PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Officials in a Florida city canceled a gay pride parade and restricted other pride events to people 21 years and older Friday in anticipation of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a bill meant to keep children out of drag shows.
The Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast posted Wednesday on Facebook that the decision to change this Saturday’s Pridefest events was made after multiple conversations with Port St. Lucie officials.
“We hope that everyone understands that this is definitely not what we wanted at all and are working with the city to assure our safety as well as produce a positive event,” the post said.
The Florida House sent DeSantis a bill Wednesday that bans children from adult performances, a proposal aimed at the governor’s opposition to drag shows.
The DeSantis administration has moved to pull the liquor license of a Miami hotel that hosted a Christmas drag show, alleging children were present during “lewd” displays.
While the bill is not directly aimed at banning drag or pride, the prohibitions have drawn intense backlash from critics who argue it marginalizes LGBTQ+ people and has vague terms that result in self-censorship from fear of breaking the law.
DeSantis has filed similar complaints against other venues hosting drag shows in the past.
He is known for his aggressive defense of conservative causes and has marketed his administration as a blueprint for strong Republican leadership as he considers a challenge to former President Donald Trump in 2024.
The legislation, which awaits the governor’s signature, would allow the state to revoke the food and beverage licenses of businesses that admit children to adult performances.
DeSantis has championed other landmark conservative priorities that his critics have dismissed as anti-LGBTQ+, including a law that bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all school grades.
The organization Equality Florida addressed the drag ban and the cancellation of pride parades as targeted bigotry towards the LGBTQ+ community, and to reduce its visibility in the state of Florida.
These are the intended chilling effects of DeSantis' slate of hate legislation. Just as the Don't Say LGBTQ law didn't direct school districts to rip down rainbow stickers, this bill does not ban drag or pride. But it uses vague language and threats to induce self-censorship. https://t.co/h7D2Tq9Fpc
— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) April 20, 2023
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