Coronavirus shuts down Prides in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Miami

Pride bosses in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach in the US have all announced they are postponing their events.

They made their decisions to protect the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As late as Monday this week, Los Angeles Pride was still hoping to go ahead. The event in June typically attracts 200,000. And 2020 is its 50th anniversary year.

Pride bosses planned to celebrate by expanding the event. Now they are rescheduling to a date yet to be announced later in the year.

Meanwhile, organizers of Miami Beach Pride on 28 March to 5 April will be postponing.

Moreover, the LGBT+ holiday destination of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is also postponing its first Pride of the Americas in April.

‘Disappointing blow’

Los Angeles Pride was due to run from 12 to 14 June with a festival and march. In addition, other events were scheduled as part of a wider LGBT+ festival attached to Pride.

But organizers tweeted:

Due to the concerns of COVID-19, [event organizer Christopher Street West] will postpone all events related to the 50th Anniversary of LA Pride that were scheduled for June 2020.

‘Organizers are assessing the situation. More information to be provided around the postponement as details become available.’

Meanwhile Miami Beach Pride was due to be held from 28 March and 5 April.

Pride bosses will go ahead with a rainbow flag-raising ceremony at city hall, a Pulse nightclub remembrance ceremony and a pop-up art exhibition on Monday 30 March. However organizers are postponing all other events. They are currently working on a new date with city officials.

Miami Beach Pride said in a statement: ‘Upon further collaboration today with the mayor of Miami Beach and our health-related partners, the board of directors of Miami Beach Pride has announced the rescheduling of the 2020 Pride event.

‘The decision was based on safeguarding the health of the event’s guests, sponsors, volunteers, staff and community-at-large.’

Pride organisers in Fort Lauderdale were hosting the first ‘Pride of the Americas’ between 21 and 26 April. However, they have also announced they are postponing until the autumn.

Pride Fort Lauderdale president Miik Martorell said:

‘This is obviously a disappointing blow to the entire Pride Fort Lauderdale team, our sponsors and partners. However, the safety of the public is always our utmost concern.’

Pride bosses’ emergency call to discuss coronavirus

Prides from around the world met by teleconference on Monday to share ideas about how to handle the pandemic.

At the time, Los Angeles Pride organizers told the group they hoped to go ahead.

But on the call, people learned that Pride in Bucharest is postponing until at least September.

Meanwhile the European Pride Organizers Association predicts that some Pride events this summer will postpone because of coronavirus.

However, Birmingham Pride in the UK is still going ahead on the weekend of 23 to 24 May. It is the first major Pride event of the UK season.

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