Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future: SNMAL's Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes Gala 2025

Stonewall National Museum, Archives and Library's (SNMAL) Third Annual Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes Gala 2025 will symbolically and crucially raise awareness and funds to support SNMAL's tireless, 50+ year fight telling the stories of the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring it holds its place in the historic record.

Honoree 'CEO of Everything Gay' Tristan Schukraft will receive the 2025 Leadership Award; the late, trailblazing LGBTQ+ activist Edie Windsor will be inducted into the historic 'Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes' National Traveling Exhibition (Edie's widow will receive this honor on her behalf); special guest Diana Nyad (Currently Portrayed by Oscar, Screen Actors Guild and Golden-Globe Nominee Annette Bening in Netflix Biopic, NYAD) will be at the Gala for her second year, making a significant announcement.

The Gala will ceremoniously launch Stonewall's The Banned Aide Project, an interactive social media movement banding people together to "free" banned books locked out of America's public schools and libraries. Gala guests will be part of history as they read excerpts from books in the Gala's Banned Aide Book Booth. The Banned Aide Project's first video was made by New York Times Best Selling Author and fearless feminist icon Rita Mae Brown, who read from her groundbreaking, 1973 novel, Rubyfruit Jungle and 'tagged' fellow icon, Gloria Steinem to join the fight.

Rita Mae Brown will be addressing Gala guests virtually to announce the launching of the Stonewall National Women's Fund, for which she will serve as the Honorary Chair.

Hundreds of guests and VIPS are expected to attend this high-energy celebration of inspiring messages, delicious eats, entertainment, open bar, awards and live auction. Mr. Schukraft will be offering attendees the opportunity to win a luxurious, 3-night stay at The Tryst Puerto Vallarta, including daily breakfast for two, $250 food and beverage credit and a day trip on The Pata Salada boat for up to ten friends. Last year's Gala raised a record-breaking sum and was supported by major corporate sponsors nationwide, with more than 500 in attendance and generating nearly 50% of their operating funds.

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library is a one-of-a-kind institution collecting and sharing powerful stories, hosting dynamic weekly events, launching fact-based solutions to real world problems and mobilizing educators who face an ever more difficult time educating students. This most significant LGBTQ+ historical treasury houses millions of pages of records and materials available to the media, drawing direct lines from our nation's history to today.

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF HEROES GALA 2025

WHEN:
Saturday, March 1 | 6:00p

WHERE:
The Venue, 2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, Florida

PURCHASE TICKETS:
https://stonewall-museum.org/gala-2025/

MORE ABOUT HONOREE TRISTAN SCHUKRAFT:
Known as "The CEO of Everything Gay," Tristan Schukraft is a technology entrepreneur turned hotelier nightlife aficionado and producer. An LA native, now residing in Puerto Rico, Tristan's entrepreneurial journey began with the founding of ID90.COM, an e-ticketing platform for airline personnel. Following the success of ID90, Schukraft later went on to establish MISTR, the largest telemedicine platform dedicated to HIV prevention and long-term HIV care currently serving 500,000 patients across the United States. Tristan is a producer of the Off-Broadway Show Drag: The Musical. His hospitality and nightlife portfolio began with the acquisitions of The Tryst beachfront hotel and Circo nightclub, both located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, later acquiring The Tryst in Puerto Vallarta and the iconic LGBTQ+ nightlife venue, The Abbey in West Hollywood, California, and The Blue Whale, The Pavilion Nightclub, The Canteen and more in The Pines on Fire Island.

MORE ABOUT INDUCTEE EDIE WINDSOR:
A trailblazing LGBTQ+ rights activist and former IBM technology manager. WTikTok: @BannedAide2025 Instagram: @BannedAide X:@BannedAide2025 FB: Banned Aide BlueSky: @BannedAide2025 indsor is best known for her landmark Supreme Court case, United States v. Windsor (2013), which led to the overturning of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and granted federal recognition to same-sex marriages
Judith Kasen-Windsor, Edie's widow, will be at the Gala to receive this honor on behalf of Edie.

MORE ABOUT SPECIAL GUEST DIANA NYAD:
An iconic, record-shattering athlete whose historic swim from Cuba to Key West inspired the Netflix Biopic NYAD, Nyad's incredible achievements and advocacy were honored and added to SNMAL's Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes traveling educational exhibit in 2024. She will be making a significant announcement at the Gala.