The city’s Stonewall Library & Archives has been operating at its new home on Sunrise Boulevard since the end of January. But on April 23, it will finally be official.

“Every elected official we can corral will be outside that door,” said Stonewall’s executive director, Jack Rutland, pointing to the library’s new entrance.

On April 23, Rutland will ceremoniously unlock the entrance to the site on the eastern end of the building it shares with ArtServe and the county’s Fort Lauderdale branch library.

The move from the old site on Andrews Avenue — and the reconfiguring of the Sunrise Boulevard building — has been in the works for about two years. While a library moving across town does not usually attract much attention, Rutland said Stonewall’s move is “a huge deal.”

The library’s collection of gay and lesbian writings, videos and historical documents makes it the largest organization of its kind, right here in quiet Fort Lauderdale, Rutland said.

In 2007, former Mayor Jim Naugle tried to block Stonewall’s move onto public-owned property. The city commission eventually voted 3-2 to approve the move.

“America has a history of overcoming its prejudices against skin color, gender and sexual orientation,” said Stonewall vice president Steve Wahl. “Someday, I dream, Stonewall will have a sister institution on the National Mall [in Washington, D.C.].”

New Stonewall Library location
1300 E. Sunrise Blvd.
(near ArtServe)
954-763-8565