The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community. ]]>
Orlando Gay Chorus]]> Orlando Gay Chorus]]> Orlando Gay Chorus Collection, Orlando Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES.]]> Orlando Gay Chorus.]]> Orlando Gay Chorus]]>
The Watermark was published on September 12, 2002, primarily highlighting the effect Florida politicians might have on the Central Florida LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) community if elected. Among these politicians was Patrick Howell (b. 1970), who, if elected, would have been the first openly gay Republican to sit in the Florida State House of Representatives. Other politicians include Tom Feeney (R) (b. 1958), Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 2002, and Harry Jacobs (D) (b. 1958), a newcomer to the political scene but ardently supportive of equal rights and higher wages for teachers. The two would be up for the U.S. House District 24 election that year. In addition to state and federal politics, the issue continues coverage of the debate surrounding the addition of protection from discrimination of sexual orientation in the workplace to Orlando's city legislation. Other topics covered include interviews with comedians touring Florida, a spotlight on an LGBTQ+ youth group, and an interview in the Water Colors pullout section with DC Comics writer Judd Winick, who discusses hate crimes and gay bashing in a recent issue of the Green Lantern.

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. 19, September 12-25, 2002: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark, Vol. 9, No. 19, September 12-25, 2002.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>