JANE CASTOR

Former Chief Tampa Police Department Jane Castor's decisive leadership is evident in all aspects of her 31 year career. She was elected the first female president of a police academy class and 26 years later, she became the first woman to lead the Tampa Police Department.

Chief Castor has redefined community policing in her hometown and driven down the crime rate with her innovative approach to fighting crime, most successfully through strong partnerships with the community. She built a reputation for working side by side with residents, community leaders, business owners and neighboring law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Tampa. Those community partnerships are the foundation of TPD's dynamic crime reduction strategy, "Focus on Four." Since its induction in 2003, the plan has reduced violent and property crime by 70%.

Jane holds a Master's of Public Administration from Troy State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

REV JAKOB HERO-SHAW

Rev Jakob Hero-Shaw is the Senior Pastor at MCC-Tampa.

Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw is the senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa. Jakob also serves on the world-wide denominational Governing Board of the Metropolitan Community Churches and is the coordinator of the Transgender Religious Roundtable at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies at the Pacific School of Religion.

Jakob was born and raised in Tampa. After graduating from the University of South Florida, Jakob moved to Eastern Europe to serve in the field of LGBTQ human rights. He then returned stateside to attend graduate school in California. Upon receiving his seminary degree and a master's degree in Ethics and Social Theory, Jakob could not resist the beckoning call of his hometown. He returned to Tampa in 2011 and served as a chaplain at Tampa General Hospital until he became senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa in 2015.

Jakob's greatest joy in life is raising two incredible kids with his husband, Allan.

ERNIE WEBB

Ernie Webb moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2004 after completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Wichita State University. An entrepreneur since he was old enough to pronounce the word teamed up with two Tampa businessmen to create The Honey Pot, a long standing LGBT establishment in Ybor City. As Co-Owner and Operator of the 14,000 square foot dance club Ernie has always supported his local community. In addition to his role as primary operator of The Honey Pot, Ernie is also Director of New Home Sales for Shimberg Homes, a local luxury home builder. From his never ending devotion to animal rescue and the first ally to sit as President of the Gaybor District Coalition, Ernie Webb continues to devote his time and resources to making our little world better place for EVERYONE to live. "It matters not who you love, why you love, when you love, or how you love, It matters only that you love" John Lennon.

DR. SHAWN ROBINSON

Dr. Robinson has served as the Ybor City Campus President of Hillsborough Community College since September 2007. Prior to joining Hillsborough Community College, he served as a mathematics professor, Library Director, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Advisor, Academic Assistant to the Provost, and Dean of Social Sciences and Physical Education at Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida over a fifteen-year period. He actively promotes open communication about key issues that impact the functioning of the college/campus from teaching methodologies and the use of learning technologies to procedure and policy changes that enhance student learning and collaborative campus governance. Dr. Robinson leads the Ybor City Campus through trust, relationship building, support, accountability, and leadership-by-example in a safe and supportive environment.

As a representative of Hillsborough Community College in the Tampa and Ybor City communities, Dr. Robinson is currently serving as a board member of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce (Secretary), the Ybor City Development Corporation (past Chair), the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (Vice Chair), and the Tampa/Hillsborough Film and Digital Media Commission. Additionally, Dr. Robinson is a member of the Tampa Kiwanis Club Foundation Board of Directors, and the Kiwanis Club of Tampa Board of Directors (Vice President). He remains active with his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, by serving on the UCF Florida Iota Chapter Housing Corporation Board as its Secretary. He also served on the Florida A & M University College of Law Board of Visitors, the Tampa Historic Streetcar, Hillsborough Kids, and NextGen Alliance boards as well as on the City of Tampa Cultural Assets Taskforce. He was also a co-advisor for the Ybor City Campus Chess Club.

Dr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education, a Master of Education degree in Mathematics Education and a Doctor of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Central Florida. He holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Florida A & M University College of Law and is a member of the Florida Bar. In his free time, he enjoys golf, chess, Xbox, the SCIFI Channel, spending time with his family, and riding motorcycles.

TAMPA PRIDE 2018 RECOGNIZED
GRAND COUPLE

JOHN & NANCY DESMOND

When John & Nancy Desmond's only child came out to them as gay as a 28-year-old adult, they were confused and scared for his welfare, as is often the case when family members become suddenly and intimately immersed in an unfamiliar subject. Jumping in with both feet, the Desmonds founded PFLAG Tampa and relied on their newfound LGBTQ friends from an Open and Affirming church to introduce them to this inclusive community. They attended and became members of many LGBTQ groups and organizations, including The LGBTQ Roundtable at The Spring; the GaYbor District Coalition; The Hillsborough County LGBTA Democratic Caucus; GLSEN; and many others. John was a member of the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board for six years and helped craft the county's 2014 Human Rights Ordinance that included LGBTQ protections and paved the way for the resurrection of Tampa Pride. Both John and Nancy are frequent speakers at the meetings of the Board of County Commissioners, School Board and Tampa City Council. They speak at universities, high schools, LGBTQ youth groups, churches and local businesses, as well as lobby in Tallahassee. They have opened their home to homeless LGBTQ youth, including a budding drag queen, through the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition. They also sheltered a transgender young man whose family refused to acknowledge his transition, causing severe dysphoria.

Well known on both sides of the bridge for their advocacy, just this past year, the Desmonds started the new, long-overdue, PFLAG St. Petersburg chapter. They also volunteer as the Community & Nonprofit Groups Liaisons for Tampa Pride, reaching out to both local organizations and college LGBT clubs across the entire East Coast. On any given Friday, John and Nancy can be found quietly holding up signs in Ybor City on 7th Avenue proclaiming their love and support for their gay son across from the religious right protesters with their anti-LGBTQ signs. They are met with hugs and gratitude from young LGBTQ Ybor visitors, who are pleasantly surprised to encounter their message of support.

John and Nancy met while attending the University of Connecticut, and have been married for 42 years. They like to say that the best thing that ever happened to them was when their son came out as gay, as he proudly encourages them to embark on a retirement that is, frankly, beyond their wildest dreams

TAMPA PRIDE 2018 RECOGNIZED
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

THE SUNCOAST SOFTBALL LEAGUE

"The Suncoast Softball League is the Tampa Bay area's largest GLBTA sports league with over 450 members in 3 levels of play. We play ball year round, both here and travelling to sister tournaments throughout the country. Our Gasparilla Softball Classic tournament held in February each year brings upwards of 70 teams to the area to play ball, but also to enjoy our nightlife and businesses.

The league isn't just about sports. For all of our 25 years, we've raised money, lots of money, for our community. Each year through our SSL's Got Talent fundraiser, we raise thousands of dollars that we donate to local charities, from Tampa Aids Network in the early years to a more diverse group this year: Athena House for homeless female veterans, Suncoast Animal League, Vets for Pets and Meals on Wheels. We also volunteer with many of our sister organizations, with league members in leadership positions in both Tampa and St. Pete Pride among other groups." Gerre Reynolds, Producer

THANK YOU!!!
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

Tampa PRIDE 2018 Supporter


More 2018 Tampa PRIDE Info please visit:
https://TampaPride.org