Osceola County delays Pulse tribute groundbreaking to October
Osceola County has released a statement on the delay to the groundbreaking of the Pulse tribute from artist JEFRË.
The county believes that with the upcoming final tour of Pulse nightclub from survivors, the groundbreaking should be delayed so visitors do not need to choose between the two events.
The county announced it will move the groundbreaking ceremony to October, which is LGBTQ+ History Month.
Out of respect, the groundbreaking at Brownie Wise Park is postponed to October during LGBTQ+ History Month where we look forward to welcoming the victims' families and survivors along the shore of Lake Toho to celebrate our community-led efforts coming into view.
Osceola County
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why State College Pride attendees, organizers said this year's was the most important yet
Centre County's most colorful day of the year came Saturday in the form of State College Pride 2025 — the annual LGBTQ+ parade and festival — with organizers and attendees in agreement that this year's edition might've been the most important yet. With nearly 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced or enacted across the country this year, in addition to some locally vandalized Pride flags and decorations Friday, thousands descended on the rainbow-colored downtown Saturday to support, love, hope and fight. Pride flags hung from streetlights, rainbow-colored crosswalks greeted pedestrians, and thousands of attendees cheered and clapped during festivities that started with a parade, before continuing with guest speakers, a drag performance, and more. 'Last year, the queer community was in a different place, so I think last year was more of an unbridled celebration,' said Michel Lee Garrett, a board member for Centre LGBT+, which organized the fifth annual festival. 'This year, while the celebration is still here, I think we are rededicating ourselves to the importance of community. We are rededicating ourselves to the importance of solidarity, rededicating ourselves to the importance of Pride, not only as a celebration but as a protest and as a prayer and as a promise.' Saturday was not a protest in the strictest sense of the word. Instead of signs and placards, attendees came armed with smiles and colorful clothing. One man wore a T-shirt that read, 'I like my whiskey straight, but my friends can go either way.' Dog owners brought pets decked out in colorful bows and rainbow-colored tutus, while some attendees dyed their own hair in bright colors. Several members of the LGBTQ+ community said they've felt isolated at different points this year, like when Penn State Health discontinued gender-affirming care for minors due to an executive order from President Donald Trump. But seeing everyone Saturday, including all the allies and supporters, provided a needed reminder they're not alone. Scott McKenzie, a State College resident who sported a thick beard dyed multiple colors, never mentioned feeling isolated. But he did remark on just how important that feeling of community was. 'This is all about acceptance and compassion for everyone,' he said. 'Anybody that's actively coming out to support a Pride festival is my kind of person, regardless of whatever else is going on in their lives, because it's just about showing up to support a society of other people — knowing that we're all in the same community together and having an opportunity to just say, 'I'm here with you, for you.'' Added Natalie Hernandez, another local resident: 'It feels deeply important this year. It feels like a moment in time where you want to be demonstrating what's important to you. And just being here is really important.' An overcast morning might've deterred some parade goers, but Friedman Park was filled by noon. Even when those sitting on the lawn were forced to rotate between umbrellas and sunglasses — the rain stopped and started at least three times — the crowd only grew larger. They weren't discouraged by the weather, or by a string of vandalism Friday in State College. According to multiple accounts, the Pride flag hanging over the entrance to Faith UCC on East College Avenue was partially burned Friday and Pride decorations were torn down from Cafe 210. The State College Police Department issued an alert Friday, seeking a male suspect for 'criminal mischief and harassment.' And Chief John Gardner told the CDT on Saturday morning that the suspect has already been identified with the help of the Patton Township Police Department, and charges could be filed Monday. A handful of protesters also gathered at the park Saturday with large signs and a life-sized wooden cross. But about a dozen LGBTQ+ supporters surrounded them, keeping their distance but lifting their own signs and Pride flags so those by the protesters couldn't be seen. When one man with a megaphone began preaching fire and brimstone, some began drowning him out with chants of 'God is love!' The number of Christian churches and Jewish groups that took part in the Pride parade appeared to outnumber the protesting individuals. One of the participating drag queens said they walked over to say hello, before being met with shouts that they were going to hell. But, if heaven was filled with people like that, the drag queen quipped to attendees that they'd be happy to be left off the guest list. 'I've been blown away by all the energy,' added another drag queen, who went by the name Aurora and was named Mx. State College Pride 2025. 'Not that I didn't expect there to be people — it's been busy — but people are still going. It's been really great.' The exact attendance Saturday won't be known for at least another week or two. Anecdotally, some believed the parade wasn't as packed due to the morning's gloomy weather, but Centre LGBT+ executive director Cat Cook found Friedman Park to be more crowded than last year. She believed, in spite of the weather, the total attendance could've surpassed last year's mark of 5,000. Either way, organizers lauded the community for a strong showing. The number of tables this year, such as 'Free Mom Hugs,' doubled to about 70 on South Allen Street. More than 100 volunteers took part, and eight food trucks were set up near State High's Memorial Field. After the parade, where candy was thrown and bubbles blown, the festival kicked off after words from a half-dozen speakers. Grand Marshal Jacob Kelley, a non-binary drag queen whose alter ego is known as Trixy Valentine, might've best summed up the purpose of Pride. 'Take a moment right now and look around because you're seeing love,' they said. 'You're seeing resilience. You're seeing hope. You're seeing power. Pride is more than a celebration. ... Pride is a declaration that we are here. 'It's not revolutionary that we exist. We've always been here. We're just tired of being ignored. We want to be seen, authentically, for who we are. We want to be heard loud and proud, beautiful and colorful, without changing who we have to be.' Many have felt disenfranchised and/or unseen by the current presidential administration, which has rescinded anti-discrimination protections and has erased LGBTQ+ data collections. Earlier this month, it was even announced the U.S. Navy was forced to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named for a slain gay rights leader. Lee Garrett, one of Saturday's speakers, acknowledged to the crowd that this is a difficult time for the LGBTQ+ community. And that's why Pride has never been more important. 'While it is difficult to celebrate these days, it feels like celebration is also an act of resistance. Joy is an act of resistance,' she said. 'Anti-queer forces would like nothing more than festivals like this to go away, and we're not going to let that happen. Queer joy is a radical, life-affirming act in a world that tells you that you are disgusting and should not exist. To take joy in yourself, and to take joy in your community, is transformative.' State College Pride 2025 was organized by Centre LGBT+ with help from State College Borough, the Downtown State College Improvement District, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and dozens of other sponsors.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Thousands attend 5th annual Franklin Pride event
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Despite the stormy weather, thousands of people went to the fifth annual Franklin Pride festival Saturday to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. 'It can seem like the community is very small,' festivalgoer Brandy Brown told News 2. 'However, it's really not, and you can see the amount of people that are here today, how important it is, and how necessary that it is to continue to support it and to show the youth that there are people here who care about them, too.' Attendees said Franklin Pride provides an opportunity for them to be their authentic selves. Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill nation's capital for World Pride parade 'I came out as gay as a pastor, and it was a nightmare and it was really difficult to find my way to where I am today, and so I was like, 'Man, we got to help people in this process,' and so we're here offering our services and making sure people know that we're available,' Mike Maeshiro explained. The event on Saturday, June 7 was heavily secured by the Franklin Police Department, as well as private security, to prevent any unwelcome occurrences at the festival. Organizers said a couple of people who 'weren't aligned with Franklin Pride's mission' were asked to leave. 'I think what's really important is that we come to community events like this, and you talk to people who are not like you, and you realize that we are all connected and that kindness is the most important thing,' eventgoer Coco Rogers told News 2. PREVIOUS: Supporters send donations to Franklin Pride after sponsors drop out A few months ago, News 2 reported how the nation's political climate posed a challenge for planning this year's event. However, organizers said the community rallied together to help. 'We lost a couple of big sponsors at the beginning of the year, and the community really stepped up, and they show us that they want us to be here and that we're important to the community,' Clayton Klutts, president and organizer of Franklin Pride, said. Rain or shine, festivalgoers said Saturday's event was an overall success. ⏩ 'I think we just want to thank the community for really showing up this year. This would not be possible without all the support that we've gotten,' said organizer Spencer Lyst. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
'I went on I Kissed a Boy for my younger self'
A contestant on BBC Three's I Kissed a Boy said he went on the show so he could tell his story for his "younger self". Jordan Burrow, 26, grew up on a farm in the Lake District where he did not see many gay people. "I was literally the only gay person in the village I was from so it's hard to understand how you're feeling when there's no one else around you who's feeling the same," he told BBC Radio Cumbria. Mr Burrow said that made it difficult to come to terms with his sexuality but, if he had seen himself on the dating show, he might have "understood myself a little bit better". Hosted by Dannii Minogue, I Kissed a Boy sees a group of gay men matched up and the greeting each other with a first kiss. Mr Burrow, who grew up between Dent and Sedbergh, said if similar TV shows existed when he was younger he would not have felt so isolated. "Growing up, I'd say I really struggled to come to terms with my sexuality because you just don't see, back then when I was growing up, like 10 years ago in the Lake District, you didn't see many gay people," he said. "If I had seen this on a TV show then I potentially would have understood myself a little bit better." This was the 26-year-old's main motivation for going on the show. "I thought this is my opportunity to tell my story," he said. "I'm from a farming background so already that's a story to tell, that being gay and in a farming community probably isn't as seen in the current world. "I wanted to just tell my story for my younger self." Mr Burrow moved to Manchester when he was 21 following a relationship break-up and said he now had "a brighter outlook on life as a gay man". "The person that went into the show and the person who came out of the show were very different people," he said. "I cried a lot, but I learnt so much about myself. "If little me could see what I'm doing now they would be absolutely mind blown," he said. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Neil Ashton: From a small town to the small screen I felt like a burden as I figured out my sexuality I Kissed A Boy contestant shares story of HIV diagnosis
