A native of Sarasota and first generation American, Jordan Letschert grew up on a much younger and more modest Siesta Key after his family arrived to the U.S. from Holland.
Despite a family legacy of owning and operating some of the most celebrated restaurants and businesses in the area, Jordan chose to pursue his lifelong dream in law enforcement. He was sworn in as a police officer with the Richardson Police Department in Texas. Jordan graduated as the Salutatorian of his regional police academy class, serving 125,000 residents.
Jordan was one of 100 police officers who filed an amicus brief, in both the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (against former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi) and in the United States Supreme Court in the historic Obergefell case that secured marriage equality under the constitution. He married his husband Robby in 2015. Together they have a son Kellan, born in 2016. They are both advocates for LGBTQ+ surrogacy and adoption.
Jordan now serves as Board President of Project Pride SRQ, an LGBTQ-based 501(c)(3) organization in Sarasota. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Project Pride SRQ celebrated many successes including kicking off the largest celebration of June Pride Month in Sarasota’s history, marching the “Grand Flag” now 700’ inclusive rainbow flag over the John Ringling Bridge, lighting up Sarasota with Pride – a month long call for businesses, residents, and government buildings and structures to light up in rainbow colors including the Sarasota John Ringling Bridge, Taste of Pride, Pride Pet Parade, Pride Car Parade, The Brunch Show – a virtual talk show interviewing local leaders, SRQ LGBTQ+ History Series – delving into the rich LGBTQ+ local history, an interactive history timeline featured on ppsrq.org, Pulse 5-year memorial Candlelight Vigil, multiple outreach services – homeless drives, food drives, and healthcare worker wellness packages, installing a city approved inclusive rainbow street mural, secured Sarasota’s First Ever Proclamation declaring June as Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community, and much more.
Project Pride SRQ is proud to partner with many local organizations including ALSO Youth, Sarasota Pride, Manatee Pride, Venice Pride, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Asolo Reparatory Theatre and many more. November 14, 2021 Project Pride SRQ was honored to receive the 2021 Community Partner in Equality Award from Equality Florida. All of this would not have been possible without Jordan’s leadership and determination to support the LGBTQ+ community.
To view the full list of Watermark’s Remarkable People of 2021, click here.
