bold Strokes Books

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DEPARTMENTS 7 // EDITOR’S DESK

page

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8 // CENTRAL FL NEWS 13// TAMPA BAY NEWS

We come from all different walks of the theatrical community … In creating these anti-racist, anti-transphobic and anti-homophobic spaces, we’ve done what we can and created ‘A New Deal for Broadway.’

– BROADWAY LEGEND AND LONGTIME LGBTQ ALLY AUDRA MCDONALD

18 // STATE NEWS 19 // NATION & WORLD NEWS 25 // TALKING POINTS 43 // EVENT PLANNER 45 // TAMPA BAY OUT + ABOUT 47 // CENTRAL FL OUT + ABOUT 49 // TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 50 // CENTRAL FL MARKETPLACE 54 // THE LAST PAGE ON THE COVER

page BREATHTAKING WORDS:

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page EQUALITY

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AUDRA: Broadway legend Audra McDonald on representation and rebuilding. PHOTO BY ALLISON

Five books by Black queer authors you should be reading.

WATERMARK ISSUE 29.03 // FEB. 3 - 16, 2022

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“Angels in America” comes to Valencia College.

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“Dragons & Faeries” takes you to Tir Na Nog.

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EDITOR’S

Ryan Williams-Jent MANAGING EDITOR Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

W

DESK

ITH JANUARY AND A FULL YEAR

of the Biden administration firmly in the rearview, I’ve been thinking a lot about the president’s promise to Build Back Better.

Social media makes it impossible not to. Especially since I’m an Ohio native but Florida resident, two states that turned as red as his predecessor’s horrible hat.

As any Ohio-turned-Floridian can likely attest – and thanks to I-75, we are legion – that means I have quite a few loved ones in my orbit who don’t share my respect for the occupant of the Oval Office, or Democrats in general.

I hear their concerns when they’re tactful, and even as a Democrat agree with a few of them.

Of the many differences between the political party I belong to and that of modern day Republicans, particularly the most passionate among us, I think the ability to criticize our leadership ranks pretty high.

Speaking of, Mr. President, how about some action on student loan debt? Or more pressure on Congress about the Equality Act? Biden wasn’t my first choice in the crowded presidential primary, but I never doubted he would be an effective leader. He was an incredible and inclusive vice president, so I knew he would be a sigh of relief for both our community and country.

Whatever his faults, which are certainly exacerbated by D.C.’s unwavering congressional gridlock and two members of the Democratic party in particular, I think he has been. The LGBTQ community has a national support network again, our country has an actual strategy to combat COVID-19 and we don’t have to worry about

international incidents stemming from Twitter. I’ll take those wins.

There are even days I don’t think about the president at all, which isn’t easy to do in my profession.

I hadn’t realized how much I missed that until Jan. 20, 2021.

On most days I’m happy to think about Biden, however, like when news of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement surfaced Jan. 26. After four decades of service on the nation’s highest court, where he helped champion LGBTQ civil rights with cases like marriage equality, he and the president formally announced it the next day.

I can only imagine who Donald Trump would have nominated given a fourth chance. The effects of his conservative-stacked Supreme Court have only begun to make themselves clear.

Thankfully the choice of Breyer’s successor falls to Joe Biden, a man of his word.

“The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity,” Biden confirmed Jan. 27, “and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court.”

It’s a commitment he first made on the campaign trail, one the president confirmed he would proudly uphold. “It’s long overdue in my opinion,” he added, and he’s more than right.

Black women are often called the backbone of the Democratic party, and for good reason. They are.

The president vowed to name Breyer’s successor by the end of this month, a timely reminder as we move toward the midterms that elections have consequences. I’m proud to have a president that understands that in all things, especially something as critical to this country’s success as the Supreme Court, representation matters.

WATERMARK STAFF Owner & Publisher: Rick Todd • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com Editor-in-Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

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In this issue we showcase why that is. As conservatives nationwide work to ban LGBTQ-focused literature from schools, we detail five books by Black, LGBTQ authors that you should be reading.

We also reflect on representation with Broadway legend Audra McDonald. The longtime LGBTQ ally and actor discusses her many roles with us ahead of her concert in Sarasota, including that of activist.

With Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature kicking off an anti-LGBTQ legislative agenda, we also look at the response from organizations and advocates.

In State News, Equality Florida

Black women are often called the backbone of the Democratic party, and for good reason. They are.

prepares to take the fight for civil rights to Tallahassee and in Tampa Bay news, they unveil a new LGBTQ-focused mural.

We also preview the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus’ winter conference, their first in St. Petersburg since 2008 and Project Pride prepares to lobby the City of Sarasota to make its PrideWalk permanent.

Pride news continues in Central Florida, where Come Out with Pride announces it will now operate independently of Orlando’s Pride Chamber. We also detail shows coming to the area, including the immersive “Dragons & Fairies” and a production of the celebrated “Angels in America.”

Watermark strives to bring you a variety of stories, your stories.

Please stay safe, stay informed and enjoy this latest issue.

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CONTRIBUTORS JOHNNY V. BOYKINS

is a Democratic Strategist in Pinellas County, a husband, bow tie aficionado, amateur chef and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. He also serves as Director of Outreach with the Pinellas Democratic Party. Page 21

SABRINA AMBRA

is a cohost of Real Radio 104.1’s “News Junkie” program and will kick your ass if she needs to. Page 23

BRYANA SALDANA is

a 25-year-old, Afro-Latina poet born and raised in Orlando. Saldana had her first published poem through “Women Who Roar.” Saldana’s pronouns are She/Her They. Page 27 SABRINA AMBRA, NATHAN BRUEMMER, SCOTTIE CAMPBELL, MIGUEL FULLER, DIVINE GRACE, HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, JASON LECLERC, MELODY MAIA MONET, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, GREG STEMM, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, MICHAEL WANZIE

PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT

DISTRIBUTION LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, JUNE MACWHITHEY 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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EDITOR’S

Jeremy Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

M

DESK

ORE AND MORE THESE DAYS, I

find myself needing distractions from the ridiculousness coming from the more conservative side of our country.

The group that jumps at any opportunity to call progressives “snowflakes” who are too emotional and easily offended have been going off the rails lately about pop culture moments that are killing their childhood memories and making our youth appear weak when compared to real men like a shirtless, horse-riding Vladimir Putin or a blue-collar worker with big manly hands like Donald Trump.

In the crosshairs of the right’s outrage recently were the brightly colored mascots of M&M’s.

After announcing a rebranding of the iconic candy, Mars — the company that manufacturers M&M’s — said they were changing the appearance of some of its cartoon mascots to give them a more modern look. This

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included changing the shoes of the two female-presenting brown and green M&M’s, something that sent Fox News “journalist” Tucker Carlson into a frenzy.

After saying that the changes to the brown and green M&M’s made them “less sexy,” Carlson said “M&M’s will not be satisfied until every last cartoon character is deeply unappealing and totally androgynous. Until the moment you wouldn’t want to have a drink with any one of them. That’s the goal. When you’re totally turned off, we’ve achieved equity.

They’ve won.”

Putting aside the fact that these are cartoon characters and do not live in the real world, why would someone who has one of the top-rated “news” programs in the U.S. take a whole segment

Managing Editor: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Designer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 107 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com Creative Designer: Kyler Mills • Ext. 301 Kyler@WatermarkOnline.com

of his show to complain about how M&M commercials aren’t as arousing anymore? I guess America won’t be great again until Tucker Carlson is able to ogle over every female cartoon character and grab her by the you know what.

Then just a week later, Disney hopped on the desexifying bandwagon when they premiered Minnie Mouse’s new pantsuit look created by British fashion designer Stella McCartney, sending conservative gabber Candace Owens into hysterics.

“They’re trying to destroy fabrics of our society, pretending that there’s issues so everybody looks over here,” she said on, you guessed it, Fox News again. “Look at Minnie Mouse … the world is going forward because you got her in a pantsuit.”

While Candace Owens ranted about the fall of western society, because Tucker Carlson had yet another cartoon character he apparently couldn’t wank to, she forgot to include that pantsuit Minnie Mouse was one of several new, temporary designs for the iconic rodent created for the 30th anniversary celebration of Disneyland Paris.

But even if this was a permanent change to Minnie’s look, it wouldn’t be the first time.

Minnie Mouse’s current red dress with the polka dot skirt, matching bow and yellow high heels was not what she wore when she made her debut in 1928. In her cartoon appearances in those early days, Minnie wore just a plain colorless skirt (the cartoons were in black and white back then) with no shirt, and sometimes she wore heels and sometimes she had a hat.

Her look has changed time and time again over the near century she has been around, many of which put her in pants, coats and sensible shoes.

These pop culture-driven temper tantrums from the

snowflakes on Fox News seem like more than just anger about androgynous cartoon characters.

If the Tucker Carlsons and Candace Owens of the 24-hour news cycle can fill up the time with meaningless arguments like these then they don’t have to talk about real issues going on like voting rights being taken away, state legislatures making it a crime to talk about race or LGBTQ issues with students in school, or how the U.S. ranks last in health care among the world’s wealthiest countries. You know, things that actually matter.

As we get closer to the midterms this year, my hope is that more people will start opening their eyes and seeing

I guess America won’t be great again until Tucker Carlson is able to ogle over every female cartoon character. the distractions for what they are. And also, that no cartoon character makes the mistake of getting in a situation where they are left alone with Tucker Carlson.

In this issue, we look at voices more inspiring than those on Fox News. Poet Bryana Saldana spotlights five Black queer authors you should be reading.

We also talk with Broadway legend and LGBTQ icon Audra McDonald, and highlight two shows in Orlando: Valencia College’s production of “Angels in America” and Creative City Project’s latest immersive show “Dragons & Fairies.”

ORLANDO OFFICE Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer

1300 N. Semoran Blvd.

Ste 250 Orlando, FL 32807 TEL: 407-481-2243

National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

TAMPA BAY OFFICE 401 33rd Street N. St. Petersburg, FL 33713 TEL: 813-655-9890

watermark Your LGBTQ News Source. F EB RUA RY 3 - 16 , 202 2 // ISSUE 29.03 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

CONTRIBUTORS JOHNNY V. BOYKINS

is a Democratic Strategist in Pinellas County, a husband, bow tie aficionado, amateur chef and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. He also serves as Director of Outreach with the Pinellas Democratic Party. Page 21

SABRINA AMBRA

is a cohost of Real Radio 104.1’s “News Junkie” program and will kick your ass if she needs to. Page 23

BRYANA SALDANA is

a 25-year-old, Afro-Latina poet born and raised in Orlando. Saldana had her first published poem through “Women Who Roar.” Saldana’s pronouns are She/Her They. Page 27 SABRINA AMBRA, NATHAN BRUEMMER, SCOTTIE CAMPBELL, MIGUEL FULLER, DIVINE GRACE, HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, JASON LECLERC, MELODY MAIA MONET, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, GREG STEMM, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, MICHAEL WANZIE

PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT

DISTRIBUTION LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, JUNE MACWHITHEY 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.

Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

7

central florida news

COME OUT WITH PRIDE TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PRIDE CHAMBER Jeremy Williams

O

RLANDO | After more than 15 years under The Pride Chamber, Come Out With Pride announced in a press release Jan. 25 that it will begin operating on its own moving forward.

COWP began in 2005 as a fundraiser for Orlando’s LGBTQ chamber of commerce, the Metropolitan Business Association now called The Pride Chamber.

“As Come Out With Pride continued to grow in size and scope, a major milestone was the forming of an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit entity in 2010,” said Jeff Prystajko, Come Out With Pride’s board president, in the release. “Though still intertwined with the Chamber, the new COWP leadership was granted the authority to focus solely on event planning. As a result, this allowed The Pride Chamber to direct their full attention towards furthering equality and pro-LGBTQIA+ policies for local businesses.”

The Pride Chamber voted to approve the separation and subsequent independence of COWP “after concluding each operates with a unique mission and vision.”

“By no means will this represent a future disconnect between us — if anything this has the potential to strengthen our relationship and create new and exciting ways to collaborate,” said Chad P. Frye, board chair of The Pride Chamber, in the release. “We’re immensely proud of everything our sister organization has accomplished, and simply realized it was time to let them continue to chart their own course. With the forthcoming WorldPride bid and a newly hired executive director, Tatiana Quiroga, COWP is poised to continue to be one of the premier Pride events in the country. I speak for the entire Pride Chamber when I say we are incredibly excited to support COWP now and in the future.”

The organizations stated that while the two will now operate independently from each other “there are still many opportunities for cooperation and partnership.”

Last year, COWP named Quiroga the organization’s new executive director and held its largest Pride celebration in downtown Orlando with an estimated 200,000 individuals attending the nonprofit’s festival and parade. COWP is currently working on a proposal to InterPride for a WorldPride bid to bring the mega event to Orlando during the 10-year mark of the Pulse tragedy in 2026.

COWP made the intial announcement in 2019 with onePULSE Foundation CEO Barbara Poma.

“WorldPride in Orlando would give us an opportunity to continue the spirit of cooperation we’ve established here,” said Poma at the 2019 press

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SERVING VETS: Keri

Griffin (pictured) is the Orlando VA’s first ever fulltime LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Program Coordinator. PHOTO

COURTESY ORLANDO VA

All Who Serve Orlando VA appoints fulltime position for LGBTQ veterans care Jeremy Williams

O

RLANDO | Orlando Veterans Affairs has named Keri Griffin as the medical center’s fulltime LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Program Coordinator and LGBTQ+ Special Emphasis Program Manager.

Griffin, who has been with the Orlando VA for the last 16 years, has been in charge of LGBTQ programs at the Orlando VA in an additional duties capacity.

“When I began running the LGBTQ programs here at the VA they were collateral duties that weren’t paid but it was something I was passionate about,” Griffin says. “As time progressed and we got bigger, we’ve gone from one site to nine sites and a hospital here in Central Florida, the number of LGBTQ patients and staff jumped exponentially, and the job became more and more.”

Orlando has the fourth largest population of same-sex couples and is one of the Top 5 veterans populations in the country.

Griffin began her new position on Oct. 1.

“The position does fall under mental health services, that’s where the fulltime position and funding came from, but I am very cognizant of making sure that we recognize that LGBTQ is not a mental health issue,” Griffin emphasizes. “Even though my position is there, my supervisor and up to the director know that it isn’t mental health, that’s just where the position came from. We make sure we do not stigmatize in that respect.”

Griffin says the VA is going to great strides to let LGBTQ veterans know that they are safe and welcome when they come to any one of the Orlando VA sites.

“We have several ways to let the veterans know that we are a supportive safe space and when I do trainings, I give the staff tips to show the veterans that we are supportive including wearing pronoun pins, wearing your rainbow lanyard or having safe space allied cards in their office.

I think these are good visual cues,” Griffin says. “We also display

rainbow-colored posters behind our clerks that say ‘please let me know your name and pronouns so I can address you correctly.’ Those have gone up at all our check-in sites at all our VA sites here in Central Florida.”

LGBTQ veteran care goes further than those visual cues, as the VA offers specific LGBTQ-focused care, especially for transgender veterans.

“We have individual therapy, couples’ therapy, family therapy, all available to our LGBTQ veterans,” Griffin says. “Then we have speech therapy for anyone who wants to work on vocal feminization or something along those lines, prosthetics for transgender females: wigs, bra inserts, for our trans men: stand-to-pee devices, chest binders. We have endocrinology that does all of our hormone replacement therapy.”

The VA also offers HIV and STI testing, counseling and care, including PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for veterans at risk for HIV. The VA is currently working on bringing gender-affirming surgeries to their facilities for its transgender patients as well.

Another change that has come to the VA is the addition of gender identifiers, sexual orientation and pronouns to patient records.

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CENTURY 21 David Dorman

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central florida news | uu | Come Out With Pride

| uu | All Who Serve

conference. “For today’s youth and those too young to remember what happened 50 years ago, Pulse may very well be this generation’s Stonewall.”

COWP is a majority volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization inspired to make an impact in Orlando’s LGBTQ community. Celebrated in October, COWP welcomes everyone from Central Florida and beyond to come together and celebrate diverse communities.

It is also dedicated to supporting the community through grants and scholarships via its “Pride Gives Back” program.

The Pride Chamber is Central Florida’s leading LGBTQ business organization and an affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Named the 2017 Chamber of the Year, The Pride Chamber works to champion economic opportunities for the LGBTQ community through alliance, inclusion and diversity efforts. Formerly known as the MBA Orlando, the organization changed its name in 2019 to better represent the proud LGBTQ and allied members.

“We talk about whole health in serving our veterans but gender identity and sexual orientation is a part of whole health too, and how do you treat the person’s whole health if you don’t have that information,” Griffin says. “So that’s what we’ve been trying to do nationally but we have been driving it home here and making sure patients feel comfortable sharing that information with their provider and that providers are making their patients feel comfortable in sharing that information.”

Self-identified gender and birth sex are already implemented at the Orlando VA. Sexual orientation should begin showing up in screenings starting in April.

When the veteran goes to an appointment at the VA their medical records will list the patient’s legal name and birth sex as well as preferred gender identity, the pronouns they prefer to use and their preferred name.

FROM PG.8

FROM PG.8

For more information about Come Out With Pride, go to ComeOutWithPride.org.

For more information about The Pride Chamber, go to ThePrideChamber.org.

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“Let’s be real, not all of our veterans can afford the $400+ that it cost to change your name legally, so their records will show that information but it will also let the staff know what name and pronouns they should be using with the patient,” Griffin says. “What I have added that is unique to Orlando, when a veteran comes in and they have their records pulled up, there is a pop-up window that comes up automatically and stays on screen for about 10 seconds. It says what the veteran’s preferred pronouns are. So there are various ways that staff can see these things in the veteran’s records and be aware of that.”

Griffin’s position at the VA isn’t just for LGBTQ patients. Her role as LGBTQ+ Special Emphasis Program Manager is to make sure that policies are also in place for LGBTQ nurses, doctors and staff at the VA. “We want all members of the VA — patients and staff — to be able to live as their authentic selves,” Griffin says. “And we want

and Vegeterian Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean, a diverse staff here that reflects the diversity of the patients we serve.”

Getting the word out about the VA’s inclusiveness is a big priority of not just Griffin but everyone, she says, from her supervisor right up to the site’s director. This past June, the Orlando VA displayed Pride flags at all its facilities for the first time and Griffin attends as many LGBTQ pride festivals as she can to let veterans know about the VA’s LGBTQ-focused care. The VA will also host its 12th annual VA Pride Celebration this June.

“Maybe the veteran is coming from another VA that doesn’t offer these services or maybe they are just coming out of the service and they didn’t have a good experience,” Griffin notes. “Not all veterans use the VA period but I’m hoping that getting the word out about this here and the good work being done at VAs across the country, maybe more LGBTQ veterans will come to the VA for their services and feel comfortable doing so.”

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tampa bay news

PROJECT PRIDE SEEKS PERMANENT PRIDEWALK Ryan Williams-Jent

S

ARASOTA | Project Pride is collecting signatures as it prepares to petition the city to make its PrideWalk a permanent fixture.

The organization commissioned and completed the LGBTQ-focused crosswalk and street mural last April, the first major installation of its type. The historic design covers the five-corner intersection of Cocoanut Ave. and 2nd St. in Downtown Sarasota.

“We decided to focus our first year on visibility for the LGBTQ community,” Project Pride President Jordan Letschert told Watermark at the time. “One of the ways we did that was to reach out to a famous artist named Joey Salamon, who created the largest LGBTQ street mural in the United States.”

To promote diversity, inclusion and visibility throughout the region, Salamon’s design utilizes the colors of the Progress Pride flag. In addition to the traditional flag’s red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, it includes black, brown, white, pink and light blue to uplift individuals of color and those who are transgender.

City Commissioners approved its installation for one year, a standard practice. Additional approval is required to make the design permanent, which Project Pride will seek this month ahead of April’s one-year mark.

Project Pride received more than 400 signatures in support of their efforts within the petition’s first 48 hours. The nonprofit set a goal of 2,500 and is also seeking letters of support from local businesses and organizations.

“PrideWalk has been a beacon for the LGBTQ community,” Letschert says. “It has not only increased visibility but made our community feel more accepted, which allows us to live a more authentic life. Allies have reached out as well because they are so proud of our city’s advancement of visibility and diversity, accepting it as a strength.”

Donations are also being accepted for the project.

Funds raised will be used to repaint PrideWalk, which will happen annually should the permanent installation be approved.

City support for a permanent PrideWalk is expected.

Project Pride has worked closely with officials since the nonprofit’s 2019 founding, efforts which have resulted in securing Sarasota’s first formal recognition of Pride Month and more.

“Approval is important because PrideWalk will become a city installation,” Letschert says. “It sends a message to the LGBTQ tourism market that Sarasota is a safe and accepting place to visit – and signals to the LGBTQ community that Sarasota hears us, sees us and values us.”

Sign the petition to make PrideWalk permanent and learn more at ProjectPrideSRQ.org/Petition. View photos at WatermarkOnline.com.

ART TALK: (L-R)

Ana Cruz, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Nadine Smith and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor at Shuffle Jan. 28. PHOTO

BY DYLAN TODD

Loud & Proud Local leaders unveil LGBTQ mural Ryan Williams-Jent

T

AMPA | Equality Florida welcomed supporters to Shuffle Jan. 28, unveiling a new mural showcasing support for the LGBTQ community designed and completed by local artist Chad Mize.

Bids toward commissioning the piece on the shuffleboard business were taken during the live auction at Equality Florida’s Tampa Gala Oct. 29. More than $23,000 was raised for the effort, supporting the nonprofit’s mission ahead of the 2022 legislative session.

Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor each spoke during the ceremony, beginning with the organization’s figurehead.

“The timing of this is perfect because we are celebrating Equality Florida’s 25th anniversary,” Smith began. “We were founded right here in Tampa and Tampa Bay remains our home … we have seen so much change in our state from more than two and a half decades ago.”

Smith reflected on some of those changes, including strides for

equality in Tampa Bay. She noted that Hillsborough County, which infamously banned the celebration of Pride from 2005-2013, is now a leader in local nondiscrimination protections.

“In Tallahassee, we are seeing an avalanche of anti-LGBTQ legislation that is intended to appeal to the worst in people all to serve Governor DeSantis’ presidential ambitions,” Smith noted. “It is important that we turn to each other, that we turn to our allies and we turn to the leaders who really do bring our people together.”

Doing just that, Smith introduced Mayor Castor. “My partner Ana Cruz and I were at the gala where this item was auctioned off,” she began. “To see it come to fruition really is wonderful ...

Those donations will certainly help Equality Florida fight for the rights of everyone in our community.

“I have said many times that the City of Tampa is defined by our diversity – and the way that we embrace that diversity really makes Tampa the greatest city in the nation,” the mayor continued.

“I have also said many times that it’s not who you love, it’s that you love and that you are loved.

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That is the important thing to remember in life.”

Smith welcomed U.S. Rep. Castor next. The longtime LGBTQ ally has represented the region in D.C. since 2013.

“This is a community that looks out for each other, cares for each other and loves each other no matter who they are, their race, their religion, their creed or who they love,” the representative began. She then reflected on the area’s strides in inclusivity over the years, standing in contrast to the state’s anti-LGBTQ legislation.

“The City of Tampa is a leader.

Hillsborough County has come to be a leader,” she said. “So that’s why it’s kind of hard to take at this point in time to see what’s happening in Tallahassee … the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature and our governor have decided that they want to create more division and are targeting young people and our public schools with hatred and division that we do not accept here in Tampa and Hillsborough County.”

Smith agreed. “We have to stand together, push back and tell them we will not let you divide us.

We are a community,” she added.

“That’s what this mural is. That’s what this work is. That’s what Equality Florida stands for.”

View photos of the mural’s unveiling at WatermarkOnline.com and the mural at Shuffle, located at 2612 N. Tampa St.

13

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

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

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MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

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

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  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.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. 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.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed 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, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.  BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.  Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0369 04/21

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6/16/21 8:18 PM

15

tampa bay news

TURN IT UP, TURN IT OUT: FLORIDA LGBTQ+ DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HOLDS WINTER CONFERENCE IN ST. PETERSBURG Ryan Williams-Jent

S

T. PETERSBURG | The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus will hold their winter conference “Turn It Up, Turn It Out!” Feb. 11-13 at the Hilton Hotel in Carillon Park.

This gathering “will be focused on voting registration and voter turnout,” Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Stephen Gaskill says. “2022 is a crucial year for Florida with everything is on the ballot – and given how things are playing out in Tallahassee right now, I think that’s more apparent than ever.”

The Republican-controlled legislature began their 2022 session by introducing a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills. They target LGBTQ youth and other marginalized groups, measures Gaskill says the caucus is prepared to oppose.

“We’re the largest we’ve ever been and our membership is

growing,” he says. “So much is at stake this year. People are anxious. That’s one of the reasons why we have our events – to underscore just what’s at stake.”

Programming will begin Feb. 11 with a welcome reception hosted by the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County.

Gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Annette Taddeo will attend, as will St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch.

“With everything that’s going on in Tallahassee and in facing an upcoming midterm election, the winter conference couldn’t come at a more-needed time,” Stonewall Democrats President Paul Ray says. “It’s really important that we energize the LGBTQ and Democratic base.”

Programming will continue Feb. 12 with informative panels, including a look at Republican censorship efforts. “Erasing LGBTQ+ Voices in Schools and Libraries” will welcome Pinellas

School Board Member Caprice Edmond and more.

Congressional candidate and State Rep. Michele Rayner will participate in “Is Florida Leading the Way in Anti-LGBTQ Legislation?” with Equality Florida’s Joe Saunders and others.

“LGBTQ+ – But the T is Silent” will subsequently welcome Equality Florida Director of Transgender Equality Nikole Parker to examine challenges facing Florida’s transgender community.

That evening’s cocktail reception will feature U.S. Charlie Crist, also a gubernatorial candidate, and U.S. Rep. Val Demings who is running for the U.S. Senate. Demings is eager to join.

“The LGBTQ community is a valued part of Florida,” she explains. “I’m so excited to join my friends at the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus to chart the path forward to building a state that respects everybody, no

Join your local LGBT Chamber, as we are the premier advocates for the Tampa Bay Area’s LGBT business community.

matter their gender or sexual orientation.”

Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith will also receive the caucus’ Lifetime Leadership Award that evening.

“I’m personally thrilled to be able to present this award to Nadine,” Gaskill says. “She has done a phenomenal job in keeping our issues front and center in the face of so many headwinds coming out of the legislature and around the state.”

“It is an honor and a testament to the strong partnership between our organizations,” Smith says of the recognition.

“I look forward to an event that connects the activists and allies standing on the frontlines together to defend our communities.”

A farewell drag brunch will close out the weekend, featuring U.S. Senate candidate Ken Russell. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Gaskill promises. “These are open to the community. You

don’t necessarily have to attend the conference to join us at the brunch or the cocktail reception.”

Registration for the winter conference is now live. Portions of the event will stream online and COVID protocols will remain in place throughout in-person programming. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test will be required for entry and masks are encouraged.

“This is an opportunity for people to meet with and interact with activists who are really doing the work,” Gaskill says. “We welcome everyone to join us and get involved ... This is a good opportunity to see exactly what needs to be done.”

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus’ winter conference will be held Feb. 11-13 at 950 Lake Carillon Dr. in St. Petersburg. In-person or virtual registration is $45, cocktail reception tickets are $150 and drag brunch tickets are $60. Purchase yours and learn more at LGBTQDems.org.

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17

state news

HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES INAUGURAL PRIDE John Hayden via South Florida Gay News

H

OLLYWOOD, FLA. | The inaugural My Hollywood Pride wanted to have an event the Hollywood community could be proud of. On that front, it was a success.

“It went amazingly,” marketing director Jameer Baptiste said. “Our vision came to life, our baby walked, our tree sprouted and we accomplished our goal as a united MHP family!”

On Jan. 22, the event was held along Hollywood’s Historic Business District. This Pride was different from what we see at Stonewall in Wilton Manors or Miami Beach, and that was by design. This was more of a street fair, with local businesses serving up their food and drinks and small vendors in tents selling cool jewelry, shirts, and other goods.

“Although they didn’t know how it would affect their business for the day, they walked into the experience with open arms, really exhibiting their willingness to participate.”

MHP was small, closing just a couple of blocks, but that fit the theme and the goals. There was no parade or over-the-top floats, but there were two stages. The main stage was hosted by South Florida legend Velvet LeNore. The dance stage kept the energy up with beats from DJs, including Citizen Jane.

This was a true family event, complete with a kids’ section, where Misty Eyez did drag storytime.

“It seemed as though they truly embraced the experience and allowed it to be a new part of the Hollywood experience.”

The party had a purpose beyond celebrating Pride in the community, it was about acceptance. Just a few years ago, the Human Rights Campaign Municipality Equality Index gave the city of Hollywood a score of 49 out of 100. When Mayor Josh Levy heard that, he couldn’t believe it.

“We looked at it, and in some ways we’re a little embarrassed that it was as low as it was, but we knew we had a better story to tell.”

Levy and local leaders worked to improve city protocols and make it obvious that the environment for LGBT people is welcoming.

“Our score now reflects what we knew all along, that the city is a welcoming city and that we embrace the LGBTQ+ community.”

Baptiste said everyone is excited to do it again.

“We are still on a high and extremely excited about next year. So much so that we are starting to plan as we speak. Information will be trickling out sooner than later about what’s to come next. We’re definitely going to keep what makes us unique like our History, Art and Film activation as well as our Kids Zone but there’s so much more to come.”

18

EQUALITY FLORIDA, SUPPORTERS OPPOSE FLORIDA’S NEW ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS Ryan Williams-Jent

T

ALLAHASSEE | Equality Florida and supporters are preparing for what the organization has called “the most dangerous 60 days in our state,” now underway in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature.

The 2022 legislative session began Jan. 11 and is scheduled to end March 11. “Florida lawmakers who congratulated themselves last year for passing the state’s first explicitly anti-LGBTQ bill in 24 years have now staked their political ambitions on a slate of anti-LGBTQ, anti-democratic bills,” Equality Florida warns.

Filed legislation includes Florida House Bill 211, one of the organization’s top priorities.

The “Youth Gender and Sexual Identity” bill seeks to criminalize health care practitioners who provide gender-affirming care for trans youth.

“This Care Ban is government overreach – wedging politicians between a young person, their parents, and their doctor,” Equality Florida advises. “It harms public health by imprisoning doctors for providing life-saving medical care. This is an outrageous attack on some of Florida’s most at-risk young people.”

They also oppose HB 747 and Senate Bill 1820, introduced as offering “protections of medical conscience.” Republican lawmakers are seeking to create a “health care ethics and liberty protection act” that gives “health care providers and health care payors … the right not to participate in or pay for any health care services that violate their conscience.”

“No one should be denied critical medical care, but the Health Care Refusal bill would allow healthcare providers and insurers to deny a patient any sort of care on the basis of religious, moral or ethical beliefs,” Equality Florida explains. “The legislation also creates a license to discriminate by allowing for employment discrimination in healthcare. It prioritizes the

beliefs of healthcare providers above a patient’s well-being.”

HB 1557 and SB 1834, “Parental Rights in Education,” are also strongly opposed. The bills would prohibit school districts from “encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels” and more.

Calling it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Equality Florida notes “our community won’t go back in the closet and won’t be erased.” The assert “the bill’s vague language appears to be designed to attack support systems in schools for LGBTQ youth to be themselves.”

It passed its first Florida House Committee on a party-line vote Jan. 20.

“LGBTQ people are a normal, healthy part of society,” Equality Florida Public Policy Director Jon Harris Maurer responded to the bill. “We are parents, students, and teachers. We are your family... This bill is about erasing our existence.”

The bill’s advancement also drew national attention, including from The Trevor Project. The nonprofit is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth.

“The Trevor Project’s research has found that LGBTQ youth who learned about LGBTQ issues or people in classes at school had 23% lower odds of reporting a suicide attempt in the past year,” the organization’s Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs Sam Ames said.

“This bill will erase young LGBTQ students across Florida, forcing many back into the closet by policing their identity and silencing important discussions about the issues they face,” Ames continued. “LGBTQ students deserve their history and experiences to be reflected in their education, just like their peers.”

Chasten Buttigieg, LGBTQ advocate and husband of U.S. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg, also weighed in via social media.

“This will kill kids,” he directly addressed Gov. Ron DeSantis. “You are purposefully making your state a harder place for LGBTQ kids to

survive in.” He subsequently joined Equality Florida for a discussion on the matter via Twitter.

Equality Florida has also spoken out about HB 7 and SB 148. “Culture war Republicans are pushing the ‘Stop WOKE Act’ in an effort to tear Floridians apart for political gain,” the organization stresses. “The legislature should be addressing the issues of everyday Floridians, not censoring workplaces and schools from teaching honest LGBTQ history, Black history, the root causes of injustice and discrimination and more.

Equality Florida adds that these and other bills “aim to turn Florida into a 21st century surveillance state, empowering the DeSantis Administration and state legislators to police classrooms, doctor’s offices and workplaces.”

Openly LGBTQ State Reps.

Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando and Michele Rayner of Tampa Bay are among the Democratic lawmakers opposed to such measures. They have joined Equality Florida in speaking out against them.

Supporters from throughout the state are encouraged to do so as well. Equality Florida’s 2022 Lobby Days Program will take place in person Feb. 7-8 at the Florida Capitol and virtually Feb. 9-11.

The experience provides training, allows participants to meet with lawmakers and “is a critical moment for LGBTQ Floridians and our allies,” organizers note.

“You will help advocate for pro-equality bills and fight against the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation,” they explain. “As a citizen lobbyist, you will have the opportunity to share your story with lawmakers, discuss policy and issues important to you, and come together with over a hundred other LGBTQ advocates and allies just like YOU!” For more information about Equality Florida’s Lobby Days and to RSVP, visit EQFL.org/ LobbyDays. Read the organization’s stance on additional legislation at EQFL.org.

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nation+world news

OBERGEFELL RUNNING FOR OHIO STATE HOUSE Chris Johnson of The Washington Blade, Courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

J

im Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the litigation that ensured same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide, announced Jan. 18 he’d pursue a new endeavor and run for a seat in the state legislature in his home state of Ohio.

“You deserve a representative who does the right thing, no matter

what. You deserve a representative who fights to make things better for everyone,” Obergefell said.

“I’ve been part of a national civil rights case that made life better for millions of Americans. Simply put, I fight for what’s right and just.”

Obergefell, who claims residency in Sandusky, Ohio, is seeking a seat to represent 89th Ohio District, which comprises Erie and Ottawa Counties. A key portion of his announcement was devoted to vowing to protect the Great Lakes adjacent to Ohio.

“We need to invest in our Great Lake, protect our Great Lake, and make the nation envious that Ohio

has smartly invested in one of the greatest freshwater assets in the world,” Obergefell said.

Obergefell was the named plaintiff in the consolidated litigation of plaintiffs seeking marriage rights that led the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in 2015 for same-sex marriage nationwide.

Obergefell was widower to John Arthur, who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and was seeking the right to be recognized as his spouse on his death certificate.

The ruling in the consolidated cases ensured same-sex couples would enjoy the full benefits and responsibilities of marriage.

Lehmann has been a member of the Bundestag, the German parliament, since 2017. Since 2018 he has been spokesperson for queer policy and social policy within the Green Party along with his fellow parliamentarian, Ursula “Ulle” Schauws, a member of the Alliance ’90/The Greens party.

Lehmann’s appointment and the creation of the office was applauded by LGBTQ advocates across Germany.

Germany’s Lesbian and Gay Association said the newly created office is “another important signal for the queer political awakening promised by the coalition government.”

Lehmann has to become “the driving force in the government in order to implement the queer political projects promised in the coalition agreement,” Henny Engels from the LSVD board told state-owned media outlet Deutsche Welle.

In 2018, Germany officially recognized the existence of more than two genders when it introduced a third option, “diverse,” in addition to “male” and “female.”

Lehmann ‘s colleague Schauws told Deutsche Welle that while the nation needs to catch up with many countries on LGBTQ rights, she hopes the new government can lead by example for those even further behind.

GERMANY APPOINTS 1ST QUEER COMMISSIONER Brody Levesque of The Los Angeles Blade, Courtesy of the National LGBT Media Association

G

reen Party lawmaker Sven Lehmann was appointed as Germany’s commissioner for the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity.

As the “Queer-Beauftragter der Bundesregierung” (Queer Commissioner of the Federal Government), Lehmann will oversee an LGBTQ national action plan for the first time in the country’s history.

POPE: ‘NEVER CONDEMN’ YOUR GAY CHILDREN Wire Report

P

ope Francis urged parents Jan. 26 not to condemn their children if they are gay, in his latest gesture of outreach to the LGBTQ community which has long been marginalized by the Catholic hierarchy.

Francis spoke off the cuff during his weekly general audience dedicated to the figure of St. Joseph, the father of Jesus. Francis said he was thinking in particular

about parents who are confronted with “sad” situations in their children’s lives.

Citing parents who have to cope with children who are sick, imprisoned or who get killed in car accidents, Francis added: “Parents who see that their children have different sexual orientations, how they manage that and accompany their children and not hide behind a condemning attitude.”

“Never condemn a child,” he said.

Official church teaching calls for gay men and lesbians to be

respected and loved, but considers homosexual activity “intrinsically disordered.” Francis, though, has sought to make the church more welcoming to gays, most famously with his 2013 comment “Who am I to judge?”

The Argentine Jesuit also has spoken of his own ministry to gay and transgender people, insisting they are children of God, loved by God and deserving of accompaniment by the church.

IN OTHER NEWS MASSACHUSETTS AG ANNOUNCES RUN FOR GOVERNOR Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Jan. 20 that she’s running for governor.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who remains popular with voters, announced in December that he would not seek a third term. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito has also announced she won’t run. Two other Democrats have already announced their candidacies. If elected, Healey would be the first openly gay candidate to serve in the state’s top political office.

INDIANA ADVANCES BILL BANNING TRANS ATHLETES Indiana lawmakers advanced a Republican-backed bill Jan. 24 that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity. The bill would prohibit students who were born male but identify as female from participating in a sport or on an athletic team that is designated for women or girls. The proposal would not prevent students who identify as female or transgender men from playing on men’s sports teams. House education committee chair Rep. Bob Behning of Indianapolis said the bill, which now heads to the full House, is supported by a “majority” of House Republicans.

FRANCE BANS GAY ‘CONVERSION THERAPY’ France has a new law that bans so-called conversion therapies and authorizes jail time and fines for practitioners who use the scientifically discredited practice to attempt to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ people. The National Assembly approved the new law unanimously, voting 142-0, Jan. 25. The legislation includes criminal penalties for people who are convicted of trying to “convert” LGBTQ people to heterosexuality or traditional gender expectations. The law will take effect with President Emmanuel Macron’s signoff. Macron hailed its passage.

SAMSUNG PULLS PRO-LGBTQ AD IN SINGAPORE An advert campaign by electronics giant Samsung was yanked after significant backlash in Singapore from some members of its Muslim-majority community.

The ad, part of the company’s “Listen to Your Heart” campaign, featured a Muslim mother expressing support for her drag queen son. The scene sparked a torrent of negative commentary on social media which caused the electronics company to pull the ad.

Samsung wrote “We acknowledge that we have fallen short in this instance, and have since removed the content from all public platforms. Samsung believes that innovation and growth are driven by diversity and inclusivity.”

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viewpoint

Johnny Boykins

DEMOCRATICALLY YOURS Our Weary State of Mind

I

T IS HARD TO BELIEVE

that we are vastly approaching the two-year mark of the oncein-a-generation global COVID-19 pandemic. The exhaustion and weariness we feel are palpable.

It is hard for me to remember the times before, honestly. Our collective sense of normalcy has been completely upended and our daily routines have fundamentally changed in every aspect of our lives.

In many ways, we have become experts in adaptation, from masking, social distancing, working from home, and being completely shut down to figuring out new and inventive ways to maintain a connection to our friends and loved ones.

It has been one year since the Biden-Harris administration assumed office. We were able to take a collective sigh of relief from the American carnage of the Trump years, but that respite has been short-lived.

I recently revisited my Democratically Yours column shortly after we elected a new president. I was optimistic about the future and excited for the Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan, and now I don’t recognize that level of optimism.

I have always been an activist and political leader who leans into hard work and the political fight, but I have grown tired of the battle and am worried about our future. I am a trained organizer and love the political arena, but I now understand why the average American is disengaged from the process.

The political stalemate in Washington is nauseating. The Democratic Party is not producing the results we promised. The Build Back Better agenda is stalled in the U.S. Senate because two senators have dug in their heels on changing the archaic and draconian filibuster rules.

Most Americans don’t understand the intricacies of Senate procedure, but we all understand majority rules. The Republican Party remains aligned with the former president and does not have any interest

in governing. The Grand Old Party is a shell of its former self. The party of Lincoln, emancipation and freedom has transformed into an anti-democratic authoritarian party whose only interest is power.

More locally, we live in a disconnect where our governor is at odds with science and reality to posture himself for a potential run for president in 2024. Meanwhile, our state remains a leader in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death.

Floridians of all political persuasions feel the impact of inflation, supply chain issues and general uncertainty, and we are asking ourselves how worried we should be. The political football is tossed back and forth and moves from news cycle to news cycle at a speed that most of us cannot process.

I have a weary state of mind because our politics is at a tipping point, but I don’t know which way the pendulum will fall.

I don’t believe that Americans are as divided as the talking heads on TV would like us to feel. Most of us are trying to live our lives in the new normal.

We saw realignment in the workforce with the great resignation. Workers in industries across the board are finding their value in essential work.

Labor organizers around the country are experiencing a renaissance in the labor movement. The Biden administration has passed historic legislation, including The Recovery Act and The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, but the rest of his plans are stalled in Congress.

The Democratic Party promised action on many fronts, from voting rights and democratic reforms to climate change and fighting elements of far-right domestic extremism.

I am weary because I am watching the Supreme Court prepare to roll back historic

protections, including the repeal of Roe v Wade.

I watch state legislatures enact laws targeted at the LGBTQ community, particularly harsh and harmful laws against the transgender community.

We are seeing a rise in violent crime and gun

I am weary because I am looking at our politics and realizing that the government is not helping people. If high levels of uncertainty remain prevalent, the political pendulum will swing to a space where we may not be able to recover.

news cycle and focus our efforts on helping people using all of the tools at our disposal. We have to prepare ourselves to defend the progress we’ve made and the rights we secured.

It is okay to feel weary – it has become clear that Washington is not going

I am a trained organizer and love the political arena, but I now

understand why the average American is disengaged from the process. violence. We are still grappling with the events of January 6th and the extremist elements in our society. Local school boards and town councils are under siege experiencing unprecedented levels of political violence. Neighbors are pitted against one another because conspiracy theories and misinformation have become mainstream.

I wrote earlier in this piece that we have become experts in adaptation. The Democratic Party needs to adapt and overcome the challenges before us.

We cannot and should not allow two U.S. senators to derail us from the progress we promised.

It is time for us to pivot away from the politics of Washington and the 24-hour

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to save us. We have to save ourselves.

Johnny Boykins is a Democratic strategist and organizer in Pinellas County, a husband, bow tie aficionado, amateur chef and U.S. Coast Guard veteran.

He also serves as Director of Outreach with the Pinellas Democratic Party. Learn more at PinellasDemocrats.org.

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viewpoint

Sabrina Ambra

LADYFINGERS My Hatchet List - Part Twenty Twenty-Deux

I

WAKE UP (1) WITH MY

cat’s asshole (2) on my forehead (3). Again (4). My 6:30 a.m. alarm (5) has yet to go off, but that doesn’t matter as I am now “up and at ‘em!”

(6) You must be wondering what in the Gerd-Lerdy’s name could be the “em” to her “getting at”? Allow me to humbly scream the ways.

I clean the 7-pound shit that my 5.6-pound dog, Carl, hath deposited during my sweet slumber the previous night (7). My gut (8) begins its fun little game that is similar to Russian Roulette, but just replace the loaded gun with an early morning, somewhat traumatizing bout of IBS (9).

During or shortly thereafter, I scroll through TikTok for roughly 37 minutes (10). A few possible outcomes of this particular activity: I shed tears of joy or sadness, both being a direct result of my TikTok algorithm (11) consistently displaying content related to animals being rescued or interspecies friendships. I garner enough inspiration (12) to

consider a near-future (13) brainstorming session where I will come up with a plan for my own heart-melting content. (Please note: This is merely a thought of a plan (14) to later create another plan (15)).

I watch a TikTok creator’s in-depth breakdown of Britney Spears’ most recent Instagram (16) post and proceed to go down a very strange and particular rabbit hole of Britney conspiracy theories (17). I decide on a major life change that will not be executed, ever (18). The aforementioned outcomes are in no particular order (19).

I wash my hands and check-in with my animals using a mix of gibberish and half-sentences (20).

My favorite local morning news program is on my television. I have a quick gander and consider writing an email (21) to the program director about their new, nails-to-chalkboard awful field reporter who is ruining the near perfect dynamic of the other morning news anchors that I love almost as much as my own flesh (22) and blood. SPOILER ALERT (23): I will send no such email.

I take Carl out for a walk (24). Within minutes, he drops a significantly smaller shat (25) than the one he moved mere hours before.

I’ve run out of poop bags (26). I spot my strange neighbor (27) a block away, but it is already too late to pretend I didn’t (28). They manage to either sprint (29) or teleport over to me, the dog and his unbagged doo-doo nugget (30). As the embodiment of the State Farm slogan slides into my personal bubble (31), I am immediately reminded of the fact that I do not have a bra on (32).

My neighbor immediately takes a hard stare (33) to my floppy morning tits (34).

We engaged in what would be the 458th conversation (35) about techniques in dog training that I’ll never

utilize (36). And of course the exchange would not be complete without the brief yet soul-sucking round of 21 Questions (37) pertaining to my other dog and the reasons why she doesn’t live with me anymore (38).

Do I tell them the honest truth (39)? Do they want to know? Can they tell I’m dying inside (40) and simply want the details in order to satisfy their inner sadist (41)? Do I fucking despise any and all questions related to my current status of “Everything Fucking Sucks!”

(42)? Do I have enough time to unpack all of this without a bra (43) on?

I walk back into my home and directly onto a dollop of vomit (44) from the cat who ate the dog’s food. You think coffee wakes you up? Try an invigorating cup of fresh dry heaving (45) with 12 Lysol wipes in your palm. I ask Alexa (46) what the time is; this will be the seventh

time I ask BezoBot (47) this question and it most definitely will not be the last, as I immediately forget (48) the answer. I receive a news (49) alert about Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly (50), and much like all the previous alerts that reference this couple (51), I did not consent to acquiring this information and I feel personally victimized (52).

I look out the window to see the garbage truck pass by my home; I have forgotten to take my bin out to the curb (53), thus committing the heinous act known as the “Adult Fail” (54) for the third week in a row (55). I ask Alexa what the time is again (56).

I am now running (57) behind the “productive” schedule (58) I concocted the night before (59) when I was buzzed on whiskey.

I am now buzzing with anxiety (60).

I take a wet wipe to the armpits (61) and douse myself with an eau de toilette that I bought with a credit card (62) that I am far from paying off (63).

I gather my work bags (yes, you read that correctly. Two bags (64) and zero chance of making things easier by consolidating) and ask Alexa (65) “What time is it?” while praying that my stomach (66) remains in “chill-mode” the rest of the day. I bid all of my pets adieu, individually (67), and walk out my front door hardly ready (68) to take on whatever shitshow the universe (69) has in store for me today. I am late for work (70).

The preceding piece is intended to be part of an upcoming series. More importantly… This piece is a tribute and/or shameless rip-off of an essay written by John Waters from his book “Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters.” Enjoy and thank you, Mr. Waters.

www.NationsLandscaping.com

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talking points I hope there’s a young trans girl looking at this cover thinking: ‘I can do it too and who I am is not going to hold me back.

– MUNROE BERGDORF, TRANS MODEL AND COVERGIRL FOR COSMOPOLITAN UK’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

FULL-TIME

LGBTQ WORKERS

EARN 90 CENTS

33RD GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

G

LAAD ANNOUNCED THE NOMINEES FOR THEIR 33RD ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS Jan. 19, designed to honor fair, accurate and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. A total of 246 nominees in 30 categories were announced, including two new ones: Outstanding New TV Series and Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology. They cited the rising representation of the LGBTQ community across the forms of entertainment.

“Media can create positive change and this year’s nominees represent powerful projects, stories, and creators that positively shifted culture and enlightened audiences with new and impactful LGBTQ stories,” GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. Streaming services received 63 nominations while cable received 39. With 19 nominees total, HBO/HBO Max received the most number of nominees. The awards are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles April 2 and New York May 6.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR

MADE BY TYPICAL

WORKERS.

LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR

EARN LESS THAN WHITE WORKERS, MANFRED THIERRY MUGLER DIES

O

PENLY GAY FASHION DESIGNER MANFRED THIERRY MUGLER, who was worn by Madonna, Lady Gaga and more, died Jan. 23 at 73. Mugler, who launched his brand in 1973, was known for his architectural style featuring broad shoulders and a tiny waist. The use of plastic-like futuristic fabric in his sculpted clothing became a trademark. He was also an activist, showcasing many trans models including Connie Fleming, Teri Toye and Roberta Close and the fashion world immediately shared their sympathetic messages.

“I have dedicated my life to the most beautiful ‘animal’ on earth: the human being. I know beauty can save the world,” Mugler once said, a quote his manager shared Jan. 24.

I

IVORY AQUINO JOINS ‘BATGIRL’

VORY AQUINO (“WHEN THEY SEE US,” “TALES OF THE CITY”) HAS JOINED THE CAST OF HBO MAX’S “BATGIRL,” the first live-action film based on the popular DC Comics character.

Aquino, who is transgender, will play Alysia Yeoh, the titular star’s best friend and first major trans character to appear in DC’s extended cinematic universe. The character first appeared in the “Batgirl” comic book in 2011 and was created by Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf. Aquino joins “Batgirl” and Barbara Gordon herself Leslie Grace, her father Commissioner Gordon J.K. Simmons, the villainous Firefly Brendan Fraser and “Batman” legend Michael Keaton in the film. Filming is currently underway for a 2022 streaming premiere.

L

AARP HONORS LILY TOMLIN

ILY TOMLIN WILL RECEIVE AARP’S MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS AWARDS CAREER ACHIEVEMENT HONOR this year, the organization announced Jan. 19. The 82-year-old actor, comedian and star of “Grace and Frankie” and “9 to 5” will receive the honor at AARP’s annual Best Movies and TV for Grownups ceremony, which champions movies that resonate with viewers 50 and over and fights ageism in entertainment. Alan Cumming will host the 20th anniversary virtual event, which will be telecast on PBS March 18. “There are so few grownups in the world. I am happy to be one. I feel I am not only a grownup, but I am mature for my age and that’s the truthhhhh!”

Tomlin said in statement.

WITH BLACK LGBTQ WORKERS EARNING

80 CENTS AND

NATIVE AMERICANS

70 CENTS. – Bureau of Labor Statistics, HRC

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Foundation, Jan. 2022

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11/12/21 1:54 PM

Breathtaking

Words

5 Black queer authors and their books you should be reading

A

Bryana Saldana

S A WRITER AND READER

of great stories, there are some works that speak to my identity and the intersections of it. Growing up there were very few love letters to my experiences. Being raised with a single mother forced me to grow up a little faster.

Holding up to the big sister way of living I often felt like a third arm when it was just the four of us. I was made to view the world differently because of the hand I was dealt.

There was always love, just different versions of it. Sometimes rough or soft, but always present.

My mother showed me poetry from a much different angle than my teacher. She showed me Maya Angelou’s truth and it changed my life. My mother is who my poetry would be dedicated to before I had any other muse. I started with journaling and as I floated into my teenage years, poetry outside of the classroom would gnaw at me. It found me when I needed it most, and I listened.

Writing has always been an exercise in speaking my truth.

I did not have the words to speak what I was feeling out loud when life began to take shape. I held

this fear that if I spoke, I would break everything. To this day, I occasionally feel my words are heavier than what anyone could bare. Which results in me sometimes going weeks without writing. I find a way through it, seeing the bravery in the words of the incredible authors listed on these proceeding pages. I’m sure they have come to a high point of emotional vulnerability, but they still created masterpieces that have given me comfort.

I have chosen works from a few poets I hold in high regard and have had the privilege

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of consuming their works.

Breathing them in really. My heart beats so loud when joy is present, even in sorrow. Each of these poets bring unfiltered truth to the page, baring their heart, mind and soul to the world. Showing me I’m not alone and even in the fog of doubt, there will be a bright light to etch out my path. Being a Black lesbian woman in America is a feat, but it simply makes me stronger, even on my weak days. These authors represent a full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community but being Black is what the world sees first. They each highlight this throughout their books.

These authors are important and valuable because growing up I could only dream of role models of this caliber, specifically Black LGBTQ+ authors who face the same uncertainties I do and fears I haven’t found the words for yet. Writing is what saved my world from collapse and reading allows me to explore others. There is plenty of room for joyous writing. The types of poems that make you smile are within these books being highlighted. Take your time, read them again. Breathe it all in and watch where these breathtaking words take you.

CONTINUED ON PG. 30 | uu |

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Breathtaking Words 5 Black queer authors and their books you should be reading

T

“Black Girl, Call Home”

- JASMINE MANS

HE FIRST POET I WOULD LOVE TO INTRODUCE IS JASMINE MANS. She is from Newark, New Jersey and her work of art is titled “Black Girl, Call Home.” I would like to start out by saying that this book of poetry and every single one on here is a masterpiece in their own right. For Mans, it’s her intimate telling of her family, personhood and what feels like a removal of barriers between her and her audience. Most importantly, Mans speaks to her experience coming out as a lesbian in a Black household with her poem titled “Momma Said Dyke at the Kitchen Table.” I found it absolutely beautiful, her beginning the poem with: “Momma said, so you gonna be a dyke now?

As if she meant to say, didn’t I raise you better than that…”

And ends it with an intimate truth I could only understand as I got older: “Momma said, so you gonna be a dyke now?

As if she meant to say, I’m scared for you.”

Here she decoded what may seem like a dismissal of one’s identity, when it’s really just a fear our mothers feel when we are Black and it’s exacerbated when we are queer. With that being said, this book is what many young Black queer women need. This poem is like a hug and tough conversation wrapped in a masterpiece.

T

“Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems”

- DANEZ SMITH

HE NEXT BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART IS TITLED “DON’T CALL US DEAD: POEMS” BY DANEZ SMITH. They are a nonbinary, queer and HIV-positive poet. These parts of their identity are explored throughout the poems. The intimacy they bring to the pages provides a peak into what it means to be them.

While reading their poems you will cry, laugh, wonder and wander through the depths of their fears, loves and worries.

Additionally, a reoccurring theme within their work is blood and I can’t help but consider this to be by design. Danez takes the world they live within and gives us a tour. In one poem titled “a note on the body” specifically, there is a line that will stick with me forever: “everyday you wake you raise the dead everything you do is a miracle.”

What could be considered a simple line to some is a scream to one’s body that the simple ability to wake up is a privilege. More times than not, being a Black person in America feels like a death sentence waiting to come because so many never had the chance to breath, to be a miracle. This is what I feel Danez is translating from their experience within the confines of America. This book will bring you closer to understanding.

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A

“Sister Outsider”

- AUDRE LORDE

UDRE LORDE, A LEGEND IN HER OWN RIGHT, created a space for all of the other authors on this list to speak their truth. In her book titled “Sister Outsider” are essays, interviews and journal entries I view as landmark moments in a Black lesbian woman’s journey. She does not hold anything back and invites the audience in.

While reading this book you can’t help but feel seen and empowered by her vulnerability. It provided room to advocate for myself being a queer Black woman, which can sometimes feel like a plight in victimhood. Her essays are able to strip this idea away. She illustrates fearlessness and why it exists through the language she uses. Of course each piece of her writing speaks to something different but the main point is to do anything you must do it scared because only within uncomfortableness will courage be born. In the essay titled “The transformation of Silence into Language and Action,” she leaves nothing left to consider in the first few lines here: “I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood. That the speaking profits me, beyond any other effect. I am standing here as a Black lesbian poet, and the meaning of all that waits upon the fact that I am still alive…”

This book will take you places you have never been and force you to look closely at the places you have been to. Lorde is the truth personified and you will be left in awe throughout the book.

J

“The Tradition”

- JERICHO BROWN

ERICHO BROWN’S “THE TRADITION” EXPLORES THE FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN HIS LIFE and how they have shaped how he views love, loss and healing. This book of poetry does not shy away from truth, as all of the books on this list, but it writes into wounds unseen by the naked eye. He provides a visceral experience throughout each poem, leaving his audience with more answers than questions, but enough questions to keep you wanting more.

I absolutely loved his break down of the Black experience in America. He resurrects it often throughout the book, but in the poem “Second Language” his language does a breathtaking dance. A line from this poem that is gut wrenching, but real: “…They thought they could Own the dirt they were Bound to…”

Before anything in the world we live in, we are Black. This Black experience is tied like a knot, he describes in this poem, to slavery. There is no avoiding that and this is what he is describing in this poem. Add another layer to his identity and it becomes increasingly more dangerous to live your truth. He does this unapologetically though in these pages and for that he deserves to be heard.

“A

“All Boys Aren’t Blue”

- GEORGE M. JOHNSON

LL BOYS AREN’T BLUE” BY GEORGE M. JOHNSON IS MASTERFUL, showing the beginnings and middle of Johnson’s life from when he got his teeth kicked out at five years old by a racist to his experience with the n-word.

This memoir should be on everyone’s shelf because it was created to be consumed but the understanding can only come from the purview of the reader. Johnson holds you from beginning to end, he discusses how he did not understand gender at a young age and because of this he chose things that aligned with girls.

What I found to be the most beautiful story he highlighted is when his aunt thought he was a girl before he was born and this became something that played a major role in his relationship with the world as a gay Black man. Here he discusses his intentions while writing this book: “I started writing this book with the intention that every chapter would end with solutions for all the uncomfortable and confusing life circumstances I experienced as a gay Black child in America. I quickly learned this book would be about so much more. About the overlap of my identities and the importance of sharing how those intersections created my privilege and my oppression…”

While you read this book you will see this intention come to life. Speaking on sensitive subjects and showing his Black Boy joy within the folds of it all. This book will transform your thoughts and feelings about young Black gay children in America, which makes it even more important to read.

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Equality

Audra Broadway legend Audra McDonald on representation and rebuilding

A

Ryan Williams-Jent

UDRA MCDONALD IS A

legendary performer, an icon of both the stage and screen. At only 51, the celebrated soprano is the most decorated performer working in American theater today.

McDonald was a three-time Tony Award winner by the age of 28, a feat she accomplished within five years of working professionally.

She won Best Featured Actress in a Musical for “Carousel” in 1994, for “Master Class” in 1996 and for “Ragtime” in 1998.

The latter works were penned by the late St. Petersburg native Terrence McNally, the openly gay playwright the New York Times

billed as “the bard of American theater.” The frequent collaborator became a personal friend of McDonald’s over the years, one she helped posthumously honor with Equality Florida’s Edie Windsor Lifetime Achievement Award last year.

McDonald now has a record six Tonys and is the first person to receive awards in all four acting categories. She won Best Featured Actress in a Play

for “A Raisin in the Sun” in 2004 and Best Leading Actress in a Musical for “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” in 2012. In 2014, she won Best Leading Actress in a Play for “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” in which she played bisexual icon Billie Holiday.

Among other competitive wins, McDonald also has two Grammys and an Emmy, but her impressive body of work has been celebrated by more than just her peers – it’s been honored by presidents.

CONTINUED ON PG. 35 | uu |

PHOTO BY ALLISON MICHAEL ORENSTEIN

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I’m so glad I stepped back into it, because it’s taken me on a journey I just wasn’t expecting.

| uu | Equality Audra FROM PG.33

She received a National Medal of Arts from former President Barack Obama in 2015, the nation’s highest honor in the field.

As the performer’s profile rose, so too did her platform.

McDonald has long used it to advocate for the LGBTQ community – from joining Twitter in 2009 with the handle AudraEqualityMc to promote her support for same-sex marriage to serving as a member of the Covenant House International Board of Directors. The organization works to protect LGBTQ and other youth across the Americas.

In 2020, as the nation grappled with systemic racism and the ongoing pandemic that shut down most live entertainment, McDonald also co-founded Black Theatre United.

The nonprofit seeks to “help protect Black people, Black talent and Black lives of all shapes and orientations in theatre and communities across the country.”

McDonald currently appears as attorney Liz Reddick in the Paramount+ legal drama “The Good Fight,” as Dorothy Scott in HBO’s “The Gilded Age” and was featured in the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” as the singer’s mother.

She’ll also play civil rights icon Ella Baker in Netflix’s “Rustin,” the story of gay civil rights activist and adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bayard Rustin, who’s been described as “the godfather of intersectionality” who was “lost to history because of who he loved.”

McDonald continues to tour on top of her busy workload, sharing stories and songs with audiences worldwide. After appearing at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for Duke Ellington’s “Black, Brown and Beige and Sacred Music” Jan. 26, the Broadway legend is now preparing to welcome fans for an intimate evening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 11.

Watermark spoke with McDonald ahead of her Sarasota stop about representation, rebuilding Broadway and more.

WATERMARK: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF WANTING TO PERFORM? WHAT DREW YOU TO THE STAGE?

WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST ABOUT THAT JOURNEY?

I think it sort of feeds everything I do. Concertizing has given me opportunities to see the world and to “See the U-S-A, in your Chevrolet!” (Laughs, singing the classic General Motors automobile jingle.)

But it’s also allowed me to perform with incredible orchestras in incredible halls – and let me just be myself in front of an audience, instead of whatever character that I’m playing. There’s been a freedom and a joy that I’ve discovered in doing that.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH A CONCERT TOUR? WHAT CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT DURING AN EVENING WITH YOU?

A FIGHTER: Audra McDonald as Liz Reddick on Paramount+’s “The Good Fight.” PHOTO BY LIZ FISHER, (C) 2021 PARAMOUNT+, INC.

AUDRA MCDONALD: I come from a really, really musical family.

There was always music in my house and in my world – but I think because I was such a hyperactive kid, my parents were looking for some sort of outlet to channel my energy. They found this dinner theater, a local dinner theater that had a kids’ group, and they asked me if I wanted to audition for it.

I was nine, I did and that was it. I got into that group, I got on stage. I had done dance lessons and piano recitals and things like that, but that was the first time I was doing shows and singing solos. Basically I never looked back. (Laughs.)

IT’S CERTAINLY PAID OFF.

I have been very fortunate.

DID YOU ALWAYS SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE AND SCREEN?

No, I didn’t. I only ever thought I’d be on stage. I was very afraid to get in front of a camera.

WHY IS THAT?

I figured I didn’t know what I was doing. I was too insecure about my looks and concerned that I just didn’t have an understanding of how to work in front of a camera. So I feared the camera for a long time, and then I got the opportunity when I was about 37 to be in [ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off] “Private Practice.”

I had done television shows by that point, but I thought, “well, you know what, here’s an opportunity that’s coming along – for whatever reason in my life at this moment – and I should take advantage of it and really try and conquer my fear.” And 26 episodes a year for four years is certainly a way to get you at least used to being in front of the camera. (Laughs.)

DID THAT IMPACT YOUR PROFESSIONAL AMBITIONS? HOW HAVE THEY EVOLVED THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?

My ambitions started to change once I got more comfortable with who I was in front of the camera. That sort of helped me to evolve on the small screen and the big screen.

In terms of concertizing, because I had done so much of it as a kid – not touring like I am now, but just singing at concerts which I did at the dinner theater – it was nice to sort of step back into that after I’d been on Broadway for a while.

I think I first really started concertizing in late 1998 or early 1999, around there, where I would step out and do my own solo show that wasn’t attributed to one particular director, musical or play.

I loved the freedom of that and it sort of kicked off that part of my career. I just started to pursue those opportunities and

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With the help of my incredible music director Andy Einhorn, I still work to put together an evening that is cohesive and tries to give audiences a storyline or a mood; a through line that makes sense. That way you’re not starting out with the 11 o’clock number and then closing on a teenie number. I try to serve up the meal in the right way, you know?

I also then give myself the freedom to allow whatever has happened throughout the day, whatever is going on in the world at that moment, whatever is going on in my life – without getting, you know, TMI – to influence the show. I allow all that to be present, so that I am at my most present in front of the audience.

Which means that if I’ve had a bad travel day to get to where I am, I will explain that to the audience. I’ll tell them, “Well, it was difficult getting here,” or sometimes I’ll hit interesting cities and be like, “where’s the best place to get a biscuit here?”

(Laughs.) I think in Charleston I was asking everyone where I could get ribs – it’s just that since the wall is down anyway in a concert, I want to keep it that way. That way whatever comes up is very organic.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU?

It gives the audience permission, and it gives me permission, to let whatever

CONTINUED ON PG. 37 | uu |

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at the end of this last year and we’re implementing a lot of those commitments beginning now.

| uu | Equality Audra FROM PG.35

happens happen. I think I had to discover that because I used to pass out a lot during performances – literally pass out – because I think I was putting too much stress on myself, wanting to have a perfect evening with perfect notes in every moment.

And that’s not what live theater or live performance is about. It’s about making music, making a connection, being present and everybody experiencing something that is in some ways ephemeral but potent.

Ephemeral and potent, if one can be both things.

That’s why I sort of bring everything with me about my day or bring my life into it, so that the audience understands they’re getting me – warts and all. Some of it’s lovely, and there may be a wart here or there, but that’s what makes me human.

That’s what I’m there to do: share the human condition with the audience.

IT’S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TO DO THAT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND A CHALLENGING TIME FOR BROADWAY AND THE WORLD IN GENERAL. WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR LIVE THEATER AS IT WORKS TO REBUILD?

I’m very concerned and dedicated to making sure our industry can come back and rebuild in a way that makes it sustainable. It’s been heartbreaking to see my colleagues in the theatre industry and live performance industry as a whole take such a hit – and not just financially.

There’s an emotional toll to what has happened.

This is what we do. It was like all of a sudden someone saying to an architect, “Okay, well you can’t be an architect now because there’s just there’s no architecture to make. You’re just done.” That’s what it was like.

The pause was enormous and it’s a part of our identity as performers and as all of the people who work backstage that support this craft and make it happen. So I’m dedicated and concerned that we have to absolutely support this art form

YOU ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS COMING UP, INCLUDING “RUSTIN.” WHAT DREW YOU TO THE FILM AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HIGHLIGHT LGBTQ VOICES?

INDUSTRY ICON: McDonald is the most decorated performer in American theater. PHOTO BY ALLISON MICHAEL ORENSTEIN. and bring it back in the safest possible way that we can.

Having said that, that means also making it an anti-racist space and making it a truly diversified space by dismantling any sort of vestiges or actual tenants of systemic racism that exist within this industry. So it’s a big reset, and it’s a big rebuild that has to happen, but it has to happen.

The pillars of Black Theatre United are action, accountability, advocacy and awareness. We stand for Black bodies, Black talent, Black lives and in doing so, we understand that we can focus on that within our own industry, which is how our organization came together. We’re theater but we recognize that you can’t just remodel and fix one room of the house if the whole house

LGBTQIA members who have joined BTU as well as helped found our organization. That is very much a part of the advocacy and awareness that we’re doing.

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT SOME OF THAT WORK?

In creating these anti-racist, anti-transphobic and anti-homophobic spaces, we’ve done what we can and created “A

I hope I’ve always been seen as an ally to the LGBTQIA community.

I have tried to be a vocal advocate for them for as long as I can remember in any way that I can.

– AUDRA MCDONALD

Live theater, live performances, can’t go away.

The Greeks had that figured out.

(Laughs.) We need it, it is literally a necessity. We need the arts and especially live theater. It’s a necessity for our soul, I think.

YOU MENTIONED CREATING AN ANTI-RACIST SPACE, SOMETHING YOU’RE WORKING TO DO WITH BLACK THEATRE UNITED. WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT ITS MISSION AND SPECIFICALLY ITS SUPPORT FOR THE BLACK LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

is on fire.

We understand that there is a broader, more civically minded sort of advocacy, accountability and action that has to take place. So not only do we focus on what’s going on within our own community, but we try to stay as civically engaged as we possibly can to bring awareness to things like voting rights. We had a huge push to make sure that everybody registered for the Census as well.

We come from all different walks of the theatrical community and we have

New Deal for Broadway.” A lot of it has to do with Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility training that must take place within the theatrical community at every different level. The ushers, everywhere. Within that, there’s also creating the awareness and the protection in making sure that these are safe spaces.

We got “A New Deal for Broadway” signed by a lot of the of leaders within the city, and a lot of unions within the community, which was so important to do. That was signed

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I hope I’ve always been seen as an ally to the LGBTQIA community. I have tried to be a vocal advocate for them for as long as I can remember in any way that I can. That includes me being on the board of Covenant House, which provides care for homeless youth in Canada, South America, Central America and here in North America as well.

We have 40% of our homeless youth who are LGBTQIA people who have been discarded, thrown out, sexually trafficked, all of that.

So whether it’s my work with that organization or the work that I was doing during the fight for marriage equality, this is just a part of that for me – so when I was asked to be a part of “Rustin,” it was just a no-brainer.

Of course I was going to be a part of it. I was thrilled that there was something for me to do and just thrilled that the piece existed, that we’re finally going to get the spotlight on Rustin in the way that he has deserved from the beginning.

We’ll get to see exactly how I think the whole movement would have pivoted had he not been a driving force in the civil rights era. It lets us see exactly how it would have pivoted had he not been a part of it. Also, to get a chance to work with [“Candyman” and “Rustin” lead] Colman Domingo was another no-brainer. Of course, I was going to jump at that opportunity – and also at the opportunity to work again with [“Rustin” director] George C. Wolfe, who has been a friend for many years and is one of the greatest directors and playwrights that this country has. So really it was just all a big no-brainer for me. (Laughs.)

Audra McDonald will perform at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., located at 777 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 941-953-3368 or visit VanWezel.org.

Learn more about Audra McDonald and Black Theatre United at AudraMcDonald. com and BlackTheatreUnited.com.

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THEATER

American Angels

Valencia College brings Kushner’s ‘Angels in America: Millennium Approaches’ to the stage

(ABOVE)

LGBTQ ROLES:

(L-R) Marquise Hillman, Edwin Perez and Chris Moux are LGBTQ actors cast in leading LGBTQ roles.

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

A

Jeremy Williams

FTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS

without a production, the stage at Valencia College will premiere “Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches” this month.

“Angels in America” is the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play by playwright Tony Kushner that looks at the AIDS crisis in the U.S. during the 1980s.

The play is broken into two parts titled “Millennium Approaches” and “Perestroika.”

“Kushner describes it as a ‘gay fantasia on national themes,’” says Jeremy Seghers, director of this production. “What that means is being a fantasia it’s not all completely real. It isn’t this gritty slice of life drama, although there is a lot of life and drama in the play, but it is more poetic and theatrical, and it has more fantastical elements to it.”

The fantastical elements of “Angels in America” is what set it apart from other works on the AIDS epidemic. While addressing themes of HIV/AIDS, health care, mental illness and how LGBTQ people were treated socially and politically, much of it is done using metaphor and symbolism as well as having supernatural characters such as angels and ghosts.

“Kushner had a lot of ideas he wanted to work through with this one,” Seghers says.

While the play juggles multiple themes and storylines, the main story initially focuses on Prior Walter and Louis Ironson, a gay couple living in New York City in 1985. Prior,

who has AIDS at a time when it was considered a death sentence, starts to experience visions as his boyfriend Louis struggles to deal with Prior’s declining health. After Louis abandons him, Prior is comforted by his best friend Belize, a former drag queen turned nurse.

Prior, Louis and Belize, openly gay characters in “Angels in America,” are all played by queer actors, something that Seghers says he was striving for.

“It was important for me to cast queer actors in these roles if I could because this is our story,” he says. “And who better to take on these characters than members of the community.”

Edwin Perez, who identifies as queer, plays Prior.

“Growing up in a Catholic house, femininity wasn’t allowed for me. So growing up, it was a lot of hiding my femininity and trying to be masculine presenting,” Perez says. “Prior Walter is definitely a character that is very proud of his queerness, he wears his pride on his sleeve. He is someone I aspired to be when I grew up and I think playing this role will let me shine through.”

Chris Moux takes on the role of Louis, a character who Moux saw a lot of himself in.

“Louis, being a Jewish man and still being in the closet to his family, he struggles with being gay in America. He is struggling with the family expectations of him to be masculine, and I think that is something I personally struggle with and still do now,” he says. “When I saw it and read it, it really spoke to me personally. I thought I would be able to put myself in it.”

Having actors who are not only able to play Prior and Louis but also have the chemistry to convey a relationship on stage was pivotal for Seghers.

“I was worried about getting a Prior and a Louis who were comfortable enough to play these characters without playing into stereotypes,” Seghers says. “But when they both walked in and read for their characters and then read together, they have so much

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chemistry on stage together. There was a moment where Prior hugged Louis and you can see that they are comfortable with each other, and they aren’t afraid to touch.”

Having the actors be intimate with each other and touch is something Seghers says had to be approached delicately.

“We use touch infrequently in the show so it is very poignant when it is used,” he says. “That is for several reasons, first because in 1985 it was still not widely known how it was spread and contracted. So people in that time were very mindful of who and where they touched. Then of course with the current pandemic we don’t want to have everyone constantly touching everyone.”

The character of Belize is played by nonbinary actor Marquise Hillman. Hillman uses they/ them pronouns.

“This character is so much like me that it wasn’t difficult to get to that place,” they say. “He is also very feminine and proud of who he is. I do identify as nonbinary, so being able to embrace your femininity as well as be masculine and strong for other people is something I could relate to and something that spoke to me.”

The play also follows two other primary stories: a Mormon couple, Joe and Harper Pitt, and Roy Cohn, a real-life closeted Republican gay lawyer who has AIDS and Belize eventually becomes a nurse for.

“We have been working on bringing this show to Valencia for two years now, since before the pandemic” Seghers says. “What initially inspired me to do it was Donald Trump’s presidency and Roy Cohn.”

Cohn is an infamous character in U.S. history who was chief counsel to Sen. Joe McCarthy during the 1950s McCarthy Hearings. He became a lawyer and mentor to Trump.

“We would not have had [Trump] as president without Roy Cohn,” Seghers says.

As they work on “Millennium Approaches,” Seghers is keeping an eye on next year when he can hopefully present the show’s conclusion.

“If we are able to, I want to bring ‘Perestroika’ to the stage next year with the same cast,” he says. “It definitely leaves off on a cliffhanger.”

“Angels in America: Millennium Approaches” will be at the Valencia College Performing Arts Center, East Campus on select days Feb. 18-26. Tickets can be purchased at Events.

ValenciaCollege.edu.

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THEATER

Immersive Theater

Creative City Project takes you to the Celtic land of Tir Na Nog in its latest show ‘Dragons & Fairies’

(ABOVE)

DRAGON TALES:

Philip Ancheta as Dauntless the Dragon in Creative City Project’s “Dragons & Fairies.”

PHOTO BY MIKE DUNN, COURTESY CREATIVE CITY PROJECT

A

Jeremy Williams

FTER THE SUCCESS OF ITS

immersive theatrical experience “Down the Rabbit Hole” at Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Park last year, Creative City Project returns with a brand-new show, this time at Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens. “‘Dragons & Fairies’ is a journey unlike anything audiences have seen before,” said Cole NeSmith, Creative City Project’s executive director, in a press release last December. “It has been our goal to continually create safe, memorable, inspiring, spectacular events for audiences of all ages amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the massive success of ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ earlier this year, we are excited to now transform Leu Gardens from the winter wonderland it is now with ‘Dazzling Nights’ to a fantastical world of adventure with ‘Dragons &

Fairies’, which we promise to be an immersive, theatrical experience not to be missed.”

“Dragons & Fairies” is presented

by Orlando Health and brought to you

by The Memoir Agency and Creative City Project every Wednesday-Sunday from now until March 6.

Just as with “Down the Rabbit Hole” last year, “Dragons & Fairies” makes you a part of the story as you are lead through the magical land of Tir Na Nog, the name of the Celtic Otherworld from Irish Mythology.

“Tir Na Nog is the place where the Fae lived and heroes visited on

quests. It was a place just outside the realm of man, off to the west, where there was no illness or death or time, but only happiness and beauty,” writes Patti Wigington, a Pagan author and educator with a B.A. in History from Ohio University, on the website Learn Religions. “Tir Na Nog was not so much an ‘afterlife’ as it was an earthly place, a land of eternal youth, that could only be reached by way of magic.”

This magical place is brought to life at Leu Gardens with the use of largescale lighting installations, Broadway quality costumes, puppetry, smoke machines and more.

Not to mention the already existing natural beauty of Leu Gardens.

“We completely changed the path you follow in Leu Gardens to really take you into what our vision of Tir Na Nog is,” says actor Philip Ancheta, who plays Dauntless, a misguided dragon with a heart of gold. “The terrain isn’t just there as an environment, it actually helps to propel the story. You’ll see lighting elements that will move with the audience, that will move with the music. It isn’t static, it’s a living breathing world.”

In “Down the Rabbit Hole” the audience followed the well-known story of Alice as she travelled to Wonderland; however, in “Dragons & Fairies,” while it takes place in Tir Na Nog which is the setting for several Celtic myths, it tells an original story.

“Donald Spencer, who is our playwright, costume designer and show director, has created a brand-new story this go around,” Ancheta says. “And while it doesn’t follow an already existing story, it is a beautifully told story with a lot of themes that will be familiar to everybody.”

The story begins with Freya, a fairy in the land of Tir Na Nog, who is questioning some of the laws put in place by the magical being who is in charge of the land. So she goes on a quest, with audience in tow, to confront this magical wizard. Even though fairies aren’t supposed to cross into dragon lands, Freya does which leads her on a path to other

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mythical beings — some who try to stop her from continuing and some that want to help her — including trolls that guard the border, a wise and talkative tree with a few dad jokes, the magical phoenix and Dauntless the dragon.

“As a kid, I kept mostly to myself and I fell in love with the realm of fantasy,” Ancheta recalls. “Like most little boys, I played video games quite a bit and the games that always struck a chord with me were roleplaying RPG games that fell into the fantasy realm and that has stuck with me my whole life. As long as I can remember, magic has always been a part of my imagination so getting to play a dragon in this show has helped to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine.”

Dauntless, who will join you for part of your journey, isn’t the only dragon Freya and the audience will come across in the land of Tir Na Nog. The highlight of the show, as you travel through the story you will come face-to-face with nine larger-than-life animatronic dragons.

Each dragon, which began as an artist sketch, are carved from foam, covered in a durable latex and hand painted.

In the story, the audience is there with Freya and Dauntless so expect them to interact with you as well as ask you to participate in a few activities.

“It’s nothing too crazy, just things that help you move along in the story,” Ancheta says. “Something the audience should be prepared for is it is the walk through Leu Gardens.”

The show is about an hour long and spans roughly 3/4 of a mile throughout Leu Gardens with several stops along the way as scenes play out. “Dragons & Fairies” is designed as a family-friendly show for everybody from every walk of life, Ancheta says, but audience members should be aware that they will stand the entire time and the show takes place completely outdoors.

“Audiences should keep that in mind as they are planning their trip to Tir Na Nog,” he says. “Make sure to wear appropriate footwear and dress in layers. You know how Florida weather can be.”

“Dragons & Fairies” plays at Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens every Wed.-Sun. until March 6.

Showtimes begin every 15 minutes from 6-8 p.m. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of your show. Late arrivals will not be allowed entry. Tickets are $22 for weekday shows and $25 for weekend shows and are available at CreativeCityProject.com/DragonsAndFairies.

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community calendar

EVENT PLANNER ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT CENTRAL FLORIDA

CENTRAL FLORIDA

“Dragons & Fairies,” Jan. 28-March 6, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407-246-2620; DragonsOrlando.com

Willow Pill FRIDAY, FEB. 4, 9 P.M. – SATURDAY, FEB. 5, 2:30 A.M. SOUTHERN NIGHTS, ORLANDO

“Muppetlesque,” Feb. 4, The Geek Easy, Orlando.

407-332-9636; MyGeekEasy.com “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Watch Party w/ Lacie Browning, Feb. 4 & 11, SAVOY, Orlando. 407-898-6766; SavoyOrlando.com “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 14 Viewing Party w/ Tashae Roayle Sherrington, Feb. 4 & 11, Southern Nights, Orlando.

407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando Corrective Exercise Workshop, Feb. 5, Rock Hard Fitness, Orlando. 407-802-4631; RockHardFitnessOrlando.com Dungeon Night, Feb. 5, The Woodshed, Orlando. 407-293-7474; TheWoodshedOrlando.com Out of the Darkness Walk, Feb. 5, Baldwin Park, Orlando.

407-646-2227; Facebook.com/ AFSPCentralFlorida Twisted Bingo, Feb. 8, Hamburger Mary’s, Orlando. 321-319-0600; HamburgerMarys.com/Orlando Open Call Auditions: “Les MiserABBA” & “Down The Rabbit Hole,” Feb. 9 & 12, Starlite Room at SAVOY, Orlando. 407-898-6766; SavoyOrlando.com ‘80s Night, Feb. 11, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6103; AbbeyOrlando.com Dua Lipa, Feb. 11, Amway Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; AmwayCenter.com Alton Brown Live: “Beyond the Eats,” Feb. 12, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando. 407-839-0119; DrPhillipsCenter.org

FUTURE NOSTALGIA FUTURE NOSTALGIA: Dua Lipa performs live at the Amway Center in Orlando Feb. 11.

Leigh Shannon’s Cabaret Dinner Show, Feb. 12, Hamburger Mary’s, Orlando. 321-319-0600; HamburgerMarys.com/Orlando Valentine’s Weekend with Dragayasa Monique Live, Amor Events, Orlando.

386-235-6169; AmorEventsLLC.com Paws in the Park 2022, Feb. 12, Lake Eola Park, Orlando. 407-351-7722; PetAllianceOrlando.com PFLAG Orlando Support Group, Feb. 16, First United Methodist Church, Orlando.

407-236-9177; GOPFLAG.org

TAMPA BAY “ART,” Feb. 4-6, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa. 813-922-8167; CarrollwoodCenter.org Pasco Pride, Feb. 5, Heritage Park, Land O’Lakes.

PascoPrideFestival.com Willow Pill, Feb. 5, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-559-8625; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsTampa

9-Year Anniversary Glow Party, Feb. 5, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com

Localtopia 2022, Feb. 12, Williams Park, St. Petersburg. LocalTopia.

KeepSaintPetersburgLocal.org

LGBTQ+ Social @ 5663, Feb. 5, Studios at 5663, Pinellas Park. 727-313-2250; PinellasArtsVillage.com

DJ Guy Scheiman, Feb. 12, Cristoph’s, Tampa. 813-450-3877; CristophsTampa.com

“DECADES” Opening, Feb. 5, MIZE Gallery, St. Petersburg. 727-251-8529; ChadMize.com

“The Prom,” Feb. 15-20, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

4 Lucky Dogs Drag Queen Bingo, Feb. 8, Punky’s Bar and Grill, St. Petersburg.

727-201-4712; PunkysBar.com

TLC, Feb. 17, Seminole Hard Rock & Casino, Tampa. 813-627-7625; SeminoleHardRockTampa.com

Alton Brown Live: “Beyond the Eats,” Feb. 9, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org February Connect, Feb. 10, Pier Teaki, St. Petersburg.

727-821-4069; StPete.com/SPYP LGBTQ+ Democrats 2022 Winter Conference, Feb. 11-13, Hilton Carillon Park, St. Petersburg. 727-469-3367; LGBTQDems.org “HYPROV,” Feb. 11, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg.

727-892-5767; TheMahaffey.com

SARASOTA Sarasota Sober Social, Feb. 6, The Elixir Tea House, Sarasota. 941-373-1800; PPSRQ.org Audra McDonald, Feb. 11, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota. 941-263-6799; VanWezel.org ALSO Prom, Feb. 12, Outof-Door Academy, Sarasota.

941-951-2576; ALSOYouth.org

Flex Fridays welcomes “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 14 standout Willow Pill! Doors open at 9 p.m. for those 18+, with showtimes at 11 p.m. and 12 a.m.

Roxxxy Andrews, Maya Andrews, Tashae Royale Sherrington, Sassy Devine, Cara Cavalli Andrews and Melony Munro also perform with music from DJ DLUX. Visit Facebook.com/SouthernNightsOrlando to learn more and see her again in Tampa Feb. 5.

Watermark’s Third Thursday THURSDAY, FEB. 17, 6-8 P.M. SAVOY, ORLANDO Watermark’s Third Thursday returns, doubling as our Remarkable People Reunion! Join us at SAVOY for our free Central Florida networking social and bring cash for your chance to win fabulous raffle prizes, all benefiting the LGBT+ Center Orlando. The outing will feature light bites and as always, your first drink is free with your business card. For more information visit Facebook.com/WatermarkFL.

TAMPA BAY “The Magic of Love” SUNDAY, FEB. 13 – MONDAY, FEB. 14, 7 P.M. ZUBRICK MAGIC THEATRE, ST. PETERSBURG In addition to their regularly scheduled performances, Zubrick Magic Theatre’s Chris and Ryan Zubrick invite you to experience jaw-dropping magic and wonder this Valentine’s Day weekend. These added showtimes promise to dazzle your dates and take them from mundane to memorable, featuring flying doves, sleight-of-hand magic tricks and much more.

Tickets are available now at ZubrickMagic.com/ Tickets.

Watermark Wednesday WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16, 6-8 P.M. COCKTAIL, ST. PETERSBURG Join Watermark at Cocktail for the return Watermark Wednesday! Our Tampa Bay networking social doubles this month as our Remarkable People Reunion and will benefit Balance Tampa Bay. Bring cash for incredible raffle prizes, enjoy light bites and bring your business card to receive your first drink free. Learn more about the event at Facebook.com/ WatermarkFL.

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

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announcements

TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS The National Endowment for the Arts has granted the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance $25,000 for its SHINE On Unity Project. A portion of the funds will celebrate St Pete Pride’s upcoming 20th anniversary.

Dr. Rish Patel was appointed president and CEO of CAN Community Health Jan. 20. Read more at CANCommunityHealth.org.

Kori Stevens’ friends, family and fans raised $2,020 for the recovering drag legend during a St. Petersburg fundraiser at Enigma Jan. 23. Read more at WatermarkOnline.com.

Miguel Fuller and Abe Gadikian were married Jan. 23.

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Shawn Eaton and Chad Daughtrey were married Jan. 23.

Gappi Gee won Shade Showdown 2 at City Side Lounge Jan. 28.

Pasco Pride returns Feb. 5, its first celebration since COVID-19 began. Learn more at PascoPrideFestival.com.

Quench Lounge celebrates nine years with a glow party on Feb. 5.

FatMarker Clothing celebrates five years in Ybor Feb. 8.

CONDOLENCES Tampa Bay entertainer Mena Darnell died Jan. 11.

She will be missed.

Tampa’s Caterina Storch died Jan. 27. She will be missed.

POSTPONEMENTS ALSO Youth announced Jan. 28 that ALSO Prom’s One Magical Night has been rescheduled from Feb. 12 to March 26 in response to COVID-19. Read more at ALSOYouth.org.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Tampa Pride president Carrie West, Enigma show director Daphne Ferraro, Gulfport theater addict Rob McCabe (Feb. 3); Former TIGLFF executive director Margaret Murray, Tampa Sister of Perpetual Indulgence Scott Ryan, Financial service representative Sidney Gaddis (Feb. 4); Tampa Bay realtor Derrick Dwyer, Tampa Bay Clamstress Jackie Gill-Foil (Feb. 6); Real estate agent Eric Puzone (Feb. 7); St. Petersburg dance instructor Julia Meyerovich-Neighbors (Feb. 8); Old Key West owner Crystal Ellis-Faber (Feb. 9); Creative Tile Design of St. Petersburg owner Tom O’Keefe, St. Petersburg hair stylist Ric Castro, Metro Inclusive Health’s Jesse T. Rivera, Macy’s St. Petersburg’s HR manager Luis Fabian (Feb. 10); St. Petersburg attorney Bobby King, Tampa media specialist Bart Birdsall, Florida Council on Economic Education Executive Director Mike Bell, animal lover Marcus Porter (Feb. 11); Tampa photographer Mark Danner, Tampa Bay socialite Mark Warden (Feb. 12); USF Vegetarian Society President Mark Weber, Tampa Suncrest Home Health director Portia Weiss (Feb. 13); Tampa Bay performer Jaeda Fuentes, Tampa Bay realtor Ryan Thompson (Feb. 14); Tampa Pride’s Mark Eary (Feb. 15); Hillsborough County LGBTQ Democratic Caucus President Dave Cutler, Tampa activist Chris Goldsmith, Seminole Hard Rock Supervisor Brian Bloomfield, Metro Inclusive Health LGBTQ+ Program Specialist Prin Ocea (Feb. 16).

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GRAND CENTRAL LOVE: Bloggers Nick & Ant take over the City of St. Petersburg social media channels Jan. 30 and include a stop at the Grand Central District’s Progressive Pride street mural. PHOTO COURTESY

CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG

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FOR KORI: Daphne Ferraro (4th from L) leads a cast of Tampa Bay performers as they raise funds for Kori Stevens during the entertainer’s Jan. 23 benefit at Enigma. PHOTO BY RYAN

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WILLIAMS-JENT

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GAME ON: Metro Inclusive Health’s Hiram Figueroa, Topher Larkin, Julian Ingram and Nate Taylor join The Blunt Space for an open mic and game night at Mixers at Old Key West Jan. 26.

PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

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THE SHADY BUNCH: (L-R) Gappie Gee grabs the Shade Showdown crown and strikes a pose with Morgan Le Shade and previous winner Beariano Grande Davinci Jan. 29 at City Side Lounge. PHOTO

COURTESY MORGAN LE SHADE

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HIGH HONOR: Project Pride’s Jordan Letschert (3rd from L) receives the Mayor’s Citation Jan. 18 from Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo for his work in the community.

PHOTO COURTESY PROJECT PRIDE

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LOUD & PROUD: Equality Florida, supporters and local leaders including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor unveil the organization’s LGBTQ-focused mural at Shuffle Jan. 28. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD

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BIG DAY OUT: ALSO Youth participants enjoy a field trip to Art Center Sarasota for a meditative exhibit and more. PHOTO COURTESY ALSO YOUTH

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PIPING HOT: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 14 queen June Jumbalaya steals the spotlight Jan. 22 at Southern Nights Tampa. PHOTO COURTESY

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SOUTHERN NIGHTS TAMPA

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announcements

CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS Brandon Wolf was named Equality Florida’s press secretary Jan. 19.

RESEARCH STUDY Three of the nation’s largest blood centers — Vitaliano, OneBlood and the American Red Cross — in partnership with the LGBT+ Center Orlando are seeking participants to join a new groundbreaking FDA-funded study in Orlando to consider new approaches for determining blood donation eligibility for men who have sex with men.

If you are a gay or bisexual male between 18-39 years old and interested in becoming a blood donor, you may be eligible to participate. To gather the necessary data the blood centers are partnering with LGBTQ Centers in eight cities across the nation. The study looks to enroll 250–300 gay and bi men in Central Florida who meet the study eligibility criteria.

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COVID TESTING SITES Orange County and the City of Orlando have four COVID-19 testing sites: Barnett Park, located at 4801 W. Colonial Dr.; Econ Soccer Complex, located at 8035 Yates Rd.; South Orange Youth Sports Complex, located at 11800 S. Orange Ave.; and Camping World Stadium, located at 1 Citrus Bowl Place. All four locations are open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until capacity is reached. All locations are all offering Molecular PCR and Rapid Antigen (both nasal) tests at no cost. No appointments are necessary but online pre-registration is required. Go to PatientPortalFL.com to pre-register.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Central Florida community activist Brock Cornelus (Feb. 3); Orlando doctor Rafael Pinero, Watermark freelancer and former intern Edward Segarra (Feb. 4); Former Orlando Ballet Artistic Director Robert Bell, Watermark contributor Holly Kapherr Alejos, Orlando Fringe board member Daniel Blumberg (Feb. 5); Central Florida fine art photographer Josh Garrick, Central Florida photographer James “Cannonball” Bennett, former Watermark designer Ezri Ruiz (Feb. 6); Orlando attorney Barbara Leach, Orlando fitness guru Tony Edge, Central Florida photographer Albert Harris-Rusell, HAOS on Church bartender Jan Echevarria (Feb. 7); Co-owner of Hamburger Mary’s Orlando Mike Rogier (Feb. 9); Watermark columnist Melody Maia Monet (Feb. 10); Former Watermark creative assistant Patrick O’Connor (Feb. 11); Renaissance Theatre Company Artistic Director Donald Rupe, J. Meyer’s Insurance co-owner Cathy Meyers-Keene (Feb. 13); Central Florida activist Steven Hogue, Orlando banking guru Diana Cox (Feb. 14); Gary Lambert Salon & Spa co-owner Shawn Hunt (Feb. 15); HAOS on Church owner Blue Star, Orlando man-abouttown Nick Crush (Feb. 16).

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FROM ANDRES ACOSTA ARDILA

PHOTO FROM LOC ROBERTSON

COFFEE TALK: Andres Acosta Ardila (L) and Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet grab some coffee at Craft & Common in Orlando Jan. 20. PHOTO

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CRUISING CREW: (L-R) Pat Michaels, Joe “Beaver” Folsom, George Wallace and Danny Garcia stop off at St. Maarten during their cruise Jan. 27.

PHOTO FROM PAT MICHAELS

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FANTASY LAND: Freya the fairy (center) runs into some trolls during “Dragons & Fairies” at Leu Gardens Jan. 27. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

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FUNNY WOMEN: Blue Star (L) and Lisa Santiago at the 4th annual Empowering Night of Laughter at Quantum Leap Winery Jan. 20. PHOTO FROM LISA SANTIAGO

READY TO GO: (L-R) Brittany Sebastian, April Fresh and Twila Holiday are show ready at The black Sheep on Broadway in Ocala Jan. 23.

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TEAM SWAG: Orlando Otters RFC’s Cory Fisher sports the Otters new merch Jan. 21. PHOTO FROM

ORLANDO OTTERS RFC

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IN CONCERT: Vanessa Watkins (L) and Patty Sheehan see Lyle Lovett in concert at the new Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Jan. 25. PHOTO

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FROM PATTY SHEEHAN

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CAPITAL VISIT: CFC Arts’ Vicki Landon (L) and state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith get into “good trouble” in Tallahassee Jan. 26.

PHOTO FROM VICKI LANDON

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THE LAST PAGE HOMETOWN:

Orlando, Florida

IDENTIFIES AS: Gay

PRONOUNS:

Donald Rupe

He/Him/His

OUT YEAR: 2003

PROFESSION:

R E N A I S S A N C E T H E AT R E CO - F O U N D E R AND ARTISTIC DIREC TOR

Renaissance Theatre co-founder and artistic director

PROFESSIONAL ROLE MODEL: Cole NeSmith

AUTOBIOGRAPHY TITLE:

“To Be Happy”

HOBBIES:

When I have a break from work on shows, I like to go watch shows.

Also love to just hang out with my friends and go out.

T

HE LAST PAGE IS DEDICATED TO

individuals who are making a positive impact on the LGBTQ community in Central Florida and Tampa Bay. This issue, we check in with Orlando’s Donald Rupe, co-founder and artistic director for the Renaissance Theatre. Keep an eye on this space to learn more about the movers and shakers of your community.

WHAT DO YOU DO PROFESSIONALLY?

I wear many hats. I’m a producer of theater and then right under that more and more of my time I’m writing theater.

HOW DO YOU CHAMPION FOR THE LOCAL LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

I think I would have to answer by living as authentically as I can in every space that I’m in.

Recommend People to: Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams at: Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent at: Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO READ IN WATERMARK?

Selfishly [laughs] I read anytime you all review anything, even if it’s not mine.

I love the arts so any reviews or arts-focused coverage you do I love to read.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ EVENT?

I think it is probably a cliché answer but it is Come Out With

Pride fore me. I have a thing for Pride parades, they always make me cry. It’s one of those times, since I grew up here, that I feel like I see everybody that I’ve ever known so it’s like a big family reunion in the streets.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE LOCAL LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

I find it very inclusive. I’ve heard some people over the years say that it’s not but my experience has been that I always feel included and welcomed when I’m in a space that I identify myself as LGBTQ. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED IN THE LOCAL LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

We’ve obviously been losing spaces that were more strictly ours, so I would like to see — not to be too corny — a renaissance of more overtly out, gay spaces, especially theater spaces. You would think there would be more of a crossover with theater spaces and gay spaces. I’d like to see more bridges built between those.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SURPRISE OUR READERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I don’t listen to music. I write music but I don’t listen to it.

[When asked if he has his radio turned on when he is in his car.]

No, I sit in silence. I think it is really the only time that I am not around a lot of people or noise.

I do a lot of writing in my head while I drive.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Again, I know it’s cliché but I would say “It gets better.”

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE LOCAL THEATER COMMUNITY?

Its potential. I think the arts community in general but the theater community in Orlando has great potential to become comparable to other great theater communities in the world.

I don’t think we’re there yet but I see more and more new work, diverse work and new voices that are starting to be elevated and elevate themselves. I think there is huge potential here.

WHY DID YOU OPEN THE RENAISSANCE THEATRE?

Starting like six years ago I started writing a new show and since then I started wondering why you don’t see more new work happening in Orlando.

When you go to New York or Chicago or any of the big cities, all of those theater companies are doing shows you’ve never heard of. When you come to Orlando, you see titles of shows everyone knows. So I thought if we’re going to reach new heights as a community then we have got to do new things, new shows.

During the pandemic I chose to uproot my life and try something new and I felt like I had reached a point in my life where I could try something new and so I did. That became Renaissance Theatre.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE FROM THE RENAISSANCE THEATRE IN THE COMING MONTHS?

We just announced that we are doing a show every Sunday [starting Feb. 20] that I wrote last year for Fringe called “Oscar Wilde and Jesus Christ Walk into a Gay Bar,” but we are doing it like a cabaret show. In March we are bringing back another show that I did at Fringe, but it is totally revamped, called “Gorgeous,” which was loosely based on the movie “Drop Dead Gorgeous.” And in April we are bringing in the people who did “Ain’t Done Bad” at Fringe last year. Our Musical Mondays are doing amazing and we are also an official Fringe venue this year.

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