For decades, the Stonewall National Museum Archives & Library has preserved our past and celebrated the heroes that walk amongst us. Now the organization is holding the inaugural Stonewall Honors on Saturday, May 30 at the ArtServe building in Fort Lauderdale.

Stonewall CEO Robert Kesten says the event is inspired by our frontline workers doing more with less.  

“Most of us do not know who those people are and how hard they work and just what they are doing for our community. As a community, we need to make our ‘stars’ visible, not performers, not business executives, but the people doing the work.” 

The night will start inside the museum for the launch of a new website focused on LGBTQ heroes and history. The crowd will then move next door for dinner and drinks, followed by the ceremony in the Our Fund Hall. A new, permanent, and interactive exhibit bringing queer culture and history to life will be unveiled as well. 

The inaugural class includes Alan Beck, Mark Berryhill, Jaymes Black, Ben Garcia, Robert Griffin & Durrell Watkins, Rand Hoch, Kierra Johnson, Marc Martorana & Don D'Arminio, Julie Seaver, and Denise Spivak. 

“Honorees were selected in different concentration areas, different regions of the nation, we looked at the scope of the work, the experience brought to the work, the history of the organization and its impact and potential impact,” Kesten said. 

Corporate and political support for the LGBTQ community are at decades lows. But Kesten says that indifference is driving community awareness.  

“I think it is fair to say our engagement and relationship with the community continues to grow and there is a greater appreciation of what we do. As the local and national struggle continues it gets clearer why our work is fundamental and not a luxury.” 

Tickets are available at Stonewall-Museum.org.