Take Pride at Galleria Fort Lauderdale

History Fort Lauderdale’s “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” exhibit will be unveiled at a reception May 31

FayWhat?! and Shawn “Kitty Meow” Palacious will host History Fort Lauderdale’s “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” opening reception.
FayWhat?! and Shawn “Kitty Meow” Palacious will host History Fort Lauderdale’s “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” opening reception.

The opening reception of History Fort Lauderdale’s “Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” exhibit will take over Galleria Fort Lauderdale May 31, kicking off at 6 p.m. The exhibition, on view June 1-30, will chronicle the gay rights movement and the impact of the LGBTQIA+ community on South Florida’s vibrant arts and culture, business, media, and political landscape.

The reception will recognize LGBTQIA+ 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 and 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 John Castelli.

FayWhat?!, host of the The FayWhat?! Show, and Shawn “Kitty Meow” Palacious will co-host the ticketed opening reception, which will also serve as an official Stonewall Pride Month Kickoff event. Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher will present a proclamation recognizing Pride Month, followed by performances by entertainers Nicole T. Phillips and Erika Norell. DJ Aulden Brownwill keep the music flowing.

“Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ Life in South Florida” will feature more than 100 historical photographs, plus videos and costumes chronicling the growth, awareness, and struggle of the LGBTQIA+ community through the years. 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 and Backstreet.

Wilton Manors’ first Gay Pride Parade in 2000. Courtesy of Wilton Manors Historical Society
Wilton Manors’ first Gay Pride Parade in 2000. Courtesy of Wilton Manors Historical Society

A Photo Tribute Wall will feature lifestyle and significant event photos from Michael Murphy Photography. For more than 30 years, Michael Murphy has been capturing historic moments and memorable individuals that have shaped the South Florida LGBTQ landscape. In addition, the exhibit 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.

Tickets for the May 31 preview reception/official Stonewall Pride Month Kickoff event are $35 and are available here. For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, call (954) 463-4431 or visit the website.

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