
Sunday July 23, 2023
FLOATARAMA BEGINNINGS
In 2020, a group of gay men spontaneously created FLoatarama, an only-in-Fort Lauderdale Pride event during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pride marches and events had been cancelled around the world.
Fort Lauderdale is known as the “Venice of America” with 300 miles of waterways and canals. With 20 private vessels and minimal crew and passangers, the totally outdoor flotilla Pride parade was a breath of fresh air.
In 2021, Dean Trantalis, the gay mayor of Fort Lauderdale, was the grand marshal leading the 34-boat parade in the Water Taxi excursion boat along with 100 other donor VIPs. Over $17,000 in proceeds went to Pride Fort Lauderdale’s GED/Scholarship Fund.
FLoatarama 2022 had a maximum allowed 40 vessels including two soldout Water Taxi VIP excursion boats leading the June parade. Thanks to 14 “corporate” sponsors, 50 Founders Club individuals and two boatloads of VIPs, 100% of proceeds, over $50,000, went to a new 501(c)3 non-profit, FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund. The fund was established in partnership with Our Fund Foundation.
FLOATARAMA 2023
Grand Marshal Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) lead 22 boats in the FLoatarama Flotilla, plus 400 celebrants on the 130-foot Sun Dream Yachts M/Y Catalina. The flotilla went down New River and up the Intracoastal to Sunrise Bay.
FLoatarama 2023 was another big success, raising over $75,000 for the FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund. The BB Team was proud to be on the Catalina supporting this worthy cause.
Six grant recipients including SunServe, South Florida Pride Youth Band and Stonewall National Archives, Museum & Library received between $5,000 to $20,000 for their LGBTQ youth programs.
If you want to contribute, go to FLoatarama‘s website, and please let them know you found FLoatarama via BottomBasics.com!









FLoatarama Catalina Yacht. Fort Lauderdale, FL. 2023. Featured image courtesy of Plaintruthiness Photography | Flickr | © All Rights Reserved
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Pride Catamaran, Bejeweled First Mate, Black & Teal Guys, Flamingo Yacht, Celebrants, Sailors, Two Guys, Unicorn Boat. All images from Floatarama, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 2023. Images courtesy of Plaintruthiness Photography | Flickr | © All Rights Reserved