Mitch Perry Report 7.1.13 – Jeb Bush makes the GOP push for immigration reform, but does his voice matter?
Marco Rubio has been getting savaged by Republicans since he voted with the majority of Democrats in the Senate (and 13 other of his GOP colleagues) for the immigration reform bill that passed last week. Not only did he get tweaked in a Sarah Palin tweet, but there's now a recall effort against him that…
Julian Assange rips Joe Biden for calling on Ecuador to deny Edward Snowden asylum
For nearly a week now, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden has been stuck in the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow after leaving Hong Kong. Snowden is seeking asylum in Ecuador, prompting Vice President Joe Biden on Friday to ask that Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, to turn down that request. But Correa…
Wetter, wilder and prouder than ever: St Pete Pride 2013
The rains came, but so did a record number of paradegoers.
House Republicans showing no interest in passing Senate Immigration bill
Congressman Bill Young The U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill late last week, 69-29, leading to the logical next question: Does it have any chance of passing (as is) in the much more conservative House of Representatives? "The Senate bill is not going to pass in the House, it's not going to pass…
Grab bag
Enema kits and missing clits.
Bill Foster fires back in St. Pete mayoral campaign debut
Chip Weiner It begins: Bill Foster, Rick Kriseman & Kathleen Ford in their 1st mayoral debate There was an air of anticipation Thursday night at Suncoast Hospice in St. Petersburg, as the first mayoral debate of the summer convened before an energized and engaged audience. Though there will be a plethora of campaign forums that…
Get out your LGBT weekend planner
Pride weekend is here and there are a ton of local LGBT events going on in our area if you’re looking for something to do. Friday, June 28 Macy’s at Tyrone Square Mall, once again hosts the 27/82 pre-concert fashion event Runway: A Night of Fashion, 5 — 7 p.m. E! news correspondent Robbie Laughlin…
Mitch Perry Report 6.28.13 – The St. Pete mayoral campaign kicks off with a bang
Although Mayor Bill Foster and his two top challengers, Kathleen Ford and Rick Kriseman, have been campaigning for months, there was an electricity in the air last night at Suncoast Hospice in St. Petersburg last night as the first debate between the Big 3 candidates took place (two other candidates who qualified, Anthony Cates and…
June brought July to Tampa
UT’s Lectores featured the multi-talented writer and artist Miranda July.
Gay residents give good ’hood
Want proof? Just look around the Bay area.
Bullock, McCarthy bring The Heat
The stars are appealing, but Paul Feig’s follow-up to Bridesmaids is startlingly average.
Rubio goes all out in final speech before Senate votes on immigration reform
It's nearly all over but the voting on the Senate's immigration bill, expected to pass thanks to a sudden infusion of $30 billion in spending to secure the border with Mexico. Marco Rubio announced his support for the legislation in giving an old-fashioned classic speech about the dream of America being the land of liberty…
Tampa City Council votes to crack down on aggressive panhandling by the homeless
Two years ago the Tampa City Council passed an ordinance partially banning panhandling of motorists on major roadways. But for months local business owners have complained about the homeless in north downtown urinating, defecating and being physically violent, and many of them discussed their concerns with the Council today. They were advocating for the council…
The greatest photo show on Earth
Step right up and go back in time to the circus of yesteryear at Tampa Bay History Center.
White House way Down
Obama’s got it easy compared to Jamie Foxx in the laughable White House Down.
The L(eisha) word
Uh Huh Her’s Leisha Hailey is focused on the band’s music.
Mitch Perry Report 6.27.13 – Is 2014 too soon for Florida GLBT activists to repeal gay marriage ban?
It was a joyous atmosphere last night in downtown Tampa, where GLBT activists gathered to celebrate yesterday's historic Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. But while speakers talked about having tears of joy when the news came down from Washington, in the next breath they talked about the work that still needs to be done…
The Pride Issue 2013: Prouder than ever
Has there ever been a Pride season with more to celebrate? The Supreme Court decisions this week to strike down DOMA and deny the Prop 8 brigade are, of course, the biggest reasons to cheer. But locally as well as nationally, the walls of prejudice and inequality are toppling all around us. The LGBT community…
Eric Skains • St. Pete Pride Executive Director
Applying his financial knowhow to St. Pete Pride.
Susan McGrath • Grand Marshal
Willing to do whatever it takes.
Mark Bias & Carrie West • Grand Marshals
It’s been a very good year for MarknCarrie.
Metro Wellness and Community Centers • Grand Marshal
Chris Rudisill, director of LGBT programming at Metro Wellness and Community Centers.
Mr., Mister and Miss St. Pete Pride • Pride Royalty
St. Pete Pride’s 2013 standard-bearers.
A year of milestones
The momentum for LGBT equality has continued to build since Pride 2012.
Ramon Reyes: Party without him
Why one gay man wants Pride to clean up its act.
A Night in the Life of Gay Tampa Bay, Part Deux
Painting the town in a Pinellas state of mind.
Everyone is welcome at Pro Shop Pub
Clearwater’s venerated bar opened its doors to everyone 37 years ago.
Kevin Beckner is making progress
The Tampa politician brings some much-needed sanity to the Hillsborough County Commission.
Chasing Amy Foster
The District 8 candidate is making a strong impression in her run for St. Pete’s city council.
Red: Fresh canvas
A PCCA teacher takes direction from a former student in a play about artist Mark Rothko.
All in the familia
It may not be succinct, but Stageworks offers an eloquent translation of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents.
David Brooks is right on same-sex marriage
His conclusion’s sensible even if his reasoning is cracked.
Pride Carnivale 2013: Your “Supreme” guide to fun
St. Pete Pride and more — experiences you’ll love so much that you’ll want to marry them.
Zachary Hines: With sinful glee
The actor and musician forgives no one for missing Confessions, a Cabaret.
Tampa GLBT activists celebrate – but wonder when same-sex marriage will come to Florida
Chip Weiner Barb Lawrence & Kimmy Denny celebrate the Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriage Wednesday night in Tampa A crowd estimated to be around 100 happy people gathered in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Tampa Wednesday night to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overthrow the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage…
20th Anniversary Blu-Ray brings The Sandlot to Steinbrenner Field
The sun burst through the clouds beating back the last belligerent end of a storm that wouldn't quit Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner field. A bottom of the first grand-slam blast from catcher, Peter O'Brien, had put the Tampa Yankees up 4 to 1 against the Brevard County Manatees, but the umpires called the players…
Breaking news: Czar and The Ritz Ybor combine, to become Czar at The Ritz
Big changes are afoot in Ybor City’s nightlife. A new business merger between The Ritz Ybor and Czar finds both the venue and nightclub re-opening as one grandiose complex that takes the best from both worlds — concerts by headline talent and DJ-curated dance nights like Filthy Richard and The Peoples' Party — and puts…
Welcome Wil!
Myers the man, Hernandez a suspect, and canoodling with noodling.
Suicide inside Ybor City parking garage
Arielle Stevenson A photo from the crime scene inside the Fernando Noriega parking garage in Ybor City. On Wednesday afternoon, a man was discovered dead inside the Fernando Noriega Jr. Parking Garage in Ybor City. Janelle McGregor of the Tampa Police Department said it was a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound administered inside his car. The…
Tampa Bay Tea Party activists say Marco Rubio will betray them if he supports the immigration bill
Tampa 9.12 co-founder Sharon Calvert Later this week, the Senate will vote on a comprehensive immigration bill, and no D.C. lawmaker has been more in the center of the issue than Florida's own Marco Rubio. This has prompted members of Rubio's Tea Party base in the Tampa Bay area to warn him that he risks…
New report on beach water quality has no top ranking beaches found in Florida
photocredit: stpete.org Wednesday morning the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released their annual Beach Quality Water Report. The 23rd edition of the report covered America's 200 most popular beaches on a scale of one to five stars, based on criteria such as water quality and beach management practices that protect the public. “The fact is…
Five hundred years of great Floridians
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon landed in Florida 500 years ago. Since then, the state has attracted many a wayward adventurer looking for his or her own piece of paradise. To celebrate the anniversary, the Florida Humanities Council’s theatrical series, Dreamers & Schemers: An Evening with Great Floridians, brings some of these important historical…
Mad Men Season 6 finale — has Don changed?
As Don Draper looked at Sally, standing in front of the Pennsylvania whore house of his formative years, I thought to myself, has he changed? Is he capable of it?
Editor’s Note: DOMA goes down
The Supreme Court grants a victory to supporters of marriage equality.
Za-Gay Guide 2013
From diners to dives, this list is a rainbow of food, fun, and folly.
CL on the Road: Music, yoga and sleep deprivation at Bonnaroo 2013
A look back at this year’s fest.
