When the Hillsborough County Commission passed a discriminatory policy during their June 15th meeting, they were not aware they were sending a rallying cry to bring PRIDE back to Hillsborough County. With astounding support and involvement from individuals, businesses and organizations working together, there have been an unprecedented number of events and actions taken in the last few months to prove – PRIDE IS BACK! Let us CELEBRATE all that has been done as we understand this fight is a long-term battle. This is just the beginning…more is still to come.
Thousands of people in our community have stepped up and stepped out to show that Pride is Back!
The Brandon Equality Mall walks continue every Friday night at Brandon Town Center. After an initial group of 70 people participated in the first walk on Friday, July 1, 2005, 20-30 people continue to walk the mall, not in an angry outrage, but as an opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to be comfortable in our relationships in a public setting and to allow others to see that GBLT people are real people living real lives that are to be tolerated and gracefully accommodated. For more information, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/equalitymallwalk or email equalitymallwalk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Formed out of the June 20th Equality Florida Townhall meeting, Just Say Know is a coalition of artists and activists gathering to combat anti-gay bias, have created an ad-hoc Family Values Photography Studio to shoot portraits of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight families in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. There first project, "Family Values Portrait Project," featuring portraits of different "families" is a traveling photography exhibition in response to the current Board of County Commissioners ban against gay pride events. The project's initial gallery showing was held at Covivant Gallery and Studios, 4906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa from September 9 through October 2.
Key West opened their arms and their streets to show their support of diversity and equality August 12-14 in protest to the Hillsborough County Commission’s June 15th actions. More than 1,000 people from the Tampa Bay area participated in the weekend celebration.
Earth Charter held two candlelight vigils to show support for diversity and to keep community attention on the actions of the Hillsborough County Commission. Held on August 16, and September 20, each vigil was attended by approximately 100 people.
The Blue Jays and Knology Park hosted this celebration and fundraiser in support of diversity in the Tampa Bay area. A VIP reception attended by a representative of the Dunedin City Council, an afternoon concert and baseball game took place on August 13th.
Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Pagan faith communities came together, in Joe Chillura Park, to honor the richness of diversity and to stand for equality. Nearly 100 people attended the September 17th event.
A proactive method to spotlight and reward companies that take a visible stand for respect and inclusion, a buycott was launched on August 15. The initial announcement brought forth more than 100 businesses to the list and ongoing efforts keep the list growing everyday. Visit www.buycottfl.org.
Equality and diversity have received extensive press coverage, coverage that has been in support of equality - including support by the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times’ editorial boards – as more than 27 newspaper articles, editorials, columns and letters to the editors have kept this issue before the residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Tribune columnist Dan Ruth, and St. Petersburg Times’ columnists Howard Troxler and Ernest Hooper have all step forward through their columns to support diversity and equality in this community.
A Pride celebration returns Tampa – Winter Pride Tampa Bay is set for Saturday, February 25, 2006. Be apart of bringing Pride back to Tampa - volunteers are needed NOW to help plan and organizer this exciting new event. To volunteer, attend the next organizational meeting on Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. at MCC Tampa. www.winterpridetampabay.com
In a strong show of support, more than 15 organizations and individuals came forward publicly to stand in support of equality and diversity, including:
| Assignment | Link | ||||
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| Assignment Two | Lesa's World | ||||
| Assignment Three | Egg Company - One | ||||
| Assignment Four | Egg Company - Two | ||||
| Assignment Five | Honest Ed's Cars | ||||