ABOVE: Photo via Equality Florida.
ST. PETERSBURG | Equality Florida will mark 25 years as the state’s largest LGBTQ-focused civil rights organization during this year’s St. Pete Gala, which returns May 7 from 7-11 p.m. at The Mahaffey Theater.
The nonprofit’s galas are designed to raise awareness and funds for Equality Florida’s work throughout the state. An in-person event in St. Petersburg was last held in 2019, while festivities were reimagined due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.
Equality Florida supporters raised $425,013 during last year’s virtual gala, an amount they’ve exceeded ahead of this year’s celebration. Organizers set a goal of $500,000 but as of press time have already raised nearly $665,000, a 25-year record.
“Equality Florida was founded as Florida took a hard right turn, electing a governor hostile to our community and a legislature that had passed bills harmful to our families,” Executive Director Nadine Smith reflects. “Today, we can celebrate incredible victories.”
Among them are “the fall of the Anita Bryant-era ban on gay people adopting, marriage equality, the passage of local ordinances all across our state and beginning this year, our inclusion in the state civil rights provision,” Smith says.
The Florida Commission on Human Relations announced it will protect LGBTQ Floridians in a major win for equality across the state. The announcement followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling affirming that LGBTQ Americans are protected under civil rights law.
“Yet, even as we celebrate the progress of the last two and a half decades, we hear echoes of those early days in the current brutal right-wing attack on our community,” Smith continues. “The same ugly messages from a hostile Governor and a spineless Republican legislature eager to do his bidding.
“We didn’t shy away from the fight back then and we won’t today,” she notes. “We linked arms in those dangerous times. We fought to make our schools better than the days of hiding and being bullied that we survived, and we will never turn our backs on young people who deserve a safe place to learn and thrive. Florida will be a place where every child is protected and every family is respected. DeSantis is a dangerous demagogue who is trashing the guardrails of democracy, sacrificing the safety of LGBTQ young people to appease an angry mob he calls his political base. We need to link arms even more tightly today and push back against the cowardly bullies in Republican leadership who would erase our hard won gains.”
Pinellas Development Director Todd Richardson says that’s exactly what supporters have been doing.
“People are really leaning in this year,” he explains. “Donations have been coming in from all over the world because it’s been one of those years where we’ve had things happen to our community. That’s when we really gather to fight.”
Richardson, who has served in his role for more than a decade, cites triumphs like marriage equality and tragedies like the Pulse massacre as recent examples. He believes the passage of “Parental Rights in Education,” more widely known as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill, has motivated supporters to act.
“It’s wonderful to see everyone stepping up to help,” Richardson says. He hopes to raise $700,000 by the time the celebratory evening ends.
As in previous years, the gala will feature a silent auction to help make that possible. Participants will bid on artwork, entertainment, dining experiences, travel packages and other services valued at nearly $30,000.
Festivities will officially begin at 6 p.m. with a VIP Sponsor Reception, with doors opening to general ticketholders at 7 p.m. Smith will subsequently give a State of the State Address at 7:45 p.m., presenting this year’s Voice for Equality Awards.
The organization will honor two longtime supporters this year. The first is Brian Longstreth, who among other things is the owner of Casa del Merman at GayStPete House and founding member of both St Pete Pride and Come OUT St. Pete.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition from Equality Florida,” he says. “I remember almost 20 years ago hosting a poolside dinner fundraiser for the newly renamed Equality Florida and being thrilled at raising about $1,300.
“In the words of the old Virginia Slims commercial, “you’ve come a long way, baby.’ Knowing I’ve played a part, along with many others, in helping to create an inviting LGBTQ+ friendly Grand Central District and our beautiful city is very comforting. Thank you.”
Eight-year Equality Florida volunteer Jennie O’Leary will also be honored. She’s currently serving in her fourth year as chair of the St. Petersburg Steering Committee, leading a team of volunteers to support fundraising activities like the St. Pete Gala.
“I believe that everyone in the community should look out for each other,” she says. “That is why it is important for me as an ally to support Equality Florida. The Equality Florida team has such passion for the work they do that it makes me want to help them in any way I can. I’m grateful to be honored for volunteering with them over these past eight years.
“We haven’t come together in this way since 2019 to celebrate and support the work and accomplishments of Equality Florida,” she adds. “We are looking forward to seeing, mingling and dancing together again. Bring your dancing shoes!”
Attendees will need them. Following Smith’s address, they’ll be invited to enjoy the evening’s activities and entertainment, as well as dance with DJ L Mo until 11 p.m.
“For our 25th anniversary, we want this to be a celebration of our friends in our community and our successes,” Richardson says. “Everything we’ve done is because of very generous donors.”
Equality Florida’s St. Pete Gala will be held May 7 at The Mahaffey Theater, located at 400 1st St. S. in St. Petersburg. Tickets are $135 and expected to sell out. Learn more and purchase yours here.
