ABOVE: Manatee Pride 2019. Photo by Dylan Todd.
TAMPA BAY | Manatee Pride and Pasco Pride have each postponed their previously announced returns until 2022, citing Florida’s rise in COVID-19 cases.
Manatee Pride, a fundraiser for the Sarasota and Manatee County-based ALSO Youth, was scheduled to return Sept. 18. Pasco Pride, Pasco County’s premiere LGBTQ celebration, was scheduled for Oct. 9.
Each celebration also skipped 2020. Organizers for the celebrations independently announced the news Sept. 3, beginning with Pasco Pride.
“We are incredibly sad to announce that we will be postponing our Annual Pride Festival due to the surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in our state and county,” its board shared via social media.
“It is our sincere hope that we can reschedule for early 2022 instead of waiting an entire extra year, but that will depend entirely on the state of the pandemic in our area,” Pasco Pride continued. “We all have a part to play in making a world healthy enough to have responsible Pride Festivals again. So please, get vaccinated, and wear a mask.”
They further urged supporters to discuss the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations with loved ones and the need to combat misinformation.
“We miss you all and hope you’ll help us build a world that’s safe enough for us to meet again soon,” they shared. Read their announcement in full below:
ALSO Youth followed, noting that the celebration’s seventh event is now scheduled for March 5, 2022.
“The Manatee Pride Committee (and ALSO Youth Board of Directors) met last week to discuss the Manatee Pride Festival,” organizers shared. “We reviewed the recent status of COVID-19 cases in our area as well as the continued increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
“As a result, the Manatee Pride/ALSO Youth, Board of Directors made the decision to postpone our September 18, 2021 Festival and reschedule it for March 5, 2022,” they continued. “Our priority is the health and well-being of our friends and neighbors, and we appreciate your understanding.”
Read more:
The news follows the postponements of Sarasota Pride and Polk Pride. The former was set to return Oct. 23 while the latter was scheduled for Sept. 25-Oct. 2. Each will now return in 2022.
For more information about Manatee Pride, visit ALSOYouth.org/Manatee-Pride. Learn more about Pasco Pride at PascoPrideFestival.com.
