Twenty years ago, ProSuzy recently re-branded as ProSisters existed as an email newsletter that alerted an audience of mainly lesbians of the definitely safe, absolutely gay events in Tampa Bay. Two decades later, gay marriage is legal and the web is cluttered with dating apps and meet-up groups, many of them gay-centric or gay-friendly.
Still, ProSisters exists with more than 10, members as a nostalgic, still-useful concept for the queer community. Originally the organization got its name from creator Suzanne Noe, a lesbian who was a professional handywoman in St. Noe started ProSuzy with the intent on meeting and connecting with other gay women. There were mingles, meets in restaurants, that sort of thing.
DiVenuti remembers when the website and email list was just a word-of-mouth operation and when some dances were held with view-blocking pieces of paper taped to the windows. People were closeted. ProSisters aims to continuously provide a safe space, even in the digital world.
Today, the ProSisters still operates an email newsletter, but the website has a classified section, LGBTQ news and lists female artists and musicians. Even amongst many modern apps and other ways of communication, the site breaks through to keep the original strings of the lesbian community alive. Oatley and DiVenuti also started an internet radio station, ProSisters Radio, with a steady stream of music from female musicians.
A quick visit to the site and Aretha Franklin is playing; next up, local St. Petersburg band Elysian Sex Drive. The groups met for kayaking, drum circles, dances at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom β mostly with gay women in attendance, but the events were open to everyone. Since March of , the meet-up portion of ProSisters has been inactive, forcing the group to push back their year anniversary celebration from this October to March of Check it out for yourself at prosuzy.
