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Who dunnit?

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published February 2, 2007

OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

They're Realtors, county employees and handymen. They worship at Metropolitan Community Church and organize gay pride events. But tomorrow, not one of the 10 will be safe from scrutiny. That's because one of them killed the chef. Grass skirts and leis will transform the church into the Maui Royale Resort and Spa, complete with a pool, a hula performance and drama-loving staff members who can all stand to gain from the death of diva celebrity chef Vivian Mont Blanco. After the chef cooks a Hawaiian-inspired meal, someone will murder her. Then, the investigation begins. Is it the chef's bartender lover? Her feuding neighbor? The aspiring chef whose dreams are crushed? His jealous boyfriend? The guests will try to sort it all out - and they'll take their jobs seriously.

"All these people are nice, normal people," said Mac McGowan, who plays the skittish concierge. "But they'll start grilling you like a prosecuting attorney."

Money raised from the murder mystery dinner will benefit the second-annual Winter Pride Tampa Bay celebration on Feb. 24.

Pride returns

There was a time when gay pride events centered in Tampa. But in 2003, as Tampa organizers dealt with funding and attendance problems, St. Petersburg launched its popular summer pride festival, which drew a record 50,000 participants last year. Then, in 2005, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners banned governmental recognition of gay pride events. Tampa's gay community reacted with Winter Pride.

"We needed to do something," said Bill Polley, a member of the Winter Pride board of directors.

If they had an event in February, they would ensure one gay pride event every four months, between the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in October and St. Pete Pride in June. In three months, Winter Pride organizers pulled off an inaugural event at Lowry Park that drew a crowd of 5,000.

This year, organizers moved the event to Al Lopez Park, because they expect a bigger crowd.

Most national pride celebrations are held in the summer, to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 in New York City's Greenwich Village, when police raided a gay bar and patrons fought back. The following year, about 5,000 gays marched in New York City, marking the first pride celebration.

Winter Pride organizers hope Tampa's warm winter will make the February event a travel destination.

The city of Tampa will co-sponsor this year's event and will provide critical services, including police, sanitation, permits, shelter fees and cleanup costs. Officials are allowing pride organizers to use the city seal on promotional events.

"When you look at the way the county has reacted as opposed to the city, the city has been a great partner for us," Polley said.

Kids welcome

Organizers will amp up last year's most successful event feature: the family fun area, complete with a moon bounce, face painting, a magician and pirates from the Krewe of Cavaliers.

Gay parents ventured from Orlando, Naples and Sarasota when they heard their kids would get a chance to play with other kids from same-sex households. This year the kid zone will be double the size.

Many Winter Pride events will have that family focus, from a bowl-a-thon to a jazz concert by renowned lesbian vocalist Suede and a classic car show at Pride in the Park.

"We have so many nontraditional families that live in partnership with each other and that are raising children," Polley said. "We felt it was extremely important that we focus on that."

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com.

If you go

Winter Pride at Tampa Bay events

Murder at the Maui Royale Resort and Spa Mystery Dinner Theatre will be Saturday at the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa, 408 E Cayuga St., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. For more information, visit www.wptb.org.

'Ganymede,' a divine comedy, will be Feb. 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. at Suncoast Resort, 3000 34th St. S in St. Petersburg. Tickets are $18. To purchase, call (727) 456-0500.

Suede in Concert will be on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa. Tickets start at $20. To purchase, visit yougogirlproductions.com or call (813) 915-8301.

Pride in the Park will be on Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave. Five hours of live entertainment, business expo, beer, food, car show and family fun area.

For more information, visit www.wptb.org.

[Last modified February 1, 2007, 08:16:20]