St. Cloud is ramping up resources for its Pride celebration this weekend, drawing attention not just for its growing popularity but also for recent conflict within the city council. According to ClickOrlando, the city council voted 4-1 in favor of increasing the number of parks and recreation staff for the Proud in the Cloud event from the original eight planned to eighteen, in anticipation of an attendance that could swell between 2,000 and 4,000 people. This decision comes after Mayor Chris Robertson motioned for added staff to "ensure there’s safety and security" despite online rumors about a potential cancellation of the event.
The decision to increase staff has its roots in city politics; earlier, contentious debates leading up to the event indicated fractures within the council, a pause on issuing proclamations caused friction, particularly concerning one that would recognize Pride Month one that did not sit well with Council Member Shawn Fletcher, openly gay and formerly the deputy mayor, suggesting that the move had divergent motives that may target the gay community, in a statement detailed by WESH. This led to a vote by the council members that stripped Fletcher of his title as deputy mayor, further escalating tensions.
These internal disputes culminated in Mayor Robertson calling a special meeting to revisit the organization and safety measures for the Proud in the Cloud celebration. In this meeting, a deeper dive into the event’s approval process raised questions about the facility rental rates and the level of city staff presence required, prompting a unanimous vote for the city to cover the costs of the ten additional parks and recreation staff to be assigned to the event, ensuring its smooth operation.
Proud in the Cloud aims to create a welcoming and safe space for the LGBTQ community and will proceed this Saturday with the enhanced staff presence, as the St. Cloud community looks forward to a day of empowerment and expression at The Ranch at St. Cloud.
