St. Petersburg – The crowd had started to thin toward the end of the annual Stonewall Reception, which honors St. Pete Pride’s major sponsors and supporters. But the lobby of the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts filled up again quickly when gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist finally walked through the door at nearly 8 p.m. Shortly thereafter, he was on the stage, addressing the crowd.
“I have to give credit to how quickly this whole movement has progressed lately to our great president Barack Obama,” Crist said in his short speech. His aides explained his plane had landed late, which is why he barely made it to the museum before the reception ended.
The former governor talked about Obama’s spring 2012 interview with Robin Roberts where he outlined how he came to understand the need for marriage equality.
“He said, ‘I have come to the conclusion, and Michelle has come to the conclusion, who am I to tell anyone who to love?'”
Crist added that he feels the same way, and credited his parents, Charlie Crist Sr. and Nancy Crist, with raising him and his three sisters to respect others.
“I can tell you they raised myself and my three sisters to follow one important rule—do unto others,” Crist said. “It’s such an important rule that in our society we call it the Golden Rule.”
The comments elicited cheers and applause from those still in attendance, and Crist went on to discuss the Catholic Church’s evolution on LGBT equality.
“Pope Francis, the People’s Pope, said on his plane on a trip back to Italy that he supports this issue,” Crist said. “He’s the pope behind the church and he gets it. What does that say about how rapidly things are moving and what a wonderful time in history it is to be alive and to see this happen?”
Crist wasn’t the only VIP in attendance at this year’s Stonewall Reception. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman welcomed the crowd at the beginning of the celebration and talked about a flag-raising ceremony earlier in the day, where he hoisted a rainbow flag to fly above City Hall through the weekend. Also in attendance were St. Petersburg City Council members Steve Kornell and Darden Rice. Rice, who is a grand marshal this year, was accompanied by fellow grand marshals John and Nancy Desmond of PFLAG Tampa and Jay Aller of ASAP.
Different this year for the reception was the incorporation of a Macy’s fashion show. While the fashion show isn’t a new contingent of St. Pete Pride, this is the first time it was held during the Stonewall Reception and not at the Tyrone Mall store.
The portable runway also played host to performances by Miss St. Pete Pride Stephanie Stewart, Mister St. Pete Pride Aaron Phoenix and Mr. St. Pete Pride Isaiah Sanchez Hilton. The show was emceed by St. Pete Pride board member and entertainment chair Kori Stevens.
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