Gay Pride

The case against Rick Baker running for St. Petersburg mayor

Published on April 10, 2017 in The Bay and the 'Burg by Peter Schorsch

As coy as he has been with the local media and as busy as he is promoting the Rowdies referendum, Rick Baker is almost certain to run for St. Petersburg mayor this year. Last week, Baker was in Tallahassee for a series of not-exactly-clandestine meetings with top Republican donors like Brian Ballard and Nick Iarossi. Baker’s biggest cheerleader in the capital, state Sen. Jeff Brandes, set up the meetings. Baker does not particularly enjoy fundraising; At least not as much…

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Joe Henderson: Kevin Beckner made a difference, which should never be forgotten

Published on November 18, 2016 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Joe Henderson

All politicians start out by saying how they want to make a difference. Well, Kevin Beckner did. His now-former colleagues at the Hillsborough County Commission acknowledged that Wednesday during his final meeting as a member of the board. He is leaving because of term limits after serving eight years. Yes, Beckner was the first openly gay man to serve on the commission, which by itself was highly significant given that just a decade ago Hillsborough banned any recognition of gay…

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“Disco pole” approved, “spaghetti monster” applies for Capitol holiday displays

Published on December 10, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

A rainbow-colored pole with a disco ball on top has been cleared for display this holiday season in the state Capitol rotunda, its sponsor told FloridaPolitics.com on Thursday. South Florida blogger Chaz Stevens said the Department of Management Services, which oversees state property, OK’d his Gay Pride Festivus pole to be shown Dec. 21-28. Stevens was previously approved to put up a 6-foot-tall pole made of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans, meant to mark Festivus, the fictional holiday from a 1997 episode of…

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Group files to place menorah in Capitol rotunda

Published on December 7, 2015 in Apolitical/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

A rainbow-colored pole with a disco ball on top may not be the only holiday display in the Florida Capitol rotunda this season. On Monday, a Department of Management Services spokeswoman said one other group had filed to place a display: Chabad Lubavitch of Tallahassee and FSU filed to place a 9-foot-tall menorah, representing the traditional nine-taper candle holder used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Hanukkah began Sunday evening and ends next Monday evening, Dec. 14. The application was not filed until this past Thursday and…

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Gay pride pole is only Capitol holiday display submitted so far

Published on November 26, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

T’is the season (almost), but so far the Gay Pride version of the Festivus pole is the only display to ask for placement in the Capitol Rotunda. As of Tuesday, South Florida blogger Chaz Stevens had submitted the only application for a holiday display, according to a spokeswoman for the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate manager. Even then, there’s no guarantee his offering for this year — a rainbow-colored pole with a disco ball on top — will make it…

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Festivus to make triumphant return to Florida Capitol with #MyGayPridePole

Published on November 20, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Phil Ammann

Festivus returns to Tallahassee, with a gay twist this year. Political blogger (and all-around s**t-stirrer) Chaz Stevens will once again bring his Festivus Pole — the unadorned metal pole made famous on “The Strike” episode of Seinfeld — as a holiday display in the rotunda of the Florida Capitol. But instead of a modest stack of 16 Pabst Blue Ribbon cans — in so much as anything Stevens does can be described as “modest” — the 2015 version celebrates Gay…

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Pro-life activist pushing for flag over St. Pete City Hall has been answered: ‘No’

Published on September 2, 2015 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Janelle Irwin

For the second year in a row a pro-life activist has started an online petition asking for support in compelling St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman to fly a pro-life flag above City Hall in September for the Forty Days of Life events planned to combat abortion. Christian, pro-life activist Scott Mahurin has spoken at numerous City Council meetings, left messages for the mayor and City Council members, mailed letters and sent emails asking his request to be considered. His latest…

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