Shades of Pride to celebrate Black, queer joy with TS Madison
The Dru Project releases new edition of its GSA guide
SOLO SESSION
‘Schitt’s Creek’ alum Noah Reid brings his new tour to Clearwater
Accepting new patients
Primary Care | Hypertension | Diabetes
Geriatrics | LGBTQ+ | HRT | Immunizations
Mon - Fri: 7am-6pm | Sat: 9am - 2pm | 407-426-9693 |
2766 E. Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32803
Accepting most insurances. Se Habla Español
Rick Todd
PUBLISHER Rick@WatermarkOutNews.com
PUBLISHER’S DESK
A Time for Change
ITHINK IT’S DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE
your own happiness. Often, and sometimes appropriately, we tend to choose obligations over happiness.
Last week our editor-in-chief, Jeremy Williams, gave his notice to leave Watermark Out News in June stating his plans to move to New York City. After more than a decade of putting the needs of Watermark Out News before his own, I am sad but proud to see him make this change.
I first met Jeremy many years ago when Watermark was in search of a sales team account manager. Jeremy was a journalism student at the time, looking for a way into the business. I remember being impressed with his customer service experience and his outgoing personality. I thought he would be a good fit but experience had taught me that a part-timer on our sales team was not the answer.
Against the wishes of our sales manager, I told him we would not be able to make an offer to Jeremy. Jeremy’s response was to ask what he needed to do to make it happen, to which we replied that he needed to make himself available full-time. And so he did.
Jeremy proved to be a stellar employee, well-liked by the staff and especially his clients. He was one of our top sales reps of all time. In fact, he was too good for his own good. Being part of the sales team was not his end game; it was his foot in the door. He asked several times to be moved to the editorial team but remained in sales because it is what Watermark needed.
Eventually, not seeing any editorial positions in his future, Jeremy moved to North Dakota to be with family. Shortly after, editorial
team member Jamie Hyman announced she was going to be a mother. She asked if she could call Jeremy back from North Dakota to fill in for her maternity leave. I agreed he was our guy and Jeremy jumped at the chance to return.
Upon Jamie’s return to work, Steve Blanchard — who was the editor at that time — announced he was making a career change. With Jamie back in the driver’s seat for Central Florida, we needed someone to take care of Tampa Bay. We asked Jeremy to move to Tampa and he did.
I don’t think he ever found the ideal living situation out there but he did it because it was what we needed, and he was great.
When we hired Billy Manes to be editor-in-chief, we asked Jeremy to move back to Orlando. He was excited for the opportunity to work side-by-side with Billy, someone he looked up to as a journalism student.
I was with Jeremy on June 12, 2016. His return to Orlando had made us roommates and a small group of us had taken him to dinner and a movie the night before his birthday. We were watching “And the Band Played On” around 2 a.m. when we got the news of the Pulse shooting and we stayed up all night watching the news and Darcel Stevens’ live feeds.
Within a year of Pulse, Jamie moved to London and Billy passed away. Jeremy stepped up to lead our Central Florida editorial team as if it was what he was put here to do. We didn’t lose a beat.
It isn’t easy to replace someone like Jeremy. His dedication to Watermark Out News is unique and that will be greatly missed. However, with his help over the next couple of
months, I promise our Central Florida family will find the right person to fill his shoes. With my 23 years of experience at this organization, and with my stint as editor myself, I will guide this new employee to make sure that once again Watermark Out News does not skip a beat.
The loss of Jeremy to New York isn’t just a professional one for me, it’s a personal loss.
As I stated earlier, we were roommates for a few months.
Jeremy stepped up to lead our Central Florida editorial team as if it was what he was put here to do.
We are partners in crime, attending countless events together. He cracks me up and is one of my two favorite people to play Quiplash with.
Jeremy was with me through my toughest times, when my drinking turned from fun to darkness. He was there when I did what I think was one of the worst decisions I have ever made and stuck by my side while I figured it out and supported me while I got better.
Jeremy, I am so grateful to have worked with you and to call you a friend. You are going to love New York and it will love you. Don’t forget to try Mary O’s Irish soda bread scones!
Stay visible, stay strong and support each other.
BRYANA SALDANA is a 25-year-old, Afro-Latina poet born and raised in Orlando. Saldana had her first published poem through “Women Who Roar.” Saldana’s pronouns are She/Her/ They. Page 15
HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, MARTIN “LEIGH SHANNON” FUGATE, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TATIANA QUIROGA, TIFFANY RAZZANO, SISTER JUANA REACTION, MOMMA ASHLEY ROSE, TREVOR ROSINE, BRYANA SALDANA, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, MICHAEL WANZIE, MULAN WILLIAMS, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI
BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, J.D. CASTO, BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARCUS MOSLEY, DYLAN TODD, CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT PHOTOGRAPHY
THE DRU PROJECT RELEASES NEW EDITION OF ITS GSA GUIDE
Fabiana Ungaro
ORLANDO | The Dru Project launched in June 2017 as a legacy foundation for Christopher Andrew “Drew” Leinonen, one of the 49 victims lost at the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016. To date, The Dru Project has donated $250,000 in scholarships to LGBTQ+ youth and Gender and Sexuality Alliance grants in honor of Leinonen, who launched his school’s GSA in 2002.
The Dru Project released its updated, second edition GSA guide on April 11, which covers everything from LGBTQ+ history and a breakdown of knowing your rights to club engagement tools.
“It is the most comprehensive guide of its kind to date, the first edition has been downloaded in 48 states and 14 different countries. We’re very hopeful that this one is going to take off and be just as helpful as a guide for these clubs to be able to take their groups to the next level,” says Sara Grossman, The Dru Project’s board president.
Originally launched in 2017, the updated guide represents a significant evolution in resources for GSAs nationwide, The Dru Project said in a statement. This new edition builds upon the foundation of the first, incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences from a team of six editors. These contributors, hailing from various backgrounds, sexualities, genders, races, religions and nationalities have collaborated to create a guide that is more inclusive and intersectional than ever before.
Key features of The Dru Project’s second edition GSA guide include intersectional perspectives, insights and advice from a diverse team of writers, ensuring representation across multiple identities; updated resources, new content addressing contemporary challenges faced by GSAs and actionable strategies for advocacy and support; and practical guidance, tools for establishing and maintaining inclusive environments that promote acceptance and understanding.
The organization is also currently working on selecting its new scholarship recipients. This year, they are offering four college scholarships and one student loan grant each worth $5,000 to applicants attending college, trade school and grad school. They are giving priority to LGBTQ+ youth in anti-equality states where their safety, education and health are threatened by legislation. According to Grossman, while they are providing special consideration this year for transfer situations, they do not plan to exclude the general population of queer students who also need scholarships.
“We really are not trying to be prohibitive when it comes to the money we’re giving out. We simply want to be able to help as many queer students achieve their education and dreams as possible,” Grossman says.
The second edition GSA guide is available to download for free from TheDruProject.org. Their scholarship application is open from now through June 20.
central florida news
BREVARD COUNTY TEACHER DENIED CONTRACT RENEWAL OVER USING STUDENT’S PREFERRED NAME
Lola Fontanez
ORLANDO | A Brevard County teacher will not have her contract renewed for the upcoming school year after the district accused her of using a student’s preferred name without parental permission.
Brevard Public Schools says the act directly violates the Parental Rights in Education law that was passed in 2023, prohibiting teachers from calling students by any name other than their legal, given name without written parental consent.
BPS released a statement revealing that they would not be renewing the contract of Melissa Calhoun, an AP Literature teacher at Satellite High School, for the 2025-26 school year saying that the district was made aware that she “had been referring to a student by a name other than their legal name, without parental permission when the parent reached out to us.”
“BPS supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed,” the statement continued. “After the accusation
was made, the district conducted a detailed investigation. Based on the teacher’s own admission that she knowingly did not comply with state statute she received a letter of reprimand. Teachers, like all employees, are expected to follow the law.”
BPS stated that Calhoun is currently working under a 10-month contract that expires in May.
Calhoun has been at Satellite High Scholl since 2018, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Students, families and colleagues have all come out in support of Calhoun. A Change.org petition was created in an effort to reinstate the teacher, flooded with comments from students and their parents.
The petition has garnered more than 53,000 verified signatures since its upload April 8.
Many of the comments reflect Calhoun’s impact on her Satellite community as a teacher of nearly 12 years.
“She is genuine. She respects her students, cares for them, and always wants them to succeed. She goes above and beyond to make them feel proud of themselves and feel capable of accomplishments. As a parent of her former students,
I can say she pushes for excellence, teaches critical thinking, and in the process instills lessons that have lasted past middle school and high school. Her connection and care for this community is amazing. Teachers, good ones, should be held as heroes, not dismissed. Ms Calhoun is absolutely one of the best and Satellite High School is a better place with her teaching.” said one commenter.
At a recent BPS school board meeting, Kristine Staniec who identified herself as a parent of a student in the district, as well as a colleague of Calhoun’s, spoke out in the teacher’s defense.
“There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent,” she said. “Just a teacher trying to connect with a student, and for that, her contract was not renewed despite her strong dedication and years of service. I ask you, how can we justify this?”
The media specialist continued saying, “The teacher made a difference in her classroom and in the lives of our students, including my own child. She deserved more than a quiet exit. She deserved fairness, context and compassion.”
Melissa Calhoun, an AP Literature teacher at Satellite High School, had her contract terminated leading to more than 53,000 signatures on Change. org. SCREENSHOT FROM CHANGE.ORG
BE FABULOUS MUSIC & ARTS PRIDE FEST TO CELEBRATE 15 YEARS
Julia Ferrara
SARASOTA | The Fabulous Arts Foundation will hold its Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest May 8-10, a three-day celebration of queer creativity and community.
The festival will mark 15 years that the Fabulous Arts Foundation has been committed to nonprofit work and fostering the arts as a space for connection. The organization held the grand opening of the Fab LGBTQIA+ Center in January to offer the community a year-round place to create, heal and connect, which this year’s celebration will benefit.
Its “three days of fabulousness” will officially kick off in the space May 8 at 6 p.m. with the exhibition “Rooted & Radical: The Art of Queer & Trans Resilience,” a free event open to the public. It will celebrate strength, heritage and the transformative power of creative expression with work by queer and trans artists exploring themes of self-discovery, resistance, healing and radical self-expression.
Following the kickoff will be the Tea4T Drag Open Stage, also held at the center May 9 at 7 p.m. Organizers promise a night of bold performances, dazzling artistry and unapologetic queer joy. The ticketed 18+ event will bring together local and regional drag performers, blending traditional drag with experimental and boundary-pushing acts.
The Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest will close the weekend May 10 from 3-10 p.m. It will feature a lineup of LGBTQ+ and ally musicians headlined by Berra, an indie-pop artist from D.C. with a soulful and alternative sound, and GeeXella, a DJ from Atlanta who incorporates house, techno, soca and baile funk into their sets.
There will also be performances from regional fan favorites like MeteorEYES, Hovercar, Ending Apathy, Merge Eleven and Diversity: Voices of Sarasota. The acts promote messages of inclusivity, authenticity and support for marginalized communities through their music to redefine the scene.
“I founded the Harvey Milk Festival 15 years ago alongside a group of passionate community members who were ready to fight for our rights through art, music and activism,” says Fab AF Executive Director Shannon Fortner. “It was always about taking up space, creating change and being loud in a world that tried to silence us.
“That spirit of resistance is still at the core of what we do — but now, with the Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest and our new LGBTQ+ center, we’re able to offer tangible resources, hold space for healing and lift up our community in ways we once only dreamed of,” they continue. “To see how far we’ve come — there truly aren’t words. It’s powerful, it’s necessary and it’s all fueled by love.”
tampa bay news
ST PETE PRIDE’S SHADES OF
PRIDE TO CELEBRATE
BLACK, QUEER JOY WITH TS MADISON
Ryan Williams-Jent
ST. PETERSBURG | Shades of Pride will return May 2 from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. at Coastal Creative, the first signature event of St Pete Pride’s 2025 season.
Traditionally held in June, Shades of Pride is “a bold and unapologetic exploration of the multifaceted brilliance of Black queer identity.” Last year’s event welcomed over 400 people.
“St Pete Pride has been intentional about providing programming for all the diverse communities within the LGBTQIA spectrum,” says Darius Lightsey, board secretary and the event’s committee chair. “Shades of Pride is a singular opportunity to honor that history rooted in resilience, creativity and community.”
This year’s “No Shade, All Power” will elevate “the journeys of Black queer individuals — past, present and future.” LGBTQ+ activist and entertainer TS Madison will return as host with fellow advocate Craig “The Writer” Stewart.
Madison, a Florida native, discussed the importance of Shades of Pride with Watermark Out News in 2022.
“There is a lot of racism in Florida. A lot of racism and a lot of homophobia,” she shared. “This is important because we need to walk through those streets, we need to … let them know that we’re Black and proud; we’re Black, gay, trans, queer and everything and damn proud of it, honey.”
Lightsey says organizers are thrilled to continue their work with the entertainer, who recently opened a sanctuary for Black trans women in Atlanta with the Black, LGBTQ+-focused NAESM, Inc. He says she “stands for the rights of all people,” aligning with St Pete Pride’s decades of work in Tampa Bay.
This year’s event will include a cocktail hour, cultural food, a panel examining sexual health and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and a demonstration paying homage to ballroom culture. Attendees will also enjoy performances from St Pete Pride’s Royal Court, celebrity comedian Akeem Woods and have access to a live taping of Madison and Stewart’s “PHAG TWALK.”
Stewart says he’s excited to bring their talk show to St. Petersburg.
“Now, more than ever, we must stand in our truth considering what’s happening with this administration,” he says
of President Donald Trump’s anti-LGBTQ+ actions. “The timing couldn’t be more perfect for us to bring ‘PHAG TWALK’ to Florida and remind the queer people who live there to resist and never stop pushing back.”
General admission for Shades of Pride is $10 while entry and access to “PHAG TWALK” is $40.
A VIP experience that includes a meet and greet with Madison and Stewart is also available for $80. All three options include access to the evening’s “high-energy party where the beats, vibes and moves will reflect the limitless potential of Black queer joy” and more.
“Shades of Pride will be a wonderful event open to all segments of the community and our allies,” Lightsey says. “This year’s event will continue to elevate Black and Brown queer culture while providing a medium to educate our community … All our Pride events this year will emphasize how Pride is rooted in love, courage, resilience, resistance and community.”
Shades of Pride will be held May 2 from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. at Coastal Creative, located at 2201 1st Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. Tickets begin at $10. For more information and to purchase yours, visit StPetePride.org.
The Fabulous Arts Foundation’s Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Festival will be held May 8-10 in Sarasota. For more information, visit FabAF.org.
NO SHADE, ALL POWER: TS Madison (L) and Craig
“The Writer” Stewart at Shades of Pride 2024. PHOTO COURTESY ST PETE PRIDE
ARTS FOR FOR ALL
ALL. ARTS.
The Collaborative Campaign is a united effort involving 40 local organizations in our region, serving artists and community members of all ages.
By donating and supporting the arts together, you can make the most impact. Contributions designated to the United Arts Collaborative Campaign for the Arts partners listed on our website will be eligible to access a matching funds pool of up to $1,250,000 until April 30th.
Give today!
state, nation + world news
FL SENATE WITHDRAWS BILL TO BAN PRIDE FLAGS
Christopher Klimek
The Florida Senate withdrew a bill April 7 which would ban the display of flags in government agencies, public schools, colleges and universities.
After the bill was passed in the Florida House of Representatives, State Bill 100 was introduced to the Florida Senate by Sen. Randy Fine and sponsored by Sen. Johnathan Martin, stating that the government must “remain neutral” when displaying a flag in a government building. The bill has been withdrawn from further consideration.
“A government entity may not erect or display a flag that represents a political viewpoint, including, but not limited to, a politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation, and gender or political ideology viewpoint,” according to SB 100.
Written by Fine, who recently won a special election to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, SB 100 mentions the importance of flag prominence when regarding the American flag. The flag must be given a position of honor, hanging above other flags and if this were not to be the case, the bill also states that any current or retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard “to use reasonable force to prevent the destruction or removal of the Unites States flag or to replace such flag to a position of prominence.”
In the document, “Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement” by The Professional Staff of the Committee on Community Affairs, there are many concerns about this bill including the lack of specification.
“While the bill clearly regulates governmental speech, which is not limited by First Amendment regulations, it is unclear where
government speech (or that undertaken by a “governmental entity”) ends and private speech begins for purposes of this regulation,” the document states. “For example, it is unclear whether a city commissioner who displays an Israeli flag in his personal office at City Hall is conducting private or government speech.
“Without any consistent training, these members may not be aware of what constitutes impermissible desecration, destruction, or removal of a U.S. flag and what actions may be protected speech under the First Amendment,” according to the Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement.
Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith shared his joy in the bill being denied on Facebook stating, “Randy Fine’s bill banning Pride Flags from public buildings is officially dead.”
“Public pressure works,” Guillermo Smith said. “Proudly fly your flags, Florida!”
UK’S SUPREME COURT DEFINES WOMAN BASED ON BIOLOGICAL SEX, EXCLUDING TRANS COMMUNITY
Julia Ferrara
The U.K. Supreme Court ruled April 16 that the definition of a woman is someone who is born biologically female, explicitly excluding transgender people from the legal definition.
In a unanimous ruling, the U.K. Equality Act now excludes trans women from being able to access some groups and single-sex spaces, such as homeless shelters, changing rooms, swimming areas and medical or counseling services provided only to women.
“Everyone knows what sex is and you can’t change it,” said co-director of For Women Scotland, Susan Smith. “It’s common sense, basic common sense and the fact that we have been down a rabbit hole where people have tried to deny science and to deny reality and hopefully this will now see us back to reality.”
This change coincides with the anti-trans legislation being passed
in the U.S. over the past several years, which has included banning gender-affirming care for minors, barring trans women and girls from competitive sports and restricting public restroom usage.
Since beginning his second term in January, President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to perpetuate a strict definition of sex. He has done so by attempting to remove transgender service members from the military, block federal spending on gender-affirming care for anyone under 19 and block their sports participation on a national level.
While the legislative change in the U.K. targets the transgender community, it “does not remove protection from trans people” said Justice Patrick Hodge.
One group, Scottish Trans, shared that they were “shocked and disappointed” by the ruling and that it would undermine legal protections for the community that were enshrined in the 2004 Gender Recognition Act.
Maggie Chapman, a Green Party lawmaker in the Scottish Parliament, said the ruling was incredibly concerning for human rights and was a devastating setback for some of the most marginalized people in society.
“Trans people have been cynically targeted and demonized by politicians and large parts of the media for far too long,” she said. “This has contributed to attacks on longstanding rights and attempts to erase their existence altogether.”
Those who celebrated the ruling said that they wanted a protected definition of sex to provide clarity and confidence for women.
Those who have pushed back see it as a conflict with human rights laws. Amnesty International, one of the opponents of the ruling shared that “a blanket policy of barring trans women from single-sex services is not a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim.”
IN OTHER NEWS
MAINE SUES TRUMP OVER FUNDING FREEZE
Maine officials sued the Trump administration April 7 to try to stop the government from freezing federal money in the wake of a dispute over transgender athletes in sports. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said earlier this month that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was pausing some funds for Maine educational programs because of what she described as Maine’s failure to comply with the Title IX law. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey filed a complaint in federal court that described the pause as “illegally withholding grant funds that go to keeping children fed.”
WHITE HOUSE WON’T ‘RESPOND’ TO REPORTERS WITH PRONOUNS IN EMAILS
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and a senior advisor in the Department of Government Efficiency rejected requests from New York Times reporters who included their pronouns in the signature box of their emails. News of the correspondence between the journalists and the two senior officials was reported April 8 by the Times, which also specified that when reached for comment, the White House declined to “directly say if their responses to the journalists represented a new formal policy of the White House press office, or when the practice had started.”
JUDGE RULES AGAINST DADS WHO PROTEST TRANS ATHLETES
Two fathers who oppose allowing transgender athletes to play high school sports won’t be allowed to wear pink wristbands marked “XX” to games while their lawsuit against the school district continues, a federal judge ruled April 14. Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote were banned from school grounds in Bow, New Hampshire, after wearing the wristbands to a soccer game in September that included a trans girl on the opposing team. They later sued the school district, asking the judge to allow them to carry signs and wear the wristbands while the case proceeds. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe denied that motion.
HUNGARY PASSES AMENDMENT TO BAN LGBTQ+ PUBLIC EVENTS
Hungary’s parliament passed an amendment to the constitution April 14 that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities. The amendment, which required a two-thirds vote, passed along party lines with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Ahead of the vote — the final step for the amendment — opposition politicians and other protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage. Police physically removed demonstrators, who had used zip ties to bind themselves together.
Join
Saturday, May 31 st 2025 at The Circus Arts Conservatory Sarasota, Florida
Saturday, May 31 st 2025 at The Circus Arts Conservatory Sarasota, Florida
viewpoint
Media providing connection DIARY OF A POET
LITERATURE, MOVIES
and TV shows played a pivotal role in shaping my queer identity.
I didn’t grow up with any direct queer representation, which led me down a path of reading books to discover who I am. Watching movies showed me romance and dedication in ways that could only be fiction in my world. TV shows were part of all those things — comfort, understanding, escape and discovery. These mediums have been like a life raft in my journey.
While in middle school I began secretly trying to understand where my queerness fit in the world. In the process I discovered books that helped me through this new journey, which was my only connection to anything queer. The first book that helped me was “Annie On My Mind” by the late Nancy Garden. It was about a pair of New York girls that were also on a journey of discovery. They find themselves falling in love and not having any guidance in the process. Honestly, the book transformed my world so much that I reached out to the author and suggested it be turned into a movie. To my pleasant surprise she wrote me back and said she received offers but nothing quite like what she pictured. My younger self daydreamed about being able to fulfill that desire for a stranger viewed as a beacon of hope.
Years later, I tried to find the author to connect with and unfortunately found out she had passed. This book filled with unsure romance and girlhood becoming was where I began to build an understanding of my queer identity. Some of the other books I found as a young queer were “Luna,” “Keeping You a Secret,” “Define Normal” and many others. Most, if not all, had a common theme — the struggle of being queer and having to keep that part of yourself quiet for fear of disappointment or ridicule. Of course, this resonated with me and led me down a path of denial for a few years. I think this is unfortunately the case for many queers, which is why the figurative closet exists for us to hide in.
Growing up I found myself surrounded by people but feeling like the loneliest person in the room. Building a sense of self was my greatest challenge. Not seeing any representation in media or even when I walked outside made the search increasingly difficult. It wasn’t until I got older, well into my 20’s, that I watched the early 2000s
show “The L Word” and wow was my initial reaction. I’m not gonna lie, some of it felt toxic and stereotypical but a good amount provided a glimpse into the LGBTQ+ experience, which is something my younger self needed, even though my older self was watching. Jenny was one of those characters that was toxic while also showing the struggle of identity. Most of the characters were emotionally raw and others struggled to express their troubles like Shane. I found pieces of myself in all of them and was grateful to experience the show with someone that saw me. There are very few shows that took the chance to show lesbian relationships, but “The L Word” is timeless. I’m watching it again for the fifth time.
Movies that represented queer love and the complications associated with it were also few and far between. One movie I watched recently, which was created in 1995, is called “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love,” which starred a young woman who was also in “The L Word.” This film was beautifully made and explored trying to figure out what queerness meant to one of the main characters. The other character was on her lesbian journey but being met with the wrong type of attention. They found love in one another and fumbled and stumbled through it but their love was a reprieve from the rest of their world.
The film wasn’t quite like but close enough to the lesbian “Romeo and Juliet” I also daydreamed about. I could only imagine how this film was received in the 1990s but like most queer media it still meant something to watch it 30 years later and relate to the characters. It made me happy to know this film provided comfort to those struggling during the time it was released.
Being a masc-presenting, Afro-Latina lesbian, the struggle for representation is still difficult. I see a little more on the streets depending
on the city I am in but on my screen and in my books they are still missing. Society and the government tell us “be quiet or get out,” from classrooms to the military. I had enough will, or we can call it courage, to stay the course despite the powers that be attempting to silence us. Media is often the cord that keeps young and old queer’s hopeful for a better
future. I still daydream about a queer world, filled with peace love and no fear to be ourselves. I daydream of the closet never having to have existed and love being paramount in all households. These dreams are almost 20 years in the making and will remain with me until I can see them come to life. One day I hope we can get there and we can all see ourselves in all
forms of media. As always, love is the most precious thing you can ever show yourself and those around you, so go forth and conquer.
Bryana Saldana is an Afro-Latina poet born and raised in Orlando. Saldana had her first published poem through “Women Who Roar.” Saldana’s pronouns are She/Her/They.
Bryana Saldana
A NIGHT MOVIES at the
MAY 9 - 7:30pm MAY 10 - 10:30am
Free Admission
Donations Accepted
SPONSORED BY THE TWIN PALMS LADIES GUILD
Ryan Williams-Jent
THE GOOD PAGE FEATURES
positive LGBTQ+ news in Central Florida and Tampa Bay, uplifting and inspiring stories highlighting locals in our community. In this issue, we check in with two LGBTQ+ bars in Ybor that recently celebrated major milestones.
Bradley’s on 7th marked 14 years last month after the grand opening of Utopia Road Bar & Courtyard, its “baby sister” which began operating last year. Owner Bradley Nelson opened his namesake in 2011, an LGBTQ+ safe space which quickly became a regional staple, and announced March 13 that it will continue operating for at least another decade.
“It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that the building … has just been purchased by a new owner,” he shared via social media. “… the new owner wants to make major improvements to the existing building [and] make sure Bradley’s on 7th stays a long-term tenant.”
Nelson said he was offered a new five-year lease with an option for an additional five after that, which “means that Bradley’s is guaranteed to be around another 10 years!!” He added that it is
The Good Page
Bradley’s
on 7th, Utopia Road
ready for Ybor’s LGBTQ+ future
all in addition to liability insurance and other rising costs.
“fantastic to have a solid lease and not have to worry about what will happen in the future.”
“The 14th anniversary at Bradley’s was awesome,” Nelson says. “I always aimed for long term and so far my plan has held true. With a new lease for another 10 years, I am even more excited to keep making Bradley’s better and better for the customers.”
To make that possible, Bradley’s has implemented a $5 cover on weekends. To reward long-term customers, Nelson announced VIP cards are available to circumvent the charges.
“I knew for a couple years that it was going to be impossible to stay ‘Never a Cover’ forever,” he says of the bar’s longtime vow. “The expenses were just too high.”
The entrepreneur says his first five-year lease was $6,800 per month, his second was $10,500 and his most recent rose to $17,800,
“I knew I would have to either charge a cover or get rid of all the entertainment, and all the entertainment is what makes Bradley’s,” he says. Drag shows, dancers, DJs and special events regularly feature in the space.
“We have had some of the same customers since day one, or since the day that they moved to Tampa, and I didn’t want a cover to scare those people away,” he continues. “So I knew some exceptions had to be made.”
Nelson has also worked to provide new and returning customers with another LGBTQ+ option in Ybor. Utopia Road, which holds 100 patrons inside and another 100 out, began operating in May 2024 and underwent extensive construction to realize his vision.
“I had been wanting to open another bar ever since Bradley’s opened,” Nelson says. He leaned on the idea of utopia itself when conceptualizing the space, “an imaginary world where everything is perfect.”
“Who wouldn’t want to live there?” he asks. “But since it is an imaginary place, we can only try and find a way to get there. Hence the idea of the road to Utopia … a place where we try and escape our daily lives and struggles and strive for a perfect place, even if it’s just while having a drink or two.”
While he originally billed the space as “a bar for everyone,” Nelson has since leaned into its LGBTQ+ roots. Utopia Road is now “Ybor’s neighborhood gay bar and business has quadrupled,” he says.
“Both bars are going to continue to grow,” Nelson promises. “Those that don’t want to pay cover at Bradley’s, can go over to Utopia and
get in for free and still enjoy a gay, safe space.”
He also teases that he owns a third liquor license “that I need to find a home for, so I’m not done growing yet!” Learn more at BradleysOn7th.com and Facebook. com/UtopiaRoadBar.
Photos by Ryan Williams-Jent.
Interested in being featured in The Good Page? Email Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Williams at Jeremy@ WatermarkOutNews.com in Central Florida or Managing Editor Ryan Williams-Jent at Ryan@ WatermarkOutNews.com in Tampa Bay.
Caysea Stone
MWAVE FREELY
Orlando Fringe lets the
‘Fringe Flag Fly’ for 34th festival
AY IS APPROACHING, WHICH
means the annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is back with over 120 shows across stages in and around Loch Haven Park. As the longest-running Fringe Festival in the country, you can expect 14 days of 100% unjuried, uncensored and entirely accessible content from a festival that chooses its shows via a lottery system. That’s right — even the festival organizers don’t know what they’re in for.
The best part? All ticket sales are given back to the artists.
“There is an extra special feeling in the air awaiting the upcoming festival, and we cannot wait to present this year’s amazing, memorable, wildly
creative show lineup that one can only experience at Fringe!” said Orlando Fringe’s leadership team Melissa Fritzinger, Genevieve Bernard and Tempestt Halstead in a press release. “Whether you’re a Fringe veteran or a newbie, it’s so
easy and fun to Fringe. Just grab a button, choose your own Fringe adventure and enjoy two weeks of nonstop entertainment.”
The 34th Orlando Fringe Festival, titled “Let Your Fringe Flag Fly,” will run from May 13-26, bringing with it 30 LGBTQ+-themed shows ranging from a “Great Gatsby” musical adaptation to “Pup Play: A Queer Psuedo-lecture.” The festival prides itself on being entirely inclusive and immersing its attendees in a culturally diverse art experience, inviting artists from all over the world into Central Florida’s creative space. Following the 7 p.m. Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Orlando Family Stage May 13, the festival will feature over 1,000 ticketed performances of comedy, musicals, theatre, dance, spoken word and more, ranging from free to $15. Directly after the ceremony, the National and
International Artists’ Teaser Show will kick off the season, where guests will be shown one-minute teaser performances for shows representing 13 states and five countries.
In addition to site-specific stages chosen by performers, venues include the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, Orlando Family Stage, the Renaissance Theatre Company, The Starlite Room @ Savoy and Ten10 Brewing Co. The party continues at The Outdoor Stage, where attendees will see the return of the Soapbox, upgraded beverage offerings and food vendors.
Entertainment at Kids Fringe, Visual Fringe and the Outdoor Stage is free. This year, the Outdoor Stage will host top-act music and entertainment like the All Styles Dance Competition with Break Foots, A Better Life Pet Rescue adoption event, the Orlando Independent Filmmakers
Screening and Bingo hosted by Fringe artists. Visual Fringe will have art displays for purchase spread out across festival grounds to gaze upon and the Orlando Garden Club will host Kids Fringe on May 17, 18, 24 and 25.
To Fringe, you must first purchase a button. The button grants the wearer access to all shows taking place during the festival. Once a button is secured, patrons can buy tickets for specific shows at the Fringe box office or online.
The following information is a sampling of Orlando Fringe’s LGBTQ+ offerings. For a full list, visit WatermarkOutNews.com, and for more information on the festival and to purchase tickets, go to OrlandoFringe.org.
“A CANADIAN EXPLAINS
EUROVISION TO AMERICANS”
Can’t Stand Sitting Productions (Toronto)
Venue: Starlite Room @ Savoy
55 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 15, 8:30 p.m.; May 17, 3 p.m.; May 18, 12 p.m.; May 19, 8:30 p.m.; May 21, 8:30 p.m.; May 24, 3 p.m.; May 25, 7:30 p.m.
Eurovision superfan Matti McLean introduces Americans to the world’s biggest song contest.
“A HARLIVY HONEYMOON WHODUNNIT?!”
The Bombshells Cosplay (Orlando)
Venue: Green
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15, ($6 on May 20)
Showtimes: May 14, 9:05 p.m.; May 17, 10:55 p.m.; May 18, 4:25 p.m.; May 20, 6 p.m.; May 23, 5:40 p.m.; May 24, 9:20 p.m.
Harlivy is back for another murder mystery adventure!
“ACCORDING
TO THE FOX”
Alana Sasdelli Productions (Brandon, FL)
Venue: Scarlet
45 Minutes | 18 & Up | $12 ($6 on May 15)
Showtimes: May 15, 9:10 p.m.; May 17, 9:20 p.m.; May 18, 3:15 p.m.; May 19, 7:35 p.m.; May 21, 8:45 p.m.; May 24, 7:25 p.m.; May 25, 4:35 p.m.
A fox leading a cult! What could go wrong?
This sketch comedy show tells you exactly what happens when you let an alpha male go unchecked.
“BETH & JOSIE EXPOSED (F*%K
DE$ANTIS)”
Beth Marshall Presents (Idaho Springs, CO)
Venue: Pink
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 16, 6:15 p.m.; May 17, 1:35 p.m.; May 18, 10:20 p.m.; May 19, 9:15 p.m.; May 22, 7:05 p.m.; May 23, 9:55 p.m.; May 25, 6:05 p.m.
“Colorado’s Most F*cked Up Storytelling Group,” hosted by JUICE The Trauma Clown, features new and true stories told nightly by seven Fringe Luminaries and YOU!
“BOX
[M]”
Bow & Arrow Circus (San Francisco, CA)
Venue: Brown
60 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15 ($6 on May 14)
Showtimes: May 14, 5:55 p.m.; May 15, 9:05 p.m.; May 16, 9:55 p.m.; May 17, 1:30 p.m.
The story of a father’s relationship with his trans son is told through dance, circus and acro-pole.
“BREAKNECK TWELFTH NIGHT”
Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre (Imlay City, MI)
Venue: Starlite Room @ Savoy
60 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 15, 5:30 p.m.; May 17, 7:30 p.m.; May 19, 7 p.m.; May 20, 5:30 p.m.; May 22, 5:30 p.m.; May 24, 1:30 p.m.; May 25, 4:30 p.m.
The Elizabethan Mardi Gras! A dizzying one-man gender-bending comedy with men playing women and “a good many more dirty jokes than usually allowed.”
“CINCO: THE MUSICAL”
Cheesy Pizza Productions, LLC (Orlando)
Venue: Renaissance Theatre Company
60 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 16, 8:30 p.m.; May 17, 4:30 p.m.; May 18, 3 p.m.; May 21, 9:30 p.m.; May 22, 8 p.m.; May 24, 8:30 p.m.; May 25, 1:30 p.m.
“Cinco” is an original, live-band musical about the struggle to overcome the anxieties of 2025. Will our hero leave his room or succumb to his fears?
“ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH”
Let’s Get Weird Productions (Orlando)
Venue: Brown
60 Minutes | 13 & Up $15 ($6 on May 20)
Showtimes: May 17, 4:30 p.m.; May 18, 6:20 p.m.; May 19, 8:45 p.m.; May 20, 6:15 p.m.; May 22, 7:50 p.m.; May 24, 7:40 p.m.; May 25, 12 p.m.
“Escape from Planet Earth” with us in this sketch comedy dissection inspecting what is so very wrong with the planet we all call home.
“EVERFOLK - A NEW MUSICAL”
Orlando Artist Guild (Orlando)
Venue: Orange
60 Minutes 13 & Up | $15 ($6 on May 14)
Showtimes: May 14, 6:!5 p.m.; May 17, 10:10 p.m.; May 18, 5:15 p.m.; May 19, 9:05 p.m.; May 21, 8:10 p.m.; May 24, 1:40 p.m.; May 25, 8 p.m.
Remember that time a theme park tried to sue Taylor Swift?
“HOLLY M. BRINKMAN PRESENTS: IMPROV EROTICA”
Holly M. Brinkman (Victoria, BC, Canada)
Venue: Silver
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 15, 10:10 p.m.; May 17, 9:30 p.m.; May 18, 12:40 p.m.; May 20, 7:10 p.m.; May 22, 10:30 p.m.; May 23, 6:30 p.m.; May 24, 8:25 p.m.
Holly M. Brinkman is back with a new improvised show. “Whose Line” meets “50 Shades of Grey”!
“HOME[SIC]”
Push Physical Theatre (Rochester, NY) Venue: Peach
60 Minutes All Ages $15 ($6 on May 15)
Showtimes: May 15, 9:40 p.m.; May 16, 6:15 p.m.; May 17, 3:05 p.m.; May 19, 7:05 p.m.; May 23, 8 p.m.; May 24, 8:35 p.m.; May 25, 1:50 p.m.
Breathtaking, acrobatic, hilariously relatable. Award-winning PUSH explores the shifting nature of home in this visually stunning, heartwarming show!
“LENOX AVE”
Donald Rupe (Orlando)
Venue: Renaissance Theatre Company
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 14, 7:30 p.m.; May 15, 8 p.m.; May 18, 7:30 p.m.; May 20, 8 p.m.; May 21, 6:30 p.m.; May 24, 4 p.m.; May 25, 9 p.m.
Join us at the hottest, most lively nightclub in 1920s Manhattan — Lenox Ave!
“MR. SPARKLE’S GAYBORHOOD”
Sak Comedy Lab & P. Sparkle (Orlando)
Venue: Renaissance Theatre Company
60 Minutes | 18 & Up $12 ($6 on May 18)
Showtimes: May 15, 9:30 p.m.; May 17, 10:30 p.m.; May 18, 1:30 p.m.; May 20, 9:30 p.m.; May 23, 11 p.m.; May 24, 10 p.m.; May 25, 7:30 p.m.
P. Sparkle, Orlando’s most flamboyant host, teams up with the legendary SAK Comedy Lab for a brand new yassified take on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
“POEMS FOR GOD”
Victoria Watson Sepejak (Toronto)
Venue: Blue
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15 ($6 on May 18)
Showtimes: May 15, 10:20 p.m.; May 17, 9 p.m.; May 18, 10:40 p.m.; May 21, 7 p.m.; May 22, 6:25 p.m.; May 23, 8:20 p.m.; May 24, 12 p.m.
An award-winning clown solo show where ALL WOMAN WILL BE SAVED in 60 minutes!
“PUP PLAY: A QUEER PSUEDO-LECTURE (OF SORTS)”
Pants Off (Colchester, UK)
Venue: Green
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 17, 1:20 p.m.; May 18, 6:35 p.m.; May 21, 9:25 p.m.; May 24, 10:55 p.m.
Professor Handler David teaches audiences how to put their bitch-boy into a submissive puppy headspace.
“SHEDDING SKIN”
Creative Moves (Pocatello, ID)
Venue: Blue
45 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 15, 6:15 p.m.; May 17, 7:45 p.m.; May 18, 1:20 p.m.; May 19, 5:55 p.m.; May 22, 9:25 p.m.; May 23, 5:35 p.m.
A dancing exploration of transformation, a moving meditation on change.
“THE REAL BLACK SWANN: CONFESSIONS OF AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK DRAG QUEEN”
Kurkendaal Barrett Presentations (Los Angeles)
Venue: Blue
60 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15 ($6 on May 14)
Showtimes: May 14, 6:30 p.m.; May 17, 10:30 p.m.; May 18, 4:05 p.m.; May 21, 9:50 p.m.; May 23, 6:50 p.m.; May 24, 4:20 p.m.; May 25, 8:05 p.m.
This is the true story of William Dorsey Swann, a former slave who became the queen of drag in the late 1800s. He was also the first queer activist.
“THE ROCKY HORROR IMPROV SHOW”
The Rich Weirdoes (Forest City, FL) Venue: Peach
60 Minutes 18 & Up | $12 ($6 on May 20)
Showtimes: May 15, 6:20 p.m.; May 17, 1:25 p.m.; May 18, 9:20 p.m.; May 20, 5:35 p.m.; May 22, 9:30 p.m.; May 23, 9:40 p.m.; May 25, 5:10 p.m.
We would like, if we may, to take you on seven strange journeys.
“THE FAITH & FINN VARIETY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW”
Renaissance Theatre Company (Orlando) Venue: Renaissance Theatre Company
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 16, 7 p.m.; May 17, 6 p.m.; May 18, 6 p.m.; May 22, 6:30 p.m.; May 23, 9:30 p.m.; May 24, 5:30 p.m.; May 25, 6 p.m.
Hallelujah, praise be and sweet tea! A new musical starring Finn and Faith, the richest people this side of lake Tohopakaliga.
“THE GREAT GATSBY - A MUSICAL ADAPTATION”
M&M Studios (Celebration, FL) Venue: Orange
75 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 14, 9:35 p.m.; May 16, 10:05 p.m.; May 17, 4:05 p.m. May 19, 5:30 p.m.; May 20, 7:30 p.m.; May 24, 7:30 p.m.; May 25, 12:30 p.m.
A musical adaptation of the acclaimed novel that addresses the LGBTQ+, classism and racist themes from the original book.
“THE HETEROSEXUALS”
Redheaded Stepchild Productions (Toronto) Venue: Scarlet
60 Minutes | 13 & Up | $15 ($6 on May 18)
Showtimes: May 16, 7:50 p.m.; May 18, 10:45 p.m.; May 21, 5:45 p.m. May 24, 1:15 p.m.; May 25, 1:35 p.m.
A deep dive into the shocking world of Heterosexuality! Johnnie is here to spill the T on what The Queers really think about The Straights.
“THE LAST BEAR”
Gian Arellano (Orlando)
Venue: Renaissance Theatre Company
60 Minutes | 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 15, 6:30 p.m.; May 17, 3:00 p.m.; May 17, 7:30 p.m. May 18, 9:00 p.m.; May 23, 8:00 p.m.; May 24, 2:30 p.m.; May 25, 3:00 p.m.
Average lesbians Paige and Val must survive psychotic competitors, an evil news anchor and rising fascism in a twisted hunt for the last polar bear.
“THE SWAMP IS ON FIRE: STORIES & SONGS BY TOD KIMBRO”
Tod Kimbro (Seattle) Venue: Starlite Room @ Savoy
60 Minutes 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 16, 5:30 p.m.; May 17, 6:00 p.m.; May 18, 1:30 p.m.; May 20, 7:00 p.m.; May 21, 10:00 p.m.; May 23, 7:00 p.m.; May 24, 12:00 p.m.
Tod Kimbro’s bitingly funny one-man musical examines growing up queer in rural Florida.
“THE VEXED AND THE VIGOROUS: VERONA SHIFT”
Dead Unicorn Ink (Ottawa, ON) Venue: Orange
60 Minutes 13 & Up | $15 ($6 on May 20)
Showtimes: May 15, 8:20 p.m.; May 16, 6:45 p.m.; May 18, 1:55 p.m.; May 20, 5:50 p.m.; May 22, 10:20 p.m.; May 24, 12:00 p.m.; May 25, 6:20 p.m.
“Romeo & Juliet” x “The Fast and The Furious” in this action packed, adrenaline rush adaptation.
“WITCH WITH HER SKIRT ON FIRE”
Megan Markham (Bellingham, WA)
Venue: Blue
60 Minutes | 13 & Up | $13 ($6 on May 14)
Showtimes: May 14, 8:00 p.m.; May 17, 4:20 p.m.; May 18, 6:10 p.m.; May 24, 6:25 p.m.; May 25, 1:40 p.m.
A one-woman storytelling show following the Pagan maiden, mother and crone while exploring heartbreak, growth and magic.
“YOUR CAMP, MEIN KAMP: THE MUSICAL POLITICAL SATIRE”
Boiled Horse Productions (Tampa)
Venue: Pink
60 Minutes 18 & Up | $15
Showtimes: May 15, 7:55 p.m.; May 17, 8:30 p.m.; May 18, 12:15 p.m.; May 20, 5:55 p.m.; May 21, 9:35 p.m.; May 24, 12:25 p.m.; May 25, 9:15 p.m.
Detention camp memories! Friendships, sing-alongs, crafts and dystopian MAGA re-education. Every “Enemy of the State” is just one more happy camper.
FRINGE CENTER: Orlando Shakes in one of half a dozen venues hosting Fringe shows and is home to five individual theaters as well as Visual Fringe, Club Fringe and more. PHOTO BY BUBBA TRAHAN
Brownie Wise’s dress Circa 1954
‘SCHITT’S CREEK’ ALUM NOAH REID BRINGS HIS SOLO TOUR TO CLEARWATER MUSIC
Ryan Williams-Jent
“S CHITT’S CREEK” MADE TV
history in 2020, winning all seven comedy categories at the Emmy Awards for its sixth and final season, but the sitcom was celebrated for more than its laughs.
Created by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, who with Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy played the riches-to-rags Rose family, it was also praised for its LGBTQ+ representation. It won Best Comedy Series at the GLAAD Media Awards that same year.
The organization called the show’s accolades “a well-deserved breakthrough” for inclusion on the small screen.
“Dan Levy being awarded for his work in front of the camera as the pansexual David Rose — as well as behind the scenes — should be a clear sign to the industry about the power of out LGBTQ creators and showrunners,” GLAAD shared at the time. “What’s particularly special
about ‘Schitt’s Creek’ is that the love and heart seen by viewers on the show are matched off-screen by the tremendous LGBTQ advocacy that Dan Levy and the cast members continue to be leaders in.”
Musician and actor Noah Reid was a key part of that. He played Patrick Brewer in the show’s latter half, David’s “warmhearted business partner and later husband who, before meeting David and realizing he was gay, was in an on-again/off-again relationship with his high school sweetheart.”
The entertainer calls the experience “an incredible privilege.”
“In the years after the show, it’s really settled with me how impactful its message is,” Reid says.
of humanity — just dear, dear friends — and so to be an ally to me is I think quite a natural position.
“The alternative is just kind of to be a piece of shit,” he adds bluntly. “That’s kind of how I look at it.”
As for being a straight actor in a gay role, Reid believes it helped inform his take on playing the fan favorite character.
“It was a question for me while I was working on the show, knowing that wasn’t my lived experience, but neither was it Patrick’s,” he says. “So I felt like he and I were in in sync ... the things he was experiencing for the first time were things that I was opening my senses to in a way.
“Playing Patrick opened my eyes to a little bit of the lived experience, certainly without experiencing it myself, but I got a little bit of a window into it,” he continues. “Everyone is a human being worthy of love and I feel it opened my perception to that even further. I wish more people could have that experience.”
Reid and Patrick did have at least one thing in common — their voice, which on “Schitt’s Creek” was “Simply The Best.” The musician’s character performed an acoustic cover of the Tina Turner hit in season four, a viral rendition which has amassed over 50 million streams on Spotify alone.
“So many people reach out and talk to me about that relationship and how it unfolds — specifically about Patrick’s openness in learning that side of himself, being open enough to accept himself within that relationship and to be brave enough to see where it goes.
“There are a lot of real-life stories that mirror that, and people have said it helped them investigate their relationships with others or their relationship with themselves. That really is about as good as you can get from being a part of a television show — to have people see themselves in it or to come at life with a little bit more openness, a little bit more kindness, love and humor.”
While Reid himself isn’t gay, the entertainer is a staunch ally.
“I grew up in Toronto in the theater and I think whether I was focusing on it or not, the LGBTQ+ community has been a part of my life since I’ve been alive,” he explains. “I have lot of people who are incredibly dear to me who I wouldn’t stick in just one category
it live, I want to be able to enjoy it … I’ve overdosed on it a little bit, so I’m letting it rest. I’m letting it breathe a little bit and probably this run of shows I’ll be playing my own tunes.”
It’s something the artist is thankful for. His new tour kicks off May 1 and includes his debut at Clearwater’s Nancy & David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.
“Noah Reid has earned a permanent place in the music industry as a result of his powerful vocals and honest delivery,” the venue describes the show. “Evident on his debut album ‘Songs from a Broken Chair’ (2016) and sophomore album ‘Gemini’ (2020)” — which have amassed over 145 million streams — his “songwriting style is reminiscent of singer-songwriters of the seventies but with a contemporary twist, resulting in a signature polished, albeit slightly rusted over, tone.”
“I’ve been hiding behind my band for so long now that I’m challenging myself to go play some songs by myself and remind myself that I can do that,” Reid says of the tour. “These are solo sessions and often those are the shows I love going to the most. They feel super intimate … you just experience each other for a moment, sit with the songs and see where they go.
“I don’t really know if [Patrick singing] was an idea that Dan had when I was joining the show … but I do know that in-between seasons three and four was when I released my first record,” Reid says. “Dan came to the release show, which I thought was very generous of him, and I do wonder if that’s where he was like, ‘Oh, this guy can do this too. Maybe we can use that,’ because sure enough in the fourth season is when that open mic episode came out.
“Wherever the idea came from, he threaded the needle very well, giving me some agency to play with it and see what I wanted to bring to the song,” he adds. “That’s a massive creative lesson that I’ve learned in large part from him, to give your teammates space to run with their own things and see what they can bring to it. He did that with me on the arrangement, to see what I wanted to do and offer as Patrick.”
“Schitt’s Creek” fans shouldn’t expect to hear it on tour anytime soon, however.
“I’ve played it a lot,” Reid laughs. “I’m taking a bit of a break from it at the moment because if I’m playing
“It also feels to me that there’s more room for storytelling and connection,” he continues. “I think that for me and for my songs, there’s a lot of quietness and a lot of reflectiveness there too. So that’s a side of it that I’m excited to kind of dig into on this run … I’m excited just to be in a room and connect with audiences again.”
As for what’s next for the performer, or at least Patrick Brewer, he defers to the creators of “Schitt’s Creek” when asked about a potential revival.
“… I have no idea what that would even look like, but I’m open to all possibilities,” he notes. “That’s far outside my pay grade to figure out, but that’s a group of people that I hold in such high esteem and I love so much … you’d have to ask one of the Mr. Levy’s about that!” His message to LGBTQ+ fans of “Schitt’s Creek” is still crystal clear, however. “We love them and we’re honored that they love us back,” Reid says.
Noah Reid will perform May 8 at 8 p.m. at the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater. For more information, visit RuthEckerdHall.com.
PHOTO BY JAKE SHERMAN
announcements TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS
Come OUT St. Pete’s Sunday FUNraiser Pool Party at Casa Del Merman St. Pete raised over $1,200. COSP called it “a wonderful gathering of community, in a safe space, being our authentic selves” that allows them to partner with groups like Drag2Talle, Equality Florida and Shelter Strong. Read more at Facebook.com/ComeOUTStPete.
Tampa Bay entertainer Jewels Sparkles won $25,000 for placing second on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 17 on April 18. The finalist also secured $5,000 and an invitation to join “RuPaul’s Drag Race Live” in Las Vegas for securing her spot in the grand finale. “You’re our winner, Jewels Sparkles, at Southern Nights Tampa!” the Tampa establishment shared after their watch party. In St. Petersburg, Latrice Royale and Adriana Sparkle hosted The Wet Spot’s watch party, welcoming fans to cheer on Sparkles and her competitors. View all of our photos and read Royale’s thoughts at WatermarkOutNews.com.
Pride In Real Estate St. Pete, a new networking and support group for LGBTQ+ real estate professionals and their allies, has formed to help members connect, grow and thrive. They’ll hold a special kickoff event at The Study April 29. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
The Fabulous Arts Foundation’s Be Fabulous Music & Arts Pride Fest will celebrate 15 years of serving LGBTQ+ Sarasota May 8-10. Read more on p. 10.
St. Petersburg staple Cocktail celebrates five years May 7.
CONDOLENCES
Beth Sacks, a celebrated musician and longtime LGBTQ+ ally who performed throughout Tampa Bay and Central Florida, died April 12 in Pennsylvania at 56. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
St. Petersburg actor Tom Campbell, former St Pete Pride president Scott Turner, Tampa bear Bill Vincent, Tampa Bay politico Valerie McDonald; Florida Orchestra Principal Flutist Clay Ellerbroek-Pettiford (April 24); Tampa dancer Jackie Huston (April 26); St. Petersburg politico Christopher Farrar (April 27); Tampa licensed mental health counselor Anthony Quaglieri, Cigar aficionado Daniel Markovich, St. Petersburg mainstay Russell Sutherland (April 30); Tampa socialite Channing Floyd (May 1); St. Petersburg communication pro Josh Cruz, St. Petersburg golden girl Corey Malyszka, myXOadventures owner Daniel Milks, St. Petersburg’s Karen Kunz, FedEx ground employee Marcus Brewer (May 2); Tampa Pride President Carrie West, Tampa Bay entertainer Ericka PC aka Aaron Perry Cruz (May 3); Vintage Interior’s owner Timothy Huff, Fabulous Arts Foundation activist Grace Korley (May 4); St. Petersburg author Richard Randall, Tampa Bay activist Robert Brennan, St. Petersburg flight attendant Chris Bragg, Tampa staple Orlando Garza, St. Petersburg’s Will Anthony (May 5); Enigma bartender Justin Palmer, Tampa Bay staple Jon Jusino, Tampa Bay politico Stephanie Foglia (May 6); Harrison Lundy of Voices of Florida Action Fund, Tampa Bay performer Tim Cain (May 7).
1
COMING OUT: Miss Come OUT St. Pete 2025 Ericka P.C. (L) and Robert Rigsby attend COSP’s Sunday FUNraiser Pool Party April 13 at Casa Del Merman St. Pete. PHOTO FROM COSP’S FACEBOOK
2
PENGUIN PAL: State Rep. Michele Rayner meets Eniz the penguin from The Florida Aquarium April 9 in Tallahassee. PHOTO FROM REP. RAYNER’S FACEBOOK
3
FINALE NIGHT: Latrice Royale (L) and Adriana Sparkle host the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finale watch party at The Wet Spot April 18. PHOTO BY LUIS SALAZAR
4
PRIDE PACK: Immani Love, Vivion Rachel Clarke and Darius Lightsey lead St Pete Pride Bingo at The Study April 16. PHOTO FROM ST PETE PRIDE’S FACEBOOK
5 TAMPA TAMALES: “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” contestants (L-R) Mike Halterman, Ava Davis and Jonathan Thornton reunite for trivia at Troubled Waters Brewing April 17. PHOTO FROM TIMELESS ENTERTAINMENT’S FACEBOOK
6 THE SHADEY BUNCH: (L-R) Daye Nada, Artemis, emcee Morgan Le Shade, Blake Balenciaga and Dita Lusion step into the spotlight April 19 at The Garage for Shade Showcase. PHOTO FROM SHADE SHOWCASE’S FACEBOOK
7 CHECKING IN: Largo Commissioner Michael Smith connects with Largo employees at the city’s health fair April 17. PHOTO FROM COMMISSIONER SMITH’S FACEBOOK
8
BRADLEY’S BEATS: DJ Jayson Chancey spins at Bradley’s on 7th April 12. PHOTO FROM BRADLEY’S ON 7TH’S FACEBOOK
announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT
1
CROWNING THE QUEEN: Dede Santos is crowned the new Miss Glamorous 2025 at The Plaza Live in Orlando April 13. PHOTO FROM TWILA HOLIDAY’S FACEBOOK
2
TELL YOUR STORY: Jeremy Williams (L) and Juleigh Mayfield grab a photo with a copy of Mayfield’s new memoir at Watermark Out News’ Out and About Networking mixer at Savoy Orlando April 17. PHOTO BY CAITLIN SAUSE
3
BRINGING HOPE: Andrea Montanez stops by Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka April 10. PHOTO FROM ANDREA MONTANEZ’S FACEBOOK
4
AUSSIE ICON: Pop legend Kylie Minogue performs at the Kia Center in Orlando April 13. PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS
5 COMMUNITY
CHAMPION: Keri Griffin is all rainbows as she accepts the inaugural Keri Griffin Champion Award from Come Out With Pride’s Trans & Nonbinary Task Force during Transgender Day of Visibility March 29. PHOTO FROM KERI GIFFIN’S FACEBOOK
6 GO KNIGHTS!: Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (L) welcomes UCF’s Knightro to the senator’s Tallahassee office during UCF Day April 8. PHOTO FROM CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH’S FACEBOOK
7
HISTORY MADE: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings (L) and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, with other county and city representatives, cut the ribbon April 11 to the Orange County Regional History Center’s new exhibit celebrating Orlando’s 150-year history. PHOTO FROM ORLANDO MAYOR’S FACEBOOK
8
LIVE THEATER: Robert Crane plays Brother Boy in the local production of “Sordid Lives” at Theater West End in Sanford April 20. PHOTO BY MIKE KITAIF
CONGRATULATIONS
Orlando VA’s Keri Griffin received the inaugural Keri Griffin Champion Award, which carries her name, from Come Out With Pride’s Trans & Nonbinary Task Force during a Transgender Day of Visibility event at the Central Florida Fairgrounds March 29.
Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith endorsed Florida House District 42 candidate Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet April 7.
Drag queen Dede Santos was crowned Miss Glamorous 2025 at The Plaza Live in Orlando April 13.
Orlando’s Lake Eola Park was voted the fourth best city park in the U.S. by USA Today’s readers April 16. The national publication wrote that the park “centers around a lovely lake, where swan-shaped paddle boats drift past actual swans,” adding that Lake Eola Park “offers postcard-worthy views of the Orlando skyline.”
CONDOLENCES
Central Florida drag queen Kenny Lee passed away April 15 after a long battle with cancer. Fellow drag queen Crystal Vahzz shared the news on social media, calling Lee her “second drag momma.”
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Congressman Darren Soto’s former aide Vivian Rodriguez, O-Town textbook editor Sara Lyna (April 24); Watermark Out News contributor and “News Junkie” Sabrina Ambra (April 25); WAVE Award-winning Orlando artist Chad Booth, Gender Identity in Florida Today president Jennifer Marvin (April 26); owner of Parliament House Don Granatstein, app whiz Randy Shepard (April 28); CDW Electrical’s Daniel Sergi (April 29); UCF’s former GLBSU president Jessica Osborn (April 30); Orlando’s DJ Brianna Lee, Coordinator of Main Street Operations’ Chett Pease, TreeFrog Cinegraphix’s Christian Knightly (May 1); Registered nurse Gabriel Anderson, Angel Seguinot of EPCOT guest relations, Photographer Jordan Schwartz, Central Florida entertainer Billie Jane (May 2); Central Florida entertainer Jamie Lee aka Sassy Divine, Southern Nights Orlando bartender Autumn Michelle, Jurassic Park Game Warden Brett Phillip Rosenblum (May 3); The Pride Chamber’s Katherine Bardelon, Orlando Drag Performer Ivana Vendetta aka Falcom Greear, Makeup artist and photographer Taina Norell (May 4); Sierra Club senior campaign representative Susannah Randolph, ABM Industries’ Shannon Graves Rosser, Orlando esthetician Nathan LeClaire, Physician office liaison at AdventHealth Christian Coates, Architect and underwear model Steve Semi, Universal performer Sam Vi, Fantastic parent and man about town Clay Emerson (May 5); Bill BohannonDobski aka drag performer Sheila from Accounting, Orange County officer Lance Colford (May 6); Central Florida’s insurance agent Sherri Absher, Disney cast member Sammi Schmitt, Wet Nurse drummer Vanessa Brewster (May 7).
community calendar
CENTRAL FLORIDA
“Relationships: A Love for Collecting”
NOW THROUGH THURSDAY, MAY 15
ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART, ORLANDO
“Relationships: A Love for Collecting” and “Edouard Prulhière: A Solo Exhibition,” exhibits featuring pieces from the art collection of Dr. James Cottrell and Joseph Lovett, are in their final weeks at the Orlando Museum of Art. Tickets are $20 for adult general admission with discounts for seniors, students and children. Active-Duty Military, Veterans and First Responders get free admission with valid ID. For more information, visit OMArt.org.
13th Celebrity Bartending
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 6 P.M.
SAVOY, ORLANDO
The LGBT+ Center Orlando is back with lucky number 13 of its annual Celebrity Bartender Night at Savoy Orlando. For this special occasion, The Center Orlando will have Battle of the Bartenders, starting at 6 p.m. and at the top of each hour, celebs in the same field will compete for your tips. It starts with Batte of the Burlesque, followed by Battle of the Meida Stars, Battle of the Sports Leagues, Battle of the Reality Stars, Battle of the Influencers and finally Battle of the Queens. Stay tuned to The Center Orlando’s social media to find out who the bartenders will be.
TAMPA BAY
Fashion with Passion
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 7-10 P.M.
HILTON ST. PETERSBURG BAYFRONT, ST. PETERSBURG
Love the Golden Rule presents its inaugural charity gala benefiting the nonprofit’s genderaffirming healthcare and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Tickets begin at $75 and include access to the evening’s runway show, open bar and more. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
“For
Closure!”
THROUGH MAY 11, DAYS AND TIMES VARY
FREEFALL THEATER, ST. PETERSBURG
“For Closure!” follows partners Raven and Amanda on Florida’s Gulf Coast as they struggle to keep their family real estate agency afloat in trying times. This contemporary farce is a hilarious and satirical look at the foibles and hypocrisies of modern life and also stars fan favorite Matthew McGee. Buy tickets at freeFallTheatre.com and read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
EVENT PLANNER
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
CENTRAL FLORIDA
“Disney’s The Lion King,” April 23-May 18, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org
Mary J. Blige, April 25, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; KiaCenter.com
Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton, April 25, Addition Financial Arena, Orlando. 407-823-3070; AdditionFiArena.com
City of Oviedo 100th Anniversary, April 26, Center Lake Park, Oviedo. 407-971-5565; CityOfOviedo.net
Forgotten Broadway, April 29, Judson’s Live, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org
Bonnie Raitt, April 30, King Center, Melbourne. 321-242-2219; KingCenter.com
Spirit Moon Art Show, May 1, LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org
Orlando Ballet presents “Giselle,” May 1-4, Steinmetz Hall, Orlando. 407-426-1733; OrlandoBallet.org
“Jesus Christ Superstar,” May 2-18, Cocoa Village Playhouse, Cocoa. 321-636-5050; CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com
The Milk Run 5K, May 3, The Milk District, Orlando. TheMilkDistrict.org
National Theatre Live: “Dr. Strangelove,” May 3, Enzian Theater, Maitland. 407-629-1088; Enzian.org
One Night of Queen, May 3, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 407-228-1220; PlazaLiveOrlando.org
The Pride Chamber’s Business Connect, May 7, Savoy, Orlando. 407-420-4895; ThePrideChamber.org
10th Annual Trash 2 Trends, May 7, Orlando Science Center, Orlando. 407-246-2752; CityOfOrlando.net/PublicWorks/ Keep-Orlando-Beautiful
Lea Michele, May 8, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRockLiveOrlando.com
TAMPA BAY
Sister for a Day: Rockell Blu, April 26, Shelter Strong, Largo. 727-240-0150; Facebook.com/TampaSisters
39th Green Thumb Festival, April 26-27, Walter Fuller Park, St. Petersburg. StPeteParksRec.org
LGB2B+ Networking Monday Mixer, April 28, Paulo’s Pizza, St. Petersburg. 727-347-7802; Facebook.com/ Groups/LGB2BPlus
Pride in Real Estate Kickoff, April 29, The Study, St. Petersburg. 727-827-2024; Facebook.com/TheStudyStPete
“Back to the Future: The Musical,” April 29May 4, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org
“Morningside,” April 29May 9, Stageworks Theatre, Tampa. 813-374-2416; StageworksTheatre.org
“Clue: A Walking Mystery,” April 29- May 9, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org
Remi Wolf, May 1, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com
Cynthia Erivo with The Florida Orchestra, May 2, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-892-5767; FloridaOrchestra.org
Star Wars Day Celebration, May 4, Tampa Theater, Tampa. 813-274-8981; TampaTheatre.org
“The Butterfly’s Evil Spell,” May 7-June 1, Jobsite Theater, Tampa. 813-229-7827; JobsiteTheater.org
Comedy at The Cock, May 7, Cocktail, St. Petersburg. 727-592-1914; CocktailStPete.com
Noah Reid, May 8, Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com
“One Night of Queen,” May 9, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-892-5767; TheMahaffey.com Survival Songs House Show Tour, May 9, Rose Dynasty Center, Lakeland. 863-267-6172; RoseDynastyFoundationInc.org
SARASOTA
“Rooted & Radical: The Art of Queer and Trans Resilience,” May 8, Fabulous Arts Foundation, Sarasota. FABAF.org
