Fighting tyranny and injustice takes more than awareness, it takes money.

The National LGBTQ Task Force has been raising both for a half century. Their signature events in South Florida – the annual gala and Winter Party – bring in more than a million dollars, and now they’re returning some of it to our region.

During a reception at the ArtServe building on July 7, Task Force Gala co-chair Jeff Oliverio presented a check for $215,000 to the LGBTQ Equity Fund, run by the Our Fund Foundation and Miami Foundation.

The money is used for emergency grants to LGBTQ organizations that find themselves facing unexpected challenges.

“When Don’t Say Gay passed, $200,000 went out immediately to LGBTQ youth organizations from our equity fund,” Our Fund Foundation CEO David Jobin told OutSFL. “The Task Force comes into South Florida and helps in so many ways. They’re giving back directly to the Equity Fund. We’re able to do emergency grants for whatever the needs are at the time.”

While they are on the ground helping South Florida, they’re also preparing for the next election when LGBT rights will be on the ballot.

“The focus going into 2024 is going to be motivated around getting people out to vote and voter education,” Oliverio told OutSFL. “The second thing is pushing back against what’s happening everywhere. We’re doing a lot of grassroots training.”

Wilton Manors City Commissioner Don D’Arminio and his husband, Marc Martorana, are long-time Task Force supporters. They used to hold this event in their home, and this year Martorana provided the food.

“They’re really out there for all of us and it’s really important in these times,” D’Arminio told OutSFL. “The National LGBTQ Task Force is one of our most important organizations. They fight for our rights nationwide.”