Dean Trantalis
42nd Mayor of Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida · 1952 – present
There's a phrase that gets tossed around in politics a lot — "breaking barriers" — but for Dean Trantalis, the 42nd Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, that phrase carries the weight of decades. Decades of legal battles, city commission chambers, community organizing, and a quiet, persistent belief that South Florida could become something extraordinary for LGBTQ people.
"I do use my position to advance causes that help the gay community. I'm not going to deny that. But I want people to understand that we don't have a gay agenda. That's not why I ran. I ran because I'm trying to improve the quality of life for everybody, including the LGBTQ community."
Photo Gallery
City Hall, Fort Lauderdale
Achievement Badges
Full Biography
Timeline & Key Milestones
Born in Norwich, Connecticut
Graduated Boston University cum laude, Political Science
Graduated Stetson University College of Law
Entered LGBTQ political advocacy in Broward County
Co-chaired passage of Broward County Human Rights Ordinance
Co-wrote Broward County domestic partnership law
Elected Fort Lauderdale's first openly gay city commissioner
Elected Fort Lauderdale's first openly gay mayor — 64% of the vote
Re-elected mayor by landslide in record-turnout election
Received FL LGBTQ Democratic Caucus Lifetime Achievement Award
Achievements & Awards
First Openly Gay Mayor
Fort Lauderdale's 42nd Mayor — largest LGBTQ-led city in the southern U.S.
Domestic Partnership Law
Co-authored Broward County's landmark 1999 domestic partnership ordinance
Lifetime Achievement Award
Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus, August 2021
Harvey Milk Foundation Honor
Recognized by the Harvey Milk Foundation in April 2018
Re-elected by Landslide
2020 re-election featured largest voter turnout in Fort Lauderdale city history
Human Rights Champion
Co-chaired passage of Broward County Human Rights Ordinance in 1995
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