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In the News
NYC based LGBTQ business magazine, BEQ Pride Magazine profiles Embrace Publisher
In the News (BEQ Pride Magazine digital edition)
BUSINESS EQUALITY MAGAZINE PROFILES EMBRACE MAGAZINE PUBLISHER JOHN SOTOMAYOR
In the News
SARA GIZA PROMOTED SENIOR EDITOR OF EMBRACE MAGAZINE
Ocala, Florida – March 2021 – Journalist Sara Giza has been promoted to Senior Editor of Embrace Magazine, publisher John Sotomayor announced.
Giza is a queer activist, who has divided her time over the past decade between freelance writing and advocacy work. She is in her final year of graduate school for Social Work and was a 2020 cohort member of the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Leadership Program on Violence & Abuse Prevention. She has been a stinger for LEO Weekly and The Voice-Tribune in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and Vero Beach Magazine in Florida. She can be found on Instagram @searingsara.
Sotomayor hired Giza as a contributing writer for the premiere issue of Embrace Magazine, assigning her some of the more challenging assignments. Giza was tasked with an exclusive interview with first-ever openly gay Democratic candidate for POTUS, Pete Buttigieg. The department feature was completed days before he dropped out of the race. It was published with an Editor’s Note explaining the decision to publish the historic article as submitted, the last interview ever given by Buttigieg as a candidate.
Giza also wrote the public service coverage story, “Shattering the Silence” revealing intimate partner violence within LGBTQ relationships. Both of her published work garnered awards in the 2020 Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism competition. Her Domestic Abuse coverage garnered first place award for Public Safety Reporting. Her Pete Buttigieg coverage contributed to first place award for Minority News, and earned second place for Government News. Both contributed to second place for Serious Feature Writing.
For more information, contact John Sotomayor at john@sotomayormedia.com.
in the news
JAMIE EZRA MARK’S EM AGENCY PARTNER WITH EMBRACE MAGAZINE
Ocala, Fla. – Embrace Magazine publisher John Sotomayor announced that Em Agency has signed on as the publication’s new creative team. Em Agency CEO and publishing veteran Jamie Ezra Mark has taken on the role of creative director for the LGBT-friendly lifestyle magazine starting with the Business Issue, now in production to publish in the Summer of 2021.
Over his 25-year publishing career, Mark has amassed a vast magazine portfolio that includes national titles such as Weight Watchers, Arthritis Today, Digital South, Sensi, and Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Latitudes. His team at Em continues to design award-winning publications, as well as brand and advertising strategies, for a variety of businesses.
“Jamie is a giant in the magazine business,” said Sotomayor. “The former president of the Florida Magazine Association, he is one of the leading experts in the Florida magazine industry. We are lucky to have him and his team join us.”
Sotomayor said he is grateful for the contributions made by the first creative director, Joe DeLeon and his design team at DeLeon Designs, and wishes them well. “Embrace is in the very fortunate position to have two of the best designers in Florida,” said Sotomayor. “I have worked with both Joe and Jamie for other publications in the past. We have all evolved as owners of our own businesses. Both men have helped me grow as a publisher so I am confident this will be seamless transition.”
Jamie adds, “Our team is excited to Em-brace the next chapter of this beautiful magazine.”
For more information, contact John Sotomayor at john@sotomayormedia.com.
in the news
EMBRACE THE TALENT
CALL FOR ENTERTAINERS: LGBT+ ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS
The premier LGBT+ nightclub in North Central Florida, Copa, and phenomenal LGBT+ startup magazine, Embrace, presents a night of art + culture celebration of LGBT+ Pride!
Name of Event: “Embrace the Talent: A Celebration of Pride”
Name of Venue: Copa Nightclub
Address: 2330 South Pine Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
Phone for Venue: 352-351-5721
Artist Work Media: Paintings, Prints, Photography, Sculpture either by a LGBT+ artist or subject matter relates to LGBT+ community.
Musicians: singers, guitar players, bands, and dancers. Seeking LGBT+ performers or allies.
Date and Time: Saturday, June 26, 2021 from 5 PM – 1 AM. Nightclub closes at 2 AM.
Contact Person for Event: John Sotomayor, Publisher Embrace Magazine
Contact Number: 352-571-0129
in the news
EMBRACE MAGAZINE ADDS TWO MORE LEADING EXPERTS TO DEPARTMENT STAFF; PROMOTES DEPARTMENT WRITERS TO D
Ocala, Florida – March 2021 – Embrace Magazine restructured department roles so that each department writer is now the department editor, publisher John Sotomayor announced. He also announced the addition of two new leading experts in their fields as department editors.
Nathan Bruemmer joins as Issues + Politics editor. He is a long-time public policy advocate and community organizer. He currently serves as the Legislative Director of the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus and President of St Pete Pride. Born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, Nathan is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law and the University of South Florida. He is a former teacher and executive director of an LGBTQ+ youth center. Nathan is also a member of the board of Equality Florida, the Sarasota County Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, Florida Democratic Party Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and TransAction Florida. He currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Rev. Catherine Dearlove joins as editor of the new Religion department. She is Senior Pastor at Trinity MCC in Gainesville, Florida. Although a Christian minister, she has a strong appreciation for all journeys of faith or philosophy and wrote her Masters dissertation on Inter-religious Dialogue. She is currently the Chair of the Campus Multi-faith Cooperative at UF and coordinates the Alachua County Faith Leaders Alliance. Rev. Catherine has lived in the UK, Australia and now USA and has spent most of her life as a social justice warrior and advocate for the integration of sexuality and spirituality. Rev. Catherine believes faith is a journey and should never be static.
The other department editors are: Steve Pafford, International News; Mike Fallon, Travel; Marcus B. Marcus, Art + Culture and Style + Trends; Christian Iles, Fashion + Beauty + Design; and Melissa-Marie Marks, Activism + Charity.
For more information, contact John Sotomayor at john@sotomayormedia.com.
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