Tampa Police Department honors local LGBTQ+ hero
LGBT+
AZupka Counseling
Rick Todd PUBLISHER Rick@WatermarkOutNews.com
PUBLISHER’S DESK
Stay Hopeful
IHAVE NEVER BEEN SOMEONE IN
tune with inspirational aspirations. I get it, they provide a service for those who believe and I’m not here to rain on your parade, yuck your yum or end your slay moment — depending on what generation you fall into.
Maybe I’m just filling nicely into my aging, cisgender, white male shoes of being a curmudgeon, I say in jest. Although the best way to get a spiritual eyeroll from me is to show me your dream board. Yes, it’s nice to dream but is a picture of a Rolls Royce cut out of a magazine and put on a $2 piece of poster board going to get me into one?
I once had a staff member write a check for one million dollars to himself and put it on a dream board. “One day I will cash that,” he said. Insert eyeroll emoji. “Not working here,” I thought. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted him to. If a sales rep could cash a million dollar check then Watermark Out News would be doing just fine.
Other mental roadblocks for me include sayings like: “if you put good into the world you will get good back,” “everything happens for a reason” and “you are exactly where you need to be.” The latter is a favorite of my 12-step program.
My internal translator might say “if you put good in the world you will feel better about yourself and you will see the positive things in life,” “everything happens and we like to put meaning behind it” and “you are exactly where you are.”
I must admit I am still walking the path of alcoholism’s spiritual journey, so I’m curious how ridiculous I will think I sound a year from now.
One thing sobriety has brought out in me is honesty and transparency. Although most of this article has been a bit of a sarcastic rant with the intent of being humorous, I must admit I have been in a bit of a dark place lately.
2025 has hit a lot of people really hard for many different reasons, and it is proving to be a tough one for small independent newspapers, especially those that serve a niche market. National advertising is a desert, local advertising is sparce because of economic concerns, trust in news sources is eroding and artificial intelligence is basically a digital pirate.
Take me, someone who feels their entire identity is wrapped up in their work, mix in a little doomsday anxiety and you have a formula for disaster.
However, I have hit a turning point. One week ago this very day I went to a delightful fundraiser for Hope Community Center at the eclectically gorgeous home of Sally Hogshead. I was reminded of a few things: 1) Anna V. Eskamani is fabulous and I look forward to hearing her voice on the MCO tram when she is elected mayor of Orlando, 2) I can listen to Carlos Guillermo Smith and Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet speak for hours and 3) Hope is powerful and beautiful.
We were introduced to some youth who faced great adversity, but who persevered with a little help from others and a lot of hope. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
The following day I set out to visit Madison, Wisconsin for the annual AAN Publisher’s conference. One might think it was primed for a mass journalistic pity party but it was the exact opposite.
I was surrounded by industry leaders, some new to the business, some representing papers more than 100 years old and even some running outlets their parents started when they were kids. That was cool to see.
There were incredible ideas shared on sustainability and ways to better community outreach. One thing stood out, though.
It was something everyone had in common: we all love our
We all love our communities and want to make them better places.
communities and want to make them better places. We all want to hold accountable those that will do us harm and celebrate those that uplift us. We want our communities to thrive and it is the hope that they will thrive that keeps us in business.
Our strongest asset is you, our audience. You give me hope that we will make it through the darkest times and I hope we do the same for you. Watermark Out News is simply a collection of your stories, curated by a team of people who care deeply about you.
I won’t ask you to go out and get a foam board and glitter and start manifesting, but I will ask you to hold on to hope because hope is still here.
Stay visible, stay strong and support each other.
MICHAEL WANZIE is an Orlando-based playwright, actor and ordained minister. He is most recognized for his direction of productions in the Orlando area. 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
26HEALTH ANNOUNCES THE VENUS CENTER,
NEW REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FACILITY
ORLANDO | 26Health has announced the launch of The Venus Center, a dedicated reproductive and sexual healthcare facility that will officially open to the public July 26.
Located within 26Health’s existing facility at 801 N. Magnolia Ave., The Venus Center will represent a significant expansion of the organization’s commitment to providing inclusive, affordable healthcare services to the community.
“The Venus Center reflects our mission to meet our community’s evolving healthcare needs,” Latrice Stewart, 26Health’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “This dedicated space allows us to provide more comprehensive reproductive healthcare while maintaining our core values of compassion, inclusivity and affordability.”
The new center will open during the organization’s 26Health Fest celebration. The facility will offer comprehensive reproductive health services including expanded contraceptive options, Pap smears, breast or chest examinations, menopausal management, and specialized support for conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, according to the press release.
Services will also include wellness exams, gynecological services, STI testing and treatment, family planning and contraception.
Dr. Luisa Mena, chief medical officer at 26Health, emphasized the significance of the expansion and said the care the Venus Center will bring will address patients’ unique health needs and send a message that everyone deserves focused, compassionate attention.
“While we’re already known for providing preventive care to families, the Venus Center allows us to provide specialized care for any patients seeking reproductive and gynecological services,” Mena said.
The Venus Center team will collaborate closely with 26Health’s primary care providers to ensure personalized care for patients at every stage of life. With new facilities and equipment, the facility looks to bring patients a quality healthcare experience that is accessible and affordable.
Even though the facility is not open yet, patients can begin scheduling appointments, with services available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
26Health is a comprehensive wellness community that includes affordable healthcare, mental health care, a drug discount program, adoption services, aesthetic services and more, according to its website.
Through its integrated care model, 26Health combines primary care, behavioral health, psychiatric services, and specialized testing, offering a one-stop approach to healthcare that meets the diverse needs of the communities it serves.
26Health says it is providing quality care for every letter in all communities. The organization believes in health equality and showing humanity in healthcare by prioritizing inclusion, respect and removing barriers.
For more information, visit 26Health.org.
central florida news
TRAILBLAZERS AND CHAMPIONS:
LGBT+ CENTER ORLANDO TO HOLD 13TH ANNUAL DIVERSITY AWARDS
Bellanee Plaza
ORLANDO | The LGBT Center Orlando will celebrate local trailblazers, champions and changemakers July 25 during their 13th annual Diversity Awards.
The Center has promoted and empowered the LGBTQ+ community and its allies through advocacy, education, information and support for the past 46 years.
This year’s honorees include Brittani Acuff from CREW Health for LGBT+ Ally; Mulan Williams from Divas in Dialogue for Trailblazer; Brian Reagan from The Center for Trailblazer and both Ricardo Negron-Almodovar of All Voting Is Local and Del Ambiente for Champion of Equality.
Sister Ann Kendrick of the Apopka Nuns and Hope Community Center will receive the LGBT+ Center’s Lifetime Achievement Awards; Matthew Grocholske from Orange County Soil and Water Conservation will be recognized as an Emerging Leader and Central Florida Fairgrounds will be recognized as the organization’s Non-Profit Partner. Rounding out the list, Savoy Orlando/Ivanhoe 1915 will be honored as this year’s Small Business Partner and Lowe’s Home
Improvement will be recognized as their Corporate Partner.
George Wallace, chief executive officer, says The Center is excited to bring the event back to its original location at Sheraton Orlando North Hotel as people are familiar with the space. He also recognizes Savoy Orlando, a previous honoree in 2020, and calls them The Center’s largest partner.
“They’re just very philanthropic to the community and I love to see small businesses invest back in the community that is really keeping them going,” Wallace says.
Savoy Orlando has been a staple in the LGBTQ+ community for over 20 years, providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone to gather and celebrate.
He says it’s lovely to see the community and honor the people who have been a part of the community for decades.
Orlando Gay Chorus will sing the National Anthem, and both Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings will provide a welcome address for attendees.
The Center Orlando will also be announcing its 2025 student scholarship recipients.
Nikole Parker, chief operating officer, says there are so many
unsung heroes and so many people that do the work that don’t get that recognition and she’s excited to give it to them.
Parker wants to highlight Acuff as she has known her for almost 10 years. She says Acuff always includes the LGBTQ+ community in the work she does.
“She makes it a point to include us in spaces, bring LGBTQ spaces to organizations or companies that haven’t seen it before, and really advocates for us on all levels,” Parker says.
With CREW Health, Acuff encourages the next generation of women to be bold and collaborative, reminding them that shining bright as individuals only enhances the brilliance of those around them.
Acuff is receiving the LGBT+ Ally award. Parker says a lot of people throw around the word “ally” but not many “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” like Acuff does.
Parker also says she is looking forward to providing a safe space for the community to come together to amplify Central Florida’s good.
The 13th annual Diversity Awards will take place at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel, located at 600 N Lake Destiny Rd, Maitland, on July 25, starting at 12:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $100 and are available at Eventeny.com
The LGBT Center Orlando will host the 13th annual Diversity Awards. PHOTO COURTESY THE LGBT CENTER ORLANDO.
RAYNER AMONG LAWMAKERS TO VISIT ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’
Ryan Williams-Jent
Agroup of five Florida lawmakersof visited “Alligator Alcatraz” July 3 before hundreds of immigrants arrived at the Everglades detention center.
Tampa Bay state Representative Michele Rayner was among them. State Senators Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith, her fellow LGBTQ+ lawmakers, and state Reps. Anna V. Eskamani and Angie Nixon, longtime allies, were also in attendance.
“This visit comes just days after Donald Trump toured the facility, hailing it as a national model for immigration detention, and following the Department of Homeland’s designation of the site as a ‘state facility,’ effectively shielding it from federal oversight,” the group noted in a press release.
“We are exercising our legal authority as state legislators to inspect this remote, taxpayer-funded facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. This is not a federal project — it is fully funded, operated, and approved by the State of Florida under Governor DeSantis,” the five added in a joint statement. “And what’s happening here is un-American. Alligator Alcatraz represents a makeshift detention camp of cruelty, rooted in a corrupt, no-bid, $450 million pay-for-play scheme to enrich GOP donors under the pretense of border enforcement.
“What we’re witnessing isn’t about security or solving problems — it’s about inhumane political theater that endangers real people. Reports of extreme heat, flooding, structural issues, environmental threats, and human rights violations demand immediate oversight,” they continued. “As lawmakers, we have both the legal right and moral responsibility to inspect this site, demand answers, and expose this abuse before it becomes the national blueprint.”
The lawmakers were denied entry, something Rayner discussed with Watermark Out News afterwards. “We’re looking at litigation and exhausting those routes because there is no legal basis in which to not allow us entry,” she said.
The five subsequently filed a lawsuit against DeSantis July 10. The governor’s representatives have previously said “Florida will continue to lead on immigration enforcement.”
“The DeSantis Administration’s refusal to let us in wasn’t some bureaucratic misstep. It was a deliberate obstruction meant to hide what’s really happening behind those gates,” the lawmakers said in another statement. “There is no statute that permits the Governor to overrule the Legislature’s oversight authority. This lawsuit is about defending the rule of law, protecting vulnerable people inside that facility, and stopping the normalization of executive overreach.”
Rayner and other Democratic lawmakers were subsequently granted a scheduled tour July 12, decrying conditions and calling for change. She called the visit “a dog and pony show” and noted “oversight cannot be choreographed.”
tampa bay news
LGBTQ+ HERO HONORED FOR SAVING CHILD’S LIFE
Ryan Williams-Jent
TAMPA | The Tampa Police Department awarded Hum Duchannes with the Citizen Medal of Valor June 23 after the Land O Lakes resident saved a child’s life.
The recognition is TPD’s highest honor. It recognizes non-departmental members and citizens who “display extreme courage or heroism during a police action in an effort to provide protection or preservation of life.” It stems from March 13, when Duchannes — who identifies as “within and beyond” the LGBTQ+ spectrum — says they were having “a normal day” with a friend. The two were sitting on a park bench in Tampa when Duchannes heard a four-year-old child screaming.
Moving toward the sound, they eventually saw a boy hanging from an apartment building’s fifth-story window. “I felt as though time froze, and before my mind could catch up my body was already moving,” they recall. “I had kicked my shoes off, the objects in my hands went flying — my phone, keys, vapes — all meaningless.
“I knew that I could do something to change the way that the story was being told,” Duchannes continues. People had begun to gather, calling 911 and screaming for the child to hold tight. That’s when they “placed
myself directly under the child, ready to catch him with nothing but my body and soul.”
Officials say the child lost his grip not long after.
“I reached out and caught him bridal style,” they recall. “As I absorbed the force of the fall, I felt as if I had caught a star … He was saved, and I would pay the cost a million times over.”
The incident left Duchannes with tendonitis in their left shoulder, broken capillaries in their arms, bruised knees and a sprained ankle. They’ve mostly recovered physically but are still navigating the psychological and emotional aspects of the incident.
That’s because they “knew that he was not dead, only that he could be.” Duchannes notes “it was a lot to hold, and far more to release.”
TPD noted that falling from such a height is almost always fatal and that catching someone from that situation is also very dangerous. It’s why they honored Duchannes.
“When a child’s life hung in the balance, Hum Duchannes answered the call, not as an officer, but as a compassionate member of our community,” Tampa Chief of Police Lee Bercaw tells Watermark Out News. He says the department was proud to recognize the hero.
“This bravery reinforces our efforts to partner with the community to make Tampa safer
and improve quality of life, together,” Bercaw adds. “We are honored to celebrate those who, like Hum Duchannes, demonstrate such profound bravery in protecting the most vulnerable among us.”
Sergeant Christie Shiver, TPD’s liaison for the LGBTQ+ community, adds that “Hum’s selfless act reminds us all that bravery can come out of every corner of our community.
“As TPD’s LGBT liaison, I am especially moved by this recognition,” she continues. “It truly highlights our department’s commitment to creating a safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels empowered to act with courage, just like Hum did.”
Duchannes hopes to reconnect with the child but has yet to do so. They say there’s an open investigation into the matter preventing their reunion.
They also note they didn’t seek out the recognition, a strange feeling, and that “in many ways, I didn’t want it.”
“I didn’t do what I did for an award or praise,” they explain. “I did it because it was the right thing to do ... I was simply being what anyone who loves others and life itself would be.”
Duchannes does hope the experience serves as a lesson for others. They say we all “have the power to change the way the story is being told.”
LOCAL HERO: Hum Duchannes (C) accepts the Citizen Medal of Valor June 23. PHOTO COURTESY THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN
OTHER NEWS
WISCONSIN CLEARS WAY FOR CONVERSION THERAPY BAN
The Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way July 8 for the state to permanently enact a ban on conversion therapy, giving the governor more power over how state laws are enacted. The 4-3 ruling from comes amid the national battle over LGBTQ+ rights. The body ruled that a Republican-controlled legislative committee’s rejection of a state agency rule that would effectively ban the practice was unconstitutional. The full impact of the ruling is still being reviewed, a spokesperson for the state said.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SUES CALIFORNIA OVER TRANS POLICIES
Donald Trump’s administration sued the California Department of Education on July 9 for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams, alleging the policy violates federal law. The move escalates a battle between the Republican administration in Washington and Democratic-led California over trans athletes, with the lawsuit advising California is violating Title IX. The state Education Department and the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports that was also named a defendant, will not comment on pending litigation.
UPWARDS OF 100K MARCH IN BUDAPEST PRIDE
More than 100,000 people on June 28 defied the Hungarian government’s ban on public LGBTQ+ events and participated in the 30th annual Budapest Pride parade. Openly gay MEP Krzysztof Śmiszek, who was previously Poland’s deputy justice minister, is among the dozens of European lawmakers who participated in the march that began at Budapest City Hall. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz-KDNP coalition government have faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
HONG KONG PROPOSES RECOGNIZING SOME SAME-SEX PARTNERSHIPS
Hong Kong’s government on July 2 proposed a registration system that would recognize same-sex partnerships formed overseas. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said the proposed system would allow registration for same-sex adult couples who have married, formed civil partnerships or civil unions overseas, provided these relationships were legally recognized in those jurisdictions and one of them is a Hong Kong resident. Same-sex couples cannot get married or register for civil partnerships in Hong Kong. But authorities recognize same-sex marriages registered abroad for taxation and civil service benefits and other practical reasons, such as dependent visas.
state, nation+world news
FLORIDA JUDGE DISMISSES CASE AGAINST TRANS WOMAN WHO USED CAPITOL RESTROOM
Ryan Williams-Jent
AFlorida judge has dismissed the case against Marcy Rheintgen, a transgender woman who was arrested March 19 for washing her hands in a women’s restroom at the Florida Capitol.
The 20-year-old Illinois resident was arrested and charged with trespassing by two officers during Equality Florida’s Pride at the Capitol. Her demonstration was a response to Florida’s anti-transgender Facility Requirements Based on Sex law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023.
The law bans people who are transgender from using shared restrooms that align with their gender identity in publicly owned or leased buildings or government facilities like the state Capitol building.
Ahead of time, Rheintgen was visiting her grandparents in the region and wrote a letter to Florida state lawmakers detailing her intent to use the women’s restroom. “I know that you know in your heart that this
law is wrong and unjust,” she wrote. “I know that you know in your heart that transgender people are human too, and that you can’t arrest us away. I know that you know that I have dignity. That’s why I know that you won’t arrest me.”
Rheintgen’s arrest was believed to be a first.
“I wanted people to see the absurdity of this law in practice. If I’m a criminal, it’s going to be so hard for me to live a normal life, all because I washed my hands,” she told the Associated Press afterwards.
Court documents show that Rheintgen’s attorney filed a motion for discharge after the state failed to file documentation within 90 days.
Leon County Judge Lashawn Riggans granted the motion June 20.
“THIS CAUSE came before the Court on the Defendant’s Motion for Discharge,” it reads. “Having reviewed the Motion and being otherwise duly advised in the premises and law, the Court hereby finds … IT IS ORDERED that the Defendant’s Motion is granted, and the charges against Ms. Rheintgen in the above-styled
case are to be dismissed because the speedy trial period has expired.”
Rheintgen celebrated the matter July 1, sharing via social media that “my charges, they got dropped … we won, we didn’t even have to go to trial, my lawyer was very smart.”
The student also noted the document used her she/her pronouns, something it reads was updated because “The American Bar Association (ABA) has passed a resolution encouraging the respectful use of language, which includes an individual’s gender identity, preferred name, and pronouns, which this Court honors.”
Rheintgen called the update “a win.”
“We got it thrown out of court … these people, I guess they didn’t know what they were doing,” she added. “DeSantis doesn’t really know what he’s doing generally, but we won, essentially. We won, we got it dismissed.”
The law is still in place, Rheintgen added, thanking the public for offering her their support.
FLORIDA THREATENS CITY FUNDING OVER STREET MURALS LIKE RAINBOW CROSSWALKS
Bellanee Plaza
The Florida Department of Transportation issued a memo July 2 threatening to withhold funding from cities over any “pavement surface markings” that aren’t “uniform and consistent.”
One of the crosswalks at risk is part of the Pulse Remembrance Memorial, honoring the 49 lives lost in 2016. St. Petersburg’s Progressive Pride Street Mural may also be at risk.
Equality Florida responded to the news by telling supporters that Governor Ron DeSantis thinks rainbow crosswalks are a threat to roadway safety.
“This new rule invents the idea that someone might crash because their tires touched a crosswalk painted with colors,” Equality Florida
said in a statement. “It’s absurd, and it’s dangerous.”
This follows the Trump Administration taking aim at rainbows and other “political banners” from streets and crosswalks across the nation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter out to the nation’s governors July 1 introducing a “safety initiative” seeking consistent markings on roads. On a post on X that same day, he said taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks.
“As stated in F.S. 316.0745, the Department has the authority to enforce compliance and withhold state funds from any public agency that is found to be in violation of the established standards for traffic control devices on public roadways,” Florida’s memo states.
In recent years, Orlando transportation officials have painted at least five major downtown crosswalks with artistic murals, which they say was part of their plan to increase visibility of crosswalks and hopefully improve safety for people crossing.
Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota also have inclusive street murals. Just last month, local advocates repainted St. Petersburg’s ahead of St Pete Pride.
Equality Florida is asking cities and counties from across the state to stand firm to defend inclusion and visibility.
A Florida-based study recently found that crosswalk murals contributed to a 10% decrease in drivers running stop signs and a 6% increase in drivers coming to a full stop at intersections.
OCTOBER 2 | 8PM
Michael Wanzie
I’M NOT TERRIBLY PROUD
of the fact that I don’t typically give a great deal of thought to women, but I just don’t. It’s not because I don’t care about them, it’s simply that women, as a whole, are rarely at the top of my mind since I register 13 on the Kinsey scale (10 is considered totally gay) so it follows that people with dicks occupy the majority of the real estate in my mind.
But in the time in which we now find ourselves it seems women are at the forefront of my thoughts a good deal, mostly because I yearn for more female representation among our national political leadership. I feel recent history makes it clear that, with the exception of a few fringe lunatics like Marjorie Taylor Greene, women who hold office in our Capitol do a far better job of actually doing their jobs than their male counterparts do.
But of course, I’m talking about women with liberal or Democratic-leaning mindsets and objectives. When it comes to Republicans, women seem to rise to the very top of the loony bin. But among the Dems (the very impressive and effective U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost notwithstanding) the women are the true superstars of the party.
Regardless of their varying ages and vastly different levels of experience, when D-women speak on any subject they inevitably prove themselves to be well-informed, totally prepared, and incredibly passionate about the stances they take. There is never a case where a D-woman does not seem to be totally in tune with the times and they always come off as having grasped developing concerns, fast-changing issues, and emerging technologies. And when it comes to posing questions to anyone — regardless of what
title they may hold — giving testimony before committee the D-women seem to be unflappable.
Time and again they prove themselves to be amazing litigators who refuse to be intimidated by the many nasty, evasive, and disrespectful MAGA operatives who come before them.
Most impressive is how malleable D-women in Congress seem to be. They are able to switch tactics and go off script in response to unanticipated answers intended to throw them off. They can and do stray from their planned remarks, responses, or questions, and always make perfect sense when doing so. They can and do think on their feet, and without the aid of aids, can make a salient point on the fly, proving their considered understanding of any issue before them.
The case has long been made, and I think it bares repeating, that women as a species, who have a long history of managing households and successfully navigating the treacherous waters of holding together a family, are far more adept at multitasking than are men.
I know, I know… I’m dealing in sweeping generalizations here and I know that all women are not home makers and/or moms by design.
Growing up in our home where my Dad was the primary breadwinner, he took absolutely no role in actually rearing his children other than dispensing discipline. He could barely recall our names let alone have any inkling of who our teachers were or with what personal issues we each might be struggling.
But my mom, who also held a job outside the house, was in complete charge of running our home which included constant care and feeding of six children and other relatives in need who often stayed with us. She did the shopping, house cleaning, laundry — which in those days included a mountain of
ironing — and chauffeured her kids to various lessons and sporting activities. She sewed costumes and mended clothing. She kept up with doctor’s appointments for the entire brood, met with our teachers, fixed our boo boos, attended PTA meetings, and dealt with the multiple, vastly different personalities of all in her charge with skill, diplomacy and empathy. She also handled the household accounts! When I think back on it all I am utterly amazed at how much my mom was responsible for and how well she met those responsibilities without complaint, all while dealing with and keeping happy, a hard-working but very difficult husband who
The
distanced himself from most family issues.
And so, the real question is, why is it that we as a society are so resistant to voting for a woman to be our president?
The fact that the majority of the people in this country felt it was better to award the presidency to an inarticulate, uneducated, unqualified, golf crazy (and golf cheating), incoherent, convicted felon, over the incredibly knowledgeable, accomplished, well-informed, and always lucid Kamala Harris proves, I think, to have less to do with policy differences and everything to do with the inexplicable fact that Americans as a whole just refuse to believe a woman is up to the job. That is nonsense of the highest degree and that has certainly proven to be most regrettable. I may not think of women very often, but nowadays I can’t stop thinking that we need more women in positions of national leadership. Indeed, it is long past time we sent a woman to the White House! If we are ever given the chance to vote for president again - and believe me when I say that is not guaranteedI certainly hope we do not dismiss a candidate out of hand simply because she doesn’t have a dick.
Michael Wanzie is an Orlando-based playwright, actor and ordained minister. He is most recognized for his direction of productions in the Central Florida area.
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Tiffany Razzano
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 Tampa Bay entrepreneur Tommy Whitehead, the president and owner of TomCo Solutions, Inc.
The Lakeland area native enjoyed a career in hospitality for years, working with resorts, marinas and golf courses, most recently as a director of accounting and finance. But when his company downsized during the recession in 2010, he was forced to reevaluate his career.
He was hired by another company that specialized in buying foreclosure homes that they renovated to rent. He was part of a frontline team that acquired and renovated these homes, working to make them “rent ready.”
After that company downsized, he formed TomCo Solutions in 2018. It focuses on foreclosure renovations, specializing in single-family home renovations, REO/REIT asset preservation, property flipping, investment rehabs, multifamily renovations and extensive residential
The Good Page
Tommy Whitehead and TomCo Solutions build a more inclusive Tampa Bay
TomCo Solutions became a nationally certified LGBT business through the organization, becoming one of the first 50 such businesses in the U.S. to do so.
Whitehead made a name for himself in this space, leading people to begin approaching him “looking for an inclusive work environment,” he explains.
contracting services throughout the Tampa Bay region.
As a gay man, however, he realized that the construction industry wasn’t generally an inclusive workplace.
“You couldn’t talk about it. It was frowned upon and you worried about job security,” Whitehead explains. So after forming TomCo Solutions, he joined the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber has served the LGBTQ+ and ally business communities of Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties for over 40 years. It does so as an affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which verifies that businesses are majority-LGBT owned through LGBT Business Enterprise certification.
“The reception was absolutely outstanding,” he says, leading to his formation of the Pride Construction Coalition in 2023. The organization is dedicated to supporting and bringing together LGBTQ+ workers in the construction industry.
The goal is about “busting the stereotypes,” Whitehead says. “We’re here to work regardless of our orientation or identities.”
He was approached by workers at smaller companies who told him that while their employers accepted that they were a part of the LGBTQ+ community, they were discouraged from being fully out in their field.
“Often I would hear that they were told, ‘We don’t care if you’re gay, just don’t tell the clients,’” Whitehead says. “That’s often the type of mentality you see in the construction business.”
The entrepreneur believes the industry is about to face a crisis, explaining that about 40% of the construction workforce is retiring over the next five years. “There are not enough people to replace them,” he advises.
As construction companies recruit new workers to the field, “everybody has to feel welcome,” he adds, noting that a shortage of those in the trades will drive home prices up. “And you think the housing market is expensive now.”
Because of this, Whitehead focuses on diversity and inclusion in the construction industry, speaking both to business owners and potential workers at networking events and conferences. “Diversity is shining in construction; it’s there,” he says.
His Pride Construction Coalition focuses on advocating for and empowering LGBTQ+ construction professionals.
The organization recently held its second annual event June 26 in Tampa. A few dozen professionals were in attendance, including the CEO of the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber. Those who attended represented various industries.
“Our client base is everywhere and construction professionals need insurance and banking
and a lot of things,” Whitehead says. He also recently held a Building Success Summit, which he organized to bring community members and industry experts together.
All this and more led TomCo Solutions to be named Certified LGBT Business Enterprise of the Year by the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber last month. The organization called Whitehead “a true leader in our community.”
“This award means more than just recognition. It’s a powerful reminder that diversity in construction isn’t just welcome — it’s foundational,” Whitehead reflected afterwards. “At TomCo, we believe building homes and building community go hand-in-hand, and this honor is a testament to the work our team does every single day to live that out.”
You can learn about that work and more at TommyWhitehead.com.
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 TOMCO SOLUTIONS
Place of Remembrance
After years of setbacks, Pulse memorial moves forward with city support
TBellanee Plaza
HE PULSE NIGHTCLUB IS SET TO be demolished, and a permanent memorial is expected to be built in its place by 2027.
The Orlando City Council voted unanimously July 14 to begin contract negotiations for the construction of the Pulse memorial. The council agreed that Gomez Construction Company of Winter Park was the best of the three firms seeking to join the project.
The council also approved buying land adjacent to the Pulse site owned by Orlando businessman and GOP megadonor Craig Mateer for $1 million so it can be included in the memorial. The price is the same as what Mateer purchased it for from the onePULSE Foundation.
During the meeting, Dyer said he hopes the project will be completed by the summer of 2027.
Before then, and just days before the nine-year mark of the tragedy last month, the City of Orlando invited a select group to the site to reflect on June 12, 2016. That’s when the mass shooting claimed 49 lives and injured many more.
Until this year, very few people other than investigators had been inside. Survivors had previously returned with limited access, not long after the shooting, but it marked the first chance for family members of victims to see the inside of Pulse. The city-led visits were the only opportunity for people to revisit the structure before its demolition.
They followed years of uncertainty and the founding and dissolution of the onePULSE Foundation, which was started in late 2016 by Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma. The nonprofit’s primary mission was
to build a memorial and museum to honor the victims.
Barbara and her husband Rosario Poma and business owner Michael Panaggio previously owned the property, and Barbara was the executive director of the foundation.
It had a board of directors throughout the years made up of 27 people but critics noted there were no survivors or victims’ family members on the board. They also noted that the foundation failed to publicly lay out the ownership transfer of the property. In 2016, Barbara and Rosario Poma declined to sell the site to the City of Orlando after some city commissioners raised concerns about the more than $2 million purchase price, according to WESH 2.
For seven years onePULSE fundraised for a memorial and museum, scholarships and educational programs. In its lifetime, onePULSE raised just over $21 million. There was over a million raised for the memorial and museum, however the state grant and the $10 million Orange County tourist development tax money were not included in these financials.
There was no public acknowledgment that the foundation was struggling to fundraise the projects. The original project, unveiled in 2019 by the onePULSE Foundation, called for a museum and permanent memorial costing $45 million. That estimate eventually soared to $100 million.
In spring of 2022, Deborah Bowie took over as executive director and started to question the foundation’s operations. In
PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
a four-page memo obtained by WESH 2, Bowie wrote to the board about the concerning operational issues that highlighted managerial failings in the daily operations of the foundation.
Just three months later, the onePULSE Foundation quietly dissolved at the end of 2023. Barbara Poma had previously stepped down as executive director in 2022 and left the organization in 2023.
The organization also sold the Pulse nightclub property to the City of Orlando for $2 million in October 2023.
In December 2023, onePULSE Foundation sold two pieces of land near the interim memorial site to an investment group for $1 million, according to Spectrum News 13. That parcel of land was previously a part of the foundation’s memorial design plans.
The Orlando Police Department also ended its investigation into the former nightclub owners, who were accused by concerned residents of negligence in August 2024.
OPD investigated all of the group’s allegations. While it was able to verify some of the evidence, such as unpermitted changes to the club’s floor plans, OPD found there was not enough evidence to suggest the Pomas had committed manslaughter by negligence.
Nearly 250 people were expected to tour the inside of Pulse for the week of June 11.
Angelica Jones, Pulse nightclub survivor, wasn’t among them. She says she is not physically tied to the building any longer, though she wishes some part of the building could be salvaged to become a part of the permanent memorial.
“If not for nothing, I guess this experience has allowed me to be all right with change and things ending and new things beginning,” she says.
Jones was an entertainer at Pulse for over 10 years, but she wasn’t working on the night of the shooting. She was working at Southern Nights Orlando but decided to go over to Pulse to meet up with friends. Around 2 a.m. she and her friends split up for the last call of drinks and the shots rang out.
As the shooting took place, Jones went to the back hallway toward the dressing room to try and leave through another room. She says there were so many people running, and she couldn’t make it out. Something told her to go to the dressing room to hide, she
recalls, and she found doors with code locks.
“I unlocked the door, and there was about seven other people… and we just kind of bunkered down in that dressing room for the next three hours until police were able to finally come and get us out,” she says. “We had to get out through the air condition wall unit that was placed in the dressing room; we had to climb to get out that way.”
She thanks God that she didn’t see anyone get shot or any graphic scenes, but she heard everything
lost over 150 pounds and stopped smoking cigarettes to try and rebuild her life.
“Surviving has been the hard part, but the blessing is getting to the other side of that, and I feel like I’m there now,” Jones shares.
She reflects on the love that was built in Pulse before the shooting took place. She has been to the building twice since the shooting, the first time to collect anything that may have been left behind and the second time was during one of the anniversaries before the City of
provide the opportunity to ask final questions before the investigation ended.
“We asked for questions in advance and answered questions from the families during both meetings,” the FBI said in a statement. “Some of the questions asked … we could not answer because they were beyond the scope of the FBI, concerned possible state or local violations as well as civil liability matters.”
“I think you can’t tell people how to grieve, but I think people have
Surviving has been the hard part, but the blessing is getting to the other side of that, and I feel like I’m there now.
— ANGELICA JONES
that was happening. She says that was the last night she was able to call Pulse her place of work.
“Being a Black trans woman, especially back then, we didn’t have too many options of what to do,” Jones explains. “You know, as far as work is concerned, when I came out, you either were a sex worker or you did shows … I did shows. I was a talented individual who liked to perform.
“It was almost like the man came and burned down our home, our place of work, our place of living,” she continues. “I had to rebuild my whole life from over the last nine years, literally rebuild my whole life.”
In the aftermath, the stress got to Jones, who faced health challenges. She went to therapy,
Orlando purchased the property.
She didn’t attend the recent walk though, however, saying she had already made peace.
As for the permanent memorial, Jones says anything good takes time. She thinks there needs to be something in place to help people remember Pulse but acknowledges there are some people who feel differently toward the timeline of the memorial.
She also knows there are some families who are upset with the FBI, which announced its own investigation is officially closed, but she feels satisfied because she thinks people need the closure.
On June 11, the FBI and its Victims Services Division hosted a private meeting with Pulse survivors and families to
enough. They were in an untenable situation, they did whatever they could, and unfortunately, the officer that was at the door had a handgun,” Sheehan says. “Now all of our officers have assault rifles, but at the time, they didn’t. We had to change our policies… because of Pulse.”
“Unfortunately, Rosario, Barbara Poma, I feel they took advantage of our community, and they did what they did,” Sheehan also notes. “But again, it’s not against the law to run a not for profit into the ground. So at this point in time, I think the best thing for us to do, personally and professionally, is... get the memorial built and tear that building down.”
Sheehan says she’s glad Orange County is supporting the memorial plans and using money that was set aside. Orange County commissioners unanimously approved a $5 million contribution, though a formal funding agreement between the city and county is still pending approval to determine how it will be distributed.
The estimated total cost of the permanent memorial is $12 million, with the City of Orlando providing the majority of funding. Sheehan says it wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for help from the city because they can’t fundraise now, believing that the trust is broken.
The memorial won’t be ready by the 10-year anniversary because the city wants all the details to be clearly laid out and wants the right people involved. Sheehan says she isn’t sure when the demolition will happen, but it’s possible it will be scheduled for later this year.
Conceptual designs for the memorial have included a reflection space, private gathering space, a reflection pool and more, according to a press release from the city.
misplaced their anger, and I hope that they can get over that stage of grief,” Jones says.
Commissioner Patty Sheehan — who represents District 4, where Pulse is located, and served on the onePULSE task force for two years before leaving, citing ethical concerns — says the FBI was sensitive and professional. She has also received feedback from some of the survivors that the case being closed gave them closure.
Sheehan says she understands why people can be upset about the case and what happened to the onePULSE Foundation. She also says there has to be a limit to letting that anger fester.
“I don’t appreciate people casting aspersions on law enforcement, saying they didn’t do
“Two of the people that served on the committee donated services,” Sheehan shares. “They’re architects, so I feel good we are going to have to bid it up … that’s what’s going to take a while. I’m hoping that there’s enough goodwill in the construction industry and everything like that so people will work with us and get it done quickly.”
Pulse will remain, in Sheehan’s memory, as somewhere that was happy and beautiful. She hopes the memorial will serve a similar purpose.
“It became a place of mourning, and now it’s going to become a place to remember,” Sheehan says. “And that’s how I’m looking at it in my own heart, my own mind.”
For more information and future updates, visit PulseOrlando.org
TRANSFORMATIVE PURPOSE: The Pulse nightclub on South Orange Ave. is set to be domolished and a permanent memorial is expected in 2027, constructed by Gomez Construction Company of Winter Park. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
JOBSITE WORKS TO RECAPTURE ‘POTTER’ MAGIC WITH ‘PUFFS’ THEATER
Ryan Williams-Jent
‘POTTER’ PARODY:
Cast members of Jobsite’s “Puffs.”
PHOTO COURTESY
JAMES ZAMBON
PRODUCTIONS
THE “HARRY POTTER” FRANCHISE
cast its first spell in 1997, when J.K. Rowling released the first of seven novels. Her words went on to inspire 11 films, multiple theme parks and enough merchandise to fill the Hogwarts Express.
Rowling’s rhetoric is a little less magical these days, at least for some LGBTQ+ and ally audiences. Since 2018, she has used her international platform and ever-expanding empire to amplify transphobic views while targeting trans rights.
Once celebrated as an LGBTQ+ ally, Rowling’s actions have divided the fandom she created, sparking high-profile rifts with human rights groups and advocates worldwide. Before then, however, her work also inspired “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic,” a “Potter” parody that premiered in 2015.
The unlicensed story focuses on lesser-known players in the Wizarding
expanded to provide health services for older adolescents and young adults from ages 13-24. They offer no- to low-cost appointments for HIV and STI treatment and more.
Jobsite Producing Artist Director David M. Jenkins also notes that “You-Know-Who isn’t making a single red penny off the show.”
“This is completely unlicensed, not endorsed by anyone associated with anything associated with the source material,” he explains. “You can feel good your money isn’t supporting her or anything she supports. That’s clearly not who we are.
“‘Puffs’ at its heart is about being proud of who you are, even if you’re not the hero, and about acceptance and loyalty and kindness,” he continues. “It’s been said more than once in the press that she could stand to learn a thing or two from this show.”
Jenkins adds that while it can be difficult to “draw the lines between the art and the artist,” he believes “the franchise has so outgrown the creator that all of this now belongs to us.”
He isn’t alone. The “Puffs” cast and crew — some of whom are longtime “Potter” fans and members of the LGBTQ+ community, like regional favorites Matthew McGee and Spencer Meyers — agree with him.
“It’s interesting to be a ‘Harry Potter’ fan now, also being a part of the LGBTQ community, because of the creator,” says McGee. “But I’ve learned to separate the creator from the creation, because the ‘Potter’ world brings me a lot of joy — and I think we live in times where your joy is kind of taken away from you at every turn.”
McGee helps amplify the show’s joy as its Narrator, something Jobsite audiences will be familiar with. The Tampa Bay veteran made his theater debut as the Narrator for their fan favorite “Rocky Horror Show” last year.
“It’s a silly, fast-paced comedy following a group of underdogs,” he explains. “Yes, there will be some jokes that fans of the series may find funnier than others, however … you can’t help but fall in love with these characters and cheer for these underdogs as they become better wizards and greater friends. There are some real heartstrings moments in the show that get me every time.”
McGee and Meyers are joined by Troy Brooks, Colleen Cherry, Logan Franke, Noa Friedman, Rachel Gallagher, Caroline Huerta, Cameron Kubly, Ben Sutherland and Katherine Yacko on stage. With Jenkins, the production is also structured and supported by 15 others.
“Man, we are laughing so much. I’m cracking up out front, they are cracking each other up on stage — and that’s so rare,” Jenkins says. “... They are so damn funny, each and every one.”
It’s part of what made it an excellent fit for Jobsite. The company decided to produce “Puffs” after “Rocky Horror Show,” he notes, calling it a piece with “comparable pop cultural relevance to help us end the year on high.”
With cuts to arts funding and other concerns, Jenkins also hoped “Puffs” would offer audiences something unique in challenging times. It does.
“It’s been a delight! This cast is so fantastic to work with and all of them have made me laugh out loud,” Meyers says. “We have become a ‘Puffs’ family and all enjoy watching each other on stage … The show is a laugh out loud parody with a lot of heart. I think everyone will have a good time.”
The show is PG-13 with adult language, situations and “several improvised sections that will vary in content each night.” Jobsite advises that parents should decide if it’s suitable for their children, noting “younger wizards may learn some curses.”
World, members of its Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s Hufflepuff House. It’s billed as “a play for anyone who has never been destined to save the world” and “anyone who has ever felt like a secondary character in someone else’s story!”
“Puffs” opened this month and continues through Aug. 3. The Tampa company is working to reclaim some of the magic “Potter” has lost for some fans through the inclusive comedy.
Jobsite has partnered with the Ybor Youth Clinic for the duration of the show’s run and is donating 10% of net proceeds from ticket sales to the organization. YYC opened its doors in 2012 focusing on LGBTQ+ and homeless youth and has since
“I’m delighted to be back at Jobsite and I’m excited to do this very funny play,” he says. “I laugh backstage watching it because my character kind of pops in and out. I’m sure [the cast and crew] are annoyed with me, but I just can’t stop laughing.”
As for Rowling, he adds, “I think it’s important to have strong feelings about that situation and her positions, but this is a parody. It’s very difficult to remove the idea of the creator and their personal feelings … but truthfully, people adore these characters and these stories, and I understand why ‘Puffs’ works so well.”
Meyers concurs. He plays 11 characters total, including “a certain Potions teacher,” and thinks audiences of all interest levels will enjoy the production.
“Folks just want to laugh and escape right now, we’re getting that feedback every day: so ‘Puffs’ is not just a fit for Jobsite but for the community we serve!” Jenkins notes. “… Buy a ticket, turn out. That’s not just what Jobsite needs but what we all need. Simply showing up is the most meaningful thing anyone can do for any of us right now. We do this stuff for an audience, otherwise we’re just rehearsing.”
“‘Puffs’ is a unique experience,” McGee adds. “Come to the theater, have a really great time and forget your troubles for a bit.” Like magic.
“Puffs” plays Thursdays-Sundays through Aug. 3 in the Straz Center’s Jaeb Theater, located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl. in Tampa. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit JobsiteTheater.org/Puffs.
announcements TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT
CONGRATULATIONS
Bell Pharmacy marked two years in St. Petersburg July 11. Georgie’s Alibi cast members reunited at Enigma July 5, raising funds for TransNetwork and Project No Labels in honor of organizer Kori Stevens’ birthday. Affectionately known as the “First Lady of St. Pete,” the entertainer regularly utilizes her birthday to fundraise for local organizations. This year’s event also served as an Alibi reunion, just before the 10-year mark of the former LGBTQ+ hotspot’s closure. Read more and view photos at WatermarkOutNews.com.
The GaYbor District Coalition marked 18 years July 14. “For 18 years, we’ve been proud to stand at the intersection of philanthropy, community and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ family,” the organization shared via social media. “Thank you to everyone who has joined with us, supported us, and believed in our mission. Here’s to continuing the legacy of love, progress, and unity for years to come!” Read more at Facebook.com/GaYborDistrictCoalition.
Zubrick Magic Theatre celebrates four years in St. Petersburg July 29.
NOW HIRING
Watermark Out News is hiring a Multimedia Marketing Strategist based in Tampa Bay. In this role you will identify and manage revenue-generating brand content opportunities and more. Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com and send your cover letter and resume to Danny@WatermarkOutNews.com.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
American Stage staple James Michael McCracken, Fitness instructor Dennis Carnahan, St. Petersburg IT wiz Frank Meekins (July 17); Entrepreneur Delores T. Van-Cartier, Seminole business owner David Verdi, Former St. Pete LGBT liaison Robert Danielson, former Come OUT St. Pete ambassador Joanie J. Werner, Real estate coach Tom Johnson, Dog dad Michael Steven Montgomery (July 18); “Ms. Pinky Penmark” Robert Shaffer, Tampa Bay bear Mike Tobias, St. Petersburg hairstylist Joey Wilkes (July 19); Karmic Tattoo performer Pam Green (July 20); Tampa Bay singer Jennifer Real, Tampa Bay actor Matthew McGee, Makeup extraordinaire J Cureton, St. Pete dancer Erik Shepard (July 21); Helping hand Jarrod Ketzler, St. Pete sweetheart Natalie Buono, Tampa Bay actor and editor David Warner (July 22); St. Pete bear Bob Thayer, St. Petersburg mainstay Richard Brixie, Watermark columnist Jason Leclerc, (July 23); Santander Consumer USA’s Travis Geerdes (July 23); Equality Florida St. Pete and Sarasota Development Leader Preston R. Scott (July 24); Sarasota bartender Noah Guminski (July 25); Auto Advisors St. Pete’s Jerry Dreckman, Prime Timers Sarasota’s Al Doty, Tampa Bay dancer Dustin Goracio Wethington, Equinix, Inc.’s Brian Darragh, Metro Inclusive Health specialist Argenis Peralta (July 26); PFLAG Tampa co-founder Nancy Desmond, St. Pete sun lover Christopher Ruch, Trulieve store coodinator Eric Roper (July 27); St. Pete Bears’ Buddy Chapman, TIGLFF staple Kayden Rodriguez (July 29); FedEx manager Kristopher Horn, American Stage actor Joseph Parra, Tampa realtor Jeffrey Niptuck (July 30)
1
1776 CREW: Gulfport Pride participates in the City of Gulfport’s July 4th parade. PHOTO VIA GULFPORT PRIDE’S FACEBOOK
2 MADISAAN 2025: Watermark Out News Publisher Rick Todd (L) and Editor-in-Chief Ryan Williams-Jent attend AAN’s 2025 journalism conference in Madison, Wisconsin. PHOTO VIA RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
3
SEEKING OVERSIGHT: State Sen. Shevrin Jones (L) and state Rep. Michele Rayner visit “Alligator Alcatraz” to demand access. PHOTO COURTESY MICHELE RAYNER
4
LOCAL LEGEND: Brian Longstreth speaks June 24 after he’s awarded Pride in Real Estate’s first Leaders & Legends of Pride Award at The Study. PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
5
AGING WITH PRIDE: The Rose Dynasty Foundation attends the Aging Well with Pride event at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art. PHOTO VIA THE ROSE DYNASTY FOUNDATION’S FACEBOOK
6
REUNITED: Former Georgie’s Alibi St. Petersburg cast members (L-R) Kori Stevens, 6PAK, Amanda D’Rhod, Esme Russell, Cherry Poppins and Jaeda Fuentes take the stage July 5 at Enigma to raise funds for local charities in honor of Stevens’ birthday. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT
7 SHE CAN SUPPORT: CAN Community Health receives a $20,000 check in support of their SHE CAN initiative July 9. PHOTO VIA CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH’S FACEBOOK
8
BRADENTON PROUD: Project Pride unfurls their Pride flag at the Bradenton Marauders’ Pride game July 12. PHOTO VIA THE BRADENTON MARAUDERS’ FACEBOOK
announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT
1
NEWS COLLABORATION: Local news organizations attend News Collaborative of Central Florida 2025 Summit at Central Florida Public Media on July 10. PHOTO VIA CENTRAL FLORIDA PUBLIC MEDIA
2
POLITICAL OUTREACH: Representative Anna V. Eskamani speaks July 11 to support Congressmen Maxwell Frost’s reintroduction of pro-renters’ bills in Congress. PHOTO VIA REPRESENTATIVE ANNA V. ESKAMANI’S FACEBOOK
3 BIG BIRTHDAY: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer attends a new exhibition at City Hall to celebrate Orlando’s 150th anniversary. PHOTO VIA ORLANDO MAYOR BUDDY DYER’S FACEBOOK
4
SHORT N’ SWEET: “RuPaul’s Drag Race” All Stars 10 finalist Ginger Minj (C) performs at Savoy for her “The Neat n’ Petite” show with Annie Daynow (L) and Heather Abood (R) on July 14. PHOTO BY MICHAEL BURLOW
5
CONNECTIONS: Rick Todd (L) and Darcel Stevens (R) pose for a picture during The Pride Chamber’s monthly business connect hosted by Northwestern Mutual July 2. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA
6 COMMUNITY UNITED: Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet and Sally Hogshead attend Hope CommUnity Center’s fundraiser at Hogshead’s home on July 8. PHOTO BY RICK TODD
7 FEDERAL CUTS: Congressmen Maxwell Frost speaks at a press conference with Congressmen Darren Soto to discuss budget cuts with Medicaid on July 10. PHOTO VIA ORANGE COUNTY DEMOCRATS’ FACEBOOK
8 CHRISTMAS IN JULY: Attendees sit with Santa Nelson during Pup Night at Barcodes Orlando on July 12. PHOTO VIA BARCODES ORLANDO’S FACEBOOK
CONGRATULATIONS
Equality Florida Action PAC endorsed Anna V. Eskamani for Orlando mayor June 30.
Leah Nash, executive director of the Timucua Arts Foundation, completed her first full season July 3
Equality Florida Action PAC endorsed Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet for Florida House on July 9. Read more on WatermarkOutNews.com.
Former congresswoman Stephanie Murphy announces run for Orange County mayor on July 10. Read more on WatermarkOutNews.com
Central Florida Public Media hosted its second News Summit on July 10 with local news organizations.
Cakes Pastries & More officially opened in St. Cloud on July 12.
Central Florida Public Media turned 45 on July 13 and hosted an Open House to celebrate.
Outpost Neighborhood Tavern will hold a soft opening on July 18 and 19 by reservation only. For reservations, email outpostorlando@gmail.com. Space is limited.
The LGBT Center Orlando to hold 13th annual Diversity Awards on July 25 to celebrate local trailblazers, champions and change makers. The recipients have all be announced. Read more on p.8.
The Venus Center, a dedicated reproductive and sexual healthcare facility, will open July 26. Read more on p.8. The City of Orlando celebrates its 150th anniversary on July 31.
LOCAL BIRTHDAYS
LGBTQ+ ally and health care activist KT Sullivan, Orlando ally Nikki Price (July 18); die-hard theater lover Deborah Simpson (July 19); LGBTQ+ ally and Central Florida softball star Michael Smith, Orlando physician Dr. Jerry Horton, Rock Hard Fitness owner and trainer Max Dunley, Central Florida performer Steven Johnson, VIO Med Spa manager Baylee Plaza (July 20); Florida NWO’s former president Kim Porteous, Beloved activist Rachel Gardiner (July 21); Echo Interaction Group founder and CEO Carlos Carbonell, ACLU communications manager Baylor Johnson (July 23); Former Watermark intern Andrew Laporte (July 24); The Hammered Lamb’s Lee Wolfcale, Central Florida LGBTQ+ rights activist Juan Rodriguez (July 25); former Watermark Out News business manager Kathleen Sadler, Regional manager for Grey Goose vodka David Chase Harding III (July 28); House of Adonis’ Josh Walker, Dance instructor William Merchante, Former MBA president Nayte Carrick (July 29); Orlando massage therapist Karl Lubbers, Central Florida LGBTQ+ activist Bobby Hermida, PomPom’s manager Kerrie Finn, Watermark founder and guiding light Tom Dyer (July 30)
community calendar
CENTRAL FLORIDA
13th Annual Diversity Awards
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 12:30 P.M.
SHERATON ORLANDO NORTH HOTEL, MAITLAND
The Center is hosting its 13th annual Diversity Awards in Maitland to honor local trailblazers, champions and change makers. The community will celebrate nine honorees’, some individuals and businesses that exemplify leadership in diversity and inclusion. Some of this year’s honorees are Mulan Williams, Brian Reagan and Savoy Orlando. For more information, visit TheCenterOrlando.org/Events
RESOLVE
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 7 P.M. & 9 P.M. JUDSON’S LIVE, ORLANDO
From the stages of Disney World, RESOLVE brings their bold vocal jazz beats to their debut performance at Judson’s Live. The Central Florida-based quartet showcases razor-sharp harmonies and fresh takes on timeless classics. RESOLVE was named 2019 National Harmony Sweepstakes Champions, and their video releases have generated millions of views across various platforms. For more information, visit DrPhillipsCenter.org
TAMPA BAY
Broadway Rave
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 8 P.M.
BAYBORO BREWING, ST. PETERSBURG
Musical theater nerds, drama geeks, entertainers, theater loves and more are invited to Bayboro Brewing for the return of Glory Days and Brokenmold’s Broadway Rave. Celebrate musical theater as only this show can by singing along to all of your favorites and more. Tickets begin at $25.88. Read more at Facebook.com/BayboroBrewing.
“The Evolution of Drag”
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 7 P.M. CENTRAL PARK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, LARGO
Fan favorite drag entertainer Daphne Ferraro’s hit show returns to Largo! This multimedia experience blends comedy, dance, pop culture, history and more to take audiences through 11 decades of drag. She’ll be joined by Chi Chi LaLique, Jocelyn Summers, Kathryn Nevets, Kenya Black, Conundrum, April Fresh, Merci Panic, The Lady Janet, Imani Valentino, Rick O’Shea, Just Jarrod and Te Monet. Learn more at Facebook.com/LargoArts.
EVENT PLANNER
THE KEY OF CECE
CENTRAL FLORIDA
“Ride the Cyclone,” Through Aug. 31, Theatre South Playhouse, Orlando. 407-601-4380; TheatreSouthPlayhouse.org
Emo Nite at The Beacham, July 18, The Beacham, Orlando. 407-839-1847; Tkx.Live/Events
“Memphis,” Through Aug. 3, Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven. 863-294-7469; ThatreWinterHaven.com
Natalie Cuomo and Dan Lamorte, July 18, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6103; TheAbbeyOrlando.com
“Catch Me If You Can,” July 18-Aug. 3, Osceola Arts, Kissimmee. 407-846-6257; OsceolaArts.org
Taylor Swift Music Bingo Brunch, July 19, Teak Neighborhood Grill, Orlando. 407-313-5111; TeakOrlando@ Live.com
Mates of State –Somewhere Tour, July 19, The Social, Orlando. 407-839-1847; TheBlockOrlando.com/ TheSocial
“Puppet Play Date: Peter Rabbit,” July 19, Orlando Family Stage, Orlando. 407-896-7365; OrlandoFamilyStage.com
Ateez, July 21-22, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7900; KiaCenter.com
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” July 25-26, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org
Ado, July 26, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7900; KiaCenter.com
Forgotten Broadway, July 29, Judson’s Live, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org,
The Fray: “How To Save A Life: The 20th Ann. Tour,” July 29, House of Blues, Orlando. 689-329-2583; HouseOfBlues.com
Gimme Gimme Disco, July 25, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6103; TheAbbeyOrlando.com
International Vegan Food Festival, July 26, Wall Street Plaza, Orlando. EventBrite.com
26Health Fest, July 26, 26Health, Orlando. 321-800-2922; 26Health.org
TAMPA BAY
“Puffs, Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic,” Through Aug. 3, Jobsite Theater, Tampa. 813-476-7378; JobsiteTheater.org
Friday Night Charity Bingo, July 18, The Garage, St. Petersburg. 727-258-4850; Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage
Laura Bell Bundy, July 18, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-892-5767; TheMahaffey.com
Shade Showcase, July 19, The Garage, St. Petersburg. 727-258-4850; Instagram.com/ TheShadeShowcase
Anime & Comic Art Exhibition, July 19-20, Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. 727-300-1700; ImagineMuseum.com
Pride with the Police, July 23, Chef & The Baker, Tampa. 813-637-0156; TampaBayLGBTChamber.org
LGB2B+ Networking, July 23, The Sourdough Co., St. Petersburg. Facebook.com/ Groups/LGB2BPlus
Ballroom Drag Bingo, July 23, Red Mesa Cantina, St. Petersburg. 727-896-8226; RedMesaCantina.com
Popcorn Watermelon: The Greatest Hits Edition, July 26, American Legion Seminole Post 111, Tampa. 813-237-1271; Facebook.com/ TampaSisters
Rai’s Birthday Celebration, July 26, The Garage, St. Petersburg. 727-258-4850; Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage
727 Day Epic Drone Show: Celebrating 5 Years of ExPIERiences, July 27, St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg. StPetePier.org
“The Kids Are Alright: Youth Open Mic,” July 27, Outcast Brewing Company, St. Petersburg. GirlsRockStPete.org
Shelter Strong Bingo, July 28, Cocktail, St. Petersburg. 727-592-1914; CocktailStPete.com
“Clue: The Musical,” July 31-Aug. 2, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-712-2706; HoffmanSchoolOfTheArts.com
SARASOTA
Project Pride Street CleanUp, July 19, Serving Spoon, Sarasota. PPSRQ.org
“Cabaret,” July 30-Aug. 10, The Sarasota Players, Sarasota. 941-365-2494; ThePlayers.org
Central Florida sensation CeCe Teneal performs July 31 and Aug. 1 at Judson’s Live, presented by the Dr. Phillips Center. PHOTO COURTESY DR. PHILLIPS CENTER
