The rainbow crosswalks are freshly painted at Duval and Petronia streets and rainbow flags flutter in the warm breeze everywhere.
Key West is stepping out for its annual Pride celebration June 1-5.
The colorful collection of people and events features pool parties, theater performances, unparalleled drag shows, dance parties, a Joan Rivers female impersonator, museum tours, boat trips, culinary events and an all-welcome Pride Parade on Sunday.
Of course, everyone’s watching the weather closely. Regardless of Key West’s open-arms attitude and all-welcome, One Human Family philosophy, a storm named Alex is not on the guest list.
“We’re watching the weather closely and hoping for the best,” said officials from the Key West Business Guild, which promotes Key West as a gay destination and coordinates its Pride celebration. The guild did announce the cancelation of the street fair on Saturday, but as of Friday afternoon, the Pride parade was still a go for 5 p.m. Sunday.
The guild’s monthly luncheon on Wednesday kicked off the colorful week, offering plenty of opportunities not just to say gay, but to shout it.
This year’s unofficial Pride slogan is brought to us in part by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who championed the Parental Rights in Education bill, which its opponents quickly nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill due to its vague prohibition of gender and sexual orientation discussions in elementary schools.
“We’ve had some setbacks this year,” Business Guild president Chuck Licis told the luncheon crowd. “Our kids are impacted. Our trans community is impacted. So in Key West, we don’t say gay, we shout it. And Key West does this very well, coming together to make a statement to Tallahassee and the country.”
The luncheon featured two transgender speakers, as well Florida House candidate Adam Gentle, a gay Democrat.
“I know so many trans men and women who live a life alone,” said transwoman Elle Taylor. “But in Key West, they have an entire community to support them. I thank you for that. I’m always here and willing to fight for everyone.”
Janiece Rodriguez, also a trans woman, spoke about her childhood, her struggles, her new life in Key West and her mission to help others navigate the difficult road.
Rodriguez co-founded Queer Keys last year with Chris McNulty, a nonprofit group for queer and questioning teens. Queer Keys will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a “coming out party” and fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 at Key West Theater.
But back to the fun, flags and festivities.
Friday features the “Just for the Girls” cocktail welcoming party at 3 p.m. at Marrero’s Guest Mansion, 410 Fleming St.
Fringe Theater presents “A Fabulous Evening with Lillian Baxter,” created and performed by John Vessels and Jay Schwandt. Show tunes, lavish costumes and outrageous tales characterize the production scheduled at 7 p.m. June 1-4 at the Little Room Jazz Club, 821 Duval St.
In addition, the Waterfront Playhouse at Mallory Square presents the June 3-4 “return” of Joan Rivers, portrayed by impersonator Joe Posa.
Among Saturday’s attractions is the Pride Street Fair, set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., along the 600 to 900 blocks of Key West’s famed Duval Street.
Sunday’s final-day events are to include the all-welcome Pride Parade showcasing a 100-foot section of Key West’s famed 1.25-mile-long sea-to-sea rainbow flag that stretched from one end of Duval to the other in 2003.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, the parade will head up Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Afterward, participants and spectators can gather for Key West’s famed Tea Dance at the renowned La Te Da at 1125 Duval St.
Event information and complete schedule: gaykeywestfl.com/pride/
