The Ye Mystic Krew of the Umbrella
Our entire life together we have been active in Human & Equal Rights organizations and fighting homophobia. Just this week we were criticized for being way to controversial. But being controversial is all part of being a journalists and a great writer.
We remember back in the 1990’s. We were in a Gay Krewe called, “The Ye Mystic Krew of the Umbrella’s”. The Krewe helped in local charity benefits, praised by HRC and Ellen DeGeneres for representing the GLBT community and a sponsor of a Gay play, “Mama’s Ghost” at the Silver Meteorite Theatre in Ybor City. (This theatre is still here today). This play went onto NYC Times Square for a major theatrical run.
On a super fall Sunday afternoon after the play we all walked down the Ybor City sidewalks with our Rainbow umbrellas open. The after party was at a new fun beer bar. Our group of over 60 members and friends had made arrangements in advance for a private party in a private room. The party went off with out any problems. Our bill of over $1,700 was paid in full.
The bar was also offering a fun beer mug group. You purchases a beer mug and then got discount & samples over the year. These purchased mugs were all displayed on the wall and were all over the top decorated up. A large number of memebers in our group purchased the bar mugs including us (Mark & Carrie).
Back at our MC FILM Gay Pride Store on Kennedy Blvd., Mark took two rainbow stickers and cut out a “M” & “C” stickers for the mugs. We took the mugs back with us and had a fun time. I think the 1st beer was 1/2 off.
A close Gay couple friends of ours were visiting us in town the next week. We went with our visiting friends and 4 other couples back to show off the bar establishment. Ybor City is a fun unique district and yes is very historical!
For some reason the bartender could not find our mugs anywhere, yet there was plenty of empty shelving.
Finally the owner? manager? came over to us & said, “You know we can not allow that in here!” with a surprise look we asked, “Allow What?”.
He then replied, “You know all the Gay stuff, your stickers on the mugs was making our customers too uncomfortable.”
Embarrassed, the 10 of us all got up and left. To this day we have not spent another penny in that bar.