The 'Don't Say Gay' State of Florida Ultimately Unsuccessful in Stifling LGBTQIA+ Achievement and Advances in 2023

Ft Lauderdale-Based Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library Leads the Charge with Even More Pushback and National Support in 2024 Pipeline

Fort Lauderdale, FL, December 18, 2023- In 2023, as Florida took the lead in attacking the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, an arsenal of history bursting from the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library(SNMAL) fought back.

From book bans to 'don't say gay' to halting gender-affirming care, criminalizing bathroom access and more, instead of retreating from the state's record-shattering efforts, SNMAL tirelessly moved the needle on the 'battleground' for human rights.

SNMAL, one of the world's largest and most significant institutions of its kind in the world, made headlines and headway in 2023 as it celebrated 50-years of fighting for equality by tirelessly releasing powerful messages, hosting dynamic weekly events, launching a solutions-driven task force in Washington DC, mobilizing educators in its national education project, recognizing leaders and heroes and providing an inexhaustible historic record of achievements, even in the face of prejudice and hate.

'Don't Say Gay' may have started in Florida, but has impacted other states, even corners of states we could never have imagined, "said Robert Kesten, Executive Director of SNMAL. "And while 2023 began with a pile up of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation and violence, we at Stonewall had more requests for information, traveling exhibitions, and conversations; the momentum of those espousing homophobia became and continues to become less and less palatable to a majority of Americans, giving us all hope for the future, and a strong national push into 2024."

Here's a look back at some of SNMAL's 2023 achievements and a look ahead to some of the powerful programs in the 2024 pipeline:

RECAP 2023:

• Stonewall's Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes historical traveling exhibition traveled across half a dozen Florida cities to NYC and back; its 2024 itinerary maps a course to Philadelphia, New York City, New Orleans and beyond. 2023's Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes added to its exhibition:
• Margaret-Mary G. Wilson, M.D, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of UnitedHealth Group
• Billy Porter, award-winning actor and singer
• Stonewall in partnership with GayBarchives successfully launched a national program, Raising the Bars, recognizing and recording LBGTQIA+ bars, establishments and their significant place in history
• The 50th Anniversary Gala of Stonewall raised awareness and funds from national corporations, coast to coast, with over 400 guests and inspirational guest speakers Zander Moricz and Margaret-Mary G. Wilson.
• Stonewall's 1st annual Back to the Drive Celebration recognized the courageous contributions of award-winning actor/singer Billy Porter and the importance of LGBTQIA+ education and history. Cyndi Lauper joined in celebrating Billy's birthday by singing happy birthday to him on the big screen
• Conversations with Brandon J. Wolf, survivor of the Pulse nightclub attack, Vic Basile, first executive director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Richard Blanco, the 5th inaugural poet in US History (selected by President Barack Obama), are among dozens of oral histories added to the SNMAL archives in 2023
• REWIND: HISTORY ON REPEAT, a solo art exhibition by Beau McCall with guest curator Souleo, broke barriers and raised awareness, as did the University of Miami's historic student mural presentation which features iconic portraits and is now permanently housed at SNMAL
• Interactive conversations attracted an audience from across the country for prominent authors like Lucas Hilderbrand and Mark King as well as a ground-breaking documentary screening and one-on-one with the critically acclaimed cast of HBO Max's The Stroll
• The 10th Annual Stonewall National Educational Project (SNEP) attracted educators from across the United States to unite and advocate for improved curricula and welcoming schools; historic floods and record-breaking rainfall couldn't stop 200+ people from participating
• The 75th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was most recently celebrated in partnership with Florida Atlantic University, honoring individuals who promote progress and a better future in the face of adversity

LOOK AHEAD TO FIRST HALF OF 2024 :

• Satellite Museums are being planned for Philadelphia and New Orleans
• February 24: Stonewall's Gala 2024 promises to kick off the 2024 season by pointing the way to a brighter future. "With every community around the world having members of the LGBTQ+ in them, all races, religions, nationalities, and ethnicities, we are bringing everyone under the rainbow flag," said Kesten. "This year our community will become the visible connection between all communities, because we are there."
• March: Celebrations of Women's History Month
• April 11-14: The 11th annual Stonewall National Education Project will focus on the renewed challenge to educators and administrators to do what is best for their students and their families
• April 14: Stonewall's National Education Task Force's second meeting will highlight the shared history and culture between the LGBTQIA+ community and the mainstream
• June: Pride Month: will celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Stonewall's uprising
• And throughout the weeks and months, expect more exhibits, interactive conversations, registered oral histories, recognized heroes and leaders and reasons for hope for a better 2024

"SNMAL's 2024 pipeline of programming is a testament to the community's resolve and resilience- we will use its collections and demonstrate how connected we all are. In this 55th anniversary year of the Stonewall uprising, we celebrate the achievements and acceptance that have been hard fought. There is a long road ahead, but we are helping to change the conversation," stated Kesten.