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PFLAG Tampa collection, 2010-2023, Date acquired: 2025-12-11

 

Summary

Creator:
Desmond, John
Desmond, Nancy
Abstract:
The PFLAG Tampa collection includes materials related to the Tampa chapter of PFLAG, a national LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, as well as materials related to organizations with which PFLAG Tampa and its founders, John and Nancy Desmond, collaborated. This collection contains a significant volume of materials related to Tampa Pride, the group which organizes the annual Tampa Pride Festival, both from PFLAG's involvement with the festival and John and Nancy Desmond's time as board members for the organization. Materials in this collection include organizational documents, promotional materials, community resources, and events ephemera and realia.
Extent:
7 boxes
5.42 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

PFLAG Tampa collection, USF Libraries – Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Background

Scope and content:

The PFLAG Tampa collection primarily consists of organizational documents (presentation materials, resources, and meeting materials), publications, and ephemera (events flyers, brochures, pamphlets, and business cards). Most materials pertain to PFLAG Tampa and its collaboration with other Tampa Bay LGBTQ+ organizations. Also included are materials related to John Desmond's time on the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Human Rights Board and Tampa Pride organizational documents. Materials span from 2010 to 2023.

Biographical / historical:

John "Lefty" and Nancy Desmond founded PFLAG Tampa in 2011 after the coming out of their son, JP. Through PFLAG and JP's church community at Metropolitan Community Church, they became involved in other local LGBTQ+ organizations, including the GaYBOR District Coalition, the LGBT Roundtable at The Spring, the LBGT Roundtable at the Hillsborough Homeless Coalition, Metro Wellness, and Equality Florida. The Desmonds later founded PFLAG St. Petersburg in 2018.

John Desmond served on the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Human Rights Board and aided in the crafting of the Human Rights Ordinance which added protections for sexual orientation and gender identity and lifted a ban on Pride parades. The year after the ordinance's passing, the Desmonds served as founding board members for the inaugural Tampa Pride Festival in 2015.

Information taken from "Why We March" speech held in collection.

Acquisition information:

John Desmond

Donation

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged topically by organization and alphabetically within organizations.

Accruals:

10/2026: Additional materials integrated into collection. CC

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

None.

Terms of access:

None. The contents of this collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.

Preferred citation:

PFLAG Tampa collection, USF Libraries – Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Location of this collection:
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus
4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122
Tampa
FL
33620-5400
USA