St. Pete Pride's new leader has big plans despite anti-LGBTQ+ attacks: "I'm a fighter"

Axios

5 days ago

She may be 4'11", but don't underestimate Bior Guigni.
State of play: She can squat 450 pounds. She's a women's wrestling pioneer, mixed martial arts fighter and former rugby player.
And, after an award - studded career in nonprofits, she recently took over as executive director of St. Pete Pride — Florida's largest Pride celebration, which kicks off Sunday — amid a barrage of attacks on LGBTQ+ people in Florida and beyond.
In other words,"I'm a fighter," Guigni, 42, told Axios in a recent interview.
After visiting family in the Tampa Bay area for the last 20 years, she moved here from Boston with her two standard poodles, Kingston and London, and is enjoying the bungalows, brick-lined streets and beaches.
Driving the news: She's got big plans for St. Pete Pride. We caught up with her to learn more.
Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is your vision for St. Pete Pride?
There's a lot of opportunity to continue to deepen the year-round presence that St. Pete Pride can offer through advocacy, cultural programming [and] equitable access to resources.
I want to really expand our partnerships, not only within the city of St. Pete, but also with other Prides statewide.
Considering things that are happening, not only in this country but in our world, it's important for us to remember that we are stronger together and that our voices, when unified, are more powerful than separating each other, right?
So [we're] especially focusing on BIPOC (being that myself), trans voices, youth voices [and] elders that have been through so much to get us to where we are today, and I want them to all feel seen and supported through St. Pete Pride.
What are you most excited about heading into Pride Month?
I know the blood, sweat and tears that comes not only from our team here at St. Pete Pride, but just the entire community. So what I'm really looking forward to is actually getting to celebrate together.
And then on top of that is rolling out our summer cool-down series this year where we'll be thanking people who have served half a million people throughout the entire month.
We've partnered with a few of the amazing pools in the city and have actually worked out where there's going to be open accessibility on a Monday or Tuesday [for workers and locals who helped make Pride happen].
In Florida, we've seen threats to Pride celebrations and drag shows. We've seen all kinds of attacks on life and expression for queer people, especially trans people and trans youth. How are you addressing that?
We are going to continue to be that resource and that organization that provides these safe, inclusive spaces, through our community events, through our advocacy and through the educational part of our work, and doubling down on that, because I think the more that people try to take away, the more we need to come together and keep pushing forward.
Did you have any perceptions about Florida coming in that sit with you differently now that you're here? And were you nervous about anything about coming to a place like Florida?
I'm not just queer. I am an immigrant. I'm a woman of color, right? And so, driving from Boston to Florida, there are so many things that I had to worry about.
But racism and hate is not just centered in certain states. It's actually a country-wide epidemic.
I was pleasantly surprised — coming to St. Pete for the last 20-some-odd years — just to see the development of the city and to see all the different businesses that have the rainbow and have beautiful, bright art and collages.
It really reminded me of P-town [Providencetown, a queer-friendly destination on Cape Cod]. So it felt very safe here, and I was just really excited to be able to find an opportunity like St. Pete Pride.
St. Pete Pride events
June 7: Youth and Family Day
June 12: Stonewall Reception
June 18: Transtastic
June 21: Womyn in Comedy
June 28: Trans March