The National LGBTQ Task Force announced Jai Rodriguez will emcee its National Gala. The event will honor LGBTQ activist and Emmy-winning Queer Eye star Karamo with the National Leadership Award. Former Task Force Board Co-Chair Roger Thomson and SAVE advocate Jim Tyrrell will receive the 2024 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award for their generous contributions to the South Florida LGBTQ+ community. Guests will also enjoy performances from American Idol’s Frenchie Davis and Ginger Minj, who is best known for her work on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The Gala will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center on October 19, and will raise funds to support the organization’s “Queer the Vote” campaign.
In support of the Task Force’s Gala and “Queer the Vote” campaign, Jai exclaimed, “Now, more than ever, LGBTQ rights are on the ballot. Coming together as a community to fight for our rights is the mission I’m on.”
Previously announced emcee Joel Kim Booster will no longer be able to attend the event. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to make this event,” Booster said in a statement. “I’m so sorry to miss what is sure to be a special evening and my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused.”
Rodriguez is a Broadway veteran, comedian, and LGBTQ advocate who will entertain attendees as the evening’s new emcee. Best known for his role in the Emmy Award-winning series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Rodriguez has had a transformative impact on entertainment and LGBTQ representation for nearly two decades. His dynamic career spans television, film, and stage, including starring roles on Broadway and in hit TV shows like Malibu Country and The Rookie.
The Task Force will present Karamo with the National Leadership Award for his work combating HIV stigma and providing mental health support and HIV education to the Black queer community. Karamo has also been vocal in his support of Jason, who came out as pansexual at the age of 21.
“I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 National Leadership Award from the National LGBTQ Task Force. This recognition is not just a reflection of my work but a testament to the strength, resilience, and love that defines our entire community.” Karamo added, “Together, we have made incredible strides toward equality, and though there is still much work to be done, I remain committed to amplifying our voices, fighting for our rights, and supporting those who need it most. Let us continue to lead with compassion and conviction, ensuring that every individual can live openly and authentically.”
Karamo, an Emmy-winning host and culture expert, is best known for his role on Netflix’s Queer Eye, which returns for its ninth season in December 2024. Karamo hosts The Karamo Show, a daytime talk show entering its third season in September 2024. He also works in LGBTQ advocacy and youth empowerment through initiatives like President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.
The National LGBTQ Task Force Gala, sponsored by St. John’s on the Lake United Methodist Church, is the premier annual national celebration of the LGBTQ community held in South Florida. This year’s theme, “Roots of Progress, Blooms of Hope,” pays tribute to the accomplishments of the organization’s first half-century of work and its commitment to continuing the work to achieve full LGBTQ equality and liberation. The funds raised by this year’s Gala will fuel the organization’s work to advance the rights and security of LGBTQ people in Florida and across the country, with a focus on the Task Force’s “Queer the Vote” campaign, which seeks to get progressive-minded voters to the polls in 2024.
The National LGBTQ Task Force Gala is made possible by Presenting Sponsor St. John’s on the Lake, along with our Champion Sponsors Jim Tyrrell & Roger Thomson and Truist Wealth. Defender sponsors include The James G. Pepper Fund at Our Fund Foundation, Jorge Luis García, Liebe & Seth Gadinsky, Ryder Charitable Foundation, and The Miami Foundation.
For more information about the National LGBTQ Task Force and to purchase Gala tickets please visit https://www.thetaskforce.org/task-force-gala/.
