A Pride event in Melbourne, Florida, which was promoted as suitable for all ages, has sparked controversy due to the inclusion of sexually explicit content at a children's table.
Florida Voice News reports that the Space Coast Pride event featured a children's book table with contentious titles such as "It's Perfectly Normal," a book that has been banned in several Florida county public schools for its explicit depiction of masturbation and sex positions.
The LGBTQ community has argued that the prohibition of these books is anti-LGBTQ. Other prohibited books displayed at the event included "I am Jazz" and "When Aidan Became a Brother." The table also sold t-shirts with the slogan "READ BANNED BOOKS" and solicited donations for a GoFundMe campaign.
The GoFundMe page, organized by Adam Tritt, a teacher and elected official in Brevard County, Florida, has reportedly raised over $50,000. The Space Coast Pride event, which drew an estimated crowd of 18,000, also sold items associated with sexual fetishes and featured a drag show with a performer exposing their bare buttocks.
Florida's Voice stated that they observed "at least 50 children in attendance at the festival over the course of one hour." The event has been met with strong criticism from Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Melbourne Beach, who described the event as "disgusting."
"I don't understand why these people are so intent on showing stuff to children. It's sick. If you're an adult, have at it, but I just don't understand the desire to groom, I don't get it, it's disgusting," Fine told the outlet.
He expressed his confusion over the event organizers' inability to separate criticism of explicit content being shown to children from criticism of the content in general.
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