Ronnie Larsen has spent his life telling gay stories onstage. For him, that work begins with a belief that people should claim their lives fully, without waiting for permission or pretending their faults do not exist.

For Roderick MacKenzie, one of his proudest accomplishments began with a partnership close to home. The 64-year-old Fort Lauderdale resident co-founded FLoatarama with his husband, Scott Schramm, turning their shared commitment to LGBTQ youth into an all-volunteer nonprofit with a distinctly South Florida spirit.

For Nic Huey, organizing is not primarily about filling a room. It is about creating the conditions for people to find one another, express themselves freely and imagine a less restrictive world.

Natasha Ricketts has known how to name her identity since she was 12. The Oakland Park performer remembers telling her father she liked girls the same way she liked boys. His response gave her language and acceptance.

Michael White has lived through a period of LGBTQ history when visibility could carry enormous risk. At 71, he considers living openly both a privilege and a responsibility.

For Michael Craft, the greatest reward of making art is not an award or exhibition. It is discovering that someone connected deeply enough with his work to bring it into their life.