Ever since we put together TAMPA PRIDE last year we looked and noticed all the Central Florida Pride events. I came up with the title of “Corridor of Prides” along the I-4 and I-75. TAMPA PRIDE and myself are proud to have been a part of the annual GLBTA city Pride events across Central Florida. We wanted to help show our diversity in neighborhoods and in large and small city communities. Our assistance with cooperative associations that many city Pride festivals that do not receive positive of support. And lastly to strengthened the awareness in all the communities of GLBTA empowerment and assets to recognition in the areas neighborhoods.

    Pride events this past spring/ summer that were held in Lakeland, Melbourne, St. Pete, Orlando, Sarasota and of course ours in Tampa.

    This past weekend Sarasota Pride took the spotlight for the weekend. A full variety of festive events took place minus the parade. Their Pride setting was in a park along the downtown parkway across from the Gulf of Mexico.  The Pride chair was Cindy Barnes and her group of volunteers. A time for reconnecting with new and old friends from near and far. I enjoyed seeing friends from Sarasota I haven’t seen since the old Suncoast Resort Days in St. Pete. The 80 degree, light gulf breeze, clear blue sky day turned out to provide for a spectacular social. The hundreds of vendors were mobbed by the large fall gaiety crowd. Colorful costumes, great singing groups performing in the great outdoors, networking and sharing some of the same ideas that we have and exhibit.

    The event provided a large political arena for many organized local and presidential campaigns, a huge number of area church groups, health incubators and mobile units for health screenings, community businesses expanding their demographics and an array of merchants selling rainbow gifts and crafts.

    We hope that you have enjoyed the many Pride events this past year along the re known “Corridor of Prides!”