EQFL Gala Orlando 2011

Excitement built in the packed Grand Gallery at the Orlando Museum of Art on Saturday, Nov. 5 when Equality Florida field director Joe Saunders announced that the amount raised had already topped last year's impressive $75,000. That was followed by a message from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a rousing State-of-the-State speech by EQFL executive director Nadine Smith and the presentation of 2011 Voice for Equality awards to Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell and Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb. By that time, gala host committee members Danny Humphress, Kathryn Norsworthy, Mary Meeks and Richard Russell were ready to ask for more. The result: a record-breaking $100,000-plus for the statewide LGBT lobbying and advocacy group. Photos by Tom Dyer.
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