Watermark Out News Issue 32.19: Cuisine, Cocktails & Community

Multiple protesters arrested, freed at Pulse crosswalk

Tampa Bay project paints free LGBTQ+ murals

Cocktails

Cuisine, Cocktails & Community

New and reimagined safe spaces give LGBTQ+ Floridians somewhere to celebrate

Tampa Bay project paints free LGBTQ+ murals

Multiple protesters arrested, freed at Pulse crosswalk

Rick Todd PUBLISHER Rick@WatermarkOutNews.com

PUBLISHER’S DESK

Keep the Plug in the Jug

IHAVE A LITTLE TRADITION WITH

this space. Around October 1, I usually pull up a chair and get real with you about my life as an alcoholic.

This year’s early October column belongs to our editor-in-chief and Central Florida bureau chief, however, so consider this my annual check-in — just arriving fashionably early an issue ahead.

I used to drink a lot and I loved it. My friends and I would joke that we were drunks, not alcoholics, because alcoholics went to meetings. We were kidding, mostly, but we understood we drank our faces off. It was normal to us.

I definitely had a visual in mind of what an alcoholic looked like. Thanks, Nancy Reagan, and your “just say no” campaign. I didn’t see myself as fitting that description. My life was normal.

I did go out drinking most nights. I would black out from time to time, and then progressively every night I drank, but that was normal. I showed up to my house once bleeding from my face with my shirt and shoes in my hand, unable to recall what happened the next day, but I didn’t think anything of it.

If I felt I was going out too much, I would take a break for a week and detox. Would I be able to do that if I were an alcoholic? I didn’t think so. I’d switch to drinking the lightest beer possible to try and control the drinking and I was able to, so no problem there. Although it meant I just drank more beers.

I would say to myself, “You are only going to have three drinks tonight!” Spoiler alert: it was never three. Again, I didn’t think anything of it. It was just my normal routine.

I started showing up late to work, more often and later in the day. One time I no-call no-showed without a care in the world. When I woke

up around 3 p.m., I just got dressed and went back to the bar. I was fine.

My predecessor asked me the following workday if I thought I was an alcoholic, to which I replied, “No! Sometimes I just can’t stop drinking, but it’s not like I wake up and have to have a drink.”

Things started to change for me on Memorial Day weekend 2015. I was arrested at 3:30 a.m. after 12 hours of drinking. I was embarrassed more than anything, but this kind of thing was common among my crowd, so I wasn’t too concerned that I had a problem.

The DMV and courts required I check a few self-help boxes before they let me drive again. The first was what is commonly called DUI school. I knew they randomly tested during these classes, so I planned them around my drinking schedule. Usually heading to the bar right after class.

Then I had to have an interview with someone who would decide how much counseling I would need. I found myself lying at every question. I lied about how much I drank, about how much others in my family drank. I started to see the cracks in my thinking.

They required I go to a 12-step meeting. I was petrified, so much so that I asked a friend to go with me. I walked into that meeting knowing I wasn’t an alcoholic because of my preconceived notions.

One by one they went around the room and each person said their name, that they were an alcoholic and shared something about their alcoholism.

One person said they couldn’t stop drinking once they picked up that first drink. Another would black out all the time. Another lost their job because they were

late for work all the time. Another tried to limit themselves to three drinks and failed.

Suddenly, I saw myself in all of their stories. I realized my inability to stop drinking once I started meant that I was powerless over alcohol. I walked out of that meeting knowing I was an alcoholic. I haven’t had a drink since.

This October 1 will mark 10 years of sobriety for me. It’s a couple 24 hours away so let’s save

Something that seemed so impossible 10 years ago is just my new normal now.

the fanfare for that day, but it’s still pretty remarkable to think about. Something that seemed so impossible 10 years ago is just my new normal now. It’s just the way it is and I couldn’t be happier.

I don’t tell this story to shame drinkers, quite the opposite. I envy those who can control their drinking. My husband and his friend will have a drink at dinner and sometimes not even finish it. Savages! Of course, I jest. If you can drink responsibly, have at it! I applaud you.

I also don’t do this to gather praise. I tell it for the one person who might see themselves in my words. If you feel powerless over alcohol, there is a way out. It’s scary, but you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out for help.

Stay visible, stay strong and support each other.

MOMMA ASHLEY ROSE has performed family friendly drag for over 20 years. She founded Rose Dynasty Foundation to help provide a safe space for all. Page 15

SYLVIE TREVENA is a proud, minivan-driving mother of four with a Master’s in Business Administration with a nonprofit concentration. Page 19

HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, SABRINA AMBRA, STEVE BLANCHARD, DEBORAH BOSTOCK-KELLEY, JOHNNY BOYKINS, MARTIN “LEIGH SHANNON” FUGATE, BIANCA GOOLSBY, JAKOB HERO-SHAW, LORA KORPAR, JASON LECLERC, JERICK MEDIAVILLA, MELODY MAIA MONET, TATIANA QUIROGA, TIFFANY RAZZANO, SISTER JUANA REACTION, MOMMA ASHLEY ROSE, TREVOR ROSINE, BRYANA SALDANA, GREG STEMM, SYLVIE TREVENA, MICHAEL WANZIE, MULAN WILLIAMS, DR. STEVE YACOVELLI

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CMJM ENTERPRISES LLC, KEN CARRAWAY DISTRIBUTION AFFILIATIONS

FLORIDA INVESTIGATING ORANGE COUNTY OVER DEI INITIATIVES AFTER DOGE AUDIT

Bellanee Plaza

ORLANDO | Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia issued investigative subpoenas Aug. 27 to Orange County employees as the state’s DOGE team seeks documents related to the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

In a news conference, Ingoglia accused Orange County’s government of not being truthful when DOGE auditors showed up demanding documents about county budgets, payroll, grants and DEI efforts, among other topics.

“Taxpayers have a right to know how their hard-earned dollars are spent,” Ingoglia said. “Today, we have issued subpoenas to ensure that Orange County is accountable to the taxpayers and is transparent with the ways that they use public funds. I will not stand idly by while Floridians are forced to pay higher property taxes to fund wasteful and bloated government budgets.”

He will be issuing investigative subpoenas related to five DEI grants in Orange County. Sixteen Orange County employees, including top attorney Jeff Newton, were served with subpoenas.

“I applaud CFO Ingoglia for issuing subpoenas to Orange County employees involved in grant decisions, fiscal operations, and divisional management,” DeSantis said. “Altering public records and trying to cover up reckless spending decisions is unacceptable, and we will continue working to uncover the truth.”

Also in attendance was Alicia Farrant, Orange County School Board member, who spoke after DeSantis and Ingoglia. Last month she called the LGBTQ+ Awareness and History Month proclamation a “push to normalize sexual promiscuity and sexual ideations at a young age.”

“Orange County Government fully cooperated with the Florida DOGE audit team, providing all the data and documents requested. No employee was instructed to alter, change or delete any documents,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said in a statement.

“While our employees may have read from or referred to notes or documents being discussed by the DOGE team, employees were not scripted in their remarks,” he continued.

In a press release from DeSantis, the governor’s office says cooperation is not optional and Orange County has a responsibility to explain the irregularities flagged by the State of Florida DOGE team through full cooperation with the DOGE audit and subpoena.

Some groups like Orlando Youth Alliance and Zebra Youth may be impacted as county records are related to iterations and assistance to said groups. Watermark Out News has reached out to OYA and Zebra Youth for comment but did not heard back before press.

central florida news

FIRST

MULTIPLE PROTESTERS ARRESTED, FREED AT PULSE CROSSWALK

Bellanee Plaza

ORLANDO | Three protestors were arrested at the Pulse memorial crosswalk Aug. 31 and charged with defacing a traffic device.

The arrest of Maryjane Kristena East, 25, Donavon Todd Short, 26, and Zane Ian Aparicio, 39, came one day after a judge released Sebastian Suarez, who was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol for the same offense Aug. 30.

Blake Simons, an attorney with the Simons Law Firm, represented Suarez. He was released from jail after a judge found FHP had no probable cause to arrest him for his actions on Aug. 30.

Simons was at the crosswalk as the three protestors were arrested. He said he will be representing them in court. When the law changed, he made a Facebook post to notify the community and to tell people to call him if they needed an attorney.

What concerned Simons the most was that FHP is watching over the crosswalk in front of the Pulse memorial, where people have decided to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech.

“Right now, they are trying to silence people, exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech by charging and arresting people under an obscure statute that I’ve never seen anybody arrested under, even in my time as a prosecutor,” Simons says.

An arrest document for Aparicio says he was “in possession of a piece of sidewalk chalk actively marking and defacing the painted crosswalk surface.”

The report goes on to say Aparicio drew on the white reflective part of the crosswalk as well as the unpainted portions, “thereby altering the visibility and intended function.”

Simons explains there was no probable cause in the first arrest, but FHP got more detailed in the alleged reasons for the other arrests.

The protestors were arrested after allegedly coloring in the crosswalk with rainbow colors and writing the words “Right to free speech” in the black spaces. They were freed by a judge Sept. 1.

While the judge found probable cause, the individuals were still released on their own recognizance without having to pay bail, except for one who got held up as they were walking out

of the jail, Simons says. They were told to turn around because FHP came back with another allegation of criminal mischief.

“In my legal opinion, there’s no way a charge for criminal mischief can be upheld for the actions that have been taken,” Simons shares. Criminal mischief refers to willfully and maliciously damaging or defacing someone else’s property, such as acts of destruction.

“Willful and malicious, those are two elements that they would have to prove for criminal mischief,” Simons says. He says it is very clear that this is a targeted move.

FHP was replaced by a new team of FHP troopers sitting in the Dunkin’ parking lot across from Pulse. Five minutes after the three individuals were arrested and taken away, two different vehicles rolled up to the crosswalk and performed a burnout, leaving rubber tire marks.

They drove away while FHP sat there in their patrol vehicles and watched, Simons says, as he witnessed the act.

“The fight is about a First Amendment right to free speech and the targeting against the LGBTQ community,” Simons says. “That’s the issue.”

TIGLFF RETURNING TO TAMPA FOR SUMMER FEST

Ryan Williams-Jent

TAMPA | The Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will hold a Summer Fest Sept. 12-14 at AMC Westshore, a weekend of LGBTQ+-focused features and shorts.

The festival will mark a return to Tampa for TIGLFF, which held its 35th celebration exclusively in St. Petersburg Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Its fifth annual Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival followed suit in March.

“Our stories matter — at TIGLFF Summer Fest, they’re the whole show!” organizers announced last month. “We’ve prepared a diverse program that covers every genre and embraces every experience. Join us … for a celebration of film and community, back over the bridge in Tampa for the first time in years.”

Summer Fest will begin Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. with “To the Moon,” preceded by the short “The Space You Need.” The feature is billed as an “ensemble comedy about love, choreographed dance, kitchen safety, stranger danger, planetary physics and the idea that it’s never too late in life to figure out who you really are.”

A shorts program will follow Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. Films include “No Man is an Island,” “This is Jan,” “Crisantemo,” “Amida” and “Mia Mio,” each running between 20-28 minutes.

“Plainclothes,” which will be preceded by the short “Three Courses,” will screen at 4:30 p.m. The feature follows a closeted, undercover cop who “falls for a married man he’s assigned to entrap.”

“Lakeview” will close the evening at 7:30 p.m. with two shorts, “Rose Colored” and “Like the Very Gods.” The film follows a queer friend group in “a celebration of the power (and damage) of familiarity” and “what happens when lessons learned don’t lead to patterns broken.”

“MASC” kicks off Summer Fest’s final day at 2 p.m., welcoming the documentary’s director Andy Motz. Two shorts will precede the film, “Capetillo” and “Deep Dish Dimples,” before audiences watch as “a young queer filmmaker journeys to discover non-toxic masculinity across class, race and gender in America today.”

The drama “Sugar Beach,” preceded by the short “Arriba Beach,” will follow at 4:30 p.m. It examines immense grief and complex relationships. The festival will close with another shorts program.

“All That’s Left,” “Parallel Lines,” Loves Last Stand,” “Campumentary,” “Simp,” “Unburied,” “The Last Story on Earth,” “Beautiful Stranger” and “Dragfox” will feature. The shorts range from seven to 18 minutes in length and begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per film or shorts package and festival passes are available for $75. The latter allows entry to “as many in-person screenings as you like.”

TIGLFF is also currently seeking film submissions for its 36th annual festival, scheduled to return Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2026 in St. Petersburg. Entries will be accepted until Sept. 26.

tampa bay news

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR PROJECT OFFERS TAMPA BAY

FREE LGBTQ+ MURALS AFTER FDOT BAN

Ryan Williams-Jent

ST. PETERSBURG | A new initiative is providing inclusive murals on private property in response to the Florida’s ban on asphalt art.

The Love Thy Neighbor Project was launched by ArtFluent Creatives, founded by LGBTQ+ ally and artist Michelle Sasha in 2023. The agency connects creators with “meaningful projects that align with their style and vision.”

The new project is an extension of that work. It launched after FDOT denied the City of St. Petersburg’s request to save five street installations, including its Progressive Pride and Black History Matters murals, and state officials removed the crosswalk at Pulse in Orlando.

“These murals carried more than paint — they carried a message of hope and belonging,” Sasha announced Aug. 27. “For many, seeing those colors felt like a quiet embrace from their community: ‘You are seen. You matter. You belong here.’

“I don’t want that message to disappear,” she continued. “That’s why my team and I are painting free murals — small but powerful stripes of inclusivity — on

driveways, mailboxes, and garage trims. These murals will live on private property, where they cannot be erased.”

The murals are provided at no cost and will be installed in Pinellas County, the project’s starting point, and Sasha says around 60 requests came in right away. Interested parties can currently request murals on the project’s website, where donations are also accepted.

“If we get 100 requests we could get them done in about a month — but I think it will be a higher number than that,” Sasha notes. “I’m going to keep doing this as long as there’s artist support and as long as there’s a need for it.”

A dozen of Sasha’s peers have already volunteered to help, local artists who believe in the project’s mission to spread love, visibility and belonging through art. St. Petersburg’s Jazzy Erickson is among them.

“As soon as I heard about the project, I knew I had to be involved,” she says. “Watching the murals in Florida become in jeopardy, I couldn’t help but feel that representation was starting to fade.

“St. Petersburg has always felt like a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community — with its vibrant

Grand Central, Pride events and welcoming spirit, which inspired me to step in and contribute,” the LGBTQ+ artist says. “I want my art to have meaning … I want it to matter.”

Sasha hopes the Love Thy Neighbor project can expand to nearby counties and potentially beyond Tampa Bay. She says she’s ready to assist artists across the state who may want to follow ArtFluent’s example.

“This initiative is not about politics or division. It’s about leading with love — using art as a bridge to create understanding, compassion and community,” Sasha notes. “It’s all an act of love, protection and care for our neighbors and the people around us.”

“This movement is about bringing us together — about strengthening community at a time when so much in the U.S. seems designed to pull us apart,” Erickson adds. “Creating these murals is a way to bring light back into our shared spaces, to spark joy, love and acceptance. Because at the heart of it all, we each deserve a place where we feel loved, seen and heard.”

Learn more at ArtFluentCreatives.com/ Love-Thy-Neighbor-Project.

IN OTHER NEWS

DOCTOR WHO LED MPOX RESPONSE RESIGNS FROM CDC

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, resigned Aug. 27. Daskalakis, who is gay, was among three senior officials to resign following the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez. “I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the public’s health,” Daskalakis wrote in a resignation letter he shared online. “… I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.”

PEPFAR TO DISTRIBUTE ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ HIV PREVENTION DRUG

The State Dept. announced PEPFAR will distribute a “breakthrough” drug in countries with high HIV prevalence rates. A Sept. 4 press release notes lenacapavir “has the potential to be particularly helpful for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as it safely protects them during and after pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission.” Officials shared that the “initiative, which will promote global scale in production and distribution of the medication and catalyze further global investment, has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives.”

BURKINA FASO RECRIMINALIZES HOMOSEXUALITY

Lawmakers in Burkina Faso on Sept. 1 voted to recriminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations. According to the amended Persons and Family Code, anyone convicted of engaging in homosexuality faces 2-5 years in prison or a fine of between $3,600-$17,800. Since all 71 MPs voted for the Persons and Family Code, it has virtually come into effect. Alex Müller, director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, categorized the new law as a major setback for LGBTQ rights.

POPE LEO MEETS LGBTQ+ CATHOLIC ADVOCATE

Pope Leo XIV met with one of the most prominent advocates for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church Sept. 1 and encouraged his ministry, sending a strong signal of welcome in the early months of his pontificate. The Rev. James Martin, a New York-based Jesuit author and editor, said Leo told him he intended to continue Pope Francis’ policy of LGBTQ+ acceptance in the church and encouraged him to keep up his advocacy. “I heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis, which is the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people,” he told The Associated Press.

state, nation+world

FLORIDA REMOVES ST. PETERSBURG’S PRIDE MURAL AND MORE AS BATTLES OVER STATE BAN UNFOLD

Ryan Williams-Jent

The Florida Department of Transportation removed St. Petersburg’s Progressive Pride street mural early Sept. 2 as the state’s ban on asphalt art continued to play out statewide.

The installation was the last of five that officials tried to save. FDOT officially denied St. Petersburg’s request Aug. 22, giving the city a Sept. 4 deadline to remove the LGBTQ+-focused centerpiece, the Woodson African American Museum’s Black History Matters mural and more. The latter was removed Aug. 29.

Demonstrations at the Progressive Pride street mural followed prior to the state’s removal. A coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders and their allies organized a gathering to chalk sidewalks ahead of its mural.

Around 100 people are estimated to have attended the demonstration, organized by a coalition initially formed to save the city’s inclusive murals. Now calling themselves Stand Up St. Pete,

they asked supporters to donate supplies, create art and stand in solidarity along Central Ave.

“St. Pete is built on being a city where inclusion, art, diversity, and culture are not just values, but the very foundation of our identity,” organizers shared. “These murals are more than paint on pavement; they are expressions of who we are and what we stand for.

“You can take over our streets, but our story will not, and cannot, be erased,” they continued. “The spirit of St. Pete lives in its people, its artists and its advocates. We will continue to celebrate our history, honor our heroes and uplift every voice in our community.”

The City of St. Petersburg will reimburse the state for the cost of removing the murals. In contrast, the City of Tampa removed 47 street murals on its own over Labor Day weekend — including an LGBTQ+-focused installation co-sponsored by the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber.

Other cities chose to fight Florida’s ban on asphalt art, among them Delray Beach. City officials pushed back and were given a

Sept. 3 deadline to remove their LGBTQIA+ Pride Streetscape, attending an administrative hearing in Orlando the day prior.

FDOT removed it overnight Sept. 9, the city confirmed, “less than 12 hours [after officials] received an order directing the CITY to remove this symbol of inclusion.”

“This immediate action by FDOT did not allow the city commission the opportunity to review the order as an elected government body and decide how to move forward,” they said in a press release. “By acting outside of its process, FDOT disregarded the City’s good-faith efforts to follow established procedures. While FDOT’s action cannot be undone, Delray Beach remains steadfast in its commitment to unity, respect and the fundamental human rights that belong to every member of our community.”

The matter continues to unfold across the state.

For the latest information, visit WatermarkOutNews.com.

APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS INJUNCTION ON TRUMP’S GENDER MARKER PASSPORT POLICY

Bellanee Plaza

Afederal court rejected an appeal by President Donald Trump‘s administration Sept. 4 to deny transgender and nonbinary Americans passports that reflect their gender identities.

The court upheld a preliminary injunction against a policy directive from the administration requiring identity documents to reflect a person’s sex “at conception.”

“We’re thankful the court rejected this effort by the Trump administration to enforce their discriminatory and baseless policy,” said Li Nowlin-Sohl, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The White House had no immediate comment.

In an order, a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the Trump administration had failed to argue the policy does not violate federal law and that the government would be “irreparably injured” if the policy were enjoined.

The administration, the judges wrote, had also failed “to engage meaningfully” with an earlier district court analysis that its passport policy is rooted in an “unconstitutional animus toward transgender Americans.”

In June, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from limiting passport sex markers. The ruling June 17 from U.S. District

Judge Julia Kobick means that transgender or nonbinary people who are without a passport or need to apply for a new one can request a male, female or “X” identification marker rather than being limited to the marker that matches the gender assigned at birth.

The State Department changed its passport policy to “request the applicant’s biological sex at birth,” rather than permit applicants to self-identify their sex, and to only allow them to be listed as male or female.

Before Trump, the State Department for more than three decades allowed people to update the sex designation on their passports.

KNOWS BEST

GRIEF IS AN INTENSE

feeling brought on by the death of a loved one or the loss of something we once cared about, something I’m very familiar with. I lost my father and grandmother in less than five months of each other this year, two people who had profound impacts on my life and journey.

Both of their deaths were sudden and fast. After my father’s passing, I began taking care of my 93-year-old grandmother. There wasn’t much time to grieve my father’s passing; I entered a “get stuff done” mentality, focusing intensely on caring for my grandmother.

While grieving my father, I had to deal with estate matters and my family, organize my father’s and grandmother’s funeral, work full time and more.

How do we mourn the loss of people so important to us and still live our day-to-day lives? I cried, got angry, felt numb and then got angry again, all while trying to function normally.

Just as there are different kinds of grief, grief affects people differently.

Recently, we’ve feared losing the rights and freedoms we once had, leaving us uncertain about what will happen to us next.

We now face a dark, bleak time in our country with all the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, same-sex marriage, trans rights, women’s and BIPOC rights, voting rights and so much more.

On top of all that, Christian nationalists are slowly gaining control through fear-mongering, lies and manipulation. We have no idea what will happen next.

What fights will we have to take on in the days, months and years to come?

Meanwhile, we’re losing our families and the people who we thought supported us. Our friends and family are showing their true colors, watching how we vote and acting accordingly.

Our friends and family must not understand how hard it is to watch them side with hate and discrimination. They must not understand the weight on our shoulders.

They must not understand the grief of losing the connection we once thought we had.

Political grief is a heartbreak that doesn’t just live in the mind; it settles in our emotions and seeps into our bones. Political grief is watching them silence our community, debate our rights and spin our very existence into a political issue.

Surrounded by hate and prejudice, we are mourning more than what we have lost; we are mourning what was promised to us but has not come to pass.

But in the midst of our sorrow, there is the strength to resist. Grief doesn’t mean giving up; it proves that we cared enough to fight in the first place.

There is no “right” way to process grief. Here are a few ways I am learning to process grief on my journey.

1. Acknowledge the loss. Begin by recognizing that something meaningful has changed or been taken away, whether it’s a person, relationship, dream or

societal shift. We must allow ourselves to name the loss.

2. Let yourself feel Grief brings a range of emotions — sadness, anger, guilt, numbness and even relief. These aren’t wrong or bad; it means we are human. We must permit ourselves to feel what we feel, without judgment.

3. Create space for expression. Scream into a pillow, cry, write, sing, make art, talk to a friend or sit in silence. Self-care is essential. Processing sometimes requires releasing in some way.

4. Seek support. No one has to grieve alone. Reach out to friends, therapists, support groups, spiritual community or other leaders.

5. Be patient with your process. Grief doesn’t follow a specific timeline; we might feel better one day and torn apart the next. Healing can be unpredictable.

6. Honor what and who was lost. Rituals can be a powerful tool; light a candle, plant something, create a

Let us be kind to ourselves. We must hold space for the tears, the memories and the silence.

But we must never forget that even in grief, our voices matter, our stories matter and our hope is a step to make a change.

memorial or speak the name of the person you lost. Talk to or about that person.

Grief is something we must learn to carry, not get over. It shifts and changes, just like us.

Grief is proof that love echoes where words fall short.

Some days grief is a whisper, but other days it’s a thunderclap in our chest. But no matter how it shows up, our grief is valid.

Most importantly, we must never forget that we are loved, accepted and wanted.

Momma Ashley Rose has been a family-friendly drag performer for over two decades. She is the founder and president of Rose Dynasty Foundation Inc., which opened the Rose Dynasty Center, Polk County’s first LGBTQ+ center.

Sylvie Trevena

THE GOOD PAGE FEATURES

positive LGBTQ+ news in Central Florida and Tampa Bay, uplifting and inspiring stories highlighting locals in our community. In this issue we introduce Pastor Katy Fast, an LGBTQ+ ally who leads St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Dunedin.

Since a fateful first visit with her spouse in 2015, Fast felt like she had found her home at the church.

“It was definitely a ‘God thing,’ not a me thing,” she recalls. “We felt so welcomed and love each time we visited. I could feel God’s presence through the caring people.”

Fast became the church’s pastor in 2016. In the years since, the community and her colleagues have grown to see her as a leader at St. Mark’s in a way that allows everyone to feel comfortable and welcome.

“I worked with queer youth and young adults in Boston until I moved to St. Pete,” says Church Manager Jayms Battaglia. “Connecting with an

The Good Page

Pastor Katy Fast leads an LGBTQ+-inclusive ministry in Dunedin

welcoming, accepting, brave, out and open at Pride events, and in our larger community in Dunedin,” they continue. “She is the real deal when it comes to being open and accepting as a pastor. “

ally like Katy helps me keep the faith that our allies are here and working hard as well.”

They also view Fast’s work in the community as promoting safety and inclusion at a time where support is so needed — particularly in the church.

“For so many in our LGBTQIA+ community, religion is a very touchy subject,” Battaglia says. “So many of our siblings have been hurt, thrown away and discarded in the name of God, the Bible or religion in general. Pastor Katy brings a level of compassion and welcoming to the St. Mark community and Dunedin that signals that ‘you are safe here.’

“It’s because of Pastor Katy’s work that the community is

Fast understands that she cannot fully understand what it is like to live as an LGBTQ+ person but believes that her allyship is her calling.

Supporting this community is so important to her work and faith because she believes God dwells in and shines through the community.

“I believe that God has created all LGBTQIA+ people as beautiful and perfect… as they are ,” Fast notes. “What I want to make theologically clear is that God created and loves LGBTQIA+ exactly as who they are created to be: Beautiful. Bad Ass. Perfect. I believe that God created humanity in a beautiful rainbow of diversity — people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

“LGBTQIA+ are beloved children of God and they

deserve love, care, freedom, justice and equity in our world,” she continues. “I also believe that LGBTQIA+ are some of the bravest people I know — living courageously as their authentic selves. God loves you. Our church loves you. This pastor loves you.”

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is committed to inclusion and acceptance as part of the Reconciling in Christ Congregation.

This means all people are welcomed without regard to race, family or economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation or differing abilities.

They also advocate for the acceptance, full participation and liberation of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions within the Lutheran Church.

Fast says she is ready to do the hard work to see equality amongst the LGBTQ+ community, noting that “I want to be part of the healing that I know God wants.”

St. Mark’s is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+

community through a number of initiatives, including an LGBTQIA+ and Allies Fellowship group that meets monthly to support congregants.

“We are a group of folks who identify as [LGBTQ+] and allies who enjoy gathering to discuss recent topics, share experiences and bring our whole selves to the table,” it’s described on the church’s website.

The church has also partnered with other local congregations for St Pete Pride and other major events.

“We are a testament to the fact that we are stronger together,” Fast says. “Joining together across organizations and churches, we can and will fight for a better world for all our LGBTQIA+ siblings.”

Learn more at STMLC.com.

Interested in being featured in The Good Page? Email Editor-in-Chief Ryan Williams-Jent at Ryan@WatermarkOutNews. com in Tampa Bay or Central Florida Bureau Chief Bellanee Plaza at Bellanee@ WatermarkOutNews.com in Central Florida.

Cuisine, Cocktails & Community

New and reimagined safe spaces give LGBTQ+ Floridians somewhere to celebrate

LRyan Williams-Jent and Bellanee Plaza

GBTQ+ FLORIDIANS HAVE FOUND

refuge in Central Florida and Tampa Bay for decades, building community not just in our homes but through our safe havens. Some have been restaurants, some have been bars and some have been hotels, while some have even been all three.

Among others, these LGBTQ+focused venues have flourished and faltered in cities like Orlando, St. Petersburg and Tampa. One-stop shops have included Orlando’s Parliament House, which closed in 2020 after 45 years — though a reformatted return is often teased — and St. Petersburg’s Suncoast and Flamingo Resorts. The two venues operated for around a decade each from 1998 until 2019.

Central Florida and Tampa Bay have also been home to multiple Hamburger Mary’s eateries, a franchise known for its drinks, dining and drag. Visitors and residents have enjoyed locations in Brandon, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa and Orlando.

Hamburger Mary’s Orlando was the last of those to close, leaving its location in downtown Orlando after 16 years in 2024. It is expected to reopen in the greater Central Florida region. Until then, the venue is doing more than providing a safe space to “eat, drink and be Mary.” Its owners successfully blocked Florida’s “anti-drag” law in 2023, an ongoing matter the state sought to revisit last month. The legal challenge is just one example of how LGBTQ+ venues can impact the communities they serve. After the Florida Department of Transportation removed the rainbow crosswalk

at Pulse Aug. 21, a tribute to the 49 lives lost at the former LGBTQ+ bar, Orlando’s hospitality industry found other ways to speak out.

“If our state leaders want to erase symbols of pride and acceptance, then we’ll create even more of them,” Se7en Bites Owner Trina Gregory announced Aug. 24. The restaurant will host Parking Spaces for Pride Sept. 15, turning 49 private parking spaces into works of art in “a stand for love, diversity and artistic expression.”

SAVOY Orlando also responded. The fan favorite LGBTQ+ bar unveiled an inclusive Pride-colored display on its windows Sept. 3.

“We thought it was important to visibly put something out to support the LGBT+ community,” says Joshua Cooper, SAVOY’s co-owner. “The current political climate is scary … so we wanted to do something that would stand out to let people know we are there and we aren’t going anywhere. The community deserves a safe space.”

St. Petersburg’s Cocktail — a key part of Tampa Bay’s latest LGBTQ+ resort — also took a

stand. Condemning the removal of the crosswalk, they announced their storefront’s own rainbow redesign via social media Aug. 21.

“We will not stand by and be erased,” they shared. “… we will install new graphics across the front of our building putting our PRIDE on display. We are proud and will not fight quietly.”

The installation was finished Sept. 2, the day FDOT removed St. Petersburg’s Progressive Pride street mural. Cocktail also served as a central hub during a community protest nearby the mural the day prior.

“We will make sure they regret taking our rainbow because we can come back stronger,” the venue noted.

Of course, LGBTQ+ safe spaces have found other ways to showcase their Pride over the years. Clearwater’s Pro Shop Pub, which has operated since 1976, is celebrated not just as an LGBTQ+ venue but as one of the city’s oldest businesses — and in Orlando, the ever-evolving Southern Nights is one of Central Florida’s oldest LGBTQ+ clubs.

Enigma’s rainbow lighting has illuminated St. Petersburg

skies for most of the last decade, while in Tampa, the 14-year-old Bradley’s on 7th announced its plans for the next decade in Ybor. Those plans include Utopia Road Bar & Courtyard, its sister site. These establishments aren’t alone. Patrons continue to celebrate authenticity at Orlando venues like BarCodes, Hank’s Bar, District Dive and more, while Tampa Bay venues like Blur, Lucky Star, The Garage, MR D’z Men’s Emporium, Thyrst and others make their mark.

All of these are a part of an LGBTQ+ legacy that new venues hope to build upon, creating a safe space during what many local business owners call a critical time for the community.

Watermark Out News spoke with four new and recently reimagined LGBTQ+ safe spaces about their businesses, though new locales Disco Pony Nightclub in Tampa and Heatwave in Orlando did not respond to requests for comment.

Learn about these LGBTQ+ venues here and visit their websites for more information.

Anthem Orlando

100 N. Orange Ave., Orlando. 407- 279-0609; AnthemOrlando.com

In a space that represents a movement, Anthem Orlando was created as a tribute to those who taught resilience and fought for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Michael Vacirca, owner and co-founder of the soon-to-open establishment, says places like Anthem send a clear message that those in the LGBTQ+ community are welcomed, celebrated and safe. He wants Anthem to be a home base for inclusion and joy.

“It’s more important than ever to have safe spaces in Central Florida cause they’re not just venues, really they’re lifelines for our community,” Vacirca says.

With construction well underway and teams from New York fabricating the lighting and sound, all demolition is completed, and a redesigned HVAC system has been put in place.

“Not only will we have top-tier entertainment, but we definitely have a premier focus on safety, inclusivity and accessibility,” Vacirca shares. “We’re meeting all DA requirements. We spent [a great amount of time] grinding all of the floors so that the floors are completely even… we want to make sure that the space is open for and accessible for everybody.”

The venue is hoping to open before the end of the year and will be located in the former “Saddle Up” bar in downtown Orlando.

It will feature a bar, restaurant and event space, hosting parties, drag shows and other community-focused events. A menu is being created tailored specifically for the community by an executive chef.

Leading up to its grand opening, Anthem has held pop-up events to bring the community together. Its most recent gathering was held over Labor Day weekend and was called Anthem

Golden Hour and the Afterglow Labor Day Weekend Party.

Vacirca says people have told him at the pop-up events that they can feel the inclusivity and branding Anthem is promoting.

He says the community response has been overwhelming in the best possible way.

“They told us how much they’ve missed having a true LGBT venue downtown,” Vacirca explains. “How excited they are to see Anthem taking shape. They’re very impressed by that as well, which, that’s a dedication to my construction team.”

The one thing Vacirca is hoping to see is a renewed sense of spirit for the city. He says people should focus on the fact that our LGBTQ+ community is strong, persevering and thriving.

Vacirca wants Anthem to create a lasting legacy in the city. He feels that Anthem will build something that will stand as a constant space in the lives of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I personally want Anthem to be a place where people fall in love,” Vacirca says.

“They discover new artists, they celebrate milestones, they find chosen family and friends. I think these safe spaces matter, but joyful spaces matter just as much.”

Although there is no set date for the opening, the venue is already ahead of schedule and has started its hiring cycle. Equipment ordered has been completed and processed as they are waiting for deliveries.

“Anthem is going to be more than just a club to come and party,” Vacirca shares.

“It’s a community hub that’s going to really bring people together from different generations and help the community reconnect.”

Kurt’s Place

3703 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. 813-284-0461; Facebook.com/KurtsPlace

When Tampa’s City Side Lounge announced it would close after more than three decades this year, Kurt King had an idea. He’d repurpose it into not just a safe space, but Kurt’s Place.

The entrepreneur’s name is synonymous with LGBTQ+ nightlife in Tampa Bay. He previously owned the greater region’s four Hamburger Mary’s restaurants and operated LGBTQ+ bars like Baxter’s.

King announced City Side would become Kurt’s Place in late February, with a tentative opening of early March.

“The younger generation, they don’t need gay bars and safe spaces [the way older generations did] and don’t know what we had to go through,” he told Watermark Out News at the time. “… we need to get our power back. We need to get our rights back.

“At one time we had 18 bars in Tampa and now we’re down to four — I just want to have a safe place to go, a bar for open-minded people where everybody’s welcome,” he added.

The opening was delayed until Aug. 7. King says he was “excited to finally be able to reopen in South Tampa where I first started.” His efforts are supported by industry veterans and co-owners Hunter Vance and Michael Wilson, also known as Sheriff Mike.

“It’s been a great experience and outpouring of support from the community that the space is back open,” Wilson says. “That’s the biggest thing that we keep hearing. Our grand opening was like a huge family reunion.”

The space offered a return to form for Melanie Minyon as well. In addition to

bartending and leading events like Drag Bingo, the entertainer is a manager at Kurt’s Place.

“I’d been pretty much out of the scene and out of the business for a while, and had never bartended. The patrons are so patient and have been so supportive,” she says. “It’s such a great crowd of people.”

Kurt’s Place currently opens daily at 11:30 a.m., continuing City Side’s traditional happy hour until 8 p.m. The venue offers daily specials, a limited menu of food and plenty of entertainment options.

They include recurring Latin and open stage nights, pictured below, and even shows produced in partnership with Sawmill Resort. The campground is a staple in Dade City.

“In this political climate, it’s more important than ever that we all still have somewhere to come,” Wilson explains. “The internet is just not enough. It’s not enough for us to just jump on there and throw a quote out and pass on a meme … We still need to have our spaces to come together. That’s still what’s most important.

“You can only feel so much emotion through the internet or through an app. That human interaction still matters,” he continues. “It also gives the younger and older crowds time to come together and learn from each other. This bar is great for bringing different demographics together.”

“The crew that we have here is just amazing,” Minyon adds. “We all enjoy being a part of Kurt’s Place and we’re all excited about this next adventure.”

Above all else, King says he wants the community to know “it’s our bar for everyone.”

The Ball

49 24th St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-258-7626; TheBallStPete.com

The Ball quickly became a St. Petersburg staple after opening in February. It’s the latest venture from Pour Behavior Hospitality’s David Fischer, whose team is responsible for Cocktail, The Wet Spot and Mari Jean Hotel.

“We tried to create another space we felt was missing in the LGBTQ+ offerings in the city,” Fisher shared at the time. “We wanted a bar and lounge atmosphere where conversations could be had while enjoying the company of friends and loved ones.”

Originally a religious-themed speakeasy known as The Saint, the venue was redesigned to further cement the complex’s status as an LGBTQ+ destination. It’s billed as a “pop art paradise” with décor that pays homage to the disco ball and LGBTQ+ icons past and present.

Its drink menu includes over 15 signature cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Their namesakes include queer entertainers and activists like Elton John, Marsha P. Johnson, Freddie Mercury, Elliot Page and Chappel Roan.

They also serve “elevated tapas inspired by classic bar bites” like popcorn chicken.

“When we opened The Ball, we knew that we wanted the space to challenge the average expectation of an LGBTQ+ bar,” says Marketing & Events Manager Evelyn Long. “The intention was to create a space where queer people could have a high-end, unique experience, complete with craft cocktails and ‘wow-factor’ elements like our working go-go showers, all set in a beautiful lounge.”

It was more than that, she adds, noting that Pour Behavior “envisioned a space specifically curated for the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum of identities and our allies, as opposed to focusing on one demographic.”

It’s why they feature all-gender dancers and have specifically

produced events centering the trans community and more.

“We really couldn’t have anticipated this level of support from our community,” Long says. “It’s been really wonderful to see people come together and feel a sense of deep belonging in the space. As time has gone on, we’ve learned even more about what the community is looking for and we strive to bring those experiences to people.”

Newer offerings include the monthly Bears & Bubbles, a collaboration with the Tampa Bay Bears held once a month and the cheekily named Disco Tits. The queer women’s night is held every first and third Friday.

“The Ball has provided an amazing opportunity to serve underrepresented parts of the LGBTQ+ community, especially the sapphic and trans communities,” Long explains. “As a queer woman myself, I can attest to how common it is, even in larger cities, to struggle to find sapphic spaces — let alone ones that are free, fun and inclusive.”

She says that’s more important than ever given the decline of lesbian bars across the U.S. According to the Lesbian Bar Project, which tracks the establishments, only 38 remain nationwide.

“We are really proud to provide an upscale, sexy, trans-inclusive queer women’s event for the community on a regular basis,” Long says. She adds that The Ball is working on new efforts to center the trans community as well.

“Sadly, there are forces working to silence marginalized people, including the LGBTQ+ community,” she notes. “We as queer people shoulder that burden, and it can be a heavy load to carry … it can really make a difference to have a safe place to go and forget about the outside world. It’s truly been such a joy to offer that to our guests.”

Outpost Neighborhood Tavern

227 N. Eola Dr., Orlando. 407-203-0447; OutpostORL.com

Located in Thornton Park, Outpost Neighborhood Tavern is an LGBTQ+-owned, modern American eatery with some Southern influence.

Devon Tillmon, owner and executive chef, says people give him thanks for creating a safe space but he feels that Orlando has always been accepting.

“I’ve been in the restaurant industry for a long time and for me it’s having a place for everyone to come, no matter who you are because if you’re not just accepting for your own community, you have to be accepting for everybody,” Tillmon says. “And I’ve always been in that mentality.”

The restaurant is a collaboration between Tillmon, who has over 30 years of restaurant experience and the commissioner and creator of the OUT Sports League, John Teixeria. They collaborated after they both found their interests aligned to create a queer sports bar in Orlando.

The venue held an official ribbon-cuttong ceremony Sept. 5 and Tillmon says that since opening in July, they have received a great response regarding the food and the service. He says reviews highlight how flavorful and well executed the food is. The menu features appetizers, sandwiches and plenty of sides.

“We came out to create a space that was warm, welcoming, upbeat, for everyone to enjoy,” Tillmon shares. “And that’s what we feel that we’ve done because we allow the employees, especially the service staff, to be themselves, to be who they are, to be comfortable in their own skin.”

The staff is diverse with some being LGBTQ+ community members while others are allies. He says when everybody that works in an establishment feels comfortable then everyone else feels comfortable when they patronize it.

Tillmon has heard from customers that they like the layout of the restaurant and how the bar and kitchen flow. With over 100 reviews on Google, most of the reviews are five stars.

Since the restaurant partners with OUT Sports League, Tillmon wants members to come to the tavern after their games.

“That was one of the ideas behind why we were starting this together, to become a centralized place for all of those people that play in the leagues to be able to come and enjoy themselves after they’ve already played, before they go home for the evening,” Tillmon says.

There will be other events that will take place at Outpost like weddings and weekly brunches. A wedding took place at the restaurant for the couple’s reception who then got married at Lake Eola. They came back for dinner and drinks afterwards.

Tillmon hopes to partner with the EO Inn located upstairs to have more events that can incorporate the space as well.

“We’re just here to be part of the community as a whole, not just the gay community, but the Orlando community,” Tillmon shares. “We’re not going to be for everybody, and nobody should be for everybody, but we want to make sure that we are for the people that come in, that we are accepting and open.”

announcements TAMPA BAY OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS

Blaque/Out Magazine celebrated five years Sept. 3. Mr. D’z Men’s Emporium marked two years Sept. 1. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor received the USSOCOM Medal for supporting the Special Operations Forces community Sept. 2. Neptune Grill confirmed Sept. 5 that the Gulfport staple has reopened. Alan Clendenin was appointed as Chair for the Florida Democratic Party’s Caucus’ Southern Caucus.

Come OUT St. Pete held its 2026 Come OUT As You Are Pageant Sept. 7. Nasir Love was crowned Mx. COSP, Karl Withakay was crowned Mr. COSP, E’Layjah Love was crowned Ms. COSP and Keirra Ka’oir Summers was crowned Miss COSP.

1 FIRST LADY: Kori Stevens, celebrated as the first lady of St. Pete, takes the stage at Enigma Sept. 5. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

2

PRAISE BE: Victoria Michaels performs during Allendale UMC’s drag worship Aug. 31. PHOTO COURTESY VICTORIA MICHAELS

3

CHECKED IN: Largo Commissioner Michael Smith celebrates National Library Card Sign-Up Month at the Largo Public Library Aug. 29. PHOTO VIA COMMISSIONER SMITH’S FACEBOOK

4

HIGH HONOR: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor (L) is awarded the USSOCOM Medal by U.S. Special Operations Command General Bryan Fenton Sept. 2. PHOTO VIA MAYOR CASTOR’S FACEBOOK

5

TOWN HALL: Newly hired Project Pride Executive Director Tom Edwards discusses his commitment to Sarasota and more during a town hall Aug. 27. PHOTO VIA PROJECT PRIDE’S FACEBOOK

6

SAYING GOODBYE: LGBTQ+ advocates attend a Stand Up St. Pete demonstration at the city’s Progressive Pride street mural Sept. 1, one day before FDOT’s removal. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

7

TEAM TN: Trans Network Secretary Tristan Byrnes (L) and President Callen Jones meet with Watermark Out News for future coverage Sept. 4. PHOTO BY RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT

8

PASSING THE TORCH: Miss Come OUT St. Pete 2026 Keirra Ka’oir Summers (L) accepts her crown from Miss COSP 2025 Ericka P.C. on Sept. 7. PHOTO BY DANIEL CRUZ

Johnsons Tampa will celebrate three years Sept. 12-13. TIGLFF will return to Tampa for its Summer Fest Sept. 12-14 and is currently accepting applications for its 2026 film festival. Read more on p. 10.

STATEWIDE CONFERENCE

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus will hold its statewide summer conference in Tampa Sept. 12-14. “With equality under renewed attack, it has never been more important to build power, unite voices and ensure that LGBTQ plus Floridians have a seat at the table,” Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus President Kristen Browde says. “We are bringing together a powerful group of leaders and organizers in Tampa as we prepare to take back Florida.” Read more at WatermarkOutNews.com.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

St. Pete fundraiser Jonathan Soots, Dog lover Baron Blake, St. Pete staple Alan Heflin, Suncoast Property Management’s Albert Burruezo (Sept. 11); Diversity Health Center of Tampa Bay Founder Dr. David Lyter, Moments of Clarity host Tiffany Werhner, Fletcher Fischer Pollack P.L.’s Leigh Kellett Fletcher, St. Petersburg realtor Pete McGahan, Mortgage banker Stan Kutz (Sept. 14); Tampa Bay author Sheree Greer, MHK VP Mark Francen, Pinellas County School Board ally Caprice Edmond, St. Petersburg artist Barry Rothstein, Tampa Bay family man Victor M. Gimenez (Sept. 17); Sarasota staple Rogelio Capote, Owner of David Vargas-State Farm Insurance David Vargas, Tampa Bay advocate Devika J-Romey Baker, Watermark Out News freelancer Sister Juana Reaction, Tampa Bay artist Saumitra Chandratreya, Tampa staple Jerry Harper (Sept. 18); Keller Williams St. Pete realtor Mauricio Moreno, St. Petersburg comedian Jeff Klein, Parc Center for Disabilities AVP Brian Rothey (Sept. 19); Cosplay captain Leif Thomas, Tampa Bay Black Lesbians President Tamara Leigh (Sept. 20); Country club aficionado John Pozo-George, Tampa socialite Neil Parker (Sept. 21); Parri Law Firm owner Dan Parri, Lead Pastor of The Edge Community Church Ricc Rollins (Sept. 22); Tampa Bay chef Darlene Herrick (Sept. 23); Tampa Bay fashion designer Ivanka Ska, Shelter Strong staple Nick Caraccia, Allstate adjuster Mark Celaya (Sept. 24)

announcements CENTRAL FLORIDA OUT+ABOUT

CONGRATULATIONS

Will’s Pub celebrated its 30th anniversary celebration Sept. 1.

State Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis and state Rep. RaShon Young won special elections Sept. 2 for Senate District 15 and House District 40, respectively.

High Point Climbing And Fitness Orlando held its official ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 3.

Maya Heard was crowned National American Miss Florida Teen and will go on to compete in the National American Miss pageant in Orlando.

Outpost Neighborhood Tavern held its official ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 5.

Rep. Anna V. Eskamani announced Sept. 8 a new partnership with Building Homes For Heroes, the Greater Orlando Builders Association and other community groups to rebuild the Eatonville home of U.S. Army Veteran Sergeant Patricia Golden.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts joins Cristo Rey Orlando High School as a Corporate Work Study partner, welcoming students into a yearlong, handson learning experience across departments including marketing & communications, development, corporate affairs and education.

CONDOLENCES

Former Orlando and Orange County commissioner Mable Butler has died at 98 on Sept. 7. As the first Black woman elected to the Orlando City Commission, she was a dedicated civil and human rights activist who helped usher in change in Central Florida at a time when racial tensions were high.

LOCAL BIRTHDAYS

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” All Stars winner Ginger Minj, former Watermark Out News designer Deanndra Meno, The News Junkie co-host and ally Chris Lane (Sept. 11); owner of A Comic Shop Aaron Haaland (Sept. 12); Former Pride Chamber president Tom Yaegers, LGBTQ+ ally Dee Richter (Sept. 14); Orlando Derby girl Jill Powers (Sept. 15); Central Florida’s DJ JB Burgos (Sept. 16); Hamburger Mary’s Orlando Broadway Brunch Bunch founder Jimmi Rossi (Sept. 17); Glamorous socialite Bill Jansen, Favorite ally Justice Mitchell, Priority One Financial’s Steven C. Lewis Jr. (Sept. 18); Flight of Ideas’ Bob Kodzis (Sept. 19); Disney manager of corporate alliances Jason Dobbins, Dr. David Rice at Eola Eyes, “DJ Trypsin” Gabe Medina (Sept. 20); Old Town Kissimmee general manager Thearon Scurlock, Hogwarts student Heather Murphy, Walt Disney Port Orleans Resort lobby concierge Gerry D. Evans, Central Florida teacher and LGBTQ+ activist James Rode, Orlando artist and comedian Angela Ramos, JLD Communications founder Jose Luis Dieppa (Sept. 21); Orlando sister “Isadora Knocking” Morris Beverly (Sept. 22); Former board president of The Pride Chamber Lu Mueller-Kaul, former Watermark art director Charlie Carballo (Sept. 23); Former President at Florida Theatrical Association Ron Legler, Orlando photographer Angie Folks (Sept. 24)

1

OUT AND OPEN: Devon Tillman (L), Commissioner Patty Sheehan (C) and John Teixeira (R) pose together with a city proclamation during Outpost Neighborhood Tavern’s ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 5. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA

2 COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Blake Simons, an attorney with the Simons law firm, speaks at the September Business Connect with The Pride Chamber. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA

3

DOGE AUDIT: Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference in Orlando with the state’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA

4

AFTERGLOW: Michael Vacirca (L) and Emmanuel Quinones (R) attend Anthem’s Golden Hour and Afterglow Labor Day Weekend Party. PHOTO BY DANNY GARCIA

5

DIVE IN: SAVOY hosts a charity car wash with their go-go dancers Sept. 6, benefitting the LGBT+ Center Orlando. PHOTO VIA SAVOY’S FACEBOOK

6 HOCUS POCUS: (L-R) Jujubee, Ginger Minj and Sapphirá Cristal rehearse before their Plaza Live show of “Hocus Pocus.” PHOTO BY CJ RUSSELL

7 PUBLIC STATEMENT: Joshua Cooper, co-owner of SAVOY, stands by the new window art installation Sept. 5. PHOTO BY BELLANEE PLAZA

8

UNIONIZED: Rep. Anna V. Eskamani speaks at Florida AFL-CIO Biennial Convention Sept. 7. PHOTO VIA REPRESENTATIVE ESKAMANI’S FACEBOOK

community calendar

CENTRAL FLORIDA

“La Cage aux Folles”

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, SEPT. 19-21, 6 P.M.

DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Encore Performing Arts invites audiences to experience “La Cage aux Folles,” a heartwarming and hilarious Tony Award-winning musical about love, identity and family. With a star drag performer, the show highlights when secrets are revealed in families. Including dazzling music numbers and a touching message about acceptance, the musical is full of heart and joy. For more information, visit DrPhillipsCenter.org.

Corsets & Cuties 10th Annual Amateur Contest

SUNDAY, SEPT. 14, 8 P.M. THE ABBEY

Join Corsets & Cuties for the 10th Annual Amateur Contest, an evening filled with creativity and charisma. Bold newcomers step into the spotlight to compete for the applause and votes from attendees. The event is sponsored by Premier Couples and will feature burlesque, singing, dancing and surprises you won’t see coming. For more information, visit CorsetsAndCuties.com.

TAMPA BAY

TIGLFF Summer Fest

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12-SUNDAY, SEPT. 14, TIMES VARY AMC WESTSHORE 14, TAMPA

The Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival returns to Tampa for a weekend of powerful storytelling and community connection. Films include “To the Moon,” “Plainclothes,” “Lakeview,” “MASC” and more, with two shorts programs. Tickets are $15 and festival passes are $75, available at TIGLFF.com. Learn more at WatermarkOutNews.com.

Out For Business Tampa Bay

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17, 6-8 P.M. THE STUDY, ST. PETERSBURG

Watermark Out News and the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber bring you an after-hours networking opportunity benefiting Trans Network! Join us from 6-8 p.m. to make connections with Chamber and community members, enjoy delicious light bites and participate in a raffle to raise funds for the nonprofit. Learn more at TampaBayLGBTChamber.org and Facebook.com/WatermarkOutNews.

EVENT PLANNER

ROYAL T

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

CENTRAL FLORIDA

“Dreamgirls,” Sept. 12, Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando. 407-358-6603; DrPhillipsCenter.org

Billy vs. Elton, Sept. 12, House of Blues Orlando, Orlando. 689-329-2583; Locations.HouseOfBlues.com

Book Swap, Sept. 13, Orlando Milkhouse Eatery & Cocktails, Orlando. 407-237-0575; MilkhouseSocial.com

Strength Through Unity Women’s Event, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando. 407-896-4231; OMArt.org

Tate McRae, Sept. 13-14, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; KiaCenter.com

Laufey, Sept. 15, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; KiaCenter.com

Sleep Token, Sept. 17, Kia Center, Orlando. 407-440-7000; KiaCenter.com

Les Vixens Presents: Villain Era, Sept. 17, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ LVBurlesque

John Cavazos, Sept. 17-18, Winter Park Playhouse. 407) 645-0145; WinterParkPlayhouse.org

Murder Mystery

Burlesque, Sept. 18, Cocktails & Screams, Orlando. 407-904-0124; CocktailsAndScreams.com

Latrice Royale, Sept. 19, Southern Nights, Orlando. 407-412-5039; Facebook.com/ SouthernNightsOrlando

“Stranger Sings,” Sept. 19-Oct. 5, Theatre South Playhouse, Orlando. 407-601-4380; TheatreSouthPlayhouse.org

Sorry Papi EDM Tour, Sept. 20, The Vanguard, Orlando. TheVanguard.Live

TAMPA BAY

“Rupaul’s Drag Race Werq the World,” Sept. 13, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. 727-791-7400; RuthEckerdHall.com

Benson Boone, Sept. 13, Benchmark International Arena, Tampa. 813-301-6500; BenchmarkIntlArena.com

Heavenly Ball, Sept. 14, Shelter Strong, Largo. 727-240-0150; ShelterStrong.org

The Fairy Crawl with the Tampa Bay Sisters, Sept. 14, Cocktail, St. Petersburg. 727-592-1914; TampaBaySisters.com

“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Sept. 16-Oct. 26, Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-7827; StrazCenter.org

100 Good Guys Q3 Impact Awards, Sept. 16, Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg. Instagram.com/100GoodGuys

Ballroom Drag Bingo, Sept. 17, Red Mesa Cantina, St. Petersburg. 727-896-8226; RedMesaCantina.com

Disco Tits Queer Women’s Night, Sept. 19, The Ball, St. Petersburg. 727-258-7626; TheBallStPete.com

Les Vixens Present: Villain Era, Sept. 19, Disco Pony Nightclub, Tampa. Facebook.com/LVBurlesque

HIDE Night, Sept. 19, Cocktail, St. Petersburg. 727-592-1914; CocktailStPete.com

Free Museum Day: Reimagine Our Mural, Sept. 20, Woodson African American Museum, St. Petersburg. 727-323-1104; WoodsonMuseum.org

Satur-Slay with Veronica Vixxen, Sept. 20, Thyrst, Largo. 727-240-0150; PlurCentral.com

Shade Showcase, Sept. 20, The Garage, St. Petersburg. 727-258-4850; Facebook.com/ OFCLGaragePage

Latrice Royale, Sept. 20, Disco Pony Nightclub, Tampa. Instagram.com/ DiscoPonyNightclub

Drag Brunch, Sept. 21, La Gran Muralla, Lakeland. 863-608-8639; LaGranMuralla. KwickMenu.com

The Witch’s Ball with the Tampa Bay Sisters, Sept. 21, The Catacombs, Tampa. TampaBaySisters.com

Monthly Relationship Builder, Sept. 24, The Sourdough Co., St. Petersburg. Facebook.com/Groups/ LGB2BPlus

SARASOTA

September Street Clean Up, Sept. 14, Osprey Ave., Sarasota. PPRSRQ.org

Harvest Sarasota Rainbow Crosswalk Painting, Sept. 14, The Harvest, Sarasota. 941-953-3559; HarvestSarasota.com

The pride we feel in being recognized nationally for the third year in a row as a Top 50 hospital for heart and vascular care by US News & World Report is matched only by the pride we feel for our community. Our combination of advanced treatments and compassionate team of experts work together to provide you with trusted care year after year — giving you the confidence you need in your heart care. Learn more at OrlandoHealth.com/Heart

Award-Winning Care. Decades of Dedication.

At Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, our commitment to expert, compassionate care has spanned generations. For more than 100 years, we’ve been the trusted healthcare resource our community depends on. From advanced cardiology and comprehensive emergency services to personalized women’s care and leading-edge brain and spine expertise, our dedicated teams deliver award-winning care — close to home. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/Bayfront