Gala Honorees
2024 Gala Honorees
2024 National Leadership Award
Karamo

Karamo is the Emmy-winning host and culture expert on Netflix’s hit series Queer Eye. He has used his platform to combat HIV stigma and advocate for providing mental health support and HIV education to the Black queer community . His unwavering commitment to raising awareness and offering crucial support highlights his exceptional leadership and advocacy. As a supportive father and role model, Karamo’s personal and professional life embodies the values of empathy, resilience, and community spirit.
Karamo draws from his work in social services to show how he both discovered and learned to explore his many different “identities”. Whether as a black man, openly gay man, a son of immigrant parents, a Christian or a single father, Karamo strategically utilizes the strength of his numerous identities to achieve success – and teaches others to do the same.
He launched his daytime talk show, The Karamo Show, in 2022; its third season premiered on September 16, 2024. His podcast, Karamo, is an in-depth look at life’s thorniest issues, where people from around the world can call in and chat with Karamo to receive direct advice or share their personal feelings on the everyday situations affecting their lives. His memoir, “Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope,” explores how the challenges in his own life have allowed him to forever transform the lives of those in need.
About being honored at this year’s Gala, Karamo commented: “I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 National Leadership Award from the National LGBTQ Task Force. This recognition is not just a reflection of my work but a testament to the strength, resilience, and love that defines our entire community. Together, we have made incredible strides toward equality, and though there is still much work to be done, I remain committed to amplifying our voices, fighting for our rights, and supporting those who need it most. Let us continue to lead with compassion and conviction, ensuring that every individual can live openly and authentically.”
2024 Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award
Jim Tyrrell and Roger Thomson

Jim Tyrrell and Roger Thomson are a beloved fixture in the community of South Florida. Coupled since 1999, the two have dedicated themselves to supporting the LGBTQ movement locally and nationally through their philanthropy and service. Roger sat on the National LGBTQ Task Force Board for 9, with two years as Board Co-Chair. He has also served on the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee for the City of Miami Beach, the Board of Miami Pride, and the LGBTQ Community Fund Committee at the Miami Foundation. Jim and Roger are members of SAVE, SAGE, and Equality Florida, supporters of Pridelines, and myriad other South Florida LGBTQ community organizations. Their generosity has helped beat back discriminatory policies and legislative attacks on LGBTQ people and enabled the community to continue thriving and reaching for full liberation.
Prior to his retirement in 2016, Roger served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Brinker International Inc, which operates Chili’s and Maggiano’s restaurants. He has also served executive roles at Burger King Corporation and S&A Restaurant Corp. At 49 years old, Roger became one of the first Fortune 500 executives to openly identify as gay.
Jim started his career as a disco instructor straight out of high school. He later pursued a degree in landscape architecture from Rutgers University, worked as an interior designer, and as a licensed massage therapist. In the early 2000’s, Jim was battled three bouts of tongue cancer which required multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Jim is a cancer warrior and survivor.
Jim and Roger were married on January 1, 2016. The wedding was planned by Liebe and Seth Gadinsky and officiated by Richard Milstein – all of whom are prior recipients of the Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award.
2023 Honorees

Constance Collins
Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award

Dominique Jackson
National Leadership Award
2022 Honorees

The Gadinsky Family – Liebe, Seth, Naomi and Tashi
Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award

Jonathan Capehart
National Leadership Award

X González
ChangeMaker Award
2021 Honorees

Robin J. Schwartz
Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award

Billy Eichner
National Leadership Award

Jasmine McKenzie
ChangeMaker Award
2019 Honorees

Wilson Cruz & Anthony Rapp
National Leadership Award
2018 Honorees

Charles Million & Tim Nardi
Eddy McIntyre Community Service Award

Robin Roberts & Sam Champion
National Leadership Award
2017 Honorees
2016
Steve Rothaus
Seth Rudetsky & James Wesley
2015
Juan Bosco Talavera
Mary L. Bonauto
2014
James G. Pepper
Kristin Beck
2013
Joseph L. Falk
George Takei
2012
Elizabeth F. Schwartz
Matt Foreman
2011
Georg Ketelhohn
Ben Cohen
2010
Cindy Brown
Alan Cumming
Commissioner Katy Sorenson
2009
Steve Adkins
Lt. Dan Choi
Rev. James Trapp
2008
Keith Boykin
Ilene Chaiken
Joan Schaeffer
2007
Jerry Chasen
Leonard Pitts
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
2006
Julian Bond
Bob Cole
TWN
2005
California Assemblyman Mark Leno
Richard C. Milstein
Spain’s President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
2004
Alicia Apfel
All Dade Human Rights Foundation and
Gay & Lesbian Foundation of South Florida grant recipients
2003
Bacardi
Marleine Bastien
Dr. John Graves
Sir Ian McKellen
Terrence McNally
Damian Pardo
2002
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Lee Schrager
2001
Edda Cimino
Rep. Richard Gephardt
Neisen Kasdin
Robert Rosenberg
Lisa Versaci
2000
Billy Bean
David Treece
Rosemary Wilder
Cristina Saralegui
Elkin Zapata
1999
Martha Fugate
Liebe Gadinsky
Jorge Mursuli
1998
Dennis Edwards & Mark Steinberg
Dave Lawrence
Mindy McNichols
1997
Greg Baldwin
City of Miami Beach
Ruth Shack
More from the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala

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