Happy Summer Stolstice
St Pete Pride Retro… 2004
In its second year, the area Gay Pride was St Pete Pride “Carnivale” and the themed Gay event hit the streets on Grand Central Ave in St. Petersburg. The parade date is set to remember Stonewall, the New York City Gay riots that were the start of the Gay Revolution June 26th 1969!
The Pride contingents included large & small businesses, clubs and organizations that came from all over Pinellas and Hillsborough County including Tampa’s City Side, KIKIKI 3 and the MCC Tampa floats. The 10 AM parade beginning always starts with the clearing of the streets by the Dykes on Bike’s 100+ motorcyclists. The girls from the Tampa Police Dept had their Harley’s shining!
Georgie’s Alibi started a 6 am out doors breakfast with Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas and MCC King Of Peace St. Pete with a pancake breakfast benefit for all the parade attendees. Hundreds of St. Pete Pride volunteers took to their responsibilities to maintain and keep order with utmost safety first. Suncoast Resort had its float a twitter with drag queens plus getting ready for the humongous concert on Sunday night. Peppers Bar and the Oar House had a huge bus called Priscilla filled with patrons. The northern Clearwater bar Pro Shop had a trolley with some of its patrons and area gay couples group.
Not to be outdone was our MC FILM limo, HRH Princess Priscilla flanked the parking lot with stilt walking Mark and rainbow dazzling Judy B. Goode with Glen White and myself driving and waving Rainbow Flags.
We took personal pride by being the ambassadors in getting a number of over-the-bridge (Tampa) groups and bars taking an active part. There was families walking with pride to Krewe of Cavaliers joining the Pride ranks on central Avenue. Even though the St Pete City Council signed a positive St Pete Pride Proclamation recognition, the St. Pete City Mayor Rick Baker did not!
Yes, and the pictures take you back to St. Pete Pride 2004.
