Equality Florida

from Embrace Magazine Premiere Issue

by embracemedia

Layered Blend

Irby Revered

Equality Florida revealed Buddy Irby as Alley for Equality Award recipient at masquerade ball.

E X C L U S I V E P H O T O S A N D C O V E R A G E

BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

he rainbow lit columns of the Gainesville Woman’s Club, indicated something special would happen within. Inside, Equality Florida honored former Clerk of Courts Buddy Irby with the prestigious Ally for Equality Award among hundreds of guests in lavish masquerade attire for his 24 years of service, most notably as the fi rst person to issue same-sex marriage licenses in Alachua County, at the annual Greater Gainesville-area fundraising Gala on Saturday, March 7, 2020.

Equality Florida noted that when other neighboring counties discontinued issuing marriage licenses in an attempt to avoid compliance with the marriage equality law, Irby forged ahead, affi rming to residents throughout North Central Florida that Alachua County would remain committed to recognizing and performing marriages in accordance with the law.

Also honored was Santa Fe College’s Dean of Access and Inclusion, Doctor Cheryl Calhoun, who developed HIV/AIDS educational programming in her time with the American Red Cross T

and has dedicated herself to the creation of safe spaces for the LGBTQ community throughout her career. Many dignitaries, business owners, community leaders and fashionable members of the LGBTQ community rallied when Brandon Wolf, Equality Florida Media Relations Manager, announced that, like last year, Ken Colen, owner of On Top of the World Communities in Ocala pledged a matching fund of $20,000. Within minutes, the $20,000 was raised beginning with pledges of $5,000 worked down to $100 to reach a total of $88,765 raised at the fundraiser.

A photo booth was operated by PNC Bank to provide keepsake photos for the attendees. Catering was provided by Sandra Carlisi with Elegant Events. Embrace Magazine had exclusive coverage of the event.