Stonewall Museum Responds To Florida DEI Rollbacks By Enshrining LGBTQ+ Heroes

As Florida moves to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, one of the country’s largest LGBTQ+ cultural institutions is moving in the opposite direction.

The Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library is launching its inaugural Stonewall Honors on May 30, recognizing LGBTQ+ leaders from South Florida and across the country while formally preserving their stories as part of the national historic record.

The event arrives just weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation preventing Florida counties and municipalities from funding, promoting or implementing DEI initiatives. Critics warned the law could affect Pride programming, LGBTQ+ visibility and cultural funding throughout the state.

Rather than retreat, Stonewall is doubling down on visibility.

The museum’s new permanent interactive exhibit, On the Shoulders of Heroes, will spotlight the lives and work of LGBTQ+ changemakers whose advocacy has shaped culture, policy, health care, faith communities and public life. The exhibit launches ahead of Pride Month and will permanently archive the honorees’ contributions inside the museum. South Florida Leaders Take Center Stage

This year’s inaugural class includes 12 honorees, eight of whom are tied to South Florida. Organizers say the group reflects the region’s outsized influence on LGBTQ+ advocacy and community building.

Among those being recognized is Rand Hoch, founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. Since its founding in 1988, the organization has helped advance more than 160 laws and policies protecting LGBTQ+ residents across Florida.

Denise Spivak, CEO of CenterLink, is also being honored for leading what organizers describe as the world’s largest LGBTQ+ community-based association. Under her leadership, CenterLink has focused on strengthening LGBTQ+ centers nationwide while expanding access and representation.

Another honoree, Julie Seaver, leads the COMPASS LGBTQ+ Community Center in Lake Worth. For nearly 35 years, the organization has supported LGBTQ+ residents and people impacted by HIV/AIDS through education, prevention programs and community services.

Faith leaders Robert Griffin and Durrell Watkins are also part of the class. The pair lead Sunshine Cathedral, a queer-founded church that has built a global following through digital worship services and LGBTQ-inclusive ministry.

Travel entrepreneur Alan Beck is being recognized for creating Fun Maps, an LGBTQ-focused travel platform designed to connect travelers with queer-friendly spaces and local experiences.

The final South Florida honorees are Marc Martorana and Don D’Arminio, longtime Wilton Manors residents known for supporting arts organizations, LGBTQ+ nonprofits and local fundraising efforts.

Together, the group represents a wide cross-section of LGBTQ+ leadership spanning civil rights, philanthropy, public office, spirituality, health advocacy and cultural preservation. A National Class Of Honorees

The inaugural class also includes national LGBTQ+ leaders from major organizations across the country.

Among them are Jaymes Black of The Trevor Project, Kierra Johnson of National LGBTQ Task Force, Ben Garcia of the American LGBTQ+ Museum and Mark Berryhill from Los Angeles-based Equal Pride.

Stonewall leaders say the goal is not simply to celebrate achievements, but to ensure these stories remain accessible for future generations.

“These are individuals who have dedicated their lives to supporting our community- they have believed in marriage when no one believed in them. They believed in the fight against AIDS, when others feared certain death, they created safe spaces, amplified queer voices, and collected and protected LGBTQ+ history,” said Robert Kesten, president and CEO of Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library.

“Stonewall Honors makes sure that the world knows that some people, compromised by state and federal laws, budget cuts, government abuse, and harassment will never stop fighting for what is right, that every American is equal under the law and no one is above it,” Kesten continued. “On this night we celebrate that work in real time—while ensuring the legacies of these individuals and organizations live on.” Turning Recognition Into Preservation

The launch of On the Shoulders of Heroes signals a broader mission for Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library as debates around LGBTQ+ rights continue to intensify across the United States.

Founded more than five decades ago, the Fort Lauderdale institution houses millions of pages of LGBTQ+ records and historical materials. It has become one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ archives while continuing to advocate for education and equality initiatives.

The Stonewall Honors ceremony begins at 5 p.m. on May 30 with the official unveiling of the interactive exhibit at Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library in Fort Lauderdale. The evening will continue next door at ArtServe with dinner and the formal honors program.

More information and ticket details are available by clicking here.

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