Florida city says it will not host St Patrick’s Day parade, Pride event due to anti-diversity law

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) – A city in Florida said it will not host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade or Pride event in 2027 due to a state law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits local governments ‌from promoting or funding diversity initiatives.

The city of Delray Beach said in a statement that restrictions under the law “include certain programming and activities designed or implemented with reference to ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Mayor Tom Carney said on social media the city was “working feverishly with multiple entities to ensure the 2027 St. Patrick’s Day parade goes on as scheduled.”

St. Patrick’s Day in March honors Ireland’s patron saint and Irish culture and heritage. Pride festivals celebrate LGBTQ communities.

The bill was signed by DeSantis in April and takes effect on January 1.

Republican state leaders and US President Donald Trump’s administration have rallied against diversity, equity and inclusion practices, casting them as discriminatory against groups like white people and men.

At the federal level, Trump has signed executive orders aimed at dismantling such initiatives and has threatened to freeze funds for educational institutions over diversity programs.

Civil rights advocates say diversity initiatives help address historic inequities for marginalized groups like the LGBT community, women and ethnic minorities.

DeSantis says the law requires grant recipients to certify that public funds will not be used to advance such initiatives and provides enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for ​officials who violate the law.

Last week, the Council on American-Islamic ​Relations, the largest US Muslim advocacy group, suspended operations in Florida after the enforcement of a separate law that gave state officials ‌power to designate groups as “terrorist organizations.”

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)