In St. Pete, equality matters. The Sunshine City strives to embody #WeAreStPete in all ways, and intentional inclusivity is a principle of St. Petersburg’s accountable and responsible government. St. Pete welcomes and supports the LGBTQ+ community, and is recognized as one of the LGBTQ+-friendliest cities to live and work.
“Intentional inclusivity has always been one of our administration’s core principles” says Mayor Ken Welch. I’m proud to be leading a city that embraces our LGBTQ+ community. Our citizens are valued for who they are, not who they love or how they identify. We—all of us—Are St. Pete.”
LGBTQ+ Rights are Human Rights
For more than two decades St. Petersburg’s government has focused on making St. Pete an inclusive and supportive city. Since 2014, the City has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index, which examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
A History of Celebration
Since 2003, St. Petersburg’s “Pride Promenade” has grown into a month-long celebration, featuring not just a parade, but concerts, a carnival, youth and family day, BIPOC-focused events, and more. St. Pete Pride is the biggest Pride celebration in the state of Florida and ranks as one of the 40 largest Pride celebrations in the world.
Connected to the Community
St. Pete’s official LGBTQ Welcome Center opened in 2014 and serves as an LGBTQ+ visitors’ resource, coffee house, and youth center while offering a wide range of resources, activities, and events. The Welcome Center is a program of Metro Inclusive Health. Metro Inclusive Health grew out of efforts to provide services to the HIV positive community in the mid 1980s, and today provides LGBTQ-focused healthcare throughout the Tampa Bay region. The daily operations of the Welcome Center are managed by the Mayor’s Office LGBTQ+ Liaison, who also elevates LGBTQ+ issues from the community before the City’s administration and officials.
The City also has a Police LGBTQ+ liaison with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Where Love Wins
As part of being an inclusive community, the Sunshine City welcomes and supports LGBTQ+ people, making it an attractive place to live and work. To learn more about St. Pete as a place to relocate or expand your business, contact us.
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