After losing nearly half its federal funding, Transpire Help needs Pride on the Block more than ever. Sponsorships are down, too. For the organization behind the annual celebration, it’s a financial gut punch.

“So we've been able to serve almost half the amount of people as the year before,” said Donna Weinberger, the founder of Transpire. 

The annual fundraiser started as a celebration of the local queer community in 2020, but now it’s also a lifeline for Transpire.  

The nonprofit serves LGBTQ individuals impacted by substance abuse, trauma, and mental health challenges. 

“It allows folks who would not be able to typically access services the [opportunity to thrive],” Weinberger said. “They're able to receive this trauma-informed affirming treatment and safe sober housing they need. So they're able to stabilize their lives while rebuilding their future.” 

This is the event’s second year at The Peach in West Palm Beach. The party started in 2020 on the 500 block of Clematis Street — hence the name Pride on the Block. But after years of security concerns, threats, rising costs, and protesters disrupting the event, organizers began looking for another option. 

“They would come with their speakers, or their megaphones, and their signs — that sort of harassment. It's not that enjoyable to have people yelling at you.” 

But Weinberger loves their new home at The Peach, which is a local arts venue known for its galleries, studios, and creative community. 

“I think it was really successful. I think a lot of people liked it. It felt really nice and safe,” she said. “It had a really united type of feel to it. I liked the fact that everyone was kind of in the same area instead of being spread out across the entire block.” 

Pride on the Block is still, first and foremost, a celebration. 

There will be about 20 performers, a mixture of musicians and drag queens. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. This year’s headliner is hometown favorite Mia Starr, a contestant on Season 18 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

Make sure to check out OutPBC’s interview with Starr at outsfl.com.

“This is my hometown so I am going to go hard,” she told OutSFL. “The audience will get a concert vibe. I am doing my own songs as well.” 

Weinberger's concerns also go beyond fundraising. Like many LGBTQ organizations in Florida, she's watching Tallahassee closely and wondering what the next law could mean for events like this. 

“We're hoping this is not the last year,” she said. 

Recently, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an anti-DEI bill into law that could restrict how municipalities support events such as Pride festivals. Many legal experts and advocacy groups have criticized the law as intentionally vague. 

A good example came when Palm Beach County initially denied a grant to the City of Lake Worth Beach to repair a city-owned building that also houses Compass Community Center. 

Thankfully, the story quickly went viral and the decision was reversed. But it shows that even in a relatively liberal county like Palm Beach, staff attorneys and government officials are taking an extremely cautious approach to the new law. 

The legislation also allows elected officials to be removed from office for violating it, creating even more uncertainty about how aggressively local governments will interpret and enforce the measure. 

Besides the new law, federal funding cuts, sponsorship are harder to come by as well creating a trifecta of uncertainty. 

That’s why Weinberger is especially thankful for AIDS Healthcare Foundation and its continued support. 

“We're really grateful to them,” she said. “Our goal is to continue providing a safe space for the LGBTQ community.”