Miami Beach weighs funding for LGBTQ+ programs in 2027 budget
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Miami Beach commissioners on Wednesday are set to consider a proposal that would maintain funding for LGBTQ-related programming in the 2027 budget.
Why it matters: Initial budget discussions included slashing up to $376,000 for related programming and services in an effort to comply with state law.
- Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April, the law prohibits counties and municipalities from funding or promoting initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- It goes into effect Jan. 1.
The latest: An addendum put forward by Commissioner Alex Fernandez on Monday would maintain funding for the city's LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and the annual Miami Beach Pride event through the end of 2026 — a move advocacy organizations have so far applauded.
- It also would allow the city attorney to "seek guidance" on whether the city can enter contracts for events that occur in the new year.
Between the lines: The proposed budget still includes cuts to the Miami Beach Police Department's outreach programs.
Yes, but: Officials recently directed Pridelines to resubmit its grant proposal and community organizations are collaborating on ways to preserve the police department's funding.
What they're saying: The law is "poorly written" with "significant ambiguity that is being forced on us," Fernandez, the commission's only openly gay member, told Axios in an email.
- Instead of "prematurely cutting funding," he looked to other local governments, including Miami-Dade, that maintained funding for organizations that could be impacted by the law, he said.
The other side: Mayor Steve Meiner and Commissioner David Suarez, the only commissioner who's not a sponsor for the addendum, did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
Zoom in: Equality Florida's Brandon Wolf told Axios he wants municipalities to look at individual line items and what those dollars are being used for.
- Take Pridelines: Just because the organization is asking for money "doesn't mean the program or service it's providing is against the law," he said.
- "It'll take some creativity [from officials] to support their constituents in the wake of the law."
The bottom line: The addendum is a "great short-term solution," Miles Davis of SAVE Inc., Florida's oldest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, told Axios.
- "Eventually we're going to have to make a lot more hard decisions once the law goes into effect."
What's next: Advocacy organizations are encouraging constituents to attend Wednesday's budget hearing (5pm) in person or via Zoom to speak in support of the addendum.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the proposed budget does not include cuts to Pridelines, Miami's LGBTQ Community Center.