LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2

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LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
Your LGBTQ Life.

                                                                              May 28 - June 10, 2020 • Issue 27.11

               LGBTQ Pride Month is coming to a screen near you

        LGBT+ Center                                                               St Pete Pride
        Orlando vandalized                                                       2020 cancelled

D A Y T O N A B E A C H • O R L A N D O • T A M P A • S T . P E T E R S B U R G • clear w ater • S A R A S O T A
LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
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LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
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LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
departments                                                                   The June 12 Pulse Annual Remembrance Ceremony will look
7 // Bureau Chief’s Desk                                                                a little different this year as we work to keep our community
                                                                            page
8 // Central Florida News
10// Tampa Bay News
                                                                           25           healthy amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
                                                                                         - Scott Bowman, onePULSE Foundation chief communications officer

12// State News
13 // Nation & World News
17// COVID-19 Resources
19 // Talking Points
31// Tampa Bay Out & About
33// Central Fl Out & About
34// Tampa Bay Marketplace
36// Central Fl Marketplace

           On the cover

                                                                                                                                 page Equality Focused:
page VIRTUAL JUNE:
                                                                                                                                 12
                                                                                                                                                  Florida leaders, Biden campaign discuss

21               LGBTQ Pride Month heads                                                                                                          commitment to equality
                 to a screen near you.

                                                            Watermark Issue 27.11 // May 28 - June 10, 2020

                                                           Hate Speech                      Safety First                     Music Man                            Stream On

   scan                      Read
qr code for                  It Online!
WatermarkOnline.com    In addition to a Web site
                       with daily LGBTQ updates,
                       a digital version of each
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                       is made available on
                       WatermarkOnline.com                 page LGBT+ Center                page St Pete Pride cancels       page   Orlando singer Billy Mick     page     Tampa Bay theaters
                                                           08   Orlando vandalized.         10   2020 celebration.           27     releases debut album.         29       navigate COVID-19.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WatermarkOnline and Like us on Facebook.

                                                   watermark Your LGBTQ life.     May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                                              5
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6                        watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com
LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
my new obsessions — tiny cooking!                to go. Some of my favorites
                                                                                        It’s as weird, and wonderful, as                 that I check in with daily are @
                                                                                                                                                                                           contributors
                                                                                        ASMR and involves people making                  adamrayokay, @iamtabithabrown,
                                                                                        miniature versions of food in tiny               @yungjackinnanen and @                                              Camille
                                                                                        kitchens with tiny pots, pans and                ben_brainard.                                                       Barbone
                                                                                        bowls. Some videos feature tiny                      Like most people, the main thing                      is a coach and
                                                                                        cakes being baked in tiny ovens,                 that I have done during quarantine                        consultant
                                                                                        while others feature tiny ravioli and            — besides using DoorDash and                              with 25+ years
                                                                                        lasagna all made from scratch on                 UberEats to order all of my food —       of entertainment business
                                                                                        tiny cast iron stoves.                           is binge watching.
                                                                                                                                                                                  experience. She has worked for
                                central florida                                             I love everything about these
                                                                                        videos, from the elaborate kitchen
                                                                                                                                             Prior to lockdown, I had never
                                                                                                                                         seen an episode of “Schitt’s Creek”
                                                                                                                                                                                  major companies including Sony,

                                bureau chief’s
                                                                                                                                                                                  Universal, Warner Chappell and
                                                                                        set ups to the details in the cakes              but I managed to watch all six
                                                                                                                                                                                  others and has developed and

                                Desk
                                                                                        to the tingles that I get from the               seasons within four days and I have
                                                                                        step-by-step directions. Two of                  to say: What the hell was I waiting      managed high-profile artists such
                                                                                        my favorite YouTube channels                     for? It is the best thing I have         as Madonna, produced major
                                                                                        are Cookin’ Little and Miniature                 seen on television in a long time.       concerts and provided music for
                                                                                        Cusina. If the lack of sound doesn’t             If you haven’t checked it out, do        major motion pictures. Page 15
                                                                                        float your ASMR boat, there are                  so immediately.
Jeremy Williams                                                                         some tiny cooking videos that put a                  Other shows you should check
cfl bureau chief                                                                        jaunty tune over them.                                                                                                Edward
Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com                                                                  Another one of my quarantine                                                                                      Segarra
                                                                                        obsessions is TikTok, which I have               Regardless of                                             currently attends
                                                                                        been told by several people on the                                                                         the University of
                                                                                                                                         what you do to

I
                                                                                        app and in my real life that I am                                                                          Central Florida

      t’s getting harder to avoid all
                                                                                        too old to be on. All I have to say to
                                                                                        that is haters gonna hate, hate, hate,
                                                                                                                                         get through, just                        as a journalism major. They enjoy
                                                                                                                                                                                  writing about pop culture and

     the negativity flying about these days. It
                                                                                        hate, hate; so I’m just gonna shake,
                                                                                        shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
                                                                                                                                         make sure you                            hope to work in entertainment
                                                                                                                                                                                  journalism upon graduating from
     hasn’t always been a basket of delights while                                      it off, shake it off. That’s what the            aren’t doom and                          college. Page 27
                                                                                        kids say, right?
watching the news, scrolling through social media                                           TikTok is a “video-sharing, social           glooming it 24/7.
or answering the phone but in these days of isolation                                   media network” that allows people                                                          Sabrina Ambra, Nathan Bruemmer,
                                                                                        to create short-form content a la                out if you haven’t already: “Upload”       Scottie Campbell, Miguel Fuller,
and social distancing it’s getting harder for people to                                 Vine. I personally do not make any               on Amazon Prime, “Hilary” on             Divine Grace, Holly Kapherr Alejos,
see that light at the end of the tunnel or take comfort                                 videos — yet! — but I do spend                   Hulu, “Defending Jacob” on Apple         Jason Leclerc, Melody Maia Monet,
                                                                                                                                                                                     Jerick Mediavilla, Greg Stemm,
                                                                                        many hours vegging out on my                     TV+, “Hollywood” on Netflix
in those silver linings.                                                                couch, scrolling through my For                  and “Watchmen” on HBO. If you            Dr. Steve yacovelli, Michael wanzie

    I was noticing even I was quick            I enjoy watching ASMR videos             You Page and marveling at how                    don’t have any of these streaming
to anger or irritation much easier         on YouTube. For those of you                 creative people can be in a matter               services, then make friends with
than before. I started unplugging          who don’t know what that is, it              of 30 seconds.                                   someone who does and borrow                       photography
over the weekends — taking time            stands for Autonomous Sensory                    Some videos are dance                        their account.
not to open my Facebook or Twitter         Meridian Response and it basically           challenges or lip syncs, some                        Regardless of what you do to get        Brian Becnel, Nick Cardello,
apps and banning CNN and MSNBC             is this pleasant, tingly sensation           are comedy sketches or daily                     through, just make sure you aren’t        Bruce Hardin, Jamarqus Mosley,
from the TV — to just find new             some people get when listening               diary entries about how people                   doom and glooming it 24/7. Show a        Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift
things to do or watch that give            to someone speak in a low or                 around the world are handling                    little self love and take care of you.
me enjoyment.                              whispered voice or make sounds               isolation. For those of you who                      In this issue, we look at how you
                                                                                        are Gen X or older Millennial                    can celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month
    So I thought instead of ranting        such as tapping, clicking and
                                                                                        like me, TikTok feels like what                  from the comfort of your own home
                                                                                                                                                                                            distribution
about the idiocy of certain                popping. If it sounds weird that’s
politicians or whether or not you          because it is, but if you get “the           YouTube felt like when it first                  with our guide to Virtual June.
                                                                                                                                                                                  LVNLIF2 Distributing, Ken Carraway,
should go sit in a restaurant masked       tingles” like I do then you deal             launched. It is sometimes hilarious,                 In other news, we bring back
                                                                                                                                                                                        Vanessa Maresca-Cruz
up and order an adult beverage             with the weird.                              sometimes cringeworthy, and                      our A&E section with a look at
and some potstickers, I would list             Since social isolating got my            sometimes emotional; but it is                   some local entertainers, The Center
off a few things that have given me        anxiety tingling again, I have been          always entertaining and a great                  Orlando gets vandalized and St Pete       CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal
                                                                                                                                                                                    copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole
joy and happiness over the last few        watching more ASMR videos to try             way to kill some time when you                   Pride announces it won’t hold any            or part without the permission of the publisher.
                                                                                                                                                                                    Unsolicited article submissions will not be returned
months in these horrid times.              and relax and came across one of             have nothing to do and nowhere                   events until 2021.                         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.
   watermark staff                                                                                                                                                                      Publication of the name or photograph of any
                                                                                                                                                  Orlando Office                     person or organization in articles, advertising, or
                                                                                                                                                                                     listing in WATERMARK is not to be construed as
                                      CFL Bureau Chief:                                                                                                                                any indication of the sexual orientation of such
                                  Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106                                       Senior Tampa Bay Account Manager:              1300 N. Semoran Blvd.                  persons or members of such organizations.
                                                                        Sales Director:                                                                   Ste 250
     Owner & Publisher:         Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com                                               Russ Martin • Ext. 303                                                          WATERMARK is published every second
                                                                     Danny Garcia • Ext. 108                                                        Orlando, FL 32807                      Thursday. Subscription rate is $55
   Rick Claggett • Ext. 110                                                                          Russ@WatermarkOnline.com                                                             (1st class) and $26 (standard mail).
                                   Tampa Bay Bureau Chief:        Danny@WatermarkOnline.com
 Rick@WatermarkOnline.com        Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302                                        Founder and Guiding Light:                    TEL: 407-481-2243              The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only
                                                                 Senior Orlando Account Manager:                                                                                      in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns,
       Business Manager:         Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com                                                     Tom Dyer                                                             letters and articles are those of the writers and do not
                                                                     Sam Callahan • Ext. 103
                                                                                                     Tom@WatermarkOnline.com
   Kathleen Sadler • Ext. 101
Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com
                                    Creative/Photographer:         Sam@WatermarkOnline.com                                                       Tampa Bay Office                  necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s
                                                                                                                                                                                     owner or management. We reserve the right to edit
                                     Dylan Todd • Ext. 102                                            National Ad Representative:                                                      or reject any material submitted for publication.

                                                                                                   Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863               401 33rd Street N.            WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to
                                 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com                                                                                                                         typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing
                                                                                                                                                 St. Petersburg, FL 33713           ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors.
                                                                                                                                                    TEL: 813-655-9890             Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

                                           watermark Your LGBTQ life.                May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                                                                                       7
LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
brought the majority of social                    others who feel they’re already
                                                                                       interactions to a standstill.                     living in it and more who feel                 contributors
                                                                                           For the most part I’ve leaned                 they’re nowhere near ready to
                                                                                       heavily on my introverted side.                   begin. It’s critical that we find a
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Camille
                                                                                       I’ve completed a puzzle that was                  way to move forward with these
                                                                                                                                         different perspectives together
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barbone
                                                                                       collecting dust, devoured a novel
                                                                                                                                                                                                is a coach and
                                                                                       I instantly longed to read and                    and the best way to do that is
                                                                                                                                                                                                consultant
                                                                                       after two decades rediscovered                    with a little empathy.
                                                                                       my rad love for rollerblading.                        Business owners aren’t                             with 25+ years
                                                                                           I even started baking, which                  reopening to hurt the people who      of entertainment business

                                tampa bay                                              has resulted in fewer falls.                      are reluctant to patronize them,      experience. She has worked for
                                                                                       While I’m more of a Cheez-It                      and those who aren’t yet ready        major companies including Sony,

                                bureau chief’s                                         guy, the relaxation from making                   to venture out don’t want those       Universal, Warner Chappell and

                                Desk
                                                                                       sweets from scratch has been                      businesses to fail. Be kind to        others and has developed and
                                                                                       a surprising delight. I’m finally                 one another.                          managed high-profile artists such
                                                                                       putting the Kitchen Aid I bought                      I’m not sure what our new         as Madonna, produced major
                                                                                       my husband a few years ago to                     normal will look like going           concerts and provided music for
        Ryan                                                                           use and since he’s practically the                forward, but I know it doesn’t        major motion pictures. Page 15
                                                                                       Cookie Monster, he’s enjoyed it                   involve never seeing our loved
   Williams-Jent                                                                       too. C is for Cookie and that’s                   ones in person again. I also
 TB bureau chief                                                                       good enough for marriage.                         know it doesn’t involve this                                      Edward
 Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com                                                                  Of all the joys I’ve managed                                                                                    Segarra
                                                                                       to find or hold onto in these
                                                                                       troubling times, the one I’ve
                                                                                                                                         The unexpected                                         currently attends
                                                                                                                                                                                                the University of
                                                                                                                                         spotlight is what

I
                                                                                       valued the most has been virtual                                                                         Central Florida
                                                                                       conferences with loved ones.
      ’ve always considered myself                                                     From chatting with my mom                         paralyzes me.                         as a journalism major. They enjoy
                                                                                                                                                                               writing about pop culture and
                                                                                       in Ohio to game nights with
    an extroverted introvert, both someone who                                         our friends-turned-family in                      summer looking anything like
                                                                                                                                                                               hope to work in entertainment
                                                                                                                                                                               journalism upon graduating from
    can thrive as the center of attention and                                          Florida, my husband and I have                    last year’s. The science tells us
                                                                                                                                                                               college. Page 27
                                                                                       been fortunate enough to stay                     that it shouldn’t – and thankfully
someone who desperately wants to avoid the                                             connected with those we love,                     our community is listening,
spotlight. It’s all about context.                                                     some of whom we’ve seen more                      which is the focus of this issue’s
                                                                                                                                                                                Sabrina Ambra, Nathan Bruemmer,
                                                                                       regularly as of late.                             in-depth coverage.
    The years I spent as a                are essential. Likewise, I could                                                                                                       Scottie Campbell, Miguel Fuller,
                                                                                           I’ve tried not to forget how                     As we enter June, we               Divine Grace, Holly Kapherr Alejos,
corporate trainer for a medical           share a dissertation about how               fortunate we are to have that                     examine a new kind of LGBTQ           Jason Leclerc, Melody Maia Monet,
company are a prime example               easy it is to wear a mask in public          option, and it was through our                    Pride month, one that’s just as          Jerick Mediavilla, Greg Stemm,
of that. I was drawn to the role          or to only walk one way down                 chats that I realized I’d begun                   proud but without the crowd.          Dr. Steve yacovelli, Michael wanzie
for the same reason I love being          an aisle at Publix. It’s all about           taking something for granted.                     Organizations from around
a journalist: I have a strong             preparation.                                 Their sustainability.                             the world share details about
desire to inform.                            The unexpected spotlight is                   About a month ago, a friend                   numerous virtual events coming
    It made training a fantastic fit.     what paralyzes me. It’s why I’ve             who works in the medical field                    to a screen near you.
                                                                                                                                                                                        photography
Watching people with a longing            always hated audience Q&As                   raised a point that my introverted                   In Tampa Bay news, we check
to learn come to understand               after live theater and have spent            side hadn’t yet begun to consider.                in with one of those organizations       Brian Becnel, Nick Cardello,
something is incredibly rewarding         years avoiding drag queens with                                                                                                       Bruce Hardin, Jamarqus Mosley,
                                                                                       He shared that we may need to                     as St Pete Pride postpones            Chris Stephenson, Lee Vandergrift
– I loved helping them grasp the          microphones. The prospects of                return to the real world before                   in-person festivities this year.
unknown and could easily lead             being called on stage or asked an            we’re necessarily ready to do so,                 In Central Florida, the LGBT+
a presentation for hundreds               impromptu question have always               as society has in the face of other               Center is vandalized and in arts
without breaking a sweat.                 horrified me.                                life-threatening pandemics. Long                  and entertainment, we chat with                 distribution
    I still could, depending on the          Like the rest of the world, it’s          before COVID-19’s eradication, we                 Tampa Bay theaters and Orlando
situation. I could easily discuss         not an issue I’ve had to dread               would have to learn to live with it.              singer Billy Mick.                    LVNLIF2 Distributing, Ken Carraway,
the importance of the free press,         for several months now. The                      I now believe we’re nearing                      Watermark strives to bring               Vanessa Maresca-Cruz
particularly its battle against           mounting death toll resulting                that time – and as various                        you a variety of stories, your
tyranny on Twitter or why                 from COVID-19 has crippled                   stay-at-home orders are lifted                    stories. I hope you stay safe and      CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal
LGBTQ outlets like Watermark              communities and out of necessity,            across the country, there are                     enjoy this latest issue.                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.
   watermark staff                                                                                                                                                                   Publication of the name or photograph of any
                                                                                                                                                  Orlando Office                  person or organization in articles, advertising, or
                                                                                                                                                                                  listing in WATERMARK is not to be construed as
                                      CFL Bureau Chief:                                                                                                                             any indication of the sexual orientation of such
                                  Jeremy Williams • Ext. 106                                       Senior Tampa Bay Account Manager:              1300 N. Semoran Blvd.               persons or members of such organizations.
                                                                        Sales Director:                                                                   Ste 250
      Owner & Publisher:        Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com                                               Russ Martin • Ext. 303                                                       WATERMARK is published every second
                                                                     Danny Garcia • Ext. 108                                                        Orlando, FL 32807                   Thursday. Subscription rate is $55
    Rick Claggett • Ext. 110                                                                         Russ@WatermarkOnline.com                                                          (1st class) and $26 (standard mail).
                                   Tampa Bay Bureau Chief:        Danny@WatermarkOnline.com
  Rick@WatermarkOnline.com       Ryan Williams-Jent • Ext. 302                                        Founder and Guiding Light:                    TEL: 407-481-2243           The official views of WATERMARK are expressed only
                                                                 Senior Orlando Account Manager:                                                                                   in editorials. Opinions offered in signed columns,
       Business Manager:         Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com                                                     Tom Dyer                                                          letters and articles are those of the writers and do not
                                                                     Sam Callahan • Ext. 103
                                                                                                     Tom@WatermarkOnline.com
   Kathleen Sadler • Ext. 101
Kathleen@WatermarkOnline.com
                                    Creative/Photographer:         Sam@WatermarkOnline.com                                                       Tampa Bay Office               necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper’s
                                                                                                                                                                                  owner or management. We reserve the right to edit
                                     Dylan Todd • Ext. 102                                            National Ad Representative:                                                   or reject any material submitted for publication.

                                                                                                   Rivendell Media Inc. • 212-242-6863               401 33rd Street N.         WATERMARK is not responsible for damages due to
                                 Dylan@WatermarkOnline.com                                                                                                                      typographical errors, except for the cost of replacing
                                                                                                                                                 St. Petersburg, FL 33713        ads created by WATERMARK that have such errors.
                                                                                                                                                    TEL: 813-655-9890          Watermark Publishing Group Inc.

                                           watermark Your LGBTQ life.                May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                                                                                    7
LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH IS COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU - ST PETE PRIDE 2020 CANCELLED - UFDC IMAGE ARRAY 2
central florida news

2 injured in shooting near
Parliament House
Jeremy Williams

O
        RLANDO | Orlando police are investigating a
        shooting that occurred near the Parliament House
        hotel May 15 that left two men injured.
    According to the police report, officers responded
to a call from Parliament House security who contacted
the police after seeing an individual pointing a rifle at a
vehicle. The caller provided no other information.
    When police arrived they were advised by security
that multiple gunshots were heard near the lake on the
west side of the hotel just before 8:30 p.m. Police found
nine 9mm shell casings in front of one of the hotel rooms                                                                                                    Hate Group: A
that faces the lake and found the two victims — Albert                                                                                                       Patriot Front sticker found
Antonio Williams, Jr. and Lorenza Morris, Jr. — in another                                                                                                   attached to The Center.
room located in a different area of the hotel. According to                                                                                                  Photo courtesy
police, the victims ran to the hotel room after sustaining                                                                                                   George Wallace
their injuries.

                                                                  Hate Speech
    According to the report, Williams suffered injuries to
both of his feet and Morris had more serious injuries to                                                                                           another white supremacist sticker.
his left leg as a result from the shooting. The report states                                                                                      So there were two on our building.”
that Williams and Morris are cousins. Both victims were                                                                                                Orlando police collected the
hospitalized and are expected to survive.                                                                                                          sticker as evidence and took photos
    No arrests have been made at this time.                                                                                                        of the graffiti. Cameras at The Center
                                                                  LGBT+ Center Orlando vandalized with                                             have footage from the front entrance
                                                                                                                                                   and lobby of the organization but
Calvin Klein supports                                             white supremacist propaganda                                                     The Center’s parking lot camera
                                                                                                                                                   was not working at the time of the

onePULSE Foundation                                               Jeremy Williams                              The messenger posted the photo
                                                                                                                                                   incident due to prior water damage.
                                                                                                                                                   Another camera located at the rear
                                                                                                           on the website Reddit on the r/         of the building does not cover the

                                                                 O
Edward Segarra                                                                                             orlando page. User pauliebleeker        alley way where the second sticker
                                                                          RLANDO | The LGBT+ Center        wrote that while eating tacos, they     and graffiti was found.

O
                                                                          in Orlando experienced           wanted to take a photo of the Pulse         Since those incidents, The Center
        RLANDO | Fashion brand Calvin Klein is                            several acts of vandalism        memorial painted on the side of         has seen an increase in messages
        supporting onePULSE Foundation’s mission                  during the month of May —                The Center and noticed something        of support and donations, says
        of LGBTQ+ equality this Pride season with the             including cut internet lines, graffiti   covering the Pulse logo.                Wallace; however, that did not stop
unveiling of their latest collection, according to a press        and white supremacist propaganda             “I walked up and it was a           the stickers from re-appearing.
release from the onePULSE Foundation.                             — which has resulted in a financial      sticker of a man with a gun and an          Another pair of Patriot Front
    #PROUDINMYCALVINS features an assortment of                   gift from Johnson & Johnson toward       American flag type background.          stickers were found on one of The
Pride-themed apparel for customers to choose from                 repairs and security.                    Under it gave a website for the         Center’s entrance doors May 18.
and is branded as “a celebration of self-love and the full            The Center’s first incidents of      group Patriot Front. I was upset        One covered the Human Rights
spectrum of identity.”                                            vandalism occurred when staff            someone would vandalize the mural,      Campaign sticker on the door and
    Calvin Klein and its parent company PVH Corp.                 members discovered graffiti on           ripped it down and threw it away,       the other covered the Orlando Police
donated funds to the onePULSE Foundation, including a             the building May 11 and had their        didn’t think to take a photo of the     Department Safe Space decal.
$1 million grant by the PVH Foundation, according to a            internet and phone lines cut May 12.     sticker,” they wrote.                       In response to the vandalism,
Calvin Klein spokesperson.                                            The Center’s Executive Director          Patriot Front is listed by the      Johnson & Johnson made a $5,000
    The money from the PVH grant supports the                     George Wallace says he was               Southern Poverty Law Center as “a       donation to The Center through its
construction of the National Pulse Memorial & Museum,             alerted to another incident of           white nationalist hate group that       Care With Pride initiative.
as well as a scholarship that honors the life of Pulse victim     vandalism by a Facebook message          broke off from Vanguard America in          “With these funds, we’ll be able
and former Calvin Klein manager Frank Hernandez.                  received May 14.                         the aftermath of the deadly ‘Unite      to cover mural re-paint as well as
    In addition to fashion, the collection showcases queer            “We got this message that said       the Right’ rally in Charlottesville,    increased security for our staff and
visibility by telling the “the powerful narratives” of            ‘Hey, I was taking a picture of the      Virginia, of August 12, 2017.”          clients,” The Center posted to its
LGBTQ+ public figures through a series of interviews.             mural and noticed this sticker so            “When I read the message            Facebook page, announcing the
    The content series accompanying the collection aims           I pulled it down and threw it in         I thought I should walk around          contribution, May 20. “Johnson &
to celebrate “shared themes of love, family, coming out,          the trash can. When I got home           and make sure there’s no cracked        Johnson stands strong with the
allyship and identity” and will run throughout the year.          I Googled the website and realized       windows or anything around the          Center in declaring that there is no
The series can be found across Calvin Klein’s digital             it was a white supremacist sticker       building,” Wallace says. “When          place for hate and discrimination in
platforms.                                                        so I wanted to bring it to your          I walked to the side of the building    Orlando — or anywhere else.”
                                                                  attention,’” Wallace says.               where the graffiti tag was, I noticed
                                                                                                           on the electric meter that there was

8                                            watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com
Join us
                                                         Friday, June 12, 2020 | 7 p.m.

                                                         Four-Year PULSE
                                                         Remembrance Ceremony
                                                         Every year during our Annual Remembrance
                                                         Ceremony on June 12, we have been blessed
                                                         by the presence of a rainbow over Orlando.
                                                         We know it’s our 49 Angels joining us in their
                                                         celebration of life.

                                                         This year, even though we cannot gather
                                                         together physically at the Pulse Interim Memorial,
                                                         we can all still come together as a community
                                                         and Be the Rainbow.

                                                         Please join us at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 12, online
                                                         at www.onePULSEFoundation.org/remembrance
                                                         for our Annual Remembrance Virtual Ceremony.

                                                         We will not let hate win.

                                                         onePULSEFoundation.org

watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                  9
tampa bay news

TIGLFF launches virtual
screenings with new
program director
Ryan Williams-Jent

T
        AMPA | The Tampa Bay International Gay and
        Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF) launched its
        virtual screening platform TIGLFF Online May 14
with its new program director Derek Horne.
    Virtual programming is a first for TIGLFF, which
celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019. Horne,                                                                                                                             ST PETE
a Sarasota native who lives in Los Angeles and                                                                                                                              PROUD: St Pete
Maryland, has worked with film festivals for more than                                                                                                                      Pride supporters
two decades.                                                                                                                                                                enjoy its 2019
    He follows the nine-year tenure of KJ Mohr, who left                                                                                                                    parade in downtown
to spend more time with her family. “We’ll miss her, but                                                                                                                    St. Petersburg. PHOTO
we understand and wish her all the best,” newly-minted                                                                                                                      BY NICK CARDELLO
TIGLFF President Rob Akins says.

                                                                           Safety First
    Akins assumed TIGLFF’s presidency ahead of this
year’s 31st outing but is no stranger to the festival.                                                                                                   should continue to embrace and
He first became a board member in 2004 and actively                                                                                                      celebrate our LGBTQ residents and
returned in 2018.                                                                                                                                        allies every day for their efforts in
    “Derek has an exciting vision for the future of TIGLFF                                                                                               helping the sun to shine so brightly
programming, where we will showcase fun, exciting,                                                                                                       on us here in St. Pete.”
touching, raucous, meaningful and even some edgy
LGBTQ cinema,” TIGLFF shared May 10. Akins says the
                                                                           St Pete Pride cancels in-person                                                   The St Pete Pride board also
                                                                                                                                                         thanked the community and its
festival’s new virtual programming is a key part of that.
    “With the many changes to movie watching in                            2020 celebration, looks to 2021                                               supporters for their understanding
                                                                                                                                                         and patience while it determines
recent years, virtual screenings are something we’ve                                                                                                     safer ways to celebrate Pride. They
discussed, but now with the COVID-19 pandemic we                           Ryan Williams-Jent                        More than 265,000 people are        also stressed that the organization
quickly made the move in order to continue providing                                                             estimated to have attended St Pete      will continue to develop its

                                                                           S
LGBTQ cinema,” he explains. “We’ll be able to provide                                                            Pride 2019, creating an economic        Community Grants Program,
a variety of films to entertain our diverse audience                             T. PETERSBURG | St Pete         impact of $67.2 million on the          which supports nonprofits
more frequently. Now people can watch where and                                  Pride has cancelled its         city of St. Petersburg. Mayor Rick      throughout Tampa Bay at events
when they like.”                                                                 in-person 2020 festivities in   Kriseman, one of the celebration’s      throughout the year.
    That began with a retrospective of short films                         response to COVID-19.                 earliest supporters, shared that he         Sponsorships, registrations and
called “Laughter in Lockdown” via TIGLFF Online,                              The 18th annual outing             understood the decision.                advertisements for St Pete Pride
which featured a video introduction from Horne. “I’m                       was originally scheduled for              “While I am saddened by the         2020 will automatically be credited
here in Maryland but look forward to joining you all                       June 26-28. Organizers initially      cancellation of this year’s St Pete     to all sponsors, advertisers and
real soon,” he shared. “We’re on this weird, strange                       postponed this year’s celebration     Pride, I respect the decision made      registrants for the parade and
journey together into the unknown – we’re just going to                    until the fall to work with city      by the event’s organizers given         festival for 2021’s celebration. St
follow the currents and see where it takes us, whether                     officials on securing new dates.      the inability to plan such events       Pete Pride noted that it appreciates
that’s upstream or downstream or anywhere but the                             “After careful consideration       in the face of this unprecedented       the continued support.
mainstream.”                                                               and thorough exploration of           uncertainty,” he said. “Our shared          “The leadership of St Pete Pride
    “I am excited to be joining TIGLFF at this time                        alternatives with the city of St      focus and most important job            is laser focused on our mission, our
of huge societal change and explore the creative                           Petersburg, the Board of St Pete      is public safety. St Pete Pride         community and our supporters as
possibilities,” Horne tells Watermark. “The TIGLFF                         Pride has made the difficult          certainly recognizes this.              we are adapting to our new reality
board has given me the bandwidth to experiment                             decision to cancel all large              “St Pete Pride is one of the best   of social distancing during the
and the new board president Rob Akins has been a                           in-person events,” the organization   and biggest LGBTQ+ events in the        Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic,”
great partner.”                                                            shared May 21.                        nation and will certainly outlast       they concluded. “We will continue
    He adds that TIGLFF Online, streamed utilizing                            “The initial hope was to           any challenges that come its way,”      to be visible through our website,
Eventive, provides the festival with flexibility while                     postpone these events,” St Pete       Kriseman continued. “Working            our newsletters and in the
being user-friendly. He views “Laughter in Lockdown”                       Pride’s statement continues.          with St Pete Pride and other            community as we all work together
as a gift to the community and “an appetizer to the                        “However, the level of uncertainty    organizations and individuals           through these difficult times.”
main course.”                                                              and lack of clear guidance from       in our community, we will find
    “We are just whetting your appetite for a year-round                   experts prompted the decision         ways to celebrate this year’s pride     For more information about St Pete Pride,
schedule of screenings,” Horne teases.                                     to cancel as the Board deemed         month safely and collectively.          this year’s cancellation and more, visit
                                                                           the health and safety of our          I hope that all residents of St. Pete   StPetePride.com. For the latest updates
For more information about TIGLFF, its 31st festival and to complete its   community, both near and far,         remember that while we may              about COVID-19 and its impact on the
patron survey, visit TIGLFF.com.                                           most important.”                      be separated due to COVID-19,           LGBTQ community in Tampa Bay, view
                                                                                                                 we are never alone and that we          Watermark’s frequently updated coverage at
                                                                                                                                                         WatermarkOnline.com.

10                                                    watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com
Brian had his HIV under control with

                                                                                medication. But smoking with HIV

                                                                                caused him to have serious health

                                                                             problems, including a stroke, a blood

                                                                               clot in his lungs and surgery on an

                                                                               artery in his neck. Smoking makes

                                                                                    living with HIV much worse.

                                                                                              You can quit.

                                                                                  CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

                                                                                                    #CDCTips

HIV alone
didn’t cause the
clogged artery
in my neck.
Smoking with
HIV did.
Brian, age 45, California

    watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                     11
state news

                                                                         Westlake virtually passes protections
Biden campaign,                                                          for lgbtq residents in statewide first
Florida leaders                                                          Ryan Williams-Jent                      Westlake in employment, housing       forward with the civil rights

discuss equality                                                                                                 and public accommodations based       ordinance,” she reflected. “That

                                                                         W
                                                                                                                 on sexual orientation, gender         shows true leadership.”
                                                                                     ESTLAKE, Fla. | The         identity or gender expression, as        “The enactment of the Westlake
                                                                                     Westlake City Council       well as race, color, religion, sex,   Civil Rights Ordinance will help
Ryan Williams-Jent                                                                   unanimously passed a        national origin, age, disability,     attract more homeowners to
                                                                         Westlake Civil Rights Ordinance         familial status, pregnancy, marital   our city,” Vice Mayor Katrina

F
                                                                         (WCRO) to protect LGBTQ                 status or genetic information.        Long-Robinson added. “In
      ormer Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential
                                                                         residents May 11 by virtual vote, a        “The U.S. Congress and the         addition, the ordinance will help
      campaign hosted an LGBTQ engagement call with
                                                                         first in the state of Florida.          Florida Legislature have failed       bring jobs, revenue and resources
      Florida leaders May 14 to discuss the candidate’s
                                                                             Westlake is Palm Beach              to enact any civil rights laws        to Westlake.”
commitment to equality.
                                                                         County’s newest and smallest            protecting gay, lesbian and gender       Westlake joins a growing
   The virtual gathering was led by Biden for President
                                                                         municipality, with 531 registered       nonconforming individuals,”           number of Florida municipalities
LGBTQ+ Vote Director Reggie Greer and Florida State
                                                                         voters and a city council of five.      PBCHRC President and Founder          which have enacted
Rep. Shevrin Jones. They welcomed representation
                                                                         According to the Palm Beach             Rand Hoch shared in a statement.      LGBTQ-inclusive civil rights
from Equality Florida, the LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus,
                                                                         County Human Rights Council             “Therefore, the responsibility to     ordinances and policies, including
the One Orlando Alliance and more.
                                                                         (PBCHRC), plans exist to add            prohibit discrimination rests on      Orlando, St. Petersburg, Sarasota,
   Jones could become Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ
                                                                         4,500 homes, 2 million square feet      the elected officials in Florida’s    Tallahassee, Tampa and more.
state senator if elected this year. He began the call by
                                                                         of commercial space and more,           counties and municipalities.”         Late last month, the neighboring
discussing the importance of supporting the former
                                                                         making it the “fastest growing city        PBCHRC Board Member Tamara         Boynton Beach voted to make
vice president against Donald Trump this November.
                                                                         in Florida.”                            Sager detailed the organization’s     city-owned restrooms gender
   “The stakes are too high for any of us to sit on the
                                                                             The PBCHRC was founded in           efforts and stressed the              neutral in another victory.
sidelines at this time – far too many LGBTQ people are
                                                                         1988 and touts itself as Florida’s      importance of the WCRO during            “Sadly, 55 counties and 381
facing discrimination and violence simply because of
                                                                         oldest, independent, nonpartisan,       the city council’s virtual session,   municipalities in Florida have no
who they are and who they love,” Jones shared. “Our
                                                                         political organization dedicated        held via the video conference         laws protecting LGBTQ Floridians
community cannot afford four more years of Donald
                                                                         to ending LGBTQ discrimination.         platform Webex. She subsequently      from discrimination,” Hoch also
Trump and Mike Pence.”
                                                                         They proposed the city’s WCRO as        addressed its passage in              noted. “A great deal of work on civil
   He subsequently stressed the importance of the
                                                                         a part of their “Palm Beach County:     a statement.                          rights remains to be done in the
LGBTQ vote, calling Florida the epicenter of the
                                                                         You’re Welcome!” campaign.                 “While our country is on hold      Sunshine State.”
election. “It’s up to us, all of us and the millions of
                                                                             The WCRO will take effect June      due to the coronavirus pandemic,
equality voters across the state of Florida to make sure                                                                                               For more information about the PBCHRC,
                                                                         11 following a final reading. It will   Westlake City Council Members
Joe Biden is our next president,” Jones shared.                                                                                                        visit PBCHRC.org.
                                                                         prohibit discrimination throughout      found no reason to delay moving
   Greer began by thanking Jones and the organizations
present for their commitment to equality, taking
a moment to reflect on the work of the late Terry
Fleming. The prominent and longtime Florida LGBTQ
activist, who most recently served as co-president for
                                                                         Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus releases
Gainesville’s Pride Community Center, died April 28 at
the age of 58.
   “When we get Vice President Biden elected he will be
                                                                         first round of 2020 election endorsements
the most pro-LGBTQ president that we’ve had walking                                                              (CD-7), Rep. Darren Soto (CD-9),      struggle for equality,” he continued.
into the White House,” he said. “We can walk hand in                     Ryan Williams-Jent                      Rep. Val Demings (CD-10), Rep.        “We need their voices in Congress
hand with a presidential candidate in a way in which we

                                                                        D
                                                                                                                 Charlie Crist (CD-13), Rep.           fighting for us.”
know our community, even the most marginalized, will                             elray Beach, Fla. | The         Kathy Castor (CD-14), Rep. Alcee         “We’re making these
be protected; their rights defended.”                                            Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic       Hastings (CD-20), Rep. Lois           endorsements because we know
   Greer discussed the pillars of Biden’s LGBTQ plan,                            Caucus released its first       Frankel (CD-21), Rep. Ted Deutch      we can always count on them
which the campaign previously shared with Watermark                      round of endorsements in the            (CD-22), Rep. Debbie Wasserman        to support LGBTQ+ equality,”
directly. He noted that as president, Biden will protect                 2020 election cycle May 18,             Schultz (CD-23), Rep. Frederica       Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic
LGBTQ youth, strengthen transgender protections, pass                    backing 13 candidates seeking           Wilson (CD-24), Rep. Debbie           Caucus Campaign Director Susan
the Equality Act, ensure the U.S. is a global leader in                  reelection throughout the state.        Murcarsel-Powell (CD-26) and          McGrath added. “From passing the
LGBTQ equality and much more.                                                The caucus represents the           Rep. Donna Shalala (CD-27).           Equality Act to allowing patriotic
   Jeff Trammell, a D.C.-based, native Floridian who                     interests of LGBTQ Floridians as           “We are proud to endorse           trans service members to serve
worked on the presidential campaigns of former Vice                      an arm of the state’s Democratic        Florida’s Democratic members of       openly to blocking the Trump
President Al Gore and Secretary John Kerry, succinctly                   Party. It currently has 21              Congress for reelection,” Florida     Administration’s attempts to
summarized the campaign’s call to action. “We hold the                   statewide chapters.                     LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus              enshrine discrimination in federal
veto power of a second Trump term,” he said.                                 The endorsements were               President Stephen Gaskill said.       regulations, Florida’s Democratic
   “We deserve a voice again in Washington,”                             made after “a careful review            “All 13 Representatives have          Congressional Delegation will do
Greer added.                                                             of statements, support and              furthered the cause of equality for   what’s right, fair and just.”
                                                                         Congressional records,” the             LGBTQ+ Floridians and we thank
For more information about the former vice president’s campaign                                                                                        For more information about the Florida
                                                                         caucus shared. The organization         them for their strong support of
and to read his full plan to advance LGBTQ+ equality, visit his                                                                                        LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, additional
                                                                         is supporting Rep. Al Lawson            our community.
JoeBiden.com/LGBTQ                                                                                                                                     statewide endorsements and more, visit
                                                                         (CD-5), Rep. Stephanie Murphy              “Our work is not done in the
                                                                                                                                                       LGBTQDems.org.

12                                                  watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com
nation+world news
                                                                                                                                             in other news
Court won’t hold up trans inmate surgery                                                                                   2 Missouri cops accused of
Wire Report                             than 16 in 2012. She’s scheduled       procedures that other Idahoans              assaulting trans woman
                                        for release in July of 2021.           can’t get covered through their             A Kansas City, Missouri grand jury indicted officers

B
                                            She sued the state three years     own insurance.                              Matthew Brummett and Charles Prichard on one
        OISE, Idaho | The U.S.          ago, contending that prison               But Edmo’s attorneys say                 misdemeanor charge each of fourth-degree assault
        Supreme Court won’t put an      officials’ refusal to provide her      prisons don’t get to pick and
                                                                                                                           related to a May 24, 2019, physical assault, the Jackson
        Idaho transgender inmate’s      with gender confirmation surgery       choose which people to treat,
                                                                                                                           County prosecutor’s office announced May 15. A video,
gender confirmation surgery             causes her severe distress because     and they’re required to provide
                                                                                                                           recorded by a passerby, shows the officers kneeing
on hold while a lawsuit over the        she has gender dysphoria.              medically necessary care to
                                                                                                                           Breona Hill, a 30-year-old transgender woman, in the
procedure moves forward.                    Attorneys for the Idaho            incarcerated people.
    The order on May 21 means           Department of Correction and              Edmo has so far prevailed                face, torso and ribs and forcing her arms over her head
Adree Edmo can continue                 private prison healthcare company      at both the federal district and            while handcuffed. Hill has since died after being shot
getting pre-surgical treatments         Corizon have agreed that Edmo’s        appellate courts.                           in October at a Kansas City home, and a man has been
and potentially even gender             condition has caused her distress.        The state’s attorneys asked the          charged in her death. Brummett and Prichard maintain
confirmation surgery this year          But they contend her prison            Supreme Court to consider the case          that they used reasonable force.
while Idaho officials wait to hear      doctors have determined the            earlier this month, and the high
if the high court will consider         surgery isn’t medically necessary      court hasn’t yet decided if it will         Congressional LGBTQ Equality
their appeal.                           and would do more harm than good       do so. The order denying the stay
    Edmo has been housed in a           because it could exacerbate her        was given by Justice Elena Kagan
                                                                                                                           PAC endorses Biden
men’s prison facility since she first   other mental health conditions.        without explanation, but it noted           The Equality PAC, the political action committee lead
began serving time on a charge of           Idaho Gov. Brad Little has also    that Justices Clarence Thomas and           by openly LGBTQ members of Congress, has thrown
sexually abusing a child younger        said Edmo shouldn’t have access        Samuel Alito would have granted             its support behind Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential
                                        to taxpayer-funded surgical            the state’s request.                        election. In a statement to the Washington Blade, Rep.
                                                                                                                           David Cicilline said the Equality PAC, which he co-chairs,

Iconic San Francisco gay bar to shutter
                                                                                                                           is backing Biden because he “has been a strong leader
                                                                                                                           on LGBTQ issues over his career and as president will
                                                                                                                           continue to be a champion for our community.” “Too
                                                                                                                           many LGBTQ Americans can still get fired from their
Wire Report                                The 18-member collective that           It’s at least the second time           jobs or kicked out of their homes just because of who
                                        operates the club announced May        the 54-year-old bar has faced               they are,” said Cicilline. The endorsement was timed

S
                                        20 that they had decided to close      the prospect of full closure. But           to coincide with the anniversary of the U.S. House’s
      AN FRANCISCO | One of the         the bar, though they will look for a   previous situations were due to             passage of the Equality Act.
      nation’s most celebrated gay      new location.                          gentrification in San Francisco, now
      bars is being forced from its        “Because of a lack of revenue       one of the nation’s tech hubs.
home amid the financial fallout of      due to the COVID-19 pandemic,              In 2016 The Stud’s current              Navy grants first-ever waiver
the coronavirus pandemic.               the historic bar will be announcing    location was sold, and the                  under trans military ban
   The Stud is the longest              that they are permanently closing      bar’s then-owner was notified               The U.S. Navy has granted the first-ever waiver
continually running gay bar in San      their location and will be holding a   that monthly rent for the                   under the transgender military ban to an individual
Francisco and known throughout          drag funeral to honor the end of an    2,800-square-foot space would leap          who had sued to remain in the service. The waiver
the country as one of the bohemian,     era of LGBT nightlife,” said one of    from $3,800 to $9,500.                      was granted to the Jane Doe in the case against
gender-bending, anything-goes           the owners, Honey Mahogany, in a           A cooperative group of 18               the transgender military ban filed in March. The
institutions that made San              news release.                          owners then bought the bar to keep          anonymous Navy officer faced discharge because
Francisco into a gay mecca.                                                    it running.
                                                                                                                           she’s transgender. The ban requires the discharge of
                                                                                                                           any service member diagnosed with gender dysphoria

Hungary bans recognition of trans citizens                                                                                 and bars the enlistment of any individual who has
                                                                                                                           received transition-related care, but the policy has an
                                                                                                                           exemption to allow trans service members to continue
                                                                                                                           serving if they came out when serving openly was
Wire Report                                The bill changes the “sex”          the bill into law and send it for
                                        category in official documents         review to the Constitutional Court.         instituted in 2016.

B
                                        like birth certificates to “sex at         Dunja Mijatovic, the Council
       UDAPEST, Hungary |               birth,” defined as the “biological     of Europe’s Commissioner for                Albania bans conversion
       Hungarian lawmakers              sex determined by primary sex          Human Rights, earlier asked                 therapy
       approved legislation May 19      characteristics and chromosomes.”      Hungary’s Parliament to reject the
                                                                                                                           LGBTQ rights organizations welcomed a decision May
banning the legal recognition of        Once determined, the birth sex         amendments, calling on authorities
                                                                                                                           16 by the governing body of psychologists in Albania
transgender citizens.                   category can’t be changed.             to “ensure that transgender
   Amendments to the law on the            The amendments were part of a       people have access to expeditious           to prohibit the practice of conversion therapy. A
birth, death and marriage registry,     large legislative package submitted    and transparent procedures for              statement from the country’s main LGBTQ organization
approved mostly by deputies             by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt         changing their names and gender             said the decision “places the Order of Psychologists in
from Prime Minister Viktor              Semjen, head of the Christian          or sex in the civil registry, and           Albania in the forefront of the institutions respecting
Orban’s Fidesz party, will prevent      Democratic party.                      on identity cards, passports,               LGBTI rights.” All registered therapists in Albania must
transgender or intersex people             The legislation has come under      educational certificates and other          be members of the Order of Psychologists. Albania
from legally changing their gender      strong criticism from rights groups,   similar documents.”                         passed an anti-discrimination law in 2010 that grants
to match their gender identity.         which are asking Hungary’s                                                         legal rights to homosexuals.
                                        president to refrain from signing

                                        watermark Your LGBTQ life.        May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                                           13
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14   watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com
viewpoint

                                                      “orphaned” revenue,             management organizations      signing up. If artists          you will be paid for
                                                      known as black box              before distribution to        work through a music            the use of your music.
                                                      royalties, is held in special   performers, composers,        distributor, they will assign   Don’t contribute to the
                                                      accounts in the hopes of        music publishers, record      and embed the codes on          ever-growing black box
                                                      finding the owners.             companies, producers or       their behalf.                   royalty account. Claim
                                                         According to the             other entities owning and         The actual composition,     what is yours and enjoy
                                                      collection organization         controlling the copyrights.   the song, music and             the fruits of your labor.
                                                      Songtrust, current black        The system is based on a      lyrics, requires a different        Be prepared and
                                                      box royalties total a           rather old and convoluted     code. An ISWC code              positioned to earn. Be
                                                      growing $250 million            process that was used to      establishes ownership of        ready for success with
                                                      globally. Some collection       collect radio airplay and     its copyright, ensuring that    all its perks, problems
              Camille Barbone                         agencies attempt to find        live performance royalties.   all composers are paid a        and responsibilities. If
                                                      the rightsholders, but most        For sound or master        performance royalty each        you need help, reach out

    Covid-19 and
                                                      give up after a few feeble      recordings you must           time a song is streamed or      to an industry expert;
                                                      attempts because trillions      register your master with     downloaded.                     entertainment business
                                                      of bytes                                                                                                       coaches,

   the Community
                                                      of data                                                                                                        music
                                                      must be                                                                                                        publishers,
                                                      reviewed       Claim what is yours and enjoy the fruits of your labor.                                         client
                                                      to                                                                                                             service
                                                      identify                                                                                                       reps at

A
                                                      content owners.                 the Library of Congress,         When artists sign up         the performing rights
                                                         There are a number of        using the assigned number     with a performance rights       agencies, or artist
            ll the world’s a                          ways to earn royalties and      each time you upload
                                                                                      a song to any digital
                                                                                                                    organization, like ASCAP,
                                                                                                                    BMI or SESAC, they will
                                                                                                                                                    managers can help. Get the
                                                      licenses are issued for the                                                                   information you need and
          stage, but COVID-19 has                     different uses, including       service provider. This        assign ISWC codes for           start earning.
          robbed entertainers of the                  for songs used by drag          allows royalties to be        you. You can secure ISWC
                                                      and other performers            paid to featured artists,     codes through ASCAP             Camille Barbone is a coach
chance to perform on the majority                     who lip sync on social          master owners and             without being a member,         and consultant with 25+ years
                                                                                                                                                    of entertainment business
of them. From super-stars to                          media. A sync license must      non-featured performers.      but it is very difficult if
                                                                                                                                                    experience. She has worked for
                                                      be issued for each song         A well-respected              not impossible to collect
fledgling performers, LGBTQ and                       that’s performed, entitling     performance rights            performance royalties on        major companies including Sony,
                                                                                                                    your own. Thousands of          Universal, Warner Chappell and
ally artists are trying to figure out                 the rightsholder to a           organization known as
                                                                                                                                                    others and has developed and
                                                      negotiated fee whenever         Sound Exchange collects       sites must be monitored.
how to deal with all the lost income.                 the video is played.            and pays out this type           Sound recording
                                                                                                                                                    managed high-profile artists such
                                                                                                                                                    as Madonna, produced major
                                                         It isn’t enough for          of revenue.                   copyright registration
   Live performance is big business, $30 billion                                                                                                    concerts and provided music for
                                                      a performer to share               Artists must also secure   numbers, ISRC codes, ISWC
dollars globally, and it has grounded to a                                                                                                          major motion pictures.
                                                      disclaimers that they           an ISRC code for their        codes and a membership
screeching halt. For entertainers, the internet has
                                                      don’t own the rights to         sound recordings, the         in a performance rights         Her coaching practice provides
become the primary performance platform and
                                                      the music. Social media         equivalent to UPC codes       agency will keep you on         guidance and structure to
income producer for the foreseeable future.
                                                      platforms will still block      for physical products. The    track to receive royalties      individuals and companies aspiring
   Digital service providers like Spotify and
                                                      or remove the videos,           code is embedded into the     you have earned globally.       to success in the entertainment
iTunes rely on musical content to attract traffic,
                                                      something that’s enforced       actual master recording       Simply put, it’s all about      industry. For more information,
which attracts advertising dollars from companies
                                                      by record companies. They       and scanned each time the     making sure you take an         visit CamilleBarbone.com or email
promoting products and services. Conversely, each
                                                      simply see that the drag        song is played, streamed      active role in establishing     Office@CamilleBarbone.com.
time a song is streamed or downloaded digitally,
                                                      performer did not write or      or downloaded. The            ownership of your
they’re legally obligated to pay a royalty to the
                                                      record the vocal. Without a     embedding process is          intellectual properties.
music’s rightsholder.
                                                      license, they’re infringing     usually done in the studio.      The process is tedious
   Sony earned more than $1 billion in the first
                                                      on the copyright and the           ISRC codes are acquired    and sometimes confusing,
quarter of 2020 on digital music, a portion of
                                                      rightsholder is not being       by visiting ISRC.org and      but it is the only way
which belongs to the artists and rightsholders of
the music. In the past, artists, composers, music     paid for the use of their

                                                                                           Read It Online!
publishers and other rights holders were not paid     intellectual property.
for content, but 2018’s Music Modernization Act          So, how can
changed that.                                         rightsholders collect
   It added income from digital streaming and         royalties? Strict
downloads to traditional royalty streams such         adherence to the digital
as terrestrial radio airplay, live performance,       fingerprinting process.
“elevator” music and jukebox plays. Performing           Artists must secure                       Head to
                                                      the right codes and
rights organizations collect performance royalties
and identify the rightsholders through a process      registration numbers,                WatermarkOnline.com
called audio fingerprinting, a system of codes and    assigning and embedding
                                                      them in their songs
                                                                                           and click on the Digital
registration numbers linked to the songs.
   Every day over 40,000 songs are added              while working with a                Publications link to a read
to an existing global catalogue. If the audio         collection management
                                                      organization. This creates
                                                                                           a digital version of the
fingerprinting information is incorrect or
incomplete, digital service providers cannot          a path for royalties to               printed newspaper!
identify rightsholders and pay royalties. The         flow from digital service
                                                      providers to collection

                                    watermark Your LGBTQ life.      May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com                                             15
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16         watermark Your LGBTQ life.   May 28 - June 10, 2020 // Issue 27.11 wat e r m a r konline .com
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