History Fort Lauderdale’s “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” Opening Reception & Official Stonewall PRIDE Month Kickoff

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History Fort Lauderdale

History Fort Lauderdale will present “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” exhibit opening reception, preview, and official Stonewall PRIDE Month Kickoff event celebration on May 31, from 6 - 8 p.m., at Galleria Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are on sale, now.

In honor of PRIDE Month (June 2023), History Fort Lauderdale will present “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida.” This impactful exhibit will chronicle the gay rights movement and the significant migration of LGBTQ community members to South Florida which has contributed to the success of its vibrant arts and culture, business, media, and political landscape.

A ticketed opening reception at Galleria Fort Lauderdale on May 31 at 6 p.m., serving as an official Stonewall PRIDE Month event, will recognize pioneers such as City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Visit Lauderdale’s Senior Vice President of Inclusion & Accessibility Richard Gray, South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director/Founder Sebrina María Alfonso, WSVN Channel 7 Anchor Craig Stevens, South Florida SunSentinel Journalist Rod Stafford Hagwood, renowned entertainer Tiffany Arieagus, Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus Founder Gary Keating, and Founder of The Copa and entrepreneur John Castelli. This historic exhibit will be on public display at Galleria Fort Lauderdale during the entire month of June.

Through historical photographs, media stories, videos and costumes, visitors will learn about the storied rise of PRIDE and the growth of the LGBTQ community in South Florida. The exhibit will trace the growth, awareness and struggle of the LGBTQ community from early sentiments in the 1940s to present day. Detailed by decade will be laws, restrictions and regulations, education, cultural components including the influence of the drag community. Photos will capture the liberation movement of the 1960s and ‘70s, the activism and rise of PRIDE parades and human rights rallies and the proliferation of gay-centric world-famous business endeavors including the Marlin Beach Hotel, The Copa, Backstreet and more.

The exhibit will also include a Photo Tribute Wall featuring an array of lifestyle and significant event photos from Michael Murphy Photography. In addition, it will include the showing of “Open Dialogues,” an award-winning short film which captures the personal narratives of LGBTQ voices, produced by Art and Culture Center Hollywood, directed by Miami-based filmmaker Freddy Rodriguez and funded by Community Foundation of Broward.

Contributions to the exhibit are courtesy of Stonewall National Museum and Archives, World AIDS Museum and Educational Center, History Miami, Wilton Manors Historical Society, Art and Culture Center Hollywood and Key West Art & Historical Society.

History Fort Lauderdale’s “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” is sponsored by Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Castelli Real Estate Services, OutClique, HotSpots Media Group/Happening Out Television Network and GPR | Goodman Public Relations.

Tickets for the May 31 preview reception/official Stonewall Pride Month event are $35 and are available at https://bit.ly/HFLTakePride2023. Special performances will be announced at a later date.

The exhibition will be free and open to the public during mall hours from June 1 - 30. It is located near Swarovski, between Macy’s and Dillard’s.

For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call (954) 463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory, on Instagram @ftlhistory and on Twitter @FTLHistory. Subscribe to us on YouTube at youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.