Justin Jones is a problem solver. He's also the President of the Rapha Center of Miami. In the Bible, the Hebrew word Rapha translates as healing.
Out & Proud 2024
It’s never easy to narrow down the many incredible individuals in our LGBTQ community to just one list — but we’ve done our best.
OutSFL is honored to share these stories and celebrate the remarkable people featured in this year’s list.
You’ll read about folks like Don D'Arminio, a dedicated commissioner in Wilton Manors who consistently gives back to the community; Maxx Fenning, a dynamic Gen Z change maker; Donna Weinberger, who is making strides in tackling addiction within the queer community; and Ximena Dipietro, a trailblazing transgender student and activist.
These are just a few of the inspiring individuals we’ve highlighted. Be sure to explore the full list.
What makes these people truly significant isn’t just that they are LGBTQIA — it’s their accomplishments, their dedication, and the impact they’ve made. They embody the spirit of being Out & Proud, serving as role models not only for our community but for future generations. They remind us that we are no longer on the sidelines; we’re front and center, leading the way.
I hope these stories inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.
Welcome to the 2024 South Florida Out & Proud list, a celebration of activists, business leaders, organizers, and more — individuals who are out, proud, and making a difference in our local LGBTQ community and beyond.
Jason Parsley, Publisher
Thank you to all of our writers who worked on the Out & Proud list.
Project Managers
John Hayden & Mary Rasura
Writers
Denise Brown • Kim Swan • John McDonald • John Hayden
Mary Rasura • Amancio Paradela • Deon C. Jefferson • Jesse Monteagudo
Check out our list below:
Bree-Anna Obst - The Theatre Maker
Stephen Kitsakos - The Operatic Visionary
Ximena Dipietro - The Trans Christian Activist
Von Biggs - The Advocate for the Underserved
Tom Lander - The Fighter for Queer Youth
Terry Dyer - The Agent of Change
Steven Butterman, Ph.D. - The Educator of LGBTQ Topics
Stephen Tendrich - The Prostate Cancer Awareness Advocate
Ryan Young - The Talk of the Flock
Ryan Thompson - The Night Runner
Robert Cole - The Public Service Patron
Q-Mitch Jones - The Benevolent Showman
Nicole Halliwell - Mrs. Go-Getter
Michelle Santos - The Protector of Youth
Michael Goodman - The Publicist
Maxx Fenning - The Gen Z Change Maker
Maxine Lemarr - The Musical Lesbian Thespian
Marc Martorana - The Generous Kitchen Maestro
Lali Safavi - The Lesbian Publisher
Kim Blandon - The Community Organizer
Karen Kelley - The Preserver of LGBTQ History
Justin Jones - The Peace Preacher
John Mather & Ryan Maloney - The Social Butterflies
Jenn Stefanacci Portier - The Entrepreneur
Jason R. Hughes - The Art Champion
Edward Otto Zielke - The Melodic Marketer
Edward Summers - Supporting Homeless Youth
Douglas Houghton - Trailblazing Nurse Leader
Donna Weinberger - The Addiction Recovery Advocate
Don D’Arminio - The Commissioner
Diane Pappafotis - The Women’s Community Coordinator
David Jobin - The Philanthropy Leader
Dan Rios - The Brand Ambassador
Chuck King - The King of The Drive
Caridad Moro-Gronlier - The Poet
Avion Goordeen - The Compassionate Cyclist
Auntie Maim - The Audacious Aunt
Alison Burgos & Michelle Alexis Gaber - The Ultimate Power Couple
If you see him, you can’t miss him. With his signature beard and on-point jewelry game, Marc Martorana is very recognizable - and he gets recognized everywhere.
Husbands John Mather and Ryan Maloney are the founders of North Beach LGBTQ+ & Friends, a social group serving the LGBTQ community of North Beach and Galt in Fort Lauderdale.
Donna Weinberger is the founder of Transpire Help, a nonprofit focused on substance abuse recovery for members of the LGBTQ+ community. They are also the CEO of Inspire Recovery, an LGBTQ-affirming addiction rehabilitation center, as well as the CEO of Pride Detox, an LGBTQ-affirming detox and rehabilitation center. They also recently opened an LGBTQ-affirming detox and rehabilitation center in Homestead called Q Space Detox.
For trans activist Liam Lipham, holding space for someone to be their whole self is more than an occupation, it's a duty. Growing up in small town Missouri, Lipham found little room to explore his identity without scrutiny, only to join the Navy’s “SeaBees” Construction Battalion right out of high school during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era.
Alison Burgos and Michelle Alexis Gaber are not a lesbian power couple. They are a hands down power couple in the truest sense of the phrase, no qualifiers needed. Their impact on South Florida’s LGBTQ community, and especially the lesbian community, is immeasurable.
It’s never easy to narrow down the many incredible individuals in our LGBTQ community to just one list — but we’ve done our best.
Caridad Moro-Gronlier was one of OutSFL’s six queer poets featured for National Poetry Month in April. A Cuban-American, her poetry collection "Tortillera" embraces and reclaims the word "tortillera," a term for lesbian in Spanish often regarded as a slur in some Cuban-American homes. Moro-Gronlier moved from Los Angeles to Miami at 9 years old.