1 100 3 https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/47bc2da801517f6b9dab14bae2dab29e.pdf 1c849bf745ac833527425bf774e093c2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title Watermark Collection Alternative Title The Watermark Collection Subject Gay culture--United States Description Since 1994, <em>The Watermark</em> has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) 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, <em>The Watermark</em> has consistently published newspaper style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, <em>The Watermark</em> 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 <em>The Watermark</em>. Is Part Of <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/" target="_blank">RICHES Program</a> Type Collection Contributing Project <a href="http://www.floridalgbtqmuseum.org/%20" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/">The Watermark</a> Curator Smith, Robert Cepero, Laura O'Neal, Rhiannon Hearn, Nikki Greene, Quintella Rodriguez, Sharon Digital Collection <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a> Source Repository <a href="http://www.floridalgbtqmuseum.org/%20" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> External Reference "<a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/" target="_blank">About/Contact</a>." WatermarkOnline.com, accessed July 11, 2016. http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/. Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title The Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 4, October 12, 1994 Alternative Title Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 4 Subject Gay culture--United States Description The fourth issue of <em>The Watermark</em> was published on October 12, 1994, and shifted toward a heavier political focus dealing with national LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) issues. The front page is primarily dedicated to the discussion on the participations of "Gays in the Local Media." The other portion of the front page discusses how local politicians participate in the Metropolitan Business Association (MBA) Forum, notably addressing the political careers of Buddy Dyer (b. 1958) and Fran Pignone. The discussion of the articles and articles on the next page discuss the need to maintain anti-discrimination laws. The issue also addresses the HIV-AIDS Institute disconnecting from the University of Central (UCF_, and the remaining offices of HIV-AIDS Education and the "Info-Maniacs," a peer education program. The issue then continued the trend of publishing international issues such as, Maryland’s decision on Parental Rights for gay parents, San Francisco’s fight for non-discrimination for private businesses, and South Africa’s condemnation of Gay Pride. This fourth issue also saw the return of discussion about parties and circuit life, this time covered in an article about Madis Gras in Australia.<br /><br />Since 1994, <em>The Watermark</em> 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, <em>The Watermark</em> has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, <em>The Watermark</em> 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 <em>The Watermark</em>. Type Text Source Original 24-page newspaper: <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Watermark</em></a>, Vol. 1, No. 4, October 12, 1994: Publications Collection, <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a>, Orlando, Florida. Requires <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html" target="_blank">Adobe Acrobat Reader</a> Is Part Of <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/203" target="_blank">The Watermark Collection</a>, RICHES of Central Florida. Is Format Of Digital reproduction of original 24-page newspaper: <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Watermark</em></a>, Vol. 1, No. 4, October 12, 1994. Coverage Orlando, Florida Richmond, Virginia Boise, Idaho Annapolis, Maryland San Francisco, California Johannesburg, South Africa Tampa, Florida Mooresfield's, Orlando, Florida Sydney, Australia Creator Almeida, David Brenner, Harmony Crescitelli, James A. De Matteis, Stephen Gasti, Rafael Harris Gustetter, April L. Kundis, Ken Maines, Ted O'Lay, Lola Sloan, Rosanne Toscas, Dimitri Publisher <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Media</a> Date Created ca. 1994-10-12 Date Issued 1994-10-12 Date Copyrighted 1994-10-12 Format application/pdf Medium 24-page newspaper Language eng Mediator History Teacher Provenance Originally published by <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Media</a>. Rights Holder Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Publishing Group</a> and is provided here by <a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a> for educational purposes only. Accrual Method Donation Contributing Project <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> Curator Smith, Robert Cepero, Laura Digital Collection <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a> Source Repository <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> External Reference "<a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/" target="_blank">About/Contact</a>." WatermarkOnline.com, accessed July 11, 2016. http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/. Transcript FLORIDA'S DISTINCTIVE GAY AND LESBIAN PUBLICATION. VOLUME 1, NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 12,1994 GAYS IN THE LOCAL MEDIA FAIR SHAKE OR SHAKEDOWN? by Rafael Harris Gasti John Rose and Rev. George Crossley on Channel 24’s Opinion Street. Whether you’re gay or straight, a well-traveled sophisticate or a couch potato, images of homosexuality are everywhere. From PBS’ pixilated Tales of the City, to Channel 2’s investigative report on homosexual encounters in public parks, to The Orlando Sentinel's “Woman Seeks Woman/ Man Seeks Man” TelePersonals, these images are beamed into living rooms and bedrooms and delivered to front doors. For many, these images alone define gay and lesbian experience. The influence of the media, particularly television, on popular culture can hardly be overemphasized. This is particularly true when media images are not balanced by real life experience. In Central Florida, these media images of homosexual experience have enormous power, because gay culture and political influence are emergent, and a conservative climate still dissuades many from coming out to family and friends. And make no mistake.. .in the media business, where patronage reflects profits and where viewers and readers mean dollars, images of homosexuality are enormously popular. At once sexual and political, titillating and avant garde, news stories and dramatizations addressing elements of gay experience are commonplace; a sweeps week staple. But are these images balanced? Do they truly reflect gay and lesbian experience? Three local gay activists, John Rose, Saviz Shafaie, and Brian Arbogast de Hubert-Miller, have made it their mission to research and then address these issues, in letters and phone calls, and in the board rooms of local media outlets. Their combined experience is both interesting and instructive. Gay advocate John Rose, a native of Orlando, speaks adamantly about the issue of censorship and the need for a diverse, gay-affirming media in Central Florida. Years of activism have mellowed Rose somewhat, but a glimpse of his renowned verbal fireworks is always near the surface. Despite shortcomings, he notes with pleasure that “there has been soTrie substantial improvement concerning gays in the local media.” Brian Arbogast de Hubert-Miller, a Community Advisory Board member at WMFE-Channel 24, was more guarded in his assessment of the local media. He maintains pointedly that “money talks,” and that money and politics in conservative Central Florida can be used against the unpopular or unempowered to trivialize and render them invisible. Meanwhile, with the demeanor of a thoughtful pacifist, fellow Channel 24 Community Advisory Board member Saviz Shafaie notes that local media have moved away from a focus solely on the exotic and bizarre, like sex crimes and extremes in self-expression. He lauds the appearance of “some gay-sensitive material rather than none,” and he is cautiously optimistic about the future. Supporting Shafaie’s optimism, Rose pride-fully notes the recent progress made at PBS affilliate Channel 24. (Note, Channel 24 was Continued Page 8 CANDIDATES MEET FOR MBA FORUM < Echoing Mmionofgay$ and lesbians, candidates for local elected office joined in a Candidates Forum sponsored by the Metropolitan Business Association, Thursday October 6 at the Moderator Tom Dyer opened the forum, which featured a five minute presentation by each candidate followed by a brief question and answer period,: by explaining his criteria for choosing a candidate and issued that as a challen^ to each of the present- ers, ^ “Before 1 consider voting for any person for any office, I ask myself it this is someone who will work to eradicate discrimination against gays and lesbians. And if it is not, 1 will not vote for them,H Dyer said, , The first to meet Dyer’s challenge was Orange County Chairman candidate Fran Pignone, who has been an outspoken advocate of the gay and lesbian community, attending June’s Pride Parade as well as the Spectrum Awards. . , Continued Page 8 COUNTY COMMISSIONER MABIJ80TISR: “not favor of INSIDE: The Rhythm Method: Lesbian A Cappella With Attitude Plus...News, Reviews, and LOLA. LAND TITLE INSURANCE of Citrus County, Inc. • Winter Springs Office to announce the opergjjg o| our beautiful new Winter Springs office. 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SIS TANNER & SHEA “Specializing in Distinctive Properties of ” Call John Keith Tanner and David W. Shea, REALTORS® ERA AIRPORT REALTY t=r 407-677-1177 Se Habla Espanol WATERMARK / October 12,1994 3 LOCAL & STATE NEWS DRIVER’S LICENSE APPLICANTS OFFERED HIV TEST FORT MYERS (AP) - Lee County, which offered HIV tests at a high school health fair three years ago, is now setting up testing facilities at its driver’s license office. The county will become thie first in the state to offer the tests to people applying for a driver’s license. Testing began last week. “It’s our belief the only way to combat this disease in an effective prevention program is to get out to the population,” said Mark Geisler, executive director of the County AIDS task force. The tests are given in a small motor home belonging to the Lee County Public Health Unit on Fridays. The test costs $30. It will be free to anyone unable to pay. Results are confidential and take about three weeks. Lee County has 760 reported AIDS cases. FORMER ORLANDO AN HEADS STONEWALL CINCINNATI Former Orlando resident and gay activist, Cindy L. Abel, has been selected as the Executive Director of Stonewall Cincinnati. Cincinnati was thrust into the political spotlight in 1989, when local politicians sought to censor an exhibit of works by respected gay photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Since then, conservatives and gay activists in Cincinnati have clashed repeatedly. Abel owned a marketing and public relations firm in Orlando, and served as vice president of the Rainbow Democratic Club. She was also a board member of the Metropolitan Business Association. She is a member of the Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, and prior to accepting her current position was Director of the Privacy Project, and chair of Floridians United Against Discrimination. Stonewall Cincinnati is a non-profit organization specializing in education and advocacy on behalf of lesbians and gay men. HIV-AIDS INSTITUTE ENDS AFFILIATION WITH UCF The HIV-AIDS Institute is leaving the University of Central Florida after an eight-year relationship. Founded in 1986, the Institute grew out of a grant from the Florida Department of Education and a need for current information on HIV disease. The Institute created UCF’s HIV-AIDS Education Office, which will remain at the university, and “Info-maniacs,” an award-winning peer education program. Although never officially approved as an institute by the Board of Regents, UCF allowed it to be housed in the College of Health and Public Affairs. Funding for the Institute has come primarily from fund-raisers and grants. Institute President Sharon E. Douglass stated that the Institute was never content to be campus bound. The Institute is presently seeking new office space. Anyone wishing to help should call (407) 679-9312. ALACHUANS FIGHT TO KEEP ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION beyoad, Alachua County activists m fighting to maintain a county ordinance which includes sexual orientation in the county’s Human Rights Act in Match, 1993* barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in any county business or employment standards* Since then, die Concerned Citizens of Alachua County have collected enough signatures to enter two initiatives cm the November 8 ballot. The first —• County Initiative I - would remove the sexual orientation clause from the county’s Human Rights Act The second, Charter Amendment 1, would forever bar the inclusion of sexual orientation in county-wide discrimination protections. In an effort to fight the Concerned Citizens of Alachua County, die “No On One” Coalition has been formed. According to spokesperson Georg Ketelhohn, “We are building coalitions in Alachua County which include business leaders, clergy* county and city commissioners, and university faculty who will be holding forums and press conferences to discuss too negative impact that such a measure would have on our community, We will also be mounting a media campaign, including radio, television and print advertising, which will get die message out to the voters,” Ketelhohn said. The Concerned Citizens of Alachua County is rumored to be affiliated, at least unofficially, with the American Family Association and its leader, David Qrlandoan Carol Bartsch, of the Florida Federal Advocacy Network (FAN) (affiliated with the nationwide Human Rights Campaign Fund], underscores die importance of the Alachua County referendum for the central Florida area. “As a university community* Alachua County is perceived as more progressive, We believe that die AFA thinks that if they can win in Alachua, it will only get easier for them, Orlando may very well be die next target,” Bartseh said, House parties will be held in Orlando and across the state in the coming weeks to brief people on the events in Alachua County and to raise money for the effort to fight the initiative. For more information on Oriandohouse parties to support“NoOnOne,“ contact Carol Bartsch at (407) 293-0240, CANDIDATES From Page 1 Pignone’s opponent in the November 8 election, incumbent Linda Chapin, declined, citing a previous engagement. Chapin did however send Shawn Rader, a friend of the chairman’s, to apologize for her absence. Pignone spoke warmly of the gay and lesbian community as the emotional center of her candidacy. “When I come to speak at a group like this, I’m at my most personal, my most emotional,” Pignone said. “You are my heart and soul.” Pignone was at her most passionate when asked about the fate of culture and the arts in Orange County. As a lifelong devotee of opera, Pignone was one of the few county commissioners who voted to allot the last $50,000 in an attempt to save the symphony. She was saddened the attempt failed. “Intuitively, I think it is easier to keep an institution alive than it is to recreate it. I know that we must try to keep these things — the arts, dance, opera — alive to give the people of our community, particularly the young people, options and outlets,” Pignone said. County Commission District 6 incumbent Mabel Butler, however, was not as supportive of such a measure when she rose to give her presentation. “I’m a B.B. King fan myself,” Butler said. Then turning more serious, Butler said that a county-funded institution like the symphony would better serve the entire community if it was made accessible to all of the citizens of the county. “If the taxpayers of Orange County are going to pay for something like a symphony, bring it to all of the people. Don’t just leave it to those who can afford to pay for it,” Butler said. During her remarks, Butler empathized with the gay community, saying that her life has been lived in the shadow of discrimination. She indicated she would be support- ive of any measure that would ensure the protection of the rights of ays and lesbians. “I’ve been discriminated against all my life.. .be it black.. .be it woman. I’m not for any kind of discrimination,” Butler said. Butler’s opponent, Charlene Mitchell, did not respond to MBA’s invitation. One of the warmest responses of the evening was reserved for Deborah Blechman, candidate for County Judge Group 5. As a long-time supporter of the gay and lesbian community, Blechman has become a regular figure at a number of gay and lesbian functions. “I doubt there is anyone here who has not heard me speak,” she joked. Later in her remarks, she commented on the dilemma that is faced by candidates who publicly declare their support of gay and lesbian issues. “When I received my invitation and saw that all of the candidates would be there, I thought ‘Oh, no.. .the mainstream press will be there.’ I wasn’t sure I had the courage to do it. I said to [Rainbow Democratic Club board member] Mark Anderson ‘Don’t make me target practice.’ When I got home, COUNTY CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE FRAN PIGNONE: “You are my heart and soul.” I was ashamed of myself for that...The problem is that there is a climate of hate andmtmeranceout there that is very frightening, even for me as a candidate,” Blechman said. Blechman’s opponent, George Winslow, declined MBA’s invitation. The forum attracted both candidates in only one race: Circuit Court Judge, Group 28. Roger McDonald, who has previously addressed MBA, spoke first. He discussed his position on gay and lesbian issues, as well as his support of Florida’s current privacy laws. “We are lucky that in Florida we have one of the very few state constitutions which specifically refers to a right of privacy. The interpretation of that right will be left in the hands of the circuit and appellate court judges in the coming years. I am a firm believer in the right of privacy for all the citizens of the state, not just selected groups,” McDonald said. McDonald’s opponent, Bob Wattles, followed him at the podium. In his candidacy, Wattles has declared that he will not accept campaign contributions from lawyers or STATE SENATOR BUDDY DYER: “[ask why] some candidates aren’t here.” law firms. “As a judge, i must oifey »*Uit)fiaato gy,. even playing field. Tcannotbe beholden to anyone who comes into my courtroom,”he said during his remarks. Incumbent District 14 State Senator Buddy Dyer was confrontational during his impromptu presentation. “I’m not as polite as some of the other candidate who are here. I think you should think about what it means that some candidates aren’t here,” Dyer said. Dyer also railed against a wave of intolerance that exists in the Florida legislature. “People like [State Senator] Ander Crenshaw can say something like ‘I won’t knowingly hire any gay people’ and somehow that is alright. It’s outrageous,” Dyer said. Nancy Patterson, Dyer’s opponent, declined MBA’s invitation. The final speaker in the forum was also its most emotional. Louise Ray, candidate ler State Representative, District 33, has made gay rights a central issue in her campaign to unseat Marvin Couch, who declined MBA’s invitation to attend. WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 4 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS GAYS NATIONWIDE WORK TO RE-ELECT ROBB IN VIRGINIA RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Homosexuals across the country are working to re-elect Sen. Charles S. Robb, whom they regard as a leader with the courage to condemn discrimination against gays despite the obvious political risks. The Human Rights Campaign Fund, a national gay political action group based in Washington, has made Robb’s campaign against Republican nominee Oliver North one of its top priorities. “The radical right views Chuck Robb’s convictions on lesbian and gay equality as a weakness, and will attempt to use this against him to defeat him,” executive director Tim McFeeley wrote members. “We need to prove that Chuck Robb can beat the radical right this year in Virginia.” The fund has contributed the maximum allowable, $10,000, and several members of the fund have held private fund-raisers, McFeeley said. David Mixner, a gay-rights leader from California, mailed an appeal to several thousand homosexuals nationwide soliciting contributions for Robb. At Richmond’s annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade earlier this month, some participants said they were motivated as much by support for Robb as they were by opposition to North. Robb, a Marine company commander in Vietnam, has spoken out for efforts to include gays in the military, provided they don’t engage in behavior that is disruptive or bad for morale. North, a Marine who also served in Vietnam, has been a strident critic of gays in the military, sending out fund-raising appeals that described President Clinton as “the point man...for the radical homosexual lobby.” OPPONENTS OF ANTI-GAY PROPOSAL GAIN LEAD BOISE, Id. (AP) - Opponents of the controversial Idaho anti-gay initiative have pulled out in front in their campaign against the Idaho Citizens Alliance, according to a new public opinion poll. The poll, conducted for KTVB-TV in Boise, KHQ-TV in Spokane, Wash., and The Spokesman-Review newspaper’s Idaho edition, said 44 percent opposed the proposition while 35 percent supported it. The remaining 21 percent said they were undecided. The poll of 808 randomly selected registered voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The survey was conducted during the final three days of September. The results on the anti-gay initiative, which would prohibit state or local laws protecting homosexuals from discrimination, were in direct contrast to another independent survey conducted about five weeks earlier. That poll by Greg Smith and Associates and Tracy Andrus had 49 percent of the respondents favoring the initiative and 43 percent opposing it with a margin of error of just under five percentage points. Supporters of the initiative, which drew only a few thousand more valid signatures than required to win ballot status, say it is a pre-emptive strike against what they call the gay agenda. They claim it will only prohibit homosexuals from receiving special rights. But critics, who include virtually every civic and political leader in the state, have called it a bigoted, divisive proposal that would actually strip homosexuals of their basic civil rights. Because of the strident language being used in the debate, some analysts are concerned that the undecided bloc in all the polls are actually supporters who do not want to admit to holding a position that many see as hateful. MARYLAND APPEALS COURT TO DECIDE VISITATION RIGHTS OF GAY FATHER ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - David K. North can visit his three daughters for several hours on the weekend, during the daytime only. No holidays, no overnight visits. That’s because a judge doesn’t believe the gay, HIV-positive North - now living with his lover - can be trusted to hide his homosexuality from his children. North’s appeal of that 1993 ruling has given the Maryland Court of Special Appeals its first chance to decide whether homosexuality is a reason to limit the rights of a parent. “It’s a very important question. We need more loving parents rather than fewer, and to disqualify a homosexual because of that status is a pretty outrageous thing to do,” said Stuart Comstock-Gay, head of the American Civil Liberties Union in Maryland, which is helping represent North. North’s former wife, Kathryn Dionne North, had sought to terminate his visitation rights completely after learning that her ex-husband, a former Baptist minister, is gay. Instead, a judge denied North overnight visits with the girls, ages 9, 6 and 3, letting him have unsupervised visits on Saturdays and Sundays. In 21 of 25 states where the issue has been decided at the appellate level, courts ruled that a parent’s rights cannot be limited solely because he or she is homosexual and living with a lover, said Natalie H. Rees, a lawyer appointed by the appeals court to represent the girls. In June, the Virginia Supreme Court overturned a judge’s ruling denying a lesbian custody of her son. The judge had ruled that being a lesbian made her an unfit mother. Mrs. North allowed liberal visits until North told her in 1992 that he is gay and that he and friend, David York, were involved in a relationship. One reason Circuit Judge Audrey Melbourne cited in limiting North’s visitation rights was that he could not be trusted since he continued to have sex with his wife after learning he had the AIDS virus. “The court finds that the defendant is not candid, is not responsible and is deceitful,” Melbourne said. “The court will therefore not trust defendant’s promise not to display his homosexual lifestyle to the children.” Gerald Solomon, one of North’s lawyers, agreed it was wrong for North to continue having sex with his wife. But Solomon said North’s ability to care for the children is all that matters in the pending dispute. And the lawyer noted that state social and mental health workers said North was a good father and the girls enjoyed their visits with him and York. Both agencies supported liberal visitation rights. North said Thursday he did not know when the court would rule on his appeal. North wants his daughters for overnight visits, holidays and vacations and said he would not do anything that might expose them to the virus. The former minister, who once preached that homosexuality is a sin, also wants to tell his children that he is gay and would like his former wife to join the discussion. “But given her adamant feelings about the evils and abomination of homosexuality,” he said, “that’s just not going to happen.” Connie Lancaster Sales Consultant The Service You Deserve The Finest Selection of New or Pre-Owneq Mercedes Benz Other New and Pre-Owned Models Available Glauser Mercedes Benz 6828 S. Tamiami Trail • Sarasota, Florida (813) 923-3441 PAYROLL DUE? RENT DUE? LOOKING TO EXPAND? ACCOUNTS PAID LATE? We can be your cash flow solution! WE BUY BUSINESS-INVOICES 24 Hour Funding * Low Rates USE ASSETS YOU ALREADY HAVE BARTLETT RESOURCE FUNDING CALL (407) 741-7747 or (407) 89441411 BUSINESS HOURS 9 AM-7 PM MEMBER OF THE NAF.P. & THE MBA WATERMARK / October 12,1994 5 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST GOLF CLUB REINSTATED BY GAY MAN SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A discrimination suit by a gay man against a golf club that rejected his membership application has been revived by a state appeals court. Thomas Sherck said his sponsors withdrew their support of his membership application to the California Golf Club of San Francisco after learning he was homosexual, because the club did not want homosexuals as members. He sued both the club and his sponsors, Dennis and Ray Youngdahl, under the state’s Unruh Act, which prohibits businesses from discriminating against customers on various grounds. State courts have ruled that discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned by the law. The club, which is based in South San Francisco, argued that Sherck was rejected solely because his application was not sponsored by two members, as its bylaws required. A San Mateo County Superior Court judge agreed with those arguments and dismissed the suit, but it was reinstated by the 1st District Court of Appeal in a ruling made public Thursday. Sherck quoted the club’s membership committee as asking him whether a bar that he owned was a “straight bar.” That evidence, which was rejected as irrelevant by the Superior Court judge, is relevant to the question of whether Sherck was excluded because of his homosexuality, the court said. Sherck also said a friend quoted Dennis Youngdahl as saying, “How dare you ask us to bring in a gay guy?” Though it is hearsay, that statement is admissible against the club, as a “declaration against interest,” because the Youngdahls were the club’s representatives, the court said. RELIGIOUS PROTESTERS CONDEMN GAY PARADE JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Hundreds of people, some dressed or cross-dressed in wild clothes and colors, marched through Johannesburg on Saturday to celebrate gay and lesbian rights in post-apartheid South Africa. A handful of religious protesters condemned the marchers, but the procession was mostly a festive affair that ended with a party in a city park. Paul Stobbs, chairman of the Johannesburg gay and lesbian pride parade, said South Africa’s new constitution was the only one in the world that prohibited discrimination against sexual orientation. The constitution took effect with the nation’s first all-race election in April that ended white rule and brought Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress to power. Similar marches have occurred in previous years despite South Africa’s strong religious heritage that condemns homosexuality. To a heavy disco drumbeat, the male and female marchers - some dressed in satin, lace or leather - snaked through downtown streets to the amusement of most onlookers and the dismay of others. “Sodomites, turn or bum, Jesus saves lives,” said a placard held by one protester. A marcher hit at a poster and organizers had to prevent other scuffles from breaking out. Reacting to heckling from protesters, a group of women marchers chanted: “Two, four, six, eight, how do you know your wife is straight?” FUNERAL HOME "5901 S. Orange Avenue • Orlando" 425-2589 Providing Services For The Greater Orlando Area Since 1954 We Honor Any And All Pre-Need Plans Family Owned And Operated nS ASSOCIATION OF ■ I, Independent ■ | ‘JuneraC C of ‘j(orida Traditional Burials Shipping Out Of State Sam Odom, L.F.D. Elgan Stappe, F.P. DIR. Funeral Pre-Planning Cremation Manny Adams, L.F.D. James Cardinal, Owner "Let Our Family Serve Your Family” __—------------------- YOUR ROAD FROM HERE TO INFINITE.. BEGINS WITH RE/MAX METRO PROPERTIES AND SOUTHERN STATES FUNDING Dreams really CAN come true — Call Lew Brooks with RE/MAX METRO PROPERTIES at 1 -800-USR-EMAX Doug Butler with SOUTHERN STATES FUNDING at 407-645-4848 Putting it all together for YOLIl WATERMARK / October 12,1994 6 HEALTH & HIV NEWS TEST MAY HELP MEASURE EFFECTIVENESS OF AIDS TREATMENT RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (AP) - A new test for measuring how much of the HIV virus an infected person is carrying could help scientists determine what treatments are best for controlling the virus that causes AIDS. “It is possible, and I think probable, that these tools may be able to predict more accurately which treatments will be most effective in managing HIV infection,” said Dr. James Rooney, associate director of the infectious diseases department at RTP’s Burroughs Wellcome Co. The British drug company discovered AZT, the first treatment for AIDS. Scientists say the standard blood test now used to detect AIDS is reliable, but may not detect antibodies until several months after the virus has invaded the body. It also does not work for the newborn babies of HIV-positive parents. A new test created by scientists at Roche Biomedical Laboratories has been able to detect the virus before antibodies appear, said Dr. Bruce McCreedy, the company’s director of infectious diseases and clinical trials. The test became available in April and is one of two methods for measuring a patient’s “viral load” - the amount of genetic material from HIV in the blood plasma. Roche Molecular Systems is in the early stages of developing a test kit allowing doctors and researchers to use the new technology. The test is now only available as a paid service through the company. STUDY DETERMINES MOTHER TO CHILD AIDS SPREAD ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A study of AIDS-infected mothers found that the more virus they carry in their blood, the greater the chance they will pass it on to their babies just before birth or during delivery. The research suggests that checking a mother’s viral levels during pregnancy can guide doctors in choosing the right drugs to protect the unborn. It also helps explain why only about 1 in 4 infected mothers not treated with anti-AIDS drugs actually passes the virus on. AIDS infections in newborns are particularly devastating, often killing youngsters much faster than adults who catch the virus. Recently, doctors have found that giving pregnant women the AIDS drug AZT can significantly lower the transmission rate, from 25 percent to 8 percent. Dr. Barbara Weiser of the New York state Health Department presented the latest work, conducted on 27 HIV-infected pregnant women, at a conference Wednesday of the American Society for Microbiology held in Orlando. Currently, pregnant women who are infected receive AZT pills beginning at 14 weeks of pregnancy and intravenous AZT during labor. Babies also receive the drug during their first six weeks of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 6,600 HIV-infected women gave birth last year, and they had 1,720 infected babies. The CDC’s Dr. Susan F. Davis said that if all of them had gotten AZT, as many as 1,200 of these newborn infections could have been prevented. Doctors believe the risk of transmission from mother to child is highest late in pregnancy and during childbirth. HISPANIC WOMAN WARNS COMMUNITY OF ITS ENHANCED RISK TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Stubborn cultural traditions increase the risk of AIDS in the Hispanic community, says a Tampa-area woman. Maria Caride, 27, has educated herself since she being positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in 1990. Now she goes anywhere she can to educate Hispanics about AIDS prevention. But education is difficult in a culture where talk of sexuality and condom use is taboo, she said. “I was never taught about sex and condom use. If someone would have taught me about safe sex, I wouldn’t be in this situation now.” Hispanics are contracting the disease faster than any other ethnic group, according to the U.S. surgeon general. While Hispanics make up about 10 percent of the nation’s population, they account for 19 percent of AIDS cases in the country. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Hispanic women represent one-third of all new AIDS cases. Hispanic AIDS activists say until Hispanics overcome cultural differences and shatter the stigma associated with the disease, the numbers will only get worse. Women in Hispanic families simply don’t talk about sex, activists say. Hispanic men present a different set of problems, they say. Attitudes about sex are often primitive, and males are encouraged to be dominant. The Latin machismo eschews condoms - studies show Latin men just won’t wear them, the Hispanic activists complain. Then there is the influence of the Roman Catholic church, which has espoused abstinence over condoms. “Hispanics prefer to cover up the problem instead of dealing with it,” said Hispanic AIDS activist Olga Companioni of Tampa. h the financial strains I illness... we can give |tur life insurance policy. There are many reasons why people sell their life insurance policies.but your reason is the most important one! Dealing with a life-threatening illness is difficult enough without worrying about financial matters. When these concerns overtake your lifestyle and your life, turn to Life Care Resources. We provide quick, completely confidential service, with instant payment after approval, at no cost to you. Before selling your policy to just anyone - contact Life Care Resources. We are committed to paying you the highest price for your policy. Life Care Resources donates a portion of all proceeds to charities and research dedicated to providing support to the terminally ill, including AIDS, cancer, and hospices. If you have needs... Life Care Resources is there. 1-800-563-0018 ;Je ffifawe cffieMmwee&j offitic. dfiy/nety noC on/y in- wAa£ me do-, Aat on- we umdewatcond. ’’ WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 7 BUSINESS BUSINESS PROFILE by April L. Gustetter THE VERANDA |p.Fburteeo ojontdrs' the city ofiQrlando, In Feburary of this year, that changed/ Colb^ was;:i|^riruEMfc^!|f : fortunately Blair and bis business partner, Steve Norris, coaid not begin tapping that potential until they knew their legal parameters. Directly due to Biair’s perseverance, the laws necessary to own and operate . 'such ah establishment were passed on February 21,1994, Subsequently he and Steve begap renovations. .||^';||d doyn^?w^ It is now this city’s first legitimate bed-and breakfast “It took going to City Ball every day for eight months, but we got the laws passed They state that a bed-and-breakfast cart have no more than eight rooms to keep the residential look, and that anything!^ must MIow the standards and pld||^ Owners* Background . Blair Colby, 27, has worked in the hospitality industry <6r over 5 years, Travelingthrough Ewopeahd || Steve Norris* 41, has worked for Northwest Airlines for more than 14 years and. is also experienced Concept for the Veranda HI .l|ih|e writing at tlte the |igher-end Corporate clientele, His clients, such as IBM and Orlando Re-■gibnal ’||i desire fe have mom luxiu’ipns antj to be comfortable wlllt ||e |ivera^ie foc^I| look, not to mention the service. I was getting really frustrated, because 1 was out on .the streets working hard to get these accounts and we couldn’t keep them/’ III 'Thus, the qbykmS'hM'tOprpdM^ initiated. Aceoiding'tp:Blai|:':fe establishments, and ||||§§^ notion bf hanging a sip a*^':'tpltiftg in- volved footwork of acmaily gpng bed-and-breakfast III Once the legalities were resolved, consjtru^ip :: intense* nonstop, get»in«thererand-do-ibwfe jUj hanging, of the sign d»s very day of the Grand Opening gg$jy on September 10i| 1994. 'Hie transfbrmat!on;fi^:h^ to a high southern style bed-and-breakfast seemedftlp& lion, location, location. “Steve and I both live in downtown Orlando, so we know ; what a gieatnepborhood isf; anbl|!tbe;$pi|>qf^te| on Robinson and we wanted itobe knew the neighborhood was goiiig.tOchanp, '• “We wanted a redly southern, plantation-style home feeling about the place,” Blair added, “and we*re very please<|.;wi^.:lpy ,w|ft ifMi cpe ||l|||jp^*.::: and-groove of course), swan-neck commode bases* bn-lipc airconditioning, soundproof walls, berber carpet, fine; ait richly appointed, haven. Each, room has i^::9pspi||||iu|ing; Southern, and Europa. Target Market The Vbranda was bupt primarily for the corporate traveler, but as Blair ex-plained, “that usually on the weekends, but because we Cap pstly?;p>. t||Mp^ate ;ippch|||9n|a^; through Friday is our busiesttime. II “We don’t want to limit ourselves to Just the corporate traveler, tatgh, We welcome the gay market. espei^i|&llp§1^^ shown an interest in the Veranda, as well - often for family members coming in to do the tourist thing - but business has been so good that many have had to wait to even see the rooms. Range of Cost III ThiPgh the end of till rooms hie who simply wishes toiavb a ^ondeirful htglit’s'sleep,i|i| possess thd fine touches The Veranda * 115 N.WmM^rUn Ave* * Orlando * (407) SdmBWM MORE COMPANIES ADD DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS (AP) - In quest of a better image and better talent, companies are increasingly seeking domestic partner benefits for their employees. Susan Leahy of Blue Cross/Blue Shield MA -Inc., the largest U. S. health insurer to provide domestic partner coverage to customers and employees, explains that, “In a vastly competitive market for health services, companies are looking for ways to attract candidates and maintain a workforce.” Many companies hesitate to insure same-sex couples, worrying that it will increase AIDS claims. However, Andrew Sherman, vice president of the Segal Co. and one of the forces behind the Blue Cross and Lotus domestic partners coverage, says that gay couples may actually be less expensive to cover because they are often younger and usually don’t have children. Sherman explains that domestic partners coverage is “a recognition of human capital, wanting to have the best employees possible. A lot of companies have already put non-discrimination policies in place and see this as a continuation.” Send the 'orld's Best! For Bosses Week, October 10-16 Send the FTD Best Boss™ Bouquet TYeat your boss to a mug-full of flowers and a serving of Tester's Choice® coffee. For Sweetest Day, Saturday, October 15 Send the FTD® Sweet Treat™ Bouquet Make 'em feel special with flowers and candy in a keepsake tin! ^Kissimmee cR!o/tist Kissimmee 846-4113 Orlando 828-8005 Buena Ventura Lakes 348-4033 ® A Registered Trademark of Florists' TTansworld Delivery Assn, tm a TYademark of Florists' TTansworld Delivery Assn. ® SKITTLES is a Registered Trademark of Mars, Incorporated. © 1994 F.T.D.A. ©Taster's Choice is a Registered Trademark of Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A. under license to Nestle Beverage Company. GET YOURS...AT HOME! Subscribe to Watermark.Form on page 22. WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 8 COVER STORY LOCAL MEDIA From Page 1 contacted for this article. Assistant to Executive Vice-President Malcom Wall promised a statement, but none was forthcoming). Rose believes that previous impasses between Channel 24 and Central Florida’s gay community have been turned into a “win-win situation.” When Tongues Unta documentary about gay blacks, was shown in 1991, Channel 24 received numerous complaints. The documentary was brash and graphic. In your face, so to speak, and while not patently offensive, Rose laughs, “perhaps not wholly representative of the entire gay community.” But then in the summer of 1992, PBS affiliates were offered the much milder drama, The Lost Language of Cranes, a family tale about a gay son and his troubled father who begins to recognize his own homosexual tendencies. The film was never shown by Channel 24, presumably because of a gay kiss and a chaste bedroom scene. Offended by this unacceptable censorship of a widely-praised film, local progressives and gays Saviz Shafaie: “Gays need to take the initiative.” organized and demanded to be heard. Challenged outright, Channel 24 set up a series of community meetings. But according to Rose, Channel 24 sought to intimidate the 50 gays and lesbians in attendance by separating them from a “mainstream” liberal group consisting of the ACLU, Central Floridians United Against Censorship, and others committed to free speech issues. There was a firestorm of criticism, but after a series of meetings protesters were told the film would not be aired on Channel 24. Despite this negative result, Rose feels that consciousness was raised. He described the meeting as the first “give and take” between a local TV station and the progressive/gay community, and a real learning experience for all parties involved. In particular, Channel 24 learned that they could negotiate reasonably with this segment of the population, and in fact, they accepted many of the protesters’ proposals. Two representatives from the progressive/ gay community were added to the Channel 24 Community Advisory Board. Importantly, a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was included in Channel 24’s equal employment opportunity guidelines. Rose was quick to assert that for the most part the employees at Channel 24 are gay-friendly. “It’s the management who worry unduly about losing donor support.” Shafaie remembered the foregoing events very well. But accentuating the positive, he described programming such as Silverlake Life, which he characterized as a “tasteful special” about a gay couple dealing with AIDS. He also noted Bill Moyer’s supportive special on the Colorado anti-gay referendum, and the indefatigable John Rose’s appearance on Channel 24’s locally produced talk show, Opinion Street. Rose referred to himself as the show’s first “token gay panelist.” The show was heavily edited, but Rose was able to make some points. When guest panelist George Crossley, a fundamentalist preacher, simplis-tically blurred AIDS and homosexuality, Rose jumped. He detailed soundly how the HIV virus is rampant among heterosexuals in sub-Saharan countries in Africa, as well as in the United States. AIDS, he assured Crossley, is a universal disease—not a uniquely gay disease. Like many PBS affiliates, Channel 24 is a financially tight ship. Rose indicated that the mobile nature of the Central Florida community creates a relative lack of consumer support for public broadcasting, and thus an increased “dependence on local business and foundations.” The same observation was made by Orlando Sentinel columnist and former TV writer Greg Dawson in a recent Watermark interview. Such dependence can lead to undue influence. Homophobic attitudes can creep in and sway programming judgment. A case in point was the highly rated Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City. Ironically, Tales' twentysomething lead gay character, Michael Tolliver, hails from orange-grove Orlando. The program aired was sanitized.. .pixilated.. .to avoid shocking perceived local sensibilities. What was fuzzed out? A little adult language and brief, shadowy nudity in bohemian San Francisco. Despite the thunderous success of this production nationwide, PBS responded to the outcry of a few conservative Congressmen by cancelling a proposed sequel. Regardless of the package or production, it seems that homosexuality is an uncomfortable issue for local public broadcasting. Brian Arbogast de Hubert-Miller agrees, but has a stronger assessment of the role played by Channel 24 management. He is adamantly more interested in results...in programming.. .and not surface phraseology. While he conceded that there have been “some technical improvements” in the Brian Arbogast de Hubert-Miller: “Money Talks.” management’s recognition of sexual minorities, he avowed that “there has been no progress in programming whatsoever since we [Shafaie and Arbogast] came aboard.” Arbogast was disappointed that Channel 24, citing scheduling and economic difficulties, recently chose not to rebroadcast Tales of the City and The Lost Language of the Cranes. They also chose not to show related interviews with Armistead Maupin and AIDS activist Larry Kramer. Arbogast depicts Channel 24’s board of trustees as “extremely conservative,” and described himself and Shafaie as being “token members of the Community Advisory Board.” He elaborated that the organization “listens behind the scenes but does nothing up front.” According to Arbogast, Channel 24 is decidely “not proactive” and they repeatedly need to be “prodded.” He underscored the fact that Orlando is a conservative stronghold with little visible gay leadership, unlike New York, Boston, or San Thinking About Real Estate? Call the Realtor who understands your perspective and can address your concerns, DENISE LEHEUP, REALTOR COLDWELL BANKER 170 W. Fairbanks Avenue Winter Park, Florida 32789 407.628.3199 ♦Business 407.896.5494 ♦ Residence Expect the Best.™ Accept no Lessl Francisco. A recent programming change has thrown an additional kink into the advancement of gay-themed programming at Channel 24. Rose called it “limited purchasing programming,” which means they now buy programming from PBS in blocks, then choose programs from within that block. Arbogast noted that this arrangement may be of “strategic benefit” to the heterosexist Channel 24 Board of Trustees by providing them with “plausible deniability” to “subtly neglect” gay-themed programming; to “backslide while a cadre of conservatives in Congress argue over the direction of PBS.” Channel 24 recently dropped the issue-oriented Point of View, for instance, which included a gay-themed segment. The net result, according to Arbogast, is that reluctant, indifferent, and cautious corporate donors such as SunBank and General Mills are being appeased. One note of success that Shafaie decribed was the March, 1994, Channel 24 pledge campaign. Openly gay and lesbian volunteers raised $7,349 in audience pledges, exceeding expected goals. Although an audience boycott was mildly anticipated by Channel 24 management, they openly presented the names of a cross-section of gay and lesbian organizations during breaks from a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert. When questioned about local network affiliates, Channels 2,6 and 9, Rose, Shafaie and Arbogast described a common tendency to sensationalize. On a national level, say with Barbara Walters, there appears to be discernible sensitivity towards gays, but this has not trickled down to the intensely competitive local market. Arbogast specifically criticized Channel 6, noting that when they report on gays, it is usually with an unnecessarily provincial tone. Rose also jumped on 6, noting that their “tendency to sensationalize inspires the worst bigots.” Channel 6 was also one of the Continued Page 9 Snellen IX IFagin Attorney and Counselor at Law Family and Relationship Issues Wills, Trusts and Estates General Practice Complimentary ONE-HALF HOUR CONSULTATION for Watermark readers (407) 425-0025 16 W. Pine Street Orlando, FL 32801 Fax Available *** •*> HIAWASSEE VETERINARY CLINIC •I* *• * SANDY M. FINK, DVM Dentistry *i» Dermatology / jrJL Boarding Flea Control ( \ i Baths/Dips $ Vaccinations l ) Pet Supplies :i! Behavior Problems \ f / •i? Nutrition Dog Training ‘4*. (407)299-3969 Hours by Appointment V* 6525 Old Winter Garden Road'Orlando, FL 32835 "WHERE WE REALLY CARE" • SELL • FINANCE • TRADE "LET US HELP YOU ESTABUSH OR RE-ESTABUSH YOUR CREDIT TODAY” 8403 E. Colonial Drive • Orlando, Florida 32817 • 273-5000 • Fax 277-0655 TRUCKS VANS CARS RICK ELLIOTT I WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 9 COVER STORY Tales of the City. Visually censored by Channel 24. LOCAL MEDIA From Page 8 few CBS affiliates to yank Other Mothers, an after-school special about a lesbian couple and their teenage son, from broadcast. Rose characterized this as overreaction to a call-in campaign by fundamentatist Christians. He notes that the special was devoid of any racy or sexual content, unlike the “straight” soaps broadcast the same afternoon. With respect to Channel 2, Arbogast figuratively rolled his eyes, offering his opinion that the station has “sunk to new lows” with “inflammatory” investigative reports. In a recent sweeps week expose, 2 reporter Scott Hanson looked for sex in public parks and discovered a pair of anonymous “homosexuals.” Rose also bemoaned cashing in with this unrepresentative and misleading titilla-tion. Rose accused Channel 2 of “painting with too wide a brush,” and noted the absence of coverage on the rise of courtship and marriage among lesbians and gay men. Channel 9 was notably more balanced while openly gay weatherman Burd Bullock was alive, according to Arbogast. Today, he says, treatment of lesbians and gay men on 9 is tolerant, though superficial. But the perceived impact of Bullock’s presence at Channel 9 demonstrates the significance of a surprising fact. Not one of the three local network affiliates includes “sexual orientation” in their employee non-discrimination policies. In fact, rumors aside, there are no openly gay or lesbian local broadcast personalities. Whether consciously or by neglect, the message is clear: sexual minorities are not openly encouraged in local broadcast media. Orlando’s largest and most influential media outlet, The Orlando Sentinel, also has no specific, codified employment protection based on sexual orientation. Supervisor Chris Austin points out, however, that the Sentinel's owner, the Tribune Company, has a “diversity program which includes some sensitivity training” on minorities, including gays. In terms of content, the Sentinel is dismayingly inconsistent in its approach towards lesbians and gay men. lire Sentinel has demonstrated balanced coverage and steady improvement in news and editorial content, while remaining timid and provincial in policies relating to advertising. Arbogast, who plays close attention to the Sentinel's content, states that he has seen “increased coverage” on gay-related events and topics. But he notes that, in terms of headline prominence, placement and pictures, coverage of sex crimes involving two males is still sensational and unbalanced. For example, Dr. William Zink’s high profile and controversial case alleging molestation of young male patients was front page news. Crimes against young female minors are rarely publicized or explored in such detail. As a result, Arbogast argues, “the public [not only] receives a distorted impression of the nature of sex crimes,” but far worse, the public receives a muted impression of the prevalence of healthy, adult same-sex relationships. In fact, such relationships are largely ignored by the Sentinel.. .except in their lucrative TelePersonals section, where such relationships may be sought for a price. In a broader context, Arbogast notes that there is “disproportionate coverage of the ‘antisocial’ behavior of minorities,” reinforcing their marginalization and scapegoating as “other” and “not mainstream.” Even so, he observes that newspaper coverage of gay issues has improved, particularly with increased wire service coverage. The Sentinel also recently launched a campaign to recognize diversity and increase coverage of minorities. And specific columnists have consistently written thoughtful columns on gay-related issues. Greg Dawson, Jay Boyar, Bob Morris and Myriam Marquez stand out. Some Sentinel style policies remain laughably outdated and illogical, however. Although the words “gay,” “lesbian,” and “homosexual” are allowed in news and editorial pieces, Sentinel policy apparently limits or forbids their use in classified ad- vertising. Repeated attempts to clarify these policies went unanswered, but the experience of two local businesses is instructive. In June of this year, Watermark's editor and publisher, Tom Dyer, attempted to place an employment ad in the Sentinel: “Advertising Sales Manager for gay and lesbian publication.” The ad was accepted but then changed to “alternative lifestyle publication” without notice. Dyer complained, and his original ad was run after he convinced management that the words “gay and lesbian” described the nature of the job, not the employee sought. Just a month later, Stephen De Matteis of Pre-Flight Travel Services had a similar experience when seeking a “Travel Agent with gay/lesbian travel experience.” Again, the Sentinel had to be convinced to run the ad as requested. On a more positive note, the Sentinel recently revised its policy regarding the listing of gay companions in obituary notices. It now does so with the permission of the family via funeral directors. Sadly, it may be in the obituaries that healthy gay relationships are first recognized by mainstream media, and that many lesbians and gay men first become visible. Looking to the future, Rose notes the need for openly gay news people and media board members. He cites the Woodard case (see story this issue) and its impact on the demise of former Orange County Sheriff Walt Gallagher as a positive example of the power of the press to do good for the gay community. Shafaie calls for gays to “take the initiative [with local media] and speak with a clear voice.” Arbogast warns against prior negative conditioning, and suggests the need to build stronger alliances and coalitions within the gay community. He also observes that in some situations, nothing works like “picketers beating the bushes.” Ultimately, decision makers in local media are governed by both the bottom line and by the limiting psychological dynamics of perceived difference. 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We represent you to several benefactor groups, in order to obtain the highest cash offer for your life insurance coverage. We will assist you regardless of whether your policy is an individual or group, large or small. Our service is quick, strictly confidential, and requires only one simple application. There is no cost and no obligation. Call now for more information! A personal representative is available 24 hours a day to assist and help you. The Medical Escrow Society.., Jiere Today, Tor your Tomorrow! 1-800-422-1314 Founding Member, National Viatical Association Jk WATERMARK / October 12,1994 10 VIEWPOINT WATERMARK Watermark Media, Inc. ©1994 editor / publisher Tom Dyer layout/ managing editor April Gustetter account executive Keith Peterson contributing writers Michael L. Kilgore, G. K. Fowler, Harmony Brenner, Nan Schultz, R. A. Bach, Dimitri Toscas, Jim Crescitelli, Mark Lawhon, Yvonne Vassell, Ken Kundis, Rafael Gasti, Leslea Newman, Rosanne Sloan, Joe Sarano photographers & illustrators Alison Bechdel, Eric Orner, Russell Tucker, student contributors Robert Holland, Katie Messmer, Tera Kenney, Mike Williams CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing is WATERMARK is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members of such organizations (unless, of course, sexual orientation is stated specifically). WATERMARK is published every second Wednesday, except the first week in January and the second week in July. Subscription rates are $35.00 (third class). ThA c fficial views of WATERMARK are expressed only in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns, letters and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s owner or management. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads that have such errors. WATERMARK P.O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655 TEL 407.481.2243 FAX 407.481.2246 ;■ WaterMark welconi^s your •: Letters to the Editoiv^til I! editing for content and 5; length. Let&rsifehjdSl sent to: 0. Box;5336^1i®ll Orlando, |i|||||i|||| LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I read with interest your article in Issue 1.02 entitled “Gayby Boom.” I’ve wanted children for 20 years! I’m not sure how to go about it. I am single, secure and mature. Plus my job allows plenty of time. Do you know of any database or groups or some way of getting people together like myself who want to have kids other than the conventional way? I’d like to know. Thanks. Scot We’re not aware of any groups like the one you described, but we suggest you con- tact GLCS at 425-4527 and post something with them. You may also want to use CompuWho (advertised in this issue) as a data source. Also take a look at our classified ads for a kindred spirit. Editor Thank you for sharing the story of our August 15 wedding. We both felt honored (and flattered) to appear on the front page story last issue. Gary Fowler did a terrific job putting that piece together. We really enjoyed doing the interview. What a friendly and professional staff you have at Watermark! After we saw the front page photo, however, we realized we had neglected to give credit to our wedding photographer. She did such a fantastic job and the photos came out great. If you need a photographer, for a wedding or otherwise, we recommend her to you: Astarita Art & Photo. One wonderful side aspect of the wedding was discovering the number of resources available within our community. For example, we registered for gifts at Scott Laurent Galleries in Winter Park. They welcomed our patronage. Shelbie Press printed our wedding invitations. They made us feel completely relaxed and comfortable as we made our choices of paper, ink, etc. Where in the world would you go for same sex wedding invitations? There are so many who helped make our wedding a success. To our family and friends, we thank you. And to those of you in our community who provided the much needed and appreciated services, thanks for being there. (Mrs.) Carol Bartsch & Kim Newton Best wishes and remember to announce your first anniversary with us. Editor Dear Miss O’Lay, I want to let you know how much I enjoy your column. Your work gives Watermark balance. In fact, I did NOT appreciate the reader’s letter that appeared in Watermark assailing your column. I would like to tell that person to his face that he would NOT be able to write letters to Gay publications had it not been for the efforts of the people who frequented the Stonewall on that fateful night in 1969. What the Gay community does not need at the present time is divisiveness; what it DOES need is a more tolerant attitude... all for one and one for all... as well as a sense of humor. I always believe in giving credit when credit is due. Keep up the good work! Most Sincerely, Jim C. Miss O’Lay conveys her appreciation. She lives for her fans. If you would like an autographed 8x10 glossy, send $2 and a self-addressed scented envelope do this publication. Editor STRIKE A POSE: The Orlando Gay Chorus at Key West’s southernmost point, September, 1994. “Every child deserves support and encouragement to reach their full potential. Let me share my home, love and years child care experience with you and ^ your child. ” Catering to the Needs of Gay & Lesbian Parents (407) 862-7478 Children ases new born to 2 years Located in Altamonte Springs For more information, call Lauri Fambro WATERMARK / October 12,1994 11 VIEWPOINT DONALD by James A. Crescitelli You never know whether or not the last time you see somebody is going to truly be the LAST time. We humans are blessed with brains and emotions and the capacity to love, but are nonetheless incapable of predicting the events in our lives. Everybody had a best friend in high school, and mine was Donald. We debuted as gay teenagers in our senior year and immediately began sneaking off to the bars. We were young New Yorkers in the early ‘seventies, able to do anything, and the city was our oyster. We thought we were the most enticing creatures on earth. Week after week, month after month, we posed and preened and drank innumberable gallons of white wine, all in pursuit of, hopefully, being noticed. We rarely were. Glamorous and sophisticated as we appeared to one another, we invariably ended up on the subway with only each other, heading back to Brooklyn. “There’s something wrong with us,” Donald said one night as we left the West Village. “We spend too much time with each other looking AT men instead of concentrating on looking FOR men.” “Yeah, you’re right,” I yawned. “People must think you and I are lovers, because we’re always together.” “Yeah.” It was true; we went to school together and cruised the clubs together; we had dinner with each other, went to Broadway, the movies, galleries... “We’re lovers without the sex,” Donald decided another time. “Right?” I agreed, “Sad, isn’t it?” The few times we did manage to meet somebody were when Donald or I found ourselves alone for a few minutes, usually when one of us had to use the restroom. Then the suitors would pounce - never the ones we wanted, but suitors nonetheless. They would all ask the same thing: “Is that Glamorous and sophisticated as we appeared to one another, we invariably ended up on the subway with only each other, heading back to Brooklyn. other guy your lover?” Donald and I would laugh about them on the phone the next morning, wondering how two handsome creatures like ourselves were constantly striking out on the field of love. It went on like that for a few years, and then I moved to Florida. I read To Kill A Mockingbird and Gone with the Wind in eighth grade and decided “the South” was where I wanted to be; I vowed to one day relocate somewhere below the Mason-Dixon line. Nobody told me at the time that Orlando hardly brought to mind the kudzu- covered South featured in those books, but I chose Orlando because I had a friend living there. Donald was beside himself. He wanted to fold himself into my suitcase and come with me, but this was something I had to do alone. We kept in touch and saw each other at Christmas when I would fly up to be with my family. We would drag out the yearbook and monopolize gatherings at friends’ homes with detailed analyses of our fellow graduates. He would tell me how popular he had suddenly become, and I suppose it was the lack of my presence during his now-solo Saturday nights that persuaded him to test his wings. And fly he did. The last time I saw him was a year before he died, but I had spoken to him not two weeks prior to his entering the hospital. Our phone call had been the usual three-hour remembrance of things past, with updates thrown in for good measure. Donald had recently lost his mother, and he was telling me how strange he felt and how much he missed her. “It’s like she’s waiting for me,” he said, and I was chilled. I heard through "..other friend that Donald had collapsed w home and had to be taken to the emergency room. A couple of frantic phone calls to his hospital bed went unanswered, and then, after two weeks, he was gone. I would never see him or talk to him again; I had had no idea our last telephone conversation was going to be just that. Friends told me he went quickly. The news filtering back to me was heartbreaking: “He could hardly even write us notes.” “That hospital he was in had no idea how to treat AIDS patients.” “He didn’t have to die from pneumonia.” I went up for the funeral, a crowded Irish affair, and saw the faces of friends, shocked, older. Did I look like that? I’d known him for such a terribly short time. As I said, we never know. And now I can finally say goodbye. DON’T LOOK SO DYKEY by Rosanne Sloan “Don’t look so dykey,” I heard Donna say the day my picture was taken for the paper. “Don’t look so dykey,” she cried. But when I was growing up, no one told me I didn’t have to be a man to love a woman. I was the neighborhood tomboy. No one messed around with me, boys or girls. If you were a part of my gang, no one bothered you either. By the time I was six, I had already promised Patty Arnold, with her blonde bologna curls, that we would get married, have two kids, and I would go to work and make lots of money. By eighth grade I had other girls fighting over taking care of my tree fort, making me heart-shaped angel food cakes and bandaging my scrapes. So many that I had forgotten about Patty. This was a pivotal point in my “gay” life. (I didn’t consider myself a lesbian yet. I was too tough to be one of “those.”) It was eighth grade graduation from Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, and all the girls were shopping with their mothers for pretty, white, Laura Ashley dresses. I told my mother under no circumstances would I wear one of “those.” I had to wear a skirt for school, but now I was going to wear what I wanted. So we went to Lord & Taylor’s and bought a very nice, pleated, beige, three-piece suit. At graduation, I couldn’t help noticing that the other girls looked beautiful, and I was “handsome”. For one brief moment, with their eyes twinkling at me, I wondered if I could be more like them. Had I had a role model like Amanda Bearse, perhaps I would have learned earlier than age 22 that is was okay for a woman to love another woman, and I, too, was a beautiful “lesbian.” It was along hard journey from that eighth grade of 1979 to the family gathering in the winter of 1986, yet some things seemed unchanged. I wished my breasts were bigger when the waitress turned to my mother and said, “My, you have two handsome sons.” And my mother, darting daggers at me, silently screaming, “See. Why do you have to look so dykey?” I could hear Barbara Streisand as Yentl singing in my head, “Look how easily I fool them. They may have eyes, but they don’t see. They never really look at me. People are blind.” My style was always the tailored look. I first justified this preference by calling it my Catholic-school-preppy look; later it was my androgynous look. Women seemed to like it - enough to fall in love with me -but then each would begin trying to change .. .1 wished my breasts were bigger when the waitress turned to my mother and said, “My, you have two handsome sons. ” me. It usually started with the length of my hair, then some make up, some nail polish, and finally, ultimately, “let’s get rid of these clothes!” “Wait a minute!” I’d snap, “There’s the front door, thank you - I like myself as I am.” Wasn’t it enough for them to love the woman I was in bed? The soft and tender girl longing to be loved in her satin boxers and ginny-t’s? Wasn’t it that person in pleated Gap pants, pocket T and worn penny loafers that captufSd'TTtew-atwnTWrr to begin with? I refused to deny what I was; a lesbian with a masculine flair. Yes, indeed.. .a long, hard journey from the summer of 1979; yet some things have changed. My mother called this morning to tell me she has made an appointment for a family portrait. There is a stipulation, though. In her most authoritatively feminine voice she tells me not to dress “casual.” I know what she means by that.. .no manly attire. She waits for a fight but I don’t give her the satisfaction. Instead, I tell her not to worry, that I have the perfect outfit in mind; a one-piece dress with a vest, finished off with my pearls and small heels. Okay, the dress is pleated and the collar is tailored, but I like it that way. It’s my Catholic-school-preppy look. And my mother will think Donna has done wonders with me by making me quite the femme. The truth is, I can see the woman in me through Donna’s eyes, because she loves all of me, including the strength of my body, heart and mind. Every day I get to wear what I want. Why should this occasion be any different? SUNDAY: CHURCH SERVICE 10:30 AM WEDNESDAY: ALL-MESSAGE SERVICE 7:30 PM ($5.00) Healing Services 1/2 hour before all Church services PUBLIC WELCOME TO ATTEND ALL ACTIVITIES VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE Area’s largest Book and Tape inventory, plus many interesting gifts from Nature and around the world. HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 9:30-5:00, Sunday Noon-5:00 1112 Stevens St. • P.O. Box 319 • Cassadaga, FL 32706»(904) 228-2880 Kim Meredith Property Manager PROFESSIONAL GROUP. INC. 7575 Dr. Phillips Boulevard, Suite 100 Residental Sales 352-0041 Rentals 352-8611 • Residential Sales • Rentals • Property Management • New Home Sales • Commercial • Investment Property • Free Market Analysis James Zweifel President/Broker Rentals 352-8611 QUALITY SERVICE It's not just a motto -It's a guarantee. Residential 352-0041 WATERMARK / October 12,1994 12 HIV+? THINKING OF SELLING A POLICY? READ ON! Whether you want to realize a dream or just take care of your health or finances, you owe it to yourself to call today for no obligation information and application. CALLUS (407)426-9760 mvAvmi X3 Auto Force Inc. /F Automotive Repairs 4211 N. Orange Blossom Tr. #A3 (Just South of Lee Rd.) IMPORT and DOMESTIC * Engine/Mechanical Repairs * Tune Ups * Brakes * Shocks/Struts * Charging Systems * Cooling Systems * Starting Systems ... 8:30 - 6 M - F, 10-5 Sat. r-^-------------. OR by appointment! ** 290-6027 Certified Mechanic FL Reg. # MV -12428 Cactus Club 1300 N. Mills Ave. Orlando 407-894-3041 Hlappy 2 for I 3 pm to 8 pm 7 Days A Week m Tuesdays T* ridays Saturdays 2 for 1 All Nite Social Complin ,_____Hour omplimentary Buffet 2 for 1 until 8 pm 2 for 1 11 pm to 1 am Volvo introduces the world’s first and only side impact air bag. 1995 850. THE STORE 1051 W. Webster Ave. (adjacent to the Winter Park Mall) • 628-0550 • Now Open Sundays 1 - 5. *Side air bags are standard on the 1995 850 Turbos and are optional in the base and GLT models. Always wear your safety belts. VWWWVWWWWWWWfl WATERMARK / October 12,1994 13 Members of the lesbian a cappella group, THE RHYTHM METHOD (plus one) at the Kickoff Fundraiser for the Orlando Gay Chorus: (clocwise from left) Michelle D’Arcy, Meladye Shively, April Gustetter, Rachael Hazen, and Marla VUbsson. HARMONIC CONVERGENCE Colorado’s The Rhythm Method by April L. Gustetter It was a rainy Saturday afternoon when four women from Denver, Colorado sat down to be interviewed before going to a soundcheck for their next gig. The kickoff fundraiser for the Orlando Gay Chorus’ musical season would soon be competing with the weather, but neither their harmony nor spirits would dampen. Later that night, they would stand under a tent as the heavens opened, singing a cappella to a modest but appreciative crowd. The lesbian a cappella singing group is The Rhythm Method (TRM), and if you missed them in person, pick up one of their CDs or cassettes at Out & About - a unique and delightful sound (and a fun bunch o’ gals). Like all good harmony, this group is made up of distinct voices. As one of three original members of TRM, Michelle D’Arcy began her musical journey in grade school, singing in the chorus and competing in performances with her french horn. Perky and petite with dark, bright eyes, she hails from a singing family, has sung all her life, and (yes) plays guitar. Witty and outgoing, Marla Wasson is another original member. She is the daughter of barber shop quartet singers, and a sister among five siblings who, growing up, stood around the piano while her mother played. Originally a music major, Marla switched her academic direction to business .. .which has obviously come in handy being a singer. (Right.) Meladye Shively is the third original member of the group, and another brought-up-on-music-guitar-playing gal. Meladye’s penchant for melody took her straight to voice lessons in high school (hated it) and, of course, the chorus. Meladye and Marla are life partners who chuckle when explaining how much togetherness that entails. The last to join, but certainly not the least, Rachael Hazen revealed, “My very first solo was in second grade - I sang ‘Rocky Mountain High’ in my music class.’’ From there, she did the choir/chorus thing throughout her academic career, and performed in as many productions as she could. Rachael writes and arranges many of the songs, and when she has hair, she’s the only blonde in the group. When asked about the group’s name, all four members chattered at once. Rachael spoke above the others, “We all had the assignment of coming up with a name, so I went home and called one of my old girlfriends. We agreed that the name had to have something to do with sex, because if it didn’t it wouldn’t be marketable.” Apparently, by the exclamations of the others, this was a never-before-told version of the story, so we all listened with interest. “She was in Maryland and I was in Colorado, so we both whipped out our copies of Our.Bodies and Ourselves, flipped through the book, and there it was....” Rachael trailed off, but Meladye piped in. “When Rachael came and told us what she and Kate thought of, I immediately liked it, because -1 didn’t even think about the sex thing -1 just loved it because it was like ‘pun intended’ - we’re a lesbian quartet, and I thought it was a great little left hook to all those Catholics!” Everyone roared in agreement, and the tone of the interview was set; even in conversation, they teamed up splendidly. “We’re an a cappella-out-lesbian group, which I think makes us unique,” said Marla with a trace of defiance. “We’re right out there with our work. We don’t change pronouns, we write songs about girls and we sing songs about girls.” Asked about their beginnings, Meladye opened. “We all met in the Denver Women’s Chorus.We just kind of formed a friendship out of huddling together through that. Then we were at a party one time where Michelle had brought her guitar, and we all sat around and sang with her. We talked about what a ‘nice little blend we had,’ and ‘wasn’t this fun,’ Continued Page 21 When presented with an idea for a major Hollywood motion picture, one might question a film about a cross-dresser who is ‘‘the worst director of ail time.’* it does present possibilities to comment on Hollywood and die motion picture in- . dustry; the comic potential of an inept director is considerable, and such a film could even make an artistic statement about transvestism. Unfortunately, no such elements can be found in Tim Burton’s disappointing E# Wood, This film misses many of its golden opportunities, and instead finds itself bogged down by an uneventful screenplay fall of underdeveloped subplots and oae^imea-sional characters, Ed Wood is the true life story of Edward D, Wood, Ir.t the man who brought us such sci-fi B-movie cult classics as Bride of the Monster and Orgy of the Dead, The movie starts with Wood as a fledgling playwright, whose cross-dressing tendencies interest him in directing a film about a half man/balf woman. Although Glen or Glenda . is a terrible flop, he is driven to make more movies, He meets and befriends horror film star Bela Lugosi and makes B-film after B-film attempting to resurrect Lugosi’s career and establish his own. As his works accumulate, we watch the framework for his most remembered work, Plan 9From Outer Space, take shape, In the process* Wood achieves his dream to act, direct, and star in his own work - just like his idol, Orson Welles, : " The main problem in Ed Wood is the lack of depth of its title character, Indeed this Ed Wood is as much an anti-hero as the real Wood is the anti-Welles, Johnny Depp (looking like Ricky Ricardo on Ritalin) gives a funny, energetic and consistent performance, bat we never know what is going on under the surface of his optimistic grin and arching eyebrows. Wood undergoes no change in the film; he is neither a better person nor a better director by the film’s end. The movie tries to create a climactic plot point when Wood actually meets Orson Welles and is advised, “Visions are worth fighting for/* Wood’s visions aren’t. :' The most enjoyable part of the film is Wood’s relationship with Bela Lugosi played to perfection by Martin Landau. At times his resemblance V to the real Lugosi is frightening. Landau gives a hilarious, off-color, and touching performance as die aging morphine-addicted former Dracula star, The one outstanding achievement of Ed Wood is that it manages to make Lugosi sympathetic, and it is he whoremains with us when the movie ends, Tim Burton is probably the most logical di- Continued Page 20 WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 14 ARTFUL LIVING Rollins College Annie Russell Theatre 1994-95 Season ”63 Years of Theatre Excellence” The Mystery of Edwin Drood OCTOBER 21,22, 26-30, 1994 OUR TOWN DECEMBER 2, 3, 7-11,1994 Edward Villella Miami City Ballet JANUARY 13-14, 1995 wmterfest II JANUARY 19-28, 1995 A Month in the Country MARCH 10, 11, 15-19, 1995 Daniel Ezralow’s Heart Dances APRIL 7-8, 1995 Rollins Dance APRIL 9, 1995 The Learned Ladies APRIL 28, 29, MAY 3-7,1995 Call NOW for season Tickets! Save 30% Over Single Tickets! Order by Phone 646-2145 JlixEd MeDiA PRISCILLA IS A BUS!: Last month I mentioned the soundtrack from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Last weekend in South Beach, I finally got to see the film. Priscilla is a road picture telling the tale of three drag queens making their way across the Australian outback. The acting (Terrence Stamp, Guy Pearce, and Hugo Weaver) and the direction (Stephan Elliott) represent the finest in Australia’s hot new cinema. A big improvement over the days of Crocodile Dundee and the like. The drag routines are excellent, with “I Will Survive” and “Finally” being the standouts. More important, this film offers us character development and presents the leads as people with feelings. It’s really not the campy, comedic send up you might expect. There is a well fleshed-out story involving homophobia, several sub-plots, and most of all, lot’s of heart. The film does drag however (pun intended) in parts and there were moments when I secretly hoped Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock would hop on this bus and give Priscilla some Speed. In the end, Priscilla has dignity, is lot’s of fun, and is well worth the trip. TRUE ROMANCE: A dear friend gave me the newest Miguel Bose release “Bajo el Signo de Cain” and it turned out to be a lovely deja vu experience. I first heard this CD blasting in a crowded black jeep while speeding and laughing through the streets of Manhattan en route to the Streisand concert back in July. What a gas to return to Orlando and be reacquainted with this wonderful, upbeat music through the kindness of a friend. Bose is starting to gain more attention in the U.S. (partially due to his pretty-boy looks.. .check out the photo on the back of the CD) and it’s about time. OK, I don’t speak fluent Spanish, and I don’t understand the lyrics, but for some reason I just don’t care and I can’t stop listening. Give Bose a listen and you’ll understand exactly what I mean. SINEAD ON HEADPHONES: Sinead O’Connor’s new release “Universal Mother” recently hit the record stores. Not as commercially accessible as her popular “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” nor as funky as her debut “Lion and the Cobra,” but there is a purity and passion in this collection of songs. After reading the liner notes on the CD, I took Sinead’s advice and listened on headphones and let the CD play in its entirety. Back-to-back are a cover of Kurt Cobain’s plaintive “All Apologies” and O’Connor’s own desperate “A Perfect Indian.” Definitely not for the suicidal. There is a song written and performed by O’Connor’s eight-year-old son, Jake, “Am I a Human?”.. .not to worry, it’s less than a minute long. The outstanding cut “Scorn Not His Simplicity” is a maternal plea for understanding and represents some of this accomplished and controversial artist’s best work ever. If you’re a Sinead fan, you’ll enjoy this new release. KEEP EATING AND EATING...at Thornton Park Cafe, since it reopened not too long ago. Good food and outstanding service in our very own favorite neighborhood. The salmon special (soon to be added to the menu) was delicious. Lunch and Sunday brunch are lot’s of fun, too! Drop by. You can even pick up a copy of ! IN REVIEW EAT WI RO by Rosanne Sloan Moorefield’s 123 S. Orange Avenue • Orlando 872-6960 There are no words to describe the exquisite, individually prepared dishes at Moorefield’s. Suffice it to say, this is gourmet dining at its best. Margaret Moorefield (yes, there is really a Moorefield) is the owner and executive chef; her life partner, Kara Pritchett, is the hostess, one of the servers, and accountant. Together, their passion for their restaurant comes alive as the meal and good conversation grows throughout the dining experience. But a great mystery exists here.. .a whispered question: Why don’t they associate themselves more with the gay community? After getting lost for nearly an hour (I haven’t mastered the south and north ends of Orlando’s streets yet), my partner, Donna, and I were ravenous. On arrival, Kara escorted us to our table, where my eye caught a glimpse of one of the paintings; a larger-than-life sized picture of a naked man, seemingly erect, with wings soaring through the air. Moorefield’s is fronted by floor-to-ceiling windows, and watching the expressions of passersby is high entertainment. Normally they stop only to gawk. Their loss. We were there to dine. We began our meal with the homemade toasted garlic Gnocchi with garlic sauce. The appetizer was delicately decorated with shredded carrots and red pepper. Margaret’s Southwestern flair doesn’t stop there. Donna ordered the pan-seared Alaskan Moorefield’s accepts all major credit cards. Open 11:30A-2:30PT-F, Dinner 6-10P T-Th / 6-12P F-S. Beer and wine available. Handicap friend^. Theatre Review by Dimitri Toscas NIGHTCLUB CANTATA %jr> SecondStage, Civic Theatre of Central Florida * Salmon with a Habanero (pepper) lime butter, and a yellow tomato salsa. This artistic plate was complemented by thin slices of boiled potato and shredded lemon peel I had the Hickory smoked Jamaican Jerk pork loin with Poblano barbecue sauce. My dish was completed with a wonderful carrot-corn bread and potato black bean cake. Donna delved into the walnut cheesecake torte and lost herself totally. Tempted by her moaning, I tried a bite. Never have I tasted a dessert so delicious. It made my conservative apple cobbler seem disappointing, which it wasn’t. Moorefield’s is a taste of heaven lost in a community with uneducated palates. Moorefield’s is not just about fabulous food but about two women struggling to survive. During the course of the evening, Kara pulled a chair over like an old friend and filled us in. While Margaret Moorefield is humble about her talent, wearing a traditional chef’s outfit and checking the dining area periodically, Kara is the energy of the establishment. That energy has an undertone of anger. We learned they felt abandoned by the gay and lesbian community. Unfortunately, they didn’t advertise with the community when they first opened, and now their funds are limited. They want their business to thrive in Orlando and within the gay community. And so do we. Rosey’s Rating: ★★★★★/GGG. Civic Theatre’s SecondStage steals the spotlight again. Nightclub Cantata is this Fall’s finest theatrical offering so far. It’s passionate, bizarre, intense, personal, genuine .. .in short, nothing less than poetic. Elizabeth Swados (who conceived and composed the show) creates a space between two intense poems (written by Nazim Hikmet), then fills it with horror, awe, and struggle. Hikmet’s poetry acts like prison walls, isolating, oppressing, and holding a small band of performers captive. Between these walls, they fight for survival, understanding, equality, and acceptance. They also fight for love. Ultimately, they fight to live life to its fullest. Expressing themselves through poems set to music, improvised sounds and words, dance and movement, the performers work as a seamless ensemble. Each one deserves to be mentioned by name: Angela Sparks works with real attitude and honesty; Anthony Joseph Killeen taps internal anger and personal struggle. Together, they create one of the show’s most intense moments, “Dibarti,” a poem that echoes conflict, hatred, and disappointment. Rosemary Marston is earthy, and her deep desire brings “The Dance” to light, making it a sad and exhilarating cry for life. Ernest White drives “Adolescents” into the heart with his simple, honest reflections of growing up. Nothing over-the-top here; just hard, isolated truths. Will Braun’s impish playfulness is suddenly the knife that stabs the audience at the end of “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities,” a scene staged brilliantly by director Robin Jensen. John Bosman, Darla Walker, Angela and Anthony make “Ventriloquist and Dummy” a bizarre expression of relationship, and the fight for equality that threatens most couples. Wilton “De Vonn” Baker creates an echoing and moving ode “To The Harbormaster.” Nightclub Cantata works like “performance art.” It is deep and profound, and each person on stage clearly contributes by using their own experiences as an instrument of expression. Their voices join to make one loud cry...the fullness of life that they entreat. Truly, a talented cast. Jensen’s direction of Cantata is uncom- plicated and direct, letting the words and songs do the work. The lighting and set are minimal but dramatic. The whole space of SecondStage is used effectively. Through poetry and songs we move from captivity to freedom, until our one desire is to dance in the sand and move with the cast into a space of rejoicing and light. Bravi! Bravi! - to an ensemble that is natural, honest, interesting, and endearing. Nightclub Cantata runs through Oct. 16. Tickets $12. Call (407) 896-7365for reservations. MACRO'S WHEN YOU'RE READY TO BUY OR SELL A HOME! •FREE Market Analysis *Full Time Professional 'Image ol The Prudential •Knowledge o.f All Areas ‘Dedicated to Work Hard for You! MARK"MARKO”DOLE REALTOR <* 399-DOLE ThePrudentiaf^ $ *\*. -401 Gallagher Properties 5425 S. Semoran Rivd Sm Orlando. FL 32822 Bus (407)380 3800 Fax (407) 380 3408 WHAT DO you ’GIUETHE PERSON WHO HAS EUERVTHING? 'A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT, OF COURSE! 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Anniversary or Weekend Special j <ff§jetawap i $125/ Two People Expires 10/28/94 I____________________________________I / / j cK^ Qbummerlin A*ve. • ©rlando 84,9-0321 or Oct, 29,1994 • 7 PM • To Benefit HOPE and HELP Reservations required, Call 249-0321 Enjoy an open bar and hors d’oeuvres • Prizes awarded for Best Costume list Prize 2nd Prize ONfeY a 2-Day Miami/Bahamas Getaway 2 hours Luxury Limousine Service (Includes Miami Tour and Flight to Grand Bahama Island) ^icketjs on sale now — come, first serve VISA WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 16 TRAVEL The VaGAYtioners Club . _, Mardi Gras '9S a Sydney Gay Mardi Gras \ > Air from Orlando,transfers, VaGAYtioners V accommodations daily breakfast | Club p > party tickets j * all for only $ 1,995. pp/dbl occ. ''f l ^ ' Space is limited. Restrictions apply. 9ro^ZXa I ft re. 407 SSI S63S Aruba - Costa Rica - San Juan - Mexico - New Orleans - Key West - Orlando RS.VP. Cruises - Cay Rodeos - Cay Mardi Cras - Mr Leather and so much more Visit us for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Teddy, Papa Tony and Pablo look forward to your visit and promise you a unique dining experience. T-TH11 AM -10 PM *F 11 AM -11 PM »S 10 AM-11 PM • SUN 10 AM -9 PM 900 E. WASHINGTON STREET ♦ ORLANDO, FL 32801 ♦ (407) 425-0033 MPACT VISUALS, INC. PRESENTS MANNEQUIN SALES & RENTALS plus RESTORATIONS >* Join us along with over 1,000 other hard bodies in celebrating the opening of th£ premier mannequin outlet in Florida! Featuring sales, rentals and a complete restoration service of a wide variety of mannequins, torsos, forms and body parts. >* Preview an exciting collection of new and used mannequins as they serve refreshments in our new showroom. OPENING NIGHT DISCOUNTS We' look forward Ui seeing, yaw on... ^ Saturday, October 22nd from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Winter Park Mall (in the former Gibbs-Louis space) 500 N. Orlando Ave. • Suite 1464 • Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 645-3357 What started out In 1978 as a march in support of gay and lesbian | solidarity, a southern hemisphere world’s biggest, boldest, bawdiest parties. The Sydney Gay Mardi Gras is a unique and wonderful celebra-§ turn; a time and place where the gay community can proudly proclaim its unity, while at die same time displaying and celebrating its tremendous diversity. Not to mention that special ability to design some bitchuT costumes! That first march, on June 24, 1978, ended in a street dot and con-| frontationwith Sydney police. It was born of anger and a need to raise consciousness regarding discrimination against gays. How times have . changed. The annual event now ! k widely regarded as the b&d annual;.: gay event in the world. Sydney Qay Mardi Gras is by no- j means a one day event. The parade || The 1994 festival, largest to date, presented some 11 feature films, 21 visual artists, and a constant variety Ifdf theater.. musical and culmral forums, A highlight was the first ||p|bli|;p| Gay Comedy Festival, llll^fihg: nine headline comics,' ||f| :jviardi Parade is the highlight of the celebration, The annual nighttime extravaganza is something to behold, as 800,000 (1) spectators line miles of Sydney streets to demonstrate support and share in “family fun.” M ARHKf.RA^ Down Under by Stephen De Mels watching TV and eating junk food. Also drawing hoots of laughter were J the well-defined hunks pulling a rather large Queen Elizabeth, stating “All the Old Girl needed was to be steered in the right direction/* Leading the parade each year are the “Mardi Gras Boys * This year the energetic group of 150, dressed in bunny ears and bow ties and very little else, danced the whole length of the huge parade in frenzied formation. The ‘‘Boys” include lawyers, accountants, corporate executives, and lots and lots of flight attendants. In fact, the Mardi Gras Boys have become so popular that they are now chosen in auditions. But few are turned away, Sydney Gay Mardi Gras is a celebration of inclusion, and last year’s “Boys” included a 17-year-old and a 64-year-old. Their joy and enthusiasm . make them all beautiful. Ill The 1994 brought new participants to Mardi Gras, Hawaii sent a group, and the gay .and. lesbian community j from Tasmania was represented for the first time. Other notable floats included: the Sisters of Perpetual In-dulgenee; Madonaarama, featuring some 30 Madonna wannabes; | Sydney ^s leather and “Bear* communities, out in full force (forgive die pun); and die most lively entry, tie Syndey Bootscooters, the Australian line dance group who “bootscooted" die whole parade in denim and silver lame. Major style points! There are Mardi Gras celebrations 1 all over the world, each with a spe^J cial message. Sydney’s message has been a long time In the making: “We are Family, and the colors of our rainbow are diverse and bright," The only thing missing from Sydney Mardi Gras is a group from Central Florida, but an adventurous group is already talking about rectifying this problem. Who better to spread hospitality and good cheer! You too could be a part of the biggest celebration of Gay Pride in the world... the 1995 Sydney Gay Mardi Gras. Pot aftee video oh the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras, call (407) £57-5(535.; In fact, the parade is so fun, so outrageous, it’s easy to overlook the serious political messages being conveyed. Gay Catholics sought acceptance from their church with their float of open arms. Volunteers attention to their 47,000 hours of care provided to Sydney PWAs. 1 My favorite was a group called “Sisterhood of Sit;” self-proclaimed gay and lesbian couch-potatoes who ARTFULIIW|M£ 1 for all the cares and >-urr.. - is: i-TaSa"-.* !hs. arni™“y° between «' ^ uJSX =°°n °I wSITpi^ *« a is£ fodf0’ the °nly Heb -• -’ -A Paramount was jumping on ^ chuc in a big way. Its first endeavor wa dophiiic Jewish attortOT {irm o£ Markham, out At the Oy vey #«d..»P « £&. trusty, crust,^and “■ ■,rrr»«««gjjjy&r :“•*:; srsJffl1 £S;sii-»““S:s^:-sS secret hermaphrodite. induced temper reared 1 y drunken stupor, that i:]« her infamous tequiia announced, in ner . t^at would shut tne The director. Johanne von SnottW- ^ her of „„ avail. She. n ^ ^ {igure sr-iS£^ s*3KJ£^ with what appeared to be a g as_oh, dear, look at the to follow could only e . tcaQic story next time- ^/7 . X promise to continue this g x0ve and kisses. yS'^ v Tt's free and a lot less hassle! ■ , r M G.: next time, take the bus home. It P.S. Confidential to • ...- 5TREAM :^seiAUs?(E5S T JohfPWayne Bobbit...you know the name.. .has/is/will make a porno movie. He says he’s doing it to prove to the public that his equipment works. We assume he’s donating the proceeds to charity.. .or perhaps N.O.W.? Anyway, we know somebody had a lot of fun picking the name for this instant classic... ScarfaceII and Frankenweenie come to mind. No doubt it will be released in two parts. Regardless, we want to see it and we won’t apologize. We live in a sick culture, and we’re going to take advantage of it. ▼ Speaking of equipment that doesn’t work...the new fountain at Lake Eola. It was up and running for a few weeks, most often malfunctioning (and a pathetic sight it is, a fountain dribbling water as if out of the side of its mouth...all very Freudian). But it’s been dormant...impotent, really ...for months. Well, a month. Is anyone working on this? And what happened to the musical trees and bushes? It was hokey, but we liked it. Lake Eola is still a great park, even if no one uses the new part. ▼ You know how we all have sections of the paper that we always read? Well, we just stopped reading Ann Landers.. .just cut her out of our morning routine, and believe me, these routines are not given up cavalierly. Just lost interest...in the problems...in the answers (“Consult a doctor/gynecologist/clergy/counselor”) ...waste of time. Does this mean Ann is getting tired, or that we’re just losing interest in life (and should therefore consult a doctor/gynecologist/clergy/counselor)? T We’ve never sampled the stuff, but we sure think Fruitopia is a great product name. Should we steal it as the theme for gay politics, as in “We seek nothing short of...” ▼ Barney Frank is running unopposed. T While on the subject of politics, a third U. S. Congressman has come out of the closet...sort of. Rep. Steve Gunderson (D- Wisconsin) never actually told the Advocate that he’s gay but his companion did, offering photos of them together as well. This after Rep. Robert Dornan (R-California)...hate him with us, won’t you?...stated during House debate that Gunderson had a “revolving door on his closet.” *£ANiSI*iS & "UNATIONjS ey mflfiK LfmiHon, mm Mark Lawhon is certified by the American Federation of % Astrologers, and is available for consultations by calling 407-894-1506. Mercury rules communications of all sorts. It also affects delivery of communications such as mail, phone calls and messages. Approximately four times a year, Mercury stops motion .. .you can imagine the consequences. Evaluate new projects or documents carefully before proceeding; avoid them if possible. Fixed signs...Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, are particularly hard hit this phase (which runs from 10/10 to 10/ 31), but everyone should use caution. Some additional general advice from your friendly astrologer: plan travel carefully and drive cautiously. You got it.. .travel is also ruled by Mercury. ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Fall is in the air and the New Moon on Oct. 19 opens doors for you. Have fun doing the things you love most. Be prepared for fireworks on the 24th, when you’ll have more sexual electricity than Con Ed. TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): This coming month is an excellent time to clean out the crap.. .the “old tapes”.. .lingering from childhood. A check up is also in order to nip any bugs. Don’t think about moving right now, and avoid the legally binding. GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): Mercury rules Gemini, and he’s in retrograde most of the month. Not a good time for heart-to-hearts. Consider delaying plans for entertaining. Instead, spend your time productively, possibly with a friend who needs a hand. But avoid lending that hand financially. CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): Relationships may seem determined by fate right now. What’s worked in the past may bring unexpected and undesired results. Go ahead with that relocation, but not until next month. A well deserved financial reward is possible. LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Lingering annoyances.. .that troubling, pervasive “life stuff’ you’ve been dealing with...may come crashing in on you. Common sense will see you through. Is work fulfilling? You may want to consider additional training or education. Expect confusion. Finances will improve next month. VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): A grandparent may need your help and time. Good thing. Money’s been flying out of your wallet; now is a good time to curtail frivolous spending. And brace yourself for that Visa or MasterCard statement. LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): Spending a lot of time trying to impress a new partner? Turn the spotlight 180 degrees this month and enjoy all the attention. Seek out mutual friends, and don’t let well-meaning parents tell you who to hang out with. SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Focus on career matters this month.. .and little else. Opportunity is knocking. In particular, take a look at what you get, and what you need, from your superiors. Your pet may be a particular nuisance this month. Watch your words, too.. .that Mercury thing. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): A friend may need your help. In the process, a new friend may materialize. Intrigued? Home seems real confining, but beware of spending too much on diversions. Contracts are favorably aspected, but wait ‘til next month to finalize. CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): You’re irritated...both at home and at work. Even your relationship is being tested this month. The good news is that if there is no relationship, this is a good time to go out and find one. It’ll be fresh, fun, and too new to be adversely affected. AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Febl8): Much uncertainty surrounding your employment situation. You’re underappreciated. Confusion and even deception come from an unexpected source. Seek support from someone who knows how to deal with children; that’s exactly how your boss is acting. PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Work is good.. .better than its been for a long while. This is good, because you’ll need to direct energy toward relationships. A karmic link seeks your subconscious recognition and conscious action. Go for it. And plan ahead...next month Mars enters your house of relationships and the late night fires will be burning. TT/1 1 L/I\lTim\l\ / UVIWUV1 14*, l S s-r 1U OUR CULTURE FLORIDA'S DISTINCTIVE GAY AND LESBIAN PUBLICATION AND family Values -'LesBiGay Radio SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23,1994 THE ENZIAN • MAITLAND A Benefit for G.L.C.S., P-FLAG, & G.LP.CI. Reception 2:00 PM Movie 2:45 PM Reserved Corporate Tobies 2 Person-$20, 4 Person-$40 Call Chris at (407) 298-7747 for tickets or tables THE' vtfcoks nor iV Difitkfnt colors Lewis Routh’s outrageous Whores of a Different Color returns to Orlando after a five year hiatus. The off-beat comedy played to packed houses at the Parliament House last time around, and in fact, the play is set on the Parliament House stage, as six gay actors rehearse a play based on a Greek myth about male/male love. According to Routh, the play is a “fun-filled romp that still packs a punch with its message.” Tickets are on sale now and limited to 100 seats per performance. Opening night, Thu. Oct. 13, will be a benefit for Gay & Lesbian Community Services. For more information, call (407) 521-8134. Jett Canary and Drew Davenport from Whores. 1 - . ,-.1 ▼ Power and Glitter, a Fundraiser for the “No On fl” Coalition, will be held at the Scott Laurent Galleries (what would we do without you guys!) on Park Avenue in Winter Park on Friday, October 14, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Proceeds will be used to help our friends in Alachua County defeat discriminatory ballot measures (see story, p. 3). Art, live music and hors d’oeuvres will be offered. Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per couple. RSVP to (407) 297-8518. ▼ Theatre UCF presents The Kentucky Cycle, the first half of Robert Schenkkan’s renowned sweeping epic of three families in eastern Kentucky spanning 200 years of American history. Cycle will be presented this week and next, Thu-Sun. Call (407) 823-1500 for tickets or more information. ▼ The Destiny off Me continues at The Acting Studio through Sunday, Oct. 16. Destiny is Larry Kramer’s 1993 Obie Award-winning sequel to his earlier AIDS play, The Normal Heart. Tickets are $12; seniors and students $10. Call (407) 425-2281 for tickets. T “Florida’s Freshest Fruit,” The Improbabilities, continue to offer their hilarious gay and lesbian improvisational comedy at the Eola Theatre, 17 Wall St. Plaza, Thursday Oct. 20 and 27, at 8:30 PM. Tickets are just $5. Call (407) 521-7499 for more info. Make a night of it and have dinner at MoOieffielllfS (see restaurant review this issue) before the show. T The Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College will open their ’94-95 season with The Mystery of Edwin Drood, an English music hall version of an unfinished Dickens melodrama. Drood will play from Oct.21-30. For information about tickets and performances, phone (407) 646-2145. Also, Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis makes a public appearance at Rollins College, Saturday, October 22, in a “Community Conversation.”The program begins at 2:30 PM in the Bush Auditorium, Bush Science Center. ▼ TCN will hold their annual HallOWCCn (impout from Fri., Oct. 28 thru Sun. Oct. 30 at Salt Springs Campground in the Ocala Forest. Facilities accomodate campers, pop-ups, RVs, tents, etc. Sites are $12 and can accomodate up to 5. Boat ramps, canoes, pontoon boats and lots of beautiful scenery and women will be there. Call Nan (she’ll be in The Westphalia) for more information. V GLCS sponsors their first annual GAY-TOWEEN, Sun. Oct 30, at the Orlando Marriott Downtown (formerly the Omni). There will be a cash bar, a raffle, and a costume contest. Festivities begin at 8 PM. Admission is $25 for members, $30 for non-members, and $35 at the door. Call (407) 425-4527 for tickets or more information. y glcs will sponsor “I’m Coming Out,” a Symposium ffov African American Gays in Orlando, on Friday, November 4, from 6-10 pm at the GLCS Center. The symposium is free, and is specially designed for those 18-25. Music, refreshments, and games will be offered, and the film Paris is Burning will be shown. RSVP by Oct. 28 at (407) 425-4527. y “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” is the theme for Willow's annual Black & White Ball to be held on Saturday, November 19 at the Pine Meadows Country Club in Eustis. Tickets are $35. For reservations call Terry (407) 865-5972, or Peppy (904) 383-0928. y Parents FLAG, Delta Youth Alliance (DYA), and the Rainbow Democratic Club (RDC) are selling a new and expanded 1995 Entertainment Coupon Book. This year’s book contains hundreds of coupons offering savings of up to 50% off purchases at restaurants, businesses, and entertainment outlets. Coupon books are only $30. Many who purchased books last year claim huge savings. Proceeds can be designated for the organization of your choice. To place an order call Allene Baus at (407) 896-0689, or send your check for $32 to: “Coupon Book,” P.O. Box 141312, Orlando FL 32814-1312. ie mostly ckwFAbui0^ Social 2f ETHaN GReeN... ©HArbTTE JUaGS ETHarf,W^o HASn’T GoTTEN OUT if idp^TTff MVCH LATELY, To A GALLERY epEMiN<S FuN<£RAiSER FoR HtfSPicE. tv • DON’T LooK NoW 5W£ETPEA,bvT Doughs stamping over THEBE WITH ANToN. HE’S STARiNG AT VoV O W)V yov Pol N ’ ?... So-So \ WTe<r Di A You SEE That STUNNING HE WouldH’T LEAVE M E AL0NE»..GET T,ftiS, Hi“S NAME’S " R<»HN*<5>HiUipE^ IS THAT 5EXYor WHATpX THiiVK rw<&<joh/..0H WoWwW . ylAS HE HoT... fowri TELL ME WHaT You YCHoW AL°uT HiM-.- ? IS HE > f|Nr.c p WHAT DotSHE Po?..WHo HAS HE PATfD PREv/ousLYPWHAT RATiN&VoRTMETYPEofCARHE AriVES?HoW Mis PICK? ^ 3 ^ Mots HE UkE LEATHER ? [WoUlP You BE ENVIOUS IF I PATfJt HiM V Ww PIP WE LooK „ To&fTHER? ' rm Sweetheart, t Ki*oW You were THROWN OFF BY BUMPiHG IRTO PoVG, But WE’LL ML BE oVT OF A Gi bbfFoRE NEXT WEEK’S PAPER IF YoV START MAK1V1& A HAl.iT OF PiSHiH’ MATURE ApViCE. i 'XKWoW.^ I KNOW.. JEEZ,.. ^..HE Sk . HE’p C<kU r*f.. WATERMARK / October 12, 1994 19 OUR CULTURE 13 B 14 15 •• 16 17 1 18 19 RAINBOW l $• “NO ON 1” 1 ORLANDO GAY 1 JOY MCC DELTA YOUTH O.B.B.A. Orlando’s FAMILY VALUES. CONNECTION. 1 COALITION m CHORUS. See Local WORSHIP ALLIANCE. largest gay & lesbian Gay & lesbian radio Group for teens & FUNDRAISER. See Color, p. 18. | SERVICES. See Oct. 24. bowling league. 9 PM. on 91.5 FM. Talk, young adults from 18- M Local Color, p. 18. 1 10:30 AM & 7:15 PM. 644-2244. music, news, inter- 25. GLCS at 7:30 PM. ORLANDO 894-1081. ORLANDO views, community 425-7450. THEATRE FRONTRUNNERS. FRONTRUNNERS. UCF GLBSU events. 8-9 PM. 646- SELECTIONS. 9 AM. See Oct. 3. See Oct. 19. MEETING. Phillips 2398. LUCKY LADIES • Destiny of Me Hall, Room 218. 9PM. i BOWLING. Fair • Nightclub Cantata GLBL. Bowling at RAINBOW 648-0057. ORLANDO Lanes Indian Hills. • Whores of a Different Fair Lanes Indian DEMOCRATIC FRONTRUNNERS. 6:30 PM. 293-8849. Color Hills. 831-7171. CLUB. Orlando Meet at the red pagoda • The Kentucky Cycle Library. 7 PM. at Lake Eola. WHORES. See 236-9476. 6:30 PM. 857-18777. Local Color, p. 18. THR FRI SAT SUN : MON TUE WED 20 21 I 22 23 24 25 26 THE THEATRE ORLANDO PRISCILLA GAYSKATE. UCF GLBSU FAMILY VALUES. IMPROVABILITIES. SELECTIONS. FRONTRUNNERS. FUNDRAISER FOR Semoran Skateway in MEETING. See Oct. 19. Eola Theatre. 8:30 PM. • Kismet. 9 AM. See Oct. 19. GLCS, P-FLAG, Fern Park. 9:15 PM. See Oct. 18. 521-7499. • The Mystery of GLPCI. See Local 425-4527. ORLANDO Edwin Drood. BOWLING. Color. BOWLING. FRONTRUNNERS. LADIES BOWLING. • The Kentucky Cycle. See Oct. 15. DELTA YOUTH See Oct. 18. 7:30 PM. See Oct. 19. See Oct. 13, JOY MCC. ALLIANCE. Support i LCN MOVIE See Oct. 16. group for gay, lesbian P-FLAG MEETING. RAINBOW NIGHT. Unitarian & bisexual youth Downtown Orlando CONNECTION. Church. 7 PM. under 22.6 PM. location. 7 PM. See Oct. 13. 831-2971. 236-9415. 236-9177. ORLANDO \ FRONTRUNNERS. 6:30 PM. See Oct. 19. THR FRI SAT SUN MON - TUE WED mmmmMMrnmkmmmmi : L Y A - — - cr? •/ C3? from giving money to televison preachers? Comedienne ELAYNE BOOSLER mi mooN SALOON y\ £iay .American Sotdkem Style Saloon FULL MOON Party October 20th Happy Hour ALL Night Long BEAR BUST October 20th - 23rd HALLOWEEN Costume Contest Monday, October 31th 10:30 LEATHERFEST 94 November 5th Open Dancing Wednesday -Friday - Saturday & Sunday Country & Western Dance Lessons w/ Tkm & ^jarry and DS .Alan Ollis Wednesday 8 - i1 Saturdays 8:30 - i0:30 Drink Specials A%My ■Happy Hour '12FM - 8PA^ Open Daily '12HM - 2AA^ 500 No. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, H* (407) 640-8725 Lighted 8 Secured Parking Available Acrossed the Street E Electronic Mail / Live Online Chat YX "Get Connected!" With The Southeast's Largest "Community" B.B.Se 2 I 10 =1 CL E § a £ Of £ •v 24 Hours • User Friendly Hove Your Computer Call (407) 645-4833 System Password: WATERMARK Try It For 10 Days - FREEH This service is for Adults Only -18 and over Customer Assistance (Voice): (407) 645-4135 Info fibocit Community Events WATERMARK / October 12,1994 20 MARKETPLACE Book Review by Harmony Brenner SKIN: TALKING ABOUT SEX, CLASS & LITERATURE Dorothy Allison’s Skin: Talking About Sex, Class & Literature is a provocative collection of essays, true-to-life monologues, and literary experiments that thoroughly titillate, anger, frighten, and sadden - sometimes all in the same paragraph. Dorothy Allison is an eminently talented lesbian writer. Her previous novel, Bastard Out of Carolina, was a 1992 National Book Award Finalist in Fiction. Her first novel, Trash, won the 1989 double Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction and Small Press Book. Allison has also authored a powerful volume of poetry called The Women Who Hate Me, Poetry: 1980-1990. Allison’s writing is like a dense dessert after a light meal; it is rich and substantial. Allison revisits some of her most defining experiences with a total lack of self-contempt or sentimentality. Her hard-boiled examination of self and others makes for enjoyable reading. But there is also a sense of voyeurism as one shares the forays, foibles, and significant suffering unique to a lesbian’s life path. Allison relies heavily on black humor and storytelling tones to keep the shy reader interested and the curious reader satisfied. In Skin, Allison has revised and extracted from several exceptional articles that appeared in such periodicals as The New York Native and The Village Voice, and from a few of her celebrated speeches. Allison’s most identifiable writing trademarks include questioning the values and mores of self and peers, as well as threading a common chord of suspense throughout all her work. These traits abound throughout Skin. Allison uses her thoughtful commentary, interwoven with undetectable revisionist hindsight, to provide a memorable collection of intellectual exploration, sexual discovery, and literary analysis within a lesbian context. Her essay topics range from a near-mugging in New York to her personal thoughts and feelings on writing seminars she attended. The most memorable and insightful group of essays concern sexuality. Allison insists on confronting her discomfort, her desires, and her unanswered questions about sexuality head-on in essays such as “Femme” and “Sex Talk.” Allison develops other topics as well, but as the book’s title indicates, her major forums are sex, class, and literature. While there are many popular lesbian writers, Allison leads the small pack of genuine literary contributors who reveal the life experiences of lesbians in a realistic, unromanticized context. Allison herself seems in transition from an oppressed point of origin to an almost boundless destination. Her ability to plant intellectual roots into the barren soil that was her family of origin is truly inspiring. Her earlier works evince a highly abusive and dysfunctional childhood, including incest, poverty, and daily violence. Skin is no exception. Between the lines, Allison processes her pain, relives her fear, and incorporates her shattered child self into the relative sanctuary of her adult life. While I enjoyed Skin thoroughly, I would hesitate to recommend it to the recreational reader who is seeking escapist fiction. It is too confrontative for that purpose. However, for those in pursuit of intellectual, spiritual and social challenge, Dorothy Allison’s Skin will stir you up like a hot cup of coffee. ED WOOD From Page 13 rector to bring Wood’s story to the screen. In his past works {Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas), there are always driving elements of the supernatural, the skewed, and the downright odd. He is in many respects a modern-day Ed Wood himself. His strength is in making us feel for characters whom we would otherwise pity, dislike, or even avoid. He has a very fine flair for humor; the many laughs which can be found in Ed Wood are neither contrived nor forced. His opening title sequence is superb, and his authenticity in recreating Wood’s original work is brilliant. However, Burton’s direction is a beautiful welcome mat to an empty house. Perhaps the film is too true-to-life and could have benefited from some fictionalization. A more engrossing film could have been told from Lugosi’s viewpoint. In any case, Ed Wood fails to capture the “genius” behind the man who is still remembered to this day for his worse-than-mediocre work. The irony of this all is that like Wood’s films, Ed Wood will most likely live on to be shown at sci-fi conventions for decades to come, even after it has been forgotten by the general public. Burton ‘s better work should live so long. ACCOUNTANT •Monthly Accounting •Financial Statements •Tax Service (Individual, Corporate, Partnership, Estate) Barber & Latto Certified Public Accountants 639 Ramona Lane (West Colonial & Ramona) Orlando, FL 32805 (407) 843-9582 ACCOUNTANT FRACASSI & ASSOCIATES Certified Public Accountant 218 South Bumby Ave. □ Orlando, FL 32803 Fax 407/896-6824 □ Phone 407/896-6858 Personalized Professional Service Business & Individual Income Taxes Accounting & Payroll for Small Business Free Initial Consultation ATTORNEY Margaret E. Lederer, P.A. Attorney At Law • Registered Nurse Personal Injury 227 N. 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Lake Mary Blvd • Suite 105 • Lake Mary, FL 32746 (407)260-9244 The Orlande 9ou Cltetm 1994-1995 SEASON Twr flit first limy ill fhyfr 5 neats, CSC hassdmltitecla 3-(0!U$tUmscti: Btt For Christmas UAinmsm Knowles Memorial Chapel,Rollins College j Faith, Hope & Love April 7, S ♦ 7:35PM ; Ann Site Denseh - Civic Theater Complex Tea Cents A Dance Jane 23,24,25 ♦7:35PM Ana Giles Denseh - Civic Theater Complex Season ticket subscriptions go on sale Oct. 1 • (407) 645-5866. THE RHYTHM METHOD From Page 13 so we started doing talent shows at Denver Women’s Chorus retreats. The second year that we did the talent show, we thought, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have someone sing the base part,’ and we all thought of Rachael, who (we later found out) was hoping we’d ask her.” Rachael had also been with the Denver Women’s Chorus on the support staff. TRM didn’t want to be just another singing-guitar-play-ing-all-female group. “Actually,” Marla spoke up, “we started singing a cappella, and it seems to fit who we are. It was easy for us to show up at a gig and sing.. .no tracks, no drums, just stand up and sing.” “And,” Rachael added, “there’s a lot about a cappella that’s pure music. You can cover up a lot in a chorus and with a band, but there’s something that’s right on with a cappella that you have to be devoted to.” “And the challenge is me,” Meladye included. “I’m challenging myself and having to work with the other members of the group to sing as a unit with no place to hide - that’s the real challenge.” There’s a line in one of TRM' songs that says, “singin’ ‘bout boys only gets us down.” When asked whether they get negative reactions to such exclusive lesbian statements, Meladye stated, “The song, for me, is couched in the context of a lover relationship - this is who I am, this is what I do - I’m not going to sing as if I were a man singing about a woman so that the community-at-large finds it appropriate. It’s not that we’re saying we don’t like boys, it’s just that we’re not going to pretend to be them to have our songs accepted. “In fact, we have to say that the men’s community has been incredibly supportive of our efforts, both in Denver and in other areas. In some cases, more so than the women.” Feeling prompted to offer a theory behind that, Rachael said, “I think the guys enjoy camp, and a lot of what we do on stage is a little off. We try to screw things up a bit with lyrics or what we do, and I think the men like that show stuff.” We turned to the topic of lesbian artists who are doing the mainstream thing, rather than addressing the lesbian audience. Rachael took the lead. “We have a lot of pride, both in ourselves individually and as a group. We’re out at work and our home lives, and we’re out as a group. We don’t want to sing in venues that don’t want to host us and we are proud to stand up and say we’re lesbians, rather than ‘we know you know but we’re not going to say it.’” “And if you want to go mainstream and be known nationally, you almost have to sing songs that don’t talk about anybody specifically or that talk about the opposite sex...” added Marla quickly. Rachael noted, “Tracy Chapman and Melissa Etheridge were pioneers of the generic ‘you’ gender-not-specific lyric.” “I support people doing what they think is right for themselves and their careers,” Meladye interjected. “I’m really glad to see people like Melissa and k. d. lang stepping out and saying that they’re lesbians, but doing it in their own personal time, when it’s right for them. “As for this group, we made a decision a long time ago, before we ever embarked on what we’re doing right now, about who we’d play to, who our community is, who we want to be. We are out lesbians playing to the gay community and we don’t care about being mainstream artists. We’re doing what we want to do now.” When the question of profit motives arose, TRM answered on one solid note. “Take a poll: girls, has it ever been about profit?” Marla asked. “No, never,” they answered in unison. “We just want to cover our expenses and have a good time.” “Lot’s of people dream about what we’re able to do, and here we are in Florida, having a great time,” Marla said, looking at the rain while we all laughed. But then the less humorous topic of Colorado’s Amendment 2 came up. [Amendment 2 repeals existing laws and makes further laws that would protect gays and lesbians from discrimination illegal.] Discussing the impact of the political struggle, Rachael delivered the group’s harmonized sentiment. “We’ve helped,” she began, “through fundraisers and rallies where we’ve gladly performed pro bono. We feel good about what we’ve been able to give.” In the future, TRM hopes to get more of their own original music out, “and possibly come up with a new CD of our own,” Marla said. She added that while the current CD has but three original pieces, only one is not an original ar-. rangement. “No one else arranges music for a cappella.” As we positioned to leave, Marla sat up straight, sending her forefinger out into the air as if to tap a bell. “I have something to add,” she announced. “There are so many things about the gay and lesbian community that the straight media picks up and personifies as evil. I think it’s important that the gay and lesbian chorus movement and positive music is somehow featured, not only in our own media, but in the media-at-large. And the longer that groups like the Orlando Gay Chorus are around, the better it is for our image as a whole community.” WATERMARK / October 12,1994 22 SPORTS It isn’t that I’m out of shape. I exercise as much as I can, which means I sometimes put on girl-group records from the ‘sixties and dance around the house. So why do my friends suggest - often -that my lover Kirk and I join the Frontrunners, Orlando’s gay running/walking/biking group? We finally succumbed. I was amazed at the number of people who thronged at the Pagoda at Lake Eola. Group leaders arranged about fifty of us in a giant circle on the grass. My heart pounded (is that aerobic?); we were people! Actually, we just introduced ourselves and answered a question: What TV family would we want to be part of? I answered The Donna Reed Show and got a laugh. This group dynamic exercise is useful. Now I knew the name of the guy in the black biking shorts. We separated into preferred activities-running, walking or biking- and we were off. The runners were soon dots in the distance, yet we walkers marched resolutely ahead. I fixed my sight on the black biking shorts and forged onward, Kirk in tow. I expected a liesurely stroll around Lake Eola; gossip and swan boats. Hardly. We soon left the park for Rosalind Avenue, and headed south, under the East-West Expressway, past the old Dr. Phillips house, around Lake Lucerne, which is really beautiful at night, and up busy Orange Avenue. By now the black biking shorts were a full block away. Kirk was slowing down, and I was concerned lest we be the last two of the original group to return to the Pagoda. “Don’t worry,” he kept saying. “There are still two people behind us.” I can be so competitive at times. Downtown never looked so magical to me at night! The massive amounts of oxygen I was inhaled caused even our downtown denizens to take on a Damon Runyon-esque quality. As we passed Wall Street, I realized I had lost my Nicoderm patch... a sign? Soon we were on our final approach. We picked up the pace a bit as the Pagoda loomed in the distance. “Didn’t mean to pull so far ahead,” Biking Shorts told me. “Sorry.” “It’s quite all right (puff, puff). Just how far did we walk?” Surely, after all that time, we could have walked to Valdosta, Georgia. “Two point eight miles.” he replied. “Well,” I said. “Well.” The Frontrunners meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Pagoda at Lake Eola. See Calender, 19 for times. Watermark is looking for a SPORTS EDITOR. Call (407) 481-2243. STANDINGS & SCORES QiANCl BLOSSOM BOW11NC ASSOCIATION nm \ mm mm t f£. A The Cruiser 25 14 2 ! Be Is Such A Bitch 24 11 3 mil ■I i 4 IzeeCumEzeeCo 23 12 ! 5 mtm 22 13 i 4 A Sitopery When W«t21 ■■ 7 Mixed link 21 14 8 ' Anita Man 21 14 5 1412 to; 15 14 m 24 115 11 Tuesday Knights 15 14 12 * 2 Balls Short 15 14 13 15 14 14 Macho Muchadios 15 141 15 3 Poles LA Hole 15 tllill 14 MLM 15 14 17 A Pancake L 30 1* 17 II* fubar Hill 15 14 Hie Rasuls mm 115 24 Bartwuy lasers 14 15 21 Team #15 14 19 22 15 24 23 lady A The Tramps 14 21 24 tttm 12 1 '1 Mi 2$ Southern Country 12 23 24 Mama's Cbb ■till 111! 27 IllIM! Bangeis 11 24 n ^Cood,li|,!PteBtyi||i 14 25 • 24 Crapshooters 5 24 34 Cactus Club " 4 27 CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT-OFFERED PARLIAMENT HOUSE. Now accepting applications for the following: FRONT DESK, GUEST SERVICES, HOUSEKEEPING, RESTAURANT WAITERS, BEVERAGE WAITERS, RESTAURANT BUS PERSON. Apply at the Front Desk. Parliament House. 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail. Orlando, FL 32805. (407) 425-7571. FRIENDSHIP/RELATIONSHIP Attractive Italian GWM, 5’8”, 159 lbs, romantic, healthy, masculine, sincere, honest, straight forward with varied interests, seeking similar inshape GWM 29-49 for friendship/ relationship. Tom (407) 647-7759. REAL ESTATE-FOR RENT DOWNTOWN FOR RENT. Immaculate 1 bdrm. apt. in historic dist. Convenient, quiet, secure! Washer-dryer. Owner pays heat, hot & cold water. Large screened porch. Carpeted & air. $393/mo. 425-1735. REAL ESTATE-FOR SALE DRAMATIC NEOCLASSICAL. Fabulous like new 4 bdrm, 3-1/2 bath designer home in College Park. Exquisite features include luxury master suite, 2 fireplaces, and gourmet kitchen. Over 3375 sq. ft. $429,900. Kathy Lightcap, 841-6060 ext. 439, The Prudential Florida Realty. DOWNTOWN HOME. For sale/rent-charming 1930 Southern Tudor in historic Eola. 5/2, 2 fireplaces, oak floors, 10’ ceilings, remodeled kitchen, alarm, sprinkler, garage, central heat & A/C. Avail. Nov. 1. Must see. 625 Hillcrest St. $172,500 or $1400/ mo. Call for appt/info 648-4154. Altamonte/Capistrano Condo. 2/2 on ground floor. Near pool & tennis. Has all appliances and screened porch. Assumable no-qualify loan. $2,000 down plus small 2nd moves you in. Call Bill® 834-0203. Bank owned and HUD homes. $ 1,000 will get you a home of your own. Call Realtor @ 1-800-861-0203. Serving our community for over 40 years. ROOMMATES ROOMMATE WANTED. 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath home near downtown/ Lake Como. Renovated kitchen, washer/dryer. Non-smoker preferred. $275/mo. plus utilities. Call Jim at 895-0993. Available mid-Oct. S. ORLANDO/MEADOW WOODS. 2 GWMs looking for responsible, honest, friendly GWM for roommate. We offer a stress-free, 3/2 home. W/ D, A/C, cable, private yard, secured. No pets, no drugs. Quiet type A+. $225/mo„ $100 dep., 1/3 util. HIV+ check us out! (407) 856-9825. SERVICES PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. Missing persons, background checks, asset checks, service of process in Orange county. 644-8057. Agency no. 93-00111. BOOKSTORE - NEW & USED. Enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere of Acorn Books. Hot/cold cappuccino, etc., intelligent conversation and a large selection of books in every subject. Publisljgr orders & out-of-print service. (407) 647-2755. MEET SOMEONE TODAY! Find that special guy or girl with the "Telephone Matchmaker.” Always a free call and anonymous. Call in Orlando at 648-9047. (Gay owned & operated). NEON/INTERIOR NEON. Mood lighting; Neon Sculptures, customized to your needs. LET ME LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHTS! BERND’S NEON - licensed & reputable. Telephone & Fax (407) 644-0553. References available. IN YOUR HOME. One on one fitness experience designed to fit your personal needs, including weight loss, body, shaping, cardiovascular aerobics conditioning. Flexible hours & payment plans available. Call 932-4319. LOVING LAWN CARE. Help to support a new family business. Blue Skye Lawn Service is a licensed, professional business that specializes in all aspects of lawn maintenance. Call (407) 629-0302. GAYLINE ONLINE. GayLink (BBS) has gone computerized. Our national network went online August 1st. For a free software package and a 30-day Free Membership, contact the Genesis Foundation. Call (407) 857-5444. Fax (407) 438-3695. MISCELLANEOUS SEEKING DONATED COUCH. Delta Youth Alliance, a group for gay/ lesbian teens, is looking for a used couch for its meeting room. Please contact Jeff at 895-3722. WANTED TO BUY. Disney items -especially buttons & pins. Also, sell & trade Disneyana items. For more information please call Dennis at 407-895-1968. Healthy, loving, stable, long-term professional gay couple seek lesbian to function as surrogate mother. Flex- ible regarding nature of future involvement with child. SERIOUS RESPONSES ONLY. Will pay all medical and associated expenses. Reply c/o W. Thomas Dyer, Attorney at Law, 701 E. Washington St., Suite 2oo, Orlando, FL 32801. (407) 648-1153. Gorgeous AKC Registered DALMATION puppies. Available Oct. 6. Parents on premises. (6) males $300, (4) females $325 and up. Call Rick at 682-6096. All come with certificate of health. REAL ESTATE WANTED. Need 3/ 2 home within reasonable commute of Disney. Around $80,000. Can pay 10% dwon on a no-qualify mortgage. Call Frank @ 834-0989. .. .Sports Editor. Come join our growing team and help create the best gay & lesbian sports page. Please send resume and writing samples to Watermark, P.O. Box 533655, Orlando, Florida 32853-3655, or call (407)481-2243. r TO PLACE AN AD In PERSON: Bring completed order form with payment to Watermark offices (M-F, 9-5pm) 701 E. Washington St., Orlando. By MAIL: Mail completed order form with payment to: Watermark Classifieds P.O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655. SUBSCRIPTION AND CLASSIFIED AD ORDER FORM Headline (optional) - not to exceed 16 characters/spaces TEXT (Up to 25 words) AD POLICY: Watermark reserves the right to edit, reclassify or reject ads not meeting Watermark publication standards. No refunds for early cancellation. MISPRINTS: Watermark is not responsible for misprints appearing after first week. Check ads promptly. O CHECK ONE: □ Announcements □ Employment-Offered □ Employment-Seeking □ Friend/Relationship □ Merchandise □ Real Estate-For Rent □ Real Estate-For Sale □ Roommates □ Services □ Travel □ Volunteers □ Miscellaneous NAME:_________ STREET ADDRESS: PHONE (Optional): □ Please enter my one-year (25 issues) subscription. Enclosed is my check for $35, payable to: WATERMARK OTOTAL COSTS: Up to 25 words for $3.00 per issue. Additional words at 250 each per issue. Please total your costs. Up to 25 words $ 3.00 _____add’l wds x 250 __ Headline @ $2.00 ____ SUBTOTAL ________x____# issues TOTAL = _______ ADS MUST RE SUBMITTED: by 5pm Wednesday, the week lllilpr to- puhiicadcipi) ;ap£#j|r; In the following week’s issue# i L J Felixi PoweF Residential Real Estate Inc. Downtown- Lake Como Park---------- Dave Rizzo custom home in Lake Como Park. Nearly new, 3 bedroom 2 bath, vaulted ceiling, fireplace and huge kitchen. The first $125,000 steals it! Downtown--------Lake Como Manor Cute 3 bedroom 2 bath home in “50’s”era neighborhood. Beautifully maintained with striking parquet floors and fireplace. A mere $87,000 River Chase Drive------------ Like a model! Home has been well maintained and is ready to move into. The easy lifestyle is echoed in the large casual kitchen, breakfast bar and greatroom plan. Screened porch leisure too!!! $85,000 Your Life Insurance Is Worth Cash Today! Medical science indicates that stress dramatically impacts your health. TLC Funding can ease your stress with immediate financial assistance if you are faced with HIV.. .or any other terminal illness. Make the most of your life. You are entitled to have ; to be financially self-sufficient and independent...to spend time with sv loved ones... and follow your dreams. At TLC Funding,confidential assistance is available 24-hours a day. And the call is toll free. Be worry free. Call today And get on with your life TLC Funding (800) 290-8171 THE LEATHER CLOSET 498 N ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32805 407/649-2011 • FAX 407/649-4116 OPEN NOON - 2 AM DAILY Leather Wear Accessories Pride Items Tee-Shirts Swim Wear Body Jewelry Cards & More Custom Leather-Work Done on Premises Resident DJ Brent Simpson Welcomes Retro DJ (hris Rehbein Doors Open at k PH No (over 'til 6PH Featuring: -25* Draft •I50 Wells •1” Domestic Deer 6 PM-CLOSE M Fernwood Blvd - Fern Park, FL 32730 - (1.07) 831-7359 (Located across from the Orlando Jai-Lai • Formerly "Central Station'1) -Plenty Of Free Parking- A. Bach Acorn Books Alachua County Alison Bechdel Altamonte Ander Crenshaw Andrew Sherman Anthony Joseph Killeen Baker Barbara Weiser Barney Frank Bela Lugosi bisexual Bob Wattles Brenda M. Barry Brian Arbogast Butler Carol Bartsch Chapman Charlene Mitchell Christmas Darla Walker David W. Shea Deborah Blechman Dimitri Toscas Don Reid Drew Davenport Edgewater Elayne Boosler Eric Orner gay George Winslow Greg Dawson Greg Smith Gunderson Harrell homosexuality homosexuals Human Rights Campaign Jay Boyar John Bosman John Rose Katie Messmer Keanu Reeves Keith Peterson Key West Lake Eola Larry Kramer lesbians LGBT LGBTQ+ Madonna Mark Anderson Marla Quickly Marvin Couch Miami Michael L. Kilgore Michelle Miguel Bose Mills Myriam Marquez Natalie H. Rees Nelson Mandela Oliver North Olympia Dukakis orange county orlando Orson Welles queers questioning Rachael Hazen Rafael Harris Rainbow Democratic Club Ricky Ricardo Robb Robert Holland Robin Jensen Robinson Rosanne Sloan Russell same-sex Scott Hanson Scott Laurent Shawn Rader Solomon Stephen De Matteis Steve Norris Susan F. Davis Tera Kenney The Watermark Tom Dyer trans transgender W. Webster Winter Park Winter Springs Zweifel https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/5e05a8a9d3cb57a886d7d1f148bc53fc.pdf 772a32d43d04ee453dad19956ca1c7d9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title Watermark Collection Alternative Title The Watermark Collection Subject Gay culture--United States Description Since 1994, <em>The Watermark</em> has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) 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, <em>The Watermark</em> has consistently published newspaper style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, <em>The Watermark</em> 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 <em>The Watermark</em>. Is Part Of <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/" target="_blank">RICHES Program</a> Type Collection Contributing Project <a href="http://www.floridalgbtqmuseum.org/%20" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/">The Watermark</a> Curator Smith, Robert Cepero, Laura O'Neal, Rhiannon Hearn, Nikki Greene, Quintella Rodriguez, Sharon Digital Collection <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a> Source Repository <a href="http://www.floridalgbtqmuseum.org/%20" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> External Reference "<a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/" target="_blank">About/Contact</a>." WatermarkOnline.com, accessed July 11, 2016. http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/. Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title The Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 2, September 14, 1994 Alternative Title Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 2 Subject Gay culture--United States Description The second issue of <em>The Watermark</em> was published on September 14, 1994, and focused on a wider spectrum of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) topics. Kicking off the news was the cover article covering the "Gayby Boom," which was the push for LGBTQ+ members to have children. Continuing a more family-focused set of articles was an article covering the harassment of gay teens at Apopka High School, a look at the LGBTQ+ community housing market, and a new section of restaurant reviews. This issue also included a larger selection of national news stories, including Oregon’s Anti-Gay initiative, Seattle’s Domestic Partnership Registration, North Carolina’s attempt to keep records of unmarried couples, and the U.S. Navy’s reinstatement of a gay sailor are among the highlights. Notably missing are articles covering the nightlife of the area, through advertisements are still present. As the publication ages and spreads, nightlife becomes one of its primary sections so seeing an early issue without demonstrates the evolving nature of the publication during its early years.<br /><br />Since 1994, <em>The Watermark</em> 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, <em>The Watermark</em> has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, <em>The Watermark</em> 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 <em>The Watermark</em>. Type Text Source Original 24-page newspaper: <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Watermark</em></a>, Vol. 1, No. 2, September 14, 1994: Publications Collection, <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a>, Orlando, Florida. Requires <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html" target="_blank">Adobe Acrobat Reader</a> Is Part Of <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/203" target="_blank">The Watermark Collection</a>, RICHES of Central Florida. Is Format Of Digital reproduction of original 24-page newspaper: <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Watermark</em></a>, Vol. 1, No. 2, September 14, 1994. Coverage Orlando, Florida Apopka High School, Apopka, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida Salem, Oregon Seattle, Washington Carrboro, North Carolina Jacksonville, North Carolina Des Moines, Iowa Tallahassee, Florida Atlanta, Georgia San Francisco, California Creator Barber, Keith Brenner, Harmony Crescitelli, James A. De Mattels, Stephen Dyer, Tom Maines, Ted Newman, Lesléa O'Lay, Lola Sloan, Rosanne Toscas, Dimitri Publisher <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Media</a> Date Created ca. 1994-09-14 Date Issued 1994-09-14 Date Copyrighted 1994-09-14 Format application/pdf Medium 24-page newspaper Language eng Mediator History Teacher Provenance Originally published by <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Media</a>. Rights Holder Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Publishing Group</a> and is provided here by <a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a> for educational purposes only. Accrual Method Donation Contributing Project <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> Curator Smith, Robert Cepero, Laura Digital Collection <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a> Source Repository <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> External Reference "<a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/" target="_blank">About/Contact</a>." WatermarkOnline.com, accessed July 11, 2016. http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/. Transcript V FLORIDA'S DISTINCTIVE GAY AND LESBIAN PUBLICATION. VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 SEPTEMBER 14,1994 HIGH SCHOOL HARASSMENT Gay teens are threatened, abused...often ignored. Vassel JBBliil Each time Brandon Ethridge returned to " school jt bet^meA-#tat hipi ijjore ^ afraid of the next. What started off as an occa- .. sionai occurrence became a daily thing. A ra- School and certain students were not w illing to j let if go, he said. 1 “Ever since seventh grade, minors had been 1 spread and kids started saying things and occa* sionally doing things like flicking me on die ears. But it was my last year at Apopka that things got really bad,’* said Ethridge, 18. “My close friends knew I was gay, but 1 had tried to keep it secret otherwise. But people I didn't even know would grab me in die halls and punch me. It got so I didn't want to go back/’ he added. fared, 17, is in the process of studying for his G.E.D. (General Education Diploma) after dropping out last semester from Dr, Phillips >' High School Jared said he was daily taunted jf for being gay and, because of his perception that the administration was both uncaring and able to do little to help him, he never pursued complaints and insteadchose to leave/ Michael (not his real name), a 16-year-old student at Lyman Hign School in Longwood, said he witnessed a fellow student being repeat- I edly harassed because of his “feminine” de- ||g meaner. Although he never witnessed any . physical abuse, he said tie graduating senior was regularly taunted by being called a “child molester”, “germ” and “fag”. “It happened a lot and people didn't talk to him. I didn't talk to him. I felt very sorry for Mm hut I never said anything,” Michael said. Several educators interviewed said harassment of kids by other kids is, unfortunately, a regular part of school life. And, in a reflection of the general society, kids will use sexual ori- Continued Page 5 GAYBY BOOM More and More, Lesbians Are Choosing To Be Mothers by Harmony Brenner Janice and Marcia. Janice is 36 years old and seven months pregnant. She works as a healthcare manager at a local medical facility. She explained her initial reaction when she discovered she was carrying a child: “I got pregnant on the first try, which is extremely unusual. We were afraid it was too easy.. .like if something comes too easy, it must not be true or important. But this experience gets more significant every day^ Janice’" pirtne : wed zr • vant, nods in agreement. This may be a common reaction among expecting couples, but Janice’s situation is unusual. She and her partner Marcia are among the increasing numbers of lesbians who are choosing to be mothers. Like many lesbian couples, Janice and Marcia chose to conceive by means of artificial insemination. Marcia will fully participate in the birth and co-parenting of their unborn baby girl, whom they have decided to name “Taylor”. To initiate the process of conception, a nurse practitioner at a local birthing center referred Janice and Marcia to The Sperm Bank of California, in Oakland. Reflecting recent trends, this sperm bank states in their marketing literature: “The donor insemination program at our center is for all women, regardless of race, marital status or sexual orientation. Lesbians, single women and women with in- fertile partners are encouraged to participate.” But Marcia said that at first, “it was hard to find a place to serve lesbians.” Janice and Marcia’s total cost for the donor insemination process was $276.00, including specimen, shipping, and evaluation fees. This cost was unusually low, however, because Janice conceived after the first insemination. They first considered asking a friend to donate, but both women ar* satisfied with their choice to use dbhbr. Both legally and emotionally, anonymous donors »an make the process less complicated. Taylor’s donor wants no contact with the child until she reaches 18. Anonymous donors also offer more flexibility and choice. For instance, since Marcia is a redhead with fair complexion, and Janice is brunette, they attempted to blend physical characteristics when choosing a donor. Awkwardly, Janice will be their daughters only legal parent. Thus far, only two states have allowed lesbian partners to legally adopt their partner’s biological child(ren). Janice and Marcia have no desire to test Florida law in that regard. Instead, they are presently using a local attorney to draft several legal documents which evidence Marcia’s parenting rights in the event Janice dies or becomes incapacitated. They have also drafted detailed wills reflecting their wishes and the nature of their relationship. To avoid Continued Page 4 WATERMARK / September 14,1994 2 U9 (407) 644-7111 JUST NORTH OF LEE ROAD ON 17-92 Tjr if FRED BERLINER Serving Central Florida's Family Since 1985 Flexible Financing, Sales and Leasing 6 Consecutive Years' Membership in Ford's Top 2% Sales Se Habla Espariol ALL FORDS ARE CREATED EQUAL. DON REID FORD MAKES THE DIFFERENCE UJ S DC 1 > A N D°Nnofc REID XI ford’XSI w MAITLAND JJ S<S' in LEE ROAD y 1 $ I /1inNTE?\ mm park V^KIMiy WATERMARK / September 14,1994 3 Election Results Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin Eton Pignone Tom Dorman wmii»s: 22,W®m Orange County Deborah Ble Bruce Nants wmmim rnmamm tzm-nw Roger McDonald Bob Wattles wi&imi 2BABS (33%) Stele House, District 35, Democrat Susan Pickman %53 Dan Spoone lt30. LOCAL & STATE NEWS GAY-SUPPORTIVE CANDIDATES MAKE STRONG SHOWING IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS Four of five candidates who have openly embraced the gay community made strong showings in the primary races held September 8. Of the five candidates, three won positions in run-off elections to be held November 8, including Orange County Chairman candidate Fran Pignone. One candidate - Susan Pickman - won her election outright. State House Democratic candidate Pickman won her District 35 race handily against Dan Spoone and will face Republican Bob Brooks in the November 8 election. Of the five candidates, only Insurance Commissioner candidate Karen Gievers failed to gamer enough votes to claim a spot in the run-off elections. Orange County Judge Group 5 candidate Deborah Bleckman surprised many political observers by her strong showing in a primary race against George Winslow, Jr. and Bruce Nants. Blechman finished first in the race with 42 percent of the vote, compared to 41 percent for Winslow and 17 percent for Nants. Blechman will face Winslow in the Nov. 8 run-off. (In these primary races, if no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote or more, the top two finishers compete in a runoff election.) Roger McDonald, candidate for 9th Circuit Court Judge, Group 28, also qualified for the run-off election. His 34 percent placed him above competitors Dan Mathews (32 percent) and Bob Wattles (33 percent). In the Orange County Chairman race, the most hotly-contested local match-up in this election, Orange County Commissioner Fran Pignone garnered 31 percent of the vote in an effort to unseat incumbent Linda Chapin. Chapin finished first in the primary with 42 percent, while Republican Tom Dorman finished a close third to Pignone, collecting 27 percent. Dorman is expected to support Pignone in the run-off election. According to Pignone campaign manager Linda Stewart, Pignone’s chances in the November 8 election are good, although she concedes there is a lot of work to be done. “We are going to concentrate on areas where we didn’t do quite as well as we should have,” Stewart said. This includes heavily African-American areas such as Washington Shores, Eatonville, Apopka, and Azalea Park, as well as Chapin strong-holds in Winter Park and Maitland. “Of course we won’t ignore the areas where Fran did well: the working class neighborhoods all across Orange County,” Stewart said. While Stewart recognized the contribution the gay and lesbian community made to Pignone’s success, she said that without adequate statistics, it would be impossible to discern what impact the gay and lesbian vote had on the outcome of the election. Strangely perhaps, the Orlando Sentinel stated in a September 10 article that a strong gay and lesbian voting block in east Orange County helped Pignone. The article, however, did not list which communities would be included in that block. ACLU CHANGES STRATEGY IN SAME SEX MARRIAGE SUIT; PUTS CASE ON HOLD The ACLU of Central Florida will voluntarily dismiss its action for declaratory judgment in a lawsuit it filed challenging the constitutionality of a Florida Statute which prohibits same-sex marriages. The suit was filed in July 1993 on behalf of two Central Florida women, Shauna Underwood and Deina Davis, who were denied a marriage license by an Orange County Clerk. Although the case had been recently argued before Orange County Circuit Judge James Hauser, a number of interested groups agreed that voluntary dismissal was an appropriate strategy at this time. ACLU Cooperating attorney Peter Warren Kenny, who represents the two women says, “We want to coordinate our efforts with theirs as much as we can. After recent discussions with the Florida and national ACLU offices and the LAMBDA Legal Education and Defense Fund, we decided that our efforts in Florida were duplicating the same-sex marriage suit brought by LAMBDA in Hawaii several years ago. We expect a final decision in that lawsuit long before we could get a final decision in Florida.” Marti Mackenzie, Chairman of the Central Florida ACLU says, “We intend to follow developments in the Hawaii suit closely. Since the lawsuit was dismissed voluntarily, it can be refiled whenever we choose to do so. The ACLU will continue to support the right of any two consenting adults to marry and have the protection and benefits that a legal marriage can guarantee.” PROSECUTOR’S ANTI-GAY TIRADE DISMISSED WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A Broward County prosecutor accused of shouting anti-gay slurs and trashing a gay bar with a group of fellow rugby players won’t be tried on disorderly conduct or hate-crime charges. Mark McHugh, a felony division supervisor in Broward’s state attorney’s office, and three other men were arrested after about a dozen men wearing women’s clothing raided the Paradise Club in Boca Raton on June 17. There is insufficient evidence to pursue any charges against McHugh, Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney Moira Lasch concluded Wednesday in a nine-page report. Christopher Hynes will be charged with disorderly conduct, and Edward Murphy faces a charge of resisting arrest without violence. Both charges are misdemeanors. Charges were dropped against a fourth man. Lasch, the losing prosecutor in the William Kennedy Smith case, said in a report she could not prove “that any one individual was targeted as a victim because of his sexual orientation.” But the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association of South Florida believes the state should pursue the charges. “If during the course of a disorderly conduct they say things that evidence prejudice, that’s the definition of a hate crime,” said Mark Leban, a Miami attorney and board member for the 60-member group. A dozen men were accused of jumping on tables, shouting anti-gay insults, smashing picture frames and pulling down plants at the bar. They went bar-hopping after finishing their rugby club’s annual cross-dressing golf tournament. Hynes was identified as wearing a black cocktail dress with spaghetti straps. Bartenders and a patron described the incident as “a mob scene”. WILL GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS? The Parliament House and the Full Moon Saloon sit contiguously on N. Orange Blossom Trail, near Colonial Drive. Those visiting the adjoining properties this month noticed a new feature; a wire fence, ostensibly separating the two gay entertainment complexes. Although no official explanation has been offered, few seemed willing to accept the barrier as a logical division between separately owned and managed properties. Many patrons were outraged, calling the action childish and further evidence of divisiveness within the gay community. When contacted by Watermark, representatives of both the Parliament House and the Full Moon Saloon stated that the fence was constructed in compliance with a legal settlement agreement between the establishments. Both parties also indicated that the settlement restricted them from discussing the nature of the disagreement or the terms of the settlement. The wire fence constructed between the Parliament House and the Full Moon Saloon has not yet been closed off. WATERMARK / September 14,1994 4 NEWS GAYBY BOOM From Page 1 unnecessary complications, Taylor will use Janice’s surname. Perhaps surprisingly, Janice is concerned about how their gay friends will react to Taylor. “Having a child will drastically change our lives. We just won’t be able to get up and go like we used to. Also, typically in the gay community, kids aren’t around or their parents share custody. There aren’t many women in our church (Joy MCC) with babies. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose some friends.” Marcia is more optimistic. “I don’t worry about the gay community, because if anybody should be supportive it’s them. As gay people, we know what being different is like.” Janice and Marcia are also concerned about Taylor’s acceptance in school. “Children can be cruel,” observes Janice. To prepare her, they plan to involve Taylor in counseling before she attends classes. “We want to be totally honest, and counseling will help us do that. We want her to know that we love her and God loves her,” Marcia explained. Both Janice and Marcia’s families are pleased about their pregnancy. “They are thrilled.. .ecstatic, really,” Marcia said, and Janice added, “They started sending baby gifts when I reached my first trimester.” Joy MCC, their church, has also shared their happiness, holding a baby shower for them. Both have received gifts and showers at work, as well. Lynn, Cathy and Wayne. Donor insemination via sperm bank is only one method for lesbian couples to get pregnant. Lynn and Cathy decided to ask their close friend Wayne to father their child. Wayne is a 40 year old gay male, recently separated from a longterm relationship. Lynn is 36 and three months pregnant. They met at a work-related seminar. “Lynn was wearing a shirt with a pink triangle on it,” Wayne smiled. “It’s always been a dream to have a baby. It’s something that’s missing in my life.” Lynn also shared this dream, and after six months of discussion, Lynn, Cathy and Wayne decided to try to conceive. Wayne feels his desire to father a child contributed to the end of his relationship. “He didn’t want a child. This dream of mine made him look at his own issues,” Wayne explained. His ex-partner was also concerned that the child’s legal rights would supercede his own. Lynn and Cathy discussed parenting for more than two years. Ultimately, they agreed to share in a mutual parenting relationship and iron out the issue of roles as they went along. But first they had to decide how to father the child. They originally planned to use an anonymous donor, but changed their minds. “My father died when I was very young,” Lynn explained, “and I really missed having that connection.” They also considered using a straight male friend as donor, but Wayne’s circumstances seemed ideal. Wayne and Lynn inseminated at home without medical assistance. “At first we tried using a turkey baster. Then we used a medical syringe,” Lynn said. Ultimately they were successful by inseminating one day before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation. It took 19 attempts. By mutual agreement, Lynn and Cathy will assume custody and support responsibilities and Wayne will have liberal visitation. With the assistance of an attorney, they drafted a co-parenting contract that specified, among other things, that Wayne would never seek custody of the child and Lynn can now to hese/me man soacE! Friday, Sept. 23,1994, Dinner L Shoui $*,5 For Tickets Call Lisa Talmad?e: 89^-5395 or The Rainbow Democratic Club: 236-92,76 would never seek child support from Wayne. Wayne will be listed as father on the baby,’s birth certificate. Wayne initially hoped that baby would be a girl, but as the pregnancy evolved, he states, “gender preference was no longer an issue.” Lynn however, is hoping for a girl, feeling this would be easier since the child will be living primarily with two women. Cathy hopes for a boy, but has some fears that a boy may be rejected by their lesbian friends. “After a boy reaches a certain age, lesbians may restrict his presence at their events.” A recent sonogram suggests that the baby will, in fact, likely be a boy. Wayne observed, “I really see this as an ongoing process. We’re going to learn and experience things as we go along.” Lynn ability to be his or her own person, whatever that will be.” She plans to discuss these issues, “according to the child’s level of maturity and understanding. “Wayne feels, “Since Lynn, Cathy and I are all friends, our child will understand what friendship is about and how important it is. It’s golden.” The Donor Insemination Process. Donor insemination, also called artificial or alternative insemination, refers to the process whereby semen is donated by volunteers who remain anonymous to the recipients. These donors are rigorously interviewed and tested for a battery of communicable diseases and for sperm viability. Genetic histories are evaluated, and addi- JANICE AND MARCIA’S NURSERY IS READY FOR TAYLOR’S ARRIVAL IN APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS. agreed. “We have an open enough relationship to discuss anything that comes up and we’ll address these issues accordingly.” Addressing the subject of potential discrimination, Wayne stated, “As a gay man of color, I will know how to help my child deal with prejudice.” Lynn appears less concerned. “I haven’t thought about it that much. The people I deal with are my true friends, and my family accepts my pregnancy.” Wayne added, “Lots of family and friends have opinions [about the baby]. It’s a struggle to differentiate between what someone else wants and what we want. I have to act as an advocate for the baby and myself, and not get caught up in other people’s issues.” He believes the child will be, “healthy in all respects and have lots of opportunities because he or she will have three important people loving and caring for it. This child is wanted and cared about.” As regards any speculation they may have about the child’s sexual orientation, Lynn said, “I want my child to have the tional testing is done if indicated. If a donor meets all requirements, their specimens are quarantined for six months and then retested for HIV antibodies. The specimens then remain frozen, available for purchase by a doctor or nurse practitioner. Recipients can select donors for certain physical characteristics, such as height, weight, hair and eye color, and ethnicity. Recipients are asked to choose at least four donor candidates in case a certain donor is unavailable. The Sperm Bank of California limits each donor to contributing to six live births, but this policy varies with each provider. Currently, about 65,000 annual live births each year result from donor insemination. It is likely that, as technology improves, prices decrease, and success rates soar, donor insemination will be an increasingly popular option, particularly for potential gay parents. As Janice, Marcia, Lynn, Cathy and Wayne demonstrate, all that’s needed is a little extra motivation and flexibility, and a lot of love. JUST 30 MINUTES FROM ORLANDO 6 MILES NORTH OF CLERMONT ON U.S. 27 • 1-800-768-WINE WATERMARK / September 14,1994 5 NEWS HIGH SCHOOL From Page 1 HARASSMENT VICTIM BRANDON ETHRIDGE HAD FEW “GREAT DAYS” AT APOPKA HIGH SCHOOL entation against someone whenever they feel they can get away with it. “In the 20 years I’ve been with the school system I’ve only had two children actually talk to me about being gay and getting harassed. The other kids dealt with it and tried to keep it quiet. They did not want to get us (staff) involved,” said Tom Johnston, a guidance counselor at Boone High School. Ethridge, during his final year at Apopka, did begin complaining to the school administration. But, according to Dr. John Edwards, principal at Apopka High, at no time during his complaints did Ethridge say he was being harassed on suspicion of being gay. “Brandon never said he was gay or he was being harassed for being gay. This is the first time I have even heard that mentioned. My understanding was he was being bothered because of the clothes he wore and the fact he kept coming to school with different colored hair,” Edwards said. Ethridge said his clothes and hair were a factor, as he often wore baggy, “skaters” clothes and at one point had his hair dyed purple. However, those were not the only reasons for his torment, he said, and the administration knew that. He accumulated a lot of absences and his parents talked to Edwards about what could be done to ensure he graduated. Ethridge credits Edwards with being willing to work with him so he would not flunk out of school, but said he resents the fact that nothing was ever done against his tormentors. “I honestly don’t think they did all they could. They would just tell the kids bothering me ‘You shouldn’t be doing this,”’ Ethridge said. He eventually finished the last few weeks of school by combining schoolwork done at home with attending classes for final tests. Edwards said he was unable to discuss specifics of Ethridge’s time at Apopka High but noted, in general, it is difficult to take disciplinary action if specific individuals are not identified and all the details are not given to the school administration. For example, Ethridge alleges he was often hit by other students and at one time was beaten up. “The only harassment I mostly heard about was verbal. I also heard he’d been pushed and someone flicked the back of his head. Nothing about being beaten up,” Edwards said. The 130-school Orange County School System annually racks up its share of assaults and battery. According to the system’s 1992-94 incident reports, there were 423 incidents of battery (physical attacks with harm) and 321 incidents of assault (threat of physical harm), said Orange County Pub- lic Schools spokeswoman, Patty Villane. But during those two school years there were zero incidents of sexual harassment listed. “I don’t know why that is so. I wouldn’t even speculate,” said Villane, adding that she had no way of knowing if sexual harassment based on sexual orientation was a regular occurrence in the schools. The annual report lists only incidents resulting in some type of disciplinary action, suspension or expulsion, Villane said. Therefore, any sexual harassment complaints not resulting in any of those would not be reported to the school board. “I’ve overheard talk of individual cases but I don’t know if there’s an actual report anywhere,” she said. “There is no way to track such incidents without it being in reports.” Rick Johnson, an assistant principal at Lyman High School, said he has the perception it happens everywhere. “Kids are kids,” Johnson said. “I can’t speak for the school or the school system, but I, personally, don’t know of any incidents at Lyman. We try and keep our eyes and ears open but if they (students) don’t come and let us know, we can’t do anything. If they come to us, we always investigate,” he added. Villane said the school system, in its training of teachers, seeks to impart respect for the sexuality of students, but said she does not know how focused it is on sensitizing educators to the issue of sexual preference. Within the schools students are sensitized in courses such as Humanities and Life Management, she said. The stated policy of the Orange County School Board is that no student is to be disparaged or offended because of their “race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, handicap or any other reason prohibited by law.” The state Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s colleges and universities, goes further in its Code of Ethics by including “sexual orientation or social and family background” as factors no student should be harassed for or discriminated against. Ethridge said, in the claustrophobic world of the schools, being gay is not something you talk about. “I wasn’t ever really out. I told my close friends and that was it. I didn’t even tell my parents until recently. The other gay kids kept it real secretive,” he said. Michael, the Lyman student, said witnessing the other student’s harassment made him paranoid about being thought to be gay. “I’ve never had a girlfriend. I just can’t bring myself to do that, although I know other gay guys who do that to cover up. But, I’m very masculine in appearance and I have two best friends who are girls so they (fellow students) assume I’m dating them,” Michael said. Gay and lesbian Community Services (GLCS) of Central Florida reports it receives calls from gay teenagers on an almost daily basis. “Unfortunately, I get a lot who have been abused physically, psychologically, and emotionally,” said Larry, a GLCS Center volunteer. Locally, teenagers who are seeking to have contact with other gay teens are referred to the Delta Youth Alliance, which sponsors a weekly discussion group, the Center volunteer said. Up to 30 teens regularly attend the group which, for their protection and privacy, does not meet at the Center. While Delta has individuals up to 21 years old attending, the Center recently started a new group called Rainbow Con- nection, a social and discussion group, for 18 to 25-year-olds. It meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Center, 714 E. Colonial Drive. Such groups are important, Ethridge said, for young people who are trying to come to terms with their sexual orientation in an often hostile world where their friends and, often, their parents and families are in the dark about who they are. It is through talking that Ethridge can find himself laughing at the irony of an incident he was recently involved in. “I just started at U.C.F. (University of Central Florida) and I went to the event where you try to get into fraternities. I have a lot of buttons on my backpack that indicate I’m gay. I was going to try for this one fraternity but one of the members pulled me aside and said he’s seen my buttons and I’m not the kind of person they are looking for,” Ethridge said. SSP policy forbids the sexual harassment of students. It defines such harassment* in part* as any action which “,..cre-afes an intimidating, hostile or offensive school environment,” and this can he from “repeatedremarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implies- It suggests that signed complaints be made in writing to the principal and include the precise nature of the objection. The principal will acknowl-edge the complaint and collect information relevant to it. After a review, the principal will decide the issue and inform the complainant of the dect~ the district's equal opportunity officer* the policy states, Patty Villane, an Orange County Public Schools spoke*....... : : ■ : * ' % : r with counselling and referral to other organizations. . 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(Near Food Lion) 297-6655 Open Mon.-Sat. 10:30am til 8pm THE UJI ■ ■ Mfc [H EALT H NUT Kal Diet DIET SALE Diet Pep Max 60 Gels Cybergenic Quick Trim 14 Day Kit! 60 Tabs REG $14.99 REG $13.95 SALE $ 9.99 REG $49.95 SALE $39.95 SALE $11.95 DIRECTORY SPECIAL Up Your Gas $12.95 Save $2 Homeopathic Hylands Calm Sleep Aid 100 Tabs REG $5.65 SALE $4.65 Great Selection of Herbal Teas (Tastes Great Iced) Sale prices valid thru Sept 24 Ask about our 20°/o discount on vitamins and supplements on Qreen Monday (Sept. 19) a IS MW "wm * / ■ENhHe^^ LAND TITLE INSURANCE of Citrus County, Inc. • Winter Springs Office Land Title Insurance Is proud to announce the opening of j|il;'^l^|>eautiful r#w Winter $pr|jf| office. *Jj§^ We are proud to offer: The mig.^ffipetitt#'rates^ffi the area ANTI-GAY MEASURE WILL BE ON OREGON BALLOT SALEM, Ore. (AP) - An anti-gay rights measure will be on Oregon’s ballot in November after a court challenge failed. The Oregon Court of Appeals on Thursday unanimously reversed a lower court’s decision that the proposal unconstitutionally contains more than one subject. Opponents of the measure decided not to appeal to the state Supreme Court. “On to the campaign,” said Lon Mabon, chairman of the Oregon Citizens Alliance, which sponsored the measure. “I feel really vindicated. Being unanimous says something about the argument they have been pursuing.” The initiative is a revised version of a more harshly worded measure defeated by Oregon voters in 1992. It would forbid spending public money in any way that promotes or expresses approval of homosexuality. It also would outlaw teaching children that homosexuality is a classification similar to race, religion, gender, age or national origin, and it would allow adults-only access to library books on homosexuality. Opponents contended those prohibitions were separate subjects. SEATTLE ALLOWS DOMESTIC PARTNER REGISTRATION SEATTLE (AP) - Carolyn Sue enjoyed a celebratory piece of chocolate raspberry cake with Linda Gonzalez outside the city clerk’s office after the couple registered as domestic partners. “It’s about time,” said Sue, a 57-year-old health educator for Group Health. “Now it’s official: We are a family.” The city officially recognized their domestic relationship for the first time when a new Seattle ordinance went into effect, allowing homosexual and heterosexual live-in couples to register at the clerk’s office as domestic partners. About 90 couples, mostly gay or lesbian, registered Tuesday, said Judith Pippin, city clerk. Mayor Norm Rice signed the Domestic Partnership Registration ordinance Aug. 5, after it was unanimously approved by the City Council. Seattle follows a dozen or so other cities that have similar domestic-partnership laws, including New York, San Francisco and Madison, Wis. Registrants must certify they are not married, are at least 18 years old, are not related by blood in a manner that would bar their marriage in Washington, are in a relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment, and are each other’s sole domestic partner. The cost to register is $25. Terminating a partnership requires only one notarized signature and costs nothing more. For the $25, the couples receive a certificate, but the document provides no legal benefits. It is not official acknowledgement of a gay marriage, since marriages are regulated by the state. One of the few opposite-sex couples waiting to register said they wanted to support the concept behind the ordinance. And, they said, domestic partnership suits them better than marriage now. TOWN DEBATES REGISTRATION OF UNMARRIED COUPLES CARRBORO, N.C. (AP) - Carrboro aldermen, who will decide next week whether to allow unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to register as domestic partners, heard religious arguments from both sides. “God’s word teaches us that fornication and adultery are a sin,” Jack Godley said at a Tuesday hearing. Gary Webb, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Carrboro, said the board will break both the laws of God and North Carolina if it passes laws that condone adultery and homosexuality. “Each of you, when you took office, swore to uphold the laws of North Carolina,” he told the aldermen. A number of those in favor of the proposal said they are Christians who regularly attend church. Gay activist Doug Ferguson said voting for the measures will promote family values because it would strengthen the commitments of unmarried couples. Gloria Faley, a lesbian activist, said the ordinances would help bring people together in an accepting way. “Let this ordinance be the first step toward what Jesus tried to teach us,” she said. About 25 cities and a growing number of corporations provide for health benefits to their workers’ domestic partners. An ordinance in Seattle, which went into effect earlier this month, provides for no legal benefits. The board will vote on whether to approve or reject three measures. The first would allow the town clerk to accept and record statements of domestic partnership of unmarried Carrboro residents. The unions would be considered similar to marriages. The second proposal would require elected officials who are registered as domestic partners to file financial disclosure statements that include their partners. The third proposal would extend health and other benefits to the domestic partners of town employees. Carrboro does not pay health benefits for employees’ dependents, but it would allow employees to pay for their partners’ health insurance through the town’s plan. REINSTATEMENT OF GAY SAILOR PROVIDES LEGAL BOOST JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) - The reinstatement of a homosexual sailor to the Navy is a legal boost for a Camp Lejeune Marine who admitted he was homosexual, the Marine’s lawyer said. The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals last week upheld the reinstatement of sailor Keith Meinhold, who was discharged after revealing his sexual preference on television after President Clinton announced his intention to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military. The court ruled that the military can bar homosexuals for sexual acts, but not for merely saying they are homosexuals. “Clearly the Meinhold decision will be very helpful to us,” said attorney Lanny Breuer, who represents Marine Sgt. Justin Elzie. “The court found exactly what we’ve been arguing.” Elzie disclosed his homosexuality on national television in 1993 after hearing Clinton’s announcement about lifting the ban on homosexuals in the military. An administrative board at Camp Lejeune voted in March 1993 to remove Elzie from the Marine Corps. Elzie filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming that the discharge violates his rights to free speech and due process. Last year, U.S. District Judge Stanley Sporkin of Washington, D.C., forbade military officials from discharging Elzie or taking any other “adverse action” until Elzie’s lawsuit is resolved. “He continues to serve and do his job every day,” Breuer said. WATERMARK / September 14,1994 7 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS STUDY FINDS MANY AMERICANS HAVE HAD HOMOSEXUAL STIRRINGS WASHINGTON (AP) - A survey indicating that nearly one in five Americans has been attracted to someone of the same sex at some time since age 15 illustrates that sexual orientation isn’t a simple question of gay or straight, one of its authors says. “I think in most individuals there is some sort of range,” said David Wypij, a Harvard University statistician and co-author of the study. “You may be more heterosexual, you may be more homosexual.” The research, conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Center for Health Policy Studies in Washington, has been criticized by some statisticians but touted by gay rights activists. The study found that between 6.2 percent and 20.8 percent of American men and 3.3 percent and 17.8 percent of American women could be considered “incidentally homosexual”. The lower estimates are based on reported same-sex sexual behavior during the previous five years. The higher numbers are based on reported homosexual behavior or attraction since age 15. “Our perspective is that sexual orientation isn’t just a yes-no, heterosexual-homosexual (question),” Wypij said. Research that might help define the size of the homosexual community plays directly into the debate over extending civil rights protections to this minority. Congress is considering legislation that would outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Opponents have cited research that they say shows only 1 percent of the population is gay, suggesting that gay people have little political clout. The study, which was presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings in Toronto in August and is being published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, is the first national survey to look at the question of homosexual attraction. Interviewers spoke with 1,288 American men and 674 women, ages 16 to 50, and asked them each to complete questionnaires. The study said 1,200 men completed face-to-face interviews, which included 100 questions, and 1,130 answered 68 questions in the written survey. A total of 634 women completed the interviews and 588 finished the written portion. Other studies that have examined sexual attraction - such as those published by Alfred J. Kinsey in 1948 and 1953 - were not based on samples that could be extrapolated to the population as a whole. More recent national surveys have focused on behavior, not same-sex attraction. Randall Sell, lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate at Harvard, said he hopes the research will help elucidate the complexity of sexual orientation. “It’s more than just behavior; that’s only one measure,” he said. Tom W. Smith, a statistician at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, called the study useful, but warned that the question on attraction was imprecise. “They basically asked whether you were ever attracted to a member of the same sex at any time since you were age 15 - which can mean one very fleeting, very trivial sensation or feeling,” Smith said. Despite such caveats, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force immediately seized on the report, noting the figures are much higher than those last year from the Battelle Human Affairs Research Center, which reported 2 percent of the men surveyed had engaged in same-sex sexual behavior and 1 percent identified themselves as exclusively gay. That report has been used by religious conservatives to argue that homosexuals are a far smaller minority than previously believed. FEDERAL LEGISLATION WOULD HURT STUDENTS DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - They say it’s silly, unrealistic and would hurt students who need help the most. But they’re not pushing for anything to be done about it. That, Iowa school leaders say, would start a public debate, and that’s just what ultraconservatives want about the amendment they’ve added to a federal funding bill to take money away from schools that teach acceptance of homosexuality. Cedar Rapids Superintendent Lew Finch says there’s no doubt about it - the amendment would hurt some students’ performance in school. “I’d hate to call it catastrophic, but it would be, at the least, devastating,” he said. U.S. Sens. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and Bob Smith, R-N.H., got the Senate in August to add the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which would give $12.5 billion to the nation’s schools. Under the amendment, schools that distribute instructional materials or offer counseling services that have “the purpose or effect of encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative” could lose that federal funding. So could those that refer students to gay organizations for counseling. The U.S. House also put a similar statement in its funding bill, and now the legislation has been sent to a conference committee that will work out the differences. But how do you know a school is “supporting” homosexuality? Iowa leaders say that depends on who is doing the interpreting. “We’re saying that someone isn’t an evil, sick person who has these tendencies,” said Janelle Cowles, a high school counselor for the Des Moines School District, the largest in the state. “I don’t think that’s promoting.” Gary Wegenke, the Des Moines superintendent, says that in 1990 the district added sexual orientation to the issues included in its nondiscrimination policy. Others include gender, race, ethnicity and language. The federal amendment violates that policy, he said. “We are an educational enterprise and we do try to remove ignorance,” he said. “In doing so, we do make our young people aware of issues. You have to be educated to what you’re not discriminating against.” He also believes the amendment puts Iowa schools in a Catch-22 because the state requires them to teach AIDS education. That means they have to teach students about the homosexual lifestyle. NEXT ISSUE available September 28: GAY MARRIAGE: more couples are doing It, but why? TOM WOODARD: how his landmark lawsuit changed his life ROB EICHBERG: co-founder of National Coming Out Day interviewed Cactus Club 300 N. Mills Ave. Orlando 407-894-3041 Hour 2 for 1 3 pm to 8 pm 7 Days A Week 'Tue^day'^ TVi days {Jaturdayg 2 for 1 All Nite Social Hour Complimentary Buffet 2 for 1 until 8 pm 2 for 1 11 pm to 1 am "WHERE WE REALLY CARE" • SELL • FINANCE • TRADE "LET US HELP YOU ESTABUSH OR RE-ESTABUSH YOUR CREDIT TODAY 8403 E. Colonial Drive • Orlando, Florida 32817 • 2 • Fax 277-0655 Call John K. Tanner and David W. Shea, REALTORS® ERA AIRPORT REALTY 407-677-1177 IB W W W m .m w realtor* Florida Living in this newly renovated bungalow with pool in desirable Colonialtown. Features hardwood floors, fireplace, cabana, sprinkler system, central air and heat with heat pump, lush landscaping and more situated on brick street. Offered at $105,900. TAMER & SHEA ‘Specializing in Distinctive Properties of J WATERMARK / September 14, 1994 8 HEALTH & HIV NEWS CITING DRUG FAILURES, FEDS EXPAND ALTERNATE PROGRAM TREATMENTS SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Less than a month after an international AIDS conference in Japan reported little progress in drug therapy, the federal government has launched a $25 million program for alternative treatments. More money and applications are slated to be approved next year, officials of tlje National Institutes of Health said Thursday. They acknowledged that the future of drug and vaccine therapies appears gloomy in the battle against AIDS. The treatments getting the money aim to strengthen the immune system and genetically attack HIV, said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “This effort is crucial because currently available anti-HIV drugs only partially and temporarily suppress replication of the virus, and their use is hampered by toxicity and drug resistance,” he said. More than 14 million people worldwide are now infected by HIV; the World Health Organization projects that the disease could kill 121 million by the year 2020. The NIH money will be divided among six institutions: The New England Medical Center in Boston, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Stanford University and the University of California at San Diego. All must begin human trials by at least the third year of the four-year grants. The Stanford team is taking infection-fighting cells out of healthy people, treating them and inserting them into a sibling with AIDS. Along the same line, the New England researchers seek to boost the number of the body’s so-called killer T cells, the AIDS fighters the body initially produces when infected. So far, the new grants represent only a small part of the NIAID’s $558 million budget. But the agency says it is committed to expanding the initiative. Experts studying how to halt the AIDS epidemic say this week in the journal Science that a powerful vaccine alone will not conquer AIDS and could even make the epidemic worse, because it might create a false sense of safety and cause people to ignore risks. They emphasize that it will take safe sex and other changes in behavior to stop the virus. CDC FINDS GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES IN MINORITY AIDS CASES ATLANTA (AP) - Minorities continue to outnumber whites in new cases of AIDS, but as the epidemic ages scientists are uncovering differences in how ethnic groups around the country spread the virus. Fifty-five percent, or 58,538, of the 106,949 AIDS cases reported last year in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands were among minorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. It was the third consecutive year that AIDS cases were greater among minorities than among whites. In 1992, minority cases accounted for 52 percent of new cases, up from 50.9 percent the year before. As the epidemic develops, its pace has slowed among gay white men while quickening among minorities, particularly among blacks. But geography also makes a difference in how the virus spreads, said Dr. Teresa Diaz of the CDC’s National Center for Infectious Diseases. The Northeast - particularly New York state _ has the highest rates of AIDS infection for both blacks and His-panics, while the South and Midwest are generally lower. In some states, vast differences between minorities exist. In Florida, the rate for blacks is almost three times greater than for Hispanics. Such state-by-state or regional data help CDC prevention efforts, Ms. Diaz said. The CDC is collaborating with state and city officials to design programs that will target groups at highest risk in a specific area. “This way, we have a chance here to prevent it (the epidemic) from getting bigger” and spreading to new groups, Ms. Diaz said. In 1993, minorities accounted for 45,039, or 51 percent, of 89,165 AIDS cases among men, while minorities accounted for 12,696, or 75 percent, of the 16,824 cases among women, the CDC said. Minority men were most likely to transmit HIV through homosexual contact (39 percent) and IV drug use (38 percent). Among women, IV drug use accounted for 47 percent of cases and heterosexual contact 37 percent. Rates were higher among blacks (162 cases per 100,000 people) and Hispanics (90), and lower among American Indians/Eskimos (24) and Asians/Pacific Islanders (12). The AIDS rate for black women (73) was about 15 times greater than for white women (5), and the rate for black males (266) was nearly five times that for whites (57). Last year, the CDC expanded its definition of AIDS to include those infected with the HIV virus who also have a severely suppressed immune system, tuberculosis, recurrent pneumonia or invasive cervical cancer. The groups most affected by the expanded definition were women, blacks, heterosexual intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs. The cumulative number of AIDS cases in the United States through Dec. 31, 1993, was 361,164. The number of deaths from AIDS through the same time period was 220,736, according to the CDC. STATE WANTS DOCTORS TO TREAT PREGNANT HIV WOMEN WITH AZT TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida’s state health officer plans to write thousands of doctors, asking them to treat pregnant women who have the AIDS virus with AZT to reduce the number of babies infected with HIV. “We can spare perhaps 200 Florida children each year the suffering and eventual death due to HIV disease,” Dr. Charles Mahan said.in the letter, which officials plan to mail next week. More than 1,000 women infected with HIV are expected to give birth this year, according to the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. An estimated 30 percent of their babies will also be infected with the virus. But results from a national study earlier this year documented a two-thirds reduction in the rate of transmission of HIV from mother to child when the woman is treated with AZT. Mahan also urged doctors to make HIV testing a standard of obstetrical practice. “The stakes now are simply too high to do otherwise,” he wrote. A bill that would have required that every pregnant woman be tested for AIDS died in the Legislature this spring. HRS secretary Jim Towey said Wednesday that testing pregnant women and then treating those who carry HIV with AZT “is the first area where we feel we can make a difference.” h the financial strains I illness... we can give |>ur life insurance policy. There are many reasons why people sell their life insurance policies.but your reason is the most important one! Dealing with a life-threatening illness is difficult enough without worrying about financial matters. When these concerns overtake your lifestyle and your life, turn to Life Care Resources. We provide quick, completely confidential service, with instant payment after approval, at no cost to you. Before selling your policy to just anyone - contact Life Care Resources. We are committed to paying you the highest price for your policy. Life Care Resources donates a portion of all proceeds to charities and research dedicated to providing support to the terminally ill, including AIDS, cancer, and hospices. If you have needs... Life Care Resources is there. 1-800-563-0018 fpawe cffieAmvwe&j affine. dicfmit^ id not ondiy in w/iat we do, in we wndemta/nd. WATERMARK / September 14,1994 9 BUSINESS (407) 846-4113 (407) 348>-4033 (407) 828-8005 mmmmmmcm 1213 WEST OAK STREET KISSIMMEE, FL 34741 PASSION PHONES’ ERIN SOMERS VISITS MBA No one at MBA’s September general meeting needed to be told when their guest speaker had arrived. A full six feet tall, Erin Somers is riveting. With long black hair, black dress and black ankle boots, the popular radio host turned even the guys’ heads. In less than a year, Somers has tripled the ratings of her popular radio talk show, “Passion Phones.” She is at once witty, warm, sensitive, informed and open. Somehow, when Somers talks about sex it seems more... fun. “People are afraid of sex. They take it all too seriously,” she told approximately 100 MBA members and guests. “We weren’t put on this earth to make our parents happy.” Somers shared that gay and lesian sex has long been a regular feature of “Passion Phones”. And while she’s a master of witty repartee, it usually leads to a more thoughtful response. Responding to a question about masturbation, Somers endorsed the practice. “What do you think I did this afternoon?” But she then pointed out that teenage girls are discouraged from mastur- bating; possibly one reason that only 30% of women are regularly orgasmic. “With a little practice I have no doubt we’d get it down better than the guys.” Somers is not an advocate of swinging or indiscriminate sex. Responding to one questioner, Somers stated that, “To the best of my knowledge and experience, only about 10% of non-monogomous relationships really work. For the other 90%, they can be unsatisfying, threatening, and at worst disastrous.” Somers most difficult call concerned a gay man whose lover had committed suicide after being rejected by his father. Her next caller was the father, inconsolable in his grief. Somers assured him that his experience would move and inform others. Somers also stated her amazement at the divisiveness she sees within the gay and lesbian community. “You all have some real enemies... some powerful, organized enemies... and you need to stop fighting with each other and get it together.” WATERMARK / September 14,1994 10 VIEWPOINT VISIBLE INVISIBLE hr Rosaline Sloan I have always felt that Florida was my home. When I was nine, my family and I vacationed here. Over time, I became enamored with the temperate climate, slow southern charm and unique beauty of the state. Although bom and raised in northern New Jersey, I welcomed the recent opportunity to relocate to Central Florida with my life partner. But here among the palm trees and sultry Spanish moss, I have been forced to accept some drastic changes in my gay lifestyle. When I began coming out in the late seventies, I could hop on public transportation and roam streets at the center of Manhattan’s burgeoning gay area; all no more than twenty minutes from my straight, Catholic upbringing. As time went on, I confidently walked the neighborhoods surrounding Christopher Street, often for up to six hours at a time. A decade after first discovering this eastern epicenter of gay culture, I had become so accustomed to its freedoms that I would spend five nights out of seven being gay as I ate at outdoor cafes, browsed in gay stores, and socialized in the many different clubs. When my partner and I moved here, I eagerly began searching for places where I could experience the same relaxed, friendly openness of the Village. Instead I found that I now belonged to a hidden subculture. I felt as though my struggle to become a truly free lesbian on the streets of New York was wasted. When I considered what Key West, South Beach, or even Pensacola offered in terms of lifestyle options, I wondered why our community in this part of the Bible Belt had been unable to flourish freely, even in small pockets. After participating in the most recent Pride Parade in downtown Orlando, I realized that this is not because we don’t exist in large numbers. I want to feel the strength of our sheer presence in the streets.. .who we are and what we are about as a community... Is the voice of the religious right really threatening our community in 1994? Is there not enough safety in numbers that we can’t commit ourselves to seek what we deserve; the freedom to walk down the street hand-in-hand with our lovers, or to roam a park without someone writing down our license plate number? Must we continue to gather only behind closed doors, or at events where there is no risk of exposing who we really are to our neighbors, friends and co-workers? Now when I visit the Northeast, my first desire...rain, snow, or sunshine...is to go to the Village. I want to feel the acceptance I once took for granted. I want to feel the strength of our sheer presence in the streets. I want to see love in and among lesbians and gay men; open, unrestrained love that requires freedom to attain full expression. I want to feel the sense of who we are and what we are about as a community in our voices and in our hearts. That community in Central Florida needs to be visible, not vulnerable. We must seek the strength and the will to be free, just like in the Village. Until then, maybe we should just pretend. WATERMARK Watermark Media, Inc. ©1994 editor / publisher Tom Dyer layout / managing editor April Gustetter account executive Keith Peterson contributing writers Michael L. Kilgore, G. K. Fowler, Harmony Brenner, Nan Schultz, R. A. Bach, Dimitri Toscas, Jim Crescitelli, Mark Lawhon, Yvonne Vassell, Ken Kundis, Rafael Gasti, Leslea Newman, Rosanne Sloan, Joe Sarano photographers & illustrators Alison Bechdel, Eric Orner, Russell Tucker, student contributors Robert Holland, Katie Messmer, Tera Kenney, Mike Williams CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing is WATERMARK is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members of such organizations (unless, of course, sexual orientation is stated specifically). WATERMARK is published every second Wednesday, except the first week in January and the second week in July. Subscription rates are $35.00 (third class). The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns, letters and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s owner or management. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads that have such errors. WATERMARK P.O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655 TEL 407.481.2243 FAX 407.481.2246 Watermark m&emmymr Letters to the Editor* Ail letters are subject to | editing for content and length. Letters should bg sent to: E 0< Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I would like to congratulate Watermark on its premier issue. I wish to respond to the article ‘TRACKS DERAILS - BOXCARS OPENS”. Several comments that Mr. Barlow made in the article are simply just not true. One, his quote, ‘‘In Tampa, the bars network and work together to benefit each other and the community.” Not once did Mr. Barlow ever make any attempt to contact myself or any member of management at Southern Nights with regard to networking within the gay community of Orlando! Mr. Barlow further alleges that Southern Nights, The Edge and The Club at Firestone had authorized Tracks’ advertising removed from the publications at our locations. Mr. Barlow’s statement is one hundred (100%) percent false. Southern Nights, The Edge and The Club at Firestone do network together and not one of these establishments ever authorized removal of advertisements. Maybe, Mr. Barlow and TRACKS/OR-LANDO just did not deliver what the competitive Orlando market is seeking. Very truly yours, Daniel J. Fraser, General Manager Southern Nights I just wanted to write and wish you the best for your new publication. Having seen your ads in other area outlets, I think that you have tapped into a very important niche in the Central Florida gay and lesbian community. It’s about time Orlando supported a higher-end publication such as yours. Once again, I wish you and your staff the best. Sincerely, William J. Gridley Public Relations Editor Rollins College Bravo! How grand that there is finally a forum for the diversity of culture that is the gay community. We are not simply visual cliches, but rather an evolution of old and new, traditional and avant garde, private and unabashed. Mostly, though, we are worthy of celebration. Thank you for validating that. Proudly, Pam Pratt What enjoyment and pride I had in reading the newest lesbian and gay periodical to hit Central Florida! It is wonderful to see the diversity of our community mirrored by the many issues and topics covered - political, sports, entertainment, health, and arts. Thank you Watermark for giving our community yet another tool to communicate and learn more about each other. I applaud your sponsors and advertisers for their support and encourage readers to patronize their organizations. Each one of you should take a deep breath, smile, and be proud of your accomplishments! Congratulations on an excellent premier issue. Peace, Michael Hodges Congratulations on the premier issue of your paper. Great looks and impressive content. One gentle criticism, though. If your goal is to reflect the positive, non-stereo-typical side of our community, Lola O’Lay is a step in the wrong direction. The general population already thinks we’re campy transvestites with lots of attitude and a tenuous grip on reality. Why reinforce this stereotype? Other than that, it was nice to read about Amanda Bearse, and I particularly enjoyed your article on Fran Pignone. The Sports page is a great idea. Keep up the good work. W. C. Slapke The Orlando Frontrunners gather at sunset at the Red Pagoda on Lake Eola Homosexuality is always elsewhere because it is everywhere. French writer RENAUD CAMUS WATERMARK / September 14, 1994 11 VIEWPOINT WHERE WERE YOU IN 1969? by James A. Crescitelli Next year I’m going to be forty years old. Forty. Four-O. Well, as Margo Channing said: “That slipped out, I hadn’t quite made up my mind to admit it.” I’m not complaining; they’ve been very good years, but I wonder what it would be like to be a gay teenager in 1994 instead of 1969... For gay people, the nineties certainly seem to offer a plethora of support systems. Community centers, specialized interest groups, publishers, magazines...We’ve come a long way from the days when checking The Well of Loneliness out of the library was a major psychological ordeal. I remember buying a copy of Playgirl at my local neighborhood newsstand in Brooklyn; I told the vendor that it was for my sister, who was in the hospital with two broken legs. The webs we weave. What sustained us in those days? Who was there to turn to? I had an idea that I was perhaps not the only member of my ilk walking the earth but, as a late sixties teenager, my resources were limited. Being gay wasn’t something I could casually bring up during supper. “Dad, there’s this guy I like in school but he doesn’t seem to know I exist. What should I do?” “WHAT?!” Fanciful conversations such as these ran through my mind daily like frightened mice. Better, I decided, to keep silent. I had had no problem with my own personal coming out - a realization, really - but I thought others perhaps might: my family, my friends, and the nuns. In other words, everybody. High school...in September of 1969 I put on my bellbottoms, my Nik-Nik shirt, and took the bus to a Catholic boys’ high school in Brooklyn which, for some strange reason, had a reputation. It was whispered that only fairies and queers went to this particular grove of academe, and I was ribbed unmercifully in my neighborhood. “I’m only going because it’s close,” I countered to any friend who dared to cast aspersions on my adolescent masculinity. It was true; the school itself was only a ten-minute bus ride away. Secretly, I was intrigued. Orientation day brought no major revelations other than the fact that we were not expected to shower after gym; it was optional, and I was relieved. Curious as I was about a high school filled with homosexuals, I was not quite ready to bare it all in a shower room crammed with boys I did not know. I spent that first month looking at everybody intensely, trying to discern whether or not they were like me. It was a difficult task; I mean, nobody came right out and announced it, and I certainly didn’t ask anybody if they were gay. I found my peers after a time but did not realize it at first. Some magic radar had conspired to pull us all together, but it took I will always be amazed at how we “found” each other during those dim freshman months, perhaps groping subconsciously toward the light. us until our senior year to verbally come out to one another. As I look back, however, it is plain to me just how unspokenly gay we really were. We went to a lot of movies together, and any one of us could be counted on to know the dialogue from obscure Hollywood classics. Week after week, ensconced in dusty revival cinemas, we immersed ourselves in camp, unwittingly educating our psyches toward a more open future. Theater matinees - orchestra seats were ridiculously inexpensive in those years - were another mainstay, as well as the dinners afterward in Broadway restaurants in which we engaged in what we thought was highly witty repartee...I thought, heterosexual men don’t do this as a group. Here we are discussing Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer in great detail. What, I wondered, was up? Could we ALL be...? Straight men go to the movies and they attend the theatre, and they know about art and literature and even a little bit about fashion, but would they have spent ALL their time discussing the finer points of these subjects? Would a straight man even know that Claudettte Colbert was offered the lead in All About Eve before Bette Davis, but had to withdraw because of back problems? Do you think my father knew or even cared that Norma Shearer turned down the starring role in Gone with the because her fans did not want her to play a bitch? Even as we grew closer over the years, the G-word remained unspoken when referring to ourselves. Occasionally I would catch one of our “Theater Group” eyeing somebody on the subway, and I suppose I myself was caught, but nobody was saying. Then, in gym class during senior year, one of these friends told me he had just finished reading his sister’s copy of Portnoy’s Complaint. He related the famous scene with the liver, and then had some news. “.. .and by the way, i just wanted to tell you that I’m gay.” I was hardly shocked, as the expression on his face seemed to hope for. “Oh, really? So am I!” I replied. “What? No you’re not!!” He was angry that I had stolen his thunder, as apparently he was treating this as a major step in his life. I - seventeen, smug -was pleased with his revelation, yet treated it more as a “homecoming.” Yes, somebody had actually come over to MY side. The news traveled s wiftly through the group. I confided in another, he confided in somebody else, and soon we were all privy to a rather unwieldy open secret. It took a third friend’s coming out to bring the rest of the group stampeding to the fore. Nobody wanted to be left behind. I look back often and realize that every one of my little group blossomed into a full-fledged gay man. I will always be amazed at how we “found” each other during those dim freshman months, perhaps groping subconsciously toward the light. It must be less of a challenge for young gay people to find each other these days, what with the network of support we’ve erected within our community. I suppose it’s easy enough to look up “Gay” in the yellow pages and find a listing - a telephone number, maybe even the address of a community center. There are counselors, groups, and sub-groups, but I can’t help feeling that, while positive, it has suddenly become so easy to come out...the furtiveness is gone. Maybe today’s young people don’t care that gay people once lived their lives as if played out on the pages of a gothic novel. Maybe I’m too much of a romantic, but do I REALLY wish it were 1969 again? Not at all. OUT OF THE CLOSET AND NOTHING TO WEAR by Leslea Newman When my girlfriend, Flash, and I were evicted last summer, I immediately called my mother. I don’t know why. I wanted sympathy, I suppose. After all, we hadn’t done anything wrong; our building got sold and we had to move. And having our apartment, funky as it was, yanked out from under us was more traumatic than I thought it would be. “It’s our home,” I wailed in a voice not unlike a 5-year-old’s. “I want my mommy.” The trouble is, I don’t have a mommy. I have a mother. A mommy gives you milk and cookies, kisses it where it hurts and makes you feel all better. A mother means well, but misses the mark. A mother says things like, “Your room is always here if you need it,” as if the 20 years since I’ve inhabited that room can be dismissed with the wave of a hand. My mother likes the fact that Flash and I have to move. This is a normal thing that happens to people other than lesbians. This is something we can talk about. Better yet, this is something my mother feels qualified to give me advice about. Never mind the fact that my mother hasn’t moved in 34 years, ever since my family migrated from Brooklyn to Long Island, and I, in typical dyke fashion, have lived in 23 different apartments since 1985. She is the expert. “Have you looked in the paper,” she asks, as if I am an idiot. “Yes, I’ve looked in the paper,” I answer in my most condescending voice, as if she is an idiot. “What about calling a realtor?” she asks. “Ma, we have to come up with first and last month’s rent, a security deposit and money to pay the movers. We can’t afford a realtor.” This is the opening my mother has been waiting for. All of a sudden she is certain that no one with nice apartments lists in the papers anymore; anyone with something halfway decent is sure to list with a realtor. Why, oh why, did I bother to call? Weeks pass. Finally Flash and I find an apartment. Not just any apartment. A fabulous apartment. A dream of an apartment with six rooms, wood floors, oak window frames, french doors, two porches. I call my mother, feeling smug. All this and without a realtor, too. “How did you find it?” is the first question she asks. How do I explain the dyke grapevine to my mother? Flash took a walk after supper one night and bumped into the shortstop on her softball team who had heard from her chiropractor who had heard from one of her client’s that her ex-lover’s hairdresser had an apartment for rent. Would my mother ever understand this? “Word of mouth,” I translate, and of course she has to have the final say: “I told you not to bother looking in the paper.” Moving day approaches and my mother is full of advice. “Pack the dishes first,” she tells me. “Why?” I ask. “Because it’s easier,” she says, and I let it go at that, as I don’t have the time to argue. Moving is a full-time job: packing, unpacking, turning on the electricity and the gas, forwarding the mail, reconnecting the phone. And who is our very first caller? Why, my mother, of course. What she’s calling about surprises me. “What should I get you and Flash for ahouse-warming present?” “Ma, you don’t have to get us anything.” “I know I don’t have to get you something,” she says. “I want to get you something.” “But it’s not like we’ve bought a house or anything,” I say, wondering why I am arguing with her. “It’s just another apartment.” “It’s your first apartment together,” she says, and I’m amazed that she know this. Our last apartment had been Flash’s place until I moved in with her, and before that we had both lived alone. This is the first home we’ve created together and it does feel different. “All right,” I say, and make a joke. “How about a washing machine?” “OK,” she says, and I almost fall over. “It was a joke, Ma.” “What joke,” she asks. “Do you need one or not?” “I don’t know, I guess so.” “Fine,” she says. Disbelief makes me brave. “Do we get a dryer, too?” She thinks for a minute. “The washing machine will be your housewarming present, and the dryer will be for Chanukah.” I am floored. This is the closest my mother has ever come to giving Flash and I her blessings. This is the woman who, when f came out to her, called me selfish, self-centered, self-obsessed and self-absorbed. The same woman who was convinced I was under the influence of someone, because I could never think for myself, or as she put it, “You were always a follower. Why, if they were all walking up Fifth Avenue stark naked with frying pans on their foreheads, you’d be the first in line.” This was the woman who had never given up hope that someday I would return to my childhood bedroom and sleep like a virgin in that single bed until Prince Charming arrived to sweep me off my feet. This was the woman who was buying her only daughter and her lover a washer/dryer so their underwear, bras, socks, sweaters, shirts, blouses, pants, and pantyhose would toss and spin side by side, year in and year out, happily ever after? Of course, I had to listen to a lecture on spin cycles, bleach dispensers, gas hook-ups and the like. Of course, I had to go to Sears, pick out the machines I wanted, write down the numbers, and call them in to my mother for her approval (she picked out a different dryer). Of course, now we have to talk about the washer and dryer every time my mother calls. “How’s the washer?” she asks me. “Fine,” I answer. I mean, how can it be? “And how’s the dryer?” “Fine.” I am tempted to say it had a slight cold last week, but I know better. “It’s drying?” “It’s drying.” “Are you using fabric softener?” As I listen to her advising me on detergents (after all, she has been a housewife for 40 years), all I can think of is you’ve come a long way, Mommy. Thank you. Leslea Newman is author or editor of 14 books, including “Heather Has Two Mommies” and Gloria Goes to Gay Pride”. She lives and works in Northampton, Mass. WATERMARK / September 14, 1994 12 COLDUieU. BANK6RQ Residential Real Estate Inc. (800) 598-5060 (407) 325-2218 Felix Power River Chase Drive------------ Like a model! Home has been well maintained and is ready to move into. The easy lifestyle is echoed in the large casual kitchen, breakfast bar and greatroom plan. Screened porch leisure too!!! $85,000 Lake Drive Behind the gate of this Lakefront Paradise lies over an acre of towering oaks and pines. With 155ft on the Conway chain of lakes this home offers spectacular views, serenity and quality of construction throughout.Priced below appraisal $399,900 Lake Como Park---------------- Exquisite model of “olde Orlando bungalow. All of yesterday’s charm and 90 's new. Oversized, fenced in lot framed with huge oaks and mature plantings to keep you cool in the summer. This home offered at an astounding $99,000 HIV+? THINKING OF SELLING A POLICY? READ ON! Whether you want to realize a dream or just take care of your health or finances, you owe it to yourself to call today for no obligation information and application. CALL US (407) 426-9760 mi; LEATHER CLOSET 498 N ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32805 407/649-2011 • FAX 407/649-4116 OPEN NOON - 2 AM DAILY Custom Leather-Work Done on Premises WATERMARK / September 14,1994 13 Greg Dawson: Tales of the City Room by Tom Dyer Watermark Interview: What immediately strikes you about Greg Dawson are his intelligent, laughing eyes. This is a guy who’s easy to talk to; full of ideas and well-informed opinions. Interested as well as interesting. He’s also just plain nice. Tall, thin, polite and accommodating to a fault, a young Jimmy Stewart would be perfectly cast in the Greg Dawson story. No doubt a mini-series. Greg Dawson has covered television for the last ten years, first at The Boston Herald, and for the last eight years at The Orlando Sentinel. This summer the Sentinel unchained him from his television set (where he spent up to 40 hours per week) to cover real life. During his TV tenure, Greg made few attempts to disguise his decidedly liberal (some would say “evolved”) perspective. He praised Channel 24 for airing Tongues Untied, the controversial documentary about black homosexuals. He was highly critical of the same station for then refusing to air the more conventional gay drama, The Lost Language of Cranes. He also panned Channel 6 for refusing to air an After-School Special about lesbian mothers. Greg and I met for breakfast at the International House of Pancakes. While waitresses schlepped pancakes and attitude, we covered a broad range of topics. I asked questions with my mouth full. Greg paid for breakfast. I told you he’s nice. Where did you grow up? In Bloomington, Indiana...a wonderful, liberal college town. I was one of the original Crest kids testing fluoride toothpaste. I still got cavities, and found out years later that I got the placebo. I know that you have an essentially liberal viewpoint. Where did that come from? Well, both my parents were musicians, and for different reasons very liberal. My mother was a holocaust survivor and a raging liberal. She was sincerely disappointed that I didn’t marry a black woman. She always felt them superior as a race. And my father came out against the Vietnam war before I did. Your mother was a holocaust survivor? Yes. She was originally from the Ukraine, and her family was being marched out of town by German soldiers, presumably on the way to a concentration camp. Her father bribed a soldier to look the other way while my mother and her sister bolted out of line. They were on the run for years, often finding shelter and protection because of their musical skills. Very much like Playing For Time, except my mother played the piano. Eventually my father’s uncle heard them and brought them to America, and got my mother into Julliard. That’s where she met my father. Continued Page 16 WATERMARK / September 14,1994 14 ARTFUL LIVING MICHAEL E. DUNN, M.D. Infectious Diseases Internal Medicine Specializing in the CARE of People with HIV Disease & AIDS 1355 Orange Avenue • Suite 5 • Winter Park, Florida 32789 Phone: (407) 645-2661 Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp ™ a unique historical community established in 1894 SUNDAY: CHURCH SERVICE 10:30 AM WEDNESDAY: ALL-MESSAGE SERVICE 7:30 PM ($5.00) Healing Services 7/2 hour before all Church services PUBLIC WELCOME TO ATTEND ALL ACTIVITIES VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE Area’s largest Book and Tape inventory, plus many interesting gifts from Nature and around the world. HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 9:30-5:00, Sunday Noon-5:00 1112 Stevens St. • P.O. Box 319 • Cassadaga, FL 32706 • (904) 228-2880 Happy Hour 12PM TO 8PM Open Daily 12PM TO 2AM FULL MOON SALOON A Gay American Southern Style Saloon Full Moon Party Thursday, September 22nd 8-2am Happy Hour Prices ALL Night Long! Anything could happen on a Full Moon! OPEN DANCING Wednesday - Friday • Saturday & Sunday COUNTRY & WESTERN DANCE LESSONS w/ Terri & Jerry and DJ Alan Ellis Wednesday 8 -11 • Saturdays 8:30 -10:30 Sundays 7 - 9 Drink Specials Nightly 500 N. Orange Blossom Trail • Orlando, FL • (407) 048-0725 JlixEd MeDck YAB YUM: Yum Yum!! Has anyone tasted the chocolate cake at this unique coffee house?? WOW! The best in O-Town! Yab Yum’s beat atmosphere and eclectic clientele combine to make this coffeehouse a hell of a lot of fun. And on top of that “the words of the prophets are written on the bathroom walls”. Orlando needs more places like Yab Yum as an alternative choice to hanging out in bars. Like Cafe Tu Tu Tango, the interesting artwork is for sale. Visit Yab Yum, and don’t forget to try the chocolate cake! CAFE NEW ORLEANS: Dined at this small cafe on Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park recently with some friends. Inexpensive and authentic, a cute place to have lunch or dinner. Watch out for the Jambalaya, it’s H-O-T! PAGES: Every lesbian and gay man who works for a living should take the time to ready Gay Issues In the Workplace, by Brian McNaught {On Being Gay). It’s a veritable handbook on how to address issues effecting gay men and lesbians in the work environment. This is an easy read and I promise you will find it enlightening and a great tool for diversity training. After you read it, do yourself a favor and give a copy to your boss and co-workers. NOT SO GOOD GARDEN: Recently read Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, by John Berendt. This book came highly recommended by several reliable sources. It sure is a pretty book, and it will look great on your coffee table. If you actually read it, however, be prepared for a big snooze. It’s boring!! Why is this book a bestseller? I was hoping for Truman Capote and ended up with Danielle Steele minus the pulp. The story itself had enormous potential: a gay murder in Savannah circa 1981. Instead of a gothic potboiler, it descends into a series of character studies lighter than angel food cake. PASSION FOR ERIN, PART II: Erin Somers, the sultry voiced host of Real Radio’s “Passion Phones”, was the guest speaker at the September 1 Metropolitan Business Association (MBA) meeting. Erin is loaded with charisma, and yes, the face and body match the voice! Somers was intelligent, eloquent and entertaining. An astute observation: Based on her call-ins, Erin remarked that she has noticed how divisive the gay and lesbian community can be. She advised us to work together in fighting against discrimination and in pursuit of equal rights. Like I said, a smart lady! Later that evening, Erin thanked the MBA on the air for giving her a standing ovation.. .her first ever. There will be many more, Erin! MUSIC: Ah, the end of summer. Spent labor Day weekend listening to the new soundtrack, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Highlights include disco classics “I Will Survive”, “Shake Your Groove Thing”, “Finally”, mixed right in with standards such as “I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine” and “A Fine Romance”. As if that weren’t enough, great 70s trash songs like “I’ve Never Been to Me” (considered by some music critics to be the worst record ever...I disagree, of course) and “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” should bring back some bad memories. This CD is a must have, especially if the movie is as good as its press. We’ll all find out soon enough. Priscilla, opens at Enzian sometime in October. Dykes To match Out For let them eat c eke fuzzed ON CAKC AND ICE CREAM, .SEVERAL 6UE515 AT RAFAEL’5 FIRST Birthday Part/ E Regained in THE KiTEHEM Ft?R -5QAE LlVELV _ PERATt. tell ME about it/ a BUMCH OF WHITE. GAYMEM TRyiNG TD CONV/NCE THE HOMOPHOBE STD LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST (NORMAL, SEXIST, RACIST, god- fearing, profit-prikeh &>y$ NEXT DOOR/ 6W aujqkj Tte question is, warn these loo ca&in av& Tyftj even have cone, ovj at ALL if LEFTIST Queers hadn't been FIGHTiNG For their rights /M THE JTREET; ffcRDLE PAST 25 >YAR$? i think N®T. I Du H HO, AG. STREET activist/ AMP DYKES ON BI BUT IT7AICE5 ALL KINDS? IF 8cnc STARCHED, STRAIGHT-ACTING gay men and lesbians wavt-to SUCK UP TO THE REPUBLICAN FARTy, IT CAN ONLy HELP/ YE AH •. MUPTH£M. THE/ U sell THE REST OF US down the River Just to GET THEIR WlNGTlPS |N THE COOR/THEy'RE Anti-CHOICE, ANTI-AFFlRAATlVt ACTION, PRo-B|6BUSINESS... they PRo&A&i.y EAT VEAL? THEY PRo&ABcy cowrRECyCir' THEy FROM guy HAv£ WET DfcEAMj about sriMvypifpiHG at the bohemian grove no ... r wa s au ready n, THEN THE VAVCA+JMTHEIR UTTIE PRONOUNCEMENT HOW S MESEKCoOPlEjSHcOJlH'j BE ALLOWED TO AfoPT OR USE ALTERNATIVE WSEaWaTioN. ny Mon'S SO POP£<«AZy. I TV|OUfcHT CD WAT TILL THINGS C#WN. HAVE A ( A CHECK FoR nice /raff/, a photo JNAIT. „ [of THEHQOiBDHS' 5on,TuUo, HUH. Julio looks a UTflE UGHf INTHELCtfW -TOME. HE KITCHEN CREW is STAKT/NC TO C rash . Go what makes Sone GAy PEOPLE TURN OUf TO BE REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVISTS, AND OTHERS TORN OUT TU Bf SNIVELING COLLABORATIONISTS ? WATERMARK / September 14,1994 15 IN REVIEW Stephen Sondhiem has been turning Broadway on its ear for years, and 1994 is no exception. His newest artistic endeavor is overwhelmingly beautiful, passionate, and strange. Passion, a seamless musical drama, explores the facets of obsession, loss, and love. Just released on Angel Records, Passion received the 1994 Tony Award for Best Musical. Its recording captures the depth and genius of Sondheim’s vision. His desire for pure love, his obsession with the darkness of reality, and his glaring rays of hope are woven within James Lapine’s book, creating a recording that is as over-the-top as grande opera and as real as modem poetry. The seed of Passion begins in word. Based on an 1869 Italian novel by Igino Ugo Tarchetti called Fosca, it gathered a literary audience. Fosca was transformed into “film noir”, when Ettore Scola told the story in Passione d'Amore, and a new audience was tom by the love story’s twisting darkness. Now years later it has blossomed into an extraordinary musical and theatrical experience. Following the romance of Giorgio,a young, handsome soldier, listeners whirl in the discoveries of truth and love. In the midst of a passionate affair with the beautiful Clara, he is tom apart by the deep, brooding Fosca, an ugly, withering woman, tortured by pain, sickness, and a crushing understanding of harsh reality. The dreamlike music and desperate drama of Passion are captured clearly and honestly throughout this recording. True to Sondhiem’s form, and unlike other Broadway cast albums, Passion’s disc maintains a coherent, elaborate story that will transform its listeners into an “audience” -including those who may not get a chance to actually see the production. Passion gives this listening audience every resource it needs to be swept away by the story’s universal struggle: to love and be loved. Feeling much like a wave, Passion’s melodies swirl and circle upward through some of Sondhiem’s most sound and profound writing. Songs like “Happiness” (an ode to oblivious infatuation) and Fosca’s relentlessly painful “I Read” (a bizarre anthem of denial) quickly build to a hauntingly beautiful and unexpected calm. By far the recordings most heart-rendering moment, “Loving You”, finds Fosca revealing her pure and blameless love for Giorgio, as she sets him free. Then the spiraling tide begins again, crashing down into the depths of dark reality.. .Giorgio’s breakdown, and the death of Fosca. The orchestration, with strings added for the recording, drives Sondheim’s beautiful music. Brilliantly conducted by longitme collaborator Paul Gemignani, the orchestra sweeps over the shallowness of Clara (Marin Mazzie), swells under the heavy brooding of Fosca (Tony Award winner, Donna Murphy), and surrenders to the passion and commitment of Giorgio (Jere Shea). The recording gives their exceptional performances breath and depth. Sondhiem delivers with overwhelming Passion. Visit us for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Teddy, Papa Tony and Pablo look forward to your visit and promise you a unique dining experience. T - TH 11 AM -10 PM • F11 AM -11 PM *S 10 AM-11 PM • SUN 10 AM-9 PM 900 E. WASHINGTON STREET ♦ ORLANDO, FL 32801 ♦ (407) 425-0033 EAT WI RO by Rosanne Sloan Romano’s Macaroni Grill 844 W. State Road 434 • Altamonte Springs 682-2577 This specialty Italian grill, opened in 1992, enticed me with its fresh gladiolas and old world style patio. Originally from Dallas, Romano’s welcomes gay men and lesbian patrons. There is a woodbuming stove smell that draws you into this restaurant. Inside, an extra large open kitchen delightfully adds a sense of hominess. The tables are covered with paper, crayons are supplied, doodling is encouraged. Each table has a bottle of Colavita Extra Virgin Oil for the traditional garlic focaccia (bread) to be dipped with fresh ground pepper. Romano’s uses the honor system with gallons of Chianti wine lined up on the right wall. Each glass is $2.50, tallied at the end of the meal. Other wines average $4.50 a glass and $21.00 a bottle. Like at my grandmother’s on Sunday, the menu is extensive. We began our meal with the special appetizer of the evening, a cream of mushroom soup. It was extra smooth with fresh parsley sprinkles and plenty of fresh mushroom slices. Very tasty. I ordered the Pasta di Tre Formaggio (fresh pasta with asiago, a type of cheese). My partner had Pasta della Casa (pasta, roasted garlic, fresh tomatoes, olives, basil, mushrooms and bell peppers in a spicy red sauce). Plates were warm, portions were large, and our meals were delicious. The average entree at Romano’s is $9.95. To top off the evening meal, our server brought us a dessert tray featuring lady fingers cake soaked in espresso with dark chocolate shavings, a chocolate cannoli, a chocolate fudge cake with whipped cream, and a cheese cake with raspberry sauce and chocolate shavings, which we chose to share...my only disappointment. Although it looked delicious, the ricotta was curdy and the chocolate crepe was thick and stale from being kept cold. After the third bite, the raspberry sauce became overwhelming. Espresso and chocolate cappuccino complemented our dessert. I recommend Romano’s specialty pastas, but I prefer their personal pizza’s and salads. The restaurant has a casual and fun atmosphere, with both smoking and nonsmoking sections and easy handicap access. To enhance the flavor of Italy, most of the servers have a deep Mediterranean look. Both men and women wore exotic, wild ties. At least four of the servers are professionally trained singers and they will sing at your table on request. Romano’s rates ***/GG. Eating With Rosey borrows fro The Kitchen With Rosie, by Rosie Daley (Oprah*s personal cook)* Onr Rosey has tried several recipes, each inedible, but she^Ii keep ns posted* Our Rosey’s rating system* H ■ ********* tjrlxix It’s a Gay World illllll GG |Jj|tela% and enjoy 11* G Tendon your own IKlIIIII Fair IMIlli Poor Romano’s Macaroni Grill accepts all major credit cards and is open 11*11 Mon-Thur, 11-1 Fri-Sat, 11-10 Sun. Call ahead on weekends to be placed on the “wait list”. WATERMARK / September 14,1994 16 ARTFUL LIVING DAWSON From Page 13 How did you get into journalism? Purely by accident. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Bloomington Herald Telephone and he ended up hiring me to call around small towns to get sports scores...places like Monrovia and Greencastle. I’ve basically worked in newspapers ever since. I covered sports, city hall...eventually I got a column. In fact, I did several stories on gay issues and gay people. I remember one of the first.. .1 went to a gay encounter group at a Unitarian Church. It must have been around 1972. It was me and about 50 gay guys and I did a column about it and the gist was that it was OK for football players to hug and pat each others “tight ends” in front of 50,000 people, but not for two men to do the same thing on a street comer. When AIDS first surfaced and Christians started saying it was divine punishment, I wrote a column saying that using that logic, coronary heart disease among obese CEO’s must be god’s punishment for unseemly greed. When did you start reporting about television? When I moved to The Boston Herald in 1984.1 applied for the job of TV critic, and I think I got the job because the Herald was a Rupert Murdoch paper and no reputable reporter wanted to work for him back then.. .certainly not as a TV critic. Was there much to learn? Was it a difficult transition watching all that TV? Not really. The hardest part was the reviews. I never got real comfortable with that. I did not enjoy reviewing shows, probably because I often had no real strong opinion about a show. The truth is that my reaction to 90% of the shows I ever saw was a big shoulder shrug. What sort of things stand out about TV during the time you wrote about it? Well I think the period from ’84 to ’94 may be one of the true golden eras of television. There were some excellent programs during that period...far more than during the so-called golden era of the ’50s, which had some good shows but also an awful lot of dross. Which shows stand out? The first show I reviewed was The Cosby Show, and I thought, “Hey, this isn’t going to be bad at all.” That was an excellent show, and it kind of elevated my expectations. Certainly The Civil War documentary was a great piece of television. Thirty something. Lonesome Dove was in that period. Any major trends? What’s happened, and one of the reasons a lot of conservatives have such difficulty with TV nowadays, is that it’s getting closer and closer to reality. The biggest myth about TV is that it sets a liberal agenda. In fact, television has always been a lagging cultural institution. I mean, c’mon.. .in 1971 they were afraid to present Mary Tyler Moore as a divorcee because they thought it would be too disconcerting to the TV viewing public. And more recently, Thirtysomething had a prime example. They had that one chaste scene between two gay men in bed.. .1 don’t think they even kissed...and ABC claimed they lost a million dollars in advertising over it. What about the trend toward more and more tabloid television? The country is kind of schizophrenic about that. Nobody admits to watching the stuff. In fact everyone says they hate tabloid TV, but if you compare the ratings for Hard Copy, A Current Affair, and of course, Wheel of Fortune, with the ratings for MacNeil-Lehrer, which airs at the same time.. .well, if you could make a bar graph, tabloid shows would be the World Trade Center and MacNeil-Lehrer would be a stack of three pancakes. And I do believe in Neilson ratings...again the denial. It’s like denying the validity of a bathroom scale because you don’t like what it tells you. Speaking of MacNeil-Lehrer...what do you make of the way Channel 24 has bounced back and forth on gay programming? Are they just terrified of their conservative financial backers? In a word.. .yes. I don’t believe the Channel 24 programmers are homophobes or Ander Crenshaws. They are people under intense pressure to raise money and this is a very conservative community. I have a lot of sympathy for them. They face problems the public TV stations in Boston or Minneapolis never face. This is not a congenial place where its easy to raise money, particularly for an institution that may want to do something sympathetic or supportive of the gay and lesbian community. They did the right thing when they broadcast Tongues Untied, but according to the people I talked with out there, they took a terrible financial hit as a result. They were punished by their sponsors for that decision and apparently they retreated. Do you remember the first gay characters you saw on TV? Well I think That Certain Summer... a TV movie-of-the-week with Hal Holbrook.. .was the first gay-themed show I remember. And of course there were always characters that were implicitly gay. You had to wonder about the Bonanza boys, too. I think Little Joe had a few dates but that was it. There are a few regular gay characters on TV now. I think its evolved in a good way. There was Billy Crystal on Soap. His character was not really demeaning, but his homosexuality was also sort of a running joke. Now there are characters like Martin Mull on Rosanne who just happen to be gay. No gay central characters, though. Do you think that will happen? It would be nice if there were a groundbreaking show like Cosby, but who knows where it would lead. I mean 10 years after that groundbreaking show we have blacks in atrocious, pandering shows like Martin and Living Single. How do you like your new job? The best thing about my new job is that it’s not my old job. I’ve been liberated from my TV room. I can get out in the community and see some live action...some real lives instead of video lives. How much TV did you watch? It would vary from week-to-week, depending on the programming. Usually 35 to 40 hours.. .more if there were a mini-series. I think that’s actually not much more than the average person watches TV. I know and that’s sad. Thinking About Real Estate? Call the Realtor who understands your perspective and can address your concerns. DENISE LEHEUP, REALTOR COLDWELL BANKER 170 W. Fairbanks Avenue Winter Park, Florida 32789 407.628.3199 ♦ Business 407.896.5494 ♦ Residence Expect the Best.* Accept no Less! FRiilOM LANDSCAPING & LAWN GROOMING Residential & Commercial Complete Lawn Care Flower Bed Design Hedge Trimming Debris Cleanup Replanting & Resodding FREE QUOTES Orange County Dennis Underwood 426-9877 Seminole County David Driscoll 327-0500 Ask About Our “Family Discount” m m m u agwi Auto Force Inc. A Automotive Repairs 4211 N. Orange Blossom Tr. #A3 (Just South of Lee Rd.) IMPORT and DOMESTIC Engine/Mechanical Repairs * Tune Ups Brakes * Shocks/Struts * Charging Systems Cooling Systems * Starting Systems ... 8:30-6 M-F, 10-5 Sat. OR by appointment! 290-6027 n Certified Mechanic FL Reg. # MV -12428 =: 0 N. Mills T BOO "The bookstore that can't keep a straight face!" (407) 896-0204^ WATERMARK / September 14,1994 17 TRAVEL OPENING NEW WINDOWS: Ovi#irate fnr iTLiv TrAVAli^r It Was A Vacation From Hell! This lias been the opening line from so many people when they return horn their vacation. Why was it so bad? In all likelihood, it’s because their expectations were either unrealistic or unmet. A classic example: two gentlemen decided to Celebrate their ten years together and take a cruise, piey wentto their local ® brochure after brochure of cruises, They never told her they were celebrating their love, for each other and wanted a gay cruise, ;|]^y|p||ii; a trip with the '•^fntvtmd set sail for a week on board a ship that also held groups from die Baptist Alliance-and the cruise director was thrilled to see our anniversary couple, still not knowing that they were a “couple”. Two single meal As for die Baptist group, fhey| "were' not fond of our .Couple’s' rather stylish Speedos. Needless to say, our couple returned home with less than happy memories; a lost opportunity for a great vacation, 3:: This is not.to say you should travel only to “Gay Exclusive” destinations or sail on “Gay Only” cruises. But, you should have a travel agent with whom 1 you can talk openly about your expectatlcp; An; ;kncw|yieablealx?ui International Gay Travel Association (I .G.T.A,) and if they have a specialist in; gay hiid lesbian travel; There - are rest of their client base. Be .sure that you know what you are looking for inyour vacadom lf you are looking for a romantic getaway for lovers, you need to voice that to youragent If you are looking for nightlife and dance clubs* f&ll will have the information you are looking for. If they don’t, Find another agent} The g% and lesbian travel market offerS.cve^® ?§® quiet guest houses. Fi^ri ;rq^fl0: tours. j|ven a first class African travel planning. \ Travel is much like J|unde k4ame*s new window everyday, walk down a new highway,” This article is the first of an ongoing series of reviews and stories of interest .for the lesbian and gay traveler. In share travel information with you. We two ways: “GAYEXCLUSIVE”, meaning that the resort, destination or cruise k gAv owned or operated and will cater to mostly, if ,not totally gay clientele; not offer gay exclusivity, are both safe and welcoming to gay and lesbian travelers. We will rale destinations abb resells on value, safety and gaiety. We will aim give you some firsthand suggestions as to what to do when you get there. Clubs, restaurants, beaches* bars...we will repeat it all. From the Sleaze Ball in New Orleans to the next March on Washington* we will tell you about it • ||. Remember thiat the only way your travel expectations will be met is if you Verbalize them to an agent who rcspccts your travel; Their services are free and their that old wander Lust, Don’t fprgetAuhtie feiamCs and most poof suckers .are quet and travel.with us. Feast on life, love and adventure. Write to us with your travel related questions and we will do our best to answer them. || Send your qnesttonsmS:Tfavel-^ c/o Watermark iSillllll BO. Box 533655 ♦ Orlando, Ilf ISlife Qnfuof 21 Kim Meredith Property Manager Rentals 352-8611 PROFESSIONAL GROUP, INC. 7575 Dr. Phillips Boulevard, SuitedOO Residental Sales 352-0041 Rentals 352-8611 • Residential Sales • Rentals • Property Management • New Home Sales • Commercial • Investment Property • Free Market Analysis QUALITY SERVICE It's not just a motto -It's a guarantee. James Zweifel President/Broker Residential 352-0041 The VaGAYtioners Club Mardi Gras '95 7 Ca7/S* VaGAYti oners Club ^ a Sydney Gay Mardi Gras 7 > Air from Orlando,transfers, accommodations daily breakfast P parly tickets I * aII ffY mK/ £ 1 QQR rm/rlhl nnr 9£<in **»*» &>e p> ^bbei, aracf( h ! 407 SSI S63S Aruba - Costa Rica - San Juan - Mexico - New Orleans - Key West - Orlando RS.VP. Cruises - Cay Rodeos - day Mardi Gras - Mr Leather and so much more PAYROLL DUE? RENT DUE? LOOKING TO EXPAND? DESTINY From Page 13 change lives. Schneider’s direction gave these actors no way to find and develop that depth. Through most of the production, the actors “Acting” was apparent. By using “theatre voices” and affected posturing, the actors added to the gap that the director had already established between the show and the audience. Only rarely was this gap bridged. Bradenton Scott, who played the young Ned , broke through in the second act. His commentary on love and the relationship he destroyed was honest, heart felt, and profoundly moving. His discoveries about his relationship with his brother Ben (Lou Burnstein), were equally as involving, and were helped along by Bowser’s genuine attentiveness and commentary. But as the play moved* on, the “Acting” kicked in again, and the audience was kicked right out. The end result: emotions that were disconnected and not believable. Speaking of believable, what a profound impact this show would have if the main character actually appeared to be hooked up to all those blood pumping machines. Ailing and surrounded by constant death; every moment heightened by the urgency of survival and validation. Then, when Ned breaks free from that hideous machine, splattering infected blood all over the sterile white sheets of society, we’d have a sense of accomplishment. Gay Theatre has a responsibility to set a standard as yet unrealized in Orlando. A responsibility to entertain, to teach, to validate, to elevate, and not to accommodate. Until that happens, we are all hooked up to that hideous, blood pumping machine...waiting. The beat goes on. The Destiny of Me will be performed at 8PM Fridays and Saturdays, and 7PM Sundays, through October 16 at the Acting Studio Company, 952 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando. $12 general, $10 seniors and students. (407) 425-2281. ACCOUNTS PAID LATE? We can be your cash flow solution! WE BUY BUSINESS INVOICES 24 Hour Funding • Low Rates USE ASSETS YOU ALREADY HAVE BARTLETT RESOURCE FUNDING CALL (407) 741-7747 or (407) 89441411 BUSINESS HOURS 9 AM-7 PM MEMBER OF THE NAF.P. & THE MBA WATERMARK / September 14, 1994 18 OUR CULTURE GAY COMEDY JAM FREEDOM TOUR VISITS ORLANDO LoneStar Entertainment has announced that the national “Gay Comedy Jam Freedom Tout” will visit Orlando on Wednesday, September 21. The show will be at The Comedy Zone on International Drive, starting at 8:00 PM. The Gay Comedy Jam is sponsored by The Advocate magazine, and features Scott Kennedy and Kevin Maye. In addition to being two of the hottest nationally touring comedians today, Scott and Kevin are also domestic partners (two stars sharing the same bathroom!). HARVEY FIERSTEIN SITCOM PREMIERS SEPT. 21 Harvey Fierstein will participate in another first this television season, when he becomes the first openly gay actor to play a substantial role as a gay character on a weekly series. CBS' Daddy's Girls will feature Fierstien as the very creative, very nervous, very neurotic Dennis Sinclair, a clothing designer working for series star Dudley Moore. Scott and Kevin have performed at comedy clubs world-wide as well as major Las Vegas Showrooms. They have worked with entertainers such as Garth Brooks, The Temptations, David Sanborn, Judy Tenuta, and Richard Jeni. Their two man show is an exclusive event for the gay community, and has gained national attention in the mainstream press. Conceived to celebrate Gay Pride and the 20th anniversary of Stonewall, the show has been produced in over 20 cities. Scott and Kevin will also perform in Tampa on September 12 at the Comedy Works, Jacksonville on September 19 at The Punchline, Ft. Lauderdale on September 20 at Uncle Funny’s, and W. Palm Beach on September 27 at The Comedy Corner. For more information regarding the Orlando show, call (407) 351 -3500. In fact, CBS says nothing about Fierstien’s character’s homosexuality in its publicity material, preferring to describe Dennis euphemistically as “highly strung”. Fierstien, however, states “Dennis is openly gay. They’re still sort of deciding whether he has a long-term relationship or whether he’ll be a slut.” Two openly gay actors appear regularly on weekly television series: Amanda Bearse of Fox’s Married.. .WithChildren (see is- sue 1.01), and Dan Butler, who plays Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe on NBC’s popular Frasier. In the past, gay characters on television have been played by straight actors, such as Soaps’ Billy Crystal. ADVICE-O- Dear Advice-O-Rama, I am a 25 year old gay guy, healthy, with an average-plus sex drive. My problem is that when I meet someone I might be interested in for a serious relationship, I get cold feet in the bedroom. On the other, hand, strictly sexual encounters are great. How do I learn to get wild on a “serious” date? Dear Waiting, Waiting My gut reaction is “fear of intimacy”. My next thought is to remember to practice safe sex with any sex partner. However, I understand your confusion. I wonder whether you have been deeply hurt in the past by someone you trusted. Clearly you receive sexual/geni-tal pleasure from anonymous sex. Without being judgmental, I also wonder if you are scared of getting too close to someone. You may want to explore this issue with a close friend or therapist. Personally and professionally, I believe it is best to form friendship first and relish physical intimacy later. Songwriter Michael Johnson says, “Love will get you through time of no sex better than sex will get you through times of love.” If he’s your friend, you can talk with him about your sexual concerns. Watermark ‘s Advice-O-Rama counselor is Keith Baber, M.Ed.. Keith has a degree in Counseling-Psychology, and is in private practice in Altamonte Springs. He can be reached at (407) 834-3279. T Congratulations to Blair and Steve for opening of the first bed & breakfast in the City of Orlando. Their grand opening party on Sep. 10 was memorable, as is The Veranda itself. All paddle fans, porches and rocking chairs, The Veranda suggests the Deep South. Grab your mint julep and check it out, or better yet, book a one-night vacation. It’s a beautiful place, and an important new addition to the rapidly changing.Thomton Park neighborhood. ▼ The Civic Theatre of Central Florida opens its 1994-95 Mainstage season with the song and dance sensation, Me and My Girl, Sep. 15 thru Oct. 9. A recent hit on Broadway, Me and My Girl is a charming musical that mixes razzle-dazzle showmanship with a delightfully romantic story. Me and My Girl will run Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 PM, and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $16 and $ 18. For tickets call the Civic Theatre Box Office at (407) 896-7365. T The Aids Resource Alliance (ARA) presents an Open House and Evening of Art on Friday, Septemer 16 at 6 PM at their headquarters on Colonial Dr. near Orange Blossom Tr. Artists Pete Clarke, Ondra Gary, Marian Simmons and Linda Lenhardt will donate a portion of any art sales made during the evening to ARA. For more informaion, call (407) 425-2233. T The Rainbow Democratic Club presents La Cage. RDC has bought out the theater on Friday, Sep. 23 for a “Family Night Out”. Tickets are $45.00 and include dinner, show, tax and gratuity. Proceeds will benefit RDC. Call (407) 649-7875 for more details. ▼ LCN (Loving Committed Network) and the Unitarian Church present Lesbian Movie Comedy Night, Saturday, Sep. 24 at 7 PM at the Unitarian Church on the comer of Robinson and Hampton in downtown Orlando. This month features several different short videos by lesbian comedians Suzanne Westenhoefer, Karen Williams and more. Tickets are $3.00 to $5.00. Call (407) 831-2971 for more information. T The 5th Annual International Pride Film Festival in Tampa begins on Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 9. The festival will be held at the historic Tampa Theatre, as well as other venues. This year’s festival will feature over 25 film events, including: Director Arthur Dong introducing his award winning documentary about gays in the military, Coming Out Under Fire; the Florida premier of Zero Patience, an outrageously camp AIDS musical named best feature film at the 1993 San Francisco Festival; the Florida premier of Totally Fucked Up, Greg Araki’s (The Living End) latest Gen X noir drama; the much anticipated Salmonberries, starring k.d. lang in her feature film debut. The festival opens with the Sandra Bernhard bio, Confession of a Pretty Lady. On Oct. 8 and 9, a Gala Celebration is scheduled, including a street festival and musical and theatrical performances (including Orlando’s Improvabilities). More than 5,000 attended last year’s festival. Speaking of Tampa, Emily Mann’s Execution of Justice, a play about the murder trial of Harvey Milk’s killer, Dan White, is playing at the Tmpa Theater from Sep. 30 thru Oct. 9. ▼ The Orlando Gay Chorus begins their fall season with a concert and party at the Maitland Art Center on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6 PM. A new venue for the chorus, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment are promised. Tickets are $15.00. Call (407) 645-5866 for more information. T The Aids Resource Alliance (ARA) will hold their 2nd annual Echoes On The Green Golf Tournament on Oct. 10 at Metro West Country Club. Monies raised will go to support the needs of those suffering from AIDS. Those interested in participating, or in becoming an event sponsor, should call (407) 425-2233. ▼ Lewis Routh’s outrageous Whores of a Different Color returns to Orlando after a five year hiatus. The off-beat comedy played to packed houses at the Parliament House last time around, and in fact, the play is set on the Parliament House stage, as six gay actors rehearse a play based on a Greek myth about male/male love. According to Routh, the play is a “fun-filled romp that still packs a punch with its message.” Tickets are on sale now and limited to 100 seats per performance. Opening night, Thursday Oct. 13, will be a benefit for Gay & Lesbian Community Services. For information, call (407) 521-8134. TTTT * A * v jr»; ffirtE M&STLY VJNFAbULPUS SociAL ^.iFE Ef ETHAN GREEN... ©Y LUt WASim, AN& PESPiTE Mom’S bEST Efforts AT Focusing Yo UR INTERESTS ELSEWHERE, (PubERTY’S ©NSEtW LEFTVoU EthamHoNiv,vjHti^EX. ©bSESSEAu II 11 Jkl NlXLSCHWiHH foUP JHWCK W- s\pgVjrw5wnK’> -BRoVWiMG GRoUWPeEEF ___M You BEEN A STRa'iGHT Kli<£, Rje/JUpS You MIGHT’VE 6NdoYEdl THESE NEW HUNGERS As much as your BEST frier* burton Cohen kIWAHNAAo mmxr. vo 1 To DEANHA \GuT,HI^A£ ■ YAHBAbY/ TfSSStt'*" OH II jnsteap, Furtive fearful;Touspent MUCH OF THAT YEAR L°CKE*. IN THE UpSTAiRS CE«ilAR CLoSET, ARoUsiNeYoURSEiF V/iTH YEARBooK Pictures of the High school WrestungTeam. lEANWHiLE, OnE MIPNiGHToW (PoLK STREET, Your A&ffyfy'OUea SiSTeRS WERE GETTING REA&YTo Go GLUBBW&, BuT You Pipn’T KNoW THAto't Them, at the Time.. . ____Iack at Your Aouse , BuRToN was Sleeping OVER. XftE Two OF You WERE USING FLASHLIGHTS To Fl’GURE OUT WHO HAP BIGGER BlcERS AN<$t MORE BoAY HAitt WATERMARK / September 14,1994 19 OUR CULTURE shthat homosexuals were born with a little horn in the middle of their forehead |||;;vve .«:e^pi;'l|lie, ypf 'ffeve stand up and fights : FWWffFlffiSTQN 15 MBA BRD. Out* 16 THE About Books. 7 PM. IMPROVABILITIES. g 420-4182. “Florida’s Freshest Fruit”. Performing at RAINBOW the Eola Theatre. CONNECTION. 10:30 PM. Group for teens and 521-7499. young adults from 18- 1 25. GLCS at 7:30 PM. ARA’S EVENING 425-7450. OF ART. See Local Color. | LUCKY LADIES ■ s BOWLING. Fairlanes I Indian Hills. 6:30 PM. 298-8849. 1 THU FRI ( ' ; : m 17 18 OUT LOUD RADIO. See Sept. 24. THE DESTINY OF ME. Continues at The § Acting Studio. 7 PM. I MR. FLA. SPACE 425-2281. COAST LEATHER. 1 The Barracks in LAKE IVANHOE. Daytona Beach. (407) Look for lesbian | 259-2974. jetskiers & gay volleyballers on the ORLANDO FRONTRUNNERS. 9 AM. See Sept. 21. east side of the lake. GLBL. Bowling. 831-7171. ! SAT SUN f Three of Watermark’s Student Contributors: Tera Kenney, Mike Williams, and Katie Messmer. 22 ~ 23 | 24 | 25 1 26 27 28 LUCKY LADIES RAINBOW DEMS OUT LOUD. THE DESTINY OF GAYSKATE. BOWLING. OBBA - i FAMILY VALUES. BOWLING. See Sept. AT LA CAGE. See Lesbigay talk radio w/ ME. Continues at The Semoran Skateway in Orlando’s largest gay See Sept. 21. 15. Local Color. Judy Shaw. 1300 AM Acting Studio. 7 PM. Fern Park. 9:15 PM. & lesbian bowling % in Cocoa; 1600 AM in 425-2281. 425-4527. league. 9 PM. 644- ORLANDO RAINBOW CON- Orlando 4-7 PM. 290- 2244. FRONTRUNNERS. i NECTION. See Sept. 1600. DELTA YOUTH 7:30 PM. See Sept. 19. | 15. ALLIANCE. See 1 ORLANDO Sept. 19. 1 FRONTRUNNERS. 9 AM. See Sept. 21. ORLANDO P ■ FRONTRUNNERS. M LESBIAN MOVIE See Sept. 21. COMEDY NIGHT. ft See Local Color. 1 THU FRI 1 ,n—■ ,n ■" ’"•J SAT ■iiiNHIWHi SUN 1 f MON TUE i 1 s i m 1 ° 1 VALUES LesBiGay Radio Wednesdays • 8 - 9 PM * Call-in 646.2398 WPRK91.5 FM PO Box 561504 V Orlando V Florida V 32856-1504 V 407.298.1666 V tommy@eworld.com WATERMARK / September 14,1994 20 ARTFUL UVmG IS “ts^bs ts-vss^^L-Si^; informed that Olga “lifted and Helga inserted. I echo created by the da*nty p 1 ar,rlJh off my toenails. I needed d“^t?" ; 800-BEND0VEW. ^ «ancl'.C? naming Hostess of thentL°t "the Slamour Boys" (I kel^ ^^4 Thomas Glamour Of my rope! (which, by^ the wy. ^ Bake.shi{t revolver. I „e pushed our W out^oi handsome tsTa| *0 screamed ^^t^are^you ^UsHh ^^le'eigM "dancj ’ "-4*1 is ”y n::rr »«>- — middle name, so let s not be shy f]t f) Love to all. press is oen-ci. v.. ^bandit* 1 bnow who you are because those bills were marked! P.S 'confidential to the dressing room bandrt. (So get a manicure A.S.A.r.j. _ STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS ▼ According to an Agriculture Department study, 8.5 percent of male sheep are gay. We’re not kidding. ▼ When he dines out, our bold and outrageous friend Eric always asks to be seated at a table with a gay waiter. He says everyone relaxes and its always fun to watch the forewarned waiter make his initial, usually tentative approach to the table. Eric tells us that he’s never been to a restaurant where his request couldn’t be granted. ▼ We count three gay characters in Disney’s summer mega-hit, The Lion King. Jeremy Irons’villianous Scar, Simba’s bearish buddy Pumbaa the wart hog, and of course Timon, the meerkat who does drag and is voiced by the wonderful, adorable Nathan Lane. ▼ We’re big David Letterman fans, and it concerns us that although his show is top-rated nationwide, in Central Florida it consistently ranks behind sober Nightline and the tired Tonight Show with Jay Leno. No matter. Letterman always makes us want to create our own Top Ten lists. Top Ten Lesbian Names: Kim, Rocky, Pam, Debbie, Jo, Pat, Mickie, Spike, Lynn and B.J./D.J./C.J....anything J. ▼ Ex-Mission Impossible hunk Peter Lupus is reportedly hawking sprayable vitamins. We’re not kidding. During the ’70s, he and a bunch of B-type actors posed nude for Playgirl. Hey...when Burt Reynolds did it for Cosmopolitan it made him a household name. Fabian, George Maharis, Jim Brown, Chris George, Lyle Waggoner, never achieved the same notoriety. Do B-type actors still pose for Play? Are there any B-type actors we’d like to see pose for Playgirl? How ‘bout that guy who plays the next-door neighbor’s husband on Grace Under Fire? Did B-type actresses ever pose for Playboy or Penthouse? Obviously B-type celebrities do, as evidenced by Tonya Harding’s recent “spread” in Penthouse. ▼ While we’re on the topic of television, was there ever a TV show with better looking actors than The Big Valley? Linda Evans was a stunner. Heath, Nick, Jarrod, all hunks. Barbara Stanwyck was handsome as well. Could it be true that she was the lesbian shrew from hell as alleged in her most recent bio? T Elections don’t have to be a complete drag. At Wigstock, New York’s annual Labor Day festival of drag, one candidate for state attorney general handed out nail files with his name and the date of the primary stamped on them. TRANSITS & LUNATIONS ASTROLOGY BY MARK LAWHON ARIES (March 21-April 19): With Mars in transit through your house of the home, it may be time to move.. .or at least redecorate. But be careful with those power tools, dear; use both hands, because you’re accident-prone. If you’ve been depressed lately, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s called Saturn in retrograde. You’ll love feeiing homy again. It gives life such a sense of... purpose! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Mercury has packed and moved into your seventh house, bringing energy for travel and significant others. Perfect timing because everyone’s bored with your old stories. Go somewhere foreign; someplace with some history. Look marvelous while you solve a friend’s love problems over capuccino at a waterfront cafe. Then go create some problems for yourself. And by all means get political. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Earth continues to rotate while your head is in the clouds. It’s working. Don’t fight it. Others will attend to the mundane while you play. Just play healthy, and try to avoid anything clandestine. All earning potential thrusters are operational.. .a good time for gambling? But don’t spend it ‘til you’ve got it, dear. Jupiter sends you a kiss and says to watch your health for a while. CANCER (June 21-JuIy 22): Venus is with you, so be sure to create opportunities for quiet, meaningful romance near the hearth.. .just what you live for. If you’re in a relationship, this could be a time of great bonding and sexual excitement. Even pregnancy may be achievable! As Mars conjuncts the Sun, fight your tendency to overextend. And by all means, reschedule visits by family and friends. Make love, not war! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If there’s a sandbox available, take it. You have real access to childhood memories and it wouldn’t hurt to wallow in them for a while. Your Karma will thank you. Watch yourself before entering into any “deals”; somebody may have a hidden agenda. As always, lions, temper your appetite for food, and for life in general. I know it tastes good. I know if feels good. But moderation is a virtue (even for you). VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept 22): It’s time to stop obsessing about finances and your future.. .right NOW. You hate taking advice, but consult a friend and listen, no matter how far-fetched. It feels like you’ve been missing out on things. You have. Choose a course of action and hit cruise-control at about 80 mph. When you arrive at your new destination, some familiar problems (like that relationship thing) will be there waiting for you. But the scenery will be better. LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct 23): Venus visits. Mercury mixes. Jupiter jumps. All in your (not so) humble house this month! It won’t last long, but in this madcap world, one good month is one good month. Besides, your stagnant routines have become depressing. Now’s the time to get centered so you can move. Meditate if necessary, but by all means rediscover the beauty of surprise. Just act surprised when that unexpected money turns up. SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov. 21): Are you paranoid if you think people are saying good things about you behind your back? They must detect your animal magnetism, which has always worked for you like a splash of Paco Rabanne.. .everyone senses it (cough) but you. Children, however, are oblivious, and that’s a pain in the ass. If things seem a bit foggy, lose the cologne and look to your distant past. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Are you a little, shall we say, overextended? Are you losing track of meetings and agendas? Are you even contributing? Reevaluate. Prioritize. Quit. Instead, pull out your London Fog and take up cigarettes. You are ripe for a very steamy, very atypical ...affair. Avoid that judgmental mother for a while, and by all means avoid legal surprises. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): That tug of war in your relationship isn’t over yet. Bummer. Friends and group activities will see you through while you decide whether to dig in your heels or let go of the rope. You may feel a bit like a Christmas glass ball that’s just been shaken furiously. Focus inward until your personal snow flakes have settled enough for you to see out. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aperiod of revelations. That plug that’s been blocking your career will dislodge...finally. And you’ll get to know that person you’ve been getting to know. Cut your losses. Anything that’s not readily apparent should be investigated. Ladies, pay close attention to whatever your body may be trying to tell you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stock hankies and prozac. The full moon on the 19th means emotional release. Johnstown flood. Let it happen. The planets are aligned to protect you like a five-day deoderant. But decide now that you will not decide anything until the new moon on Oct 14th. Instead, gather data like a whale gathering plankton. Perhaps that relationship would work better as a friendship. Mark Lawhon is certified by the American Federation of Astrologers, and is available for consultations by calling 407-894-1506. WATERMARK / September 14,1994 21 ACCOUNTANT •Monthly Accounting •Financial Statements •Tax Service (Individual, Corporate, Partnership, Estate) Barber & Latto Certified Public Accountants 639 Ramona Lane (West Colonial & Ramona) Orlando, FL 32805 (407) 843-9582 ACCOUNTANT FRACASSI & ASSOCIATES Certified Public Accountant 218 South Bumby Ave. □ Orlando, FL 32803 Fax 407/896-6824 □ Phone 407/896-6858 Personalized Professional Service Business & Individual Income Taxes Accounting & Payroll for Small Business Free Initial Consultation ATTORNEY Margaret E. Lederer, P.A. Attorney At Law • Registered Nurse Personal Injury 227 N. Magnolia Ave. • Suite 200 • Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 246-0044 • Fax: (407) 426-7227 BOOKSTORE CLEANING CARPET BUSTERS TRUST YOUR CARPETS & UPHOLSTERY TO A CERTIFIED, TRAINED WOMAN! 740-6233 672-6485 BOOKSTORE J OF DAYTONA BEACH Metaphysical Books & Things MON-FR110 AM-6 PM SAT 11 AM-5 PM 1501 Ridgewood Avenue (In The Coastal Centre) Holly Hill, FL 32117 Beth Faulds, Owner 904/672-4451 CARD SHOP I 1 1 lAl IE 1 1 A U 1 1 I i 10 0 1 0 i G i Ifll 1 I A skinny little card shop 2409 EDGEWATER DR. 849-1486 CATERING f SIMPLY ELEGANT Jtlf MICHAEL PELKOWSKI Full Service Catering and Party Planning (407) 578-1157 JEFFREY GAUL CLEANING SINCE 1985 MAID SERVICE HOMES • OFFICES NO TEAMS • ONE PERSON PERSONAL SERVICE 297-0047 MARKETPLACE DIET Ki Available only at Center The weight-loss professionals.* •Serving Orlando since 1980 •Computerized & personalized •Nutritionally sound composition (lean or fat) •You eat real food and select a sensible exercise routine •No shots or drugs •Effective, affordable weight management services Mention This Ad and Receive 10% Off Reducing 872-0054 322 E. MICHIGAN ST. DISPLAY/MERCHANDISING VISUALS DISPLAY & MERCHANDISING NEW & USED • Showcases Racks • Displays • Store Fixtures -featuring - A complete mannequin restoration & make-over service Winter Park Mall • 500 N. Orlando Ave. Suite 1464 • Winter Park, FL 32789 • (407) 645-3357 • FLORIST JiaCC's ^[owersj FULL SERVICE FLORIST Ph: (407)649-8005 (800) 299-4852 Fax: (407) 649-4355 817 E. Washington Orlando, FL 32801 ISSUE... SUBSCRIBE TO WATER- MARK FUNERAL THE SIMPLICITY PLAN ™ MARILYN K. BRINSON Pre-Arrangement Counselor 407-671-3919 • 349-5644 Baldwin-Fairchild Cemeteries and Funeral Homes 2400 Harrell Rd • Orlando, FL 32817 HEALTH FOODSAITAMINS THE HEALTH NUT, INC. Great Selection Herbal Teas Vitamins Full Homeopathic Lines LAURENCE C. STILL • JAMIE P. STILL Owners 6570 Old Winter Garden Rd. Orlando, FL 32835 (407) 297-6655 Fax (407) 297-7565 HOME IMPROVEMENT CUSTOM DRAPERIES & WINDOW TREATMENTS Swags • Sheers • Valances • Duettes • Blinds Verticals • Wallpaper • Bedding • Upholstery We Come To You! Serving Orlando's Homes & Offices Since 1979 WINDOWS & WALLS 298-2626 6100 W. Colonial Dr. - Orlando INSURANCE/INVESTMENTS tMAivre you#* fiifovre. Hugh Roweii? Ill THE EQUITABLE Phone: 407-246-6500 £ MASSAGE Massage Therapy Reduces Stress • Relaxes Muscles Kirk Johnston L.M.T. MA0012605 Voice Pager 872-2075 NOTARY Become a Florida Notary tij] 24 Hr. Service AM Mobile He Member of the American Society of Notaries ROSEMARIE LINDAUER Roger (407) 941-0252 Phone (407) 298-1277 Fox (407) 298-1093 Wills. Living Wills Affidavits, and Revocable Living Trust PHYSICIAN Caring For Women, P.A. Obstetrics • Gynecology • Infertility Brenda M. Barry, M.D. 521 W. SR 434 • Suite 201 • Longwood, FL 32750 706 W. Lake Mary Blvd • Suite 105 • Lake Mary, FL 32746 (407)260-9244 PRINTING in-fiouse printery 407-896-4600 FAX 407-896-0060 TTTTTTTTTTT COMING SOON: mmm TELEPERSONALS REALTOR VICTOR BROWN & JOEL SCHECHTER 671-0492 The Prudential Florida Realty REALTOR unique homes m & investments, inc. yS- margaret a davis broker hablo espanot 805 e. Washington street orlando, florida 32801 O: 407-425-9982 h: 407-629-5870 fax: 407-425-0121 here to serve our community WATERMARK / September 14,1994 22 SPORTS Some of the Ballbusters celebrate the end of another practice. Front: Lisa, Doug, Becky Vickie, Donna. BALLBUSTERS PREPARE FOR TOURNEY They’ve practiced. They’ve oiled their gloves. They’ve booked their hotel rooms. They’ve raised close to $1000 to cover costs. The Ballbusters, one of Orlando’s premier women’s softball teams, are ready for the ASA’s Women’s Class-C Nationals in St. Augustine. Psyched as a matter of fact. Eighty women’s softball teams will compete for national bragging rights at the tournament, held from Thursday, Sept. 22 thru Sunday, Sept. 25. According to Coach Doug Atkins, who has coached the team for six years, the “Busters” have “a lot of great players. We also have a lot of fun. We’re a close team.” The Ballbusters, who are sponsored by Contemporary Awnings, earned the right to participate in the tournament by finishing fourth in the city’s Metro Tournaments. Some of the core “Busters” can’t participate in the four-day tournament, so Coach Atkins and his team have hand-picked talented ball-players from competing teams. Atkins states, “I don’t claim to be a great coach, but I’m smart enough to surround myself with great players.” The Ballbusters is comprised mostly of “professional women who love to play soft-ball.” At least half are lesbian, Atkins notes. “Many have kids, so they bring their kids, I bring my kids...its just a real family atmosphere with this team.” “In fact,” he adds, “softball is a great equalizer. All we care about is that our players have the right skills and the right attitude.” Based on their performance at a recent Sunday morning practice, the Ballbusters have that right attitude. After two hours in the hot sun, players were chasing down line drives and throwing the softball with a real sense of purpose. Teammates could be heard encouraging each other and applauding extra effort. “We’re going to win,” says Coach Atkins. ORLANDO SEEKS NATL BOWLING EVENT A dedicated and ambitious group and lesbian bowlers is trying to bring the massive 1995 IGBO (International Gay Bowling Organization) Mid-year Bowling Tournament to Orlando. The tournament will be held November 10, 11 and 12. The IGBO tournament is expected to draw up to 600 gay and lesbian bowlers to the area, who will compete for $15,000 in prize money. Tournament Director Robert Young, Co-Directors James Cardinal, Merri Wedemeyer, Keith McDaniel, Treasurer James Hunt and Secretary Ron Carpenter will make their presentation to IGBO officials on October 27 in Tucson, Arizona. They propose a “Fantasy ’95" theme, and will highlight Orlando’s weather, many attractions and accomodations. If Orlando is STANDINGS & SCORES CHANGE BLOSSOM BOWLING ASSOCIATION mSmm im WON m \ i 5 ! ■il ■■ill gMlilMl iilllllll 2 i 3 2 Balls Short 5 i mm i 4 GoodNWsitf si 2 1 $ fens #2? ■l* MV 4 fens#? si 2 7 lady/Tramps 5 ■ 2 8 Team #25 5 2 9 Team #i8 5 2 19 4 3 it '. Team 14 4 1*1 12 Barbary Uners 1 MU Mi ft 4 ! 3 14 Girl You’re Up 1 4 3 15 M Team #22 4 3 ■■1 Terns #24 Bill 2 n Team #19 3 2 18 Team #3 3 2 ft Team #12 3 ' ill® 2& S ■Hill ! 2 21 Team #21 3 2 n mn 2 2 23 Team #28 2 1111 24 Team #15 min 2 25 Team #14 2 2 24 Team #8 ! 2 2 i n mtm 2 2 28 Team #26 2 % ft m I Tuesday Knights 2 2 mm 1 troop 2 mi awarded the tournament, the Orlando Marriott will function as the host hotel and banquet facility. Bowling centers will include Fairlanes Skybowl and Winter Park BowlAmerica. The IGBO Mid-year tournament would bring an estimated half million dollars in revenues to the host city. r WHEN YOU'RE READY TO BUY OR SELL A HOME! •FREE Market Analysis •Full Time Professional •Image ol The Prudential •Knowledge ot All Areas •Dedicated to Work Hard for You! MARK“MARKO”DOLE REALTOR ® 399-DOLE cellular ThePrudential Gallagher Properties 5425 S. Semoran Blvd . Suite 7 D Orlando. FL 32822 Bus (407) 380-3800 Fax (407)380-3408 L HEADLINE: SUBSCRIPTION AND CLASSIFIED AD ORDER FORM CHECK ONE: □ Roommates □ Services □ Travel □ Volunteers □ Announcements □ Employment - Seeking □ Employment - Offered □ Merchandise □ Real Estate - For Rent □ Real Estate - For Sale □ Miscellaneous SEND TO: Watermark P.O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655 FAX 407.481.2246 TEXT (Up to 30 words) W cq 2 u (A ac (A □ Please enter my one-year (25 issues) subscription. Enclosed is my check for $35, payable to: WATERMARK NAME:______________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS:____________________________________ PHONE (Optional): 1 J CLASSIFIEDS FRIENDSHIP Attractive Italian GWM, 5’8”, 159 lbs. romantic, healthy, masculine, sincere, honest, straight forward with varied interests, seeking similar inshape GWM 29-49 for friendship/ relationship, Tom (407) 647-7759. MISCELLANEOUS Healthy, loving, stable, long-term professional gay couple seek lesbian to function as surrogate mother. Flex-ible regarding nature of future involvement with child. SERIOUS RESPONSES ONLY. Will pay all medical and associated expenses. Reply c/o W. Thomas Dyer, Attorney at Law, 701 E. Washington St., Suite 2oo, Orlando, FL 32801. (407) 648-1153. Gorgeous AKC Registered DALMATION puppies. Available Oct. 6. Parents on premises. (6) males $300, (4) females $325 and up. Call Rick at 682-6096. All come with certificate of health. ROOMMATES NO TAN LINE. Beautiful 3/2 pool home. SE location. Will share with neat, employed, liberal M/F. $425/mo includes all but phone. Call (407) 282-3024. HOME TO SHARE. 3/2 w full house privileges. Quiet neighborhood. Washer/dryer. Cable. Avail, immediately. Prefer female. $330/mo includes utilities. Deposit. Call (407) 293-2961. SERVICES YOUR IMAGE. Needs a professional look - to get the job you want or to complete that college project. Put 14 years of experience behind your resume, documents, and word processing. Great prices and quick quality results. Call Patti at (407) 898-4237. LOVING LAWN CARE. Help to support a new family business. Blue Skye Lawn Service is a licensed, professional business that specializes in all aspects of lawn maintenance. Call (407)629-0302. MR. DOMEZTIC. Home and pool cleaning set to your individual parameters. Fast, convenient service. Call GAYLINE ONLINE. GayLink (BBS) has gone computerized. Our national network went online August 1st. For a free software package and a 30-day Free Membership, contact the Genesis Foundation. Call (407) 857-5444. Fax (407) 438-3695. MEET SOMEONE TODAY! Find that special guy or girl with the “Telephone Matchmaker.” Always a free call and anonymous. Call in Orlando at 648-9047. (Gay owned and operated). NEON/INTERIOR NEON. Mood lighting; Neon Sculptures, customized to your needs. LET ME LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHTS! BERND’S NEON - licensed & reputable. Telephone & Fax (407) 644-0553. References available. IN YOUR HOME one on one fitness experience designed to fit your personal needs, including weight loss, body, shaping, cardiovascular aerobics conditioning. Flexible hours & payment plans available. Call 932-4319. WANTED Watermark peeks correspondents and distribution persons for Volusia, Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Lake counties. Please send resume and writing samples to Watermark, P.O. Box 533655, Orlando, FL 32853-3655. WATERMARK / September 14,1994 23 r In Memoriam Of Our Founder, Cecil Ray deLoach (1952-1991) fyachOut L ^ Ind The Medical Escrow Society Jielp foul MP Our Advance Cash Benefits program allows someone facing a life threatening illness, with up to a five year life expectancy, to obtain immediate cash from their life insurance coverage in order to improve their quality of life and fulfill wishes and desires. The Medical Escrow Society is the oldest and largest advocate for the insured. We represent you to several benefactor groups, in order to obtain the highest cash offer for your life insurance coverage. We will assist you regardless of whether your policy is an individual or group, large or small. Our service is quick, strictly confidential, and requires only one simple application. There is no cost and no obligation. Call now for more information! A personal representative is available 24 hours a day to assist and help you. ' The Medical Escrow Society... Jiere Today, Tor your Tomorrow! 1-800-422-1314 Founding Member, National Viatical Association A DR till id I— * v\vba*- I1M— MONA, MCMULLEN & liwwfwll HflM* BJIIII Ifcl It WWlFfc# I'AUMNA MTOB# 1 nm 1*81*11 IflfIMJljH ! 111 ' It’s time to take a closer look. Toyota Camry SE $22,913 Nissan Maxima SE $24,614 Pontiac Bonneville SSE $26,459 UST PRICE (per Volvo Store) VOLVO 940 s22,660 • Dual air-bags • Volvo's patented side-impact protection • ABS CFC-free air conditioning • 6 speaker sound system w/ anti-theft • And, of course,power everything THE STORE 1051W. Webster Ave. (next to the Winter Park Mall) - 628-0550 LIST PRICES (per Kelley Bluebook) Buick Park Avenue $27,624 W'W SUNDAYS sizz:le at BOXCARS with RETRO T DANCE 70's & 80's Classic Dance Starting September 18th Doors open at 4PM No cover til 6PM Featuring 25C draft, $1.50 wells and $1.75 domestic beer 6-9 PM Resident DJ Brent Simpson welcomes Retro DJ Chris Rehbein BOXCARS 140 Fnnwnd Bln) ■ Fen Falk. FL 32730 • (487) 831-7559 (Located across from the Orlando lai-Lai • Formerly “Central Station”) Plenty of free parking A. Bach ACLU Alan Ellis Alfred J. Kinsey Alison Bechdel Altamonte Springs Amanda Bearse American Civil Liberties Union Anthony S. Fauci Apopka Arthur Dong Atkins Barbara Stanwyck Bette Davis Billy Crystal bisexual Blechman Bob Brooks Bob Wattles Brandon Ethridge Breuer Brian Mcnaught Briscoe Bruce Nants Burt Reynolds C. Slapke Carrboro Cdc Charles Mahan Christopher Hynes Claudettte Colbert Clinton Dan Butler Dan Mathews Dan Spoone Dan White Danielle Steele David Driscoll David Letterman David Sanborn David W. Shea Dawson Daytona Beach Deborah Bleckman Dennis Sinclair Dennis Underwood Diaz Don Reid Doug Atkins Doug Ferguson Dudley Moore Edward Murphy Edwards Eric Orner Erin Somers Ethridge Ettore Scola Fern Park Fierstein Firestone Fosca Fowler Fran Pignone Fred Hutchinson Full Moon Saloon Garth Brooks Gary Webb gay George Maharis George Winslow, Jr. Gloria Goes Greg Dawson Hal Holbrook Harmony Brenner Harrell Harvey Milk homosexuality homosexuals Hugh Roweii Hynes Igino Ugo Tarchetti Jack Godley Jacksonville James A. Crescitelli James Cardinal James Hunt Jamie P. Still Jay Leno Jesse Helms Jim Brown Jim Towey Jimmy Stewart Joan Crawford John Edwards John K. Tanner Johnson Johnston Judith Pippin Judy Shaw Judy Tenuta Justin Elzie K. D. Lang Karen Gievers Karen Williams Katie Messmer Keith Baber Keith Meinhold Keith Peterson Ken Kundis Kenney Kevin Maye Key West Lake Ivanhoe Lawhon lesbians Leslea Newman letterman Lew Finch Lewis LGBT LGBTQ+ Linda Chapin Linda Evans Linda Gonzalez Linda Lenhardt Linda Stewart Mardi Gras Margo Channing Marian Simmons Martin Martin Mull Mary Tyler Moore McDaniel Meinhold Merri Wedemeyer Michael Johnson Michael L. Kilgore Michael Pelkowski Mike Williams Moira Lasch Murphy Nan Schultz National Institutes Of Health Newman Norma Shearer orange county orlando Paco Rabanne Parliament House Patty Villane Paul Gemignani Pete Clarke Peter Lupus Peter Warren Kenny Phillips Pignone queers questioning Rainbow Democratic Club Ramona Lane Richard Jeni Robert Holland Robert Young Robinson Ron Carpenter Rosaline Sloan Rosanne Sloan Rosie Daley Rrafael Gasti Rupert Murdoch Russell same-sex Sandra Bernhard Scott Kennedy Shauna Underwood Smith Southern Nights Stanford Stanley Sporkin Stewart Susan Pickman Suzanne Westenhoefer Tampa Taylor Teresa Diaz The Boston Herald The Orlando Sentinel The Semoran Skateway The Watermark Thomas Glamour Tom Dorman Tom Dyer Tom Johnston Tonya Harding trans transgender Truman Capote W. Thomas Wayne Wayne Smiled William Kennedy Smith Winter Park Yvonne Vassell https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/files/original/4c07c1756d01a71ae00c396e4439a813.pdf 9e5993333a282c616be0520443c4fdb4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title Watermark Collection Alternative Title The Watermark Collection Subject Gay culture--United States Description Since 1994, <em>The Watermark</em> has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) 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, <em>The Watermark</em> has consistently published newspaper style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, <em>The Watermark</em> 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 <em>The Watermark</em>. Is Part Of <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/" target="_blank">RICHES Program</a> Type Collection Contributing Project <a href="http://www.floridalgbtqmuseum.org/%20" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/">The Watermark</a> Curator Smith, Robert Cepero, Laura O'Neal, Rhiannon Hearn, Nikki Greene, Quintella Rodriguez, Sharon Digital Collection <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a> Source Repository <a href="http://www.floridalgbtqmuseum.org/%20" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> External Reference "<a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/" target="_blank">About/Contact</a>." WatermarkOnline.com, accessed July 11, 2016. http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/. Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title The Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 3, September 28, 1994 Alternative Title Watermark, Vol. 1, No. 3 Subject Gay culture--United States Description The third issue of <em>The Watermark</em> was published on September 28, 1994 and continued to focus on family-orientated LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) issues. The front page was dedicated to two articles, one about the rapidly increasing gay marriage movement, and the other focusing on National Coming Out Day. The third page included a half page obituary for Charles W. Hummer III, who died of AIDS of September 19, 2016. The paper continued to publish more national stories this time including, New York’s push to include "significant others" on insurance benefits, the limitations put on lesbian mothers in Utah, and a dental discrimination case in Texas. The paper also continues to discuss discrimination in schools that had started in the previous issue.<br /><br />Since 1994, <em>The Watermark</em> 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, <em>The Watermark</em> has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, <em>The Watermark</em> 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 <em>The Watermark</em>. Type Text Source Original 24-page newspaper: <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Watermark</em></a>, Vol. 1, No. 3, September 28, 1994: Publications Collection, <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a>, Orlando, Florida. Requires <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html" target="_blank">Adobe Acrobat Reader</a> Is Part Of <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/collections/show/203" target="_blank">The Watermark Collection</a>, RICHES of Central Florida. Is Format Of Digital reproduction of original 24-page newspaper: <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Watermark</em></a>, Vol. 1, No. 3, September 28, 1994. Coverage Orlando, Florida Salt Lake City, Utah Atlanta, Georgia Albany, New York Minneapolis, Minnesota Houston, Texas Miami, Florida Hilton Walt Disney World Village, Orlando, Florida Creator Dyer, Tom Fowler, G. K. Gustetter, April L. Kilgore, Michael C. Kundis, Ken Maines, Ted O'Lay, Lola Schultz, Toscas, Dimitri Nan Williams, R.M. Publisher <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Media</a> Date Created ca. 1994-09-28 Date Issued 1994-09-28 Date Copyrighted 1994-09-28 Format application/pdf Medium 24-page newspaper Language eng Mediator History Teacher Provenance Originally published by <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Media</a>. Rights Holder Copyright to this resource is held by <a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/" target="_blank">Watermark Publishing Group</a> and is provided here by <a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a> for educational purposes only. Accrual Method Donation Contributing Project <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> Curator Smith, Robert Cepero, Laura Digital Collection <a href="https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/map/" target="_blank">RICHES MI</a> Source Repository <a href="http://glbthistorymuseum.com/joomla25/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">GLBT History Museum of Central Florida</a> External Reference "<a href="http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/" target="_blank">About/Contact</a>." WatermarkOnline.com, accessed July 11, 2016. http://www.watermarkonline.com/aboutcontact/. Transcript FLORIDA' S DISTINCTIVE CAY AND LESBIAN PUBLICATION. VOLUME 1, NUMBER 3 SEPTEMBER 28,1994 SOMETHI SOMETH! NG OLD, NGNEW THE BOOM IN GAY MARRIAGE by G. K. Fowler Carol Bartsch met Kim Newton at a nightspot “and yes, it was love at first sight. We had just met and it was amazing how many people came up to us that night and made comments like ‘how long have you two been together?’” Within six weeks they were sure of their feelings and within a few months had moved in together “to build our lives.” Last August, after ten years of successful partnership, they exchanged formal vows. Carol is a cool and intelligible community activist, but she describes her wedding like a bom romantic. “It was perfect. My perfect day.” She and Kim had long celebrated the night they met as a private occasion (“it seemed unlikely we would ever have a wedding anniversary,”) and gradually decided on formal commitment for their tenth. “We wanted it all. We wanted a full ceremony to affirm our relationship and share the feelings we have for each other with our families and friends. “And there was another reason. I was raised thinking in terms of falling in love and getting married. Finally it just seemed like something we should not be denied because we were lesbians, something in life we didn’t want to feel we’d missed out bn. I’d like to see it become legal of course, but in the meantime I wasn’t going to waste my life waiting. In the meantime, while we’re still young and so much in love, why not marry?” Bemie LaTour was an occasional customer at the upscale Orlando store Eric Boyd manages. Interest wasn’t lacking, but they had no occasion to speak until Bemie managed a third-party introduction. Conversation led to dating and dating to romance. A few months later Bemie let slip the word “love” while speaking of other things. Sly Bemie. Eric nearly missed it. “You know,” he says, “he wasn’t going to say anything in order to see if I’d caught it. And I said ‘wait a minute, just stop. Stop the truck! What did you say?”’ Cornered, Kim Newton (left) and Carol Bartsch: “Something we should not be denied.” Continued Page 8 THE COMING OF NATIONAL COMING OUT BAY For more than a decade, Rob Eichberg has been one of a handful of activists standing at the forefron* of the gay rights movement. Through his books, speaking engagements and television appearances, Rob has passionately carried the about your life. Live powerfully* not fully. Come out of the closet. Those who saw him in Orlando last spring, when he addressed the Metropolitan Business Association, know that he is a brilliant communicator, sincere, intelligent, charismatic, and inspiring as only true believers can be. But Rob’s greatest value to the gay community may be as an “idea person,*’ He is one of those rafb people capable of creating a grand vision and then making it happen. National Coming Out Day may be his best idea, his best vision so far. Celebrated each October 11 since 1988, National Coming Out Day is when millions of lesbians and gay men recognise how important it is that we share our lives with our families, friends and co-workers. That we not hide. That we put a face on gay and lesbian experience. “Ultimately, visibility is the key to the success of our movement,” says Eichberg. “Studies show that those who know agay or lesbian person support our issues 70% of the time. Bo what do we need to do? We need to make sure that everyone knows a lesbian or gay man, and die way to do that is to come out.” Eichberg acknowledges that the idea for a celebration associated with coming out was not his alone. But the need became apparent to him when he md Advocate magazine editor David Goodstein founded “The Advocate Experience” in 1976. “The idea behind The Experience was to empower lesbians and gay men , to function lovingly and openly with Continued Page 20 WATERMARK / September 28,1994 2 Serving Central Florida's Family Since 1985 Flexible Financing;Sales and Leasing 6 Consecutive Years' Membership in Ford's Top 2% Sales FRED BERLINER RSTATE4 A N c*? DONroi RE«D XI FORD>*Sl CM MAITLAND HI LEE ROAD >; | 5 I /^SnHriSN I WINTER PARK * 4\ *!* 4\ * HIAWASSEE VETERINARY CLINIC SANDY M. FINK, DVM Dentistry •!» Dermatology •i! Boarding $ Flea Control $ Baths/Dips Vaccinations Pet Supplies Behavior Problems ?i» Nutrition Dog Training (407)299-3969 Hours by Appointment 6525 Old Winter Garden Road'Orlando, FI 32835 Cactus Club 1300 N. Mills Ave Orlando 407-894-3041 4 Happy IT 2 for 1 3 pm to 8 pm 7 Days A Week ,fue$dtty$ friday^ Saturday? 2 for 1 All Nite Social Hour Complimentary Buffet 2 for 1 until 8 pm 2 for 1 1 11 pm to 1 ami SCOTT LAURENT G*A*L*L*E»R*I*E*S ♦ Wedding & Gift Registry ♦ ♦ Original Art ♦ Limited Editions ♦ Art Glass ♦ Jewelry ♦ Sculpture ♦ ♦ Decorative Accessories ♦ Framing ♦ ♦ Judaic Art & Gifts ♦ ♦ In-Home Art Consultation ♦ ♦ Fund Raising Programs ♦ 348 Park Avenue North Winter Park, Florida 32789 (407) 629-1488 (In the Hidden Gardens - across from Jacobsons) HOURS MONDAY - WEDNESDAY, 10AM -6PM THURSDAY - SATURDAY, 10AM - 9PM SUNDAY, 12NOON - 5PM SCOTT LAURENT GALLERIES 10% Courtesy Discount on your next visit to ourWinter Park Gallery With this coupon. Offer valid thru 11/30/94 WATERMARK / September 28,1994 3 LOCAL & STATE NEWS CHARLES “CHUCK” W. HUMMER III Orlando lost a rare and bright light when Charles “Chuck” W. Hummer III succumbed to AIDS on September 19. Volunteer, activist, and friend to many, Chuck brought enthusiasm and energy to each of his many projects and relationships. He had a rare ability to be diligent and responsible.. .a force to be reckoned with.. .while also outrageous and childlike. Chuck truly had gifts to give; the love in his heart and the twinkle in his eye. With a sturdy shoulder, a disarming wink and an off-color joke, Chuck helped many, many people through difficult times. Chuck Hummer was the first and only Executive Director of the Hope & Help Center of Central Florida. He first joined Hope & Help in 1988, when the agency was formed to provide support services to those affected by the HIV disease. Chuck started as a volunteer, subsequently became the first paid 1962 -1994 staff member, and ultimately oversaw expansion to a present staff of 23. As a person living with HIV, Chuck had to overcome many of the obstacles facing people with AIDS: job discrimination, access to medical treatment, loss of health insurance. His positive attitude toward life and living with AIDS, stressing living rather than dying, was indelibly woven into the fabric of Hope & Help. Chuck advocated a holistic approach to life and health, believing that care of the body was inextricably tied to mental and spiritual health. Chuck was active in drug studies and HIV related research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland since 1988. This involvement increased his medical awareness and understanding of HIV Disease. Over the years, Chuck was instrumental in assisting clients to enroll in drug studies at NIH. Currently, 32 local clients participate in NIH studies and are able to network with other clients by sharing the most current medical information. The availability of otherwise unreleased treatment protocols motivated his strong and continuing participation in the NIH research effort. He was deeply committed to finding effective treatments for HIV/AIDS. In addition to his administrative role at Hope & Help, Chuck actively supported outreach efforts to the community at large. He lectured in Hope & Help’s unique teen peer education program, in the risk reduction distribution program, and the general population outreach program. Chuck was born in the Republic of Panama, where he lived and went to school. He moved to the United States with his parents in 1979. He was a student activist in high school, and a thespian since his first appearance on stage at age 7. A graduate of Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone, he attended Canal Zone College and then Northern Virginia Community College. He received his Bachelors degree in International Studies from the American University in Washington D.C. in 1985, and was seeking a Masters Degree at Rollins College. Chuck is survived by his mother, Greta N. Hummer, of Reston, Virginia; his father and stepmother, Charles W. Hummer, Jr. and Sandra Hummer, of Haines City, Florida; his longtime companion, Mark Steffy, of Davenport, Florida; and step-grandmothers, Sarita Chiari de Selee, of Panama City, Panama, and L. Phyllis Hummer, of Pinellas Park, Florida. For those who may wish, a donation may be made in Chuck’s name to the Hope & Help Center of Central Florida, 1935 Woodcrest Dr., Winter Park, Florida 32792. SUE YORK, LOCAL LESBIAN ACTIVIST: 1943 - 1994 Sue York, a lesbian activist and Central Florida resident, died on September 15, 1994. She was 51 years old. According to friend Barb Fallon, York was a soft-spoken woman with an unwavering belief in human dignity and equal rights for all. She was involved in the civil rights struggle in the south during the ’60s, and has long worked for equal rights for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in both Orlando and Daytona Beach. York offered her wealth of experience to the LCN Express, a monthly newspaper with a large and devoted readership among Central Florida’s lesbian community. At LCN she served as editor, contributing writer, and in the words of Fallon, “continual inspiration.” Fallon adds, “I remember during the March on Washington, when all of us were tired and weary, Sue let us know with just her smile that everything was going to be alright.. .both that day and afterward.” MBA SPONSORS CANDIDATES FORUM The Metropolitan Business Association Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp - a unique historical community established in 1894 SUNDAY: CHURCH SERVICE 10:30 AM WEDNESDAY: ALL-MESSAGE SERVICE 7:30 PM ($5.00) Healing Services 112 hour before all Church services PUBLIC WELCOME TO ATTEND ALL ACTIVITIES VISIT OUR BOOKSTORE Area’s largest Book and Tape inventory, plus many interesting gifts from Nature and around the world. HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 9:30-5:00, Sunday Noon-5:00 1112 Stevens St. • P.O. Box 319 • Cassadaga, FL 32706 * (904) 228-2880 (MBA) will host a forum for candidates for local office on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 PM at the Radisson Plaze Hotel Orlando. More than 20 candidates have been invited to attend. At present, County Chairman candidate Fran Pignone, State Senate candidate Buddy Dyer, State House candidate Louise Ray, and Circuit Judge candidates Roger McDonald and Bob Wattles have all indicated they will attend this first-ever forum. Although difficult to measure, the gay and lesbian vote has been recognized as potentially influential in some local races. The Orlando Sentinel stated in a September 10 article that a strong gay and lesbian vote in east Orange County may have helped County Chairman candidate Fran Pignone there. SIGN IT ■in* QUICK ONE DAY SIGNS! Thinking About Real Estate? Call the Realtor who understands your perspective and can address your concerns. DENISE LEHEUP, REALTOR COLDWELL BANKER 170 W. 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CALL FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG Franchises Available 645-0077 • Fax 645-3258 WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 4 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS LESBIAN ALLOWED ONE VISIT WITH CHILD OF FORMER PARTNER SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A lesbian seeking the right to have regular visitation with the child of her former partner has been granted a single, two-hour visit next weekend while the matter remains under consideration. The visit was granted by 3rd District Judge Leslie Lewis. The plaintiff, identified in court only as A.I., has not seen the 4-year-old boy of her former partner, C.D., since July. “I’m ecstatic right now,” A.I., 43, said Monday. C.D., 27, did not comment. Witnesses said A.I. was present at the boy’s birth, shared daily duties such as bathing and clothing him, helped give him asthma treatments and took time off work when he needed medical attention. They said she helped support C.D. and her family. The defense contends the woman’s role was like that of a baby sitter and that the court did not have the right to grant visitation. STATE PATROL ASSIGNED TO GEORGIA POLITICIAN AFTER GAY HARASSMENT ATLANTA (AP) - Republican Lt. Governor nominee Nancy Shaefer recieved a State Patrol bodyguard after complaining about harassing phone calls from gays and lesbians. Public Safety Commissioner Sid Miles said that the harassment was serious enough to warrant protection even though there had been no threats of bodily harm from any specific group. “We decided it would be in her best interest to assign someone to her,” Miles said. The extra security will continue through the Nov. 8 election. “I’m sorry we have to do something such as this,” Schaefer said. The 59-year-old candidate said she, her husband and campaign workers have received harassing calls in recent weeks. She said several callers telephoned the Doubletree Hotel on Friday and threatened a picket by gays and lesbians if Schaefer didn’t cancel a fund-raiser there. Schaefer has drawn criticism for her statements that heterosexual and homosexual domestic partnerships are illegal and immoral. Her organization, Family Concerns, helped finance a lawsuit challenging city of Atlanta legislation to authorize health benefits for the unmarried partners of city employees. The ordinance was declared unconstitutional by a Fulton County judge. NEW YORK PLAN OFFERS INSURANCE BENEFITS TO “SIGNIFICANT OTHERS” ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The new year will bring health insurance benefits to the live-in mates of unmarried state prison guards and public university professors who qualify under a new agreement. The move will make such coverage available to homosexual or heterosexual partners. The deal announced Friday was the result of negotiations between the staff of Gov. Mario Cuomo and two public-sector unions _ United University Professions and Council 82 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Vermont is the only state that currently provides such coverage for domestic partners, but New York City, Rochester and Ithaca do so for city employees. “It’s part of the movement to equalize the way we cover the people who are left out of the system,” said Joseph Bress, director of the state Office of Employee Relations. “We do not feel one set of employees should be deprived of benefits others are entitled to.” To qualify for the program, which would start on Jan. 1 or soon after, domestic partners must be adults unrelated by blood or marriage, involved in an exclusive and “committed” relationship and living together for six months, and can demonstrate financial interdependence. Bress said partners would be certified through the use of financial documents such as bank accounts and mortgage statements. Some state workers who would not be affected by the program have questioned the timing of it, saying they believed the governor was seeking votes in November’s election. They claim Cuomo is pandering to downstate gay voters while keeping the issue quiet among the more conservative upstate voters who might be cool to the idea of using government money to cover homosexual couples. The Public Employees Federation, New York’s second-largest state workers’ union, was also close to signing its own agreement, the Albany’s Times Union reported. The Civil Service Employees Association is also considering the plan, he said. The unions represent more than 100,000 of the 162,000-member state workforce eligible to apply for domestic partner benefits under the program. Bress said the projected cost for the program ranges from a low of $249,000 to a high of $2.1 million. The latter figure is based on if all unions agreed to the plan. NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN JOURNALISTS’ GROUP MEETS MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Four years ago, says Leroy Aarons, most gay journalists were “still in the closet or just peeping their heads out.” Now, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, which Aarons founded in 1990, has about 1,000 members in news organizations across the country. About 400 of them attended the group’s national conference in Minneapolis, at which U. S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was the featured speaker. While last year’s gathering was held in New York City, this year, Minneapolis was chosen to help attract journalists from smaller communities, said Aarons, who worked for the Washington Post in the 1960s and 1970s. The theme was “Out on Main Street.” Members compared how gay and lesbian issues are covered in their communities, and also how work environments differ, he said. Kim Severson, entertainment editor at the Anchorage Daily News in Anchorage, Alaska, a city of about 250,000, formed part of a panel discussion on those differences. She said extra challenges exist in smaller communities, where “issues of gays and lesbians are really hot.” Severson recalled an article she wrote about closeted gays in Alaska state government that caused a local uproar. “If you tried to do a story like that in New York or San Francisco, editors would say, ‘So what?’ ” she said. Elders addressed homophobia as a public health issue, especially as it relates to gay teenage suicide. The conference agenda included an ethics seminar, a discussion on homophobia in sports with California psychiatrist Dee Mosbacher, a panel on news coverage of health issues and another on the career effects of being openly gay. Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton gave the welcoming address. Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, one of two openly gay members of Congress, addressed a Saturday lunch session, and gay comic Kate Clinton also appeared. Gntuifc i 21 Kim Meredith Property Manager Rentals 352-8611 PROFESSIONAL GROUP. INC. 7575 Dr. Phillips Boulevard, Suite 100 Residental Sales 352*0041 Rentals 352-8611 • Residential Sales • Rentals • Property Management • New Home Sales • Commercial • Investment Property • Free Market Analysis QUALITY SERVICE It's not just a motto -It's a guarantee. James Zweifel President/Broker Residential 352-0041 In Memoriam Of Our Founder, Cecil Ray deLoach (1952-1991) fyacli Out $nd Tet The Medical Escrow Society Jielp you! Our Advance Cash Benefits program allows someone facing a life threatening illness, with up to a five year life expectancy, to obtain immediate cash from their life insurance coverage in order to improve their quality of life and fulfill wishes and desires. The Medical Escrow Society is the oldest and largest advocate for the insured. 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WE BUY BUSINESS INVOICES 24 Hour Funding • Low Rates USE ASSETS YOU ALREADY HAVE BARTLETT RESOURCE FUNDING CALL (407) 741-7747 or (407) 89441411 BUSINESS HOURS 9 AM-7 PM MEMBER OF THE NAF.P. & THE MBA FLORIDA JURY AWARDS $600,000 TO WOMAN MISDIAGNOSED WITH HIV VIRUS MIAMI (AP) - Vemelle Lowder gave up her children, moved back to her Georgia hometown and made plans to kill herself after being told she had the HIV virus. It was all a mistake. A Dade Circuit Court jury has awarded $600,000 to Lowder, 49, for pain and suffering after her 1990 AIDS test was misread. Dr. Homer L. Kirkpatrick, who gave anti-AIDS medication to Lowder, settled for $250,000 on the eve of the trial. Although AIDS cannot be transmitted by casual contact, Lowder worried about touching her children, now ages 17,19 and 21, her attorney, Steven Mitchel said. She gave legal custody of her children to her mother - who would wash her daughter’s dirty dishes with bleach. Finally, she returned in October 1992 to her hometown of Waycross in Georgia. At an AIDS hospice clinic in Waycross, she was retested and learned she was HIV-negative. Lowder went to the Family Health Center in Hialeah for a checkup in November 1990. She decided to be tested for AIDS because she had received a blood transfusion in 1980. After being told she was HIV-positive, Lowder took medication prescribed by Kirkpatrick for several months that made her nauseous and weak, her attorney said. MAN AWARDED $100,000 IN DENTAL CARE DISCRIMINATION CASE HOUSTON (AP) - A Houston man who was refused treatment at a dental center after disclosing that he was infected with HIV will receive $100,000 as part of an out-of-court settlement of a discrimination lawsuit. The U.S. Justice Department said the settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act is the first of its kind. Last year, the department sued the Castle Dental Center in Houston for violating the act by telling Harrison J. Totten it would no longer treat him. Totten, 30, said his orthodontic treatment was discontinued in May 1992 when he revealed that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. “This settlement is more than just a slap on the wrist,” Totten’s attorney John Paul Bamich said. “The message I would like to go out is that if people are going to be intentionally ignorant, we’re going to make it as painful as possible.” Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination from the offices of health care providers. Testing positive for HIV and having AIDS are disabilities under the act. The Justice Department became involved in the case when Bamich contacted them after filing a 1993 lawsuit in state court on Totten’s behalf. The suit alleged that Totten went to the center in 1991 to get braces. When he went back in May 1992 to have his teeth cleaned, he was given a form to complete that asked if he had AIDS or had tested HIV-positive. After writing that he had tested HIV-positive, Totten waited 45 minutes without receiving services and then left. “The word that Harrison Totten was infected with HIV spread around Castle Dental Center. His patient file was conspicuously marked with a red sticker saying ‘AIDS,’” the suit stated. The following month, Totten called Castle to confirm an appointment and was told he should have received notice that the dental center would not treat him again, Bamich said. h the financial strains I illness... we can give pur life insurance policy. There are many reasons why people sell their life insurance policies... but your reason is the most important one! Dealing with a life-threatening illness is difficult enough without worrying about financial matters. When these concerns overtake your lifestyle and your life, turn to Life Care Resources. We provide quick, completely confidential service, with instant payment after approval, at no cost to you. 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This simple act of assertiveness fifteen years ago by Ted Maines, now a senior manager at Federal Express, was the beginning of a path that would culminate in his inclusion on Federal Express’ Cultural Diversity steering committee. He discussed not only his positive experiences at Federal Express but also the climate for gays and lesbians in corporate America during a presentation at the Rainbow Democratic Club meeting held, Monday, September 19. According to Maines, a growing number of companies are adding the words “sexual orientation” to their equal employment opportunity (EEO) statements and offering equal treatment to gays and lesbians. However, most companies in America still do not have written policies protecting the rights of gays and lesbians, and do not offer equal benefits to their gay employees. The list of companies that do have such protections, however, is impressive. It includes Disney, Microsoft, Lotus Development Corporation, DuPont Chemical, Xerox, Apple Computers, and Chase Manhattan Banks. Maines indicates that these companies and many others are offering fair and equitable treatment to gays and lesbians in one of the following areas. Inclusion in EEO statement All companies, large and small, have EEO statements - that is, a short proclamation that the company does not discrimination against specified minorities. By adding the words “sexual orientation” to the list of protected minorities, companies can take the first step in protecting the rights of gays and lesbians, Maines said. “Most important, it makes the policy clear to all the employees of the company that harassment or discrimination of gays and lesbians will not be tolerated,” he said. A Safe Work Environment Maines defines this environment as a workplace free of homophobia and AIDSphobia. According to Maines, one company that is leading the way in providing such an environment is telecommunications giant AT&T. “They have instituted a training seminar entitled ‘Homophobia in the Workplace,’ designed to educate middle and upper management as well as hourly employees on the issues associated with homophobia, and how it can negatively influence a workplace,” Maines said. Another step toward providing a safe workplace is the use of inclusive language in all company communications. An example of this would be to use “significant other” or “partner” instead of “spouse” in corporate communications. Equitable Benefits Programs Maines feels that gays and lesbians should be offered equal compensation for equal work. This extends to the disbursement of benefits, particularly regarding domestic partners. These benefits can include such things as allowing domestic partners to be included on medical and dental plans and allowing fora non-married significant other to receive survivor pensions. However, providing equitable benefits can be something as simple as providing bereavement pay or family leave to domestic partners. Public Support Some companies are also publicly lending their names and financial support to gay and lesbian causes. For example, during the referendum in Colorado on prohibiting the protection of civil rights for gays and lesbians, companies such as Apple Computer, Microsoft, US West Telecommunications and Philip Morris wrote letters and contributed money to defeat the initiative. According to Maines, gay and lesbian employees also have a responsibility in the struggle for equality in the workplace. “The best thing you can do is come out at work. Put a face on the issue. Don’t allow yourself to be treated like a second class citizen in the workplace,” Maines said. Also at the meeting: • Carol Bartsch of the Federal Advocacy Network (FAN), affilialecl with tlie Human Rights Campaign Fund, spoke about the attempt by the American Family Association (AFA) to overturn legislation in Alachua County designed to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. The AFA, which attempted something similar on a statewide level under a different name last year, has chosen Alachua County to begin again their battle against legal protection of gays and lesbians. • A videotape of Senate committee hearings regarding ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994) was also played for attendees. The act, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, would prohibit employment discrimination based solely on sexual orientation. The short program also featured the testimony of a gay man and a lesbian who were each discriminated against in their workplace. Thus far, 31 senators and 136 representatives have signed on as co-supporters of ENDA. (407) 846-4113 KISSIMMEE (407) 348-4033 WMMMMmmmmMm P07) 82818005 1213 WEST OAK STREET KISSIMMEE, FL 34741 VFTD ill ti. by April L. ill Driving oft the showroom flpor witfla shi|tyii||||j:|iT: can be an exhilarating feeling, but ing process is usually the victim of a nut-under-the-shell con game, the average consuiner spends the better part of a bay being stj^y : not) manipulated into spending well beyond the intended budget* usually to find multiple surprises at the close of the deal. If the consumer enters the showroom informed and prepared, there is still t|^" to come off their schtick enou||t^ quentiy*tfusrequifosvisitstosevemldealersiBps,thustime and energy spent. Since buying a new car or truck is one of the most costly periodic purchases one will make* getting the best price without doing battle is the ultimate goal. Having someone else do it for you makes the victory that much sweeter. Enter: Auto Buying Consultants (ABC) of Winter Park. ' Formed by Murray Sfown in Gustetter AUTO BUYING CONSULTANTS || V^d: Wide ■ tratibn most pec^ej^riebi| a new vehicle. Brown points out that there are several key questions that can either help or hurt a buyer’s negotiating position, i For example; ♦ Is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) foe actual retail price of the desired vehicle? ♦ Sat does the facturer for foe vehicle? (“This is the best I can do,” is a dealer’s favorite comeback.) ♦ Are there dealer “add-ons”, such as pint seal* 111®tot||| unn|c|^^;:Md; I almost pure profit for the dealer? ♦ If there is a trade-in involved, what is it worth? f “In these areas alone*” Brown contends* “there can be anywhere from a $3,000 to $5,000 variance. What deter- . mines who gets to keep that money is information,” It is Brown’s job to take that information to the negotiating the consumer,: often desires but rarely has. • Brown’s services include finding his client’s desired new vehicle* negotiating for the best price on that vehicle plus any hade-in his client has* and getting all the necessary paperwork in order. All the client has to do is test drive their car and sign the papers. When “Time is Money”, assistance like this can be very cost effective, Dealerships seem receptive to Brown’s position, as Well* since they are able to make a fair (not an excessive) profit with a ready ~to»buy, qualified customer, Initial consultation from Auto Buying Consultants is free of charge. If his services are requested* he charges a flat retainer fee of $250.00 and begins the process. Usually within a matter of days* that process is complete. Murray Brown at Auto Buying Consultants can be reached at (407) 629-1913 or 1-800-340-5539, BUSINESS PROFILE WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 8 COVER STORY “Specializing in Distinctive Properties of Call John Keith Tanner and David W. Shea, REALTORS® ERA AIRPORT REALTY 407-677-1177 This fantastic updated Winter Park charmer features hardwood floors, white & bright kitchen, fireplace, garage and spacious lot with room to expand. It’s only minutes from Park Avenue between Lakes Mizell and Osceola on oak-lined brick street. Location, Location, Location. TAMER & SHEA FUNERAL HOME "5901 S. Orange Avenue • Orlando" 425-2589 Providing Services For The Greater Orlando Area Since 1954 We Honor Any And All Pre-Need Plans Family Owned And Operated ASSOCIATION OF Independent Juneraf (Directors Independent | Hi (Fun Jjll of (Florida Traditional Burials Shipping Out Of State Sam Odom, L.F.D. Elgan Stappe, F.P. DIR. Funeral Pre-Planning Cremation Manny Adams, L.F.D. James Cardinal, Owner “Let Our Family Serve Your Family” MARRIAGE From Page 1 Bemie answered: “it slipped, but I do love you.” Eric had been in love awhile himself by then, but was wary of raising the issue until he could be “certain, absolutely certain, that Bemie felt the same way. Well...we were both crying.” Last April, after eighteen months of true courtship, they formally committed themselves to each other in Holy Union. These couples have what most people want: the house where love lives. In marrying, however, they have done something few gay people, until recently, considered possible or even desirable. In the early 1970’s, when Kim, Carol, Eric and Bemie were kids, the dominant avant-garde of the young gay rights movement were not, to put it mildly, the marrying kind. Michael Sherry, a professor of gay and lesbian studies at northwestern University, interviewed in the June 2, 1994 edition of Chicago’s Windy City Times, characterized their attitude as principled rejection. “The idea of wanting to join the institution of marriage was anathema. “It wasn’t just a sense that it would be impossible legally or politically, but that you wouldn’t want to do so even if you could, because marriage is at the center of the circle of oppressive institutions. Marriage was seen as oppressive to women, and oppressive to the gay men caught in it.” He might have added that, in the rhetoric of the time, marriage was a central pillar of the culture of hatred oppressing all minorities. Indeed, formal religion was justly held in contempt as the fountainhead of gay and lesbian persecution. A judge upholding an anti-sodomy law can honestly say “The Bible tells me so” - as indeed many have. In such a context a politically-aware gay couple seeking religious union had all the social cachet of freeborn black abolitionists moving south to make a killing in the slave trade. Things have clearly changed. Men and women who proudly identify themselves as gay; people who are out to stay, who witness, who march for freedom, nowadays march down the aisle as well. Some, like our newlyweds, even pose in tuxes and gowns for the Wedding Album photos. They speak of marriage as an institution in terms of meaningfulness, completion, and human possibility rather than oppression, exploitation, or conformity. They talk about freedom and happiness - precisely what Gay Lib promised. How to account for this revolution in sensibility? Of the many factors at play the most potent is doubtless the increasingly public presence of gay men and lesbian women in America’s communities of faith. This presence and the dialogue it necessitates must rank among the most remarkable religious developments of our time. Chief among the movers and shakers have been The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), the Unitarian Church, and the Society of Friends (Quakers). Also significant are the increasingly vocal lay organizations Integrity (Episcopalian) and Dignity (Roman Catholic). The Jewish faith is vocally represented by congregation Beth Chayin Chadashim, the outreach synagogue of Los Angeles, New York’s Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, other affiliates of The World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organizations such as Congregation Beth Ahava (Philadelphia) and Congregation B’nai Haskalah (Boston). The United Church of Christ (UCC) also boasts a Lesbian/Gay Coalition. At present, Orlando claims only a few representative organizations. But these are enough to tie us into the mainstream of the Gay Nineties. Rick Effinger, an activist in the local chapter of Integrity, considers marriage as less a religious than a political issue because of its obvious benefits to individuals and the community. The blessing of a union, he says, solidifies a relationship. Men and women clearly benefit from the stability and growth long-term relationships provide, and “when you’re talking about two people who are in a loving, caring, mutually-sustaining relationship, the gender of those two people is essentially irrelevant.” Gay couples can reach the mark, “but it’s very difficult. One of the reasons is that we have so few socially-instituted and recognized, sanctioned events that reinforce relationships in the way such events do for heterosexuals. And that’s crucial for relationships.” According to Effinger, two-person union is a legitimate human goal, perhaps even biologically-determined. In most species, dating (attracting a partner) occurs so that mating (commitment) can occur. It’s lunacy, he says, to expect that homosexuals simply date forever, or would be satisfied doing so. Yet although gay people obviously share with heterosexuals the same biological drives and social needs, they have traditionally been denied the prospect - even the conception - of the dating ritual’s logical outcome. Personal fulfillment and health issues aside (he is an MD), there is, unavoidably, a theological layer to Effinger’s argument. “The ultimate long-term goal is to have unions because they allow all persons in the community of the faithful full access to all the sacraments. You can’t have groups of people isolated from certain sacraments simply because of human dictate. The idea, from a Christian perspective, is to include everybody. That’s a mandate we have, to include everybody in the arms of God.” Joe Curtis, Chairman of Dignity Orlando, the Catholic outreach organization, makes the same argument by putting theology first. “In our community in Orlando, couples are married within the Church. Formally married with a priest. We don’t dance a the thing as far as it being a ‘holy union.’ It’s Holy Matrimony. It’s sacramental. It’s their spiritual right. It’s their spiritual inheritance, if you will, from the Church. It’s part of that treasure we’re promised at Baptism.” Asked whether marriage is, as the Church holds, the only permissible context of sexual activity, he says “We don’t mince words. We advocate matrimony. We say that it is actually the preferred condition for gay couples in the scheme of things. Because people have responsibilities to be in committed relationships. We talk about sex being exploitative and abusive or non-exploitative and honest. Holy Matrimony is the best expression of the fact that two people are giving themselves fully with full commitment to each other... .All people are called to chastity. It’s just as wrong for gay Catholics to screw around as it is for straight Catholics.” The Church, Curtis says, has the truth. But laws were made for men, not men for laws. He agrees with Effinger that marriage is desirable as much for its human as its sacramental benefits. “Hopefully Holy Matrimony will become common for Gay Catholics...in the next century, probably. Obviously there’s not enough critical mass to have a pre-Cana program [Church-led premarital counseling]...down the road, hopefully, we’ll have something like that. Because those programs have value to couples. “There’s a great deal of value in having someone think through whether they want to marry. Unfortunately in our community you see quite the opposite.. .and there’s a lot of hurt, broken gays for that reason. While I don’t want to impose a vast structure on the gay community, I think a lot of those mechanisms would be useful.” Carol Hale, Associate Pastor at Joy Metropolitan Community Church (Joy MCC), performed the Holy Union Service at which Eric and Bemie were joined. She agrees that couples have to look carefully at their reasons before accepting Holy Union. (MCC requires that couples receive pre-Union Continued Page 9 WATERMARK / September 28,1994 9 COVER STORY MARRIAGE From Page 8 counseling.) “One of the first things we ask a couple is ‘why do you want to have a Holy Union?’ If they think it’s going to mend a relationship, they’re in trouble.” For Rev. Hale, communication is the key. “Are they pretty much set on their goals together? Are they communicating with each other when they’re sitting here? My primary interest is, are they communicating about what they both want from the relationship, long-term.” “I don’t think that gay relationships are any different than straight relationships ...they’re two people living together who face the same worldly problems that any couple faces. So they’re facing the same stresses - if not more, because of the gay “Now in my own thinking there are two very legitimate reasons for Holy Union. One is, it offers a very public opportunity for two people to make a commitment to each other. For example, if I discover someone who is special to me and with whom I want to enjoy a long-term relationship, why shouldn’t I make a public proclamation of that? The other reason is, if I discover someone who means this much to me, why not celebrate that? And Holy Union is an opportunity to celebrate what has happened to us.” In Brock’s mind the absence of secular arrangements reinforces the spiritual meaning of Holy Union. “We affirm that this is a Christian ceremony. Therefore I don’t do a secular ceremony. I don’t just say ‘here are two people who love each other’; what I say is based on the Bible. So it is a reli- Eric Boyd (left) and Bernie LaTour: “The thing to do.” and lesbian lifestyle. The dynamics of being gay and lesbian don’t affect the couples so much as the dynamics of family relationship enter into it.” So she speaks to couples about safe sex, communication, boundaries, and finances - the worldly stresses that destroy relationships. “Have they set the boundaries in the relationship and do they understand where each stands? How do they discuss finances? If they buy property together, how are they going to handle that? How they handle their checkbook...you know, I don’t care how they handle these things, only that they talk about them.” MCC has been performing Holy Union services since the year of its founding, 1968. The Reverend Jimmy Brock, Pastor of Joy MCC, is very clear about what, exactly, the couples he unites are doing. “I try to make it clear to people in my Holy Unions that we’re not imitating a marriage ceremony. You cannot get married. Marriage in our culture is a secular contract...which requires a marriage license issued by a governmental agency. It’s a secular union. Therefore, since they won’t give you a marriage license, you can’t get married.” He is equally straightforward when considering the reasons couples unite. “I think there are a lot of wrong reasons for having Holy Unions, and I try to say this in counseling. I think some people have a need to have pious words said over them - and that’s not much of a reason for having a Holy Union. Having a Holy Union is not going to make a relationship better, just as a marriage doesn’t by itself make a relationship better for heterosexuals. It’s not going to be any better the day after the Union than the day before you have it. The relationship depends on you, not on what someone says.” gious experience for us. And if people don’t want that.. .1 don’t do the ceremony if they don’t want it to be a Christian ceremony. We’re a church, not a social club. We’re dead serious.” Theological distinctions aside, Effinger, Curtis, Hale and Brock agree with Kim, Carol, Bernie, and Eric that love is what it’s all about and that God likes love.” God gave me Kim,” Carol says. “God is definitely in our lives. God brought us together. My life has been better, Kim’s life has been better, our families are better, everything is better. God wouldn’t have given us so much goodness in our lives if He didn’t love us.” And if He didn’t want us to get married, I’m sure He would have found some way to circumvent it. And instead, not only did everything go beautifully, it went beyond beautifully. It was perfect. My perfect day. And all the people at the ceremony, the straight people there, my friends, the family, all of them felt the same thing. It was just a glowing.. .how can I describe it? Everyone was starry-eyed, all loving, even a week later.” It’s a cliche, but Bernie and Eric are so in love it shows. Even seated across a room from each other they seem joined; the space between them something they own and share. They speak for each other and finish each other’s sentences. Everything they do says This Is What It’s All About. “It’s just become a form of our life to accommodate each other,” Eric says. Of marriage, Bernie says, “It was the important thing to do. When you finally have met that right person, before God, before friends, and to each other, that’s the thing to be done. I think that’s the way it was always supposed to be, but something got lost.” WHEN YOU’RE READY TO BUY OR SELL A HOME! *FREE Market Analysis ■Full Time Professional ’Image of The Prudential •Knowledge of All Areas •Dedicated to Work Hard for You! MARK“MARKO”DOLE REALTOR ® 399-DOLE cellular ThePrudential Gallagher Properties 5425 S. Semoran Blvd . Suite Orlando, FL 32822 Bus (407) 380-3800 Fax (407)380-3408 " The bookstore that can't keep a straight face!" (407) 896-0204 Visit us for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Teddy, Papa Tony and Pablo look forward to your visit and promise you a unique dining experience. I T - TH 11 AM -10 PM • F 11 AM-11 PM *S 10 AM -11 PM* SUN 10AM-9PM 900 E. WASHINGTON STREET ♦ ORLANDO, FL 32801 ♦ (407) 425-0033 Male Yourself a Priority and (Jet the Financial Help fou Need Now. 05^ you are living with AIDS, it takes courage to live well. 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So I stood up, stomach knotting, and walked to the gazebo. With reddening face - my signature -1 met the supervisor and a few of the members of the Delta Youth Alliance (DYA). DYA is a group designed for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, and is but one in what I’ve come to realize is a vast array of support groups and regular social events specifically designed for the homosexual community. I had come across an advertisement for DYA by chance, and kept it in the bottom of my desk drawer for several months; a concealed symbol of incipient courage. I am not proud to admit the number of times I called the phone number and hung up, but my courage grew a little each time. I was paranoid, to put it mildly, but I spoke and I listened. I learned about Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS). Community? There’s a community? And I began to discover the plethora of opportunities for me to find places where I would belong. I go to DYA meetings, but why haven’t I embraced more of the programs available? Good question. I suppose my answer is true for a lot of young homosexuals. It’s the double whammy of shame instilled by family and culture, and the universal and ever-present fear of rejection by peers. Joining DYA, an immense step in my coming out process, took much thought and, modestly, bravery. This was a first open acknowledgment of my homosexuality. I needn’t tell anyone how frightening that is. But I’m stuck at this first step. Because of my embarrassment or self-esteem issues or whatever, I have not yet experienced the friendship and freedom that the larger gay community offers me. I see it in others, but I am not ready yet. I have learned, however, that I am not alone; this joyful knowledge sustains me for now. I feel lucky. I stumbled upon the “circuit.” But there are many young and not-so-young homosexuals who have not made this discovery. They have not landed in Oz, and the world for them remains black and white. They will continue their personal battles alone. Some will bare deep scars and, I suspect, some won’t make it. Others may find their own unique formula for individual happiness. But I wish the gay community could rent a big flatbed truck and drive through every neighborhood announcing on loudspeakers, “Here we are! You’re not alone! We’re waiting for you!” Like many, I grew up in a homophobic family and, like many, I’m afraid of losing my family to gain my freedom. Using the resources I now know are available to me would be evidence of that freedom. I am afraid. What if someone recognized me going into Out & About Books and then “outted” me? What if I couldn’t find a plausible alibi if I encountered some acquaintance at a gay event? If I fully utilize groups like DYA and GLCS, and places like Out & About, I will have taken a step toward my homosexuality that I can no longer hide in my bottom desk drawer. Sure, I yearn for companionship and comfortable gay friendships. I want to walk down the street, head held high, with my life-long love. I want to talk with my family about what I really did while I was supposedly at the library. Maybe it is the youthful strength of my mental walls that keeps me from breaking my self-induced chains; that keeps me from embracing the gay community in all its richness. Ignorant family? Deep rooted shame? Self-esteem? It certainly isn’t lack of opportunity. Perhaps one day I will arrive at a point where self-acceptance means more than acceptance by others. But for now, I hope everyone struggling with their sexual identity could at least know what I know; that a wonderful gay and lesbian culture awaits us. It’s easy to find, and there are wonderful people to welcome you...even if you need to sit on the park bench and watch for a while. WATERMARK Watermark Media, Inc. ©1994 editor / publisher Tom Dyer layout / managing editor April Gustetter account executive Keith Peterson contributing writers Michael L. Kilgore, G. K. Fowler, Harmony Brenner, Nan Schultz, R. A. Bach, Dimitri Toscas, Jim Crescitelli, Mark Lawhon, Yvonne Vassell, Ken Kundis, Rafael Gasti, Leslea Newman, Rosanne Sloan, Joe Sarano photographers & illustrators Alison Bechdel, Eric Orner, Russell Tucker, student contributors Robert Holland, Katie Messmer, Tera Kenney, Mike Williams CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Although WATERMARK is supported by many fine advertisers, we cannot accept responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles, advertising, or listing is WATERMARK is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or members of such organizations (unless, of course, sexual orientation is stated specifically). WATERMARK is published every second Wednesday, except the first week in January and the second week in July. Subscription rates are $35.00 (third class). The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns, letters and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s owner or management. We reserve the right to edit or reject any material submitted for publication. WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing ads that have such errors. WATERMARK P.O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655 TEL 407.481.2243 FAX 407.481.2246 LETTERS EDITOR The article in the Watermark of Sept. 14 concerning “good fences/neighbors” is somewhat in error and lacking in coverage of the complete story. Your unnamed reporter is incorrect when stating that the fence was constructed “in compliance with a legal settlement agreement between the establishments” (the Parliament House and the Full Moon Saloon). The building permit to construct that fence was obtained by the Parliament House and they alone are responsible for its construction. Patrons of both establishments were quoted as “outraged, calling the action childish and further evidence of divisiveness within the gay community.” They are uninformed - and perhaps the gay media should fill that void... Jeff Campbell Editor’s Note: We apologize for any statements in the “ Fences” article (Issue 1.02) which may be innacurate or misleading. Although spokesmen for the Parliament House and the Full Moon Saloon both indicated that a settlement had been reached over disputed matters, neither party would discuss the nature of the dispute or the settlement. Neither party stated that an agreement had been reached to build a fence. As of September 26, the only building permit presently at or near the fence in question was issued to the Carolina Moon Trailer Park. letters are snbjeet to | editing for content and ||| leiigtli.:Iyetters should be sent to: R0. Box 533655 . Orlando, WL 32853-3655 HEADDRESS BALL: She’s got legs...but who noticed? WATERMARK / September 28,1994 11 VIEWPOINT THE RADICAL RIGHT’S SCHOOL DAZE by Nan Schultz The most daring experiment of American democracy is under attack. America’s public school system, the first in the world to propose liberal (as in “liberating”) arts education for everyone, is the object of an intense and frighteningly successful campaign to undermine its religious neutrality and its pluralistic outlook. So, what? You’re not a teacher; you don’t have any kids in school, or maybe you do. But still, why should you care about what goes on in the public schools? Because they are the site of the religious right’s most successful campaign against, let’s see, what are they calling it this year...Secular Humanism?... Atheistic Socialism?...New Ageism? Well, it doesn’t matter. They mean you. According to Janet L. Jones, writing in the American School Board Journal, groups representing the far-right such as the Christian Coalition, Citizens for Excellence in Education, and Focus on the Family are engaged in a “well-orchestrated cultural war for control of the public schools.” As any good propagandist knows, a successful war calls for an easily identifiable and infinitely evil enemy. In their continuing quest for a sufficiently alarming “scourge of the month,” the leaders of the radical right have run the gamut from the New Math to the New Age. But despite the fickle nature of their hatreds, these warriors have consistently trained their sites on the “homosexual lifestyle” as a primary target. Rest easy, my friends, we may be targets, but we are in good company. Among the individuals and organizations named by various far-right writers as likely to under- mine the morals of America’s youth are Mother Teresa, Ralph Nader, and the Muppets. And I feel I would be remiss if I did not also warn you that according to some on the radical right, the following practices may lead to your moral downfall: aerobics at the Y, positive thinking, net- .. .we may be tabut we are in good company... among.. .Mother Ralph Nade; and the Muppets. working, and the Save the Whales Movement. And you thought homosexuality was your major problem. But seriously...very seriously, the success of these groups is alarming, and increasingly gays and lesbians are their focus. According to Jones, programs which emphasize diversity and promote respect for other cultures, “especially if the curriculum includes information on homosexual lifestyles,” are drawing as much heat from the right as those believed to promote satan-ism and witchcraft. A recent example is the Children of the Rainbow curriculum, removed from New York City public schools through the action of the national Christian Coalition and the local Family Defense Council. Most prominently, they cited information on gay and lesbian parents as morally objectionable material. The radical right is not large, but it is well-organized, well-funded and immeasurably aided by our ignorance and apathy. If you don’t believe it, consider the following case-in-point. In December of 1992, a fund-raising letter from Citizens for Excellence in Education (CEE), a group determined to restore its version of Christian values to education, asked its members for money (a measly $15,000!) to “work for legislation to outlaw the teaching of homosexuality/lesbian-ism as a normal lifestyle.” In March of this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Reauthorization of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act” (ESEA) with an amendment (proposed by M. Hancock, R-Missouri) that “prohibits educational agencies from using money in the bill to distribute material to students that encourage or support homosexuality as a positive lifestyle.” Not long after, the bill passed the Senate with a similar amendment, sponsored in that body by none other than Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina). A further amendment allows local school districts to determine the acceptability of educational programs, which is very good in districts where an educated and alert electorate have put on the school board those with children’s best interests at heart, and very bad in places like our own Lake County where three of five school board members have ties to the Citizens for Excellence in Education. What can you do? First of all, call your elected officials and let them know that the Helms-Hancock amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is unacceptable. The bill is currently in conference committee and can be stopped there. Call (202) 224-3121 and speak to your congress-persons, senators, or committee members William Ford (D-Michigan) or Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts). Second, recognize that the radical right is your enemy. They are not going to go away. Their current strategy is local elections, especially low-turnout races like school board and county and city commissions. Inform yourself, particularly regarding these low-level, low-glamour positions. And by all means, vote. FEMME FATALE by Michael C. Kilgore One of the best parts of being gay is the opportunity (some might say duty) we have to create and re-create ourselves. Having few positive role models and usually no one to talk with while growing up, when it came to sexual orientation, our inner voices were our main mentors. One result of this isolation is our originality. When it comes to those pivotal decisions in life, both creativity and cussedness is a gay hallmark: how we relate to others, how we express ourselves, and for some of us, most importantly, what we wear. As a community we have perfected the theater of dress. There is every sort of drag conceivable. From fashion fetishist to radical faery, diesel dyke to lipstick lesbian, leather devotee to fitness freak, conservative suit to screaming drag queen, each of us has a need to create that perfect expression of who we are, or who we would like to be. Sometimes the results are outrageous, sometimes droll, but almost always there is a level of consciousness about the way lesbians and gay men dress that is rarely evidenced in the nongay world. So whenever I encounter a gay brother or sister in some extreme manifestation of dress, I regard their effort with both appreciation and respect, occasionally awe. One of the best of these creations whom I’ve encountered recently was Carmella Marcella Garcia, whose show I stumbled into late one night at the now-shuttered Tracks Orlando. A sixty something, but timeless, drag queen, her act was polished in the same way furniture picks up a patina from admiring touches. Having rubbed up against countless audiences, her patter never missed a beat, intuitively going for the jugulars of the obviously self-conscious in the crowd. Unlike many less talented performers, however, her comments were never mean spirited. Her barbs were more like an arrow waiting to fly: the tension released as frequently by turning the remark back on herself as on the hapless bar patron. Her between costume changes go-go boys were squeaky-clean, polished dancers with good choreography. Her costumes were outstanding—a half-century of sewing lessons and deep closets were hot lost on the appreciative audience. Picking up her dollar tips as she moved effortlessly from patron to patron, her show was professional, well-staged and witty: in effect, drag at its outrageous best. So it was with some surprise that I saw her pause, after receiving one of her tips followed by a whisper. The man who gave her the $20 bill was young, drop dead gorgeous. He was with an older gentleman. Both had expensive designer clothes. After the tip and the whisper, the young man retreated to his older companion. Raising the twenty to the crowd she announced, “It’s .. .someone yelled “Roll, bitch, roll. ”.. .Suddenly, the show had moved from performance to public spectacle. his birthday, and he’d like to have the audience choose something special for the next number. So what do you want?” Anticipating that people would yell out a favorite lip-sync song, I waited for the first voice. But there were no words. Instead there was a buzz, almost like a generator charging, which became louder until finally someone yelled out, “Roll, bitch, roll.” Others picked up on the phrase, and soon almost everyone had joined in the chant, “Roll, bitch, roll.” What had happened? Suddenly, the show had moved from performance to public spectacle. But always a trooper, and it was, after all, a twenty, Carmella began a shimmy which ended with a few turns on the floor in her sequined gown. Looking a little ruffled, but none the worse for wear, she started to resume her show, only to have the young man return with yet another bill and whisper. Clutching the new bill in her hand, Carmella stared first at the older man wearing the Versace shirt, and then the bill. Almost inaudibly, she announced to the crowd, “This is almost half a month’s rent. Do you know what this means to an old drag queen?” The older man nodded at her, and the young man returned with another whisper. Without knowing the request, the audience tensed. Like piranha swimming through blood, they’d had a taste but now wanted flesh. Carmella, addressing only the older man, said quietly, “You don’t want that. I’m an ugly old bitch. I’m nothing without these clothes.” His response was only a nod. The crowd went wild, “Take it off, take it all off.” Plunging the bill into her bosom, the music shifted, and Carmella began her strip. The crowd chanted and cat-called to the beat of the music. The contract was sealed. Time took on a freeze frame character as Carmella removed the first layer of her identity. Every nuance of her striptease was captured on the large screen video as the crowd continued to chant. First the dress, then the slip, then the heels, then the bra and underwear, and finally, the long red wig. From the comer of my eye, I noticed the designer duo leaving the room. In front of us stood a flabby, older man with only wisps of gray hair remaining on his balding head. All that remained of Carmella was the red wig covering his genitals, and the flash of green between his breasts. The crowd grew quiet. What now? Looking at himself on the giant video screen, he announced in a steady, sure voice, “You wanted a freak show, you got a freak show. Not a pretty sight.” And with that he left the stage, leaving the remains of Carmella on the floor behind. As the audience began to disperse, I sat stunned. What had just happened here? What code had been broken? Why had we been so eager to humiliate one of our own? And who, exactly, were the freaks? H For Christ’s sake, open your mouths; don’t you people get tired of being stepped on? u■ ■ T80F WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 12 COLDUieU. BANKER □ Residential Real Estate Inc. (800) 598-5060 (407) 325-2218 ----------------Lake Drive Behind the gate of this Lakefront Paradise lies over an acre of towering oaks and pines. With 155ft on the Conway chain of lakes this home offers spectacular views, serenity and quality of construction throughout.Priced below appraisal $399,900 Rlix Power River Chase Drive------------ Like a model! Home has been well maintained and is ready to move into. The easy lifestyle is echoed in the large casual kitchen, breakfast bar and greatroom plan. Screened porch leisure too!!! $85,000 Lake Como Park----------------- Exquisite model of “olde ” Orlando bungalow. All of yesterday’s charm and 90’snew. Oversized, fenced in lot framed with huge oaks and mature plantings to keep you cool in the summer. This home offered at an astounding $99,000 HIV+? THINKING OF SELLING A POLICY? READ ON! \>er Whether you want to realize a dream or just take care of your health or finances, you owe it to yourself to call today for no obligation information and application. CALLUS (407)426-9760 THE LEATHER CLOSET 498 N0RANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32805 407/649-2011 • FAX 407/649-4116 OPEN NOON - 2 AM DAILY Leather Wear Accessories Pride Items Tee-Shirts Swim Wear Body Jewelry Cards & More Custom Leather-Work Done on Premises WATERMARK / September 28,1994 13 Theatre Review. by limitil flcscas! SIX DEGREES ©F Ain ATiriki Orlando,^eatmDowhi)^ ing and cbntrovifersial |^ic|igp|;; Most of die time, Ifsjnst plain oP :' “Good Thea^ran^;|i^liWi: :;; of Separation i$no exception. ' This production can be described in ; (the kandmski^paint&g |b«b^jebb- 'of ;J^;.|i^^||||| p^ihMtai ordered, and the back is abstwt)»| Director Tim :|l|i||:r|||||||| stirred up a world where reality and illusion run back to back, just like the Kandinski spinning above the. set; On one side the produc-| tion is well ordered and direct, and ; on the reverse Side it’s an abstract collage of lost dreams and values, hidden desires, and terrify ing buj man experience.; |; Of course, John Guam's script lays out quite an exceptipnal rbad : map for all of this to happen, but Muldrew’s personal vision ocea^ ..stonally; succeeds in pushing j Guare’s play even were monients when 1 wished llrr;, a little more time to see both sides : ally wrenching. A little more time to ' see the- “backside” of these events ■ wouki bate driven the emotions home. -^e bpsi stkc^s^tej ee$ of the evening were consistent %jth, this' two-sided vi$jpi|^e? characters became 1 lying kan-f dinskis. As Ouisa, the upperclass wife and mother, Peg O’Keef was direct and witty, then desperate and yearning, revealing a woman uncomfortable with who she had : M. Wegman was pb^ssed Mth : wealth and fame, but also consumed with a desire to be real and creative. Ill As the unexpected intruder Paul, Jim Braswell was intelligent . Continued Page 21 Leigh Shannon, Forever Young Florist Bruce Ground, Gaiy Bailey Art Grindle, Cameron Matthews, Co-Chair Sam Odom^ Mardi Gras’ King Apollo XVII Erin Sommers Commissioner Fran Pignone Dancer On Saturday, September 17, over 700 gowned and tuxedoed partiers converged on the Hilton Walt Disney World Village for the Headdress Ball. Fittingly, this year’s Headdress was dedicated to Sam Ewing and Hattie Wolfe for helping make the five-year-old fundraiser for the Hope & Help Center one of the most anticipated events of both gay and straight social seasons. And the most fun. ^ Where else could you join a dazzling array of local luminaries, including Linda Chapin and Fran Pignone (sitting at opposite sides of the room), to watch an amazing display of costumes, pyrotechnics, half-naked dancers and singers...and 99%-naked Stephanie Shippae! The centerpiece (no pun intended) of the event, the Floral Headdress competition,was captured by Greg Brown and B-Wear. PHOTOS BY RUSSELL TUCKER ♦ Debra Sanders, Co-Chair M. VVhyne Gebhart, Sam Ewing, County Chaiiman Linda Chapin, Hattie Wolfe Steve Cummings WATERMARK / September 28,1994 14 ARTFUL LIVING SPEC'S, OMNI MUSIC AND RECORD HUT OR CALL: (407) 839-3900 Fai?tasn?a Productions Presents The Music and Comedy of SANDRA BERNHARD Live On Stage TUESDAY • OCTOBER 11 Doors Open at 8PM Show at 9PM Tickets On Sale Now at The Club Box Office and JAixEd MeM AT THE MOVIES: Caught David O’Russell’s Spanking the Monkey at Enzian during its brief run in Orlando. This low budget film won the Audience Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Essentially a coming-of-age movie with a twist, Spanking deals with the taboo subject of incest. Newcomers Jeremy Davies and Alberta Watson bring the characters of an MIT student and his bed-ridden mother to life...the audience is simultaneously disturbed and amused by these characters. The outstanding performances of the two leads make this an unforgettable character study that haunts you after you leave the theatre. An impressive debut for director O’Russell. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC: So often it seems movie soundtracks are nothing more than a compilation of songs you don’t even remember were in the film. Not so with the disturb-ing-as-the-movie soundtrack to Natural Born Killers, Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails fame) produced this CD and, as you might expect from Reznor, it pushes the envelope. Spliced between pieces of dialogue from the film are songs from Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Nine Inch Nails, and Jane’s Addiction. The experience you get from listening to this soundtrack matches the film (if you’re up to reliving it). Track for track/frame by frame.. .a rarity and a gem. Isn’t it great that CD prices are finally coming down in O-Town? Following the lead of discounters Circuit City and Best Buy, Peaches is actually slashing the prices on their Top Twenty releases to $10.99 (CD) and the unbelievable $6.99 (cassettes). Now we can take some risks and try out some new music. AND ON VIDEO: Recently rented Rock Hudson's Home Movies. This has got to be the cheesiest piece of trash ever assembled to cannibalize a dead celeb!! First of all, let’s make one thing clear: there are no home movies.. .just clips from his films slapped together in a way to make it SO OBVIOUS HE WAS GAY. Gee-whiz.. .maybe a revelation to someone who spent the 70s and 80s in a coma. This video is so incredibly bad that it verges on camp, but it’s simply too awful to merit even that assignment. The absolutely creepy monotone narration by Eric Farr, the poor film quality, and worse yet, the evidence that the closeted star was nothing more than a once-handsome-but-mediocre actor amounts to an unbearable, unforgivable 90-minute video. One moment worth seeing: when the smarmy narrator from hell bursts into song - singing, yes, I’m not kidding - “I’m Too Sexy”! YUKH e Mostly uNPAbvbiAb Social rfJPe ETHAN GREEN BY &rvr&sv O^ESTiFeKoUSIX ETHAN FELLED BYTfcE ffNSET OF SEVERE NMAE-FORGETiTiS. WHOEVER HE ] 15,EThAn, HE certmhly isn’t Worth LViNG »N the Street over.. i ^ Ethan? , = ETHAN,IT’5 ME, - Your NEXTpooR 1 NEi6HL°R, CbiSLAiNf. ETHAN? : UanYoVHfARM£ ?/ r- VTRHYnsE VJ‘TH / >v" 'S VfM-VoL'Nf V jSML ©ust Moments ago, he was a Fumc- TioNiNG,Social,MEMBER of ooR SPEci’eS. Now HE’S Furiously Avoiding THE GLANCE oF THAT GuY AT ThE GYM WHoSE NAME HE CHRONICALLY UNLEARNS. BomoRRoW HE'S A SAFE BET TO Fumble the name of a co-worker’j NFW BAbY.. SoME iRRESiSTibLE FoRcE i*S PESTiNEATo STRIKE HIM DVMbWiTH AMHESiA TJPiE NE#T TiME HE’S ConFronT-eA whvb CHARLOTTE'S NEW AMiGA. ETHAN.XV* GETTING PRETTYSit* of” your MtSoGYHiSTi't iwabilit/ Yo £E|*8ER NY GIRLFRIENDS’* NAME [.YE AHPLiKEVouREMEMbER AUMVloVfRy NAMfSj ©ESEARcJliEtfS AREWorkiNG ’RpUnA TAe clock To SolvE TfciSRi’AUE.. HIS PNA STRUCTURE SHOWS (A THIRD "SELFAkSoRSEA’^ .GENE... THAT CONFIRMS THE EXTERNAL DATAWENE Gathered. Hi'S CAT SAT5 HE OFTEN Forgets To CHANGE v BOX EANWiiiLE,Ti»E CONDITIONCoMES ANP GOES... .© gTEntirely Afc&iTKAfciLY... [ETi ENNE .,BiGHTPfRo|iA MONTREAL1? ] Ires,..I’M SoRRY,. HAVE Wf MFT?j WEU (covGH)NoT REALLY. I WAS St iNG BEHIND YOU 'N LINE AT A "(PfoPLES DRUG” ABOUT IF MONTHS A6o. I READ ^Youg license when You went t<> pay. WATERMARK / September 28,1994 15 IN REVIEW |yL ME AND MY GIRL Theatre Review by Dimitri Toscas Out I went to enjoy an evening at the Civic Theatre, for the MainStage Production of Me and My Girl. I had never heard the music or seen the show before, so my outlook was fresh. Besides, everyone knows Civic’s “Opening-of-the-Season Musical” is traditionally...well...BIG! So, that’s what I expected. The set was big. Sometimes too big, and too clumsy, and not painted very well, but it still was a rather impressive thing: turning around, and flying in, and rolling on, and opening up. In fact, it was the first thing to really make an impression. But this show can’t revolve around the set, it revolves around a traditional, Musical Theatre subject: love. A charming, yet crass couple take on the upper class, when Bill Snibson (Roy Alan) discovers he’s heir to royalty. He tries to adapt and gain their approval. The lovers are torn apart. Then, after Bill’s “Girl”, Sally (Gail Bartell) goes through a Pygmalionesque transformation, they gain the acceptance of the upper crust. Sounds like a familiar formula, right? An easy sell.. Unfortunately, the couple never really bubbled over with the excitement of young love. Oh, don’t get me wrong, Alan and Bartell were adequate centerpieces for this high spirited song-and-dance show. Roy’s physical comedy showed a strong technical agility, as did Gail’s vocal work. Individually, they maintained energy while displaying their theatrical strengths, but they never really came together as a genuinely charming couple, and that’s the basic foun- dation of this piece. Even though that fundamental base wasn’t established from the get go, it didn’t stop the charm of this production from shining through. It was found in the great performances of the supporting roles and ensemble. Key Howard, as the drunk Sir John Tremayne, was astonishingly well grounded. Audrey McMahon’s portrayal of Lady Jaqueline Carstone had the style and sophistication of a high class, 1930’s vamp, with legs for days and a great beige costume in the second act. Gregg Birkhimer seemed more than comfortable as the high class, thinned lipped, nail breaking, almost “ishy” Gerald Bolingbroke, and with only a few brief moments on stage, Hilda Philips, as the eavesdropping, loud screaming Mrs. Brown, developed a character that nearly stopped the show. But, hands down, one of the funniest moments of the evening came from Jay Schoonover, who caught the audience off guard, as Herbert Parchester. Well deserving of the applause he received in the middle of his musical number, his bouncing, skipping, light-in-the-ol’-loafers routine was quite endearing. The charm of the show gleams on the faces of this supporting cast and through some big numbers, like “The Lambeth Walk”, but that only made it more obvious that the core relationship of the show was missing. Director Alan Bruun could have helped the lead couple with some intimate blocking and deeper character development. Gail Bartell and Roy Alan star in and My Girl Also, the contrast and tension between classes was not defined well enough to give us a sense of struggle. At moments, like in the Kitchen scene, the servants appeared more refined than the upper class, which more than likely was due to the efforts of choreographer, Paula K. Gale. A little more balancing may have corrected these fundamental problems, but in the end, Alan’s direction moved the show along at a nice quick pace...until the end, when it came to a screeching halt. Something snaps at the very end of this production, leaving the audience with a bit of whiplash. The finale quickly approaches. All the company rushes center stage. Boy gets Girl back. Big climax. Then, silence. Big set change. Big costume change. Finally, when all that is done...sing the big showstopper, again. Sometimes BIG isn’t good. This is one of those times. Everyone knows what to expect from Civic’s opening productions, but the opener for Civic’s new season came crashing in on itself, right at the last moment, leaving Me and My Girl a bit shy of that tradition. NEXT ISSUE available October 12; CAYS AND THE LOCAL MEDIA: why we make them uneasy TOM WOODARD: how his landmark lawsuit changed his life SecondStage Series presents by Elizabeth Swados September 29 thru October 16,1994 Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm CALL NOW! 896-7365 SEASON TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE! CUP ‘N’ SAVE • THEY’RE A MUST-SEE • THIS AD BELONGS ON EVERY GAY REFRIGERATOR • JUST SEE ’EM! I------------------------------------1 ! 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Cruises - Cay Rodeos - Cay Mardi Cras - Mr Leather and so mudh more Civic Theatre Complex • 1001 East Princeton Street Orlando Loch Haven Park WATERMARK / September 28,1994 16 A Gay American Southern Style Saloon | Open Dancing \ Wed^\esday -Pnday - Saturday & Sunday ] (Zounfry & Western Dance Lessons w/ Tern & <^d .ALn is Wednesday 8-11 Saturdays 8:30 - 10:30 Drink Specials Nightly Happy Hour 12PM - 8PM Open Daily 12PM - 2AM 500 No. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, FI (407) 640-8725 E Q | ■s E Electronic Mail / Live Online Chat "Get Connected!" With The Southeast's Largest "Community” B.B.S. £ "U c iZL 300/1200 / 2400 Baud 24 Hours • User Friendly 3 t 10 3 a. Hove Your Computer Call (407) 645-4833 System Password: WATERMARK Try It For 10 Days - FREE!! This service is for Adults Only -18 and over Customer Assistance (Voice): (407) 645-4135 Info flbocit Community Events YOUR ROAD FROM HERE TO INFINITE.. BEGINS WITH RE/MAX METRO PROPERTIES AND SOUTHERN STATES FUNDING Dreams really CAN come true — Call Lew Brooks with RE/MAX METRO PROPERTIES at 1 -800-USR-EMAX Doug Butler with SOUTHERN STATES FUNDING at 407-645-4848 Putting it all together for YOUl WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 17 r\ / 4 %lSi§£EsSSH'^^.r! '10>n7 „ m - I remove the ,&\ llq pirst call on the list i Btu^ed cast and that dtink^f '“hat an addition ^eCre-conUolled ^ mwmmmmmm ri\z and a very “pcrson Chat8eimli!P',ecdocktail Honr! ^ beginning „f Happy Hour! Ate you followin8 me ^i^sasTsss . flntp What’s wrong ,, „,.- -. .--!?£ WSWS'S-®-^ ^S^r^ate'.iased, STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS T The most recent issue of Vanity Fair features an article about Grace Kelly. Flash! She was a human being. She had weight problems. She had a difficult menopause. She had problems with her children. She and the Prince (whom she called “the Dodo”) grew apart. She drank sometimes. And for many years she was the most breathtakingly beautiful woman in the world. Only Audrey Hepburn has since offered the same level of grace, elegance, and class. Think for a second. Can you name anyone today who even compares? Grace Kelly died the same day as Anwar Sadat. A very, very bad day. We wish the Vanity Fair article had more pictures. ▼ Speaking of beauty, have you seen pictures of RuPaul “unmasked”? We wish The Advocate article had fewer pictures. ▼ Whatever movie studio is responsible for It’s Pat, the full-length feature about Julia Sweeney’s androgynous Saturday Night Live character, has decided to pull it before it even opens. And after massive prepublicity. Hope they hadn’t made too many talking “Pat” dolls. Pull the drawstring and it says, “This is my friend Kelly.” ▼ We are sadly underwhelmed by this year’s Broadway Series at Bob Carr. Four, count them, four revivals: Jesus Christ Superstar, Hello, Dolly!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Grease. Then there’s Phantom, making the entire series musicals. Sadly underwhelmed. ▼ This new book is being advertised everywhere. Bob and Rod! “A stunning, landmark portrait of love between two men.” Is it somehow different than the many other stunning, landmark portraits of love between Bob and Rod? Is arching angularly off large pieces of driftwood with no clothes on what men in love do? Blech. ▼ Baba Wawa interviewed Babs Bush on television recently. Baba quoted Babs in her new book as saying that A1 Gore was “dogmatic.” Baba then asked Babs what “dogmatic” means. Babs didn’t know. Babs was highly overrated. ▼ Overheard at the Headdress Ball... Erin Somers has been approached about syndication. Big surprise. ▼ Headdress Ball Co-Chair Sam Odom was a little nervous when he found himself seated near County Chair Linda Chapin while the almost naked Stephanie Shippae waxed philosophic about her “titties and dick.” Was Mrs. Chapin amused, or was she “appalled with two p’s?” We think the former. She busted a gut when Stephanie ended her number by declaring that it was time to “go backstage and Free Willy.” TRANSITS & LUNATIONS BY MARK LAWHON, MARA ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Your efforts at work are still being unexpectedly and undeservedly scrutinized. This will pass, but keep a low profile, stay focused, and let the bullshit roll off your back. The New Moon on the 5th may reveal some innovative compromises. Just don’t go too far. If a parent decides to move in with you, be gracious but firm (you can do that, Aries). Don’t get involved in your friends’ messy finances. TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Heaps of energy around family and home. Like too much Prozac, this could lead to agitation; particularly between boys and their Mommies and girls and their Daddies. Its only temporary, so chill ‘cause you’ll never be able to take back those spoken words. Your philosophical and spiritual realignment is well under way. Partnerships require every bit of your limited patience until January, 1995. GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): C’mon, make whoopee! Good times are in store as the New Moon trines the Sun. It will pass, but take advantage because in this challenging world, thirty good days are still thirty good days. Double your fun by telling your friends everything - in great detail. They’ll go green. Just don’t loan them any money. CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): There may be war on the homefront early this month...or at least a skirmish. The end result will be positive, so let the bodies fall where they may. If possible, make a Gemini your Secretary of Defense. And remember, war is romantic. Use it. If you’ve been procrastinating on legal or school stuff, now is the time to dive in. LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Phew...it’s hot. All kinds of fire sign action, and it all points to dirt. Real estate. So secure that mortgage. Close that deal. As your realtor has no doubt told you.. .for the last six months.. .NOW is the time to make that dream a reality. There are always glitches, but don’t be dissuaded. Commissions should be earned. VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): You are the master manipulator. You know it. You can’t help it. But like a good chess player, you must think several moves ahead to avoid negative consequences. A word of advice: sidestep any discussions about who spent what for whose benefit. It’s a trap, and you may be a few moves behind. LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): Brace yourself, Librans. You’re in the middle of an aspect that occurs only once every 19 years! There is tremendous potential for personal growth and reevaluation. But it will be like liver.. .looks bad, tastes bad, but sooo good for you. Consult your Leo and Sagittarius brothers and sisters, but focus on yourself...like that’s ever been a problem for you (cough). SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Your “fear nothing” facade is just that - but you need it right now. You have deep feelings that need evaluating, and as you attend to that, your emotions are uncomfortably close to the surface. The process is worthwhile however, so gut it out, Scorpio...and trust your fine-tuned intuition. Lingering affairs of the heart may finally be resolved. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Many things are ending rapidly, but this will leave you with a clear path. Don’t be scared or deterred. Spend time with friends while you experience this transition. As a constant in your life, they’ll be of great comfort to you now. Look closely at these people for useful examples of how to.. .or how not to.. .adapt. CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Are you, by chance, noticing that your best friend also has nice legs? Acute butt? Jupiter and Venus have co-joined, so this special relationship is protected. Take a chance. Friends CAN become lovers. Meanwhile, bend that friend’s ear about all that crap going on at work, including your boss’s unexpected lack of candor. AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): You say po-tA-to, she says po-tAH-to; you say retirement account, he says hot-tub/jacuzzi with deluxe decking. This is an excellent time for you and your partner to resolve issues regarding differences in basic values. Be prepared to compromise, but don’t commit to any final decisions until after the Full Moon on the 19th. PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): What would you say to O.J. to cheer him up? “Accentuate the positive.”? “You’re lawyer has nice suits.”? Look hard, Pisces, and you too will find things to feel good about. If nothing else, compare your life to those of your friends, then be supportive...even condescending if that’s what it takes to make you feel better. But don’t push it too far. “Detachments” are highlighted this month. Mark Lawhon is certified by the American Federation of Astrologers,and is available for consultations by calling 407-894-1506. WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 18 OUR CULTURE Serving The Needs Of Our Community For Over Twelve Years 1 Connie Lancaster Sales Consultant The Service You Deserve The Finest Selection of New or Pre-Owned Mercedes Benz Other New and Pre-Owned Models Available ▼ The Destiny off We continues at The Acting Studio through Sunday, Oct. 16. Destiny is Larry Kramer’s 1993 Obie Award-winning sequel to his earlier AIDS play, The Normal Heart. Tickets are $12; seniors and students $10. Call (407) 425-2281 for tickets. y The 5th Annual International Pride film festival in Tampa begins on Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 9. The festival will be held at the historic Tampa Theatre, as well as other venues. Highlights include: an appearance by Perry Watkins on Monday, Oct. 3, in conjunction with SIS: The Perry Watkins Story, the award-winning video about Watkins’ 15 years as an openly gay man in the U.S. Army; the Central Florida premiere of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, on Sunday, Oct. 9; appearances by comic and singing duo Romanovsky and Phillips and Orlando’s Improvabilities on Sunday, Oct. 9. T The Orlando Gay Chorus begins their fall season with a concert and party at the Maitland Art Center on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 6 PM. Recording artists, The Rhythm Method, an a capella women’s group from Boulder, Colorado, will also perform. Tickets are $15.00. Call (407) 645-5866 for more information. V Lewis Routh’s outrageous WhorCS Off a Different Color returns to Orlando after a five year hiatus. The off-beat comedy played to packed houses at the Parliament House last time around, and in fact, the play is set on the Parliament House stage, as six gay actors rehearse a play based on a Greek myth about male/male love. According to Routh, the play is a “fun-filled romp that still packs a punch with its message.” Tickets are on sale now and limited to 100 seats per performance. Opening night, Thu. Oct. 13, will be a benefit for Gay & Lesbian Community Services. For more information, call (407) 521-8134. T GTCS sponsors their first annual GAY-TO^Tf f N, Sun. Oct 30, at the Orlando Marriott Downtown (formerly the Omni). There will be a cash bar, a raffle, and a costume contest. Festivities begin at 8 PM. Admission is $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers, and $35 at the door. Call (407) 425-4527 for tickets or more information. T Parents FLAG, Delta Youth Alliance (DYA), and the Rainbow Democratic Club (RDC) are selling a new and expanded 1995 Entertainment Coupon Book. This year’s book contains hundreds of coupons offering savings of up to 50% off purchases at restaurants, businesses, and entertainment outlets. Coupon books are only $30. Many who purchased books last year claim huge savings. Proceeds can be designated for the organization of your choice. To place an order call Allene Baus at (407) 896-0689, or send your check for $32 to: “Coupon Book,” P.O. Box 141312, Orlando FL 32814-1312. Glauser Mercedes Benz 6828 S. Tamiami Trail • Sarasota, Florida (81 3) 923-3441 Dykes To (Batch Out For virtual heroine VENTURE5 I interface INTO I A LOCAL CAFFEINE DEN. i E/ALISON BEEHDEL PI '5UP, JULBSP GIMME A cojble yocHA latte: WTH A SHoT or AV4NGO, 5om£ LAPPEDCREMA./WD A UfYLE C/Nk/AMOU. The Civic Theatre of Central Florida opens its SecondStage season with the cabaret musical Nightclub Cantata by Elizabeth Swados. Conceived as a musical revue, Cantata features the poems of such writers as Carson McCullers, Pablo Neruda, Sylvia Plath, Frank O’Hara and Delmore Schwartz set to music by Swados. Eight performers and two musicians bring the show’s 18 musical numbers to life under the direction of Orlando Opera Director of Education Robin Jensen. Cantata runs from Sep. 29-Oct. 16. Ticket prices are $12. Call the Civic Theatre Box Office for reservations. (407) 896-7365. DEEE LITE & AT THE CLUI I mean, WE used to be the Young PYKESP REMEMBER? 1HE TugYfB-SIVE5, -THE AVANT-GAEPE.THE UP-AMD-CoMlNC, ' WHAT HAPPENED ? TH NEW BABES LOOK AT ME LIKE I M anINJUPAIKE salesman.' IF they look at me at DOrJ'TASKME- r HAVEN’T 5EEN 50NYA IV A MONTH. SHE$ HITCHHIKING Tt)KH)TH/M-PEST WTh A HAZIEST MAKER She ASET IN THE W\05H PT /KNOW, IT’5 NOT UKB MNP GETTING CXDfR PER Sc. i wouuw’t relive my Twenties FOR A MILLION BUCKS, AND 1 KEJDA UKE THESE LiTTLE Un£5 r’M GETtiNG ARounPM/ EYES. i r s Jotr,All oe a suppen , i'm Retro-pop-funk-dance band, Deee Lite will perform at The Club on Friday, Sep. 30. Polyester and platform heels optional. Tickets are $15, and showtime is midnight. Then on Tuesday, Oct. 11, Sandra Bernhard will bring her “Excuses for Bad Behavior”tour to The Club. Bernhard, who plays a lesbian character on ABC’s Rosanne, will be backed by her band, The Strap Ons. A self-appointed chronicler of the times, Bernhard is expected to share her life while flirting with issues in true Sandra style, “sassily and with a big (but always entertaining) mouth.” Doors open at 8 PM. Tickets are $20 and are available at Ticketmaster or The Club Box Office. Those who have purchased tickets for the previously scheduled Tupperware show must refund and rebuy new tickets. h)>) Comedy Central repeats TV history with its second queer comedy special, “Out There II,” debuting October 11, on National Coming Out Day. “Out There II” will be hosted by Orlando’s Amanda Bearse, and will feature performances by today’s hottest gay comics. The hour-long show will feature a mix of stand-up comedy, comedy performances and celebrity roll-ins including Whoopi Goldberg, Cybill Shepherd and Patrick Stewart. Performers include Karen Williams, Frank Maya, Maggie Casella, Scott Silverman, Mark Davis, Kate Clinton, Elvira Kurt and John McGivern. Check local TV listings for exact times. WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 19 OUR CULTURE 29 30 1 CM CO 4 5 RAINBOW DEEE LITE AT THE ORLANDO GAY TAMPA GAY FILM DELTA YOUTH jjjijij O.B.B.A. Orlando’s FAMILY VALUES. CONNECTION. CLUB. See article, CHORUS. See Local FEST. Featuring ALLIANCE. Support largest gay & lesbian Gay & lesbian radio Group for teens & p. 18. Color, p. 18. Queer Animation Fest group for gay, lesbian bowling league. 9 PM. on 91.5 FM. Talk, young adults from 18- at 4 PM. See Local & bisexual youth 644-2244. music, news, inter- 25. GLCS at 7:30 PM. ORLANDO Color, p. 18. under 22. 6 PM. views, community 425-7450. FRONTRUNNERS. 236-9415. events. 8-9 PM. 646- 9 AM. See Oct. 3. 2398. LUCKY LADIES ORLANDO BOWLING. Fair OUT LOUD RADIO. FRONTRUNNERS. ORLANDO Lanes Indian Hills. See Oct. 8. Meet at the red pagoda FRONTRUNNERS. 6:30 PM. 293-8849. GLBL. Bowling at Fair Lanes Indian Hills. 831-7171. at Lake Eola. 6:30 PM. 857-1777. 7:30 PM. See Oct. 3. THR FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED o> 7 8 9 10 11 12 MBA MEETING. THEATRE OUT LOUD. CENTRAL || GAYSKATE. NATIONAL FAMILY VALUES. Downtown Radisson. SELECTIONS. Lesbigay talk radio. FLORIDA BEARS. Semoran Skateway in COMING OUT DAY. See Oct. 5. 6:30 PM. 420-2182. The Destiny of Me. 1300 AM in Cocoa; Full Moon Saloon. Fern Park. 9:15 PM. 1600 AM in Orlando 4:30 PM. 657-1817. 425-4527. SANDRA ORLANDO THE Six Degrees of 4-7 PM. 290-1600. BERNHARD AT FRONTRUNNERS. IMPROVABILITIES. Separation. TAMPA GAY FILM DELTA YOUTH THE CLUB. See 7:30 PM. See Oct. 3. Eola Theatre. 8:30 PM. ORLANDO FEST CLOSING ALLIANCE. article p. 18. 521-7499. Me & My Girl. FRONTRUNNERS. PARTY. See Local See Oct. 3. 9 AM. See Oct. 3. Color, p. 18. OUT THERE II ON LADIES BOWLING. Nightclub Cantata. ORLANDO COMEDY See Sep. 29. BOWLING. FRONTRUNNERS. CENTRAL. See Oct. 1. 6:30 PM. See Oct. 3. See article p. 18. RAINBOW CONNECTION. TENNIS. See p. 22. BOWLING. See Sep. 29. See Oct. 4. THR FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED Q: Is one of you “butch” and the other “femme”? A: Yes , but we trade off every time we roll over. A commonly asked question of lesbians (and the answer you may never hear) from the book, LESBIAN LISTS OFF-BROADWAY AT CIVIC 1994 - '95 SecondStage Series ms September 29 thru October 16,1994 Fast-paced, fun and fascinating! November 3 thru 20, 1994 Wacky, weird and wonderful! January 19 thru February 5, 1995 A compelling evening of theatre! TERRA March 23 thru April 9,1995 Gripping and poignant! THE IH U 4 THEATRES The Best of OFF BROADWAY! June 8 thru 25, 1995 A comic romp with a feminist sensibility. (Group Rates Available) GALL FOR TICKETS NOW 896-7365 BECOME A CIVIC SUBSCRIBER TODAY FOR ONLY $50 AND SAVE! CIVIC THEATRE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA • 1001 EAST PRINCETON STREET • ORLANDO, FL 32803 • 407-896-7365 WATERMARK / September 28, 1994 20 MARKETPLACE EICHBERG From Page 1 their family and friends, and to teach them to lead powerful lives.” At that time, he points out, “there was such resistance to coming out... to being visible.” Graduates from The Experience went on to help found the Gay Games, the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), the Stop AIDS Project, and many local community awareness programs. A component of each was the importance of coming out and living pridefully. But for Eichberg, the need to motivate gays and lesbians to come out crystallized at the ’87 “March on Washington.” As he walked among the estimated half-million in attendance, Eichberg conducted a three-question survey: Are you out to your family? Are you out to your friends? Are you out at work? “Almost everyone I talked to said they were not. So I took this message home with me and decided to work toward putting coming out squarely at the forefront of the gay and lesbian movement.” The driving vision, and for Eichberg there is always a vision, was that “it would be OK to be gay before the year 2000.” Eichberg points out that the AIDS epidemic had a paradoxical effect on his vision. “On the one hand, AIDS turned attention away from the issue of visibility and toward ad- Rob Eichberg, Co-Founder of National Coming Out Day dressing the crisis at hand. But AIDS also drew many, willingly or not, out of the closet.” Rock Hudson is the most obvious example. In October, 1988, the first National Coming Out Day was celebrated in 16 states. According to Eichberg, the reception was mixed. While the gay press and most activists and community leaders were enthusiastic, negative reaction came from two fronts. Many who were already comfortably out thought the concept was silly and unnecessary. Author Randy Shilts and Outweek editor Gabriel Rotello fell into this camp; both later told Eichberg they were glad he had not listened to them. Others were angry, feeling like they were being pushed out. For many in this group, National Coming Out Day was an unwanted reminder of rationalization and failed courage. That first year, only Oprah used the event to bring attention to the impact of the closet on gay lives. But in 1990, Eichberg published Coming Out: An Act Of Love, now widely recognized as essential gay reading. By then, Eichberg and National Coming Out Day were in great demand on TV talk shows and in the gay and straight press. By 1992, Co-Chairs Eichberg and Jean O’Leary had turned the running of National Coming Out Day over to the HRCF Foundation. It is presently recognized in all 50 states. One of Eichberg’s goals was always to convince celebrities to come out publicly. It’s happened. Since 1988, a previously unimaginable lineup of high-profile individuals has talked openly about being homosexual, demonstrating courage and offering role models for millions of clos- ACCOUNTANT CATERING a •Monthly Accounting •Financial Statements •Tax Service (Individual, Corporate, Partnership, Estate) Barber & Latto Certified Public Accountants 639 Ramona Lane (West Colonial & Ramona) Orlando, FL 32805 (407) 843-9582 ACCOUNTANT FRACASSI & ASSOCIATES Certified Public Accountant 218 South Bumby Ave. □ Orlando, FL 32803 Fax 407/896-6824 □ Phone 407/896-6858 Personalized Professional Service Business & Individual Income Taxes Accounting & Payroll for Small Business Free Initial Consultation ATTORNEY W. 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Eichberg has himself accompanied actors such as Orlando’s Amanda Bearse and Dick Sargent from Bewitched as they came out to television audiences. But Eichberg notes that not everyone can be an activist. After reading his book, a “very famous actor” called to tell Eichberg that he disagreed with his contention that people, famous or not, face exactly the same difficulties in coming out. “He pointed out that if he came out, everyone on the street would know he was gay, automatically subjecting him to the prejudices of everyone he encountered. This wouldn’t happen for most people, and I had to agree with him.” Eichberg’s own coming out occurred in 1970, and was complicated by the fact that he came out as bisexual and not gay. A student at UCLA and engaged to be married, Eichberg also accompanied his gay best friend to gay bars near campus. And like his friend, Eichberg found that he was attracted to some of the men he was meeting. He deferred his marriage and began dating both men and women, never hiding his bisexuality. “For me it was a ‘freedom of choice’ issue,” he says. He also points out that, as a bisexual, he made both hetero and homosexuals uncomfortable. “In some ways it’s more difficult being bisexual. Gays think you’re closeted or in denial; straights just don’t get it... they don’t understand.” When asked whether he thinks it’s easier to come out now, Eichberg points to another paradox. “Generally, it’s easier,” he says. “So many more people have come out, there are support groups in most communities, and there’s a more widespread acceptance of the lifestyle. But specifically... individually... it is no easier. For those in the process of coming out, it is not significantly different than it has always been. And that’s because it is largely an internal process involving issues of self-acceptance and self-truth.” “I never forget the process,” he adds. “It still takes courage to tell the truth.” Eichberg feels that leaders in the gay and lesbian movement must learn to take the long view. In that context, he feels the struggle for gay rights in the military reveals much about progress made in the last decades. “This was the first time a national political figure, much less the President, has publicly and articulately raised our issues. There is no turning back from that.” Eichberg is pleased with the progress toward his vision for the year 2000, when it will be “OK to be gay.” “We are now a very long way from the depths of the closet,” he says. “Bars are no longer fires waiting to happen, as they truly once were... hidden in back alleys with no windows. I don’t ever forget how deeply closeted we were in the 70s.” Rob Eichberg, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is the author of Coming Out: An Act Of Love. He is also the co-creator of “The Experience," a weekend workshop held regularly throughout the country. More information regarding dates and locations for “The Experience" may be obtained by calling 1-800-966-3896. SIX DEGREES From Page 13 and self-realized, then unbalanced and terrified of being an unloved nobody. As Paul’s gullible victim Rick, Bill Patterson was honest and optimistic, struggling and confused by his homosexual encounter,thus revealing a man living in shame and failure. The rest of the company worked as an ensemble, creating a viable reality for these contrasts to be played out. Lined up like watercolors in a case, the ensemble sat in the first row. Always visible, they became ever present in the lives of these main characters. The minimal set worked as a blank canvas upon which these living Kandinskis were painted, and the lighting always helped the colors of the story appear to be more vivid. The technical and artistic work of this cast and company came together to enhance the script, helping this production live up to the quality that is expected from Theatre Downtown. NOTE: Due to the popularity of this production, the scheduled evenings are close to capacity. There is the possibility of an extension, so please call the Theatre Downtown Box Office for information. (407) 841-0083. Rosi'.Y viisirrs MOOREHELDS... NEXT ISSUE vya i fiiviviAKn / September 28,19V4 22 SPORTS GAY TENNIS GROUP GROWS by Tom Dyer OBTA members, Jeff Horn and Mary Boothby At 10:30 on the second Sunday morning of each month, around twenty lesbians and gay men converge on the tennis courts at Rosemont Country Club. Some are bright-eyed and ready for the first serve and volley. Others, showing signs from the previous night’s activities, are trying to figure out how to swing a racket with a cup of coffee in hand. All are looking to make friends, get some exercise, and if possible, improve their tennis game. The Orange Blossom Tennis Association (OBTA) was started three years ago by a group of avid... and good... tennis players. According to co-founder Jeff Horn, “we all knew each other from the tennis circuit, and became friends that way. It’s a cliche, but none of us knew the others were gay until we ran into each other at the Parliament House.” Inspired by bowling and volleyball groups, they began talking about the viability of a gay tennis league. “In fact,” notes Jeff, “we ripped our name off from the Orange Blossom Bowling Association... I guess its too late to ask them if its OK.” The group began meeting on the tennis courts at Edgewater High School, but they soon outgrew that location. They moved to Rollins College, and then last year to Rosemont, where Horn is the resident tennis professional. They are currently considering adding another day of tennis each month. At present, OBTA has more men than women, but Mary Boothby hopes that situation will change. “It would be more fun for everybody if we had as many women as men... straights too.” Horn points out that “Orlando/Winter Park has what may be the strongest lesbian tennis community in the world. There are a number of nationally ranked amatuers... mostly former pros, who live here. I wish they’d join us.” OBTA is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Tennis Association (IGLTA), and regularly sends competitive teams to IGLTA sanctioned tournaments. The most recent was in Atlanta earlier this month. Indeed, OBTA has some excellent tennis players among their membership, including co-founder T.J. Jones, who captured two gold medals at the Gay Games in New York. Horn himself is a certified tennis professional who competed professionally for two years. However, he and Boothby are quick to point out that most members of OBTA “are in the beginner to intermediate range.” “Everyone is welcome. It’s just a lot of fun, and all you have to do is show up with a racket.” Membership dues are $25 annually or $5 per Sunday. OBTA will meet again on October 9 at Rosemont Country Club. For more information call Jeff Horn at 895-3722. STANDINGS & SCORES CWAN6E BLOSSOM 80WLB& ASSOCIATION ill rm mm wm t tumft llil! 2 % 12 2 i Team #J8 12 : 2 i 4 11 3 5 2 Balls Short 18 4 ! 6 1 Macho lloditiSHi ! 4 mm Ih Slippery Wm Wet 14 ! 4 8 idThe tinker 9 V“1 ! 1 9 Team #16 ■ 9 . 5 14 Team #19 8 :"4 1 11 OeodNHealy 8 4 II m 8 4 13 3 hies LA Hole inn 16. 14 llpsyCome Easy (Jo8 11 6 15 f Troop t ill 16 j t 1 tt Team #3 4 II® 1* ! Team #22 4 8 19 (SMI Ms lip 4 8 24 Team #8 4 8 iiiii Mama’s CMs $ 9 22 Tim kimps 5:11- 9 ! 23 Tuesday Knurls 4 19 24 ffl&*p msmm 4 19 25 iillliiiiii 4 19 26 ; Ball Bangers 4 14 tt 111Bariwuy lanersC: 4 19 Mil 1 Team #21 3 11 29 mwiM 1 12 39 Cactus Cluit 2 ii* CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT-OFFERED HIRING Houseman/Chauffeur/P.A. References and experience a must. Salary plus room and board. Great job for right person. Call 645-3357. FRIENDSHIP/RELATIONSHIP Attractive Italian GWM. 5’8”, 159 lbs. romantic, healthy, masculine, sincere, honest, straight forward with varied interests, seeking similar inshape GWM 29-49 for friendship/ relationship. Tom (407) 647-7759. REAL ESTATE-FOR RENT DOWNTOWN-Faaabulous lakeside bottom half of house, private entrance, huge bdrm. liv. rm, Florida rm„ 9x12 walk-in closet, refridg., w/d. wet bar, patio, over 1000 sq. ft.. $450/mo. 1/3 util. Reference and sec. deposit. Lease neg. 1 person only. Call Joe 645-3357. REAL ESTATE-FOR SALE JUST LIKE KEY WEST-College Park 2 bdrm, 2 bath pool home in a private tropical setting. Remodeled kitchen, open floor plan with over 1800 sq. ft. $119,900. Kathy Lightcap. 841-6060 ext. 439, The Prudential Florida Realty. DRAMATIC NEOCLASSICAL-Fabulous like new 4 bdrm, 3-112 bath designer home in College Park. Exquisite features include luxury master suite, 2 fireplaces, and gourmet kitchen. Over 3375 sq. ft. $429,900. Kathy Lightcap, 841 -6060 ext. 439, The Prudential Florida Realty. DOWNTOWN HOME-For sale/rent-charming 1930 Southern Tudor in historic Eola. 5/2, 2 fireplaces, oak floors, 10’ ceilings, remodeled kitchen, alarm, sprinkler, garage, central heat & A/C. Avail. Nov. 1. Must see. 625 Hillcrest St. $172,500 or $1400/ mo. Call for appt/info 648-4154. Altamonte/Capistrano Condo. 2/2 on ground floor. Near pool & tennis. Has all appliances and screened porch. Assumable no-qualify loan. $2,000 down plus small 2nd moves you in. Call Bill @ 834-0203. Bank owned and HUD homes. $ 1,000 will get you a home of your own. Call Realtor @ 1-800-861-0203. Serving our community for over 40 years. ROOMMATES ROOMMATE WANTED - 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath home near downtown/ Lake Como. Renovated kitchen, washer/dryer. Non-smoker preferred. $275/mo. plus utilities. Call Jim at 895-0993. Available mid-Oct. NO TAN LINE. Beautiful 3/2 pool home. SE location. Will share with neat, employed, liberal M/F. $425/mo includes all but phone. Call (407) 282-3024. HOME TO SHARE. 3/2 w/ full house privileges. Quiet neighborhood. Washer/dryer. Cable. Avail, immediately. Prefer female. $330/mo includes utilities. Deposit. Call (407) 293-2961. SERVICES PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR -Missing persons, background checks, asset checks, service of process in Orange county. 644-8057. Agency no. 93-00111. BOOKSTORE - NEW & USED. Enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere of Acorn Books. Hot/cold cappuccino, etc., intelligent conversation and a large selection of books in every subject. Publisher orders & out-of-print service. (407) 647-2755. MEET SOMEONE TODAY! Find that special guy or girl with the "Telephone Matchmaker.” Always a free call and anonymous. Call in Orlando at 648-9047. (Gay owned & operated). NEON/INTERIOR NEON. Mood lighting; Neon Sculptures, customized to your needs. LET ME LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHTS! BERND’S NEON - licensed & reputable. Telephone & Fax (407) 644-0553. References available. IN YOUR HOME one on one fitness experience designed to fit your personal needs, including weight loss, body, shaping, cardiovascular aerobics conditioning. Flexible hours & payment plans available. Call 932-4319. YOUR IMAGE. Needs a professional look - to get the job you want or to complete that college project. Put 14 years of experience behind your resume, documents, and word processing. Great prices and quick quality results. Call Patti at (407) 898-4237,_________________________ LOVING LAWN CARE. Help to support a new family business. Blue Skye Lawn Service is a licensed, professional business that specializes in all aspects of lawn maintenance. Call (407) 629-0302. MR. DOMEZTIC. Home and pool cleaning set to your individual parameters. Fast, convenient service. Call (407) 628-6110. GAYLINE ONLINE. GayLink (BBS) has gone computerized. Our national network went online August 1 st. For a free software package and a 30-day Free Membership, contact the Genesis Foundation. Call (407) 857-5444. Fax (407) 438-3695. MISCELLANEOUS Healthy, loving, stable, long-term professional gay couple seek lesbian to function as surrogate mother. Flexible regarding nature of future involvement with child. SERIOUS RESPONSES ONLY. Will pay all medical and associated expenses. Reply c/o W. Thomas Dyer, Attorney at Law, 701 E. Washington St., Suite 2oo, Orlando, FL 32801. (407) 648-1153. Gorgeous AKC Registered DALMATION puppies. Available Oct. 6. Parents on premises. (6) males $300, (4) females $325 and up. Call Rick at 682-6096. All come with certificate of health. REAL ESTATE WANTED: Need 3/ 2 home within reasonable commute of Disney. Around $80,000. Can pay 10% dwon on a no-qualify mortgage. Call Frank @ 834-0989. WATERMARK SEEKS ...correspondents and distribution persons for Volusia, Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Lake counties. Please send resume and writing samples to Watermark, P.O. Box 533655, Orlando, FL 32853-3655. Call (407) 481-2243. TO PLACE AN AD In PERSON: Bring completed order form with payment to Watermark offices (M-F, 9-5pm) 701 E. Washington St., Orlando. By l\4AIL: Mail completed order form with payment to: Watermark Classifieds P.O. Box 533655 Orlando, FL 32853-3655. 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Enclosed is my check for $35, payable to: WATERMARK by 5pm Wednesday, the week prior to publication, ta appear 1st the following week’s issue* Drs. Goodgame & Hopkins FAMILY MEDICINE/INTERNAL MEDICINE •New Patients Accepted W A Through over 100 active insurance programs with few full panels J0A jSfe Specialized HIV panels with several HMO’s • Board Certified Physicians wLj Family Practice & Internal Medicine ^ A ^ Members of Florida Hospital Medical Center and Columbia/ Winter Park Memorial Hospital Medical Staffs • Member of Westat DATRI Division of AIDS Treatment Initiative Members include Harvard, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA & UCSF . Eleven active HIV & AIDS clinical trials Most of which are funded to eliminate any cost to participants HIV Clinical Trials The Research Office at Drs. Goodgame & Hopkins is now recruiting HIV positive men and women for several clinical drug trials. Potential participants with T-cell counts below 500 may have several study options available to them. If you are interested in possibly receiving the 0 JR latest in investigational antivirals or prophylac-* tic research treatments, or would like further % jflg information, please call Chuck or Rob at: (407) 647-6000 * 340 N. Maitland Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751 si rs SIM! Resident DJ Brent Simpson Welcomes Retro DJ Chris Rehbein Doors Open at 4 PH No (over 'til 6PM Featuring: «25< Draft -*P Wells -$1.75 Domestic Beer 6-9PM 140 Fernwood Blvd - Fern Park, FL 32730 - (407) 831-7559 (Located across from the Orlando Jai-Lai • Formerly "Central Station") -Plenty Of Free Parking- A. Bach Aarons Alachua County Alan Bruun Alberta Watson Alison Bechdel Allene Baus Amanda Bearse Audrey Hepburn Barb Fallon Bartell Bernie Latour Beth Ahava Beth Chayin Beth Simchat Bill Patterson Bill Snibson bisexual Bob Carr Bob Dylan Bob Wattles Boothby Boyd Brenda M. 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