The largest Memorial Day weekend pride event in the country will move forward with its 2023 event on Pensacola Beach despite Florida advocacy groups like Equality Florida issuing a state travel advisory following the passage and pushing of controversial bills by Gov. Ron DeSantis this legislative session. On April 11, Equality Florida issued a travel advisory. The Florida Immigrant Coalition, a statewide immigrant rights coalition of 65 member organizations and over 100 allies joined Equality Florida in issuing the warning. LGBT Memorial Weekend Pensacola is a four-day pride celebration that draws in crowds upwards of 200,000 from all across the U.S. For many, it’s a safe haven where gay, lesbian, and transgender people can come together and outwardly express themselves without fear of ostracism.
Planning for LGBT Memorial Weekend Pensacola, which is set to take place May 25-29, is already in full swing with weekend passes for its nightly parties starting at $220 and individual nights ranging between $40 and $80. These ticketed events are circuit parties put on by local and traveling companies that take place in massive tents and include live DJs, intricate light shows, neon balls, glow parties, disco parties, and toga parties. #queer_up_south_florida