ABOVE: Equality Florida and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Jan. 26. Photo by Ryan Williams-Jent.
TAMPA | Equality Florida and supporters gathered in Seminole Heights Jan. 26 to unveil the organization’s second annual equality mural.
The project was commissioned during Equality Florida’s 2022 Tampa Gala to “serve as a beacon of support and safety to the adults and children of Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ+ community in these challenging times.” The mural was designed by Lakeland-based artist Gillian Fazio and completed on Sea Maids Creamery in Seminole Heights, a space donated by owners Zoey Vera and Emily Macias.
The image features a colorful mermaid holding an ice cream cone high, a signature dish at the popular eatery. It includes Equality Florida imagery and a statement promising “every student protected, every family respected.”
“Art has the power to transform communities and inspire change,” Equality Florida Press Secretary Brandon Wolf shared ahead of its unveiling. “LGBTQ Floridians, especially young people, are being relentlessly targeted with bigoted legislation and dehumanizing, hateful rhetoric.
“Cynical political leaders have worked to advance their careers with a message to LGBTQ youth that they are unwelcome and unwanted,” he continued. “This mural stands a symbol of just the opposite. May this work of art send a clear signal that in Tampa Bay and across the state, LGBTQ young people are valued, appreciated and loved.”
Wolf welcomed dozens of supporters to the ceremony, among them speakers like Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. The LGBTQ leader, who launched her 2023 re-election campaign last November, praised Equality Florida for their work in the community.
“I want to thank Equality Florida for continuing the fight for the LGBTQ community and for all human rights,” Castor told attendees. “That’s what we stand for in this community, not only in the city of Tampa but in the entire Tampa Bay area.”
Castor subsequently highlighted other political candidates and leaders in attendance before reflecting on the female-led and centered mural. She called small businesses like Sea Maids Creamery, which is also minority-owned and operated, the backbone of the community.
“Thank you to our business owners and for this beautiful piece of art,” the mayor said. “We want to continue to spread the word of how welcoming our community is and there’s really no better way to do that than through art, because it brings everyone together.”
Fazio spoke about the mural next, calling it an honor to complete.
“I just want to make sure that this piece is something that showcases you are welcome and you are loved,” she said. “You are beautiful and we wanted to keep saying that message forever and ever.”
Executive Director Nadine Smith reiterated that, thanking the organization’s supporters for making the mural and other projects possible. She reflected on the history of Tampa Bay’s fight for equality and drew parallels to LGBTQ attacks coming from Tallahassee today.
“Forces are trying to pull us backwards,” Smith told the crowd. “They are going after [Gender-Sexuality Alliances] in the school, they are going after protections for LGBTQ young people, they are erasing us from the libraries, they are attacking us in every way from a playbook that is very old.
“It’s important to remember that history repeats itself,” she continued. “We’ve been here before, but this time we are here stronger than we were back then, with a clear vision of what is possible … we have to remember that not only are we going to win – when we win, we will transform this country once again as we have with each victory. So do not lose hope, do not lose faith.”
Wolf closed the ceremony by thanking the project’s contributors and encouraging LGBTQ and ally Floridians to get more involved. Equality Florida continues to welcome supporters and volunteers in their fight for civil rights. Learn more at EQFL.org.
Watermark was happy to attend the unveiling. View our photos below.
Photos by Ryan Williams-Jent.
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