In response to the news that Florida would not be lighting its bridges in rainbow colors for Pride Month this year—including the John Ringling Bridge in Sarasota –LGBTQ+ advocacy group Project Pride SRQ held a  Grand Flag March over the Ringling Bridge today, June 29, at 9 a.m. At more than 700 feet long, Project Pride's Grand Flag is the largest progressive Pride flag in the country.

The vibrant celebration, which aimed to show the strength and diversity of the local community, start on the south end of the bridge with speeches from local activists including Zander Moricz, founder and executive director at the Social Equity through Education (SEE) Alliance; Jason Champion, Project Pride SRQ president; Paul Lotierzo, Project Pride SRQ executive director; Tom Edwards, Sarasota County School Board member; and Jules Rayne, Equality Florida community organizer.

“Numerous media outlets and watchdog organizations are calling Florida the least gay-friendly state, and we are sad to say that we agree,” Champion said in a press release ahead of today's event. In response to Gov. Ron DeSantis' decision to limit bridge lights to red, white and blue—part of his Freedom Summer initiative—Champion says that the community wants to "affirm our freedom to light the bridge our way: with love, inclusion and pride.”