Hope
Tampa Bay Rays honor MLB legend Billy Bean
US Rep. Darren Soto recognizes LGBTQ+ leaders
—JUSTICE
Ryan Williams-Jent
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ryan@WatermarkOutNews.com
EDITOR’S DESK
New Position, Same Mission
I’VE BEEN WRITING COLUMNS FOR
Watermark Out News since January 2018, first as Tampa Bay Bureau Chief and more recently as Managing Editor. This marks my first as Editor-in-Chief, something I couldn’t be more excited about.
The goofy smile on my face would prove that if you could see it, because just typing the title brings this journalist joy. Every position I’ve held here in the last eight years has been a thrill — from freelancer on — but leading our editorial team is a unique honor.
That’s because while I obviously have a biased opinion, I wholeheartedly believe Watermark Out News is Florida’s finest and most dedicated LGBTQ+ news source, something it’s been since 1994. I’m so grateful to Watermark Founder Tom Dyer for understanding that and launching this important platform. It’s a privilege to be a small part of its legacy.
Since this marks the first time my column has run in Central Florida print, I want to share a little bit about discovering Watermark for myself. I picked up my first copy in 2011 at Georgie’s Alibi in St. Petersburg, just a few years after moving to Florida from Ohio.
The former LGBTQ+ hotspot was also where I met my husband and most of our friends-turned-family, so it will always be dear to me. I had no idea how much that venue would change my life, in no small part because it carried this newspaper.
Until I read Watermark, I had no idea my passion for journalism and for our community could be so intrinsically linked. I wrote a
little bit about that for our 25th anniversary in 2019:
“As an Ohio transplant, it was through Watermark that I found a community of other safe spaces in Florida,” I explained. “In its pages and on its website were stories by and for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies — news features, opinion pieces and more — all supported by advertisers who supported us.” Still true, and still so important.
Watermark Out News showed me that LGBTQ+ stories matter — before, during and after June — and no one tells them the way our own community does. This newspaper has demonstrated that for over 30 years.
I wouldn’t find my way into its pages until 2017, under the guidance of Publisher Rick Todd. He’s the definition of leading by example, and I want to thank him for being a dedicated steward and for trusting me with this position.
I also want to thank everyone who’s been a part of my journey here, but that would fill this entire column. So instead, I’ll give some very important highlights — starting with my husband, who’s always supported my professional endeavors and dreams.
Especially during Pride Month, when I’m barely at home or he’s at another event with me.
I also have to mention the entire Watermark Out News team for believing in what we do — which certainly includes my predecessor Jeremy Williams, who helped prepare me for this next chapter in so many ways — and our newest member, Central Florida Bureau Chief Bellanee Plaza. She hit the ground running, and I know Central Florida is in very capable hands.
Serving our community with our dedicated team of freelancers and staff, past and present, has been an often tiring but always unparalleled joy. I’m so thrilled about our future together.
Of course, none of it would be possible without our advertisers, financial supporters and readers, from dear friends and family — hi, Mom! — to colleagues and communities around the world. Thank you
LGBTQ+ stories matter — before, during and after June — and no one tells them the way our own community does.
for backing and believing in independent LGBTQ+ journalism, especially now. It makes a difference.
We focus on how local health organizations are making a difference of their own in this issue. They share how they’re continuing to offer free HIV testing after federal cuts threatened their work and more.
In news, hundreds of thousands close out St Pete Pride 2025 and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto honors Central Florida advocates. In sports, the Tampa Bay Rays honor the late MLB trailblazer Billy Bean with a new scholarship and the Central Florida Softball League revises new rules.
Watermark Out News is proud to be your LGBTQ+ news source. Please stay informed, support those who support you and enjoy this latest issue.
ROSINE is a Tampa native and dedicated human rights advocate who serves as president of PFLAG Tampa, chair of the city’s Human Rights Board and a nonprofit consultant at Forward Focus Development. 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
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CENTRAL FLORIDA SOFTBALL LEAGUE REVISES LGBTQ+ ROSTER POLICY AFTER PLAYER BACKLASH
Bellanee Plaza
ORLANDO | Central Florida Softball League announced it was updating its team roster requirements June 26 after players voiced their concerns over a “reverse discriminatory rule.”
CFSL shared a new policy with players that limits the amount of straight people on a team via a survey, intending to allow five straight people per team. This is the first time CFSL formally set a cap on non-LGBTQ+ player participation per team, the organization noted.
In the updated version, the policy only applies to Open Division and there is an exemption for players who have been in good standing since Spring 2021. Effective immediately, the policy states:
“Teams in the Open Division may have no more than five (5) self-identifying non-LGBTQ+ (heterosexual) players on their official roster. The CFSL Board will use self-identification information provided during the previous season’s registration to verify player eligibility and ensure compliance at the time of roster submission.
“Players who have been CFSL members in good standing since Spring 2021 are exempt from being counted toward the five-player limit,” it continues.
“Subject to final approval by CFSL Board of Directors. This limitation does not apply to Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) roster qualification rules.”
On June 19, player Alyssa Hatch started a petition on Change.org to advocate for a change in the policy and gained 338 supporters. The petition changed to “victory” on June 26 after the change in policy.
Bobby Agagnina, CFSL commissioner, says there was a four-hour meeting via Zoom on June 25 with select members to discuss the policy changes. He says the Women’s Division will be excluded from this process as their national organization does not have any guidance on that set.
“It was a great dialogue, the epitome of responsibility and support and understanding,” Agagnina says. “…But together we came up with … a more inclusive, more passionate policy to move ourselves forward.”
Agagnina says this change was made because the board noticed the number of LGBTQ+ members was declining and they saw the number of straight allies increasing. He says this needed to be done to ensure equity for queer members.
“Nowhere in the policy, the first one or the revised one, did it say that our straight players and allies were not welcomed in the league,” Agagnina says. “That’s just false. And the board made sure to underscore that point. Nowhere did it say that we do not want our allies to join the league.”
For more information about the Central Florida Softball League, visit CFSLeague.org.
central florida news
US
REP. DARREN SOTO ENTERS LGBTQ+ LEADERS INTO CONGRESSIONAL RECORD FOR PRIDE MONTH
Bellanee Plaza
KISSIMMEE, FLA. | U.S.
Rep. Darren Soto invited community leaders to a Pride Month event June 17 to honor their work by entering them into the Congressional Record.
The honorees were recognized in the Hart Memorial Library by Soto, who read their biographies and names. Eight community leaders were recognized but only six could attend. One person was on duty in the U.S. Army, and one couldn’t attend due to work responsibilities.
The honorees were Julia Ruiz, who Soto praised for advocating for workers in the tourism industry; Angelica Jones, an LGBTQ+ advocate and drag performer; Marc J. Espeso, special assistant to Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and Summer McCray, billed as “an innovative law enforcement professional.”
Rounding out the list were Sabra Raymer, a firefighter paramedic; Joshua Lee Collins, who he called “a passionate entrepreneur,” David Romero, a veteran who serves on the Orange County Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Council as the LGBTQ+ veterans
advocate and Watermark Out News Sales Director Danny Garcia. Each received their own copy of their Congressional Certificates.
“Your life stories are now part of the Congressional Record, a part of our shared American history,” Soto said. “The most rewarding thing about today is the stories. Each of yours remarkable and well deserved.”
Different versions of the Congressional Record have dated back to 1789, with the modern form being published in 1873, Soto said. The Congressional Record is a chronicle of the nation’s history. Included in the record are listings of individuals and groups recognized for various achievements and contributions including community service, advocacy work or other significant accomplishments. The honorees’ biographies were submitted into the record.
“During LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we celebrated the achievements of community leaders who make Central Florida a better place to live,” Soto subsequently shared via social media June 20. “From veterans to police officers, and public servants to artists and journalists, we are grateful
for their contributions to our community.”
A trans woman of color, Jones says she was overwhelmed by the honor as she didn’t expect it. She says she’s grateful to be acknowledged for her work as a transgender rights advocate and Miss Gay U.S. of A. Jones is also a survivor of the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub.
“It’s kind of weird that you’re living your life and doing your own thing and then you realize that sometimes those things that you’re doing, they do affect people,” Jones says. “You pray and hope it’s in a good way.”
Garcia says he was truly honored to receive the recognition among such talented heroes. His work at the LGBT+ Center was specifically honored; he is the board president and works to advance visibility, equality and vital services for the community in the role.
He says the award made him feel humbled for his work.
“I love this community, everything that it stands for,” Garcia notes. “I just wish people would speak up more to stand up for those who don’t have voices.”
PRIDE UNITED: Honorees stand with U.S. Rep. Darren Soto at Pride History Month event. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA
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HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS CLOSE OUT ST PETE PRIDE 2025
Ryan
Williams-Jent
ST. PETERSBURG | St Pete Pride closed out its month of festivities June 27-29 in Downtown St. Petersburg and the Grand Central District.
The organization’s signature weekend kicked off at Jannus Live with their Friday Night Concert. The evening was hosted by local entertainer Daddy Sparkle, alter ego of Adriana Sparkle, and featured fellow fan favorites like Rolando Xavier, Sissy Gripp and Alice Marie Gripp.
St Pete Pride royalty also took the stage, including former representatives Justine B. Knights, Amari Lavish, Kamarion Lavish and Isaiah Sanchez Hilton, and this year’s reigning royal court. Miss St Pete Pride 2025 Seduction Dickerson, Mr. St Pete Pride 2025 Dioscar DeMilo and Mx. St Pete Pride 2025 Roman Lewinsky each performed elaborate numbers for the crowd.
The evening culminated with headliner Durand Bernarr, the Grammy-nominated artist who reflected on Pride with Watermark Out News ahead of the concert.
“To have pride is to foster community anchored in love, inclusion and safety,” he said.
Hundreds of thousands subsequently packed Downtown St. Petersburg June 28 from 2-10 p.m. for its Parade Day Festival, a full day of activities and entertainment that flanked the St Pete Pride Parade. It was preceded by the 2025 Trans March, which elevated trans joy and celebrated the community’s resilience with its largest contingent yet.
This year’s event was presented by TransNetwork and Love the Golden Rule. Participants gathered at Vinoy Park to center the community before marching along Bayshore Drive toward the St Pete Pride parade, which stepped off around 6 p.m.
Supporters watched the march and parade from North and South Straub Parks while enjoying local vendors and this year’s entertainment. The day came to close after the 2025 headliners took the stage, a lineup that included “American Song Contest” alum Grant Knoche, TikTok sensation Chrissy Chlapecka and “Drag Race” stars Priyanka and Denali.
Thousands closed the weekend June 29 in the Grand Central District, St Pete Pride’s birthplace. Their annual Street Festival once again featured main stage entertainment provided by Cocktail.
This year the venue welcomed headliners Martha Wash along with “Drag Race” stars Dawn and Aja. Come OUT St. Pete, Your Neighborhood Realty and Casa del Merman also organized their annual unfurling of a 375-foot Pride flag, which supporters escorted through the streets ahead of inclement weather.
Rain ultimately forced a number of vendors to close early and entertainment to move inside, but Pridegoers still celebrated throughout the night. St Pete Pride programming will continue throughout the year and their signature events will return in June 2026.
Read more and view photo galleries at WatermarkOutNews.com.
tampa bay news
TAMPA BAY RAYS HONOR MLB LEGEND BILLY BEAN
Ryan Williams-Jent
TAMPA | The Tampa Bay Rays held their annual Pride Night June 20, winning 14-8 against the Detroit Tigers and honoring late Major League Baseball trailblazer Billy Bean.
This year marked the team’s 19th Pride celebration and began after a short rain delay. It was held at George M. Steinbrenner Field after Hurricane Milton damaged St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field last year.
Fans were able to purchase special Pride packages ahead of time, a sold-out offer that included a 2025 Pride hat. The Rays also featured Pride-focused activations throughout the stadium and recognized both St Pete Pride and Tampa Pride on their jumbotrons.
The evening’s ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Greg Baker, Bean’s husband. The MLB legend — a former outfielder who played for the Detroit Tigers and other teams before becoming the second professional player to come out in 1999 — served as the MLB’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion for 10 years until his death in 2024.
“Billy Bean was selected in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers in 1986 and played six seasons in the MLB before he retired in 1995,”
the Tampa Bay Rays announced. “During an interview with the Miami Herald in 1999, he opened up about his sexual orientation and became the second ball player to come out as gay.
“In 2014, he returned to baseball as a special adviser to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and served as MLB’s senior vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion for ten years until passing away after a yearlong fight with acute myeloid leukemia in 2024,” they continued. “In his role, Bean worked with MLB teams to advance equality throughout baseball to ensure an equitable, inclusive and supportive space for everyone.”
The team also noted that Bean “was instrumental in the development of MLB’s bullying prevention education programming and the game’s support of Spirit Day, MLB’s ‘Ahead in the Count’ education program and elevating the visibility of MLB’s mental wellness resources.”
The Billy Bean Scholarship was established in partnership with the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Education Foundations to honor the advocate’s work. Bean regularly collaborated with the Tampa Bay Rays and told Watermark Out News in 2016 that his role had “been really embraced by baseball.”
The first Billy Bean Scholarship recipients were recognized during this year’s Pride game. Two high schoolers, one from Pinellas County and the other from Hillsborough County, were awarded $5,000 each.
The students were required to have an average GPA of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate “outstanding leadership in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within their school and/ or home communities.” They also had to be LGBTQ+ or “be strong allies and advocates” of the community.
“Billy was a tremendous leader and someone we’ve worked closely with since he started with Major League Baseball in 2014,” says Tampa Bay Rays Vice President of Social Impact Stephen Thomas.
“He strived to create a space where everyone could be their authentic self and we’re very proud to honor his life and legacy with the creation of the Billy Bean scholarship,” he continues. “Billy believed that baseball is for everyone and we couldn’t agree more.”
For more information about the Tampa Bay Rays Billy Bean Scholarship, visit RaysBaseball.com/BillyBean. View photos from Pride Night 2025 at WatermarkOutNews.com.
LEAGUE
LEGEND: The late MLB legend Billy Bean at Tropicana Field.
PHOTO COURTESY THE TAMPA BAY RAYS
IN OTHER NEWS
US MARRIAGE EQUALITY TURNS 10
The landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S., turned 10 on June 26. Reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the ruling, Obergefell expressed worry about the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the country and the possibility that a case could reach the Supreme Court that might overturn the decision. Polling from Gallup shows that Americans’ support for same-sex marriages is higher in 2025 than it was a decade ago: About 7 in 10 people surveyed said same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, up from 60% in May 2015.
SCOTUS: PARENTS CAN OPT-OUT OF LGBTQ+ CONTENT
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 27 that Maryland parents who have religious objections can pull their children from public school lessons using LGBTQ+ storybooks. Mahmoud v. Taylor was decided 6-3 along party lines, with conservative Justice Samuel Alito authoring the majority opinion. PEN America argued the case should be viewed in the context of broader efforts to censor and restrict what is available and allowable in public schools and LGBTQ+ groups also objected to the challenge against the district’s policy, with many submitting amici briefs.
INDIAN COURT RULES A TRANSGENDER WOMAN IS A WOMAN
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on June 16 issued a landmark ruling that says Indian law cannot deny transgender women recognition as women solely because they cannot bear children. “A trans woman, born male and later transitioning to female, is legally entitled to recognition as a woman,” Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa declared. The court emphasized this recognition is enshrined in the country’s constitution; which guarantees equality before the law. Pratapa further clarified that trans women are entitled to the same protections as cisgender women under Section 498A of the Indian penal code.
AUSTRALIA TO END LGBTQ+ BLOOD BAN
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Lifeblood) has announced it will lift its ban on sexually active LGBTQ+ people from donating blood. The Star Observer, an Australian LGBTQ newspaper, on June 18 reported “gay and bisexual men and transgender women” were previously not “able to donate plasma if they had been sexually active with men in the last three months.” The ban will end on July 14. “Lifeblood has been working to make blood and plasma donation more inclusive and accessible to as many people as possible, whilst maintaining the safety of the blood supply,” the organization shared in a release.
state, nation + world news
SCOTUS UPHOLDS BAN ON TRANS CARE
Ryan Williams-Jent
The Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a 6-3 vote June 18.
U.S. v. Skrmetti was brought forth by three transgender adolescents, their families and a medical provider from Memphis. The case is expected to shield anti-transgender laws in over 20 states.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for SCOTUS’ conservative majority that the state’s law does not violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution. The three liberal justice dissented.
“By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote. “In sadness, I dissent.”
“Today’s ruling is a devastating loss for transgender people,
our families, and everyone who cares about the Constitution,” Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, said. “Though this is a painful setback, it does not mean that transgender people and our allies are left with no options to defend our freedom, our health care, or our lives.”
Sasha Buchert, counsel and director of the Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project at Lambda Legal, called the ruling “heartbreaking,” noting it will make it “more difficult for transgender youth to escape the danger and trauma of being denied their ability to live and thrive.
“But we will continue to fight fiercely to protect them. Make no mistake, gender-affirming care is often life-saving care, and all major medical associations have determined it to be safe, appropriate and effective,” Buchert added.
Over 20 states including Florida have enacted what the ACLU calls categorial bans on gender-affirming care. According
to the Williams Institute, more than 100,000 trans youth now live in a state banning their access to it.
“This ruling creates a class of people who politicians believe deserve healthcare, and a class of people who do not,” Lucas Cameron-Vaughn, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Tennessee noted. “We will continue to stand with transgender people in Tennessee and are committed to realizing a world where all people belong, are valued, and can access the necessary healthcare they need.”
Equality Florida also weighed in. They noted the ruling has no immediate impact on Florida families and that the state’s law banning healthcare for trans youth remains under review by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“To every trans young person and every family fighting for them: you are loved,” they shared. “You deserve safety, respect and the freedom to thrive.”
THE WORLD’S ONLY TWICE-A-YEAR SHOT TO PREVENT HIV COULD STOP TRANSMISSION
Wire Report
WASHINGTON (AP) | The U.S. has approved the world’s only twice-ayear shot to prevent HIV, the first step in an anticipated global rollout that could protect millions.
While a vaccine to prevent HIV still is needed, some experts say the shot made by Gilead Sciences, called lenacapavir, could be the next best thing. It nearly eliminated new infections in two groundbreaking studies of people at high risk.
“This really has the possibility of ending HIV transmission,” said Greg Millett, public policy director at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.
Lenacapavir’s six-month protection makes it the longest-lasting type, an option that could attract people wary of more frequent doctor visits or stigma
from daily pills. But upheaval in U.S. healthcare, including cuts to public health agencies and Medicaid, and slashing of American foreign aid to fight HIV are clouding the prospects.
Millett said “gaping holes in the system” in the U.S. and globally “are going to make it difficult for us to make sure we not only get lenacapavir into people’s bodies but make sure they come back” twice a year to keep up their protection.
Gilead’s drug already is sold to treat HIV under the brand name Sunlenca. The prevention dose will be sold under a different name, Yeztugo. It’s given as two injections under the skin of the abdomen, leaving a small “depot” of medication to slowly absorb into the body. People must test negative for HIV before getting their twice-a-year dose, Gilead warned.
Global efforts at ending the HIV pandemic by 2030 have stalled.
There still are more than 30,000 new infections in the U.S. each year and about 1.3 million worldwide.
Only about 400,000 Americans already use some form of PrEP, a fraction of those estimated to benefit. A recent study found states with high use of PrEP saw a decrease in HIV infections.
A second study found the twice-yearly shot nearly as effective in gay men and gender-nonconforming people in the U.S. and in several other countries hard-hit by HIV.
Gilead said the U.S. list price before insurance is $28,218 a year, which it called similar to some other PrEP options. The company said it anticipated insurance coverage but also has some financial assistance programs.
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, said in a statement the price is still too high. If it’s unaffordable, she said, “it will change nothing.”
Trevor Rosine
PFLAG ON THE PAGE
Hydrated, Hopeful and Harrowing
PFLAG ON THE PAGE IS designed to offer guidance on topics affecting the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
Whether you’re looking for support, resources or answers, we promise to meet you with compassion, insight and encouragement. Submit your inquiries to PFLAG Tampa at PFLAGTampa@gmail.com.
At a recent PFLAG Tampa meeting, someone asked a question that has stayed with me: “How do we keep showing up for this work without burning out?”
It felt especially relevant in today’s climate. With rising hostility from the White House, ongoing legislative attacks and growing fear across our communities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But what I shared in that room, and what I want to share with you now, is this:
The new activist is hydrated, hopeful and harrowing.
Let’s start with hydration
I don’t just mean your water bottle, though please, drink some. Hydration is a mindset. It’s about tending to our bodies and our spirit. I’ve come to understand that self-neglect is not a sustainable model for social change. The activists I admire most today are fueled not by martyrdom but by maintenance. They rest. They eat. They go to therapy. They know that caring for themselves is what allows them to care for others and to keep going, even when it gets hard. And it will get hard.
Hydration is also a rejection of the “always on” grind that capitalism demands of all of us, especially those in advocacy. Some of us were raised to believe that urgency and exhaustion are signs we’re doing it right. But urgency without clarity is chaos. Exhaustion without strategy is waste. We don’t have time for either.
The new activist is hydrated because they understand we have too much work to do to run ourselves into the ground.
Then comes hope
Hope might feel naive these days, but in fact, it’s radical. When everything around us says to shut down, stay silent or give up, choosing hope is a form
of defiance. It’s not blind optimism. It’s the insistence that the future is still being written and that we get a say.
I see hope in every parent who shows up to a school board meeting to defend inclusive policies.
I see it in trans youth who refuse to be legislated out of existence.
I see it in our PFLAG Tampa families who walk through our doors for the first time, unsure of what they’ll find and leave knowing they are not alone.
Hope is our inheritance. From the Compton’s Cafeteria riot to the AIDS quilt to modern-day mutual aid, LGBTQ+ history is filled with people who believed that change was possible even when they didn’t live to see it. That kind of hope is not soft. It’s fireproof.
And now, let’s talk about being harrowing
This word catches people off guard. But let’s be honest: the new activist isn’t afraid to make people uncomfortable. We’re not here to beg for scraps or plead for decency. We’re here to confront systems that were never built for us and to challenge those who benefit from them.
Being harrowing means showing up as your full self in spaces that would prefer you quiet. It means asking hard questions, disrupting status quos and refusing to make yourself smaller for the comfort of others. It means naming things out loud that were never meant to be named. Not because we want a fight but because we want a future.
And sometimes, that makes people squirm. Good.
Because this isn’t just about allyship anymore. It’s about solidarity. It’s not about liking a post. It’s about showing up when it counts. Speaking up when it’s inconvenient. Giving your time, your platform, your money, whatever resources you have, to those on the frontlines.
At PFLAG Tampa, we meet families and individuals at all stages of their journey
and we offer them tools for navigating this climate with courage and clarity. From our monthly support meetings to our advocacy efforts across the region, we are committed to building a movement that is as compassionate as it is bold. And let me tell you, the people who walk through
Still, let’s not pretend this is easy. The attacks on LGBTQ+ people right now are coordinated, well-funded and insidious. They aim to erase us from history books, healthcare systems and public life. And they are happening in plain sight.
So no, this isn’t a time
Hope is our inheritance.
our doors are the definition of harrowing.
They are the parent who loses friends for affirming their trans child and shows up anyway. The grandparent who volunteers at Pride for the first time at 75 years old. The young adult who has every reason to give up but instead builds community for others. These are not stories of pity. They are stories of power.
for performative gestures. It’s a time for action and for deep, sustained connection. Because if there’s one thing the opposition is counting on, it’s our isolation.
They are hoping we give in to exhaustion. That we splinter off. That we turn on each other.
But we don’t have to play into that. We can choose something else.
We can choose to hydrate, to care for ourselves and each
other like we plan to be here for the long haul.
We can choose hope, not because we’re naive but because we know our ancestors fought too hard for us to stop now.
And we can be harrowing, to systems, to silence, to the status quo, because love that tells the truth is powerful and power that builds community is unstoppable.
So, drink some water. Take a nap. Call your elected officials. Hug your queer friends. Volunteer with an LGBTQ+ group. Show up to the meeting. Ask better questions. Stay loud.
Because the new activist isn’t coming. We’re already here.
In solidarity, PFLAG Tampa
Trevor Rosine is a Tampa native and dedicated human rights advocate who serves as president of PFLAG Tampa and more.
Bellanee Plaza
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 introduce Dr. Bahíyyah Maroon, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida’s vice president of mission impact.
Dr. Maroon is a queer woman who oversees programs that provide people with one-on-one coaches to fulfill their goals and their financial dreams with paid on the job training opportunities. These programs seek to empower people to enter the workforce and advance their careers, Maroon says. This benefits more than 2,500 locals every year.
She says the most rewarding parts of her role are being able to serve people who are from vulnerable communities and people who face monumental obstacles, like the LGBTQ+ community of which she’s a part.
The Good Page
Goodwill Central Florida’s queer VP helps uplift vulnerable communities
“I instead chose to make my way on my own in New York City as a young, queer woman and have built my life from there knowing what it feels like to live the story behind the statistics that we see,” Maroon says.
“I am living as a Black queer woman today,” Maroon says. “And to know that I can still show up to work and provide services and pathways to prosperity, to people who are the most vulnerable and even more vulnerable in today’s environment, means everything to me.”
Maroon creates impact when she can share her story with community members and Goodwill Industries of Central Florida employees. She shares her story with others to spark hope. She was excommunicated from her deeply conservative faith community at the age of 13. She says her faith was her safe space and she was encouraged to later seek conversion therapy.
She finds it inspirational when she sees that she can be of service to the community.
One of the initiatives Maroon leads is Goodwill Connects. This allows people to call in across six counties for assistance with a housing crisis, food crisis, payment issues and more.
“We are continually innovating and I’m very proud of the innovations that have been put in place to serve more community members,” Maroon explains.
As an LGBTQ+ leader, Maroon ensures that the language the employees at GICF use make people of all backgrounds feel valued so they know they will be treated with respect.
She says GICF has a sizable portion of people who receive services because they present as
a person with disabilities, youth aging out of foster care or an individual moving out of public assistance into work.
“When we sit down and have a conversation, they know that this is a genuinely inclusive space where all of their self will be seen and respected,” Maroon says. “They share that they are a member of the LGBTQI+ community and can then be guided towards additional resources and additional service supports that acknowledge and empower them as a member of that community.”
When Maroon looks at the political climate, she says it’s a time of despair.
“It is a moment of such deep reckoning to witness every day the loss of rights it has taken us decades to secure,” Maroon says. “And it’s easy at this moment to feel hopeless and helpless.”
She says people have to ask themselves “What’s one small thing I can do to support
my community or myself in this time?”
Maroon holds herself to the highest standard so she can provide everyone around her with the tools, insights and information to also achieve the highest standard.
She says the best advice she has for others is to ask themselves a question that moves them to action every day.
“For me, the question I start the day with is ‘How can I be of service?’” Maroon notes. “And I end the day with ‘How was I of service?’ We have to ask more of ourselves and also hold ourselves accountable to our vision, and that’s how we make a real difference.”
Interested in being featured in The Good Page? Email Editor-in-Chief Ryan Williams-Jent at Ryan@ WatermarkOutNews.com in Tampa Bay or Central Florida Bureau Chief Bellanee Plaza at Bellanee@WatermarkOutNews.com in Central Florida.
PHOTO COURTESY KIM FARAH
PHOTO COURTESY KIM FARAH
Beacons of Hope Florida clinics continue free HIV testing after federal cuts
Bellanee Plaza
WHILE SOME HIV PREVENTION
program funding ended in June, organizations have long been preparing to keep meeting their patients’ needs.
Florida receives significant HIV funding from both federal and state sources.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration eliminated five CDC HIV prevention branches, including public health communications, modeling, behavioral surveillance, training and non-lab research, even with Congressionally appropriated funding.
Many grants also have ended, including the Take Me Home testing program. CDC grant programs are also necessary for
clinics and pharmacies to utilize the 340B program.
This program allows them to purchase medications, such as PrEP, at reduced prices and use those savings to assist un- and underinsured people while providing other essential services, including HIV testing.
Some organizations like Pineapple Healthcare decided to look at other options for funding.
Owner Ethan Suarez told Watermark Out News in May that Pineapple Healthcare
does about 150 rapid HIV tests a month, and with each test costing $6.75 a piece, that would add about $12,000 a year to their budget.
It led the organization to purchase Orlando’s One Magical Weekend, which now acts as an annual fundraiser for their work. It returned in early June under their guidance.
26Health will still offer free testing in Orlando, having taken funds from other areas to put finances toward HIV test kits.
“We were able to be in a financial standing to absorb costs of HIV test kits, which I know is not the same for many other health centers that don’t have the budget and the size that we have,” Chevalier Lovett, vice president of impact and advocacy, says.
Lovett says he wants people to know that it won’t just be 26Health that still offers free testing. He worries that people will hear about the funding cuts and think testing will come out of pocket, therefore making them not want to know their status.
“The verbiage around it is extremely important. Not only does it affect organizations and how we have to figure out how to structure HIV testing and still provide it for free for our communities, but it’s going to affect people in their psyche,” he says.
As a non-partisan organization, 26Health tries its best to work with anything and everything they have, Lovett adds.
Dr. Luisa Mena, chief medical officer, says as long as 26Health
is standing, they will continue to provide free HIV tests. She says they have to consider those organizations that may not be as fortunate as them.
“We have a mission and a vision to impact the community in positive ways the best that we can, to change lives, to help people reach their goals with their health, not only mentally but physically,” Mena says.
HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), leading to the condition known as AIDS. While HIV is a manageable health condition with proper treatment, it remains a significant global issue: the World Health Organization estimates that approximately 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV.
PHOTO VIA FREEPIK
With the latest available data, Florida ranks third in the nation for HIV diagnoses. In 2022, Florida identified 4,606 new HIV diagnoses, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Orange County had a high rate of people living with HIV in 2023, with 10,404 cases. The year prior, there were over 14,000 people living with HIV and 588 new diagnoses.
In 2023, Pinellas County had 5,270 people living with HIV and Hillsborough Country had 8,263 people living with HIV.
Demographics in Florida’s HIV cases also show that Black and Hispanic communities are particularly affected, with infection rates significantly higher compared to white Americans.
According to the Florida Department of Health, there were 2,129 HIV diagnoses for non-Hispanic Black people and 1,545 HIV diagnoses for Hispanic people in 2023. The number of HIV diagnoses for non-Hispanic White people was 975 in that same year.
To meet the needs of Tampa Bay’s community, Metro Inclusive Health is able to use contributions by both donors and patients to increase testing capabilities. There have been additional supply purchases in the past, notes Brian Bailey, chief marketing and experience officer.
In 2024, Metro Inclusive Health received donations from Trevor Burgess and Gary Hess to bolster their testing program. Over $700,000 was put into savings where it could then go back to the community, Bailey says.
“HIV is one part of it,” Bailey explains. “But STIs have also been on the rise. This is an example of how we’ll meet the needs of the community. We were very interested in going to full STI testing kits, and their donation made that possible.”
At Metro Inclusive Health, there were 31,761 health center visits, 31,085 lives assisted and 2,992 total new patients in 2024, according to their most recent annual report. There were 4,351 HIV positive patients and 100% of them were linked to care.
Testing goes hand-in-hand with preventions and health navigators at Metro Inclusive Health. They work to maximize each testing experience to educate patients about PrEP
and nPEP to prevent HIV and DoxyPEP to prevent common STIs.
“In our 30-plus years of being in this area, we’ve faced a lot of challenges, but we always find a way,” Bailey says.
Bailey says the organization is ahead of the curve when it comes to fulfilling its mission. They exist to provide inclusive and supportive health and wellness services to the diverse communities in the Tampa Bay area.
Some healthcare clinics are contracted with a for-profit, like BLISS Health in Orlando. Johnida Pena, executive director, says this allows for assistance with purchasing HIV tests.
“BLISS Health purchases their own testing, and they’re willing to go ahead and donate to the nonprofit to make sure that we have those, so we are fortunate for that,” Pena says. “Had we not had BLISS Health’s ability to donate those things, it would put us in a very tough situation.”
She says that if BLISS Health couldn’t offer free testing, the community would suffer the most. She wants patients to know that they will stand up for those in need to make sure everyone has a voice in this time of constant change.
“With us all standing together, we have the ability to be louder than any line that’s being signed by someone who doesn’t know better,” Pena says. “…They’re signing off on a [budget] document that they think financially, ‘This is going to help us,’ but don’t realize how it’s impacting the people down at the bottom, financially or health-wise.”
Pena says HIV testing is life changing and that she doesn’t
want people to be afraid to get tested. People who don’t know their HIV status are the most at risk when it comes to the federal changes, she notes.
According to a statement on the CDC website, the usage of PrEP can no longer be monitored due to its HIV Division staff reduction. As part of a staffing reduction, the Division of HIV Prevention branches that produced HIV incidence estimates and provided the statistical expertise needed to assess PrEP coverage were eliminated.
The CDC is currently evaluating plans and capacity to resume this work.
In Florida, most of the organizations produce data with electronic medical records to keep up with the number of patients being tested. This allows them to report any positive HIV test to the health department.
When it came to looking at options for funding, Inclusive Care Group in Tampa Bay didn’t look toward the government. Dr. Antonio Luis, its founder, says when he started his practice, he focused on looking at other sources of funding to offer free HIV testing.
“I really focused on not looking at grants that the government would be able to control… and not relying on somebody else to be able to make the money for us, so we’re not really changing anything,” he explains. “We’re still getting people’s insurance. We’re still getting people access to care.”
With the CDC not monitoring PrEP, Luis says smaller organizations in rural areas will suffer the most. He worries that there can be a
able to do is to absorb [costs] so far … we remain 100% fully committed to continuing to do what we do.”
CAN Community Health will have to “tighten up” to be proactive in their savings, Barnett adds. The organization wants to provide services but it knows they won’t have grant funding. There are donors who have built their brand and have become loyal to CAN Community Health, Barnett says, and this has pushed the community to rally and unite behind them.
Barnett says he would like to see change in the government funding and CDC, noting he thinks this decision was made haphazardly.
rise in cases as it can start in different populations.
“The problem is, it’s not the community centers… it’s not the private practices that have large clinics with LGBTQ populations,” Luis says. “It’s the smaller places that might all of a sudden have an HIV infection or an STI and not really know what to do next, not know that HIV is still a thing. There are a lot of people who still don’t know what HIV is and doctors kind of turn a blind eye to that.”
As of March, the Florida Department of Health was slated to lose $495 million in funding for infectious disease control, including HIV, due to a federal move to cut public health funding, the Sun Sentinel reported. A judge temporarily blocked these cuts, but the initial loss of the funding had already impacted HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
Watermark Out News reached out to the department for comment. Communications Manager Kent Donahue advised he would research the request but did not respond to our additional request for comment as of press time.
For some locations, HIV tests can cost the organization $15 per test. Dr. Steven Barnett, chief medical officer of CAN Community Health, says the CDC might have gotten a better price for tests but it may not be by much. He says the company will not let this decision impact their services throughout Tampa Bay, Sarasota and Central Florida.
“I would say, even as a nonprofit, CAN Community Health has been very good financial stewards,” Barnett says. “And what we’ve been
“I think a lot of this is geared towards certain segments of the LGBT population, but it can sweep everything along with it,” Barnett says. “If they’re doing things to one [demographic], it still pulls us all in.”
Dana Randolph, senior director of marketing and communications of Hope & Help in Orlando, declined to comment on the federal cuts. She said in an email that the organization is trying to stay clear of any topics that may be used against them if it’s politicized.
Health organizations want Floridians to support them in these challenging times, as almost all of them said having advocates behind them allows them to campaign for further assistance. The support can mean showing up to their events or sharing news from the organizations on social media.
Becoming a patient can be the most impactful way to show support for the organizations, most add. They want communities to know they aren’t alone and that they know how serious the matter is — but most importantly, that it won’t stop them from serving patients’ needs.
“I think a lot of people right now are disappointed in what’s happening,” Luis says. “I’m not surprised, and I don’t think a lot of us are… I’m glad that we’re here and that we’re growing as much as we can so we can be a beacon of hope.”
For more information about Central Florida-based clinics and their services, visit PineappleHealthcare.com, 26Health.org and BLISSHealth.com. Learn more about Tampa Bay-based clinics at MetroTampaBay. org, InclusiveCareGroup.com and CANCommunityHealth.org.
IN THE COMMUNITY: 1) Metro Inclusive Health offers testing during St Pete Pride’s Kick-off Party in St. Petersburg June 1. 2) 26Health tables at Come Out With Pride’s Juneteenth celebration June 21 in Orlando. WATERMARK OUT NEWS FILE PHOTOS
ORLANDO DIRECTOR REIMAGINES ‘HAIR’
AT RENAISSANCE THEATER
IN HIS DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, ADONIS
Perez-Escobar hopes to leave audiences moved and inspired by his recontextualized version of “Hair,” showing at Renaissance Theater through July 26.
“Hair” follows a group of politically active young hippies in New York City as they explore identity, love, sexuality and anti-establishment ideals amid the backdrop of the Vietnam War during the 1960s.
“I think this play is a protest, an act of rebellion,” Perez-Escobar says. “I think it’s an act of love.”
More than 50 years after its debut, “Hair” remains relevant with its story marked by political division, social unrest and renewed fights for justice and identity, according to Renaissance Theater Company’s website. The play reminds audiences that the fight for a better world is far from over.
“We are at a place where things are starting to get a little scary, and
Perez-Escobar felt anxious and called his friends for help. Donald Rupe, founder of Renaissance Theater Company, came to escort Perez-Escobar out of the store while Blake Aburn, actor for Renaissance Theater Company, kept a lookout.
He says Aburn saw one of the men talking to himself in what could have been an earpiece.
“You have to start being more aware of your surroundings,” Perez-Escobar says. “I don’t want to cause paranoia or anything, but I do think we live in a bubble where we’re in a very open, loving community that we forget that there are people out there who aren’t, whose natural inclinations aren’t that.”
The musical calls for unity, resistance and radical love. The characters must grapple with what it means to be free and American.
Abby Cash, choreographer, says the play is a call to action. She says getting to work on “Hair” was cathartic and has helped her reconnect with political issues and her beliefs.
“We’re seeing how we can take care of each other, how we can help each other and just coming and participating in things at the Ren is an act of protest,” Cash says.
In 1967, “Hair” had a six-week limited run and then opened on Broadway. The musical played 17 previews and 1,750 performances before closing in 1972 and earning Tony Award nominations for Best Direction and Best Musical.
Following the original production, a movie version of “Hair” was released in 1972. While it received mixed reviews upon its release, the film has since become a cult classic.
Perez-Escobar says his version of “Hair” is a reimagined one with both his and Cash’s stamp. He thinks the show is best experienced somewhere like the Renaissance Theater Company.
like, ‘it’s a hippie commune, they’re all fluid, they’re all open.’”
If the actors felt the need to add a kiss, even if it wasn’t scripted, Perez-Escobar says he encouraged them to express themselves. He wants the show to have more queerness.
Cash thinks the cast and crew did a great job at creating a safe environment for diversity in age, body types and race.
“They all are so unique as people that it’s not hard to let that shine, you just have to give them permission to be themselves and to express themselves,” Cash says.
“Hair” is billed as “the American tribal love-rock musical,” and Perez-Escobar says the show is a rendition of what it means to be American. He sees his parents and himself in the characters who are fighting for their rights, to stay in a country that’s oppressing them.
He came to the U.S. when he was five, and he says some people think that doesn’t make him an American.
On June 14, Cash received a comment from a patron who couldn’t go to the national “No Kings” protest because of mobility issues. He told Cash that coming to the show was his form of protest by contributing to the arts.
“I thought [the patron’s comment] was really powerful and special,” Perez-Escobar says, adding that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in order to reach liberation and freedom.
Cash thinks audiences should feel hopeful when watching “Hair.” She says there’s a lot of hope when people can come together with love and unity in mind.
it’s time to get up and raise your voices and do something about it,”
Perez-Escobar says. “I think that’s something that this show does and should inspire a Florida audience.”
He thinks people may need that more than ever before. On the opening night of “Hair,” Perez-Escobar says he was racially profiled. In a Facebook post, he wrote about a police car following his car after he left home. He was on his way to the show, but he decided to pull into a shopping plaza since he felt something was off.
The car followed and he went into a retail store to wait. He says two men dressed in jeans, black athletic polos and black hats followed him around the store, and one whistled at him.
“I think this is the way that ‘Hair’ should be experienced, in a 360 immersive sort of warehouse,” Perez-Escobar says. “So come, because you’re not going to find ‘Hair’ like this anywhere else.”
“Come see how theater can be in 2025 when you let the new kids try it,” Cash adds.
When it came to approaching the characters for “Hair,” Perez-Escobar says he made it clear to the actors that he wanted them to take ownership of the role, showing who they truly are.
A cast member’s parent told him that she didn’t remember “Hair” being “this gay.” He says it’s always been there.
“Most theaters, they don’t push it, because it’s not directly written in there,” Perez-Escobar says. “But I’m
“It is a show that… will make you feel inspired,” Cash says. “I think it kind of helps you have ownership of your own situation, of knowing that you can go out and make a difference, even if it’s in an unconventional way. Maybe you can’t protest but you can create something artistic, just to express yourself in your own way, and to contribute in your own way.”
Perez-Escobar says there is a lot to be grateful for when he thinks of all the hard work the cast and crew have put into the show.
“There’s just so much love there,” Perez-Escobar says. “I see them helping each other out. I see them … really relying on each other to get through the show. I think it’s one of the most beautiful things.”
“Hair” plays at the Renaissance Theater Company in Orlando through July 26. Tickets start at $33 and are available at RenTheatre.com.
PHOTO BY ISACC YI
Bellanee Plaza
announcements TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS
Christine Grossman’s T-shirt design was chosen June 18 for this year’s Trans March. Love the Golden Rule announced June 20 that Andre Clarke will serve as executive director. Aaron Valenzuela and Tom Wilks were inducted into the Suncoast Softball League’s Hall of Fame June 22. Pride in Real Estate, St. Pete honored Brian Longstreth with the organization’s first Leaders & Legends of Pride Award June 24.
The Tampa River Center was renamed to the Bob Buckhorn River Center June 25 to honor LGBTQ+ ally and former mayor Bob Buckhorn
St Pete Pride brought its 23rd annual celebration to a close June 27-29, drawing hundreds of thousands to St. Petersburg. Read more on p. 10 and view full photo galleries at WatermarkOutNews.com.
CONDOLENCES
A celebration of life will be held for the late Paul Hannan July 13 at Bradley’s on 7th. He will be missed.
CLOSURES
The Studio Public House announced June 23 that the Grand Central District staple will close this summer. Read more at WatemarkOutNews.com.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
St Pete Pride President Byron Green-Calisch, Tampa Pro Massage owner Cory Jeffries, Tampa Bay realtor Michael Noeltner (July 3); Career coach Tim Durling (July 4); Tampa Bay performer Kori Stevens, St. Petersburg entertainer Kristina White, a.k.a. Fatalya (July 5); Balance Tampa Bay’s Steve Watson, Tampa Bay educator Brad Rice, a.k.a. entertainer Georgia Moore (July 6); Sarasota Opera director of marketing Carlos Eduardo Vincente, St. Petersburg realtor Brian Sprague, USF IT guru Angel Arcelay, Tampa Bay actor Chris Stein, American Financial manager Keith Williams, “Captain Marvel”-ous John Owen-Chambrone (July 7); Tampa Bay DJ Greg Anderson, Horror master Scott Swenson (July 8); Bay City Rehab & Wellness owner Scott Barry, Tampa Bay photographer Tony Fowler (July 9); Sarasota actor Kenneth Rapczynski, MCC Tampa Senior Pastor Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw (July 10); Sawmill Campground general manager Justin Pamplin, Prestar Services Co-Owner Chip Hansell (July 11); St. Petersburg LGBTQ+ advocate James Keane, St. Petersburg artist Steven Ranochak (July 12); Tampa Bay entertainer Robert Rigsby/Rockell Blu, former Quench Lounge manager Gary Miller (July 13); Gasparilla Festival of the Arts staple John Scheffel, LGBTQ+ activist Gil Sainz, Disney fanatic Matthew Samay (July 14); Tampa Bay artist Chad Mize, Tribeca Salons brand ambassador and stylist Mikey Ferrer, Jr., Three Boys Café owner Matthew Downs (July 15); OutCoast CEO Rachel Covello, Michael Saunders & Co. realtor Jason Coy Turner, Community advocate Michael Snyder (July 16)
1
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: ICG Foundation’s Salim Rouwayheb (L) and Michael Rogers connect at LALA St. Pete June 28 for the group’s networking event.
PHOTO BY LUIS SALAZAR
2
GONE WEST: Country singer Kameron Ross (L) and Daddy Sparkle strike a pose at The Wet Spot’s Pride weekend male revue June 28.
PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
3
TRANS TEE: Designer Christine Grossman (L) and Nathan Bruemmer reveal this year’s Trans March T-shirt design June 18 at the James Museum for St Pete Pride’s Transtastic.
PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
4
RAYS UP: (L-R) Joy Winheim, Nate Taylor, Brian Bailey and Priya Rajkumar enjoy the Tampa Bay Rays’ Pride Night June 20 at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
5
IT’S RAININ’, MAN: Inclement weather doesn’t stop diva Martha Wash as she performs her hit songs on Cocktail’s main stage June 29 for St Pete Pride’s Street Festival.
PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
6
STEPPING OFF: St Pete Pride’s 2025 Trans March participants prepare to depart June 28 from Vinoy Park. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA
7 DAYTIME DIVA: Former Miss St Pete Pride Kiala Santi entertains the masses at South Straub Park for St Pete Pride’s Parade Festival. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
8
MISS JACKSON, IF YOU’RE PRIDEFUL: Miss St Pete Pride 2025 Seduction Dickerson channels Janet at St Pete Pride’s Friday Night Concert June 27 at Jannus Live.
PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT
1 POLITICAL ADVOCACY: Orange County Democrats meet with Representative Rita Harris during the June Dem Mingles event June 25 at American Social Orland ahead of the special election. PHOTO VIA ORANGE COUNTY DEMOCRATS’ FACEBOOK
2 ST. CLOUD PRIDE: Kolbie Blair Matthews poses wearing her Miss Gay Days pageant sash at Proud in the Cloud in St. Cloud on June 21. PHOTO BY CAITLIN SAUSE
3 CONGRESSION RECOGNITION: Danny Garcia stands with friends, family and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto to accept his Congressional Certificate in the Hart Memorial Library on June 17. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA
4 JUNETEENTH FEST: State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Rep. Anna V. Eskamani attend Eatonville’s Juneteenth Fest on June 22. PHOTO VIA ANNA V. ESKAMANI’S FACEBOOK
5 COMMUNITY AT WORK: Nicole Sorenson Morse from The Center speaks to an attendee during the Love & Liberation: A Boldly Unapologetic Juneteenth Pride Celebration on June 21 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA
6 QUEER COLLECTIVE: Attendees smile at a photo booth during LEAKED, The Sapphic Agenda’s networking event at Z Co Space + Clubhouse on June 20. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA
7 PRIDE DINNER: Brittani Acuff (L) and George Wallace (R) host a Pride month celebration at The Moderne with 100% of the specialty Pride drinks benefiting the LBGT+ Center Orlando. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA
8 SAUCY MIXER: Edward “Stanky” Stankiewicz sells his Stanky Sauce at OUT & About Networking in The Center Orlando on June 26. PHOTO BY CAITLIN SAUSE
CONGRATULATIONS
Watermark Out News Sales Director Danny Garcia was awarded a Congressional Certificate from U.S. Rep. Darren Soto for his community service and advocacy alongside others on June 17. Read more on p. 8.
Proud in the Cloud celebrated love and diversity in St. Cloud on June 21 with over 1,500 sttendees. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
Come Out with Pride hosted its first-ever Love & Liberation: A Boldly Unapologetic Juneteenth Pride Celebration on June 21 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
State Representative LaVon Bracy Davis won the special primary election on June 24 for Florida Senate District 15.
Orlando Immunology Center announced OIC Inspired, Inc. on June 26, a new nonprofit organization rooted in decades of research in infectious diseases and compassionate care. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
Hanks Orlando celebrated 38 years in business on July 1.
Wayne Dictor was awarded the Raymond James Pride Financial Advisor Network’s 2025 Ally Award for his commitment to his clients on June 28.
CLOSURES
College Park Diner, Orlando’s oldest diner, shut its doors on June 17. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
Central Florida performer and entertainer P. Sparkle Rob Ward (July 4); Orlando drag performer Ed Dobski aka Trixie Deluxe, co-owner of Shelbie Press Debbie Simmons, Pineapple Healthcare’s Yosmar Rumbos, Orlando entrepreneur Pom Moongauklang (July 5); Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, owner of John Michael Exquisite Weddings and Catering Michael Thomas (July 6); Port Orange’s Madonna-loving Ryan Madison, Montessori teacher Natasha Kay (July 7); Orlando Gay Bowling League President Tommy Ryan Greene, Hamburger Mary’s Jacksonville co-owner
Brittany Moore, Darden attorney and board member
Carole Conroy (July 8); Co-owner of Shelbie Press Michelle Murray (July 9), The Contigo Fund’s program director Marco Antonio Quiroga, LGBT+ Center Orlando Chief Operating Officer Nikole Parker (July 11); Central Florida drag performer Kristina McLaughlin, CDW Electrical’s Chris Brown, Orlando event planner Jorge Cruz (July 12); The Dru Project’s Shawn Chaudhry, Central Florida comedian Brianna Jaye, One Orlando Alliance board member Andrea Massey-Farrell (July 15); Orlando actor Hunter Rogers, Bank of America’s Tayt Jones, AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Russell Walker (July 16).
community calendar
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Monday Dodgeball League
MONDAY, JULY 14, 6:30 P.M. ENGLEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, ORLANDO
OUT Sports League’s standard season will start with a maximum of eight teams with 104 players in the competitive division and four teams with 64 players in the recreational division. The season is eight weeks long and all games are refereed. Players can register with or without a team. For more information, visit OutSportsLeague.LeagueApps.com
Ben Schwartz & Friends
SUNDAY, JULY 13, 8 P.M.
DR. PHILLIPS CENTER, ORLANDO
Off-script and on point, Ben Schwartz brings his comedy show to Walt Disney Theater inside Dr. Phillips Center for a totally improvised show. Nothing will be prepared as every word will be made up on the spot. Known for his roles in “Parks and Recreation” and “Sonic the Hedgehog,” Schwartz is joined by his friends to present any evening for off-the-cuff comedy. For more information, visit DrPhillipsCenter.org
TAMPA BAY
Georgie’s Alibi Reunion
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 8 P.M.
ENIGMA, ST. PETERSBURG
Celebrate “First Lady of St. Pete” Kori Stevens’ birthday with a Georgie’s Albi reunion featuring Amanda D’Rhod, 6PAK, Jaeda Fuentes, Esme Russell and Cherry Poppins. The evening will feature a raffle benefiting TransNetwork and Project No Labels with a show at 10 p.m. Search “Georgie’s Alibi St Petersburg Reunion” on Facebook to learn more.
“Puffs” Opening Night
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 7:30 P.M. JOBSITE THEATER, TAMPA
“Puffs: Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic” is a “Harry Potter” parody that is not authorized, sanctioned, licensed or endorsed by J.K. Rowling, or “She Who Shall Not be Named.” The LGBTQ+-inclusive show plays through Aug. 3 at Jobsite Theater. Learn more soon in future issues of Watermark Out News and at JobsiteTheater.org.
EVENT PLANNER
WILD CHILD
CENTRAL FLORIDA
“Hair,” Through July 26, Renaissance Theater Company, Orlando. RenTheatre.com
Diva Royale - Drag Queen Show Orlando, July 4, Eden The Lounge, Orlando. 407-776-0254; EdenTheLounge.com
QUEER ANARCHY, July 4, Will’s Pub, Orlando. 407-898-5070; WillsPub.org
Absolute Queen - The Ultimate Queen Tribute, July 5, House of Blues, Orlando. 689-329-2583; HouseOfBlues.com
“Ride the Cyclone,” July 5-Aug. 31, Theatre South Playhouse, Orlando. 407-601-4380; TheatreSouthPlayhouse.org
Hannah McGinley Lemasters, July 8, Judson’s Live, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org
Peabo Bryson, July 9-10, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org
MikeyBear & Cake Art Show, July 10, The Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.org
“Memphis,” July 10-Aug. 3, Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven. 863-294-7469; ThatreWinterHaven.com
Jessie Reyez Paid In Memories Tour, July 12, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRockLiveOrlando.com
Raul Midón, July 13, Judson’s Live, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org
Will Wood, July 15, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 888-929-7849; PlazaLiveOrlando.org
Dude Perfect: Hero World Tour, July 17, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7900; KiaCenter.com
Annual Butterfly Release 2025, July 12, The Yard Stop Garden Center, Mt Dora. 352-357-9964; YardStopGardenCenter.com
Marlon Wayans, July 18-20, Funny Bone, Orlando. 407-480-5233; Orlando. FunnyBone.com
TAMPA BAY
First Friday Fantasy Show, July 4, The Garage, St. Petersburg. Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage
The Fourth: Celebrating 5 Years of ExPIERience, July 4, St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg. StPetePier.org
Dyke Knight B2B: Back 2 Brat, July 4, Crowbar, Tampa. 813-241-8600; CrowbarYbor.com
Judy B. Goode, July 5, Hollander Hotel, St. Petersburg. 727-873-7900; HollanderHotel.com
Satur-Slay Rockell’s Birthday Celebration, July 5, Thyrst, Largo. 727-240-0150; PlurCentral.com
Socialize & Strategize Networking Mixer, July 9, The Karol Hotel, Clearwater. 727-247-8256; TheKarolHotel.com
Come OUT St. Pete Board Meeting, July 10, Studio Public House, St. Petersburg. ComeOUTStPete.org
Coffee Connections, July 10, Regions Bank, St. Petersburg. TampaBayLGBTChamber.org
Ben Schwartz & Friends, July 11, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org
Satur-Slay with Lady Liemont, July 12, Thyrst, Largo. 727-240-0150; PlurCentral.com
Tampa Toy Con 2025, July 12-13, Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. FloridaToyShows.com
Gladys Knight, July 13, Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa. 866-388-4263; Casino. HardRock.com/Tampa
Paul Hannan Celebration of Life, July 13, Bradley’s on 7th, Tampa. 813-241-2723; BradleysOn7th.com
Queen Daddy’s Birthday Bash, July13, The Italian Club, Tampa. ScarletLotusCabaret.com
Mx and Mingle, July 13, R Bar, Port Richey. Facebook.com/VynSuazion
St Pete Pride Drag Bingo ft. the Royal Court, July 16, The Study, St. Petersburg. StPetePride.org
SARASOTA
Marauders Pride Night, July 12, LECOM Park, Bradenton. 941-538-5174; MiLB.com/Bradenton
Christmas in July: PopUp Pride Edition, July 16, Voco, Sarasota. 941-487-3800; PPSRQ.org
Actor and ally Marlon Wayans
Hosted By:
Rick Todd
Jeremy Williams
