City of Tampa adds protections against future developments over cemeteries
The City of Tampa added protections against future development over cemeteries, after communities raised the alarm about African American burial grounds that were built over and forgotten.
Gas Plant District in St. Pete: One of the oldest Black neighborhoods razed for baseball
Before the Tampa Bay Rays, there was the Gas Plant neighborhood, where hundreds of Black residents once worked, played, and lived until the city decided to pursue an MLB team and build a stadium. Their story, while complex, isn't just about baseball and broken promises.
From Gas Plant resident to St. Pete mayor, Ken Welch's life comes full circle
In the 1980s, St. Pete began its pursuit of baseball and had to find a place to build a stadium. They ultimately decided to build it in the Gas Plant District, dislocating hundreds of Black residents in the segregated, but thriving community. One of those residents was St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch.
Pasco County school leaders will remove 'safe space' stickers from campuses to comply with Florida law
Pasco County school officials are removing their “safe space” stickers across the district. It’s a move that many are concerned will be harmful to the LGBTQ community, but Superintendent Kurt Browning said his hands are tied.
Miami-Dade school board votes against recognizing LGBTQ history month
The Miami-Dade School Board overwhelmingly decided against recognizing October as LGBTQ history month, voting 8-1 against the measure, despite observing it during the last school year.
Florida Board of Medicine advances ban on transgender treatments for minors
Amid an outcry from the LGBTQ community and harsh criticism from a host of physicians and healthcare professionals, the Florida Board of Medicine advanced a plan that would ban doctors from performing gender-reassignment surgery or providing treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender people under age 18.
Judge orders Indiana school to allow 10-year-old transgender girl to rejoin softball team
A federal judge has ordered Indianapolis Public Schools to allow a 10-year-old transgender girl to rejoin her school’s all-girls softball team while a lawsuit continues against a state law that bans transgender females from competing in girls school sports.
Several Florida school boards sued over state's gender identity and sexual orientation law
A new federal lawsuit filed by Florida parents and students seeks to block several school boards from carrying out the state's new law that prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in Kindergarten through 3rd-grade classrooms.
Bay Area influencers use Disability Pride Month to highlight struggles, community accessibility advances
Two Tampa Bay Area women are sharing on social media their experiences of how disabilities and accessibility impact their everyday lives.
Rubio on protecting gay marriage: 'I don't vote for fake problems'
During a visit to Tampa Friday, the Senator from Florida said "the chances that Nancy Pelosi will endorse me in my Senate reelection are higher than the chances of [gay marriage] going anywhere," but he added that he still would not vote for a bill that would protect the rights of same-sex couples to marry.
'We won't accept that': Family seen in viral Sesame Place video accuses park of discrimination
A family accusing Sesame Place of discrimination spoke publicly at a press conference in New York and called for the firing of the employee seen in the viral video with the two girls.
Sesame Place facing discrimination complaints as more videos are shared
After a video showing two children being seemingly ignored by a character at Sesame Place went viral, more videos are surfacing, sparking discrimination allegations against the Pennsylvania theme park.
US soprano, offended by blackface, pulls out of Italy opera
Angel Blue posted a note on Instagram saying she will be bowing out of “La Traviata” because the theater recently mounted another opera with performers in blackface.
Montana rejects new library logo over similarity to pride flag
The commission that oversees the Montana State Library has rejected a proposed new logo after a member said the main feature brought to mind a rainbow LGBTQ pride flag.
Video: Suspect with flamethrower torches flag at Uhuru House in St. Petersburg
St. Pete police are looking for a suspect with a flamethrower who set fire to the African flag raised in front of the St. Pete Uhuru House Black community center Friday.
Florida may become abortion services safe haven for women in southeastern states
Florida's new law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy has been controversial, but after the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, Florida could become the closest southeastern state that allows abortion and has operating clinics for women who seek one.
World swimming bans transgender athletes from women's events
World swimming’s governing body has effectively banned transgender women from competing in women’s events.
Tampa raises Juneteenth flag, recognizing history with new tradition
For just the third time ever, the city of Tampa raised its Juneteenth flag, marking the day in 1865 when Union soldiers brought news of freedom to enslaved people in Texas.
Historical marker honors Tampa’s largest forgotten African American cemetery
A new historical marker was unveiled Friday at the site of the old College Hill Cemetery in Tampa, where hundreds of minorities, mostly African Americans, were buried more than a century ago, before they were erased from maps in the mid-20th century.
New Florida law would allow cities, counties to restrict smoking at parks, except cigars
A measure that would allow cities and counties to restrict smoking at beaches and parks that they own, is waiting for a signature from Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to information posted on the Florida Senate website.