You know what? I'm going to make a point to go to Al Lopez Field that day, with or without anyone else. I'll have my camera, a queer flag on the soccer van and a black dog. I'll take some pictures of all the spots where people could have soaked up sun, tossed a ball, made some new friends or contacts, read or sung. Of course, those pics will now simply appear as billions of blades of unmolested grass. But, if we squint and imagine real hard we'll "see" a few thousand people that gave enough of a damn about equality to show up without the cover band for The Village People or half dressed faux firefighters on a float. Maybe that'll be sufficient to gain equality. Bayshore Boulevard is the longest sidewalk in the world. If I were organizing a get together or a "non gay day" that's where I'd hold that "non" gathering. But, that's just me thinking.
G*D*MMT. I won't be there after all. I just checked my schedule and I'm in Orlando that weekend. Now I'm really p*ssed off. Will one queer please show up on the 28th at Al Lopez Field? BTW, I changed my mind about seeing Ani Defranco. Gay/Bi by convenience just doesn't cut it for me. Let her ex husband and her life partner "Mike" raise their happy little family on someone elses dollar. righteousbabe.com, my indie ass. A couple of drunken nights with same sex partners and a few loyal followers does not a gay icon make, Ani. I'm so furious. Maybe I'll just stand outside the theatre with a sign that reads "She Just Looks Queer, Don't Be Scared".
lololol
Hey, I'd be there in that park in a FLASH, if I could afford the gas, and could leave the house without the dog, and know that it would still be in one piece when I returned ... or even WITH the dog, for that matter ...
You know what? I'm going to make a point to go to Al Lopez Field that day, with or without anyone else. I'll have my camera, a queer flag on the soccer van and a black dog. I'll take some pictures of all the spots where people could have soaked up sun, tossed a ball, made some new friends or contacts, read or sung. Of course, those pics will now simply appear as billions of blades of unmolested grass. But, if we squint and imagine real hard we'll "see" a few thousand people that gave enough of a damn about equality to show up without the cover band for The Village People or half dressed faux firefighters on a float. Maybe that'll be sufficient to gain equality. Bayshore Boulevard is the longest sidewalk in the world. If I were organizing a get together or a "non gay day" that's where I'd hold that "non" gathering. But, that's just me thinking.
G*D*MMT. I won't be there after all. I just checked my schedule and I'm in Orlando that weekend. Now I'm really p*ssed off. Will one queer please show up on the 28th at Al Lopez Field? BTW, I changed my mind about seeing Ani Defranco. Gay/Bi by convenience just doesn't cut it for me. Let her ex husband and her life partner "Mike" raise their happy little family on someone elses dollar. righteousbabe.com, my indie ass. A couple of drunken nights with same sex partners and a few loyal followers does not a gay icon make, Ani. I'm so furious. Maybe I'll just stand outside the theatre with a sign that reads "She Just Looks Queer, Don't Be Scared".
box....did you miss the part that says i totally agree with you?? it costs nothing to gather people together for a gay pride gathering....and most times it is more fun event...!
it could be an alices restaurant massacre be in moment. people show up by word of mouth, no commercial space needed. i love it. carnival time instead of corporate time!
the only part we seem to differ on is the fact that an organized legal resistered group, organization whatever, does have to put out money to hold the event....if winter pride itself doesnt have it, they cant spend it...if the people of the organization really wanted to hold winter pride, then the people very well could do it as an event not sponsored thru tampa winter pride....if they had the desire.....which it certainly seems they do not....
mebbe its another by product of assimilation. the feeling that its not needed?
box....did you miss the part that says i totally agree with you?? it costs nothing to gather people together for a gay pride gathering....and most times it is more fun event...!
the only part we seem to differ on is the fact that an organized legal resistered group, organization whatever, does have to put out money to hold the event....if winter pride itself doesnt have it, they cant spend it...if the people of the organization really wanted to hold winter pride, then the people very well could do it as an event not sponsored thru tampa winter pride....if they had the desire.....which it certainly seems they do not....
as i said before, you are right, i agree with what you are saying.....
Anonymous wrote:I went to a park, a couple of them, last weekend. I was gay all day long. Seriously, there is no reason that 5, 500 or 5000 people can't decide to meet at a park and "sit", talk, toss a ball, network, live. And be gay. Alone, with their partners, with their families, friends etc., No charge. It doesn't take any money to do that. I beg to fervently differ with the post following this one. If we wait for money to make a point we're making a point for the wrong reason and it is one that will possibly never come to fruition, the back burner is just fine. Again, the gay burner, right next to the other back burner, the one with women on it. I don't want to "purchase" equality, but I sure don't want to get swept under the carpet because I was too damned lazy to go to a public park on a beautiful day and simply relax, without *beads, drag queens, bad karaoke, and vendors. Just people.
*for those that may not know, the throwing of beads around any event that includes three or more people is a pretty passionate pastime down here. Like Mardi Gras, but with alot less people. And sometimes for no reason.
you fervently differ with the statement that tampa winter pride is essentially bankrupt? or that it was quietly known tampa winter pride would not happen this year? or that it costs a lot of money for an organization to put on an event?
you may disagree, but i can assure you all those statements are true.
i totally agree with you that a group of people can get together and have a gathering of however many people they can drum up..reserve a shelter at a park, have people bring food, sports equipment, play their radios, etc, and have at it. however, it is a fact that when a non profit organization or a corporation, or any other legally organized group decides to hold an event on public property, there are rules, regulations, and fees that must be paid....plus advertizing, vendor booths, permitting, etc....it does take money, and depending on the size and what the group wishes to do....lots of it. you would probably be amazed at the amount of money that goes out and comes in related to st. pete pride's event.
Nope, I would NOT be amazed or surprised at the amount of donations, volunteers, cash, gifts, sponsorships for any event. I'm very well aware. I also know, as I am desperately trying to convey, that it is a free, non dinero, no begging, no canoodling, no schmoozing opportunity to get out and stand up for equality, period. The lbgt community in general have been left behind by the mainstream media, black and white christians, muslims, and now OURSELVES? Because of the almighty dollar? While I'm sure MLK needed some water on the way to Selma I know for a fact that a Dasani booth and corporate sponsor neither motivated his peaceful marches or stopped them. And maybe, just maybe, the appearance of wanting it badly enough becomes more "real" when it isn't attached to a sideshow. I'll continue to refer to it as a missed opportunity, you can call it what you want. Go to the beach, strike up a conversation, then talk to someone else, then introduce them to the other stranger and over and over again. The security issue? I'd call it a day at the park and the responsibility of the police dapartment to respond accordingly, if needed. I don't hire security to "be gay". I call the cops if there's a problem. Me, 5, 10 thousand stranger-friends at a park? That's a good 45 seconds on each local network and maybe the first totally unfunded gay day ever. Who knows? Guess we won't now. But frankly, the give up attitude is exactly what the gen pop, mad hets, closet queers hope for. We don't need to embrace their encouraged transparency and closet our "one nation under all" but us concerns. But, we are. If we're going to whine and wonder what ever became of the "early days" what, 25/40 years ago? Or about any of the antiquated gay alliances of the past. We will be forced to "own" their passing. And seeing as we can't afford a proper burial for gay rights we might as well just pretend they never even happened. Another chapter in revisionist history.
You know what? I'm going to make a point to go to Al Lopez Field that day, with or without anyone else. I'll have my camera, a queer flag on the soccer van and a black dog. I'll take some pictures of all the spots where people could have soaked up sun, tossed a ball, made some new friends or contacts, read or sung. Of course, those pics will now simply appear as billions of blades of unmolested grass. But, if we squint and imagine real hard we'll "see" a few thousand people that gave enough of a damn about equality to show up without the cover band for The Village People or half dressed faux firefighters on a float. Maybe that'll be sufficient to gain equality. Bayshore Boulevard is the longest sidewalk in the world. If I were organizing a get together or a "non gay day" that's where I'd hold that "non" gathering. But, that's just me thinking.
Anonymous wrote:I went to a park, a couple of them, last weekend. I was gay all day long. Seriously, there is no reason that 5, 500 or 5000 people can't decide to meet at a park and "sit", talk, toss a ball, network, live. And be gay. Alone, with their partners, with their families, friends etc., No charge. It doesn't take any money to do that. I beg to fervently differ with the post following this one. If we wait for money to make a point we're making a point for the wrong reason and it is one that will possibly never come to fruition, the back burner is just fine. Again, the gay burner, right next to the other back burner, the one with women on it. I don't want to "purchase" equality, but I sure don't want to get swept under the carpet because I was too damned lazy to go to a public park on a beautiful day and simply relax, without *beads, drag queens, bad karaoke, and vendors. Just people.
*for those that may not know, the throwing of beads around any event that includes three or more people is a pretty passionate pastime down here. Like Mardi Gras, but with alot less people. And sometimes for no reason.
you fervently differ with the statement that tampa winter pride is essentially bankrupt? or that it was quietly known tampa winter pride would not happen this year? or that it costs a lot of money for an organization to put on an event?
you may disagree, but i can assure you all those statements are true.
i totally agree with you that a group of people can get together and have a gathering of however many people they can drum up..reserve a shelter at a park, have people bring food, sports equipment, play their radios, etc, and have at it. however, it is a fact that when a non profit organization or a corporation, or any other legally organized group decides to hold an event on public property, there are rules, regulations, and fees that must be paid....plus advertizing, vendor booths, permitting, etc....it does take money, and depending on the size and what the group wishes to do....lots of it. you would probably be amazed at the amount of money that goes out and comes in related to st. pete pride's event.
True. (Well, unless 5K is over legal park capactiy...)
But it's about buying and selling things these days, isn't it.
Well, I look at signs, probably have some photos around of them. No 'Missiles" dogs, glass, alcohol or drugs. Get out by dark, that sort of thing. Never yet recall seeing no more than 10 people to a group. If you take those ten and start multiplying it by quasi related groups of ten there is not a law I know of that says the park is at capacity. If so, good for the little gay day that wasn't. I am so serious that a there is a huge, missed opportunity about to go down in Tampa. Especially in Tampa where gay brochures, books, information is subjected to intense subjective discrimination by its county commission, librarian etc, They like censorship there. I spent nearly ten years in Tampa, thank god it was in the eighties. There was alot more visible "pride" back then. Like I said earlier, we were called "people", not corporate events.
well, i am not all that well versed in tampa and its gay community...however, i do know that the mayor, pam iorio, is one of the most staunch supporters of gays. there have been many times that she has stood against the other city officials on gay rights issues, and the domestic partners benefits for city employees, etc...and in the end got her way to the benefit of the gay community.
Anonymous wrote:I went to a park, a couple of them, last weekend. I was gay all day long. Seriously, there is no reason that 5, 500 or 5000 people can't decide to meet at a park and "sit", talk, toss a ball, network, live. And be gay. Alone, with their partners, with their families, friends etc., No charge.
True. (Well, unless 5K is over legal park capactiy...)
But it's about buying and selling things these days, isn't it.
Well, I look at signs, probably have some photos around of them. No 'Missiles" dogs, glass, alcohol or drugs. Get out by dark, that sort of thing. Never yet recall seeing no more than 10 people to a group. If you take those ten and start multiplying it by quasi related groups of ten there is not a law I know of that says the park is at capacity. If so, good for the little gay day that wasn't. I am so serious that a there is a huge, missed opportunity about to go down in Tampa. Especially in Tampa where gay brochures, books, information is subjected to intense subjective discrimination by its county commission, librarian etc, They like censorship there. I spent nearly ten years in Tampa, thank god it was in the eighties. There was alot more visible "pride" back then. Like I said earlier, we were called "people", not corporate events.
Anonymous wrote:I went to a park, a couple of them, last weekend. I was gay all day long. Seriously, there is no reason that 5, 500 or 5000 people can't decide to meet at a park and "sit", talk, toss a ball, network, live. And be gay. Alone, with their partners, with their families, friends etc., No charge.
True. (Well, unless 5K is over legal park capactiy...)
But it's about buying and selling things these days, isn't it.
The gay pride event, which has been held since 2006 and was scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Al Lopez Park, was nixed because organizers were unable to cover the costs, according to published reports on at least three gay rights web sites.
A statement from the festival's executive board of directors published on those sites said that, "With the country's economy being what it is, this has adversely impacted our local economy as well. Our expo vendors, businesses, sponsors and supporters, whom WPTB has relied on in the past, found it difficult to support our cause this year."
The event drew about 5,000 people in its inaugural year and an estimated 10,000 the next year.
Organizers hope to continue the festival in 2010.
"We apologize for the delay in making this announcement," the statement said, "However, the last minute miracle we hoped would present itself, did not appear."
This doesn't make a damned bit of sense to me. It doesn't require a corporate sponsor, a Pepsi truck, Aquafina vendor, entertainment, bumper stickers and beads to meet up in a park and declare it a gay day. Frankly? I think the organizers are missing a huge opportunity here to show soladarity. I think this is a good (sic) example of the keep-em down syndrome. It might (will) appear to hets, so what? The queers don't care enough or need the "notice me day I deserve equal rights too" then why should the Tampa City Council, County Commissioner or anyone for that matter give a darn?Small minded in my opinion. A comparison might be with Martin Luther King Day. So what? No corporate sponsor so we can't afford to be black for a day? These organizers should be replaced. Inaction is no action. For gods sake, this article alone just became free advertising! Run with it Tampa.
Do they need permits and security? Sincerely, just asking. We don't have a winterfest here (although obviously this is one of those places where it would make a lot of sense -- was 83 here today) so I don't know what they are typically like ... if there is an admission charge, or what (bands to be hired?)
I went to a park, a couple of them, last weekend. I was gay all day long. Seriously, there is no reason that 5, 500 or 5000 people can't decide to meet at a park and "sit", talk, toss a ball, network, live. And be gay. Alone, with their partners, with their families, friends etc., No charge. It doesn't take any money to do that. I beg to fervently differ with the post following this one. If we wait for money to make a point we're making a point for the wrong reason and it is one that will possibly never come to fruition, the back burner is just fine. Again, the gay burner, right next to the other back burner, the one with women on it. I don't want to "purchase" equality, but I sure don't want to get swept under the carpet because I was too damned lazy to go to a public park on a beautiful day and simply relax, without *beads, drag queens, bad karaoke, and vendors. Just people.
*for those that may not know, the throwing of beads around any event that includes three or more people is a pretty passionate pastime down here. Like Mardi Gras, but with alot less people. And sometimes for no reason.
Tampa Winter Pride has been teetering in bankruptcy since prior to last winter pride....and last years pride did nothing to help them due to be rained out. not that they(winter pride board members) would acknowledge it....we (st. pete pride) knew this would not be happening this year for quite a while now.....
you would not believe how much money it does take to pull off this event...while no where near as big as st. pete pride...it still costs a quite a bit of money and when they didnt make any profit off last year, plus they have zero fundraising events and very little inventory in the way of booths/tents etc....it just is not feasible for them to do it this year......
The gay pride event, which has been held since 2006 and was scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Al Lopez Park, was nixed because organizers were unable to cover the costs, according to published reports on at least three gay rights web sites.
A statement from the festival's executive board of directors published on those sites said that, "With the country's economy being what it is, this has adversely impacted our local economy as well. Our expo vendors, businesses, sponsors and supporters, whom WPTB has relied on in the past, found it difficult to support our cause this year."
The event drew about 5,000 people in its inaugural year and an estimated 10,000 the next year.
Organizers hope to continue the festival in 2010.
"We apologize for the delay in making this announcement," the statement said, "However, the last minute miracle we hoped would present itself, did not appear."
This doesn't make a damned bit of sense to me. It doesn't require a corporate sponsor, a Pepsi truck, Aquafina vendor, entertainment, bumper stickers and beads to meet up in a park and declare it a gay day. Frankly? I think the organizers are missing a huge opportunity here to show soladarity. I think this is a good (sic) example of the keep-em down syndrome. It might (will) appear to hets, so what? The queers don't care enough or need the "notice me day I deserve equal rights too" then why should the Tampa City Council, County Commissioner or anyone for that matter give a darn?Small minded in my opinion. A comparison might be with Martin Luther King Day. So what? No corporate sponsor so we can't afford to be black for a day? These organizers should be replaced. Inaction is no action. For gods sake, this article alone just became free advertising! Run with it Tampa.
Do they need permits and security? Sincerely, just asking. We don't have a winterfest here (although obviously this is one of those places where it would make a lot of sense -- was 83 here today) so I don't know what they are typically like ... if there is an admission charge, or what (bands to be hired?)
The gay pride event, which has been held since 2006 and was scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Al Lopez Park, was nixed because organizers were unable to cover the costs, according to published reports on at least three gay rights web sites.
A statement from the festival's executive board of directors published on those sites said that, "With the country's economy being what it is, this has adversely impacted our local economy as well. Our expo vendors, businesses, sponsors and supporters, whom WPTB has relied on in the past, found it difficult to support our cause this year."
The event drew about 5,000 people in its inaugural year and an estimated 10,000 the next year.
Organizers hope to continue the festival in 2010.
"We apologize for the delay in making this announcement," the statement said, "However, the last minute miracle we hoped would present itself, did not appear."
This doesn't make a damned bit of sense to me. It doesn't require a corporate sponsor, a Pepsi truck, Aquafina vendor, entertainment, bumper stickers and beads to meet up in a park and declare it a gay day. Frankly? I think the organizers are missing a huge opportunity here to show soladarity. I think this is a good (sic) example of the keep-em down syndrome. It might (will) appear to hets, so what? The queers don't care enough or need the "notice me day I deserve equal rights too" then why should the Tampa City Council, County Commissioner or anyone for that matter give a darn?Small minded in my opinion. A comparison might be with Martin Luther King Day. So what? No corporate sponsor so we can't afford to be black for a day? These organizers should be replaced. Inaction is no action. For gods sake, this article alone just became free advertising! Run with it Tampa.
(Well, unless 5K is over legal park capactiy...) 
