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The LEGAL LEDGER
P E R S O N A L I N J U R Y A N D T R I A L L A W Y E R S
DENMONPEARLMAN.COM SUPPORTING OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY JOIN US AT RAINBROS, OUR ST. PETE’S PRIDE CELEBRATION JUNE 2021
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If you ask me, one of the best parts about St. Petersburg is the diversity of the residents who call this city home. St. Pete is one of those cities that opens its arms to people from all walks of life and provides them with a safe, happy, and sunny home. I hail from the Northeast, and when I moved here, I discovered that unlike other places I have lived, it wasn’t difficult to break into the community. Where other communities had bands of locals who had always lived together, there’s an inclusiveness and openness in St. Pete that’s difficult to find elsewhere. A few years ago, my friends Jim and Kellyann Jenkins of Jenkins Law, Joseph and Natasha Maltese of Primal Performance Sport and Spine, and my wife and I had the idea to recognize this inclusiveness during one of our region’s biggest celebrations of diversity: St. Pete Pride. We wanted to honor the strength of the LGBTQ community and businesses that call St. Pete home and raise money for nonprofits that support and serve this community. Our main goal was to throw one heck of a party and raise money for our community! Not identifying as LGBTQ ourselves, we knew that we had to approach this event carefully and listen to the voices of those in the community for guidance. Together, we came up with the idea for Rainbros, a big party right along the St. Pete Pride parade route. Many of our LGBTQ friends were excited, and as ticket sales started to climb, we became more anxious and excited, too. Rainbros’ inaugural party kicked off in 2019 during St. Pete Pride, and I’m proud to say it was a success! We learned that we really didn’t know much about event planning, but people had fun, and I don’t think we had one negative comment! Sure, we may have learned that
appetizers and easy-to-carry food would make more sense than a full meal and that we need more open bars to accommodate long lines, but none of that took away from the tremendous support we received from the community and those in attendance. And this year, we’re back! After our second annual Rainbros event was canceled as a result of the pandemic, we’re excited to announce that Rainbros’ second “second” annual event is slated to happen once again this year! Follow @rainbrosprideparty on Instagram for more details on what to expect at this year’s celebration. The best part about this event is who will benefit from it. St. Pete’s Pride is a monthlong celebration of love and acceptance. This year, organizers have planned weekly themes, including arts and music, families, outdoor adventures, and food, each one crafted to cultivate a stronger sense of empowerment and community to LGBTQ members of St. Pete’s. We are honored to host one event in this 30-day celebration of our LGBTQ community! After the year we have had, anxiously waiting to see if Pride can happen and finally admitting that we would have to wait until this year, our entire team at Denmon Pearlman cannot wait to party with you! We all deserve this celebration of love, hope, and commitment to protecting the diversity of our city. Join us and learn more by following @rainbrosprideparty on Instagram . You can also learn more about Pride online at StPetePride.org.
WE ALL DESERVE THIS CELEBRATION OF LOVE, HOPE, AND COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY.”
Let’s party, St. Pete! Happy Pride!
—Lee Pearlman 1 DENMONPEARLMAN.COM
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IS ANIMAL THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU? YOUR GUIDE TO AAT
There are just some things only a dog can understand — same with a cat, or a horse, or a bird, for that matter. That’s the idea behind animal-assisted therapy (AAT), a treatment designed to help those with mental and physical challenges. AAT may look like snuggling and playing with animals, but it’s much more involved than you may think. WHAT IS AAT? AAT relies on an innate human need to connect with animals. The idea is that humans form bonds with living things, and this connection can have a calming effect on our minds. Physical therapy and massage therapy involve tangible actions on the part of the therapist, while AAT relies on the relationship between a human and an animal. This could help someone cope with 3 RESOURCES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
grief, lessen a medical patient’s pain related to chemotherapy or surgery, provide connection to residents in long-term care facilities, or even offer exercise for those with limited mobility. AREN’T THOSE JUST EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS? In recent years, emotional support animals have become increasingly popular both in the media and in their use. Emotional support animals offer their owners vital emotional assistance, but they differ greatly from trained therapy animals. AAT requires the use of a trained animal under the direction of a handler, who will also coordinate with medical professionals to ensure the strategies that they deploy will target what a patient needs. Prior to practicing, trainers and their animals must each pass certification processes intended to help each party gain the skills needed to help patients. To qualify, animals also need to be clean and vaccinated, and the type of animal that is used At Denmon Pearlman, we’re proud to be part of the vibrant community of leaders and citizens dedicated to making our region welcoming to everyone. If you or a loved one is searching for an LGBTQ resource or organization, our community has many options, including the places below. LGBTQWELCOME CENTER Where: 2227 Central Ave. Website: LGBTQWelcomeCenter.org and MetroTampaBay.org Resources: Gathering center and health connections The LGBTQ Welcome Center provides a welcoming environment for anyone. It began in June 2014 under Metro Inclusive Health as a way to connect the LGBTQ community together and to medical services. The center features a coffeehouse and a youth center, and attendees are welcome to utilize the center’s education and career services or stick around for entertainment. Metro Inclusive Health is also a resource for those seeking LGBTQ-centered medical care, including primary, mental, and sexual care, pharmacy services, and HIV care. FAMILY RESOURCES Where: Multiple locations across the region Contact: Info@Family-Resources.org or 727-893-1893 Website: FamilyResourcesInc.org Resources: Counseling, housing, and support for at-risk LGBTQ youth and young adults
during AAT also depends on a person’s condition, the location of the therapy, and a patient’s need.
IS AAT RIGHT FOR YOU? AAT isn’t for everyone, but it can be a vital
component of your healing process. It’s often seen as a supplemental form of therapy intended to bolster other therapies. The important thing to remember when considering AAT is to establish reasonable goals. Discuss the possibility of using AAT with your doctor or therapist and consider which animals may bring you the most comfort. Be realistic about what you want and need before attempting AAT. Homelessness is an issue that plagues the LGBTQ community, but Family Resources is fighting that reality. With shelters for homeless LGBTQ young adults, the organization provides support for at-risk youth in need of housing and guidance. It also offers individual and family counseling opportunities. Each resource connects young LGBTQ citizens with the necessary guidance they need to live independent, happy lives.
ST. PETE’S PRIDE Where: Across St. Pete’s When: June 1–30 Website: StPetePride.org Resource: Celebration and connection
Our local Pride celebration may not be a life-saving resource to the community — but it can be a powerful bridge to creating a safer, happier environment for our LGBTQ friends, families, and neighbors. Throughout the month of June, organizers of St. Pete Pride have created themed weeks that are geared toward supporting and uplifting LGBTQ voices and the voices of racial minorities. Attend all four weeks or enjoy the themes of outdoor adventures, family-focused fun, arts, and food! (COVID-19 precautions are being taken by organizers. Visit the website for more details.) Denmon Pearlman is proud to be an LGBTQ-friendly law firm. If you or someone you know needs compassionate attorneys who support this community, please contact us today.
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SERVING UP AUTHENTICITY
WAKAMOLÉ OFFERS REAL MEXICAN CUISINE AND PARTNERS WITH DENMON PEARLMAN
Inspired by 101Cookbooks.com
Nothing says summer like a glass of iced tea. Enjoy these two twists on a classic summer soother.
When David Rosales moved to Florida, he was on the hunt for authentic Mexican food that would replicate the delicacies he grew up eating in Mexico City.
INGREDIENTS
Rosales was born in Chicago, but he lived and grew up in Mexico City, Mexico, throughout most of his childhood. After returning to the U.S. and earning his bachelor’s degree in sports medicine, Rosales was offered a job in Clearwater. Shortly after arriving, Rosales found local Mexican food fell flat — but he had an idea. On May 7, the catering company and food truck Rosales started as a way to satisfy that craving, Wakamolé, will celebrate its third anniversary. Pulling from his childhood and six months of training in Mexico, Rosales’ authentic Mexican food is unabashedly good.
• •
2 tbsp loose-leaf green tea 4 cups filtered water, divided
Option 1: Rose and Coriander • 1 tbsp dried rose petals •
1 tbsp whole coriander seeds
Option 2: Ginger Mint •
1 handful fresh mint leaves
•
1 inch fresh ginger, cut into coins
“It’s honestly super rewarding,” Rosales says, reflecting on the past three years. “It’s been pretty hard also, but as time passes, it starts becoming a little bit easier.”
DIRECTIONS
For Rose and Coriander Tea: 1. In a large pitcher, place green tea, rose petals, and coriander seeds. 2. Bring 1/2 cup water to just below boiling. 3. Pour hot water over tea leaves, petals, and seeds. Let steep for 10 seconds, then add the remaining 3 1/2 cups water. 4. Refrigerate 4–8 hours until tea reaches your desired strength. Strain and serve over ice. For Ginger Mint Tea: Follow the instructions above, substituting the mint leaves and ginger coins for the rose petals and coriander seeds.
As Wakamolé has gained even more popularity, Rosales says the greatest compliments are when he hears that his tacos, bowls, and costras — similar to a quesadilla but with the cheese melted on the outside of the tortilla — remind his customers of the rich flavors found in Mexico City meals. Wakamolé and Rosales will join Denmon Pearlman at our second Rainbros St. Pete Pride Celebration, too. Joining the event, Rosales says, was a no-brainer. For starters, he’s come to know firm founding partner Lee Pearlman through networking, but the biggest reason why, Rosales says, is because of the community he’s come to know. As Rosales explains, Mexican culture can be closed-minded when it comes to LGBTQ rights. So, the LGBTQ community wasn’t one that Rosales thought much about — until moving here. Afterward, Rosales joined a CrossFit gym, and he discovered that it served a large number of LGBTQ patrons. Through that gym, Rosales has made lifelong friends, and it’s their support that Rosales says has made Wakamolé so successful.
TAKE A BREAK!
“They have become some of my best friends,” Rosales says. “When they told me about partying for a good cause in regard to the gay community, I was like absolutely!”
As Wakamolé continues to grow, Rosales’ food reaches even more people. In May, Wakamolé catered its first wedding, and it has since expanded to two food trucks with bar service. You can learn more about Wakamolé and its catering options at WakamoleTacos.com.
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520 2ND AVE SOUTH ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33701
P E R S O N A L I N J U R Y A N D T R I A L L A W Y E R S
INSIDE 1 2 Join Us for Rainbros!
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DENMONPEARLMAN.COM
Should You Try Animal Therapy? 3 Resources That Make Our Community More LGBTQ Friendly
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Meet One of Our Food Vendors From Rainbros! Iced Green Tea, 2 Ways
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DIY or Buy: Summer Lawn Games
Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children. CORNHOLE: ADVANCED DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch- thick plywood along with two-by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander. Visit DIYPete.com/ cornhole-board-plans to get both written and video instructions. Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com. Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially when it comes to yard games!
The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the- shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. GIANT JENGA: EASY DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board. Visit ABeautifulMess.com/make-this-giant-jenga to see a complete set of instructions. Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high. CLASSIC HORSESHOES: INTERMEDIATE DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go! Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade.com/ultimate-diy- horseshoe-pit.
DIY OR BUY? LAWN GAMES FOR FAMILY SUMMER FUN
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