In Issue 23
GaYBOR & Tampa Bay Gossip & News
The Prop 8 Rally and The Dallas Principles Over 120 California’s Prop 8 Rallies were held across 100 cities in the US and Canada last Tuesday night. In St. Pete a rally was held at Club Nautico. In Tampa the Impact Florida group met at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square in downtown Tampa. The California Supreme Court ruled 6-1 against same sex marriages in California, but ruled the 18,000 same sex couples who were married can still be legally married. It got off to a rocky start when the Hillsborough County Security Squad arrived and ordered everybody to leave the park immediately. Rally co-chair Zeke Fread explained that when he called the county parks department he was told that we did not need a permit to assemble if we were not using any electricity and didn’t have booths, etc. The county’s rent-a force disagreed, but Zeke kept his cool and asked to speak to the main supervisor. He was told that “it would do no good” and to “get out of the park now!” Zeke then explained again what he had been told. The officers said that we had card tables and that was considered a booth. We then moved the card tables outside of the Hillsborough County park to the sidewalk in Tampa. The officers who had acted like they didn’t know who our group was then said that we could not have a candlelight program in the park. We were told the county park closes at dusk. “We’ll keep an eye on the group” one said as they walked away. After the county drama the group gathered to hear music by Judy B. Goode singing “A Rainbow of People” and powerful speeches by co-Chairs of Impact Florida, Cathy James and Zeke Fread, GaYBOR District Coalition President Carrie West, Hillsborough Democratic GLBTA President Sally Phillips, Brian Winfield of Equality Florida, former NOW representative Karen Doering, USF GLBTA Alliance President Lara McDermott, Tampa City Council member Linda Saul Sena and members of the audience. Noticeably missing was newly-elected gay Hillsborough County Commisioner Kevin Beckner. There was a lot of mumbling about his absence! Several people talked about The Dallas Principles (TheDallasPrinciples.org) and you will definitely be hearing a lot about this in the future. The rain clouds and thunder surrounded the group, but itdidn’t rain. As the USF speaker said, “‘How very appropriate to be surrounded by rain clouds. For after the rain out come the rainbows!” Congratulations, Darlene & Jurnee At 12:01 am on Memorial Day in Historic Ybor City Streetcar Charlie’s Executive Chef Darlene and Jurnee were married..
