3 make PrideFest a family affair

''We don't have to hide,'' says a 14-year-old with his mom and her lesbian partner at a skating event that starts this year's festival.

By TAMARA LUSH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 3, 2002

TAMPA -- For the Diaz-Sotelo family, this is a week to celebrate.

Denise Diaz and Tea Sotelo are lesbians. Diaz's 14-year-old son, Noah, is gay.

Starting with Gay Skate at United Skates of America on Tuesday night, the three went to their first PrideFest event as a family.

"We don't have to hide," said Noah, who was flipping through a PrideFest program after a fast skate with his mother's partner.

The Gay Skate event marked the beginning of this year's PrideFest, the Tampa Bay area's annual gay and lesbian celebration. This is the ninth annual PrideFest. When the event started in 1993, it had a budget of $14,000 and an attendance of 3,000 people. Its growth has made it Florida's largest gay pride event, with 30,000 people attending last year.

"We want to have a good time and be proud of who we are," said Rick Walen, the treasurer of Pride Tampa Bay, the nonprofit group that organizes the weeklong festival. The St. Petersburg Times is one of the event's sponsors.

For the first time in the event's history, there will not be a parade. Instead, said Walen, the group will host a rally and commitment ceremony at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday morning. It is the first time that organizers have rented the stadium, and they hope that 20,000 people will attend.

Walen said that he and the other organizers want people from all walks of life -- gay and straight -- to attend at least one of the events. Some of the happenings -- such as the Wet Party, in which men are encouraged to wear swimsuits to a night event at the Florida Aquarium -- are clearly for adults only. But other events are for families, such as the Family Values picnic at Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg on Sunday.

Nearly 100 people showed up for Gay Skate. Most were men in their 20s and 30s, wearing faded jeans and T-shirts. For the last 12 years, Gay Skate has been held each Tuesday night at the Tampa skating rink, but the crowd was larger than usual Tuesday night because of the festival.

Desmond Clark of Tampa organizes the weekly skating party, which is alcohol- and smoke-free. He is usually the DJ, but on Tuesday Walter Winston of Orlando spun hip-hop and techno music. A disco ball glittered at the front of the rink, and more than one person reminisced about skating to such 1970s tunes as Xanadu and I Will Survive as children.

Rett Hough of Tampa volunteers each Tuesday to work the front door at Gay Skate.

"I sit up here and flirt," he said, then greeted a man awash in Lancome cologne. "Hey there!"

For Hough, it is especially fitting that PrideFest coincides with Independence Day. It was on the Fourth of July 11 years ago that Hough came out as a gay man.

For some of the skaters, rolling around the rink is the one time they can be open about their sexuality. One man said that he lives in a small town where no one knows he is gay -- and he fears what would happen to him if people did find out.

Sotelo, who is 34, and Noah Diaz had no such concerns. They held hands Tuesday night as they zipped over the shiny wood floor of United Skates of America, and waved at Denise Diaz.

Diaz, 39, isn't much of a roller skater. She sat on a bench and watched the pair glide and giggle.

"It's important to come out as a family," she said.

Pride Fest 2002

Wednesday

ChiChi LaRue presents "Sex Becomes Her: The ChiChi LaRue Story" at Twilight, 1507 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. 8 p.m. DJ and dancing to follow. $10. 879-4220.

Thursday

Fireworks viewing at Channelside. 9 p.m.

Trash Disco Party at the Chambers, 1701 N Franklin St., Tampa. 8:30 p.m.-3 a.m. $3. 223-1300.

Friday

Meet the Stars and Pride grand marshal Sharon Gless at Mise en Place restaurant, 422 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. 6:30-8 p.m. $35. Attendance limited.

Central Florida Black Pride Fashion Show at the Cherokee Club, 1320 9th Ave., Ybor City, above Cafe Creole. 9-11 p.m. $10. 247-9966.

High-energy dance party at Factory at the Garage, 802 E Whiting St., Tampa. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. 221-CLUB.

Saturday

Multi-faith lifetime commitment ceremony on the field at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. 10 a.m. Couples must pre-register; participants will need clearance to get to the stage area. For details, contact the Rev. Michel J. Pugin of Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa at Bpmichelmcc@aol.com.

Tampa Bay Business Guild Expo at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 879-2827.

Diva Fest Florida, Pride rally and opening ceremony with Sharon Gless at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. 11 a.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 879-2827.

The Wet Party 2500, Mostly Men In Swimwear, at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. $25 in advance, $35 the day of the event. 854-8160.

The Wild Party at the Cherokee Club, 1320 9th Ave., Ybor City. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. $8 at the door for 21 and over, $10 at the door for 18-21. Call 247-9966.

Boxers or Briefs, an after-hours party at the Chambers, 1701 N Franklin St., Tampa. 3 a.m. Breakfast buffet included. $7 at the door. 223-1300.

Sunday

Gay Days at Busch Gardens. Wear red or rainbow. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Discount price of $49 at local Pride outlets. Regular admission cost at the gate.

Family Values Picnic at Fort De Soto Park. 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. $5 admission includes lunch; free without lunch.

Halcyon in concert. Sundaze, 701 Third Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 3 p.m.-3 a.m $8 at the door.

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