Specifically in Sarasota we have had Triangles, Club Heat, Alley Bar Throb, Barrel 87 and now with his very own operation Oasis, Hunter has moved through the ranks and has been there for the community at every step, especially as a voice of reason when disparate opinions emerge. Through the many night clubs, bars and hotspots we have all experienced over the years in this area, Hunter has been a mainstay. He has been able to create a large, loving, often dysfunctional but without a doubt there-for-one-another family. Many of us in the LGBTQ community are allowed to make our own families and he has done that. He found solace and comfort in the embrace of the area’s LGBTQ community and has never looked back. He has often told me the story of his unexpected move from Los Angeles to Tampa, which left him homeless and broken. He was always the first to say “Hi” with a genuine smile and friendly attitude.
I began performing as Beneva Fruitville in December 2008 and Hunter was an established dancer in the Sarasota, St.
He has been an integral part of the Sarasota LGBTQ community for over a decade. I am beyond thrilled to be honoring my dear friend Hunter Vance.
