For Scott Schramm, building community begins with a remarkably simple act: showing up.
Schramm, 64, is a Fort Lauderdale volunteer whose work with FLoatarama has helped connect people, create lasting friendships and support LGBTQ youth. He speaks about that work as part of a couple, emphasizing the community he and his partner have helped bring together over years of service.
“We’re most proud of the community we’ve helped bring together,” Schramm said. “Seeing others get involved and continue that spirit of giving back has been the greatest reward.”
FLoatarama has become an expression of values shaped by their lives as a gay couple. Their identity taught them the importance of chosen family, acceptance and consistently showing up for one another. In turn, they have tried to create that same sense of belonging for others.
“If we’ve learned anything, it’s that when people come together with a little kindness and a willingness to help, amazing things can happen,” Schramm said.
That lesson became especially vivid during one of the couple’s most challenging years. Friends, relatives, caregivers and volunteers surrounded them with support, reinforcing their belief that community is not an abstract idea. It is something people practice.
For Schramm, being out and proud means living honestly while helping build a community in which everyone belongs. Visibility matters when it helps another person feel accepted, inspired or less alone.
His message to LGBTQ youth is filled with gratitude and confidence in what the next generation will create.
“Keep dreaming big, keep being yourself, and know that we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way,” Schramm said. “We can’t wait to see what you do next because the future of our community is in great hands.”
Schramm believes service can take many forms, from volunteering and supporting a fundraiser to attending an event or being present for someone who needs help. Those actions create the relationships that make LGBTQ community life durable.
His motto distills that philosophy into three words: “#HaveFunDoGood.”
“Life’s too short not to enjoy it, and if you’re fortunate enough to be able to help someone else along the way, why wouldn’t you?” he said.
For Schramm, the best memories and friendships emerge when people gather, enjoy one another and leave their community stronger than they found it.
