NYC Pride 2019 passes in front of the Stonewall Inn (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
The National LGBTQ Task Force and The International Imperial Court System are inducting seven LGBTQ legends to their 2023 National LGBTQ Wall of Honor. The wall and ceremony will take place at the Historic Stonewall Inn in New York on June 22.
The Wall of Honor posthumously acknowledges LGBTQ artists, activists and others who fought for queer liberation. This year’s honorees include Leslie Jordan, Terrence NcNally, Achebe Betty Powell, J. Frederic “Fritz” Lohman, Darcelle XV, Heklina and Gloria Allen.
“This is a moment to celebrate these leaders who wore their queerness on their sleeves, inspiring millions and teaching us that a key aspect of liberation is striving to create a world where everyone feels empowered to live as their authentic selves,” said Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the Task Force, in a press release.
Leslie Jordan- Best known for his role on “Will & Grace”, Leslie Jordan had a long career in television and film spanning nearly 41 years. He came to Hollywood in 1982 from Tennessee, bringing his strong Southern drawl with him. He would later play roles in shows like “American Horror Story,” “Ugly Betty,” “Reba” and “Nash Bridges.”
Jordan was an early advocate for LGBTQ rights. He dedicated time during the AIDS crisis to the AIDS Project Los Angeles, serving as a buddy and delivering meals for Project Angel Food, feeding people impacted by serious illness.
His humor would go viral on Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic, collecting 5.8 million followers looking to share his joy during the lockdown.
Terrence McNally- The recipient of five Tony Awards, Terrence McNally was an American playwright, screenwriter and librettist. His works were performed worldwide, and his career extended six decades and explored LGBTQ themes and the desire and complications of human connection. McNally is credited with writing 10 books for musicals and 36 plays including “Master Class” and “Ragtime.” He was described as “one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced” and “the bard of American theater.”
McNally was a St. Petersburg native and lived in the Sarasota area with his husband.
Achebe Betty Powell- Achebe Betty Powell was one of the first Black lesbian activists to have a leadership role during the gay liberation movement during the 1970s and was the first Black lesbian to serve on the National Gay Task Force’s board of directors. Powell also served with the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice for 45 years.
J. Frederic “Fritz” Lohman- Lohman launched the first gay art space in New York City in 1969 with his partner, Charles Leslie. The exhibit showcased controversial homoerotic art that most galleries shied away from at the time. Their work in the art space grew to opening the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, the world’s first gay art museum, featuring works of gay artists like Keith Haring and David Hockney.
Darcelle XV- Darcelle / Walter Cole was an iconic Drag queen from Portland, Oregon. After serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, he bought a tavern in 1967 that would be transformed into the Darcelle XV Showplace. This space would serve as a safe space for drag performers and was home to the West Coast’s longest-running drag show. At age 85, Darcelle was recognized as the world’s oldest drag queen by the Guinness World Records.
Heklina- Heklina / Stefan Grygelko was an actor, entrepreneur and drag queen in San Francisco. She founded the longest drag event series in San Francisco, Trannyshack in 1996. The event was rebranded in 2015 as “Mother.” She starred in a series of drag queen horror spoof films like “Tran-ilogy of Terror” and “Mommie Queerest.” She is a legend in San Francisco and served as a drag mother to many.
Gloria Allen- Allen was a transgender activist who ran a school for transgender youth in Center on Halsted in Chicago. Allen used her own money to prepare student meals and worked the job unpaid. A documentary film was made about her experiences, called Mama Gloria. Allen has received many awards for her activism.
This year’s inductees will join the wall and share space with legends such as Keith Haring, James Baldwin, Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk and dozens of other icons that advocated for the LGBTQ community.
The ceremony also happens at the same time as the National LGBTQ Task Force’s 50-year anniversary, celebrating the organization’s half-century of fighting for justice and equality and continued commitment to the LGBTQ people.
“As we reflect on 50 years of hard-won progress, we hold tight to the fact that we not only fight for rights, we fight for people. The honorees this year not only showcase the beautiful diversity of our movement, but also embody this commitment to community and to each other,” said Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the Task Force.
