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CENTRAL FL OUT + ABOUT
announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS
Andy Fontaine and Josh Roth were engaged in Orlando Aug. 6. Jochy Cora-Santiago and Jesseth Duran were engaged Aug. 8. Luis Alberto Sousa-Lazaballet became a U.S. citizen Aug. 13. Will’s Pub celebrates its 25th anniversary on Sept. 1. 26Health celebrates six years as a fully functional comprehensive health center this month.
DONATIONS
Urban Quarters real estate team Kate Maini and Nicolas Smith will be accepting clothing donations Aug. 21 from 2-4 p.m. in the parking lot of Southern Nights Orlando. In return, donors will receive a packet of free drink cards to the clothing drive sponsors including District Dive, The 808 Orlando, The Hammered Lamb, Stonewall Bar Orlando, SAVOY Orlando, Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery and Situation Sundays/Sunday Surrender at Ember. All donations will be delivered to Out of the Closet Thrift Store in Orlando which benefits AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
RESEARCH STUDY
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.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Orlando-based actress Daniella Sagona, Central Florida performer Danielle Hunter, Orlando artist Steven McCune, Winter Park Playhouse’s Todd Long (Aug. 19); Orlando LGBTQ activist Sam Graper (Aug. 20); 26Health’s Debo Ofsowitz, school teacher and ally Tabatha Schmidt (Aug. 22); Orlando International Airport’s Pedro Aponte, Orlando graphic artist Marcus Vale (Aug. 23); Sunnyland Slammer Shana Moshen, Ally and activist Karen Brown (Aug. 24); Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Universal Brad Partridge (Aug. 25); Orlando’s Eddie Mora, Central Florida singer and actress Jill Wilson, Former Watermark film critic Stephen Miller (Aug. 26); Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse coordinator Benjamin Cox (Aug. 27); Orlando artist Keith Theriot (Aug. 28); Orlando Miller’s Ale House kitchen coach Nicole Phillips, IT guru Jeff Kern, Orlando artist and photographer Lee Vandergrift (Aug. 29); Human Rights Campaign’s Xavier Persad (Aug. 31); Central Florida performer Philip Ancheta (Sept. 1); Orlando LGBTQ advocate Heather Lea Soersdal (Sept. 2). 4
1MEGA VOLUNTEERS: The LGBT+ Center Orlando’s Garden Cafe volunteers show their love for all things LGBTQ pop culture at MegCon in Orlando Aug. 12.
PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
2COMMISSIONER
CAMPAIGN: Martin Fugate
— aka Leigh Shannon — speaks to supporters during his city commissioner campaign kickoff event at Anthony’s Pizzeria in College Park Aug. 4.
PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
3LOCAL IMPRESSION: Chris Milliron checks out Lasting Impressions at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Aug.
11. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
4MASKED UP: Ben Johansen reminds everyone to smile and wear a mask at Embellish FX in College Park Aug.
13. PHOTO FROM BEN JOHANSEN 5 IN THE HÄOS: (L-R) Blue Star, Jamie Bridges, Ashley Wendorff and Suebee Laginess grab a selfie together at HÄOS on Church July 29.
PHOTO FROM SUEBEE LAGINESS
6FIRST CAKE: Proud moms, Lisa Sanchez (L) and Lia Rew-Sanchez, celebrate their son Aiden’s first birthday
Aug. 14. PHOTO FROM SANCHEZ
& REW-SANCHEZ
7FAN FAVORITES: Fans of “The Umbrella Academy” cosplay during MegaCon at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Aug. 14.
PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
8RUNNING GOALS: GOAL cfl President Grace Peek-Harris (R) shares a selfie with wife Elie Peek-Harris, who just completed the Urban Wildland half marathon in Richfield, Minnesota July 31.
PHOTO FROM GRACE PEEK-HARRIS
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