Ocala’s quiet Pride month

By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com

June 2023’s Pride Month couldn’t have been much quieter in the Ocala metro as a predominantly conservative community ponders new Florida legislation targeting the state’s LGBTQ+ citizens that took and renews what feels like an old conversation about the morality of the celebration.

Florida has received national attention for laws focused on sexual orientation and gender identity. Last year, then-local State Rep. Joe Harding, who later resigned after facing several federal felony fraud charges in connection with illegally receiving COVID-19 relief, earned headlines for his controversial Parental Rights in Education measure, which opponents nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay’’ bill.

Far-right Republicans, part of the GOP’s supermajority in the Legislature, expanded the bill this year and created additional legislation aimed at the trans community, all under the premise that it would protect children.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measures, which took effect July 1.

Some critics say Florida’s legislative measures reflect an intent to erase LGBTQ+ from discussions and censor Floridians, particularly the estimated 114,000 queer youth in Florida.

The “Gazette” reached out to locals to see how they felt about recent legislation.

For 17 years, Angie Lewis, a local philanthropist and community leader who owns a local insurance agency, has hung up the Pride flag at her office. But this year, she paused the practice.

Lewis was quick to say that it wasn’t because she is wavering in her support for equal rights for the LGTBQ+ community. Her decision was driven by a desire to protect those near to her from possible harm.

“I didn’t hang it this year because of my employees,” she said. “Because this subject has

“I cut my meat very thin—I mean, I shaved it,” Jones said. “I knew 20 minutes would be enough for that thermal energy from my grill pan to penetrate that meat, break it down enough because it’s small enough to get it tender.”

To defeat the show’s star in the second round, Jones cooked up some unbeatable chicken wings.

“What’s that smile on your face?” Flay asked Jones. “You look like you have some sort of a trick up your sleeve.”

The Ocala pitmaster just laughed and didn’t say anything.

See Rashad, page A4 become such a divisive partisan issue, I didn’t want my team to have to deal with any negative ramifications.”

Lewis said the waning of respectful dialogue about subjects people disagree with or hold different convictions about is driving society backward, adding that fear and anger are driving our political discourse. Since college, Lewis said, she has sought a diverse group of friends, including those in the LGTBQ+ community, and has sought to make everyone feel safe and welcome at her business.

Lewis, who says she is a Christian, is concerned that wellmeaning Christians use Scripture to force their opinions on others when it was Jesus himself who, according to the Bible, welcomed and ate with those his religious community shunned.

“After all,” said Lewis, “Jesus said you will know my people not by their political stand against particular lifestyles. He said you’ll know my people by their love. As Christians, it’s not our job to judge. It’s our job to love.”

Bishop James D. Stockton III, Sr. Pastor of the Greater New Hope Church, in the Silver Springs Shores Community of Marion County, says he preaches that all sex outside of marriage is sin. Yet, he says he welcomes all

See Pride, page A2