Pat Padilla

Pat is a passionate straight ally and longtime activist for LGBT equality with an extraordinary journey of grassroots advocacy and activism. She has been involved with Equality Florida for over 20 years, served as a member of the Board of Directors for 8 years, and now serves on the Council of Leaders along with her continued support for LGBT youth with EQFL.

Pat was president of PFLAG Orlando for 11 years and a member of Orlando Anti-Discrimination Organization (OADO) since 2001. With OADO, she was instrumental in making sure gender identity and/or expression was included in the anti-discrimination ordinances in Orlando and Orange County – working behind the scenes. She is also involved with various organizations supporting the rights of LGBT youth in schools.

In 2015, Pat was awarded the EQFL Voice for Equality award. She also received the 1st Orlando Metropolitan Business (now Pride Chamber) Organization’s Community Service Award in 2009. She was the only ally who was selected among 50 distinguished Central Florida LGBT leaders to be honored with Congressional recognition for their accomplishments in 2015. She has also been on the EQFL Greater Orlando Steering Committee.

While working in software for 25 years, including Symantec Corporation, she co-chaired SymPride - Symantec’s LGBTA group - globally. She Initiated a change in Symantec’s global non-discrimination policy to include gender Identity and/or expression. At the same time, Pat brought awareness of the importance of the HRC Corporate Equality Index which led Symantec’s score to go from 0 to 100 in 18 months.

Pat holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. She speaks fluent Spanish after living in Venezuela for 10 years where she translated for Mother Teresa and the Sisters of Charity. Having the privilege of working with so many amazing, committed individuals from the LGBTA+ community has enriched her life in so many ways.