WE ARE SO PROUD
THAT AS A COMMUNITY,
TAMPA PRIDE IS
CELEBRATING OUR 5TH
YEAR OF PRIDE IN 2019.
There have been many changes in
our community and many changes
in our lives. That’s part of why the
board and directors of TAMPA PRIDE
2019 chose “Milestones” as this year’s
theme for our annual festival and diversity
parade event.
This year we also capture the historical
significance of a time 50 years ago.
Yes, this is the 50th anniversary of the
Stonewall riots in New York City. A time
when a small group of gay people in a
small bar made history and a stepping
stone in America’s history to having gay
rights and equality in our country.
Some say it stemmed from the loss of a
gay icon; it was the funeral day for actress/
singer Judy Garland and drag queens
in New York City were mourning. They
could take no more emotional devastation
from thug policeman and a major LGBT
milestone occurred!
We look at changes within our
community with tears in many eyes. Some
tears for joy, as on June 26, 2015 the
Supreme Court said that same-sex couples
fundamentally had the right to marry who
they loved. It was a new guaranteed right
of the land.
Our Clerk of Hillsborough County Court
Pat Frank took it upon herself to hold
marriage ceremonies in the wee morning
hours in the county building and then
across the street in the park. A long group
of people followed, making a commitment
and marrying their partners. Many shook
their heads in tears, saying, “I never
thought this would ever happen in my
lifetime.” Civil rights end discrimination
in our LGBT lives in so many ways. What
a Milestone!
Then brought national tears of sorrow
as a deranged shooter went wild, killing
innocent Orlando LGBTA brothers and
sisters at Pulse Night Club on June 12,
2016—killing 49 and wounding another
53 patrons.
Many were friends and acquaintances
we all knew! This happened at a gay bar;
place people thought was a safe zone
from bullies, conservative bigots and family
members, some not so friendly. America
came together because of a tragedy. So
the scope balances on many fronts. Good
and evil. That makes a Milestone!
So I am proud to say in Tampa too, we
have a 2019 Milestone! We THANK our
outgoing Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn
who has helped change the fabric of our
mighty city. More LGBT individuals are
moving to Tampa every day and the city
received a perfect 100 score for the first
time in the prestigious Human Rights
Campaign Municipality Index. I, too have a
Milestone: my partner, Mark Bias and I just
celebrated 42 loving years together.
So make your plans to come to Tampa
March 30, 2019 for the “Funnest Pride in
America!” T hat is a MILESTONE!
Carrie West
TAMPA PRIDE President
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