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St. Petersburg opens its tolerant arms again

The Pride parade set for Saturday is expected to draw up to 50,000 visitors. Organizers point to the city’s accepting climate.

By ROBBYN MITCHELL
Published June 22, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG — Gregory Kompes loves this city so much, it made his list of the 50 Most Gay Friendly Places to Live.

The grand marshal of Saturday’s St. Pete Pride parade says he’s excited to be back in the bay area.
Residents and business owners are gearing up for the fourth annual parade and festival in the Grand Central District. Pride is celebrated in several cities around the world by the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

Organizers expect the festival, which drew 35,000 last year, to attract 50,000 this year for music, food and shopping. Central Avenue’s portion of the parade route — from 30th to 22nd Street — is five blocks longer than a year ago.

Brian Longstreth, president of the Grand Central District Association, said the event has 71 sponsors, bringing in more than $160,000.

St. Pete Pride organizers may have Hillsborough County to thank for last year’s success.

Attendance grew from 20,000 in 2004 to 35,000 in 2005 after the Hillsborough County Commission ban on acknowledgement, participation or promotion in gay pride events last June. Since then, Tampa has had a winter Pride festival in February that drew 4,000 participants.

In September, the Hillsborough County Commission also denied an ordinance that would have added protection for gays and lesbians to its human rights act, said Brian Winfield of Equality Florida. “In general people feel more accepted in St. Petersburg.”

City Council member Richard Kriseman has been a supporter of St. Pete Pride since its inception. “If you look at the economic impact, it’s quite significant,” he said

Kriseman, who donated $1,000 to this year’s event, said a number of businesses that had booths last year have since opened stores in the city.

“It’s an event hosted by the GLBT community, but an awful lot of straight people go there, too,” Kriseman said.

“It’s not different than attending Rib Fest or any of the other festivals we have down on the waterfront.”
Kriseman has signed the city proclamation every year in place of Mayor Rick Baker, Longstreth said.

“It’s unfortunate to have a mayor that will attend the grand opening of a Hungry Howie’s but not an event that brings 35,000 people to his city,” Longstreth said.

Baker has never attended the Pride parade, saying in the past he does not support the event’s “general agenda.”

The decision has drawn both anger and support.

“The question is, by not embracing somebody else’s views, am I shutting them out? I’m not shutting anybody out,” Baker told the Times in 2004.

This week, the mayor said: “I have nothing to say more than what I have said already.”

Local businesses can rent booth space along the parade route for $70. This year’s route will have 226 vendors offering everything from food to real estate.

“People who don’t know we’re here find us,” said Richard Valmain of Grand Kitchen and Bath. “Thirty to 35 percent of our clientele is of an alternative lifestyle, and we are just thankful for that business.”

Grinders Coffee Shop on Central Avenue has been open for two Pride festivals and owner Andrea Pawlisz said the business is phenomenal. “Here, it’s the busiest day of the year,” she said. “It’s not just gays – straight people, families, everything. Everyone comes to this event.”

Coordinators said parking will be available on side streets of Central Avenue, and shuttles will move people from the designated lots at Central Plaza and near the interstate.

Kompes said he added St. Petersburg to his list of gay-friendly cities after visiting 400 cities he’d found on the Gay and Lesbian Atlas. From the 400, a city made the cut based on recreation, cultural activities, housing market and other criteria that make a city livable.

A former Sarasota resident, Kompes said that Pride allows the community to come together and feel a sense of belonging. “You can go there and know that 'Hey, it’s not just me,’” he said.

A weekend of PRIDE

FRIDAY

- Luncheon with Gregory Kompes at noon at The Metro Center, 3170 Third Ave. N. Fee of $5 includes lunch.

- Tropicana Field hosts “Pride Night at the Trop” for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays-Atlanta Braves game at 7:15 p.m.

- Screening of Meet Me in St. Louis at the Hospice community room on 3050 First Ave. S at 6 p.m.

- Party at Georgie’s Alibi from 8 p.m. until close at 3100 Third Ave. N.

SATURDAY

- St. Pete Pride Promenade begins 10 a.m. at 31st Street and 3rd Avenue S. Street festival begins at 11 a.m.

- Grand Central Platform Party at 2612 Central Ave. begins at 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

- Pride brunch with Margaret O’Brien will begin at 11 a.m. at Hospice of the Florida Suncoast at 3050 First Ave. S.

- Equality Florida is hosting a Pride family picnic in Joe Chillura Park at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa from noon to 3 p.m.

- Suncoast Resort is hosting a Pride tea dance at 4 p.m. and finale concert at 9 p.m. at 3000 34th St. S. 

[Last modified June 22, 2006, 21:34:52]