State law knocks Key West Pride, Tropical Heat, WomenFest out of funding
Monroe County said three Key West LGBTQ festivals lost 2027 tourism grants after Florida’s anti-DEI law. Organizers said about $200,000 in support is at stake.
Monroe County’s new anti-DEI law stripped 2027 tourism grant eligibility from Key West Pride, Tropical Heat Key West and WomenFest Key West, cutting off county marketing money for three of the island’s best-known LGBTQ events. Organizers said the loss totals about $200,000, including roughly $75,000 tied to Pride’s promotion alone.
The county and the Tourist Development Council reviewed event applications after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1134 and House Bill 1001 on April 22, 2026. Monroe County said the law barred public funding, promotion or official action tied to DEI efforts, and that events falling after Jan. 1, 2027 could no longer qualify. The county said the change did not affect DAC II through DAC V or fishing-related applications, but it did knock out the District I requests for Key West Pride 2027, Tropical Heat Key West 2027 and WomenFest Key West 2027.
For the Key West Business Guild, the blow was practical, not symbolic. Rob Dougherty said the money had paid for digital, print and SEO marketing aimed at cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Dallas. That outreach helped fill hotel rooms and drive spending at bars, restaurants and shops across Monroe County. Without TDC support, the events can still happen, but the county-backed promotion that pushes them beyond the Keys will be gone.
Dougherty said the guild was disappointed, though not surprised after state moves against Key West’s rainbow crosswalks. The county’s review, run through five district advisory committees and a cultural umbrella committee, showed how quickly Tallahassee’s policy reached down to a tourism economy where a grant decision can change how an entire Pride season is marketed before visitors ever reach Duval Street.
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
