Florida laws targeting LGBT community stoke Pride energy, organizers say
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[May 26, 2023]
By Brad Brooks and Daniel Trotta
(Reuters) - Organizers of some LGBT Pride events in Florida are limiting
access by minors and increasing security in the face of a slate of new
state laws they say unfairly target their community.
But the organizers say the laws are rekindling a defiant energy they
hope will help push back against Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who
announced his candidacy for the U.S. presidency on Wednesday, and other
conservative leaders.
"The most important message of this year's Pride is that we all show
unity and family and togetherness," said Jeff Sterling, organizer of
Stonewall Pride in Wilton Manors, which is asking performers and parade
goers to avoid nudity or risqué behavior.
Florida is at the center of an American war of words and legislation
over values and beliefs. DeSantis this month signed a package of bills
he says is aimed at protecting children. They include laws banning
gender-changing surgeries for minors, imposing fines on businesses that
allow children into "explicit" drag shows, and prohibiting the teaching
of sexual orientation and gender identity through 8th grade.
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In response to a request for comment for this article, DeSantis' office
emailed that it would not respond to any "baseless accusations" linking
laws to hostility and violence toward the LGBT community. It added that
the governor "will continue to do what is right and protect the
innocence of children."
Critics say the law on drag shows was unneeded, arguing that the state
already had laws against exposing children to lewd entertainment. They
argue that it was specifically built to target Pride, by banning local
governments from issuing permits to any event that might expose children
to a lewd "adult live performance."
"We are telling people not to run, not to hide. That's what the bigots
want," said Carlos Guillermo Smith, with the LGBT advocacy group
Equality Florida and a former Democratic state representative who is
running for state senate.
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![](../images/052623PIX/news_a20.jpg)
Supporters of the drag community protest
against Florida's 'Protection of Children' bill which would ban
children at live adult performances, inside the state capitol in
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Octavio
Jones/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/May/26/images/ads/current/graue_lda_preowned_052223.jpg)
Kristina Bozanich said she was forced to cancel a small Pride event
she was organizing just outside of Orlando after drag show
performers meant to headline her festival backed out, citing fears
over the new state laws.
She also did not have the funds to pay for the increased security
she felt was necessary.
But Tiffany Freisberg, head of the St. Pete Pride board that
organizes Florida's biggest Pride parade and other events all
through June in St. Petersburg, said canceling was never considered.
No event or performance either this year or in the past, she argued,
would violate any lewdness laws.
"The new laws have a very real ripple effect of fear on our
communities," she said. "But that's why events like ours are more
important than ever."
Joseph Clark, CEO of Gay Days in Orlando, which leads participants
through Disney World tours and hosts drag performances, pool parties
and other events, said his plans were unchanged and he hoped LGBT
people from outside Florida would make a special point to attend
Pride events in the state this year.
"When people come to Pride events, that unity and coming together
creates a layer of security for our community and it shows that
we're here and we're not going anywhere," Clark said.
(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas, and Daniel Trotta in
Carlsbad, California; Editing by Donna Bryson and Mark Porter)
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