This Saturday, as tens of thousands of people gather along Wilton Drive to celebrate Stonewall Pride, I find myself reflecting on what Stonewall truly means to me.
Stonewall is more than a celebration. It is more than a parade, a festival, or a single moment in history. Stonewall represents courage, authenticity, resilience, and the belief that when people come together in unity, extraordinary things can happen.
For me personally, Stonewall is about community.
It is about people from all walks of life coming together to celebrate both our differences and the many things we share. It is about recognizing that every person has value, every voice deserves to be heard, and every individual deserves the opportunity to live authentically and proudly.
That is why I am especially excited to spend the day at the HotSpots Magazine booth, where I look forward to greeting friends old and new, sharing stories, making connections, and hopefully exchanging plenty of high-fives along the way.
What makes this year’s experience particularly meaningful is the spirit of collaboration that will be represented at our booth. I am thrilled that organizations and community partners accepted my invitation to join together. Organizations collaborating with us at our booth will be Out Magazine, The Advocate, OutSFL, Perks Plus VIP, Fun Maps, OutLGBTQ Social Meet Up Club, Fort Lauderdale Realty Group, and the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library will all be joining us in celebration.
To me, seeing so many organizations working together in one place is the very definition of Stonewall.
It demonstrates what is possible when we set aside competition and choose collaboration. When we support one another. When we help solve problems together. When we celebrate each other’s successes. When we recognize that we are stronger together than we could ever be alone.
I hope everyone who walks down Wilton Drive this weekend sees something much bigger than a festival. I hope they see what diversity, equity, and inclusion truly look like in action. I hope they see neighbors helping neighbors, organizations supporting organizations, and a community united by respect, compassion, and love.
Perhaps most importantly, I hope the world takes notice.
Because serving people from every background, every identity, and every walk of life is not just good for our community—it is how the world was meant to be.
I thank God every day for who I am, who I was born to be, and the journey that has brought me to this moment. Stonewall reminds me that each of us has a story worth celebrating and a place where we belong.
So if you’re attending Stonewall this weekend, please stop by our booth. Come say hello. Introduce yourself. Share your story. Celebrate with us.
Together, let’s show the world what community looks like.
Together, let’s celebrate Stonewall.
Bobby Blair is an LGBTQ media pioneer and leader known for his philanthropic work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. A Florida native, he lives in Fort Lauderdale with his longtime partner, Brian Neal. Blair was inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame in 2015.
