Tampa Pride cancels all 2026 events and dumps president

"The Tampa Pride Board announced it won't hold its Tampa Pride Festival, Diversity Parade, or any associated events in 2026, and would not renew the contract for the organization's president, Carrie West. "We recognize the festival and parade's significant financial contribution to local businesses and its vital role to our LGBTQIA+ community," reads a letter to West published on the Tampa Pride website. "However, this pause is necessary for the organization to regroup, reassess our long-term strategy, and identify additional avenues of funding to secure the future stability of Tampa Pride events. The move came just two years after Tampa canceled its Pride on the River event in the wake of DeSantis signing an anti-drag law. While that law remains unenforceable based on an appellate court ruling from May, cities in Florida concerned about the law have forced other pride events out of public view."

"But the letter from the board makes it clear the greater concerns for Tampa Pride's future are financial. "The current political and economic climate, including challenges with corporate sponsorships, reductions in county, state and federal grant funding, and the discontinuation of DEI programs under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has made it increasingly difficult for our organization to sustain ongoing operations for 2026.""

The Tampa Pride Board announced cancellation of the Tampa Pride Festival, Diversity Parade, and associated events in 2026 and will not renew president Carrie West's contract. The board cited the need to regroup, reassess long-term strategy, and identify additional funding to secure future event stability. The pause follows earlier cancellations after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an anti-drag law, which remains unenforceable after an appellate ruling but has prompted other cities to limit public pride events. The board highlighted political and economic pressures, including declining corporate sponsorships, reduced grant funding, and the discontinuation of DEI programs under DeSantis, as primary challenges.

Read at Advocate.com