Posted on 05/26/2007 7:00:50 AM PDT by TornadoAlley3
PENSACOLA BEACH -- Souvenir shops that line this sugary white Panhandle beach display Confederate flag beach towels, window decals and T-shirts. Hooters and other bars fly POW-MIA, Marine and Navy flags and cater to the sailors and Marines from the nearby base. Vacationing Southern families usually fill the hotels and condominiums in this slice of paradise long nicknamed "The Redneck Riviera." But every Memorial Day they mostly stay away as this Florida Panhandle town becomes more like trendy Miami Beach -- 700 miles and a world away. Starting in the mid-1980s, gay men from New Orleans and other nearby cities began gathering here for a three-day party that has grown into one of the South's largest gay gatherings, attracting more than 60,000 people in 2004 before hurricanes Ivan and Dennis destroyed many beach roads and buildings. Following two years of rebuilding, organizers anticipate 50,000 this weekend -- and the resulting culture clash. Instead of flying rainbow flags to symbolize gay pride, people should fly American flags on Memorial Day, Godfrey said. "I think what goes on out there on the beach on Memorial Day is surprising to a lot of people who move into our community.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
How true.
Leni
“for a three-day party that has grown into one of the South’s largest gay gatherings,”
Take a tablespoon of bleach and mix with a gallon of water.
After this event, use that mixture to disinfect everything.
Later pingout as long as my computer doesn’t rebel against me.
Yahoo...
I hope the locals enjoy the extra business
but for me, I think I’ll go somewhere else
Brings an entirely new meaning to the old Jimmy Buffett song
“Lola loves Frank, Frankie loves Lola
“On a second honeymoon in Pensacola....”
(...where instead of being a woman, Lola is the title character of the old Kinks song that looks like a woman and talks like a man.)
I can just see them now on the beach in shock!
I see then we have more than one Redneck Rivieras, another one stretches from Holiday to Crystal River Fl.
LOL!
Thankfully, the UV radiation does a pretty good job of killing off any ‘bugs’ left over from the festivities.
I’d say the term is more generally known for the Panhandle Gulf Coast of FL and MS. Say Gulf Shores - Pensacola - Fort Walton - Destin - Panama City, and maybe on over to Apalachicola. I’ve never heard it used to refer to Peninsula beaches.
Strange story since this has been going on since late 1980’s. That is possibly over 20 years and they are complaining now???? What is up with sleepy Pensacola that they would not have been saying something 20 years ago. It is way to late to try and change it now. Will never happen. What it will now do is attract even more gays next year to the point where they will have 100,000 next year instead of 50,000. What weird people down there.
Thankfully, we don’t have a beach in Apalachicola....that would be on St. George Island.
The activities are primarily on Pensacola beach which is located across the bay from Pensacola. You cross two bridges to get out to the ft. pickens area where the beaches are. There are plenty of beaches that run from Pensacola east to Gulf Shores thru Orange Beach Al with a number of fed and state and community beach areas. The weekend event stays pretty well restricted to Pensacola beach and has not caused any particular problems.
No, the Redneck Riviera has always been the Florida panhandle - centered on Panama City, but now including Destin and Pensacola. The only competition would be Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“Starting in the mid-1980s, gay men from New Orleans and other nearby cities began gathering here for a three-day party that has grown into one of the South’s largest gay gatherings, attracting more than 60,000 people in 2004 before hurricanes Ivan and Dennis destroyed many beach roads and buildings.”
I know we’re not supposed to say that God is punishing certain areas, but it does seem odd that areas where these types of events are prevalent, hurricanes come along and destroy them. Disneyworld started “Gay Day” in the 90’s, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they are in for a rude awakening one hurricane season.
That is good then why the story?
Sounds like a good time for Karl Rove’s hurricane machine to get a good workout.
Gays Days at the ORLANDO area THEME PARKS, begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through June 4.
My daughters wanted to attend the first Star Wars weekends on June 1 - that's the last weekend on Florida Season Passes before the summer blackout.
When I told my girls (aged 19 and almost 17) who all would be there - they immediately changed their plans. Being the good mom I am, I offered to pay for a day pass on any other weekend. They've never been to a Star Wars weekend, I want them to go at least once.
In my opinion, DISNEY should black out that week and give us another in it's place - and they really should warn families who plan vacations in the area of this sick, pedophelic activity - whether DISNEY sanctions Gay Days or not (the excuse they give). Too bad Walt is no longer here to see what his family park has become.
Needless to say, I will not renew our season passes.
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