TAKE PRIDE! 2026 To Honor LGBTQ+ Community Advocates At Galleria Fort Lauderdale

Celebrate PRIDE Month at Galleria Fort Lauderdale with “Take PRIDE!” 2026, a History Fort Lauderdale benefit cocktail reception and exhibition honoring LGBTQ+ community advocates.

The special event, hosted by previous “Take PRIDE!” honoree FayWhat?!, will kick off Wilton Manors Stonewall PRIDE Parade & Street Festival activities and pay tribute to South Florida LGBTQ+ leaders with performances. Attendees will also receive a preview of the exhibition “Coming Out of the Shadows,” which will run from May 29 – June 30 at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 East Sunrise Blvd).

“Galleria Fort Lauderdale is a proud supporter of our community and the immeasurable contributions of this year's ‘Take Pride!' honorees,” said Tatiana Juarez, regional marketing director at Galleria Fort Lauderdale. “As a welcoming environment for all, we invite guests to shop and dine while learning more about our dedicated leaders and local history.”

This year's “Take PRIDE!” honorees who have made contributions to the South Florida community are Chris Caputo, commissioner and vice mayor of the City of Wilton Manors; Dennis Dean, executive director of ArtsUnited; Robert Griffin and Durell Watkins, the bishops of Sunshine Cathedral; Ronnie Larsen, actor, director, playwright, and producer; Rafaelé Narváez, co-founder and director of health programs for Latinos Salud; Jason Parsley, owner and publisher of Out South Florida; William C. Schultz, police chief, City of Fort Lauderdale; Nicole Stodard, artistic director of Thinking Cap Theatre; and Tatiana Williams, founder and executive director of TransInclusive Group, Inc.

The “Take PRIDE!” 2026 exhibit “Coming Out of the Shadows” will feature photos and ephemera documenting the political climate of 1960s pre-Stonewall Fort Lauderdale. The exhibition is a collaboration with Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library and Florida International University, curated by Fred Fejes, professor emeritus of multimedia studies at Florida Atlantic University, and Julio Capo, Jr., author and associate professor of history at Florida International University.

“History Fort Lauderdale is proud to be a beneficiary of this important event that showcases the valuable legacies of our LGBTQ+ businesses and influential leaders across a variety of disciplines,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director, History Fort Lauderdale. “Education and tolerance is paramount as we continue to build upon these touchstones and safeguard our progress to ensure that Fort Lauderdale remains a welcoming place to live and visit for all…during PRIDE month and beyond.”

The exhibition will be free and open to the public during mall hours.

Previous “Take PRIDE!” honorees have included Dean Trantalis, Richard Gray, Sebrina María Alfonso, Craig Stevens, Rod Stafford Hagwood, Tiffany Arieagus, Gary Keating, John Castelli, Andy Rogow, David Jobin, Erika Norell, Jacqueline Lorber, Josie Smith Malave, Mark Gilbert, Misty Eyez, Shawn Palacious (Kitty Meow), and Steven Evans, Ph.D.

“Take PRIDE!” is presented by Galleria Fort Lauderdale with support from HotSpots Media Group/Happening Out Television Network, OUT SFL, Hunters Nightclubs, Gulf Stream Distillery, Ethos Greek Bistro, and GPR | Goodman Public Relations.

TICKETING INFORMATION

Tickets for the May 28 “Take PRIDE!” reception are $50 and are available at www.historyfortlauderdale.org. Guests will enjoy a preview of the exhibit, performances, cocktails, and light bites.

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