Community rallies to save Florida’s largest Pride celebration as law sparks corporate sponsors’ retreat

As Florida restricts public funding for diversity celebrations, St. Pete Pride leaders say their event needs community support to cover a financial shortfall.The 24-year-old St. Petersburg organization just launched a fundraising drive, hoping to raise $289,000 by the end of November. The organization said it needs that money to cover outstanding expenses from this year.“Declining corporate sponsorships, rising event costs, and years of carrying expenses from one Pride season into the next have put the organization in a difficult financial position,” St. Pete Pride President Trent Brock wrote in an email.Related: 83 Photos of Power and Diversity at St. Pete's Pride in Florida“With approximately 300,000 people attending Pride Weekend this year, we’re hopeful our community can come together to help. If just 4% of attendees donated $25, we'd reach our goal. But without this support, St. Pete Pride as our community knows it could be at risk in 2027.” See on Instagram Related: Florida drag queen sells bricks from removed rainbow crosswalk to help save Pride celebrationsLike many Pride events across the country, St. Pete Pride has seen a dramatic decline in corporate sponsorships.“I want to be clear that sponsorships naturally ebb and flow. Businesses evolve, budgets change, leadership transitions happen, and priorities shift. We don’t expect every company to sponsor St Pete Pride every year or contribute the same amount year after year. We understand those realities and value the relationships we’ve built with our corporate partners,” Brock told The Advocate. “But what we experienced in 2026 was different. It was our largest decline in sponsorship support, and I don’t believe that’s a coincidence.”The fundraising push has already drawn a substantial matching pledge. Scott Simon, a dancer who regularly performs at Bradley’s on 7th in Tampa, pledged to match up to $25,000 donated to St. Pete Pride through this Friday. In a social media video enc