As thousands of people gathered for Tallahassee's Pride Fest at Cascades Park on Saturday, March 7, LGBTQ advocates said they’ve got their eye on several bills moving through the Florida legislature—including one some worry could prevent future gatherings of this kind.
The event was a mass celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. There were various service providers, like the Outlaws at Florida State University's College of Law. Elliot Weber is the group's vice president.
"We're here to provide free legal services to people in our community: name changes, advance directives, all that good stuff."
But a few blocks away, the Florida Senate passed a bill on Thursday that could significantly impact events like Pride Fest. The measure blocks local governments from supporting initiatives connected to gender, ethnic or racial diversity. Equality Florida's Charlie Croy is concerned, but hopeful.
"The people are still going to keep showing up and showing out, most especially when we're told that we shouldn't for no reason."
The Florida House is expected to take up the anti-DEI bill on Tuesday, March 10.
