Wednesday, June 5, 2013 the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners voted to repeal the 2005 ban the County Commissioners had put in place on Gay Pride Events. The motion to remove this law was sponsored by openly Gay County Commissioner Kevin Beckner. Timing was right because of the  unanimous signing by all the BOCC members for this years 2013 GaYBOR Days Proclamation in historic Ybor City over the Memorial Day Weekend. For 5 previous years the majority of commissioners stayed away from any type of GLBT acknowledgement!

This historical vote came after some very heated discussions from GLBTA proponents wanting the bigoted law rescinded and other county residents wanting to have the laws continuance on the GLBT ban. The 2005 law that had been on the books stated,  ‘the county will not recognize, acknowledge, promote or finance any  GLBT event.’  The then commissioner Ronda Storms also put in place a requirement of a super majority to change any of the GLBT laws language, unheard of for any issue such as this.

The crowded chambers were packed with community leaders, residents and media reporting coverage during the extended 3 hour long debate.

The commissioners closed the open audience hearings and  openly debated the pressing issue.  The discussion contained both anger & tears on both sides of the aisle. There were 2 different motions to amend the repeal. Both were voted down.

It was simply put to his fellow commissioners by Beckner. “Vote yes to continue and support bigotry in this county or vote no to create a very tolerant and equal county!”

The surprising unanimous vote 7-0 to repeal the law by the conservative commissioners had cheers heard all over Tampa!

Carrie West, President of GaYBOR District Coalition smiled and stated simply, ” All residents in Hillsborough County are now on equal ground. Let’s all move forward!”

BREAKING NEWS given to us by Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Langlois at Metro Wellness & Community Centers. Tampa will now have a medical doctor on premises every Friday starting June 21st at the Ybor City Metro Wellness Center on 7th Ave for medical examinations and consultations. A major break through for the growth of the HIV/AIDS Tampa Bay area non profits commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. Call Metro Wellness at 813-232-3808 for appt scheduling.

Wow this Sunday is Fathers Day and Hamburger Mary’s is offering a GREAT $12.95 flat Fee for Father’s Day Sunday Brunch that includes HM Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. Happy Fathers Day Daddys!  Congratulations to Barb from Hampton Inn & Suites Sales Office on becoming a Grandmother of twins to be delivered this Friday. Darlene Herrick, chef at Gaspar’s Grotto is recovering from surgery from a torn rotator cuff. Get well girl!

 A Birthday Greeting to Tessa Shiver. The Don Vicente Historical Inn had brother & staff throwing a wild surprise party for the *** year young athletic Ybor beauty. Happy Smiles and Greetings Tessa.

The construction renovations at CZAR Night Club on 7th Ave. are ridding the old stucco and returning to the natural under core red brick. A new office tenant is said to have taken over the old recognized historic Havana Hotel and reconfiguring the prestigious building into office space. We do remember it as a variety of names and a very large notorious gay dance night club; El Goya, Tracks, & Pleasuredome.

On the move is local co-owner of Florida Entertainments, D. Stephen Moss helping partner and singing sensation GLBT icon Erasure’s Andy Bell on a summer Pride Tour to a dozen North American cities.

We still can’t believe over two weeks of headlining news in a multitude of local, state and national newspapers regarding this years 2013 GaYBOR Days Proclamation by all BOCC and then unanimous (7-0) member recall vote of the 2005 GLBT hate policy by the County Commissioners in Hillsborough County last Wednesday. What a wonderful day a day makes. It will be historically remembered as Tampa’s own Stonewall event!