Pride, Politics, and Power Plays: St. Pete Finds Itself Back in the Crossfire
A new political skirmish is brewing in Pinellas County, where questions of spending, symbolism, and civic pride have once again pulled St. Petersburg into the statewide spotlight. What began as a financial report from the governor’s efficiency office has rippled into a heated debate over Pride funding, local autonomy, and even the design of the city’s flag.
DeSantis’ Efficiency Team Calls Out Local Spending
Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia recently unveiled a list of what they described as “wasteful expenditures” by local governments. Compiled by the state’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, the report included two examples from the Tampa Bay area: Pinellas County’s $75,000 annual sponsorship of St. Pete Pride, and the City of St. Petersburg’s $258,000 contribution—partly drawn from its utility and EMS funds—to Pride-related events.
The DOGE initiative was designed to highlight local spending that may not align with core government responsibilities, particularly as the administration continues to emphasize fiscal restraint and transparency. For DeSantis, the move is part of a broader message that taxpayer funds should support essential services, not politically driven celebrations.
Equality Florida Pushes Back
The nonprofit organization Equality Florida fired back almost immediately, calling the list “a pathetic effort to distract from corruption, inside dealing, and scandals.” In its statement, the group argued that Pinellas County’s Pride sponsorship is anything but wasteful, pointing to millions in economic activity tied to the annual event.
Citing its own data, Equality Florida claims that St. Pete Pride generated $67.2 million in local economic impact in 2022 and another $60.7 million in 2023, including roughly $34 million in direct spending. The group contrasted that with what it labeled questionable state expenditures, referencing an $83 million land purchase in Destin and the ongoing investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation, which allegedly redirected $10 million from a Medicaid settlement for political purposes.
Equality Florida’s executive director Nadine Smith argued that “for $83 million, the state could have funded more than 1,100 years of Pride sponsorships—each one delivering millions in benefits to Florida communities.”
Still, critics of Pride funding insist that while the events may generate tourism dollars, government involvement in promoting them remains a valid area for debate—especially when public funds are diverted from core services.
New Flags, Old Divides
While the spending debate unfolds, St. Petersburg City Council member Gina Driscoll is pushing a different kind of statement. She recently proposed two new city flag variations that integrate Pride and Black heritage colors. The designs, called the Harmony Flag and the History Flag, feature the city’s official seal layered over symbolic color fields representing inclusivity and cultural history.
Driscoll said the idea came after seeing similar initiatives in other cities, including Salt Lake City. She emphasized that the concept predates the controversy surrounding the state’s order to remove St. Petersburg’s rainbow street mural and the “Black History Matters” mural, both of which were covered earlier this year under Department of Transportation directives.
“It hurt a lot of people,” Driscoll told Spectrum News. “Maybe these flags won’t fix everything, but I think they can bring a renewed sense of what St. Petersburg means to the people who live here.”
When asked about the proposal, the governor’s office responded simply: “There is already a flag that recognizes all people. It’s called the Florida Flag.” The statement underscores the administration’s stance that local identity should not fragment under identity-based banners, but instead reflect unity under the state’s existing symbols.
The City Council is expected to discuss the proposed flags at its next meeting.
Symbols and Spending in the Larger Picture
These dueling developments—Pride funding scrutiny and symbolic flag redesigns—illustrate a deeper tug-of-war between state policy and local identity. While supporters of the DOGE initiative say it promotes accountability and responsible spending, critics view it as another chapter in the state’s growing intervention into cultural expression.
At the same time, city officials in St. Petersburg continue to navigate how to celebrate diversity without crossing into political territory that risks state backlash. The Pride events undeniably drive tourism and business, but questions remain over whether taxpayer contributions are essential to that success or merely political gestures.
The proposed flags add another layer, signaling local pride and inclusivity while simultaneously challenging the notion that unity can only be represented under a single banner.
Where This Leaves St. Pete
What’s unfolding in St. Petersburg is more than a fight over funding or flags. It’s a reflection of Florida’s broader cultural shift—one where symbols, budgets, and values intersect. As state leaders tighten the reins on spending and messaging, cities like St. Pete are testing how far they can push back without losing state support.
Whether the flags fly or the Pride checks clear, this latest episode proves that Florida’s local politics are as colorful, complicated, and closely watched as ever.