There's always a good reason to throw a party.
With that spirit in mind, the National LGBTQ Task Force heads down to South Florida this week to dance up some dollars.
Winter Party Festival (March 1—7) is the occasion, a week of music and dance events at venues in Miami and Miami Beach, with the goal of raising money for organizations serving the LGBT community.
This year's 30th anniversary event comes at a tumultuous time for the movement, as lawmakers have made a habit of targeting LGBTQ people. Bans on Pride flags and Queer-themed books, investigations into drag shows, and plans to boot Transgender troops from the military have all been proposed by politicians eager to score points with social conservatives.
In the face of these increased hostilities, Task Force Executive Director Kierra Johnson said it's important to remember the victories.
"While it's undeniable that we have hit hard times, with the increased number of attacks on our communities across the nation — at the local, state and federal levels — we must acknowledge and celebrate the tremendous strides forward that we've made," Johnson said.
Johnson also said that the ruthlessness and cruelty coming from the far right is a bitter realization that time is running out. A majority of Americans approve of same-sex marriage, more and more same-sex couples are having children — either through adoption or surrogacy — and three US states elected out Gay governors.
"It's critical for us to remember our ancestors and those who came before us, who could never even dream of the support, number of allies, and the way legislation has evolved over the last 50 years," Johnson said.
"Be you"
This is the Task Force's 50th year of operations. Among active national LGBTQ organizations, only Lambda Legal has been around longer. In 2021, the Task Force took an equitable step forward, when Johnson became the first Black woman to lead the organization.
A Bisexual who grew up in the Deep South, Johnson understands the role self-acceptance plays in a Queer person's coming-out process.
"Before we get to leverage our political power, we first have to see ourselves as worthy," Johnson said. "We first have to acknowledge our own power, look at ourselves and each other, and see ourselves as a community worth fighting for."
Hence the Task Force's signature saying: "Be you."
Johnson said speaking up, demanding justice, and voting for candidates who support the community through actions and not merely words are ways Queer people can leverage their power.
"We can do that by being our full self — out loud in the face of ridicule and critique. The LGBTQ community has shown over and over again that joy is an act of resistance. When we show up in our full self, loving each other, loving ourselves, [and] celebrating our community, our families, and our allies, that is power."
Leveraging that power through events like Winter Party helps raise money for much-needed healthcare and quality-of-life needs that, in some states, are becoming increasingly unavailable. As one example, Tennessee scrapped $8.3 million in federal HIV/AIDS funding due to fearmongering over gender dysphoria by right-wing extremists.
"Extreme conservatives are literally making up stories so that people are afraid of us," Johnson said. "We cannot buy into this notion that we are powerless."
The journey, Johnson said, is far from over.
"We still have a lot of work to do. The reality is no civil rights struggle has been an easy one, nor has it been one and done. Our fight for civil and human rights is continuous."
The Task Force estimates that Winter Party brings close to $4.2 million in revenue to Miami, with help from corporate partners Comcast, Hilton, Bacardi, Credo Mobile, ActBlue, and ViiV Healthcare. Since 2005, the organization has donated more than $3.3 million to community-based organizations that support social justice causes.
Officials estimate 10,000 people will attend this year's Winter Party, with beats by internationally recognized DJs at world-class venues and on the sands of South Beach.
"Our events are known for keeping people on their feet," said Johnson.
Tickets, passes, and volunteer shifts are still available. For more information, visit https://www.winterparty.com/.