Parliament House faces financial troubles
Reactions were all over the board when it leaked that Parliament House was tangled in a foreclosure lawsuit. Some claimed to have seen it coming, some were bizarrely angry that Watermark’s coverage didn’t expose all of the rumored dirty laundry behind the business and some were simply saddened that their favorite gay bar might shut its doors. That never happened, though. In September, a receiver stepped in, and as of late December, the owner said the debt is under control and they’re launching major renovation projects in 2011 (see the related news story on this page).
Orange County approves inclusive HRO
Will they or won’t they? After eight years of trying to get a gay-inclusive Human Rights Ordinance, there was concern that outgoing Mayor Richard Crotty’s pushback would kill the measure as it was on the precipice of getting passed. Commissioner Linda Stewart was vocal and the community came out in strong support during a Nov. 23 meeting. The new protections passed with a 6-to-1 vote and included gays, lesbians and transgender residents.
Mayoral election captures LGBT attention
On one hand, we had Teresa Jacobs, a politically savvy and intelligent candidate with one fatal flaw: in an interview with Watermark, she outright refused to support gay adoption and would only concede civil unions when asked about gay marriage. On the other hand, we had Bill Segal, perhaps less tough and experienced but unwavering in his support for LGBT rights. So which do voters choose? Comments at WatermarkOnline.com blew up, with posters debating the pros and cons of each, but ultimately, Jacobs won out at the polls.
COWP changes and sees growth
Come Out with Pride, Orlando’s signature Pride event, enjoyed record-breaking attendance this year and featured Olympian Greg Louganis as grand marshal. Before this year’s event, COWP was finally declared a 501c3. After the event, longtime leader Dr. David Baker-Hargrove stepped down from his post, paving the way for former COWP event development head Mikeal Audebert to step into the event’s top role.
The Center gets new leadership
Changing of the guard appears to have been a trend for 2010. Longtime executive director of The Center Michael Vance stepped down, and interim executive director Randy Stephens blew in like a hurricane, revamping programs, bringing back forgotten events and rejuvenating the board and volunteers. Early on under Stephens’ leadership, it was announced that a balloon payment that threatened to shut down The Center in 2009 had been postponed. Within a few months, the board voted to drop the “interim” from Stephens’ title.
