Leaders Across the Nation React to Unprovoked Arrest of Civil Rights Leader in Florida

One of the most dynamic and visible leaders for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) equality was arrested on February 27 during a meeting of the Largo (Florida) City Commission. Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida, was pulled down a hallway through double doors away from the crowd and taken to the floor by four officers after handing a flier saying "Don't Discriminate" to an observer who asked for a copy. Smith is nationally recognized for more than two decades of non-violent social justice organizing.

Members of the Equality Federation, a national network of statewide GLBT civil rights organizations, expressed outrage and anger at the brutality and blatant violations of Smith's civil rights and have called upon the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office to immediatelyinvestigate the incident and drop the charges. Equality Florida is a founding member of the Federation.

The city commission meeting was being held to discuss the future of its City Manager, Steve Stanton, who is facing dismissal for announcing his plans to transition from male to female. Stanton has been city manager for 14 years. Smith was at the public meeting to support Stanton.

Sgt. Butch Ward confronted Smith when he thought she was distributing fliers about the proposed firing of the city manager. According to witnesses the violent arrest was unprovoked and the police quickly accelerated the confrontation, pulling Smith into a side hallway and pushing Smith to the floor with several officers on top of her during the arrest. She has been charged with resisting arrest with violence, a felony, and disturbing others' assembly, a misdemeanor.

"Largo is clearly a hostile environment for GLBT people, which is exactly why Nadine is working to change that atmosphere, assist people like Mr. Stanton and protect others from such discrimination," said Jeffrey Montgomery, Executive Director of Michigan's Triangle Foundation, an Equality Federation member agency. "It should anger anyone that a leader of a movement to advance safety and civil rights would be treated the way Nadine has been. These tactics have always been used to try and silence advocates for change."

Equality Federation (65 organizations in 45 states working for GLBT Equality)

Jeffrey Montgomery, Executive Director, Triangle Foundation

Geoff Kors, Executive Director, Equality California

Ross Levi, Director of Public Policy and Education, Empire State Pride Agenda (NY)

Mo Baxley, Executive Director, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition.

"It is an outrage that in 2007 violence and arrest are used as tactics against civil rights leaders anywhere in this nation."

Hans Johnson, President, Progressive Victory

Laura A. Belmonte, Ph.D., President, Oklahomans for Equality

"We at Oklahomans for Equality decry Nadine Smith's unjust arrest and stand in solidarity with Steve Stanton and all our transgender brothers and sisters in the struggle for LGBT equality."

H. Alexander Robinson, Executive Director & CEO, National Black
Justice Coalition

"This kind of disproportionate strong arm tactics are all too reminiscent of what African Americans have had to continue to endure from law enforcement. Ms. Smith is owned an apology and the officer who harassed her must be retrained or dismissed. We will not idly standby while one of our sisters in our struggle for equality is so willfully disrespected."

Rick Garcia, Public Policy Director, Equality Illinois

"I was disgusted by the violent and uncalled for action of the Largo police against Nadine Smith. The City of Largo and Florida's Attorney General should investigate this outrageous action immediately."

Equality Iowa

Jenn Steinfeld, Director, Marriage Equality Rhode Island

Kara DeLeonardis, LICSW, MSW, Executive Director, R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center

Marisa Richmond, Ph.D., President, Tennessee Transgender Political
Coalition

"The firing of Steve Stanton, who is facing discrimination simply because of gender identity, and the arrest of Nadine Smith, who was exercising her First Amendment right of Free Speech in asking for an end to discrimination, are both shameful. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people have long been integral parts of our society, as Stanton's previously praised work has shown. It is time to put an end to the harassment and discrimination against all gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people."

Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, Gay-Straight Alliance Network

Equality Alabama

Kathy Kelly, Executive Director, Marriage Equality Georgia (MEGA) Family Project

"I was horrified to hear about the treatment of Nadine Smith. I have seen Nadine is many tense situations, and she has always maintained a calm presence, so it unimaginable why the police reacted with such hostility toward Ms. Smith. She is a person who always respects others even when she disagrees. It is clear the police not only overreacted, but also took out their hostile feelings toward LGBT people on Ms. Smith. The charges should be dropped immediately, and I hope the Mayor looks into the hostile behavior by the police department."

Pauline Park, Chair, New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)

"We, the members and board of directors of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA), stand in solidarity with Steve Stanton as he takes the courageous step to actualize his transgender identity and with Nadine Smith of Equality Florida for her forthright advocacy on behalf of the city manager of Largo. The actions by the police against Ms. Smith constitute an illegitimate abuse of police power, just as the termination of Mr. Stanton demonstrates the clear need for the adoption of legislation by the Largo City Commission as well as by the Florida state legislature to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

Chris Sanders, Board Chair, Tennessee Equality Project

Dan Furmansky, Executive Director, Equality Maryland & Carrie Evans, Director of Policy & Planning, Equality Maryland

"The unlawful treatment and arrest of Ms. Smith highlights the ignorance and hatred that continues to be exist toward LGBT people. When Ms. Smith is not permitted to peacefully advocate for the fair treatment of Mr. Stanton, the right of citizens to petition their elected officials is in serious jeopardy. We urge the residents of Largo to stand in solidarity against this injustice."

Mark St. John, Lobbyist, Indiana Equality

Rob Henry, Co-Chair, The Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts

Ian Palmquist, Equality North Carolina

Stacey L. Sobel, Executive Director, Equality Advocates Pennsylvania

Sandy Vopalka, Board President, Equality Iowa

"This is a clear example of the kind of violence the LGBT community is trying to stop. This also shows why there needs to be basic civil rights for the LGBT community across the country."

Andrea Shipley, Board Member, Your Family, Friends and Neighbors; Boise, Idaho

Outright Vermont