Nadine Smith
Executive Director
Equality Florida
Nadine is one of the most accomplished and widely recognized
activists in today’s lesbian and gay movement. She has been the
Executive Director of Equality Florida since its inception in
1997, for which she also serves as a legislative lobbyist,
living in Tallahassee during session. Nadine was Co-Chair of
the 1993 March on Washington, for which her responsibilities
included organizing a media-team that coordinated both
mainstream and GLBT media coverage on a national and
international level. Nadine is also the national Chairwoman for
the Federation of Statewide Organizations.
Nadine was the first openly lesbian African-American to run for
Tampa’s City Council, for which she garnered 42% of the vote in
the 1991 campaign. In 1995, Nadine served as Campaign Manager
for Citizens for a Fair Tampa, a successful effort to prevent
the repeal of the city’s human rights ordinance, which included
sexual orientation.
A former award-winning journalist, Nadine writes a syndicated
column for various gay publications, and has been published in
Essence and Self-Esteem Magazine.
Nadine’s numerous contributions to the GLBT community have been
nationally recognized by organizations including: National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Task
Force of Florida, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and
the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. She has
appeared as a guest on the Donahue talk show, and has had
speaking engagements at numerous national civil rights
conferences.
About Equality Florida
Advocate, Educate and Mobilize
First, Equality Florida provides technical support to local
groups, government agencies, private business and corporations.
Equality Florida also offers information and training on
fundraising strategies, ordinance and policy drafting, campaign
planning, community outreach, youth support and workplace
diversity, as well as, updates and interpretations on laws
affecting the GLBT and supportive community.
Second, we mobilize tens of thousands of voters in support of
equal rights legislation. We register voters, publicize
candidates' positions on equal rights and educate elected
officials on issues vital to our community.
Third, we monitor and respond to unfair or biased media coverage
and actively educate journalists.
Finally, through our lobbying team in Tallahassee, we provide a
voice and a face for the GLBT and supportive community at the
state capitol.
Goals
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