Above: Nikole Parker, Director of Transgender Equality (Photo courtesy of Equality Florida)
ST PETERSBURG | Orlando native Nikole Parker has been named the new director of transgender equality at Equality Florida. Parker takes over after former director, Gina Duncan retired earlier this year.
Parker has been a part of a number of Central Florida LGBTQ organizations including the onePULSE Foundation Memorial Task Force, Orlando United Assistance Center, Contigo Fund, Spektrum Health, Peer Support Space, Orlando Trans Collective and the Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund.
Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s executive director, expressed her excitement about Parker re-joining the Equality Florida team.
“We are thrilled to have Nikole’s passion and vision back at Equality Florida to take our Transgender Equality work to new heights,” Smith said. “The future of transgender equality is bright with leaders like Nikole Parker at the helm.”
The Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community.
“I am so excited to re-join Equality Florida and continue the necessary work to ensure that transgender and nonbinary individuals, especially black, indigenous, and people of color, voices are uplifted,” Parker said. “Oftentimes we are left out of the very conversations being had to help us. I want to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table.”
Parker has been previously recognized as Watermark’s Most Remarkable People of 2018 — alongside other impressive accolades.
