Capital Pride Honors

Friday, June 3, 2022
7pm – 10:30pm
Penn Social
801 E St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Presented and Hosted by:

Event Advocates:

Each year, the Capital Pride Alliance honors outstanding individuals, leaders, and activists in the National Capital Region who have furthered causes important to the LGBTQ+ community. Join us, as we collectively celebrate the incredible community honorees who tirelessly contribute to our collaborative advocacy, outreach, education, and programming in support of our intersectional community.

Honorees will be recognized at The Capital Pride Honors on June 3rd at 7pm.

Ticket includes food, two (2) drink tickets, games and enjoyment.

ASL provided.
Each ticket level has a limited number of tickets available.
For fair accessibility, we ask that the lower ticket prices are reserved for those that are most in need in our community.

*No refunds or exchanges. All proceeds will go to Capital Pride Alliance and the Pride 365 Fund.

Tickets Available Now

Entertainment

Performing live at this year’s Capital Pride Honors is Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists, Inaya Day! Also returning to DJ, Edward, with Scorpio Entertainment.

Inaya Day

More About Inaya Day

INAYA’s first audience was in church as a child in Brooklyn, New York. She went on to attend the prestigious La Guardia High School of Music & the Performing Arts (the “Fame” School ), studied solo voice at the University Of Bridgeport, Business Marketing at Southern New Hampshire University, and is certified in Social Media Marketing.

INAYA has been a musical theater Artist since the age of 13 and has done Broadway, off Broadway, regional theater, Euro Theater, etc. She’s a card-carrying member of the Actor’s Equity Association and a voting member of the Grammys Recording Academy.

INAYA was living in Germany when her first, second, and third singles, Keep Pushin’, Hold Your Head Up High, and Horny (for which she garnered both gold and platinum records), were released. They each championed the charts and are now all worldwide classics.

INAYA has been named one of Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists, and has had numerous UK, Euro, Aria, and Billboard top tens, including the 3 songs named above, “Nasty Girl,” “Feel It,”, “I Am Tha 1,” “Glamorous Life”, “Movin’ Up”, “One Night In Heaven”, and many many more…

Just before the end of it’s run, INAYA was the ONLY artist in history to perform on the famed UK top 40 TV show, Top of the Pops, twice in one week.

In addition to house music, INAYA writes, records, and performs musical theater, jazz, jingles, hip-hop, funk, and R&B, and gospel. She led/recorded a song with the Newark New Jersey Youth Choir, she’s sung/recorded with CD Hawkins, performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall with Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Kurt Carr, Richard Smallwood, and more.

INAYA writes, creates/arranges, and sings backing vocals and/or hooks for the likes of (Michael Jackson, P-Diddy, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot, Bootsy Collins, Ashford & Simpson, Oprah Winfrey theme song, etc.)

INAYA’s song Keep Pushin was recently re-recorded by pop star, Dua Lipa as the theme song for the Adidas promotional campaign: “Original Is Never Finished.” One of her unreleased R&B ballads, “How Many Ways,” can be heard on the American drama, Queen Sugar. Her single, Nasty Girl, was featured for the dance scene in the movie, “Dan In Real Life” starring Steve Carell. During the finale’ season of the series Pose starring Billie Porter, one can hear INAYA’s song Step It Up; both on the show, and the soundtrack. Her songs can be heard on many other TV shows (Queer As Folk, Queer Eye For the Straight Guy, Neighbors, HighTown, etc.), and in ads around the globe. She even sang the theme song for “Everybody Hates Chris” with Tony award nominee Victor Cook and award winning actress Tichina Arnold; which INAYA engineered, and they recorded, in INAYA’s home studio.

DJ Edward

More About DJ Edward Daniels

I’m Edward Daniels and here’s my story, in a nutshell. When I was 16, I landed my first job at my local radio station where I developed an appreciation and understanding of all types of music, mostly pop and oldies.

I entered the University of Virginia as a pre-med student and, after falling in love with musical theatre, graduated with a degree in Philosophy and moved to Washington, DC, to pursue a career in theatre and film. Like most artists, I found myself waiting tables in order to supplement my career. My work in the local bar scene led me to hosting karaoke, producing several events which were featured in the Washington Post, and meeting lots of bachelorette parties and, at one point, Bob Dole. After numerous requests to perform at weddings and private events, Scorpio Entertainment was born.

Since 2005, I’ve played well over 600 events, in over 300 venues, from coast-to-coast. As an emcee, I’ve been proud to have been the voice of over 275 road races including the Air Force-Navy Half Marathon and the inaugural DC Bike Ride.

I believe that there is a science and art in what I do and how I do it. Every single event should be unique, memorable, and remarkable. That’s my goal and the mission of the company and team that I continue to grow.

Awards

Heroes

The Heroes Award recognizes individuals who have furthered the causes important to LGBTQ+ community in the national capital region. These heroes have brought about positive changes to our lives and our community.

Karl Frisch

More About Karl Frisch

Karl Frisch (he/him) was elected to the Fairfax County School Board in 2019, ultimately garnering more votes than any candidate for that office in his district’s history and becoming the first openly LGBTQ person elected to local office in Fairfax County and the only out school board member in Virginia.

Before joining the School Board, Karl earned a national reputation as a skilled communicator and effective public policy advocate in our nation’s capital on issues ranging from consumer financial protection, land conservation, and immigration reform to student lending, voting rights, and government reform.

On the School Board, Karl has fought to protect LGBTQ+ students and staff, sponsoring successful initiatives to protect and affirm transgender and other gender expansive students, prohibit intentional outing, deadnaming, and misgendering, and providing students with updated transcripts and diplomas reflecting their correct names.

Additionally, he has been at the forefront of efforts to eliminate literacy gaps, creatively address school overcrowding, keep immigrant families together, rename schools that honored the Confederacy, confront the climate crisis, advance gun violence protection, and allow collective bargaining for educators and other staff.

Diana Fitz

More About Diana Fitz

Diana Lynn Fitz is originally from Guatemala. She has been living in USA since she was 9 years old and living in Washington DC for over 7 years. Diana received her bachelor’s degree in Government Administration with a concentration in legal studies from Christopher Newport University and her Masters in Government with a concentration in public policy from Regent University. Diana has over 13 years of experience in project management working in community development and international development projects. She worked as Director of Latinx Affairs at Casa Ruby serving the LGBTQ+ community and immigrant community to achieve their full potential and removing systemic barriers. Diana herself has lived experience and loves direct service as she strives to be a positive part of the community. Currently Diana continues her work at Ayuda as the first transgender person to work for the organization. She continues to advocate for the LGBTQ+ and Immigrant community living in Washington, D.C in her daily work at Ayuda with her clients.

Diana has multiple skills but one that sets her apart are his cross-cultural competence that enable her to interact with people of different backgrounds and approach social issues in the search for solutions through a multifaceted point of view. She feels privilege for being able to serve DC residents regardless of documentation status. Diana has assisted in the cases of countless trans people from various countries as they settled into DC and continues to do community building in her free time.

One of the things she enjoys in life is being able to interact with the LGBTQ and Immigrant community and to see their lives transform and to listen to their testimonies. Diana knows first-hand how different interventions such as housing and case management are for our community. Diana emphasizes how important it is to invest in our trans and LGBTQ+ youth. Diana is proud of being part of the LGBTQ and Immigrant community living in this beautiful city we call Washington DC and will continue the fight.

Tarik Pierce

More About Tarik Pierce

Tarik Pierce currently serves as the Competency Development Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Workforce Management and Consulting, Human Resources Development. Tarik has been with Veteran Affairs for 12 years and has been responsible for the program management and development of structure for the New Talent Development Program, a program that focuses on new Human Resource Professionals and their integration in the organizational structure at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Before his time with the New Talent Development Program, he was Curriculum Development and Competency Manager for the HR Academy. As a proud graduate of Clemson University, his job with the Department of Commerce brought him to D.C. where he transitioned to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Living in D.C., Pierce’s sporty side emerged and he is entrenched in the LGBT sports community having played in leagues for flag football, kickball, darts, bocce, dodgeball and cornhole. He has also served as volunteer for the Capital Pride Alliance as well as the Annual High Heel race on 17th street every Tuesday before Halloween. Pierce found himself stepping forward as a leader through the years. He has served on the board of Stonewall Darts, a captain for Stonewall Dodgeball and captain and umpire for Stonewall Kickball. His theory is that if you become a part of a community, at some point you should step forward as a leader and he has made sure that his team has been involved in fundraisers and the charitable community support 110%. Tarik’s focus is different because he wants everyone to have the chance to have the experiences he has had with a strong focus and commitment to give back to the community.

Tarik Pierce is a co-founder of Pub Crawlin’ for Tots. The group and fundraiser was established in 2009 to raise money and collect toys for the greater Washington, DC area Toys for Tots organization and still continues. Even when the pandemic hit, Tarik and the group of elves were still actively working to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for the children of the DC area. Most recently the group dedicated toys and money from the event to benefit Children’s National. Since 2009, under the leadership of co-founder, Tarik Pierce and the group of elves has worked directly with LGBT bars and businesses which has always sold out and collected and raised more than more than $50,000.00 and more than 4,000 toys for area children to make the holiday season brighter for the entire family.

Keith Pollard

More About Keith Pollard

Keith Pollard (He/him) is an award winning activist and advocate who has spent the better part of the last decade working tirelessly to ensure the rights of LGBTQ individuals, especially LGBTQ youth. Keith has been an integral part of creating safe spaces and affirming resources for the Queer and Trans community.

In 2015, Keith became a dedicated volunteer with the Youth Working Group at the DC Center where he was able to start advocating for policy change and additional resources for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, he went on to actively volunteer with organizations such as Empowerment Liberation Cathedral, Human Rights Campaign and Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL). In 2017 he was hired at the Wanda Alston Foundation, the first housing program in Washington DC solely dedicated to offering transitional housing to homeless or at-risk LGBTQ youth, as the Operations Manager. He was able to use innovative ways to elevate the programming to better serve and support the youth. Upon leaving the Wanda Alston Foundation in 2019, Keith was able to assist in promoting a Black Trans women into the leadership position of Operations Manager. Keith then went on to further his career in LGBTQ advocacy by becoming a Youth Housing Case Manager at SMYAL, an LGBTQ youth services organization that was established in 1984. While working at SMYAL, Keith was able to be a vital part of the opening of three additional housing programs for LGBTQ youth and young adults. Due to his dedication and his achievements he was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of Youth Housing. Keith has supported and advocated for dozens of queer youth throughout their housing journey and is most proud of assisting queer and trans youth ending homelessness for themselves. In 2020, Keith became a committee member of May Is? All about Trans a DC based non profit that seeks to highlight the lives and stories of Trans, Gender Non-Conforming and Non-Binary people. Keith is unapologetic and will continue to relentlessly fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Keith has received certifications and trainings in HIV care and prevention, Sexual health, suicide awareness and prevention, trauma informed care, crisis intervention, substance use awareness and prevention, harm reduction, DEI and Leadership.

Lessie “Les” Henderson

More About Les Henderson

Les Henderson (she/her/they) is the founder of endoQueer and host of the Be A Beacon Podcast. As a black masculine of center lesbian, her endo journey has been complicated due to erasure in medical and online spaces. In 2016, she survived a spontaneous pneumothorax (lung collapse) that happened due to endometriosis and once this happened, she knew that she had to get out here and tell her story and create a space to help others. Her story has been shared by Vice, Cosmo UK and she has contributed her experiences to a few medical journals and books.

Part of what made her keen to create a movement around her struggles with endometriosis is her decade in and adjacent to all kinds of activism and social justice work in the DC region, from the campaign to make same-sex marriage legal in Maryland, which brought her to the DMV in 2012, to later organizing around better transit options in Prince Georges County,faith based work around the advent of Black Lives Matter and current work in transportation demand management.

During the Covid-19 pandemic she survived two more lung collapses and at that point it was clear, she was going to be starting an advocacy group to make sure people did not have to go through what she went through.

She’s since partnered with DC area-based reproductive justice organizations EndoBlack and The Pretty Period and the national organizing group Black Feminist Future.

When not doing all this advocacy and public service work, she enjoys catching the latest movies (and complaining that the original is better when watching a remake), reading on a variety of things, trying new restaurants and dishes and from time to time kayaking, comedy open mics (from time to time) and hiking on trails!

Reverend Dr. Aaron B. Wade

More About Reverend Dr. Aaron B. Wade

Reverend Dr. Aaron B. Wade is a native of Chicago, IL. During the early stages of his life, he learned that having a relationship with God was essential to realizing his destiny. With few immediate role models, Rev. Wade turned to historical icons such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose work in social justice and theology inspired and motivated him to pursue his goals.

Rev. Dr. Wade received his bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Psychology from DePaul University while also working tirelessly with numerous change organizations. He holds a Master’s of Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Divinity where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. While at Howard, Rev. Wade was awarded the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr. Memorial Scholarship and the Brown Scholarship from the United Church of Christ. Upon graduation, Rev. Wade received the distinction of “New Testament Biblical Scholar” from the Howard University School of Divinity. Completing his MDiv., Rev. Wade wrote his thesis entitled, The Overlooked Significance of the Death of Jesus Christ. Rev. Wade earned his Doctorate of Ministry degree from Chicago Theology Seminary in 2016, having completed and published his writing Preaching that Empowers Congregations to be Catalyst of Change in the Community.

Rev. Dr. Wade gained his spiritual foundation, support, and theological development through the church which led him to the call as Founding and Senior Pastor of The Community Church of Washington, DC – United Church of Christ. Principles of love, community, and compassion for ALL of God’s children are the pillars of Rev. Wade’s core values. These tenets are the foundation upon which ‘The Community Church’ stands. In Washington, DC, Rev. Wade served as Young Adult Minister at Berean Baptist Church and the Minister to Young Adults at Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ; where he was licensed and ordained.

Rev. Dr. Wade’s passion to serve God and minister to God’s people has led him to speak and preach in churches and universities across the nation. He advances his message of love, hope, and community empowerment through his companies, Empowerment Enterprise Group, LLC and Empowerment Enterprise II, Inc. These organizations are the extension of his vision to empower communities and facilitate change in the world by helping to “empower people to change their communities.”

Rev. Dr. Wade was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 2019. Additionally, Dr. Wade contributes to being a change agent in the world through his membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and as Co-Chair for the New Church Development Committee in the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ. Additionally, Rev. Wade created a conference for inclusive church pastors and leaders known as the Inclusive Church Conference (ICC). The ICC sets out to equip, support and connect inclusive church pastors and leaders to resources and networks nationally. In an effort to eradicate social ills in the DC metropolitan area, Rev. Wade created “Churches on The Frontline” a collaboration of churches in DC metropolitan area that commits to being on the frontline in responding to social equality for LGBTQA individuals.

Rev. Dr. Wade is a proud resident of Washington, DC.

The Bill Miles Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service

The Bill Miles Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service acknowledges exemplary contributions to the Capital Pride Alliance, its programs, initiatives or other Pride sponsored activities.

Deborah McQueen

More About Deborah McQueen

Deborah McQueen (she/her) has been a dependable and valued volunteer for the Capital Pride Alliance for 17 years. Through her many years of service, she has effortlessly displayed her dedication to Capital Pride and our commitment to serving the community by being a constant presence at all of our events. She comes willing to help with anything and she does it with a smile!

Presidential Award

The Presidential Award is a recognition given by the President of the Capital Pride Alliance’s Board of Directors to an individual or organization for their extraordinary contributions and exemplary support of the LGBTQ+ community in the National Capital Region.

Wendy Rieger

More About Wendy Rieger

For more than 40 years, Wendy Rieger told the stories of the people of the Washington, D.C. area.

Rieger joined News4 in 1988 as a general assignment reporter, mostly covering breaking news for News4 at 11. She began anchoring weekend newscasts in 1996 then spent 20 years anchoring News4 at 5 until her retirement from broadcasting in December 2021.

Before her career in television, Rieger’s voice and writing style established her as a rising star in radio. A short tenure as a writer at WAMU, Washington’s NPR station, led to a stint as host of the station’s Morning Edition. She later anchored newscasts for WTOP Radio before crossing over to television at CNNN’s Washington Bureau.

Aside from anchoring, Rieger established herself as a solid reporter. For many years, her Going Greensegments were so popular that NBC stations across the country aired them during their newscasts and inspired a series on NBC Nightly News. In April 2008, Washingtonian magazine readers presented Rieger with one of its inaugural Green Awards in recognition of her dedication to “preserving our environment through education.”

Rieger received four EMMY awards, including one for a special report she shot in Vietnam on home video 20 years after the war. In 2015, she was honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with its prestigious Silver Circle Award to celebrate more than 25 years covering news in the Washington area.

A native of Norfolk, Rieger graduated from American University with a degree in broadcast journalism. Her community involvement has spanned many local organizations, including those dedicated to fighting cancer, protecting animals and promoting human rights. She joined her NBC4 colleagues in participating in three DC AIDS Rides and returned year after year to emcee events for SMYAL and The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.

Rieger spent her entire adult life in the Washington area. She owned various condos in D.C. and a house on the West River in Anne Arundel County then one she designed herself in the mountains of Rappahannock County, Virginia.

In 2021, Rieger was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Despite aggressive treatment, she died on April 16, 2022, leaving behind her husband, Dan Buckley, her sweet rescue cat, Nina, and more friends than anyone can count.

In one of her last notes to her news colleagues, she wrote about how happy her life was:

As you know I have lived my life big and loud. It is my nature. And I’ve had a blast. But a stillness has come over me that is profound and potent. I didn’t know i could be this quiet. Life is not always a test. It is a teaching. I must learn this lesson with grace. I will.

Past Honorees