It is never too late to recognize that we Stand on the Shoulders of Heroes, and on February 21, 2026, Ft. Lauderdale based Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library will host its 4th Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes Gala, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s accomplishments, determination and success in combating prejudice nationwide.

Set at The Venue in Wilton Manors, this year’s Gala honors the achievements of three powerful individuals. Each will be immortalized in the Museum’s Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes Traveling Exhibit:

• Jon Stryker, Founder of the Arcus Foundation has contributed more than $700 million dollars to critical social and environmental justice causes around the globe. Stryker has also donated more than $300 million to LGBTQ+ organizations- alongside his husband, Slobodan Ranjelović. The couple provided funding for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project and established the Audre Lorde Visiting Professorship at Spelman College, the first-ever queer studies chair at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
• Janis Ian, Grammy-winning singer‑songwriter, author, and lifelong advocate best known for her hits Society’s Child and At Seventeen. Since the start of her career, she has gracefully stood strong against controversy and attacks from others in the entertainment world, cementing herself as a powerful voice shaping American culture. Her unflinching commentary and criticism of American life resonated with millions, leading her to become one of the first Saturday Night Live musical guests. To this day, At Seventeen is covered by top performers and she is a regular columnist in The Advocate, where her resilience and history of political activism play an essential role.
• Barney Frank, Former Congressman, who made history when he came out as gay in 1987. The first member of Congress to do so voluntarily, he would later go on to marry his same-sex partner in 2012 while in office. Throughout his political career, Frank served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013, where he served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He was a leading co-sponsor of the 2010 Dodd–Frank Act.

Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes has traveled to Philadelphia, PA; NYC; Washington D.C.; New Orleans, LA; New Jersey; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Rockland County, New York; Arlington, TX; West Palm Beach, FL. and other cities and states across the United States. It continues its travels celebrating LGBTQ+ heroes from coast to coast and is updated, highlighting new icons using their platforms to improve LGBTQ+ visibility and impact.

Robert Kesten, SNMAL’s President and CEO, stated, “Deeply impactful and culturally transformative, Stryker, Frank and Ian will be memorialized among other LGBTQ+ trailblazers in one of our proudest human rights exhibits. It is an incredible experience to unveil their exhibition panels and celebrate their achievements with event guests.”

“Our three honorees continue to be transformative figures in all aspects of our society. They uniquely represent what is best in us simply by being themselves. Jon has impacted the planet with his one-of-a-kind foundation, his board service, and commitment to building our society. Barney can synthesize what is going on in the world and keep it in perspective and in his colorful and expressive way, let us know our current crisis can be resolved. And then there is Janis. Her vulnerability in words and music takes you in and her wicked guitar riffs keep you emotionally engaged; it’s almost like being hypnotized and transformed. I am thankful that in today’s world, these three will join us and provide a window in which we can see what is possible.”

A tradition born in 2023, Stonewall’s Gala has welcomed thousands of attendees since it began, sparking much-needed hope in a time marred by intense division. 2026’s celebration paves the way for powerful acceptance by generating financial support for the Museum’s upcoming initiatives.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://stonewall-museum.org/2026-gala/