Today is Sunday, March 26, 2023. In a state known more for its anti-woke governor and his authoritarian policies, I was heartened to learn about an LGBTQ+ parade that occurred today in Palm Beach that drew a diverse crowd, including families and “mom hugs.” This event was covered in an online article for the Palm Beach Daily News by Liz Balmaseda entitled “Palm Beach Pride: LGBTQ+ parade draws diverse support, families, ‘mom hugs.'”

The parade took place in downtown Lake Worth Beach which included an inclusionary crowd consisting of young and old persons, LGBTQ+ and straight people, U.S.-born and immigrant families, and individuals. Balmaseda writes that “‘Wokeness'” is not only very much alive in Florida, it has deep roots and widespread civic and corporate support.”

The event attracted sponsors, floats, and signs bearing familiar brands and institutions such as Carrier, Florida Blue, Johnson & Johnson, Bank of America, Baptist Health, Florida Panthers, Texas Roadhouse, Comcast, Discover The Palm Beaches, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

This diverse parade also featured “Free Mom Hugs” which came courtesy of Natalie Mroz and Tracey Raymond, who distributed multicolored beaded necklaces and motherly embraces. Mroz, who was representing Free Mom Hugs, an Oklahoma-based nonprofit that supports the nation’s LGBTQ+ community, said, “We want to hug people who need a hug. Maybe their moms aren’t here. Maybe their moms didn’t accept them. Maybe they just need a mom hug.”

Florida’s current antagonistic climate toward the LGBTQ+ community, Black, and immigrant communities makes Mroz and Raymond’s mission about more than a simple friendly gesture. Raymond, a supermarket cashier who is the nonprofit’s Southeast Florida area event coordinator, explained, “It feels vital right now. It feels vital to let people know we love them, we see them, we support them, no matter what’s going on. We’re in their corner. That’s really important to me.”

This outwardly supportive LGBTQ+ event comes at a time when some political and ideological forces are pushing a “don’t say gay” agenda and rooting for the demise of diversity – under the overall umbrella of non-“wokeness”- inclusion, and social justice measures and the elimination of African-American studies.

Some comments from parade spectators show that not all Floridians support Ron De”Mented”‘s(another nickname for the Florida governor I came across in my readings) antiwokeness agenda. One of those spectators was Ronnie Houck, who watched the parade with his husband and their cocker spaniel Sofia, who said, “It all keeps going in a pretty awful direction. It seems to be getting worse and worse.”

Another spectator showing support for the LGBTQ+ community was Meredith Falk, local mom and event planner, who went to the parade with her husband Alex and their sons Jackson, 4, and Riley, 2. Falk elucidated as to the reason why she came to the parade with her entire family: “I’m very proud to be here, especially with my children, to teach them, the next generation, about how important it is to represent every single population and that everybody should be treated equally and fairly.” She especially feels close to the LGBTQ+ community because her husband was raised by two gay fathers.

Thousands attended the parade, according to the article, but it was also pointed out that the increasingly hostile political climate in the state courtesy of its Neanderthal governor kept some paradegoers away and nearly drove off others. This was mentioned by former Lake Worth Beach Commissioner and Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso, who plans to run for city mayor in 2024.

Amoroso said he was heartened by the large and quite diverse turnout at this year’s parade. In the small shop he owns, The Tacky Tourist, a funky gift shop, overstocked with bric-a-brac (seems like my kind of store), he keeps a picture of odious 1970s singer and antigay crusader Anita Bryant, who was the predecessor to today’s antigay far-right crusaders.

Talking about the significance of Bryant’s photo in his shop, Amoroso said, “I keep it there to remind us where we came from. Unfortunately some of that same crap is going on now. The haters are there. You don’t see them, but they see us.” Amoroso was Lake Worth’s first openly gay commissioner. He added, “I mean, love is love. Let people live.”

Amoroso feels it’s essential to have a LGBTQ+ presence in the state’s capital as well as in the nation’s capital, especially at this time. He concluded, “We have to keep fighting, keep our presence in Tallahassee and Washington. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” A very incisive comment indeed.

Tomorrow I’ll write about even more craziness in batshit Florida when a Tallahassee Classical School principal lost her job because some parents complained that their children were exposed to Michelangelo’s nude sculpture David in an art class. One parent called it “pornographic” while experiencing brain fog over the classical stature of the masterpiece. All this is happening in Ron DeMented’s state of Florida.

Have a good week.

Stay safe and be well.