Taking place shortly after the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill signed into law by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, politics was everpresent, as it should be. I was happy to see tents sporting trans and nonbinary merchandise, as well as opportunities for all members of the queer community to educate themselves on those communities’ political issues. The LGBTQ+ Student Center at UM does so much to uplift the queer community and it was nice to see their smiling faces in attendance.
It’s heartwarming to go to a school so supportive of Pride events, as Sebastian the Ibis was dressed and ready for the parade with a large group of UM students and faculty. I know I was nervous before my first Pride because my concept of Pride was shirtless, buff, cisgender men stomping around and that was not the case. I’m just saying that Pride is for everyone and everyone should feel included. I respect their presence and I uplift anyone promoting body confidence. This is not saying that these gays should not continue to attend and I am in no way speaking down on them. I’m not saying that they weren’t still making their presence known with their speedos and “Ken Doll” bodies, but for once that thankfully wasn’t the only part of the community in my face.
There seems to be a trend in Miami (and much of the queer community) that more conventionally attractive, white, muscular gays take center stage and dominate the party. This year’s festival felt more representative of the rest of the LGBTQ+ community than past Miami Beach Pride events. I was impressed by the diversity of Pride attendees. This year’s list included popular British, EDM-pop musician RAYE, whose performance lit up Lummus Park with celebratory dance pop. The celebration lasts ten days - this year from April 1-10 - with the final day signaling the grandiose parade followed by an all-day festival with celebrity headliners. For the past two years this was not the case due to COVID-19, with last year’s Pride occurring in September and the pandemic stomping in the way of any 2020 events. A1A featuring more participants from the area's Caribbean and Latin American communities, Gray said.At the beginning of April annually, Ocean Drive gets gayer in anticipation of the city’s largest Pride event of the calendar year. Next year's event will introduce a "Carnaval"-themed parade on S.R. This year marked the 41st Pride Fort Lauderdale event. It's also home to the Stonewall National Museum and Archives, the World AIDS Museum, and is global headquarters of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.Īccording to the news release, the convention and visitor bureau has been marketing to LGBT visitors since 1996, and since then "has continued to break down barriers and facilitate visibility for the LGBT+ community at large, acting as a pioneer in the hospitality industry and ensuring that the destination is inclusive and welcoming with a diverse, safe and open community for all travelers." The area has the highest concentration of households headed by same-sex couples in the country and hundreds of gay-owned and -operated businesses, the release said.