Welcome to the
inaugural Sarasota Living with Pride—Watermark’s
annual LGBTQ resource for all things Sarasota!
The city of Sarasota’s vision is to be a world-class
community and treasured destination, rich in its
natural beauty, charm and diversity.
That’s easily found in the six beaches
along Sarasota’s coastline—Longboat,
Lido, Siesta, Casey and Manasota Keys and
Venice—but there’s so much more to love.
Especially for the LGBTQ community.
Over 50,000 Floridians call Sarasota
home. The fabulous southwestern coastal
area offers so many in our community a safe
place to live and love authentically. It’s why
we proudly cover the area in our bi-weekly
newsmagazine.
We print up to 20,000 copies of
Watermark every other Thursday,
distributing them in more than 500 locations
throughout the Sunshine State; chief among
them Sarasota, Tampa Bay and Orlando. We
donate more than $300,000 annually in free
and sponsor advertising to worthy local and
national LGBTQ nonprofits, like The Harvey
Milk Festival and Sarasota Pride.
As a multi-faceted media company and
Florida’s distinctive LGBTQ news source,
Watermark uses opportunity and innovation
to communicate and advance LGBTQ
interests. It’s that drive that led to the
creation of Sarasota Living with Pride.
In these pages, you’ll learn what to expect
if you’re planning the perfect Sarasota
staycation. With so much to see and do, it
might even become your next relocation.
There’s a reason Sarasota County is known
as Florida’s Cultural Coast. With the help of
ABC7’s Suncoast View host Joey Panek, we’ll
guide you through some of the many options
in local arts and entertainment.
Sarasota offers a plethora of
award-winning restaurants, perfect for a
meal before or after enjoying the city’s arts
scene. Chris Covelli, an area executive chef,
guides you through Sarasota’s dynamic
dining offerings.
The night doesn’t need to end
there in Sarasota. The city offers an
incredible nightlife, particularly for the
LGBTQ community. We dish on it all with
our cover model and fan-favorite drag
entertainer Beneva Fruitville.
We also highlight Sarasota’s wide
variety of annual celebrations honoring
our shared LGBTQ experience. Between
Manatee and Sarasota Prides, the Fabulous
Independent Film Festival and the Harvey
Milk Festival, there’s no doubt Sarasota’s
LGBTQ community has Pride.
Sarasota’s LGBTQ community has
an impressive network of support.
That’s why we also review many of the
essential community and social groups
serving the area—from active adult
gatherings to youth-aiding community
organizations.
Last but certainly not least, we offer you
a directory of LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly
vendors in the area. Support those who
support you.
Sarasota is the perfect place to live
exactly as you are. We’re happy you’ve joined
us for Watermark’s first Sarasota Living
with Pride.
RYAN
WILLIAMS-JENT
WATERMARK TAMPA
BAY BUREAU CHIEF
by Dylan Todd
SARASOTA LIVING WITH PRIDE
IS PUBLISHED BY WATERMARK
PUBLISHING GROUP
OWNER & PUBLISHER
Rick Claggett
BUSINESS MANAGER
Kathleen Sadler
CFL BUREAU CHIEF
Jeremy Williams
TAMPA BAY BUREAU CHIEF
Ryan Williams-Jent
CONTRIBUTOR
Aaron Drake
MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANT
Meghan Sweeney
ART DIRECTOR
Jake Stevens
CREATIVE ASSISTANT/
PHOTOGRAPHER
Dylan Todd
SALES DIRECTOR
Danny Garcia
SENIOR ORLANDO
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Sam Callahan
ORLANDO ACCOUNT
MANAGER
Brianna Rockmore
SENIOR TAMPA BAY
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Russ Martin
FOUNDER
AND GUIDING LIGHT
Tom Dyer
Contents of this Sarasota Living
with Pride 2018 are protected by
federal copyright law and may
not be reproduced in whole or
in part without the permission
of the publishers. Publication of
the name or photograph of any
person or organization in articles,
advertising, or listing is not to be
construed as any indication of the
sexual orientation of such persons
or members or organizations.
Watermark Publishing Group cannot
accept responsibility for claims
made by advertisers.
© Watermark Publishing Group
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