“NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS, FLORIDA, HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF JUNE AS: LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH AND SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH, AS STONEWALL PRIDE DAY”.
This statement is simultaneously bold and banal. Banal in that honorary proclamations are issued by cities dozens of times a year. Bold because a few months from now those words could get elected officials removed by Florida’s governor.
Wilton Manors officially recognized Pride month during the June 9 city commission meeting. While this day is a happy occasion, dark clouds are following.
A new anti-DEI (Diversity, equity, inclusion) passed by the Republicans in Tallahassee, takes effect next year.
All of this is happening as the annual Stonewall Parade steps off this Saturday. The event costs upwards of a million dollars. For years, the city has helped with direct (using $50,000 to be the title sponsor) and indirect (donating barricades, parking, etc.) donations.
This year could be last call for city support.
“This year might be the last year that the city can actually contribute. With what the governor did, we cannot do any of that anymore,” Mayor Scott Newton said.
He said the prohibitions extend to city employees themselves. “As a commission, going up on stage, and just saying ‘thank you for coming to Stonewall Pride, we’re happy to be a sponsor,’ could get us removed just for saying that.”
They could also be removed for riding on a car in the parade. The law, while broad and likely to be challenged in court, is invasive and insidious. Even the Pride flags flanking the dais will need to go.
Newton said the city is looking at workarounds and other ways to support Pride without running afoul of Tallahassee.
The city is also putting a measure on the November ballot to strip the governor of his power to fill vacancies on the commission, and giving the job to the city manager.
Earlier in the meeting, WMPD Chief Gary Blocker gave an update on Stonewall security, saying there are no credible threats at the moment. The department works with other local agencies to provide security at Stonewall and the FBI counter-terrorism task force.
