There are a lot of questions around Pride Fort Lauderdale, the group producing Pride of the Americas next month. Why are top-level people fleeing the organization right before the big event? How is money from sponsors and events being spent? Who is in charge?
Those questions have been asked, but answers have not been forthcoming. That brings me back to my first question: What is Pride hiding?
In this week’s SFGN, online now and on stands tomorrow, I look at how Pride is Stonewalling the community. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, they are required to make some of their records public. As a group that’s constantly seeking support from the community, they should be willing to show records that aren’t required.
SFGN has requested the minutes of their board meetings for the past year. Silence. Pride’s own by-laws require the minutes be posted and accessible, yet I could not find them on their website or any other public records site. Four people in leadership have announced their resignations since mid-December. No comments. Someone sent me a copy of a budget, but it was just broad strokes, like $305 thousand allotted for the main stage, but who is getting the contracts? Was there a bidding process? Who gets the $136 thousand dollars allocated for “Logistics”?
We do know that Pride’s been having trouble since 2021 when they began giving refunds. Visit Lauderdale, Broward County’s tourism arm, has supported Pride of the Americas since its inception in 2019. After pandemic forced years of delays, they saw the writing on the wall and have been refunded half their original investment, about $150 thousand. Instead of a three day beach party, it’s a one day event at a smaller park. Pride is glomming on to independent parties in Wilton Manors on Friday, thanks to Alibi, Hunter's Nightclub, and Wilton Manors Business Association. Sunday’s pool party is at a patio behind a bar on A1A.
SFGN has made multiple public records requests and will continue to push all parties for answers that the community deserves to have. Until we have those answers, we will continue to ask: What’s Pride hiding?
What is Pride Fort Lauderdale Hiding?
- John Hayden
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