Stonewall Gala 2027: Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes

The Stonewall Gala returns in 2027 with an unforgettable night honoring the visionaries, truth‑tellers, and trailblazers whose courage shaped our past and continues to guide our future. Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes is more than a theme — it is a promise to uplift the leaders who fought, created, organized, and imagined a world where LGBTQ+ people could live freely and fully.

This year, we are proud to recognize two extraordinary honorees whose impact reflects the very heart of Stonewall’s mission:

Jazz Jennings, a nationally celebrated advocate for transgender youth, author, and cultural changemaker whose courage and visibility have transformed conversations around gender, acceptance, and belonging. Her leadership continues to inspire families, communities, and young people across the country.
Richard Burns, CEO of Lambda Legal and one of the most influential LGBTQ+ movement leaders of the last four decades. His visionary stewardship across national organizations has strengthened civil rights, expanded protections, and ensured that LGBTQ+ people have a powerful voice in the fight for equality.

Join us for an evening that blends celebration with purpose, featuring powerful honoree tributes, extraordinary storytelling, and a vibrant gathering of community members, advocates, artists, and allies. Together, we honor the heroes who carried us forward — and recommit ourselves to carrying their work into the next generation.

Every ticket supports Stonewall’s mission to preserve LGBTQ+ history, expand national education initiatives, and ensure our stories are never erased. Your presence helps fuel a movement — one rooted in legacy, lifted by community, and driven by the heroes who came before us.

Stand with us. Celebrate with us. Build the future with us.

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library is one of the nation’s largest and longest‑running LGBTQ+ cultural institutions, dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that have shaped our community for more than half a century. What began as a small, grassroots effort to safeguard queer history has grown into a nationally recognized center for research, culture, and connection — home to a vast circulating library, expansive archival collections, and exhibitions that illuminate the lives, art, and activism of LGBTQ+ people.

Our mission is simple and urgent: to ensure that LGBTQ+ history is preserved, accessible, and celebrated. We protect more than two million pages of archival materials, 30,000+ volumes, and countless personal stories that might otherwise be lost. Through exhibitions, public programs, national partnerships, and community‑centered initiatives, Stonewall creates a space where people can see themselves reflected, learn from the past, and imagine a more inclusive future.

Stonewall is more than a museum or an archive — it is a living testament to resilience, creativity, and pride. It is a place where our stories are honored, our voices are amplified, and our history is safeguarded for generations to come.

Stonewall Gala - Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes 2027

Fort Lauderdale Marriott North