Grand Marshal
JOEL STRACK
in Memoriam
J oel Strack was an LGBTQ
leader, activist and pioneer
in Central Florida’s fi ght for
equality for more than 30
years. Strack passed away in the early
morning hours of July 15 at the age of
59.
Few people in Orlando have had the
same monumental impact on Central
Florida’s LGBTQ community that
Strack did. He was instrumental in
launching what would become known
as Gay Days at the Magic Kingdom,
helped create Orlando’s fi rst Pride
parade and assisted in founding both
the Orlando Gay Chorus and the Gay
and Lesbian History Museum.
Due to his many years of service
to Central Florida’s LGBTQ
community, Strack was presented with
a city proclamation by Orlando City
Commissioner Patty Sheehan during
a celebration of life event attended by
more than a hundred people at Leu
Gardens back in June.
When Strack passed, fellow
community leaders and activists took
to social media to honor and remember
his impact to Orlando, many quoting
Strack’s famous catchphrase “Treat
yourself right” in their tributes.
Strack’s life may have been best
summed up in a Facebook post from
Strack’s friend and executive director of
The LGBT+ Center, George Wallace.
“He literally put his whole life into
making Orlando better,” Wallace wrote.
“Whether you knew him or not, he has
impacted your life.”
Strack will be represented by his
friends and family in the parade.
30 COME OUT WITH PRIDE 2019