Out for the evening

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 29, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Saturday night's Spectrum Ball at Eckerd College was billed as an evening for gay and lesbian youth to "dance the night away in a safe, friendly, fun atmosphere."

The dance, organized by bay area high school and college students, drew about 250 people from 11 Florida counties. The theme was "Fairy tales can come true." People were encouraged to come in fairy-tale costume; there was a talent show and a drag contest, with the winner crowned queen. Drugs and alcohol were not allowed. Adults chaperoned.

"This offers us a healthy place without activism, bars or clubs," said organizer Mike Rogers, 19. "It's just healthy socialization."

-- MIKE WILSON, Times staff writer.

Drag queen Cassandra Starr grips a purse and greets friends as they arrive at the ball. Later in the evening Starr was crowned the new celestial queen.

Terry Lyons, 15, right, consults with Mary Alice Daingerfield, 72, and Samantha Tomko, 15 (only her hands show here), about what jewelry to wear to the ball. Terry was at his friend Samantha's house getting ready when Daingerfield, who is Samantha's grandmother, offered her jewelry to complete Terry's outfit. "We should respect children for what they are and who they are," Daingerfield says.

Kathy Knapp, 18, and Brianne Beaver, 25, dance at the ball.

Jessica Barber, 21, left, Melody Luce, 19, and Mike Rogers, 19, get ready for Saturday's Spectrum Ball. Barber says she and her girlfriend had tickets to her senior prom at Largo High School, but instead of going inside they listened to music standing by the open windows of her car. "If we would have gone inside it would have been horrible, but outside it was cool and safe," she said.

Cassandra Starr (stage name), left, is crowned queen by last year's winner, Felina Cashmer, on Saturday. Six drag queens competed for the honor by performing a lip-synched song and dance, and the winner was chosen by applause.

Eckerd College student Bill Gascoyne, facing camera, dances with his date as Saturday's Spectrum Ball comes to an end.

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