Mailen Mejuto isn’t sure whether she wants kids in the future. But one thing is for certain: the 28-year-old knows she wouldn’t want to raise them in Florida.
Mejuto on Sunday joined thousands of people — some decked out in rainbow flags and others in beach wear — gathered along Ocean Drive in South Beach’s scorching heat to watch the annual pride parade.
The South Beach resident didn’t have to go far to join the festivities but said she’s concerned by what’s happening around the country. In Florida, lawmakers want to expand the Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which would bar classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from pre-K to eighth grade instead of kindergarten to third grade.
“I think there’s more important things like wars in other countries than banning drag,” she said. “How many shootings have you seen in drag shows ... in a mall, or in a school where kids are trying to have an education?”
The bills coming out of the legislative session were on the minds of many at this year’s pride parade. Signs and shirts in the parade — and in the crowd — commented on the perceived attack on the LGBTQ+ community.
“Say Gay.” “Save trans youth.” “Be bold. Live free. Stay woke. Love all.”
One of the parade’s emcees wore a white dress with red text that said: “Drag is not a crime.” Members of a Coral Gables church congregation dragged a cart with “banned books” written on the side as others waved a sign that said “You are loved.” Children, too, marched in the parade, handing out pride swag to the crowd.
A truck flashing a message almost foreshadowed part of what went down on Sunday: “Your vote is the greatest form of protest.”
As the celebration winded down, paraders with Equality Florida handed out flyers about State Rep. Fabian Basabe, urging the crowd to boo when the official appeared in a red convertible.
Why? Basabe (R-Miami Beach) has voted consistently with Republicans on controversial culture-war bills, sparking several constituent protests.
Last month, Basabe supported the expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. On Wednesday, he spoke during a committee hearing in favor of a bill that would bar children from attending drag shows with “lewd” performances, arguing it is “protecting the drag industry” from performers who are “taking things too far and ruining it for the rest of us.”
Michelle Vasco, 40, celebrated pride at the parade with her wife Astrid Garcia, 37, and daughter Dominique Mosley, 22. Vasco said she doesn’t understand why politicians are suddenly so focused on the LGBTQ+ community.
“(The legislature) should be worrying about other things that are more important than the LGBT community because we do no harm,” the Cutler Bay resident said. “All we do is just love.”
As a foster mom to two toddlers, Vasco believes that limiting classroom discussions related to sexual orientation and gender identity will only cause harm. She said many children are in foster care because their families kicked them out. Some may even resort to suicide.
“It’s not like they teach how to be gay,” Vasco said. “That can’t be taught.”
Solanch Dominguez, joined by her girlfriend, said she avoids thinking about the decisions being made in Tallahassee because they upset her — as someone who’s part of the community and as a child of a gay father.
“This is a free country ... so we should be and feel whatever we want to,” the 22-year-old Miami resident said. “I really do hope that everyone opens their eyes and realizes what’s going on.”
Mailen Mejuto can’t bare the thought of raising a child in a Florida with these policies in place. She fears that children with same-sex parents won’t be able to talk about their families in school — simply because of their parents’ sexual orientation.
“It’s 2023. We should quit the bull----,” Mejuto said. “There are important things that we have to be worried about.”
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