CENTRAL FL OUT + ABOUT

City Commissioner Patty Sheehan was recognized as one of Orange Appeal’s Women of the Year at the 11th Annual Orlando Women’s Conference held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Sept. 14. State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith received a special recognition from Mega Car Show Sept. 25 for his continued public service to the community during Hispanic Heritage Month. Se7enbites celebrates 8 years in business Oct. 1.

Central Florida entertainer Billy Bowser passed away Sept. 18. Central Florida Sounds of Freedom’s Brandt J. Ventimiglia passed away Sept. 18.

Three of the nation’s largest blood centers — Vitalant, 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.

HIV/AIDS activist Rob Domenico (Sept. 30); Parliament House’s Niki Ames, Central Florida drag queen Tora Himan (Oct. 2); Local musician Taylor Bulloch, “The Money Coach” Tammy Lally (Oct. 3); The Milk District Executive Director Zac Alfson, Orlando bartender Tracy Thomas (Oct. 5); Lighthouse Realty broker/owner Mike Trexler (Oct. 6); Orlando Youth Alliance CEO Michael Slaymaker, graphic designer Jocelynn White, drag performer April Fresh and Central Florida radio host Loc Robertson, Former Watermark designer Katie DiBenedetto (Oct. 7); Orlando Meltdown coordinator Kyle Garther, D’Squared Productions’ Douglas White (Oct. 8); Mad Cow Theatre’s Mitzi Maxwell, Libby’s Legacy founder Robin Maynard-Harris (Oct. 9); Parliament House’s Robert Arroyo, USAA BOLD Leadership’s Michael Paonessa (Oct. 11); Orlando DJ and magician VJ Nick Comis, Mills50 director Joanne Grant, Orlando Health’s Tim Leddy (Oct. 12); Old Town Kissimmee’s Todd Larkin, Watermark freelancer Jerick Mediavilla (Oct. 13). 4

1HONORED REP: State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (L) and husband Jerick Mediavilla show off Smith’s award from the Mega Car Show at Dezerland Park Orlando Sept. 25. PHOTO

2MAKING MURALS: Kali Newton-Reed (L) and Seth Pisano pose with Kim Murphy’s latest mural, Guy Fieri, on the wall of Se7en Bites in Orlando Sept. 23.

3SPREAD LOVE: Barry Miller (L) and Georgie Pelaez grab a photo with a Brooklyn mural Sept.

23. PHOTO COURTESY MILLER

4RAINBOW PIER: MojoMan owner Lane Blackwell checks out the rainbow pier in San Juan during his vacation in Puerto Rico Sept.

23. PHOTO COURTESY BLACKWELL 5 BEAUTIFUL PORTRAITS: (L-R) Andrea Montanez, Efrain Garcia, Nathan Escalera and Stephen Vazquez attend a QLatinx event at the LGBT+ Center Orlando Sept. 18.

6WOMAN OF THE YEAR: City Commissioner Patty Sheehan is recognized as one of Orlando’s Women of the Year at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Sept. 14.

7BIRTHDAY BASH: Danielle Hunter (L) and Suebee Laginess attend Darcel Steven’s birthday drag brunch at The Hammered Lamb in Orlando Sept. 25.

8NEW SPACE: Dr. Rafael Piñero tours the new location of Piñero Preventive’s medical offices in Orlando Sept. 23. PHOTO COURTESY

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