Pride event in St. Cloud canceled after DeSantis signs ‘Protection of Children Act’ into law
In 2022, the first official Pride event was held in St. Cloud, Florida, according to organizers Kristina Bozanich and Brenda Torres.Now they worry it could be the last.They had planned a second St. Cloud Pride event for June 1o.”We had guest speakers, one that was a TikTok influencer, a local singer that created a song just for the event. And then at the very end, out of the whole six hours, the last two hours were to be a drag performance,” Bozanich said.But when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Protection of Children Act into law, venues that allow children inside during certain types of adult live performances.Many drag performers say this law specifically targets their shows.”I think that we were thinking in a place of, OK, we’ll just adjust — we’ll comply. You know, we’re still speaking from a place of love,” Torres said. Bozanich says they adjusted the event to only allow those 18 years and older to attend the drag performance, the last few hours of the event. “But even after discussing with entertainment, the drag queens did not feel it would be safe for them to perform,” Bozanich said.Bozanich says they were hoping to still have the event, even without their main acts.”But then the news came out about the sign and Lake Nona that said ‘kill all gays,’ which was very alarming, very concerning,” Bozanich said. “We did not have the funds to be able to provide that high level of security to ensure safety if there were some sort of extreme act.”The same day, Tampa Pride canceled their event, citing similar reasons.”It’s dehumanizing the people that we work with, that we live with, that are part of our community. And so, it’s a very sad moment when these unfortunate things happen, because we’re just creating more room for hate,” Torres said.The organizers say they are hoping people go to the large Pride event in Kissimmee instead. Top stories: Florida couple says their intimate moments were watched by tech company employees 3 hurt in Daytona Beach shooting Sheriff: Brevard County mom punched her child in the face
In 2022, the first official Pride event was held in St. Cloud, Florida, according to organizers Kristina Bozanich and Brenda Torres.
Now they worry it could be the last.
They had planned a second St. Cloud Pride event for June 1o.
“We had guest speakers, one that was a TikTok influencer, a local singer that created a song just for the event. And then at the very end, out of the whole six hours, the last two hours were to be a drag performance,” Bozanich said.
But when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Protection of Children Act into law, venues that allow children inside during certain types of adult live performances.
Many drag performers say this law specifically targets their shows.
“I think that we were thinking in a place of, OK, we’ll just adjust — we’ll comply. You know, we’re still speaking from a place of love,” Torres said.
Bozanich says they adjusted the event to only allow those 18 years and older to attend the drag performance, the last few hours of the event.
“But even after discussing with entertainment, the drag queens did not feel it would be safe for them to perform,” Bozanich said.
Bozanich says they were hoping to still have the event, even without their main acts.
“But then the news came out about the sign and Lake Nona that said ‘kill all gays,’ which was very alarming, very concerning,” Bozanich said. “We did not have the funds to be able to provide that high level of security to ensure safety if there were some sort of extreme act.”
The same day, Tampa Pride canceled their event, citing similar reasons.
“It’s dehumanizing the people that we work with, that we live with, that are part of our community. And so, it’s a very sad moment when these unfortunate things happen, because we’re just creating more room for hate,” Torres said.
The organizers say they are hoping people go to the large Pride event in Kissimmee instead.
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