Nadine Smith of Equality Florida

11/30/21 • 42 min

Nadine Smith has been fighting for equality for the LGBTQ community all of her adult life. She helped form the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization as a college student. She was co-chair of the 1993 March on Washington, which led to the first ever meeting between a sitting president and gay community leaders. In 1997, she founded Equality Florida and has been Executive Director there ever since. During our conversation, she talked about her incredible life as a journalist and activist but also shared many meaningful moments that have steered her.

For more information on Equality Florida, please visit www.eqfl.org

For more information on Equality Florida, please visit www.eqfl.org

Previous Episode

Domestic Violence and The Spring

October is domestic violence awareness month and it’s an issue that has touched most of our lives in some way. On this episode, we sit down with Mindy Murphy, President and CEO of The Spring of Tampa Bay and Courtney, a domestic violence survivor. We covered so much important ground during our conversation. We talked about the patterns of abusers, how to help loved ones you suspect are being abused, how to seek help yourself. We talked about the importance of men becoming part of the solution. We discussed what lessons can be learned from the Gabby Petito police video...from the importance of proper training for law enforcement to subtle signs of abuse. This episode does have some moments that are not easy to hear but it’s a conversation that is incredibly important and we thank you for caring enough to listen.

This episode includes discussion around topics such as domestic violence, physical violence, sexual assault, and harassment. This content may be difficult and we encourage you to care for your well-being.

For more information about how to seek help from The Spring, or for ways you can help support their mission, please visit thespring.org. Their 24-hour crisis hotline is 813-247-SAFE.

For anyone outside the Tampa area who is seeking help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. That’s 1-800-799-7233.

Next Episode

Sarasota Opera

On this episode, we’ll hear some incredible music from the Sarasota Opera, and speak with Executive Director, Richard Russell, and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Victor DeRenzi. They’ll discuss the work their organization is doing to preserve opera traditions and how they're sharing them with the next generation. We’ll also talk with Delores McKenzie, a former student in Sarasota Opera’s Youth program, about her experience and love for the stage.

For more information about the Sarasota Opera, please visit sarasotaopera.org