Goode Bye “Miss Kay” Thompson
Saturday, August 22, 2008 at 1 am was the end of an era in the Tampa GLBT community – Kay Thompson, the loving aunt, mother and friend to many in our community, passed away. Just a few months earlier Kay’s life partner of over 50 years, Bobby Smith, had passed away. For many of us they were one person: “Bobby & Kay!” Bobby, who was born a woman, lived his life as a man. Bobby was also a photographer who started to document the GLBT life in Tampa from the early 1940’s. Today many of his photos are in the GLBT Archives at USF. In the 1960’s Bobby met his life partner, Miss Kay. Together they purchased a home in South Tampa just off Bayshore Blvd. Bobby went to work at Golden Triangle Photography and Miss Kay opened her flower shop, Ashley Florists, on MacDill Ave. across from Palma Ceia Country Club. Several years later Bobby & Kay, together with a handful of close friends, contacted Rev. Troy Perry and were founding members of Metropolitan Community Church Tampa. Together Bobby & Kay led our community by example: always loving and caring yet tough as nails, never afraid to stand up to homophobia, human rights issues and injustice. They both were always at every GLBT event, demonstration and celebration. In their later years, the two were always surrounded by many friends. We can take comfort in the knowing that Bobby & Kay are together again in heaven.
Local Gay Bar Karaoke DJ Bill Trotter Killed in Hit and Run
Last Sunday night after finishing his light-hearted karaoke DJ work at the Oar House in South St. Pete, happy face Bill Trotter was heading home. His car was broadsided and he was killed by a car police say was going over 80 miles per hour. Bill, along with his partner Kyle Taupin, owed Bill-N-Kyle’s Most Excellent Karaoke. We met Bill 4 years ago at the Suncoast Hotel when he started working at the front desk. After the closure of the resort, Bill and his partner took up karaoke DJing at the local clubs. You could see Bill with his cheerful smile in Ybor City at Spurs Country on Saturdays and Streetcar Charlie’s on Thursdays. He worked 3 other nights at the Oar House in St. Pete. Streetcar Charlie’s had a tribute to Bill last Thursday night that was attended by past karaoke winners and friends of Bill. Funeral arrangements have not been made as of this writing.
Your Craziest Gay Flick?
This is the 20th Anniversary of the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (October 8th-18th) at the beautiful historic Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa and we want to know your all-time favorite gay film. Zany, funny, classic, serious drama, documentary or just a great story – what is your favorite film? Actor? Actress? Movie line? Send your favorites to MCFilmFest@gmail.com, subject line “Favorite Gay Movie.”
