The Tampa City Council Chambers was packed as the decision was made to put Tampa in the growing Florida cities adding Domestic Partner Registry Ordinance to the cities charter. Council Chairwoman Mulhern changed the agenda because of the large number of speakers on the ordinance in the chambers. Three dozen speakers added their reasons as to why this ordinance is needed and there were probably another thirty outside the chambers. All for the right reasons! Explanations given to the council were for Tampa economics, corporations relocations, partners medical rights, creating Tampa as a great city, the right thing to do and in authorized emergencies situations taking care of your partners child at school. The ordinance based after Orlando’s Domestic Partner Registry is a beginning. What it isn’t is exclusively for GLBT or Straights. The ordinance encompasses old and young, white, black or Hispanic, rich and poor, and healthy and disabled and challenged. A fair and equal law. And historical in nature too! The National TV Press, CNN showed clips and results of the Tampa hearing. Tampa Councilman Harry Cohen said, “Over 900 phone calls, emails and correspondences came into the council chambers. Not one was negative or against the ordinance.” It is with the final passing at the April 5th Tampa City Council meeting that further details will be explained . The ordinance should easily pass. Try to be there on this Historical Day!
Thank you to Tampa City Councilwoman Yolie Capin for your leadership in bringing this very equal and fair ordinance to the Tampa council. Your newly born grandson will be very proud of you! And thank you Tampa Council Members for making Tampa the great city that it is.
On April 1st directly behind the GaYBOR T-Dance @ Barbarella is the 15th Annual Festa Italiana Tampa Days (Festaitalianatampa.com). This is the largest collection of Italian food fares and events in Florida. Live entertainment, drinks and yes, all that awesome cooked food! Over 60 Italian restaurants particpate. Hours are 11 am ’til 5pm. in Centennial Park in Ybor City. Come early to eat a lot of Italian then stroll over to hear Jason Dutty, star of “Sordid Lives” Performs @ Barbarella’s! See you all there next Sunday starting at 4 p.m. with $1 drinks & beers.
GaYBOR Easter Bonnet Bar Crawl
The annual fundraiser for GaYBOR District Coalition is the “Outlandish GaYBOR Easter Bar Crawl” is Sunday, April 1st starting at JJ’s Cafe on 7th Ave at 5 p.m. Make up your own personal creative Easter Bonnet and win a chance to win a great prize. Twelve participating bars make this April Fool’s Day event a spectacular one. Tickets are available at Bradley’s on 7th, Hamburger Mary’s and MC FILM. Donation cost is $20 for helping make GaYBOR District your kind of city! Remember artistic Easter Bonnets are encouraged!
