As September draws to a close, cities across the United States are marking Pride in dramatically different ways, underscoring the complex political and economic climate facing LGBTQ+ communities in 2025. In Durham, North Carolina, thousands are preparing for a vibrant weekend of festivities, even as organizers emphasize the event’s political importance. Meanwhile, Tampa, Florida’s Pride organization has announced a complete hiatus for 2026, citing mounting financial and political pressures that have made it impossible to continue.
Durham’s annual Pride celebration, set for the weekend of September 25, 2025, is expected to draw crowds from across the region. The city has long been a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community, especially at times when backlash has threatened progress elsewhere. According to Axios, Durham’s Pride is more than just a party—it’s a “political act” to gather in public, particularly as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and social challenges persist nationally and statewide. Jesse Huddleston, the event’s lead organizer, put it plainly: “Pride is a good time, but it’s also a political act.”
Durham stands out for its unique approach to Pride. While most of the country celebrates in June—commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City—Durham has held its festivities in September for over two decades. The reason? Cooler weather and the return of Duke University students, a major sponsor, make the fall more appealing. It’s also a nod to history: Durham hosted North Carolina’s first LGBTQ+ pride marches in September 2001 and was the site of the state’s first gay rights demonstration in June 1981, following a tragic hate crime. Those early days were “somber,” organizers told the News & Observer, but they laid the groundwork for today’s celebrations.
This year’s Pride spans three days, with a packed schedule. The festivities kick off Friday, September 26, with a concert and rally at CCB Plaza downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday brings the centerpiece parade, starting at noon on Duke University’s East Campus. Floats will wind through Main, Broad, and Ninth streets, followed by a health and wellness “kickback” on campus until 5 p.m. Sunday wraps up the weekend with a day market at Durham Central Park, featuring food trucks and vendors from noon to 4 p.m. And while there are no official afterparties, Durham’s nightlife scene is expected to be buzzing, with venues like The Fruit, PS37, Club Era, and others offering spaces to celebrate.
The event will go on rain or shine, with organizers monitoring the forecast and sharing updates on Instagram (@pridedurhamnc). Volunteers in lavender and neon pink will be on hand to help attendees navigate the festivities—a small but thoughtful touch that can make a big difference, especially for first-time Pride-goers. Huddleston encourages people to reach out: “If you see someone by themself, talk to them. It can make a world of difference for people, especially if it’s their first Pride and they’re figuring out how to embrace and integrate their identity.”
But not all is smooth sailing. This year, Durham County dropped its long-running sponsorship over concerns about losing federal funding for schools and healthcare. Despite the financial blow, county officials have pledged continued support in other ways. “Durham County is not our enemy, stop playing,” Huddleston said. “They’re still going to march in the parade. They’re still doing STI testing at our kickback.” In response to the lost funding, county chair Nida Allam launched a fundraiser aiming to raise $20,000 for Pride. The loss of official support is a reminder of the fragile nature of LGBTQ+ events, even in communities with a history of inclusion.
Contrast Durham’s resilience with the situation unfolding in Tampa. On September 19, 2025, Tampa Pride announced it would cancel all its 2026 events and take a one-year hiatus. The decision, posted on Facebook and reported by Metro Weekly, came after months of mounting challenges. “The current political and economic climate, including challenges with corporate sponsorships, reductions in county, state and federal grant funding, and the discontinuation of DEI programs under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has made it increasingly difficult for our organization to sustain ongoing operations for 2026,” the board wrote.
The organization’s former president, Carrie West, whose 12-year tenure ended in August, told Tampa Bay’s NBC affiliate WFLA that the group had been hit hard by dwindling community donations and a significant loss of corporate support. Tampa Pride typically receives low six-figure donations from major companies, but many have backed out over fears of boycotts or investigations tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and LGBTQ+ giving. West estimated that Tampa Pride needs at least $225,000 to $275,000 to stay afloat, but with sponsors pulling out, the future is uncertain.
The hiatus, the board explained, is necessary to “regroup, reassess our long-term strategy, and identify additional avenues of funding to secure the future stability of Tampa Pride events.” But there are no guarantees that events will return after 2026. The announcement sparked immediate backlash from local LGBTQ+ community members, many of whom accused the board of caving to anti-LGBTQ+ pressure from activists, the Trump administration, and Governor DeSantis. Others raised concerns about possible financial mismanagement. One Facebook user wrote, “Cancelling any Pride festival makes the community feel like the haters are winning the battle to make our community fear & disappear.” Another urged a return to grassroots activism: “Pride didn’t start with a budget, or any sponsorships. Get back to our roots. March together and make our voices heard!”
Florida’s political climate has grown increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ events. In 2023, Tampa Pride canceled its Pride on the River festival after Governor DeSantis signed a controversial “drag ban,” which allowed prosecution of businesses accused of permitting children to attend “adult live performances.” The law was blocked by a federal judge, and the Supreme Court declined to lift the injunction, but the chilling effect has lingered. Federal and state officials have also moved to block taxpayer dollars from funding DEI or LGBTQ-related work, with some Tampa Bay governments even scaling back or renaming diversity offices, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
Yet, not all Florida Pride events are on hold. In neighboring Pinellas County, St. Pete Pride organizers told the Tampa Bay Times that their 2026 events will proceed as planned, even as they face similar funding challenges. St. Pete Pride, the largest in the Southeast, drew 350,000 attendees this year and operates on a $700,000 budget. The group has shifted to rely more on individual donations after losing $150,000 to $175,000 in corporate funding this year. St. Pete Pride President Byron Green-Calisch explained, “It is hard to raise money specifically in a political context when there’s rhetoric vilifying the queer community. Businesses do weigh that risk: Am I going to be retaliated in this moment if I choose to support or engage?”
Back in Durham, the message is clear: Pride is both celebration and resistance. Whether in the face of financial setbacks or political headwinds, organizers and community members are determined to keep the spirit alive—sometimes with big parades and concerts, sometimes with a simple march and a call for solidarity. The future of Pride events may be uncertain in some places, but the resolve to gather, celebrate, and advocate remains as strong as ever.
