Embrace Media

Embrace Media offers event coverage under broad topics related to LGBTQ and straight communities coming together to live, work, play and pray.
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01/07/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT: After a few years hiatus taken to launch and manage a second magazine brand, Embrace Magazine, that has performed successfully, and an unsuccessful attempt to find a buyer for Elevate Magazine, I am going to delete the Elevate Magazine page by the end of Q1 2024 (by the end of March). If anyone is interested in buying the magazine, I can still sell it. Contact me at [email protected]. Please do so before March 31, 2024 if you want to include the Elevate Magazine page in the inventory. Please note, the website has already been deactivated as I chose not to continue paying the hosting fee, but the website would have needed to be redone anyway as it was an old model.
Thank you for all your support of Elevate Magazine!

NOTE: This update ONLY affects Elevate Magazine. Embrace Magazine is still ongoing.

01/07/2024

Online dating when your ripe years are behind you.

01/06/2024

Found baby Jesus in my first slice of King Cake! A tradition for Roman Catholics, especially Latino Roman Catholics, finding baby Jesus in your slice means luck all year. Looks good for 2024! Thank you, baby Jesus! King cake purchased at La Hacienda Restaurant & Supermarket on SR 40, Ocala.

01/06/2024

When you misunderstood the assignment. Happy Three Kings Day!

01/04/2024

Tonight I was appointed as secretary to OPRAI Board of the community I live in: Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club. Usually they elect their board members, however the person elected as secretary could not fulfill the duties, so I was appointed and will hold the position for all of 2024. OPRAI is not an HOA, but is similar to one. I am proud to serve the community I live in. Will I seek other appointments in the local area? Hmmmm. This has gotten me thinking. Appointments are as important as elections for diverse and inclusive representation. Am I ready? More interestingly, is my community ready for my seat at the table?

01/03/2024

First contact with intelligent life on other planets.

01/02/2024

READ EVERYWHERE HUMANS ARE FOUND ON EARTH. 2024 is already starting out to be lucky for Embrace Magazine and for me. On Jan 1, 2024, just over two weeks after the publication of the Leadership Issue digital edition on Dec 15, 2023, the issue has been read on all SIX of SIX inhabited continents around the world! 16 days to be exact. Thank you, Egypt! As you can see from ISSUU analytics map, Embrace Magazine has been read throughout the USA and Canada (North America), throughout Western Europe, and most of Southeast Asia, including Australia. More of South America is expected to be reached (it has only been 16 days) but we are grateful to reach Africa. The nations holding out are the traditionally anti-LGBTQ+ nations, so we are not surprised. We have reached more of Africa, Russia and China before, but socio-political acceptance in those nations have shifted again, against the LGBTQ+ community. Human rights are at stake here, which is why it is important to have representation in media as we strive to present at Embrace Magazine. Please continue to read and share with your networks. The digital edition can be found at:
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia
https://www.embracemedia.us/
And any of my or Embrace Magazine and Embrace Media social media pages.
Thank you!

01/01/2024

Me at around 35 years old. 20 years ago. Going to try to get this back at 55.

01/01/2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

12/31/2023

A final clever, sarcastic meme to end the year... followed by another that explains the zeal and appeal of memes.

12/30/2023

2024 going to be a pivotal year. Need to check the fine print.

12/26/2023

Me right now watching holiday movies recovering from a slight cold. I'll go back to work tomorrow. Or the day after.

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas! Continued tradition of turning over baby Jesus at midnight. For 60 years, my dad held the tradition of turning over baby Jesus in the manger signifying his birth. When dad passed away in April 2021, my brother, Alex, and I continued the tradition. Merry Christmas from the Sotomayor brothers!

12/24/2023

Merry Christmas Eve!

12/24/2023

When Halloween and Christmas lovers combine their design aesthetics. Seeming opposites can blend to create something even more amazing. Mix it up.

12/22/2023

Christmas came early! Embrace Magazine Leadership Issue print copies have arrived! Distribution will begin right after Christmas Day. Merry Christmas from Embrace Magazine!
Digital Edition available at:
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia
https://www.embracemedia.us/

12/20/2023

According to ISSUU analytics, after only five days, Embrace Magazine Leadership Issue digital edition now read on five of six inhabited continents. Countries include: USA, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Israel, United Arab Emirates, India, Vietnam, and Australia. Continents are: North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Only Africa remains. Please continue to read and share the link to the issue with your networks. Leadership Issue digital edition available at:
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia
https://www.embracemedia.us/magazine
Plus our pages: Embrace Magazine, Embrace Media, and Sotomayor Media Creations LLC.
Thank you!

12/20/2023

According to ISSUU analytics, after only four days, Embrace Magazine Leadership Issue digital edition now read on four of six inhabited continents. Countries include: USA, Canada, Brazil. Ireland, Sweden, Italy, Israel, United Arab Emirates, India, and Vietnam. Continents are: North and South America, Europe and Asia. Only Africa and Australia remain. Please continue to read and share the link to the issue with your networks. Leadership Issue digital edition available at:
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia
https://www.embracemedia.us/magazine
Plus our pages: Embrace Magazine, Embrace Media, and Sotomayor Media Creations LLC.
Thank you!

12/19/2023

Masters degree in snark.

12/18/2023

These kids get it! Must watch.

Andrew Rannells and the cast of THE PROM perform the showstopper "Love Thy Neighbor."Subscribe: https://bit.ly/36dnr0kFind Netflix Film Club on:➡️INSTAGRAM: ...

12/18/2023

Doing my work with Christmas cookies and coffee snack.

12/16/2023

Leadership Issue analytics. After 24 hours of publication, the digital edition of Embrace Magazine Leadership Issue has already been read in the entire North America region, plus parts of South America and Europe, namely United States, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, Sweden, and Italy. That is three out of six inhabited continents in only 24 hours! I think honoring IGLTA president/CEO John Tanzella had a great deal to do about that considering IGLTA impact on LGBTQ+ travel and tourism worldwide! Thank you all for your continued support! Please continue sharing within your networks so that the Leadership Issue can beat our own record as most read issue! Here's the link: https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia/docs/2310_leadership
Thank you!

12/15/2023

As founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Embrace Magazine, it is my esteemed pleasure to present The Leadership Issue. December 2023. An in depth look at LGBTQ+ organizations providing leadership and public service. See link here:
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia/docs/2310_leadership
Congratulations to our first-ever LGBTQ+ Leader of the Year — John Tanzella, president/CEO of IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association). Read about him and the IGLTA in our feature: Head of a Global Giant. Also featured, NGLCC - The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce founders Justin Nelson and Chase Mitchell, president, and CEO respectively of NGLCC (National LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce); and Daniel Sohn, president/CEO of The Pride Chamber of Orlando and president of U.S. Business Consortium. Plus, coverage of FLOCC Florida Travel & Tourism conference in Tampa and NGLCC International Business & Leadership Convention in Denver. Plus, much more!
Look for embedded video in the travel story and within two of our events coverage! One of the events contains two videos on the same two-page spread. (All videos are set to autoplay without volume. To hear music/soundtracks, click volume button)
Digital edition link here. It may also be found now (except where indicated):
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia
www.embracemedia.us (By late morning/early afternoon today, Friday December 15, 2023)
https://www.facebook.com/embracemagazine.us
https://www.facebook.com/EmbraceMed
https://www.linkedin.com/company/embrace-mag/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsotomayor/
Also, all of my Facebook personal pages.
Please take a look, read, and share with your networks. Best to see on a desktop or laptop for the flipbook digital editions.
Thank you to all our contributors, advertisers, and our readers for your continued support!

12/13/2023

ANNOUNCEMENT: Embrace Magazine Leadership Issue digital edition will publish this Friday, December 15, 2023 starting at 8 AM on our website: www.embracemedia.us; on all our publication/business social media platforms, and on my personal social media platforms, particularly Facebook and LinkedIn. In the past, I provided a FIRST LOOK at the cover, a sneak peek at what you could expect. This time, we chose to keep the identity of the first-ever LGBTQ+ Leader of the Year a secret until the issue is revealed, so no First Look this time. I promise you, this issue will be the most important and impactful to date. You do not want to miss it! The 48 hour countdown to launch begins now...

12/11/2023

On Thursday afternoon, Dec 7, 2023, Embrace Magazine served as media sponsor for The Pride Chamber Grubhub Community Impact Grant Awards. Eric Levy, afternoon anchor for Spectrum News 13, served as emcee. Presentation was led by Daniel Sohn, president/CEO of The Pride Chamber. Honorees included Hamburger Mary Orlando, Hungry Pants, SAVOY Orlando, and Se7enbites. Special presentation in recognition of 2023 Transgender Awareness Week & National Entrepreneurship Month by Jessica Dawson, co-founder of FISK Mobile Tipping. Thank you again to The Pride Chamber and NGLCC - The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce for the honor to serve and address the members as the media sponsor. As media sponsor, Embrace Magazine pledged to feature the honorees in our upcoming Entertainment Issue (Spring 2024) and offered generously discounted ad opportunities to all members who were present at the ceremony. Ending 2023 on a high note, while a great start to 2024! Photos by Axel J Someillan of Someillan Entertainment

12/11/2023

Ryan Reynold poked fun at Taylor Swift and his wife, Blake Lively.

12/10/2023

Joan for the win. Game set match.

12/06/2023

Posted a year ago. Still applicable. Still funny.

11/29/2023

On my way to Washington, DC to attend the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute 2023 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference, 11/30 - 12/2/23. Return to Ocala 12/3/23. Traveling with Hon Daniel Sohn, president/CEO of The Pride Chamber of Orlando and national president of the U.S. Business Consortium.

11/27/2023

A great reminder:
At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.
At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.
At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.
At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.
At age 27, John Sotomayor dropped out of law school.
At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a single parent living on welfare who was clinically depressed and at times has contemplated su***de.
At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook.
At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.
At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs.
Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51.
Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.
Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40.
Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42.
Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first major movie role until he was 40.
John Sotomayor published his first magazine brand at age 48.
Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR movie role at age 52.
Kathryn Bigelow only reached international success when she made The Hurt Locker at age 57.
Grandma Moses didn’t begin her painting career until age 76.
Louise Bourgeois didn’t become a famous artist until she was 78.
Whatever your dream is, it is not too late to achieve it. You aren’t a failure because you haven’t found fame and fortune by the age of 21.
Hell, it’s okay if you don’t even know what your dream is yet. Even if you’re flipping burgers, waiting tables or answering phones today, you never know where you’ll end up tomorrow.
Never tell yourself you’re too old to make it.
Never tell yourself you missed your chance.
Never tell yourself that you aren’t good enough.
You can do it. Whatever it is that sets your soul on fire.

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https://www.embracemedia.us/

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Videos

BEST LIVE SHOW IN TOWN. Not just the best drag show. Best show of any kind. Bar none. If you haven’t attended Twila Holiday’s Drag Bingo at The Black Sheep on Broadway in downtown Ocala, then you are missing out. Twila Holiday — winner of Florida and National Entertainer of the Year 2023 pageants — is sharp. Smart. Engaging. Most of all — funny. A drag performer since 2009, Twila has perfected her act. A room full of mostly straight women and men, with a few gay and lesbian mixed in, all found her riveting. The highlight was her lip sync to Celine Dion’s song, “My Heart Will Go On” from the film, “Titanic.” She stood on a ladder and during the critical moment of the song, ripped her blouse open revealing her enormous fake boobies. I was dying. And thank God for the straight guys in the audience who were more than good sports, they added their own flavor to the show. A foursome of British lads were game for fun. One even pulled his pants down to moon Twila when dared to the delight of the straight women and gay men within sight range. Another was pulled up to the spotlight when Twila wanted to celebrate one birthday, one divorce, and one for-no-reason-at-all. He was the latter. When all of them were asked to shake their booties, he lit up and commanded the stage. The performance somehow became a strip tease bachelorette style if Twila were the bachelorette. The two other girls took a seat as he stole the show. Good raunchy debauchery, and I enjoyed every moment of it. Oh, and we played bingo too. To attend her next drag bingo, contact The Black Sheep for details.