Gay and lesbian Democrats host party at Skipper’s
Nearly 200 people showed up for Sunday night’s GLBTA Democratic Caucus of Hillsborough County, an evening of blues, booze and politics at Skipper’s Smokehouse. Some in the crowd were decked out in homemade Barack Obama T-shirts and SayNo2 stickers, urging people to vote against the anti-gay marriage Amendment 2 referendum in November.
The event, titled “The Times They-Are-A-Changin’,” featured live music from blues acts Soul2Earth, Rebekah Pulley & the Reluctant Prophets and Roppongi’s Ace, while participants mingled with candidates and checked out Hillsborough’s new voting machines.
An Obama campaigner chats with members of the crowd who stuck around despite a thunderstorm (photo by Amelia Harnish)
“We wanted people to come in and have some fun and talk politics,” said Sally Phillips, president of the GLBTA Caucus. “Our efforts for this are focused on getting out the vote… and to make sure that everyone knows the Democratic Party is here. “
Among the candidates roaming Skipper’s outdoor bar area were GLBTA Caucus member and endorsee Kevin Beckner, who spoke between sets about the need for Hillsborough 
County to come together to address “quality of life issues” such as transportation. Beckner is running for the countywide seat on the Hillsborough County Commission now held by Republican Brian Blair.
CFO Alex Sink, Florida’s highest ranking Democrat, and her husband, former governor candidate Bill McBride, also attended. Sink spoke only for a few minutes, but the crowd was pleased with her support. “There is change in the air,” she announced to numerous cheers and whistles.
