The stars are coming into alignment for the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual gala in Miami Beach.

The organization announced renowned drag performer Latrice Royale and award-winning actor-singer Dyllón Burnside will serve as emcees of the 2023 gala. A major fundraiser for the Task Force, the gala is scheduled for Oct. 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

“We need voices like theirs to continue to bring hope and inspire our LGBTQ community in Florida,” said Task Force Executive Director Kierra Johnson.

Royale, known for her large and in charge personality, rose to fame with appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race. She has performed her autobiography, Here’s to Life, in front of sold out audiences across the country. 

Burnside, who played dancer Ricky Evangelista on the television series, “Pose,” is a Florida native and accomplished Broadway performer. He recently appeared in the PBS documentary, Prideland, a series that explores how queer people live authentic lives in the modern South. 

St. John’s on the Lake, a reconciling, progressive United Methodist Church, is the gala’s presenting sponsor. The church is led by Pastor Kipp Nelson, who recently became the first out gay man to be appointed pastor of a United Methodist Church in Florida. 

“Technically, our policies say gay people can’t serve as pastors,” Nelson noted. “We are actively resisting and standing up for justice within our denomination and fighting to overturn the rules that were put in place back in the ‘60s.”

This year’s gala theme is “Forever Strong. Unapologetically Queer.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thetaskforce.org.