An enthusiastic crowd packed into the Rose Dynasty Center on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the opening of Lakeland’s first LGBTQ+ resource and support center.
The center at 1253 W. Memorial Blvd. is the brainchild of Jason DeShazo, 45 — the Lakeland man better known to many for his drag persona “Momma Ashley Rose”— and Ethan Suarez, 34, president and CEO of Orlando-based Pineapple Healthcare. It will offer medical care, counseling, support groups and social events.
The ribbon-cutting was a cheerful affair with lively music, catered food from Bandidas and rainbow colors everywhere. But the center’s mission, emblazoned on its sign, could not be more serious: a safe space.
A safe space: Both “Momma” and Suarez noted that political shifts in Florida in recent years have shaken many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people — undermining their sense of safety and seriously impacting their mental health.
“From the moment I came out, I always dreamt of creating a place where queer folks could safely express themselves and be there for one another,” said DeShazo, who grew up the only child of conservative Christian parents.
He founded the nonprofit Rose Dynasty Foundation in 2017 to support LGBTQ+ youth who often feel alone and are at higher risk of suicide and depression. Some of the organization’s proceeds have supported Camp Out, a summer camp where LGBTQ children can feel safe from being bullied.
Hours: The Rose Dynasty Center is at Crestview Avenue and West Memorial Boulevard, behind a U-Haul franchise. It will be open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Support groups will use the space in the evenings and there will be events on weekends.
See a slideshow of the grand opening
Pride Month: June is LGBTQ Pride Month. Polk Pride is hosting daily events this week, leading up to Pride in the Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Munn Park.
What the center offers
‘Culturally competent’ health care: One side of the 2,229-square-foot center has a reception area with brightly colored chairs and a room set up as a clinic. Pineapple Healthcare will initially have a nurse practitioner there one day a week, with plans to expand. The clinic will offer what Suarez called “culturally competent” primary care as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV/AIDS care and testing for sexually transmitted infections. Pineapple accepts most insurance plans and will work with those who do not have insurance.
No hormone therapy: The Florida Legislature passed a bill last year banning nurse practitioners from prescribing hormones. There are several lawsuits pending challenging the measure, but until they are resolved, the clinic will not offer gender-affirming care for transgender patients.
Mental health counseling: The center has a cozy, wood-paneled counseling room with soft lighting and a rainbow-colored sign that says, “You are loved, accepted and wanted.” Therapy will be available from:
- Heather Stambaugh, a licensed mental health counselor who has worked with LGBTQ clients since 2015. Her practice’s motto is “a therapy space where misfits fit.”
- Black Swan Counseling, a three-person, LGBTQ-friendly practice that offers individual and group counseling.
LGBTQ library: In a corridor connecting the two front rooms, shelves hold a variety of books, including many banned from local schools for their LGBTQ content. Little Bus Books has a Rose Dynasty Center wish list on its website. People can buy and donate books to help the center’s library grow.
Connection and support: The center plans to host many social and support groups, including:
- a 55+ LGBTQ support and social hour.
- an addiction and trauma recovery group for queer and transgender people.
- a social and support group for trans, non-binary and gender-nonconforming adults.
- a teen social group for queer youth and allies.
A message of love and acceptance
DeShazo describes himself as a gay man who performs in drag, singing only family-friendly, inspirational songs. His Momma Ashley Rose character is a matronly Southern woman, evoking the late Robin Williams’ Mrs. Doubtfire. But he has been targeted by hate groups in recent years.
“I’m just here to spread a message of love and acceptance … This is not grooming,” DeShazo has said. “I always say if grooming works, I should be straight. I was groomed by straight people my whole life to not be gay.”
DeShazo was featured on an episode of “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” on Sunday titled “Drag War.”
Past controversy: In recent years, the Rose Dynasty Foundation has held performances and fundraising brunches at ART/ifact Studios, 820 N. Massachusetts Ave. The nonprofit arts cooperative leases the building from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. A Christian group protested last year, demanding an end to drag events in city-owned buildings, but the City Commission declined to intervene.
DeShazo told The Ledger his group may still use ART/ifact for community events and performances that are too big for the center, but they are excited to have a space of their own.
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