St. Pete Pride has acquired Sapphic St. Pete, which started as a conglomeration of sapphic-themed events last November, organized largely by Rachel Covello.
Covello operates OutCoast, an LGBTQ+ Florida tourism website. Last year, she put OutCoast’s blog “on pause” due to pressure from partnering businesses and destinations to tone down LGBTQ+ content, according to her Facebook page. Other parts of the business remain operational.
Covello has a background in LGBTQ+ marketing, per a Facebook post she made criticizing advertising that doesn’t portray diversity. “I’ve been trained on the psychology of identifying pain points and using empathy to promote an idea or product,” the post reads.
Covello goes on to describe several different scenarios in which oppression can be used to market destinations or events, like portraying a gay couple struggling to find acceptance and then showing them staying at an inclusive resort. Or a trans man “watching the news about anti-trans laws” before being transported to an inclusive beach. Or “a Thanksgiving campaign where a family goes on vacation to learn about Native American culture. … Tagline: ‘This Thanksgiving, Discover New Stories on Sacred Ground.’”
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Covello said she struggled with Sapphic St. Pete last year. “Between pivoting a business due to politics, a car wreck, my wife’s surgery, a master’s program, managing an art studio, a rental nightmare, and crosswalk advocacy… I am way behind on promoting Sapphic St. Pete,” she said in a Facebook post.
Before St. Pete Pride’s acquisition of Sapphic St. Pete, Covello made another Facebook post asking for help with the organization. Covello had to pay thousands out of pocket to support last year’s event, the post said. “I want to be honest without guilt or apology,” the post reads. “If this work doesn’t generate revenue, my heart can’t fully stay in it.”
Covello’s post then proposed several ideas for ways people can support Sapphic St. Pete, including business sponsorships, more leaders stepping in, or an acquisition. “I own the trademark and I’m absolutely open to partnership opportunities that make this sustainable, aligned, and fair for everyone involved,” the post reads.
Several weeks after that last post, St. Pete Pride announced they would absorb Sapphic St. Pete into their programming to “fill a longstanding need for an event that speaks directly to the experiences and histories of lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, trans, nonbinary and queer women,” according to WatermarkOUT News. Covello will remain on board as an advisory chair, with St. Pete Pride taking overall ownership of the program.
The next Sapphic St. Pete will likely take place in early November of this year. Further details are yet to be announced.
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This article appears in Apr. 09 – 15, 2026.