In a Facebook post, organizers based in St. Cloud, Fla., announced the decision to cancel a Pride event scheduled for next month due to the recent signing of the laws, saying that the new laws “have created a climate of fear and hostility” for LGBTQ residents in the state.
West Palm Beach NBC affiliate WPTV reported that local officials and organizersin Port St. Lucie, Fla., agreed last month to cancel its Pride parade and scale back other Pride month activities for those who are 21 years or older.
The cancellations come as a result of DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential hopeful, signing a slew of anti-LGBTQ bills into law last week. The new laws prohibit minors from accessing gender-affirming care, ban minors from attending an “adult live performance,” which includes drag shows, and prohibit transgender people from using public restrooms or locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.