A very jubilant crowd of TAMPA PRIDE supporters weathered the Tampa rainy storm Friday night at the Honey Pot. Over 200 attended the Kick Off TAMPA PRIDE Launch & Cocktail Reception.

    ” What a great way to start the new revival of TAMPA PRIDE.” stated Mark Eary, TAMPA PRIDE Parade Co-Chair. ” The people are singing in the rain! With the mocked up 12′  tornadoes inside this is great fun.”

    A dozen Musical numbers by area Tampa talent performed, a Super Silent Auction, an array of served appetizers by Cristino’s Italian Restaurant, Scott, Mike and Mark E and a wild group of scary   tornados for decor in the Honey Pot.  Adam Walls & Mark Eary did a great job in setting up the ‘Out of the Storm ‘ event.

    ” Proud…Determined…United” is the 2015 theme for 2015 Tampa’s Pride resurgence Carrie West, TAMPA PRIDE President, announced.

    The TAMPA PRIDE group have to come up with $65,000 by January just for the City of Tampa for Special Events street closures and cleanup. Another $40,000 is needed to have for the Pride event set ups, vendor tents, entertainment, stage and other expenses.

    Kurt King, Gerre Reynolds, Michael Wilson and Walter Pinillos are Capital Campaign Co-Chairs. There is a GO-FUND-ME bank account set up for donations on TAMPA PRIDE Facebook page and on the new website, www.TAMPAPRIDE.org  . All donations will help benefit Pride. There is also Corporate packages available from the co-chairs and on the website. And when we say ‘Grass roots’, we mean community grassroots!

    Tampa  haven’t had a Gay Pride parade for over 14 years. It is about time! The new Pride organization have a great response of participation from the many non profit community organizations including TIGLFF, Balance Tampa Bay, PFLAG Tampa, Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Equality Florida, many local Bear groups, Una Voce – Gay Men’s Choral, Metro Wellness & Community Centers, Hillsborough GLBTA Democratic Caucus, numerous church groups and so many more calling everyday.

    “Everyone really wants to get on board with the new Tampa Pride event.” Carrie proclaimed.

    The upcoming TAMPA PRIDE is set for Saturday, March 28, 2015. On that Saturday will be a Pride Festival Vendor Show on 8th Ave. and on 7th Ave will be the new TAMPA PRIDE Parade. The sloagn,  “Corridor of Prides” will now include TAMPA PRIDE held in March, St Pete Pride in June and Orlando’s ‘Come Out With Pride’ Celebration in October.

    In the Central Florida corridor there is an estimated 2 million GLBT households. The GLBT issues are many including same – sex marriage, marriage equality and GLBT working rights. This next year will be a whole lot of GLBT PRIDE in Central Florida!

    The next TAMPA PRIDE meeting is Tuesday, October 14th at Hampton Inn & Suites at 6pm.

    New website www.TAMPAPRIDE.org , Email address; TampaPride2015@gmail.com