ORLANDO | St. Cloud Pride announced May 19 the cancellation of its 2023 pride events.
Event organizer Kristina Bozanich initially spoke to WESH 2 May 19 about concerns that led to the decision to cancel the event. They reiterated those concerns when they spoke with Watermark May 22 regarding the cancellation of St. Cloud’s Pride and what the future of the organization’s events might look like.
St. Cloud Pride first adjusted the events to comply with the new anti-drag law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis May 17. The drag show, which would have closed out the event, was changed to ages 18 and over to comply with the new law. The performers still expressed concern for their safety.
The breaking news on the morning of May 17 about a tampered road sign in Lake Nona displaying the message “Kill All Gays” raised further concerns for the event’s attendees.
In the end, the concern for performers and attendees safety overall is what led to the final cancellation decision.
“Ultimately we didn’t have enough funds in order to secure safety for attendees if anyone were to attempt anything extreme,” Bozanich told Watermark. “And being small business owners, anything that would happen under our names at an event like this would be absolutely detrimental, on top of, you know, obviously the guilt that could happen from this. So that’s why we cancelled.”
A few hours after their announcement, Tampa Pride followed with the cancellation of its Pride on the River event.
“Those were specific to Tampa,” Bozanich says when asked if the cancellations were a joint decision. “We actually had not had any communication with them. I found out about Tampa when a friend sent me an article link hours later after our cancellation. So, definitely nothing that we talked with them about.”
In her interview with WESH 2, Bozanich mentioned that members of the community could still look forward to attending PrideFest Kissimmee.
Following up on Monday, Bozanich had this to say in regard to PrideFest and other events in the area.
“As far as I know, the Orlando Pride that is typically scheduled in October is still set to go on, but obviously that is not in June. Then Pridefest Kissimmee, as far as all that we know on our end, yes they are still continuing. We did push for people to attend there because they have much more support and backing from the city as well. We feel that they will probably have the resources necessary to take care of people there. That’s why we are also pushing that event.”
Bozanich isn’t sure what the future holds for Pride events in St. Cloud, but they have received support from elected officials in the area. Bozanich expressed their support for a future event but their involvement would most likely change.
“So, because of how this is impacting the community and all the exposure, I have had city council members reach out to me. Even other local people involved such as county commissioners [and] house of representatives,” Bozanich says. “Some have expressed great support and want to provide effort in having it come back. Maybe in October, that would be the hope. In full honesty, this was something that I poured a lot of my own business money into, and the cancellation is costing me. I don’t know if I will be able to do it myself, I hope the city of St. Cloud will adopt the event and continue it on. I will obviously support it whichever way I can.”
The impact on the community, on the other hand, has been immense. Bozanich has been receiving countless messages of support and an expressed hope that this is not the end for St. Cloud Pride.
“We honestly did not realize how big of an impact this would make,” Bozanich says. “We are being bombarded with messages and emails from people who are supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community who want to see Pride continue on in St. Cloud. So, we are getting a lot of support from our end from people who don’t want this to be the end.”
Bozanich wants the community of St. Cloud to know the businesses that were putting on Pride are still there to support them.
“Just in general, for all of the businesses that were putting on this event; all of us are still allies. We still 100% support the community. We are a safe place. We love you for who you are.”
Speaking for themself, Bozanich had this to share about where they stand and their message to the youth.
“Me as a mom, I will be somebody else’s mom if they need somebody like that in their life. And just in general, it is your right to love who ever and not be judged and live in fear. So, especially our younger generation, I urge them to be up to date with politics and vote.”
Watermark spoke to members of the community who reached out after speaking with Bozanich.
We spoke to St. Cloud resident, Hely Morales. Although originally from Puerto Rico, they moved here roughly nine years ago and grew up in the area. As an openly gay person in St. Cloud, Morales was looking forward to experiencing pride with the other members of their community. Morales had this to say about the impact the cancellation has had on them.
“I think it was disappointing because I feel like, since it’s such a small town and there’s really not much visibility, it would have been a really cool way to show that there are a lot of LGBTQ people in St. Cloud. Because, like I said, it has gotten better the past few years but whenever I was in Highschool there wasn’t really anybody openly out in my school or anything like that. It would’ve been nice, I feel like even for younger people, to see that there are people out there that are openly LGBTQ. It was just disappointing to see that like everything going on in Florida, like the government and everything, is impacting things like this that are meant to be like ways to celebrate our community.”
Morales shared that despite the cancellation, they do not want to see Pride not happen at all. They want to see the community, no matter how small a gathering, come together to support each other openly and proud. Pride means a lot to Morales, but the history of its beginning and what it stands for today are not lost on them.
“I think it means, just from the start of it, it was more of like a protest to show that we are not going to be silenced and I think that’s the whole point of it now.”
Watermark was also able to hear from St. Cloud resident, Almaris Rosado.
Rosado also moved to the area from Puerto Rico about 10 years ago. The news about the cancellation affected them deeply.
“For me, I would say it’s definitely disheartening,” Rosado says. “I guess it’s hard to fathom that I live in a state where not only my identity, but the identity of my friends, my family is basically hated. It’s been something, it has like, brought me down a bit but I’m hoping that we can reschedule the event. I’ll do everything that I can to help and making that come to fruition.”
Rosado is ready to fight to bring Pride back to St. Cloud. Even if they have to go to city council themself to do it.
“Because I’m a resident I’m not sure how I can help. I have contacted Kristina, the organizer, and I told her that I was willing to speak to the city council if I have to. Yes, of course, I really want it more than anything. I just think that in the face of adversity, especially those are the moments when we need to fight the most.”
All of their feelings about the cancellation tie back to what Pride means to them specifically.
“To me Pride is just being able to be ourselves without inhibition. Just being able to live. It’s an identity, it’s not something you can change. It just mean being proud of who we are unabashedly being us, you know queer or what ever it is you identify as. Just unabashedly yourself, no matter what.”
Despite facing the reality that there might not be any event for the community to come together, Rosado wanted to remind everyone in their community that they still have each other to lean on.
“We’re here and we are queer. There is definitely so many people that are willing to support you, and rally behind you no matter what. This town, again, is changing and it will change. That change is going to start with us.”
As of writing this piece, Kissimmee PrideFest is still schedule to for June 3 from 12-4 p.m.
