Fort Lauderdale, FL : The Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library has announced the highly-anticipated honoree for the 3rd Annual “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes” Gala- ‘CEO of Everything Gay’ Tristan Schukraft.
The Founder of MISTR, the largest telemedicine platform dedicated to HIV prevention and long-term HIV care, Schukraft has built his career on technological innovation and business prowess. He is the brains behind several successful properties within the hospitality and nightlife sector, including: The Tryst beachfront hotel and Circo Bar nightclub in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and The Tryst in Puerto Vallarta. He has put his mark on iconic LGBTQ+ venues The Abbey and The Chapel in West Hollywood, California, DS Tequila in Chicago, and multiple properties in The Pines on Fire Island, New York (The Blue Whale, The Pavilion Nightclub, and The Canteen, and the upcoming The Tryst Fire Island). Schukraft is also the Producer of the new Off-Broadway show Drag: The Musical.
Executive Director of the Stonewall National Museum, Robert Kesten, stated, “Since the Stonewall Museum’s founding in 1973, we have prioritized protecting both the LGBTQ+ community’s past while fighting for its future. Tristan Schukraft’s life and career embodies these values- he has invested heavily in the community’s future success through his creation of LGBTQ+ businesses as well as preserved the community’s artistic culture by ensuring our community’s iconic spaces are protected.”
Kesten added, “We are looking forward to honoring Schukraft at our 2025 Gala in March, and we look forward to witnessing him make history.”
Schukraft stated, “I’m honored to be the 2025 honoree. I am grateful Stonewall recognizes my commitment to the community, as I appreciate the work of the Museum in preserving our cultural legacy.”
The 2025 Gala will be held:
Saturday, March 1, 2025
6pm EST
The VENUE | 2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
Purchase tickets: https://stonewall-museum.org/gala-2025/
About the Stonewall National Museum, Archives, and Library:
The Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of the largest LGBTQIA+ libraries and archives in the world. Stonewall has continued to speak out against discriminatory policies against the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as aims to raise funds to protect and educate people across the nation.
The Museum’s Executive Director is Robert Kesten, a passionate Human Rights Advocate. Kesten’s human rights advocacy has taken many forms, working on the Ghanaian Constitution, coordinating and producing events leading to Ukrainian independence, producing events for the first AIDS day treatment center in the nation, pushing for the decriminalization of homosexuality in Ukraine (the first Soviet Republic to do so), challenging book banning, LGBTQIA+ inclusion in schools and navigating anti-LGBTQ sentiments.
Kesten also worked on the West Bank during the Intifada and was brought into Egypt and Tunisia during the Arab Spring to try and establish human rights cities.
Robert Kesten: Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, Washington Press, Sun-Sentinel, PBS, Florida Atlantic University International Human Rights Symposium, Herald-Tribune, and more
The Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library houses millions of pages of records and materials available to the media, drawing direct lines from our nation’s history to today.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT: Broward County Florida Cultural Division, Community Foundation of Broward, Florida Arts & Culture, The Our Fund Foundation, Visit Lauderdale, Floatarama, National Endowment for the Arts, AARP, Seacoast Bank, TD Charitable Foundation, Florida Humanities Council, SEFLIN, Pen America, NEA (National Education Association), American Federation of Teachers MEDIA PARTNERS: HotSpots Magazine / Happening Out Television Network, Queer News Tonight MEDIA SPONSORS: Edge Media Network, OUTSFL, SkirtSoFlo, OutClique COMMUNITY PARTNERS: NDN Promotions, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, RanD Remodeling, LadyBug Fertilization & Pest Control AFFILIATIONS/DESIGNATIONS: Broward Arts Calendar, Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Platinum Seal of Transparency