Rep. Soto Honors 8 Central Florida Leaders for PRIDE Month

June 17, 2019

Kissimmee, FL – In honor of Pride Month 2019, U.S. Congressman Darren Soto held a ceremony recognizing eight individuals in Central Florida for their accomplishments. The honorees' biographies were submitted into the Congressional Record and they received Congressional Certificates.

"During Pride month, we celebrate and honor the progress we've made when it comes to LGBTQ equality. We also take this opportunity to raise awareness of the work that still needs to be done and the issues the LGBTQ community still faces," stated Rep. Soto. "In Central Florida, we're blessed to have leaders of the LGBTQ community that have forged incredible progress and continue fighting every day to advance equality. We honor their accomplishments and contributions to our district."

The honorees were recognized by Rep. Soto in a ceremony on Monday, June 17th, 2019 at the Kissimmee LGBT Center (21 W Monument Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34741).

The 2019 Honorees are:

John Ruffier	An attorney and leader of the LGBTQ community, founder of the Central Florida chapter of the Human Rights Campaign and Board Chair of the HRC political board. For full video, click here
George Wallace	Senior leader of Orlando Fringe, advocate for persons with disabilities as a case manager, and board member and Executive Director of The LGBTQ+ Center Orlando. For full video, click here.
Eric Rollings	Leader and environmental activist, serves on the Community Development Block Grant Board, and one of the first openly LGBT people to serve in an Orange Countywide position. For full video, click here.
Ricardo Negron-Almodovar	Licensed Attorney, survivor of the Orlando Pulse Tragedy and leader in the LGBTQ+ Latinx community who has advocated against discrimintation and gun violence. Founder of "Del Ambiente", an effort to build up the LGBTQ+ Puerto Rican community in Florida. For full video, click here.
Karen Castelloes	Member and Vice Chair of the Equality Florida Steering Committee. English to Speakers of Other Languages teacher for thiry-one years, and founder of The Jefferson Voss Scholarship for Zebra Coalition Youth. For full video, click here.
David Arthur Jones	Co-founder and Regional Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Democratic Caucus of Polk County, and For full video, click here.
Anthony H. Sandonato	Human Resources Executive, LGBTQ Community Advocate and member of the Human Rights Campaign's National Board of Governors. A political and community engagement leader with focus on efforts to influence policy regarding LGBTQ rights. For full video, click here.
Nikole Parker	A transgender woman of Puerto Rican, Italian and African American descent. An advocate for the rights and dignity of the transgender and gender nonconforming community. Event and Community Outreach Coordinator for the onePULSE Foundation and winner of the Humanitarian of the Year award by the Miss Glamorous Pageant. For full video, click here.