The Tampa Pride announced on Facebook that it has decided to take a “one-year hiatus” from hosting its annual Tampa Pride Festival and Diversity Parade due to “the current economic and political climate.”

The letter cited “challenges with corporate sponsorships, reductions in county, state, and federal grant funding, and the discontinuation of DEI programs under [Republican] Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.”

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“We recognize the festival and parade’s significant financial contribution to local businesses and its vital role to our LGBTQIA+ community. However, this pause is necessary for the organization to regroup, reassess our long-term strategy, and identify additional avenues of funding to secure the future stability of Tampa Pride events.”

The post also announced the termination of Tampa Pride president Carrie West. “Carrie, your remarkable dedication and unwavering service as President of Tampa Pride over the past 12 years have been deeply valued,” the Board wrote.

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Comments on the announcement were flooded with people slamming the board for giving in at a time when the LGBTQ+ community should be fighting back.

“Sounds like it’s all about money with a bit of fear in the mix,” one person wrote. “Neither of which are a reason to cancel pride entirely, especially during these times when the community needs it most.”

Another wrote, “When we don’t have enough support for a parade, we turn it into a march with an open invitation for anyone to walk with us. Visibility is important in times like these! Give the community an opportunity to show up. Local businesses and individuals will donate time and money to make pride happen.”

A third added, “Pride didn’t start with a budget, or any sponsorships. Get back to our roots. March together and make our voices heard.”

One person simply declared, “Do NOT comply in advance.”

The DeSantis administration has been especially cruel amid the national GOP crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, most recently launching a statewide crusade against rainbow crosswalks. Under DeSantis, Florida has become a breeding ground for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, with the governor even declaring in 2023 that he is working to make Florida “the state where woke goes to die.”

This is not the first time Tampa Pride has cancelled an event due to hate from DeSantis. In 2023, after he signed several anti-LGBTQ+ bills, the group announced that it had canceled its annual Pride on the River festival, citing an anti-drag law signed earlier that day.

“We just said, you know what, 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,” said Tampa Pride President West at the time.  

Other comments included:

“The opposite of bravery is cowardice.”

“Your letting him win.”

“Where was the input from the community? There is time to raise funds, make changes, by March when the celebration is scheduled to occur.”

“Stonewall didn’t have corporate sponsors. We’d better get back to the basics of why this community comes together or the rights that have been achieved are going to disappear.”

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