Danielle Stanziale

Working in construction by day and LGBTQ nightlife by night, Danielle Stanziale has been served well in both industries by having a “big and outgoing personality” and a “tough backbone.” The construction project executive is better known in the lesbian scene as a promoter who co-launched a legendary girls’ party at Nation in Midtown Manhattan, which brought in 500 revelers every Saturday for three years. After that, Stanziale moved on to the historic Stonewall Inn, and has been hosting events there for a decade. “Every Thursday night, I feel I am part of a movement,” she says. It was at a different bar, this one on Fire Island, that Stanziale had another event idea. She was wondering why there wasn’t a “hot sporting event here on the beach,” and so she co-founded LezVolley eight years ago. The volleyball weekend on the island now has 20 volleyball teams made up of more than 500 women. “And this truly makes my life feel complete,” she says. Stanziale is proud to contribute to the social fabric of the lesbian community, now and into the future. “I am so happy that I was a part of the generation to start a movement in the lesbian nightlife and [to watch] the… next generation have the same fun and smiles for the future generations.” —SEJ