Drag Artists Will Perform During St. Pete Pride Parade: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — With St. Pete Pride’s main events — the Friday night concert, the Saturday evening parade and the Sunday street festival — just days away, there’s a lot to know ahead of the celebration, from the new parade route to security measures to transportation options.

Schedule of events

• Idina Menzel concert, Friday, 6 p.m., Jannus Live
• Trans March, Saturday, 5:30 p.m., starting from Vinoy Park
• St. Pete Pride Parade and Festival, Saturday, 2 to 10 p.m., Albert Whitted Park to Vinoy Park along Bayshore Blvd. Parade starts at 6 p.m. Festival with vendors, food trucks, DJ and more runs throughout the entire event.
• Pride in Grand Central Street Fair, Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., 20th to 28th blocks Central Avenue.

Related Stories:

• 'You Can't Stop Pride': FL LGBTQ Events Respond To New Anti-Drag Laws
• New FL Laws Target Drag Shows, Gender-Affirming Care For Trans Kids
• Tampa Pride Event Canceled After DeSantis Signs Anti-Drag Bill
• Drag Artists To Perform During Services At St. Pete's Allendale Church

Florida Drag Laws

Despite new laws targeting the drag community, drag performers will still play a key role in Saturday’s parade and festival, officials said during a news conference Tuesday.

HB 1438, known as the "Protecting Children's Innocence" law and signed into law in May, bans children from attending "sexually explicit adult performances in all venues — including drag shows and strip clubs," according to a news release from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. Hotels and restaurants that allow children to attend adult performances risk being fined or having their license suspended.

Since the law went into effect, LGBTQ events across the state have been canceled or altered, including Tampa Pride’s Pride on the River, out of concerns about how the legislation might be enforced.

During the St. Pete Pride Parade, “we are going to enforce the law that was passed,” Chief Anthony Holloway said.

Still, he and Pride’s executive director, Nicole Berman, said drag performers are still welcome as long as they abide by the law.

Anyone seen breaking the new law, will be given a warning by Pride event organizers, Holloway said. “After that, we’ll take action that needs to be taken. This is an event for people to come out and enjoy the day, but if you break the law, we will enforce the law. That’s that simple.”

Berman said the Pride organization has “reached out to all of our performers and are pretty clear on what is and isn’t allowed. And, again, this isn’t different from years past. They all receive the same etiquette information when they register. (This) has not changed from years past.”

She added, “We decided to move forward because we have no and we do not do anything in violation of any existing laws.”

Parade Route

This year, the Pride Parade will flip its route, beginning at Albert Whitted Park and heading north along Bayshore Boulevard to Vinoy Park, where vendors, food trucks, and other activities will be staged, Holloway said.

This will allow law enforcement to move parade-goers and participants into the Vinoy Park events easier, he said.

No cars will be allowed in or out of the St. Pete Pier starting at 4:30 p.m.

Security

Security measures over pride weekend will be similar to previous years with assistance from federal, state and county agencies.

Marine units will be watching over the waterfront and aviation units are available through other agencies if needed, Holloway said.

“We don’t anticipate there to be any issues this year,” Berman said.

Transportation

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is offering fare-free services for those attending the St. Pete Pride Parade Saturday. All PSTA bus routes will be free throughout the day.

Parade-goers can also park for free at St. Petersburg High School, 2501 5th Ave. N., from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and get a free ride to the downtown parade, according to a PSTA news release.

Riders interested in taking the SunRunner to the parade should consider getting off at the University of South Florida - St. Petersburg stop at 6th Avenue S.

“We are proud to be the official mode of transportation to St. Pete Pride, Brad Miller, chief executive officer of PSTA, said. “However you celebrate Pride, let PSTA take you there!”