Category Archives: CLICK HERE for Dishing with “Mark & Carrie”
Caught @ Southern Nights
Southern Nights Opens in GaYBOR
The soft opening was Thursday June 25, 2015. It looked like everybody in Tampa bay showed up to be the first to see the new club. All we can say is WOW!!! It’s beautiful. The next Friday and Saturday nights were also packed. The club owners and manager are promising a fun new and exciting party experience for everyone! Now open Tuesday thru Saturdays. Click here to check out all our photos NOW.
Caught with Tea Cup
From the MC Film Mail Bag
Una Voce Pride Spaghetti Dinner – Come Out & Start Your Pride!
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Dishing with Mark & Carrie
A Lotta Florida Rainbow Pride
6-10-15
TB Ray’s ‘PRIDE Night Out’ at the Tropicana Field, June 12th
Get your tickets to a special Tampa Bay Ray’s PRIDE Night Out at Tropicana Field, this Friday June 12th starting at 7pm. This is part of the GLBTA Diversity Awareness in Tampa Bay and this MLB Club is giving back to area GLBT organizations. This is going to be big!
Organizations benefiting include TAMPA PRIDE, Manatee Pride, St. Pete Pride, Metro Wellness & Community Centers, Equality Florida and so many more.
Get your tickets now for attending a most memorable event with Equality Florida Director Nadine Smith throwing out the first pitch. Other great events will be occurring during this special diversity night! Wear your Rainbow colors and cheer on the Rays!
www.Raysbaseball.com Promo Code: 5PRIDE
POLK PRIDE June 2015
POLK PRIDE ANNOUNCES EXCITING LINEUP FOR ANNUAL PRIDE WEEKEND,
JUNE 17 – 21
Youth/Young Adult Event · Emmy-Award Winning Comedian · Family-Friendly Festivities · Community Forum · Drag Show · Interfaith Service
LAKELAND, Fla. (April 29, 2015) – Join Polk Pride in bringing our community together in unity and understanding during Polk County’s inaugural Pride Weekend, June 17-21. With such an incredible lineup, there’s something for everyone as we begin to break down barriers and celebrate our differences and our similarities.
· June 17: Pride 4 Youth. The Lakeland Youth Alliance will kickoff the weekend’s Pride festivities with music, food and fun interactive activities for ages 13 – 24 at their Pride 4 Youth Event on Wednesday, June 17. The fun begins at 7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian, 730 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland.
· June 19, 8 p.m. – Leslie Jordan. Bring tissues to wipe your tears of laughter when Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Leslie Jordan graces The Polk Theatre stage at 8 p.m. June 19. The Polk Theatre is located at 139 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland. Tickets on sale at www.PolkPrideFL.com.
· June 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Pride in the Park. An event for the whole family, spend Saturday, June 20 celebrating Pride at Munn Park in beautiful Downtown Lakeland! Enjoy live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, community organizations, and family-friendly activities. The main stage will feature a variety of music, dance and comedy acts. This FREE event kicks off at 10 a.m. and offers something for the entire family. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and come enjoy the day!
· June 20, 6 – 8 p.m. – Pride Talks. As the day winds down, join the conversation at Frescos Downstairs for Pride Talks, a LGBT Community Speaker forum to review important topics, legislation and issues affecting the LGBT community. Featuring Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s Executive Director, various expert panelists will provide resources and answer important questions. Gain knowledge, empowerment and perspective on the future of equality. The forum takes place 6 – 8 p.m. Saturday, 132 S. Kentucky Ave. in Lakeland.
· June 20, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. – Pride After Dark. As night falls on a busy Saturday, the Pride after party will just be starting at Pride After Dark. Enjoy a cocktail, hit the dance floor and have a good time as the amazing Kathryn Nevets, she hosts a memorable evening and Pride themed drag show. Party from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. at Club Main Street, 1295 E. Main Street in Lakeland. Everyone 18 and up is welcome, ID is required.
· June 21 – Pride in Faith. Fellowship with your community and enjoy an interfaith worship service at Pride in Faith. Celebrate the spirit as we bring together Polk County’s faith-based LGBT organizations, friends, families and allies. Visit www.polkpridefl.com for details.
Hosted by the not-for-profit Lakeland Youth Alliance, and Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Polk County, Polk Pride is an event dedicated to the awareness and acceptance of the LGBT community in Polk County. Polk Pride’s mission is to bring unity, equality and understanding through a variety of activities and services.
Polk Pride creates an inspiring and dedicated culture of support and aspires to be the premier platform for education and entertainment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, as well as their friends, families and allies. Polk Pride seeks to unite the Polk County Community in promoting history, diversity and future prosperity of the Polk County LGBT community.
For information, email info@PolkPrideFL.com or visit www.PolkPrideFL.com.
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Founded in 2008, the Lakeland Youth Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing a safe space for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and their straight allies in Central Florida. They are an educational and referral service for parents, academia, health care workers and other human service professionals. LYA facilitates the development of GLBTQ youth and empowers them to become leaders in the community. www.lakelandyouthalliance.org
PFLAG facilitates healthy relationships and the understanding that friends and family members are the same person we loved before they chose to “come out” and be honest with us. www.pflagofpolkcounty.org
…………….PRESS RELEASE…………….
Media Contact: Scott Guira
863.370.3257
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 Years of Gay Days at Disney (in Orlando)
Wow!! How time flies right before your eyes. We are proud to say for 25 years of Gay Days (starting out as themed Gay Day with the Mouse, Gays at the Castle then later renamed Gay Days at Disney) Mark & Carrie and MC FILM have been a part of the World’s Largest Gay Event. Starting up with us going to an invited wild red shirt Gay Disney Weekend Party ( red shirts for identification) with networked friends across America and at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in 1990. We worked on this mystical event and other events started to appear, and for the next 7 years we worked with many organized Disney planning groups for hoteliers and Disney (and the now closed original Pleasure Island themed bar complex for Thursdays). We were a proud part of the original national computer techy geek starters, Digital Queers.
Many meetings were held with Disney Officials and planning of the first weekend in June. Why do you ask 1st week of June ? Because that was the start of the slow summer hot season and Disney offered an extremely low gate fee for Florida Resident Days. It was the last low rate ticket weekend. Shirt colors and t-shirt sayings for years was a minor issue, But at 10:18 am on the first June w/e in 1994, Disney closed its admissions because to many entrants 80% Gays were inside Disney’s Magic Kingdom and were at capacity. The roads coming into Disney property were packed with visiting tourists cars and busses from all over the state, country and world. But early GLBT entrants had the park at capacity and ALL of the theme parks had to now jump into action.
Yes, It was record Gays at Disney Days and the world now knew it. Theme parks that just laughed at us (gays) years before now took drastic notice. It was financially positive! Companies called and wanted to buy our mailing lists. That created new themed national GLBT events. They offered money to Sponsor events. Gay groups increased, expanded and included National & International Gay Car Clubs, Gay Pilots, Gay Journalists, Gay Bears, Gay Leathermen, Gay bankers and National Insurance workers, Gay writers & readers clubs, Gay dancers, Clubs, National Performers, Music singers and dancers, Celebrities, Gay Techies, Gay Choruses, Lesbian groups soon had 50 major diverse organizations and it continues to grow to this day. You name it that group is there!
But now the event has evolved in those 25 years. Still selling curiosity Possible Dreams! All with super pretty boys and men in speedos at all the Orlando hotels pools. Girl groups meeting and introducing themself to new creative & social organizations from local and national convention organizations. They all come for “Fun” and we all will live long on that Mystical Disney moment. Always the first weekend in June.
Please write us about your memorable “Gay Disney Day Experience” for sharing in upcoming “Dishing with Mark & Carrie” issues.
Write your story Gay Disney Day Experience and send to MCFILMFEST@gmail.com
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins
The rumors were spreading FAST thru out GaYBOR. Have you heard?!?!?!? Winds in the east, mist coming in…. Like somethin’ is brewin’ and about to begin…. Can’t put me finger on what lies in store,…. But I fear what’s to happened all happened before….
Then at Bradley’s on 7th there she appeared floating in thru the mist. Miss Mary Poppins!!! With three complete outfit changes, Mary Poppins had everybody in the packed house singing along. This ‘spoon full of sugar’ looked strangely different. LOL
We all asked Mary to give our love to Miss Joey Brooks, her kissing cousin. Click here for more photos
AL & CHUCK Travel Partnering with TAMPA PRIDE 2016
After a whopping and explosive “Fun Time” at the TAMPA PRIDE Parade & Vendor Festival last March, owners of Al&Chuck Travel , America’s Largest Gay Travel Company decided to jump on board of this newly re-invented Pride event for 2016. Al Ferguson, co-owner of Al & Chuck Travel set up a meeting with TP Board members for having an extended TAMPA PRIDE event that included a 5 day cruise after the Tampa Pride weekend for 2016!
FYI: TAMPA PRIDE is set for March 26th, 2016!
The details are being finalized for the newly created Tampa Pride cruise. They want the ship to depart from Tampa’s cruise terminals. More great details coming soon so you can Save the Dates to be a part of a great Pride getaway!
“With all the excitement of all the Florida’s Pride events Tampa Pride is another great ally to partner with.” said Al. www.Al&Chuck.Travel already have helped co-sponsor Miami Pride’s last April.
“Famous for the sold out RuPaul Drag Stars at Sea Cruises and extensive cruise reservation business, we are anxious to work with Al & Chuck!” stated Carrie West, President of TAMPA PRIDE.
June is Also a FUN & PRIDE Month Around the World
TAMPA PRIDE held strong to the wishes of the diverse Tampa Bay community by re-examining, exploring and sharing it’s GLBT Community’s Pride roots and held its first TAMPA PRIDE Parade & Festival after years of political contention, March 28th this year. This monumental inaugural event brought out over 30,000 colorful smiling attendees.
Pride parades and other celebratory events that are supported in large part by corporate sponsors occur every March thru October and especially June in the United States to commemorate GLBT Pride Month and support the GLBT’s stated values of diversity and toleration.
The first Pride parade in the United States. occurred in 1970 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots – a nearly three-week response to the police raid on the popular gay bar, Stonewall Inn, in New York City. A year after the riot, GLBT activists began a “Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day” march on the street where the riot occurred. And that was the beginning of a new chapter in GLBT rights and freedoms.
By the 1980’s, many major U.S. cities held these Pride parades, and in 2011 President Barack Obama declared June officially to be GLBT Pride Month.
Below are listed 5 of the biggest corporations that sponsor City GLBT Pride Parades:
1. Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo donated between $10,000 and $20,000 to support the St. Pete Pride parade in Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. In addition, over approximately 200 of its employees marched in the parade.
2. Macy’s
Macy’s will participate in 23 Pride parades this June across the country as part of its annual “Pride + Joy” campaign, according to its website. Macy’s believes that this sponsorship “continues to highlight Macy’s long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect.”
3. Hilton
Hilton will be the official host hotel partner for Capital Pride Alliance’s 40th Celebration of Pride this year in Washington, D.C., according to Capital Pride’s website.
4. eBay
Under the “My Charities” tab on its website, eBay allows its sellers to donate part or all of the proceeds from their items sold on eBay to Pride events and parades.
5. TD Bank
This bank has been supporting Pride parades and festivals in multiple cities since 2009 and spends approximately $1 million annually on parades and events, including 20 different venues in 2014.
AT THE END OF THE DAY
With over $22,000+ in donations on Kick Starter the gay movie, “At the End of the Day.” is quickly gaining attention. This new film by Kevin O’Brien will be filmed here in Florida with a lot of set shootings done in Lakeland. Treat yourself and check out their website today.
Deal of the Week
There is a fun Groupon for savings to your summer pocketbook at Hamburger Mary’s available now. There is a limit # of these coupons so get yours today at https://www.groupon.com/deals/hamburger-mary-s-3
Mark & Carrie Nephieu/Niece of the Week
Kyle Colgan
Let the party begin!!! Kyle has entered the room! Kyle is a fun loving guy who lives and works in Jacksonville, FL. On his long weekend Kyle makes the trip to party with his LGBT Family in GaYBOR. Hope to see him again soon!!!
You Can Not Make this Up.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were playing in Tampa against the Chicago Blackhawks. Into the bar walks 3 young guys wearing red Chicago Blackhawks T-shirt and BIG SOMBREROS!
Tea Cup gave them a smile and said, “Great hats guys.”
The guys actually replied…. “Thanks we are trying to fit in with the locals here.”
They were so serious! Tea Cup just smiles and thought hum… these guys are going to be so easy to beat in the Stanley Cup . GO Bolts! GO LIGHTNING!!!
