A bill heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk could limit how cities and counties across Florida support events tied to diversity, equity and inclusion — raising questions about the future funding of major festivals like St. Pete Pride.
Senate Bill 1134, which passed the Florida Legislature Tuesday and now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, would prohibit local governments from funding, promoting or taking official action related to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The legislation also allows the governor to suspend local officials who violate the law and empowers residents to sue local governments they believe are not complying.
Supporters of the measure say it ensures taxpayer money is not used for initiatives that they believe divide communities.
“Over more than a decade, we have seen the philosophy popularly known as diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, used to divide our society into competing factions,” said Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, during debate on the House floor. “Not only have millions and millions of taxpayer dollars been wasted in the name of DEI, this philosophy has fostered resentment instead of goodwill.”
But critics warn the law could have far-reaching consequences for events that celebrate culture, heritage and identity across the state, like Juneteenth, St. Patrick’s Day or St. Pete Pride, which is the largest LGBTQ+ festival in the Southeast. Organizers say the event relies heavily on city support to operate.
According to St. Pete Pride President Dr. Byron Green-Calisch, roughly $300,000 of the festival’s approximately $1 million budget comes from the City of St. Petersburg.
If the bill becomes law, cities could lose the ability to provide that funding.
“Unfortunately, I am disappointed, but not surprised,” Green-Calisch said.
Even without city funding, he says the event itself would likely continue — though it may look different.
“Our organization is resilient, if nothing else,” Green-Calisch said. “Would it still happen? Heck yeah, you bet your bottom dollar it will absolutely still happen. Will it look different? Will it feel different? Absolutely.”
Republican leaders behind the bill say the legislation does not prohibit Pride festivals or similar events, but instead restricts the use of taxpayer dollars for them.
“That’s a bill that I think has been misinterpreted often,” Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez said. “Do we want taxpayer dollars used for that? No. But that doesn’t inhibit the ability for local governments to have a gay pride festival if that’s something they choose to do.”
Local leaders, however, say the uncertainty could cause cities to rethink their involvement in community celebrations. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch previously said the implementation of the bill could depend on how cautious local governments choose to be when interpreting the law.
The measure would not take effect until January 1, 2027, meaning festivals already scheduled this year — including St. Pete Pride — are expected to move forward as planned.
Still, organizers say the longer-term impact could reshape how some of the region’s largest cultural events are funded.
10 Tampa Bay reached out to the City of St. Petersburg for comment on how the bill could affect events like St. Pete Pride but had not received a response.