Barnes is IML-bound
A huge crowd descended upon the Flamingo Resort for the annual Mr. Code contest held in the courtyard the weekend of March 22, and long-time boy Woodie Barnes took the title. Three contestants, all from Tampa Bay, competed in a number of categories to take the title, now in its third year. Barnes will represent Code, the resort’s leather bar, at the 2015 International Mr. Leather Chicago. And yes, you read that right—Barnes has 14 months to prepare for the international contest, which has run for more than three decades and brings leathermen from around the globe to downtown Chicago. Representatives must have a knowledge of leather culture, community responsibility as well as fundraising skills to finance the trip. Judges included former title holders from throughout the state as well as the overall community. The contest was produced by Dan Radwanski.
GASP! of the gay variety
The Gasparilla Fringe Festival, presented by the Tampa Museum of Art and Creative Loafing will feature a large amount of artists from the LGBT community the weekend of March 29. On the list are Matthew McGee, Santiago Echeverry, Jono Vaughan and more. The festival will also offer a sneak peak at Sexxx Dreams (featured on page 34) during the March 28 performance. Theater, dance, comedy, art, video and even a peep show are in store for those attending the annual celebration of all things artsy. Check it out and get tickets online at Xorbia.com.
Kickball for kids
Well, okay, it’s not a tournament for kids, but it will help raise money for Tampa Bay’s LGBT Welcome/Youth center. The yearly kickball tournament returns to Hyde Park and is expected to be bigger and better than ever on Saturday, April 5, beginning at 10 a.m. Expect some great perks at the Hyde Park Softball Complex like catered food, special vendors and representatives of the newest charity project in Tampa Bay. The tournament is coordinated by Balance Tampa Bay, which, by the way, is a nominee to be a St. Pete Pride grand marshal in 2014. The Welcome Center is on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg and is slated to open this summer. For more information, check out the Kickball for Kids event page on Facebook or MetroTampaBay.org.
A TIGLFF study opportunity
The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will return its monthly screening to freeFall Theater in St. Petersburg April 9 with a showing of Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement. The film follows the relationship of the two women and the continuing federal fight Edie Windsor faced after losing her wife of more than 40 years. Windsor sued the United States government and helped overturn the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act that prohibited recognition of same-sex marriages on a federal level. Windsor is expected to appear at Equality Florida’s St. Petersburg Gala at the Mahaffey Theater May 3, so this film will give the community a chance to study up on the guest of honor. For ticket information, visit TIGLFF.com.
