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

Doug Evans - The Businessman

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

Maddox Max - The Ink Master

Liam Lipham - The Placemaker

LaTonya Hopson - The Legacy

Lali Safavi - The Lesbian Publisher

Kim Blandon - The Community Organizer

Karen Kelley - The Preserver of LGBTQ History

Kal Gajraj - The DEI Champion

Justin Jones - The Peace Preacher

John Mather & Ryan Maloney - The Social Butterflies

Jenn Stefanacci Portier - The Entrepreneur

Jason R. Hughes - The Art Champion

Ground Zero – The King

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

Chris Molina - The Filmmaker

Caridad Moro-Gronlier - The Poet

Avion Goordeen - The Compassionate Cyclist

Auntie Maim - The Audacious Aunt

Alison Burgos & Michelle Alexis Gaber - The Ultimate Power Couple

Alexis Fernández - The Empress of Transformism

Alex Spriggs - The Resource Provider

Jason R. Hughes is the executive director of ArtServe. For more than half of his life, he’s been at the cutting edge of LGBTQ art and media. Prior to living in South Florida, Hughes was the first director of marketing and sales for Pride Vision TV, now known as Out TV in Toronto. 

As the Director of Marketing and Sponsorship for the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF), Edward Otto Zielke combines his life's passions of marketing and music. A New Jersey native, Zielke spent his formative years performing in theater productions, national tours, and summer stock. He majored in musical theater at New Jersey City University.

She’s not just the talent, she’s the boss, and Ms. Halliwell doesn’t wait for an opportunity to come to her. “I'm not going to sit around and wait for anybody to throw me a bone! You know, a lot of people just sit and wait for work. I will create it.”

Avion Goordeen serves as the Outreach Director at PRISM, a nonprofit focused on education and sexual health resources for LGBTQ+ youth in South Florida. He’s a first-generation immigrant, identifies as bisexual, and has been involved with nonprofits since 2018.

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