The 18th Annual Stonewall Black and White Ball

18th Stonewall Black and White Ball Sponsors:

18th Stonewall Black and White Ball Media Sponsors:

Stonewall Ball Ticket Sales will end on June 20, 2019 at 11:30pm. Tickets will not be sold at the door. You need to buy your tickets before June 20 at 11:30pm to attend the ball!

Gold Ticket | $250 | 7:00pm-12:00am

The Gold ticket will include entry into the event and name recognition.

The VIP Award Reception will be hosted by Randy Fenoli, Television personality and fashion designer and star of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress".

The VIP Award Reception honors Community Leaders, Appointed and Elected Officials and Sponsors.

Each VIP Awards Reception ticket will include entry into the award ceremony, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, live entertainment sponsored by Celebrity Cruise, silent auction, and music by D.J. Supreme1, and performances by Miss Palm Beach Pride 2019, Kataleya Davenport Dupree, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2018, Rianna Petrone, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2016, Velvet Lenore, and The First Lady of the Palm Beaches, Melissa St.John.

VIP Reception | $150 | 7:00pm-12:00am

The VIP Award Reception will be hosted by Randy Fenoli, Television personality and fashion designer and star of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress".

The VIP Award Reception honors Community Leaders, Appointed and Elected Officials and Sponsors.

Dance Party & Open Bar | $85 | 9:00pm-12:00am

All attendees are welcome for Dancing, Open Bar, Silent Auction, music by D.J. Supreme1, and performances by Miss Palm Beach Pride 2019, Kataleya Davenport Dupree, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2018, Rianna Petrone, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2016, Velvet Lenore, and The First Lady of the Palm Beaches, Melissa St.John.

Dance Party | $35 | 9:00pm-12:00am

All attendees are welcome for Dancing, Cocktails (Cash Bar), Silent Auction, music by D.J. Supreme1, and performances by Miss Palm Beach Pride 2019, Kataleya Davenport Dupree, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2018, Rianna Petrone, Miss Palm Beach Pride 2016, Velvet Lenore, and The First Lady of the Palm Beaches, Melissa St.John.

Purchase TicketsClick Here

When and Where?

Compass’ 18^th Annual Stonewall Ball and 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at The Harriet Himmel in CityPlace. This special night benefits Compass Community Center and celebrates the important contributions of this year's honorees who work hard to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community. Every year, the Ball raises funds for Compass' fundamental programs and services, including the youth and HIV/AIDS services.

Theme: Black and White Ball with a Sparkle of Gold

Date: Saturday, June 22, 2019

Location: Harriet Himmel Theatre

Dress Attire: Cocktail Attire and Costumes in black and white with a sparkle of Gold is encouraged.

All attendees are welcome for Dancing, Cocktails (Cash Bar), Silent Auction, and performances by Miss Palm Beach Pride 2019, Kataleya Davenport Dupree.

Valet prices increased to $12 in the area. We strongly recommend ride sharing, car pooling or taxis to arrive at the ball.

Image: Wanesco Images

Will I Be Entertained?

Entertainment for the 2019 Stonewall Black and White Ball is being booked. Check back soon for more information.

What Can I Expect?

The Annual Stonewall Black and White Ball attracts nearly 1,500 dignitaries, elected officials, candidates and community members from South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Compass’ 18th Annual Stonewall Ball honors nearly 50 years of accomplishments of the LGBT rights movement. The decor and production is sponsored annually by Bruce Sutka, an international event design legend.

This year's VIP Awards Reception ticket will include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, food stations, live entertainment and other surprises.

Image: Jeriame Kensinger Photography

What Should I Wear?

Image: Michael Cushman

You can wear what ever you want, but come dressed to impress! Palm Beach casual, cocktail and costumed attire, in black and white, is encouraged, but not required.

Take a look at the Photos from last year's Stonewall Black and White Ball to get a better idea of what others wear.

This year, a Sparkle of Gold is the accent color theme.

Who Are This Year's Award Honorees?

In June, we will announce the recipient of the Michael Brown Memorial Faces of the Community Award and the Compass Leadership Award.

The Michael Brown Memorial Faces of the Community Award

William P. Stewart, Jr., MPH, CPH

Pete Stewart has served as the Health Education Specialist for the School District of Palm Beach County since 2008. He received his Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of South Florida (2007) and his Bachelor’s Degrees in Anthropology and Classical Studies from the University of Florida (1992).

Mr. Stewart’s passion is Social Justice and Equity, particularly for students who attend our schools. With funding from a grant from CDC, Mr. Stewart has been able to put his passion for inclusive, safe, and welcoming schools into action. He introduced the We’re ALL In! initiative, which identifies supportive adults in schools; LGBTQIA+ Diversity Collection into school media centers, so that students could see themselves in schools’ instructional materials; the School District’s LGBTQ+ Critical Support Guide, which provides guidance on issues from preferred names and pronouns, to bathroom and locker room use, to graduation; and policy work, including assisting with the adoption of the School District’s Equity Policy, which was passed in October 2018.

His most important job is being a youth advocate. He has presented many staff trainings about LGBTQIA+ students, supports youth and staff in their GSA Clubs, and responds to the plethora of calls from schools about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) regarding students as young as 4^th grade. And of course partnering with Compass Community Center has been key to having GSA Clubs participate Palm Beach PrideFest, youth activities like Day of Silence and Transgender Day of Remembrance, as well as Equality Prom, and PFLAG, which enrich our students’ experiences in schools.

The Compass Leadership Award

County Commissioner Paulette Burdick

The Honorable Paulette Burdick is proud of being a citizen-politician. She believes that citizens must be involved to ensure that good government makes good decisions and government will make better decisions when the public is watching.

In 1994, her activism led her to run for Palm Beach County School Board. She served for 16 years where she championed equal education opportunities for disadvantaged children and policies to protect LGBTQ students, teachers and staff. As a member of Children Services Council, she led the effort to fund and the continued funding for Compass.

In November 2010, Paulette was elected to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners for District 2. In 2016, her colleagues chose her to be Mayor of Palm Beach County. During her time on the County Commission, she fought to preserve the Agricultural Reserve and environmentally sensitive lands and advocated for affordable housing. Throughout her public and personal life, Paulette has championed efforts to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community. While she has retired from elective office, she continues the fight for true equality as a private citizen.

Paulette has served on numerous countywide boards including Business Development Board, Children’s Services Council, Community Alliance, Homeless Advisory Board, Criminal Justice Commission, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Palm Beach County Cultural Council, Treasure Coast Planning Council, Water Resources Task Force

Paulette Burdick has been recognized for her efforts on behalf of our county by many organizations including the League of Cities, the American Jewish Congress, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, numerous Women’s groups and the Democratic Party.

Stonewall Ball History

The Stonewall Black and White Ball was created in 2002 as a targeted outreach event, aimed toward decision makers and the people who speak, walk, vote or donate to support them. Although Compass is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, charitable organization and does not support, endorse or promote any candidate regardless of political affiliation, Compass’ primary mission is to promote pride in our community, encourage informed civic engagement, and create opportunities for the type of relationship building with community leaders that many others may take for granted.

Held at the Harriet Himmel at CityPlace each year in the heart of the City of West Palm Beach, and in conjunction with Stonewall celebrations across the country and world the last weekend in June, the Stonewall Black and White Ball not only recognizes our collective history, but it sheds light on opportunities for our community’s future through fully inclusive social justice leadership. Annually, more than 1,500 people attend the black and white-themed event, and past honored guests have included Donna Red Wing, Jeffrey Trammel, and Elaine Noble.

Over the years, Compass’ mission has been supported by a number of local leaders who have moved on to become elected or appointed public officials. Along the way, some have become state senators, others who were school board members have moved on to become county commissioners, and still others, such as loyal legislative aids, have become mayors or state representatives, or both. A few have even become representatives of the United States.

More significantly, though, few who have been with us have ever left Compass or its mission behind them. Most proudly boast their place in our shared history.

Organization leaders, appointed and elected officials, and the people who support them most are under a special kind of scrutiny in the light of Florida’s sunshine. Each and every decision they make in support of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is on the record for the rest of their public or private careers. That is why it is so important to know who they are, and for them to know who we are – and more importantly, how many we are.

Each year, the Compass Leadership Award is presented to an elected or appointed official who has demonstrated a commitment to honoring and forwarding social justice initiatives that are inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Additionally, the Michael Brown Faces of the Community Award is presented to a community member who has demonstrated notable efforts toward promoting pride and a connectivity within our diverse community.

Past Stonewall Black and White Party Photos

For more photos, click here.