After (r)onda (s)torms & the former Hillsborough County banned PRIDE in 2005 in Hillsborough County a group came up with an idea. Pride in EXILE!!! Jay Allar, Mark & Carrie, Brian Longstreth and several others organized a Tampa Pride in Key West. Jay & friends came together and chartered buses for the trip to Key West. Mark aka Tea Cup was the bartender onboard. The Hostess onboard one of the buses was Miss Melanie Minyon. The beer was donated by MC Film. The buses were loaded in Channelside packed and followed a group that had driven up from Key West. Tea Cup was pouring the beer and Melanie was keeping everybody in high spirits. The line started to form and Melaine became the bathroom monitor too.
As we started to go down the Fl Keys a RED Light came on the dashboard! The toilet was too full and started to overflow! LOL OMG LOL The bus made an un scheduled stop at a park to drain the tank. Just out side of Key West we were met by the Monroe Sherrif Dept squad cars and Key West Police. They pulled over the buses.
OMG!!! Out of the police cars popped the Mayors of Monroe County and Key West. They wanted to ride the bus into town with us. All by police escort. The Mayors had also made a special exception and allowed our bus to drive down Duval Street. We stopped in front of La Tee Da and our weekend of fun started. There even was a huge Gay Pride Parade down Duval Street too. Our honorary Tampa Pride Grand Marshall was resident Key Wester Margaux Hemingway. PRIDE in EXILE in 2005.
Located in Dade City just north of Tampa. The Sawmill Campground is a first of its kind being a GLBT cooperative community and is a favorite GLBT destination. Bars, pool restaurants activities, cabins, RV sites & primative camping. There is something for everybody at the Sawmill.
For the past 10+ years Miss Kathryn has been WOWing the audiences across Florida. Lives in Lakeland with her husband of 7 years. Ourfavorite place to catch her show is at Hamburger Mary’s in GaYBOR.
The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM will be discussing the old law on the books about acknowledging the fate of Hillsborough County position on GLBT issues. Right now the county can’t recognize, promote, acknowledge, or finance any GLBT issue. We hope that the commish make the switchover vote. It is the right thing to do. The country’s attitudes are changing and the economic disaster for non tolerance and equality is irreversible.
In 2006 Comm at the time Ronda Storms was angered by the end cap of the library displaying some of June Pride months GLBT authors. Even though the GLBT book display was re displayed in an other part of the library, the then Commish put to super majority vote to do the above.
WOW… what a slap in the face.
Commissioner Kevin Beckner is bringing up the “old on the books law” to be discussed and changed. Commish’s Les Miller & Mark Sharpe are on board for the change! Two others are very supportive so everyone’s appearance and attendance is of utmost importance!
An Important note is that the HBOCC all signed the GaYBOR Days 2013 Proclamation in historic Ybor City and that was a very pleasant surprise having not recognized the 275 GLBTA member business association the past 5 years..
Show your support by going to the County Center Chambers Wedn. and sign up to speak about your own life as a GLBT person and the consequences of their past mistake or just show your support by attending.
Hillsborough County Historical Preservation Advisory Council
I sit on the Hillsborough County Historical Preservation Advisory Council for significant Hillsborough County points of historical interest and historical land markers. It is always a treat to share the past local history and keeping that history moment alive.
Most recently the council dedicated 2 Hillsborough County landmarks. One was in downtown Tampa at Julian B. Lane Park next to University of Tampa. The former location to the dedicated Phillips Field along the banks of the Hillsborough River where from 1937, the Univ Tampa played football games along with 3 other segregated Tampa high schools; Middleton, Jefferson and Blake. The NFL in the 1960’s also had football games played at this stadium and of course all the statewide marching band competitions. Ancestors from Phillips family from North Carolina
The second special dedication marker was presented to the Bealsville Community south of Plant City.This was the first settlement of freed Florida slaves in 1865. The 1866 Southern Homestead Act gave the freed emancipated slaves rights to property from help by former slaveholder, Sarah Howell. The town was originally called Howells Creek and changed in 1923 to Bealsville in recognition of Alfred Beal. A place to restart ones lives and make a new beginning. This is one of many great stories we live, recognize and cherish.
If you have a historical location or of a group that helped make Hilsborough County contact the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council at the Fred Karl County Center Building.
Ybor City had a Molly Worth Remembering
Denver had human rights advocate Molly Brown! Texas had journalist/ columnist Molly Ivens. And now you will most likely to remember an Ybor City Molly! Molly Ferrara is that person. Born and died in Ybor City she was a dynamic and ambassador of Tampa, an Alcaldesa (mayor) of Ybor City in 1952, a 35 year business woman and was talked about being the first woman to become Tampa’s mayor in 1959. The list of hundreds of achieving accolades and recognitions given to Molly is in sorts what Ybor City is all about. Complete diversity and inner spirit drive!
Family members had a meeting with the HCHAC and presented a biography binder of the “Ybor Latin Lady.” It is said that anyone living in Tampa that’s last name ended in a vowel was a family relative of Molly!
A new statue is requested to be erected in Centennial Park and a historical marker, first to honor the aunt, grandmother and woman in Ybor City, was bequested by ancestors of Molly Ferrara. Besides owning Columbia Music and Appliance Store in Ybor, she met up with many politicians including US Senators, Governors, and US Presidents. The founder of the Ybor City Girls Club, Board member of Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Intl Trade & Commerce member and a dozens other boards. She met up on a Tampa Intl Trades Conference trip with DictatorPresident Fulgencio Batista in Cuba prior to Fidel Castro military takeover.
Significant humanitarian issues is one of the many thgings people remember about the ‘Ybor Latin Lady.’ She was a very busy accomplished woman in Tampa but represented the whole United States.
People are Talking
There a rumors flying around about 3 new hotels coming to GaYBOR/Ybor area. According to several people the land has already been purchased and negotiations for hotel flags are on going. There will soon be a new late night hang out. The World Famous Laughing Cat Bistro will be staying open late on the weekends until 1 AM! There are two not to be missed events coming next week. The Trailer Trash BINGO at Hamburger Mary’s next Wednesday, June 12. This is one of Mathieu’s Party Events. You just never know who will be there. Thursday, June 13th will be the Roosters of Ybor Auction. This event will take place at Bradley’s on 7th. This will be your chance to take a Rooster Home!!! Have you noticed the renovations at Czar on 7th. New office tenants we hear! Over at the Parliament House during Gay Days in Orlando special singing guest performer Erasure’s Andy Bell did an outdoor concert with 3 fabulous drag queen back up performers. And the summer begins with a whirlwind 12 city Midwest / West Coast Tour stop.
New Branding at Visit Tampa Bay
After a year of testing www.VisitTampaBay.com has a new logo & branding. “Unlock Tampa Bay Treasure Awaits.”
Caught @ Hamburger Mary’s
