PORT ST. LUCIE CANCELS PRIDE PARADE UNDER POLITICAL PRESSURE

John Hayden

Port St. Lucie has canceled this weekend’s Pride parade and is restricting entry into the festival to people 21+.

Pride of the Treasure Coast, the organization producing the events, made the announcement on social media, saying, “After multiple meetings with city officials, it is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event. The city has decided that with the likelihood that the governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change. We are upset ... that it has come to this. We also regret to announce that we will have to cancel our plans to bring back our beloved parade.”

The city revoked the permit for the parade in the shadow of SB 1438, which becomes law as soon as Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it. The bill makes it a crime for anyone under 18 years old to attend “adult entertainment,” which now includes drag entertainment.

The bill makes no distinction between a drag story hour at a library or a midnight show at a club. The youth parade was also canceled. The age restrictions will prevent families from attending together, be they same-sex couples with their children, or supportive parents bringing their LGBT children.