Michelle Ott, Chair

Michelle Ott served on the EQFL Board from 2010 to 2016, including as Board Chair and Secretary. She has served on the Equality Florida Council of Leaders since its inception and was elected its Chair in 2021. She has served on the EQFL Greater Gainesville Steering and Host Committees since their inception in 2009, including terms as Steering Committee Chair. As spokesperson for Equality is Gainesville’s Business in 2009, she helped defeat a charter amendment that would have removed rights and protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. For her commitment to full equality of the LGBTQ+ community, Michelle was named the 2008 Pride Community Center of North Central Florida Community Person of the Year and received a 2009 EQFL Voice For Equality Award.

Michelle’s community service goes back decades, having been President of the North Central Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, President of Congregation P’nai Or, President of the Royal Gardens Homeowners Association, treasurer of Eastside Soccer Boosters, member of the City of Gainesville Human Rights Board, member of the Alachua County Stonewall Democrats Board, and campaign treasurer for a City Commission candidate. She also served as a Precinct Chair within the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, as well as having served as Recording Secretary.

For the past 21 years and counting Michelle has taken great joy in performing with the band Other Voices. Her latest adventure began in 2022 when she became a grandmother.