![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/EJ7A2761.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Two decades ago, Tampa Museum of Art<\/a>\u00a0(TMA) started a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and DEI\u2014just as Hillsborough County Commission banned Pride<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, as Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 administration purges DEI from Florida\u2019s pavement<\/a> and local governments<\/a>,\u00a0TMA continues its even bigger, gayer DEI fundraiser.<\/p>\n Pride & Passion, the museum\u2019s yearly celebration of the LGBTQ community and Tampa Bay\u2019s diversity, returns Saturday, Sept. 19 with the theme \u201cGo Greek and Roman.\u201d The date was moved from its usual time in May due to TMA\u2019s expansion.<\/p>\n All proceeds from the event directly support the Museum\u2019s Art Space and Connections programs\u2014an initiative that uses art to help people struggling with mental health or trauma. The ticket includes access to the galleries and any performances taking place.<\/p>\n TMA\u2019s development director, Raelene Ohanesian-Pullen, told CL that the museum isn\u2019t intimidated by the anti-DEI movement\u2014even as local arts programs are defunded<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we lose funding from the federal government or state government, we don\u2019t lose heart for our mission,\u201d she said. \u201cIf a particular government organization doesn\u2019t find value in the work we do or doesn\u2019t support that financially, we find other individuals or financial institutions that do.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued, \u201cWe see every day the benefit that we make in the lives of so many people in Tampa Bay, so we just keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n