Jacksonville Republican Rep. Dean Black, who sponsored the House version of the bill, said it builds on prior efforts to dismantle DEI, a \u201cphilosophy\u201d he claimed has wasted \u201cmillions of taxpayer dollars\u201d and \u201cfostered resentment instead of goodwill, mediocrity instead of merit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBroward County spent $900,000 on DEI training, and that included pushing gender fluidity and transgender ideology,\u201d Black said.<\/p>\n
The bill is awaiting DeSantis’ signature before it becomes law. He has signaled his support for it.<\/p>\n
Elected officials in Miami-Dade County are already gearing up for the worst.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Florida Legislature passes bill banning local government DEI initiatives<\/a><\/p>\n “We’re gonna have to make decisions as to whether we find ways to secure funding for future Pride events before this bill goes into effect,” said Miami Beach Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez. “We are exploring every possible way \u200awe can to make sure that when one entity comes to push people into the shadows Miami Beach pushes back.”<\/p>\n Fernandez is one of several officials who have spoken out<\/a> against the anti-DEI bill since it was first introduced this year. He sees it as an unconstitutional affront to marginalized communities, and an attempt to take Florida back to the dark ages.<\/p>\n “Censorship, retaliation, intolerance, hate. This bill is a message about who belongs in a community and who belongs in the state of Florida and who doesn’t,” he told WLRN.<\/p>\n Miami Beach’s push to continue supporting Pride is not just a moral imperative, but an economic one.<\/p>\n For the last two years, the city received the most revenue from its resort tax during the month of April, and hotel occupancy rates are at some of their highest levels during the same period.<\/p>\n Courtesy of City of Miami Beach<\/p>\n Miami Beach resort tax revenue 2024-2026 <\/p>\n Fernandez attributes this increase in resort revenue to the city’s widely recognized Pride celebrations.<\/p>\n “\u200aWe’re going to make sure that we find every creative way possible to have this event continue going forward because not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also good for the economy of our city,” he said.<\/p>\n Bill carve outs<\/p>\n While the original version of the bill was far more broad in its restrictions, the final version of the bill includes a number of carve outs meant to allow certain local government actions.<\/p>\n Local governments are allowed to provide permits for Pride-style activities as they would any other large-scale events. Additionally, local governments are allowed to provide police and security services to these events as well.<\/p>\n READ MORE: ‘A painful message’: Miami Beach residents slam state’s removal of Ocean Drive pride crosswalk<\/a><\/p>\n Joe Saunders, political director for the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida, said these carve outs are the result of months of lobbying and advocacy work by legislators and Florida officials throughout the legislative session. Even so, Saunders believes the legislation is ripe for legal challenge.<\/p>\n “\u200aThis bill is designed to be incredibly vague and have that vagueness matched with the most punitive measures. We believe that is why it is fundamentally an unconstitutional law,” Saunders told WLRN.<\/p>\n In the interim before the bill is challenged or goes into effect, organizations like the Miami-Dade LGBTQ+ and Allies Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC<\/a>) are gearing up to help support Pride and local queer businesses.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Shevrin Jones<\/p>\n State Senator Shevrin Jones was with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava and District 4 County Commissioner Micky Steinberg at the Miami Beach Pride Festival in 2024.<\/p>\n![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775580968_12_.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"State](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775580969_565_.jpeg\"\/)
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