History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale will present “Take PRIDE!” 2025, a ticketed benefit reception and exhibition honoring and highlighting LGBTQ community advocates during Pride Month, at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort.
On Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m., a special opening preview reception hosted by FayWhat?! and previous “Take PRIDE!” honoree Shawn “Kitty Meow” Palacious will pay tribute to 10 new impactful LGBTQ community leaders. Tickets for the June 18 “Take PRIDE!” reception are $50 and are available at historyfortlauderdale.org. Guests will enjoy a preview of the exhibit, special performances, an open bar, and light bites courtesy of Dom Caruso’s.
A free companion exhibition, Zorita’s World, featuring photography highlights from the life and career of famed burlesque dancer, icon, and LGBTQ advocate Zorita, plus photos and iconic bar ads from “Last Call South Florida - A History of 1001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts” by Fred Fejes and Rick Karlin, along with costumes and other historical artifacts, will be displayed from June 19 – July 13. The exhibition, located near Swarovski, between Macy’s and Dillard’s, will be open to the public during mall hours.
The 2025 “Take PRIDE!” honorees who have made significant contributions to the South Florida community are Steve Glassman, City of Fort Lauderdale District 2 Commissioner; the Honorable Robert Lee, retired judge; Scott Holland, vice president of operations and associate publisher of HotSpots! magazine and Happening Out Network; Michael Berry, complex general manager at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort; FayWhat?! Albernas, of The FayWhat?! Show on the Happening Out Television Network; Velvet Lenore, entertainer, and philanthropist; T.P. Lords, entertainer, and choreographer; Tony Lima, CEO and executive director, SunServe; Franchesca D’Amore, founding president and executive director of TransEd; and Ed Hashek, arts advocate and philanthropist. Also being recognized are Karlin, gay journalist, teacher, activist, and historian, and Fejes, a retired professor of LGBTQ history, authors of “Last Call South Florida.”
“We are proud to honor this year’s LGBTQ+ advocates whose leadership, advocacy for equality, and contributions to the South Florida political, business, and arts landscapes are revered and innumerable,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale, in a press release. “South Florida has prospered and grown on the wings of their commitment to inclusivity and acceptance for all. We are grateful for their perseverance and sharing their stories so that we may continue to champion diversity in our city and beyond.”
The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort “Take PRIDE!” 2025 exhibit will feature photos and ephemera from Zorita’s World, the life and career of famed burlesque dancer and icon Zorita, as well as her same-sex relationships and networks of friends. The performer and entrepreneur pushed boundaries in Miami and beyond in the 1940s, 50s, and ‘60s — a time when so much of what she did was often controversial and illegal. Today, perhaps more than ever, her legacy and influence offer important lessons on the power of individuals in shaping history and making necessary waves towards progress.
Also featured will be selections from “Last Call South Florida - A History of 1001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts” by Fejes and Karlin, co-curated by Ellery Andrews, deputy director at History Fort Lauderdale, and Julio Capó, Jr., an author, and associate professor of history at Florida International University.
Additional contributors to this year’s reception and exhibit are Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library, and Florida International University. Capó curated a different exhibition on Zorita’s life in 2024 for Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library.
For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, call 954-463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org.
