Delray Beach cancels 60-year-old St. Patrick's Day parade, citing Florida's anti-DEI law

Delray Beach, Florida, has canceled its St. Patrick's Day parade for 2027. City officials say a new state anti-DEI law leaves them no choice. DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. ¹²

The city also called off its annual Pride celebration. It announced both cancellations on Tuesday, Nov. 10, after reviewing Florida Senate Bill 1134, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed. The law takes effect Jan. 1. ¹²

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NBC News describes the parade as a popular 60-year-old event. WLRN, a South Florida public radio station, reports that the parade is held in March and the Pride festival in June. WLRN says both have drawn thousands of visitors downtown. ¹²

What the city said

The city says the law restricts how local governments can fund, promote and take official action on activities the law defines as DEI. ¹ After its review, the city said it is "legally prohibited from organizing, funding, or promoting these events in 2027." ¹

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The city added that the law does not stop private groups from sponsoring the same or similar events. ¹ WLRN reports the city also said it remains committed to serving all residents. ²

NBC News reports the bill bars counties, cities, public contractors and grantees from using taxpayer money for events that celebrate "ethnicity." ¹ WLRN describes the law as limiting local government spending on programming tied to ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. ²

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The mayor responds

Residents objected. Mayor Tom Carney, a Republican of Irish descent, then posted on Facebook that the city is trying to save the parade. ¹

the city is working feverishly with multiple entities to ensure the 2027 St. Patrick’s Day parade goes on as scheduled!

Carney did not say whether anyone is working to save the Pride celebration, NBC News reports. He did not immediately respond to its request for comment. DeSantis' office did not immediately say whether the city misread the law. ¹

The governor's record

DeSantis, a Republican and a likely presidential candidate, has led Florida's push against DEI for years. In 2023 he signed a bill that defunded diversity programs at state colleges. ¹

At that signing he said the following. ¹

This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.

That matters because the new law reaches well beyond campuses. A city says it now touches a parade that has run for six decades. Whether the city has read the law correctly is unsettled, since the governor's office has not yet answered. ¹

What happens next

The law takes effect Jan. 1, and the parade is traditionally held in March. Carney says the city is working with multiple groups to keep the 2027 parade on schedule. ¹²

The city says private sponsors remain free to step in. ¹ Neither report says whether any private group has agreed to take over the parade or the Pride festival.

The Record

1. May 15, 2023DeSantis signs a bill defunding diversity programs at Florida colleges; NBC News dates it only to 2023 ¹.
2. Nov 10, 2026Delray Beach announces it will not fund or organize its 2027 St. Patrick's Day parade or Pride event ¹².
3. Jan 1, 2027Florida Senate Bill 1134 takes effect ¹².

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<h2>Delray Beach cancels 60-year-old St. Patrick&#39;s Day parade, citing Florida&#39;s anti-DEI law</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/delray-beach-cancels-60-year-old-st-patrick-s-day-parade-citing-florida-s-anti-dei">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 13, 2026.</em></p> <p>Delray Beach, Florida, has canceled its St. Patrick&#39;s Day parade for 2027. City officials say a new state anti-DEI law leaves them no choice. DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion.</p> <p>The city also called off its annual Pride celebration. It announced both cancellations on Tuesday, Nov. 10, after reviewing Florida Senate Bill 1134, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed. The law takes effect Jan. 1.</p> <p>NBC News describes the parade as a popular 60-year-old event. WLRN, a South Florida public radio station, reports that the parade is held in March and the Pride festival in June. WLRN says both have drawn thousands of visitors downtown.</p> <h2>What the city said</h2> <p>The city says the law restricts how local governments can fund, promote and take official action on activities the law defines as DEI. After its review, the city said it is &quot;legally prohibited from organizing, funding, or promoting these events in 2027.&quot;</p> <p>The city added that the law does not stop private groups from sponsoring the same or similar events. WLRN reports the city also said it remains committed to serving all residents.</p> <p>NBC News reports the bill bars counties, cities, public contractors and grantees from using taxpayer money for events that celebrate &quot;ethnicity.&quot; WLRN describes the law as limiting local government spending on programming tied to ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.</p> <h2>The mayor responds</h2> <p>Residents objected. Mayor Tom Carney, a Republican of Irish descent, then posted on Facebook that the city is trying to save the parade.</p> <blockquote><p>the city is working feverishly with multiple entities to ensure the 2027 St. Patrick’s Day parade goes on as scheduled!</p><p>&mdash; Tom Carney, Mayor of Delray Beach, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>Carney did not say whether anyone is working to save the Pride celebration, NBC News reports. He did not immediately respond to its request for comment. DeSantis&#39; office did not immediately say whether the city misread the law.</p> <h2>The governor&#39;s record</h2> <p>DeSantis, a Republican and a likely presidential candidate, has led Florida&#39;s push against DEI for years. In 2023 he signed a bill that defunded diversity programs at state colleges.</p> <p>At that signing he said the following.</p> <blockquote><p>This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.</p><p>&mdash; Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>That matters because the new law reaches well beyond campuses. A city says it now touches a parade that has run for six decades. Whether the city has read the law correctly is unsettled, since the governor&#39;s office has not yet answered.</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The law takes effect Jan. 1, and the parade is traditionally held in March. Carney says the city is working with multiple groups to keep the 2027 parade on schedule.</p> <p>The city says private sponsors remain free to step in. Neither report says whether any private group has agreed to take over the parade or the Pride festival.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/delray-beach-cancels-60-year-old-st-patrick-s-day-parade-citing-florida-s-anti-dei">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/delray-beach-cancels-60-year-old-st-patrick-s-day-parade-citing-florida-s-anti-dei.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. NBC News, “St. Patrick’s Day parade canceled in Florida thanks to state’s anti-DEI law” (2026-11-13). nbcnews.com/news/us-news/st-patricks-day-parade-canceled-flo
2. WLRN, “Delray Beach cancels its St. Patrick's Day Parade and Pride Festival” (2026-11-10). wlrn.org/government-politics/2026-11-10/delray-beach-st-patr

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