“Sarasota has never really tapped into Gay Pride Month yet,” says Jordan Letschert, president of the board for Project PRIDE. “That’s all about to change.” Admittedly not as receptive, or extravagant, as fellow Florida cities such as Miami, Orlando, St. Pete or Tampa, Sarasota is making big, colorful strides in welcoming the LGBTQ+ community to raising their rainbow flags loud and proud. That’s largely due to the newly-founded nonprofit that celebrates individuality and diversity, not just for one singular month, but year-round.

Letschert, along with co-founder Katie McCurry, their esteemed board of directors and 100-plus volunteers, have been blazing the trail for a new status quo—breaking the stigma that Sarasota is progressing at a much slower pace in embracing the LGBT culture. “We’re not trying to become a South Beach or Key West, but for a family like myself—me, my partner and our younger son—we’d like to share our beautiful beaches with others like ourselves, and celebrate our diversity all year round,” Letschert says.

“Our ability to fundraise and break the bubble of where LGBT people are socializing and fundraising, while being supported and celebrated, is what sets us apart from other nonprofits.” Since September 2020, Project PRIDE has made major moves as the area continues to be a sought-after, safe travel destination and new hometown for many seeking a dose of sunshine and social equality. But with annual LGBT Pride Month coming up in June—a dedicated month of festivities celebrating the self-affirmation, spirit and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community—many 941 locals plan to head up to St. Pete and Tampa for the celebrations, simply because Sarasota has yet to embrace the celebration for LGBT residents and visitors.

Project PRIDE is actively working with city officials and Visit Sarasota to cultivate SRQ into as friendly and fervent a locale for social connection as our neighboring municipalities are. “We hope it will help tamp down the heightened hostile climate that we’ve all experienced at-large in the last year,” says Letschert. “We’re here to unite and support people—not just in LGBT community, but everyone.” SRQ

 

PRIDE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS

  • Project PRIDE received funds from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and other donors to design and create 75 flagpole banners donning the symbolic rainbow-striped flag inclusive of every group, with an added black stripe to represent the defining Black Lives Matter movement. City approved, the Project PRIDE team will be staking these weather-resistant and reusable banners Downtown and in the Rosemary District for 45 days—starting May 15, going through until June 31—as a festive way to break the bubble and promote LGBT Pride Month in a “big way.”

  • Simultaneously, the John Ringling Causeway will be lit up at night from one end to the other in rainbow-colored lights from mid-may to late June. Lining the bottom of the bridge and illuminating the bay at night, the rainbow nightlights will signify the diversity of the LGBT community and guide the way.

  • Detroit-based artist Joey Salamon was enlisted to create what will be the largest mural installation ever in Sarasota. Salamon combines head-turning patterns, a rainbow color palette and repeating three-dimensional geometric shapes in his work, which has reached the national level with album cover art, larger-than-life street murals and restaurant interior design. Next month, at the five-point intersection of downtown’s Cocoanut Avenue and 2nd Street, each crosswalk will be painted in rainbow-colored stripes in a mishmash of crisscrossed directions. The grand debut of the mural will take place at Project Pride's first-ever Pridewalk—with many city commissioners present, people renewing their vows standing on the symbolic street art and various other educational activities and cultural entertainment. 

  • With a play on the “Hippies Always Welcome” sign, Project PRIDE created hundreds of custom window clings to give out free to local businesses to dress their storefronts as a visual greeting to any and all individuals, no matter who they are or who they love. “You Are Valued Here” is printed on each decal—encouraging all sexual orientations, religions, countries of origin, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, languages, ages and political parties to feel welcomed to dine, shop and hang inside.

For a full spectrum of events, or to get involved, visit projectpride.org, @projectpridesrq.