No Pride Month Proclamation From Polk County Commissioners

LAKELAND, FL — Despite the refusal of the Polk County Commission to issue a proclamation for Pride Month for the first time since 2018, members of Polk Pride say they're proceeding with plans to celebrate June as National Pride Month.

At the June 8 meeting, Commissioner Neil Combee moved to have the proclamation taken off the consent agenda. A discussion followed during which Commissioners Bill Braswell and Rick Wilson sided with Combee in refusing to issue a proclamation.

The commission's decision comes after the state Legislature passed several anti-LGBTQ laws prompting the nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, to issue a travel advisory to warn the LGBTQ community visiting Florida or planning to move to Florida of the state's public policy meant "to oppress the existence and rights of LGBTQ+ people," said the campaign.

The bills of concern include:

House Bill 1438, which prohibits children from attending drag shows and holds businesses accountable "if the establishment admits a child to an adult live performance.”

House Bill 1069, which “provides requirements relating to titles and pronouns”

Senate Bill 254, which prohibits “sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures for patients younger than 18 years of age.”

“I believe we shouldn’t be adopting proclamations regarding lifestyle choices from this point forward,” said Combee.

“This is about pushing an agenda that we don’t want pushed on us. This is our first line in the sand, so to speak," said Braswell. "If they want to be trans, if they want to be gay, keep doing what you’re doing but don’t expect us to say ‘Hey, you’re OK.'"

Commissioners Martha Santiago and George Lindsey favored issuing the proclamation.

“‘People of diverse cultures, races, creeds, genders and sexual identities must work together toward peace and understanding each other,'" said Lindsey, reading from the proclamation. "I think there’s nothing offensive about that to me. We make it as divisive as we choose to make it divisive or we can make it as homogenous as we need to.

The Lakeland City Commission issued a proclamation.

Polk Pride President Scott Guira, who presented the request for the proclamation by the Polk County Commission, said the request generated no concerns in past years.

"While their ignorance is disheartening, it is a reminder as to why we have pride, and it serves as motivation for us to continue pushing for progress," he said. "Polk County is a community where all are welcome, and we won’t let them tell us otherwise."

He's encouraging the community to turn out Saturday for the free family-friendly Polk Pride 2023: Pride in the Park "to let them know we are not going anywhere."

The festival, dedicated to bringing awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ community in Polk County, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Munn Park, 210 E Main St. in downtown Lakeland.

It will feature more than 100 LGBTQ-owned and friendly vendors, live entertainment on the main stage, food trucks and other activities.

On Wednesday, June 14 from 6:30 to 9 p.m., there will be a free Pride for Youth party hosted by the Lakeland Youth Alliance, which provides support to LGBTQ youth and young adults, at the United Women's Club at 1515 Williamsburg Square, Lakeland.

It will be followed by Pride in Faith on Thursday, June 15 at 7 p.m. at Beacon Hill Fellowship, 220 W. Beacon Road, Lakeland, for a service of all faiths who stand in support of Pride.

The celebration will continue Friday, June 16 from 9 p.m. to 2 p.m. at The Parrot, 1030 E. Main St., Lakeland, with a Pride Kickoff featuring drinks, dancing and drag shows. Entry to the event is free.

Following Pride in the Park, a Pride After Dark event for those age 21 and up will take place at the Rec Room Lakeland, 202 N Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $15 and are available here.