priests - Watermark Online

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DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • SARASOTA • Issue 20.16 • Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 • WatermarkOnline.com
YOUR LGBT LIFE.
Steve Grand
skyrockets
to fame with
‘All
won’t judge
American
Boy’
priests
Pope
Francis
gay
Copyright Benson 2013. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced.
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
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page Tampa resident Gabe Alves
among textbooks and
25 sits
resources from several
“reparative therapy” programs he
attended over the years in hopes to
“cure” his attraction to other men.
Photo by Jake Stevens
Preview
page
19
All
American Boy: Steve Grand made history with his YouTube music video
“All American Boy,” and is now considered the first openly gay country singer. He shares the
story behind the catchy song and what it means to gain worldwide recognition overnight.
Watermark I s s u e 20 . 16 // A u g . 1 - A u g . 14 , 20 13
Orlando News
Tampa Bay News
page Community leaders host
page Hillsborough County
In Depth: Ex Gay Therapy Gallery W
Read
it online!
scan
qr code for
WatermarkOnline.com
In addition to a Web
site with daily LGBT
updates, a digital
version of each issue
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made available on
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forum to discuss the
Kevin
08 aSupreme
10 Commissioner
Court’s decision
Beckner attended Harvard
to rule the Defense of Marriage
Act unconstitutional; Lake County
Schools will finally meet about its
club policies on Aug. 12; more.
University’s Kennedy School to
hone his leadership skills; Longtime
activist Russ Crumley passed away
unexpectedly July 27; more.
page Those who experienced
25
reparative therapy through
organizations like Exodus
say their experiences were frustrating
and humiliating. Former Exodus
leader Alan Chambers talks about life
post-Exodus; We look at the history
of reparative therapy practices.
page The Super Joy Riders made
appearance on July 28
46 anto battle
litter, pessimism
and to spread good cheer in Orlando.
We caught some of the excitement
as we followed the do-gooders
around town.
Visit WatermarkOnline.com to see our newest web exclusive: Screened Out. Our movie reviews are now online and more timely.
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
5
letters to the editor
Royal Baby Blues
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he Royal Baby is
here...Hurray! Long
Live the Future “King
George VII” But I saw something I
didn’t like when Kate and
William exited the hospital. A regular couple, (as regular
as you can be with hordes
of paparazzi with cameras
trained on them) came out
with their new baby. Prince
William brought the new
baby out in a $140 Babies R
Us car seat, handled it with
obvious rehearsed ease,
loaded baby and his Duchesswife in the land rover and
drove himself and his new
clan off to the palace. What is
wrong with this picture?
I’ll tell you—it just ain’t
royal, that’s what! They
looked more like a modern
day version of the Clampetts
than they did the future King
and Queen of England with
their heir apparent. When I tune into my
favorite TV network news
here in the USA to watch
the Royals of Great Britain, I
expect to see royalty! Not a
group of “special folk” trying
to act like the rest of us.
For God’s sake, where
were the Rolls Royces?
The gilded horse drawn
carriages? Where were the
chauffeurs, butlers, coachmen
and footmen to drive the
royal couple the seven blocks
to the palace? And where are the
processions of starched and
“They looked more like a modern
day version of the Clampetts
than they did the future King and
Queen of England.”
—Skip Stewart
pressed nannies dressed
like Harvey Girls, in a parade
following new-Mom Kate out
to the mile-long entourage for
the drive home? And Pippa?
Couldn’t she have at the very
least dressed up as a lady in
waiting for the event? Is that
too much to expect? I sure missed the overdressed, tricorn-hatted town
crier with this big hand-bell
ringing and bellowing about
the birth thru the streets of
London! Speaking of bells,
why weren’t all the church
bells in Britain ringing nonstop to celebrate the birth
of their future monarch? I
know peasants with torches
dancing on the moors is a bit
much to ask in this day and
time, (what with the heavy
British union laws and all) but
where was the celebration? Damn, the Queen could
have at least showed up at
Kensington Palace to see the
new baby in a crown bearing
a gift of a baby rattle made
like a scepter! Come-on Great Britain, get
with it and get your “Royal”
on! You guys do pomp and
grandeur better than anyone. editor’s
We commoners in the USA
live for it!
Skip Stewart
Orlando
Saying nothing
says volumes
Kathleen Ford has
pandered to the gay
community of St. Petersburg
for years, expressing her
support and asking for our
money. But why couldn’t she
squeeze in time to address
specific LGBT concerns
at a debate at the Metro
Wellness and Community
Center? Even [St. Pete Mayor
Bill] Foster, who constantly
reminds us that he won’t
support Pride by attending,
spoke at the debate and
promoted a message of nondiscrimination.
Too many LGBT people
have supported Ford for too
long. Her actions, or in this
case, non-actions, speak
louder than her words. I
hope people remember
this when the primary rolls
around in August.
Charles Sloper
St. Petersburg
Steve Blanchard
EDITOR
SteveB@WatermarkOnline.com
W
orking on the cover story
for this issue of Watermark, I was
reminded of my own journey toward
the acceptance of my sexuality. Like so many, I
was told that gay people “choose” who they are
because of a blatant disrespect for God.
Even though in my heart I knew
that was a ridiculous claim, the
message was preached so often
that eventually, I believed it. In
middle school, when I first noticed
other young men—and those
hunky men on television—I kept
telling myself to quit “choosing”
to fantasize about these icons of
masculinity. For a short period
in college, I ignored my feelings
and focused my energy on a
Christian campus group. I hoped
that activity would help distract
me from the men on campus long
enough to find that “nice girl”
watermark staff
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
who would steal my attention
and my heart.
Of course, that never happened
and I found myself crushing on an
older, male member of that same
Christian group.
The young man on our cover,
Gabe Alves, fought the same
battle I did, but to an extreme.
And former Exodus International
leader Alan Chambers, who
reporter Susan Clary interviewed
within these pages, still fights
that battle.
I truly believe that Chambers
chooses the way he lives—with a
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wife and two children.
Call it what you want—choice,
free will—but there is a choice
involved in living as a gay person.
But that choice has nothing to do
with our sexuality.
I remember exactly where I
was when I decided to follow
through on my feelings. Mind
you, I didn’t say I remember
when I chose to be gay, but I know
exactly when I chose to act on the
attraction I had for other men.
I was in college, but spending
the weekend with
my parents, who
were visiting the
campus. As they
were sleeping
in their hotel
bed, just a few
feet from mine, I
struggled to fall
asleep. For weeks
I had battled the
attraction I had
for other young
men on campus and not acting
on those feelings distracted me
from sleep, from class—from
everything, really.
As I tried to get comfortable
that night, I held an internal
argument with myself—a ‘should
I or shouldn’t I’ scenario that
finally resulted in me choosing to
let my natural attraction guide me
to the experiences I craved.
The gut-wrenching internal
dialogue resulted in some muchneeded sound sleep. Once my
parents left the campus on that
following Sunday afternoon, I
gave myself a pep talk and found
avenues for meeting men for
more-than-platonic relationships.
(Remember the chat program
MIRC?) Within a month I met,
face to face, with an attractive man
only a few years older than I was.
I don’t know if it was chemistry
or pent up frustration, but even
the minor contact we had that
first night felt right—freeing,
even—and I knew I made
the right choice to act on my
impulses. Eventually, he and
I dated, and soon called each
other boyfriends. It was my first
same-sex relationship and while
I was happy I finally followed
through on my attractions, I
never told my family or my old
high school friends about that
relationship until years later—
long after we split.
It’s easy to condemn or mock
those who continue to battle
their own sexuality. Watching or
reading about their struggles is
frustrating to many of us. But just
because we have found
peace doesn’t mean
others will—
or even can.
Our
interview with
Chambers
intrigued
me. He tells
us he has an
attraction to
other men but
he refuses to act on his natural
impulse. In fact, he compares
his attractions to those that his
wife has toward other men. Just
because she sees a handsome
man, he explains, doesn’t mean
she’s going to have sex with
him. He uses the same logic in
describing his own sexuality.
Human sexuality is a journey
for all of us. Some of us just
take different—and sometimes
longer—paths to feeling
comfortable with it.
—
In this issue, you’ll notice
Screened Out, our movie reviews
are missing. That column is
now an exclusive feature at
WatermarkOnline.com which will
have more timely reviews. | l |
Call it what you
want—choice,
free will—but
there is a choice
involved in living
as a gay person.
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
contributors
David
Moran
is the LGBTQ
Services Graduate
Coordinator at
the University of
Central Florida, where he studied
Emerging Media. Page 8
Mary Meeks
is an Orlandobased attorney
who is also an
LGBT activist.
She is a long-time
contributor to Watermark. Page 15
Gregg
Shapiro
is a Chicago-based
freelance journalist
and entertainment
reporter whose
work appears frequently in
Watermark. Page 19
Greg Burton, Scottie Campbell,
Zach Caruso, Amy Dees,
Kirk Hartlage, Joseph Kissel,
Ken Kundis, Mary Meeks,
Stephen Miller, David Moran,
Gregg Shipiro, Greg Stemm,
Brett Stout, Jim Walker
photography
Nick Cardello, Angie Folks,
Tom Eckert, Julie Milford, Travis Moore,
Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift,
Tinkerfluff
distribution
Debbie Oliver, Phil Garris, Ken Caraway
CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by
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7
orlando
news
It’s your money.
Lake County school board
set to discuss clubs Aug. 12
Staff report
Comprehensive Financial Planning
for the LGBT Community
T
averes | After several delays, the Lake County
School Board is scheduled to discuss school
clubs—and as a result, the fate of a muchdebated Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Carver Middle
School—Aug. 12.
In mid-May, the board voted to allow elementary
schools to have school-sponsored clubs with parental
consent, but student-created clubs would not be
permitted. For high schools, the board voted students
could create clubs with the superintendant’s approval.
But the board argued about what to do for middle
schools, finally voting to limit clubs to organizations that
can “strengthen and promote critical thinking, business
skills, athletic skills and performing arts.”
It is unclear whether the GSA club charter would
meet those application requirements.
The board needed to advertise its preliminary
decision for 28 days before a final reading date was
set. The follow-up meeting was scheduled for June
24, then moved to July 8 and now set for the new
August date. | l |
MBA receives national
recognition
Staff report
Orlando | The Metropolitan Business Association of
Orlando was awarded the Excellence in Communications
award by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce (NGLCC).
“NGLCC local affiliate chambers like MBA Orlando are
leveraging every possible tool and tactic to support their
member businesses and nurture their growth. They’re
at the center of a strong, vibrant, and fully inclusive
economy,” said Sam McClure, NGLCC Director of Affiliate
Relations and External Affairs, in a media release.
MBA Orlando was recognized for reaching members
through a multimedia effort, including a new website and
weekly e-newsletter, utilizing a member management
system along with a traditional printed directory and
social media.
“We are incredibly proud that our hard work has led
to this award,” said Mikael Frank Audebert, MBA Orlando
President. “We needed to reassess how the chamber was
communicating with its members, so we took an allencompassing approach to increase chamber, member,
and community exposure.”
MBA Orlando Membership Director Eric Rollings
will travel to the NGLCC 2013 Business & Leadership
Conference in Dallas, Texas in August to accept the
award. | l |
8
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Finally wed: Peter Rocchio (left), 78, and William Baxter, 73, were engaged for 45 years before finally marrying the night
before an “After DOMA” discussion at The Abbey July 17. Photo by David Moran
After DOMA
Now what? Panel requests call to action
David Thomas Moran
David@Watermarkonline.com
O
rlando | As LGBT
Americans across the
country continue to
celebrate the June 26 Supreme
Court ruling striking down
the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA), the immediate future of
marriage equality in Florida looks
bleak. Even so, a call to action
is growing state-wide to bring
about change.
According to panelists at the
“After DOMA: Now What” forum
held at The Abbey in Downtown
Orlando on July 17, Florida
marriage equality still has some
significant hurdles to overcome
even with success of defeating
DOMA and Proposition 8.
The panel fielded a variety
of questions about immigration
visas, taxes, veteran benefits,
estate planning and the legality
of marriage licenses from
other states.
“I hate to be the downer in
the group [but in Florida] your
[out-of-state] marriage certificate
doesn’t mean a whole lot,” said
Orlando civil rights attorney
Mary Meeks, responding to a
couple who were just married in
Washington, D.C.
Meeks said the DOMA decision
brought about three positive
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
changes for Florida LGBT couples:
1) immigration rights, 2) samesex partner benefits for civilian
and military employees of the
Department of Defense, and 3)
same-sex partner benefits for
federal employees.
A recurrent answer to the
questions asked by audience
members was, “we don’t know
yet” or, “it depends.” But many
of the forum’s panelists still
remained optimistic about
Florida’s future. Marriage provides 1,148
different legal rights to a
couple which are administered
by varying federal agencies.
According to Meeks, it is going to
take some time for such agencies
to evaluate and fully implement
the DOMA decision.
Some marriage rights are
specifically contingent on the
couple’s place of domicile or
residency, including some veteran
benefits and the right to divorce.
Bi-national Florida LGBT
couples are already experiencing
direct benefits from the DOMA
ruling. One of the first same-sex
couples granted an immigration
visa resides in South Florida.
Orlando immigration attorney
Henry Lim said the federal
government is moving quickly in
regards to immigration rights. “[The DOMA ruling] also
watermarkonline.com
applies to not only immigrant
visas but everything else related
to [immigration] spousal rights,
even fiancé petitions,” said Lim.
The panel seemed to
collectively agree that it will
be a matter of years before
marriage equality becomes a
reality in Florida.
Meeks said the most likely path
to marriage equality in the state
will be through the courts.
Florida’s state legislature has
refused to even consider a bill for
a state-wide domestic partnership
registry let alone marriage rights.
Some are calling for a statewide
referendum to go on the ballot in
2014 or 2016 to change Florida’s
marriage laws. However, such a referendum
would require 60% of voters to
approve the measure. Statistician
Nate Silver, according to Meeks,
estimates that 60% of Florida
voters would not approve such a
change in law until 2020.
Though there is much
uncertainty and little change in
Florida marriage laws for LGBT
couples, panelists encouraged
Florida residents to stay and fight.
Equality Florida is
spearheading “A Path to Marriage
Equality in Florida,” an action
plan in collaboration with local
and national LGBT organizations.
Meeks said that Equality Florida
is also currently laying the
foundation for an eventual court
case in Florida. | l |
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
9
tampa bay
news
A
Tom Dyer
dyer@Watermarkonline.com
S
t. Petersburg |
During more than 20
years in Orlando, Russ
Crumley made indelible
contributions to the LGBT
community. When he moved
to St. Petersburg in 2002, that
city became the beneficiary
Unexpected
of his boundless energy,
loss: Russ Crumley
creativity and passion for
was co-founder of
good times and good works.
the Central Florida
Crumley died
Softball League,
unexpectedly of cardiac
and active in the Old
Southeast neighborhood
arrest on July 24 at his
of St. Petersburg.
home in the Old Southeast
neighborhood. He is survived
by his husband, George Spence.
Crumley was a marketing/training/development
specialist, author, activist and community organizer.
His passions were the arts, the environment,
neighborhoods and people.
He attended Stetson University, where he was
president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. After
moving to Orlando, he quickly became a recognizable
figure in the city’s burgeoning LGBT community.
He threw an annual Easter Bonnet Party that
attracted hundreds to his Thornton Park home,
culminating in a promenade down Washington St.
and through Dexter’s. In 1997, he enlisted a handful
of friends and founded the Central Florida Softball
League, which now boasts more than 30 teams.
In 1998 and 1999 Crumley produced Beachfest,
a relaxed two-day circuit-type event that attracted
thousands to Daytona Beach. Also in 1998, he
provided key support when Watermark obtained
permission to hang rainbow flags throughout
downtown Orlando, making national news.
“Russ was a social mad man,” said his friend, Chris
Bertoch. “He was adept at weaving communities
together and fostering friendships while always
wringing fun out of anything and everything.”
Crumley followed a job to Tampa Bay in 2002.
That’s when Crumley also met and fell in love with
Spence. He became a devoted step-dad to Spence’s
four children, and in his last decade often told friends
he had the family he’d always wanted.
While grieving his husband’s death, Spence
experienced frustrations familiar to survivors in
same-sex couples throughout Florida, including lack
of legal authority to make funeral arrangements.
“In memory of Russ, please show your support
for marriage equality in Florida by volunteering
time, donating money or simply contacting your
lawmakers,” Spence wrote on Facebook. “As Russ
would push all of us to do, take one more step beyond
your comfort level.” | l |
High achievers: (L-R) Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis and Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner
both attended the Harvard Kennedy School in July. Photo courtesy Kevin Beckner
Harvard grad
Kevin Beckner hones leadership
skills at Harvard University
government program
Susan Clary
susan@Watermarkonline.com
T
ampa | Hillsborough County
Commissioner Kevin
Beckner can negotiate a
successful bipartisan decision.
A passionate speech to fellow
commissioners in June led to the
unanimous repeal of a draconian
ordinance that barred the county
from recognizing gay pride events.
Still, Beckner says, no matter
how long you serve in public office
there is always more to learn. To
that end, Beckner applied and
was accepted to the 2013 Harvard
Kennedy School at Harvard
University in Boston.
The prestigious Senior
Executives in State and Local
Government Program, held
each summer, teaches seasoned
public officials to become better
leaders, including finding difficult
consensus in government bodies.
“I am a lifelong learner and
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
firmly believe in continuing
education,” Beckner said. “This is
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to experience the academic
excellence of Harvard alongside
other talented leaders from
across the world.”
Tuition to the program, held
July 8-26 this year, is $12,000.
Beckner was one of six people
selected as a David Bohnett
Leadership Fellow by the Gay and
Lesbian Victory Institute, which
covered $7,500 of his tuition.
Beckner paid the remainder of
the travel, tuition and personal
expense fees out-of-pocket.
“The knowledge I gained will
ultimately benefit the citizens of
Hillsborough County that I was
elected to serve,” Beckner said. “It
was a worthwhile lifelong learning
experience.”
Leaders from the U.S., New
Zealand, Ireland and Australia
participated. They included
state and local elected leaders,
city and county managers and
watermarkonline.com
administrators and chiefs of police
and sheriffs. Eighty people were
chosen from 600 applications.
1011120
Orange County Sheriff Jerry
Demings was also part of the class.
Half page
The curriculum covers
9.875x5.125
issues commonly confronted by
government officials, and includes
4c
structured conversations that
enable participants to develop
tools for navigating constituencies,
partisan environments and multiparty negotiations.
Beckner discovered there were
13 other LGBT representatives
in attendance. The group’s
camaraderie led to valuable
discussions on human dignity and
respect for constituents, he said.
“We talked about how
LGBT officials can work to
create inclusive policies to
ensure everyone is recognized
and protected,” Beckner said.
“I returned believing it’s
only a matter of time before
Hillsborough County has a human
rights ordinance that reflects our
diversity.”
Kevin Beckner won his seat
on the Hillsborough County
Commission in 2008 and was
easily re-elected in 2012.
He is the county’s first gay
commissioner. | l |
ccording to the ACLU of
Florida, marriage equality
will essentially have to be
forced on the residents of Florida
when same-sex marriage becomes
legal across the country. Equality
leaders aren’t optimistic that
voters will suddenly rush to the
ballot box and approve a measure
legalizing same-sex unions in the
Sunshine State.
“I don’t want to build up any
false expectations that it would be
good to run back to the ballot right
now, or that it would be good to
think that we should file a lawsuit
any time until the hearts and minds
change more and the environment
changes a bit more,” ACLU of Florida
executive director Howard Simon
told the Miami Herald
In all, 37 states have laws
banning marriage equality, which
has created legal chaos for same-sex
couples who live in those states but
are legally married in others. On
June 26, more chaos was created
when the U.S. Supreme Court
overturned part of the Defense of
Marriage Act, ruling that the federal
government must recognize legal
marriages of same-sex couples
married in the 13 states that allow
it and the District of Columbia. The
ruling also mentions legal marriages
from international locations.
It’s unlikely Florida’s 2008
Amendment 2, which defined
marriage as between a man and
woman, could be overturned at this
time, said Nadine Smith, Equality
Florida’s executive director. At least
60% of voters must approve the
addition or repeal of an amendment
to the State Constitution. Recent
polls show a shift in support
for marriage equality, but those
numbers only reach 54% in favor.
“There are two places that
we’re really investing,” Smith said.
“When you look at the places where
marriage equality has come, through
the legislature or through the ballot,
it’s preceded by a deep investment
of a public education campaign that
humanizes these issues.”
A petition drive to put marriage
equality on the 2014 Florida
ballot is already underway and is
spearheaded by political strategist
Vanessa Brito of Miami.
“In three weeks, we collected
nearly 40,000 signatures,” Brito told
the Herald, adding that if polling in
January shows the measure can’t
pass in November 2014, she would
hold her petitions two more years.
The ACLU and other groups
believe Florida will get full marriage
equality only when the rest of the
United States gets it.
“The ACLU is working now to
secure the equal right to marry
nationwide by following up our
U.S. Supreme Court victory in the
Windsor case with lawsuits in
Pennsylvania, Virginia and North
Carolina,” Simon said. “Given the
political environment in Florida, we
are more likely to secure the right to
marry for Florida’s same-sex couples
from victories in other states than
by initiating either a lawsuit or a
referendum in Florida.” | l |
Gay rights groups sign letter
of support for Trayvon Martin
Staff Report
T
hirty-five LGBT groups have signed a letter of
support asking the federal government to get
involved in the case of Trayvon Martin, a Florida
teen killed by George Zimmerman in 2012.
Zimmerman was found ‘not guilty’ of murder in July.
Since that verdict, civil rights groups have protested
Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which the defense used
in its argument.
The National Black Justice Coalition, the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force, the American Civil Liberties
Union, GLSEN, GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign
are among those who have signed the letter.
“Trayvon Martin deserves justice,” the letter reads. “We
support the organizations and community leaders who
are urging the federal government to explore every option
to ensure that justice is served for Trayvon and that his
civil rights are honored and respected.”
The letter connects Martin’s death with anti-gay
violence victims such as Brandon Teena, a transgender
male killed and raped in 1993, Matthew Shepard, a gay
man beaten and tied to a fence in 1998, and Sakia Gunn, a
15-year-old lesbian stabbed to death in 2003. | l |
state
10
St. Pete, Orlando lose
community activist
Staff Report
news
Marriage equality may have to be ‘imposed’ on Floridians
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1011120 9.875x5.125 4c.indd 1
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
7/23/13 10:21 AM
11
nation+world
in other news
Calif. court rejects bid to
stop gay marriages
The California Supreme Court on July 23 rejected a request
by San Diego County Clerk Ernest Dronenburg, Jr., for an
order halting gay marriages, which resumed in the state last
month. Dronenburg sought the stay on July 19, when he also
asked the court to consider his legal argument that same-sex
marriages remain illegal in most of California despite a U.S.
Supreme Court decision widely regarded as authorizing them.
2 men found guilty under
Cameroon’s anti-gay law
A court in Yaounde, Cameroon, on July 23 found two men
guilty under the country’s harsh law banning homosexuality.
Judges sentenced 48-year-old Joseph Omgbwa to two years
in prison and 19-year-old Nicolas Ntamack to one year. The
convictions came less than two weeks after a prominent
Cameroonian gay rights activist, Eric Ohena Lembembe, was
tortured and killed in an attack related to his activism.
news
Court orders Ohio
to recognize same-sex marriage
Two gay Cincinnati men, John Arthur and Jim Obergefell,
successfully sued to get their out-of-state marriage recognized in
Ohio despite a state ban on same-sex marriage. Arthur won the
right to be listed as married on his death certificate and to have
his husband listed as his surviving spouse. The federal judge’s
order came July 22 after Arthur sued state and local officials to
ensure that he and Obergefell can be buried next to each other
in a cemetery that only allows descendants and spouses.
Pope Francis says he won’t judge gay priests
Wire Report
V
ATICAN CITY | Pope Francis
reached out to gays, saying
he won’t judge priests
for their sexual orientation in
a remarkably open and wideranging news conference July
29 as he returned from his first
foreign trip.
`Ìf someone is gay and he
searches for the Lord and has
good will, who am I to judge?’’
Francis asked. ``We shouldn’t
marginalize people for this. They
must be integrated into society.’’
Francis’ predecessor, Pope
Benedict XVI, signed a document
in 2005 that said men who
had deep-rooted homosexual
tendencies should not be
priests. Francis was much more
conciliatory in his first news
conference as pope, saying gay
clergymen should be forgiven and
their sins forgotten.
The comments did not signal
any change in church policy.
Pope Francis
Catholic teaching still holds that
homosexual acts are “intrinsically
disordered.’’ But they indicated a
shift in tone under Francis’ young
papacy and an emphasis on a
church that is more inclusive and
merciful rather than critical and
disciplinary.
Francis also said he wanted
a greater role for women in the
church, though he insisted that
they cannot become priests.
Reporters onboard the papal
aircraft also asked Francis about
reports suggesting that a group
of gay clergymen exert undue
influence on Vatican policy. Italian
news media reported this year
that the allegations of what they
call the ``gay lobby’’ contributed
to Benedict’s decision to resign.
Stressing that Catholic social
teaching calls for homosexuals
to be treated with dignity and
not marginalized, Francis said he
would not condone anyone using
private information for blackmail
or to exert pressure.
`À lot is written about this `gay
lobby. I still haven’t found anyone
at the Vatican who has `gay’ on
his business card,’’ Francis said,
chuckling .”You have to distinguish
between the fact that someone
is gay and the fact of being in a
`lobby.’’’ | l |
YOUR
LGBT
LIFE.
WatermarkOnline.com
12
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
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14
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
Y
ou may be sick and tired
of the cacophony of raised
voices arguing over the
acquittal of George Zimmerman.
Whatever your reaction was to
the jury verdict, the indisputable
prevalence of institutional racism, in
society at large and in our legal system,
goes well beyond this one case.
To my fellow members in the LGBT community,
I ask you to stay tuned, and to get engaged,
because make no mistake, Trayvon Martin could
have been you.
I watched virtually every minute of the trial. As
a civil rights attorney and activist, I felt a growing
sense of horror and dread; as a gay person, in
particular, my heart ached for the family of the young
boy whose life was taken, and whose intentional
killing was excused—by institutional racism.
Virtually everyone involved in the legal process,
and many in the community, evaluated the case
based on the alleged perceptions of the killer, and
determined that it was reasonable, based on their
experience, for the hefty Caucasian adult packing
heat to criminally profile, and then fear, the skinny
black child walking home with candy and iced tea. It
either never occurred to them to look at things from
Trayvon’s perspective, or they were
incapable of even comprehending
an alternative perspective from the
point of view of a young black boy.
I could not help but think about
Ryan Skipper, the young gay man
who was profiled and murdered in
2007 in Polk County because he was
gay, and who was then profiled and
defamed by law enforcement, the
media, and the greater community,
because he was gay. Ryan was a
victim of institutional homophobia.
Initially, Ryan—a sweet, bubbly,
productive member of our
community—was wrongly portrayed
as some kind of reprobate engaged
in criminal activity with his killers.
My wife and I made a
documentary about the case with the
help of Ryan’s wonderful family and
friends. We were able to help get the
truth out, to change the narrative—
to erase the profile—and ultimately
Ryan’s killers were convicted.
But during those excruciating
days that we sat at the Polk County
courthouse with Ryan’s parents,
awaiting the verdicts, I feared the
worst, and imagined how painful
it would be if Ryan’s killers were
acquitted, not only for Ryan’s
family and friends, but for the LGBT
community. Fortunately, we did not
have to experience that pain. But,
how would the gay community have
reacted to such a verdict?
I ask that question, because I
noted with some surprise, and
disappointment, that members of
the LGBT community did not seem to
react strongly to Trayvon’s murder
or to the acquittal of his killer,
under circumstances that I feel sure
would have engendered widespread
outrage had it involved a gay child.
The notorious “gay panic defense”
has been trotted out by numerous
murderers to excuse their vicious
acts by claiming they were afraid of
the oversexed gay (or transsexual)
man—from Matthew Shepard to
Brandon Teena to 14-year-old Larry
King. We cannot ignore the common
root, and resulting injustice, of these
“panic” defenses, whether the fear
claimed is of a gay “sexual deviant,”
or of a black “thug” in a hoodie.
Matthew Shepard and Trayvon
Martin were each profiled, targeted,
stalked, confronted, allegedly feared,
and ultimately killed, because of who
they were.
When our young gay and black
men are profiled and victimized just
for trying to walk home from a trip
to the store, and justice is denied,
we are all victims. Any one of us, or
someone we love, could be next. All
of us should be united in fighting
to erase the institutional influences
that take too many of our children. It
worries me that we are not.
After the Zimmerman verdict,
my wife and I attended a vigil for
Trayvon at the Orlando federal
courthouse. Before the vigil began,
a black woman approached us, and
thanked us, two of the few white
faces in the crowd, for coming to
their pain. I thought about amazing
advocates for our community who
are black, like Nadine Smith, the
longtime Executive Director of
Equality Florida. I spoke to Nadine
the day after the verdict, and
she was so heartbroken that she
literally could not speak—I hung
up the phone, feeling sick inside.
I thought about
black allies to our
community—people
like Val Demings,
Daisy Lynum, Sam
Ings, Geraldine
Thompson, Tiffany
Moore Russell—
who have stood
with us in our
fight for justice
and equality.
I thought about
all of them, and I asked myself, will I
honor their friendship and support
for our community, and join them in
the fight for their community? Aren’t
we the same community? Don’t they
deserve equal justice? Don’t I owe it
to them to fight for it?
My answer is yes. What’s
yours? | l |
We cannot ignore the common
root, and resulting injustice,
of these ‘panic’ defenses,
whether the fear claimed is
of a gay ‘sexual deviant,’ or of
a black ‘thug’ in a hoodie.
express our solidarity in seeking
justice for her community. It made
us uncomfortable—we should not
have stood out in that crowd as
exceptional because of our skin
color. I was ashamed that we did.
I was especially ashamed as a gay
person—our community knows this
pain, we know this injustice, why
weren’t we there for this child?
Afterwards, I thought about my
black friends, both gay and straight,
who are hurting so terribly from this
injustice, and felt helpless to ease
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
15
Got Mustard?
Talking Points
I’m so sick of gay this, gay that.
I could care less. It ain’t affecting
my life at all.
We’ve got more weiner
than we can handle.
—Larry the Cable Guy on Larry King Now on Hulu.
www.DareToRescue.com
83
Gay porn career A
% no-no
of Brits would be “very comfortable,
comfortable or neutral” if the new
Prince George were to identify as
gay or bisexual.
—According to a survey conducted by the LGBT charity Stonewall.
for ballet school
T
he arts community has always seemed
progressive and creative. So, who knew
that ballet follows different rules—conservative,
highbrow rules. Just ask Jeppe Hansen. The 22-year old
ballet dancer has been performing since he was 2. He
is so good that the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School gave
him a full scholarship last fall. Hansen, who wanted to
express himself beyond the traditional tights and toe
shoes, has decided to start a second career in gay porn
under the name Jett Black.
When fellow classmates saw photos of him on Tumblr,
they tattled to the Artistic Director, who kicked him
out of school. Hansen, who grew up in ballet, said he
understands. Until he can find a more understanding
company, he will pursue adult entertainment full time. | l |
people are talking at Watermarkonline.com
On Ender’s Game stars
being questioned
about marriage
equality at Comic-Con:
“Several of the longstanding Ender’s
Game fans over at the fansite Philotic
Web (myself included) are running
a fundraising drive for fans of Orson
Scott Card’s works to contribute
to, as a form of political offset to
counteract any anti-equal-rights
lobbying that may be funded by our
purchase of tickets to see Ender’s
Game in theatres this fall. It’s an
all-inclusive campaign designed to
unite supporters of LGBT-rights from
across the political spectrum to show
their opposition to unequal treatment
under the law.
—Boothyby 171
On how some LGBT
activists regret
the focus on
marriage equality:
“How about we don’t stop fighting
and start bickering until AFTER all 50
states are equal on this issue.”
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
“Orson Scott Card could learn a lot
from Tim Hardaway.”
—aGuyWithOpinions
—Michael Vacirca
’On the ruling against
On Abby Dees’ Viewpoint San Diego’s clerk’s
request to stop
column regarding
gay marriage:
her history with LGBT
visibility and activism: ‘ “What part of ‘phuck off and
“Excellent piece. In 85 I was only 2
years old so I can’t even imagine
what it must have been like to
experience all of that. I have always
had an interest in gay history,
especially concerning that time
period.”
—Charles Pippins
16
On Steve blanchard’s
editor’s desk
about forgiving
tim hardaway:
die, natsy bigots’ are they not
understanding?”
—Norman Dostal
Biracial lesbian
makes pageant history
A
nalouisa Valencia,
the first openly
lesbian contestant
in the 2013 Miss South
Carolina Pageant, tore
down barriers in the Miss
America organization, even
though she didn’t make it
to the finals. Valencia, 20, is
biracial and bilingual—her
mother is Hispanic and her
father is African-American. She
lives in Spartanburg and won
the title of Miss Lyman.
She told The Associated
Press that she became
interested in pageants in 2000, when she joined a mentoring
program for young girls called Palmetto Princesses and met
Miss Spartanburg. The tiara got her hooked. She has been
competing ever since.
Incidentally, she came out to her family when she was in
the ninth grade. | l |
Marriage equality
causes
straight poverty?
S
traight married women
had better watch out
or they could soon be among
the thousands of single mothers
struggling in poverty. That’s
the newest message from The
Heritage Foundation on the evils of
legalizing same-sex marriage.
“Redefining marriage
diminishes the social pressures
for husbands to remain with their
wives and children, and for men
and women to marry before having
children,” said Ryan T. Anderson,
with the Foundation’s DeVos
Center for Religion and a Civil
Society. | l |
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
Visit
Britain…
and get gay-married
W
ith the legalization of
gay marriage in Britain, we
anticipate some fabulous weddings
are in the works. ‘Visit Britain,’ the national
tourism agency, has issued a list of gay-friendly
wedding venues and locations, including
castles in Wales, the Brighton Pier in England
and the restaurant atop the iconic 30 St. Mary
Axe in London.
Though same-sex weddings in Britain won’t
take place until next summer, competition for
the destination gay wedding and honeymoon
market is heating up. Canada has had same-sex
marriage since 2005. Marriage equality became
legal in France in May and weddings will begin in
New Zealand starting August 19. | l |
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I
Gregg Shapiro gregshapiro@aol.com
n these days of instant internet
celebrity, overnight sensations are a dime a dozen.
But Chicago-based gay singer/songwriter Steve
Grand seems to be an exception with his song “AllAmerican Boy” and its accompanying video.
Sure, he’s breathtaking to look at and
that doesn’t hurt. He’s even put in time
as a model. More than just a pretty face
and amazing body, Grand is a musician
with a message. Striking a chord across
boundaries, Grand’s song and video
of unrequited love, set to an unlikely
country music beat, has found a devoted
audience and earned nearly two million
views on YouTube.
On the (boot)heels of this viral
video, Grand has received attention
and coverage from a variety of sources,
including The Huffington Post, Good
Morning, America CNN and The Los
Angeles Times, not to mention numerous
LGBT websites and publications.
18
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
A proudly gay voice for his generation
and others, Grand is still getting used
to being in the spotlight. We spoke with
him about the experience, his music and
his future in mid-July 2013.
WATERMARK: Steve, how does it
feel to be a YouTube sensation?
STEVE GRAND: More than anything,
I’m just grateful my song has reached
so many people so quickly. And reached
people that it has meaning for. People
that feel the same way I felt and that
it resonates with people emotionally.
That’s all I hoped for. That’s all you can
Continued on page 30 | uu |
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
19
particular vision in mind. I think all
that was influenced by everything
I’ve been through, growing up and
having this happen to me over
and over again.
| uu | Steve Grand from pg.27
hope for as a songwriter, as one
who makes music and performs.
Is there anything in your
background or training as an
artist and performer that
prepared you for this moment?
I started taking piano when I
was six years old. When I was
four I started making models of
pianos out of cardboard. I was
so fascinated even with just
the aesthetic of a piano. I was
obsessed with Schroeder, [from
Peanuts], and his piano. I would
go through different phases as
a kid, as we all do and I would
get obsessed and driven to
be creative.
My parents picked up on it and
they got us this old, shitty upright
piano and we all started taking
lessons. I was the one that was
really into it, especially the piano.
I took music classes in high school.
Because “All-American Boy” has
a touch of twang, the song is
being pigeonholed as country
and even led to you receiving
a favorable mention on a
Nashville website. But being
an openly gay musician in Music
City can still be risky as we
saw when Chely Wright came
out as a lesbian. Do you have
any thoughts about that?
I never set out to write a country
song. I would never dismiss
(that) if it sounds like country to
some people. That’s fine. At the
heart of it country music is good
storytelling and “All-American
Boy” is a story. So I think that’s
where that comes from. I think
also the imagery in the video leads
people to give it that title.
Even if I am labeled as a
country singer, which isn’t a label
I gave myself, I certainly wouldn’t
want to take away anything from
the brave men and women who
came before me.
“All-American Boy” could
just as easily been arranged
as a power pop tune, an
acoustic folk number or an
electronic dance track.
With that in mind, are there
plans for the song to be
remixed for club play?
I’m going to let people do what
they want with it. I’m not skilled
enough to make that happen by
myself. I would be open to hearing
20
Country or not?: “All American Boy” has been referred to as a country song, but Steve Grand says he never intended it to
be a country hit, but he’ll gladly take the recognition. Photo courtesy Joem C. Bayawa
It is the story of my life since I was 13;
I was always crushing
on the straight guy.
—Steve Grand on
“All American Boy”
that that would sound like. I’m a
songwriter.
What I think a good song
is, is a song that can be totally
stripped down with just vocals
and piano or vocals and guitar,
and it still sounds beautiful. I
think that’s one of the ways you
know you have a good song. That’s
something I always try to do in my
writing. I think the songwriting
should transcend any sort of
trendy sound.
So I would be up to hearing
how (a remix) sounds [laughs].
I’m a little nervous, but I’m not
above that or anything. Of course
it would be really cool to hear it.
Have you written and
recorded any other songs?
Right!
CREATE A RADICAL SHIFT IN THE WAY YOU
APPROACH AND RESOLVE DISPUTE.
What kind of advice would
you offer in that situation?
Yes. I’ve been writing since age
11, so I have lots of music that I’ve
written. I’ve been recording for a
long time, too.
Are you being inundated with
offers from record labels
and if so, are you taking them
under consideration or
would you prefer to remain
an independent artist?
I definitely don’t want to close
the door to any opportunities or
offers at this point. So I’m keeping
an open mind. I believe that we’re
in a day and age where we can
do it independently. You have to
consider who you are as an artist,
what you want to be and what
kind of impact you want to have.
Ultimately, that all plays into
the decision I’ll have to make. I
don’t want to be rushed along
into making a decision about
something I worked towards my
whole life. That’s absurd. I will
be the one to decide when I make
those moves. I’ve concentrated on
the people for whom the song has
resonated already, that it’s struck
a chord with. I want to honor
them and continue to give them
my best work, work that’s from
my heart and soul.
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
You mentioned the impact that
the song has had. For a lot of
LGBT folks, “All-American Boy”
is instantly relatable because
everyone has had the experience
of being attracted to or falling
love with someone straight
or unattainable. How personal
is that experience for you?
Wow! What a good question. We’ve
all been there, and I mean gay,
straight, bi, whoever you are. We’ve
all fallen for someone that we can’t
have, but it especially rings true in
the specific story for LGBT people.
It is the story of my life since I was
13. I was always crushing on the
straight guy.
I think it’s always been there
because I grew up in a place
where gay people weren’t visible.
I was always crushing on my best
friends. I think that’s the case,
probably, for a lot of us. The song
isn’t about anyone specific. It’s
the accumulation of experiences.
I definitely knew the story, as far
as the video goes, all the imagery
and things like that. I had a very
watermarkonline.com
[Laughs] Hold on and don’t
make yourself fucking crazy. It’s
tough, but it’s going to happen. It’s a
part of life. Unless you’re in a world
that’s exclusively gay, which I think
few of us are, it’s going to happen.
I think there’s a great power in
being able to express it. I needed to
get the song off my chest because
I feel like that’s how I reconciled
how I felt.
I think it has helped people. I’ve
read their messages, saying “Thank
you for telling my story,” and then
they tell me what happened to
them with their guys. I try to play
therapist [laughs]. As a songwriter
and performer you get to play a lot
of different roles that I’m in various
stages of ready for.
Because of your religious
upbringing and what you
went through with your
family and ex-gay therapy,
you are being looked up to
as a symbol of strength and
overcoming the odds. What
does that mean to you?
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It’s very flattering to be a symbol
of anything like that. To some
degree I feel like, wow, I can’t live
up to that [laughs]. Don’t put me in
a position to be a role model. But
the story is true. I don’t want to let
people down. I got into this to play
music as a way to express myself
and tell stories. My focus now is
not letting the people who put
their trust in me down and being
there for them.
What is the next step for
you professionally?
I’m trying to build a team now
because this is a little bigger than
one or two people can handle.
Trying to put together team a of
people who can help point me
in the right direction so that I’m
staying true to myself and true
to my art. Then I want to start
releasing more music. It’s a lot and
I’m just going, going, going right
now. It’s going to be a while before I
get a real vacation [laughs]. | l |
To read bonus content
from this interview go to
watermarkonline.com.
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
21
arts &
entertainment
Event planner
quick Picks
Maitland
Andre Smith
Through August 4
Maitland Art
and History Museum
MaitlandArtandHistory.org
Orlando
Orlando
Comedy Show
Aug. 3
The Abbey
OrlandoComedyShow.com
The Fantastiks
American Idol Live
W
hile its ratings may have fallen in the
last few years, American Idol is still a juggernaut of
young star power, and the 2013 tour is no exception.
The young singers from the FOX competition show’s recent
season will perform at the Amway Center in Orlando on Aug. 1—
and that includes winner Candice Glover, pictured at center, top.
Aug. 22-Sept. 1
Theatre UCF
407-823-1500
Theatre.UCF.edu
Tampa
Lost in Yonkers
Through Aug. 3
Carrollwood Players
727-895-6620
CarrollwoodPlayers.org
Drood
Through Aug. 31
M.A.D. Theatre
813-286-6173
MadTheatre.com
For more events or to
submit your upcoming show,
concert or performance, visit
22
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
orlando
J
tampa
The Lonesome West
obsite Theater
presents The Lonesome
West, part of a trio of
plays all set in the small
town of Leenane in rural
western Ireland. Valene
and Coleman, two brothers
living alone in their father’s
house after his recent death,
find it impossible to exist
without the most massive
and violent disputes over
the most mundane and
innocent of topics.
Only Father Welsh, the
local priest, is prepared
to try to reconcile the two
before their petty squabbles
spiral into vicious and bloody
carnage. There’s a shotgun,
a new stove, a collection of
plastic saints, a pretty young
girl, and more poteen than you
could swing a dead cat at—
what could possibly go wrong?
The show (meant for
mature audiences) runs
through Aug. 4 at the Straz
Center. For details and tickets,
visit JobsiteTheater.org. | l |
H
American Idol Live is a
launching -point for the careers of
each season’s top performers. The
2013 crop is no exception.
Expect a crowded Amway
Center the night of the show and
a younger crowd. But don’t worry,
there are plenty of Idol fans of all
ages and backgrounds that will
descend upon the show to cheer on
their favorites from Season 12. | l |
St. Petersburg
Art
ow much would
you pay for a white
painting? Would it
matter who the painter was?
Would it be art? In American
Stage’s Art, running Aug.
9-Sept. 8, one of Marc’s best
friends, Serge, has just bought
a very expensive painting.
This intelligent and witty
Tony Award-winning play
by Yasmina Reza asks the
question, “What does our taste
in art say about who we are as
individuals?” We’re sure many
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
readers of Watermark can
relate to that conversation.
When Serge, a novice art
collector, asks his two friends
to view his newly acquired
work of art, this “priceless”
piece tests their fifteen-year
friendship and causes them to
validate their self-worth.
Local actors Ricky Wayne,
Gavin Hawk and Brian Shea
all star in the production. For
tickets and information, visit
AmericanStage.org. | l |
23
watermark
Surviving
Finding his truth: Tampa resident
in depth
ex-gay therapy
T h e r a py
Gabe Alves looks over the piles of literature
and workbooks he collected between 20032008 while trying to “cure” his homosexuality
in reparative therapy programs.
Photo by Jake Stevens
Exodus’ closure is a small victory for survivors
of programs promoting ex-gay therapy
Steve Blanchard Editor@Watermarkonline.com
W
hen Tampa resident Gabe Alves
learned that Exodus International, the
Orlando-based, Christian “conversion
therapy” organization, closed its doors in June, he
had a mixed reaction. He was happy to hear that the
headline-making anti-gay organization that promised
to ‘cure’ gay men and women had finally shut down
after nearly four decades in operation.
But he’s concerned about the many
other organizations continuing the
practice Exodus abandoned.
“Exodus needed to close,” Alves
says. “That’s a good thing. But
reparative therapy isn’t gone. There
are many other programs that still
exist and they try to convince gay
people that they can be cured, even
though nothing is wrong with them.”
Since Exodus closed its doors, Focus
24
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
on the Family, an anti-gay organization
out of Colorado, has stepped up its
efforts to “convert” gay people from
homosexuality to heterosexuality. In
late June, the organization interviewed
Anne Paulk, the executive director of
the Restored Hope Network, a group
that splintered off of Exodus last year
when Exodus said it would no longer
try to “cure” homosexuality.
“It was like the unnecessary death
of a dear friend,” she said about
Exodus’ fall. “The person with samesex attraction usually has some pretty
specific wounds with their same-sex
parent, their peers, their self-identity
and their understanding of who the
opposite gender is. What Christ calls
sins, He also redeems from sin and
provides for the overcoming of sin.
He delights in a repentant sinner
even someone dealing with same-sex
attraction.”
Interestingly, Paulk’s soon-to-be exhusband, John, has recanted his ex-gay
therapy beliefs and announced he no
longer believes such therapies work or
are warranted.
Paulk joins former Exodus leaders
Alan Chambers and Randy Thomas,
as well as former “Love in Action”
(LIA) executive director John Smid,
in issuing public apologies to the
LGBT community for the faulty
therapy practices.
Those apologies are a good
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
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The next chapter: Alan Chambers is the former leader of Exodus International, and spoke with Watermark about his public apology to the LGBT community and how he deals with his own same-sex attractions. Photo by Jake Stevens
Exiting from Exodus
in-Depth: Ex-Gay Therapy
Aug 2 – 25, 2013
in The harrieTT
Alan Chambers tells us about his journey
as ex-gay therapy figurehead and private,
married man with same-sex attractions
O
Susan Clary Susan@Watermarkonline.com
rlando | Alan Chambers has
by Arthur Miller
Mad Cow TheaTre | Box office 407.297.8788
madcowtheatre.com | 54 west Church Street | downtown orlando
26
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
spent the last dozen years trying to “cure”
homosexuality in the name of Jesus Christ as
the executive director of Exodus International. It was
his own personal story of setting aside gay feelings to
marry a woman in the name of religion that inspired
his desire to empower others to do the same.
Last month, the Winter Park
native went on national television
to offer an apology for those efforts
and for hurting followers in the
process. He said he was shutting
down the world’s largest “ex-gay”
organization, which has spent nearly
40 years providing “reparative”
therapy to thousands of Christian
gays seeking to live “righteous” lives
as heterosexuals. Responses have
ranged from bewildered to elated.
Appearing dapper in a bow tie
wearing his signature spectacles,
Chambers talked to Watermark
July 29 about the transformation
that led to his about face and how
he has handled his own same-sex
attractions. The 41-year old and his
wife, Leslie, 47, have been married
for 16 years. They live with their
two adopted children, Isaac and
Molly, both 8.
WATERMARK: Walk us through
your transformation.
ALAN CHAMBERS: The
transformation started six years
ago when we said we hate the term
“ex-gay.” That’s not how we want
to be defined. I’m not sure I’ve ever
met an ex-gay, whatever that label
is. Those were big headlines in
2007 and 2006.
Over the course of the last 18
months, our supporters and our
demographic have changed even
more. As we have talked about the
fact that 99.9% of the people I’ve
met haven’t changed their sexual
orientation, they’re still tempted
or they still experience same-sex
attractions and therefore, promising
someone that they can go from gay
to straight is not something we do
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
and not something we believe.
We still have conservative
people who, like me, hold to a
conservative theological view of
sexual expression. And yet at the
same time, the reality is we have gay
and lesbian loved ones and we have
gay and lesbian friends and there
are gay and lesbian people who go
to our church and we don’t feel they
should be treated any differently
than anyone else is treated.
Do you think being
gay is a choice?
No. I’ve never thought it was a
choice. I didn’t choose this. Never
have I thought it was a choice. You
decide how you are going to live
your life based on the reality that
you have. My reality is such that I
have same-sex attractions. What I
have become very willing to admit
is that this is who I am. This is my
story. This is very much a part of
my life. It is what it is. What are you
going to do about it?
I am married, happily so. My
primary attraction and orientation
is towards my wife and we have
27
| uu | Alan Chambers
from pg.27
an amazing relationship in every
sense of the word and in every way
that a marriage should be. People
steward their sexuality in different
ways. Some people choose celibacy.
Some people choose monogamous
relationships. Some people choose
what I’ve chosen. My story, I would
say is rare, more rare than any of the
other stories.
You have said Exodus saved your
life. How did that happen?
As a conservative Christian kid, there
was no other place to go and these
people took me in. It was 1990. I was
19-years-old. I went and they didn’t
look at me funny and they didn’t tell
me that I had to do anything crazy.
They just simply supported me in a
way that I think the church should
support people. Now that’s not
everybody’s experience.
How did you come from
where you were heading
up this ministry to
actually say, ‘I’m sorry?’
Our goal really hasn’t ever been to
change people. Certainly our motto
was “Change is possible” because we
felt like that was what happened. For
someone to just say simply “Change
is possible,” of course it is, but what
does that mean?
That’s why we got rid of that
slogan well over two years ago.
Saying “Change is possible” makes
people feel like you walk in, you
flip a light switch and you go
straight and that’s not true. That’s
not our story. That invalidates the
complexity of someone’s journey.
So, we’ve been apologizing for
certain things for years. It was in
April that I sat down with a group
of people who were hurt and
expressed hurt in their relationship
with Exodus. And I said to them,
specifically to their faces, “I’m
sorry.” And apologized on national
television to anyone else who was
listening, on behalf of things that I’ve
said and on behalf of things that I
would never say.
On behalf of what things
that you’ve said?
28
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
Well, you know, certain things in
which we were involved. Politics
for instance. We got involved in the
whole public policy debate back in
2002 starting here in Orlando.
If I could take back anything
through the years, it would be that
we got involved in the policy debate
trying to influence that because
what we found was it wasn’t worth
it. We alienated people we hurt.
There were times that we celebrated
people coming to Jesus and the
break up of their families.
I remember one story that ended
after two decades. On my Facebook
page I said: “Oh, you know here’s
this great story of this woman who
came to Jesus and after 22 years
of her parents praying that her life
would change. She has left her lover.”
and I remember someone emailing
me saying it was callous of me to
celebrate that. You just devastated
gay Christian?” and I say “No, I’m
not a gay Christian.” That’s not a
trophy for my shelf either. I’m not
ex-gay. I’m definitely not that. I hate
that label. People say so you’re bi
or you’re whatever. You know, I’m
married. I love my wife.
I have Leslie attractions. I’m a
Dad. I’m a fabulous decorator and a
gardener. I’m a million things before
I am some narrow sexual identity
that just isn’t important to me. If you
want to know what my sexuality is,
I have sex with my wife and that’s
it. I’m monogamous. I don’t think
them. I hope that it helped them. I
think that there are people who have
been devastated by certain aspects
or certain things that have occurred
during the ex-gay movement as a
whole and religion as a whole. I
think there is great trauma out there
and I hope those lives are ones that
can be healed.
Did you once see religion as a
tool for change and now see it
as a tool for something else?
The controversy for me is I believe
in the God of the Bible. I believe in
I’m not a gay Christian—
that’s not a trophy for my shelf either.
I’m not ex-gay;
I’m definitely not that.
I hate that label.
—Alan
Chambers
this partner of hers that after 22
years of spending her life with her.
The other woman isn’t celebrating.
Do you think you were
living with blinders on?
Nothing else has really changed. I
think in Christianity, specifically,
we fight our position and it fails
to recognize people. When I look
at what I want to be controversial
about, I want to be controversial
about Jesus. But I live in a world
that’s pluralistic. There are all
sorts of religions and all sorts of
sexualities and there are all sorts of
people who are law-abiding citizens
out trying to do the best that they
can to promote the common good.
We can agree to disagree on
certain things, or we can as friends,
sit down and have a conversation
about what we disagree on; but if
we live there, we’re in trouble. We
all have our own bias. I think that’s
something that has changed.
Would you say you suppress
your feelings or do you
consider yourself bisexual?
No. I don’t put a sexual label on
myself. People say, “So, you’re a
about having sex with anybody
but my wife.
How did it become important
to you to try to help gays
live a straight lifestyle?
Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do
as a Christian? You care about what
everybody else is doing and you
try to fix it? And that’s probably the
thing that’s changed for me. I can’t
care. It doesn’t mean I don’t care.
That’s callous. I can’t do anything
about it. It’s none of my business.
You want to know my opinion?
Watch how I live my life. That’s my
opinion, but I can’t tell you how you
should live your life.
Do you feel like you’ve ruined
people’s lives and how do
you feel about that?
(Long pause) I feel like our words
have power and I feel like there
are words that I’ve used that have
contributed to people feeling more
shame and more guilt than they
should. I think that shame and guilt
affected people negatively.
Have I ruined people’s lives?
Some people have told me I have. I
hope that my apology mattered to
Jesus and I believe that’s the way.
That’s the controversy of it all. When
it comes to who follows Jesus, I
would have probably said people
who are truly following Christ are
surrendering this part of their life.
One of the things that has changed
for me, I believe that there are gay
and lesbian people who have as
vibrant and amazing and intimate
relationship with Christ as I do, but
we have chosen different ways to
express our sexualities.
I have always believed that
anybody can know Jesus, but I
probably would have said Good
Christian, Bad Christian. If you are
being faithful, truly faithful in the
area of your sexuality, then you’re
going to surrender that. Yet there are
people as faithful as me who haven’t.
That’s hard for me. I don’t know
what to do with that, but I don’t have
to do anything with it. That’s really
the point. I’m not living their lives. I
haven’t walked a mile in their shoes.
It’s not for me to judge.
What’s your organization now?
Our organization is ‘Speak. Love.’
and our website is ReduceFear.org.
Our organization is going to be about
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
bringing people to the table who
have varying perspectives, mostly
from a Christian worldview. We
want people who are not interested
in debate. They’re not interested
in the fight. They’re not interested
in a battle.
They’re interested in faith
and sexuality because that’s an
important conversation to have. I
don’t think it’s going away anytime
soon. And I certainly don’t think
there are people out there trying
to bring in all sides to the table. I’m
not going to tell you what you have
to think anymore. I’m simply going
to present all the options and let
you decide for yourself and I think
that’s the future of Christianity.
It’s allowing people to think for
themselves without telling them this
is what you have to believe if you are
going to be my brand of Christian.
Do you feel you are
100% who are you?
Absolutely. The reason I have never
used the gay label in this journey
is just it doesn’t reflect who I am.
I have same-sex attractions. They
do not interfere and have never
interfered in my relationship with
my wife. They are something that
is there. Attractions don’t mean
temptation. It doesn’t mean I am
not tempted but attractions don’t
mean temptations. They are not
something I am suppressing. They
are something that’s there.
I walk out, and there’s a goodlooking guy, and he’s a goodlooking guy. What do you do with
that? The same thing my wife
does with it.
You know she thinks Richard
Armitage is hot. Great. I’m not
worried when we’re intimate that
she’s thinking of Richard Armitage
or she thinks I’m thinking about
Richard Armitage. I’ve been married
almost 16 years. I’ve never in the
course of our marriage thought
about anybody in our marriage,
but my wife. It doesn’t mean I don’t
think someone else is attractive.
We all have decisions to make and
my decision was when I proposed
to my wife, that I forsake all others.
That I was going to be faithful to
her for the course of our marriage. I
haven’t had any trouble doing that.
It’s hard to do, but I don’t feel like
it’s a struggle for me. It’s a privilege
for me. I love my wife and she loves
me and I’m not worried that she’s
thinking of someone else. | l |
To read bonus content
from this interview go to
29
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| uu | Ex-Gay Therapy
from pg.25
start, believes Merrell Dickey,
a Tampa resident and former
Roman Catholic priest who left the
priesthood in 2003.
“I was very pleased,” Dickey says,
referencing Chambers’ apology to
the LGBT community. “I can’t say
that someone isn’t sincere when
they apologize. His apology is a big
thing. If it’s not sincere, that’s big
and he’ll have to deal with that. But
this is a big step.”
Dickey says he knows there are
other, smaller groups practicing
“reparative therapy,” but Exodus
shuttering its doors makes a
huge statement.
Interestingly, Dickey was
interviewed for this story the same
day Pope Francis told reporters
that he would not judge priests
who are gay.
“Does the pope’s comment fix
everything the Roman Catholic
church has done to harm gays? No,”
Dickey says. “But it’s a move in the
right direction. [Chambers’] apology
is similar. The main organization
that has caused all this harm has
shut down and issued an apology.
That’s great.”
Curing an identity crisis
Alves knows about conversion
therapy—also called ‘ex-gay’ or
‘reparative’ therapy—first hand.
And he has heard speeches like Anne
Paulk’s many times. He put himself
through several programs in a hope
to “cure” his homosexual desires.
He participated in LIA in Memphis,
Tenn., to learn to suppress or
eliminate his attraction toward other
men all together.
“These programs don’t consider
anyone gay,” Alves says. “They tell
you that gay people have an identity
crisis. Being gay isn’t an identity, it’s
a behavior and a sin. That’s what
they teach you when you come in.”
Alves observed that
homosexuality is treated as an
addiction, much like alcoholism or
drug issues.
“Everything is in the same
bucket,” he says. “Your treatment is
a 12-step program, complete with
a 12-step bible. I tried everything I
knew to ‘fix’ who I was. I felt I had to
in order to save my family.”
Living the straight life
Despite knowing at a young age
that he was attracted to other boys,
Alves married his best friend, a
woman. He even told her about his
same-sex attraction before their
32
A h i s t o r i c l o o k at
‘reparative therapy’
1900
Happy family: Gabe Alves is a proud father of two children, Caleb, 4, and
Gabby, 8, whom he had with his ex-wife. Photo courtesy Gabe Alves
Partners no more: Former spouses John and Anne Paulk led Focus on
the Family’s Love Won Out organization and wrote a book about their “journeys from
homosexuality.” John quit in 2010. He since apologized for his involvement in the
organization, which she still represents.
Former Father: Merrell Dickey is a former Roman Catholic priest who
explored several reparative therapy programs before finally deciding to come out and
leave the priesthood in 2002. Photo courtesy Merrell Dickey
wedding—and she agreed to move
forward anyway.
They now have two children, an
8-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.
“I didn’t have trouble having sex
with a woman because it was about
trying to fix myself,” says Alves, who
grew up in Brazil. “I didn’t have any
other option other than marrying a
woman. I wanted a best friend and
would just become a rotton person.
If I was honest I thought I could
move on and heal.”
After four years of therapy in
Tampa, Alves finally decided to act
upon his impulses and he went to
Orlando, where he had a physical
encounter with another man after
meeting him at Mannequins night
club. He soon left his wife and began
promising paths to change his
sexual orientation and support
groups to help him in his struggle
with same-sex attraction.
But nothing worked. Alves says
he would purposely put himself
in places where he could watch
two men engaging in sex—mostly
in parks. He never did, however,
physically pursue sex in these
I was willing to do whatever
I needed to do to save my family.
—Gabe Alves
it wasn’t about her being sexy or
beautiful. It was about living my life
with a best friend.”
Soon after he married his wife in
2002, Alves put himself in a therapy
program specifically geared toward
battling same-sex attraction. In fact,
his local therapist in Tampa came
highly recommended through the
Exodus International website. Soon
after making a phone call, Alves
found himself sharing details of his
struggle with a new therapist.
After a while, Alves was
surrounded by self-help books
public places.
“It was just the thought of seeing
it happen that made it exciting,”
Alves says. “But my biggest problem
wasn’t the parks. It was the internet
and gay porn.”
To absolve himself of his socalled sins, Alves would give
computer passwords to his wife and
tell her exactly what sites he would
visit online.
“It was my way of guilting and
shaming myself,” he says. “If you
confess your sins you’ll be healed.
If I kept those things inside of me I
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
living his gay life in Tampa.
“From February to May 2007, I
did everything I wanted to,” Alves
says. “I went out, met men, had sex.
It was a mini-coming out time.”
But only after a few months,
he received a phone call from his
wife, telling him she was pregnant
with their second child. That’s
when Alves decided he needed
to recommit to defeating his
same-sex attractions and live a
heterosexual life.
Seeking salvation
watermarkonline.com
He traveled to Minneapolis,
Minn., to take part in a four-day
sex addiction workshop. When he
returned to Florida, he registered
for the 28-day LIA ex-gay therapy
program in Tennessee.
“I was willing to do whatever
I needed to do to save my
family,” he says.
Counselors at LIA started by
“helping” Alves figure out why he
had desires for other men. By finding
the “problem,” he could help God
heal him, Alves was told.
“They bring in the regular
bullshit,” he laughs. “But during that
20-plus days, I started believing
what they said—that I come from
a divorced family so the lack of a
male role model in my life caused an
identity crises that led me to look for
inappropriate sex.”
Alves says that other than calling
his wife, which was not allowed, he
followed the program precisely.
“But deep in my heart I knew it
wasn’t going to work.”
He was punished for calling his
wife late one night and counselors
put him in “Sanctuary,” which is
essentially solitary confinement.
There, he was ordered to detail, on
paper, his sexual experiences with
other men, but as if his daughter was
in the room watching the trysts.
When he did as he was told, he
says his counselor refused to give
him any more instruction. So Alves
packed up his things and left the
program two days early. But he
took with him a renewed resolve
to let his faith heal him.
“I was so upset when I left,” he
recalls. “I tattooed my wedding
ring, a bible verse on my shoulder
and the initials of my family on my
chest. I even shaved my head.”
He traveled with Bible verses
in his backpack and his suitcase
held self-help books on “curing”
his homosexuality.
“Those people were crazy,”
he says. “But I really thought
that their program could work
if I kept using it. Obviously, it
didn’t. It can’t.”
Finding acceptance
By 2009, Alves had finally
accepted his sexual orientation.
He divorced his wife and moved
to Tampa. He has had boyfriends
since then and says he sees his
children regularly.
“My ex-wife is very conservative
and thinks being gay is a sin,”
he says. “But all I can do is be
who I am and show my kids that
there is nothing wrong with
being a gay man.”
Alves ex-wife is remarried now
and very active in the church the
two used to attend together. He is
also active in a church in Tampa,
one that is LGBT affirming.
“I have my faith and I am
comfortable with who I am,” he
says. “I look at all of the literature
I’ve collected over the years—
and think about the money I
spent—and just laugh. I just
needed someone to tell me that
being gay was okay. I just needed
acceptance.”
For Dickey, the former Roman
Catholic priest, finding acceptance
came from within the very book
that therapists had used to
“combat” homosexuality in his
therapy sessions.
“In the Roman Catholic church,
if you’re gay you’re ‘inherently
disordered,” Dickey says. “That’s
a strong statement. So how do
you fix that?”
Therapy sessions taught
Dickey that he needed to avoid
temptations—avoid streets with
gay bars on them, for example.
Eventually, Dickey says that he
realized he was who he was, and
that nothing could—or should—
change that.
“These groups pick and choose
the parts of the Bible they want
to use to make gay people feel
guilty for being who they are,”
Dickey says. “But the Bible says
[in Luke 10:27] ‘Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all
your strength and with all your
mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor
as yourself.’”
Dickey says reparative therapy
groups contradict that by
convincing gay men and women
that there is something wrong
with them, and therefore they are
unable to love themselves.
“In my journey, at one point I
finally realized that,” Dickey says.
“I wasn’t loving myself, and that’s
not right.” | l |
Shortly before
the turn of the
20th century,
physician Denslow Lewis
publishes that he believes
that women brought
up in wealthy families
could develop “sexual
hyperesthesia” (excessive
sensitivity to stimuli) and
become lesbians. In order to
cure these women, the doctor
prescribes cocaine solutions
and surgical removal of
“adherent clitorises.”
1957
In the mid20th century,
researcher
Gunther Dorner of the
Institute of Experimental
Endocrinology hypothesizes
that altering hormonal
imbalances in the womb
could prevent homosexuality
before it developed.
1962
Dr. Irving
Bieber’s study,
“Homosexuality:
A Psychoanalytic Study
of Male Homosexuals”
is published and is still
often used by anti-gay
“reparative therapists.”
According to Truth Wins Out,
of Bieber’s study sample of
106 homosexuals used to
represent all gay people, 28
of 106 were schizophrenic,
31 were neurotic and 42
had character disorders.
1973
Modern
research
that relies on
science, not stereotypes,
leads to the American
Psychiatric Association voting
to remove homosexuality as
an illness from the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual.
Suddenly, gay people were no
longer considered mentally
ill. All major medical and
mental health associations
soon followed the APA’s
lead and declassified
homosexuality as a disorder.
1973
1976
Love in Action,
a predecessor
to Exodus
International, is formed.
Exodus
International
is formed
and becomes the world’s
largest “Ex-Gay” therapy
organization.
2006
Wanye Benson
forms Truth
Wins Out,
an organization devoted to
debunking the claims that
individuals can “change”
their sexual orientation from
gay to straight. Benson is a
former investigative journalist
who has photographed
notable ex-gay therapists
in compromising samesex situations, such as
leaving gay bars.
2009
Manifested
Glory Ministries
makes
headlines when a 20-minute
YouTube video shows a
16-year-old being subjected
to an exorcism to “cure” him
of his homosexuality. Church
members chant “Come on,
you homosexual demon.
You homosexual spirit, we
call you out right now!”
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
2010
John Smid,
leader of Love
in Action,
resigns his post. Two years
later he apologizes to
the LGBT community for
pushing the therapy.
2011
A Chinese
psychiatrist
gives a
government-sponsored
training session on conversion
therapy and suggested
“cures” for homosexuality
include cold showers,
prayer and abstinence.
2012
An undercover
journalist
reveales that
the medical clinic of Marcus
Bachmann, husband of former
Republican presidential
candidate Michelle Bachmann,
practiced reparative
therapy with him in 2011.
2012
California
becomes the first
state to outlaw
ex-gay therapy practices on
people under the age of 18.
New Jersey becomes the
second state to do so in 2013.
2013
Exodus
International
closes its
doors one year after
announcing that the concept
of reparative therapy
does not work. Executive
Director Alan Chambers
issues a public apology
to the LGBT community
and appears on national
television to apologize for
his role in the practice..
33
Directed by Fest fave Wendy Jo Carlton (Jamie & Jessie Are
Not Together,Hannah Free) Easy Abby is a new comedic
webseries about the (mis)adventures of a thirtysomething
lesbian living in Chicago and trying to juggle the dating
scene with slickness and sense of humor.
4
1
ShotonSite
Tampa Bay
1- Kringle Chat: Amy Demilo chats with Santa and Mrs. Claus
at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor during Christmas in July Drag Queen
Bingo July 24. Photo courtesy Carrie West
2- Juicy Sunday: Members of the Tampa Tantrums Roller Derby
team stopped by to check out the new Juicy Sundays T-Dance in Ybor
City at Level III July 28. Photo courtesy Carrie West
2
3
5
3- Prommed up: Quench Lounge bartenders CJ Tauber and
Jeff Beadle donned their skippiest prom attire for the bar’s prom
celebration July 27. Photo courtesy TinkerFluff.com
4- Comic relief: Melanie Minyon makes a special, comedic
appearance for Christmas in July at Hamburger Mary’s July 24. Photo
Aug. 15th, 7:30 p.m., Muvico Baywalk
courtesy Carrie West
5- Drinks aplenty: There were shots aplenty during The Prom
You Wish You Had event at Quench Lounge on July 27. Photo
Tickets: $10 at tiglff.com,
or call Renee at 813.879.4220 or at the door
courtesy TinkerFluff.com
6- New prom memories: This group was all smiles during the
“Prom You Wish You Had” held at Quench Lounge on July 27. Photo
courtesy TinkerFluff.com
7- Surprise!: Tampa resident Tyler John reacts to his surprise
birthday party at the Ybor City Wine Bar last month. Photo
HONORING OUR NEWLY ANNOUNCED CIRCLE OF CARING MEMBERS
HOSTED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
courtesy Carrie West
8- Sons of Softball: (L-R) Charlie Waters, Eric Shivers and
Marty Walsh enjoy the Miss Suncoast Softball League pageant at
Bradley’s on 7th July 28. Photo courtesy Suncoast Softball League
COCKTAILS & CELEBRATION
Saturday, August 17, 2013
6:00pm - 10:00pm
6
AUG 17
Push Lounge: 128 3rd Street South, Saint Petersburg
Café Alma will provide the catering
Circle of Caring Members, Guests, Board Members and staff mingle in the plush Push Lounge
enjoying signature cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, silent auction and a chance to renew our resolve
in the support and fight against HIV/AIDS.
Push Lounge · St. Petersburg
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Tickets: $40 includes first two drinks and hors d’oeurves
To purchase tickets visit ASAPservices.org
SPONSORED BY
suncoast hospice foundation · AIDS service association of pinellas board members
café alma · push lounge
MEDIA PARTNERS
watermark media · creative loafing · clear channel radio tampa
Rainbow411.com · TampaBayGay.com
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (#CH3696) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED
FROM THEDIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL - FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE
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34
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
7
watermarkonline.com
8
Overheard
Mary’s in
Clearwater?
I
t looks like Mary may
finally be crossing
the Bay. A new Facebook
Page promoting Hamburger
Mary’s Clearwater popped up
the last few days in July, and
while it doesn’t disclose an
exact location, it does hint that
it’s ready to move full steam
ahead toward a grand opening.
It looks like the new Mary’s will
be an extension of the Mary’s
in Ybor City, since one of the
contacts for resumes is Brian
DeChane, co-owner of the Ybor
City restaurant, and Kurt King.
The new business is accepting
resumes for behind the house
and front of the house positions.
Check out the new Hamburger
Mary’s Clearwater Facebook
page for updates and details.
Crowds pack 7 Sins
T
he LGBT community
welcomed a new
night spot to Largo in
a very big way on Friday, July 26.
7 Sins Night club brought a huge
LGBT Friday Night Dance Party to
a 10,000 square-foot space within
Los 2 Pebes Restaurant and Bar.
A VIP area, a boom boom room
and an outside Tiki bar stayed
busy throughout the night. One
attendee told Watermark that the
club atmosphere was reminiscent
of clubs found in New York. The
night of entertainment presented
two shows with host Madisyn
Michaels and featured Nae Nae
Dominatrix, Star Montrese Love
and Natasha Possh. A rotating
cast will bring the party back
every Friday night and each week,
popular Billboard magazine
reporting DJ Greg Anderson (who
is also a WAVE Award winner) will
be in the DJ booth. You can keep
up to date on 7 Sins by following
it on Facebook at Facebook.
com/7SinsNightClub.
Prom-oting
memories
I
t was a busy weekend
for Largo. Quench Nightclub
held its very first “Prom You
Wish You Had” on July 27, and
the bar was packed with tuxedo-
clad men and women and several
prom dresses. There was even a
King and Queen, King and King
and Queen and Queen ceremony,
all emceed by the hilarious Alexis
Mateo and Madisyn Michaels.
Prizes were awarded for “best
prom attire” and several area
businesses donated to the cause,
including Georgie’s Alibi, Simply
Delicious NY Deli, Lucky Star
Lounge, The Garage, Nardo’s
Naturals and Dunedin Lanes.
Quench also provided two bar tabs
as prizes. Quench was decorated
with white balloons and celebrity
cardboard cutouts and bartenders
were looking hot in their tuxedo
Speedos. For more photos check
out TinkerFluff’s photos at
WatermarkOnline.com.
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
Softballers do
drag for charity
T
he annual Miss
Suncoast Softball
All Star Pageant was
held in Ybor City’s Bradley’s on
7th July 27, and all proceeds
benefited the Ybor Youth Clinic.
Representatives from several
teams donned wigs, makeup
and fabulous gowns and took
to the popular stage. All of their
tips were generously donated
to the charity, which helps
local LGBT youth in Tampa Bay.
Organizer Gerre Reynolds
reported that more than $700
was raised that night, and there
were no major ankle injuries
due to high heals. | l |
35
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about dairy delights at An Evening of Wine and Cheese Pairings
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3- Sky ride: Kevin LaPalme (left) and Charlie Reader,
owners of LionShare Media Group, celebrate the launch
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Lounge atop the Amway Center. Photo by Susan Clary
4- Culture clash: Featured artists and guests take
in the culture at the opening night of Differing Views: Art
at the Center on July 22. Photo by Jose Delacuesta
5- Need for speed: Stephanie “The Bayou Basher” Hudgens
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36
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
watermarkonline.com
O
rlando Weekly
Columnist Billy
Manes eloquently shared
his private and public pains of
losing his partner to suicide
followed by the aftermath of a
legal system that works against
same sex couples. That piece “Till
Death Do Us Part,” ran as a Weekly
cover story in the April 10 issue.
Local filmmaker Vicki Nance
has made that heart-wrenching
story into a documentary short
titled Billy & Alan. It is an Official
Selection for the Global Peace
Film Festival and screenings will
be at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Bush
Auditorium and 8:30 p.m. Sept.
21 at the Cobb Plaza Downtown.
For more information, visit
VickiNantzFilms.com.
New fashion and
entertainment
mag takes off
K
evin LaPalme and
Charlie Reader,
of Orlando-based
LionShare Media Group,
launched their beautiful
and impressive fashion and
entertainment magazine,
LaPalme, atop the Amway Center
at ONE80 Grey Goose Lounge on
July 26. The quarterly publication,
with a starting circulation of
10,000, shares the season’s
hottest trends. With editorial
features from large markets
including New York and Chicago,
LaPalme seeks to engage men
and woman as readers. Mercedes
Benz of South Orlando sponsored
the launch. The inaugural
magazine contains articles on the
Flashlights, an indie rock band
from Titusville, and Josh Lyons,
rock star sushi chef made famous
by the Food Network. It can be
found in high-end salons, hotels
and boutiques in Central Florida.
Subscriptions are available at
LaPalmeMagazine.com.
Don’t just get fit,
get ZebraFit!
H
ey, don’t shoot the
messenger. We didn’t
name the class but we’re
excited about the partnership
between the Zebra Coalition and
Bill Bennett Boot Camps.
The two have teamed to offer
special group fitness programs
that are designed for LGBT youth
and their allies. Bennett, of course,
is well known in Orlando for his
innovative fitness regimens and
his growing client base. The Zebra
Coalition services Central Florida’s
LGBT youth community by offering
an array of programs and, most
importantly, a safe space for them.
The boot camps will include
pumping music, plyometrics,
cardio intervals, mat work
and nutrition advice in a nonjudgmental environment. ZebraFit
is held every Wednesday afternoon
at 4:45-6 p.m. For details and to
sign up, visit ZebraYouth.org.
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
It’s all Greek to him
O
rlando Photographer
Josh Garrick has a
passion for Greek art
and architecture. He has
visited the country more than 40
times, having traveled to Greece as
a professor at the School of Visual
Arts in New York City. Now Garrick
is the first American exhibit at the
National Archaeological Museum
of Greece. His black and white
photography, Seeking the Ancient
Kallos, will be displayed Sept. 12
through Jan. 8, 2014. If you can’t
make it to Greece to see his work,
Garrick’s work has been added to
the permanent colle tions of the
Eustis Museum of Art, Orlando
Museum of Art and the Art &
History Museums of Maitland. | l |
37
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Russ Crumley, 52, of St. Petersburg, passed
away on Wednesday, July 24. Crumley was a
writer and one of the founders of the Central
Florida Softball League in Orlando. He is
survived by his husband, George Spence, his
mother, Carol Jean Woodall, his step children,
nieces, nephew and his dogs. A celebration of
life service was held on July 31.
Orlando Hope and Help Center president
and BB&T executive Joe Royals and Kent
Ouellette were married July 27 in Lakebay,
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thousands of readers
Local Birthdays
LGBT affirming former St. Pete councilman
and current St. Pete mayoral candidate Rick
Kriseman, Sarasota visual artists and AIDS
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Eagle wrestler and Iowa’s AccessOnline
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would have just seen it.
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
Passings
The Massage Spa in St. Pete celebrates its
sixth year of business on Aug. 11.
Dan Fiorini
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change-of-life community announcements
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Brian Winfield, St. Petersburg spiritual leader
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
39
accountant
alternative dispute resolution
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The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon any information included on this page, nor upon any advertisement that you might view.
Before you decide to retain any individual attorney or law firm, you are strongly encouraged to ask that you be sent free written information about qualifications and experience.
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(Off of John Youn Pky near Sand Lake Road)
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ATTORNEY AT L AW
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111 NORTH M AGNOLIA AVENUE
SUITE 1400, ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32801
DIRECT LINE: (407) 481-5868 FAX: (407) 481-5801
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DRAMATIZATION. NOT ACTUAL EVENT.
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free consultations
Call 4 Seasons for all of your
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40
Head to WatermarkOnline.com and click on
the Digital Publications link to a read a digital
version of the printed newspaper!
319 Park Lake Circle, Orlando, Fl. 32803
407-222-4606
Like Us On Facebook
Read It Online!
The Valdivia
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H a blo E spa ñol
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
orlando marketplace
orlando marketplace
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
41
counselor
counselor
home improvement
web site
plastic surgeon
non-profit
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Trust your face and body to a board certified plastic surgeon
insurance
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• Free Business Workshops
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counselor
MetroSurance inc
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garden/nursery
CIT Y OA SIS
“Your Downtown Garden Shop”
Sales - Leasing - Maintenance
Exotic Orchids
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counselor
1214 N. Mills Ave. (17-92)
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 898-8101
health care
Compassionate
Care
for your peace of mind
O
coee Health Care Center
provides short-term, postacute medical care, rehabilitation,
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care. We offer:
• Skilled nursing, RN/LPN care
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42
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
• Gynecomastia reduction
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For in-depth
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Reverend Terri Steed, Senior Pastor
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Office: 407.894.1081
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INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE AMERICAS
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Commercial and Residential Licensed
www.holyangelscatholiccommunity.com
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Billy Arwood
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in Professional Tree Care
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LICENSED AND INSURED
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407-481-2243
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orlando marketplace
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
43
central florida
sarasota
real estate for rent
personal services
Log on to Watermarkonline.com
to place your ad today
HEAD-TO-TOE BODYRUBS Session includes: Hot oil rubdown,
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PRIME S. COLONIALTOWN OFFICE
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maintenance, CAT 5 networking
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Contact Rick (407) 481-2243 ext 108
tampa bay
personal services
MAN-TO-MAN - very friendly,
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Jim 727-698-9505
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for 2 weeks
in print.
INCLUDES
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
Vacation Rental- Furnished 1
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watermarkonline.com
Staff Report
M
oscow, Russia
| Despite recent
legislation that clearly
bans anything that promotes
homosexuality, out Olympic
athletes and out spectators will
be exempt from the law in 2014.
That’s according to a release
from the International Olympic
Committee, which says it has
received assurances from
Russia’s government that
athletes and spectators at next
year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi
will not be arrested.
Since it was signed into law
by Russian President Vladimir
Putin in June, the legislation
targeting propaganda that
depicts the LGBT community in
any positive way has attracted
calls from activists around the
world to boycott Russia’s first
Winter Olympics.
“As a sporting organization,
what we can do is to continue
to work to ensure that
the Games can take place
without discrimination,”
The IOC said.
The ban on “propaganda of
nontraditional sexual relations”
is part of an effort to promote
traditional Russian values over
Western liberalism, which
the Kremlin and the Russian
Orthodox Church see as
corrupting Russian youth and
contributing to the protests
against Putin’s rule.
Hefty fines can now be
imposed on those who provide
information about the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender
community to minors or hold
gay pride rallies. | l |
NOTABLE
NOTABLE
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
EVENTS
EVENTS
Pro baseball has new standards on gay discrimination
Wire report
M
ajor League Baseball
says it will bolster
its policies against
harassment and discrimination
based on sexual orientation,
according to a new agreement.
Under the new policy, the
league will create a workplace
code of conduct and distribute
it to every major league
and minor league player.
It also will provide new
training sessions and create a
centralized complaint system
to report any harassment
and discrimination.
“Just making people
aware,’’ said Chicago White
Sox manager Robin Ventura.`Ì
think that’s part of the reason,
if they’re going to do that,
that’s why they would do it.
Just put it out there and kind
of be ahead of it instead of
behind it.’’
“I think it’s already out
there. I think what’s happened
in basketball and all this stuff,
it’s better just to get out there
and be ready for it,’’ he said.
Few professional athletes
are openly gay, and gay
rights groups have blamed
the policies and atmosphere
in sports for forcing gay
athletes to hide their
sexual orientations.
Major League Baseball
already has an antidiscrimination policy, but
the new one specifically
will prohibit discrimination
based on sexual orientation.
Commissioner Bud Selig
said baseball won’t allow
any discrimination.
“We welcome all individuals
regardless of sexual
orientation into our ballparks,
along with those of different
races, religions, genders and
national origins,’’ Selig said.
``Both on the field and away
from it, Major League Baseball
has a zero-tolerance policy for
harassment and discrimination
based on sexual orientation.’’
Said Ventura: `Ì mean, I
think he’s right.’’
“I think it’s just better to
put it out there and clean it
up and make everybody more
conscious about it. I would
expect that from our team,
too,’’ he said.
The Major League Baseball
Players Association said it
supports the policy so that
players can pursue their
careers regardless of their
sexual orientations.
“MLBPA embraces diversity
and supports a workplace
environment that welcomes
all regardless of race, religion
and sexual orientation,’’ said
the union’s executive director,
Michael Weiner. | l |
sports
FREE Classiiieds
Online
[classifieds]
Olympic athletes exempt
from Russia’s anti-gay laws
NOTABLE EVENTS
9 4 6 N.
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Tribute to September 11 and
W Americana
ED, AUG
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SEvery
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$40 app fee. NO PETS. NO
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pics: http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/
apa/3937223280.html
• 6PM
the rainbow
society
Movies and Dinner presented by
U N , Sof
E PPerpetual
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11 T H – 7 P M
TheS Sisters
Priscilla,
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Desert.
Showing of Saint of 9/11
Spaghetti
with
$5 Donation.
The TrueDinner
Story of
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Mychal Judge
at Gallery Q
TH
- 9 A M allies
Sdeaf
AT, Algbt
U G U Sand
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GLBT
Motorbike
Club Ride
Every
2nd Friday
at T7pm
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gbt Men
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October 19th • 6:30PM
FOR APPOINTMENTS
CALL (407) 228-8272
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
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Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
45
To eat well is
to live well.
The Super Joy riders on patrol!
BELLINI
BRUNCH
REGULAR HOURS
Sat.-Sun. 11am-3pm
Sun.-Thurs. 11am-10pm
Fri. & Sat. 11am-11pm
407-351-8909 • The Mall at Millenia • BrioItalian.com
Super Joy Riders stopped at Orlando Fire Department to show some appreciation for all the work the firefighters do.
Bevel
Arie
Groen’s
property maintenance
David Yurman
Dior
Gold & Wood
Commercial and Residential Licensed
specializing
Optimist Prime (Brendan O’Conner) leads the Joy
Riders to Orlando City Hall, to craft love letters to Orlando
which were sent to the city.
Captain Sassy Pants (Christie Miga) carefully
composes her love letter to Orlando on the steps in
front of City Hall.
Stache Lightning (Evan Miga) readies his Space
Racer to perform good deeds across Orlando.
Safety Girl (Courtney Miller) educates the Joy Riders
on bicycle safety and how to be courteous while on
the road.
photography: Super Joy Riders
Galleryw
O
Go see more photos at
watermarkonline.com
46
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
n Sunday, July 28, The Super
Joy Riders met at the corner
of East Central Blvd and North
Eola Drive at 10 am to battle litter,
pessimism and to spread good cheer.
The Super Joy Riders is a monthly
Signature Series event by Urban
ReThink. For more information and
how to you can join the next ride,
visit SuperJoyRiders.com
Photography
by Jake Stevens
Gucci
in:
ic! berlin
■ installation
■ Mulch
of sod
■ Irrigation
■ Ornamentals ■ pressure
■ Trimming
washing
■ Elevating
Italee
J.F. Rey
L.A. Eyeworks
Lafont
Palms
■ Trees
Jake@Watermarkonline.com
watermarkonline.com
407. 447. 7739
EOLAEYES.COM
EOLA EYES
Oakley
Oliver Peoples
s er v i ci n g
Smart, Stylish,
Patient Centered Care
or la n d o
&
t am p a
Ray-Ban
519 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
Robert Marc
Tom Davies
Arie Groen’s Property Maintenance
Tory Burch
(727)505-0205 • agroen33@yahoo.com
Aug. 1 - Aug. 14, 2013 // Issue 20.16
47
HoMeS. MADe yoUR WAy.
neaR downtown oRLando
Low-maintenance, luxury townhomes from the high $200s
VISIt oUR DeCoRAteD MoDeL!
Located in the Sodo area, copley Square offers one of the premier locations in
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©2013 Ashton Woods USA L.L.C. Plans, specifications, prices, and other items are subject to changes without notice and/or may vary by elevation. Images are only the artist’s conception. Square footage is approximate. See Sales Agents for details. CRC # 1517613. Printed 06/2013

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