Your LGBTQ Life. December 10 - 22, 2020 • Issue 27.25 The Remarkable People Our list of the 20 most remarkable people of 2020 in Central Florida and Tampa Bay Issue DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • CLEARwATER • SARASOTA Your LGBTQ Life. December 10 - 22, 2020 • Issue 27.25 The Remarkable People Our list of the 20 most remarkable people of 2020 in Central Florida and Tampa Bay Issue DAYTONA BEACH • ORLANDO • TAMPA • ST. PETERSBURG • CLEARwATER • SARASOTA We know what it means to be here for the communities of St. Petersburg. After all, we’ve been doing it for generations — listening, guiding and providing award- winning, compassionate care that’s always nearby. And as we’ve built our expertise, we’ve also built strong relationships within our communities. That alone makes a big difference. Because when you need care you can trust, you want the kind that’s been there, like a friend, year after year. 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DECEMBER 10 - 22, 2020 // ISSUE 27.25 WATERMARKONLINE.COM Her advocacy for the LGBTQ community and her work DEPARTMENTS specifically on behalf of Pulse survivors makes no member 7 // EDItor’s / TB BUREAU more deserving of this recognition than Congresswoman Val PAGE CHIEF’s Desk Demings. 23 – U.S. Rep. Mike QUigley (il-5), wRiting aboUt U.S. Rep. Val DeMingS in heR 8 // CENTRAL FLORIDA NEWS MOST REMARKABLE PEOPLE OF 2020 PROFILE 10// TAMPA BAY NEWS 13// STATE, NATION & WORLD NEWS 21// TALKING POINTS 38// TAMPA BAY OUT + ABOUT 39// CENTRAL FL OUT + ABOUT 40// TAMPA BAY MARKETPLACE 42// CENTRAL FL MARKETPLACE ON THE COVER PAGE TALKING POINTS: “The PAGE THE Umbrella Academy” and “Juno” actor, Elliot REMARKABLE Page came out as transgender in a letter PEOPLE ISSUE: 21 posted to his social media accounts. 23 We name the 20 most remarkable people of 2020 in Central WATERMARK ISSUE 27.25 // DEC. 10 - 22, 2020 Florida and Tampa Bay. CENTRAL FLORIDA COVER - COURTESY VAL DEMINGS; TAMPA BAY COVER PHOTO CHANGING POLICY ‘tIS THE SEASON RAISING FUNDS POSITIVE VIBES BY DYLAN TODD. SCAN Read QR CODE FOR it Online! WATERMARKONLINE.COM In addition to a Web site with daily LGBTQ updates, a digital version of each issue of the publication is made available on WatermarkOnline.com PAGE The Center Orlando was PAGE Balance Tampa Bay holds PAGE The reimagined SMART PAGE Greg Stemm tells a holiday selected as part of the its 10th annual Party 4 Ride raised over $660K for tale with his parody, “A 08 FDA’s latest blood study. 10 Presents at EPIC St. Pete. 12 Florida HIV organizations. 19 Visit from St. Biden.” FOLLOw US ON TwiTTER AND iNSTAGRAM AT @wATERMARkONLiNE AND LikE US ON FACEBOOk. watermark Your LGBTQ life. DECEMBER 10 - 22, 2020 // ISSUE 27.25 WATERMARKONLINE.COM 5 Helping Businesses Recover with Minimal Impact, and Maximum Understanding. 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DECEMBER 10 - 22, 2020 // ISSUE 27.25 WATERMARKONLINE.COM Our Thanksgiving centerpiece was about 12 more pounds of written by fellow changemakers in turkey than we actually needed, a theirdifference, own lives. detailed in profiles CONTRIBUTORS testament to the American dream. In Tampa Bay, we begin with In a credit to Harris, it also tasted Rep. Michele Rayner, who earlier incredible – since in our attempts tatiana to Build Bake Better we followed openly LGBTQ woman elected QUiRoga is her brine-and-roast recipe that tothis the year Florida became Legislature. the first Black,Next the Director of went viral before the holiday. up is Larry Biddle of the Plus Family Equity and Thank you, Madam Vice President. Project, which distributed nearly Diversity for Family We also whipped up a number $55,000 in grants to worthy Equality. She is a proud mother, of side dishes and desserts, the real wife and LGBTQ advocate in Central TAMPA BAY stars of Thanksgiving. My husband Innovative entertainment Florida. Page 17 and I spent hours in the kitchen takesLGBTQ center nonprofits. stage in our list, just BUREAU CHiEF’S as it did throughout 2020. Artists of our favorites to keep us fed into John Gascot, Chad Mize and Cam gReg SteMM earlytogether, December. finishing a wide variety Parker each found ways to help lives in Gulfport, It was a bit of normalcy in a others through their work, as Fla., and has worked Ryan year that’s been anything but kind did fan favorite drag performer as a freelance to the status quo, but even more Daphne Ferraro and Kayden writer for several Williams-Jent enjoyable than the meal was the Rodriguez, co-founder of the local publications. He is a founding TB Bureau chIef making of it. It reminded me how inaugural Tampa Bay Transgender member of St. Pete Pride and active [email protected] lucky we are to have our health, our politically in Tampa Bay. Page 19 DESK home and our happiness, a feeling Even with all of its connecting with family and friends challenges, 2020 SABRINA AMBRA, NATHAN BRUEMMER, afterwards.that was only amplified by virtually SCOTTIE CAMPBELL, MIGUEL FULLER, ike MoSt thingS in our new That contentment carried into has remained a DIVINE GRACE, HOLLY KAPHERR ALEJOS, normal, the end of 2020 has been unique. my December birthday, where JASON LECLERC, MELODY MAIA MONET, in lieu of in-person celebrations remarkable year. JERICK MEDIAVILLA, GREG STEMM, While October, November and December have loved ones shared their well wishes DR. STEVE YACOVELLI, MICHAEL WANZIE Llong been my favorite months of the year, this one in virtually and Amazon delivered Film Festival. their gifts. Not everyone has that In a year that largely kept us particular tried its best to change that. opportunity, something that’s apart, Chris Jones and Loralei PHOTOGRAPHY four-year wedding anniversary becoming clearer every day. Matisse helped our community times, like during Halloween. The knowing the country had taken its Moving into 2021, I’m working safely come together via Come BRIAN BECNEL, NICK CARDELLO, globalIt was pandemic difficult rightfully not to let kept it at not to take that for granted – OUT St. Pete. Each person’s impact BRUCE HARDIN, JAMARQUS MOSLEY, responsible, in-person celebrations correction. especially after Florida hit its grim is detailed along with that of CHRIS STEPHENSON, LEE VANDERGRIFT at bay this year – easily the best firstIn steps electing in a notlong-overdue only the most course milestone of one million COVID-19 Karla Bello, who after her private part, candy aside – and it stung a pro-LGBTQ presidential ticket cases Dec. 1. The pandemic isn’t mistreatment by Pinellas County bit. I love a costume, but wearing in U.S. history but the nation’s over just because we’re over it. DISTRIBUTION one at home on a Zoom call didn’t Even with all of its challenges, officials publicly demanded change. pack the same punch. 2020 has remained a remarkable continues in our news coverage. That fight for a better future LVNLIF2 DISTRIBUTING, KEN CARRAWAY, Like a lot of folks in the LGBTQ much-neededfirst female vice win. president It gave usin plenty year. As a community we’ve found In Tampa Bay, the cities of VANESSA MARESCA-CRUZ community, I’ve always loved toKamala be grateful Harris, for we on finally Thanksgiving, had a new ways to stay connected with St. Petersburg and Tampa each Halloween. It gives so many of which out of necessity also looked one another through tragedy receive 100% in the Human us the opportunity to outwardly different this year. and triumph. Rights Campaign’s municipal Instead of visiting family early That’s why in this issue we equality index as Balance CONTENTS of WATERMARK are protected by federal we want to be, praised by a world in the day and ending the evening present the 20 Most Remarkable Tampa Bay raises funds for those copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. thatreflect often whomever shuns us or for whatever doing in a turkey-induced coma with People of 2020 – 10 in Tampa Bay in need.