A recent analysis by the Florida Gay, ***, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus found that as many as 150,000 gay men and women live in Hillsborough and Pinellas County; about 7.7 percent of the counties’ population. That’s twice as many as most anywhere in the state outside South Florida, according to the study.  The community is growing in almost every part of the Tampa Bay area: particularly in north Tampa; Hyde Park; Channelside; in Kenwood west of downtown St. Petersburg; and in and around Gulfport and Kenneth City in south Pinellas.  However, despite the large number, the Tampa Bay area lacks a gay and *** district.

 

Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association President Tony LaColla, a certified urban planner, feels the area is ripe for a gay district.  “Nearly every major metropolitan area in the U.S. has a gay neighborhood or district; Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, D.C, Houston.  The Tampa Bay area should be no exception.  A gay district signals a tolerant and progressive community that will attract the creative industries Tampa is so desperately seeking.”



For over 100 years Ybor City has been known as a tolerant and accepting community.  From the first half of the 20th century as the cigar making capital of the world, Cubans, Spanish, Italians, Germans, Jewish, and African Americans worked side by side in the city’s hundreds of cigar factories, ate together in the many restaurants, and lived together in unique neighborhoods, despite the segregation that surrounded the city in neighboring Tampa.  Between the 1970’s and the early 1990’s, Ybor City was transformed into a grungy bohemian area of Tampa where people on the “edge” gathered to work together and find an accepting and supportive community in what was considered a blighted area of urban Tampa. In the past decade Historic Ybor City has seen a large amount of new residential and commercial investment and development, filled mostly by the creative industries and creative young urban professionals looking for a different way of life and a close knit community.  



Today Ybor City is known as a vibrant cultural and historic district of Tampa and the most unique neighborhood in the Tampa Bay area.  Filled with restaurants, nightclubs, museums, and shopping, the district is a magnet for a diverse crowd.  Visitors and residents can enjoy a signature favorite of Tampa, the Cuban sandwich, smoke a cigar, stroll the eclectic neighborhood, enjoy a drink or glass of wine in the many bars and clubs, or take part in one of the many cultural festivals that take place during the mild winter and spring months.



GaYbor District Coalition President Carrie West, co-owner of MC Film Fest in Historic Ybor City and longtime community activist, is proud that such a district is now forming in the Tampa Bay area and Historic Ybor City in particular.  West said, “Working together as a group will allow gay friendly businesses to promote the GaYbor District to a wider LGBT community.  Our members feel that working together we can accomplish more and make Ybor City and Tampa a unique national destination for GLBT visitors.”



Members of the GaYbor District Coalition see Ybor City continuing to develop into a neighborhood of gay and gay friendly homes, businesses and nightlife.  Typically areas which see an increase in gay population or gay oriented businesses will also see an increase in investment by residents and businesses.  While Ybor City has been slowly improving over the past two decades, the GaYbor District Coalition and local residents and businesses believe the newly formed GaYbor District will be a shot in the arm the area needs to kick redevelopment into high gear.  



Coalition President West believes the gay district in the west end of Ybor City will grow drastically in next couple of years as more businesses look to area and more gay and *** make Historic Ybor City their home. According to West, “Forming a distinct gay district will allow different lifestyles and interests to thrive and provide support to the wider LGBT community.  We hope the rest of the world will come to see what we have to offer.”



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Good for Ybor. The area certainly needs a shot-in-the-arm and some focused marketing and planning. The historic infrastructure is in place and is perfect as a vibrant destination for groups of all kinds to enjoy a more pedestrian oriented entertainment and residential community.

Great to finally hear some postive news about the GLBT & GLBT Friendly Tampa Bay Community!

This will be a much needed addition to Ybor, and will help Tampa to grow into the kind of culturally diverse city that is an exciting and vibrant place to live.  Kudos to all involved in this effort.

The gays taking over Ybor? That's probably the best thing that could happen to Ybor. Gays turn neighborhoods in distress around.

The Gays are moving back into Ybor....watch out! Here come$ the the neighborhood. john

I think that if the gay people want to be treated as equals to the rest of the world, then they need to stop requesting special treatment because they're gay and smearing rainbow and other gay symbols across everything they own. This is just another example of how they want special treatment and to segregate themselves off from the rest of the community. This isn't all gay people, I realize, but it's directed towards those who do that stuff. If a straight person put bumper stickers or wore t-shirts that said "Straight Pride" on them, we'd be called prejudice against gay people and surely be attacked. So, come on people. Tone it down!

I like the idea, but the name, that just grinds on me.

Hooray!   I worked at the ElGoya years ago in Ybor.  Then it was the ONLY gay niteclub there.  But, it was HUGE!  Always PACKED!  Even though it was Gay, the rest of the Ybor City area never gave us one single problem.  The residents and business owners were super cool.  I LOVED every single year that I worked there.  GAYBOR go for it!

Mema's would not be as fantastic as it is without our gay and *** crowd. Lets face it we don't ask your sexuality when you come in the door and it makes it a great place to go after the club when the folks serving you are not concerned with your orientation.
We need more business's to be involved in one way or another with the community and GAYbor really seems to be promoting that.  

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!  And quite frankly, I knew this would happen; it was just a matter of time (for GaYBOR to form).  

Another hunch:  GaYBOR will indeed become the "Castro" of the east.  Don't believe me?  Just date-stamp this comment.

Way to go guys!  YBOR definitely will see (lots!) more of my dollar$ now!  

Wooo-hoooo!