As Disney World and Universal Orlando continue their annual Pride Month celebrations throughout June, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a proclamation declaring June 2026 “Faith and Family Month in Florida,” highlighting a dramatically different vision for how the month should be observed.
The proclamation, signed on June 8, emphasizes faith, fatherhood, family unity, and the importance of strong family structures, while encouraging residents, churches, businesses, and community organizations to participate in activities that strengthen families and local communities.
The declaration comes as both Disney and Universal continue to embrace Pride Month through themed merchandise, special offerings, and corporate messaging aimed at guests and employees.
DeSantis Declares June Faith and Family Month
In the proclamation, DeSantis argues that faith and family serve as foundational pillars for healthy communities and successful societies.
DeSantis designates June as Faith and Family Month amid Pride Month celebrations@GovDeSantis proclamation: “Families who actively practice their faith and spend meaningful time together are shown to be less likely to experience abuse, addiction, fatherlessness, or family… pic.twitter.com/OW1ZJG3iB1
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) June 9, 2026
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“Faith is a foundational element that provides strength, hope, and moral guidance, shaping values of compassion, service, responsibility, and unity within our communities; the Christian faith has played a vital role in constructing our constitution, laws, and ideals,” the proclamation states.
The document also places a strong emphasis on the traditional family structure, specifically referencing what it describes as the importance of the Biblical family.
“The Biblical family unit became the initial God-ordained earthly institution providing the model for a thriving society, fostering the emotional, social, and spiritual development of individuals, and serving as the cornerstone for building strong, resilient, and thriving communities.”
The proclamation repeatedly highlights the role fathers play within families, arguing that fatherhood remains a critical component in the development of children and future generations.
“Fatherhood plays an influential and irreplaceable role within families, significantly impacting the emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of children and future generations through love, wisdom, protection, and guidance.”
The document also specifically references relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and grandparents and grandchildren as key components of healthy communities.
Disney And Universal Continue Pride Month Celebrations
The proclamation arrives as Disney and Universal once again devote substantial attention to Pride Month throughout June.
Disney has spent years promoting Pride-themed merchandise, rainbow-inspired products, employee initiatives, and special Pride offerings across its parks and resorts. The company has also publicly supported various causes and events, making Pride Month a consistent part of its corporate messaging.
The scaled back PRIDE section of the Creations shop in EPCOT – Photo Credit: That Park Place
Universal Orlando has similarly embraced Pride celebrations through events, partnerships, and promotional efforts as part of its “Love is Universal” campaign aimed at guests and communities.
While Pride Month remains a major focus for both companies during June, DeSantis’ proclamation presents a markedly different message centered on faith, fatherhood, marriage, and family unity.
Two Very Different Visions For June
The contrast between Florida’s largest tourism companies and the state’s political leadership is difficult to ignore.
While Disney and Universal use June to spotlight Pride celebrations, DeSantis’ proclamation encourages Floridians to focus on faith-based organizations, family-centered activities, parental involvement, and strengthening relationships among family members.
The proclamation states that the objective of Faith, Family, and Fatherhood initiatives during June is to support families through events and opportunities that “educate, inform, and strengthen relationships.”
It also argues that communities benefit when families spend meaningful time together and actively practice their faith.
“Families who actively practice their faith and spend meaningful time together are shown to be less likely to experience abuse, addiction, fatherlessness, or family instability, and are more likely to contribute to safer, stronger, and more productive communities.”
Will Disney And Universal Acknowledge Faith And Family Month?
The question now becomes whether Disney or Universal will publicly acknowledge Florida’s Faith and Family Month designation.
Both companies routinely recognize Pride Month through official communications, themed offerings, and public-facing initiatives. However, neither company has historically devoted similar attention to other events in June like Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
That could place the tourism giants in an increasingly awkward position.
The scaled back PRIDE section of the Creations shop in EPCOT – Photo Credit: That Park Place
Disney World and Universal Orlando market themselves primarily as family vacation destinations. Millions of parents bring their children to Central Florida every year specifically because the resorts are built around family entertainment.
Yet as June progresses, the companies appear poised to continue focusing on Pride Month while Florida’s governor encourages residents and businesses to celebrate faith, fatherhood, and family unity.
A Growing Divide
The proclamation marks another chapter in the broader cultural divide that has emerged between Florida’s political leadership and some of the state’s largest corporations.
Whether Disney and Universal choose to acknowledge Faith and Family Month or ignore it entirely, DeSantis has inserted a new conversation into June.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) speaks during a convocation at Liberty University’s Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va., on Friday, April 14, 2023. Photo Credit: Tom Williams, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
While Pride Month celebrations continue across the tourism industry, Florida’s governor is encouraging residents, churches, organizations, and businesses to “honor and celebrate these foundational pillars, express appreciation to fathers and father figures, support family unity, and participate in activities that strengthen families and enrich our communities.”
For companies whose success depends largely on families visiting Central Florida, that message may prove difficult to ignore.
How do you feel about Faith and Family Month in Florida? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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