The National LGBTQ Task Force has announced that the 25th edition of its annual Gala will return to an in-person format at the Grand Ballroom of the Miami Beach Convention Center on Saturday, October 23.
“We’re thrilled that Miami Beach will be the site of the Task Force’s first in-person event since 2020,” said Daniel Marinberg, Gala Chair and a member of the Task Force’s Board of Directors. “The Gala is a wonderful opportunity for the community to unite, and this year it will be like a family reunion. Of course, safety is our priority, and we will continue to monitor the nation’s progress related to the pandemic and adhere to the most current guidelines for public events.”
The organization also announced that South Florida activist Robin J. Schwartz would receive the 2021 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award. Schwartz has served the LGBTQ community in multiple capacities over the past 20 years, including six years helming Aqua Foundation for Women. The many causes she has championed include the advancement of LGBTQ women, homeless youth and racial justice.
“I am thrilled that at my first gala as Executive Director we will honor a true community heroine like Robin,” said Kierra Johnson, Task Force Executive Director. “There’s so much to admire about this extraordinary woman, and her work as an outspoken advocate for marginalized communities speaks to the values of the Task Force,” continued Johnson. “We look forward to lifting up her work in ensuring LGBTQ leaders and organizations that work with diverse populations in the queer community have a seat at the table to move us all forward,” she concluded.
The funds raised at this year’s Gala will support the Task Force’s “All of Me, All the Time” campaign, an effort to educate thought leaders, elected officials, and the general public about the need for federal non-discrimination protections. A remarkable number of people do not realize how vulnerable the LGBTQ community, people of color, religious minorities and others are to discrimination in housing, accommodations, and other key areas because of the lack of federal protections.
The theme for this year’s Gala is “Imagine…” Tickets are $450, and sponsorships range from $2,500 to $50,000. For more information or to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit Thetaskforce.org.
