JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The Jax River City Pride Festival and Parade kicks off this weekend. It\u2019s expected to draw thousands to Riverside and 5 Points. <\/p>\n
Organizers say this year\u2019s celebration carries a deeper meaning after rainbow crosswalks across Florida, including in Jacksonville, were painted over. <\/p>\n
The state ordered them removed, and Governor Ron DeSantis backed the effort. <\/p>\n
LGBTQ+ advocates are now concerned that visibility is being restricted. <\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n This weekend, River City Pride is expected to bring thousands of people together for a kaleidoscope of community and color. Community members like David Vandygriff are raising questions on whether public celebrations of LGBTQ+ identity are at risk in Jacksonville. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you try to shut something down, it\u2019s going to grow and it\u2019s going to get even louder. When you try to stop the American people, they\u2019re going to create something even bigger and even better,\u201d said David Vandygriff, founder of Jax LGBT Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n Concerns over visibility started earlier this year, when the city ordered rainbow crosswalks to be removed. <\/p>\n State leaders and the governor say the removals are about keeping crosswalks uniform and free from political or social messaging. <\/p>\n \u201cThis has done nothing but challenge our community to come up with even more creative ways that are even more vibrant and louder than just a crosswalk,\u201d said Vandygriff. <\/p>\n In response, advocates launched the \u2018Will not be erased\u2019 campaign, creating new spaces for pride art on private property. <\/p>\n The owner of \u2018In Cahoots\u2019 and other businesses is helping reclaim visibility. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is her way of showing the community they\u2019re welcome. You can always reinvent yourself,\u201d said Vandygriff. <\/p>\n Safety and more crackdowns are also top of mind this year. <\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cJAX River City pride ensures we have adequate safety every year. They have off-duty police officers that they pay, and security licensed to carry guns who provide protection during the festival,\u201d said Vandygriff. <\/p>\n He said the Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office (JSO) has been a good partner in the past. <\/p>\n \u201cThey make sure we\u2019re taken care of and are safe. We\u2019re citizens just like anybody else is. \u201dWe\u2019re a taxpayer just like anybody else,\u201d said Vandygriff. <\/p>\n In 5 Points, flags have been put high on the lamp posts to show there is hope – you just have to look up.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout hope, you\u2019re never going to change what you\u2019re going through at this point,\u201d said Vandygriff. <\/p>\n To him, it also means resilience that efforts to silence pride will only make the movement stronger. <\/p>\n River City Pride kicks off with a parade through Five Points, followed by a festival in Riverside Park. <\/p>\n Organizers say it\u2019s both a celebration and a reminder that visibility matters. <\/p>\n [SIGN UP: <\/b>Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter<\/b><\/a>] <\/b><\/p>\n Click here<\/b><\/a> to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to stream Action News Jax live.<\/b><\/p>\n Action News Jax Top Stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The Jax River City Pride Festival and Parade kicks off this weekend. 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