Equality Florida’s Tampa gala raises over $700,000, honors local awardee

Equality Florida gala guests erupted in a standing ovation for Nadine Smith as she closed out her 28-year tenure as executive director of the statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. Her advocacy drew tremendous admiration and applause as she delivered her final state-of-the-state address, then passed the torch to co-founder and Deputy Director Stratton Pollitzer before taking on a new national role as the CEO of Color of Change. Dr. David Johnson, University of South Florida history chair and author of “The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government,” received the Voice for Equality Award for his two decades of preserving LGBTQ history, work that is now expanding into a public exhibition. With 450 enthusiastic supporters, the Nov. 21, 2025, “A Breath of Fresh Air” gala raised over $700,000 before drag queen Alice Marie Gripp took over the dance floor at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC.

Equality Florida’s Tampa gala raises over $700,000, honors local awardee

Tags: