The boisterous, colorful parade gets all the headlines, but don’t overlook the Come Out With Pride Rally, a chance to listen to and applaud the activists who are fighting for LGBT equality.
This year, some great people who do the grassroots work will appear on stage. Here are the five activists you do not want to miss:
David Richardson
The first openly gay man elected to the Florida legislature, Rep. Richardson made history in 2012 and has been a voice for LGBTs ever since. He fought against a bill that would have allowed adoption agencies to discriminate against gay parents and another that would have let business owners harass transgender people if they used a non-gender-conforming bathroom. Richardson has also worked to get legislation passed that would ban conversion therapy in Florida, and he successfully spearheaded the bill that removed the outdated language from the Florida statute that banned adoption by gay people. (The ban is obsolete and hasn’t been enforced since 2010.)
Patty Sheehan
Commissioner Patty Sheehan was first elected to the Orlando City Council in 2000, was the city’s first openly gay commissioner and has consistently fought for LGBT rights from her seat. During the Come Out With Pride rally, Sheehan will present scholarships to three LGBT youth, awarded via the COWP Pride Gives Back program. Don’t miss the chance to meet these potential future activists.
Gina Duncan
Since Duncan has stepped into her role as Equality Florida’s Transgender Inclusion Director, she has raised the profile of transgender rights across the state. Duncan appeared on the cover of Watermark and shared her story within. Duncan made Central Florida history by becoming the first transgender person to run for Orange County Commission in 2012. She is also a former COWP leader, serving as president of the Metropolitan Business Association (COWP’s parent organization) from 2011 – 2013.
Mary Meeks
It’s tough to find a Florida court case advancing LGBT rights in which Meeks ISN’T involved. She has been involved in the fight for equality since the early 2000s, when Orlando passed Chapter 57, the city’s human rights ordinance. Since then, Meeks has been a key player in the fight for an Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, Orlando and Orange County’s domestic partner registries, and was a member of the legal team working to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Florida. Now, she’s working on to get Florida’s documentation up to speed with marriage equality by making sure both same-sex parents can be listed on their children’s birth certificates. Meeks will emcee the rally, plus provide opening and closing remarks.
Joan Rodriguez (and little Liam!)
Joan Rodriguez made headlines back in 2014, when local activists were trying to convince the Orange County Commissioners to sign onto an amicus brief in support of marriage equality. At the time, Rodriguez was eight months pregnant with their son while her partner, Liz, was at home, dying. The couple suffered significant loss, both financial and emotional, because they were unable to marry legally, and Rodriguez was determined it would not happen to any other couple. Sadly, Liz passed away shortly before their son, Liam, was born. Today, he is a healthy and adorable 11-month-old who will appear on stage beside his mom for the COWP rally.
The rally will be at the Lake Eola clamshell immediately after the parade, kicking off at little before 6 p.m.
For the downlow on more COWP events, check out the official 2015 Come Out With Pride Guide.
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