GAZETTE Tampa Bay Gay and Lesbian News

By Brian Feist
KEY WEST, FL-With a welcome warmer than the tropical heat Key West opened its arms to Tampa Bay for Hillsborough Pride in Exile, Aug. 12-14, 2005.

When Hillsborough County Commissioners passed a resolution to ban the recognition of any gay pride activities in County agencies, residents of this island community were outraged. "We live in such a wonderfully inclusive community we just couldn't believe this was happening in Hillsborough County," said openly gay City Commissioner Tom Oosterhoudt, at a welcome reception Friday evening at La Te Da restaurant on Duval Street. "We just felt we had to do something to support our brothers and sisters in Tampa Bay."

That "something" was Hillsborough Pride in Exile, a weekend celebration of solidarity, hosted by Key West's GLBT community, and its bars and guest houses, to honor the GLBT community of Tampa Bay.

Nearly 1000 members of the Tampa Bay GLBT community accepted the invitation.

While Hillsborough County's Commissioners wish the gay community would just go away, City and County leaders in Key West and Monroe County actively embrace such diversity. The city adopted as its official philosophy "One Human Family" and stickers proclaiming that "All people are created equal members of One Human Family" are available all over the island. Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley invited and encouraged everyone to share that philosophy and spread it throughout Florida and the rest of the country.

The weekend began with the welcome reception at La Te Da, and culminated with a Rally and March of Solidarity down Duval Street. At the Rally organizers were introduced and Mayor Weekley and Monroe County Mayor Dixie Shehar each read proclamations denouncing the Hillsborough County Commission's action and declaring the weekend "Hillsborough Pride in Exile." The Mayors then led the Parade down Duval Street!

A Post-March party was held in the Garden Bar at the Bourbon Street Pub. Showing that the Key West philosophy is more than just words on paper, the Mayors didn't rush off after the Parade. They came right into the Pub (can you imagine one of our local mayors, even gay-friendly Pam coming into a gay bar?) and read their proclamations once again. They even stayed for the entertainment - a "Best County Commissioner" contest. volunteer "Commissioners" took the hot seat, covering their faces with 8 x 10 photos of the real Hillsborough County Commissioners while their bios and various statements they had made were read. The audience voted and cheered as, one by one, the "Commissioners" were pelted with rubber chickens and thrown into the pool. One "Commissioner" was so dismayed at his description that he tore up his photo and jumped into the pool on his own!

Predictably, "Kathy Castor" was the only "Commissioner" spared the wrath of the crowd, and emerged high and dry, a Queen among queens.

Thank you to Key West for your amazing hospitality. Special thanks to Atlantic Shores, Heather at Pearls Rainbow, John at Island House, Neil of pistolandenema.com, La Te Da (for all of those shots!), Mark on the Trolley Tour, Bourbon St. Pub, the Key West Business Guild, and everyone who made Hillsborough Pride in Exile such a great event. FMI www.prideinexile.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR presented by the Tampa Bay Business Guild

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