It was a perfect day for the 10thAnnual St. Pete Pride Parade and Street Festival. Sunny, light breezes and positive energy in the air! A day where diversity mattered to so many people. Multi-news agencies and St Pete Police reported the crowd to be over 100,000! That is a feather in the St. Pete Prides Board. Congratulations from the whole GLBTA community! The variety of businesses that were in the parade was extreme.Over 120 entries in this years promenade and 2 protesters! Major corporations including many national health care companies Florida Blue & Humana, Frito Lay Chips, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Wells FargoBank’s six horses pulling their recognized big red stagecoach, political candidates including St Pete Councilman Steve Kornell and Hills Cty Comm. Kevin Beckner, lawyer firms, Leather Tribe, community non profits, church faiths, publications, Dykes on Bikes and of course GaYBOR District float. 300 vendors stayed the hot sun to talk and network with the large friendly audience. Noted no drunks or revelers were arrested at the parade!
The St. Pete Grand Central District has come together and have put on a fabulous and the largest Gay Pride Parade in Florida. The pictures show it best and we are glad to have pictures of St. Pete Pride’s big day at www.MCFILM.co .
A Great First Veterans Administration Pride Tradition started with an auditorium of GLBT organizations exhibiting. A super luncheon by Hamburger Mary’s, a most impressive decorated rainbow cake from Publix Grocery and the Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor behind the mic at Tampa’s James Haley VA Hospital Friday. “Let people know who you areA new division of positions in the VA hospitals is the GLBT Liaison group. A first for the U.S. Veterans Hospitals across the country since President Obama claimed June Pride month and let GLBT military members enlist openly and stay in the military.
In attendance were veterans and hospital workers both GLBT or just supportive of the new GLBT groups efforts. PFLAG, Bear Groups, United Church of Christ, Metro Wellness, local GLBT magazines, U.S. Veterans Administration groups, Dishing with Mark & Carrie and GaYBOR District Coalition.
GaYBOR District was proud to showcase GaYBOR in Historic Ybor City with 20 business and government leaders from Switzerland, Edelweiss Airlines executives, 6 Swiss GLBT journalists, a Swiss TV Camera crew and European TV personalities. The “asked for tour” by the Swiss delegation requested a tour of the GaYBOR District in Historic Ybor City. The night included a European style dinner at Laughing Cat Restaurant and then an Official Meet & Greet event with local Tampa leaders at Don Vicente Historic Inn. Other samplings of the Landmark designated district were at Jose Marti Park, G.BAR, Stone Soup Company, Metro Wellness & Community Centers, TECO Streetcar, King Corona Cigars, Hamburger Mary’s, Honey Pot, Centro Ybor Complex, Bradley’s on 7th and Liquid Tampa.
Many Tampa City and Hillsborough County officials were very instrumental in participating in the “Discover GaYBOR District Swiss Tour”. THANK YOU to the GaYBOR GLBTA Business and Community residents in making these international guests very welcomed to GaYBOR/Ybor City – Tampa!
The St. Pete Pride’s Stonewall Commemorative Reception Sponsors Night at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts was another great undertaking for St. Pete Pride. The 10th Anniversary of St. Pete Pride’s VIP event had the finest in entertainment. Una Voce Florida Men’s Choral sang and entertained in a choreographed show stomping rendition of classic and modern revamped signature songs. “Hostess and Mistresses of So Many Things” comedic Christine O’Leary just didn’t start the St. Pete fire she added fuel to the great comedy of laughter in the crowds. Awarded by St. Pete Pride’s Chris Rudisill for years of continuous Pride laughter, a framed picture of the famous lesbian on the cover of Watermark Magazine.
And we haven’t even gotten to the over the top Blue Boy and Pink Girl flower arrangements yet!
A founding member of the GaYBOR District Coalition. Bryan Darling always has a big warm smile! His restaurant is located at 2410 Central Ave and was the Official GaYBOR beer stop during St. Pete Gay Pride!!!!
Born & raised in Ybor City Cassandra is what makes Ybor so Fantastic. Always a big smile and up beat personality. She even know how to smoke a Ybor Cigar!!! The next time you see her out…. do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to her!
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Congratulations Mike & Scott
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GaYBOR Ambassador Brenda Hollaway at La Terrazza with Mark & Carrie
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of St. Pete Pride – THANK YOU for making the 10th Annual Pride in Paradise such a huge success!! With record numbers in attendance and clear beautiful skies, the 10th Annual St. Pete Pride Street Festival & Promenade was the best one yet! We’d especially like to thank all of the many volunteers who helped make this day and the events throughout the month of June possible. Without the community – this event wouldn’t exist and we should all be very proud.
For one day, a record number of folks – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, straight and of all races and nationalities came together as ONE on the streets of St. Petersburg to celebrate their diversity, strengthen the bonds that pull us together and increase recognition for further LGBT Equality. THANK YOU for being a part of that astounding accomplishment.
At the end of the weekend I was reminded of a simple lesson – “Act like you do on the day of Pride – where diversity is celebrated, our advances in equality are acknowledged and our fight is recognized.” Just imagine the difference in the world if we considered that with everyone we met. Even after a long Pride weekend here in Florida and beyond the tiredness the important reasons of Pride ring clear.
Many have asked the question, “Where was the flag?” Just to put all rumors to rest – the flag was scheduled for the 10th anniversary and we are also disappointed that it wasn’t part of the festival it has been a part of since its inception. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the flag which is donated for use annually from a group in Ft. Lauderdale did not make it to the festival. It is planned for a return in 2013 and make sure to save the date for the 11th Annual Pride in Paradise on June 29, 2013!!
The UNITY convention in Las Vegas will give NLGJA members a chance to hear from some of the biggest names in print, broadcast and online journalism, as they share stories, teach skills and reflect on the issues in the media today.
CNN Chief Business Correspondent Ali Velshi will be among those participating in several panels. Velshi, who anchors CNN’s Your Money and CNN International’s World Business Today, will be talking to UNITY participants both about the global economy as well as how journalists can better handle their personal finances.
Marcus Brauchli, the executive editor of the Washington Post, will be participating on a Thursday morning panel on the 2012 Election and the effect digital journalism has had on its media coverage. He will be joined by Bryan Monroe, the editor CNNPolitics.com, Kasie Hunt of the Associated Press, Fernando Pizarro of Univision Radio and Janine Gibson, the editor of the Guardian US.
