Polk Pride in the Park 2023. Credit: Polk Pride

Ten years ago, a group of friends in Polk County wanted to celebrate Pride with a picnic. They didn’t expect the conservative area to put on a parade, but they also didn’t expect how many people also wanted a celebration.

Through word of mouth, that informal picnic turned into a gathering of about 1,000 LGBTQ+ residents, marking the first Polk Pride.

Now, the formally organized group is celebrating its decade of advocacy with a week of events under the theme “InTENtionally Proud.” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Denali makes an appearance at its Pride After Dark after a week of celebrations.
Board member Dustin Shay told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that beyond partying, the week is meant to connect Polk residents with LGBTQ+ friendly organizations that will support them year-round. Its Pride in Faith event brings together multiple religious centers at Beacon Hill Fellowship in Lakeland. The Lakeland Youth Alliance, a safe-space organization for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, co-hosts its Youth in Pride event.

Despite existing in a red county, Polk Pride—which runs June 7-14 this year—hasn’t seen the same politically-fueled drops in sponsorship that Dunedin, Sarasota and many parts of the country have.

Shay said sponsorship has increased each year, and if sponsors have dropped, they haven’t given a political reason.

“Where some people pull back, other people ramp up,” Shay said. “We’ve seen some organizations give more this year than they have in the past. So, yeah, we might lose some somewhere, but I think we make up for it with the allies and the sponsors who double down.”

The organization doesn’t take for granted that a largely Republican City Commission has granted its permits and that the Lakeland Police Department is providing security.

Added Shay, “Political climate be damned, we‘re going to keep showing our Pride.”
Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.