A second Pride event has been canceled in Florida due to the state’s newly signed law aimed at banning minors from drag performances.
Tampa Pride announced on Thursday the cancelation of its upcoming “Pride on the River” event, an annual end-of-summer celebration of LGBTQ Pride.
The organization’s president, Carrie West, said in a statement that the Tampa Pride board had to cancel the event “with deep sorrow and sadness.”
The announcement came just a day after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law four bills targeting the rights of LGBTQ Floridians, which has been described by critics as the “slate of hate.”
“The law the governor signed into effect against LGBTQ+ Community yesterday is sickening,” West said in a statement, referring to House Bill 1423.
The legislation, commonly referred to as the “anti-drag ban,” threatens small businesses and organizers of Pride events across the state with criminal penalties for allowing minors to watch drag shows performances — even with a parent’s approval.
Last month, after state lawmakers passed the bill, organizers of another Pride celebration — Pridefest in Port St. Lucie — were forced to cancel the city’s annual PrideFest.
“We are obviously upset and disheartened that it has come to this,” the Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast said.
Tampa Pride was forced to do the same, according to West.
“Our choice was clear and spelled out by the governor: No business, organization, individual or promoter can have anyone under 18 years of age view a drag performance … State laws will be enforced to have all permits revoked,” he said.
Pride on the River is usually held in September and features drag shows and a parade down the Hillsborough River. Around 20,000 people were expected to participate, West told local television station WTSP-TV. The organization’s largest LGBTQ celebration, Tampa Pride, often celebrated in March, is currently scheduled to go on.
Last month, after the bill passed both legislative chambers, hundreds of protesters gathered in Tallahassee for a march and rally on the steps of the Florida State Capitol.
According to Darcel Stevens, an Orlando-based drag queen activist who helped organized the protest, lawmakers are “destroying parental freedom and businesses’ financial livelihoods,” all under the “false pretense of wanting to protect children.”