by Fred Kuhr

In its August 29, 2024, issue, Orlando, Fla.-based Watermark marked its 30th birthday with a massive retrospective that included photos and reminiscences from every year of publication, contributions from past editors, and a special message from the newspaper’s founder Tom Dyer.

“Watermark has been telling the stories of Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ communities for 30 years now,” wrote Jeremy Williams, the newspaper’s editor in chief, in his introduction to the anniversary coverage. “That adds up to nearly 800 issues of the newspaper. Along with that, we have brought you about 100 different specialty magazines over the years.”

Williams also gave a brief history of the newspaper. “Watermark got its start in 1994, first in Orlando and then expanded into Tampa Bay in 1995. We now cover more than a dozen counties in the state and can be found in many Florida cities…; and thanks to WatermerkOnline.com, we have seen an international audience come to Watermark for their LGBTQ+ news, politics, sports, arts and entertainment.”

Dyer, who was publisher from its founding until 2014 as well as editor until 2009, admitted that he didn’t really know what to expect when he launched Watermark.’

“When I first envisioned Watermark 30 years ago, my goal was to share — and encourage — the burgeoning richness of the local LGBT experience. Back then, I had only the slightest idea what that would come to mean,” he wrote. “…Together, we stood up to discrimination in its ugliest forms, endured a devastating pandemic and claimed our equality. We evolved, and patiently encouraged friends, co-workers and elected officials to do the same. In the pages of Watermark, we were inspired by local and national legends of our time. Led by their example, we discovered a real — almost cocky — pride in our uniqueness.”

Dyer also explained his choice for the newspaper’s name. “I chose the newspaper’s name — Watermark — to reflect a demarcation point for the local LGBTQ+ community. But after the first issue was published a reader pointed out the more inspiring symbolism. A watermark is a transparent insignia on fine stationery, visible only when held up to the light. What a wonderful metaphor for Watermark’s readers, 30 years ago and now.”

Each page of the anniversary celebration section focused on a year of publication, from 1994 to the present. For each year, Dyer and his successor, current publisher Rick Claggett, wrote a short essay about what that year meant for the newspaper, chose favorite covers and photos from that year and, to help readers stroll down memory lane, picked pop culture and equality milestones from that year.

For 2014, Claggett’s first year as publisher, he reminisced, “Watermark started the year with a bang. [Dyer] had an exclusive one-on-one interview with gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, the first time the politician sat down with LGBTQ media. The story went viral, making headlines with MSNBC and Huffington Post.” (In case you’re curious, the best selling album that year was “1989” by Taylor Swift and only 35 states recognized marriage equality.)

Previous editors Scott Jackson-Smith (2001-2002), Ronnie Radner (2006-2009) and Steve Blanchard (2009-2015) were also invited to contribute their thoughts on the milestone with guest essays. All three noted the battles for equality fought while they were editor, but also how many of those battles continue. 

Radner, Watermark’s first female editor in chief, wrote, “As I write this tonight, I am watching the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and Barack Obama is delivering one of his most powerful, inspiring speeches, endorsing the first woman of color for the office of the presidency. George W. Bush is far from the worst president ever since Donald Trump joined the political fray. … But I feel that familiar electricity again seeing Kamala Harris. As the cliché goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. I’m doing a lot of praying for our future as I reflect on our past. Thank you Watermark for having me. Congratulations on 30 years!”

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Volume 26
Issue 8