Our Love Is Louder: Showing Up for Family Day at the St. Pete Pier

Jun 7

3 min read

The Pier, the Sunshine, and Our Chosen Family

Under the blazing Florida sun and a clear Gulf breeze, the St. Pete Pier transformed into a vibrant expanse of laughter, wagging tails, fluttering flags, and unconditional love on Sunday, June 7. St Pete Pride Family Day brought thousands of LGBTQIA+ youth, queer parents, affirming grandparents, and steadfast allies straight to the waterfront to celebrate what it truly means to be a family.

For PFLAG Safety Harbor & Greater Pinellas, showing up here is second nature. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our sibling organizers from PFLAG Tampa, regional coalition friends, and grassroots partners. From the moment our canopies went up against the morning heat, the message was unmistakable: in a climate where our families are targeted by exclusionary rhetoric and divisive policies, we are not going anywhere. Our presence is collective, visible, and deeply grounded in care.

A bright yellow sign hanging on the corner of a canopy tent reading Fighting For Our Pride PFLAG inside a colorful starburst design, with a lesbian pride flag and PFLAG Leading With Love banner visible below against a blue sky.

Community Care in Action

Showing up across Pinellas County takes deliberate, behind-the-scenes mutual aid. Long before the 10:00 AM kickoff, our crew: Wendy, Laura, Mindy, and Adam: were unloading shade tents, hauling coolers of ice water, setting out paw-safe hydration bowls for the 2nd Annual Pet Parade, and organizing tables stocked with community resources.

Our booth was a tapestry of grassroots warmth. Handcrafted buttons, resource guides, pride bracelets, and flyers for upcoming gatherings like Shuffle with Pride covered our tables, anchored beneath our banner reading Leading With Love. When the asphalt heated up, community care meant passing around cooling neck towels, sharing umbrellas, applying sunscreen, and creating an accessible, low-barrier sensory stop where overwhelmed kids and parents could pause, catch their breath, and be greeted with open arms and zero judgment. Between shared sips of iced cold brews and hearty laughs, we built what we always strive for: a sanctuary where every parent and young person can breathe freely.

Adam speaking into a handheld microphone while holding a paper titled Why It Matters under the shade of a large floral umbrella. He is wearing a straw hat, neon green sunglasses, and rainbow suspenders with overalls against the St. Petersburg waterfront background.

Speaking Up / Showing Up

While Family Day radiated joy, our solidarity remained razor-sharp. Suspended across our canopy, the bold placard Fighting for Our Pride reminded every passerby of the stakes. We stood in visible resistance to Florida's ongoing legislative assaults on gender-affirming care and public inclusion, including discriminatory efforts to chill LGBTQ+ identity in schools and community spaces. Our volunteers held open, honest conversations with parents seeking affirming pediatric resources, educational rights under Title IX and Section 504, and peer connection for neurodivergent trans youth.

A person viewed from behind in a straw hat, denim overalls, and rainbow suspenders holding a large cardboard sign reading GET LOUD! in yellow letters up toward an outdoor concert stage where a band is performing under a clear blue sky.

Down on the field, the energy was electrifying. When Girls Rock Camp St. Pete took the spotlight, our own Adam was front and center: hoisting a cardboard sign reading GIRLS TO THE FRONT high into the blue sky, cheering on every chord, drumbeat, and lyric from young performers discovering the power of their voices. Later, under the floral shade of a parasol with microphone in hand, Adam addressed the crowd, holding up notes reminding everyone why community visibility matters. Our presence was a testament that showing up for queer youth means actively creating space for their art, their voices, and their leadership.

Wendy and Jules smiling together outdoors under a rainbow umbrella. Wendy wears a light blue PFLAG Safety Harbor shirt, sunglasses, and a portable neck fan while holding a large folding fan printed with drag performers, standing beside Jules in a pink tank top, sunglasses, and a patterned bandanna.

Looking Ahead: Rooted, Resilient, and Right Here

As the midday heat gave way to tear-downs and warm embraces, Wendy and community members cooled down under rainbow umbrellas, fanning out with vibrant keepsakes of local drag culture and reflecting on the power of our network. Days like this ground our work. They remind us that while legal battles and political headwinds test our endurance, the bond between LGBTQ+ people and the families who love them cannot be legislated away.

We leave the pier replenished by the smiles, the affirming conversations, and the knowledge that our collective resolve is stronger than any obstacle placed in our way. We are here for every parent navigating a new journey, every youth looking for validation, and every neighbor ready to stand in solidarity.

PFLAG Safety Harbor leaders Wendy and Laura greeting visitors at an outdoor festival outreach booth beneath an Our Love Is Louder sign and a large blue, pink, and white transgender pride flag flying from the canopy tent. The table is filled with brochures, pride bracelets, and buttons.

Concluding Call to Action

Need a welcoming space to connect, share stories, or find community support? Join us at our next monthly peer circle or community gathering. Check our calendar and get connected at pflagsafetyharbor.org/events.