Name: Jim Bennett
Age: 52
Hometown: New Port Richey, Fla.
 
Jim Bennett is all smiles in his rainbow feather boa and a blue-sequined blouse.
 
“It took me an half-hour to make this outfit,” Bennett said as he proudly shook his head full of colorful Mardi Gras beads.
 
This is his first year at St. Pete Pride.
 
Bennett, who was married to a woman for 26 years, said he always knew he had “gay tendencies.” For years, he struggled with revealing his sexual orientation to his family because he feared he would lose so much.
 
On this day, surrounded by other gay people, he is proud.
 
“When you come out, you are more at peace with yourself, then pretending to be straight,” Bennett said.
I’m gay and I’m proud