Saluting Susan Kent, longtime local community activist

Still involved in LGBTQ and housing matters

ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ

Keys Citizen

In June 2003, a 1.25-milelong rainbow flag stretched across Duval Street from the Gulf to the Atlantic. The “sea-to-sea” flag was a signature moment for Key West in showing the world it was a destination of inclusivity, love and pride for its LGBTQ+ community.

Over 2,000 volunteers held the symbolic flag celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Pride flag’s invention by Gilbert Baker, and at the helm was Susan Kent, longtime activist and President of the Key West Gay and Lesbian Community Center at the time.

“That is still probably one of the proudest days of my life,” said Kent.

While lately, Kent spends most of her days relishing in the retired life with her housemates and her dog Karma, she said her work in the community is never really over. She continues her activism and involvement in matters such as housing and LGBTQ+ rights.

Kent has been a part of numerous organizations in the Keys as either an employee, member or volunteer. She’s had roles at GLCC, Key West Business Guild, AH Monroe, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Queer Keys, Sister Season Fund and a few others.

“I’ve been in Key West since 1991. But I mean, I’ve been doing advocacy work for the LGBT community since I was in college,” Kent said.

An alum from Winthrop University, Kent went to work in the airline industry. It was eventually what landed her in Key West— no pun intended.

Kent said she worked in the industry into the late 90s. She also joined the Key West Business Guild in 1991 because of her business involvement.

Kent said in her early advocacy work she pointed out inconsistencies with the way the airline she worked for marketed to the gay and lesbian community but did not hold employees to the same standard.

“I was heavily involved in an advocacy group for samesex employee benefits. And then as a result, I ended up losing my job,” Kent said.

So Kent left the airlines behind and looked to other opportunities in town.

Kent said she arrived on the island in 1991 with hardly any roots. Despite this, she found a supportive community much quicker than she anticipated.

“I just felt immediately welcomed by, especially the local lesbian community, by other business leaders,” Kent said.

Kent said after being let go from her previous job, she went on to be manager of the now-closed Towels of Key West. And then Kent broke into Keys real estate in the early 2000s. She worked as a subcontractor before opening up her own appraisal business shortly after.

Kent eventually closed down her real estate appraisal office after the passing of her wife Teri Dale in 2010.

Kent shared she met her wife in Key West in 1993 and had a commitment ceremony in 1995.

“We were technically never legally married, but I always called her my beautiful wife,” Kent said.

Before that time, Kent was involved with GLCC, even serving as president when the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself.

Kent said in the early 2000s the organization had been working closely with the Tourist Development Council and local businesses to get a rainbow flag project underway.

Kent shared the late Gregg McGrady was the visionary behind the idea and the team worked diligently to make it happen.

The organization eventually received the attention from the creator of the rainbow flag Gilbert Baker who eventually collaborated in the project and helped with funding.

While the project was delayed two years due to the events of 9/11 and the subsequent concerns of large gatherings, the timing worked out well, as 2003 would be the 25th anniversary of the symbolic flag’s creation.

Kent said they were able to fly Baker in and get to work on the over mile-long flag.

“We rented out a

More KENT | A7

Susan Kent, third from left, helps carry the 1.25 mile-long‘Sea-to-Sea’Rainbow Flag’up Duval Street on June 15, 2003, during the annual Key West Pridefest. The flag was stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean with the help of thousands of volunteers.

PHOTOS BY ROB O’NEAL/KEYS CITIZEN

Susan Kent kicks back with her mischievous pup, Karma, at her home on Windsor Lane.

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storefront on Duval Street and we had a team of volunteers who worked with him and actually sewed the nylon fabric together in flag sections,” she said.

Kent said by the time they rolled out the sea-to-sea flag from a big box truck to haul it down the street, the outdoor setting was perfect.

“It had rained earlier that day and the sun was out so the rainbow was reflecting off the street,” Kent said. “It was just gorgeous.”

In a grand marketing effort, whether it was through the radio or by word-of-mouth, they were able to gather over 2,000 volunteers who stretched out the flag from one side of Duval to the other.

“People stopped what they were doing and showed up,” Kent said.

Kent said she could only remember the positives of the day.

She said it was a moment that marketed Key West as a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community.

While GLCC is no longer operating after losing its physical building in the early 2000s, the nonprofit group Queer Keys filled that void, opening up as a LGBTQ+ resource center more recently. Kent has also been involved in this activism group.

Kent continued to be involved in Key West Business Guild even working as a staff member after taking on a few other jobs when she closed her real estate appraisal office.

Her nonprofit work spanned into the 2010s where she worked for the United Way of the Florida Keys (now known as United Way of Collier and the Keys) and Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Keys. She also worked as Housing Case Manager for AH Monroe in 2021.

So it might be fair to say Kent is a familiar face in the community.

Lately, her involvement on issues in Key West has not slowed down, despite her retirement. She said she joins many others in the community who advocate for a number of local issues.

“The people advocating and working in immigration support are the same people who were for visibility for the rainbow crosswalks or rainbow picket fences, and they’re the same people that are talking about transient rental rules,” Kent said. “You know, these are the people that are in voice and want to be represented by our commission.”

She joined many other Old Town homeowners last year in a silent protest by sporting rainbow-colored picket fences at her residence, which was a direct response to the state-mandated removal of Key West’s rainbow crosswalk.

While she like many other residents had to return their fences back to white to follow Historical Architectural Review Commission guidelines, Kent has also been among the residents who have turned to alternatives to proudly display rainbow colors throughout the home’s exterior.

Kent remains active, watching all the HARC meetings and keeping friends and others in the community informed.

Kent emphasized that she understands the importance of maintaining a historic district, but still hopes to see a reasonable change that can sit as a compromise between Key West’s LGBTQ+ and architectural history.

“I really do think it would be a meaningful move if we were able to get that text amendment approved and start a process where there was a reasonable, affordable way for people to go ahead and get a permit... if that’s what they want to do,” Kent said. “And I’ll be in line to do it if that passes.”

ashley.rodriguez@keysnews.com

Susan Kent sports her a Fantasy Fest shirt from the year of her arrival on the island.

ROB O’NEAL/KEYS CITIZEN