In a bittersweet announcement, Brandon Wolf, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and survivor of gun violence, bids farewell to his role as press secretary at Equality Florida. Wolf, who has been an integral part of the Florida LGBTQ+ rights organization since 2022, revealed his departure plans in a heartfelt letter to his colleagues.
In his farewell message, Wolf expressed both excitement and sorrow as he shared his new journey: “It is with both excitement and sadness that I am sharing the news: today, my time on staff at Equality Florida comes to a close, and I head to our nation’s capital to serve as National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign,” he wrote.
Wolf’s transition underscores the significance of Equality Florida’s mission and its impact. He noted that the organization’s insights gained from battling Governor Ron DeSantis’s censorship agenda and Florida’s role as a national cautionary tale played a pivotal role in his decision. “I am honored to have been on this incredible team, who pour their hearts into the fight for a better future every day,” he emphasized.
As he embarks on this new chapter, Wolf, aged 34, reflects on the nation’s current crossroads: “The country is at a pivotal moment in history,” he asserted. He hopes to encourage Americans to ponder profound questions in his new role. “Does freedom mean the freedom to read, or will it mean empty bookshelves?” he asked. “Will it mean the freedom to learn or a whitewashed history and propagandized curriculum? Will it mean the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies or government control over our most intimate choices? Will it mean the freedom to love or a society held hostage by puritanical demands for conformity?”
Brandon Wolf expressed deep gratitude to Equality Florida for taking a chance on him four years ago. His advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and gun control, fueled by his survival of the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, has been a beacon of hope. In his memoir, “A Place for Us,” Wolf bravely shares his experiences of growing up as a biracial queer individual in an environment that was predominantly white and straight, along with the emotional aftermath of the tragic nightclub shooting that claimed the lives of his closest friends.
As Wolf embarks on this new national role, he leaves a parting message: “Same fight – new frontier. Let’s make good trouble.”