Watermark Issue 30.10: Open for Business

–TATIANA QUIROGA, COME OUT WITH PRIDE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

My overall response to the travel advisory: I understand the principal behind it and appreciate Equality Florida’s efforts; however, I really wish they would have handled it differently and had a conversation with those of us who would be directly impacted by such an advisory.

I had other trips down memory lane during my visit as well. Seeing local landmarks was surprisingly touching, from the movie theater where I watched the first “X-Men” film to the mall where I spent weekends with my earliest friends.

It wasn’t just what remained the same that resonated with me, of course, but also what hadn’t. The two houses I lived in growing up have now been torn down, along with my middle and high schools, and the Cincinnati suburb I grew up in has undergone some impressive upgrades.

The physical advancements didn’t impress me nearly as much as some of the social changes I came across, though. Like when I was shopping at Meijer — a chain store I love that wants to be Target — where I came across a Cincinnati Reds hat.

remember before coming home. Arguably the most anti-LGBTQ+ legislative session in Florida’s history finally came to a close while I was in Ohio, concluding months of attacks on every LGBTQ+ Floridian.

“I cannot see how someone can vote Republican and call themselves an LGBTQ+ ally, especially now. Especially in Florida,” I wrote before it began, and I believe that more than ever. Ron DeSantis, his presidential ambitions and the state’s Republican supermajority targeted our community for 60 days.

TERRANCE HUNTER is the CEO of Central Florida Community Arts and an Orlando native. He has worked with a variety of nonprofits and serves on multiple boards including Hope CommUnity Center, Central Florida Vocal Arts and and more. Page 19

GREG STEMM lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 21

16 YEARS OF living here in Florida, my native Ohio still finds ways to surprise me. Usually when I visit my hometown.

E

I went up there to help out before, during and after she underwent a successful but very serious surgery. I was there for nearly an entire week, the longest stretch I’ve spent there since my “Florida vacation,” which is how I pitched my permanent move to my mom in 2007. She reminded me of that yet again as she recovered.

We spent plenty of time together as she healed and I also had meaningful moments with other family members, spending

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long overdue time with my stepdad, sister, nephew, aunts and a few of my favorite cousins. It was a stressful week but because of those and other interactions, it was a very fulfilling one.

It was also just filling. The Midwest is home to an impressive array of exclusive eats that I grew up loving, and Cincinnati is no exception. It doesn’t get better than the city’s signature chili — I’m a Gold Star guy, but also love Skyline — and the ice cream and milkshakes from United Dairy Farmers cannot be beaten.

UDF is almost always my first and last stop when I’m there, and this time it felt like I ate my weight in some of my comfort foods. It was worth every calorie, even if it reminded me of why I wore Husky jeans as a kid.

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Not totally unexpected, certainly there, but what surprised me is that I almost bought it. I’m not a sports fan and never have been, least of all when I was wheezing through gym class in my Husky jeans, but this hat was different. The Cincinnati Reds “C,” usually solid white against a red backdrop, was embroidered in the colors of the Progress Pride flag.

More importantly, it was just casually on sale at one of my old hometown haunts. I couldn’t help but think of what seeing that hat would’ve meant to the kid who shopped there in high school, before and after he came out. I had an okay go at it in the early 2000s, but Ohio has never been a bastion for diversity and inclusion. I can only imagine what a difference casual LGBTQ+ acceptance like that could’ve made.

It was a simple but powerful reminder that change is always possible, something I needed to

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As distressing at it’s been, and is, I still have hope. Little things like that Reds hat help, but more than anything it’s the people here. They’re why I was ready to come home.

The Florida that I know and love is still worth fighting for. I hope you’ll join me in that fight by making sure you and everyone you know is registered to vote. This is our state, too, and we can show them that.

We examine how some LGBTQ+ advocates are responding to that fight in this issue. We detail Equality Florida’s LGBTQ+ travel advisory and responses from St Pete Pride, Come Out with Pride and other organizations preparing for Pride Month and beyond. We also bring you the latest in LGBTQ+ news, entertainment and more.

Watermark strives to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. Please stay safe, stay informed and enjoy this latest issue.

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HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

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CONTENTS

is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors. Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. MAY 11 - 24, 2023 // ISSUE 30.10 WATERMARKONLINE.COM 7

VENAFTER ALMOST

I recently returned from an unscheduled trip to Cincinnati, one prompted by a family emergency. I won’t go into too much detail, but my mom proved yet again why she’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met and I’m very proud of her.

Ryan Williams-Jent MANAGING EDITOR Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com DESK EDITOR’S

cesspool where conspiracy theories were fed, Nazis were praised and individuals like Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kanye West and more were allowed to pedal whatever lies they wanted without consequence. Only after the January 6 insurrection did Twitter finally ban its number one peddler of hate and lies, Donald Trump.

Jeremy Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com

The Center Orlando, to go dark on Twitter as well.

That brings us to Watermark. While our 2,000+ followers on Twitter are far less than NPR and PBS have, we made the decision April 28 to not post any new content on our account. You can read our full statement pinned to the top of our Twitter page but it states in part, “As a company that understands the power of words, Watermark condemns Twitter’s decision wholeheartedly. It stands in contrast to our values and amplifies hate towards the most vulnerable members of our community. We stand with our trans siblings, today and always. As such, we will not utilize the platform unless and until this

T

OR WHO read my editor’s desk each month, it will come as no surprise that I don’t care for social media.

As if the social media landscape couldn’t get crazier than it already was, in October of last year, Elon Musk became the owner and CEO of Twitter for the bargain price of $44 billion. Since taking over, he has reinstated Trump and other internet trolls on the platform, he has muddled the verification process giving parody accounts the ability to impact real businesses and organizations and he has begun gutting Twitter’s rules and regulations leaving marginalized users free to be bullied, attacked and abused. It is the latter that concerns me the most.

TERRANCE HUNTER is the CEO of Central Florida Community Arts and an Orlando native. He has worked with a variety of nonprofits and serves on multiple boards including Hope CommUnity Center, Central Florida Vocal Arts and and more. Page 19

When Twitter first launched and started to become popular, I was pursuing a journalism degree in college. Back then, Twitter was just 140 characters and it was an excellent tool for journalists because forcing you to say what you had to say in as few words as possible helped to improve your headline writing.

Among all social media platforms, Twitter was unique in its way to quickly disseminate information. In 2010, after a

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massive earthquake struck Haiti, many people used Twitter to get word out about survivors and what was happening on the ground in real time. A year later, Twitter was a powerful tool assisting activists in organizing during the Arab Spring. Twitter is why words like tweeting, hashtag and going viral are so engrained in our lexicon.

As Twitter gained in popularity, it started to become THE place for famous people to interact directly with fans. It is also the platform most responsible for turning online trolls into celebrities. Under the guise of “freedom of speech,” Twitter became a swamp of hate, racism, bigotry, homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism and xenophobia. It turned into a

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I personally left Twitter many years ago; however, Watermark has maintained an account since 2009. Last month, Twitter removed a policy against “targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals.” The policy was put in place in 2018 to prevent deadnaming and purposefully using the wrong gender for someone as a form of harassment.

The removal of this policy sent a clear message that Twitter does not care about the safety of the trans community and other marginalized groups. This policy removal came on the heels of Twitter falsely labeling PBS and NPR as “state-affiliated media.” That controversy led PBS and NPR to state that they would no longer post new content on Twitter. The removal of the policy against deadnaming trans individuals led dozens of LGBTQ+ community centers, including

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Under the watchful eye of Elon Musk, Twitter has become an unsafe and unreliable way of communication.

decision is reversed.”

Since coming under the watchful eye of Elon Musk, Twitter has become an unsafe and unreliable way of communication, and we cannot continue to utilize it in its current state. I hope you will join us on our other platforms, which are not without flaws but stand above Twitter in protecting LGBTQ+ users, and I hope that while social media has become a leading source for many to get their news that you will continue to read Watermark in print and online, and support the independent journalism that we have been bringing to Central Florida and Tampa Bay for nearly 30 years.

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GREG STEMM lives in Gulfport, Fla., and has worked as a freelance writer for several local publications. He is a founding member of St. Pete Pride and active politically in Tampa Bay. Page 21

HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, ABBY BAKER, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, NATHAN BRUEMMER, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TIFFANY RAZZANO, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, ANGELIQUE YOUNG, MICHAEL WANZIE

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CONTENTS

is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors. Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

OTHOSE WHO KNOW ME

For all the good it does, it is overshadowed by the trolls, the disingenuous and the ill-informed who post up every thought, idea and conspiracy theory without even taking a minute to verify if it carries any weight of truth. Of these platforms, Twitter to me is the worst of the bunch.

watermark Your LGBTQ+ News Source. MAY 11 - 24, 2023 // ISSUE 30.10 WATERMARKONLINE.COM 7

PUBLIX REFUSES TO WRITE ‘TRANS’ ON CAKE

ORLANDO | The founders of Peer Support Space are looking for answers after they were told by a Publix bakery that they could not write “Trans People Deserve Joy” on a cake because of a corporate policy.

The incident occurred on April 26 at the Publix at Colonialtown, located at 1500 E. Colonial Dr. in Orlando. Peer Support Space founders Yasmin Flasterstein and Dandelion Hill were purchasing a sheet cake for an event that evening that would focus on spreading love and support to the transgender community.

“The event was specifically to celebrate the trans community,” Flasterstein says. “We weren’t talking about specific legislation.”

When they put in the order for the cake, they asked for the phrase “Trans People Deserve Joy” to be written in icing on the cake.

“Yasmin and I deliberated a lot about what to write, but we felt this was the most simple, pure, and true declaration we could make and wanted to bring it as a sweet little token to our friends at the Trans Joy Event,” Hill said in an email to Watermark. “When we asked them to write it, I was so nervous because I have faced a lot of hostility in my neighborhood for being Queer & Trans.”

Hill goes on to say that when the person at the counter walked away, they knew ordering the cake was going to be an issue. Flasterstein walked away from the counter and Hill said that after about five minutes, the Publix employee returned.

“They came back and looked me — a Trans Non-binary person — dead in the eyes and told me they aren’t allow to write that, that they aren’t allowed to take a stance on those types of issues at Publix,” Hill said. “It was really gut wrenching to be told that my joy and that of my siblings is controversial. How can such a pure statement be divisive?”

Flasterstein returned, saw Hill was tearful and asked what happened.

“I went and asked to speak with the bakery manager, and I asked calmly and politely ‘Just to be clear, you’re not able to write ‘Trans People Deserve Joy’ because writing that is taking a stance on something?’,” Flasterstein says. “The manager said that is correct and told me that they could write ‘People Deserve Joy’ and leave room at the top.”

Flasterstein adds that the manager stated it was a policy from corporate and that it was out of their hands. Flasterstein had Publix write “People Deserve Joy” on the cake, leaving space at the top, and asked for extra icing. In the parking lot of Publix, Flasterstein wrote the word “Trans” on top of the cake herself.

“It was a beautiful event so I didn’t want to ruin it by talking about it then,” Flasterstein says. “So I waited a few days before posting anything but I was extremely

No Deal

Jeremy Williams

ORLANDO | The planned Pulse memorial will no longer be built at the site of the nightclub, according to onePULSE Foundation.

In a statement released May 2, onePULSE said they are “disappointed to report that after months of negotiation an agreement could not be reached with Barbara Poma (the Founder of onePULSE Foundation), her husband, Rosario Poma, and their business partner, Michael Panaggio, for the full donation of the Pulse nightclub property. The Foundation had previously planned to build a permanent national memorial at the site to commemorate the 49 lives taken, survivors, first responders, and all those impacted by the June 12, 2016, tragedy.”

According to WESH2, the Pomas are saying that while they were willing to donate their share

of the property, it is Panaggio who refused.

“Earlier this year we informed the Foundation, both verbally and in writing, that we made the decision to donate our share of the property. However, our partner, who owns the remaining parcel, chose not to donate his share. We have no control over his business decisions. As a result, we were unable to satisfy the Foundation’s requirement for the full donation of the property,” said Barbara Poma in her statement to WESH2.

WESH2 reports that in a series of messages between the news organization and Panaggio, it was verified that the Daytona Beach-based businessman wasn’t willing to donate his portion of the property.

“I am a silent investor that should never be asked to donate to a cause I’m not involved with in any way. It’s desperation the Pulse Foundation is obviously not well,” Panaggio said to WESH 2. “I was totally blindsided by the request to donate my collateral

for the money I invested. Believe me I’ve never received a dime from my investment in Pulse. I do not believe their lawyer should be telling me I should donate my collateral in order to serve their purpose. It came out of left field and no one had the courtesy to even ask for a sit down discussion.”

The news of the memorial change comes as onePULSE is planning its Six-Year Pulse Remembrance Week events, which include its annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run, “Straight Men Real Makeup” drag show, Orange County Regional History Center exhibit, 49 Bells at First UMC Orlando and more, all culminating with the Pulse Remembrance Ceremony on June 12 at Pulse, which will now take place at the Dr. Phillips Center.

In its statement, onePULSE said the organization will be providing an update later this month regarding future plans for the memorial.

The news came as a shock to many in Orlando with several of its elected officials commenting on the announcement.

“This is totally unacceptable,” wrote former state representative and current Florida Senate candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith on Facebook. “The site of Pulse nightclub is sacred ground. It serves NO other purpose than for families, survivors, our community,

National Pulse Memorial to find new home as it no longer can be built at nightclub site

and future generations to find peace and reflection. Someone must right this wrong.”

State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, who has the Pulse property in her district, released a statement saying she was “incredibly disappointed” by the announcement.

“[T]he only appropriate decision of land use for this location is a memorial for those who we tragically lost at Pulse,” Eskamani said. “This is sacred ground that should only be used to honor those who we have lost to gun violence and I urge those involved in these discussions to right this wrong and ensure that the Pulse property is used for a memorial.”

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan took to social media saying that when she heard the news that she wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

“The city tried to purchase it 7 years ago for over 2 million dollars and they pulled out at the last minute,” Sheehan wrote on Facebook. “I served on the task force for 2 years and was treated horribly. I walked away and remained silent out of respect for the families and survivors. I know people are hurting right now. But it is important to remember how we all came together to help each other and the victims and families and continue to do so.”

disappointed that Publix would do this. I don’t think it is a neutral stance to refuse to write something like ‘Trans People Deserve Joy’ on a cake. I find it telling that writing ‘People Deserve Joy’ on a cake is not taking a stance but writing ‘Trans People Deserve Joy’ is.”

Six days later, Flasterstein took to her Facebook page and posted up what happened, along with photos of her finishing the cake decoration in the Publix parking lot.

Many people commented on their displeasure at what happened, as well as Publix themselves. A comment from the supermarket chain asked Flasterstein to send them a private message.

Watermark reached out to Publix asking for its official policy on cake decorating and to provide comment or an update on the situation that occurred. As of press time, we had not heard back.

Flasterstein however did reach out and shared her updates with Watermark. In an email sent by its public affairs office, Publix offered “sincere apologies” and stated “We are often asked to create specialty cakes with free-hand designs. Our policy indicates that our associates may write statements that are not copyrighted or trademarked, support a charitable cause, are factual and considered to have a positive connotation. As we indicated in our Facebook conversation, our associates should have fulfilled your request.”

In response, Flasterstein sent a letter on behalf of Peer Support Space, stating in part “Ironically, this Publix is nicknamed ‘Gay Publix’ as it’s in the heart of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community. Many patrons are LGBTQ+, like ourselves. The bakery manager would not be swayed, though. She reiterated that writing on the cake what we had requested could be interpreted as Publix taking a stance on ‘the issue.’ She agreed to give us some icing so that we could do it ourselves. We appreciate the gesture, but it falls way short.”

The letter than asks Publix to “address a few questions [the bakery manager] was unable to.” The letter than asks:

-What “issue” are you referring to? It seems to us that trans people, like all human beings, are worthy of joy. What, in your views, makes them not worthy of the very human need of experiencing joy?

-What is the policy for cake writing? What is deemed appropriate or inappropriate?

-As a corporate citizen, Publix says in its website to be committed to diversity. Where does the LGBTQ+ community fit within your diversity culture?

-Is Publix in agreement with the actions of this associate? If not, what will you do to keep this from happening again?

“I’d like to highlight that this associate seemed to be genuinely convinced that she would lose her job if she accommodated our request,” the letter concludes. “We do NOT wish to get her in trouble, but we demand that you do better.”

ST PETE PRIDE CROWNS 2023 REPS

Ryan Williams-Jent

ST. PETERSBURG | St Pete Pride welcomed supporters to the University Student Center of USF St. Petersburg April 30 for Mx St Pete Pride 2023.

The event previously entertained audiences as Miss St Pete Pride. Previous winners over more than a decade include fan favorites like Kori Stevens, Kenya M. Black and the late Star Montrese Love, who formers remembered at this year’s event. Miss St Pete Pride 2022 Delores T. Van-Cartier’s reign was also honored.

The pageant was rebranded to be more gender inclusive this year, which St Pete Pride announced in late February. The organization cited “the current political climate in Florida,” noting that “moving forward, we will refocus our efforts to bring more voices to the table, reimagining how we celebrate pride and truly honoring the rich diversity that makes our community great.”

Eight contestants competed across three divisions: Miss, Mr and Mx. Ceazia Giovanni Kreshe won Miss St Pete Pride, Mr. Vyn Suazion won Mr St Pete Pride and Kamarion Lavish was crowned the inaugural Mx St Pete Pride.

“Tonight we honored the beautiful and talented Delores T. Van-Cartier as she performed for the last time as our Miss St Pete Pride,” St Pete Pride shared afterwards. “While we will miss her, we are beyond thrilled to announce our 2023 court.

“We are endlessly grateful for the community in St. Pete,” they continued. “Thank you for your time, energy and money. Every dollar that comes into St Pete Pride helps make events like the pageant possible. We are looking forward to celebrating the 2023 Pride season with you and our newly crowned court.”

Each winner also reflected on their victory via social media.

“Through this preparation, I was reminded that I was just enough! Being patient, resilient and humbled! I received my just due I sought out for,” Kreshe shared. “Thanks for the love and support that I have received!”

Suazion, who also won the Star Montrese Love Congeniality Award, noted that when he was authentic he was a winner. “Thank you incredibly to the board members for allowing an inclusive experience to take place,” he wrote.

“I feel this reign will allow me to show a side I’m not fully allowed to show as a male lead/representative,” Lavish said of winning Mx St Pete Pride. “Thanks to the entire St Pete Pride board for loving and embracing me from the moment I was called your winner, I look forward to an awesome year and getting out into the community.”

Each of this year’s victors will perform during St Pete Pride 2023. Events will take place throughout June, culminating with the celebration’s signature weekend featuring the Friday night concert, Saturday parade and Sunday street festival June 23-25.

View photos from Mx St Pete Pride 2023 at WatermarkOnline.com.

Making History

Clendenin elected Tampa’s 1st openly LGBTQ+ council member

TAMPA | Alan Clendenin won his race to represent District 1 on Tampa’s City Council April 25, becoming the body’s first openly LGBTQ+ representative in the process.

Clendenin advanced to Tampa’s municipal runoff in March, outpacing three candidates in the primary including incumbent Councilmember Joe Citro. He faced educator Sonja Brookins in the race.

According to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, 10.76% of the city’s registered voters participated in the runoff. Official results showed a total of 16,244 votes cast for Clendenin, or 64.52%, besting the 8,933 or 35.48% cast for Brookins.

“I’ve been running nonstop with my foot on the pedal all the way to floor pretty much nonstop until today,” Clendenin told the Tampa Bay Times on election night. “I felt good about it the last couple of weeks, but I’ve been in politics long enough to know that

anything can happen. The numbers came in today and it was a big sigh of relief and a moment of joy.”

Clendenin, 64, is a native of Sanford who’s lived in Tampa for nearly 40 years. He and his partner of 35 years are the fathers of a son and a daughter.

A retired air traffic control professional with extensive management experience, Clendenin has led or served on a wide array of local, regional and national groups. His political experience includes service on the Democratic National Executive Committee and the Florida Democratic Party.

Among local leaders and organizations, he was endorsed in the race by Equality Florida Action PAC, the political arm of the state’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights group, and the LGBTQ Victory Fund. The latter works to increase the number of openly LGBTQ+ public officials elected nationwide.

Clendenin reflected on the historical significance of his victory with Watermark April 26.

“While we’re seeing increased attacks on the LGBTQ community

from Tallahassee, Tampa has a long and rich history of leading on issues of equality,” he shared. “Representation matters and as the first openly LGBTQ city council member, I’m honored to be a part of Tampa’s future.”

If elected, Clendenin promised to focus on restoring Tampa’s roads and sidewalks and clean water. Affordable housing, economic opportunity, transportation, safety and restoring accountability and trust are among his other top priorities.

“Joe Citro has spent more time grandstanding during meetings, attending ribbon cuttings and taking selfies than focused on what the voters elected him to do,” Clendenin’s website read. “Voters want solutions, not more drama. I will give voters a clear choice between someone who fosters dysfunction or someone that will put the drama aside to address the problems facing our city.”

In addition to Clendenin, Tampa elected three other city council members. Guido Maniscalco won the City Council District 2 runoff, Lynn Hurtak won the City Council District 3 runoff and Charlie Miranda won a ninth term over Hoyt Prindle in District 6.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who won her second term in March, was among those to congratulate the candidates. She shared that she’s looking “forward to working with each of you to keep moving our city forward.”

CITY OF CLEARWATER’S INAUGURAL ‘LIVING THE CULTURE’ SERIES TO CELEBRATE PRIDE THROUGHOUT JUNE

CLEARWATER, FLA. | The City of Clearwater will celebrate Pride this June during “Living the Culture,” its inaugural event series designed to celebrate the region’s diversity.

“Living the Culture: Clearwater Celebrates Pride” will begin June 1 with at least three additional events on June 3, 7 and 29. “We are looking forward to our Pride series as another opportunity to lift our voices to raise awareness and celebrate diversity that is representative of our great city,” City Manager Jennifer Poirrier says.

Officials enlisted Clearwater Pride Community Committee Chair Trevor James to help organize the effort. Currently the president of PFLAG Tampa, the LGBTQ+ activist also served as vice president of Tampa Pride during its 2021 celebration.

“The City of Clearwater came up with the idea on their own and approached me to help make this event look like the rest of the community,” James explains. “They wanted to involve the rest of the community in its planning and execution and were looking for people to get involved.”

James notes that the celebration was a natural fit for “Living the Culture.”

According to the city’s website, its goal “is to celebrate the vast array of cultures and heritages represented in Clearwater through art, food, and performances, and to bring awareness, education and fun for all ages to Downtown Clearwater.”

“That means involving minority groups, that means involving the groups that built the city up,” he says. “A lot of that work is in part due to the queer and BIPOC communities, so ‘Living the Culture’ has quite the opportunity to pay homage and respect to these groups that have led

Clearwater to become the diverse place it is today.”

“Clearwater Celebrates Pride” will begin June 1 from 10 a.m.noon at Clearwater’s Municipal Service Building. The event will feature giveaways, music and more. A Glow Party will follow June 3 from 10 p.m.midnight along the 400 Block of Cleveland St.

Pride Yoga will be held June 7 from 6:15-8:15 p.m. at Station Square Park. A Yoga Village, which has served Clearwater since 2007, will lead three sessions ahead of a Silent Disco Ecstatic Dance Experience. Also announced is Clearwater’s Night Cap event, scheduled on June 29 from 10 p.m. to midnight at Pro Shop Pub. The LGBTQ+ bar is one of Downtown Clearwater’s oldest businesses. Established in 1976, it celebrated its 48-year anniversary April 21.

“We wanted to honor them with a benefit from the event,” James says. “We really are hoping

to drive folks over to experience Pro Shop — they’ll be putting on a really cool show and have some great drink specials. It’s another moment to highlight a queer-owned business in the area that has supported our community for so long. We need to bolster the folks that are sticking around for us right now.”

The “Living the Culture” series is only the beginning of the city’s community outreach. Officials will open Clearwater’s Coachman Park June 28 after completing an $84 million renovation, the proximity of which could allow for additional events during “Clearwater Celebrates Pride.”

“After 11 years of analysis, public engagement, design and construction, we are at the point of re-opening Clearwater’s signature Coachman Park,” Assistant City Manager Michael Delk says. “Triple the size of the old park, this new facility puts an entirely new face on Downtown Clearwater and our status as

a waterfront destination. The citizens of Clearwater will have a truly spectacular public space to enjoy 365 days a year.”

As for June, Clearwater’s LGBTQ+ community will have its chance to celebrate Pride locally. James notes that “this is the first time that a local city government has footed the bill for a celebration like this, so we really need to get behind them.”

“Even if you can’t attend, send positive notes to the city council members or the Community Redevelopment Agency,” he stresses. “Whatever we can do as a community to let them know that we appreciate this is important. We need these spaces and it could set an example for other cities to really get behind their Pride organizations to bolster the work that they are doing.”

For more information about “Living the Culture: Clearwater Celebrates Pride,” visit MyClearwater.com/LivingTheCulture.

DESANTIS CELEBRATES END OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Wire & Staff Report

TALLAHASSEE | On the day he took office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to pursue an agenda that would heal the state’s political divisions.

In an op-ed, he pledged to prioritize environmental protection, the economy, education. He highlighted the “diverse, bipartisan group of qualified individuals” he hired for his administration.

“It is time for our state to come together,” he declared in the January 2019 piece.

On May 5, more than four years later, DeSantis concluded a legislative session that establishes him as perhaps the most aggressive and accomplished conservative governor in the nation’s bitter culture wars — just as he prepares to enter the 2024 presidential contest as a

top rival to former President Donald Trump.

Intensifying his hard-right shift that began during the pandemic, the 44-year-old Republican governor in recent weeks has pushed the limits of divisive cultural battles over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, sex education, guns, immigration and diversity. And in most cases, backed by Republican supermajorities in Florida’s Legislature, he won.

DeSantis in recent weeks signed a law to ban abortion at six weeks of pregnancy and another to allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit. He expanded what critics call his “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law that now blocks classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades.

He will also sign a law banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state colleges, along with other bills targeting drag shows. The legislature

also passed a bill that prevents students and teachers from being required to use pronouns that don’t correspond to someone’s gender identity, as well as legislation which would force Floridians to use bathrooms in schools, prisons, detention centers and government buildings based on sex assigned at birth.

“This bill criminalizes transgender people for using the restroom that aligns with how they live their lives every day,” quality Florida Public Policy Director Jon Harris Maurer said in a statement.

“This bill opens the door to abuse, mistreatment and dehumanization,” he continued. “Our state government should be focused on solving pressing issues, not terrorizing people who are simply trying to use the restroom and exist in public.”

DeSantis has also used the power of his office to seize partial control of Disney World, one of

his state’s largest employers, which spoke out against the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law.

“The immense damage that Governor DeSantis is inflicting is deep and structural and will outlast his political career in Florida,” Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith said May 5. “He has waged all-out war on freedom, imposing government control over what we read, what entertainment our families enjoy, what we do with our own bodies, where we use the restroom, what we study in college, and what health care we can access for ourselves and our children.

“Long after his already-flagging presidential campaign is over, this state will be feeling the consequences of his extremism,” she continued. “Shame on this governor and his cronies in the legislature, who saw fit to rubber stamp his dangerous agenda

in the hopes of bolstering his career ambitions.”

As the 2024 presidential contest heats up, DeSantis has been celebrating those legislative victories.

“When I became governor, the first day, sat in the office, I kind of just looked around and I thought to myself, ’I don’t know what SOB is going to succeed me in this office, but they ain’t going to have much to do because we’re getting all the meat off the bone,” he said during a news conference May 4. DeSantis’ unapologetic conservative shift positions him well among GOP presidential primary voters. As 2024 has grown closer, he has done as much or more than any other Republican governor in America to use the levers of government to lean into cultural fights. Along the way, he embraced a new catchphrase: “Florida is where woke comes to die.”

INDIANA GOVERNOR SIGNS BILLS TARGETING LGBTQ+ STUDENTS

Wire Report

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana’s governor signed a bill May 4 that will require schools to notify a parent if a student requests a name or pronoun change at school, one of the final bills approved in a legislative session that had targeted LGBTQ+ people in the state, especially students.

Critics worry the law could out transgender children to their families and erode trust between students and teachers while supporters have contested the legislation keeps parents empowered and informed about their children when at school.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s approval of the legislation comes in a year when GOP-led legislatures around the country are seeking to curb LGBTQ+ rights, specifically targeting trans people’s participation in sports,

workplaces and schools, as well as their access to health care. At least 16 states, including Indiana, have banned or restricted access to gender-affirming care such as hormones, puberty blockers and surgeries.

Indiana’s name and pronouns law, which goes into effect July 1, will require school officials to provide written notification to a child’s parent or guardian within five business days of the child asking to be called a different “pronoun, title, or word,” according to the bill. It also prohibits, from prekindergarten through third grade, instruction on “human sexuality,” something that is not defined in the bill.

GOP bill author Rep. Michelle Davis said the law will “ensure Hoosier parents are in the driver’s seat when it comes to introducing sensitive topics to their kids.”

Holcomb also signed into law on the same day a bill that could

make it easier to ban books from public school libraries, staff at which would be required by July 1 to publicly post a list of books they offer and provide a complaints process for community members.

Schools and librarians could also no longer argue, as a legal defense, that the texts in their libraries have “educational” value. The law would still allow them to argue the text has literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

Those who supported the legislation expressed concern that sexually inappropriate or “pornographic” materials are available to children in school libraries. Critics, however, said the legislation could open the door to banning books or criminal prosecutions of librarians simply because some people don’t like the topics of the texts, particularly those with LGBTQ+ themes.

SUIT TARGETS KENTUCKY BAN ON GENDERAFFIRMING CARE FOR YOUTH

Wire Report

LOUISVILLE, KY. | Several families on May 3 challenged Kentucky’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youths, claiming the prohibition interferes with parental rights to seek established medical treatment for their children.

They are asking that a judge block a portion of a sweeping measure passed this year by the state’s GOP-dominated legislature. The federal lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Seven Kentucky families with transgender children are listed as plaintiffs.

“Under the Constitution, trans youth in Kentucky have the right to medically necessary care,” Corey Shapiro, legal director for the ACLU of Kentucky, said in a statement. ”We are filing litigation today to

protect against this imminent threat to their well-being and make certain they can thrive by continuing to receive medical care.”

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s office said it was reviewing the lawsuit and “determining next steps” in defending the law.

The new lawsuit challenges sections of the Kentucky law that would ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youths. It didn’t take aim at other sections dealing with school bathroom policies, guidance for teachers regarding student pronouns and rules on teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the measure, saying it allows “too much government interference in personal healthcare issues.” Republican lawmakers overrode the veto.

The lawsuit claims that the ban would violate the constitutional rights of Kentucky adolescents and their parents. The prohibition interferes with parents’ ability to obtain established treatments for their transgender adolescent children, it said.

“If the ban goes into effect, it will have devastating consequences for the transgender plaintiffs, their families and other transgender adolescents and their families in Kentucky,” the lawsuit said. “The ban will deprive the transgender plaintiffs and other transgender adolescents of medical care that their doctors and parents agree is medically necessary.”

The portion of the law being challenged is set to go into effect at the end of June.

The measure’s supporters have said it protects trans children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments they might regret as adults.

MARYLAND GOV SIGNS TRANSGENDER RIGHTS LAW

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on May 3 signed a bill that requires the state’s Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming treatment. The Trans Health Equity Act is one of the more than 100 measures that Moore signed during a ceremony that took place at the State Capitol. Some of the other bills the governor signed focused on reproductive rights and marijuana. Maryland lawmakers during this year’s legislation that ended last month passed a bill that will repeal the state’s Unnatural or Perverted Sexual Practices Act.

WASHINGTON’S ALLY GOV WON’T SEEK 4TH TERM

Washington Gov. Jay Inlsee, a Democrat who sought to make the state a leader on progressive policies from climate change to gun violence prevention, said May 1 he will not seek a fourth term in office. The 72-year-old’s announcement clears the way for younger members of the party to run, most notably Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who gained a national profile by challenging the travel ban and other policies of former President Donald Trump. Inslee was first elected in 2012 and became only the second Washington governor elected to three consecutive terms. During his time as governor, Inlsee vowed to protect LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access as conservative states constrained them.

UGANDAN LAWMAKERS PASS NEW VERSION OF ANTI-GAY BILL

Ugandan lawmakers passed a new version of an anti-gay bill May 2 to remove a clause that appeared to criminalize identifying as LGBTQ+. President Yoweri Museveni returned the bill last month to the national assembly, asking for changes that would differentiate between identifying as LGBTQ+ and actually engaging in homosexual acts. Although the law would no longer criminalize individuals who identify as LGBTQ, the revised version still allows prison sentences of up to 20 years for advocating or promoting the rights of LGBTQ people.

ANTI-LGBTQ+ CANDIDATES WIN PARAGUAY ELECTIONS

Paraguay’s presidential and congressional elections took place April 30 with current President Mario Abdo’s Colorado Party remaining in power after President-elect Santiago Peña won the presidential election. No openly queer candidates ran in the elections, and presidential hopefuls did not put forth proposals in favor of LGBTQ+ Paraguayans. Anti-LGBTQ+ leaders during the campaign managed to deepen discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through hate speech in public debates. Paraguay is one of the Latin American countries without any public policy or legislation that protects queer rights.

TERRANCE TALKS

Museums

IMAGINE HOW DIFFERENT

the world would be if we didn’t have the opportunity to learn about the cultures of the past.

Across the country, there are institutions and professionals dedicated to ensuring that artifacts, oral histories, works of art, material culture, rare books, manuscripts and many other things far outlive the life of their creators. While each institution has a different goal, they are all unified in a common effort to ensure public access to the valuable histories and lessons highlighted by the objects within their collections.

Museums have grown beyond the days when they were only places of passive learning and observation. Today, museums are community anchors with exhibitions and programs aimed at bringing people together, engaging in conversation and exchanging ideas, and providing safe spaces for people to reflect, find meaning and make sense of the world around them. Museums can inspire a love of learning, promote connection to subject matter and encourage lifelong learners with us to continually question and explore.

I have had many experiences with our local museums. I remember hearing Holocaust Survivor testimony as an elementary student. I remember field trips to the art museum. I can still feel the warmth from the spark of inspiration I experienced after touring the Zora Neale Hurston Museum and the festival grounds.

I’ve had the privilege of sharing local history with students during their visits to the Orange County Regional History Center. I’ve seen the power that art and artmaking give students with autism and intellectual disabilities, providing an avenue to communicate. I have seen museums change lives by serving those in under-resourced neighborhoods, drawing connections from the events of the past to happenings of today; holding space for interfaith dialogue; providing opportunities and resources for teachers to deepen and enhance their lessons, exposing students to history and traditions of those that came before us; by highlighting ingenuity borne from necessity and by giving people a place to share

their stories of change, tragedy and triumph.

Museums should be places for reflection, dialogue, debate and exchange of ideas. Museums around the country are inspiring people to learn more, take a stance and get involved — all while connecting people more deeply to the community they are visiting or live in. Science museums are exploring the impact of global warming and rising sea levels on their communities in addition to engaging more young people in concepts and careers related to STEAM. History museums are illustrating present-day consequences of enslavement, systemic racism and urban development. Art museums are focused on providing opportunities and exhibitions for artists of color, emerging artists and those working in new media.

Over the years, there have been a lot of conversations surrounding the onePULSE Memorial and Museum. Members of our community have strong feelings about it — I do too. The onePULSE Foundation is, through its very existence, challenging us all to grapple with the following questions: Who “owns” personal and community stories? Who decides how we honor victims of terror and tragedy? The most important question of all though is: What lessons can we draw from this tragic event so people aren’t targeted because of race, ethnicity, religion or sexuality?

I applaud the Foundation for its dedication to honoring the lives of the Angels, survivors and first responders. I applaud them for the ways in which they’re engaging the stakeholders and sharing updates when they can. I’m proud of its scholarship program. They’ve developed incredible programming in an increasingly challenging environment. Most

importantly, I applaud their approach to engaging survivors, their families, loved ones of the victims, the community and many other stakeholders in the design process, among many other things.

The answers to the above questions aren’t easy. They aren’t easily answered when the work is done right. As unfortunate as it is, our community isn’t alone in having to answer them. Holocaust museums across the country are updating and broadening their narratives to include all persecuted groups and updated research. History museums are decolonizing their collections and reinterpreting permanent exhibits. Art museums,

science museums, small house museums, specialty museums, museums with living collections — they are all doing the work.

One of my most meaningful experiences working at the Holocaust Center was a patron who came to the Center looking for solace following the 2016 elections. Museums are places that allow people to make meaning of the world around them. They are places of active learning and honoring memory that engage visitors in ways that reading, film or theatre alone cannot. Museums are places that show us what was and challenge us to imagine what will be because of us. The United States Holocaust Memorial

Museum reminds us “what you do matters.”

What we do matters, yes, for onePULSE, but every other museum and our community at large. I plan to continue to advocate, rally and speak up on behalf of every community that is under attack and in danger of being erased. I plan to support organizations and leaders that embrace diversity and inclusion and are striving for true equity. I plan to attend drag shows. I’ll keep donating. I plan to show up and keep showing up. I hope you’ll join me.

Museums are places that allow people to make meaning of the world around them.

viewpoint

ST. PETE GALA

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023 • Sponsor Reception : 6:00 pm / Gala 7:00-11:00pm

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Please join us for our 2023 Equality Florida St. Pete Gala!

It’s time to stand together and celebrate our community! This year we are honoring State Representative Michele K. Rayner-Goolsby with our Voice for Equality Award, and local community hero, Marjorie Sherwin, with the Edie Windsor Lifetime Achievement Award. There will be delicious cuisine, open bar, entertainment by the incredible Alex Harris, DJ L Mo, and Gios Typos, dancing, a fantastic silent auction, and a “State of the State” address by Equality Florida CEO, Nadine Smith, Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

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POSITIVE LIVING Greg

I specifically told Dmytro that I was a man of very modest means and I had no money to give him. At first, he told me that Ukraine has a program where they give orphans an apartment when they turn 21. He said the apartment would be his to do with as he pleased and that he planned on selling it immediately, giving give him $65-70,000 to come to the U.S.

That set my mind more at ease, but I was still being very cautious about potential scamming. It sounded like Dmytro was legitimate and was realistically considering the cost of his actions, putting mechanisms in place to cover them.

After more than a month of conversing, I told my therapist I was keeping both my checkbook and my heart close to my vest. As it turned out, I was more successful at protecting my checkbook than I was my heart.

electrical tools. It all sounded very plausible.

After five months I had almost decided that this was not a scam. That Dmytro was real and that there might be some future happiness to be found in a partnership with him. Certainly if this was a scam the scammer wouldn’t invest so much time and energy in such a detailed back story, right? If I was a “mark,” then the perp was certainly taking his time for the eventual financial hit. In retrospect this was part of the web of deception being spun on me.

When it did come, the hit was unexpected and turned horrible in very short order. Dmytro told me that the government said he had to live in the

apartment for at least two years before he could sell it unless he jumped through some administrative hoops that cost money. There it was. The ask was for at least $3,000 to cover that and some of his travel expenses. He also wanted me to buy him a car when he was in the U.S.

After I immediately rejected those requests, his emails became angry and harsh. He tried all sorts of emotional blackmail on me. The second he threatened to kill himself if I didn’t send the funds, I took my broken heart and blocked his email.

Scams may be short or they may take a long time to unravel. They may seem very real; the job of the scammer is to draw you in

emotionally to get what they want. Dmytro was likely entirely fictional and the person I was chatting with might actually be several people who do this for a living in the basement of a warehouse in New Jersey. I was lucky. While I feel stupid that I got mired in this, I’ve learned that scams come in all shapes and sizes. Most importantly, my pocketbook is intact even if my heart is broken. Be careful!

My story began with me chatting up some guys on a popular dating/hookup site. In addition to some rather exciting hookups I have had the pleasure of chatting with people from all over. While I don’t usually like younger men I was intrigued when a 22-year-old man sent me a “smile.”

His profile had an adorable photo and said he was in the Ukraine looking for American friends. Now I was even more intrigued, so I struck up a conversation with this man who identified himself as “Dmytro.”

He said he was an orphan (from prior to the war) and he really didn’t have anyone in the world he could trust or get close to. Dmytro informed me that he was putting plans in place to escape Ukraine and come to the U.S. He said he was excited to meet someone like me, adding that I might be the only friend he had at first when he came here.

As an aside, I am the epitome of the stereotypical “daddy” — not just in looks but in the nurturing nature of my personality. I will admit this “daddiness” went into full swing in my dealings with this young, apparently vulnerable and abandoned soul. I wanted to “protect” my new friend.

Dmytro’s description of where he lived checked out on a map. Mariupol is in the western part of Ukraine near the Polish border. He sent me pictures of where he lives and his emails of being awakened at night to the sound of air raid sirens and explosions were disturbing. I began to fear for his safety. He also sent me photos of his Ukrainian drivers’ license.

Our emails eventually became daily rituals. I grew to look forward to hearing from my new friend and our correspondence was becoming more romantically inclined. Despite my internal warning systems going off like crazy I began to have feelings for him.

He fed on this and manipulated me into believing that despite our 40-year age difference there was a good chance that we could make it together as a couple. He flattered me. He told me that age didn’t matter to him and that he was sexually attracted to me. He shared details of his short and apparently uneventful sex life and encouraged me to share my past — both in and out of the bedroom — with him.

Adding to my trust in this young man was that he told me he had an engineering degree but was working as an appliance repairman. He said that the frequent surges and interruptions in their electricity were leading to all sorts of problems with appliances and other

IF I’D EVER GIVEN internet scams a second thought it was because I believed you needed to be incredibly gullible to get involved in one. But as I discovered recently, there are some sophisticated scammers out there.

Most importantly, my pocketbook is intact even if my heart is broken.

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Presented by

Visibili-T

VISIBILI-T IS DEDICATED TO transgender members of our community in Central Florida and Tampa Bay, some you know and many you don’t. It is designed to amplify their voices and detail their experiences in life.

This issue, we check in with Ash Hawk, a nonbinary native of Pinellas County whose creative outlets include painting, sculpting and performing in drag. They’ve done so for nearly six years throughout Tampa Bay.

It was Hawk’s interest in mythology that inspired the persona.

“Lilith has been a name that’s always existed in my life, ever since I was a child,” they explain. “I was raised religious and I’ve always been interested in the various religious practices of the world.

“In Biblical mythology, Lilith is the first woman before Eve,” Hawk says. “She was made in the same image and out of the same

materials as Adam but was made to be subservient to him and to lie beneath him. She refused and was cast out and turned into the mother of all demons. The simple fact that she refused her ‘womanly role’ is what turned her into a monster.”

Hawk adds that Lilith is also an allegory for the trans experience. The female figure was made in the image of a male counterpart.

“So as a drag persona, Lilith is my connection to feminine suppression and speaking out against misogyny,” they explain.

“Lilith is very important to me in those realms, but also she’s kind of my way to be my truest self and express myself in a way that is

unfiltered and unobstructed by the way that society wants us to exist.”

As someone who is panromantic and asexual, Hawk has fought for that right in and outside of LGBTQ+ spaces for years. They initially came out as a gay male at 13 before coming out at 19 as trans, having been given the resources and tools to understand the nuances of their gender identity and sexual orientation.

Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction to others, or a low/ absent interest in or desire for sexual activity. Panromanticism involves being romantically or emotionally attracted to others regardless of their gender identity.

“It can be hard to navigate gay spaces as someone who doesn’t function the same way romantically and sexually as most people in those spaces,” Hawk explains. “It’s easy for most people to make new friends and to communicate with others when you are in a space with those who are like you, but I felt ostracized from queer spaces for a while because so many are gay-centric.”

Hawk eventually found more trans-centered spaces and met others like them. It’s an experience they wish more people understood in the LGBTQ+ community at large.

“If someone seems different than you and you don’t know why, just treat them like anyone

else,” they say. “Talk to them like you would someone that you do initially have that connection with, and you’ll be surprised at the people that you’ll meet and the love that they have to spread. We’re all different but we can all connect if we just open up to one another.”

That ideology is one they’ve shared in recent months as one of the organizers of Drag 2 Talle. The initiative raised funds to send drag performers to Tallahassee during the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislative session.

“Something that’s really important to my identity outside of just being trans is being autistic,” Hawk explains. “A lot of autistic people have just this innate sense of justice, or more like an inability to keep quiet when we see injustice. So for most of my life, I’ve been this keyboard warrior trying to fight these battles in spaces that weren’t receptive to what I had to say.”

That changed recently. On April 25, Hawk was among the 100+ entertainers and activists from across the state to protest anti-LGBTQ+ and specifically anti-trans bills being passed by Florida’s Republican-dominated State Legislature.

The experience led them to partner with other local activists and organizations before and

after that, something they’ll continue to do.

“We went up and down to Tallahassee for the last six weeks and I luckily only had to miss one,” Hawk notes. “We got to speak in front of legislators to pretty much no avail, but it was an igniting force in getting us all really excited about getting involved in politics.”

That’s because the political is personal to them.

“It goes without saying, but Trans Lives Matter,” Hawk stresses. “And that does not just mean binary trans people. I think the future is trans and acceptance is what we need to lead with.”

talking points

--PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT TONY KUSHNER, TALKING TO DEADLINE FROM THE PICKET LINE ABOUT THE STUDIOS DURING THE WGA WRITERS’ STRIKE

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED APRIL 24 THAT MAIA KOBABE’S GRAPHIC MEMOIR “GENDER QUEER” WAS THE MOST “CHALLENGED” BOOK OF 2022, the second consecutive year it has topped the list. The ALA defines a challenge as a “formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.” Other books facing similar trials include George M. Johnson’s “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” Mike Curato’s “Flamer,” Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” John Green’s “Looking for Alaska,” Jonathan Evison’s “Lawn Boy” and Juno Dawson’s “This Book Is Gay.” “All the challenges are openly saying that young people should not be exposed to LGBTQ materials,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. The list also includes Toni Morrison’s first novel, the 1970 release “The Bluest Eye,” which has been criticized for its references to rape and incest; Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” (sexual content, profanity) and Sarah J. Maas’ “A Court of Mist and Fury” (sexual content).

‘HEARTSTOPPER’ 2ND SEASON DATE ANNOUNCED

NETFLIX ANNOUNCED

APRIL 24 that the second season of the hugely popular LGBTQ+ coming-of-age series “Heartstopper” will premiere on the streaming service Aug. 3. Based on Alice Oseman’s beloved graphic novel series of the same name, season two of the popular series sees Nick and Charlie, played by Kit Connor and Joe Locke, navigate their new relationship. Joining Connor and Locke in the 8-episode second season will be Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Sebastian Croft, Tobie Donovan, Rhea Norwood, Jenny Walser, Cormac Hyde-Corrin and Olivia Colman. Netflix has already announced that they are moving forward with a third season as well.

ANDY WARHOL PORTRAIT OF OJ SIMPSON UP FOR AUCTION

IN 1977, ANDY WARHOL WAS AT WORK ON HIS “ATHLETES” SERIES, PORTRAITS OF TOP SPORTS PERSONALITIES WHO, HE FELT, WERE GAINING CULTURAL PROMINENCE just like “the movie stars of yesterday.” One of them was then the star running back of the Buffalo Bills: O.J. Simpson. Simpson’s Polaroid shoot led to 11 silkscreen portraits; one of them is now going on auction for the first time at the Phillips auction house in New York. Signed by both men, the portrait is billed by the auction house as a work that brings together two of the most recognizable names of the 20th century. The work will be on public display through May 15 before being auctioned on May 16.

NONBINARY

NONBINARY ACTOR LIV HEWSON, WHO PLAYS TEENAGE GOALKEEPER VAN PALMER IN SHOWTIME’S “YELLOWJACKETS,” says they won’t be submitting their work on the series for consideration at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards despite being eligible due to the categories being split into male and female. “There’s not a place for me in the acting categories,” Hewson said to Variety. “It would be inaccurate for me to submit myself as an actress. It neither makes sense for me to be lumped in with the boys. It’s quite straightforward and not that loaded. I can’t submit myself for this because there’s no space for me.”

It’s the shortsightedness and the greed and the absolute indifference to the lives of the people that create the product that enriches them that is really appalling. It’s disgusting.

‘YELLOWJACKETS’ ACTOR NOT SUBMITTING FOR EMMYS

AS OF MAY 1, MORE THAN 540 ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN STATE LEGISLATURES WITH 45 OF THEM BEING ENACTED SO FAR. OF THOSE BILLS, OVER 220 OF THEM TARGET TRANS AND NONBINARY PEOPLE.

Spectacular Sydney

WorldPride attracts visitors from around the world

IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE LGBTQ+ PRIDE

flags fly from every corner. Everything from the local dentist to the world-renowned art museum rolls out the rainbow carpet. A place where even the sharks donned their finest gay apparel. (More on that later.) This was the reality of Sydney WorldPride, which offered 17 days of celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Australia and beyond this past March. News Is Out was one of the few U.S. outlets invited to attend, and this reporter was dazzled and delighted at every turn.

Sydney WorldPride coincided with Sydney’s famed Mardi Gras. Much similar to New York’s Stonewall

rebellion of 1969, Mardis Gras began as a protest in 1978. In fact, the night of the first Mardis Gras

commemorated Stonewall. Much has changed in Australia since those brave “78ers,” as they are known, marched, protested and changed the course of Australian history.

Hundreds of events occurred during the more than two weeks of the WorldPride celebration, and here are the highlights of the experience.

QANTAS ARRIVES AT WORLDPRIDE IN STYLE

Drag queen bingo 40,000 feet in the air? A menu specially made for Sydney WorldPride? Live performances, curated queer films and a preflight party? Qantas’ Pride Flight from Los Angeles to Sydney offered this and more.

This reporter arrived at LAX only to be ushered into Qantas’ lounge and greeted by smiling drag queens, never-ending sparkling wine and a rainbow carpet. Past the step and repeat, fellow travelers gathered to mingle and enjoy snacks and performances by Australian artists G-Flip, comedian Joel Creasey and singer/actor Hugh Sheridan.

Guests eventually changed into their official Qantas Pride Flight pajamas and took to the skies for the 15-hour flight. (You’d be surprised how quickly the time passes when you are having a blast.) Australian makeup brand MECCA MAX provided swag bags and in-flight makeup lessons. (Those wipes and eye cream came in handy during the long trip.) Members of Qantas Illuminate, the LGBTQ+ employee and ally group,

CONTINUED ON PG. 31 | uu |

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| Spectacular Sydney

were on board making sure all were well fed and taken care of on the way to Sydney. Flyers who booked a seat on the Pride Flight also scored tickets to the sold-out “Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert.”

Flying the rainbow skies was a real treat.

RESPECT

Before every event, from large-scale productions to smaller, more intimate events, respect was given to the custodians of the land the event was taking place on. Hosts, performers, Sydney WorldPride staff; all paid tribute to the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidjigal, Darug and Dharawal people. While the language may have changed slightly depending on the event and where it took place, the sentiment was always there: “We pay our Respects to their Elders past and present. Always was, Always will be Aboriginal Land.”

KYLIE MINOGUE KICKS THINGS OFF AT THE LIVE AND PROUD CONCERT

The opening night “Live and Proud” concert showcased talent from Australia and beyond, welcoming performers like Electric Fields, Jessica Mauboy and Australia’s highest-selling female artist of all time (and huge

LGBTQ+ ally), Kylie Minogue. Hosted by international drag superstar and Brisbane-born Courtney Act and Casey Donovan, the concert attracted thousands of revelers decked out in their finest rainbow outfits and glitter for days. The production values were top-notch and included a special drone show and fireworks. A bombastic tribute to “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” brought out dancers and drag queens to celebrate the beloved Australian film, which will be celebrating 30 years since release in 2024.

Certainly, Minogue was the big draw of the night. She first played during Sydney’s Mardi Gras back in 1994 and has long been an ally and icon in the queer community. Minogue and her troupe of dancers performed her big hits including “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” and “All the Lovers” on which she was joined by sister Dannii, who is also a beloved figure in the country.

Queer content creator Matthew Schueller, one half of the duo Michael and Matt, was in attendance for the “Live and Proud” concert and WorldPride festivities and wasn’t sure what to expect but was quickly moved by the welcoming atmosphere of Sydney. “From the beginning of the event, I was blown away by the sense of togetherness I experienced there,” Schueller said. “It felt like walking into an open-armed embrace. The atmosphere was electric, people were really genuinely happy to be

there and support each other, and you could feel it.”

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE BECOMES A BEACON FOR PRIDE AND HOSTS THE BLAK & DEADLY: FIRST NATIONS GALA CONCERT

You’d be hard pressed to think of a landmark that exemplifies Sydney more than the famed Opera House. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Opera House’s signature shells were lit up with rainbows at various points during the WorldPride celebration. Seeing such an iconic image, beaming with Pride, is something that will stay with me personally as a queer woman, forever.

Hosted at the Opera House, the “Blak & Deadly: First Nations Gala Concert” was a two-hour concert featuring LGBTQ+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists, plus appearances by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Hosted by comedian Steven Oliver, the concert showcased encore performances by Electric Fields, Jessica Mauboy and Casey Donovan. Australian opera star Deborah Cheetham Fraillon

AO was joined onstage by her wife and conductor Nicolette Fraillon. The newlyweds shared a sweeping kiss onstage before

performing for the first time together on such a national stage.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra accompanied acclaimed composer and didgeridoo artist William Barton on a remarkable orchestral piece that set the tone for the evening: one of love, community and artistry.

Opera, pop music, dance and comedy, all performed by talented Indigenous artists on the country’s most distinguished stage. It was truly a night to remember.

ULTRAVIOLET PUTS QUEER WOMEN CENTER STAGE

While many events at large Pride celebrations tend to cater to mixed crowds or a primarily gay male audience, UltraViolet created a space for queer women and their friends to dance the night away as well. Taking place at Sydney’s stunning Town Hall, a 130-year landmark made of Sydney sandstone and featuring the largest pipe organ this reporter has ever seen, Ultraviolet took over the entire space with three different party vibes: an outside terrace for dancing and mingling, a lower level with DJs and dance music beats and the main floor with live performances. Produced by Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill, the event featured performances by Jesswar, Bec Sandridge and Okenyo, plus aerialists and bawdy burlesque. There was even an

impromptu rendition of “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” performed much to the crowd’s delight by Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett and “Kath and Kim” star and activist Magda Szubanski. The main event was by electroclash artist Peaches, known for her unapologetic lyrics and subversive performances. Peaches did not disappoint as she crowd-surfed, stripped down and into a bathing suit, danced and sang her hits to a rapturous audience.

PROGRESS SHARK

Located in front of The Australian Museum, at the busy intersection of College and Park Streets, is Progress Shark. The museum’s large shark statue got into the spirit and became the unofficial mascot for Sydney WorldPride. Wearing a custom Progress Flag (designed by Daniel Quasar) swimsuit, the Great White shimmered in the sun as thousands of WorldPride attendees stopped to take a picture. Artist George Buchanan created the Progress Shark suit, fringe and all. Progress Shark is one of 45 “Rainbow Moments” that appeared across Sydney to commemorate 45 years of Mardis Gras. Is Progress Shark here to stay? Only time will tell. (The statue was originally expected to come down in April.) Long live Progress Shark!

MARDI GRAS TURNS 45

Mardi Gras is Sydney’s largest annual LGBTQ+ celebration, happening in late February, and is much like the large Pride festivals we have in the U.S.

While there are certainly the things you expect in a Pride parade (Dykes on Bikes, floats and organizations), Sydney’s Mardi Gras has choreographed dances and massive art pieces like the First Nation’s Rainbow Serpent, which twirled its way through the streets of Sydney’s Gayborhood.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended for the first time as PM, marking the first time that someone in the country’s top leadership position has participated. Opposition leader Chris Minns joined him.

The five-hour parade featured over 12,000 marchers, including a bus with many of the 78ers, who are respected and revered for their tireless efforts to change the Australian system for LGBTQ+ people. Same-sex marriage in Australia was finally legalized in 2017 after 22 previous bills failed. To learn more about the history of the 78ers and efforts to make Australia a safer and more inclusive place for the LGBTQ+ community, check out the official website at 78ers.org.au.

LGBTQ+ ART ON DISPLAY

Sydney is a true art city. Murals appear across the city, while art museums (with free admission) feature the work of Australian artists and beyond. At the Art Gallery of New South Wales, rainbow placards appeared next to art created by LGBTQ+ artists for the “Queer Encounters” and “Queering the Collection” exhibitions.

Contemporary LGBTQ+ artists like Dennis Golding, whose work “Casting Shadows” greeted visitors upon entrance, were featured alongside queer and trans artists who have long passed. Too often artists were forced to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity only to have history forget these important parts of them. Works like “The Bay” by 20th Century lesbian artist Thea Proctor and “By Tranquil Waters” by Sydney Long finally get the context they deserve.

Next door at the North Building, LGBTQ+ artists are featured in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art collections and “Dreamhome: stories of art and shelter.”

At Powerhouse Ultimo, the “Absolutely Queer” exhibition was initially curated for Syndey WorldPride but has plans to continue through the end of the year. “Absolutely Queer” is a collection of costuming, multimedia works and more, all centering on the LGBTQ+ experience. Artists and creators

Nicol & Ford, Renè Rivas and Sexy Galexy are all featured in this colorful exhibition that looks back on our history, with an eye also cast toward the future.

Powerhouse curator

Anni Turnbull was part of the team putting together “Absolutely Queer” and shared her enthusiasm for having WorldPride taking place in Sydney.

“It’s kind of an enormous celebration,” Turnbull said. “It’s so important to recognize our queer history, to recognize how far we’ve come in the last 38-40 years in terms of people’s rights. And I think the way it’s been done is so joyous.”

Oxford Street, the heart of Sydney’s queer district, was covered in murals by artist Amy Blue, commissioned by the City of Sydney. The murals, which also served as a clever way to cover up construction and scaffolding, featured important people and places in Sydney’s LGBTQ+ history.

CROSSING THE BRIDGE

The Sydney Harbor Bridge is another iconic landmark in the city and one of the major arteries through the heart of Sydney. On the final day of Sydney WorldPride, 50,000 marches rose early with the magpies and ibis to participate in the historic event. With participants from around the world, the march kicked off and traversed across the bridge.

A group from Dhaka, Bangladesh marched with a banner representing their region. “We are here to march for those who cannot march in our country,” one of the Dhaka members shared. This was a common refrain, recognizing our LGBTQ+ community in countries where being gay or transgender is illegal or oppressed.

The Rainbow Serpent made its final appearance, leading the march, followed by the 78ers and World Pride 2025 hosts, the delegation from Washington, D.C.

I caught up with artist Renè Rivas at the end of the walk to get his thoughts about the WorldPride experience. Rivas is a renowned artist and designer of Mardis Gras fashions. Originally from El Salvador, Rivas came to Australia as a refugee as part of the Family Reunion Program in the 1980s.

“For me, this is a dream come true to be able to be open to the world,” said Rivas. “In Australia, we welcome all kind of communities and we really embrace the diverse culture that we have.”

Rivas also had a message he wanted to share with the global community:

“Don’t be afraid of who you are. That happened to me many years ago. Now my costumes are at the Powerhouse Museum and I travel around the world being able to express myself.”

PASSING THE TORCH

All good things must come to an end, and at the Sydney WorldPride closing ceremony, people gathered one last time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and applaud all those who worked hard to put on such a large, diverse and meaningful event.

Before Muna, Kim Petras and Ava Max took the stage, Wickett, along with Festival Creative Director Ben Graetz and Graham Simms (also known as the iconic Nana Miss Koori) welcomed members of the Washington, D.C. Capital Pride team. D.C. WorldPride will take place May 23-June 8, 2025, and marks 50 years of Pride in D.C.

It will be hard to top Sydney WorldPride, but it’s clear that the next event is in extremely capable and enthusiastic hands. In the meanwhile, Sydney and New South Wales have once again established themselves as a major destination for safe, welcoming and exciting LGBTQ+ travel.

This article originally appeared in News is Out. It is re-published with permission.

Open fOr Business

Equality Florida says state ‘may not be a safe place’ while local LGBTQ+ groups prepare for major events

AFTER 60 DAYS OF VILIFYING QUEER

kids, trans athletes, drag queens and more, the Florida Legislature ended its most anti-LGBTQ+ session in recent history on May 5.

During the 2023 session — which was ruled over by a Republican supermajority in both the Florida House and Senate — bills banning gender-affirming care, blocking transgender individuals from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity and preventing state venues from hosting drag shows for all ages were passed easily and sent to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. We also saw an expansion of “Don’t Say Gay or Trans,” which became law last year, increasing the grade restriction from third to eighth. Additionally, the Florida Board of Education approved a further

expansion of the law to include all grades through 12th.

The bevy of attacks against the LGBTQ+ community led Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBTQ civil rights group, to issue an “Advisory Warning For Travel” on April 11.

The advisory warns of “risks posed to the health, safety, and freedom of those considering short or long term travel, or relocation to the state.” Equality Florida states that it was issued “in response to a wave of safety inquiries

Equality Florida has received following the passage of laws that are hostile to the LGBTQ community, restrict access to reproductive health care, repeal gun

safety laws, foment racial prejudice, and attack public education by banning books and censoring curriculum.”

“As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Florida’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit, it is with great sadness that we must respond to those asking if it is safe to travel to Florida or remain in the state as the laws strip away basic rights and freedoms,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s executive director, in a statement.

“While losing conferences, and top students who have written off Florida threatens lasting damage to our state, it is most heartbreaking to hear from parents who are selling their homes and moving because school censorship, book bans and health care restrictions have made their home state less safe for their children,” she continued. “We understand everyone must weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety, but

| Open for Business

FROM PG.35

whether you stay away, leave or remain we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks. Help reimagine and build a Florida that is truly safe for and open to all, and where freedom is a reality, not a hollow campaign slogan.”

The advisory mentions that similar travel warnings were issued by the Florida Immigrant Coalition and the Florida chapters of the NAACP.

“As the legislative attacks on our community escalated, the number of people who have reached out asking for information about the political landscape, asking the question whether or not it’s safe for them and their families to travel here, the number of those requests have escalated,” says Brandon Wolf, Equality Florida’s press secretary. “So the organization decided that it was time to answer those questions honestly and publicly.”

Wolf says that Equality Florida’s intensions were to provide what he called a “one-stop shop of information” to help individuals and families make informed decisions. He also notes that the advisory warning was not a “blanket recommendation” that LGBTQ+ individuals shouldn’t come to Florida.

“A lot of people are going to decide that Florida is a place they want to be and they want to be on the ground fighting alongside us,” Wolf says. “And we welcome them and look for opportunities to plug them into that fight. Then there are

going to be others whose individual situations possibly prevent them from coming here at this time and we respect them too.”

In Equality Florida’s advisory as well as our conversation with Wolf, we weren’t able to get an exact number of safety inquiries the organization has received. Wolf did state that he personally had gone from receiving one or two inquiries per month before this legislative session to several a week.

“I know that is also true for other members of the team,” Wolf says. “I’m also aware that Nadine in her executive director capacity has received outreach from a lot of conference organizers, some of them for very large conferences.”

Equality Florida’s warning comes as many queer travelers are planning vacations to a state that is known for its tourism, especially during the summer where LGBTQ+ events are expected to bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to Central Florida and Tampa Bay.

During the first weekend of June alone, more than 150,000 LGBTQ+ travelers visit Orlando for GayDayS, One Magical Weekend and Girls in Wonderland. The weekend features host hotels, pool parties, trips to the theme parks, The Pride Cup and more. After returning last year from a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers were planning to go all out but are now concerned that Equality Florida’s travel warning may keep people away.

“Equality Florida issued an irresponsible, hastily crafted, and fear mongering travel advisory without consulting LGBTQ+

chambers, gay-friendly convention and visitor bureaus, Pride festivals, business leaders or LGBTQ+ event promoters,” says Billy Looper, co-founder of One Magical Weekend and the KindRED Pride Foundation. “Five weeks from one of the largest and most iconic events in our LGBTQ+ history — Gay Disney — they could have instead sent out a positive call to action to flock to Florida, support us who live here in Florida by showing up in RED like we have since 1991.”

The travel warning surprised many community organizations who said Equality Florida did not reach out to them before issuing the advisory.

“I was in Vegas at a conference and had it forwarded to me,” says Joseph Clark, owner of GayDayS. “When I finally had a chance to read through it, to me it just didn’t make sense at all. It’s interesting that we weren’t reached out to to even be given a heads up, let alone asked our thoughts on it.”

Rachel Covello, publisher of the LGBTQ+ travel website Out Coast and organizer of the upcoming inaugural Florida Out Coast Convention, or FLOCC — coming to Tampa Aug. 1-3 — was also in Vegas at the time. She received a message from a colleague in the community.

“In the beginning I didn’t know how to respond,” Covello says. “Part of me was like, ‘I promote travel to Florida for the LGBT community, and then the advisory basically says, ‘Hey, be careful about traveling to Florida if you’re LGBT.’ So obviously my immediate reaction was, ‘this is going to make

my job harder.’ Not that it isn’t already hard enough.”

Concerns about the release of Equality Florida’s travel advisory were echoed by organizers of Orlando’s Come Out With Pride and St Pete Pride, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride celebration.

In a statement to Watermark, organizers of St Pete Pride said “We became aware when the advisory was published. St Pete Pride believes that LGBTQIA+ individuals should be informed about the current political climate of Florida, and separately, St. Petersburg, so that they can make the best decisions for themselves regarding travel to Florida and attending St Pete Pride events.”

“My overall response to the travel advisory, I understand the principal behind it and appreciate Equality Florida’s efforts; however, I really wish they would have handled it differently and had a conversation with those of us who would be directly impacted by such an advisory,” says Tatiana Quiroga, Come Out With Pride’s executive director.

While not privy to all of the conversations that Smith and the Equality Florida board members had before drafting the advisory, Wolf says it is his understanding that “Nadine and other members of our leadership team did have conversations with people who are business owners and people who are impacted by travel and tourism.”

When asked for the specific organizations Equality Florida spoke to, Watermark was advised that they would need to get back to

us with that list. The specific names were not provided as of press time.

“Equality Florida issued a travel warning based on an unknown number of inquiries due to the current political situation in Florida. Now, the LGBTQ+ organizations that promote Florida as a safe and welcoming destination are fielding those calls from potential visitors that are afraid to travel here,” says Tom Christ, co-founder of One Magical Weekend and the KindRED Pride Foundation. “There is no way to quantify the number of visitors who will not travel to Orlando this year based on this warning and its economic impact on those LGBTQ+ owned businesses.”

The impact of Equality Florida’s travel advisory has already begun to show its effects on some of the organizations. The Pride Cup, an annual LGBTQ+ multi-sport competition held during the first weekend in June in Orlando, was anticipating nearly a dozen sports to be a part of the weekend; however, after the advisory was released, organizers behind the dodgeball and flag football events pulled out. Between those two sports, they were expected to bring 400 athletes to Orlando. The event further lost over 200 kickball players although that sport is still continuing. The financial impact of losing major sports from The Pride Cup grows when you factor in the vendors that were being brought in and the workers being hired for the event.

“We agree 100% with the fight against the horrific laws being

passed here, but we disagree 100% with their fear-based fundraising strategy that has caused immeasurable collateral damage — mostly against the community they say they are trying to protect,” Looper says. “They argue that a ‘wave of inquiries’ called for this drastic travel advisory. However, without consulting anyone outside of their organization and without calling attention to the LGBTQ+ friendly destinations here like Orlando, South Florida, Key West, and Tampa/St. Pete, they were negligent in representing our community.”

And while Come Out With Pride is still more than five months away, Quiroga says a “large national sponsor” will not be participating this year.

“Due to the advisory, they do not feel that it would be safe to encourage their team members to gather,” she says. “I obviously can’t predict how many more of those we will have but it was pretty surprising to hear.”

Wolf says that while Equality Florida feels issuing the travel advisory was the best course of action, the door still remains open for further conversations and that many discussions will be taking place in the coming weeks. Wolf added that since the advisory came out, several of the organizations who spoke with Watermark for this story have already been in touch and spoken with Equality Florida.

“The first person I reached out to was Nadine,” Covello says. “This was more of me saying, ‘we want to help but we also need to keep spreading the message about the inclusive places in Florida. I don’t want to tell people not to come here.’ That’s just not the message we’re going to send.”

Covello says her intent wasn’t to criticize the advisory but to advocate for LGBTQ+ businesses in Florida. The organization, she says, was receptive.

“There are still places that need support and need dollars, and LGBT business owners that rely on tourism that we want to support,” Covello says. “We’re going to continue doing what we’re doing and educate people.”

With the legislative session now finished, Wolf says he anticipates that additional resources will be coming from Equality Florida to “help people get a really clear idea

of how they can support those businesses and events.”

Equality Florida’s travel warning has led One Magical Weekend to step up its online campaigns, adding the hashtag #FlockToFlorida to its push to encourage one million people to wear red shirts on the first Saturday in June as a part of Red Shirt Pride Day.

“Gay Disney is an event that was a lightning rod in the gay community in the 1990s,” Christ says. “People were not warned to stay away, visitors ‘flocked to Florida’ from around the world to show their support of our LGBTQ+ community. Disney should also be praised for their strong stand to say that ‘everyone is welcome in the Walt Disney World Resorts.’ We call anyone who disagrees with the politicians in Tallahassee’s unjust and unfair laws to stand with Florida and be visible on Saturday, June 3, 2023 by wearing a red T-shirt and use the hashtags #RSPD, #FlockToFlorida and #VoteChange whereever you are and let the world see that we will not allow this.”

Quiroga echoes that same message. As an LGBTQ+ parent, she says it is a scary time in Florida right now that has triggered a lot of serious conversations in her household, but she also says she is a big believer in “call people in, don’t call people out.”

“Personally what I would like to see is a focus on the flourishing community that we have,” she says. “Yes, these are challenging times for our community but at the same time we have a thriving LGBTQ+ community here in Central Florida.

We have huge community support, we know we have plenty of allies, so why not look for that support versus turn people away?”

The emphasis on acceptance in Florida’s more progressive areas was something St Pete Pride shared as well.

“St. Petersburg has been an incredible LGBTQIA+ city to visit for years and continues to be a top destination for LGBTQIA+ travel,” the organization stated. “With a large and wide variety of LGBTQIA+ owned and operated businesses and organizations we live in a place that is markedly different from the rest of Florida. St. Petersburg is a safe haven with a variety of options for visitors.”

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch agrees, as do his counterparts in major cities throughout the state. He, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor released proclamations declaring their cities safe and affirming for LGBTQ+ Floridians on May 3.

The local leaders did so as a part of GLSEN’s Rise Up Campaign. Founded in 1990, the organization works nationwide to build a better world for LGBTQ+ students. The initiative “calls on every adult and ally in a position of authority who supports equal educational opportunity and believes that schools must be free from transphobia, homophobia, racism, and all forms of bigotry and discrimination to rise up and say so.”

“LGBTQ+ youth in Florida have faced relentless attacks from extremist politicians intent on silencing, excluding and erasing them,” GLSEN Executive Director

aligns with their gender identity or having an undocumented immigrant as a passenger in your car can still get you charged with a crime because of these bills.

“Those things apply statewide,” Wolf says. “So again our goal was to tell people the real honest truth about the political climate so they can make the right decisions for themselves.”

Some organizations have said that Equality Florida is sending a contradictory message, asking community members to be more visible but also issuing a travel advisory. Wolf disagrees.

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the leaders who have pledged to rise up in support of LGBTQ+ youth and policies that promote safe and inclusive schools.

“We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth and supportive parents and educators in Florida, and we’re never going to stop fighting for safe, inclusive, and affirming learning environments for all students,” they added.

“Florida’s young people and their families deserve a state that has their backs — a state committed to giving everyone a chance to thrive,” Wolf also noted in GLSEN’s release. “Instead, right wing leaders in Tallahassee have plunged our education system into chaos to score political points.

“As the governor and his acolytes have used classrooms as political battlegrounds, local leaders have continued to push back and stand with students and families,” he continued. “The Rise Up campaign sends a clear message that Floridians are resisting DeSantis’ war on academic freedom and inclusion because young people and their families are worth fighting for.”

“Cities have really been leading the way,” Wolf also tells Watermark. “As someone who has benefited from the inclusive environment in Orlando, I can speak personally that Orlando is not like the political climate around the state, but that doesn’t exempt cities like ours from the impacts from some of these pieces of legislation.”

He points out that even within LGBTQ+ friendly cities, transgender individuals using a bathroom that

“I think we can say to people, ‘here is the political landscape, here is what you should know about the state of Florida right now just so you can be prepared. Here are ways to get plugged into our community, whether you decide to be here or not.’ I think you can say that and at the same time, say ‘we need people to be in the fight,’” Wolf says. “I don’t think it’s contradictory to say ‘this is a moment for us to get in the fight’ AND ‘if you’re a trans woman in New York City, you should just be aware of the bathroom policy that is nearing the finish line.’ I think we can do both of those things at the same time.”

As we draw closer to the summer, it will be up to each LGBTQ+ vacationer to decide whether Florida is the place for them to be right now, but if safety is their main concern, several event organizers say Orlando, Tampa and St. Petersburg are some of the safest places for queer travelers.

“I think that local officials have made it a safe place to be,” Clark says. “You can go anywhere in the world and there’s a potential for danger … but as a community we are a real tight knit community, and not just as an LGBTQ community but as a Central Florida community, we are real tight. I would disagree with anyone saying it is not safe to come to Central Florida.”

“In Florida there are a lot of destinations that have a history of being inclusive and welcoming,” says Covello. “But I think what has been more impressive to me ... is seeing all these smaller communities that you wouldn’t expect — ones out in rural areas that are popping up.

“The problem is when we start avoiding Florida and we don’t come to the state, those communities that have the potential to create change lose the support needed to continue creating change,” she says. “I think that’s really important to think about.”

Where Do You Belong?

Jonathan Harper on his debut novel, ‘You Don’t Belong Here’

barely look at the manuscript. By the time I regained focus, I did see some parallels between what we were experiencing with COVID and “You Don’t Belong Here.” Just as we were trapped in our homes, the novel was about people who were metaphorically trapped in this little town. Not all of us survived the pandemic; not everyone escaped the town. I’m sure this did have an effect on the prose.

THE NOVEL IS REMINISCENT OF SUSPENSEFUL BOOKS BY IRA LEVIN (“THE STEPFORD WIVES” AND “ROSEMARY’S BABY”) AND THOMAS TRYON (“HARVEST HOME”) IN THE WAY THAT IT INVOLVES A CHARACTER BEING INTRODUCED INTO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY DON’T NECESSARILY BELONG AND THE POTENTIALLY HORRIFYING IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THEM. ARE LEVIN OR TRYON INFLUENCES ON YOU IN ANY WAY?

(ABOVE) HARPER’S NOVEL:

Author Jonathan Harper’s debut novel, “You Don’t Belong Here,” comes out in June.

PHOTOS

COURTESY LETHE PRESS

JONATHAN HARPER IS GOOD AT LURING and lulling readers. In his debut novel “You Don’t Belong Here,” the queer writer sets the stage with protagonist Morris, a bisexual writer from the D.C. area, finishing up his residency at the Manderlay Colony. Manderlay is in a small unnamed town, which often makes for a good place to create without the distractions of a metropolitan location. But things don’t go as planned for Morris. On what he thinks will be his last night out, he encounters Henry, a significant presence from his past who, like Morris, can’t seem to find his way home.

“You Don’t Belong Here” unfolds like a cross between Martin Scorcese’s “After Hours” and Ira Levin’s “The Stepford Wives,” and will keep you guessing until the last page. Harper was generous enough to chat with Watermark and answer a few questions ahead of the book’s publication this June.

WATERMARK: “YOU DON’T BELONG HERE” PULSES WITH A SUBTLE SENSE

OF DREAD. HOW MUCH OF IT WAS WRITTEN DURING THE PANDEMIC?

Jonathan Harper: I completed several drafts before 2020, so the core of the novel was done, and I was wading through the editing phase. And then, the pandemic hit, and everything just stopped. For that first year, I was trapped inside my house feeling like the outside world was slowly ending. I could

NOT FOR YOU.” ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK ABOUT MORRIS?

Maybe. I agree that Morris is a person who struggles to fit in, especially when he’s outside of his comfort zone. But it’s not connected to his bisexuality.

He’s actually very comfortable with his queerness. What makes Morris an outsider has more to do with his passivity and his reluctance to make hard decisions. Depending on how you perceive him, he’s naïve, coy, immature and possibly manipulative. He’s not very good at saying what he wants and can be quick to blame. This is something other characters pick up on.

MORRIS AND HENRY WERE TWO CLOSE FRIENDS WHOSE FRIENDSHIP ENDED BUT ARE REUNITED UNEXPECTEDLY YEARS LATER. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, AND IF SO, WAS THAT A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR THE BOOK?

Well, maybe? I’m very sentimental about friendship, probably because I grew up in a military family and we moved every other year. My childhood was in constant transition, constantly leaving people and places. So, as an adult, I crave stability. I have a loving husband and this amazing network of longtime friends. Trust me, I’m not trying to jeopardize any of that.

Not Levin and Tryon specifically. The original inspiration for “YDBH” was “Wake in Fright” by Kenneth Cook. It’s an Australian novel set in the 1960’s Outback in which a man becomes stranded in a rural mining town.

The novel frightened me. The Bundanyabba itself was a really scary place full of these hypermasculine miners and other seedy characters and the main character, a schoolteacher from Sydney, is very out of his element. I didn’t want to recreate “Wake in Fright,” but I did see a queer parallel.

Even in modern America, queer people have to be consciously aware of their surroundings. And some places, especially rural spaces, are less friendly than others. This is not always apparent at first glance. Shirley Jackson was another inspiration. Her work can fill you with dread while blandly serving you tea.

MORRIS IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T NECESSARILY FIT IN, SOMETHING OF WHICH HE IS AWARE OF AS EARLY AS THE SECOND CHAPTER WHEN HE COMMENTS ABOUT A VISIT TO A GAY CLUB THAT “THIS PLACE IS

That being said, there is that one “bad friendship” that comes to mind. Similar to Morris and Henry, it was an important friendship that ended rather abruptly. The details of the falling out have faded over time, but I still remember the intense feeling of grief that festered for years after. He was in all of these photos and memories and there was never any chance for reconciling or at least getting closure.

For a while, I would fantasize about running into him again and I knew by heart everything I would say to him. And then it happened. I walked by him on the streets in D.C. and he looked right at me and just pretended I wasn’t there. This didn’t inspire the book but it’s something I thought about while writing it.

“You Don’t Belong Here,” Jonathan Harper’s debut novel published by Lethe Press, will be released in June. It is available for preorder at LethePressBooks.com and TheJonathan-Harper.com.

This interview was edited down for space. Read it in its entirety at WaterkmarkOnline.com.

EPIC Sexual Health Center Provides Total Sexual Healthcare

EPIC’s Sexual Health Center offers essential sexual health and disease prevention services through education, support and resources, empowering all people to achieve better sexual health and well-being.

Services include STI diagnostic and treatment services, pregnancy testing and referrals, PrEP and PEP education and medication as well as sexual health education services and workshops with an onsite sexpert.

EPIC’s Sexual Health Center serves Tampa Bay at the following locations:

300 49th St. S. St. Petersburg, 33707 (727) 328-6420

4703 N. Florida Ave. Tampa, 33603 (813) 237-3066

You Oughtta Know Them

Jade McLeod redefines ‘Jagged Little Pill’ on tour

“In Jo, we set out to portray a character on a gender expansive journey without a known outcome,” producers responded. “Throughout the creative process … we made mistakes in how we handled this evolution. We should have protected and celebrated the fact that the non-binary audience members saw in Jo a bold, defiant, complex and vibrant representation of their community.”

The production subsequently partnered with organizations like The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and revisit the show’s script. They also broadened their casting process and for Jo, prioritized “auditioning actors for the role who are on gender journeys or understand that experience personally.”

Ryan Williams-Jent

“I was like, ‘oh my God, that’s me,’” they recall. “‘That’s my voice. I was losing my ever-loving mind.”

McLeod’s audition was particularly memorable for them.

“To walk into an audition room and for the first time in my career, to have it be an entire room where everyone that was auditioning was nonbinary, it changed my life,” they say. “That alone rocked my world.”

Landing the role impacted McLeod’s life in an even more profound way, paving the way for them to showcase identities like theirs on stage. Interacting with fans has been the most rewarding part.

““Bringing my own experience as a queer and nonbinary person has just been wonderful,” they say, “and I think it’s just deepened the show even more, giving people representation that they’d been craving and yearning for ... it is totally invaluable.”

McLeod says that while they understand some members of the LGBTQ+ community may have reservations about the production’s missteps, the work they’ve done shouldn’t be discounted. They point toward the tour’s trans and nonbinary employees and more.

THEY WILL BE GOOD:

ALANIS MORISSETTE RELEASED

“Jagged Little Pill” in 1995, changing the trajectory of the singer’s career in the process. A blend of pop, rock and grunge, it became one of the best-selling albums of all time and won five Grammys, including Album of the Year.

The album has been re-released for major milestones since then, also finding new life on stage. Morissette partnered with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody for a jukebox musical of the same name, which premiered in 2018 and moved to Broadway the next year.

“Some shows you see. This show you feel,” it’s described. “Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE — everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show— is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.”

“Jagged Little Pill’s” use of Morissette’s catalogue to showcase contemporary life on stage was quickly celebrated. Recommended for those 17+, it addresses one family’s story of sexual assault,

opiate addiction, transracial adoption, LGBTQ+ identity, mental health and more.

Its accolades included 15 Tony Awards nominations in the 2019-20 season, the most for any show. It won two of them; Diablo was awarded Best Book of a Musical while LGBTQ+ entertainer Lauren Patten won Best Performance by a Featured Actress for originating the character Joanne “Jo” Taylor, a celebrated role that was also mired in controversy.

Ahead of “Jagged Little Pill’s” post-COVID reopening, investigations were launched over the production’s treatment of its trans and nonbinary performers. Concerns included the musical’s presentation of Jo, who was portrayed as nonbinary in its pre-Broadway run and as cisgender after that.

Its national tour launched last year as a reflection of that. Nonbinary performer Jade McLeod, who plays Jo on the road, was instrumental in ensuring their community had equitable representation.

“This show was always written for queer audiences and registered with people so deeply,” they say. “One thing that’s really beautiful about Jo is they are a total weirdo and exist outside of every box, the least of all gender. So it was always something that resonated.

“The creative team and Lauren Patten created such an unreasonably lovable character,” McLeod continues. “For a supporting role like this to be as touching and as funny, well-written and as deeply, deeply lovable as Jo is rare. I think it needs to be, especially on tour, because the character is queer and nonbinary. People may not always want to connect with that but we’re going to force you — you have no choice to love Jo.”

McLeod did right away. The performer says they were “always kind of a weird kid” who loved the arts and vividly recalls hearing Patten sing Morissette’s iconic “You Oughtta Know” on the original cast recording.

“All we can ask of the world and of people is to grow and to learn, and ‘Jagged’ really did that,” McLeod notes. “Whatever feelings you may have, know that this company employs 10+ trans and nonbinary people and those kinds of numbers are unheard of in the theater world”

Outside of “Jagged Little Pill’s” meaningful change, it’s also just an incredibly entertaining show. McLeod says it features something for everyone, whether they’re a fan of Alanis Morissette’s music or not.

“This is a story that everyone can relate to and there’s a character in this for everybody,” they explain.

“I think that’s the whole goal of this show, to make people feel seen and to challenge people’s boundaries of what they think they’re allowed to feel.”

It’s what Morissette’s music has always done.

“She’s given everyone permission to feel very, very deeply and our show is a reflection of that,” McLeod says. “You’ll come out better for having seen it.”

You can see “Jagged Little Pill” at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts May 16-21, located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl in Tampa. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit StrazCenter.org.

announcements TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS

Alan Clendenin was elected Tampa’s first openly LGBTQ City Council member April 25. Read more on p. 12.

Ceazia Giovanni Kreshe was crowned Miss St Pete Pride 2023, Mr. Vyn Suazion was crowned Mr St Pete Pride 2023 and Kamarion Lavish was crowned Mx St Pete Pride 2023 on April 30. Read more on p. 12.

Momma Ashley Rose and Allendale UMC announced they will partner for drag gospel worship every 5th Sunday in St. Petersburg. Read more at RoseDynastyFoundation.org.

Empath Partners in Care announced May 2 that they received a $55,000 grant from the Truist Foundation in support of EPIC’s food and personal needs pantry.

Enigma celebrated nine years in St. Petersburg May 5.

Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota celebrated 25 years of song May 5.

Johnny Boykins received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Young Democrats May 7 for his work with the Pinellas Young Democrats and more.

American Stage, Equality Florida and private donors installed a public plaque to honor late playwright Terrence McNally at his former Sunset Beach home May 7. Read more at AmericanStage.org.

The Kind Mouse celebrated 11 years May 10.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

Tampa Bay massage therapist Alexis Acevedo, Tampa nursing home director Scott J. Allen, Tampa insurance executive Jeff Giles, former CitySide Lounge owner

James Encke, Ybor City Barbering Co. co-owner Lauren

Harmon, Pasco County activist Denise Johnson, Citi

Sr. Vice President Paul Fifer (May 11); Lutz real estate agent Kenny Braverman, Tampa activist Stephanie Leaf (May 12); Tampa Bay super volunteer Jeremy Wade

Neiman, Sarasota medical specialist Dr. Sporty Damon

Paul Harper (May 13); St. Petersburg school teacher Bob

Tencza, Largo media publisher Jeff Youngblood (May 14); Hillsborough Kids advocate Malachi Ortiz, Tampa Bay

entertainer Amanda D’Rhod, St Pete Pride board member

Clifford Hobbs (May 15); “Big Gay Radio Show” Co-Host

Bryan Hinkson, Tampa Bay fitness instructor Bryan Lloyd, St. Pete ROTC leader Frank Hay, FOX 13 reporter Dan

Matics, Kobe Steakhouse server Alex Quinto, Tampa artist Ric Moreir (May 16); Sarasota artist Ming “Troy”

Ming, St. Pete staple Marc Calvillo, Sarasota helping hand Jennifer Chalfa, Dog-adoring Tom Singer, Political activist Bryan Farris, (May 17); Tampa Bay director Trevor

Keller, Sarasota Planned Parenthood’s Jarred Wilson (May 18); St. Petersburg politico Tony Meredith, Tampa Bay activist Elliott Darrow (May 19); Tampa Bay bartender James Bailey, Wordier Than Thou founder and Watermark contributor Tiffany Razzano, Tampa Bay artist Lance Michael (May 20); Watermark contributing photographer Jamarcus Mosley, Tampa Bay bear Rick Grayson (May 21); University of Tampa professor Jack Crepeau, Sarasota University Club’s Peter McClain Jr., Fabulous Arts Foundation founder Shannon Fortner, Tampa Bay bartender Nikko Panagos (May 22); St. Pete photographer Tori Baird, Sunshine City Massage LMT Jordan Monroe Green (May 23); Balance Tampa Bay’s Jason Fields (May 24).

1

ALLENDALE ALLY: Rev. Andy Oliver (R) and Momma Ashley Rose announce Drag Gospel Worship April 30 at Allendale UMC. PHOTO FROM ALLENDALE UMC’S FACEBOOK

2 WELL DESERVED: Johnny Boykins accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Young Democrats May 7. PHOTO FROM BOYKINS’ FACEBOOK

3 ON THE MOVE: Metro Inclusive Health staff members present their new location on Central Ave. May 9, now open. PHOTO FROM METRO INCLUSIVE HEALTH’S FACEBOOK

4

FOUR MORE YEARS: (L-R) Son Seely Bevan, partner Ana Cruz, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and son Sergei Bevan celebrate the city leader’s second term during Tampa’s swearing-in ceremony May 1. PHOTO FROM CASTOR’S FACEBOOK

5 NEW LOOK: Dr. Bob Wallace presents the new window design at Love the Golden Rule May

4. PHOTO FROM LOVE THE GOLDEN RULE’S FACEBOOK

6 ST. PETE PROUD: (L-R) Mr. Vyn Suazion, Ceazia Giovanni Kreshe and Kamarion Lavish are crowned Mr. Miss and Mx St Pete Pride 2023 April 30 at USF.

PHOTO BY JAMARCUS MOSLEY

7 HONORING AN ICON: American Stage representatives and “Ragtime” performers present a public plaque honoring Terrence McNally at his Sunset Beach home May 7. PHOTO FROM AMERICAN STAGE’S FACEBOOK

8 TAKING ACTION: The Hillsborough County LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus attends the Unity Rally and March in Ybor May

7. PHOTO FROM THE LGBTQ+ DEM CAUCUS’ FACEBOOK

announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS

Vivian Rodriguez, the retired Outreach Director to U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, returned to her old stomping ground at the Congressional District 9 office in Kissimmee May 1 to have her old office dedicated by the Congressman as the “Rodriguez Reading Room.” It will be the official meeting room for Soto and his constituents. “I’ll never forget the wonderful memories working with #TeamSoto and the constituents of #FL9. Congressman Soto is a hard-working public servant who believes in truly representing his constituents and goes above and beyond in accomplishing the goals for Congressional District 9,” Rodriguez wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

GIVEAWAYS

What better way to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month than with nearly a dozen drag queens! Well queens from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” — including Asia O’Hara, Bosco, DeJa Skye, Jujubee, Lady Camden, Laganja and Vanessa Vanjie — are coming to Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on June 24 at 8 p.m. and Watermark wants to send you and a friend to the show for free. To enter, go to WatermarkOnline.com/ WerqTheWorldTour2023 and fill out the ballot. We will draw a winner at noon on May 22. Tickets are on sale now for the 2023 Werq the World Tour so if you would rather buy your own to ensure your seat at this summer’s hottest show, go to DrPhillipsCenter.org. This is an 18+ event so all guests must be 18 or older to attend. Photo ID will be required to enter.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

Pulse Orlando legend Cindy Barbalock (May 13); Peer Support Space co-founder Dandelion Hill, Southern Nights bartender Sara Barone, Central Florida ally and artist Christie Miga, Server Seth Bradshaw (May 14); Orlando entertainer Craig Raymo, Central Florida straight ally Alex Copeland (May 15); Central Florida standup comedian Lee Cohen (May 16); Orlando muscle bear and trainer Migael Schieder, Orlando Ballet Dancer Alberto Blanco Perez (May 17); Central Florida photographer Julie Milford Textor, Central Florida drag performer Kai’ja Taylor Adonis, former Watermark intern Abigail Ruth Mercer (May 18); Come Out With Pride board president Corey Bryant, Senior pastor at Joy MCC Terri Steed Pierce, Central Florida ally Marianella Falbo (May 19); State House Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, Rep. Smith’s former legislative aide Ida V. Eskamani, Orlando Immunology Center medical director Edwin DeJesus, Yow Dance owner Eric Yow, Olde Town Brokers realtor Brett Winters (May 20); Orlando real estate agent Wes Miller, Vice-chair of the Human Rights Campaign board of directors John Ruffier, proud mommy Tanya Blasingame (May 21); Hunks Orlando Promoter Jeffrey Torres, Orlando artist Cake Marques, Nurse and spiritualist Bradley Gerik, Manager at Kings Dining & Entertainment Orlando Brittany Gayle, Central Florida photographer Tabitha Whidby (May 22); Orlando

Realtor Alex Zweydoff, The Dru Project’s Sara Grossman (May 23); Lowe and Behold owner Randy Lowe, Hammered Lamb resident Angie Rash (May 24).

1

GIDDY UP: The team for the brand-new Full Moon Country Mondays gets ready to kick open the barndoors at Savoy Orlando May 8.

2

KICK UP YOUR HEELS: Carlos Guillermo Smith (L) and Jerick Mediavilla see “Kinky Boots” at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre April 30.

3

DEDICATED WORK: Vivian Rodriguez (L) and Congressman Darren Soto in the newly named “Rodriguez Reading Room” at the Congressional District 9 office in Kissimmee May 1.

4

BINGO & BREWS: Brenda from Bithlo, aka Brendan O’Connor, is ready for Bungalower Drag Bingo at Tactical Brewing in Orlando May

5

BINGO & BURGERS: Elie and Grace Peek-Harris have markers ready as they play Drag Queen Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando as a part of Central Florida’s Dining Out For Life April 27.

PHOTO FROM GRACE PEEK-HARRIS’ FACEBOOK

6

FOR THE KIDS: XL106.7’s Johnny’s House morning team — (L-R) Nurys Bararera, Johnny Magic, Sondra Rae and Brian Grimes — shine at Runway to Hope’s 2023 Spring Soiree at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel & Resort in Orlando May 6.

7

MEETING WITH FRIENDS: Contigo Fund board and staff send out good vibes as they gather at the LGBT+ Center Orlando April 28.

8

DRAG QUEEN BRUNCH: (L-R) Tora Himan, Risa Risque, April Fresh and MrMs Adrien bring the funny for April Fresh’s Comedy Brunch at The 808 in Orlando April 29.

community calendar

CENTRAL FLORIDA 2023 Legislative Review

MON., MAY 15, 6:30-7:45 P.M.

FACEBOOK LIVE, ONLINE

Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani hosts a post-session review of 2023’s 60-day state legislative in which she will cover a host of issues ranging from attacks on academic freedom and LGBTQ+ rights to permit-less carry, abortion, voting rights, the state budget and more. This event will be livestreamed at Facebook.com/AnnaForFlorida and available on Zoom by RSVP with the form at bit.ly/eskareview23.

“BroadGAY Spectacular”

FRI., MAY 19, 7:30 P.M.

THE RITZ THEATER, SANFORD

SUN., MAY 21, 2:30 P.M.

THEATRE WINTER HAVEN, WINTER HAVEN

WED., MAY 24, 7:30 P.M.

DR. PHILLIPS CENTER, ORLANDO

Orlando Gay Chorus invites you to their spring tour of “BroadGAY Spectacular” at The Ritz Theater May 19, Theatre Winter Haven May 21 and the Dr. Phillips Center May 24. OGC’s main chorus of 100 singers, four small group ensembles and the Footnote Dancers will wow you with their Broadway caliber talent! Tickets are available at TheatreWinterHaven.com and DrPhillipsCenter.org.

TAMPA BAY

EQ FL St. Pete Gala

SAT., MAY 13, 7-11 P.M.

MAHAFFEY THEATER, ST. PETERSBURG

Equality Florida’s St. Pete Gala is back with delicious cuisine, open bar, entertainment, dancing, a silent auction and a state of the state address by Executive Director Nadine Smith. State Rep. Michele Rayner will receive the Voice for Equality Award and Marjorie Sherwin will receive the Edie Windsor Lifetime Achievement Award. Learn more at EQFL.org.

“A Night of Socially-Conscious Storytelling”

SAT., MAY 20, 7 P.M. & SUN., MAY 21, 5:30 P.M.

ART AND MUSIC CENTER, SAFETY HARBOR

Playwright Deborah Bostock-Kelley debuts “Tapestry,” three one-act and two full-length plays highlighting LGBTQ+ and other issues. 10-minute one acts include “TTYL,” “Cradle Robber” and “my body. my voice” while “#NotOneMore” and “Breast Advice” are full length. Individual tickets are $20 or weekend passes are $35. Learn more at TapestryPlays.com.

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

CENTRAL FLORIDA

“My Fair Lady,” May 9-14, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Dino Night, May 12, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando. 407-246-2620; LeuGardens.org

Spring Studio Show, May 12, Art & History Museum, Maitland. 407-539-2181; ArtAndHistory.org

“Desperate Measures,” May 12-21, Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park. 407-645-0145; WinterParkPlayhouse.org

Resume Writing Workshop, May 13, LGBT+ Center, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.com

Orlando Fringe, May 16-29, Loch Haven Park, Orlando. 407-648-0077; OrlandoFringe.org

Rainbow Kitten Surprise, May 17, Hard Rock Live, Orlando. 407-351-5483; HardRock.com

Les Vixens presents Cosmic Cuties, May 17, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

Watermark’s Third Thursday, May 18, Hope & Help, Orlando. 407-481-2243; Facebook.com/WatermarkFL

Swamp Sistas La La, May 20, Loch Haven Park, Orlando. 407-228-8272; TheCenterOrlando.com

Margaret Cho, May 20, The Plaza Live, Orlando. 407-228-1220; PLazaLiveOrlando.org

Plini, May 20, The Abbey, Orlando. 407-704-6261; AbbeyOrlando.com

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in Concert, May 20-21, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullen & The Works, May 22, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 844-513-2014; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Stevie Nicks, May 25, Amway Center, Orlando. 844-854-1450; AmwayCenter.com

TAMPA BAY

7th annual Tampa Fringe, Through May 14, Multiple Venues, Tampa. TampaFringe.org

“Jobsite’s Alice,” Through June 4, Jobsite Theater, Tampa. 813-229-7827; JobsiteTheater.org

Dine ‘N Drag, May 12; 19, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com

Matteo Lane: “The Al Dente Tour,” May 13, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Pride & Passion: Sabor, May 13, Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa. 813-421-8368; TampaMuseum.org/Pride

One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullen & The Works, May 14, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. 727-892-5767; TheMahaffey.com

Brunch on Grand Central, May 14; 21, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com

Come OUT St. Pete Pool Party, May 14, Casa del Merman, St. Petersburg. 727-310-4130; ComeOUTStPete.org

Trivia Night, May 16; 23, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com

“Jagged Little Pill,” May 16-21, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Rainbow Kitten Surprise, May 18, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg. 727-565-0550; JannusLive.com

Karaoke Night, May 18; 25, Zoie’s, St. Petersburg. 727-855-6990; ZoiesFL.com

Margaret Cho: “Live & Livid,” May 19, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

Spring Concert: “You are Enough,” May 19-20, The Portico and Allendale UMC, Tampa Bay. GMCTB.org

Pride @ The Village 2023, May 20, Pinellas Arts Village, Pinellas Park. 727-313-2250; PinellasArtsVillage.com

“Love! Valour! Compassion!” May 21, Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg. 813-879-4220; TIGLFF.com

Big Gay Birthday/ Graduation Pool Party, May 21, Casa del Merman, St. Petersburg. 727-310-4130; GayStPeteHouse.com

SARASOTA

Pride | Be Fabulous Music & Arts Fest, May 13, Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, Sarasota. FabAF.org

To submit your upcoming event, concert, performance, or fundraiser visit watermarkonline.com.

Travel is the Only Thing You Buy That Makes You Richer

WHAT TO KNOW

Map it Out: Knowing what terminal your airline will be flying from will make everything so much easier. Below is a list of Terminals with Airlines.

Terminal A: Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Avianca Airlines, Breeze, Copa Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines (International Flights), Virgin Atlantic

Terminal B: Aeromexico, Air Canada, (Air Canada) Rouge, American Airlines, Bahamasair, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Airlines, Silver Airways, Spirit Airlines (Domestic Flights), Sun Country Airlines, Swoop, United Airlines, Volaris, WestJet

Terminal C: Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, Emirates, Eurowings

Discover, GOL, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lynx Air, Norse, Red Way, Sunwing Airlines

WHERE TO EAT

Finding a quick bite before your flight can be an important part of a stress-free travel day. Below is a partial list of restaurants sorted by gates.

Gates 1-29

• Airlines: Frontier, Silver, Spirit

• Lounge: The Club MCO

• Table service dining: On The Border

• Other dining options: Urban Crave, Le Grand Comptoir, La Madeleine, Burger King, and more

Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.

The whole navigating the airport part….well that is less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to food choices.

Gates 30-59

• Airlines: American, Breeze, United

• Lounges: American Admiral’s Club, United Club

• Table service dining: Ruby Tuesday

• Other dining options: Camden Food Co., Nature’s Table, Qdoba, Wendy’s, and more

Gates 70-99

• Airlines: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Transat, Avianca, Bahamasair, Copa, Delta, LATAM, Sun Country, Virgin Atlantic, Volaris, WestJet

• Lounges: Delta Sky Club, Club at MCO

• Table service dining: Bahama Breeze, Outback Steakhouse, Vino Volo, and more

• Other dining options: Cibo Express, Tacos Locos, Nathan’s, and more

Gates 100-129

• Airlines: Alaska, Avelo, Southwest

• Table service dining: Cask & Larder

• Other dining options: Villa Italian Kitchen, Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s, McDonald’s, and more

Gates C230-C245

• Airlines: Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean, Emirates, Eurowings Discover, GOL, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lynx Air, Norse, Sunwing

• Lounge: Plaza Premium Lounge

• Table service dining: Summer House, Sunshine Diner

• Other dining options: Cask & Larder, Desano Pizzeria, Wine Bar George, Shake Shack, and more

PARKING, SHUTTLES, AND RIDESHARE

Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. Each garage offers 20 minutes of free parking, 21-30 minutes for $2, and each additional 15 minutes for $1 up to a maximum of $19. Beyond that, the price per day is as listed:

• Parking Garages A, B, and C | $19/day

• Terminal Top Parking | $19/day

• North Park Place Economy Lot | $10/day

• South Park Place Economy Lot | $10/day

• West Park Place Economy Lot | $10/day (only open during holiday periods)

Valet Parking | $25/day

Cell Phone Waiting Lots

For those that do have a bestie, tell them to wait until you call them once you have retrieved your baggage and are on the curb

• North Cell Phone Lot | Free

• South Cell Phone Lot | Free

Rideshare pick-up locations:

• Arrivals Curb at Terminals A and B (on level 2)

• Departures Curb at Terminals A and B (on level 3) between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

• Arrivals Curb at Terminal C (on level 6)

Rideshare drop-off locations:

• Departures Curb at Terminal A and B (on level 3)

• Departures Curb at Terminal C (on level 2)

For more information visit OrlandoAirports.net

To help you navigate the day of your flight, be sure to download the MCO App. This app will give you current indoor turn-by-turn navigation and location awareness, TSA security wait times, flight updates, parking, ground transportation, dining & shopping information and so much more.

Inspiration

FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

be seen.

choose well.

choose well.

When it comes to your health, you want the best care available. You want Bayfront Health. A connected network of primary and specialized physicians, ERs and a hospital focused on a forward-thinking and innovative approach to wellness. Giving you more reasons to choose well. BayfrontHealth.com

ER Care Just For Kids.

When every moment counts, trust us to be there. As a national leader in emergency care, our board-certified emergency physicians and highly trained ER nurses are available 24/7 to provide exceptional care for children and teens in 30 specialties. We’re also home of the only Level One Trauma Center in the region, with state-of-theart diagnostic equipment to treat even the most complex conditions. Giving you more reasons to choose well. ArnoldPalmerHospital.com/ER