STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF HEROES GALA
OUR 'FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS' HEROES TAKE TO THE RUNWAY FOR STONEWALL
The "not-the-MET-Gala" as Fort Lauderdale rolls out the red carpet!
SATURDAY, FEBUARY 27, 2027 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Fort Lauderdale Marriott North
6650 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
Stonewall Gala 2027 an unforgettable night honoring visionaries, truth‑tellers, and trailblazers whose courage shaped our past and guide our future. Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes is more than a theme — it is a promise ensuring the leaders who fought, created, organized, and imagined a world where LGBTQ+ people could live freely and fully are never forgotten.
Celebrate with Iconic Honorees, extraordinary storytellers, community leaders, advocates, artists and allies.
Your ticket supports Stonewall’s mission to preserve LGBTQ+ history, expand national education, and ensure our stories are never erased. Your presence fuels a movement — rooted in history, lifted by community, and driven by the heroes who came before us.
Stand. Celebrate. and Build the future with us.
2027 STONEWALL GALA HONOREES
Jazz Jennings
Jazz Jennings is a trailblazing advocate, author, and creator whose courage and clarity have reshaped the national conversation on transgender youth. First introduced to the world at age six, Jazz became one of the youngest publicly known transgender people in history—using her voice not for visibility alone, but for education, empowerment, and change.
As the star of the award‑winning series I Am Jazz, she invited millions into her family’s journey, offering an honest, deeply human portrait of what it means to grow up trans in America. Her bestselling books, including Being Jazz and I Am Jazz, have become foundational texts for young people seeking affirmation and for families learning how to support their children with love and dignity.
Beyond her media presence, Jazz is a committed activist. She co‑founded the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation, championing support, resources, and advocacy for transgender youth. Her work has helped shift public understanding, expand protections, and inspire a generation of young people to live authentically.
Today, Jazz continues to speak, write, and create with the same compassion and conviction that first captured the nation’s attention. Her leadership has opened doors, changed hearts, and made space for countless young people to see themselves reflected in possibility.
Stonewall is proud to honor Jazz Jennings for her unwavering bravery, her transformative cultural impact, and her dedication to building a world where every young person can thrive.
RICHARD BURNS - 2027 STONEWALL GALA HONOREE
Richard Burns
Richard Burns is one of the most influential leaders in the modern LGBTQ+ movement—a strategist, institution‑builder, and visionary whose work has strengthened the legal, cultural, and political landscape for queer people across generations. As CEO of Lambda Legal, Richard leads the nation’s oldest and largest legal organization dedicated to the full civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV, guiding landmark litigation and advocacy that continues to shape American law.
Across his decades of service, Richard has been at the helm of some of the community’s most vital institutions. He served for 22 years as Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City, transforming it into one of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the world. He later stepped in as Interim Executive Director of the Arcus Foundation, the North Star Fund, and the Johnson Family Foundation—helping stabilize and strengthen organizations at pivotal moments in their histories.
Richard’s leadership extends far beyond organizational stewardship. He co‑founded the CenterLink network of LGBTQ+ community centers, the New York City AIDS Memorial, and the National LGBT Museum project. His work has expanded access to healthcare, advanced HIV justice, protected youth and families, and fortified the infrastructure that sustains LGBTQ+ life across the country.
Today, at Lambda Legal, Richard continues to champion the cases and policies that define our era—from transgender rights and workplace protections to healthcare access and the defense of democracy itself. His steady, principled leadership has ensured that the fight for equality is not only bold, but enduring.
Stonewall is proud to honor Richard Burns for his lifelong commitment to justice, his transformative impact on LGBTQ+ institutions, and his unwavering dedication to building a future where every person can live freely, safely, and with dignity.
