ST. PETERSBURG-- Mayor Rick Baker's staff says he never got an invitation to this year's St. Pete Pride event.

Here is the e-mail David Schauer, co-chairman of the annual gay pride event, said he sent City Hall.

From: David Schauer <david.schauer@stpetepride.com>

Date: June 15, 2008 1:44:05 PM EDT

To: mayor@stpete.org

Subject: St. Pete Pride

Dear Mayor Baker,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of St. PETE PRIDE, we would like to invite you and yours to meet our sponsors at our annual Taste of Pride reception on Thursday June 26, 2008. The reception will be 7-11pm. St. Pete Pride is the largest Gay Pride event in Florida and we would like to welcome you and thank you for your support. Taste of Pride is the annual sponsor reception, on June 26th from 7 PM-10 PM at NOVA 535, located at 535 Martin Luther King Boulevard, St. Petersburg. Live jazz will compliment the night as sponsors and friends enjoy a sampling of 6 wines and 2 sparkling wines, presented by Barefoot Wines. Light hor'dourves will be served as well. Proceeds will benefit the Ryan Skipper Foundation

If you are able to join us to meet our sponsors, Grand Marshal and the comedian ANT please respond to this email. It would be a great honor to have you join us.

David Schauer

CoChair

St. Pete Pride

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer