BREAKING: Pam Bondi Sparks Firestorm After Refusing to Celebrate Pride Month – “WOKE Doesn’t Deserve to Be Honored”
TAMPA, FL – June 20, 2025 – In a stunning and polarizing announcement this morning, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi declared she would not be celebrating Pride Month this June, saying the month-long LGBTQ+ celebration has become “a political tool for woke extremists, not a moment of genuine pride.”
“WOKE doesn’t deserve a holiday,” Bondi told a conservative radio host during a live interview. “When a movement starts pushing drag shows in schools, rewriting biology, and silencing faith-based voices, it stops being about pride and starts being about power.”
A Divisive Statement Goes Viral
The hashtag #PamBondi immediately trended on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, igniting a fierce nationwide debate. LGBTQ+ activists condemned her words as “dangerous rhetoric,” while conservative commentators praised her for “standing against cultural coercion.”
In her full statement later posted on her Truth Social account, Bondi elaborated:
“I respect every American’s right to live how they choose. But when our institutions, our corporations, and even our churches are pressured to bow to one worldview during an entire month, while others are mocked or erased, we must ask: is this still about equality—or control?”
Corporate America Reacts
Bondi’s comments have sparked unease in corporate boardrooms across Florida. Several local Pride Month sponsors, including Publix and Busch Gardens, were reportedly reviewing public relations strategies in light of the controversy.
“Pam Bondi’s words are a slap in the face to the progress we’ve made,” said Lexi Cruz, a Tampa-based LGBTQ+ advocate. “It’s not just disappointing—it’s dangerous. Her words give fuel to extremists.”
However, some voices in business disagree. An anonymous executive at a major Florida chain told The Sentinel:
“We’ve quietly had internal conversations about Pride Month fatigue. Pam Bondi just said what many are afraid to.”
Backlash and Support Flood In
Within hours, both outrage and support poured in from across the nation. Celebrities like Elliot Page and Jonathan Van Ness slammed Bondi on social media, calling her remarks “disgusting” and “reminiscent of a darker era.” Meanwhile, Fox News commentators and conservative influencers like Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens applauded her courage.
Former President Donald Trump, a known ally of Bondi, reposted her quote with the caption: “Pam gets it. America First, not WOKE First.”
By contrast, President Joe Biden’s White House press secretary issued a firm response:
“America honors Pride Month to recognize the dignity, struggle, and resilience of LGBTQ+ Americans. No one gets to erase that—not even former Attorneys General.”
Churches and Schools Caught in the Middle
The ripple effects have even reached schools and churches across the Sunshine State. Some conservative pastors expressed support for Bondi’s remarks, saying they finally feel “seen” in a cultural climate where Christian views are often “dismissed.”
But others fear her rhetoric could embolden hate groups. A Miami high school reportedly saw an anonymous threat scrawled in a bathroom referencing her speech, prompting an investigation.
“This kind of political posturing isn’t harmless,” said Dr. Mira Holland, a sociologist at the University of Florida. “We’ve seen time and again how inflammatory language from public figures can lead to real-world consequences.”
A Turning Point in the Culture War?
While Bondi is no longer in office, her statement has reignited broader questions: Has Pride Month become politicized? Are critics like Bondi stoking division—or revealing an undercurrent of dissatisfaction the mainstream media won’t touch?
Polls conducted just days after her remarks show a split public. A Rasmussen poll found 42% of Americans believe Pride Month has become “too political,” while 47% believe it remains “important and necessary.” The remaining 11% were undecided.
One thing is clear: Pam Bondi has set off a national firestorm. Whether you see her as a truth-teller or a provocateur, her refusal to celebrate Pride Month has ensured that the conversation about identity, freedom, and the “WOKE” agenda isn’t going anywhere soon.