NORTHAMPTON — Judy “JR” Raphael wore a bag over her head when she marched in the Northampton Pride parade during the 1970s, plainly decorated with two holes where her eyes could scan the cheering crowds without exposing her identity. Working in...
Many photos were taken by transgender photographer Bobby Smith during the 1940s and 50s in Tampa-area bars that became safe havens for the LGBTQ community.
Before Stonewall, LGBTQ+ residents in South Pinellas had to hide who they were, but there were a few places where they could meet and be themselves without fear of violence or raids. Learn about the historic beaches and places that welcomed LGBTQ+ people.