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by Dr. Caramiello
In November 2019, one of Ybor City’s most iconic restaurants closed its doors for good. The close of Hamburger Mary’s Ybor feels like the end of a generation. The music, chatter, and laughter that flowed from the balcony and the restaurant within have already dimmed Ybor’s charm. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I flocked to Mary’s to be around other like-minded people and to have a home away from home. You could always count on staff to welcome, as well as entertain, you. But, I want to emphasize that Mary’s was much more than a restaurant to many. Due to increase rates of discrimination and marginalization, LGBTQ+ individuals look for places that are affirming and allow them to be themselves. Mary’s fostered an environment that welcomed people from all walks of life. Many of the parents I’ve counseled cited Mary’s as a place for their children to first be out or the first place they didn’t have to worry about which bathroom they chose to use. If you’ve never worried about which bathroom to choose or what looks you might get walking through the door, consider yourself lucky! This simple amenity was one of many stressors reduced when being a member of the Mary’s crowd. Another extremely important asset was Hamburger Mary’s role as an introduction to the LGBTQ+ community to the straight, baby-ally community. The importance of welcoming others into our community is that we have a louder voice with more people behind us. It takes community building to open people up to have these conversations and Mary’s provided this space. It will be important to develop a new space for these interactions that includes people from all walks of life. The Institute for LGBT Health and Wellbeing would like to be an active part of filling this void in the Tampa community. While we may not be whipping up sassy burgers or Teacup’s signature drinks, we would like the chance to bridge the gap of knowledge for individuals inside and outside of the community to build a stronger foundation. We know that the LGBTQ+ community will continue to be strong, but we would like to offer our support and resources after the loss of such a staple in Ybor City. |
LGBT Health & Wellbeing BlogDr. Shannon CaramielloLicensed Psychologist, LGBT Expert... Dr. Melina ScallyLicensed Psychologist, LGBT Expert... Dr. Gary HowellLicensed Psychologist, Sexual and Gender Minority Expert, Change agent, and Natalia Andino-Rivera, M.A.Doctoral Student, LGBT activist, ArchivesCategories |
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