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DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • Issue 21.07 • Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 • WatermarkOnline.com
GOOD
EVIL
FROM
Locally and nationally,
homophobes are catalysts
for LGBT equality
on Glee’ s
gay legacy
Lea
Michele
Walk
Dine
Shop
Drink
Laugh
Meet
Party
Enjoy
Play
Bike
Thrive
Savor
Live
Repeat
2
watermark Your lgbt life.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
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6 // Mail
8 // Orlando News
12 // Tampa Bay News
16 // State
19 // Nation & World News
27 // In Depth
31 //Arts & Entertainment
41 // Community Calendar
43 // Tampa Bay Overheard
45 // Orlando Overheard
46 // Tampa Bay Marketplace
47 // Transitions
48 // Orlando Marketplace
53 // Sports
page
— Daniel Tilley, LGBT rights attorney for the ACLU of Florida
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page (Clockwise from left) Terry
Anita Bryant, John
27 Kemple,
Stemberger, Ronda Storms,
David Caton, Maggie Gallagher, Tony
Perkins, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell
and Fred Phelps have all fought LGBT
equality, and in the process, motivated
change and progress.
Preview
31
Won’t stop believin’:
Glee made her a household name, but Lea Michele is no
stranger to performing. The star talks about her Broadway experience, her debut album and her
memoir, to be released in May.
Watermark I s s u e 21. 0 7 // M a r. 27 - A p r. 9 , 20 14
Orlando News
Tampa Bay News
page Orlando’s Out in Business
page Nearly 1,500 people attend
Sexxx dreams
Gallery W
Illustration by Jake Stevens
Read
it online!
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
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08
Symposium brought out
movers and shakers, but
perhaps none as big as Disney World
president George Kalogridis; City preps
for transgender day of visibility; Mt.
Dora fundraiser brings in support for
marriage battle.
12
the first Manatee Pride,
making it a huge success;
Margaret Murray returns to the helm
of the Tampa International Gay and
Lesbian Film Festival for its 25th
anniversary; Push for a Manatee
County HRO gains momentum.
page Performance artists Coco
34
and Homo plan to mix
theater, art, video and music
in Sexxx Dreams, a new fundraiser
show benefiting Equality Florida. The
St. Petersburg event runs March 28-29
and is expected to push boundaries,
they tell us.
page The annual Taste of Pride
returned to
54 celebration
the Dali Museum in St.
Petersburg, bringing out 600 supporters
and raising more than $25,000 for
Pride’s Community Grants program.
We, along with help from Rainbow411.
com, captured some of the festivites.
Did you know you can read a virtual version of Watermark online? Visit WatermarkOnline.com and read the PDF format!
watermarkonline.com
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
5
letters to the editor
editorial cartoon
TOP WEB COMMENTS
I
t’s no surprise that
the death of Westboro
Baptist Church Founder
Fred Phelps sparked strong
reactions from Watermark
readers. Here’s a round-up
of what you had to say about
the notoriously anti-gay hate
group leader.
Via Watermarkonline.com
“They say that you should only say
good things of the dead. Fred Phelps
is dead. GOOD!”
—Greg H.
“‘The Southern Poverty Law Center, a
civil-rights nonprofit group, has called
Westboro Baptist Church a hate
group.’ Ironically, the SPLC opened
for business in 1971 but didn’t get
around to labeling the WBC a “hate
group” until 2011. Forty years of
nothing.”
—rkeefe
via Facebook
“I understand the anger towards Fred
Phelps and his ilk. They caused a
great deal of pain for many people,
but I hope we, as a community,
conduct ourselves with dignity.
Protesting his funeral only lowers
us to their level. His judgment day
has come. Let God deal with him
accordingly.”
—Shane Pagano
“Celebrating any death is disgusting,
irrespective of their views. We should
rather rise above, and be better than
he ever could have dreamed to be;
celebrating and taking joy in his death
puts us beneath them.”
—Adam Proctor
“May he find the peace that eluded
him in this life. Let’s all stay above
the fray here. Thinking ill of him only
lowers us to the same level that he
lived at.”
—Mark Cady
“I just wonder how much this will
affect his church. Will his hating flock
lose their motivation or just carry on?”
—Dana McElvy
“He was despicable.”
—Frank O’Brien
Join the conversation at WatermarkOnline.com!
6
Read the fine print
I
t never ceases to
amaze me the levels
to which groups and
individuals will stoop in
order to advance their agenda.
Your story on who’s truly behind
these idiotic Religious Freedom
bills [Issue 21.06] will hopefully
encourage the general public to
look closer at the organizations
it chooses to support. Just
because the word “Democratic”
appears on a website doesn’t
necessarily mean that group will
support Democratic principles.
We have to read the fine print, as
they say, because nothing these
days is as it appears.
Thank you for alerting
your readers to these sneaky
tactics. It shows we have a lot
more work to do!
Karen Singletary
Orlando
Manatee Proud
C
ongratulations to
Manatee County for
a successful first
Pride event! I have lived in
this county for more than 30
The harm
Fred Phelps has
done is undeniable;
yet our faith teaches
us that hate is a dry
and bitter fruit.
—Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson
years and would have never
predicted that such a successful
celebration of diversity could
happen in our rural town.
Manatee, and Bradenton
especially, have come a long way
toward inclusion, and to see so
many happy people at one place
and celebrating the rainbow
colors of our community
brought me the most Pride I
have ever felt.
I’ve attended Pride events
nearby—St. Petersburg and
Sarasota—and those are fine
events. But to have a Pride
right in your hometown brings
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
a whole new meaning to the
word “proud.”
Congratulations to
all involved. I can’t wait
for next year!
James Roan
Bradenton
Choose to love
O
ur love for all of
humanity compels
us to pray for Fred
Phelps as he faces God and to
comprehend all the harm he has
done in this life. According to his
son, Phelps had been shunned
from the church he founded,
and so he goes to his death
painfully alone.
What pain or sorrow left
Fred Phelps with only hate to
give to others is not known.
We can only pray for him and
his family, that redemption and
forgiveness becomes a reality
for each of them. We pray for healing for all
those who have been harmed
by his hatred for more than two
decades. Many of his own family
have escaped his influence
over the years; others carry on
the messages of hate. We leave
them in God’s hands while
knowing our mission is to speak
of God’s love and inclusiveness
for all people, regardless of
whom we love or how we
express our gender.
The harm Fred Phelps has
done is undeniable. We grieve
over every family member who
questioned whether God loved
them because of the destructive
messages of Fred Phelps. Yet,
our faith teaches us that hate is a
dry and bitter fruit. It is only the
persistent and repeated decision
to love that can break the cycles
of hatred. We choose love.
Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson
Metropolitan
Community Churches
Phelps won’t be missed
F
red Phelps will not
be missed by the LGBT
community, people with
HIV/AIDS and the millions of
decent people across the world
who found what he and his
followers do deeply hurtful and
offensive. Through his actions,
he brought needless pain
and suffering to thousands of
families, including to military
families, at their time of greatest
pain and grieving. While it is
hard to find anything good to
say about his views or actions,
we do give our condolences to
his family members at what
must be a painful time for them.
Rev Darlene Nipper
Deputy Executive Director,
National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force
editor’s
Steve Blanchard
EDITOR
[email protected]
I
Desk
’m happy that Fred Phelps is dead.
It’s honestly the first time word of a death
gave me a sense of peace. That doesn’t make
me a bad person—just an honest one.
The Westboro Baptist Church
patriarch, famous for his “God
Hates Fags” signs and the reason
why 40-plus states had to pass
anti-picketing laws near funerals,
finally died March 18 while in
hospice care. Details are unclear
as to what ailed the ancient,
hateful soul. But family members
confirmed his death, adding
that there will be no funeral
for him since in their minds,
funerals are just fancy ways of
worshiping the dead.
I won’t try to understand
Westboro’s thinking here—it’s
impossible—but of course they
don’t comprehend the concept
of celebrating a life. But the fact
watermark staff
remains that their one-time
leader and the founder of the
non-denominational church is no
longer among us.
Dealing with death is an awful
experience. We have all felt the
heartbreak of the inevitable and
have supported those who lost
those close to them. The deaths
of some people—Osama bin
Laden, Hitler, Jeffrey Dahmner,
and Saddam Hussein—made the
world a much better place. Fred
Phelps is now among them.
Phelps knew exactly what he
was doing when he made his very
first reprehensible sign declaring
God’s hatred while celebrating the
death of U.S. soldiers.
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If there was a funeral for
this man, you wouldn’t see me
standing nearby protesting. If he’s
buried, I won’t visit the cemetery
to leave an ammonia-scented
stain on his grave. Other than this
Editor’s Desk, I truly don’t plan to
give him much thought.
Some LGBTs have chosen to
return the favor that Phelps and
his followers bestowed upon us
since the early 1990s.
“God Hates Fred”
signs are popular on
Facebook, political
cartoons have poked
fun at his afterlife,
and a protesting yet
loving “We’re sorry
for your loss” banner
has already appeared
near the Topeka,
Kansas-based church.
And I can’t say
I blame those who
want to celebrate his
death. Phelps was
an evil man whose
influence has warped
the minds of the
easily led. His hatespeech will continue, thanks to
his daughter and the generation
of so-called believers who were
taught early on that hate is the
way to Heaven.
But there is hope. Some of his
blood-relatives have escaped the
cycle of hate. Hopefully others
who believe the way he did can
escape it as well.
Phelps wasn’t shy when he was
asked about his hateful rhetoric.
He said that it was the only way to
preach. To not preach about God’s
hate is not to preach correctly, he
said on more than one occasion.
His anti-gay tirades were so
insane and almost comical that
there were even rumors that he
was a “plant” by pro-gay groups
to make anti-gay messages
appear flawed, reprehensible
or disturbing.
Sometimes things hit painfully
close to the truth. Maybe that’s
the reason why, as I explore in this
issue’s cover story, we’ve made
such rapid gains toward equality
the past 15 years. When hate has a
face, fewer people want to become
associated with it.
The opposite is true for love
and acceptance.
Protests will happen in honor
of Phelps, but what good will
they do anyway? It’s not like he’s
going to change his ways as he’s
rotting six feet under. Or, if you’re
spiritual, his afterlife has no bearing
on our here-andnow anyway. So
whatever you
believe regarding
his “surprise”
when he’s on some
new eternal plane
is inconsequential
to those of us still
firmly planted on
terra firma.
I took the
news of Phelps’
fading health
and eventual
death with a nod
of approval and
acceptance, nothing more. Death
should never be celebrated,
but most lives should be. Most
lives. His life, on the other hand,
should be mourned for the waste
that it was.
Phelps had no respect for
LGBTs, our allies, or even his
fellow “Christians.” Goodbye, Mr.
Phelps. You won’t be missed, but,
unfortunately, your legacy will
continue. With any luck, your
continued message of intolerance
will only motivate the living more,
and eventually, you and those of
your ilk will finally fade away all
together. | l |
The deaths of
some people—
Osama bin
Laden, Jeffrey
Dahmner—
made the
world a much
better place;
Phelps is now
among them.
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contributors
Chris
Azzopardi
is the editor of
Q Syndicate, the
international LGBT
wire service, and
has interviewed a wide range of
celebrities, including Cher and Lady
Gaga. He lives in Canton, Mich.,
and can be reached via his website
at Chris-Azzopardi.com. Page 31
Zach Caruso
is a musician and
journalist from
New Jersey who
now lives in St.
Petersburg. He has
a bachelor’s degree in Journalism
and an MA in writing. Page 34
Greg Burton, Scottie Campbell,
Zach Caruso, Susan Clary,
Amy Dees, Kirk Hartlage,
Rev. Phyllis Hunt, Joseph Kissel,
Ken Kundis, Mary Meeks,
Stephen Miller, David Moran,
Gregg Shipiro, Greg Stemm,
Brett Stout, Jim Walker
photography
Vinny
D’Ippolito
is a freelance
photographer
and interior
designer living in
Dunedin, Fla., with his husband. He
specializes in event coverage and
male photography with a focus on
physique. Page 43
Nick Cardello, Angie Folks,
Tom Eckert, Julie Milford, Travis Moore,
Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift,
Tinkerfluff, Lonnie Thompson
distribution
Debbie Oliver, Phil Garris, Ken Caraway
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
7
orlando
news
8
321.293.2240
DavidDorman.com
City of Orlando to issue
Transgender Day of
Visibility proclamation
It’s About Finding
EVERYONE A Place
To Call Home!
Samantha Rosenthal
O
rlando | For the first time ever, the city
of Orlando is issuing a proclamation in
recognition of the International Transgender
Day of Visibility - a day to celebrate and raise
awareness about the transgender community.
City Commissioner Patty Sheehan will present
the proclamation at a ceremony March 31 in the
Orlando City Hall Rotunda.
Gina Duncan, a transgender diversity and
inclusion trainer, looks forward to the day and
hopes the entire LGBT community will recognize
and support the transgender community.
“We have asked all LGBT organizations that
fly a flag to fly the transgender flag that day,”
Duncan said.
She said that many LGBT organizations, including
MBA Orlando, the Zebra Coalition and The GLBT
Center of Central Florida, will be in attendance for
the city hall celebration. UCF will be celebrating
transgender awareness that entire week on campus.
Sheehan said it’s important for transgender
individuals to receive the visibility and respect
they deserve and she feels honored to present the
proclamation, knowing it takes courage to stand up
and say it’s an important issue.
“I think it’s always critically important for any
minority to have this kind of visibility,” she said.
Sheehan knew Duncan personally both before
and after her transition and called Duncan’s journey
“inspiring.” She said when people actually meet
and know transgender individuals, it helps break
stereotypes.
Duncan recently returned from 2014 Lobby Days
in Tallahassee and said a majority of the Florida
Legislature had never met a transgender individual
before. She hopes the visibility of more transgender
individuals helps create change and get legislature
passed for LGBT rights.
“Until people know transgender people and take
the fear of the unknown away, we won’t see any
progress,” Duncan said.
Sheehan spoke of the growing importance in
this day and for visibility everyday of transgender
individuals, saying they “need to feel comfort in
their own skin and live their own truth.”
The Transgender Day of Visibility began as
a Facebook event in 2009, created by Michigan
transgender activist Rachel Crandall. It has grown
to become an international day of celebration and
dedication to transgender individuals globally. | l |
Business minds: (L-R) MBA president Mikael Audebert, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts president George Kalogridis, Orlando
Mayor Buddy Dyer at the “Out in Business” symposium at City Hall. Photo by Tom Dyer
Good for Business
Disney’s George Kalogridis highlights
Out in Biz symposium
Tom Dyer
O
rlando | Coming out
stories are about as personal
as it gets. So Orlando City
Hall seemed an unlikely place
for LGBT executives from major
corporations—including Walt
Disney World’s George Kalogridis—
to share the intimacies of their
professional journey.
But after Mayor Buddy Dyer’s
warm welcome, the huge lobby
rotunda felt like a living room.
“Thank you for holding your
event in your City Hall,” Dyer
said before listing the many ways
Orlando has embraced its LGBT
community during his ten years
as mayor. “This is a city that is
committed to being inclusive. And
we don’t just talk about it, we do it.”
At the “Out in Business”
symposium presented by the
Metropolitan Business Association
and Out & Equal Workplace
Advocates on Thursday, March 20,
more than 300 local LGBT-andfriendly business leaders were
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
Out & Equal, “the organization I wish
had been there for me when I was
ready to come out at work.”
More than 3,000 people
representing 300 nations attended
treated to advice on how to move
the 2013 Out & Equal Workplace
“from the closet to the corner office.”
Summit in Minneapolis. And a recent
“More and more members of
Global Summit in India attracted
the LGBT community now sit at the
corporate support from the likes of
helm of Fortune 500 companies,”
Google and IBM in a nation that is
Dyer said. “We want them to know
retreating on human rights.
they’re welcome here.”
“Once again, corporations are
Out & Equal founder Selise Berry
leading the way when it comes to
LGBT equality,” Berry said.
She also disclosed an
exciting “secret” at City
Hall. “The 2016 Summit
will be held right here, in
Orlando,” Berry announced to
enthusiastic applause.
—George Kalogridis, president,
Berry introduced Kalogridis
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
by revealing her “fantasy that
every CEO who wants to come
set the tone for self-disclosure,
out and is afraid could meet George.”
sharing that as an adult she “dated
Kalogridis was making his first
men but fell in love with their
public appearance as the highest
sisters.” At a Presbyterian seminary
profile member of Orlando’s
in San Francisco she discovered a
LGBT community. His soft-spoken
passion for activism—and a sense of
nature belied his powerful position
humor—when she started Seminary supervising more than 70,000
Lesbians Under Theological Stress
employees as president of Walt
(SLUTS).
Disney Parks & Resorts.
After earning several degrees
Indeed, Berry noted that
Berry forged a career as a non-profit
Continued on page 11 | uu |
administrator. In 1997 she formed
“Why wouldn’t we–
or anyone!–go for this
demographic?”
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
9
orlando
NEW 2014 JEEP
in other news
from pg.8
Thousands raised for
domestic violence shelter
More than 400 men and women donned high heels for
the second Walk A Mile In Her Shoes held March 13 in
downtown Orlando. The event, founded and co-chaired
by Randy Ross and Mary Tiffany, raised $24,000 for
Harbor House of Central Florida, Orange County’s
domestic violence shelter. This year, 250 walkers
participated and funds will pay for 352 nights at the
shelter ($125/night).
Fringe previews—one
clean and one dirty
news
| uu | Out in Business
The 23rd Annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre
Festival isn’t for another few months, but organizers
want to whet your appetite for alternative theater.
Fringe fans can attend a preview at 7 p.m. April 14
at the Lowndes Shakespeare Theater’s Margeson
Theatre. A “mature audience,” preview, highlighting
different shows, will be at 9 p.m. Doors will open 30
minutes before each show. “It is one of my favorite
events and always sells out,” said Fringe General
Manager George Wallace. Each of the local acts have
two minutes to present a preview of his/her upcoming
show. Patrons are required to purchase a $9 button to
attend the festival. Tickets are $15 per segment. For
details, call 407-648-0077.
someone in his position should have
a bigger ego. Kalogridis’ humble
response: “I don’t have time.”
Kalogridis shared that he had a
difficult time growing up gay, but
that changed after he got a job as
a busboy when Walt Disney World
opened in 1971.
“I got to Disney and suddenly
realized who I was,” he said. “It was
like growing up speaking a second
language, and then coming to a
place where everyone is using the
language you were born to speak.”
“I discovered all of you,”
Kalogridis said looking out into the
rotunda, “and for the first time in my
life I felt a sense of community.”
But as he moved up the corporate
ladder at Disney, it wasn’t always
easy. In the late 1990s a fellow
cast member outed Kalogridis to a
Christian group planning to protest
the annual—and unsanctioned—
Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom. They
told people how to access Kalogridis’
office, and Disney was forced to
station police officers outside.
And when Kalogridis opened
Disney’s “It Gets Better” video
offering support to depressed and
suicidal LGBT teens, he was moved
to see how many fellow employees
once shared those feelings. After
it was broadcast, hundreds more
emailed him to say they now felt safe
enough to come out at work.
Kalogridis noted that Disney
has a perfect 100 rating on the
Human Rights Campaign’s Equality
Index, with good reason. He shared
statistics indicating that the LGBT
community earns more, takes more
vacations, and spends more on those
vacations.
“Why wouldn’t we—or
anyone!—go for this demographic?”
Kalogridis said.
And like Mayor Dyer, he noted
that inclusion is good for the
bottom line.
“When a business depends on
creativity and innovation, like we
do, you can’t close any doors,” he
added. “At Disney, our guests—and
our cast—come from every belief
system, every experience. We love
kids and we love families. My fantasy
is that [our society] will broaden
the definition of family to be
fully inclusive.”
Kaligrodos’ sentiments were
echoed in a panel discussion
moderated by MBA board
member Andrea Hays, who also
works at Disney.
Maria Ruiz Margenot, a senior
VP at Wyndham Resorts, discussed
the “drip, drip, drip of authenticity”
in the workplace, and noted that
LGBT allies had driven most of the
progress at her company. New York
Life VP Angela Daniels talked about
the timeliness of LGBT rights, and
noted that her advocacy offered
the chance to carry on the work of
women’s and civil rights activists.
NBC/Universal marketing
director Keven Callahan talked about
forming StudiOut, the company’s
largest LGBT employee group with
more than 1,000 members. And
Motorola VP Sonia Sullivan shared
that “if you’re industrious, you’ll
find support.”
MBA president Mikael Audebert
opened the event by observing
that, “No one should have to choose
between the person they love and
the job they love.”
The “Out in Business” symposium
discussed strategies for coming out,
but Disney’s Kalogridis threw at
least some of the responsibility back
on corporations and elected officials.
“The absence of fear is the best
thing a community can give its
citizens,” he said. | l |
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Back in charge: Margaret Murray will serve as
executive director of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian
Film Festival throughout 2014. Photo courtesy TIGLFF
Murray returns to helm of
Film Festival in its 25th year
Steve Blanchard
T
ampa Bay | Describing Margaret Murray as
the “new” executive director of the Tampa
International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival isn’t
exactly right. But she has stepped into the role for the
2014 season—TIGLFF’s 25th anniversary.
Murray, who was raised in St. Petersburg, returns
to the post after serving as executive director in the
early 2000s.
“I was executive director in 1999-2001 and served as
program director in 2007-2009,” she said, adding that
she’s not good at remembering the exact dates of her
previous positions. “I was also the executive director of
the film festival in D.C.”
So Murray isn’t lacking in film experience, and
she added that she remembers going to TIGLFF back
when there were protestors, negative media coverage
and a lot of drama associated with being part of the
LGBT community.
Things have changed a lot over the last two decades.
More political leaders participate in the festival than ever
before, and some of those elected officials are even part
of the LGBT community.
“The political and social landscape has definitely
improved,” Murray said. “But there is still such a
need for events like TIGLFF. Surprisingly, the younger
generation wants a separate outlet, despite LGBT issues
mainstreaming.”
To reach out to a larger youth contingent in 2014, the
festival will give free access to anyone under the age of
18, as long as the film is age-appropriate, Murray said.
She said the idea is to bring a new generation of film
lovers into the TIGLFF fold, and help secure its future.
Enticing youth to enjoy the festival is one way to
ensure the festival’s survival. Another way is to boost the
festival’s bottom line.
The board has approved a special fundraising
campaign this year, encouraging 1,000 people to donate
$25, either through the website or in person. The $25,
12
PROOF
tampa bay
news
CELEBRATE THE DEATH OF D.O.M.A.!
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Manatee Proud: An estimated 1,500 people attended the inaugural Manatee Pride at Bradenton Riverwalk on March 22.
The crowds surged to the point that vendors and food trucks ran out of supplies by the end of the day. Photo by Jake Stevens
Making a mark
Manatee Pride makes big
debut with 1,500 in attendance
Steve Blanchard
B
radenton | Jack Newton
looked around Bradenton
Riverwalk March 22 and was
amazed. Not only by the size of the
inaugural Manatee Pride, but the age
range of those attending.
“I never knew there was such
a community here,” Newton said
as he browsed vendor booths.
“I’m stunned, really. I would have
never imagined all of this could
happen here.”
But it did, and an estimated 1,500
people made their way through
the 50-plus vendors, collecting
giveaways and learning about
organizations and groups.
Many, like Newton, were
surprised at the impressive
turnout, even Manatee Pride
president Shannon Summers, who
also operates Prism Youth, the
beneficiary of the event.
“We exceeded expectations on
attendance,” she said. “There was a
smile on everybody’s face. Sponsors
and vendors did very well and were
happy with their placement and the
turnout. It was almost perfect.”
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
two,” Summers said. “There were no
incidents reported, no protests and
no one imbibed too much. It was a
fantastic day.”
Turnout was so strong that
The weather cooperated,
food trucks ran low on provisions
providing temperatures in the low
and many vendors handed out
80s and clear skies throughout
everything they brought. One
the four-hour event, which closed
attendee, Jessica Crawley of
down at 4 p.m. Crowds stayed up
Bradenton, had two bags of swag she
until the very last song was played
collected throughout the afternoon.
from the stage.
“I had no idea there were so
“I think the community will
many queer-inclusive groups
be more galvanized here now,”
out there,” the 24-year-old said.
Summers said. “Everyone had a
“Manatee County has this reputation
of being a wasteland
between Sarasota and
Tampa Bay. But that’s
obviously not the case.
There is a lot happening
here and a lot more that
will happen now.”
—Jack Newton, who attended the
Summers had the
inaugural Manatee Pride
opportunity to speak
with several groups
good time. They weren’t harassed
of youths, which were prevalent
by anyone and enjoyed what it was
throughout the day. Those groups,
like to actually have a community
she said, expressed interest in
in Bradenton.”
participating in PrismYouth and
Throngs of festival attendees danced she expects to see many fresh faces
to the music and Summers believe
at the organization in the very
they will want more of that at
near future.
next year’s Manatee Pride festival,
“We did quite well in fundraising,”
which is tentatively slated for
Summers said. “Now that we have
March 21, 2015.
some money, we can do more than
“We still have to get approval,
but I think it will be easier for year
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“I’m stunned, really. I would
have never imagined all of
this could happen here.”
watermarkonline.com
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
13
tampa bay
news
Movement pushes for Manatee County Human Rights Ordinance
| uu | Margaret Murray from pg.12
of course, is symbolic of the 25th anniversary of the
festival, which will again reach across both sides of
Tampa Bay in October.
“The Tampa Theatre is our home again this year, and
it looks like we’ll show some films at freeFall Theatre in
St. Petersburg as well,” Murray said. “We’ve shown some
of our monthly film series there and the experience has
been wonderful. It’s just such a perfect fit.”
Murray isn’t discounting the Muvico theater at the
former Baywalk complex, soon to be reopened as Sundial.
But with new management, Murray said it’s too early to
know if that theater will come back on board.
“The LGBT community really shows us a lot of love
during the festival in October,” Murray said. “The rest
of the year it’s a little tough. One of my goals is to raise
our visibility throughout the rest of the year, which I
think we can do.”
This year, expect a few surprises to celebrate 25
years of TIGLFF. Murray anticipates a street party on
opening night, complete with wet zones for anyone
wanting an adult beverage before or after films. She also
hopes to attract a larger portion of Tampa’s straight,
allied community.
“This is a party for the city,” she said. “Yes, we’re a gay
and lesbian film festival, but Tampa as a whole should be
proud of what this festival does.”
The 25th Annual TIGLFF will be Oct. 3-11.
For more information on the festival, and for a
schedule of monthly screenings, visit TIGLFF.com. | l |
Staff Report
B
radenton | The same
day that Manatee County
celebrated its first LGBT
Pride, the county’s Human Rights
Ordinance committee drafted
a petition on Change.com to
encourage commissioners to protect
LGBTs from discrimination.
The ordinance, posted March
22, encourages the Manatee County
Board of County Commissioners
| uu | Manatee Pride from pg.12
just be open on Saturdays. We can
do outings and make it more inviting
for these kids. We’re no longer just
a respite for a few hours where they
can hang out with their friends. We
are up for a really exciting future.”
Of course, the money raised from
Manatee Pride is not endless, and
anyone interested in supporting
the initiative can do so through
PrismYouth.org. Summers said
to create an HRO to protect against
discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity.
The group wants at least
200 signatures to present to
the commission.
The HRO would establish civil rights
that would prohibit discrimination
in employment, housing, and public
accommodations in all of Manatee
County, for gays, lesbians and
transgender residents.
“Currently, neither Manatee County
nor any of the six municipalities
in Manatee County provide basic
civil rights anti-discrimination legal
protections in employment, housing,
or public accommodations for LGBT
people, active duty, Reserve, or
National Guard military personnel,
or veterans of the armed forces,” the
petition reads.
The HRO that the Manatee HRO
Committee is requesting is similar to
ones that have been established in
other Florida counties, like Pinellas,
Orange and Volusia. | l |
she is also looking for more
board members.
“We need new blood and new
talents on our board,” she said. “We
need that to take the organization to
the next level. It’s time for that.”
Summers said seeing so many
happy people made every struggle
presenting the festival worth
it, she said.
In 2015, expect more
entertainment and a six-hour
festival. Summers also hopes to
extend the festival area toward
the river to accommodate even
more vendors.
“We identified some of the larger
sponsors and vendors we want to
have next year that we didn’t get
this year,” Summers said. “People
didn’t know what to expect and
we couldn’t give them an exact
number to expect in regards to
turnout. We have that now. I don’t
think we’re going to have an issue
attracting sponsors for the second
celebration.” | l |
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
15
state
news
in other news
Atlantic Beach
considers HRO
The Atlantic Beach City
Commission is mulling over
a Human Rights Ordinance
(HRO) following a workshop
March 12. The HRO has
been up for consideration
since its first public hearing in
November and would protect
LGBTs against discrimination
in employment, housing and
public accommodations.
Punta
Gorda moves
toward a DPR
The City of Punta Gorda could
have a domestic partnership
registry as early as April 2.
The City Council unanimously
approved the ordinance on a
first reading March 19. Forty
people attended the meeting to
discuss the proposed registry,
but no one spoke against
it. The council opened up
registration to anyone in Punta
Gorda, not just residents.
ACLU files suit against Florida seeking
recognition of out-of-state marriages
Staff Report
M
iami | Committed,
married same-sex
couples shouldn’t have
to choose between equality and
living in their home state. At least
that’s how one of eight same-sex
couples who filed a lawsuit in
federal court along with support
from the ACLU feels.
The suit, filed March 12,
challenges the State of Florida’s
refusal to recognize each of the
couples’ marriages, which were
all legally conducted in states
with marriage equality. With the
fall of DOMA last summer, each
one is now also recognized on a
federal level.
“Each of these couples has
their own story of how the
state’s discriminatory refusal
to recognize their marriages
has impacted their lives,” said
Daniel Tilley, LGBT rights
attorney for the ACLU of Florida.
“These eight couples have all
the rights and responsibilities
of marriage in the states where
they exchanged vows, and the
federal government recognizes
their marriages as well. It’s time
for Florida to stop the harmful
practice of treating committed
couples as if they are strangers.”
Among the couples present
for the announcement of the
lawsuit were Sandra Jean
Newson and Denise Hueso.
“Our wedding day was
the happiest day of our lives,
knowing that we were not
only committing ourselves to
one another but to protecting
each other’s future, and yet,
here in our home state, the law
treats us as strangers,” stated
Newson. “When we moved back
to Florida we knew we would
be sacrificing some of the rights
that we’d enjoyed when we
lived in Massachusetts. Most
families don’t have to choose
between being in the place they
call home and having equal
treatment under the law, and
they shouldn’t have to. If Florida
would recognize our marriage,
we wouldn’t have to either.”
Newson is the a vice president
at an agency that works to
provide housing for formerlyhomeless individuals, and Hueso
is a clinical care coordinator at
the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth.
The couple has a 15-year-old
adopted child.
Besides Newsom and Hueso,
the seven other married couples
represented in the case inlcude:
Lindsay Myers, a radio digital
content producer, and her wife
Sarah Humlie, the Executive
Director of the Pensacola
Humane Society; Chuck
Hunziger and Bob Collier, both
military veterans, who have been
together for more than 50 years
and live in Fort Lauderdale;
Juan Del Hierro, the Director
of Ministry Empowerment for
Unity on the Bay, and Thomas
Gantt, Jr., a teacher, who live in
Miami and have a 14 monthold son; Christian Ulvert, a
political consultant, and Carlos
Andrade, a media director,
who married in Washington,
DC in 2013 and are interested
in raising a family; Richard
Milstein, a family law attorney,
and Eric Hankin, a Miami public
school teacher, who have been
together 12 years; Robert Loupo,
a Miami-Dade Public Schools
counselor, and John Fitzgerald,
retired, who have been together
12 years; Sloan Grimsley, a
firefighter from Palm Beach
Gardens, and her wife Joyce
Albu, a consultant assisting
parents of children living with
developmental disorders.
“All around the country,
loving couples enjoy the rights
and responsibilities that come
with a marriage fully recognized
by their state, and it’s time
Florida couples enjoyed that as
well,” said Tony Lima, Executive
Director of SAVE. Dade. | l |
orlando
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watermarkonline.com
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
17
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etroit | Michigan state
agencies won’t immediately
recognize hundreds of samesex marriages that were performed
in the hours before an appeals court
put on hold a judge’s ruling that
tossed out a state ban on same-sex
marriage, the governor’s office
said March 23.
About 300 couples wed March 22
in four Michigan counties before a
federal appeals court placed a stay
on a Detroit federal judge’s March
21decision that overturned the
state’s 2004 constitutional ban on
same-sex marriage.
``We are extremely sensitive
to feelings on this issue and are
hoping for a swift resolution for
all involved,’’ said Sara Wurfel,
spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Snyder.
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
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ruled that a 2004 voter-approved
amendment to the Michigan
Constitution that limited marriage
to opposite-sex couples violated
the U.S. Constitution’s right of equal
protection.
The next day, clerks in Ingham,
Oakland, Muskegon and Washtenaw
counties opened their doors and
began issuing marriage licenses to
same-sex couples. But later that day,
the 6th Circuit froze the decision,
saying the time-out would `àllow
a more reasoned consideration’’ of
the state’s request to stop samesex marriages.
Michigan has spent about
$40,000 so far on experts whose
testimony at a trial over samesex marriage was panned as a
``fringe viewpoint’’ and “entirely
unbelievable and not worthy of
serious consideration’’ by the
judge. | l |
because of their sexual orientation
or gender identity.
`Ìmagine 20 years from now
as America looked back and say,
`How in the hell can that ever been
allowed?’ The country’s moved on,
the American people have moved
on,’’ he said.
Biden said it was time for
Congress to pass the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act–known
as ENDA–which would bar
employers with 15 or more workers
from using a person’s sexual
orientation or gender identity as
the basis for making employment
decisions, including hiring, firing,
compensation or promotion.
Religious institutions and the
military would be exempted.
On March 21, 220 members
of Congress signed a letter to
President Barack Obama urging
him to use executive authority
to ban workplace discrimination
against LGBT employees of federal
contractors. No Republicans signed
the letter. | l |
Biden calls on Congress to pass gay rights bill
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The decision blocks Michigan’s
county clerks from issuing new
same-sex marriage licenses until
the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
rules whether to extend the stay.
Asked if that would prevent, for
example, a newlywed gay couple
from applying for adoption of
children in the interim, Wurfel said
that Snyder and his administration
consider everything to be on
hold for now.
``We are not saying that we aren’t
or won’t recognize the marriages
that happened on March 22, but that
we’re awaiting further court or legal
direction on this complex, unusual
situation,’’ Wurfel said.
`Èither way, this can’t be
construed one way or another as not
recognizing the validity of the same
sex marriages.’’
On Friday, March 21, U.S.
District Judge Bernard Friedman
Los Angeles | U.S. Vice President
Joe Biden has called on Congress to
pass a measure to outlaw workplace
discrimination against LGBTs, saying
it’s outrageous that the country is
even debating the subject.
Speaking to supporters of the
gay advocacy group Human Rights
Campaign on March 22, Biden
said it’s ``close to barbaric’’ that in
some states, employees can be fired
Panel urges end to U.S. ban on transgender troops
Wire Report
San Francisco | An independent
commission led by a former U.S.
surgeon general has concluded
there `ìs no compelling medical
reason’’ for the U.S. armed forces
to prohibit transgender Americans
from serving and that President
Barack Obama could lift the
decades-old ban without approval
from Congress, according to a report
released March 13.
The report said Department
of Defense regulations designed
to keep transgender people from
joining or remaining in the military
on the grounds of psychological
and physical unfitness are based
on outdated beliefs that require
thousands of current service
members either to leave the service
or to forego the medical procedures
and other changes that could align
their bodies and gender identities.
“We determined not only that
there is no compelling medical
reason for the ban, but also that the
ban itself is an expensive, damaging
and unfair barrier to health care
access for the approximately 15,450
transgender personnel who serve
currently in the active, Guard and
reserve components,’’ said the
commission led by Dr. Joycelyn
Elders, who served as Bill Clinton’s
surgeon general.
The commission rejected the
assumption that providing hormone
treatment and sex reassignment
surgeries would be too difficult,
disruptive and expensive.
`Ì hope their takeaway will be
we should evaluate every one of our
people on the basis of their ability
and what they can do, and if they
have a condition we can treat we
would treat it like we would treat
anyone else,’’ Elders said.
At least a dozen nations,
including Australia, Canada, England
and Israel, allow military service by
transgender individuals. | l |
in other news
Kansas sperm donor wants
Supreme Court to block testing
A Topeka man who provided sperm to a lesbian couple
asked the Kansas Supreme Court on March 21 to direct a
district court judge to block his genetic testing. The Kansas
Department for Children and Families filed the case to have
William Marotta declared the child’s father so he can be held
responsible for public assistance and future child support.
Marotta says he signed a contract waiving his parental rights
and responsibilities.
Oklahoma court:
name change after sex change OK
The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals ruled March 21 that a
woman who became female through gender-reassignment
surgery has the right to change her name from James Dean
Ingram to Angela Renee Ingram. The unanimous ruling
reversed a decision by Oklahoma County District Judge Bill
Graves, who denied the application in a November 2012 ruling
that said sex change surgery “is a counterfeit’’ and “the DNA
code shows God meant for them to stay male and female.”
Illinois: Cook County issues 575
same-sex marriage licenses
The Cook County clerk’s office says it has issued 575
marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the month since
it was allowed by a court ruling. Cook County Clerk David
Orr in Chicago said March 21 that couples have come from
17 other states and 11 Illinois counties. A federal judge
ruled Feb. 21 that Illinois’ same-sex marriage ban was
unconstitutional.
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Ugandan official:
U.S. cuts up to $6 million in aid
Uganda’s health minister says the government has lost up
to $6 million in annual U.S. government support over the
East African country’s new anti-gay law. Ruhakana Rugunda
said March 21 that the U.S. had not renewed a contract that
helped pay the salaries of Ugandan doctors and nurses
involved in mostly AIDS programs. He said that under the
contract that expired earlier this year, the U.S. gave between
$4 and $6 million each year over the last 10 years.
Court: Tenn. must recognize
3 same-sex marriages
U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger on March 14 ordered the
state of Tennessee to recognize the out-of-state marriages
of three same-sex couples while their lawsuit against the
state works its way through the court system. `Ìt’s the first
nail in the coffin of discriminating against same-sex married
couples in Tennessee,’’ said attorney Abby Rubenfeld. Samesex marriage is prohibited by Tennessee state law and by a
constitutional amendment approved in 2006.
Ky. same-sex marriage
recognition put on hold
U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II on March 18 issued
a stay of his order requiring Kentucky to officially recognize
same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries
until the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati
either rules on the merits of the case or orders the stay
lifted. Heyburn’s ruling came just two days before same-sex
couples would have been allowed to change their names on
official identifications and documents and obtain the benefits
of any other married couple in Kentucky.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
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hen I sat down to
Imagine my surprise when within hours of its
publication my column had stirred the ire of dozens
of right-wingers in the comments section, and even
ended up on a far-right website. God knows what
happened this week that never happened any other
week to put me in the cross-hairs of the culture
warriors, but my
editor emailed me
kudos: “You’re a
hit!” she wrote to a
very rattled me.
Let me share
some highlights:
“We know how
vicious, angry and
intolerant you are,
Abby. You won’t
really be able to hide it. Deviant sex is the center of
your world.” Or, “Abby Dees. This is your LIFE? Wow,
what a waste.” Or, “Pathetic mewling of a pervert.”
These more personal attacks don’t bother me too
much. They don’t know me.
Much more maddening were the comments that
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I refer to them as “far-right”
out of respect for my
conservative friends and
family whose politics don’t
always line up with mine.
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[email protected]
write a column in the
summer of 2012, I
didn’t think I had much to say about
anything. So, stumped for fresh
ideas, I revived the topic of my
previous column—Chick-fil-A—for
a status update. It wasn’t one of the
most tepid pieces I’ve written.
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Abby Dees
tried to argue actual points that
weren’t responsive to my column
at all. Most accused me of trying to
quash free speech rights.To mangle
an old quote, I’ll fight to the death
for your right to say stupid things.
I was also chastised for not
discussing things completely
unrelated to the subject of my short
column, as if by neglecting to, for
example, psychically predict that
a nutcase was going to open fire
at the Family Research Council, I
revealed the hypocrisy of the entire
LGBT movement and our disdain
for humanity, especially if it’s
registered Republican.
I must wonder what the point is
of having sharing our thoughts and
opinions, if we are utterly unable to
hear what anyone else has to say.
I know—I shouldn’t give it a
moment’s thought. A conservative
friend was amused that I’d pissed
off a bunch of “skin heads.” A
gay friend dismissed it all as the
wounded howls of scared nitwits
facing the reality that the LGBT train
has left the station. most everyone I
know chuckled about the number of
morons there are.
I’d like to believe that my column
magnetically attracted an errant
pod of swastika-tattooed mouth
breathers—I refer to them as
“far-right” out of respect for my
conservative friends and family
whose politics don’t always line
up with mine, but with whom my
disagreements are always respectful
and cause us both to think with a
little more subtlety. My critics can’t
be “nice” people like that. One even
called me out for suggesting that
his ilk were “far-right” when they
represent so much of America.
I know in my gut he’s right (about
this). Many are indeed nice people,
and damn scared about things they
don’t understand.
And they too can’t imagine that I
am the easy-going person that I am,
that my relationship is lovely and
ordinary, and that I really don’t have
an agenda beyond
fairness and respect
for difference, nor
do my friends, gay
or otherwise.
So please tell me,
how do we keep this
rift from getting even
wider? | l |
watermarkonline.com
Abby Dees i a civil rights
attorney-turned-author
whohas been in the LGBT rights trenches
for 25-plus years. She can be reached at
QueerQuestionsStraightTalk.com.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
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Before
original 1980 Cosmos series,
said we are made of star stuff,
because our atoms were created
billions of years ago inside a star.
22
After
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
Sagan’s words are echoed by Neil deGrasse Tyson, the
director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium who hosts
the new Cosmos, which airs on FOX and several National
Geographic-affiliated networks each week.
Tyson’s enthusiasm for science
is infectious. And he holds his
ground. When creationists
demanded equal time on Cosmos,
he said, “You don’t talk about the
spherical Earth with NASA, and
then say let’s give equal time to the
flat Earthers. Plus, science is not
there for you to cherry pick.”
The creation/evolution dispute
is one of the fake controversies
stoked by fundamentalists who
are threatened by intellectual
freedom and know nothing
about the scientific method. Ignoring the fact that the
overwhelming consensus of scientists is against them,
they press school boards to “teach the controversy.”
They perversely regard science as weak because it lacks
their dogmatic and brittle certainty. Tyson counters,
“My view is that if your philosophy is not unsettled daily
The creation/
evolution dispute
is one of the fake
controversies stoked
by fundamentalists
who are threatened by
intellectual freedom.
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then you are blind to all the universe
has to offer.”
Few outside the right-wingers’
hothouse are fooled by their
propaganda. In his March 21 Michigan
marriage ruling, U.S. District Judge
Bernard A. Friedman rejected as “not
worthy of serious consideration”
widely criticized testimony by junk
scientist Mark Regnerus suggesting
that children raised by gay parents
suffer as a result. Our coming
nationwide victory on marriage
equality will be another milestone in a
long struggle against religious coercion
and obscurantism.
The frontier spirit is part of
America’s soul. We were born,
after all, in revolution. In the long
run, fear of change is no match
for the power and possibility of
discovery. Americans lately have been
witnessing gay families’ joy on the
steps of courthouses, and they are
warming to it.
Years ago, I stood in the Manassas
Battlefield on a wintry night to view
a comet with my friend and fellow
activist Barrett Brick, who died last
September. The comet’s tail stretched
across half the sky, and the Pleiades
star cluster rose behind the bare
branches of a tree.
Words fail at such a moment, as
when sitting alone in a cathedral,
awed by its commanding silence. It
reminds us that we are small and the
universe is great. The vault of heaven,
and its exploration, provokes not
emptiness but wonder.
Religious bullies often equate
lack of religion with nihilism. Tyson
pokes them when he says, “The more
I learn about the universe, the less
convinced I am that there’s any sort of
benevolent force that has anything to
do with it, at all.” Barrett, by contrast,
often led services at Congregation
Bet Mishpachah. But he was no bully.
His drashim (Torah lessons) were
invariably graceful, erudite, and
persuasively connected to
current challenges.
Faith can be used
to inspire rather
than control,
just as American
Exceptionalism
can be seen as an
obligation to lead
and not merely an
entitlement to boss.
You may prefer
neither. Religiosity,
like patriotism,
lends itself to misuse. But given its
gravitational pull, one gains greater
leverage by guiding it in a more benign
direction than trying to stop it.
Tyson celebrates the crosspollination of the sciences, and the
watermarkonline.com
way discoveries lead to unforeseen
benefits decades later. The inventor of
the laser, for example, was not thinking
of barcode readers. In a similar fashion,
the lived reality of social changes can
dispel fears, as our fellow citizens at
long last recognize the love that makes
gay families.
With or without faith, all of us on
this “pale blue dot,” as Sagan called
Earth, can be uplifted by a recognition
that, as Tyson puts it, “We are in the
universe and the universe is in us.” | l |
Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He
can be reached at [email protected].
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
23
Talking Points
Out of respect for
all people and our
desire to erase hate,
we’ve decided not to
comment further.
A staggering
43%
of people claim they would
give up sex
for a year
rather than
—Judith Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard,
on the death of Fred Phelps
Chick-fil-A CEO regrets his outspoken anti-gay rhetoric
I
n a surprising
turnaround, Chickfil-A CEO S. Truett
Cathy has expressed
regret for his in-your-face
condemnation of marriage
equality two years ago. In
a rare interview with the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Cathy said it wasn’t a wise
give up the Internet
— According to a national study conducted by Ansell,
the makers of LifeStyles SKYN Condoms
business decision to “make
the company a symbol
in the marriage debate.
Every leader goes through
different phases of maturity,
growth and development
and it helps by (recognizing)
the mistakes that you make,”
Cathy said. “And you learn
from those mistakes. If not,
Media magnate
claims gay
rights group
bullied brewery
Anderson Cooper
thought Seth Myers
was gay
G
ay news reporter Anderson Cooper
generally has a nose for news, but
it appears his smell was off when it came
to Late Night host Seth Myers. Cooper saw Myers
at “the gayest gym on the planet,” and was sure
the former SNL head writer was gay. “I assumed
you were gay, because there weren’t a lot of other
reasons to be there,” Cooper told Myers on the
March 18 episode of Late Night. Myers fired back
“I felt like there was the gay-friendly, and then
there was a gay-curious, and then the bottom level
was just full gay. ” When Anderson urged Myers to
become the first openly gay light night host, Myers
replied “Give it a year, I have to talk to my wife.” | l |
24
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
R
upert Murdoch called on
Irish people to boycott
Guinness beer. In a tweet,
he suggested the brewery pulled out
of the New York parade because gay
rights groups bullied it. “Where will
this end?” asked the News Corp CEO.
“Guinness pulls out of religious parade
bullied by gay orgs who try to take it
over. Hope all Irish boycott the stuff.”
Guinness dropped sponsorship of the
parade after organizers refused to
allow LGBT groups to march carrying
pro-gay rights signs. Heineken also
boycotted the New York event and
Sam Adams backed out of the St
Patrick’s Day parade in Boston. Both
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio
and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh
avoided their city’s parades. | l |
you’re just a fool.” Cathy’s
comments set off a wave of
protests with LGBT kiss-ins
at Chick-fil-A restaurants
and a much-downloaded
video of drag queens
skewering the franchise.
Cathy admits his stance on
same-sex marriage hasn’t
changed, but says in the
Here come the
grooms!
T
Dining Out for Life airs
a new superhero PSA
D
ining Out for Life, the annual night
restaurants around the country donate
proceeds to the fight against HIV/AIDS, is
April 24. Organizers will unveil a new animated,
superhero, public service announcement
featuring Designer Mondo Guerra (Under the
Gunn), Ted Allen, host of Food Network’s popular
show Chopped, Pam Grier (Foxy Brown, Jackie
Brown) and chef Daisy Martinez from Food
Network’s ¡Viva Daisy! The “fearless foursome”
encourages diners to “take action and be a hero
by eating out at participating restaurants. To find
a list of participating restaurants in Tampa and
Orlando, visit DiningOutForLife.com. | l |
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
he cast of Modern
Family came together
March 19 in L.A. to shoot
the wedding of gay characters
Mitchell and Cam, played by
actors Jesse Tyler Ferguson
and Eric Stonestreet. Pepper,
played by actor Nathan Lane,
has been planning the big
shindig all season. The couple
will walk down the aisle in just
a few weeks. Elizabeth Banks is
expected to return in a cameo
appearance as the couple’s friend
Sal, who is pregnant and acting as
their minister. Photogs snapped
photos of Cam and Mitchell
sharing their first married kiss
under an ivy-covered trestle.
Although the exact date of the
wedding episode hasn’t released,
it’s a good bet it will be the season
finale airing May 21. | l |
25
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26
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
Phelps Sr. died on March 18, sparking
mixed reactions from LGBTs and the
community at large. His Westboro Baptist
Church and his so-called congregation made
national news often with its protest of the
funerals of AIDS patients, Matthew Shepard
and fallen U.S. soldiers.
Phelps and his Topekabased church had the same
message at each appearance:
The country was doomed
because of its tolerance
of homosexuality.
While Phelps may have
been the most extreme—and
most likely to make it onto the
national news networks—he
isn’t the first to constantly
attack the LGBT community. In
With hateful,
anti-gay messages,
far-right leaders have
actually helped propel
equality in Florida
and nationwide
fact, there are countless others
who regularly talk about the
“sins” of homosexuality and
transgender people by using
false information, bulleted
talking points and extreme
displays of intolerance.
Despite their commitment
to fighting LGBT equality,
many of these people—
including 1970s beauty
queen Anita Bryant, David
Caton of the Florida Family
Association, Orlando
attorney John Stemberger,
former Hillsborough County
Commissioner Ronda
Storms and Terry Kemple of
Hillsborough’s Community
Issues Council—may have
inadvertently helped LGBTs
make gains in equality during
their campaigns to legalize
discrimination against us.
“I don’t want to thank
people like that,” says Nadine
Smith, executive director of
Equality Florida. “I want to
acknowledge that they have
been a catalyst for some
very brave work that has
been transformative. They
have sparked brave people
like [Hillsborough County
Commissioner Kevin] Beckner
to put himself forward for
public service. They’ve helped
people come out.”
Todd Simmons, the original
chair of the Human Rights Task
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
Force of Hillsborough County,
the precursor to Equality
Florida, agrees with Smith, and
adds that the organizations
pushing for equality have
reacted appropriately to
the hatred hurled at the
gay community.
“I think there’s something
to [anti-gay voices helping
equality progress],” he says.
“But I don’t think it happens on
its own. If the Human Rights
Task Force and others hadn’t
been there in the early 1990s,
doing the very necessary
educational work in the
community, then we wouldn’t
27
| uu | Accidental
Advocates from pg. 27
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
Advocating inequality
01
FLORIDA
John
Stemberger
is an attorney based in
Orlando, who is a staunch
anti-gay rights supporter. He
is the leader of the “On My
Honor,” which was formed to
fight against allowing for boys
to be openly gay and in Boy
Scouts. He also is the head of
Florida Family Policy Council.
After the inclusive policy was
passed for BSA, he formed
Trail Life USA, the Christian
alternative to the Boy Scouts,
which has showcased photos
of its members using a salute
alarmingly similar to the one
used by the Third Reich.
02
Bill
McCollum,
the former Florida Attorney
General from 2007-2011,
was criticized for spending
state funds in defense of the
same-sex adoption ban. In
December 2009, he hired
psychologist, George Rekers,
to testify as an expert witness.
The ban was struck down,
where the judge stated that
Rekers testimony was biased
and not neutral. Many say the
controversy that followed his
judgment on the spending
and hiring of Rekers is
what cost him to lose the
Republican primary when he
ran for governor in 2010.
03
David Caton
is the executive
director of Florida Family
Association, which is
categorized as a “hate group”
by the Southern Poverty Law
Center. Since 1998, FFA has
promoted a campaign against
same-sex rights and issues.
Through FFA, he has led many
unsuccessful campaigns
against Florida policies and
28
ordinances that ranged from
job and housing protections
for gays to opposing an
anti-bullying bill that included
bullying based on a student’s
sexual orientation. Last year,
his organization funded
the “warning” effectively
announcing and highlighting
Gay Day.
04
successful children. He
research was discredited the
same year he was discovered
with a male escort in Miami.
07
Anita Bryant
is a former Florida
Citrus spokeswoman, beauty
queen who rose to frame as
an anti-gay activist of the 70s
and 80s. She successfully
pushed for an ban on gays
and lesbians adopting
children in Florida, which was
finally overturned in 2010.
Many credit her with the
rise of Florida’s LGBT rights
movement.
Ronda
Storms is a
former Florida Senator and
also held an eight-year tenure
on the Hillsborough County
Commission. After seeing
a book display in Town ‘n’
Country honoring LGBT Pride
Month she began a movement
to prohibit the county from
recognizing Pride in any way.
The Commission voted on
the policy, which passed with
a super majority. Her actions
prompted Kevin Beckner to
run for office and eventually
become the county’s first
openly gay commissioner. He
is currently in his second term
and helped overturn Storms’
controversial policy in 2013.
08
05
09
Terry Kemple,
president of the
Community Issues Council
consistently speaks out
against equality measures
benefiting the LGBT
community. He has advocated
a policy that would require
children to receive permission
for their parents to join
gay-straight alliance clubs at
Hillsborough County schools.
He successfully argued
against a domestic partner
registry in Hillsborough.
06
George
Rekers,
a psychologist and Baptist
minister has issued studies,
later discovered to be
inaccurate, painting same-sex
parents as unable to raise
NATIONAL
Jerry Falwell
was a respected
religious leader when he
founded Liberty University.
However, after claiming that
a Teletubby was gay and
blaming the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks on homosexuals and
abortionists, to name a few,
he lost major credibility. He
died in 2007.
Pat
Robertson,
media mogul, former minister
and host of the 700 Club, is
reliable for outrageous claims
against LGBTs. Recently,
he said gay men wear rings
that are used to inject HIV/
AIDS into straight people.
He also blamed 9-11 on
homosexuality.
10
Fred Phelps
was the founder of
Westboro Baptist Church that
is notorious for it’s hateful
signage and protests at the
funerals of US soldiers. His
extreme tactics were frowned
upon by both sides of the
equality debate and many rightleaning organizations distanced
themselves from him.
11
Maggie
Gallagher,
co-founder of the National
Organization for Marriage,
has conceded that marriage
equality is an inevitability
in the country, but is now
focused on religious freedom
bills like the one recently
vetoed in Arizona that would
allow individuals to decline
service to others based on
religious beliefs. As those bills
fall, so does her credibility.
12
Tony Perkins,
president of the
Family Research Council,
used to be a respected
Louisiana legislator. But
now he’s a mouthpiece for
discrimination, claiming
that President Obama is the
anti-Christ and gay rights will
crash the US economy. He
is also against protections
for LGBTs in the workplace,
claiming gays want to “put the
bedroom in the workplace.”
13
Dan Cathy,
the Chick-Fil A
president who spoke out
against marriage equality, has
since admitted he shouldn’t
have addressed such a volatile
political issue. While support
of the chain surged after his
announcement, it has since
waned as boycotts continue
and college campuses reject
the corporation’s restaurants.
14
Don Wildmon,
founder of the
American Family Association,
publishes lists of television
and films to boycott because
of their gay characters
or messages, which has
developed into a guide of
sorts for those looking for that
exact programming.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
have been able to put the light on
some of these people’s claims.”
Specifically, Simmons refers
to David Caton. He and Simmons
were consistently on opposing
sides of equality arguments in the
early 1990s.
Time on our side
Caton and his supporters,
Simmons says, were never
shy about saying exactly what
they thought about the gay and
lesbian community.
“I think one of the more
maddening things about Caton,
especially in the early days, was
that he had carte blanche to say
whatever he wanted in the media,”
recalls Simmons, who now lives in
Hawaii with his husband and their
two sons. “Reporters and producers
would allow him to repeat whatever
outrageous claptrap of the moment
he was peddling.”
At first, that media coverage
helped the case of the likes of
Caton, who argued in the 1990s
that a human rights ordinance in
Hillsborough County would lead
to gay men having public sex. But
today, as more people come out of
the closet and more are educated on
LGBT issues, those words ring not
only untrue, but irresponsible.
“Caton, Phelps, Maggie Gallagher
(of the National Organization
for Marriage) are all in the same
category,” Simmons says. “They can
only go to that well of talking points
so many times before they’re proven
wrong. Caton’s arc on the HRO in
Tampa was to say a lot of scary
things to scare a lot of people. It
passed, and when he tried to repeal
it, he was confronted with the truth
that none of the awful things he
predicted had come to pass.”
Caton lost credibility, Simmons
says, and “no one would line
up for him.”
While his credibility has faded,
his fight against equality has not.
Caton’s Florida Family Association
funded the notorious 2013 banner
flown over Kissimmee and Orlando
“warning” visitors of Gay Days at
the Magic Kingdom. That act was
mostly seen as a waste of money,
even among conservatives, who
believed the several thousands
of dollars could have been put to
much better use.
In Florida, Stemberger led a
successful campaign in 2008 to ban
watermarkonline.com
Financial flop: The Florida Family Association spent thousands of dollars on a barely-readable banner
that was flown around Orlando during Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom last June.
marriage equality with the passage
of Amendment 2. While the ban is
still in place, public opinion on samesex marriage has shifted. Today,
57% of Floridians now support
marriage equality and, nationwide,
52% of people support marriage for
same-sex couples.
“In the aftermath of 2008 we
saw an immediate support for
marriage equality in our state,”
Smith explains. “We sort of had a
hate hangover—buyers’ remorse.
That election forced a lot of people
to look at themselves and ask, ‘What
did we just do?’”
In essence, six out of every
10 people who went to the polls
that year expressed that gay
families were less valuable than
straight ones, Smith says. Children
challenged their parents who voted
in favor of the amendment and
Equality Florida saw a surge in
straight allies in early 2009.
“The generation that is out of
college is turning the tide,” Smith
believes. “I would say the under 50
crowd is overwhelmingly on our
side. Older people are shifting too.”
In 2013, Stemberger was a loud
voice encouraging the Boy Scouts of
America (BSA) to continue its ban
on gay scouts and gay scoutmasters.
When the BSA announced it
would continue to prohibit gay
scoutmasters, but allow young gay
men into the organization as scouts,
Stemberger launched “Trail Life,” a
BSA alternative.
Mainstream media covered the
launch of the new organization,
complete with photos of members
giving a salute ominously similar to
the salute used by the Third Reich in
the 1930s and 1940s.
Stemberger has made anti-gay
headlines in the 21st century, but
LGBT rights in Florida have been
under attack for decades—at least
publicly. Many look to singer, beauty
queen and former Florida Citrus
spokeswoman Anita Bryant as the
reason why LGBTs are now more
welcome in the Sunshine State.
“In a completely unintended way,
Anita Bryant was about the best
thing to happen to the gay rights
movement,” John Coppola, exhibit
curator and former head of exhibits
at the Smithsonian Institution in
Washington, D.C., told the SunSentinel in 2007. “She and her
cohorts were so over the top that it
just completely galvanized the gay
rights movement.”
Smith stops short of saying
Bryant was the beginning of
the LGBT rights movement, but
recognizes that her hysteria was in
reaction to the progress of the day.
“I think it would be an oversimplification to say people like
Bryant did us a favor,” Smith says.
“They hurt a lot of people and I don’t
want to minimize the injuries that
they have caused. But having said
that, they do call into question things
people suddenly had to answer.
They had to ask themselves if they
were okay with what was happening
to their neighbors, coworkers and
family members.”
Fairness, Smith believes, is
human nature. And every time
something unfair makes headlines—
whether it be pending legislation,
or acts by groups or individuals to
block services to a specific segment
of society—it reignites the spark to
A new message: A counter-protestor greets Westboro Baptist Church members March 22 at
a Lorde concert in Kansas City with a message of condolences on the passing of Fred Phelps Sr.
fight inequality.
“Fundamentally, people believe
in fairness and to get them to not
follow that instinct, you have to
muddy the water,” Smith says. “This
becomes a moment of clarification.
Extremists create that moment,
where others think, ‘I don’t want
to be that.’”
Phelps is a shining example of
that—a cautionary tale of where
hate takes people, and what it looks
like as a living, breathing entity
walking among society.
love, compassion, and championing
equality in the face of adversity led
by the Westboro Baptist Church,”
Stephens said. “Their actions caused
many to look inside their own hearts
and reevaluate their own attitudes
toward the LGBT Community. So,
in a strange way, Mr. Phelps ‘legacy’
will actually be one of encouraging
acceptance of the gay community.”
And that surprising legacy will
have a long-lasting, national impact,
according to an Associated Press
interview with Cathy Renna, a
Full Circle: Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin
Beckner was motivated to seek office after Ronda Storms enacted
a so-called “pride ban” in the county. In 2013, Beckner led a
successful—and eventually unanimous—charge to repeal it.
Photo by Nick Cardello
relationships. At the 2003 annual
Southern Baptist Convention,
leaders spent a session drawing
a distinction between their
opposition to same-sex unions and
Phelps’ protests.
Phelps called his church Baptist
but had no ties with the Southern
Baptist Convention or any other
mainstream Baptist group.
``Westboro Baptist is to Baptist
Christianity what the Book of
Mormon Broadway play was to
the Latter-Day Saints,’’ said the
Extremists create that
moment, where others think,
‘I don’t want to be that.’
—Nadine Smith of Equality Florida
Not a legacy he intended
While Topeka, Kan., is more than
1,300 miles away from the City of
Orlando, Phelps’ legacy will leave a
positive impact on the city, or at least
for The Center, which cultivates and
maintains a variety of LGBT services
and programs.
According to executive director
Randy Stephens, a donation was
made through the organization’s
website in honor of Phelps.
“One of our Board members
confirmed that a donation was
made with the notation that the
donor wanted us to know they
respect our mission and vision in
the community is demonstrating
longtime consultant to LGBT groups.
“The world lost someone who
did a whole lot more for the LGBT
community than we realize or
understand,’’ said Renna. ``He
has brought along allies who are
horrified by the hate. So his legacy
will be exactly the opposite of what
he dreamed.’’
Religious leaders who oppose
gay marriage also said the pastor’s
tactics clouded the debate over such
issues and put them on the defensive
in discussing both policy and faith.
Conservative religious leaders
regularly denounced Phelps,
worried that his relentless attacks
would be perceived as representing
the Christian case against same-sex
Rev. Russell Moore, who leads the
Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics
and Religious Liberties Commission.
“They were kind of a performance
art of vitriolic hatred rather than any
kind of religious organization.’’
The Rev. Terry Fox, a Southern
Baptist minister who’s pastor of
Wichita’s non-denominationalleaning Summit Church, once felt
compelled to apologize for Phelps’
shocking behavior on television.
Fox called Phelps `à false prophet’’
and said Satan ``greatly used him.’’
Fox added that Phelps ``was an
embarrassment’’ but had ``become
the face of Christian work in Kansas.’’
Wayne Benson, executive director
of Truth Wins Out, believes that
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
news of Phelps passing will soon
evaporate. But he will always be
remembered as a major influence
in creating allies in favor of
LGBT rights.
“Fred was a net positive for the
LGBT community,” says Besen, who
once referred to Phelps as a “walking
hate crime.”
“The organized Religious Right
despised him,” he says. “They
would spend big money to concoct
elaborate schemes that tried to
make raw hate appear to be love.
Then Fred would come along and
foil their careful plans with a ‘God
Hates Fags’ sign.”
A larger contingent sees people
like Phelps as “loathsome,” which,
in effect, is a positive thing for allies
of equality.
“I’ll say one nice thing about
him,” Benson says. “He’s the only
honest person on the Religious Right
I’ve ever met. He says what many
of them truly believe but are too
careful to say publicly.”
Gay-rights advocates, meanwhile,
are assessing Phelps’ place in the
history of their movement.
James Esseks, director of
the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Project at the
American Civil Liberties Union,
acknowledged that he eventually
saw Phelps’ protests as helping his
own movement.
``He would show up with his
extreme anti-gay views, and a bunch
of people in the middle would
think, Ìf that’s what it means to
be anti-gay, I want no part of it,’’’
Esseks said. | l |
The Associated Press contributed
to this story.
29
arts &
entertainment
Heart Spoken
Lea Michele talks lesbian role on Looking, being called a diva and Glee legacy
“N
Chris Azzopardi
o personal questions”
is the caveat before getting on
the phone with Lea Michele,
TV’s Rachel Berry. It’s an acceptable
exception given the Glee star’s painfully
tragic last year: Her on- and off-screen
boyfriend, Cory Monteith, died suddenly on
July 13, 2013, from a drug overdose.
30
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
Recorded around the time
of Monteith’s passing, those
feelings of loss are still raw
on Louder, Michele’s debut
album. The singer dedicated
“You’re Mine” to Monteith,
and the crushingly beautiful
“If You Say So” was inspired
by his last words to her. “I
can’t believe it’s true,” she
laments on the latter. “I keep
looking for you.”
WATERMARK: How much
of Louder is a reflection
of your life and your
own heartbreaks?
LEA MICHELE: I did not
sing one word on the record
that I could not incorporate
into some experience in my
life. Whether it be current
or past, every single song
that I recorded is about
me. It’s a peek into my life,
past and present. Maybe it’s
coming from my theater and
performance background, but
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
31
Van Wezel
Premiere
PHOTO BY LYNN GOLDSMITH
Sarasota
WITH
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Prize Package:
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Bookings:
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Entry and more info email
[email protected]
32
Sunday, 8:00pm
April 6th, 2014
Sarasota Premiere!
Suggested $5 donation
– The Boston Globe
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Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
Performers, Prices, Dates & Times are
subject to change without notice.
33
Voyeuristic Dreams
Performance Art
Sexuality gets juxtaposed with
gallery art in ‘Sexxx Dreams’
S
Zach Caruso
t. Petersburg | What is Sexxx Dreams?
That seems to be the question around Tampa
Bay. Organizers are tight-lipped and most
just know it’s a performance art event dubbed an
‘immersive experience and exhibition. It all happens
March 28 and 29 at the Station Number Three Art
Gallery in downtown St. Petersburg.
However, the finer details
which remain a mystery weren’t
planned to be presented that way.
34
“We had the same problem
trying to explain it to people
because of how expansive it is,”
says co-creator and performer
Zachary Hines. “We are turning
it into a pop-up cabaret club, and
inside we have over 40 visual
artists’ artwork on the walls, we
have a create-your-own-adventure
dance theater piece. They’re
basically the ‘creatures of the club’
and they’ll be doing spontaneous
dance pieces, and you can follow
them throughout the evening to
learn more about their narrative
and their story and get the
voyeuristic experience.
“Outside we’ll have food trucks,
our main-stage tent which is
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
where Coco and Homo are hosting
their cabaret which will have
burlesque, sword-swallowing,
nail-bed performers, fire eaters,
and that kind of fun fringy sideshow atmosphere.”
In other words, expect the
unexpected.
“I think this is going to set the
tone for a new way of thinking
creatively and exploring how
to bring other aspects of our
creative environment together,”
says co-creator and performer
Colleen Cherry.
Together, Cherry and Hines are
better known as Coco and Homo,
respectively. A farcical pair of
characters have performed in the
Tampa Bay area for several years,
even winning a Best Of The Bay
award from Creative Loafing for
their first cabaret Coco and Homo’s
Super Fierce Slumber Party.
“Coco and Homo are kind of
these trash-tastic clowns who
think very highly of themselves
and think they are far more
important than they are,” says
Hines with a laugh.
“That’s part of their comedy,
and they’re very much cutie-pie
miscreants.”
The pair are joined by friend,
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Envelope pushers: Colleen Cheery and Zachary Hines are CoCo and Homo, respectively, and are also co-creators of Sexxx Dreams, debuting March 28-29.
artist, and frequent collaborator
Laura Spencer, who is a cocreator and visual arts curator
for the event.
“We’ve been collaborating
for many years together,” says
Spencer. “With Zach and Colleen
performing as Coco and Homo
doing small cabarets, and I’d be
onstage with them live-painting
and things like that.”
But Sexxx Dreams is different.
It’s more comprehensive, and
seeks to push the envelope. The
trio was ready to push themselves
to the next level, and after some
late night discussions, they put
their heads together and came up
with a plan.
“We sat down and
brainstormed for this event,
and as we kept talking and
developing ideas, it just grew
and grew into this monster,”
says Spencer. “We’ve made some
deep connections in Tampa Bay,
specifically in the theater and
dance communities, and for me I
work at a local art supply store in
town and so I’m connected with
artists and galleries, and with all
that backing us it seemed like an
inevitable conclusion to develop
an event like this.”
The timing and location
seemed right.
“What we picked up on was
the strength of the art community
in this area and how diverse it
is,” says Cherry. “It excited us
that such a variety of art forms
can come together and create
that singular experience for the
viewer. The visual art is affected
by the performance, and the
performance is affected by the
visuals, so it becomes a cohesive
thing. The hot thing in St Pete
right now seems to be these
big art parties, so we said ‘Let’s
throw one,’ and took it to the
next level and made it a more
immersive experience. We wanted
to introduce audiences from
different mediums to each other.”
Hines, Cherry, and Spencer
were drawn to the idea of taking
a subject like sexuality and
juxtaposing it with a formal
gallery setting.
“I think sexuality is something
that really excites the creative
mind, and it’s not readily available
or accepted in a gallery setting,”
says Spencer. “We want to
elevate that low-brow idea into
a high-brow gallery experience,
so you almost feel like you’re
walking into more of a museum.
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35
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creative flair: Franki Markstone is just one of many performers bringing their unique style
to Sexxx Dreams March 28-29.
scare us at least a little,” says Hines. “It
scares me a lot. It’s a huge risk to put
on such a large event, but I think it’s the
There’s something more refined about
perfect next step. That’s the idea, keep
it. Sexuality seems to be shoved down
pushing yourself, keep taking risks.”
our throats in our culture today, but
Spencer agrees.
there is still an element of taboo to it.
“Needless to say after this, I might
We’re giving people a place to feel free
be writing children’s books under a
with their sexuality. We want to open
pseudonym,” adds Spencer with a laugh.
people’s eyes and minds and make
“You think about that, about how will
them see that sex is ok; it’s something
doing an event like this reflect on your
beautiful that we
name, and how will
all experience.”
your personal body
So the theme
of work be viewed
of Sexxx Dreams,
in relation to it.
according
We’ve reached an
to Cherry, is
era though where
“voyeurism.”
if you don’t have a
“It’s really
large body of work
kind of testing
behind you and you
—Colleen Cherry
what your
can’t touch on all
comfort level is,
these different things, then really as an
where is the boundary?” Cherry says.
artist you’re playing it safe.”
“What is too far, for you personally?
And as excited as Hines, Cherry, and
We have one-on-one performances,
Spencer are for Sexxx Dreams to debut,
guests can touch props, and it’s all about
they insist there is plenty more where
how much more can you see through
this came from.
the keyhole.”
“I’m guilty of always thinking ahead,
The trio admits that the experience
but we definitely have some plans for
of planning and committing to such an
the future,” says Hines. “This is really
event brought with it a degree of fear
just the beginning for us, it’s the tip of
and anxiety, but that just meant they
the iceberg.” | l |
were on the right track.
“We don’t do anything that doesn’t
| uu | Sexxx Dreams from pg.34
“Guests can touch props,
and it’s all about how
much more can you see
through the keyhole?”
36
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
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PRM_watermark_4.14_F.indd 1
3/19/14 3:19 PM
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
37
Since the beginning, Glee has
been such a friend to the gay
community. How does it feel
being part of a show that’s so
bold in how it addresses issues
regarding the gay community?
| uu | Lea Michelle
from pg.31
nothing felt right unless I could relate
to it. I think it comes from being an
actor too. It had to be real for me.
And not every song is about a current
relationship or a current moment—I
have songs on the album that I
wrote about past relationships and
past memories—but they all mean
something to me.
The album is a throwback to an
era when it was just about the
voice, when Celine, Mariah and
Whitney ruled the world. Were
you inspired by any of these
women while recording it?
I don’t think I’ve gone a day in my
life without being inspired by Celine
Dion. If you would’ve seen me at
her concert in Las Vegas—like, I’m
surprised I didn’t get kicked out. I
was literally sitting at the edge of my
seat like the happiest girl in the entire
universe. But no—I’ve always been
inspired by female performers and
artists who really surround who they
are around their voice. For me, it’s
always been about the voice. I want
to hear someone just sit by a piano,
on a stool, and just sing—and that’s
it! It’s never been about anything
other than that for me. I always really
wanted to make an album, and it
was so important to me that I could
be current and relevant and still fun,
but at the same time show that I’m a
singer—that’s what I pride myself on
first and foremost.
Some of your closest
relationships are with gay men.
You work with Chris Colfer
and Ryan Murphy on Glee, and
Jonathan Groff, who’s also
starred on Glee, is one of your
best friends. What is it about gay
men that really jibes with you?
I don’t see anyone as being different
than anyone else, whether you’re gay
or straight or whatever—everyone’s
the same. That’s how I was raised.
I lived in New York my entire life. I
worked in theater and I was exposed
to tons of different types of people,
and from a very young age there was
never anything that was black and
white for me. Everyone was always
accepted and always around me ever
since I was a little girl.
I’ve just been really blessed to
have great people in my life, and
among them just happen to be people
like Jonathan and Ryan—but not
because they’re gay—just because
they’re amazing people.
What does the support of the
gay community mean to you?
38
About the voice: For Lea Michele, music is about the voice, and that’s what
she showcases on her new album.
What I’ve always loved about Glee
the most is that while we’re making
people laugh—and while we’re
singing and entertaining people—
we are delivering a very important
message and opening up people’s
minds, even though they might not
know it’s happening. I get letters
from fans, parents and kids. Glee has
really helped a lot of people, and I’m
not just saying that. It really has.
I’m so honored to be a part of a
show that has made a big movement
not only for the gay community but
also for kids who just love music and
have a passion for doing that. It’s
opened so many doors for girls and
boys that don’t look like everybody
else—to make them feel beautiful in
their skin no matter what they look
like or where they’re from. There
are so many aspects of the show
that have been really amazing, and
I’ll forever be grateful to have been a
I’ve just been really
blessed to have great people in my
life–but not because they’re gay–just
because they’re amazing people.
—Lea Michele
It means so much. I was working
for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights
AIDS since I was a little girl. I’ve
always been in theater, and so the
gay community—that was my world.
That’s where I come from, and so it
just feels like a part of who I am. To
be where I am right now, and to still
have that support and to still have
that safety net, it really just means
a lot to me.
Right—he said you watched
it with your mother.
(Laughs) Uh, I mean, I don’t
know about that!
Can we get you on
there as a lesbian?
So Broadway really is as
gay as people say it is?
Jonathan said he wants to get
you on his HBO show Looking.
Would you be up for it?
Oh my god! First of all, I went to San
Francisco when they were filming
the show and I ate dinner with all the
guys and with Andrew [Haigh], their
director, and before anything I said to
them, “You guys, let’s get me on the
show,” and then I watched the entire
series because Jonathan gave me all
the episodes.
Well, first I watched them with
Jonathan when we went on vacation
and then I watched them with my
mom. And she’s so obsessed, it’s
crazy! Once I saw the entire series, I
emailed Andrew Haigh and I was like,
“Look, I loved it before, but I love it
even more now. You gotta get me on
the show. I’ll do anything. Anything
you want me to play, even if I’m in the
background, I’ll do it.”
One hundred percent!
What kind of lesbian
would you be?
I mean, I just wanna get to work
with Jonathan. I love Jon. I feel like
everything that we’ve gotten to do
together, whether it was Spring
Awakening or working on Glee
together, I just love working with him.
Every time we get to play different
characters together it’s so fun, so I’ll
do anything that they want.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
part of Glee.
I really believe the significance
it’s had in the gay community
will be part of its legacy.
I agree.
Cory, who played Finn, really had
a big part in that—he became
one of the show’s biggest allies.
How do you reflect on him as
an ally to the gay community?
Look at the relationship between
Finn and Kurt—how it grew over
time, that they became brothers.
There’s a really interesting episode
where Kurt and Finn move in
together, and [Kurt] decorates the
room and Finn says the “f” word
[“faggy”]. Kurt’s father defends him
and really kind of puts Finn in his
place and, for me, that was such a
pivotal episode for the show and just
their relationship alone.
One of my favorite episodes of
Glee was “Preggers”—our fourth
episode—and it’s where Kurt joins
the football team. The way he gets
watermarkonline.com
on the team is by doing the “Single
Ladies” dance, and he ends up
kicking the winning [field] goal—it’s
such a great episode. There are lots
of relationships throughout Glee
that have been really big turning
points, and it just makes me even
more proud to have been involved
in the show.
How much pressure did you put
on yourself knowing that you’d
be slipping into Judy Garland’s
ruby slippers to voice Dorothy
in the upcoming animated film
Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return?
Honestly, to get to be Dorothy is so
cool. I didn’t go a day in my childhood
without watching The Wizard of Oz.
I watched The Wizard of Oz in my
house so much that my mother had
to hide the videotape at one point.
I wore my ruby slippers, and I have
this crazy Christmas video of me
where every year for 10 years I’m still
wearing my ruby slippers because I
thought I was Dorothy.
What’s your favorite chapter
in your upcoming memoir,
Brunette Ambition?
Oh my god. Well, the book comes out
in May and I’m really proud of it. It’s a
really crazy story of how I went from
Broadway to being on this television
show, and how I was told so much
throughout my life that I wasn’t
pretty enough and I wouldn’t make
it to television—all of these people
telling me what I could and couldn’t
be. It’s about how I really overcame
that and gave a big middle finger to
those people and made my way to
Los Angeles onto a television show.
The book really is about
harnessing your tenacity, your drive
and your ambition and getting
to where you want to be despite
what people say you can or can’t
accomplish. Also mixed in there are
really fun chapters on beauty, health
and fitness. I love it. I think it’s a fun
book. I have some copies in my office
and my girlfriends will pick it up
and they’ll be like, “When can I get
a copy of the book? I want to make
your pizza!” Because there’s recipes
in it. I’m really proud of it and I think,
whether or not you’re a Lea Michele
fan, people can pick up the book and
really get something good out of it.
Do you give everyone who calls
you a diva the finger too?
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Oh no. I applaud them when they call
me a diva! | l |
Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate,
the international LGBT wire service. Reach him
via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
39
TAMPA BAY
Walk like a man
South Pacific, through April
16, The Moonlight Players,
Clermont, 352-319-1116;
MoonlightPlayers.com
The Broadway smash Jersey Boys, telling the story of Franki Valli
and the Four Seasons, runs at Tampa’s Straz Center April 8-13
DISENCHANTED! through
April 13, Jaeb Theatre,
Tampa, 813-229-7827;
StrazCenter.org
Jersey Boys, April
8-13, Carol Morsani
Hall, Tampa, 813-2297827; StrazCenter.org
29th Annual best of
Tampa Bay, April 5,
Straz Riverwalk, Tampa,
813-229-7827;
StrazCenter.org
Brandford Marsalis
Quartet, April 3, The
Mahaffey Theater,
St. Petersburg,
727-893-7832;
TheMahaffey.com
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40
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
Green Day’s American
Idiot, April 8, The Mahaffey
Theater, St. Petersburg,
727-893-7832;
TheMahaffey.com
One Night of Queen,
April 16, The Mahaffey
Theater, St. Petersburg,
727-893-7832;
The Mahaffey.com
Event Planner
SARASOTA
Philadelphia, Here I
Come!, through April
12, Asolo Repretory
Theatre, Sarasota, 941351-8000; asolorep.org
arts and entertainment
ORLANDO
AIDS Walk Orlando, March
29, Lake Eola, Orlando;
AIDSWalkOrlando.org
And Then Came Tango,
April 6 & 13, Orlando
Repertory Theatre, April
12, UCF Performing
Arts Center, Orlando;
ProjectTangoTour.com
Julius Caesar
Through April 20, Orlando
Shakespeare Theatre,
Orlando, 407-477-1700;
OrlandoShakes.org
The True Story of the
3 Little Pigs, through
April 27, Orlando
Shakespeare Theatre,
Orlando, 407-477-1700;
OrlandoShakes.org
Art31
Through March 31, Art &
History Museums, Maitland,
407-539-2181; Art31.org
Alisa Weilerstein, March
30, Tiedtke Concert Hall,
Winter Park, 407-646-2182;
BachFestivalFlorida.org
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,
through April 20, Mad
Cow Theatre, Orlando,
407-297-8788;
MadCowTheatre.com
One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest, through
April 19, Theatre Downtown,
Orlando, 407-841-0083;
TheatreDowntown.net
30th Annual Winter Park
All British Car Show,
April 5, Mead Botanical
Garden, Winter Park;
AllBritishCarClub.com
Dial M for Murder, April
4-13, Osceola Center
for the Arts, Kissimmee,
407-846-6257; Ocfta.com
Kiss the Bride, April
4-13, The Little
Theatre,New Smyrna
Beach, 386-423-1246;
Nsbplayers.org
Spank! The Fifty
Shades Parody, through
April 13, The Abbey,
Orlando, 407-704-6261;
AbbeyOrlando.com
Spring Festival of the
Arts, April 12-13, around
Lake Lily, Maitland;
MaitlandChamber.com
Fire Run,May 31, Orlando
Festival Park, Orlando;
BillBennettBootCamps.com
The Grapes of Wrath,
through April 19, Asolo
Repretory Theatre,
Sarasota, 941-351-8000;
asolorep.org
Green Day’s American
Idiot, April 7, Van Wezel
Performing Arts Hall,
Sarasota, 800-826-9303;
VanWezel.org
Bring It On: The Musical,
April 2, Van Wezel
Performing Arts Hall,
Sarasota, 800-826-9303;
VanWezel.org
community Calendar
ORLANDO
OGC Golf Tournament
1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 5
Deer Run Country Club
Time is running out to register for the
Orlando Gay Chorus’ annual Golf Tournament.
Registration closes Sunday, March 30. Greens
fees are $75 per golfer or $300 per team,
and include practice range balls before the
tournament and admission to a celebration
buffet after the April 5 tournament. There
will also be contests, like longest drive, and
closest-to-the-pin. Register with Betty Potts
at 407-718-0479 [email protected].
SunRail soft openings
April 3-10
SunRail service will start on May 1, but
before it opens there will be a series of soft
openings April 3-10 and free train rides April
15-24 to test service and scheduling. The
soft openings will feature tours of the train
and stations and provide information about
SunRail’s service, schedule and prices.
ORLANDO & TAMPA BAY
Jason & deMarco
Real life couple and parents-to-twins Jason
& deMarco are on the road this spring to
spread their unique brand of inspiring music and
make stops in Orlando and Tampa Bay. Their
journey “Celebrating Diversity” stops at
Orlando’s Joy MCC on Wednesday, April 9; First
Unity Church of St. Petersburg on Thursday,
April 10; and MCC Tampa on Friday, April 11.
The couple have said this will be their final tour.
ST. PETERSBURG
Eclectic Spring
April 3-18
Mahaffey Theater
Eclectic Spring is part of a partnership between
Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center and The
Mahaffey Theater, showcasing the work of
professional artists who have participated in
Creative Clay’s Artlink Supported Employment
Program. This exhibit showcases the work of
three local professional artists: Vivian Bowman
Granese, Rose Marie Prins and Julie Price. All
three artists bring distinctly different styles to the
exhibition and have been dedicated collaborators
of Creative Clay for many years. A free artist’s
reception is at 8 pm., Thursday, April 3. More
information is available at TheMahaffey.com.
To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
41
Benefits Alfred T. May Food Pantry
and AIDS Service Association of Pinellas
4
ShotonSite
Tampa Bay
1
1- Doing good: Volunteers with Bank of America help paint the
Metro Wellness and Community Center’s new LGBT Welcome/Youth
center on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg March 22. Photo courtesy
Metro
2- Green Pride: Steve Wessels, Scott Buttelwerth and Vince
Magyar display their “Irish heritage” at Bradley’s on 7th after Ybor
City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 15. Photo courtesy Carrie
West
2
April 24, 2014
DineTB.org
5
3
3- Representing:(L-R) Bary Bunts, Kori Stevens and Duffy Iorio
represent Georgie’s Alibi at the inaugural Manatee Pride in Bradenton
on March 22. Photo by Steve Blanchard
4- Show of pride: (L-R) Ashley Brundage, Eric Skains and Jay
Aller enjoy cocktails during Watermark Wednesday March 19 at The
Wine Studio in Tampa. Photo by Steve Blanchard
5- Network stars: (L-R) David Verdi and CJ Tauber attend
Watermark Wednesday at The Wine Studio in Tampa March 19 for a
chance to win raffle prizes. Photo by Steve Blanchard
6- Gay Green: GaYbor members represent in a big way at Ybor City’s
annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade held March 15 on 7th Avenue. Photo
courtesy Carrie West
7- Music break: A group of friends pose for a picture while listening
to the DJ at Manatee Pride at the Bradenton Riverwalk on March 22.
Photo by Steve Blanchard
8- Title search: (L-R) Mr. Code 2014 contestants Christian
D’angelo, Daddy Mitch and Woodie Barnes smile after the March 22
contest, which Barnes won at the Flamingo Resort. Photo by Vincent
Dine Out,
Fight AIDS.
6
Barnes is IML-bound
A
On April 24th, restaurants across the
Tampa Bay area will come together to fight
AIDS by donating 25% or more of your
bill. For the current list of participating
restaurants visit DineTB.org
SPonSored By:
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (#CH3696) AND
FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION
OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL - FREE 1-800-4357352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY
ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
AIDS SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF PINELLAS, INC.
42
8
D’Ippolito
Overheard
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Do you, or someone you know own a restaurant?
Get involved, email [email protected]
7
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
huge crowd
descended upon the
Flamingo Resort for
the annual Mr. Code contest held
in the courtyard the weekend
of March 22, and long-time boy
Woodie Barnes took the title.
Three contestants, all from
Tampa Bay, competed in a number
of categories over the weekend
contest, now in its third year.
Barnes will represent Code,
the resort’s leather bar, at the
2015 International Mr. Leather
Chicago. And yes, you read that
right—Barnes has 14 months
to prepare for the international
contest, which has run for more
than three decades and brings
leathermen from around the
globe to downtown Chicago.
Representatives must have a
knowledge of leather culture,
community responsibility as well
as fundraising skills to finance the
trip. Judges included former title
holders from throughout the state
as well as the overall community.
The contest was produced by
Dan Radwanski.
GASP! of the gay variety
T
he Gasparilla Fringe
Festival, presented by the
Tampa Museum of Art and
Creative Loafing will feature a large
amount of artists from the LGBT
community the weekend of March
29. On the list are Matthew McGee,
Santiago Echeverry, Jono Vaughan
and more. The festival will also
offer a sneak peak at Sexxx Dreams
(featured on page 34) during the
March 28 performance. Theater,
dance, comedy, art, video and even
a peep show are in store for those
attending the annual celebration of
all things artsy. Check it out and get
tickets online at Xorbia.com.
Kickball for kids
W
ell, okay, it’s not
a tournament for
kids, but it will help
raise money for Tampa Bay’s LGBT
Welcome/Youth center. The yearly
kickball tournament returns to
Hyde Park and is expected to be
bigger and better than ever on
Saturday, April 5, beginning at 10
a.m. Expect some great perks at
the Hyde Park Softball Complex
like catered food, special vendors
and representatives of the newest
charity project in Tampa Bay. The
tournament is coordinated by
Balance Tampa Bay, which, by the
way, is a nominee to be a St. Pete
Pride grand marshal in 2014. The
Welcome Center is on Central
Avenue in St. Petersburg and is
slated to open this summer. For
more information, check out the
Kickball for Kids event page on
Facebook or MetroTampaBay.org.
A TIGLFF study opportunity
T
he Tampa International
Gay and Lesbian Film
Festival will return its
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
monthly screening to freeFall
Theater in St. Petersburg April 9
with a showing of Edie & Thea: A
Very Long Engagement. The film
follows the relationship of the
two women and the continuing
federal fight Edie Windsor faced
after losing her wife of more
than 40 years. Windsor sued the
United States government and
helped overturn the portion of
the Defense of Marriage Act that
prohibited recognition of samesex marriages on a federal level.
Windsor is expected to appear at
Equality Florida’s St. Petersburg
Gala at the Mahaffey Theater
May 3, so this film will give the
community a chance to study up
on the guest of honor. For ticket
information, visit TIGLFF.com. | l |
43
DYER&BLAISDELL, P.L.
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Experienced,
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counsel on
matters related
to family, estate,
and beneficiary
planning, including:
1
2
3
1- MEGAFANS: Bryan Pittard (second from left) and Pat O’Rourke
(second from right) have a brush with fame during a Megacon meetand-greet with Torchwood actors Gareth David-Lloyd (left) and John
Barrowman (right). Photo provided by Pat O’Rourke
• Wills
• Trusts
• Probate
2- PANTS OFF DANCE OFF: Carol Lee causes a wardrobe
malfunction during Who’s Drag Is It Anyway? March 15 at Ultra
Lounge in Cocoa, Florida. Photo by Danny Garcia
• Healthcare
• Partnership
and Parenting
Agreements
• Real Estate
ORLANDO
3- HELPING HANDS: Amy Doubleday (left) and Heather Kinkade
of the Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls volunteer at Second Harvest
Food Bank March. 15.
W. Thomas Dyer
[email protected]
7
Edward P. Blaisdell
[email protected]
5- SOCIAL SINGERS: The Orlando Gay Chorus belts out some tunes
at Watermark’s Third Thursday Social, March 20 at East End Market.
4
414 N. Ferncreek Ave., Orlando, FL 32803
407-648-1153 • DyerBlaisdell.com
4- SYNERGY OF EQUALITY: (L-R) Andrew Springer, Orlando City
Commissioner Patty Sheehan and Ron Legler participate in the Out
in Business symposium at City Hall on March 20. Photo by Tom Dyer
Photo by Patrick O’Connor
6- CELEBRATION IN THE PARK: Adam Hunter (left) and Jack
Lord celebrated their Maine wedding with a few hundred friends at
Lake Eola Park on March 22. Photo by Tom Dyer
THE HIRING OF A LAWYER IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION THAT SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY UPON ADVERTISEMENTS.
BEFORE YOU DECIDE, ASK US TO SEND YOU INFORMATION ABOUT OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.
7- KICK UP YOUR HEELS: (L-R) Carrie Duvall Davis, Randy
Ross, B. White Case and Scott Kidd get ready to kick off Walk A Mile
In Her Shoes, benefitting Harbor House of Central Florida, March 13.
Photo via Carrie Duvall Davis’ Facebook page.
8- BANGERZ: Watermark CFO Rick Claggett, his niece Savannah
and Jennifer Kunsch prepare themselves (and their tongues) for the
Miley Cyrus concert at Amway Arena March 24. Photo by Danny
Garcia
5
6
8
Overheard
Party in the Park
I
407-459-4941
407-341-9956
www.meyerrealllc.com
44
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
f you happened by the
east side of Lake Eola
Park March 22 and saw
some big white tents decked out
with crystal chandeliers and a
live band, you probably thought
to yourself: “That’s gotta be
gay.” If so, you were right. John
and Carolyn Lord threw a big
wedding celebration for their
son, Jack, and his husband,
Adam Hunter, who were
married last year in Maine.
Several hundred attended,
including both families and
many of Jack’s partners and coworkers at the Foley & Lardner
law firm. There were lots of
LGBT movers and shakers
present, too… mostly shaking it
on the dance floor.
Vote for The Center
to win $25K and a
good scrubbing
S
omeone thinks the
GLBT Community
Center deserves
a good scrubbing. The
nonprofit has been nominated
in the “Let’s Bubble” contest,
sponsored by Scrubbing
Bubbles, an SC Johnson
Company. Americans were
urged to nominate places that,
well, were greasy or dirty. Nine
finalists across the country, all
worthy nonprofits, were named
and the four top vote getters
will receive a thorough cleaning
and $25,000. Nominees
include the Joplin Humane
Society, Marker Boys and Girls
Club and Latino Hispanic
American Community Center.
Scrubbing Bubbles encourages
web visitors to “help lower
America’s grime rate.”
Incidentally, if you go to the
Scrubbing Bubbles Facebook
page, you will see three Scrubby
cartoons with rainbow bristles
boasting pride in all Olympic
athletes. To vote for The Center,
go to ScrubbingBubbles.com. As
an added bonus, you can enter
to win daily prizes, including
limited edition Scrubby
plush toys and coupons for
cleaning products. The contest
ends April 15.
Miley’s acid trip,
without the drugs
O
n March 24, Miley
Cyrus barreled
into Orlando with
her massively loud and colorful
Bangerz tour! With what best
could be described as an acid
trip without actually dropping
the drug, The Amway Center
was packed with confused
parents in a sea squealing of
pre-pubescent teenage girls and
boys and some adults donning
their best Miley-inspired
looks! The creative and chaotic
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
mind of Miley visually fed the
crowd images of: a little person
dressed as a joint, Furries that
were bumping and grinding,
Amazonian women twerking,
a giant inflatable wolf with lit
up eyes , a giant muppet-like
puppet chasing Miley around
the stage and, finally, Miley
flying overhead on a giant
hot dog! While it was hard to
make out what she was saying/
singing over the loud bass, the
audience had no issues singing
along to all her chart-topping
hits. But the tone drastically
changed and her actual talent
shone when she did a low key
intimate an acoustic set of
covers from various artists. | l |
45
counselor
accountant
DESIGN YOUR
OWN LIFE
Arie Groen’s
property maintenance
Commercial and Residential Licensed
specializing in:
Anthony Quaglieri, Ph.D
assisted living
Licensed Psychotherapist MH 486
HONOR HOUSE ASSISTED
LIVING FACILITY LLC
1006 West Platt Street ■ Tampa, FL 33606
813-258-4252
1912 DOVE FIELD PL.
BRANDON, FL 33510
[email protected]
35 years experience
HOME: 813-315-8130
CELL: 813-210-7462
EMAIL:
[email protected]
WEBSITE:
WWW.HONORHOUSEALF.COM
installation of sod
Ornamentals
Trimming
Elevating Palms
Trees
Mulch
Irrigation
pressure washing
s e r v i c i n g
o r l a n d o
&
t a m p a
Arie Groen’s Property Maintenance
physician
framing
For in-depth
LGBT
businesses
listings
visit the
Business Directory on
WatermarkOnline.com/Business-Directory
Call for rates
813-655-9890
46
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
tampa bay marketplace
Congratulations
Happy
anniversary:
Jennifer Foster’s
production company,
Foster Productions
Inc., celebrates 15
years in business on
March 15. Foster
is also nominated
for a MBA pride
in business award
this year, and is a
founding member of
the Human Rights
Campaign Orlando.
Passings
(727)505-0205 • [email protected]
attorney
change-of-life community announcements
Announcer Chuckles of the
Parliament House marks his 36th
year working at the resort on April 10.
NOW HIRING EXPERIENCED LANDSCAPERS
Administrator: Rusty Ludlow Assistant Administrator: Jack Rosenbrock
community
Transitions
lawn care
Beloved member of Sarasota’s
Church of the Trinity, Robert
Kelly, passed quietly at home this
week. Robert Kelly was a leader
at Church of the Trinity for many
years, serving as usher at 9:15
services and overseeing hospitality.
Robert’s much loved life partner
David McWherter died in 2012. The
support and prayers of the Church
of the Trinity family surround
Robert’s loved ones at this time of
grief and loss.
Rest in Peace: Sarasota
resident Paul DiPlacido passed
away March 23. He was Church
of the Trinity’s Director of
Administration for seven years.
Serving under four different
pastors, he was the consummate
professional, providing stability
and leadership. Paul also served
as founding staff member and
Director of Trinity Charities, which
he started under the leadership
of Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson. After
his retirement from staff at Trinity,
Paul continued his service as an
office volunteer at Metropolitan
Community Churches and
on the Board of Directors for
Trinity Charities. Memorial
services are pending.
Local Birthdays
Orlando’s former LAVA Lounge
bartender and current realtor
at the Condo Store Jay Wood,
St. Petersburg chef Domenica
Macchia, Tampa Karaoke Jockey
extraordinaire and straight ally
Normie Dunn (March 27); Tampa
softballer Randall Spiller, Sarasota
equality advocate Jen Drake, New
Church Family Inc. of Daytona
Beach administrative assistant
Jerry Corlis (March 28).; St. Pete
gym rat and Watermark editor
Steve Blanchard (March 29);
Orlando trivia host and WAVEwinning actor Doug Ba’aser (March
31); Sister of Perpetual Indulgence
Tampa Bay Order’s Rodger Prewitt,
former St. Petersburg resident and
Equality Florida supporter Elizabeth
Albelo (April 1): Orlando-based
flight attendant James Sparkman,
former Watermark graphics
artist Catherine Thompson,
Tampa Bay-based Concept Bait’s
Frank Clemente, Palm Beach
County Human Rights Council
founder and president Rand Hoch
(April 2); Orlando’s former city
commission candidate Chase
Smith, Orlando’s Didi Panache,
AKA Douglas McGeough (April
3); Hedwig actor/Shakespeare
director David Lee (April 4); Sexy
Tampa banker and TIGLFF donor
Jeff Baker, St. Pete nurse and
former editor of The Gazette, Brian
Feist, Orlando Front Runner Scott
Feneck, St. Petersburg entertainer
Arie
Groen’s
Welcome aboard:
Feet First welcomes
Cindy Semonick as the
new manager at their St.
Petersburg store. She
brings with her a friendly,
customer oriented approach
to business as well as years
of experience in the athletic
shoe industry.
Meagan Towers (Michael Jones),
Tampa MCC go-to-man activist
Mac McGowan (April 5); Orlando
accountant Leah James (April
6); former Orlando and San
Francisco-based graphic designer
Jason Donnelly, Sarasota real
estate e-marketing director Ken
Demmons, Intrepid traveler Jon
Taylor, Rollins College costume
studio manager Seth Schrager
(April 7); sometime Watermark
contributor Chris Crain, St.
Petersburg clown and HIV/AIDS
activist Joe Dobson (April 8);
Halcyon co-founder Stephanie
Callahan (April 9)
Are you making a Transition? Having a birthday or anniversary? Did you get a new job or
promotion? See your news in Watermark! Send your Transition to [email protected]
or go to WatermarkOnline.com/Submit-a-Transition - it’s that easy!
specializing
■ installation
of sod
■ Ornamentals
■ Trimming
■ Elevating
Palms
■ Trees
in:
■ Mulch
■ Irrigation
■ pressure
s e r vi c i n g
washing
o r l an d o
&
t am p a
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
47
accountant
attorney
attorney
attorney
attorney
chiropractor
DR. JARED SILBERSTEIN
JOHN B. DORRIS
Chiropractic Physician
ATTORNEY AT L AW
Corporate Bankruptcy
Commerical Litigation
Family Mediator
FAMILY
CHIROPRACTIC
WORKS
111 NORTH M AGNOLIA AVENUE
SUITE 1400, ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32801
DIRECT LINE: (407) 481-5868 FAX: (407) 481-5801
[email protected]
WWW.LSEBLAW.COM
attorney
accountant
Mediator #24369F
“DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE”
attorney
Law Office of
Toni M. Vigliotti
WWW.FCWONLINE.COM
Two Great Locations!
Your Fearless
Legal Advocate
attorney
accountant
“Part of the community
for the community”
TOO BUSY FOR TAXES? WE HAVE OPTIONS!
PERSONAL/BUSINESS TAX PREPARATION, e-file
QUICKBOOKS ADVANCED PROADVISOR ®
f r e e
Criminal
c o n s u l t a t i o n s
Leah G James, CPA, MSTax
Judy L Hines, IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer
Serving Central Florida
954.632.3849
“With Liberty and Justice for ALL”
407.478.4513 • [email protected]
Need A/C help?
attorney
airCALL
conditioning
YOUR A/C
expert
407-295-9231
www.4seasonsair.net
FL License#: CAC056308
$100 off a Wi-Fi thermostat with
a system
FL tune-up!
License#: CAC056308
www.4seasonsair.net
Use coupon code Spring14
for your discount.
407-295-9231
attorney
daniel valdivia mba jd
former prosecutor
•criminal defense
dui • drug charges • sex offenses • battery
theft & fraud charges • violation of probation
•PERSONAL INJURY
no cost / fees unless we recover
auto accidents • slip & fall • wrongful death
Like Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/4SeasonsAir
•immigration
including same sex partner petitions
•bankruptcy- chapter 7& 13
air conditioning
•civil litigation
The Valdivia
Law Firm
Licensed & Insured, State Lic. #CA #CO-57235 • Mastercard - Discover - Visa - American Express
319 Park Lake Circle, Orlando, Fl. 32803
407-222-4606 fax 407-999-8966
[email protected] www.valdivialaw.com
H a blo E spa ñol
48
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
orlando marketplace
BANKRUPTCY.
IMMIGRATION.
CRIMINAL.
North Orlando Location
8865 Commodity Circle Suite 3
Orlando, FL 32819
407-354-0009 Fax: 407-354-4882
10882 West Colonial Drive
Ocoee, FL 34761
407-654-2575 Fax: 407-654-6027
(Off of John Youn Pky near Sand Lake Road)
Family
Foreclosure
South Park Chiropractic
catering
(Hwy 50 and Maguire Road)
cleaning service
Catering
& Event
Planning
We are proud to
be a gay owned and
operated business
since 1995.
Our experts invite you
to allow them to help
craft your special day
while supporting
local LGBT owned and
friendly businesses.
Law Offices of Amy
L. Perez
Serving Central
Florida
Office: Orlando
407-398-9663
Se Habla Espanol
You Get One Chance.
Make It Count.
orlando marketplace
627 Virginia Drive
Orlando FL 32803
407.894.6671
JohnMichaelEvents.com
Read It Online!
Head to WatermarkOnline.com and click on
the Digital Publications link to a read a digital
version of the printed newspaper!
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
49
counselor
counselor
dance studio
insurance
Mary Liebermann, LCSW
• Free Business Workshops
• Business Discounts
• Online Membership
Directory…and much more!
Counseling Services of
Central Florida, Inc.
Certified Imago Therapist
Helping our Community Since 1987
MetroSurance inc
Individual & Couples
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Call Us For All
Your Insurance
Needs!
Anxiety
Gay & Lesbian Issues
Co-Dependency
counselor
garden/nursery
CIT Y OA SIS
“Your Downtown Garden Shop”
Sales - Leasing - Maintenance
Exotic Orchids
Bonsai
Plant Rentals
• Gynecomastia reduction
• Liposuction
• Laser hair removal
• Sculptra®, Botox®, Radiesse®,
Juvederm®
• Laser skin rejuvenation
• Rhinoplasty
• Facelift & eyelift
• Cosmetic breast surgery
• Professional skin care
• Accredited in-house surgical suite
George H. Pope, MD, FACS
Compassionate
Care
407-435-9995
for your peace of mind
For and in-depth listing
of LGBT businesses visit the Business Directory on
WatermarkOnline.com!
O
coee Health Care Center
provides short-term, postacute medical care, rehabilitation,
and long-term skilled nursing
care. We offer:
• Skilled nursing, RN/LPN care
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and respiratory therapy
• Orthopaedic programs
• Stroke recovery programs
• Wound and amputation care
• IV and pain management
• Hospice and respite care
• Restorative nursing program
• Cardiac programs
• Strengthening and gait training
• Medicare, Medicaid,
and most insurance
accepted!
407-877-2272
www.OcoeeHealthCare.com
1556 Maguire Rd • Ocoee, FL 34761
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
orlando marketplace
Voted Best Plastic Surgeon by
Orlando Magazine readers
www.OrlandoPlasticSurgeryCenter.com
3872 Oakwater Circle at South Orange Avenue
physician
jewelry
religious
A DIVERSE CONGREGATION
GATHERING TO SHARE GOD’S
ALL INCLUSIVE LOVE.
G R Bridges Jewelry
Personalized Sales & Services
Fine Jewelry and Watches Appraisals Gold
334 Park Avenue North
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-790-4983
Email: grb61@cfl.rr.com
www.grbridgesjewelry.com
1214 N. Mills Ave. (17-92)
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 898-8101
health care
Trust your face and body to a board certified plastic surgeon
non-profit organization
Let Us Help Secure Your Future
CRAIG GOODMAN, AGENT
(407) 362-1600 or (888) 683-1159
1908 Howell Branch Rd.
Winter Park, FL 32792
Phone (407) 657-8555, ext 4 Fax (321) 872-7675
50
MBAOrlando.org
J O I N O r l a n d o’s P R E M I E R
LG B T B u s i n e s s e s & A l l i e s !
407.857.6261
Auto • Home • Life • Business
Depression
counselor
plastic surgeon
non-profit organization
Joy Metropolitan Community Church
Reverend Terri Steed, Senior Pastor
Wednesday Evening Spiritual Transformation Classes 7:00 P.M.
Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 A.M. and 10:45 A.M.
2351 South Ferncreek Ave. | Orlando, FL 32806
Office: 407.894.1081
lawn care
religious
Holy Angels
Catholic Community
INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE AMERICAS
Arie Groen’s
Sunday Mass 12:30 pm
worship at:
First United Church of Christ
4605 Curry Ford Rd., Orlando, FL 32812
407-677-0072
www.HACC-FL.org
All Are Welcome Here!
specializing in:
installation of sod
Ornamentals
Trimming
Elevating Palms
Trees
Mulch
Irrigation
pressure washing
s e r v i c i n g
o r l a n d o
MAKING GOD’S LOVE KNOWN IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
youth services
if this were
your ad,
&
t a m p a
NOW HIRING EXPERIENCED LANDSCAPERS
orlando marketplace
Serving Central Florida's
LGBTQ youth
for over 20 years
thousands of readers
New meeting location at
Reeves United Methodist Church
1100 N. Ferncreek Ave.
would have just seen it.
Call for rates
813-655-9890
Peer-to-peer support group and social
activities for LGBTQ youth ages 13 – 24.
[email protected]
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
51
Gay advocacy groups join forces for sports equality
W
hen former University
of Missouri defensive
end and potential NFL
draft pick Michael Sam shared that
he was gay on ESPN’s Outside the
Lines in February, representatives
from GLAAD and You can Play
Project saw a chance for a
transformative moment.
GLAAD, which promotes a
positive and accurate media
portrayal LGBT people, helped You
Can Play and its executive director,
Wade Davis, craft a message on the
importance of LGBT visibility and
acceptance in sports.
“It was a time where GLAAD
really stepped in there said, ‘Hey
Wade, let us handle the media aspect
of it, and we’ll really work as a team
to talk about messaging,’” Davis
told USA Today.
Five weeks after Sam’s
announcement, the two
organizations christened an official
partnership that will marry one of
the nation’s leading gay advocacy
52
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
watermarkonline.com
groups with an organization in
You Can Play designed to promote
equality for athletes regardless of
sexual orientation.
With Sam as the latest example,
it’s vital now more than ever that
organizations like GLAAD and You
Can Play unite to help lead the
discussion on what has proven to be
a controversial topic, says Davis.
“There are so many LGBT
athletes who are now stepping out
and announcing their sexuality,” he
said. “Let’s make sure the reporting
on this is done in a way where the
story about sports can be told as it
intersects with LGBT athletes.”
USA Today quoted Davis as
saying, “I’ve always been a firm
believer that sports is a space that
is accepting of people who are
different, whether it’s someone of
a different race, a different class,
a different religion. [Our goal]
is to shine a light on what effect
sports can have on creating better
understanding of LGBT individuals.”
For GLAAD, the collaboration
with You Can Play marks the first
full-scale foray into the world of
sports—an arena wrongly labeled as
inhospitable to the gay community,
says president Sarah Kate Ellis.
“The myth perception that
the professional sporting world
is homophobic, when in fact it’s
a very inclusive world, and it has
been,” Ellis said. “I think that played
out with Michael Sam. But that
myth perception trickles down to
the local level, to the soccer fields
and the baseball fields in our local
communities. We want to make
sure that we’re changing that
conversation.”
In addition to helping foster a
positive image of LGBT individuals
in sports, both GLAAD and You
Can Play hope an upcoming
national campaign can also bridge
the gap between sports and the
LGBT community.
“It’s also an opportunity for LGBT
organizations to really learn about
the sports world,” Davis added.
“There’s always been this disconnect
between sports and LGBT
individuals, so we’re educating the
sports world about LGBT individuals
and vice versa.” | l |
Collins cites only one
incident of anti-gay taunts
Wire Report
N
ew York | Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins, the
NBA’s first openly gay player, said he has been the
subject of taunts from only one opponent in the
month since his groundbreaking debut.
The 35-year-old US 7-footer has played in the NBA
since 2001 but revealed after last season that he was
gay. He remained unsigned until the Nets, with whom he
twice reached the NBA Finals, signed him last month.
The Nets signed him for the remainder of the season,
and while he has received standing ovations and his
jersey is the top seller on the NBA’s website, the reaction
to his revelation has not been unanimously supportive.
“One player. One knucklehead from another
team,” Collins told the New York Daily News. “He’s a
knucklehead. So I just let it go.”
Collins said he responded to the slur with a
silent disregard.
“That goes back to controlling what you can control,”
Collins said. “That’s how I conduct myself, just being
professional. You can’t control what other people are
going to do.” | l |
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
sports
Staff Report
53
Photo by Rainbow411.com
Galleryw
Go see more photos at
watermarkonline.com
54
photography: Taste of Pride
M
ore than 600 people packed
the Salvador Dali Museum in
St. Petersburg for the annual Taste
of Pride celebration on March 15. Fifteen
restaurants presented food tastings to curious
attendees who also had an opportunity to see the
new Andy Warhol exhibit in the museum’s main
galleries. According to Pride executive director
Eric Skains, $24,000 was raised just from ticket
sales, a nearly $10,000 increase from 2013’s
event. The money will help support St. Pete
Pride’s Community Grants Program.
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
Photography by Steve Blanchard
and Rainbow411.com
watermarkonline.com
Mar. 27 - Apr. 9, 2014 // Issue 21.07
55

MIchELE - Watermark Online

Transcription

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