Nadine Smith

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Nadine Smith
Nadine Smith at the 1993 NGLTF Creating Change Conference.jpg
Smith at the 1993 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change Conference
Born (1965-08-27) August 27, 1965 (age 59)
Bangor, Maine, U.S.
Education University of South Florida (BA, 1987)
Organization Equality Florida
Movement LGBT rights movement
Spouse
Andrea Hildebran
​
(m. 2012)​
Children1

Nadine Smith (born August 27, 1965) is an LGBT activist and has been the executive director of Equality Florida since its inception in 1997 and serves as a legislative lobbyist, living in Tallahassee during session. In 1986, Smith served on the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Organization. [1] [2] Smith has been recognized as a national leader 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. [1]

Contents

A former journalist, Smith has written syndicated columns for various gay and mainstream publications. Smith was an award-winning investigative journalist for WUSF, the National Public Radio affiliate in Tampa, and later became a reporter for the Tampa Tribune. Smith also freelanced for national and local publications.

Early life and education

Smith was born in Bangor, Maine [3] but her family relocated to Panama City, Florida when she was young. [4] She graduated from Rutherford High School. [5]

After graduating high school, Smith attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Panama City. She later left after the passage of Don't Ask, Don't Tell in 1993. [6]

Smith graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Mass Communication in 1987. [6]

Career

Smith was the first openly lesbian African-American to run for Tampa City Council, earning the most votes in the primary and garnering 42% in the run-off in 1991. [6]

In 1993, Smith was part of the historic oval office meeting between then-incumbent President of the United States Bill Clinton and LGBT social movements leaders. Smith was co-chair of the 1993 March on Washington, coordinating national and international media. [7]

Smith served as campaign manager for Citizens for a Fair Tampa in 1995, a successful effort to prevent the repeal of the city's human rights ordinance, which included sexual orientation. [8]

Smith served on the Board for Fairness for All Families from 2006-2009, a grassroots effort to protect LGBT families in the face of a ballot measure that banned recognition of marriage between same sex couples. [9] The measure which passed with approx 62% of the vote [10] also banned protection that are "substantial equivalent of marriage". [11]

In 2007, Smith was arrested at a Largo City Council hearing after handing someone a flier that had the words "Don't Discriminate" printed on it. [12] The council was debating whether or not to fire Susan Stanton, the transgender city manager. [13]

Awards and honors

Quotes

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References

  1. 1 2 Equality Florida, archived from the original on 20 October 2009, retrieved 11 October 2009
  2. ↑ "What Were You Doing 25 Years Ago?".
  3. ↑ Smith, Nadine (5 April 2013). "Column: Full marriage rights for all". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Gillespie, Tyler (13 April 2021). The Thing about Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State. University Press of Florida. ISBN   9780813065854 . Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  5. ↑ Burrell, Ebonee (7 August 2022). "TIME honors Panama City native as one of world's 100 most influential people of 2022". The News Herald . Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Nadine Smith". National Black Justice Coalition . 22 February 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  7. ↑ Jones, J.A. (16 April 2021). "Equality Florida's Nadine Smith on how stigma has developed in the Black church". The Weekly Challenger. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  8. ↑ Snider, Eric (10 October 2007). "Nadine Smith: "This desire to speak up ..."". cltampa.com. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  9. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : Florida Marriage Amendment Debate, Nadine Smith Open. YouTube .
  10. ↑ "November 4, 2008 General Election". Florida Division of Elections. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  11. ↑ "Initiative Information - Florida Marriage Protection Amendment" (PDF). Florida Department of State, Division of Elections. February 6, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Equality Florida activist in Largo arrested for handing out anti-discrimination flyers". 7 March 2007. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  13. ↑ Michael, Jason A. (31 October 2017). "Transitioning city manager fired in Largo, Fla". Between the Lines . Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  14. ↑ Robinson, Charlotte (21 July 2016). "Nadine Smith CEO Equality Florida Talks Life After Orlando Massacre (AUDIO)". HuffPost . Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "2020 "but for" Leadership Florida Award Nadine Smith". LeadershipFlorida.org. 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  16. ↑ Arnett, Kristen (23 May 2022). "Nadine Smith". Time . Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  17. ↑ "Nadine Smith, Co-founder and Executive Director of Equality Florida to Receive GLAD Spirit of Justice Award". GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders . 17 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  18. ↑ Thom Patterson (November 11, 2000). "Nationwide protests criticize Bush, Gore for election impasse protestors". CNN . Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Nadine (29 May 2009). ""No Excuses. No Delays." Do we really mean it?". Equality Florida Blog. Blogspot . Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  20. ↑ "Anti-Gay Proposed Constitutional Amendment Argument Before Florida Supreme Court". ACLU of Florida. 29 May 2009.
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