Well It Happened!

Pride has been canceled down in Florida. In Orlando.

Gay Days Orlando canceled, citing sponsor losses and mounting pressures on LGBTQ+ gatherings

It was supposed to be the event's 35th anniversary in June.

The Advocate

Christopher Wiggins

Feb 10, 2026

For more than three decades, Gay Days Orlando has functioned as both pilgrimage and proof of concept: a rolling, red-shirted demonstration that queer visibility could be festive, that tourism could be political, and that a loosely organized day at the theme parks could grow into one of the largest LGBTQ+ travel events in the country. This week, its organizers said they are pressing pause.

In a statement posted online Sunday, Gay Days announced it would not hold its June 4-7, 2026 event. The annual event usually sees thousands of queer people gather in Orlando to enjoy the city's many theme parks and attractions. Organizers cited the current political climate. They specified that changes to its host hotel agreement, the loss of key sponsorship support, and what they described as broader challenges facing LGBTQ+ events nationwide led them to cancel the 35th anniversary event. The group said the decision made it “impossible to deliver the experience our community deserves.”

I really am proud of those who have stayed in Florida.

Pride events and Pride centers are on the ropes; they are hurting from cooperate donations drying up.

Phoenix Pride faces $350,000 shortfall as sponsors cave to Trump’s anti-DEI attacks

KJZZ

By Lauren Gilger

December 4, 2025

Phoenix Pride is facing a major budget deficit — to the tune of $350,000. This comes after they saw pretty significant losses at this year’s annual Pride festival in attendance and sponsorships, and as they’re seeing donor support drop significantly.

And they’re not the only Pride organization across the country that’s facing these challenges. In August, Boise Pride had a $250,000 deficit a month before their festival. And in May, NYC Pride saw a $750,000 shortfall because of corporate sponsors pulling back.

It comes as the Trump administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the country; many companies have dropped their programs in response.

And Gay Sonoma writes,

Pride organizers say sponsors are pulling back amid DEI rollbacks, economic fears

Jo Yurcaba

April 15, 2025

The organizers of several of the country’s premier Pride celebrations told NBC News they have also lost funding from corporate sponsors this year, to the tune of $200,000 to $350,000 each. For some larger organizations — like those in New York City and San Francisco — the shortage makes up about 10% of their total Pride event budget, while for others, like St. Pete Pride in Florida, it could be about half.

Some organizers said past sponsors that are not returning or are reducing their sponsorship amounts this year have cited the political climate and the Trump administration’s hostility toward DEI and the LGBTQ community, while others have cited fear of an economic recession. Some didn’t provide any reasons at all, organizers said.

Bob Witeck, president of Witeck Communications, a firm specializing in LGBTQ marketing, said he isn’t surprised that corporations are reducing or withdrawing Pride sponsorships this year, because many of them are feeling vulnerable to “unfair and uninvited attacks.” He said publicly regulated businesses and those that work directly with federal agencies and under contracts “are more vulnerable to possible litigation as well as facing potential losses.”

They are running scared! The corporations are scared of Trump & Company giving them the "Target" treatment of boycotts!

I have always said about getting back to our pride roots, once you take corporate funding you are beholding to them, but being cut off cold turkey is going to force many centers to close and Pride events canceled. How does that saying go about lying down with dogs and getting fleas?

Corporations only care about one thing... their bottom line. They give to LGBT centers because they believed it would help their bottom line... but now they think that it will their shareholders. They gave not because they believe in us but they thought that they could make a buck off of us.

Connecticut Pride Centers are hurting, not as bad as in Red states but still they are feeling the pinch. And the CT legislature gave funding to help them:

• Bridgeport Pride Center, Inc.
• Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, Inc.
• New Haven Gay and Lesbian Community Center, Inc.
• OutCT, Inc.
• PFLAG Enfield, Inc.
• Queer Youth Program of Connecticut, Inc.
• Triangle Community Center, Inc.
• New Haven Gay and Lesbian Community Center, Inc.

Hmm... I wonder if any Republican states gave funding to Pride centers?

I guess we have to get back to our roots when Pride was a rally, a statement that "We are here, we are queer, and we are in your face" 

Back to when Pride was a protest, not just a party!

Back to when Pride was powered by people, not corporations