There was a Legendary Drag performer in Daytona Beach. Her name was Miss Billy Boots!!! She performed at the Hollywood/ Barn Door Complex for over 40+ years, with her male lead Michael Blake. Late one night Billy had just finished performing “Meet Me in St. Louis”, a song performed by Judy Garland in the movie with the same name. This was one of Billy’s favorites. Back in the dressing room Billy was sitting at her makeup table. Billy said that she was vey thirsty and asked for a glass of water. When they returned with the water. Billy’s head was resting on the table. Billy had just died. 911 was called and the whole bar was in shock at what had just happened. The paramedics showed great respect and placed Billy on the stretcher in the sequined dress she was wearing, full makeup and her wig was on. As they took her out thru the bar the music was turned off. Everyone was standing in silence. When the body was outside the DJ announced “MISS BILLY BOATS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the club. This was September 30, 2003. Watermark Magazine reported that Bill was 71 years of age. Her good friends just smiled and said more like 83 LOL. Shortly after her dead the club was sold and torn down.
WOW the things we find in our closets!!!! Here is the 1996 Miss Florida Pageant. We were just starting to use computers and the art was clip and paste! The cover was Miss 1995 Heather Fontaine. The back cover was TRACKS / El Goya with Miss Joey Brooks in the center of course. Also featuring Divinity Everlasting AND Amy DeMello. How many of the past Queens do you recognize? 1993 was our Favorite Miss Esme Russell. Today Joey & Esme are at The Showbar in Ybor City every Sunday. Amy is the show director at Bradley’s on 7th.
What a fun day today was! Tampa Pride, along with 50 other Tampa Bay charities, was invited to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino for a surprise event. 7 of us from Tampa Pride suited up and headed over, not having any idea what to expect. We were treated to a great buffet breakfast of hot food or pastries, then a fun presentation by America’s Got Talent artist David Garibaldi. Finally, 50 employees gathered on the stage with large cards. When they turned them around, they were $10,000 checks for all 50 charities!!! Wow!! Tampa Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino gave back to our community $500,000!!!! Thank you, Tampa Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino!
Allure Realty has opened an office in Ybor City. In a Netflix new release said The show will fall into the “docusoap” category, featuring “real people going about their real lives.” Congratulations to the star in the series, Tampa Bay real estate broker Sharelle Rosado of Allure Realty. WELCOME to Ybor City
With Coffee & Tea
Metro Inclusive Health are opening a new store called “Inclusivitea” the store will feature coffee & tea with adult shopping and two exam rooms. Located net to the LGBTQ Welcome Center at 2235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg . Be sure to check it out soon.
“heART of Ybor”Community Art Contest
From the YCDC… Do you have a love for Ybor and a passion for art? We are looking to YOU to participate in our inaugural ‘heART of Ybor’ Community Art Contest. Applicants can apply through a diverse choice of mixed-mediums from traditional painting and drawing to digital art and performance with an out-of-the-box category.The contest kicks off today and the submission deadline is Friday, October 22, 2021! Please check out our website for complete rules and submission forms: https://qoo.ly/3dreak
54 yrs ago connection from Pinellas to Manatee County opened.
Tom and his wife Sunnye have been great supporters of the LGBT Community over the many years. He was a true inspiration to all of us. He will be missed by many. Here is the obituary the family wrote…
Thomas ‘the luckiest man you ever met’ Harrison returned his atoms to the universe on August 23, 2021. He was born in Kalamazoo Michigan on August 7, 1954 to Richard and Betty Harrison. Tom was a Vietnam era veteran and had a teaching degree from Western Michigan University. While in college he met the love of his life Sunnye (Sharen Whitaker) and they married on August 21, 1982. He was a 35 year partner in Express Press Inc., a printing company that was sold in 2019. Tom was the first President of the Civic Association of Port Tampa City and the first male member of the Port Tampa City Women’s Club. Before his cancer he was very active in the Port Tampa community and was a major force in saving the Commercial Bank building and turning it in to the Port Tampa City Library. Tom was a lovely man and will be greatly missed by his wife Sunnye, children: Liza (Conrad), Ryan (Jeannette), Kaitlyn (Scott), Mollye (Katrina), brother Robert and nephews Justin and Jody. He wanted so much to be here for his grandchildren: Meloney, Kristopher, Kade, Ian, Sofia and Sloan but his cancer decided differently. He also loved his chosen sister Fran Diorio and her son Nick. In Lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Humane Society of Tampa. Tom’s memorial will be at Blount and Curry 605 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL 33609 on October 2, 2021 at 3 PM. Please join us.
Many people have told us that we have spirits in our home. We have had unexplainable things happen. Nothing bad, just strange. Once we had a big event at our home. It was after midnight and we were down to 6 or 8 people still here. The group was in the living room and enjoying the fireplace. We notice one person was missing. He was sitting in a chair at the base of the stairs. Rocking with his hands on his head. Then started to speak perfect Spanish. His partner told us that his mother was a famous Psychic Medium in Cuba. He was a Psychic too and only spoke Spanish when he was in a trance. Without knowing and details in advance what he saw was incredible. He saw many people walking up and down the stairs. Then he saw a man in a black coat who was in charge with anougher older man. The man in charge was talking with two women upstairs. One was kind and sick the other was beautiful and mean to the children. Then he said “Good People live here now” OMG WTF Our friend knew a judge had lived here but he did not know our stairs were from the Hillsborough County Court House. He didn’t know that the Judge had 2 wives. The 1st did pass away and his second wife was mean. In the Judges books he described people as “Good People.” We can only hope he was talking about us.
