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- Hanna is here
- Hanna is here
- GOP Convention Delay Is Being Considered
- Will GOP Convention Go On As Scheduled?
- Long Lines Waiting To Get Into Invesco Field
- Two More Floridians On Podium Tonight, Including Final Benediction
- Business Licenses, August 11–15, 2008
- Business Licenses, August 4–8, 2008
- You Don’t See This Often (Thankfully)
- Business Licenses, July 28 – August 1, 2008
- Business Licenses, July 21-25, 2008
- Still No Floor Credentials, But Did See J-Lo
- Wednesday Was Historic
- We’ve Got Our Tropical Conga Line
- Breakfast Speaker Foulup Nixes McCaskill
People don’t take anything too seriously in Key West.
Today’s half-hour gay pride parade was a perfect example. Plenty of cocktails were consumed before the march down Duval Street. Destiny was tough to miss, the 7’ 1” (in heels) drag queen, who apparently is Miss Pride Fest 2005.
The parade began with barking commands from some guy in the front of the parade who knew how to throw a march. He directed participants to hold the flag at the right height so the media could get the best photos. In Key West, marches start to feel routine for many locals. Just a block into the march, some were asking how soon until they were at the bar.
“This is a town that knows how to protest and how to party,’’ said Mark Bias, of St. Petersburg.
A bubble machine toward the end of the march reminded people that no protest should be too serious.
Many were thankful for the lighthearted protest of Hillsborough County Commissioners decision to ban recognition of gay pride displays and events.
“Thank you for making fun of how ridiculous this is,’’ said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida.
It is good to see gay people having such a great time in Key West. It is a shame they could not do this here this year due to one simple minded perosn. I see where she does not was to tell her children about other people that live here. I just wonder if she will tell her daughter about all the other people around. Not just keep the idea of that there are only her type of people. OR am I missing the point of Ms Storms ideal person.
Many thanks to you for covering this event. It is a shame more of us could not participate. Maybe someday we will again have a Gay Pride parade in Tampa. Maybe someday the constituency will wake up, smell the stale coffee sitting in office and choose to elect a government officials for all the people.
Maybe someday, we will not need protest marches. Maybe someday, we will all be treated equally and fairly.
Ok, you keep saying that it was a lighhearted experience. One can’t take things too seriously in Key West. But does the gay community really believe this type of behavior is going to bring people around to support them? I also can’t help but think that some of the gay lesbian residents of Hillsborough County are probably embarrased to be represented by the people that went to Key West. I’m sorry, I just don’t get the point....
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Posted by Mark, Riverview, Fl on 08/14 at 09:02 PM
This is a response for Valerie and her comment “Does the Gay community believe that this type of behavior is going to bring people around to suppport them.” This is more about acceptance than politics. We are people that are treated like third class citizens in the county we live and pay taxes, by a majority of our elected officials on the city counsel. I don’t believe we have to be any way but how we are. If we start to act in accordance with your idea of acceptable behavior then we have prostituted ourselves to your idea of conformity. If we are good, law abiding citizens of Hillsbourogh county, pay our taxes, why would that be any different than anyone going to Disney World for the weekend, putting on a pair of mouse ears with your name sewn on them and acting the fool. We are different, and that is the beauty of diversity. We, as well as yourself should be proud of and enjoy who we are. We are Gay and we are not afraid of being ourselves (a lesson that I think could benifit the world as a whole). We want the world to know it. Flamboyant, Yes! and damn proud of it! You see my partner and I are one of that group that you think should be embarrased by all of this and, Sorry. We are not embarrassed, we are proud!