Equality Florida held its annual Tampa Gala on Feb. 24 at the TPepin Hospitality Centre, and Watermark was there to take in the elegant proceedings. Attendees were treated to a live band providing the musical backdrop to a tasty meal of braised short ribs, paella and gourmet mac & cheese with a dessert station featuring a variety of miniature donuts.
On hand to give the keynote was Equality Florida CEO Nadine Smith who gave an impassioned speech on how 2018 will be the year of hope in the wake of attacks on LGBTQ rights in 2017. With the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School fresh in everyone’s mind, she also took a moment to highlight the #NoNRAMoney movement she has helped to co-found seeking to put pressure on politicians to refuse money from the NRA. The night ended with a live auction, that along with a silent online auction, proceeds from the gala and its sponsors, raised over $380K for Equality Florida and its LGBTQ advocacy work.
You can check out some of our photos below:
Photos by Melody Maia Monet
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