Mirror, mirror, on the wall, tell me, which is the fairest festival of them all? The very first Rainbow Roots Festival, of course! Projected to be chock full of performances, history, stories, tasty food, and vendors, this event is sure to fill your brain, belly, and tote bag with all sorts of wonderful treats and treasures. Jason DeShazo, aka the incomparable Momma Ashley Rose, chatted with us about what to expect and how excited all of us Polk County residents should be to

The art of drag has a long history. It is nothing new to society, dating back centuries when men often dressed as women for entertainment and other events. The term “drag” itself is thought to have originated in the theater world in the early 20th century, when male actors would wear women’s clothing to play female roles. For a time in history, it was illegal for women to perform on stage. While “art” is subjective and can vary from person to person, drag can certainly be co

When pondering the grassroots potential of the bake sale, it’s hard not to think of Georgia Gilmore, the woman who fed and funded the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Gilmore formed The Club From Nowhere, a secret civil rights kitchen where she sold pies and pound cakes to raise funds for the 381-day resistance. It’s also hard to not think of Paola Velez, the DC chef who co-founded Bakers Against Racism, a massive bake sale movement that began as a pop-up in 2020 and has raise

It’s time to celebrate, affirm, and stand beside our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and community members in the week-long celebration, Polk Pride. Asked if there was anything new or exciting with Pride this year, founder Scott Guira replied, “The most exciting thing is that we’re going to continue to have it despite the things going on out there.” Guira created Polk Pride in 2015 to foster a community in Polk County where LGBTQ+ folks of all ages could feel welcome. Discussing the

Eight years ago, Jason DeShazo sat in the crowd of a Dixie Longate drag show. “I don’t think I laughed and cried so much in one sitting outside of church ever,” he said. In her affected southern drawl, Dixie, America’s own Tupperware queen, told a simple story about “bumping a duck.” It goes something like this. There’s a duck in the middle of a calm lake. If you throw a stone into the lake, it ripples and bumps the duck. “If you can just be one stone to bump a duck, to cause

The Hart Art story is one of international love, civil rights hard fought and won, shared creativity turned livelihood, and zany catchphrases come to life. Caroline and Laurie Hart, the artists behind Hart Art have carved out a niche of rustic wood paintings with inspirational themes. And it all started with a tiki bar. Caroline hails from a small West Sussex village. She had a career in the radio industry, including the U.K.’s number-one commercial radio station, London’s Ca

Apart from the work they put into performing, drag queens have historically been champions of change for the LGBTQ+ community. Queens like Marsha P. Johnson, the transgender drag queen who was one of the first to resist police during the 1969 Stonewall riots, which are widely regarded as an impetus for the gay rights movement. Yes, drag queens can be campy and quippy and read you to filth while wearing 6-inch heels, but they are also powerful and positive role models for self

Pride Month is a time to celebrate our LGBT+ friends, family, and neighbors, and love in all its forms. Founder of Polk Pride, Scott Guira, held the first Polk Pride event in 2015. The annual celebration of community diversity and love has grown year over year. In 2020, like many gatherings, Polk Pride was canceled. This year, the festivities will move from June to October. Lakeland resident Scott Guira started working with the Lakeland Youth Alliance (LYA) in 2011. This orga

This year the world has faced sickness, death, job loss, strained social environments, injustices, and tragedies – everyday life has become unusual for many. Most of us have struggled with our mental health or know someone who has. We spoke with Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Antionette Pollard to learn more about depression and anxiety, when to seek help, how to cope during COVID-19, and the importance of mental health care. Pieces to Peace Counseling Antionette Pollard i

As we gear up to celebrate Pride Month here in Polk County, I can’t help but think about how lucky I am to have spent a good portion of my life volunteering and working in a theater. I am the Producing Director at Theatre Winter Haven, but the first play I ever did was a production of THE KING AND I at age 5. Most of my life has been informed by the values I learned in a dark theater. Because I was a theater kid, I have been blessed to know and love members of the LBGTQ commu

June is LGBT Pride Month – a time to celebrate and support our fellow humans for who they are and whom they love. Not just in June, but every day let us celebrate love in every form for all that it brings to the world. Love is support, love is recognition, love is pride in yourself and others, love is a kind word, love is acceptance, love is community, love is affirmation, and to quote Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love.” Polk Pr

Life has a funny way of taking us in a direction unforeseen. You may go to places you’ve never been or come back to somewhere you never thought you would. Winter Haven resident, Joel Carrier has learned to clasp life’s leading hand and embrace being present – wherever that might be. Born in California, Carrier’s family moved to Iowa when he was just a baby. They made their way to Polk County when Joel was a teenager. Starting out as a Political Science major at Florida State,

On the night of the Oscars in 2014, Lakeland resident Kevin O’Brien made a personal goal to write and produce a full-length feature film. That night, he bought a website domain and wrote a blog post committing to do something every day to bring him closer to his goal. The product of that initial dream, a movie titled, “At the End of the Day,” has become a piece of a larger conversation surrounding the LGBTQ and Christian communities. The film featuring Stephen Shane Martin, D

Through her law practice, Foley Immigration Law and nonprofit The Red Tent Initiative, Lakeland attorney, Alison Foley-Rothrock is using her voice to bust stigmas and give power to victims as a survivor, advocate and leader. Alison grew up in the northeast and went to school in Rhode Island where she graduated with her bachelor’s degree and attended law school. “I wanted to be involved in law because I see it as an extension of politics. I’ve always been very political and mo

Tim Bryant has given himself the freedom to pursue everything that interests him. This decision took him from an industry he didn’t enjoy, to living the life he wants, at a place where he likes the person he has become. From Dayton, Ohio, Bryant’s family moved to Haines City when he was six to develop Grenelefe. Starting as a sophomore in high school in the DCT program, his first profession was in finance. This career took him from Haines City to Tampa, Orlando, and Miami in