Polk Pride News Today

Some Polk County families are considering moves from Florida because of new laws they say signal that LGBTQ residents are not welcome.

Bonnie Patterson-James of Lakeland has filed to challenge Florida Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, in next years election for the District 50 seat.

Pride celebrations continue into Saturday evening in Polk County, Florida, with "Pride After Dark," the county's biggest pride celebration of the year.

Superintendent Frederick Heid is recommending that the Pride Month proclamation be postponed until the Polk County School Board creates a formal process to approve proclamations.

LGBTQ-plus advocates criticized the Polk school superintendents recommendation to delay a Pride Month proclamation until a policy can be adopted.

Polk Schools has removed LGBTQ+ proclamation from agenda. Advocacy groups say they will attend School Board meeting.

Nine Polk County entities have issued LGBTQ Pride proclamations or scheduled them, while seven cities and the County Commission have denied requests.

The Florida DEP has issued a mandate for Lakeland to improve the quality of water on lakes Beulah, Crago, Horney, John and Somerset.

Mutz offered his resignation at a July 25 board meeting.

City Manager James Slaton prepared a draft of a proclamation policy that would establish criteria and give the mayor the power to reject proposals.