Tampa Regains Its Pride After Losing It For 8 Years

[Formaldehyde]

Hillsborough County Commission unanimously repeals ban of gay pride recognition

TAMPA — For years, Hillsborough County stood firm, refusing to protect gays from discrimination as other governments approved domestic partnerships and even gay marriage.

But Hillsborough County commissioners reversed course Wednesday, overturning a local policy many gay rights activists saw as the ultimate insult. They voted 7-0 to repeal a ban on county government recognition of gay pride, a movement the ban's instigator once dismissed with a "little g, little p."

"And repealed should be capitalized," said Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who led the reversal. "Capital 'R.' "

While the vote was unanimous, the debate and public testimony were hardly harmonious.

One pastor warned Hillsborough risked losing the "favor of God" if commissioners overturned the ban. Another expressed offense that gay rights activists would equate themselves with African-Americans who faced discrimination based on the color of their skin rather than sexual preference.

"Good government is to remain neutral to the cultural wars and should not endorse or promote any sexual preference," Pastor Tony Smart said.

Speaker Cathy James reminded commissioners that they placed their hand on the Bible and swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, not the other way around.

"Please stop discriminating against my family," she said. "It really hurts."

One commissioner welled up with regret over his 2005 vote in favor of the initial ban. Another, Victor Crist, unsuccessfully sought formal assurances that the vote would not result in Hillsborough County supporting obscene, prurient events not appropriate for families.

"The festivals, the activities and things need to have a little different tone to them," said Crist, a Republican. "Parading around in lingerie, pasties, g-strings and outfits that promote your sexual organs is not necessarily an appropriate thing to do in Hillsborough County."

"That's Gasparilla," a member of the audience replied, bringing laughter.

Beckner waved his Bible and expounded on his belief in Jesus Christ: "Yes, I'm a gay man and I'm holding the holy Bible in my hand. Is that why our savior, Jesus Christ, hung on that cross, so that he could divide our community. He didn't die for some of us. He died for all who believe."

Most members of the Republican-dominated commission veered away from the spiritual and toward an argument about discrimination, while Democrat Les Miller offered a bit of both. As the board's chaplain and lone African-American, he said he is the only commissioner to have confronted true discrimination eyeball to eyeball.

"It's is time to repeal this ugly ordinance that hangs over the head of this county," he said.

Socially conservative former Commissioner Ronda Storms pushed for the ban in 2005 after learning about what she considered an inappropriate gay pride informational display in a county library. Beckner replayed a recording of the meeting during which Storms made the motion and the board voted 5-1 in support, then 6-1 to impose the added burden of a supermajority vote and public hearing to overturn it.

It took one minute and 44 seconds with only then-Commissioner Kathy Castor, now a member of Congress, voting no.

Castor issued a statement Wednesday commending the board's decision. Attempts to reach Storms by phone and text were unsuccessful.

Commissioners said at the time they didn't think government should single out select groups for special recognition. But they acknowledged Wednesday that in taking the vote, they had created a policy that has singled out one group for special and discriminatory treatment.

Commissioner Mark Sharpe was late to Wednesday's meeting while picking up his son, who had won an American Legion award in the morning. Sharpe, a Republican, was on the prevailing side of the 2005 vote and he choked up as he reversed himself Wednesday.

"I teach my kids that when you make a mistake, you correct it yourself," he said, "to not be afraid when you make a mistake and to fight like hell to stick up for the weak and the people who are different than you and people looking for help."

What they said

"I believe the real cost to our county if we do this is we'll lose the favor of God,"

George Thomasson, pastor, Bell Shoals Baptist Church, arguing against repealing the ban on Hillsborough County government recognition of gay pride

"This is a moral question that God has already answered. Homosexuality is a sin of choice that God has condemned in his word."

Travis Henry, Hillsborough resident

"Hatred is hatred. Bigotry. Discrimination is discrimination. And regardless, it is painful."

Les Miller, Hillsborough commissioner

"Unless you're totally naive or unless you've had your head buried in the sand for the last 20 years, you know that what the County Commission did today was open the door to an escalating succession of sexually explicit events and put the taxpayers of Hillsborough County on the hook for promoting people's agenda based on their choice of sexual partners."

Terry Kemple, president of the Community Issues Council

"We commend the Hillsborough commissioners for doing the right thing. For eight years this law has served no other purpose except to be a daily insult to gay people who live, work and visit Hillsborough County."

Nadine Smith, executive director for Equality Florida

Baby steps.

 

[Kyriakos]

(sorry, just posted something not really worth posting)



(mods, please erase this if you want)

 

[warpus]

"The festivals, the activities and things need to have a little different tone to them," said Crist, a Republican. "Parading around in lingerie, pasties, g-strings and outfits that promote your sexual organs is not necessarily an appropriate thing to do in Hillsborough County."

This is actually a valid point (except for the "activities" part, I'm not sure what he means by that). Why are pride parades so sexually explicit? A lot of stuff that happens during these things really aren't appropriate and I don't think that they do the LGBT community any favours either. Tone it down a bit, get rid of the assless shorts and the genitalia, and you'll get support for your community a lot quicker.

There are a lot of totally invalid and hilarious points, but I'm sure others will mention those, so I didn't.

 

[timtofly]

The word pride does not mean what it used to. Has nothing to do with the situation at hand either. Pride just happens to be one of those revolting words, that has lost it's original meaning.

 

[JollyRoger]

I think a lot of these pastors likely have gay shame.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I love these guys

One pastor warned Hillsborough risked losing the "favor of God" if commissioners overturned the ban.

Thanks for the heads up

Another expressed offense that gay rights activists would equate themselves with African-Americans who faced discrimination based on the color of their skin rather than sexual preference.

And he is welcome to Express away Mr. Another!

"Good government is to remain neutral to the cultural wars and should not endorse or promote any sexual preference," Pastor Tony Smart said.

It's great to hear a Pastor speak out in favour of Gay Marriage. Well said Sir, well said.

"This is a moral question that God has already answered. Homosexuality is a sin of choice that God has condemned in his word."

Good for God. God doesn't run your country no matter how many times he blesses you guys on your money!

"Unless you're totally naive or unless you've had your head buried in the sand for the last 20 years, you know that what the County Commission did today was open the door to an escalating succession of sexually explicit events and put the taxpayers of Hillsborough County on the hook for promoting people's agenda based on their choice of sexual partners."

And until now that has been your private feeding ground?

 

[Traitorfish]

This is actually a valid point (except for the "activities" part, I'm not sure what he means by that). Why are pride parades so sexually explicit? A lot of stuff that happens during these things really aren't appropriate and I don't think that they do the LGBT community any favours either. Tone it down a bit, get rid of the assless shorts and the genitalia, and you'll get support for your community a lot quicker.

Originally, pride parades weren't to "get support for your community", they were to intend to give bigots the middle finger. They were a forced intrusion onto the square, straight world, a very definite and "we don't care what you think of us", and the expressions of contempt for straight notions of public tendency was a deliberate expression of that. (The very name "gay pride" comes by analogy to black pride, which showed a similar lack of concern for the opinions of the white establishment.) Although the polished, media-friendly parades of today, with corporate sponsorships and the endorsement of centre-left politicians, are a far cry from the originals, it's not surprising that some of that disregard for convention has remained.

 

[Formaldehyde]

This is actually a valid point (except for the "activities" part, I'm not sure what he means by that). Why are pride parades so sexually explicit? A lot of stuff that happens during these things really aren't appropriate and I don't think that they do the LGBT community any favours either. Tone it down a bit, get rid of the assless shorts and the genitalia, and you'll get support for your community a lot quicker.

I take it you aren't that familiar with the local Gasparilla festival and other Carnival-like celebrations where many women show their boobs and everything else. This is what the person in the highlighted text was pointing out.

Here is a toned-down photo:

And a typical response from one of the local Bible thumpers:

It's great to hear a Pastor speak out in favour of Gay Marriage. Well said Sir, well said.

As well as being directly against the original edict.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Very minor point. It's good to see a yank correctly use the term G-string instead of thong (clearly an item of footwear).

 

[Formaldehyde]

Originally, pride parades weren't to "get support for your community", they were to intend to give bigots the middle finger. They were a forced intrusion onto the square, straight world, a very definite and "we don't care what you think of us", and the expressions of contempt for straight notions of public tendency was a deliberate expression of that. (The very name "gay pride" comes by analogy to black pride, which showed a similar lack of concern for the opinions of the white establishment.) Although the polished, media-friendly parades of today, with corporate sponsorships and the endorsement of centre-left politicians, are a far cry from the originals, it's not surprising that some of that disregard for convention has remained.

I inadvertently attended the second ever gay pride festival in Manhattan while looking for an apartment prior to moving there. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it quickly became clear that it was a very positive and welcoming crowd with many heterosexuals in attendance.

The annual Halloween parade is actually far bawdier. But both sexes are represented so people don't seem to complain so much.

 

[warpus]

Originally, pride parades weren't to "get support for your community", they were to intend to give bigots the middle finger. They were a forced intrusion onto the square, straight world, a very definite and "we don't care what you think of us", and the expressions of contempt for straight notions of public tendency was a deliberate expression of that. (The very name "gay pride" comes by analogy to black pride, which showed a similar lack of concern for the opinions of the white establishment.) Although the polished, media-friendly parades of today, with corporate sponsorships and the endorsement of centre-left politicians, are a far cry from the originals, it's not surprising that some of that disregard for convention has remained.

Interesting, I've never heard about any of this before. The thing though is that pride parades are fairly mainstream now, so does it really make sense to try to stick it to straight people or whatever? Wouldn't it be awesome if kids of all ages could attend these, participate, and celebrate human diversity?

I take it you aren't that familiar with the local Gasparilla festival and other Carnival-like celebrations where many women show their boobs and everything else.

It's not that I'm against the idea of naked people walking around, I just don't think it helps any cause to do that. Mardi Gras and things like that are basically just big parties - pride parades are supposed to be marches for equality. If you want to swing a couple more people over to your side, especially if they're a bit conservative, hide yo weiner, hide yo boobs.

 

[Formaldehyde]

In case you didn't realize it, not hiding your "weiner" in public in the US will get you put away for a very long time. But the cops frequently look the other way when it comes to women at these sort of events.

And gay pride festivals are very much like Mardi Gras or Carnival. They really are just big parties. And swaying those prudes who incessantly whine about them isn't going to change by toning them down.

Just look at the people above who are clapping at the county finally coming to its senses in the photo above. Not one of them is wearing chaps.

 

[warpus]

I just think pride rallies would be better served if they became family oriented events.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Carnival and Mardi Gras were turned into the bawdy affairs they are today by minorities who were poking fun at the prudish whites. As long as they aren't violating any ordinances, they should be free to demonstrate in any way they wish. If they continue to offend the very people who hate and despise them merely for their sexual inclination, so much the better.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

I was at the after party at Sydney's gay mardi gras one year (don't ask). I went to the toilet and lo and behold, there was a guy in leather fetish gear happily rolling around in the long urinal trough while other guys went about their business. 'Twas a scene man that's for sure.

 

[JollyRoger]

Sounds like the men's room at my local Baptist church.

 

[Formaldehyde]

There was an infamous S&M club in Manhattan where that would have been considered to be tame. Just above it there was a gay club that looked just like the Blue Oyster Bar from Police Academy, which is where you had to go to buy cigarettes.