Screenshot via YouTube
The Sebring City Council opened its meeting on May 16 with a prayer, transitioned to residents and council members passionately addressing their fellow townspeople, and closed with the city council voting to allow a road to be closed for a Pride event.
At this city council meeting, Christopher Davies, founder and president of the Highlands County LGBT+ Caucus, requested permission from the city for the organization to close a portion of North Commerce Avenue on June 11 for a Pride event.
The day’s events will begin with a Pride service at a local church, followed by a Pride brunch, which is open to all ages.
The group will then move to North Commerce Avenue, which will be closed for the event and open only to those 21 years old or older. This is in compliance with Senate Bill 1438, which prohibits establishments from admitting a child to an adult live performance.
Jeff Schoop, executive consultant to the Highlands County LGBT+ Caucus, also spoke at this meeting and in support of this event, citing the economic opportunities that come with hosting an event such as Pride.
Schoop referenced other cities in Florida that have held Pride events and brought significant funds into the county, including St Pete Pride, which drew in approximately 300,000 attendees and $67 million in economic impact.
Regardless of the expected economic benefit of holding this event, some Sebring residents spoke against allowing this event to take place.
Despite the fact that children under the age of 21 are not permitted to attend the part of the event that the roads will be closed for, enforced by the use of tickets and wristbands, Highlands County resident John Watson shared his concerns regarding Sebring’s children being exposed to this event.
“The trajectory of our country is shifting into an area we have not experienced before, with children being intentionally influenced to be confused about the gender God created them to be,” Watson said.
Sebring Councilwoman Terry Mendel also commented on the impact that the event could have on the city.
“There are certain things that are good for a community and certain things that are not good for a community,” she said.
Other members of the community spoke in support of allowing the closure of North Commerce Avenue for the purpose of holding Pride events.
Sebring resident Jade Martinez spoke on what Pride really means to the LGBTQ+ community, as opposed to the narrative that is often applied to it.
“Pride is just an event that people are celebrating their pride and their uniqueness,” Martinez said. “It has nothing to do with their sexuality being flaunted in the streets.”
Daniel Paige, Sebring resident and attorney, said during the meeting that he will not be in attendance of the event for personal reasons but that he stands for the right of the LGBTQ+ community to have the event and their presentation of pride.
The city of Sebring is home to a religious minority, which prompted many of the arguments from opponents of the decision to block the roads for the event to be based on Christian tenets.
Sebring residents and councilmen, however, pointed out the United States’ separation of church and state laws, nullifying these arguments.
“I wouldn’t try and shut down a Christian event just because some people are offended by Christianity,” Councilman Joshua Stewart said. “And I wouldn’t try and block this event just because some people are offended by it.
Following comments from the public, the Sebring City Council agreed to allow North Commerce Avenue to be closed for the Pride event with a vote of 5-1.
The full council meeting and vote can be viewed below.
