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Event co-chairs Chris Covelli and Pauline Parrish
Honoree Marcia Foote and Cindy Barnes
James Nappi, honoree Marcia Foote and Dorothy Tiberii
Patra Jordan, Eduardo Anaya, Sarah Fulton and Joshua Beadle
Charles Kelley, Bruce Eberlin, Alan Summers and Martin Portnoy
Kim Cressell, Jessica Simmons, Kim Fineout and Judy Monson
Halie Krause and Mallory Tuch-Krause
Paul Parker, Stacey Mathis and Angie Covington
Steve Graham, James LaPorte and Phil Baker
Carlos Vicente, David Beckett and Sam Lowry
Thane Richmond-Moore and Jonathan Moore
Donna Dudash and Gina Jordan
Lynn Jones and Richard and Deborrah Hays
Neil and Katy McCurry
Bill Holland, Ken Shelin, Trish Shunney and Linda Holland
Sarah Scully and Lauren Brenzel
Emily Garcia and Gabriela O’Brion
Brian Rudolph and Stan Writesel
Mica England, Lori England and Laticia Williams
Sanford Goldman and Mary Davenport
Lana Mullen, Nathan Bruemmer and PJ Naulan
Jay Poindexter, Michael White, commissioner Hagan Brody and Ken Shelin
Patra Jordan, Brian Craft, Matt Yauslin, Eduardo Anaya and Joshua Beadle
Mikki Snyder-Hall, Claire Snyder-Hall, Joan Verizzo, the rev. Dee Graham and Sara Johnson
Grant Sauer, Annie Rosenblum, Lorraine Cruz and Rosemary Demarco
Kevin Lata, House of Representatives candidate for the 72nd district Margaret Good, Paulo Davis and Amanda Lopez
The 2017 Suncoast Celebration steering committee
Co-chairwoman Pauline Parrish welcomes honoree Marcia Foote to the stage.
Honoree Marcia Foote addresses the crowd.
Christina Allman and Tracey Bradford
The twinkling lights hanging around the Michael’s On East ballroom did their job of brightening up the room, but they matched the evening’s purpose even more.
The 2017 Suncoast Celebration carried the theme of “Lights of Hope: Celebrating 20 Years of Equality Florida.” Guests mingled throughout the ballroom while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and listening to the sounds of A Deeper Shade of Soul.
Since 1997, Equality Florida, which is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to fighting for equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community, has helped win marriage equality in Florida, worked to repeal the ban on gay and lesbian adoption, worked to pass more than 170 local policies and protected more than two million students from anti-LGBT bullying. The 2017 Suncoast Celebration served as way to recognize and celebrate these efforts and accomplishments.
During the event, Marcia Foote was honored as the 2017 Voice for Equality Honoree. She shared her story with the crowd, which began with protesting the Vietnam War. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, Equality Florida named Donna Hanley as the 2017 Youth Advocacy Honoree.
