Embrace Magazine

22/06/2024

As St Pete, Fla. celebrates Pride today, and I could not be there, I thought I would share some throwback photos from my visits in 2014 and 2015. I am wearing Brasil shirt in 2014 pics and sleeveless tan/black shirt in 2015. Great memories! Happy Pride 2024, St Pete!

21/06/2024

Sarcastic with an out-of-the-box mentality, full of rebellion and disregard for the rules. This student will make a great writer or artist someday.

16/06/2024

Happy Father's Day!

14/06/2024

This is excellent news! Congratulations Carlos Guillermo Smith!

BREAKING: LGBTQ pioneer and pro-equality champion Carlos Guillermo Smith has been elected to the Florida State Senate! 🏳️‍🌈 🎉

Today, Equality Florida Action PAC-endorsed candidate and former State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith officially won his race for the Florida State Senate (District 17), becoming the second openly LGBTQ member elected to the chamber in Florida history.

Stratton Pollitzer, Chair of Equality Florida Action PAC, provided the following response:

“We’re thrilled that voters are sending Carlos back to Tallahassee to continue the fight in the Florida Legislature. Carlos is an unflinching progressive and one of the governor’s sharpest critics. He consistently exposes the governor’s lies, hypocrisy, and agenda to strip away our rights and freedoms. When the governor hid public information from voters, Carlos took him to court and won. Carlos is on the front lines, working to ensure the safety and well-being of all Floridians.

In 2022, while seeking reelection to the Florida House, Carlos was targeted by the Republican Party, who invested millions to flip his seat. They have tried to block Carlos at every turn and at every opportunity, but they only made him stronger. Today’s results are an emphatic repudiation of the governor’s extremist agenda and an affirmation that Floridians want a leader who will stand up for parents, their kids, and educators who are under relentless attack. They want someone who’s not afraid to take on the governor directly, the way Carlos has and will.

This victory is a testament to the support and respect Carlos has from the voters in this district. He arrives in the Florida Senate as a champion of the people, unopposed. Congratulations, State Senator-elect!”

13/06/2024

"Know", "did", it's all relative. I don't really know him. But yes, I did him.

12/06/2024

Me trying to make it through the rest of the month, actually. News to come in July.

10/06/2024

This is THE BEST belated birthday present AND Pride present ever bestowed on me — EVER! The Society of Professional Journalists Florida Chapter announced their finalists for the 2024 Sunshine State Awards today and I have been selected as a finalist for…

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR!
and…
EDITOR OF THE YEAR!

Unbelievable!

This double finalist result for both Journalist of the Year and Editor of the Year is history-making for the SPJ organization on several grounds:
1) The first time the same person was a finalist for both in the same year (regardless of genre: print, broadcast, radio, online)
2) The first time an LGBTQ+ journalist was a finalist for Journalist of the Year
3) The first time an LGBTQ+ editor was a finalist for Editor of the Year

I believe I am also the first magazine journalist and editor as a finalist for their respective category. Journalist of the Year has always gone to a newspaper journalist and Editor of the Year has always gone to a newspaper editor, when it comes to print.

Embrace Magazine is also, once again, the most-awarded magazine in the year with seven (7) total awards. Followed by FORUM – The Magazine of Florida Humanities with five (5), and Florida Trend with three (3).

I am immeasurably honored.

Thank you SPJ Florida and the judges!

Embrace Magazine is a finalist for several other writing and design categories.

They are:

SPECIAL AWARDS:
1) Journalist of the Year — Embrace Magazine, John Sotomayor, The John Sotomayor Collection
2) Editor of the Year — Embrace Magazine, John Sotomayor, The John Sotomayor Collection

PRINT & DIGITAL WRITING:
(this year, they combined newspapers and magazines, they were previously separated, as well as digital)
3) Human Interest Story — Embrace Magazine, John Sotomayor, Heroism Overpowers Hate
4) Trend or Special Interest Publication — Embrace Magazine, John Sotomayor & Staff, Heroes Issue

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN
5) Magazine Issue — John Sotomayor & Staff, Embrace Magazine Heroes Issue
6) Magazine Issue — John Sotomayor & Staff, Embrace Magazine Travel Issue
7) Magazine Cover Design — Jamie Mark, Josh Clark, Rheya Tanner & Wendy Mak, Embrace Magazine Cover Collection

For a complete list of all SPJ Florida Pro finalists regarding Special Awards, Print & Digital Writing, and Photography & Design (those relevant to Embrace Magazine) please see the attached images.

My thanks and congratulations to all contributors to Embrace
Magazine, in particular to those who contributed to these results!

09/06/2024

Maybe I experienced it. Maybe it was a posted meme. (sung to the Maybelline jingle)

08/06/2024

Creating a startup business is difficult and requires risk. It is especially difficult to start a niche national magazine when the niche industry has shifted to online news sites. It's been a hard climb in my media career, so I am taking a moment to stop and enjoy the view. Looking down at where I have been, out to where I am, and up to where I am going, I love what I see. I've made a difference in the LGBTQ+ community, in the publishing industry, and most of all, in my personal growth. It's hard work and a great deal of sacrifice, but worth it.

05/06/2024

When you are dark but still want to enjoy the summer.

02/06/2024

Enjoyed a chocolate fudge birthday cake from Publix with my brother, Alex, after dinner. Just us, nothing fancy. I haven't done anything fancy for self celebrations in years. Low key for me. 😊

02/06/2024

Thank you for all the birthday greetings so far! Goodness — so many! If I do not get to thank all today, I will before the week is done. Latest, mid-June (June 15th). I have to say, so many brought smiles to my face but one went above and beyond. I have to reshare the personalized video posted by J R St Jean which he created just for me! Hosted/sung by "Weird Al" Yankovic, it is hilarious! Thank you, J R St Jean! Made my day! 😁

Wishing you a Happy Birthday!

02/06/2024

I'm 26 today! LOL, just kidding. I'm ageless. 😏 (26 for the 30th time, for those keeping count)

01/06/2024

My outlook, attitude, point of view.

01/06/2024

Happy Pride Month!

31/05/2024

It's about TIME. Covers for upcoming national print magazines. Not above the law as he has been living for decades, long before he was elected POTUS in 2016. The law caught up with him. Finally.

31/05/2024

Did anyone else sing the song/hum the tune in your head as you read this meme? 😏😁

27/05/2024

Memorial Day 2024. Remember and Honor.

24/05/2024

There is no fee. For more information, visit:
Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/calling-all-artists-tickets-911481153667?aff=oddtdtcreator
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/990104209400702/

22/05/2024

Today is Harvey Milk Day. May 22, 2024. Embrace Magazine honored him and his legacy in our Feb 2023 Heroes Issue. Here are jpg files of our coverage.

15/05/2024

Love this illustration of David versus Nine Goliaths, created for me by Embrace Magazine's designer, Em Agency! Thank you Em Agency! I attended the GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, May 11, 2024 as a nominee for Outstanding Print Article. I was up against 9 major media. I did not win, that honor went to Billboard. My win was being in the fight at all. Grateful.

14/05/2024

I did not win Outstanding Print Article at the GLAAD Media Awards and I’m ok with that. I won so much more in much different ways. That honor went to Billboard. What I won was the experience of being nominated therefore included in the big game. As a small guy from a small town whose nominated work was published in his own small startup magazine I got to compete with the big guns in the major competition seen worldwide. My name and that of my magazine was heard. I’ve been seen. It was and is my “Rocky” story. Who I’ve seen and had the opportunity to network with are priceless. I got to fanboy over Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lawrence, Orville Peck, Jennifer Hudson, Ross Mathews, and many more. I spoke with and been photographed with many. See photos. I was photographed on the Red Carpet with Rich Fierro, and was interviewed by entertainment journalist, Damon Jacobs. I didn’t win Outstanding Print Article. That’s ok. I’m pumped to work on my next project then submit for Outstanding Book in a future GLAAD Media Awards competition along with others. This is where I belong. Nothing’s going to change that.

09/05/2024

DAVID VERSUS NINE GOLIATHS
Tomorrow I fly to NYC to attend the GLAAD Media Awards where my feature story, "Heroism Overpowers Hate" is nominated for Outstanding Print Article. The ceremony will be held this Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Odds of a win are 1 in 10. Win or not, it is an honor to be nominated.
This is my "Oscar Moment." I do not think I will have an opportunity like this again. I will savor every moment of the experience. From "walking the red carpet" to networking with industry leaders, and fanboy over celebrities I see. I attended as a spectator in 2012 and met Anderson Cooper, saw Madonna present, and many others. It was incredible. I get to go again, but this time, not as a spectator, but as a nominee. I never imagined this could happen to me, yet here we are.
This is unlike any other competition I have entered. It is vastly different to read a list of finalists and know you will receive either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd so long as your name is on the list. You entered and are now a finalist.
This is different. You enter, and if you see your name and entry on the list then they nominate you. Many others who enter do not get nominated. Depending on the category, they take 10 nominations, and those 10 are submitted to the judges to select one winner. That's it. One winner per category. One out of those 10. So odds are stacked heavily against a win, which seems to be more unlikely if politics come into play.
That means if major brands like TIME, Billboard, USA TODAY, People, The Washington Post, or the LA Times weighs in heavily with the judges — all of whom I am up against, BTW. So yes, this is major for a small guy like me from a small town like Ocala to be in the game with work published in my own startup, a relatively unknown magazine compared to my competition.
I know the odds. I am grateful to be included. A win however, with those kind of odds against me would be the kind of story legends are made of. It would be my "Rocky Moment." It would be the story of David versus nine Goliaths.

06/05/2024

05/05/2024

Countdown to the GLAAD Media Awards in NYC. My feature story, "Heroism Overpowers Hate" is nominated for Outstanding Print Article. The ceremony will be held this Saturday, May 11, 2024. I cannot wait. I leave for NYC Friday, May 10th and return to Florida Monday, May 13th. Odds of a win are 1 in 10. Win or not, it is an honor to be nominated.

27/04/2024

My spirit animal

26/04/2024

The Florida Magazine Association announced the List of Finalists in the FMA 2024 Charlie Awards and Embrace Magazine has earned 23 total!
With 23 awards, we are the most awarded magazine by the FMA in 2024! Second is FORUM Magazine with 22. Third is Sarasota Magazine with 19.
The finalists for Embrace Magazine are:
WRITING
1) Department:
Travel. “Gay Games in Guadalajara,” by Mark Chesnut, “Gay Bar-celona”, “Castro Still Going Strong” and “The Big Easy Made Easy” by Bill Malcolm; “Palm Springs — Now with More Gay Added” by John Sotomayor
2) In-Depth Reporting:
“West Pride Story” By John Sotomayor
3) Editorial/Commentary/Opinion:
“Publisher’s Letters: The Garden of Hedon; Need to Lead;” by John Sotomayor
4) Column:
“Publisher’s Letters: The Garden of Hedon; Need to Lead;” by John Sotomayor
5) Feature Headlines:
“West Pride Story”; “Summer Camp;” “A Seat at the Table” by John Sotomayor and Rheya Tanner
6) Public Service Coverage:
“Leadership Issue” by John Sotomayor
DESIGN
7) Photo Illustration: “West Pride Story” by Josh Clark
8] Photo Essay/Series: “Summer Camp” by Magnus Hastings
9) Photo: Cover: “Summer Camp” Travel Issue by Magnus Hastings
10) Use of Photography: “Summer Camp,” “West Pride Story” and “Head of a Global Giant” By Em Agency and Magnus Hastings
11) Department: Travel. “Gay Games in Guadalajara,” by Mark Chesnut, “Gay Bar-celona”, “Castro Still Going Strong” and “The Big Easy Made Easy” by Bill Malcolm; “Palm Springs — Now with More Gay Added” by John Sotomayor
12) Cover: Either the Travel Issue or the Leadership Issue, by Em Agency
13) Feature: “Summer Camp” by Em Agency and Magnus Hasting, and …
14) “West Pride Story” by Em Agency
GENERAL
15) Advertisement: Self-Promotional: “Embraced” by Em Agency, and …
16) “Legacy of Excellence” by Em Agency
17) Advertisement: For a Client: “Atrevida Beer” by Em Agency
18) Advertorial: “Off the Chain” by Jack Lemus
19) Special Theme or Show Issue: either Travel issue or Leadership issue, by John Sotomayor and staff
BEST OVERALLS
20) Best Overall Digital Innovator: Embrace Media: Embrace Magazine, Embrace On-Air, Embrace TV “digital editions, website, videos” by John Sotomayor, Alexander Sotomayor, and Julian Placino
21) Best Overall Magazine: “Travel Issue, Leadership Issue” by John Sotomayor and staff
22) Best Overall Design: “Travel Issue, Leadership Issue” by John Sotomayor and staff
PROFESSIONAL STUDENT
23) Content: “Pride Prevails” by Jack Lemnus

This year’s Charlie Awards will be held on the evening of July 26 during the 2024 Florida Media Conference being held at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. I plan to attend.
Congratulations to all Embrace Magazine finalists! As the publisher, I am extremely proud of our talented team!
Congratulations to all our colleagues who are also finalists, too many to list here!
Thank you to all for your continued support!
To read our finalist work on our Travel and Leadership issues, published July 2023 and December 2023, respectively, visit our website here: https://www.embracemedia.us/

23/04/2024

“When you think you’ve exhausted all possibilities, remember this—you haven’t.” Thomas Edison

22/04/2024

Embrace Magazine continues to be read worldwide, with reach on all six of six inhabited continents. Only Antarctica, a non-inhabited continent, remains unreached. Perhaps soon? Researching what appeals to penguins.

21/04/2024

Fun with fruit!