Miami Beach Pride is officially kicking off at city hall with its annual raising of the rainbow flag. The tradition outside city hall comes as Florida Republican lawmakers push a measure banning pride flags at public buildings. NBC6’s Jamie Guirola reports
The rainbow flags are flying high in South Florida! Miami Beach Pride is back for its 17th year, kicking off Thursday with a weeklong celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, culture, and community.
Miami Beach Pride is officially underway, becoming a hub of inclusivity and celebration. This year is set to be one of the biggest yet, with both dancing and dialogue.
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WATCH HEREWith the raising of the progressive rainbow flag over Miami Beach City Hall, Miami Beach Pride 2025 officially started on Thursday. Organizers and city leaders raised the flag, which represents diversity, love, and equality.
“This is a moment of visibility. This flag shows to the world not only is the gay community here, but the gay community is welcome, is included, is embraced," said Commissioner Alex Fernandez. "It's celebrated year-round, not just during Pride.”
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The flag flies high as LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across the nation and here in Florida. Lawmakers in the state are proposing a series of bans and restrictions, including whether local governments, schools, and state universities can even fly the Pride flag. The proposed legislation says governments should remain neutral on political issues.
Democratic state Senator Shevrin Jones opposes the proposal.
"What they define as a political viewpoint is not a political viewpoint in that is sexual orientation or gender or political ideology viewpoint," Jones said. "That they have not defined it, my colleagues know they haven’t defined it, and local governments should be able to do what’s best for them."
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Miami Beach Pride brings together members of the LGBTQ+ community, friends, and allies in celebration of their unique culture. Pride’s chairman of the board says this year’s Pride has a special meaning.
“All the more reason we need to have this. I’ve been asked in the past, why do we have Pride? I think we see now why we have Pride, we have to have it,” Bruce Horwich said.
What began in 2009 as a one-day event has grown into a full week of parties, panels, performances, and of course, the big parade.
“It’s fantastic to see all the different contingents from not only Miami Beach and Miami but from all over,” Horwich said.
The parade is on Sunday, April 6. There will also be a festival that same weekend. Here’s a list of events for the entire week. NBC6 and Telemundo51 are the official media sponsors of Miami Beach Pride.
