Each year, Compass honors individuals at its Stonewall Ball. This year’s honorees include State Rep. Rob Long with the Compass Leadership Award and Ramsay MacLeod with the Michael Brown Faces of the Community Award.

Both Long and MacLeod have been featured in OutSFL over the years. As Compass prepares to honor them at this year's Stonewall Ball, we look back at the leadership, resilience, and advocacy that earned them recognition.

Compass Leadership Award – State Rep. Rob Long

Leadership is often measured not by the easy decisions, but by the difficult ones.

As Vice Mayor of Delray Beach, Rob Long earned a reputation for leading with conviction, even when doing so carried political risk. Throughout a period of increasing challenges to LGBTQ visibility and local self-governance in Florida, Long consistently stood up for the values of inclusion, fairness, and community representation.

“Leadership isn't supposed to be easy,” Long previously told OutSFL. 

Whether defending Delray Beach's Pride crosswalk, opposing efforts to distance the city from Pride celebrations, or speaking out against state interference in local decision-making, Long demonstrated a willingness to put principle before politics. He repeatedly reminded residents that local government is more than budgets and ordinances — it is a reflection of a community's culture, values, and commitment to its people.

"We're not just glorified accountants,” Long previously said. “We're stewards of home rule and, more importantly, of Delray Beach's culture and values."

Now serving as State Representative for District 90, Long continues that work on a larger stage. His willingness to stand up for inclusion, local autonomy, and community values has earned him the respect of LGBTQ residents throughout Palm Beach County and beyond.

Michael Brown Faces of the Community Award - Ramsay MacLeod

Ramsay MacLeod knows what it means to stand her ground.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, MacLeod faced a military investigation into her sexual orientation while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. She described the experience as a "witch hunt," and the circumstances surrounding her discharge remain deeply painful decades later.

Yet rather than retreat from public life, MacLeod turned those experiences into a lifelong commitment to advocacy and service.

After moving to South Florida in 1988, she built a career in medical billing and worked as a contractor for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Throughout the years, she has remained a steadfast voice for LGBTQ equality and visibility.

A few years back MacLeod participated in the Legacy Project, a collaboration between Compass LGBTQ Community Center and Palm Beach Dramaworks that connected LGBTQ elders and younger generations through storytelling and shared experiences. She used the opportunity to advocate for greater support for LGBTQ youth, including school-based groups and safe spaces where young people can find community and acceptance.

"I paid a big price for some of my decisions, but I wouldn't change a thing," MacLeod previously told OutSFL.

In 2023, OutSFL named MacLeod to its annual Out & Proud list, recognizing a lifetime of resilience, service, and advocacy for the LGBTQ community.