A Florida pride parade has been cancelled due to a recently passed bill that restricts children from attending adult live performances.

The Treasure Coast Pridefest event has altered its plans including cancellation of the pride parade and limiting the festival attendance to individuals aged 21 and over.

Held at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie on Saturday, the event was modified after discussions between city officials and Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast organizers, according to WPTV.

“After multiple meetings with city officials, it is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event,” a notice on the organization’s page said.

Florida’s House passed the “Protection of Children” bill, SB 1438, on April 19, barring governmental entities from issuing permits for events allowing children at adult live performances and imposing strict penalties for venues that violate the law.

The bill, which Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to sign, defines “adult live performances” as “any show, exhibition, or other presentation in front of a live audience which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities … lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.”

Although the bill does not specifically mention “drag,” opponents such as the ACLU of Florida argue that it is a “blatant attempt to erase drag performers and silence the LGBTQ+ community.”

Florida House Representative John Snyder (R) countered that the legislation does not limit pride parades and would not have necessitated any changes to the annual Treasure Coast Pridefest event. “What we’re focused on is a common-sense approach, standing up for the protection and innocence of our children,” he told WPBF.

However, Pridefest organizer and performer Shelita Taylor expressed disappointment, stating, “This is the one date a year where they can go out and just openly be themselves. And it’s been all taken away because of bigotry and hate.”

In response to the restrictions, Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast announced on its page that it would soon organize a family-friendly “Party in the Park” event, designed for young people to celebrate their identities.

The statement read, “We are obviously upset and disheartened that it has come to this,” emphasizing the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and youth support.

The controversy surrounding the “Protection of Children” bill and its impact on the Treasure Coast Pridefest highlights ongoing tensions between LGBTQ+ rights advocates and conservative lawmakers, as they navigate the balance between child protection and freedom of expression.

Watch WPBF’s coverage of Treasure Coast Pridefest below.