Tampa Bay\u2019s LGBTQ+ community faced challenges in 2025.<\/p>\n
Colorful street murals including a St. Petersburg\u2019s Progressive Pride-painted intersection<\/a> were covered up by the state. Tampa Pride canceled next year\u2019s celebration due to the \u201cpolitical and economic climate\u201d<\/a> and the organizers of St. Pete Pride say it\u2019s harder than ever to find sponsors.<\/p>\n But things may be taking a turn in a city that has celebrated holding the largest Pride celebration in Florida. Bike racks, each painted with a color of the Progressive Pride flag, were installed this week along Central Avenue in honor of the removed mural. And though St. Petersburg earlier this year dropped the words \u201cdiversity\u201d and \u201cequity\u201d from city <\/a>office names<\/a>, it is keeping its LGBTQ+ liaison position.<\/p>\n Nathan Bruemmer started in that role Dec. 1. His appointment followed news that St. Petersburg earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign\u2019s Municipal Equality Index for the 12th consecutive year.<\/p>\n Bruemmer, 52, is a lawyer, former state official and former executive director and board president of St. Pete Pride. He is believed to be the first openly transgender person to be appointed to a high ranking position in City Hall.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my home, and so I love the opportunity to continue to work on priorities of this administration and continue to work with the city to build relationships and trust with the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bruemmer served as the LGBTQ Consumer Advocate for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under former Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. That also may have made him the first openly trans person appointed to statewide office.<\/p>\n Bruemmer will report to Mayor Ken Welch\u2019s chief of staff, Doyle Walsh, and make $105,032 annually.<\/p>\n \u201cNathan\u2019s extensive experience serving as a liaison between government, community partners, and LGBTQ+ residents uniquely positions him to help St. Pete continue building a truly inclusive city,\u201d Welch said in a statement. \u201cHis statewide leadership, deep community roots, and strong record of collaboration will help us continue advancing equity and ensuring that St. Pete remains a welcoming home for all.\u201d<\/p>\n Bruemmer succeeds Eric Vaughn, who resigned April 5 but stayed on at the city for several months part time. Last year, Bruemmer challenged state Rep. Linda Chaney for her St. Pete Beach seat as a Democrat but lost.<\/p>\n Bruemmer said his job differs from the past LGBTQ+ liaison roles. Former liaisons also had other tasks at City Hall. Jim Nixon ran the St. Pete Service Center and Vaughn also worked on special projects, but Breummer said he doesn\u2019t have a secondary position.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re at a very different moment,\u201d he said. \u201cLaws have changed, but community needs and individual needs and families needs are great. And we do what we do best here by taking care of our folks here at home.\u201d<\/p>\n Bruemmer was born and raised in Tampa. He remembers growing up without laws and protections in place for LGBTQ+ people. As laws and rules change, Breummer said his job will require keeping up with what the effects are and how the city can meet needs of its residents and businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cThe municipal government has an opportunity to help, in one way, different than the state or the federal government,\u201d Bruemmer said. \u201dBut we are all supporting our citizens together, collectively, and that\u2019s where it gets tricky, because sometimes, local, state and federal don\u2019t always agree. And that\u2019s where we begin to do the work.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay\u2019s LGBTQ+ community faced challenges in 2025. 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