Ujima Men's Collective and John Lewis GOTV Bus to lead South Florida LGBTQIA+ Souls to the Polls

Ujima Men's Collective and the Transformative Justice Coalition's John Lewis voting bus will host a South Florida LGBTQIA+ Souls to the Polls event in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Organizers say the rally and procession are meant to turn turnout into a public show of Black queer, trans and allied civic power in Broward County.

Why it matters: - The event is designed to boost voter turnout among LGBTQIA+ residents in Broward County, with a focus on Black same-gender loving men, transgender and gender non-conforming people, lesbian women, queer youth, elders, people living with HIV, ballroom community members and clergy. - Organizers frame the mobilization as both a voting drive and a visible response to threats to rights, health care, history and community safety. - The procession ties local turnout efforts to the legacy of Congressman John Lewis and his call to "Make Good Trouble."

What happened: - Ujima Men's Collective Social Justice Initiative, powered by OurFund Foundation, and the Transformative Justice Coalition announced South Florida LGBTQIA+ Souls to the Polls for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. - The rally will begin at 9:45 a.m. at 1033 NW 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. - Participants will board the John Lewis "Make Good Trouble—Vote!" Bus at 10:15 a.m. for a procession to the African American Research Library and Cultural Center to cast ballots. - Drivers are invited to join a motorcade to the polling location.

The details: - Ujima Men's Collective was founded more than 20 years ago by Lorenzo Robertson, a longtime HIV/AIDS advocate, leader and author. - The collective says it has served as a sanctuary, support system and voice for Black same-gender loving men in South Florida for two decades. - The John Lewis "Make Good Trouble—Vote!" Bus is a national initiative of the Transformative Justice Coalition, a 501(c)(3) social justice and voting rights organization. - Brenden Mitchell, former president of the NAACP Youth & College Division of Florida, is helping lead the event. - Minister Ederick E. Johnson, program coordinator of Ujima Men's Collective, is coordinating the mobilization on Ujima's side. - Johnson also served as first vice president of the NAACP Youth & College Division of Florida and is an MDiv student at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. - Organizers are calling on LGBTQIA+ organizations, faith leaders, ballroom houses, families, allies and friends to join the mobilization. - The event slogan is "Our Bodies. Our Ballots. Our Power."

Between the lines: - The event blends faith language, civil rights symbolism and queer community organizing to broaden the emotional and political reach of a local get-out-the-vote effort. - By centering Black queer and trans communities, organizers are signaling that voter mobilization is also a visibility campaign. - The use of the John Lewis bus links the local action to a national voting-rights narrative, which can help amplify turnout messaging beyond South Florida.

What's next: - Organizers expect community members to gather, rally and vote on Oct. 31. - The procession and motorcade are intended to create a visible show of unity at the polls. - Ujima Men's Collective and the Transformative Justice Coalition are likely to continue using the event as part of broader voter education and mobilization efforts.

The bottom line: - The Fort Lauderdale event turns Election Day turnout into a public statement of Black queer solidarity, civic participation and voting-rights activism.