Miami Beach has been celebrating Pride for the past two weeks, this year being the parade’s 15-year anniversary.
The celebration kicked off with the Pride flag raising ceremony on March 31 and hosted other events like the Miss Miami Beach Pride Pageant and the Social Justice, Health and Wellness Evening. It concluded the festivities with a parade on Sunday, April 16.
Despite concerns over recent Florida legislation aimed to ban drag shows, ‘Growing Stronger Together’ was not only this year’s pride theme but a reminder that there is large support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Drag performer Bonnie Builder shared why celebrating Pride is important.
“Being seen, not hiding, being everywhere, everything all at once: they will know we are here,” said Builder.
The FIU Pride Center participated once more in the pride parade, but this year was the first time entering the float competition. Sunday morning FIU Students gathered at 9 a.m. in the heart of the Art Deco district at the Wolfsonian Museum. They were greeted with pride swag, a breakfast buffet and the support of FIU President Kenneth Jessell.
“The commitment for FIU to grow as an institution, particularly on the rights and needs of LBTQ+ Panthers, is a process that involves listening to ALL of you here and all of you that support this cause,” said Jessell the president of FIU.
