Political Quotes

“In honor of LGBTQ-plus Pride Month I would like to recognize Mandy Kimmer. Mandy Kimmer, APR, CPRC, is the public information officer for Orange County Parks and Recreation, having worked there for 13 years. Born and raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she earned her BA degrees in public relations, journalism, and economics from Florida Southern College in Lakeland in 1983. In 2015 she and friend Karen Castelloes cofounded the Zebra Coalition's Jefferson R. Voss Education Fund for LGBTQ-plus students in central Florida, establishing an endowed scholarship at the University of Central Florida and helping direct funds from a separate donation for students pursuing courses for a GED or technical and community college. Since the inception of this funding, numerous students have received thousands of dollars in financial assistance to further their education. After the Pulse tragedy occurred in Orlando on June 12, 2016, Mandy formed the LGBTQ Pride and Allies of Orange County for county colleagues and others outside the organization. Knowing that people wanted to help and needed to heal, she invited LGBT community leaders to speak at meetings held in Orange County's administration building. Topics included volunteer opportunities with Zebra Coalition, civil rights work of Equality Florida, community involvement of The LGBT-plus Center Orlando, personal transgender stories, and coming-out experiences of youth and adults.…”