In March, Jeff Nall, president of Emerald Coast Equality, spent four days in Tallahassee participating in “Pride to the Capitol,” an event organized by Equality Florida that mobilized the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to speak out against legislative efforts that threaten LGBTQ+ rights. The event drew a record turnout of over 410 participants from across the state, exceeding the expected attendance of 360 people.
- As a team lead, Nall helped coordinate a group of advocates who attended committee meetings, submitted speaker cards, and expressed opinions on pending legislation. The Pensacola contingent included six members—the largest group ever sent from the area to this event.
- Jeff Nall was named to the 2025 Inweekly Power List.
Growth of Emerald Coast Equality
The local organization has grown significantly, with new faces appearing at meetings and events. This expansion reflects increasing community engagement around equality issues in the Pensacola area.
- Even first-time advocates found their voices during the Capitol visit. Nall mentioned one Pensacola resident who initially felt hesitant to speak but decided to step up and make her voice heard after observing a committee chair’s demeanor.
Nall highlighted Pensacola’s commitment to inclusivity and community building. He mentioned the CivicCon equity awards presented at a local event, which recognized:
- The “Righting the Past” project—historians rewriting obituaries of Black Pensacolians whose contributions were historically minimized
- The STAMPED Film Festival, which raises awareness about LGBTQ+ issues
- Walter Arrington, known for finding common ground among people with diverse backgrounds
He added:
“Pensacola has a tradition of wanting to do good by each other, and I think that’s what the people in Tallahassee are voicing as well.”
Legislative Landscape: Anti-DEI and LGBTQ+ Bills
When asked about current bills under consideration for the 2025 Florida Legislative session, Nall explained that approximately 12 bills filed this session could be characterized as “anti-women or anti-DEI.” However, he noted that many of these proposals have been amended or stalled in committee.
- “There just doesn’t seem to be as much of an appetite for culture wars when so many people are up there face-to-face asking for real-life relief, like better insurance and dealing with insurance crises.”
Equality Florida’s turnout at committee meetings has been substantial enough to impact the legislative process. At one meeting Nall attended, only one of four controversial bills was heard because over 1,000 speaker cards were submitted, forcing the postponement of the remaining items.
Nall shared an important observation about the anti-DEI bills: when legislators and citizens began examining who would actually be affected by these measures—including veterans, women, and people with disabilities—the conversation shifted.
- “You could almost see light bulbs popping on and the temperature cooling off because we can’t cherry-pick these terms,” he explained. This realization has helped temper some of the more extreme anti-DEI proposals.
At the time of the interview (April 24th at 1:43 PM), House Bill 1539, titled “Materials Harmful to Minors,” was up for a final vote. The bill would make it easier to ban books and censor educational materials in K-12 schools.
Nall expressed concern that Escambia County has been specifically mentioned in legislative debates due to its record of book banning. “We deserve better PR than that,” he stated. “It is not a good look.”
Looking Forward
Nall concluded the interview with a call for unity and practical problem-solving: “Hopefully cooler heads will prevail at the state and local level and among our citizenry, and we can just all focus on what we need to be focused on to make sure that everybody’s thriving in an environment of respect and dignity.”
This perspective reflects Emerald Coast Equality’s commitment not just to LGBTQ+ rights but to creating a community where everyone can prosper with dignity and mutual respect.
- As I wrote this, Nall texted me: “After a flurry of attempted amendments, HB 1539 Materials Harmful to Minors passed in the House. However, the status of its companion SB 1692 is unclear. It appears to be temporarily postponed or stalled.”