The Watermark was published on November 17, 2005, and covers relevant news in the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) community. The cover story features the cast of RENT, a film based on the musical of the same name. Other stories include the trial of Steven Lorenzo, a man accused of nine accounts of date rape and the murder of two Tampa Bay men, the recent developments in adoption laws, festivities and holiday support groups, St. Petersburg city council elections, and the impact of Hurricane Wilma. The issue features interviews with Dolly Parton, Eartha Kitt and the cast of RENT. It also provides information on discrimination laws and recent development in AIDS home testing. This issue of The Watermark deals heavily with the concept of gay culture, social injustice and its lasting impact on LGBTQ+ individuals.

Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark. ]]> The Watermark, Vol. 12, No. 23, November 17-30, 2005: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Watermark Media]]> The Watermark, Vol. 12, No. 23, November 17-30, 2005.]]> The Watermark Collection, RICHES.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Watermark Media.]]> Watermark Publishing Group and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>