Women at the Helm 2014

Meet the next wave of out leaders!

NADINE SMITH
CEO and Co-Founder, Equality Florida

Nadine Smith (right), with her family, has been at the forefront of the LGBT rights movement for decades. The former award-winning journalist was there the first time gay community leaders sat down with a president (Bill Clinton, at the time) at the historic 1993 March on Washington. She was part of the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization; she was also on President Obama’s National Finance Committee. In addition, she served as Equality Federation’s co-chair and lobbyist. Little wonder, then, that the Florida Diversity Council named her one of the most powerful and influential women in Florida, and that the League of Women Voters gave her their Woman of Distinction Award. Currently, she is a member of the Democratic National Committee, chair of the leadership team for State Voices Florida and co-founder/CEO of Equality Florida. Smith recently spoke out in support of legislation (the Florida Competitive Workforce Act) prohibiting workplace discrimination against LGBT folks in Florida. “Most people are actually surprised to discover these protections don’t already exist because it seems like common sense,” she said. “Updating the law will help ensure that all people in our state have the opportunity to be judged on their job performance and qualifications—nothing more, nothing less.”


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