Nina Borders, Pasco Pride President

Nina Borders is the hero I needed in Pasco County when I was growing up.

Nina took over as President of Pasco Pride in its second year, and has brought it to a new level of brilliance and power. Under her leadership, Pride has developed a regular presence in local politics, created a Metro fund for low income patients, attended regional and national conferences, and even adopted a road formerly adopted by the KKK.

The organization is also launching a scholarship, LGBTQ+ foster family support system and Human Rights Ordinance campaign.

While working as a full time firefighter paramedic, and in the face of direct threats, racism and homophobia, Nina taught herself how to run a nonprofit, file 501(c)(3) taxes and certification, effectively track social media engagement, navigate press and politics and accounting software, and master graphic design.

Without fanfare or public recognition, she has brought together a powerful team of activists, businesses, nonprofits, media and volunteers who regularly challenge politicians, school boards and social norms.

Nina is always reading, always learning from other organizers and always asking how she can improve. She doesn’t sit still for a minute; she is constantly generating new ideas, forming new community contacts and developing new creative strategies to serve the most vulnerable.

It is easy to forget the small towns of Pasco County, like the poor, conservative neighborhoods of New Port Richey I grew up in. In a time when Prides are becoming more and more commercialized, and in the face of a challenging local culture rife with vitriolic protesters, Nina has not let us become apolitical.

Under her guidance, Pride explicitly centers those who need it most – houseless folks, children, small LGBTQA+ owned businesses and people of color. All of this during just her first year in charge.

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