What? No way! Longtime editor and continuing bestie Steve Blanchard leaves Watermark in a panic! (Not really). Blanchard is now the media relations coordinator for the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. He also puts glitter in his beard. He also looks good without a shirt (and with one).
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor retires after 30 years, but doesn’t really retire at all, because she’s amazing. Following decades of fighting the good fight, Castor walked into the nonprofit world, leading Rise Tampa – Our Police Foundation, because public dollars are hard to come by these days, and people need help.
In the name of love! Pride goes big time in Ireland in May with marriage equality pulling green into the rainbow. Ireland was the first country to achieve marriage via popular vote in history.
Oregon, the Beaver State, becomes only the third state in the country to ban conversion therapy, because it doesn’t work and it makes people feel terribly; also President Barack Obama called for the ban in an April speech. Free to be, you and me. A national bill to achieve the same reasonable end follows.
Overture! Formerly from Sarasota’s fabulous Key Chorale, Joseph Caulkins joins Una Voce, the men’s chorale, as its artistic director. His production of “I Am Harvey Milk” in the spring may have sealed the deal, but his historied innovation in the field throughout the U.S. made that deal possible.
In an impressive splash of honor, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan receives a lifetime achievement award from Stuart Milk at the Orlando Museum of Art during the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. Stuart is the nephew of murdered LGBT activist Harvey Milk. “What amazing history,” Milk said. Amazing, indeed.
