AGE: 49
HOMETOWN: Fort Myers, Fla.
IDENTIFIES AS: “DeLaran. I love who I love.”
PRONOUNS: She/Her/Hers
SIGN: Aries
People have always been my passion,” DeLaran Withers says.
“My favorite thing is seeing people shine and being able to somehow, in some way, facilitate that.”
That’s why so much of her time is spent helping others. As a teacher, she works with individuals living with developmental disabilities resulting from brain injuries or genetics. As a volunteer, she supports those impacted by HIV/AIDS with EPIC, and as an advocate, she’s marched on Washington D.C. for LGBTQ rights and helped produce Gulfport’s inaugural Peace, Love & Pride festival.
“I tend to root for the underdog and to work hard for those who have been marginalized,” she says, a passion she carries into her musical career. She can frequently be found playing guitar, drums, bass and singing her original tunes throughout Tampa Bay.
“The music I write is inspired by life and life is not a static event. It’s empowering, uplifting and fun,” DeLaran says. Those are traits she also looks for in a significant other, whatever their gender or orientation.
“I’ve never labeled myself,” she says. “They would just need to be really passionate about life and all things in it.”
