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Film sheds light on gay issues before election

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published October 9, 2006

TAMPA - For those who have never met Hillsborough Commissioner Ronda Storms, a new documentary highlights where she stands on certain gay and lesbian issues.

She doesn't want foster children placed in gay or lesbian homes. And she's sticking by her successful move in June 2005 for Hillsborough County government to abstain from recognizing gay pride.

The producer of the 15-minute documentary titled un!BANNED wants viewers to look beyond the votes that Storms and other county commissioners have taken to hinder gay rights and see discrimination.

"We're trying to wake people up and make them aware of what's going on," said Amy Nestor, who debuted her independent film Sunday at the Tampa Bay Business Guild Expo. "They're discriminating against human beings."

The film contains footage from a march in downtown Tampa during the summer of 2005 in protest of the County Commission's vote. It features interviews from local gay activist and librarian Bart Birdsall, Brandon Pride president Mark Ferguson, Tampa strip club owner Joe Redner as well as gay and straight Tampa Bay residents who disagreed with the ban.

The short film was also filled with quotes from Storms that were published in the St. Petersburg Times. Nestor has plans to show the film at libraries across Hillsborough County during the next month.

When she heard about the documentary's focus, Storms defended the commissioners' vote.

"I am more convinced today than I was then that that was the appropriate action for the board to take," said Storms.

She questioned Brandon Pride's involvement in the film, because nonprofit organizations must file paperwork with the state to become a political action committee and be involved in anything political. Storms, a Republican, is running against Democrat Stephen Gorham and write-in candidate Victoria Brake for the District 10 state Senate seat.

"Certainly people can advocate the election or defeat of a candidate," Storms said. "It's not appropriate for a nonprofit organization."

R. Zeke Fread, spokesman for Nestor's film, said that Nestor produced, directed, edited and paid for the film herself. Brandon Pride only offered to help with research and getting the word out about the film when it was ready for viewing, he said.

Storms said that the media never report that the gay pride library display that sparked so much controversy last year contained pamphlets that directed children to Internet chats and support groups where they could "explore their sexuality."

"That's not safe behavior," Storms said.

Brian Winfield, spokesman for Equality Florida, said that a county librarian had pamphlets that provided resources to young people, like how to start a gay-straight alliance at school and how to get information from the Human Rights Campaign.

"It was not in any way providing people information on how to go online to various chats," Winfield said.

Nestor said her film is beyond anything personal directed to Storms, whom she's never met.

"It's bigger than that," Nestor said. "To me, it's about healing."

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 8, 2006, 23:40:54]