If the LGBT community didn’t have enough to rejoice at St. Pete Pride Carnivale this Saturday, they certainly do now. For them, some long-awaited fantastic news comes just days before the largest pride celebration in the Southeast U.S.
The U.S. Supreme Court just announced their decision to strike down a significant portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, allowing same-sex marriages the same federal protection as other marriages.
With a 5-4 ruling, the justices overturned DOMA. In addition, a different 5-4 decision had the SCOTUS declined to rule on Prop 8, effectively making same-sex marriage legal again in California.
“This is a cause for celebration, and proof that the law, much like society, inevitably falls on the side of equality,” says Eric Skains, Executive Director of St Pete Pride. “Without all the decades of shaming and discrimination directed towards the LGBT community, there never would have been a need for a day to stand up and be seen. And now, a day that began out of that defiance is a celebration of the milestone towards true equality.”
With unprecedented support from elected officials on both sides of Tampa Bay, the 2013 St. Pete Pride Carnivale street festival and parade on June 29 is expected to be the largest in the event’s 11-year history.
Organizers say the events from June 26-30 and the parade could attract as many as 100,000 to 125,000 participants, which should be no problem in light of celebrations of today’s SCOTUS rulings.
Attending Saturday’s promenade will be Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, as well as leaders from St. Petersburg, Gulfport, Largo, and county commissioners from the region. Last week, Mayor Bill Foster and the City Council officially proclaimed June as LGBT month.
St. Pete Pride Carnivale parade and festival is June 29 on Central Avenue, between 21 and 28 Streets. Events begin at 9 a.m. and continue through 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.stpetepride.com.
