News Summary
Jacksonville is commemorating Pride Month with the 5th Annual Acosta Bridge Pride March and the first-ever LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Mayor Donna Deegan has proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, marking a historic moment for the city. The Pride March takes place on June 1, encouraging participants to wear rainbow colors and bring Pride flags. Following the march, a community bridge lighting event will showcase rainbow lights, while a proclamation aims to address discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. The creation of the advisory board represents a significant step towards inclusivity and support for diverse identities in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Celebrates Pride Month with Major Events and First-Ever LGBTQ+ Advisory Board
June is officially recognized as Pride Month in Jacksonville, Florida. This year, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are hosting two significant events on Sunday, June 1, starting with the 5th Annual Acosta Bridge Pride March. The march will commence at 6 p.m. at the Acosta Bridge, where participants are encouraged to wear rainbow colors and bring Pride flags.
Shortly after the march, at 8:20 p.m., the Pride in our Freedoms Community Bridge Lighting will take place. During this event, participants will shine rainbow-colored lights along the pedestrian walkway of the bridge. Simultaneously, a watch party will be held at Friendship Fountain, allowing attendees to celebrate together.
The Acosta Bridge Pride March originated as a response to the Florida Department of Transportation’s 2021 decision to dim the bridge’s Pride lights. In a statement that underscores the event’s importance, the message this year is clear: “Lights or no lights, there will always be rainbows on the Acosta Bridge in June.” Across from the Acosta Bridge, the Main Street Bridge is currently lit in red, white, and blue, symbolizing the connections between Pride and Freedom.
This year marks a historic milestone for Jacksonville, as Mayor Donna Deegan proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month for the first time in the city’s history. In a show of support, she has also flown a rainbow-colored Pride flag over City Hall. Mayor Deegan has previously demonstrated her commitment to the community by being the first Jacksonville mayor to attend the Jax River City Pride Parade as grand marshal last year.
The proclamation aims to combat discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in various arenas, including housing, employment, and public accommodations. Despite a recent legislative attempt to restrict local governments from displaying flags that represent political viewpoints—including the Pride flag—this bill did not pass, allowing the celebration of diverse identities to continue unimpeded.
Jacksonville has made progress but still has room for improvement. According to the Human Rights Campaign scorecard, the city received a score of 76 out of 100, which is lower than several other major Florida cities, such as Miami and Orlando, who both achieved perfect scores.
In a further commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, Mayor Deegan announced the creation of an LGBTQ advisory board. This body will serve as a liaison with her office and the City Council, providing annual recommendations that aim to enhance support for the community. Applications for board membership opened in 2024, with submissions due by August 9.
Looking ahead, the 2024 Jax River City Pride Parade is anticipated to draw hundreds of participants on October 5, 2024, celebrating love, inclusivity, and equality. The parade will start at Historic Willow Branch Park and conclude at the 5 Points roundabout, promising a vibrant festival atmosphere.
As Jacksonville prepares for these events, the city’s efforts to recognize and support its LGBTQ+ community are gaining momentum, fostering an environment of acceptance and celebration.
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Additional Resources
- Action News Jax
- Wikipedia: Pride Month
- Jacksonville.com
- Google Search: Jacksonville LGBTQ community
- News4Jax
- Google Scholar: Jacksonville pride events
- First Coast News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: LGBT rights
- The Jaxson Mag
- Google News: Jacksonville Pride 2024
