The late Hunter S. Thompson would have felt comfortable lurking in the wings of Ybor City’s Honey Pot nightclub last Tuesday night, with a surreal, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”-esque vibe to the gay bar and the several hundred Republicans-and-their-besties who had gathered for a night of “booze” (in the words of co-organizer Jimmy LaSalvia, who noted that, “This is the largest event hosted by a gay group at a Republican convention, not that size matters.”) and talking points.

To underscore just exactly who was “coming to dinner” (or in this case, drinks), the RSVP email was clear: “Homocon 2012 is not a clothing optional event! We don’t care what you wear, but you do have to wear clothes.” LaSalvia, who co-founded GOProud, a group for gay conservatives, orchestrated Homocon 2012 to be an evening of strippers (who honestly weren’t all that stripped-down—in deference, I’m sure, to the Romneys, who were just down the road) and party stalwarts. And even if Ann Coulter wasn’t in attendance (as she had been in 2010), former Romney foreign policy spokesman Richard Grenell (who was reportedly squeezed out of his Team Mitt gig because of pressure from social conservatives) was.

LaSalvia’s GOProud is the only gay group thus far to endorse the Romney-Ryan ticket. The larger Log Cabin Republicans have yet to give the running mates their blessing, although the organization’s DC chapter voted last week to endorse the ticket and recommended that the national organization do likewise, with acknowledgment made for the group’s differences with Romney over points of LGBT civil rights, including marriage equality.

But for LaSalvia, it was a Big Gay Tent, with same-sex marriage taking a back seat to matters of economic policy. “Before you can get married, you have to have a date,” noted LaSalvia, perhaps a little too glibly. “And everyone knows you can’t get a date without a job.” In keeping with the upbeat dynamic, LaSalvia—perhaps with diplomacy in his mind—failed to note that GOProud itself was prohibited from attending this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (C-PAC).

There was also no mention made that after the Obama administration announced that it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in federal court, it was Republican House leaders (under Speaker John Boehner) who took up the slack, with gusto and glee (no pun intended). Nor that the 2012 GOP Platform calls for enshrining DOMA as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, forever defining marriage between a man and a woman.

By way of e x p l a n a t i on—or possibly apologia– Sarah Longwell of Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry told NPR, “Well, the main thing that we want to communicate is that the freedom to marry is really consistent and in line with the conservative ideology of individual liberty, personal responsibility, family, and freedom. And so I think that conservatives tend to respond to that language. They understand that they do want to minimize government’s role in people’s lives, maximize freedom.”

Maybe they’ll be more responsive— and more inclined to “maximize freedom”—in 2016.

Photo: El Gancho (right), takes place during Tampa’s Gasparilla Festival Weekend, Jan. 28 – 30. Courtesy, Wikimedia.org

El Gancho, a new circuit party weekend to be held in Ybor City, will take place during Tampa’s Gasparilla Festival Weekend, Jan. 28 – 30. Famed circuit master DJ Abel will headline the event, which will benefit the nonprofit Metro Wellness and Community Center that recently opened in Ybor City.

The weekend starts on Friday, Jan. 28 when DJ Power Infiniti takes hold of the Whips & Chains Party from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Castle Ybor.

The El Gancho party itself will be held on Saturday, Jan. 29 from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Ritz Ybor Theater. DJ Abel will make this an event something that Tampa has never seen before with heavy tribal beats, diva anthems, spectacular lighting and eclectic performances.

Photo: (above Courtesy, JeffreySanker.com) DJ Abel spining at White Party.

Other events during the weekend include happy hour receptions on both Friday and Saturday afternoons at the Don Vincente Inn and a VIP pre-party Saturday evening right before El Gancho at the Ritz Ybor Theater. DJs Abel and Power Infiniti will hold a meet and greet at the VIP pre-party and there will also be a fashion show, food and music. The weekend wraps up at a Farewell Party to held at Hamburger Mary’s/Ybor City on Sunday, Jan. 30 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“It’s something that’s been running around in our heads for a couple of years,” said Tony LaColla who, along with Manny Alvarez, are producing the event. “It’s something that Ybor City really needs. Ybor City has really come around as a gay and lesbian neighborhood, especially with the GAYbor District.”We figured this would be the perfect weekend to do it. It would give people something new to do, attract new people to visit the area and really experience what Tampa has to offer.”

LaColla says El Gancho will bring something new to Ybor City and attract people to the area who might not have come otherwise. He expects to draw as many as 1,200 people the first year of the event. Alvarez, a promoter, adds that Tampa and Ybor City will be the place to be during Gasparilla weekend.

“It’s time for Tampa to take its place as a circuit destination and what better time of year to make that happen than during Gasparilla,” said Alvarez. “This circuit event will help promote Ybor City nationwide, benefit a local nonprofit vested in Ybor City, and provide a party unlike any other.

With D.J. Abel, the best circuit DJ in the country, there is no other place to be than Tampa over Gasparilla weekend.”

Founded in 1904 and often thought of as Florida’s Mardi Gras, the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and Festival is an annual celebration held in Tampa and celebrates the legend of José Gaspar, a Spanish pirate captain who operated in Southwest Florida. The theme is an “invasion” by Gasparilla and his men, which begins when the “Krewe” (made up of residents of the city) arrives on a 165-foot long pirate ship in Tampa Bay and lands near downtown Tampa.

The mayor of Tampa then lends the key of the city to the pirate captain and a parade ensues down Bayshore Boulevard. Much like the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the “pirates” throw beads, coins and other items while shooting blank pistols from floats during the parade. The average attendance for the event is over 500,000 people.

Tampa Bay is a world hidden in plain view. Kindness is the rule here, and it doesn’t seem to run out. Tampa and St. Petersburg conceal a busy and unpretentiousness gay community, and every month advocate groups come together to support worthy gay causes. They are focused and can be very sophisticated but maintain their innocence. Guys are sweet, friendly and pleasant. Words like “sincerity,” “downto- earth” and “reality” have meaning here, yet the outside world doesn’t seem to take notice.

Ybor City and St. Petersburg Nightlife

Every week an anxious crowd gathers in front of the Honey Pot (Friday) and G-Bar (Saturday) waiting for the doors to open. They stand smiling in good cheer, even on the days that odd groups of bigots spew hatred from megaphones across the street. Eyes twirl upon hearing crazy megaphone magnified speeches spreading words of nonsense, yet no one speaks ill-will in return.

The gay nightclubs are all located near each other, close to the main drive of Seventh Avenue. Hundreds of lively nightclubs and restaurants line the bright street for nearly a mile and thousands of people frequent the clubs each week.

On a recent weekend, NOH8, a powerful antidiscrimination organization with a big presence in Ybor City, had a fundraiser at the Honey Pot. During the event, NOH8 tattoos were applied to the donators’ cheeks, and duct tape was placed across the lips. It looked like a hostage crisis. Newly created “victims without say” were photographed. It was so crowded that lines backed up for the pictures.

Steve Moss, owner of the Honey Pot and G-Bar (two mega mainstream gay bars), is friendly, fun and sees to everyone’s festivities. The staff is top notch, and drinks are $1 before 11 p.m.

“I like everyone to be included”, said Moss of his bars and the community.

Ybor is also home to Streetcar Charlie’s, a beautiful bar and restaurant whose manager, Charles Moresci, is as laid back as the scene itself. “You can say anything you want as long as it’s nice,” said Moreci.

The thing is, there really are only nice things to say about Streetcar Charlie’s. The food is great, and the bartenders really know how to take care of their customers.

The Eagle, Ybor City, is the area’s premier leather bar. But, on Thursday nights it hosts a popular event called “Social Cub,” which is in essence a college night. The club also features various performers on the weekend.

According to a promoter, The Eagle will have an Indy pop-rock night, and the Cataracts Band has already performed at the club.

In St. Petersburg, Georgie’s Alibi is as popular as it is in Ft. Lauderdale. The difference is that parking is never an issue. Huge lots surround the club.

Thursday, as usual, is popular Long Island Iced Tea night. Its patrons are friendly, and you’ll find an absence of attitude here.

On Dec. 2, the Alibi will host Morgan McMichaels – a Rupaul sensational drag show, and on Dec. 17 the venue will host Pandoras Box drag show.

Additionally, don’t forget to mark Jan. 28-30 on your calendar, which is El Gancho Party weekend. It is one of Ybor’s biggest circuit parties, held at the Castle on Friday night and at the Ritz Ybor Theatre on Saturday night.