St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch at at Enoch D. Davis Center // Chris Young 3/22/24
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Bills on the House and Senate floors banning diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in local government are raising alarms among local leaders across the state.
Florida mayors and local commissioners gathered to speak out against the bill.
House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 1134 ban counties and municipalities from funding and promoting anything relating to DEI.
The bills defines diversity, equity, and inclusion as “training, programming, or activities” designed or referring to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation
If a local official does partake, they could be removed from office and face litigation.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch joined leaders from Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Fernandina Beach, and more, calling it dangerous and undemocratic.
“It could impact existing programs that support women and religious communities, and could even restrict, as has been said, celebrations for certain ethnic groups like St. Patrick’s Day, not to mention Black heritage, Hispanic heritage, and Pride,” Welch said.
Dean Trantalis is the mayor of Fort Lauderdale.
“This past weekend, my community celebrated Black History Month with a parade. And I was one of the Grand Marshalls. So I would have been denied the right to stand on a float and to go down one of the streets in our community, of an African-American dominated community, as part of the celebration of Black History Month.” Trantalis said.
Other local officials worried the cancellation of DEI events, like cultural heritage festivals, could result in the loss of billions for Florida’s economy.