Watermark Issue 30.02: In & Out

Your LGBTQ News Source.

Jan. 19 - Feb. 1, 2023 • Issue 30.02

Orlando group to host political bootcamp for students Zoie’s becomes a St. Petersburg space for all

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

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DEPARTMENTS 7 // EDITOR’S DESK

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8 // CENTRAL FL NEWS 10 // TAMPA BAY NEWS

I think people need to see it, because however many opinions, questions and thoughts individuals might have about it, it is a voice that is not heard.

–ACTRESS L MORGAN LEE TALKING ABOUT THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL “A STRANGE LOOP”

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PAGE IN & OUT: L Morgan

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Lee on entering and exiting “A Strange Loop.” PHOTO OF L MORGAN LEE IN CHRISTIAN

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Shangela gets “Fully Lit” in Orlando.

WATERMARK ISSUE 30.02 // JAN. 19 - FEB. 1, 2023

BATHROOM DEBATE

SOUTHERN CHARM

SILENCING STUDENTS BACK IN THE HABIT

PAGE School board member requests reinstatement of anti-trans policy.

PAGE New eatery Zoie’s becomes a St. Petersburg space for all.

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Speech groups criticize Florida school for scrapping play.

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Winter Park Playhouse kicks off 2023 with “Nunsense A-Men!”

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EDITOR’S

Ryan Williams-Jent MANAGING EDITOR Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

W

DESK

E OPERATE IN TWO-WEEK

cycles here at Watermark. It’s a professional reality that can’t help but impact how we view our personal lives, at least in my own experience.

I �ind myse measuring the year in day increments ust by de au t. That s because when one issue wra s we re we underway on our work or whate er s coming ne t. The news ne er sto s.

It can be particularly cha enging when one year ends and another begins. ources and sub ects aren t as readi y a ai ab e in the months of December or anuary but head ines won t wait or the ho idays.

It can present some unique obstacles when it comes to editoria co erage. Thank u y I m retty used to it since this is the time o year I oined Watermark’s staff full time. Last month marked �i e years here a mi estone o which I m incredib y

roud. I ree anced be ore then but o �icia y came on board in Dec. 2017.

I e a ways had a much stronger gri on the ng ish anguage than I have on math, but even I know that’s a lot of two-week cycles. It’s something I can t he but re� ect on as I write my �irst co umn o which rom ted me to re isit my �irst e er rom an. .

I e ne er made a ew Year’s resolution – at least that I can remember,” I wrote. “It isn t because I don t ho e or a better year than the last … It’s ust something that ne er rea y occurs to me.”

That s sti true though in recent years I e used my ecember birthday to make some signi�icant

i e changes. I m ha y to re ort that ast month marked our years without smoking and a u year o consistent tri s to the gym. It s never too late to make a positive change or yourse .

There s nothing wrong with eo e making reso utions ” I added and sti be ie e. It works or some and that s wonder u . I try to make e ery day the best it can be so an o er arching day ook ahead ust doesn t do it or me.”

Also still true, albeit a little warm and u y. It can be di �icu t to think about days at a time when your i e is com artmenta i ed into day increments but it s something I wou dn t change.

These ast �i e years ha e been incredib e. I e had the opportunity to personally thank the ate atthew he ard s ather ennis or his ami y s ad ocacy shake ecretary ete uttigieg s hand gotten an h yyy” rom tar Trek” egend eorge Takei and re� ected on the T egacy o The itt e ermaid” with rie herse . I wou dn t change any o it or the wor d.

There ha e been highs and ows but one thing that s ne er wai ered is my o e or the work I m ortunate enough to do. y o e or what atermark does and the oca indi idua s and organi ations we’re able to cover.

Watermark is your T news source. ot mine not the sta s yours. e e ist to am i y T oices throughout Tam a ay and entra F orida and resent our community s interests and it s my honor to ay any kind o ro e in that. s ecia y in F orida.

The ast ew years ha e o ten been grim or T F oridians.

There ha e been a ot o two week cyc es dedicated to co erage o o . on e antis s �irst term which he arge y uti i ed to target and attack our community.

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Those attacks wi on y be bo stered this year by his residentia ambitions and the F orida egis ature s e ub ican su erma ority so it s more important than ever that we rely on one another. ur stories matter and deser e to be to d.

In this issue we speak with someone who u y understands that organ ee. he made history ast year by becoming the �irst o en y transgender erson to be nominated or a Tony ward or trange oo .”

The big ack and ueer ass reat merican usica ” c osed on roadway an. a ter winning the

It’s more important than ever that we rely on one another.

u it er ri e or rama and the Tony ward or est usica . It s an honor ew shows can boast among them T” and ami ton.” ee who originated one o its rinci a ro es re� ects on her e erience and what she ho es comes ne t. e a so s eak with u au s rag ace” and ancing with the tars” a um hange a who made history of her own last month by attending a hite ouse e ent in drag. he discusses that and more ahead o her Fu y it Tour” coming to r ando ne t month. so in entra F orida an range ounty schoo board member re uests the reinstatement of an anti transgender o icy in schoo s.

In Tam a ay news we high ight Zoie’s, a place for everyone. atermark stri es to bring you a variety of stories, your stories.

Thank you or an ama ing �i e years and I ho e each o you stay sa e stay in ormed and en oy this latest issue.

ORLANDO OFFICE

Owner & Publisher: Rick Todd • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

Creative Designer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 107 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com

Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com

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Creative Designer: Kyler Mills • Ext. 104 Kyler@WatermarkOnline.com

Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

Managing Editor: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

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CONTRIBUTORS SYLVIE TREVENA

is a proud, minivan-driving mother of four with a degree in behavioral health and Master’s in Business Administration with a nonprofit concentration. She loves art and horror movies. Page 15

GREG STEMM

lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 10 HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, J.D. CASTO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT

DISTRIBUTION LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, ZACHARY WELCH

AFFILIATIONS

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 or gender identity 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

B

DESK

EING SICK SUCKS. WE HAVE ALL

had those days when we wake up feeling like someone hit us with a tractor trailer in the middle of the night, when all we want to do is pull the covers up to your chin all day with a bowl of soup, a bottle of ginger ale and the remote to the TV.

That really is the ultimate remedy for a 24-hour bug, especially when I was a kid.

Skipping Taking a sick day from school to rest on the couch and take in daytime television was the best. You had the weekday morning cartoons, syndicated talk shows, your mom’s “stories” and, best of all, game shows. I’m a child of the 1980s, so when I was home from school, I was entertained by the likes of “Press Your Luck,” “Concentration,” “Win, Lose or Draw” and the granddaddy of them all, “The Price is Right.”

I would watch these shows and fantasize about how my job

as an adult would be game show contestant, and I would spend my “workday” going show-to-show, playing Plinko and screaming “No Whammies,” cleaning up in cash and prizes to pay my bills.

Most of these game shows were ones I watched on my own but there were two that I usually had several other family members watching with me. The �irst was Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare.” Me and my siblings would watch that show religiously, pretending host Marc Summers was asking us the trivia questions and boasting how if we were on the show we would

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be able to breeze through the “Double Dare” obstacle course.

The other game show we watched required a lot less Physical Challenges and was more beloved by the entire family, and still is.

That is “Family Feud.” As a family we have seen many hosts come and go — Louie Anderson, Richard Karn, John O’Hurley and currently Steve Harvey.

I know that Richard Dawson started off as the host of “Family Feud” but the �irst host I remember was Ray Combs. Combs, along with Marc Summers and “Press Your Luck” host Peter Tomarken, are the people I most associate with my childhood that I know very little about outside of game shows.

Sidenote: I just Googled them and found out two of the three met tragic deaths: Combs died by suicide in 1996 and Tomarken was killed in a plane crash in 2006.

Marc Summers is battling cancer but is alive and doing well.

“Family Feud” has even made its way into our family’s holiday traditions. Whenever we are all able to get together for the holidays, we play our own home version of “Family Feud.” With my younger brother as host, we divide into two teams and play for family bragging rights.

This love of the game recently led my older brother to submit an application to the show for us to appear. We were not only surprised when he revealed this during a family Facetime chat but also said they responded back and that each of us would be getting an e-mail setting up an interview with one of the show’s producers.

While I had envisioned myself on many game shows in the past, this was the �irst time that I was meeting with a show producer to discuss this as an actuality. They had us all gather on a Zoom call, which led me to think how did these interviews happen before Zoom and Facetime were a thing, because not only was this an

interview but a mock game that we played with the producer.

She went down the line, as if she was Steve Harvey and we were in front of a live studio audience, �irst asking my brother — the team captain — to introduce the family, then down the line we were asked to tell a little something about ourselves and then answer a question. Along with playing the game, we were encouraged to cheer our teammates on by clapping and shouting “good answer!”

This made for an interesting environment for Watermark’s Orlando-based staff as I had to do this interview from my desk at work. I was a weird mix of subdued

Whenever we are all able to get together for the holidays, we play our own home version of ‘Family Feud.’ and enthused as a contestant, which was hopefully balanced out by my siblings’ much more excited and boisterous demeanors.

For anyone who is curious, the question we were asked: Name something a pirate takes off before he gets into bed. Top seven answers were on the board —eye patch, hat, hook, wooden leg, parrot, boot and sword. We did not get them all, so hopefully that doesn’t weigh against us.

It is now in the hands of the “Family Feud” gods but even if we don’t get that call to be on the show I can now say that I have taken that leap to try and appear in the game show world. I’ll keep you all posted if I get to play the Feud.

ORLANDO OFFICE

Owner & Publisher: Rick Todd • Ext. 110 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com

Creative Designer: Dylan Todd • Ext. 107 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com

Sales Director: Danny Garcia • Ext. 108 Danny@WatermarkOnline.com

Editor-in-Chief: Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106 Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

Creative Designer: Kyler Mills • Ext. 104 Kyler@WatermarkOnline.com

Senior Orlando Account Manager: Sam Callahan • Ext. 103 Sam@WatermarkOnline.com

Managing Editor: Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com

Administrative Assistant: Alec Perez • Ext. 100 Alec@WatermarkOnline.com

Tampa Bay Account Manager: Sylvie Trevena • Ext. 105 Sylvie@WatermarkOnline.com

watermark Your LGBTQ News Source.

Founder and Guiding Light: Tom Dyer National Ad Representative: Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863

1300 N. Semoran Blvd.

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

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

JANUARY 19 - F EB RUA RY 1, 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0.02 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

CONTRIBUTORS SYLVIE TREVENA

is a proud, minivan-driving mother of four with a degree in behavioral health and Master’s in Business Administration with a nonprofit concentration. She loves art and horror movies. Page 15

GREG STEMM

lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 10 HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, J.D. CASTO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT

DISTRIBUTION LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, RAYLENE HUNT, ZACHARY WELCH

AFFILIATIONS

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 or gender identity 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

FLORIDA GROUP TO HOST POLITICAL BOOTCAMP Lex Schatten

O

RLANDO F orida e . nna . skamani announced an. eo e ower or F orida s �irst o itica organi ing bootcam .

The bootcam which wi be he d at the ni ersity o entra F orida Feb. wi ro ide high schoo and co ege students with ad ice on how best to o itica y organi e take on eadershi ositions and more.

The e ent wi eature s ecia guest s eakers that inc ude new y e ected ongressman a we e andro Frost and ormer state e . ar os ui ermo mith. art o our ho e with these bootcam s is that we re kind o unra e ing this com e com icated system so that you understand that you ha e ower and here s some o the most strategic ways to e ress that ower” says skamani who is a so the ounder o eo e ower or F orida.

The u coming bootcam is intended to be the �irst o many he d at schoo s across F orida. uring the ha day training students wi earn rom both o itica and community eaders about how to enact o itica change on their campus.

There rea y has not been an intentiona e ort to organi e young eo e on co ege cam uses with the too s they need to be success u not ust cam us eaders but e en success u ro essions ong term who are ci ica y minded and ci ica y engaged. That s what drew us to kind o come u with this bootcam conce t ” skamani says. eo e ower or F orida aunched in as a oter registration organi ation. The organi ation is intended to ra y and em ower co ege students to engage in politics. ter o . th we had ust a brainstorming session with our team o sta and e ows to rea y �igure out what we wanted to ook ike art y because o F orida s ust de astating e ection resu ts where at east rom my ers ecti e many o the wrong eo e were re e ected or e ected to o �ice ” skamani says. eo e ower or F orida s goa is to one day ensure that e ery erson has access to the ba ot and can use their ote as their oice to ut ower back in the hands o the eo e ” according to its website. o itics can ee ery o erwhe ming and com icated and it s actua y designed to ee o erwhe ming and com icated. This has been an ongoing batt e or years and it s wea oni ing bureaucratic systems to cause harm ” skamani says. art o our ho e with these bootcam s is that we re kind o unra e ing this com e com icated system so that you understand that you ha e ower and here s some o the most strategic ways to e ress that ower.” second bootcam has a ready been unded to be he d in arch at F orida tate ni ersity but a date has not yet been chosen.

For more information, visit PeoplePowerForFlorida.com.

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POLICY CHANGE: OCPS

District 3 board member Alicia Farrant during the board’s first meeting on 2023. SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE

Bathroom Debate School board member requests reinstatement of anti-trans policy Lex Schatten

O

RLANDO range ounty ub ic choo s istrict board member icia Farrant asked that the schoo board consider remo ing its gender neutra bathroom o icy and re uire students to use mu ti sta bathrooms based on their assigned se at birth in s �irst board meeting he d on an. .

From what I m hearing rom the community and what I m ee ing is that we ha e to go back to any grou mu ti sta bathrooms shou d be se arated by bio ogica se and then there are sing e sta bathrooms s rink ed throughout the schoo that any chi d can use ” Farrant said at the board meeting.

The gender neutra bathroom o icy has been in ace since but was on y recent y re uired to be ub ic y shared with arents o owing the instatement o F a. dmin ode . . .

The code states that schoo s with bathrooms or locker rooms segregated by any criteria other than bio ogica se must ost

watermark Your LGBTQ News Source.

its o icy on their website and send home a etter with students to ensure that their parents are u y in ormed. er the break I was inundated with concerned arents writing in ca ing me meeting me ersona y discussing the bathroom o icy” Farrant said. It s ust now a ai ab e know edge to me, to the parents. Many parents, inc uding myse did not rea i e.”

Fo owing the etters being sent home prior to winter break, Farrant stated that se era unnamed arents ha e re orted to her stories o their daughters being uncom ortab e using the bathroom at school.

I had se era te ing me that their daughter has gone into the bathroom at their schoo wa ked in and they see a ma e student who is dressed as a ema e so a trans whate er and so when they see the ma e student it makes them ee uncom ortab e and they turn around and they ho d their ee the rest o the day” Farrant said. o other board members during the meeting indicated that they had recei ed simi ar messages rom concerned arents.

inter ark igh choo student and T acti ist i arkins s oke to the board during the meeting saying that as a nonbinary student they wanted to o er some student ers ecti e. hen I go into the bathroom assigned to my se and when a ot o trans kids do they ace harassment ” they said. inter ark igh choo is now a owing two bathrooms to be nonsegregated to be gender neutra I wa k a the way across cam us to go to this bathroom because I am safer there.” arkins stated their schoo has segregated bathrooms. hairwoman Teresa acobs stated during the meeting that it is not standard ractice to vote on a matter at the same board meeting it is introduced.

Farrant’s request to continue the discussion at another meeting was not su orted by the other board members. uring their discussion se era members o the board as we as u erintendent aria a ue took time to address Farrant’s misconceptions of the transgender community. ad y there is a ot o misin ormation surrounding transgender students ” a ue said. hi e some indi idua s may believe that it’s a matter of ‘I feel ike a gir today and then a cou e o days ater I m back to ee ing like a boy,’ that’s not at all the life o a transgender chi d.”

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tampa bay news

ST. PETE QUAKERS HONOR LESBIAN ACTIVISTS, ORG Greg Stemm

S

T. PETERSBURG The t. etersburg e igious ociety o Friends a so known as the t. etersburg uakers ce ebrated a bond o near y years with esbian acti ist and ad ocacy organi ation a on this month. round ormer a on members gathered at the uakers meeting house an. to recei e a a ue o a reciation gi en to ounder die a y. The ceremony ce ebrated their new y restored ibrary inducted a y into their new eacekee ers a o Fame and aid tribute the history between each organi ation. hen a on was ormed in the ear y s o ortunities or gay women to come together or education su ort and comradery were imited. a y and oreen rand o erated the bookstore e o a iness on adeira each and e tended an in itation to oca women for that reason.

For the �irst a on meeting women isited the s ace. e were a strangers but at its eak we had o er members ” a y says. It ed to a search or another meeting s ace.

In the year y con erence o F orida uakers asked how they cou d he oca members o the T community. It rom ted hristine rien a bise ua woman and c erk o the t. etersburg uakers to make the connection.

The grou was ooking or ways to he gay and esbian communities and they actua y reached out to us ” a y remembers. From there we orged a s ecia bond o er the ne t years They in ited us to use their meeting house rom to . The a on had been e icted rom our meeting aces by and ord homo hobia be ore we ound a sa e ha en with the uakers.” er its two decades a on ser ed not on y as a socia out et but a so as an agent or o itica and socia change. Its members ga e su ort and encouragement to a y whi e she he ed ead the way or the assage o a com rehensi e uman ights rdinance in u ort. a on disbanded in or a number o reasons. a y says the community was changing and there was more genera acce tance. he a so notes that as a resu t o the internet there were many more ways or esbians to �ind each other and there ore there wasn t the same need. urrent y she is in o ed with esbians rite n a irtua a on which meets on oom. a y most recent y anned a retros ecti e about a on or her th birthday on an. .

The uakers were e cited to we come these beauti u wonder u women to our s iritua home ” says yn aro enderson an T a y and ormer uakers c erk. er the years we became uite ond o each other and we were ha y we cou d take such a ositi e a �irming action.”

For more information about the St. Petersburg Quakers, visit StPetersburgQuakers.org. Learn more about Daly’s work by searching “Lesbians WriteOn” on Facebook.

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A PLACE FOR EVERYONE:

Owner Jeff Baker at Zoie’s Jan. 10. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

Southern Charm Zoie’s becomes a St. Pete space for all Ryan Williams-Jent

S

T. PETERSBURG | Zoie’s he d its grand o ening in the rand entra istrict ec. a so d out e ent that o owed months o er ecting the restaurant s menu and more.

The eatery �irst o ened its doors or a oween on entra ast year. y mid o ember they were o erating on a imited menu and hours as a uni ue restaurant e erience catering to e eryone.” e ce ebrate a be ie s and wa ks o i e and we ro ide a place for all to meet, eat, drink and make memories ” the restaurant romises. It s named a ter anse ua owner e aker s be o ed dog who he ed him �ind com ort at the height o the andemic. oie means i e in reek and in a time where things weren t great or me emotiona y she ga e me a second i e ” he e ains.

I dedicated the restaurant to that because I a so ho e it s going to gi e i e to the community.” oie s is aker s �irst restaurant. e s a data scientist by trade who s worked with ni ersa tudios and o �itt ancer enter.

watermark Your LGBTQ News Source.

hat I d wanted to do or uite some time is create a community enue that is not ust about ood but a so about entertainment and being connected oca y” he says. e don t care where you come rom what your background is who you o e how you identi y because when you come into this bui ding it s us as a co ecti e unit ha ing un and ea ing a o our di erences at the door.”

The menu is sti the centra focus at Zoie’s, which can seat near y guests indoors and outside. aker says that s because ood is what brings eo e together and has since the beginning o time.” hat in� uences the menu is that my mother s side o the ami y is rom the outh ” he says. y �irst boy riend o years was a so rom ouisiana so I got a ot o e osure to a un and reo e cooking as we .”

The menu uses southern com ort c assics with modern twists with dishes ranging rom raw�ish gg o s to ey ime ie udding. aker says he uses his background to cra t the o tima ist o brunch unch dinner and ate night dining o tions.

hen we �irst o ened we rea y ocused on ood getting our ser ice down and then s ow y introducing a the entertainment o er time ” aker says. ew ear s e was robab y a great de�ining moment of ours.”

The enue we comed drag star ady unny and a ethora o oca entertainers or their ew ear s ce ebration which was o owed by a so d out ew ear s ay brunch. aker says e ery week is a record from the previous one,” which a ows them to introduce o erings ike bingo tri ia and more. e ing aker make that a rea ity is ori te ens. The an a orite drag entertainer recent y came on board as oie s show director. eing a art o the team at Zoie’s excites me because we all share the goa o doing our art to bui d a better community” she says. “It’s really that simple. It’s a great atmos here where e eryone is we come and I am su er e cited or things to come ” e re in this ery di erse neighborhood and our goa is to ha e di erse guests rom e erywhere ” aker adds. oie s is ust a ace where eo e can come in be themse es and not ha e to worry. e whoe er you are whate er that is we don t care.”

Zoie’s is located at 2245 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Daily hours vary. For more information, visit ZoiesFL.com or call 727-855-6990.

JANUARY 19 - F EB RUA RY 1, 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0.02 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

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

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state, nation and world news

FLORIDA SCHOOL CRITICIZED FOR SCRAPPING PLAY Wire Report

F

ree s eech grou s ha e condemned the abru t cance ation by F orida administrators o a high schoo student roduction o au a oge s ay Indecent ” which e ores a � ash oint in ewish and ueer theatrical history.

The ationa oa ition gainst ensorshi merica and the ramatists ega e ense Fund urged schoo o �icia s to rescind their decision and work with students to stage the ay as anned in arch. dministration at oug as nderson choo o er orming rts in u a ounty F orida this month u ed it rom roduction — a ew weeks a ter casting had been decided. It was swa ed out or The eagu ” a c assic nton Chekhov play.

onya uke o den a u a ounty district s okes erson to d The ssociated ress the decision was made because the ay contains adu t se ua dia og that is ina ro riate or student cast members and student audiences.

It’s that simple.” uke o den denied the decision had anything to do with a new F orida aw restricting discussion o race and gender to ics. ritics ha e dubbed the ban the on t ay ay” aw and say that ty e o restriction margina i es T eo e. oge s Indecent” is a behind the scenes ook at the true story o a contro ersia iddish ay which eatured the �irst roadway stage kiss e er between two women and ed to censorshi and io ence. It was nominated or a best new ay Tony ward in .

oge to d merica she is suspicious about the county’s reasoning I m not in the business o o itics but whate er that board says in terms of statements that they e re eased about why they re doing this they re utting shee s c othing o er a wo .”

In re ious years the oug as nderson choo o er orming rts has mounted er ormances o ent” and hicago ” both works that ha e addressed se and adu t situations. tudents were re uired to ro ide arenta consent to a ear in Indecent.”

The coa ition o ree s eech grou s said the cance ation o Indecent” is dee y hurt u to T students inc uding members of the cast, who see the re ection o the ay as a denia of the historical experience o T eo e and the ersistence o discrimination against them.”

STATES TO TARGET TRANS HEALTH CARE IN 2023 Wire Report

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ter a midterm e ection and record � ow o anti transgender egis ation last year, Republican state awmakers this year are eroing in on uestions o bodi y autonomy with new proposals to limit gender a �irming hea th care and abortion access. ore than two do en bi s seeking to restrict transgender health care access have been introduced across states ansas entucky issouri ontana ew am shire k ahoma outh aro ina Tennessee Te as tah and irginia or the egis ati e sessions beginning in ear y . i s targeting other acets o trans i e ihood ha e been �i ed in many o the same states and are e ected in se era others with ma orities. ender a �irming hea th care ro iders and arents o trans youths are the rimary targets o these bills, many of which seek to crimina i e he ing a trans chi d obtain what doctors and

sycho ogists wide y consider medica y necessary care.” the anti T bi s a ready introduced in Te as three wou d c assi y ro iding gender a �irming care to minors as a orm o chi d abuse o owing a directi e ast year rom e ub ican o . reg bbott that ordered chi d we are agents to o en abuse in estigations into arents who et their chi dren recei e gender a �irming care. egis ation re �i ed in e ub ican contro ed k ahoma which assed restrictions ast year on trans participation in sports and schoo bathroom usage seeks to ban gender a �irming care or atients under age and b ock it rom being co ered under the state s edicaid rogram. simi ar bi re �i ed in outh Carolina, where Republicans control both chambers, also re uires that trans adu ts o der than 21 obtain referrals from their doctor and a icensed sychiatrist be ore they can begin treatment.

Meanwhile, Democrats in some states are taking a more aggressi e a roach to transgender health protections.

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A new California law, effective as o an. shie ds ami ies o transgender youth rom crimina prosecution if they travel to a i ornia or gender a �irming hea th rocedures such as surgeries or hormone thera y from states that ban such treatments or minors. aking a i ornia a re uge or trans youth and their arents the aw blocks out-of-state subpoenas and rohibits medica ro iders rom sharing in ormation on gender a �irming care with out-of-state entities. n I inois awmaker introduced a similar sanctuary bill late last year. The state ouse assed another bi Friday to increase rotections or atients and ro iders o abortions and gender a �irming treatments. nd in innesota where emocrats gained a tri ecta o state go ernment contro in the midterm e ections a new bi wou d gi e the state urisdiction in chi d custody cases in o ing arents who bring their chi dren to innesota or gender a �irming health care.

OVER 2,000 JOIN LGBTQ MARCH IN NEW DELHI Wire Report

M

ore than members o the T community and their su orters returned to ew e hi streets on an. a ter a three year break caused by the I andemic to ress or e ua marriage rights. ancing to drumbeats they carried rainbow � ags ba oons and acards as they wa ked or more than an hour to the antar antar area near India s ar iament.

Their ho es ha e been raised by India s u reme ourt hearing etitions on granting ega recognition to same se marriage.

The go ernment is yet to ega i e same se marriage e en though the u reme ourt in struck down a co onia era aw that made gay se unishab e by u to 10 years in prison. ost indu nationa ist eaders say same se marriage is against India s cu ture. though there are o en y gay ce ebrities and some high ro�i e o ywood �i ms ha e dea t with gay issues many in the community sti ace iso ation and ersecution.

GEORGE SANTOS REFUSES TO RESIGN Wire Report

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tate and oca e ub ican eaders in ew ork an. ca ed or the immediate resignation o their new congressman eorge antos who is acing mu ti e in estigations by rosecutors o er his ersona and cam aign �inances and ies about his resume and ami y heritage. is ies were not mere �ibs. e disgraced the ouse o e resentati es ” ose h airo r. chair o the assau ounty e ub ican ommittee said at a news con erence. e s not we come here at e ub ican head uarters.” antos has � at y re ected the ca to resign.

The ca was an e traordinary rebuke o the reshman congressman whose e ection months ago � i ed a emocratic he d ouse seat and was initia y one o the s high ights o the o ember e ection.

The denunciation by oca e ub icans a so am s u the ressure on e ub icans in ongress to rebuke or side ine antos. airo and other e ub icans said antos decei ed oters and the oca in ong Is and s assau ounty and they were articu ar y incensed by his ies about ha ing ewish ancestry.

JANUARY 19 - F EB RUA RY 1, 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0.02 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

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© ARTWORK BY MICHAEL VOLL, 2022

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viewpoint

Sylvie Trevena

MAMA BEARINGS New Year, New Role

M

Y FIRST COLUMN OF

the year has frequently been as it s ust begun a owing me to re� ect on the changes that each assing year can bring. I a so recent y turned and it is not ost on me that I am in midd e age and still have so much to learn.

though was not a bad it was a di �icu t year. o the start o a resh new ca endar o i e seems to be something ositi e. ast year I had a ery we thought out an. I had a strategy. I was going to do things with intention and I did but the uni erse had other ans.

In act her an was to tota y disassemb e my ans strategies and intentions. aybe my esson ast year was humi ity and atience instead o the intended growth and success. r maybe it is how you ook at it a but I wi come back to that. The oint is to say that I set goa s worked orward with intention and it did not matter. ast year I worked mu ti e obs with the intention o aying o student oans and reaching the oint where I cou d ha e ust one ob. In u y I recei ed a romotion and raise but on y a ew weeks ater our organi ation was to d we were a osing our obs.

I am no stranger to ad ersity and hard times but this one took some time to u y absorb. I had ost the best aying gig I ha e e er had be ore I had a og in or my timesheets. ruta but rea ity. ast year I had riends dea with hea th strugg es. y own ami y had I within our househo d or the �irst time. The o der I get the more I see how a uab e taking care o your body and mind are.

This is something I usua y ignored within my intentions. I made e cuses and ust did not take care o myself, but we all know how that goes. t this oint I ee ike a used car with some mi es she needs se care at a minimum. As one close riend had i esa ing genetic testing done to swer e cancer another riend ost a three-year battle with it. he was on y and her oss will be with me always.

Things ooked u though I romise. I tra e ed or work and or easure last year. I saw the beauty of the desert and mountains in hoeni and e ored more o F orida s s rings arks and beaches. I ha e i ed here for over 40 years but have not seen so many of other ature o ers us.

I kayaked in s rings wa ked through mangro e marshes and hiked around arks a or the �irst time. en with this ast year s bonkers weather F orida has a lot to offer if you want to ste outside o the . ooking back on the disa ointments and heartbreaks from last year I gather a ot o energy orward rom my kids they are my main reason in this lifetime to be my best me. ost o my anning and work is to ro ide the best life possible for them, myself and our itany o ets. hen I ook at things through their ers ecti e I try to remind myself that the stresses of being an adu t are not or them. In fact, they have years to sti en oy being kids with minima res onsibi ities and no rea �inancia ob igations. owe er we are adu ts and res onsibi ity and stress seem to be tied to each assing year in a bigger ashion. e are getting o der and I certain y ho e wiser.

In retros ect I earned the most I ever have in 2022. ach shi t that derai ed ans orced me out o my com ort one and made me think outside o the master an and I gained im ortant insight.

For one I earned how to turn my disa ointments

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into o ortunities. osing that ob made me ocus on what kind o work I rea y wanted to do outside o ust �inances. d ocating or my transgender son i ing in F orida has shown me my strengths and who my real support comes

The ain and indignation that the T community has aced is sad y not new. ut now I can go to work each day and be art o a team who is itera y �ighting the good �ight. Fee ing good about the work I do is something I need and

took out the trash for 2023, because I do not ha e room or negati e energy this year.

I earned a that most y rom e erything I had anned and strategi ed tota y im oding.

I wish you a fantastic because deser e

rom and that insight has he ed sha e what my will look like.

I ha e a ways said I want to su ort communities and indi idua s who deser e the most o e and he .

For me e anding my ro e here at Watermark in 2023 from freelance columnist to Tam a ay account manager means I can support this work family who has su orted my ami y or over four years.

cherish. aking others ee su orted a ued and seen is something e en more powerful. oing what rightens you is em owering. eing in an environment where you can be yourse and s eak your mind ree y is ure oy. ating in your midd e age is a messy comedy arce and rea i ing you ha e ess control than is comfortable is u timate y reedom.

I met some ama ing eo e ast year and I a so

it. I ho e you do something dai y that makes your heart ha y. I ho e you earn dai y instead o beating yourse u rom things you cannot change. I ho e that your circle loves you for you – because I do.

Feeling good about the work I do is something I need and cherish.

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Sylvie Trevena is a proud mom of four with eclectic interests who holds a BS in Behavioral Healthcare and an MBA.

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Visibili-T ALEC PEREZ 34, He/Him/His

V

Ryan Williams-Jent

ISIBILI-T IS DEDICATED TO

transgender members o our community in entra F orida and Tam a ay some you know and many you don t. It is designed to am i y their oices and detai their e eriences in life.

This issue we check in with entra F orida s ec ere a nati e o uerto ico the administrati e assistant or atermark and a su er an o The obbit.” . . . To kien s antasy no e ca ti ated him not ong a ter watching The ord o the ings” or the �irst time.

I e in o e with that wor d when I was introduced ” ere says. “I’ve always been into books, so I decided to ick u a co y o The ord o the ings but my riend to d me that I shou d read The obbit �irst.” hi e The ord o the ings” tri ogy receded The obbit” on screen the books did the o osite. The ta e o ows the uest o i bo aggins who

“lives a quiet, peaceful life in his comfortable hole … because he is a hobbit – one of a race of small, um eo e about ha the si e o humans with urry toes and a great o e o good ood and drink.”

The hero embarks on a uest one that ere connected with immediate y. hen I started reading I re ated so much to i bo ” he says. I ke t thinking That s me I wou d react ust ike that I always think of myself as a little hobbit.”

It s why ere reads the ta e e ery year. ot a arty ty e o erson ” his idea e enings are often spent solo.

I rea y o e ideo games ” ere e ains. I o e egend

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o e da and enshin Im act ” action ad enture games with intricate story ines. I used to be really into anime, but now I m more into ideo games and bui ding your own ty es of stories.”

It’s all an extension of his greater o e or antasy and the medie a era.

I abso ute y adore enaissance airs ” he says. e used to work them and says eo e might be sur rised at how inc usi e they tend to be.

I used to er orm as a irate and as a mermaid and in that kind o s ace eo e are aware you that you present as a character,” he explains. erybody there is in a wor d o make believe, so it helps people become more acce ting.” ne interaction in articu ar stands out when ere was dressed as an e .

This gent eman that was working a booth goes how can I he you adies and I said h I m a guy ” he remembers. nd he corrected himse ery uick y. e ust said oh yeah e es are usua y ery androgynous.

I thought that was so sweet.”

It s a cha enge ere o ten faces as a trans man who “is such a eminine resenting erson ” he e ains. ot o eo e tend to uestion my gender because I ike gir y things.”

I m ust me. I m ust a dude ” he notes. en with my ami y who are rea y rea y acce ting they uestion why I ike dresses or getting my nai s done or doing my hair or makeu . It s ust because I ike those things.” ere stresses that whi e his gender e ression is eminine his gender identity is mascu ine.

It s something he wishes more eo e understood. ender is a ie ” he says. It s ake. ne o my �irst memories as a chi d I was aying in the ayground in kindergarten with a bunch o kids. e were aying eter an and I remember te ing the gir s e I m eter an and they said he s a boy. I got so mad and I think that was robab y my �irst rea i ation that I wasn t cisgender.” ooking back ere says he d tell himself earlier that “it’s okay to ike the things you ike.”

“You can’t let other people dictate how you re going to i e ” he says. eo e are going to talk, whether you’re cis, trans, straight gay. eo e are a ways going to ta k about you nobody s e er going to be ha y with what you re going to be ike. o ust be the happiest version of yourself that you can be because it doesn t matter. ou ust ha e to be comfortable with yourself.”

That menta ity is why ere wanted to work at atermark

JANUARY 19 - F EB RUA RY 1, 202 3 // ISSUE 3 0.02 WAT E R M A R KONLINE .COM

which he s done since ast o ember and what ed him to artici ate in isibi i T. I wanted to share my story because I know there are a lot of people out there that are strugg ing with their trans identity” he e ains. There isn’t a lot of representation for this type of trans man. It’s more acce tab e or a cis gay man to be eminine and to ike makeu than for it is a trans queer man to be eminine and ike makeu . ressing myse that way has nothing to do with my identity or who I am and I think a ot o younger kids need to see that ” he continues. I wish I had that growing u .”

Interested in being featured in Visibili-T? Email Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams in Central Florida or Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent in Tampa Bay, details on p. 7.

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talking points You left a lot of people here with a lot of precious, precious memories. Everybody loved you, but I doubt that many of ‘em loved you more than I did … ‘I will always love you.’

– DOLLY PARTON ADDRESSES THE LATE LESLIE JORDAN FOR HIS JAN. 8 “CALL ME KAT” FAREWELL

‘DRAG RACE’ PUSHES BACK AGAINST HATE

T

HE CAST OF “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE” CELEBRATED THE AWARD-WINNING REALITY COMPETITION’S 15TH SEASON an. in ew ork e ressing concerns o er rotests and threats to their art orm. In recent months drag has been attacked by high ro�i e right wing o iticians and acti ists who ha e a se y associated it with the se ua i ation” and grooming” o chi dren. es ite this we wi a ways re ai ” contestant a said. e a ways re ai and we re a ways going to come out on to because we re on the right side o history and we o e what we do ... e re ust trying to bring o e to e erything.” oosey a uca added that drag ueens ha e become the new target. ut T eo e are no stranger to being the ub ic enemy.” udge oss athews ca ed su ort or and attacks o drag the endu um swinging ” adding that you cannot ut this genie back in the bott e. ar ing we are abu ous.” The new season airs Fridays on T ..

SAM SMITH ANNOUNCES TOUR

O

SCAR AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER SAM SMITH has announced their �irst orth merican tour since which wi kick o in iami u y .

The city tour shares the same name as their u coming a bum and inc udes one additiona F orida sto the mway enter in r ando u y . The tour was announced ahead o the an. re ease o mith s ourth studio a bum oria ” which inc udes o e e ore” and the rammy nominated nho y” eaturing im atras which s ent three weeks at o. on the i board ot ast year. imme” eaturing o ee and essie eye was a so re eased an. .

Tickets or the tour are on sa e now at am mith or d.com.

‘STRANGER THINGS’ STAR COMES OUT

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OAH SCHNAPP, THE 18-YEAR-OLD ACTOR WHO PLAYS THE CLOSETED GAY TEENAGER WILL BYERS on et� i s hit science �iction series tranger Things ” has himse come out as gay. In a ideo osted to the entertainer s TikTok account an. chna wrote hen I �ina y to d my riends and ami y I was gay a ter being scared in the c oset or years and a they said was we know. ” The actor ca tioned the ideo with I guess I m more simi ar to i than I thought.” chna wi next appear in the popular show’s �i th and �ina season which is e ected to begin �i ming this year. is character who was centra to the show s origins is e ected to be a key part of its conclusion.

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TONY WINNER FRANK GALATI DIES

F

RANK GALATI, AN ACTOR, DIRECTOR, TEACHER AND TWO-TIME TONY AWARD WINNER died an. at . e is sur i ed by husband and e ow director eter mster. a ati won twin Tonys in best ay and best director or te enwo Theatre s roduction o ohn teinbeck s The ra es o rath.” e was a so nominated or directing s agtime.” a ati s ent the ast decade working with the so o e ertory Theatre where he directed nine roductions inc uding the wor d remiere o his musica no i e.” titan o the merican theatre who made immeasurab e contributions to the arasota arts community Frank was treasured by the so o e sta as a wonder u riend and co eague ” they said.

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L

Ryan Williams-Jent

MORGAN LEE’S HISTORICAL

roadway run began with Facebook.

That s where the actress recei ed a message in asking her to read or trange oo ” an unknown work rom an emerging aywright named ichae .

Jackson.

The musica has become a cultural phenomenon in the years since. It remiered roadway in won the u it er ri e or rama in had a imited . . engagement a ter that

and o ened on roadway ast year. That roduction ended an. with the Tony wards or est usica and est ook.

The show te s the story o sher a ack ueer writer who s writing a

musica about a ack queer writer, one who’s writing a musica about a ack ueer writer. It s trange oo ” that ee he ed aunch as a principal player.

“Michael R. Jackson’s u it er ri e winning b istering y unny masterwork exposes the heart and sou o a young artist gra ing with desires identity and instincts he both o es and oathes ” it s described. e bent on breaking ree of his own self-perception, sher wrest es with the CONTINUED ON PG. 24 | uu |

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PHOTO COURTESY L MORGAN LEE

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DEEP IN THOUGHT: L Morgan Lee (L) on Broadway as Thought One in “A Strange Loop.” PHOTO BY EMILIO MADRID, COURTESY L MORGAN LEE

| uu | In & Out

FROM PG.23

thoughts in his head brought to i e on stage by a hi arious straight shooting ensemb e.” ee originated the ro e o Thought ne sher s supervisor of sexual ambi a ence whi e eaturing as other key constructs of the character s imagination ike a sym athetic theatergoer. he became the �irst o en y transgender erson to be nominated or a Tony ward last year as a result.

The entertainer was u or est er ormance by a Featured ctress in a usica .

The award u timate y went to industry eteran atti u one or om any” but secured her permanent place in T history. ee who transitioned over the course of the show’s three ma or iterations now ca s the Tony e erience her ebutante a .”

It was a coo way o kind o being introduced to the wor d ” she says. “It was funny that it took as ong as it did but it was at the er ect time. ad other roadway dreams worked out

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o er the years it wou d ha e been di erent. It was a most ike I needed to be honest about who I was in order or the gi ts I brought to the tab e to u y make sense to people.”

Watermark spoke with Lee ahead o her �ina roadway bow as Thought ne. he re� ected on entering and e iting trange oo ” making T history and what she hopes comes next.

WATERMARK: WHAT’S IT LIKE LOOKING BACK ON MICHAEL R. JACKSON’S FACEBOOK MESSAGE?

organ ee To me the whole process is a testament that the things that are meant or you to ha e don t take a ot o cra y hoo s and barre s to get to. o I can ha e an audition that I completely bomb, but then that s the gig that I get.

I think a lot of that is because the things that are meant for you are meant for you. In the case o trange oo ” ichae sent me a message saying I got your name rom a mutua riend and wou d you be interested in coming in to do this reading o a new ro ect that I m working on ” I think he

CAROLEE CARMELLO MOMENT: L Morgan Lee (R) lends a sympathetic ear to Jaquel Spivey’s Usher in “A Strange Loop” on Broadway. PHOTO BY MARC J FRANKLIN, COURTESY L MORGAN LEE

saw me singing an arrangement o isney s art o our or d” that I did in a cabaret show and he was interested in me coming in. e sent me some clips of his music to check out.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS?

I was immediate y drawn to how raw his voice was as a writer, how blunt he was. e was saying things that we re not used to hearing particularly in musical theater.

There was something in my i e at that oint that made me ery interested in what this erson s was.

There are eo e who say trange oo ” is una o ogetica y ack or una o ogetica y ueer and I actua y don t think those things. I think that it s una o ogetica y ichae . ackson. This is a ery s eci�ic rom this human and it s how his mind works and how he s ound ways to e ress that through his artwork.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THE SHOW AND YOUR ROLES IN IT?

The musica is about a at ack gay usher who is gra ing with issues o se hatred and identity.

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sher is gra ing with these issues and the many di erent shades o thoughts that run through his mind. i o us ay the wor d around this human s head. e are �igments o sher s mind.

That s sort o the interesting thing about the iece e ery character around sher is his idea o other eo e they might be this way in rea i e they might not it s a his translation.

WHAT’S YOUR TRANSLATION OF USHER?

sher ee s o ressed and tortured by society s e ectations o ack men articu ar y ack gay men articu ar y ack at gay men. erything that he s gra ing with causes him to spew out these ersions o eo e around him. o to me as an artist I direct so I can t he but ook through that ens sher is gra ing with a ot o rage.

That rea y co ors the ways that he iews the eo e around him. is re ationshi with his parents, his family, it’s all coming rom a s ace o o e but a so rage. s a resu t you see that version of all these eo e. To me that s the reason

some o them are ortrayed as they are, because as a ack woman in the iece it s particularly complex.

YOU TRANSITIONED DURING THE SHOW. HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE THAT EXPERIENCE?

I am certainly a completely di erent human in so many ways than I was when I started the ourney with the show. I ee as i I shed my skin through the growth o the show and because we e had the gi t o ha ing three di erent roductions I e noticed that each run o the show im acted me di erent y.

The roadway run was in many ways the most di �icu t or me – which I think makes sense, because the more comfortable I’ve become in my own skin, and in my own womanhood the more distant I e e t rom the piece. In many ways, the more o a guest I e e t ike I was in the room com ared to when we started.

HOW SO?

e ore I was being o en about gender and was being assumed ma e my ourney was not necessari y ike sher s.

I did not ha e the socia issues

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that sher had I was ery ruit u in ew ork ity when I sort o started out. aybe a itt e too much. aughs. ut I connected to the underbe y o sher s ourney in that he was uestioning eo e and the e ectations o society, because I think that’s something that we a dea with. nd with each iteration o the show we a in a sense ust got dee er inside the oo . e were getting dee er and dee er into it and as we were doing that there was a eriod be ore we went o roadway where I d started transition and I was like, “this is not a room for me.

This is not my story. This is a gay ack ma e story and I am not a gay ack ma e. I ust don t be ong here.” o I reached out to the team and said I res ect the iece and I a so res ect my ourney and because o that I think I need to take a ste back and make room for the person who shou d be in that s ot to tell this story. I will be in the audience cheering you a on I will be there to support you, but I ust don t think this is a room that I’m meant to be in as a storyteller.”

HOW DID THEY REACT?

They came back to me pretty quickly. It sort of came down to a con ersation about how my presence in the piece he ed the reach o the show and he ed sort o e and who was being ta ked about and who is being seen in the story.

That s not something that as an actor you ever expect the team to say that they want to �igure out ways to make sure that you ee a �irmed. e ore that the anguage had retty much so e y been gay” and I think that was a sort o turning oint and the anguage started to become ueer.”

I identi y as ueer because it is a sense of other in some way and I don t necessari y ee like I subscribe to some of the anguage that has been gi en to us in terms of sexualities, because I don t think that they rea y had been made to be inc usi e o me. ueer” ee s ike reedom to me ike there s the s ace to do what I want to do without uestion.

WAS THOUGHT ONE ALWAYS FEMALE?

In my mind she was certainly always a woman.

hen I �irst oined the com any I sort o got o on the act that I cou d hide inside of it as an opportunity to play a ro e and not ha e to answer questions, because the material and music I e a ways been drawn to ha e most y been sort of female rep.

It has been con using or some people, because roles I may ha e �it they saw someone who they assumed was ma e and it was a rob em. hereas in trange oo ” I cou d ust ay Thought ne and it was ust sort o understood that this grou

moment is what he d me to the piece in so many ways. I kept coming back because I was ike I ne er get to do this kind o thing again. The show a owed me to do what I actua y rea y o e doing e en i it was ust or a mi isecond o time.

WHAT’S IT LIKE LOOKING BACK ON YOUR TONY NOMINATION AND JOURNEY?

Well, number one, I am still kind o gagged that it ha ened.

I think it s a big dea on many e e s because Thought ne is not trans. Thought ne is ust a woman, simply a woman, and cou d be ayed by anyone

are not without obstacles on the other side o it.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO SEE “A STRANGE LOOP” CLOSE ON BROADWAY?

It s an end o an era. I think for me personally, it is a very c ear statement that things can be ots o things at the same time. sing e iece a sing e e erience a sing e moment we ho d mu titudes inside o indi idua things. o a iece can be groundbreaking beauti u magica harm u dangerous and rob ematic a at the same time to di erent eo e.

I think my personal experience

The mission has always been that I want to be that woman that I knew I needed to see.

— TONY-NOMINATED ACTRESS L MORGAN LEE

o actors were aying these characters. That was he u or me at that oint in my ourney and I think in my instance there was so much nuance to it because I was actually on a gender ourney.

DID ANYTHING CHANGE IN THE SHOW?

There were some itt e eatures that changed and it’s been cool to see how the arts di y themse es u o er the years but ym athetic ar was a ways there. That was always my main feature, which I always call the Carolee Carmello moment.

I got this moment or a uick second o the show to ust be this sensib e eading ady and then she was gone. That s a big part of my relationship with the show actua y. In the beginning o the rocess getting to ha e that little Carolee Carmello

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com ortab e aying a woman. o I think it was a big dea to me because my roadway debut was in a ro e that is not trans s eci�ic which is one o the things I think that so many o us are �ighting or.

I think the Tony situation is coo because at the end o the day yes I was the �irst. I think that we get caught u in the accom ishment o there being a �irst but what we don t think to do with the eo e who are the �irsts is check in on them to see how they re doing. ecause to be a �irst means that you robab y had to go through a ot o stu in the dark.

It might be rea y wonder u to be in a indere a moment on a red car et in a gown made by a designer that you were dreaming about but I know wa king through those s aces that those indere a moments

through the ride o this show has been quite a roller coaster.

The more I got in touch with myself as a woman, the more obstac es I had with some o what the iece has been saying or how it was resented on roadway. nd I think there are e ements that I wou d ne er change because a those things were what the iece was su osed to be. The ayers are end ess and at the same time this is a ourney that I am so grate u or because I got to know myself so much more fully in the process of this. It is a very rare experience to be in a ro ect that you go through the transition rocess inside o and then get your roadway debut and a Tony nomination.

DO YOU EXPECT “A STRANGE LOOP” WILL TOUR?

I don t know. There are ots o rumors o course but I ust

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know organ ee is done. aughs. I do think that there is a wor d where this show shou d tour and shou d be done regiona y and a those things.

I am ersona y interested in what di erent directors wi bring to the iece.

I think eo e need to see it, because however many o inions uestions and thoughts indi idua s might have about it, it is a voice that is not heard. It is a that is not seen or heard near y enough so I think that eo e wou d bene�it rom hearing it and seeing it.

I do think that it can save lives, because some of the issues inside o it are very current. It can be very o ari ing so it ust needs to a into the right hands that s what’s important.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

y goa is to mo e orward in ways that are helpful. I want as much access as I can get I want to get as ar as I can go. I want to be in a T �i m situation, that’s where my heart is wanting to go the most because there’s also more of a platform there. I think it’s important for more people rom margina i ed grou s to have these platforms – because if we want our voices to be heard we ha e to ha e a s ace to s eak rom. The mission has always been that I want to be that woman that I knew I needed to see. s things come to a c ose with trange oo ” I am ooking towards the ight and am rea y ready to hea and breathe for a few weeks. I’m ooking orward to getting to breathe a itt e bit and then ike um ing back in and u y ike seeing kind o what s ne t. hat does i e ook ike or Tony nominee ” aughs.

That is the ne t ste . eo e kee using these words ike trai b a er” and a these things. e what does that ook ike how me. i e me more o ortunities to b a e more trai s then. aughs.

I want to see that.

Follow L Morgan Lee’s work at LMorganLee.com.

Learn more about “A Strange Loop” at StrangeLoopMusical.com and listen to the original Broadway cast recording wherever music is streamed or sold.

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DRAG

She’s Here!

Shangela gets ‘Fully Lit’ in Orlando o dance is something that e eryone shou d be a owed to e erience. o as a gay erson as a drag entertainer who was able to live out my experience in my most fabulous form on the show, both in and out o drag it was tru y a gi t. I m so grate u to be the erson that was chosen to be in that moment and to showcase and re resent the ueer community as best I cou d to so many eo e who didn t ha e a touch oint be ore to the wor d o drag.

WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT YOUR VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE?

(ABOVE)

HALLELOO:

Shangela’s “Fully Lit” tour kicked off Jan. 19 and visits Orlando Feb. 1.

PHOTO COURTESY DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

S

Ryan Williams-Jent

HANGELA IS NO STRANGER TO THE

s ot ight. The acti ist actor dancer and di a became an instant an a orite on u au s rag ace” in and hasn t s owed down since.

hi e she was e iminated �irst in the drag com etition s second season the entertainer returned or its third to secure a s ot in the to �i e. he ater became the �irst rag ace” star to compete in three separate seasons as a rontrunner on tars” in .

In the years since, her work has inc uded a turn on the st season o ancing with the tars.” hange a became the �irst drag entertainer to compete on the American version o the dancing com etition in where she reached the �ina s. he was a so in ited to The hite ouse to witness resident oe iden sign the es ect or arriage ct into aw. he became one o the �irst drag entertainers to attend such an e ent in the process.

urrent y hange a can be seen on s e re ere ” where she cu ti ates connection through the art o drag with co hosts ob the rag ueen and ureka ara. The trio came to entra F orida during its atest season artici ating in a ust ay ay” ra y and more. It s streaming now on a . e t u hange a s touring the nation with the Fu y it Tour” re� ecting on her e eriences and more. Watermark spoke with her ahead o its r ando sto at the r. hi i s enter Feb. .

WATERMARK: WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM “DANCING WITH THE STARS?”

hange a The biggest takeaway that I ha e is that the art and the o e

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To recei e an in itation that said resident oe iden and First ady r. oe iden cordia y re uest your resence at the hite ouse ” I said h honey get my i ia o e wig because I m going to . . ” It was abso ute y wonder u to be there it was tru y a dream come true and to do it in drag was a so a great gi t.

I wasn t re uired to be in drag but I wanted to showcase that drag ueens ha e a ro e to ay in mo ing the acce tance inc usi ity and the isibi ity o our community orward.

To ha e that re resentation at the hite ouse says a ot es ecia y during this time when certain states go ernors and di erent ty es o egis ation are rea y targeting the ueer community and s eci�ica y the drag community.

ATTACKS ON LGBTQ FLORIDIANS FACTORED HEAVILY INTO “WE’RE HERE.” WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT THAT?

et me be ery c ear. I o e F orida.

I o e F orida based on my ersona e eriences and the eo e o F orida that I’ve been able to encounter, or the most art. I e er ormed a o er F orida rom ackson i e r ando iami i ton anors Fort auderda e you know the do has been around and my e erience with F orida has been o erwhe ming y wonder u I meet the best eo e in F orida. ow in doing our show e re ere ” I was ab e to see another side o F orida that many eo e read about in the news and we understand it e ists because F orida has a high number

o red counties and conser ati es. nd eo e who are retty much homo hobic I m ust gonna kee it rea es ecia y those high u . o it s a ways an interesting re ationshi that I ha e with F orida because my experience with the people is so wonder u but then I know that there s an o osite rea m that e ists and I e e erienced that too. I ha e great ho e or F orida and that s why I m e cited to bring Fu y it” to r ando.

I m su er e cited to be there because F orida deser es entertainment.

F orida deser es to augh. F orida deser es to e erience hange a s Fu y it ” HOW WAS THE TOUR CONCEPTUALIZED?

I e done a number o tours but this one felt really special because it’s my �irst ma or tour a ter the andemic and I wanted to reconnect with my ans rom the stage. I e been working so much in te e ision and �i m grate u y but I ha en t been ab e to do as much touring es ecia y in this way. I e had so many really cool milestones in my career that eo e ha e been attached to ike the hite ouse and ancing with the tars” to e re ere” to way back when I �irst came in the door on season two o u au s rag ace” and working with di erent ce ebrities.

I want to share that.

WHAT CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT?

e re going to ha e a ery un concert sty e ee . hen I go to see eyonce and . o honey I want to wa k out thinking aby I got my money s worth ” o that s what I o e to gi e my ans I want to gi e them the high energy er ormance and ta ent that they re ami iar with and then I hit them with some hi arious side s itting stories rom the road and rom my career that rea y make eo e ha e a good time.

There s nothing ike a i e show and there s nothing ike hange a i e. aby get ready WHY IS THIS THE PERFECT SHOW FOR FANS NEW AND OLD?

This is the er ect show because right now we a want to augh and be entertained. e a want to ee something es ecia y something e citing and that s what the Fu y it” tour is a about. aby you might strike a match but it s not burning unti you see hange a.

Shangela’s “Fully Lit Tour” is scheduled for Feb. 1 at 8:30 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit DrPhillipsCenter.org.

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THEATER

Back in the Habit

Winter Park Playhouse kicks off 2023 with ‘Nunsense A-Men!’

(ABOVE)

THE NUNS:

(L-R) Ryan J. Lynch, Dustin Cunningham, David Michael Green, Alexander LaPlante and Bert Rodriguez star in “Nunsense A-Men!” at the Winter Park Playhouse.

PHOTO COURTESY WINTER PARK PLAYHOUSE

C

Shayne Watson

ONTINUING ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

season the inter ark ayhouse is bringing back a an a orite as its �irst musica or unsense en ”

This comedic musica is a s in o o the origina musica unsense ” which o ened roadway in with on y one di erence — a the characters are ayed by men.

The musica te s the story o �i e nuns the itt e isters o oboken who stage a ariety show to he raise unds to bury the remaining our nuns o their order who were accidenta y oisoned by the cook.

The origina roduction o unsense” was an instant hit running or more than er ormances and becoming the second ongest running roadway show in history. The show has been er ormed a o er wor d in di erent anguages

and has s awned si se ue s and three s in o s to inc ude unsense en ” which remiered in ew ork in .

While the plot may seem a little dark actor a id ichae reen who ays other u erior reassures audiences that it s more than a bi arre musica about burying nuns it s about orming re ationshi s.

I you s end any time thinking about the ot it gets dark retty uick y but what I see bui ding are the relationships between the sisters ” reen says. It s rea y about the re ationshi s behind a o the any wacky cra y stu that s ha ening on stage.”

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ctor ert odrigue who ays ister ary ubert says that throughout the doses o kooky and wacky” humor audiences wi grow an emotiona attachment towards the nuns creating the er ect ba ance o aughs and heart.

“It’s a little sneaky, the re ationshi s and the humanity the heart of each of these characters that comes through is une ected ” odrigue says. hi e re ationshi s are bui ding on stage and through the audience re ationshi s are a so bui ding behind the curtain. reen and odrigue are returning to the ayhouse a ongside actor ustin unningham whi e actors e ander a ante and yan . ynch wi be making their debut er ormance on the inter ark stage.

Those that are coming into it or the �irst time are sort o ooking or a itt e bit o guidance and he �iguring out how they �it into it ” odrigue says. hi e those who ha e done it are a so being o en to new energy and new ideas.”

This wi be reen s third time re orming in unsense en ” and says it s nice to �ind di erent moments with di erent eo e because e eryone brings something di erent to their character.

I e gotten to watch eo e grow into their ro es I e watched each of these four people really b ossom ” reen says. isa e i o inter ark ayhouse s director o marketing and ub ic re ations says that it s ery im ortant to gi e the audiences the best ossib e roduction so they e hired bri iant actors because this show cannot work without the ta ent being e ce tiona y good. omedy is rea y hard eo e don t think it is but it s harder than drama ” e i o says. o you take comedic e ort rom these �i e bri iant actors and air it with music as we as audience interaction it s ust one o a kind and it can only happen when you have bri iant ta ent on stage.”

ongside the ta ent each actor possesses, the actors have also ound ersona connections to their characters that help make the story feel so authentic. odrigue says ister ubert is great because she s e erybody s con�idant best riend and gets oy rom he ing e erybody e se achie e their dream.

I see a ot o myse in ister ubert because I en oy he ing other eo e rea i e their u est otentia ” odrigue says. I ust o e that idea because it s ery easy or me to access.” hi e reen is not a arent nor a mother, he says he especially relates to the “mother aspect” his character ays. e reca s the cast being ike his ami y and ee ing a res onsibi ity or e erything.

“It is my family, this is my chosen ami y I o e being the mother to this incredib e chosen ami y” reen says.

With a cast that feels more like a ami y it s easy to understand why reen and odrigue re er to the inter ark ayhouse as their home.

They rea y ha e a strong commitment to the community and to creating art and theater that ust makes you ha y” odrigue says.

It rea y ee s ike coming home it sounds ike such a c ich but it s not I love my time here.”

While the musical features males dressed u as ema e nuns odrigue says the heart of the story is still intact regard ess o the switch u .

The heart and the message remain the same so as ong as the actor is remaining true to the character the te t and the re ationshi s that are disco ered ” odrigue says. reen says it hasn t been a cha enge aying an origina y ema e ins ired ro e because he isn t aying a woman who is aying a nun he is sim y ust aying a nun.

I m not aying a man in drag aying a woman then aying a nun.

I m ust aying other u erior” reen says. I think we are a doing that because that s our ob as an actor.”

The musica is directed and choreogra hed by inter ark ayhouse director oy en and wi ha e a ai ab e showings an Feb . Tickets rices are e ening senior e enings matinee industry student and active military. e i o encourages eo e to get their tickets as soon as ossib e because o ening week re iew shows are a ready so d out.

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announcements

TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS The St. Petersburg Quakers honored their relationship with Salon Founder Edie Daly Jan. 8, awarding her with a plaque of appreciation. Read more on p. 10.

Sage SRQ celebrates four years in Sarasota this month.

6S Boutique is now offering public, drop-in shopping hours. Learn more at 6SBoutique.com.

Mark Bias and Carrie West were married Jan. 9 at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller’s office after more than four decades together. Read more at WatermarkOnline.com.

Empath Health announced Jan. 12 that Jonathan D. Fleece has been named president and CEO of the organization and its affiliate programs following the retirement of previous CEO Rafael J. Sciullo. “Being Empath’s CEO is much more than a job for me. It’s my life’s work and passion,” Fleece said in a statement. Read more at EmpathHealth.org.

Empath Partners in Care was awarded $150,985.46 at the SMART Ride 19 check distribution party in Wilton Manors Jan. 15. “For all the people the raised the money, kudos, but to all the people who donate the money, even bigger kudos to you,” Executive Director Joy Winheim said.

CONDOLENCES Tony Award-winning actor and director Frank Galati died Jan. 2 at 79. Galati spent the last decade working with the Asolo Repertory Theatre, which said he “will be remembered for the enormous intelligence, compassion and creativity he brought to Asolo Rep.” Read more at WatermarkOnline.com.

Dustin Michael Schaad, a Bradenton native who performed as a drag entertainer by the name of Ba’Naka in Washington D.C. for the last decade, died Jan. 11 at 36. Read more at WatermarkOnline.com.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Cocktail manager Melvin Theriault, Transamerica training consultant Stephen Kalter (Jan. 19); Lakeland filmmaker Kevin O’Brien (Jan. 20); Sarasota stylist Dylonn Cole (Jan. 21); Tampa Bay political activist Michael Batista, Tampa customer service rep Giovanni McFarlane Fitzpatrick (Jan. 22); University of Tampa educator Christopher Gurrie (Jan. 23); St. Petersburg performer Rolando Xavier (Jan. 24); Tampa Bay performer Ashley Smith, ABC7 meteorologist Trevor Hayes, Your Neighborhood Realty’s Jim Longstreth, Tampa Bay realtor Donna Knight (Jan. 25); Tampa Bay guiding light Jan Flowers, Sarasota photographer Kaje Housman, Double M Band’s Mario Jooste, The Garage bartender Larry Wolf, Ybor City special events promoter Chucky Ruckus, Tampa Bay designer Sofia Banda (Jan. 26); Tampa Bay realtor Michael Scranton, Cocktail bartender Robb Weese, Curant Health’s Kyle Richard (Jan. 28); City Side Lounge bartender Derrick Deering (Jan. 29); Woodhouse Day Spa owner Mark Lettelleir, FSU grad and Ocala muse Bill Bondank, Tampa Bay artist Andrea Pawlisz, SLlama Productions Founder Samantha Luque (Jan. 30); Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, St. Petersburg massage therapist Emily Stone, Tampa Softball player Thomas Hale, Tampa darling Bryan Chant (Feb. 1)

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EPIC SUCCESS: EPIC Executive Director Joy Winheim (C) accepts a ceremonial check from SMART Ride Founder Glen Weinzimer (L) and Todd Delmay (R) Jan. 15 in Wilton Manors. PHOTO FROM

THE SMART RIDE’S FACEBOOK

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THEY DO: Mark Bias (L) and Carrie West tie the knot at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court Jan. 9.

PHOTO FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH CO. CLERK’S FACEBOOK

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FOR EVERYONE: (L-R) Jon Gillian, Hunter Kilpatrick, Jeff Baker and Doug Frazer strike a pose at Zoie’s Jan. 10.

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PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

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LOCAL LEADERS: (L-R) U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, State Rep. Fentrice Driskell and State Rep. Michele Rayner enjoy the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs MLK Leadership Breakfast Jan. 16. PHOTO FROM REP.

RAYNER’S FACEBOOK

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HALL OF FAMER: Salon founder Edie Daly (L) receives an honor from the St. Pete Quakers and Lyn Carol Henderson at the organization’s meeting space Jan. 8. PHOTO BY PAM MCMICHAEL

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CENTRAL QUEENS: (L-R) Te Monet, Lady Janet, Keirra Ka’oir Summers and host Kathryn Nevets take a bow at Enigma Jan. 13.

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PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

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TAMPA HOPEFULS: (L-R) Local candidates Tyler Barrett, Rick Fifer, Sonja Brookins and Jose Vasquez speak to voters at the Hillsborough Co. LGBTQ+ Dem Caucus’ meeting at New World Tampa Jan. 12. PHOTO FROM THE DEM CAUCUS’ FACEBOOK

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THAT’S A WRAP: Dr. Lillian Dunlap (L) and Leigh Davis conclude the LGBTQ Resource Center’s SpeakOut series Jan. 12.

PHOTO FROM THE LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER’S FACEBOOK

watermark Your LGBTQ News Source.

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announcements

CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS The LGBT+ Center Orlando celebrated its 24th year at the Mills/50 District location Jan. 8.

The Hammered Lamb celebrates its 10th anniversary Jan. 29.

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Come Out With Pride announced via social media Jan. 13 that Shea Cutliff, Robin Daly, Gary Harrington, Dr. Solimar Miranda and Adam McCabe will be joining the LGBTQ Pride organization as new board members.

NOW HIRING

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Watermark has been the premiere source for LGBTQ news across Central Florida and Tampa Bay for more than 25 years. Now you can be part of the team that brings the news to the LGBTQ community. We are expanding our Central Florida sales team. If you are a motivated, organized, outgoing self starter who is great at time management and works well by yourself and with others, this may be the right career for you. Email your resume and cover letter to Watermark publisher Rick Todd at Rick@WatermarkOnline.com.

VOTE NOW The Watermark Awards for Variety and Excellence, or the WAVEs as we call them, recognize the best in Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ community in the areas of activism, service, entertainment and more. Go to WatermarkOnline.com/WAVES2023Top5 to vote for your LGBTQ favorite. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Feb 10.

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PRIDE MIXER: (L-R) Thor Falk, Kellie Parkin and Denise Merritt at The Pride Chambers January Business Connect mixer at Celebration Gardens in Orlando Jan. 11. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA

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PROTECTING TRANS KIDS: Jen Cousins (L) and Andrea Montanez attend the Orange County School Board meeting in Orlando to voice support for trans students Jan. 10. PHOTO FROM ANDREA MONTANEZ’S FACEBOOK

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LAUGH OUT LOUD: (L-R) Christopher Brown, Daniel Sergi, Brandon Bracale-Llewellyn and Alan Bracamonte at the Improv Comedy Club in Orlando Jan. 13 to see comedian Matteo Lane. PHOTO FROM ALAN

BRACAMONTE’S FACEBOOK

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ONE LOVE: Axel Andrews (R), grabbing a photo with Carson Kressley and Tiara Latrice, visits Colorado Springs for Club Q’s Night of 1,000 Hugs event Jan. 13. PHOTO

FROM TIARA LATRICE’S FACEBOOK

FRINGE DOWNTOWN: (L-R) Wayne Dictor, Lynn “Moira” Dictor, Georgie Miller and Barry Miller check out Orlando Fringe’s brand new ArtSpace in downtown Orlando Jan. 11.

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ANNA V. ESKAMANI’S FACEBOOK

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

FAMILY HOLIDAY: Twila Holiday (L) and drag daughter Tik Tak Holiday during the premiere of Orlando Drag Race Live 2023 at the Renaissance Theatre Company Jan. 15. PHOTO FROM

TWILA HOLIDAY’S FACEBOOK

LGBTQ ALLIES: Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (L) and Florida Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost attend the 2023 Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy 32nd Annual Prayer Breakfast in Orlando Jan. 16. PHOTO FROM

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NORTHBOUND: Central Florida-based travel nurse Chris Milliron is ready to catch his flight at Orlando International Airport Jan. 16 to head to Massachusetts for his next job.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS Orlando socialite Ron Studdard, Central Florida artist Ben Van Beusekom (Jan. 20); Watermark Senior Orlando Account Manager Sam Callahan, Former Watermark intern Colton Adkins (Jan. 21); Orlando LGBTQ activist Michael Deeying, Orlando actor Mike Van Dyke (Jan. 23); Orlando home inspector Paul Kusic, former Watermark intern Kim Slichter (Jan. 24); The Bros in Convo Initiative founder and executive director Daniel Downer, softball expert Janders Santos (Jan. 25); The LGBT+ Center Orlando board member Roxy Santiago, State of Gratitude founder and owner Chris Bilyk (Jan. 26); CR insurance group agent Miguel Rullan-Calaf (Jan. 27); Orlando performer Ellen Jewell, Orlando thespian Tim DeBaun, Faith Arts Village Executive Director Will Benton, Spooky Empire’s Gina Mongelli (Jan. 28); “Shameless” bowler Jason Cook, Central Florida photographer Jenna Michele (Jan. 29); Lightning fast jammer Haley Perry, Orlando performer Apple Teenee (Jan. 30); Orlando Wedding Bells writer Lora Korpar, Orlando drag legend Leigh Shannon, marketing pro Ken Kundis, former WFTV News 9 anchor Jorge Estevez, Orlando Gay Chorus singer Holly Cowden-Feld, Orlando juggler Dantei Grace (Jan. 31); Orlando softball hunk Jason Hamm, Southern Nights owner Rick Kowalczyk (Feb. 1).

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

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community calendar

EVENT PLANNER TIGLFF A-List Series: “Trick,” Jan. 22, Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg.

813-879-4220; TIGLFF.com

CENTRAL FLORIDA 8th Annual TURNABOUT

“The World of Musicals,” Jan. 22, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 7 P.M.-12 A.M. SOUTHERN NIGHTS, ORLANDO Come out to Southern Nights Orlando to see your favorite staff members perform in drag for the eighth annual TURNABOUT event benefiting The Barber Fund, a nonprofit that helps provide household funds to those battling cancer. Hosted by Roxxxy Andrews and Sassy Devine, the event starts with a cocktail hour at 7 p.m. with the show kicking off at 8 p.m. For more information, go to Southern Nights Orlando’s Facebook page.

Love is Love Pride Fest SATURDAY, FEB. 4, STARTING AT 2 P.M. ARTISAN ALLEY, DELAND DeLand Pride is back with its annual Pride celebration called Love is Love Pride Fest. Leading up to the Pride festival, DeLand Pride will host several events throughout the week including drag kings and queens shows, queeraoke, a bowling event, a trivia night, a pre-party and more. For more information, visit DeLandPride.org.

Drag Queen Brunch ft.

Kennedy Davenport, Jan. 22, Salty Shamrock, Apollo Beach. 813-938-5282; GregAndersonEvents.com

FULLY LIT Shangela brings her “Fully Lit” tour to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Feb. 1. PHOTO COURTESY LIVE NATION

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

TAMPA BAY Love Reigns!

A Blessing of Saints SUNDAY, JAN. 22, 4 P.M. THE CATACOMBS, YBOR CITY Join the Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as they honor the organization’s saints, influential members of the LGBTQ community who have donated their time and energy to the order. Honorees include founder Steven Reigns and Mistress Apple Love. The event begins at 4 p.m. with no cover and the gathering will feature raffle prizes and more.

Learn more at Facebook.com/TampaSisters.

Equality Florida Mural Reveal THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 5-6 P.M. SEA MAIDS CREAMERY, TAMPA Join Equality Florida at Sea Maids Creamery in Seminole Heights for the celebratory reveal ceremony of 2023’s Equality Mural. Speakers will include Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith, muralist Gillian Fazio and more. Sea Maids will be open for business during this outdoor and free event, with parking behind the building as well as on the street. RSVP and learn more at ACT.EQLFL.org/A/Mural-Reveal.

CENTRAL FLORIDA LGBTQ+ Sand Volleyball League – Winter 2023 Kickoff, Jan. 20, Volleyball Courts at Festival Park, Orlando.

OUTSportsLeague.com “Clue: On Stage,” Jan. 20-Feb. 5, Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee.

407-846-4643; OsceolaArts.org “Evita,” Jan. 20-Feb. 5, The Heneger Center, Melbourne.

321-723-8698; Heneger.org “Tick, Tick…Boom,” Jan. 20-Feb. 5, Bay Street Players, Eustis. 352-357-7777; EustisStateTheatre.org “Nunsense: A-Men!,” Jan. 20-Feb. 18, Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterParkPlayhouse.org Comedy Qxeens, Jan. 21, The Abbey Bar, DeLand. 386-734-4545; AbbeyBarDeLand.com

Puttin’ on the Ritz: Cheers to 100 Years!, Jan. 21, The Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch, Sanford. 407-321-8111; WDPAC.com

Make Someone Happy starring Rebecca Fisher, Jan. 26-29, Orlando Shakes, Orlando. 407-447-1700; OrlandoShakes.org

Universo Latina Royalty Welcome Party, Jan. 21, Irish Shannon’s, Orlando.

AmorEvents-LLC.com

Drag Brunch – Sissy That Walk, Jan. 29, Island Time, Orlando. 407-930-2640; IslandTimeOrlando.com

Bungalower Drag Bingo and Music Video Dance Party, Jan. 24, Tactical Brewing Co., Orlando. 407-203-3303; Bungalower.com

Shangela: Fully Lit Tour, Feb. 1, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Jan. 25, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org “Wicked,” Jan. 25-Feb. 12, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org VarieTEASE GENESIS, Jan. 26-29, Fringe ArtSpace, Orlando. 407-648-0077; FringeArtSpace.org

TAMPA BAY “Hamlet,” Through Feb. 5, Jobsite Theater, Tampa. 813-229-7827; JobsiteTheater.org 70s-early 90s Night, Jan. 20, The Garage on Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

727-235-9086; Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage Dine ‘N Drag, Jan. 20, 27, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg.

727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com Miss Ybor City Burlesque, Jan. 21, Metro Inclusive Health, Tampa. 813-232-3808; Facebook.com/YborCitySirens

Ultimate Showdown 2023, Jan. 22, Southern Nights, Tampa. 813-777-4832; TampaPride.org “Queer Qomedy Queens,” Jan. 22, Tampa Improv, Tampa. 813-864-4000; ImprovTampa.com Brunch on Grand Central, Jan. 22, 29, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com EPIC Generations: Board Games and Donuts, Jan. 24, Empath Partners in Care, St. Petersburg. 727-328-3260; MyEPIC.org Passion 4 Pits Drag Queen Bingo, Jan. 24, Quench Lounge, Largo. 727-754-5900; QuenchLounge.com “Absolute Queen,” Jan. 25, Straz Center, Tampa.

813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org “Magic Hunks,” Jan .29, Hamburger Mary’s, Clearwater. 727-400-6996; HamburgerMarys.com/ Clearwater 2023 State of the City, Jan. 30, City Hall, St. Petersburg.

727-893-7111; StPete.org “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” Jan. 31-Feb. 5, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

SARASOTA Embracing our Differences 20th Anniversary Exhibit Celebration, Bayfront Park, Sarasota. 941-404-5710; EmbracingOurDifferences.org

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

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