The Watermark was published on October 10, 2002 and continued to provide coverage of politicians running for state government positions, as the mid-term elections would be held in November. In this issue, the Florida Attorney General race between Charlie Crist (R) (b. 1956) and Buddy Dyer (D) (b. 1958) is examined. The issue also highlights fall events occurring within the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) community, including the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and "Bear Bust." Additionally, this issue covered an LGBTQ+ organization at a Sarasota college, Equality Florida's 2nd Annual Central Florida Reception, Pridefest, and less encouraging incidences of queerphobia. Director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center (aka The Center), Lana Brito, was interviewed, as was an openly gay "Big Brother" of the Big Brother Big Sisters of America chapter in Tampa. A clothing line called Butchwear, pioneered by Alex Brendell, was featured in the Water Colors pullout section.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.]]>
The Watermark, Vol. 9, No. 21, October 10-23, 2002: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark, Vol. 9, No. 21, October 10-23, 2002.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>