JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Pride month was celebrated in Jacksonville Wednesday night with the city’s downtown Art Walk theme “Bold City Pride.”
This Pride month comes two years after the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, took effect. That legislation led to protests and people telling First Coast News that they worried it would generate hate toward the LGBTQ community. First Coast News is following the story now, years later, to see if that happened.
“This new legislation has just opened the door for more and more hate,” said Karrissa T. Wade, a Jacksonville drag queen.
Wade said years of legislation impacting Florida’s LGBTQ community has empowered people to be openly intolerant.
The Parental Rights in Education law limited what teachers can say about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. It's viewed as the beginning of a number of other pieces of legislation impacting the LGBTQ community over the last few years.
Wade also brought up that this year the Acosta Bridge is not lighting up in rainbow colors for Pride month.
READ MORE: Acosta Bridge won't be lit for Juneteenth, Pride month, other summer events after statewide change
“During this month we have to set and really think about all of our brothers and sisters who’ve been attacked," Wade said. "We have to think about Pulse, all the hate mails, all the emails, all the texts. So you’re constantly looking over your shoulder at the same time you’re trying to smile, celebrate and include everyone into the festivities.”
Cynthia Henderson, past president of Florida Federation of Republican Women, does not believe the recent legislation has had the impacts Wade describes, and she doesn’t think Florida’s reputation toward LGBTQ-friendliness has been harmed by legislation.
“Opponents of the bill were very effective in weaponizing the message," Henderson said. "It doesn’t anywhere in the bill say ‘don’t say gay.’”
First Coast News asked Henderson for her thoughts when others say they believe there is more hate now.
“That would surprise me," Henderson said. "I would find that horrible for anybody to do that. I think the fact that people have an ability to talk about it and to express their feelings and tell others that they’re not feeling well is great. That’s what our society is about, right? Everybody talking about their feelings and respecting each other's feelings.”
There may be more laws that people disagree on during this year’s Pride month, but both Henderson and Wade agree Floridians should be accepting of everyone.
“You see that we’re resilient," Wade said. "We bounce back. We won’t hide behind doors closed about who we are.”
First Coast News also spoke with the president of Pride Club at the University of North Florida, Aster Walters. At UNF, the LGBTQ center was one of the resources shut down following new legislation. Florida Senate Bill 266 limits state and federal funds from promoting, supporting or maintaining any programs or campus activities that advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion or engagement in political or social activism.
"In spite of all the laws that are being placed in Florida, I was still very hopeful for Florida to be someplace that is very inclusive and very welcoming to queer people," Walters said. "Once again, every day it's hard to not see a queer person out here and I'm very thankful for that. I feel like even though those are things that are happening, there's still people that definitely want changes to happen, definitely want more inclusivity in Florida, in Jacksonville, and I really appreciate that."
Senator Clay Yarborough was a co-sponsor of the Parental Rights in Education bill. First Coast News asked him about his thoughts on people in the LGBTQ community believing the law generated hate and how Florida can ensure its LGBTQ residents feel safe.
He was unable to do an interview but sent First Coast News the following statement.
"Recent legislation created stronger support for parental rights in Florida. The rights of parents to make decisions regarding the care and upbringing of their children must be protected. Parents are the ones held ultimately responsible for their children. For these reasons, parents should not be kept in the dark about the influences on their children in taxpayer-funded schools. Florida is promoting accountability and requiring that schools not withhold information from parents. We have also made clear that parents have the discretion over when their children are introduced to sexual topics, which should be when parents believe they are age- and developmentally appropriate."