The flag raising marks the official start of Pride Month

St. Petersburg, FL — June marks the return of Pride Month in St. Pete. This year, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of St. Pete Pride, Florida’s largest Pride parade and street festival. St. Pete Pride will be hosting and co-hosting events throughout the city all month long, culminating with the return of our downtown Pride Parade and Street Carnival in the Grand Central District.

“St. Petersburg is a place where inclusivity, diversity and equity matter. Our annual Pride festivities, culminating with Florida’s largest Pride parade and festival, highlight our city’s support for our LGBTQ+ community, and all who have experienced marginalization. I’m proud to be leading a city that embraces our LGBTQ+ community, and where our citizens are valued for who they are, not who they love or how they identify. We — all of us — Are St. Pete,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch.

St. Pete Pride and City of St. Petersburg officials will launch celebrations by raising the Pride flag outside of St. Petersburg City Hall on Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m., followed by a special proclamation reading on Thursday, June 2 in City Council Chambers.

In attendance at the flag raising will be Tiffany Freisberg, Board President, and Nicole Berman, Executive Director of St. Pete Pride. Throughout the month of June, St Pete Pride will host several events, including the annual Pride parade, to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community while showcasing the best of St Pete.

Additional events to look out for:

• Light Up With Pride: June 1 (https://fb.me/e/eMTEZ7sDr)
• Pride Lighting of the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge: June 22-29

The annual parade will take place on the evening of Saturday, June 25, with the street festival to follow on Sunday, June 26. A full list of St. Pete Pride official events can be found at stpetepride.com.

“At a time when Florida is the national epicenter for LGBTQ+ backlash, the mission of St. Pete Pride is more important than ever. In this crucial time and as we approach our 20th anniversary, the support we receive from the City is quite simply invaluable. To host events the size of our June celebrations requires orchestration that extends far beyond our own organization. Without the commitment and collaboration of almost every facet of the City's team — special events, police, fire, sanitation, parks and recreation, and many more — St. Pete Pride as we know and love it wouldn't exist. We are deeply grateful,” said Tiffany Freisberg, Board President for St. Pete Pride.

For more details, visit stpetepride.com.