Tampa’s Pride Festival Cancelled Due to DeSantis Anti-LGBTQ Laws

On May 17, Tampa Pride announced that its annual Pride on the River festival has been canceled. The cancellation is in direct response to HB 1438, the anti-drag law, which had been signed by DeSantis that exact day.

HB 1438 is just one of the five anti-LGBTQ targeted laws signed by DeSantis that week. SB 254, an anti-HRT and gender-affirming care law directed towards minors, was recently blocked by a federal judge, and HB 1069, an expansion of the Don’t Say Gay law, which would prohibit discussions of gender identity or sexuality in all grade school years were also signed by DeSantis before being challenged in court. Equality Florida senior political director and former House of Representatives member Joe Saunders mentioned that this is “the largest slate of anti-LGBTQ in one legislative session in the state’s history.” 

The Tampa Pride event was to occur in September and was aimed to feature an explicitly-mentioned “adults only” section in which drag performances were to take place. Tampa Pride president Carrie West commented;

“We are afraid if we did go through with this, (DeSantis) would come in with his Gestapo… not Tampa Police, because we’re working with them, but maybe another group, and they’d all just pull the plug on it.”

West affirmed that Tampa Pride has historically been a popular event that people would travel to attend, and has featured drag stars from the hit series RuPaul’s Drag Race as performers. These guests included Alyssa Edwards, Ra’Jah O’Hara, and Jiggly Caliente. West also mentioned that past Tampa Pride festivals have included an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 attendants each year. By canceling this year’s event, the Tampa Pride organization will lose approximately $100,000.

“Tampa is and always will be an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor asserts, although the cancellation of this event is a disappointment.

The Tampa Pride Parade is still set to occur next spring, and Pride on the River is expected to come back in September 2024. Other Florida Pride events have been recently canceled due to DeSantis’ oppressive laws, including St. Lucie’s Pride Parade. St. Lucie’s Pride Festival is still set to occur, but only for ages 21 and up. 

This is not strictly a Florida matter. Republican lawmakers in at least 18 other states have instigated anti-drag show laws. Pride events are crucial to the LGBTQ community across the world, and the threat of cancellations and restrictions feels extremely unethical. With Ron DeSantis recently announcing his bid for the presidency, calling out his campaign of hate and bigotry is more important than ever. We at OFM will continue to report on these matters, stay tuned for updates.