One of the controversial stories out of Florida this year had nothing to do with the pandemic or Donald Trump.

(EDGE) The body of a 25-year-old man was found in an alley in Tampa, Fla. last week, making it the third gay man to be killed in the area since December, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Times.

New world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was the subject of a police investigation on Tuesday following the outspoken boxer's comments about homosexuality that have been heavily criticized in Britain.

Tampa – For the first time in the NFL’s history, teams are finally reaching out, specifically, to the LGBT community. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among those teams involved and will host an LGBT Community Gameday on Sunday, Sept. 14.

As Florida cities begin to open up and more and more people begin to get their vaccines, the return of festivals and parades no longer seems so far-fetched. Tampa Pride Street Festival 2021 becomes the first major pride festival in Florida to return.

Another Equality Florida soldier is making the transition from political operative to political candidate.

Citing a First Amendment violation, the anti-LGBTQ hate group Liberty Counsel filed a suit in federal court against the city of Tampa for enacting a ban on gay conversion therapy for minors. 

Tampa – With a unanimous vote, Hillsborough County Commissioners passed a law prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The law, which became effective immediately, re-establishes protections that were eliminated in the 1990s, when that former commission repealed amendments to its human rights ordinance protecting the gay community.

The second set of discussion about a domestic partner registry and equal rights ordinance for Hillsborough County is now underway.

Tampa Hillsborough County Commissioners unanimously voted to move forward with an authorization for an amendment that would prohibit discrimination within the county on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The 7-0 vote is a stark change to previous LGBT initiatives, which have typically failed or split the board.

Progress has been made in the murder of a Tampa transgender woman, with the alleged killer being indicted with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder with a weapon.

Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa and an out LGBT woman, easily won reelection March 7 with 80% of the vote.

Tampa – The 18-year-old under arrest for the murder of India Clarke, a transgender woman whose body was found July 21 in a Tampa community center playground, is named as a “person of interest” in another Bay area murder.

TAMPA, Fla. - Authorities in Florida say a man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a transgender woman.

(WM) Organizations and activists will highlight transgender lives and reflect on those that have been lost leading up to and on Nov. 20, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Tampa – A Tampa mother received a phone call a day before her son’s funeral saying the service was cancelled after the pastor found out the deceased was gay.

Tampa – The pastor of a Tampa church that canceled a funeral 24 hours before it was to take place because parishioners learned the deceased was gay has shown no regrets for his decision.

Jenny De Leon, a 25-year-old transgender woman from the Tampa area, was killed Nov. 2 and the police and the community are asking for help identifying her killer.

(AP) The Tampa Police Department has launched a partnership with local businesses, schools and community groups to provide a sanctuary for victims of hate crimes and bullying.

Alcohol.

Apparently that’s all the difference between appeasing Gov. Ron DeSantis versus standing up to him.

A Tampa woman has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sex trafficking three minors.

For some reason, whenever I think about “Kinky Boots,” Nancy Sinatra’s sassy ‘60s hit, “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” comes to mind, except, the shiny, sparkly, stiletto boots in the hit musical are also made for running, dancing, voguing and more.

President Donald Trump’s youngest daughter hit the campaign trail in Tampa on Saturday for an event designed to reach out to LGBT voters.

(WM) A transgender woman is seeking damages and accountability from Pinellas County after she was misgendered by Pinellas County officials and jailed with male inmates for 11 days late last year.