City-approved ‘all ages’ Space Coast Pride event promotes sexually explicit book at kids table, drag shows
MELBOURNE, Fla. – A Florida’s Voice investigation revealed an “all ages” Space Coast Pride event in downtown Melbourne on Sept. 23 had a book table for kids containing sexually explicit content, along with other books that have been removed from Florida public schools.
Additionally, at the event, Florida’s Voice witnessed a drag performer that had an outfit, which appeared to have “cut outs” on their butt. Multiple items were being sold at the event such as “kinky earrings,” tails, and other items.
WATCH: “Family friendly” Space Coast Pride in Melbourne has “banned book” table for kids, some containing pornography @amberjocooper saw multiple books that have been removed from Florida schools, other items such as furry tails, “kinky earrings,” and drag performances pic.twitter.com/QadxtO9wKL
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) September 23, 2023
Florida’s Voice witnessed at least 50 children in attendance at the festival over the course of one hour.
Multiple vendors were promoting books that have been discontinued from some Florida classrooms due to recent laws, including HB 1069.
One vendor had a kids picture book table containing sexually explicit material. One book titled “It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris and Michael Emberley, showed sex positions, described masturbation, and other sexual content.
“It’s Perfectly Normal” was removed from Broward County public schools, Marion County public schools, and Orange County Public Schools, according to report released in August.
Other titles such as “I am Jazz,” by Jessica Herthel, and “When Aidan Became A Brother,” by Kyle Lukoff, have been removed from Florida classrooms, according to the Department of Education.
The table displaying the children’s books also sold shirts that said “READ BANNED BOOKS” and encouraged people to donate to their GoFundMe.
A QR code on the booth linked to a Go Fund Me page organized by Adam Tritt, who is an “Advanced Placement English teacher, author, college instructor, and elected official in Brevard County, Florida.”
According to the website, Tritt said he founded the nonprofit to “help us purchase used copies (locally, whenever available) to distribute to age-appropriate students at various locations in our county.”
Florida’s Voice found the event was all ages and the books were not separated by which ones were “age appropriate.” The GoFundMe has already raised over $50,000.
According to the permit obtained by Florida’s Voice, the event estimated to bring 18,000 people. The city approved both the parade and the festival. The parade was scheduled from 11:00 am to 12:30 p.m. and the festival went until 6:00 p.m.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, told Florida’s Voice the findings are “disgusting.”
Fine sponsored legislation during the 2022-2023 legislative session to penalize businesses and people who admit children into “adult live performances.” The law authorizes Florida to fine, suspend, or revoke the license of any public establishment that admits a child to “adult live performances” that depict or simulate nudity, sexual conduct, or lewd exposure.
That law was temporarily blocked until its 2024 court date.
“I don’t understand why these people are so intent on showing stuff to children. It’s sick. If you’re an adult, have at it, but I just don’t understand the desire to groom, I don’t get it, it’s disgusting,” Fine said.
“The problem with these people is they conflate it – they conflate criticizing it being shown to children as criticizing it in general, it’s like they can’t do it it doesn’t involve children, and I don’t understand it,” Fine said.
Fine said he believes the mayor of Melbourne, Paul Alfrey, “welcomed” the event “very forcefully.”
The representative previously spoke out warning residents that the event may have sexualized content to “groom minors.”
Florida’s Voice previously reported that the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners voted against funding the Brevard Cultural Alliance for fiscal year 2023-2024. The vote took place two weeks after denying a $530,000 grant program, which included funding for Space Coast Pridefest.
It was previously reported that over half-a-million dollars were cut from grant funding by commissioners during an Aug. 8 meeting which included $15,000 from the controversial Space Coast Pride event for 2024.
Florida’s Voice reached out to Mayor Paul Alfrey, Melbourne City Council members, and Space Coast Pride for a comment on this story and did not hear back.
