Key facts
- Delray Beach said the law's restrictions cover programming tied to ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Mayor Tom Carney said the city was working to ensure the 2027 St. Patrick's Day parade goes on as scheduled.
- DeSantis says the law requires grant recipients to certify public funds will not advance diversity initiatives.
- The law provides enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for officials who violate it, according to DeSantis.
The city of Delray Beach said in a statement that it will not host its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade or Pride event in 2027, citing a Florida law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that prohibits local governments from promoting or funding diversity initiatives.
The city said the law's restrictions "include certain programming and activities designed or implemented with reference to ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity." St. Patrick's Day in March honors Ireland's patron saint and Irish culture and heritage, and Pride festivals celebrate LGBTQ communities.
DeSantis signed the bill in April and it takes effect on January 1. The governor says the law requires grant recipients to certify that public funds will not be used to advance such initiatives and provides enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for officials who violate it.
Mayor Tom Carney said on social media that the city was "working feverishly with multiple entities to ensure the 2027 St. Patrick's Day parade goes on as scheduled."
Republican state leaders and President Donald Trump's administration have rallied against diversity, equity and inclusion practices, casting them as discriminatory against groups like white people and men. At the federal level, Trump has signed executive orders aimed at dismantling such initiatives and has threatened to freeze funds for educational institutions over diversity programs. Civil rights advocates say diversity initiatives help address historic inequities for marginalized groups including the LGBT community, women and ethnic minorities.
The report also said the Council on American-Islamic Relations suspended operations in Florida after enforcement of a separate law giving state officials power to designate groups as "terrorist organizations."