For years, the City of Dunedin has welcomed LGBTs into the community. The City gives benefits to the same-sex partners of its employees and it has consistently celebrated broad diversity through festivals and events.
Now the area is focusing strictly on the LGBT community with the first-ever North Pinellas Pride June 18-20.
“North Pinellas has lost some bars over the years,” says NPP Committee Chair Gregory Brady. “And the community has lessened somewhat, but the County Commission and the City of Dunedin has done exactly the opposite. They have both passed substantial legislation [providing rights for LGBTs.]”
NPP is in no way affiliated with St. Pete Pride, which holds events throughout the entire month of June, and the state’s largest LGBT Promenade and Street Festival on June 26. Brady did say, however, that he and NPP have spoken with the St. Pete Pride board to make sure it wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes.
“We did outreach to them and we are more or less in a partnership, mentally, with them,” Brady said. “We want people to realize that we are not creating an event to compete with St. Pete Pride or any other event. This is just another opportunity to celebrate diversity.”
The idea for a North Pinellas Pride event began with a discussion with Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers, Brady said. Continue reading here.
