yikes! lesbians in tampa bay!

Back on March 30, a St. Pete Times article suggested that Ybor businesses are banking on lesbian basketball fans. That Friday, TBO said Tampa’s Final Four Games Are a Big Draw For Lesbians, and an updated version of the same story appeared on Saturday’s front page of the Trib as Final Four Gives Lesbians Forum To Celebrate Women.

Tuesday we were able to read the reaction from readers in the letters to the Tampa Tribune editor:

JUNE AMBROSE of Plant City says old people don’t like to read about lesbians:

I could not believe my eyes at this front-page headline. It was brought to my attention Friday evening as being the Saturday headline through the Internet copy of The Tampa Tribune, but I was adamant that our newspaper would not run such a sexist and low-class headline.

I believed this newspaper had much better taste and consideration for the numerous retirees and the, as yet, “Bible Belt” that we live in. Absolutely disgusting!

Hey June, I was out and about on Sunday, and many of the basketball fans here were of or near retirement age. Lots of them were talking to known lesbians. In fact, some of those lesbians were old people, too. Perhaps you ought to live and let live.

RICHARD BRUSS of San Antonio thinks lesbians belong on cable TV or on the back page:

So this is front-page newsworthy Tribune news?

And for this we just renewed our annual subscription!

The Tribune really sanctions this behavior? Everything has to be politically correct and tolerated by all, but it does not have to be on the front page. This looks like a headline that you would find in the “tabloid section” of the grocery checkout line. We are constantly inundated with this in TV programs and other ways. And if you do not agree, you are not tolerant.

Hey Richard – are you an idiot? A story in the newspaper does not mean that newspaper approves of the subject. It simply indicates that there is something noteworthy going on in your community. Nobody forced you to mingle with these people you feel are unacceptable. And yes – you are an intolerant jackass.

JEAN LIDINSKY of Tampa prefers to read about gay men:

Your April 5 front-page story was certainly not welcoming to the fine student-athletes, coaches and staff members who visited Tampa this week for the NCAA Women’s Final Four. The Tribune has lost sight of the fact that these competitions are solely about one thing: ability.

I doubt that the San Antonio newspapers have printed any articles that nickname the NCAA Men’s Final Four as the “homosexual super bowl.”

Hey Jean – don’t be stupid. Gay men don’t only go to the men’s Final Four. For instance, if you were an executive at a local company, they might just be your customers, too.

PATRICIA L. EVENS of Tampa wants an apology:

This is a disgusting way to get attention in print. There is an apology due here. Do it!

Hey Trib – I’ll take this one. Dear Pat Evans, I guess you would prefer to watch lesbians get attention on video. That’s awesome. I apologize if your friends search the web for your name and find that you might just be a homophobic attention-seeking whiner.

Spring Hill’s CARLOS TEDDER says the Tribune may be struck down by God!:

The space given to this story is disgusting. Surely there are more newsworthy issues to be placed on your front page. To me it was unwarranted, with the only purpose to advance the homosexual agenda.

Shame on the Tribune for promoting this lifestyle by your space granted to it. In doing so you have placed yourself against Almighty God who says it is an abomination to Him, regardless of what many in any society may find acceptable behavior. I prefer to stand with Him.

Sheesh Carlos, God tells me to love my neighbor, and didn’t include any caveats about their personal lifestyle.

But maybe all these intolerant folks have a point. Are a gathering of lesbian sports fans news? Does it matter what kind of people show up to local sporting events? Even the Orlando Sentinel says the Final Four is about basketball, not the sexual orientation of its fans.

The Tribune also made a point to tell us that the St. Pete Grand Prix is “inviting to families with young children and upscale corporate customers…” while the St. Pete Times got quotes from businesses who said Grand Prix “visitors are a blend of northerners and an international crowd, citing folks from Poland, France, Germany and Scotland.”

In my humble opinion, what matters is that these visitors – gay, race fans, northerners, families, basketball fans, and (gasp!) Europeans – come here and spend a lot of dough. What matters next is that these folks find our slice of the world to be a fun place to visit again (and bring more money). All of you who want to pretend that folks unlike you don’t exist can stay in your bubbles if you like. The rest of us will be busy trying to make all feel welcome.