What About Our Rights!

Have you heard of a little thing called the First Amendment? It says something to the effect the government cannot stop you from speaking.

Pride parade in Florida cancelled, Pridefest becomes 21+ only

“Gov. DeSantis & politicians are imposing their personal beliefs on Floridians by punishing businesses that support the LGBTQ+ community”

The Los Angeles Blade

By Brody Levesque

April 20, 2023

The organizers and group that operates the LGBTQ+ Pridefest and the Pride parade announced Wednesday that in anticipation of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing Senate Bill 1438 (SB 1438), which effectively that grants state agencies the power to target LGBTQ+ friendly businesses and events, Pridefest will only be accessible to residents 21-years-old or older.

The announcement also notified the greater Treasure Coast community that the Pride parade was cancelled. In a statement the Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast said:

“As all of you know, the political climate that we are currently in has us all very concerned for our community. After multiple meetings with city officials, it is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event. The city has decided that with the likelihood that the Governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change. We are obviously upset and dishearten that it has come to this. We also regret to announce that we will have to cancel our plans to bring back our beloved parade.

[…]

Out former state representative Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-District 49), who is currently running for a state Senate seat to represent the Orlando area, tweeted: “SB 1438 hasn’t even been signed into law, yet city officials are CANCELING pride parades + drag performances. The bill DOES NOT ban drag or pride. But it relies on vague language and harsh penalties to instill fear that inevitably leads to self-censorship– that was their goal.”

What do you expect? They are scared sh*tless down there, the fear by businesses in losing their licenses is restraining our free speech and right of assembly.

Brandon Wolf, the Press Secretary for the largest state-wide LGBTQ+ equality and human rights advocacy group Equality Florida, in a text with the Blade noted: “These are the intended chilling effects of DeSantis’ slate of hate legislation. Just as the Don’t Say LGBTQ law didn’t direct school districts to rip down rainbow stickers, this bill does not ban drag or pride. But it uses vague language and threats to induce self-censorship.”

AP News wrote…

The legislation, which awaits the governor’s signature, would allow the state to revoke the food and beverage licenses of businesses that admit children to adult performances. The DeSantis administration has moved to pull the liquor license of a Miami hotel that hosted a Christmas drag show, alleging children were present during “lewd” displays.

The Republicans don’t that they are trampling our rights with these made-up cries of “saving our children.”

They lie and create an aura that drag is somehow vulgar and I also blame the media. Many of the media stations show video of drag queens bumping and grinding at adult shows not what goes on at Pride events. The Republicans are hoping that the Trump Court will find in their favor, which is a likely outcome since they are overturning decades old court rulings.

The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.