In a festive return to downtown Sarasota, the ‘Gulfcoast Pride Festival’ made a vibrant comeback on Saturday, after last year’s event was shelved due to the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“Experiencing two hurricanes in quick succession was traumatising for our community,” reflected Tom Edwards, the executive director of Project Pride SRQ. “After enduring last hurricane season, we truly needed this day to come together and celebrate.”

Amidst the joy and colorful celebrations, Edwards noted a shift from previous festivals. “We’ve noticed changes,” he remarked. “The crosswalks have been removed, and programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion are disappearing.”

This observation comes in the wake of the Florida Department of Transportation’s decision to remove all street road art, citing concerns over traffic safety. Despite these changes, the spirit of the festival remained unshaken, providing a much-needed reprieve for the community.

The Florida Department of Transportation directed the removal of all street road art over traffic safety concerns. 

Federal and state policies have also put a halt to many diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Festival attendees, though, pushed back with their rhetoric Saturday.

 “We won’t shut up, go pride! Go pride!” said Megan Ferry of Clearwater.

This year’s Pride event in Sarasota merged with Manatee Pride, drawing people like Ferry and her partner Amy Schale who also wanted to support Sarasota’s Harvest Church. 

“They’re not actually a gay church, but they are gay friendly, gay welcoming, and they made me feel like I could be a part of a church again so I came to support them,” Schale said.

Ramiro Chavez and his partner Donaldo Garza said they could not miss the festival.

 “I feel awesome, I feel like no one can judge you here, you can do whatever you want you know,” Chavez said. 

“I think it’s really important for the community to get together and just know that there’s always going to be people supporting us,” Garza added.

Brianna Morales echoed the sentiment. 

“A lot of the times, like there’s just like that stigma around the gay community and I don’t think there should be any questions of the sort, like the people are who they are. Love is love. That’s what I go by,” she said.

Project Pride SRQ’s next event will be a holiday pop-up trivia coming up in December.