Florida Cities Raise Pride Flags Over City Halls After Failed GOP Attempt To Ban Them From Govt Buildings

Tampa’s WMNF reports:

Several Tampa Bay area cities have raised the LGBTQ Pride flags over city buildings this weekend. But that would have been illegal if a bill that died in this year’s Florida Legislature had instead become law.

On Saturday morning the city of Gulfport in south Pinellas County raised the Pride flag over its public library. It came after a short ceremony of speeches honoring the city’s commitment to equality and before a day-long block party celebration of Pride.

The nearby City of St. Petersburg raised its LGBTQ Pride flag over City Hall on Friday. Meanwhile, the City of Clearwater will host Pride events but will not fly the Pride flag at a city building.

Read the full article.

Also raising the Pride flag over their city halls this weekend were Tampa, Wilton Manors, Miami, and Orlando. If you know of any others, let us know in the comments.

The Republican bill to ban Pride flags at government buildings passed earlier this year in the Florida House, but died when the state Senate ran out of time to vote on the issue before the session ended for the year.

Of note, an amendment to the Senate version of the bill would have allowed the Confederate flag, something its sponsor later claimed was as “error.”

Tampa raises LGBT Pride flag for Pride month https://t.co/aZd0GG1Dld pic.twitter.com/pM7xw5USas

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) June 3, 2024

Another beautiful morning celebrating love and acceptance. #LoveIsLove #Gulfport #EqualityForAll #GulfportPrideFlagRaising pic.twitter.com/3vyNMQYybx

— Whitney Fox for Congress (FL-13) (@whitfox) June 2, 2024

The vibrant streets of Gulfport were illuminated in the colors of the rainbow on Saturday as neighbors, business owners and city leaders welcomed people from across Tampa Bay at their fourth annual Gulfport Pride Festival. https://t.co/GkSqEJhIN4

— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) June 2, 2024

Happy Pride Month, Wilton Manors! No matter how you show up, we’ll always celebrate that you’ve found your home here in the Island City. pic.twitter.com/51NouvUEj8

— WiltonManorsOfficial (@WiltonManorsCty) June 1, 2024

The colors of love and progress are flying high in Orlando as we raise the Progress Pride Flag at Orlando City Hall in celebration of our LGBTQ+ community and their ongoing fight for equality. https://t.co/XJTIK6GB10

— City of Orlando (@citybeautiful) June 3, 2024

@CityofMiami and @MiamiPD kick off June’s Pride Month in Miami by raising the flag at Miami City Hall! @mpdlgbtqi_liaison@cityofmiamiDHS @Manolo4Miami @Damianpardo8 pic.twitter.com/hq0zR0B5rj

— City of Miami (@CityofMiami) June 1, 2024

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