Lakeland is forging ahead with its annual Pride Month proclamation and Pride in the Park event on June 17, though other community LGBTQ+ events have been canceled in several Florida cities such as Tampa.
Just as the city has done since at least 2015, June will be declared Pride Month in Lakeland at the City Commission meeting at the request of the advocacy group Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
After reading last year’s proclamation, a handful of residents spoke against it. Within a few weeks, Mayor Mutz found himself fired by the board of Lakeland Christian School.
Kerri McCoy, president of Polk PFLAG, vice-president of Polk Pride, and president of Lakeland Youth Alliance, requested the proclamation, saying it is an important part of their annual Pride celebration.
Since the Neo-Nazis now protested and the anti-LGBTQ laws have been passed, safety has been a high priority at the events
There are several more Pride events on the Rose Dynasty Foundation website, including:
- June 8 – Momma and Friends Drag Charity Bingo for CampOut
- June 10 -Drag Story Time at the Mexican Consulate in Orlando. Registration is required.
- June 11 – Momma And Friends Pride Show!
- June 15 – Momma and Friends Drag Charity Bingo for Spread Spencers Sparkles
- June 22 & 29 – Momma and Friends Drag Charity Bingo for The Fitzlane Project