Melbourne, Fla. – The 20th anniversary of Space Coast Pride will be celebrated on Saturday, September 26, with a parade and festival held at the Melbourne Auditorium. After two years without county grant support, the nonprofit is using a larger venue to accommodate growing crowds and increase visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.
Community resilience fuels the event
“Every year there is a new set of challenges and sometimes it does feel like the hits keep on coming,” said Tina Jensen, president of Space Coast Pride. “But we are so resilient, and that perseverance is powerful for our community.” Jensen noted that last year county commissioners voted against providing grant money, prompting the organization to turn to local supporters.
Relying solely on individual donors and sponsorships, the group raised four times the amount of the denied grant. Community members contributed $20,000, offsetting the loss of corporate sponsorships that were reduced after recent DEI initiative cuts.
Event details
The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. from the Melbourne Auditorium, travel down Hickory Street, and wrap around E. New Haven Avenue. The festival will follow from noon to 6 p.m. at the same location, featuring music, food vendors, and activities for all ages. More information is available on the official website, spacecoastpride.org.
Looking ahead
Organizers hope the expanded space and increased community involvement will amplify the event’s impact, fostering greater acceptance and support for LGBTQ+ families throughout Brevard County. “We find that the people are stronger than the people in power,” Jensen said. “It always ends up being a blessing in disguise, and we prove year after year that you can’t stop our pride.”
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
