Okay so I was planning my Sister event, and am not really worried about that one way or another. What does have me pissed is that…1) I live where I do 2) people are the way they are 3) It doesn’t look like either is going to change without something drastic.
The City of Treasure Island believes that the sisters having condoms available for those who would like them, and/or safer sex pamphlets would be inappropriate for a family venue. I can understand not wanting to hand them out actively, or even worrying about litter. Both of which were addressed via not actively “handing out” anything and planning on doing a litter patrol afterwards. But a family venue? Really? I wonder when the last time was that they have actually been to Sunset beach. Because for the 8 years I have been here it has not been a family venue. Ahhh Sunset Beach, Treasure Island Florida, you know…Tampa Bay’s one and only “gay beach” (unless you count that guy in the dunes at Fort Desoto). On any given weekend you will find a mass of everything from South beach muscle bunnies, pale and pasty tourists in speedos, nellies, trannies, bois, gurls, club queens, and domesticated types with kids wearing the I love my two mommies and daddies shirts…all with the pleasant sounds of the crashing waves…oh and Cher and Lady Gaga from the boom box two towels over. Most straight people who are not accepting of the “homosexual agenda” will typically make it about 15 feet before they get an odd urge to run prancing back to the other end of the beach for fear of cooties or worse.
So I have to wonder who made the decision that information about reducing the spread of STD’s would be innappropriate for such patron. Is it the Parks and Recreation departments standard response for those that actually go about getting a permit and doing things right instead of doing guerilla outreach? Is it just asking the wrong people? Is it just living in one of the gayest, yet oh so redneck and repressed states in the union…good ol Flo-rida?
In retrospect I probably should have just done the guerilla outreach, played dumb, and dealt…but I really don’t want to pay the fine.
grrr
Perhaps an appearance only will have to suffice…sans machine gun of course.
Kris – thank you very much for contacting the City of Treasure Island regarding your request for distribution of fliers and pamphlets on Sunset Beach. However, the City will have to deny your request. City Ordinance prohibits the solicitation of donations on public property including the beach. Also, the area in question is a family orientated beach and the City feels such material would be inappropriate for distribution. Thank you again for your concern.
Sincerely,
Cathy Hayduke
Parks and Recreation Director
City of Treasure Island
120 108th Avenue
Treasure Island, FL 33706
(727)547-4575
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Hello,
My name is Kris Stavely and I wanted to ask a couple questions about a visit I am hoping to plan to Sunset beach in June. I work with an all volunteer non-profit organization that hands out safe sex information, condoms, does charity fundraisers for Local HIV/AIDS organizations and the American Cancer Society. I know that you rent out the pavilion, however I don’t think that it will be cost effective for us. I am currently planning on hosting our group for a day at the beach, and wanted to check with the city to make sure that us having pamphlets about our organization available for people to take as well as condoms/safer sex information would not be in conflict with anything. I do not plan on actively handing out materials but I would like to have them there if people would like them.
We dress up in crazy outfits, and tend to draw attention and use that attention to raise money and awareness.
Can you let me know if our having such materials available, as well as a donation bucket would be in conflict with any rules/regs you have? Or is there a permitting process that I should look into? There will probably be between 6-10 of us there, primarily as a retreat/day at the beach but also as an outreach.
Thanks for your help
PS (05/02/2009–just reread this[yes slightly bitter])–
Orientated? Really? WTF?
How about this is a FAMILY “ORIENTED” beach…and one where Condoms and Safer Sex information SHOULD be handed out.
