If you’ve been to a city meeting, philanthropic event, or community party in the last few years, you’ve encountered Don D’Arminio and his husband, Marc Martorana. D’Arminio served on Wilton Manors’ Planning & Zoning Board for six years and was elected city commissioner in 2022.

As the other half of the power couple, Martorana is also involved with many community organizations, but may best be known for his culinary craftsmanship. Any event is worth attending if you know he is catering.

Each is important in their own right, but together they make things happen for Wilton Manors and South Florida’s LGBTQ community. Now they’re being recognized with the Human Rights Campaign’s Justin Flippen Community Trailblazer Award.

The honor is named after Justin Flippen, the Wilton Manors Mayor who passed away suddenly in 2020.

“We were at the City Commission Meeting waiting for his arrival the night he was on his way to the meeting, and passed away. We were all in shock, and It was a very sad day for our city,” the couple said.

The award is given to people who embody Flippen’s spirit of community service.

“Justin was a friend and mentor, so it makes this honor even more special,” Martorana and D’Arminio told OutSFL.

They will be recognized Saturday, Feb. 17, at the 2024 Human Rights Campaign South Florida Dinner at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

They say the honor is recognition that they are on the right path and helping make a difference.

“We appreciate that our contributions are being recognized, and hope it encourages others to give back and support the organizations that support us. Most importantly, we need to remember that ‘We the People’ means all of us!”