The 4th annual Tampa Pride Parade and Street Festival will take place on Saturday March 24, from 10:00am – 5:00pm in historic Ybor City, also known as the GaYBOR District. This is now an annual spring event when Florida weather is at its best!
The 2018 Tampa Pride Street Festival is Expanding!
Once again, Tampa pride organizers are working with Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Ybor Campus to bring you added attractions. This year the festival has added the Arts & Crafts Show, Community Health Fair and a new Entrepreneurs Area. The Main Stage will be in the parking lot on the NW corner of 8th Avenue and 15th Street. The Festival will kick off at 9:50a.m. with the Tampa Bay Pride Band and guest speakers followed by a variety of featured entertainment. The Street Festival wraps up at 5:00 pm
Tampa Pride Parade
Once again, the parade will wind its way east from the corner of Nuccio Parkway and 7th Avenue, down 7th Avenue to 20th Street where it will turn north to end at their new Street Festival location around historic Centennial Park. With live parade commentary from the balcony of Hamburger Mary’s. There will be a special community tribute at noon in front of Centro Ybor with the parade starting at 1p.m.,
2018 Grand Marshalls
JANE CASTOR – Former Chief at the Tampa Police Department, Jane Castor’s decisive leadership is evident in all aspects of her 31 year career. She was elected the first female president of a police academy class and 26 years later, she became the first woman to lead the Tampa Police Department. Chief Castor has redefined community policing in her hometown and driven down the crime rate with her innovative approach to fighting crime, most successfully through strong partnerships with the community. Jane holds a Master’s of Public Administration from Troy State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
REV. JAKOB HERO-SHAW – is the Senior Pastor at MCC-Tampa. Jakob also serves on the world-wide denominational Governing Board of the Metropolitan Community Churches and is the coordinator of the Transgender Religious Roundtable at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies at the Pacific School of Religion. Jakob was born and raised in Tampa. After graduating from the University of South Florida, Jakob moved to Eastern Europe to serve in the field of LGBTQ human rights. He returned to Tampa in 2011 and served as a chaplain at Tampa General Hospital until he became senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa in 2015. Jakob’s greatest joy in life is raising two incredible kids with his husband, Allan.
Recognized Community LGBTQA Award Recipients
Ernie Webb – moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2004 after completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Wichita State University. Ernie is a true entrepreneur and as such, he teamed up with two Tampa businessmen to create The Honey Pot, a long standing LGBT establishment in Ybor City. As Co-Owner and Operator of the 14,000 square foot dance club Ernie has always supported our local community. In addition to his role as primary operator of The Honey Pot, he is also Director of Sales for Shimberg Homes, a local luxury home builder. From his never ending devotion to animal rescue and the first ally to sit as President of the Gaybor District Coalition, Ernie Webb continues to devote his time and resources to making our world a better place for EVERYONE.
Dr. Shawn Robinson – is a proud community leader and has served as the Ybor City Campus President of Hillsborough Community College since September 2007. Prior to that, he served as a Mathematics Professor, Library Director, Academic Assistant to the Provost, and Dean of Social Sciences and Physical Education at Valencia Community College in Orlando. For over fifteen years, Dr. Robinson lead the Ybor City Campus through trust, relationship building, support, accountability, and leadership-by-example in a safe and supportive environment. As a representative of Hillsborough Community College in the Tampa and Ybor City communities, Dr. Robinson is currently serving as a board member of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce (Secretary), the Ybor City Development Corporation (past Chair) and the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (Vice Chair). He also served on the Florida A & M University College of Law Board of Visitors, the Tampa Historic Streetcar, Hillsborough Kids, and NextGen Alliance boards as well as on the City of Tampa Cultural Assets Taskforce. He was also a co-advisor for the Ybor City Campus Chess Club.
Dr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education, a Master of Education degree in Mathematics Education and a Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Central Florida. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Florida A & M University College of Law and is a member of the Florida Bar. In his free time, he enjoys golf, chess, Xbox, the SCIFI Channel, spending time with his family, and yes, he even takes time out to ride his motorcycle.
2018 Grand Couple
John & Nancy Desmond – When their only child came out to them as gay as a 28-year-old adult, they were confused and scared for his welfare, as is often the case when family members become suddenly and intimately immersed in an unfamiliar subject. Jumping in with both feet, the Desmonds founded PFLAG Tampa and relied on their newfound LGBTQ friends from an open and affirming church to introduce them to this inclusive community. They attended and became members of many LGBTQ groups and organizations, John was a member of the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board for six years and helped craft the county’s 2014 Human Rights Ordinance that included LGBTQ protections and paved the way for the resurrection of Tampa Pride. Both John and Nancy are frequent speakers at the meetings of the Board of County Commissioners, School Board and Tampa City Council. They have opened their home to homeless LGBTQ youth, including a budding drag queen, through the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition. They also sheltered a transgender young man whose family refused to acknowledge his transition, causing severe dysphoria. Well known on both sides of the bridge for their advocacy, just this past year, the Desmonds started the new, long-overdue, PFLAG St. Petersburg chapter. They also volunteer as the Community & Nonprofit Groups Liaisons for Tampa Pride, reaching out to both local organizations and college LGBT clubs across the entire East Coast.
John and Nancy met while attending the University of Connecticut and have been married for 42 years. They like to say that the best thing that ever happened to them was when their son came out.
2018 Community Organization
The Suncoast Softball League – The Suncoast Softball League is the Tampa Bay area’s largest GLBTA sports league with over 450 members in 3 levels of play. They play ball year round, both here and travelling to sister tournaments throughout the country. Their Gasparilla Softball Classic tournament held in February each year brings upwards of 70 teams to the area to play ball, but also to enjoy the nightlife and businesses. The league isn’t just about sports. For all of their 25 years, they’ve raised money, lots of money, for the community. Each year through their SSL’s Got Talent fundraiser, they raise thousands of dollars that they donate to local charities, from Tampa Aids Network in the early years to a more diverse group this year: Athena House for homeless female veterans, Suncoast Animal League, Vets for Pets and Meals on Wheels. They also volunteer with many of their sister organizations, with league members in leadership positions in both Tampa and St. Pete Pride among other groups.
Vendor Exhibits
The vendor exhibit areas are in two main areas: 9th Avenue and 8th Avenue / HCC parking lot. First, the 9th Avenue area is one block from 14th to 15 streets and is located due north of the HCC main stage. The second area is the HCC parking lot area and continues along 8th Avenue towards Centro Ybor. Look for the Hamburger Mary’s Entertainment Stage in the heart of it all!
For more information, please go to: Tampapride.org
