Eight It Up
Eight questions for someone interesting
By Scottie Campbell
Tom Dyer, Publisher of Watermark Newspaper
About Tom Dyer | When publisher Tom Dyer started Watermark there weren't many ways for local gays and lesbians to communicate with each other. Frustrated after listening to a local elected official distance herself from the community, and inspired by the success of Southern Voice in Atlanta, Dyer founded Watermark in 1994; this month, the newspaper celebrates its 15th anniversary.
About Watermark | Every two weeks, Watermark reports gay news for Orlando, Daytona, Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, and various points in between, as well as national and international news of note. Over the years, their distribution has grown 6000 to 30,000. You can find Watermark at various locations around town or visit them at WatermarkOnline.com.
In this inaugural “8 It Up!” interview, we get some insight into Watermark and Tom -- and learn that he apparently doesn’t drive the speed limit…
Scottie: Since you’ve started Watermark, gay news has gone more mainstream. You’ll see stories in Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Weekly regularly now, LOGO has sprung up, Advocate has gone glossy (and put their dirty stuff in a separate pub), and the internet is more prevalent (to say the least). Happily, that list could go on and on. How does Watermark stay relevant?
Tom Dyer: You're right, Scottie... everything you mentioned is a good thing. But the Orlando Sentinel's coverage is limited and sometimes frustrating, and the Orlando Weekly is sporadic and trends toward tabloid-style stories. Our goal at Watermark is to be as comprehensive as we can manage; covering news, politics, perspectives and culture. If you read Watermark or visit WatermarkOnline.com, you should have a pretty good idea what's going on in the local LGBT community. We also cover both Central Florida and nearby Tampa Bay -- just an hour away. And the bottom line is that if it's interesting to our writers and to our readers, then it passes the litmus test on relevance.
Scottie: Watermark has interviewed an impressive array of people -- Eartha Kitt, Cyndi Lauper, Larry Kramer, Lily Tomlin, Dame Edna, Rufus Wainwright, Roseanne Barr, Harvey Fierstein, Bea Arthur, Margaret Cho, to name only some. What’s the one interview that has remained elusive?
Tom Dyer: I got to talk with two heroes... Billie Jean King and Gloria Steinem... and I treasure those conversations. You know who I'd really like to speak with? Pete Townshend of The Who is gay, and I don't know if anyone's ever done a truly illuminating interview with him about his experience of his sexuality.
Scottie: Personally, I find the acronym GLBT awkward and it makes me gag. What’s your honest opinion of it?
Tom Dyer: It's difficult isn't it? And GLBT has fallen out of favor; LGBT is now the preferred nomenclature. There are problems with every possible label: gay implies gay men, queer is pejorative to some, the list goes on. LGBT is awkward and inaccessible to a lot of people outside our community, but I'm getting used to it. I just roll with the punches. This would make a great topic for our weekly web site poll.
Scottie: Watermark’s signature color is purple. Why purple?
Tom Dyer: It's not purple, Scottie. It's aubergine! Kidding... purple is a rich, beautiful color, with few negative connotations. It's been used by our community for decades, usually as “lavender.” To be honest, far less thought went into the choice than you might imagine. I just knew that we would not use rainbow colors in the paper. I understand and endorse the symbolism, but as a graphic symbol it feels busy, dated and unimaginative.
Scottie: In 15 years of publishing Watermark, what has been your biggest regret?
Tom Dyer: We should have jumped on the Ryan Skipper story immediately. This young Polk County man's murder just a few years ago was every bit as gruesome as Matthew Shepard's, and every bit as telling about the persistence of violent homophobia in our area. There was almost no coverage in the mainstream press, and I let that influence my judgment. Big mistake, and I still regret it.
Scottie: I know you’re an Obama fan, so I’m going to turn around a recent WatermarkOnline poll back on you: When it comes to LGBT advocacy, what should be President Obama’s top priority? a) Marriage equality. b) Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” c) HIV education and prevention. d) Fight LGBT oppression at the international level. e) Nothing. Attend to the economy and two wars, first.
Tom Dyer: I would say repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' because it is significant and eminently doable. Polls show that a significant majority of Americans support it. I understand his sensitivities as Commander in Chief of the military, but I believe the holdout generals would get over this one quickly. I want him to be consistent in at least working toward the other options. But we have very serious, complex, entrenched problems with our economy that demand his full attention and leadership. There are a lot of people suffering in this country right now.
Scottie: When you first started the paper you had to use a tedious cut-and-paste handmade approach, do you think you would have published Watermark for 15 years if you still had to use that method instead of computers?
Tom Dyer: Yes, because Watermark is about the information and ideas contained inside, not the process. But i t would certainly look different.
Scottie: You knew this question was coming, so suck it up. Where do you see Watermark 15 years from now?
Tom Dyer: Being gay is a singularly defining experience, so there will still be a demand for media geared specifically to our community, and on a local level. What form it will take is so difficult to predict. I think the print newspaper will continue to exist in some form, but it will supplement an electronic edition that will have amazing immediacy and interactive qualities. That's not a very good answer... I wish I were more of a visionary about these things.
Scottie: Wild Card Question: If you could choose any super power, what would it be and why?
Tom Dyer: Flying... how cool would that be.
Eight questions for someone interesting
By Scottie Campbell
Tom Dyer, Publisher of Watermark Newspaper
About Tom Dyer | When publisher Tom Dyer started Watermark there weren't many ways for local gays and lesbians to communicate with each other. Frustrated after listening to a local elected official distance herself from the community, and inspired by the success of Southern Voice in Atlanta, Dyer founded Watermark in 1994; this month, the newspaper celebrates its 15th anniversary.
About Watermark | Every two weeks, Watermark reports gay news for Orlando, Daytona, Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, and various points in between, as well as national and international news of note. Over the years, their distribution has grown 6000 to 30,000. You can find Watermark at various locations around town or visit them at WatermarkOnline.com.
In this inaugural “8 It Up!” interview, we get some insight into Watermark and Tom -- and learn that he apparently doesn’t drive the speed limit…
Scottie: Since you’ve started Watermark, gay news has gone more mainstream. You’ll see stories in Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Weekly regularly now, LOGO has sprung up, Advocate has gone glossy (and put their dirty stuff in a separate pub), and the internet is more prevalent (to say the least). Happily, that list could go on and on. How does Watermark stay relevant?
Tom Dyer: You're right, Scottie... everything you mentioned is a good thing. But the Orlando Sentinel's coverage is limited and sometimes frustrating, and the Orlando Weekly is sporadic and trends toward tabloid-style stories. Our goal at Watermark is to be as comprehensive as we can manage; covering news, politics, perspectives and culture. If you read Watermark or visit WatermarkOnline.com, you should have a pretty good idea what's going on in the local LGBT community. We also cover both Central Florida and nearby Tampa Bay -- just an hour away. And the bottom line is that if it's interesting to our writers and to our readers, then it passes the litmus test on relevance.
Scottie: Watermark has interviewed an impressive array of people -- Eartha Kitt, Cyndi Lauper, Larry Kramer, Lily Tomlin, Dame Edna, Rufus Wainwright, Roseanne Barr, Harvey Fierstein, Bea Arthur, Margaret Cho, to name only some. What’s the one interview that has remained elusive?
Tom Dyer: I got to talk with two heroes... Billie Jean King and Gloria Steinem... and I treasure those conversations. You know who I'd really like to speak with? Pete Townshend of The Who is gay, and I don't know if anyone's ever done a truly illuminating interview with him about his experience of his sexuality.
Scottie: Personally, I find the acronym GLBT awkward and it makes me gag. What’s your honest opinion of it?
Tom Dyer: It's difficult isn't it? And GLBT has fallen out of favor; LGBT is now the preferred nomenclature. There are problems with every possible label: gay implies gay men, queer is pejorative to some, the list goes on. LGBT is awkward and inaccessible to a lot of people outside our community, but I'm getting used to it. I just roll with the punches. This would make a great topic for our weekly web site poll.
Scottie: Watermark’s signature color is purple. Why purple?
Tom Dyer: It's not purple, Scottie. It's aubergine! Kidding... purple is a rich, beautiful color, with few negative connotations. It's been used by our community for decades, usually as “lavender.” To be honest, far less thought went into the choice than you might imagine. I just knew that we would not use rainbow colors in the paper. I understand and endorse the symbolism, but as a graphic symbol it feels busy, dated and unimaginative.
Scottie: In 15 years of publishing Watermark, what has been your biggest regret?
Tom Dyer: We should have jumped on the Ryan Skipper story immediately. This young Polk County man's murder just a few years ago was every bit as gruesome as Matthew Shepard's, and every bit as telling about the persistence of violent homophobia in our area. There was almost no coverage in the mainstream press, and I let that influence my judgment. Big mistake, and I still regret it.
Scottie: I know you’re an Obama fan, so I’m going to turn around a recent WatermarkOnline poll back on you: When it comes to LGBT advocacy, what should be President Obama’s top priority? a) Marriage equality. b) Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” c) HIV education and prevention. d) Fight LGBT oppression at the international level. e) Nothing. Attend to the economy and two wars, first.
Tom Dyer: I would say repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' because it is significant and eminently doable. Polls show that a significant majority of Americans support it. I understand his sensitivities as Commander in Chief of the military, but I believe the holdout generals would get over this one quickly. I want him to be consistent in at least working toward the other options. But we have very serious, complex, entrenched problems with our economy that demand his full attention and leadership. There are a lot of people suffering in this country right now.
Scottie: When you first started the paper you had to use a tedious cut-and-paste handmade approach, do you think you would have published Watermark for 15 years if you still had to use that method instead of computers?
Tom Dyer: Yes, because Watermark is about the information and ideas contained inside, not the process. But i t would certainly look different.
Scottie: You knew this question was coming, so suck it up. Where do you see Watermark 15 years from now?
Tom Dyer: Being gay is a singularly defining experience, so there will still be a demand for media geared specifically to our community, and on a local level. What form it will take is so difficult to predict. I think the print newspaper will continue to exist in some form, but it will supplement an electronic edition that will have amazing immediacy and interactive qualities. That's not a very good answer... I wish I were more of a visionary about these things.
Scottie: Wild Card Question: If you could choose any super power, what would it be and why?
Tom Dyer: Flying... how cool would that be.