Delray Beach Cancels 2027 St. Patrick's Parade and Pride, Citing Florida DEI Law; DeSantis Disputes Reading

The Florida city of Delray Beach announced Tuesday that it is canceling its 2027 St. Patrick's Day parade, along with its annual Pride celebration, saying a new state law bars it from organizing, funding or promoting the events. The parade had run for nearly 60 years, and the dispute now turns on whether Senate Bill 1134 actually requires the cancellation.

The city said that after reviewing the legislation it is “legally prohibited from organizing, funding, or promoting these events in 2027,” though private entities may still sponsor them. The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April and effective Jan. 1, restricts municipal funding, promotion and official action involving diversity, equity and inclusion activities. It bars counties and cities from funding or promoting such activities directly or indirectly. It leaves content-neutral event permitting, public safety services and recognition of certain state and federal holidays untouched. Residents can sue a city in circuit court over a violation. DeSantis said the decision is “not mandated by Florida law” and accused the city of malicious compliance. Residents reacted with anger, and on Wednesday Mayor Tom Carney said he would try to salvage the parade without saying how.

Breitbart, the right-leaning outlet, leads with DeSantis, quoting his X post, which his office also sent to NBC News, calling the move a political stunt and predicting the legacy media would amplify it. It spends its space on the statute's text, including what the law leaves untouched, and on the city's claim, and does not mention resident backlash. NPR and The New Republic, on the left, lead with the law's effect. NPR's headline credits the new anti-DEI law, while The New Republic says Republicans likely did not intend to hit a St. Patrick's Day parade, and it features a resident asking whether the Christmas parade is next and Mayor Carney's pledge to try to save the event. The sides agree on the city's stated reasoning, the law's January start and the Pride cancellation, but disagree on whether the law compels the decision. Alternative outlets had not reported the story at the time of writing.