Debbie joined the Watermark team earlier this year to handle advertising sales for the Tampa Bay region. As with all our employees, her job description extends way beyond her title. She doubles as a marketing team and events coordinator and is hugely responsible for the resurrection of Watermark Wednesday, a bi-monthly social and networking event for Watermark’s readers and advertiser.
“I saw the job opening as an opportunity to familiarize myself with the LGBTQIA community in my new home city,” Debbie responded when asked why she took the job at Watermark. “Working for Watermark is like one big family support when you need and the push to the direction for success.”
Debbie’s journey to Watermark began in Detroit, Mich., where she was born and grew up. At the age of 15, she and her long-time, out friend left their homes behind them by hitchhiking to Colorado. “I loved traveling but I was scared to hitchhike,” Debbie says of their 1980 excursion. “He talked me into it and nothing bad happened.” The two made a second trip across country to San Francisco before returning to their lives in Detroit. Their friendship grew strong and the young man became the father of her two sons. Debbie later came out when she discovered a relationship with her high school teacher, which lasted about a year.
At the age of 28, Debbie moved to New Mexico. She had fallen in love with it on one of her trips across country at an early age. Once her son graduated high school, Debbie decided to follow in the footsteps of her idol. “Maya Angelou was my hero. I went to the same college as her in Hawaii. I based her life with mine and it pointed me in the right directions,“says Debbie.
Debbie’s favorite LGBTQ event is the Dyke March in San Francisco. “It was the most incredible thing I ever saw,” she says. “There were like a million women of all shapes and sizes. I’ve never seen so many women in one place. It’s a lesbian dream and I was in it.” Debbie also speaks highly of St. Pete Pride. “It was my first time in a parade, on a float. I loved it!”
To her younger self, Debbie would say, “Don’t be so hard on yourself. The perfectionist in me is never satisfied with doing my very best, a quality that has served me well but adds unnecessary stress.” Debbie relieves that stress by talking to her grandson. “He blows me away with how smart he is and I spoil him.”
Watermark is the collective product of a team of incredibly hardworking individuals. Over the next series of issues, we’re using this space to introduce each member of our staff and contributors to you. When you see us out and about in the community, stop and say, “Hello.” We’d love to meet you.
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