In less than a month, thousands of visitors will come to the Southernmost City to partake in Key West Pride. Historically, the event has received county funds to promote the festivities and attract people outside the island chain and Sunshine State.
A new law signed on April 22 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, is slashing those dollars from LGBTQ events like Key West Pride beginning next year.
“Although Key West Pride 2027 won’t be funded by the TDC (Tourist Development Council), we’re not going to allow that to stop us from holding Key West Pride,” said Rob Dougherty, executive director for Key West Business Guild, a nonprofit devoted to promoting Key West to LGBTQ+ travelers.
In March, Florida legislators passed a series of crackdowns on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the state through Senate Bill 1134 by Republican state Sen. Clay Yarbrough. For local municipalities, the new law prohibits government funding, promotion or implementation of DEI initiatives.
“At a time when many Floridians are struggling to afford groceries and gas, millions of taxpayer dollars should not continue to be wasted by local governments on DEI initiatives, even more so because they are failing to do what they claim,” Yarbrough said following the governor’s signing.
Monroe County and Tourist Development Council officials were required to review event applications and funding allocations to confirm compliance per the new state law. The TDC uses advisory committees in five districts, as well as a cultural umbrella committee, to review and award funds under the TDC event grant program.
Out of the review, grant applications for funding were deemed ineligible under the new state law for the 2027 events Key West Pride, Tropical Heat Key West and WomenFest Key West.
“I think that for many of us, and I’m not just speaking for our staff and board of directors but also LGBTQ+ allies in Key West, we were disappointed by the bill. But after the abrupt removal of (rainbow) crosswalks, I don’t think we were surprised,” said Dougherty, referring to the state’s earlier efforts to remove rainbow crosswalks from public roads and streets.
Dougherty added that the funding supports media marketing of events.
“It allows the opportunity to engage with communities outside of the Florida Keys and throughout the nation,” he said.
Several events occurring before the Jan. 1, 2027 effective date saw their funding reduced. Those events included Aquanettes: Past, Present and Future, reduced to $20,000 from the original $35,000; Randy Roberts Live, reduced to $8,750 from the original $35,000; Sons and Daughters of Italy, reduced to $3,500 from the original $25,000; and The Birdcage Cabaret starring Christopher Peterson, reduced to $20,000 from the original $35,000. Those events won’t be eligible for funding next year if they maintain the same event specifics, the county said.
County officials said no other events in the Florida Keys were affected by the new law. Monroe County officials said in a press release that these changes are “not discretionary and are required to comply with state law.”
Funds are still in place to promote this year’s Key West Pride, Tropical Heat Key West in August and Key West Womenfest in September. TDC funds used to promote events are collected from visitors to the Keys who pay a 4% tourist tax when they stay at a short-term rental, hotel or motel.
“What people fail to recognize is that for every LGBTQ+ traveler, there are two to four allies who travel with the same values. Those are seats in restaurants, trolleys, bars and on our beaches,” Dougherty said.
Dougherty said dollars were also cut to support the Gay Key West Visitor Center.
Not all Republicans in the Florida House supported Senate Bill 1134, which passed 25-11 in the Senate on March 4 and 77-37 on March 10. State Rep. Jim Mooney, who represents the Florida Keys and south Miami-Dade, was one of five Republican House members to vote “no.”
“I understand the pushback that you don’t want government waste. No one wants that. I saw it as there are better ways to take care of fiscal responsibility,” Mooney said. “I grew up in the Keys, so I’m a little different. We care about one another, we’ll do anything for anybody when people or organizations are in need.”
Mooney said the events together bring in tens of millions of dollars to retailers, hotels and bars.
Dougherty said when the going gets tough, Key West pulls together.
“We see it on a regular basis here. Whether there’s a family in need, the community pulls together and helps them. If it’s a nonprofit in need, the community steps up,” he said.
The bill states a county or municipality isn’t prohibited from issuing event permits and providing safety services, or complying with state and federal laws or regulations.
