News Summary
St. Petersburg officials raised the LGBTQ+ Pride flag at City Hall, signaling the start of Pride Month. The ceremony involved city, state, and federal representatives, expressing their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Mayor Ken Welch proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, highlighting the importance of the flag as a symbol of inclusivity amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in Florida. The event featured bipartisan support and set the stage for a series of celebrations organized by St. Pete Pride throughout the month.
St. Petersburg, Florida – On May 29, 2025, St. Petersburg officials raised the LGBTQ+ Pride flag at City Hall, marking the start of Pride Month, which runs from June 1 to June 30. The event featured attendance from city, state, and federal officials, along with representatives from various LGBTQ+ organizations. The flag is raised each year as a public commitment to support and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community in St. Petersburg.
Florida Representative Michele Rayner, who serves the St. Petersburg district, spoke at the ceremony, stressing the importance of the city’s resilience in the face of perceived challenges from the state government. The flag-raising signified that everyone is welcome in St. Petersburg, particularly amid a climate of increasing hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community in other parts of Florida. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, emphasizing the importance of the flag as a potent symbol of inclusivity.
June is historically recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month as it commemorates the Stonewall Inn uprising in 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The flag-raising ceremony is part of the city’s 23 years of celebrations surrounding St. Pete Pride, marking the 12th consecutive year the flag has been raised during this month. City Council Chair Copley Gerdes highlighted the bipartisan support at the event, with both federal and state representatives expressing their commitment to LGBTQ+ rights.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor addressed the audience, reinforcing the importance of equal rights for all citizens and the collective support for the LGBTQ+ community. This event not only highlighted St. Petersburg’s dedication to LGBTQ+ rights but also reflected its perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. The attendees expressed high hopes for a month filled with festivities and events centered around LGBTQ+ pride, facilitated by St. Pete Pride.
Mayor Welch remarked on the rising tide of anti-diversity legislation and rhetoric across the nation, reiterating St. Petersburg’s commitment to embracing differences. Last year’s Pride celebrations in St. Petersburg attracted over 300,000 participants, making it the largest Pride event in Florida. Despite ongoing challenges posed by state legislation affecting civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community, the flag-raising ceremony engendered enthusiastic support from the audience, culminating in a unified celebration of love and acceptance.
As the city prepares for a series of LGBTQ+ events throughout June, St. Petersburg officials reassured the public of their ongoing dedication to spreading messages of love, unity, and resilience. The ceremony served not only to celebrate identity and pride but also to reaffirm the city’s core values that promote acceptance and community strength amid external pressures. The raised flag stands as a beacon of hope and a call for continued activism and support for the LGBTQ+ community in St. Petersburg.
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Additional Resources
- Watermark Online: St. Pete Raises Pride Flag
- WFLA News: St. Pete Officials Raise LGBTQ+ Pride Flag
- Boston Globe: St. Petersburg Gay Scene Thriving
- Google Search: St. Petersburg Pride Month
- Wikipedia: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
