TAMPA PRIDE Sponsors Party

 

The view was beautiful, the weather was spectacular, and the food and company was out of sight.

Tampa Waterside Marriott was the host and TAMPA PRIDE Sponsor for this years corp VIP Event.

Red lights were aimed upward around the huge Florida Ballroom. DJ Kennedy had the party rockin and servers walking around the large ballroom had a wide variety of specialty morsels of delicious appetizers the hotel chefs had created. This is the Kick-Off to TAMPA PRIDE 2016!

TAMPA PRIDE Sponsors Party had all the sponsors sharing and networking. TAMPA PRIDE Stand Fronts, Banners and 2016 TP Rainbow Sponsors Flags were all over decorating the huge packed room. In the back was all the Marriott Flag Hotels. Courtyard, Marriott, Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn banners.

“We are so proud to have introduced new companies in the area to the Tampa Diversity Spectrum of TAMPA PRIDE.” said Carrie West, President of Tampa Pride 2016.

” It’s all about the Corridor of Prides in Central Florida.”

Pointing out new Pride sponsoring companies that have never been involved or dwelled into the GLBT marketplace. New comers are Bristol-Myers Squibb , an international pharmaceutical company who in a big way had a Pre Pride Pep Rally Party & BBQ with 200  of the employees at its new corporate campus next to Tampa Intl Airport. Last year new companies who never had been a part of any GLBT venture or the vast Tampa Bay  Diversity inclusion included USAA Insurance, Grow Financial and T-Mobile Communications.

Highlighted guests were TAMPA PRIDE Grand Marshal Russell Rhodes, Fox 13 TV Morning News anchor, of ‘Good Day Tampa Bay’ saying tearful, ” I am a very…very Proud Gay Man!” His personal chronicles were both humerous and heartfelt.

The other Grand Marshal Lorraine Langlois, CEO of Metro Wellness and Community Centers had a fall and broke her leg. She was scheduled to be in surgery when the party took place. A toast was raised for her speedy recovery and honor.

A New Award by TAMPA PRIDE is the “Recognized Community GLBT Supporter Award” that went out to 2 larger than life individuals in Tampa Bay. 1st is Joe Redner, local businessman and Human Rights activist who gave a very personal and touching story to the audience. The 2nd is former Mayor Pam Iorio, now CEO & President of Big Brother Big Sisters of America. She was away on a conference heading back to Tampa for the TAMPA PRIDE weekend events.

A gentleman who went to TAMPA PRIDE meetings lat year and has a whale of a tale.

Charles Clancey was part of the pioneer activists that held the first Gay Parade in the United States prior to Stonewall in Provincetown in the mid 1960’s.

 “We went to get a permit for a parade and were denied because we were just homosexuals.” he explained. “So we were on the side of the street when the P-Town Parade past by and ended and we just got up with signs we made our own Gay parade and continued on. The police were out numbered by the 200 gays that marched. You have to realize the city jail only had for cells!” he laughed.

He went on telling the all eared crowd.  “I was fired from Harvard Trust Bank because they found out I was a homosexual!”

You will be hearing a lot more about the historic pioneer activism of Charles Clancey in the future on many broadcasts and in magazine articles.

We salute the Marriott Corp for all their help and Partnering!

 

 

Key West Historic Flag

(in photo Key West, spring of 2003)

 

A very special section of the Historic Key West 8 Color Rainbow Flag was presented on 7th Ave in Ybor City’s GaYBOR District for the weekends TAMPA PRIDE Parade Celebration.

Section #93, part of the 1.25 mile sewn Key West Rainbow Flag that was made in 2003, just returned from Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras in Australia. The original mammoth Rainbow flag was unfurled down Duval Street in Key West from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean and both ends dipped into the respective oceans. The special 8 color Rainbow Pride Flag was designed by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978!

“While in Sydney the flag took a added dip into the Pacific Ocean.” remarked Mark Ebenhock, Executive Director of LoveisLove Key West.

We want to Thank LovisLove Key West for helping provide the historic Key West Rainbow Flag to TAMPA PRIDE 2016 for its last memorable historic parade performance.
“Sacred Flag “, section #93 name,  was specially transported to Tampa for the TAMPA PRIDE Weekend Event. The flag past tens of thousands of GaYBOR District cheering spectators not once but 3 emotional moment times!.

The 8 color flag had its own celebration on Saturday. The flag was carried by members and employees of Marriott Corp and Tampa Marriott Waterside. The Special historic  Key West Rainbow Flag Celebration was held in front of Hamburger Mary’s in Centro Ybor on 7th. Each of the flags were anointed to the large distinguished Key West Flag to 4 other GLBT community represented flags (Rainbow, Bear, Leather Community and Transgender flag)  and the United States Flag that had been given to TAMPA PRIDE and had been flown over the U.S. Capital given by Representative Kathy Castor.

The ceremony started 1 hour late due to flat tires on the street barricades semi truck on I-4! Barricades were then rushed into place.

Standing with the employees of the Marriott both Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Award winner of this years new TAMPA PRIDE Recognized Community GLBT Supporter Award  held the special 25′ x 16′,  famed #93, International traveled Rainbow section.

In the front of the line-up flag carriers was the Tampa Bay Rainbow Pride Band performing a cadence march along with Marriott Waterside Manager Ron McAnnaugh. A Drone took overhead video and pictures of the remarkable and memorable moments above 7th Ave for both the flag ceremony and the large TP Parade.

Section #93 now has special instructions as it has already been to over 120 countries around the world. The precious section, “Sacred Flag”, is now heading to the White House and will be on display in Washington, DC for the next 6 weeks. The trail ends in Washington, DC as it will then be traveling over to the Smithsonian Institute Museum for permanent historic display.

Marriott employees said, “They wanted their DNA on this celebrated historic Rainbow flag!”

 

Gasparilla Film Festival

The 10th Annual Gasparilla Film Festival is running now thru April 3, 2016. The festival features movies, interactions with filmmakers and events in Ybor City FYI  http://www.gasparillafilmfestival.com/

 

 

Mary’s Cares / Fred Green Family

https://www.gofundme.com/nevtw2f4#

We at Hamburger Mary’s care a great deal not only for our community at large, but our Mary’s Family as a whole.

When one of us suffers a loss, we all feel that loss.

The best way for us to show this appreciation to all of our family is to help contribute in times of need.

Fred Green, one of our kitchen staff in the historic

Ybor City, Tampa location has just suffered a tremendous loss in his family.

His wife, Lisa passed away after a long and difficult battle with cancer.

We all understand what a tough time his family must now endure and ask that ALL of our Hamburger Mary’s families from around the country will show it in their hearts to donate for the services and arrangements that must be made to lay her peacefully to rest.

Please find it in your hearts to donate what you can so he and his children can make the proper arrangements to ease dealing with such a horrific loss in their family.

Anything helps, if even only $5.

Join us in showing our love and support to this amazing person and friend in his time of need.

Thank you to all for your generosity,

Hamburger Mary’s Tampa Family

 

https://www.gofundme.com/nevtw2f4#