We want to congratulate Sally Phillips, Hillsborough County Democratic State Committeewoman and former Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus President. Hats off to you for all the hard work you do and all the late meetings that you attend to make Florida a better place!
GaYBOR Member of the Week: Sally Phillips
We want to congratulate Sally Phillips, Hillsborough County Democratic State Committeewoman and former Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus President. Hats off to you for all the hard work you do and all the late meetings that you attend to make Florida a better place!
You Can Not Make This Up!
The second St. Pete Pride was in 2004. It was an overcast day with storm clouds all around us. Just as the parade started, it started to rain. Cancel the parade? Absolutely not! Just as the parade turned onto Central Avenue, the rain stopped. Mark jumped out of our car as “Her Royal Highness, Princess Priscilla” then with ‘pride’ walked down Central Avenue 10 blocks on his STILTS!!!
Fast forward to 2013. We were at the Stonewall kick-off party at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. Two people walked up to Mark and said, “We know you. You were our waiter at Hamburger Mary’s!” Mark smiled and said, “Yes, I was. Good to see you again.” Then they said, “It’s good to see you’re working at our Pride event tonight!” OMG! Mark smiles and said, “Meet my better half of 35 years, Carrie. I’m not working here. We are the honored Grand Marshals of St. Pete Pride Parade this year.”
Then…YOU CAN NOT MAKE THIS UP!!!! A man reached out to shake our hands, saying, “Mark and Carrie, I read your ‘Dishing with Mark and Carrie’ column every week! It’s good to meet you!” He was St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, who was at the VIP event! Carrie said, “WOW, you read our column?” The mayor nodded and responded, “Of course, everybody reads it.”
The new high speed ferry service, rapid transit train service for the area and GLBT issues were discussed, as well of the economic impact that Pride brings to the city of St. Pete.
Mark then wanted to personally thank the mayor for hosting St. Pete Pride, adding, “St Pete Pride brings millions to GaYBOR District and Tampa too!”
People R Talking: 7-Eleven to Open in GaYBOR
Hillsborough County has just gone through its own Stonewall of sorts with the rescinding of the ban on gay pride in the county. Now it is PRIDE Week throughout Tampa Bay and word is that another try for a domestic partnership registry is planned to be on the commissioners’ docket for August.
A great singing star and fixture in late night TV infomercials was born right here in Tampa. Otis Dewey ‘Slim’ Whitman, Jr. He was a regular music-playing celebrity on local Tampa TV early morning shows. A man with a yodel in his throat and a song in his heart passed away this week at age 90. He says he sold more albums than the Beatles, and he toured in the 1950s with Elvis Presley. An entertainer and music icon!
A new 7-Eleven convenience store is in the works to take over La Ultramar Building, the old jewelry store at 7th Ave. and 16th St. in Ybor City. Not all residents are pleased with the corporate’s store move to the district. Parking changes, permitting beer sales, etc. all affect local Ybor business. The new concept urban stores are more aimed at the inner city marketplace with fresh produce, meat and fruit, as opposed to the classic style 7-Eleven stores with gas pumps.
