Guest Column

For more than half a century, the Miss Florida F.I. Pageantry System has stood as one of the most radiant symbols of artistry, identity, and courage within the LGBTQ community. On Nov. 10, that brilliance will once again fill the Crystal Ballroom at The Venue Fort Lauderdale (2345 Wilton Drive) as the pageant celebrates its 53rd anniversary — a milestone that represents not just the endurance of an event, but the survival of an entire culture under siege.

As a 58-year-old transgender woman of color, I feel incredibly fortunate to have reached this age. I've faced immense injustices, including employment and housing discrimination, and medical disparities that led to dangerous black-market injections. I've survived three violent physical attacks.

On a humid South Florida evening, the neon glow of Wilton Drive spills onto the pavement like a rainbow river. Music thumps from open-air bars, drag queens greet tourists with hugs, and couples stroll hand-in-hand beneath palm trees at times wrapped in Pride flags. Welcome to Wilton Manors — a two-square-mile city that has quietly become one of America’s most vibrant LGBTQ plus capitals.

Last month, Trump signed an Executive Order formally designating “antifa” a domestic terrorist organization. Vowing to unleash the full might of unrestrained federal firepower against its members, organizers and funders, Trump declared, “Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law.”

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