Drag Queens banned. Pride events are canceled. Will not even ONE Florida city’s LGBT community stand up to DeSantis and tell him to Sashay Away?
On Thursday, Tampa Pride President Carrie West confirmed that the organization will not host its Pride on the River event this year after a bill concerning “adult live performances” was signed into law Wednesday by Florida dictator Governor Ron DeSantis.
Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports:
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB-1438, titled “Protection of Children,” into law in Tampa on Wednesday. The bill allows the state to “fine, suspend, or revoke the license of any public lodging establishment or public food service establishment if the establishment admits a child to an adult live performance.”
Organizers were concerned that they wouldn’t be able to restrict who sees the performances since the event takes place in such a large, open area. Rather than risk the licenses of participating businesses, organizers canceled the event altogether.
Handouts from the governor’s news conference Wednesday stated that drag shows are considered adult live performances “without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for the age of the child present,” according to the text of the bill.
“It’s disappointing to hear Tampa Pride on the River is canceled,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in response to the news. “But it doesn’t change the fact that Tampa is and always will be an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community.”
Tampa Pride Parade is still scheduled to take place next spring.
But will it be prideful? Because as of right now Florida seems to have no PRIDE.
So those as myself and others long before, who risked and stood up against wrong – are what Commemorating the Stonewall Rebellion annual Pride Events ARE to be about. But now there are those whom are afraid to risk and stand against bigotry and wrong – ALLOWING the homophobes to extend their denying public space to visibility – and promoting isolation. WHAT are the penalties if Tampa Pride decided to be inclusive and clearly state that homophobia, transphobia, hate – will not be acceptable or tolerated. They are not even willing to challenge this – and decide to disappear since “risks”. Seems a new Tamp Pride group form and proceed to hold a Pride March in Tampa, as the first one I helped organize in 1970 in New York City – that did not ban Draq Queens. And as a leading participant in the Stonewall Rebellion, there were Drag Queens there who did risk – and each day these poor homeless Drag Queens not able to afford costly gowns, stood up against violence and harm while the many others hid – AND DID NOTHING. Silence and doing nothing is what Desantis wants. Get Creative Tampa and organize an expressive and impressive symbolism and welcome all to join in. Will the Tampa police arrests thousands? The historic movements that made change – ALWAYS HAD to have authorities back down, when wanting to have needed rights and respect. If women can wear dresses – why can not males? Are priests to be arrested for wearing their gowns? What about wearing kilts, or robes – what is legal and whom claims that priests wearing robes does not affect children. Actually far more priests are harmful to children in many ways – than Petr Pan and Drag Queens.