On June 26, Susie Stroud and Robbie Kety hosted a fundraising reception for Mayor Kriseman in their St. Petersburg home. A couple dozen supporters were in attendance and it came as no surprise that several identified as LGBTQ. Kriseman has been an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights since his first mayoral campaign in 2103, in …
Mayor Rick Kriseman Brings “Hope for Continued Progress” With LGBTQ Community Read More »
With more than 15 years as a professional session/tour/background singer for several major labels including Arista and EMI, local singer, Jennifer Real, provides hours of entertainment for music lovers and dancers in the Tampa/St. Petersburg region and beyond. Real has won several awards during her career, including 2016 and 2017 “Best Entertainer of the Year” …
OUTCOAST Artist Profile: Getting Real with St. Petersburg Music Icon, Jennifer Real Read More »
On Wednesday morning, after tweets from President Donald Trump announced the barring of transgender individuals from military service, transgender leaders, allies, and veterans throughout the world, including Tampa-based NAVY Seal Kristin Beck, spoke out about the shocking decision. Caitlyn Jenner even took to Twitter voicing her disappointment, a shift from her usual support for her candidate of …
Exclusive: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Amanda Simpson, on Trump Read More »
Contributors: Audrey Pitcher and Rachel Stevenson Tampa Bay’s technology labor pool is growing rapidly, reports Margie Manning in the Tampa Bay Business Journal. According to the CBRE Tech Talent Scorecard, which ranks U.S. and Canadian markets by their tech labor growth, Tampa Bay has increased its tech workforce by 55.3 percent between 2011 and 2016. …
Quality of Life Helps Tampa Bay Rank Highly for Technology Labor Pool Growth Read More »
On the heels of the one-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre, Orlando has once again been impacted by the loss of one of their own. On Friday evening, Billy Manes, activist, prior columnist for the Orlando Weekly and recent editor-in-chief of Watermark, passed away. “Manes died just after 4 p.m. on Friday, July 21, …
Orlando Columnist Billy Manes Dies at 45, Leaves Lasting Legacy Read More »
OUTCOAST had the pleasure of sitting down with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services’ Christye Ozog of the Florida Properties Group to discuss her military background, support of her LGBTQ community, and career transition into real estate. Where did you grow up? Lexington, KY Share with us a favorite childhood memory. Very thankful to have grown up in a time …
OUTCOAST Partner Profile: Christye Ozog, Realtor, Veteran, Wife Read More »
As a certified Integral Master Coach™, photographer, artist, and 15 years as a licensed psychotherapist, Carla Royal has spent decades learning to see from different perspectives. “I struggled for many years with alcohol, anxiety, depression, and an unhappiness I couldn’t quite shake even when things were going well,” says Royal. Learning to see from new perspectives transformed …
Carla Royal Explores the Art of Perspectives Through Coaching Read More »
The non-stop, hard-working Project No Labels team has exciting news to share! As of last week, the 501(c)3 organization is now offering a social membership discount program for supporters. In exchange for a $4.99 monthly pledge, members will receive exclusive privileges and discounts from area restaurants and businesses in addition to a $10 discount on …
Project No Labels Introduces Social Membership Discount Program Read More »
On Sunday afternoon, the Project No Labels team gathered together in the Beacon House community room to make deli sandwiches for area shelters, including the Beacon House and Hannah’s Homeless. With more than 30 people in attendance, 539 sandwiches were made in under 30 minutes time. According to The Beacon House website, this 501(c)3 human services organization …
Project No Labels Donates over 500 Sandwiches to Area Shelters Read More »
Gulfport multi-media artist and comedian Cindy Heidel invited OUTCOAST into her home and artist sanctuary to discuss her life-long struggles with Scoliosis, alcoholism, sexuality, and how she’s survived it all through art and laughter. Born in Baltimore, MD and raised Catholic, along with two sisters, Cindy Heidel never fully felt like she belonged. “I felt …
OUTCOAST Artist Profile: Cindy Heidel – Artist, Comedian, Warrior Read More »
Updated 7/4/17 It’s been a long time coming, but for the first time in history, a transgender pride march kicked off the St. Pete Pride parade. Nathan Bruemmer, who joined the St. Pete Pride organization in February as the only transgender board member, was the brainchild behind the TransPride March. St. Pete Pride Executive Director …
St. Pete Pride Parade Makes History with First Ever TransPride March Read More »
Some might call me “Super Gay,” because I run an LGBT non-profit, own an LGBT business journal, post cheesy loving photos of my wife and me all over social media, and wear rainbow earrings almost daily. It would also be easy to assume that I’ve attended every big pride celebration on the East Coast and …
Visionary American Realist Painter Adam Scott Rote sat down with OUTCOAST to discuss his upbringing, Hollywood rise to fame, relationships, and latest exhibit at the Ocean Blue Galleries in St. Petersburg, titled Classic Sci-Fi Tribute Show Act 1#. An adopted child of the 60’s, Rote grew up in Cleveland, Ohio with two loving parents, now …
OUTCOAST Artist Profile: Adam Scott Rote’s Sci-Fi Show at Ocean Blue Galleries Read More »
Imagine a one-hour intimate, interactive, and inspiring one-man show with subtle humor, lessons in both art and LGBT-history, and a glimpse into the life of a progressive gay artist who embraced his HIV/AIDS diagnosis with love and opportunity to touch the lives of many. That’s what you experienced if you attended Jeff Norton’s Keith Haring: Radiant …
Keith Haring: Radiant Child – An Evening of Art, Entertainment, and Musings Read More »
On June 12, 2016, Tampa Bay nurse Amanda Grau was held hostage in the Pulse Night Club bathroom for several hours after being shot four times. According to an ABC Action News report from last year, “she played dead while hiding behind a woman’s body” in order to survive. Against the gunman’s orders, Grau sent text …
Tampa Bay Pulse Night Club Survivor To Marry This December Read More »
There are few places as magical and fun as Walt Disney World. Whether you are a child traveling to Disney for the very first time, or an adult taking a day off from adulting, everyone gets to be a kid at Walt Disney World. My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney …
LGBT-Friendly Walt Disney World Area Hotels: From Economical to Extravagant Read More »
She hasn’t been selling homes in the St. Petersburg region as long as area veterans, but Berkshire Hathaway realtor Christye Ozog is making an impact, especially within her LGBT community. Ozog recently sponsored and supported the SWIM White Party fundraiser, which raised funds for Girls Rock St. Pete, a “volunteer-based summer day-camp that uses music …
Berkshire Hathaway’s Christye Ozog Steps Out to Support LGBT Community Read More »
Tens of thousands of people around the country participated in the March for Equality on Sunday afternoon, June 11th, with the largest group of marchers taking to the streets in Washington, D.C. “The march aimed to bring together and affirm members of LGBTQ communities and their allies to highlight discrimination and call for expanding LGBTQ …
Dozens Join the March for Equality Along Central Ave in St. Petersburg Read More »
Founder Claire Elisan When she arrived in the Tampa Bay area in 2011, Claire Elisan found it challenging to connect with like-minded individuals. She was seeking a positive group of people with whom to collaborate. Spurred by the need for community, Elisan founded the social group, She Runs With Scissors, alongside a prior business partner …
On any given week in the St. Petersburg area, several social groups bring women together for evening activity, connectedness, and celebration. This week, OUTCOAST sat down with Anna Leverenz, Founder and President of a popular Facebook social organization, Alt Womyn Events. Anna shared with us why she came to warm and sunny St. Petersburg after …
OUTCOAST Leader: Anna Leverenz, Founder of Alt Womyn Events Read More »
