{"id":202236,"date":"2026-03-23T10:39:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/202236\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:39:07","slug":"usf-tampas-signature-lgbtq-themed-events-hit-a-spring-intermission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/202236\/","title":{"rendered":"USF Tampa\u2019s signature LGBTQ+ themed events hit a spring intermission"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>USF students said the lack of LGBTQ+ themed events this spring feels disappointing. ORACLE GRAPHIC\/CAROLINA MOLERO ROCA<\/p>\n

At the USF Tampa campus, where LGBTQ+ and drag shows were once staples of semester nighttime events, students are beginning to notice a shift in the university\u2019s programming priorities.<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s Campus Activities Board<\/a> has hosted many LGBTQ+ themed events in the past \u2014 including Pride Night in spring 2024<\/a> and spring 2025<\/a>, as well as a Pride Showcase<\/a> and a Jumanji-themed<\/a> drag show in fall 2025.<\/p>\n

Although CAB has a calendar full of thematic events<\/a>, USF Week<\/a> parties and Centre Gallery<\/a> exhibits, there are no<\/a> LGBTQ+ themed events in its spring programming this semester.<\/p>\n

USF spokesperson Althea Johnson said CAB is a student-led, Student Government-funded<\/a> organization that plans its own events and programming.<\/p>\n

\u201cCAB votes every year on the events they choose to focus on,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIf an event that is typically held annually is not planned for the current year, it\u2019s possible the event may still take place in other future semesters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, Johnson said USF follows all laws and regulations established by the Florida Board of Governors.<\/p>\n

Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266<\/a> in 2023 \u2014 prohibiting state universities from spending state or federal funds on initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.<\/p>\n

Because SB 266 specifically targets state and federal dollars, student-led organizations \u2014 such as CAB \u2014 using their own activity fees remain exempt from the funding ban.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Johnson did not answer whether the bill did or did not affect CAB\u2019s decisions when creating this semester\u2019s event lineup.<\/p>\n

Still, the impact of this legislation is already being felt across the state. Student organizations at the University of Florida recently cancelled annual drag shows, citing new policies derived from the bill, according to The Gainesville Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As Florida universities navigate the fallout of SB 266, the silence on the USF stage is raising questions about the future of LGBTQ+ expression on campus.<\/p>\n

Related: USF annual review identifies 15 programs for possible termination<\/a><\/p>\n

Tyler Simpkins, a freshman public health major, said the absence of drag shows this spring is a missed opportunity for students to gain new experiences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simpkins started at USF this spring but was aware that the university previously offered opportunities to attend drag shows on campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a video of fall semester\u2019s drag show on someone\u2019s Instagram story,\u201d Simpkins said. \u201cI was excited to see a drag show on campus in spring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simpkins, who identifies as gay, said he wanted to see a drag show during his first semester at USF \u2014 but was disheartened to find none scheduled for the spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen a drag show,\u201d Simpkins said. \u201cI was interested in venturing out and seeing different things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the lack of drag shows on campus this semester, Simpkins said he was able to venture into the Tampa Bay area to see a show in February at the Disco Pony Nightclub<\/a> \u2014 and has continued to go out to see performances there since.<\/p>\n

Disco Pony Nightclub is a gay nightclub in Ybor City that hosts weekly drag shows and performances and is a 15-minute drive from USF Tampa, according to its Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Disco Pony Nightclub] has really good drag,\u201d Simpkins said. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to see other people be authentically themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: USF\u2019s guest speaker series books Brittany Broski for USF Week<\/a><\/p>\n

Justin Neil-Hernandez, a freshman environmental science and policy major, said he attended CAB\u2019s Pride Showcase<\/a> in the fall and loved the event. Still, he found the shift in programming this semester disappointing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe on-campus drag show was amazing,\u201d Neil-Hernandez said. \u201cSince I\u2019ve seen every season of [RuPaul\u2019s] Drag Race, I have been so eager to go see one in person. It was really fun, I was singing along and gasping every two seconds after every move they did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neil-Hernandez said learning that CAB\u2019s spring calendar did not feature a drag show \u2014 or any other LGBTQ+-themed events \u2014 was frustrating, given how much support he saw previous shows had from students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need some this semester,\u201d Neil-Hernandez said. \u201cIt makes me kind of upset because we had so many last semester, but we can\u2019t have any this semester. Something needs to happen about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simpkins said he finds USF generally inclusive of LGBTQ+ people, but noted a visible lack of recognition of minorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI do think that there needs to be a little bit more push to recognize the achievements of minorities and make it so they\u2019re more heard,\u201d Simpkins said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related: USF LGBTQ+ student ceremony carries on quietly amid DEI restrictions<\/a><\/p>\n

USF only features two LGBTQ+ student organizations on its website<\/a> \u2014 the P.R.I.D.E. Alliance<\/a> and the Trans+ Student Union<\/a>.<\/p>\n

USF Housing and Residential Education also offers the Stonewall Suites<\/a>, which offer housing for students of all genders and sexual orientations, according to USF Housing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Therefore, Simpkins said he is finding community in smaller programs, such as the Peer Sexual Education Training Program<\/a> \u2014 a student organization that trains members in leadership and advocacy for sexual education, according to its Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Simpkins said his time in the program has helped him discuss gender, sexuality and self-acceptance more openly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great program because it forces people like us to make a voice for the people that can\u2019t speak up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For students like Neil-Hernandez, it is important to have drag performances on campus because they are about more than just entertainment \u2014 they are a source of social recognition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love our [LGBTQ+] community so much,\u201d Neil-Hernandez said. \u201cHaving the exposure USF has given us is amazing, but we need to continue it so people see us for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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