Tampa Tribune: H illsborough County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday for the first time since June 15, when the board agreed to “abstain from acknowledging, promoting and participating” in gay pride recognition or events. Only Commissioner Kathy Castor voted against the policy, which has generated nationwide attention. The policy is expected to dominate [...]
Hillsborough Homophobia
Ronda and Ronnie’s world
July 18, 2005
St. Petersburg Times First came the broken bones. Then, the vomiting spells. Then, bruises and scrapes. At first, no one knew who or what kept sending little Ronnie Paris to the hospital. But by the time the 3-year-old died it was clear his life was far too short and none too sweet. It became even [...]
Ronda Storms: The lady doth protest too much
July 11, 2005
projection pro·jec·tion…… 8. Psychology a. The attribution of one’s own attitudes, feelings, or suppositions to others: “Even trained anthropologists have been guilty of unconscious projection—of clothing the subjects of their research in theories brought with them into the field” (Alex Shoumatoff). b. The attribution of one’s own attitudes, feelings, or desires to someone or something [...]
Artists Respond to Hillsborough County Ban Against Gay Pride Events
July 8, 2005
(From the mailbag) “Family Values Portrait Project” is a “Just Say Know” initiated traveling photography exhibition in response to the current Board of County Commissioners ban against gay pride events. WHAT: “Just Say Know” Family Values Portrait Project WHEN: Opening Reception: September 9, 2005 DURATION: Friday, September 9-Sunday, October 2, 2005 PORTRAIT Dates: Listed Below [...]
Hatred evolves
July 5, 2005
Hernando County, just a short drive north of the Tampa Bay area, enjoys the unique claim to fame of having been the lynchingest county in the South, and some residents are still damn proud of that distinction. In what is now the Withlacoochee State Forest, “they put (Lang) on a horse and tied a noose [...]
Hillsborough NAACP decries policy
July 2, 2005
Last week, the St. Pete NAACP joined the chorus of tolerance by coming out against Hillsborough Homophobia. At the time, thinking of “Uncle” Tom Scott’s eager “Second” to Ronda Storm’s (R – Homophoburbia) hateful motion, I wondered aloud where the Tampa NAACP stood on this issue. Thankfully, despite “Uncle” Tom’s hollow argument that bigotry is [...]
Visitors Bureau spends county funds to acknowledge gays
July 1, 2005
Ronda Storms’ Hillsborough Homophobia parade is continuing to frighten those who make their livings around here from tourists. Remember: gays and lesbians spend huge amounts of money on their travels. Oops. The Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau has hired a public relations firm to combat possible fallout from county commissioners’ June 15 vote to [...]
Don’t give up Cope
July 1, 2005
I’d like to respond to some reader comments left on the Rose Ferlita post from yesterday. First, the comments: I think the Hills. Co. Commission really needs Rose Ferlita’s compassion, especially after it’s recent homophobia debaucle. About 15 years ago, when my partner had full-blown AIDS, we used Rose Drugs for his medications. We found [...]
St. Pete tolerates 35,000 for Pride Parade
June 26, 2005
35,000 people gathered in St. Pete for the annual Gay Pride Parade yesterday, and Ronda Storms (R – Homophoburbia) was a hot topic. The most conspicuous presence at the St. Pete Pride street festival on Saturday was not drag queens wearing rhinestone tiaras and sequined gowns, or thousands waving rainbow flags and beads, but the [...]
Ronda Storms’ Hillsborough Homophobia goes national
June 26, 2005
One of the problems with living in a region with so many elected Ronda Storms types who feel they must legislate their version of morality whenever some innocuous element of modern life intrudes upon their consciousness is that their preposterous proposals inevitably attract the curiosity of people from more enlightened places and those people naturally [...]