Two of Delray Beach’s biggest annual celebrations are being caught up in Florida’s latest restrictions on local government diversity programs.
The city announced Tuesday that it will no longer organize, fund or promote the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade or its annual Pride event in 2027, citing a new state law that takes effect Jan. 1.
City officials said they decided after reviewing Florida Senate Bill 1134, a measure restricting counties and municipalities from spending public money on programs or activities defined as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The move affects events that have brought thousands of people into downtown Delray Beach and attracted residents, visitors and local businesses.
“The City recognizes that these annual events have provided opportunities for members of the community to gather, celebrate, and connect,” officials said in a statement reported by WLRN.
But the St. Patrick’s Day Parade may not be dead yet.
Mayor says city is trying to save St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Hours after news of the cancellations spread, Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney said officials were looking for another way to put on the parade.
Carney said the city was working with “multiple entities” in an effort to make sure the 2027 parade proceeds as planned, according to WPBF.
“The St. Patrick’s Day parade is ingrained in the DNA of the Delray Beach community,” Carney said.
He added that the city was working “feverishly” to preserve the event.
That could mean shifting the parade away from direct city sponsorship or finding private organizations willing to take responsibility for the celebration. City Manager Terrence Moore told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that an outside private group could potentially sponsor the St. Patrick’s Day event.
The city has said the new law does not prevent private organizations from sponsoring the affected celebrations. No comparable rescue plan for the 2027 Pride event had been announced as of Wednesday.
What Florida’s new DEI law does
The dispute stems from Senate Bill 1134, officially titled “Official Actions of Local Governments.”
According to the Florida Senate’s official summary of the legislation, the law prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting or taking official action related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
It also prevents local governments from allowing their money to be used by employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors or other groups to promote DEI initiatives.
The legislation passed the Florida Senate 25-11 and the House 77-37 before Gov. Ron DeSantis approved it in April. It becomes effective Jan. 1, 2027.
The law defines covered DEI activity broadly enough to include certain programs designed or carried out with reference to characteristics such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.
It also carries consequences for local officials. The legislation says municipal or county officials who violate its restrictions while acting in their official capacity can commit misfeasance or malfeasance in office. Residents can also bring legal action against local governments accused of violating the law.
That legal exposure appears to be a major reason Delray Beach chose not to continue directly backing the two events.
Two popular Delray Beach events caught in the same law
The cancellation creates an unusual situation: a Pride celebration and a St. Patrick’s Day parade are both being affected by the same state restrictions.
The Pride event has an obvious connection to sexual orientation and gender identity, two areas specifically addressed by the legislation.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade raises a less obvious issue because of its association with Irish ethnicity and cultural heritage.
Delray Beach officials nevertheless concluded that the law prevents the city from organizing, funding or promoting both events in 2027.
“The City appreciates the residents, participants, volunteers, and community partners who have contributed to these events over the years,” officials said, adding that Delray Beach remains committed to community engagement that complies with state and federal law.
For downtown businesses accustomed to crowds surrounding both celebrations, what happens next could have an economic impact as well as a cultural one.
The immediate question is whether private sponsors can step in.
Carney’s announcement indicates that discussions are already underway to preserve the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Whether a private organization will similarly take over Delray Beach’s Pride celebration remains unclear.
