(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) An allegedly friendly-family gay Pride event hosted in Venice, Florida, featured a ring toss game where children tried to throw rings onto brightly-colored dildos to win a prize.
According to the Post Millennial, this event was the city’s third annual family-friendly Pride event. Venice promoted it on their website, stating that its only desire is “to build collaboration around the community.”
CAN Community Health, which is based in Sarasota, is the non-profit group official behind the event. When they are not hosting “family-friendly” dildo ring toss and drag queen shows, they serve the needs of those who suffer from HIV.
Pictures of other pride events across the country show that dildo ring toss is a staple party game at CAN events. Libs of TikTok shared a photo from an event in Phoenix, Arizona, with a similar set up.
Words I never thought I’d write… Dildo ring toss game for kids at a pride event
Full story: https://t.co/FwDzv3gTi8 pic.twitter.com/F1fq7mPIRD
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 14, 2022
Footage from the Venice event includes a half-dressed man giving a middle-aged women a lap dance in the middle of the day. Another video uploaded by the Sarasota School District Transparency Project Facebook page shows two drag queens dancing suggestively.
In the videos there is no evidence of event staff attempting to make sure there are no children in the area where sexually provocative activities were taking place.
One of the executives on the CAN Community Health board is Dr. Stephen Covert, who is also acting principal at Pine View School in Sarasota.
Pine View hosts students between grades 2 and 12. One of the volunteer coordinators for the Venice pride festival was also an elementary educator.
“It started out with freedom to love whomever you wanted,” said Libs of TikTok. “‘Love is love.’ Then it was ‘more representation’ and half-naked kink parades. Now, it’s drag queen story hour in elementary schools, kid drag shows, and dildo ring toss.”
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to take action against events like these, particularly drag shows, in his state. There has been no official response to the Venice event.
