St. Pete Catalyst; Bill DeYoung
Barely 90 seconds into his speech Thursday morning announcing the start of Pride Month in St. Petersburg, Mayor Ken Welch addressed the elephant in the room: Current and proposed state legislation restricting the rights of LGBTQ citizens of Florida.
“We are standing together for progress, and we are standing against ignorance and hatred,” Welch said before proclaiming June Pride Month in the city, and raising the rainbow Pride flag outside City Hall – the 10th consecutive annual ceremony.
“It has not been an easy road, this year especially,” Welch said. “But as Dr. King said, we are here and we are standing. And we are poised to host the largest, most diverse, most inclusive – and the best – Pride celebration in the United States. Our city will never give in, nor give up on our work to build inclusive progress for all.”
Members of the St. Petersburg City Council, State Rep. Lindsay Cross, Treasure Island Mayor Tyler Payne and other dignitaries joined St. Pete Pride President Tiffany Freisberg and Executive Director Nicole Berman in standing behind Welch as he renewed the city’s commitment to equality and inclusion.
“If we are to achieve true equality in our nation for everyone, regardless of our race, our faith, our orientation, our identity, then we must have the courage to stand for the rights of everyone,” he said. “Regardless of who they are or who they love.” Read more
