Miami Beach Pride returns with a new theme

The Miami Beach Pride returns for its 18th year with a new theme, “Pride Is Infinite.”

With more than 170,000 attendees from across the globe expected to attend, the 10-day-long celebration will start April 2, with events including the Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at Miami Beach City Hall, the Festival & Parade Weekend on Ocean Drive, the Family Picnic at Pride Park, the Spotlight Mega-Mixer at Lincoln Road, and Queer Art Showcase at the Moxy Hotel.

“As we enter our 18th year, ‘Pride Is Infinite’ reflects both our legacy and our future,” said Bruce Horwich, chairman of Miami Beach Pride. “What began in 2009 as a modest parade has grown into one of the most recognized Pride celebrations in the country. Our mission remains clear: to create an inclusive, accessible platform where every identity is honored and every voice is heard.”

Miami-Dade LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce has also played a pivotal role in Miami Beach Pride for 16 years, added Lisette Garcia, the chamber’s executive director.

“We support Miami Beach Pride by putting on an annual mega mixer to raise funds, and we help promote any of the Miami Pride Committee’s programming initiatives way in advance of the actual event taking place,” Ms. Garcia said. “We work closely with the businesses and community partners, along with sponsors like the City of Miami Beach, to help prepare for the influx of visitors and opportunities that pride brings to the city. It is really an economic driver.”

All of the LGBTQ+ owned and allied businesses throughout the county also benefit from hotel room night stays, the restaurants, and even transportation; they are all very excited for this year’s pride celebration, she continued.

“This 10-day full slate of events is really a multi-million-dollar economic driver for the city and the local businesses,” Ms. Garcia explained. “Pride is something that all the businesses are looking forward to, and it provides meaningful opportunities for them, while strengthening our community. It’s also an opportunity for us to celebrate each other and all of our communities, but it also creates an environment where brands that align themselves with pride create brand loyalty, and it showcases Miami’s vibrant and inclusive business ecosystem.”

Miami Beach Pride is the leading LGBTQ+ cultural arts organization in South Florida, producing a free, large-scale festival with an annual budget exceeding $1.2 million, along with community-based events at the forefront throughout the days of celebration.

The Angels Program is a continued partnership with Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ+ students. Through fundraising initiatives like the Angels Dinner, the program provides scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development for LGBTQ+ youth.

The Legacy Couples Program is also returning, which honors same-sex couples together for 10 years or longer. This year, 112 couples spanning five generations are being celebrated. The program’s main objective is to preserve the lived history of those who paved the way for today’s freedoms.

Drag me to Pride at Lummus Park will be hosted by Tiffany Fantasia and headlined by Trinity the Tuck, Ginger Minj, and Jimbo the Drag Clown on April 10. It’s a new drag spectacular on the evening before the festival. Then, the Miami Beach Pride Parade on Ocean Drive will take place from Fifth to 14th streets on April 12 at 12 p.m.

“Miami Beach Pride is a safe space for all our community to come out and allies in the community and just be celebratory,” said Carol Coombes, director of grants and cultural affairs for Miami Beach Pride. “We all want love, not hate, and I think that’s what we need. We’ve all been kind of bashed around every day and feel like we’ve got a target on our backs as the LGBTQ+ community. Miami Beach Pride is a space of celebration and uplift, and a welcoming space where you can feel safe. I think many of us don’t feel safe right now, and we need to be here to provide that safe space for the entire community.”

Serving as Miami Beach Pride’s parade headquarters, Palace Bar on Ocean Drive will host special events, including the Mr. & Miss Miami Beach Pride Pageant on April 8, as one of its signature pride events.

“This year’s theme for pride is ‘Infinite,’ and so we’ve taken that one step forward. We’ve taken it to where we’ve made it infinite love is limitless. We’re putting a big emphasis on making Palace not just the pride headquarters, and not just a hub for pride, but a place for everybody, like a breathing celebration of identity, community, and ability to have freedom,” said AJ Prasaguet, Palace’s general manager.

As Palace continues its 38th year of operation, it launched a monthly women’s event this past week with queer influencer couple Zashia Santiago and Tay Tate, which was an immersive nightlife experience blending music, cocktails, movement, and visual moments. The next women’s series event is set for April 25.

“Palace is the safe space for everyone who feels like it’s home,” Mr. Prasaguet said, “where we embody that everyone is welcomed, celebrated, seen, and can fully be themselves.”