A cast of over 40 colorful drag artists will adorn a prominent Wall of Fame as part of History Fort Lauderdale’s  “I Am What I Am: A Tribute to South Florida’s Drag Pioneers,” in honour of PRIDE Month (June 2022). This never-before-seen tribute at Galleria Fort Lauderdale will showcase the drag community who tirelessly entertain and support philanthropic endeavors.

Six drag pioneers – South Florida’s own Nikki Adams, Tiffany Arieagus, Cathy Craig, Daisy Deadpetals, Electra and Latrice Royale – who, based on their longevity, entrepreneurship, roles on local television and international fame – will be celebrated. Images from the past and present, plus videos, costumes and artifacts will be shared to highlight their success.

The photo Wall of Fame, designed by Robert Tabor and sponsored by Lips Fort Lauderdale and Hunter’s, will showcase many amazing local performers such as Athena Dion, TP Lords, Nicole T. Phillips, Tiffany Fantasia  and Nicole Halliwell. Joanna James, Erika Norell and Velvet Lenore will perform special tributes with the help of DJ Aulden Brown. Shawn Palacious and Joe Posa as Joan Rivers will host the effort which also coincides as the official Stonewall PRIDE celebration kickoff event. Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Steve Glassman will be part of the presentation issuing a special proclamation.

The exhibition will be free and open to the public during mall hours from June 1 – 30.

For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, visit historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow on Facebook  facebook.com/ftlhistory, on Instagram @ftlhistory , on Twitter @FTLHistory , and YouTube at youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.

History Fort Lauderdale

History Fort Lauderdale, now celebrating 60 years, brings the stories of our diverse community to life through engaging educational experiences, innovative cultural exhibits, research and preservation of artifacts. Residents and visitors to Fort Lauderdale are invited to explore the city’s rich past that is housed in historic buildings on a lushly landscaped campus – the History Museum of Fort Lauderdale situated in the 1905 New River Inn, the 1907 Pioneer House Museum, the 1899 Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse Museum and the Hoch Research Library, South Florida’s foremost history center housing print resources and newspapers from 1910 – present plus 400,000 archival photos, 2,500 maps and 5,000 architectural blueprints. History Fort Lauderdale is located at 231 SW Second Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Museum hours are Monday – Friday from noon – 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets are available online at http://bit.ly/HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets. History Fort Lauderdale is a nonprofit agency supported by memberships, grants and charitable contributions. Follow History Fort Lauderdale on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory and on Instagram @ftlhistory and subscribe on YouTube at youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.