TAMPA PRIDE 2019’S
WILD KICKOFF!
TRYAN WILLIAMS-JENT ampa Pride’s fifth year officially
began Nov. 17, 2018 with the
inaugural Pride-Zoo-La, an
unforgettable evening of entertainment
inside ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
Attendees enjoyed an enchanting stroll
through the park to the Safari Lodge in
the African section of ZooTampa as the
Tampa Bay Pride Band performed. They
were subsequently treated to a juried art
show highlighting local talent, where they
also participated in a silent auction with
over 50 raffles before partaking in a giraffe
feeding with ZooTampa staff.
DJ Greg Anderson provided additional
music as Power Infiniti presented
performances by FENTI and cast, flanking
presentations by Tampa Pride President
Carrie West.
West was joined on stage b y
then-Tampa mayoral candidates David
Straz, Ed Turanchik, Jane Castor and
Topher Morrison, who each outlined their
support for equality.
“You’re just seeing the beginning of
what our new Tampa Pride is going to
be all about,” West shared, stressing the
celebration’s climbing attendance. “We
thought we’d have 10,000 our first year
and had over 20,000. Our second year, we
said we’ll have 20,000 and we had 30,000.
“Our third year we said 25,000 just to be
safe – 35,000,” he continued. “Last year we
were 40,000 and we greatly appreciate all
of your help in making it happen.”
He noted that Tampa Pride had
reached its fifth year, in part, because of
Tampa’s inclusive nature. He pointed to the
city’s perfect score in the Human Rights
Campaign’s 2018 Municipal Equality Index
as an example. It examines how inclusive
laws and policies are for LGBTQ people in
cities nationwide.
“We were honored when Tampa received
a 100,” West said. “We are not going back;
we are only going to go forward.”
13