The 2026 Out & Proud celebrates LGBTQ people whose leadership, creativity and service are shaping South Florida.
This year’s honorees include advocates, artists, educators, entrepreneurs, faith leaders, public servants and community builders who are making the region more inclusive, often while confronting growing political and cultural hostility toward LGBTQ people.
Their work ranges from highly visible activism to the quieter, everyday labor of creating spaces where others can feel safe, supported and fully themselves.
Together, these profiles capture a community defined not by a single identity or approach, but by the many ways LGBTQ South Floridians continue to show up, speak out and open doors for those who follow.
We’ll be publishing three profiles each day, so be sure to check back daily to read and share the latest.
Read our magazine and the full stories here.
Alexander Puga | Using Storytelling to Make People Feel Seen
Alicia Lewis | Helping Parents Show Up With Love
Arianna Lint | Turning Adversity Into Purpose
Brian Mason | Finding Freedom in Performance
Caro Doering | Taking Queer Community Outdoors
Christopher Monge | Refusing to Shrink in Political Spaces
Connor Corzine | Helping LGBTQ Youth Find Their People
Daniel H. C. Chapman | Leading With His Identity Forward
Duni Bauta | Building Connection Through Exploration
Edmond Turner | Making Disability Rights His Life’s Mission
Eytan Deray | Turning Queer Joy Into Art
Father Lee Davis | Building a Church Without Side Doors
Gregg Shapiro | Chronicling Queer Life for More Than 30 Years
Jaime Johnson | Creating Space for Authenticity
Jonathan Sanz | Helping South Florida Find Its Voice
Ky Walker | Becoming the Representation He Needed
Mark Orintas | Turning Struggle Into Stand-Up
Matthew McWatters | Leading With Authenticity and Service
Michael Craft | Using Art to Challenge and Connect
Michael White | Treating Visibility as a Responsibility
Natasha Ricketts | Claiming the Stage Without Apology
Nic Huey | Making Queer Art a Force for Liberation
Roderick MacKenzie | Putting the Fun in Fundraising
Ronnie Larsen | Bringing Gay Stories to the Stage
Scott Schramm | Showing Up, Having Fun and Doing Good
