Capital Pride Honors

Friday, May 31, 2024
7:30 – 11pm
MGM National Harbor
101 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Presented by:

Event Advocates:

Photo Credit: Rosalind Eaton

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 May 31st at 7:30pm.

Tickets

Tickets Available!

All ticket tiers are available for purchase. There will be a shuttle providing transportation to and from the venue for an additional fee. If you have your own means of safe transportation, we ask that seats are reserved for those in need, first.

Ticket includes:

Heavy hors d’oeuvre tasting stations, an open bar (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and entertainment.
Each ticket level has a limited number of tickets available.
ASL will be provided.

This event is 21+ only.

$49 – Ally
$59 – Activist
$69 – Changemaker
$98 – Changemaker BOGO (With this purchase, you are donating a ticket to someone who deserves to experience this fabulous night!)

*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 the Capital Pride Alliance and the Pride 365 Fund.

Entertainment

Crystal Waters

Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman

Multi-Platinum Singer • Songwriter • Producer

“One of the most influential women of Dance Music” -mixmag

When you hear the name Crystal Waters, you immediately think of a woman whose talent and brand has sustained her 30-year career, yet the span of her work continues to engage new fans and please her enormous base. In fact, this pioneer, innovator and dance music legend was also named by Billboard Magazine as “one of the most successful Dance Music Artists in the history of the Billboard Dance Music Chart.”

Crystal currently hosts “I Am House” a monthly radio podcast which features the latest and greatest vocal House Music, reaching over 7 million listeners syndicated on 48 stations in 18 countries to fans from all around the world. She also hosts I Am House Radio on SiriusXM on Channel 141, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm ET. The title also happens to be the name of Crystal’s record label and #1 Billboard Club Chart hit.

More About Crystal Waters

Crystal is best known for her string of domestic and international number one dance hits in the 1990’s, including her 1991 signature smash, “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)”, which garnered her 3 American Music Award nominations and made her an international sensation. “Gypsy Woman” became a #1 global smash because of its socially-conscious lyrics and positively infectious hook.

Crystal’s impressive 13 #1 Billboard Dance Chart hits and 11 Top 10 songs have resulted in well over 100 million streams on Spotify, YouTube, and 2.12 million followers on Shazam at the very least.

Adding to her musical accolades, she had another #1 hit in Europe in 2009, with Alex Gaudino called “Destination Calabria,” it achieved the #1 Pop Chart status in over 40 countries around the world. Later, her single “Testify” with UK producer Hi-Fi Sean was in top rotation on BBC Radio 2, a song that to date, she still gets asked to perform.

Yet another #1 club hit was in 2018 with “I Am House,” produced by Sted-E & Hybrid Heights and released on Kenny Dope’s Dopewax Records, with Kenny being a 4x Grammy nominee himself. This would bring her overall tally of hits to 16 #1’s and Top 10 singles in over 15 countries to date.

In 2021, a feature on RuPaul’s Drag Race drove Crystal’s ‘100% Pure Love’ to re-enter the Top 10 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Sales Chart. With millions of new streams, and the decision to make it the year’s official anthem of NYC Pride, it ignited Universal Music to re-release the song with brand new remixes.

Her recent release “Party People” with Dj Spen and remix by Michael Grey garnered major support from the likes of BBC Radio One, Nexus Radio, Pete Tong, Carl Cox, Low-Steppa and many others. With her studio work in constant flow, Crystal is on deck to work with some renowned producers on more amazing new upcoming releases.

There’s more to this world-renowned artist than just releasing music. Since the start of her career, Crystal has been a staunch advocate for LBGTQ Rights and AIDS research. She was also involved in the creation of the Soundexchange Bill passed by the US Congress in 2008. (Soundexchange collects and distributes digital performance royalties for recording artists) and was invited to the White House along with several other artists for their efforts. Crystal also
walked the halls of Capitol Hill speaking to Congress several times, advocating for the passage of the Performance Rights Act, which seeks to correct a loophole that allows AM and FM radio broadcasters to not pay performers for their work. She received the Prestigious Howard University Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement, and is listed among the Who’s Who of Black America, as singer, songwriter and producer.

In 2019, TV One’s award-winning documentary series “Unsung” featured an episode dedicated to Crystal’s journey, giving us special insight to her extraordinary musical career.

Crystal has begun touring once again with the success of her songs “House of Light,” released on her own IAH Records label which landed a Top 10 position in the UK’s Music Week Pop Dance Chart and “Never Enough” a track she did with Richie Blacker out on Atlantic Records.

Most recently her single with Soul Central and RobinS hit #1 on the revered House platform, Traxsource and her self-released single with David Anthony and remixed by Todd Terry and Grammy Winner David Morales “2B Luv” hit Top 10 on Music Week’s Club Chart in the UK….and there’s more to come!

DJ Honey

Known for her versatility and creativity on the decks, DJ Honey has emerged as one of the most sought after DJs on the entire East Coast. Building her career around playing distinctly feel-good sound, the Philadelphia native has already shared stages with multiple A-list artists such as Keke Palmer, Xscape, and Coco Jones. Most recently she DJed and opened for Keke Palmer during her “Big Boss” tour. As well graced the stage with DJ DNyce.

More About DJ Honey

You can find HONEY spinning weekly at some of DC’s hottest nightclubs and lounges. Her infectious energy combined with her passion for music create a party vibe unlike any experience. In addition to rocking clubs, she has DJed over 300 weddings and corporate events.

Black Leaves Dance Company

Black Leaves Dance Company is an all-Black, all-male, queer-inclusive dance company specializing in modern ballet, highlighting the stories and perspectives of Black men in America. We explore themes related to identity and self-actualization: questions of masculinity, sexuality, religion, and race.

More About Black Leaves Dance Company

Growing up as Black boys wanting to explore Western dance techniques, we often found ourselves as the only Black dancer and/or the only male in the studio. We created the space we wish that we had had: a modern ballet company rooted in Western dance technique, fused with African traditions, that not only welcomes Black men but centers Black men. Through our work we empower communities to connect with and show compassion for the unique and complex journeys of Black men in America.

Honorees

Heroes

The Hero 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.

Hope Giselle

About Hope Giselle

Hope Giselle is a well-known and highly respected National Organizer, Author, Artist, and Activist, who has been a driving force in the fight for inclusion and social justice. Born and raised in Miami, Hope’s passion for activism and inclusion began during her time at Alabama State University, where she co-founded and governed the university’s first LGBT organization while navigating the challenges of being an LGBT student at a conservative HBCU. Despite the obstacles she faced, Hope persevered and went on to become the first openly trans woman to earn a Master’s in Fine Arts from Alabama State University, while also acquiring certifications from both Harvard and SHRM. Her education provided her with the tools and knowledge she needed to make a significant impact on the world, and she wasted no time doing so.

After graduation, Hope quickly established herself as a leading voice in the fight for inclusion and social justice, using her platform to advocate for the rights of trans and black bodies in both public and private spaces. Her dedication to the cause led her to establish her non-profit organization, AllowMe, while also serving as a contracted master inclusion specialist and HR consultant. In addition to her work with AllowMe, Hope also serves as the Training Director of Get Phluid, a position that allows her to help shape the future of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. She has also worked with numerous other organizations, including NASA, the Human Rights Campaign, Freedom for all Americans, LGBT University, ITEquality, and TransTech Social, where she has used her expertise to help amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Recently, Hope has taken on a new role as President, CEO, and Executive Director of the National Trans Visibility March, where she continues to champion the rights and visibility of the transgender community on a national scale.

Hope’s impact extends far beyond her work with organizations; she is also a two-time best-selling author of “Until I Met Black Men” and “Becoming Hope,” both of which focus on her lived experiences growing up as a black trans woman in the south. Her writing has inspired countless individuals to embrace their true selves and has helped to create a more accepting and inclusive society. Hope’s passion for inclusion and social justice has been recognized numerous times, and she has been invited to speak on nationally syndicated television, radio, and web series, where she has served as a panelist and shared her experiences with a wider audience. She has also been a columnist for several publications, using her platform to spread awareness and encourage others to join the fight for social justice. Hope Giselle’s tireless efforts have made her a role model and a beacon of hope for countless individuals. Her dedication to creating a more inclusive and just society has inspired many to join the fight and work towards a better future for all.

Jamison Henninger

About Jamison Henninger

Since 2017, Jamison Henninger has headed the DC Area Transmasculine Society (DCATS), a community-based organization that aids transmasculine individuals in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Under Jamison’s guidance, DCATS has initiated several successful programs, including one that has provided thousands of free chest binders to young people nationwide. Besides his work at DCATS, Jamison serves on the board of Trans Pride DC and as a consultant for Gender Illumination, a nonprofit in California. Professionally, Jamison is an international expert in gender data, working with country governments around the world and the United Nations to provide guidance on how to collect and use gender data effectively to tackle inequality issues.

Kenya Hutton

About Kenya Hutton

As a social justice, equity, HIV prevention, and sexual health advocate, Kenya Hutton has worked to address a number of determinants of health among communities heavily affected by HIV and other health disparities for over 20 years.

Throughout his career, he has advocated for HIV prevention on the local and national level and brought awareness to LGBTQ young adults as well as members of the House/Ball community. As a result of his service to these communities, he has been honored with several accolades, including the Dorian Corey Wisdom Award, the Michael J. Harrington Humanitarian Award, the Award of Excellence from the Washington DC Ballroom Coalition, and the DC Black Pride Presidents Award, among others.

Kenya collaborated with local nonprofits and the DC Health Department in 2019 to develop an educational program focused on providing potential employment opportunities for ballroom community members interested in becoming certified Community Health Workers.

Kenya spearheaded the development of the Capitol Ballroom Council during this period, which allowed ballroom leaders to develop programming and advocacy for the House/Ballroom community in addition to providing valuable programming insight, which resulted in him being one of the co-founders of the Capitol Ballroom Council, Inc. A non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. Kenya continues to push the envelope in making ballroom culture recognized as a vibrant, resilient community worthy of praise and support by non-ballroom mainstream organizations.

In recent years Kenya has been a leading voice in the discussion urging research and interventions addressing substance use within the ballroom community, especially Crystal Meth use, as well as developing systems to provide relief support for the ballroom community during the COVID-19 pandemic and most recently the MPOX outbreak.

The work of Kenya Hutton is dedicated to the enhancement of the health, economic, and social well-being of marginalized and disenfranchised communities.

Carol Jameson

About Carol Jameson

Ms. Jameson has worked in the Northern Virginia community for over 35 years, developing and administering programs that address health care disparities and provide access to health care services to those who are underserved. Most recently, she retired in 2022 after serving as the CEO of the nonprofit HealthWorks for Northern Virginia, a community health center/FQHC with seven locations providing comprehensive primary, dental and behavioral health care services to anyone regardless of income or insurance status.

Ms. Jameson earned her MSW in 1986, including an internship at Whitman-Walker Clinic, and then began her social work career at Inova Fairfax Hospital as a social worker supporting patients with HIV/AIDS; subsequently she was a core member of the team that established the Inova Health System HIV/AIDS Program, now known as the Juniper Program. In 1988 she joined Whitman-Walker as Associate Director of what was originally called the NOVAA Project (Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virgnia), overseeing client services providing integrated, intensive care to persons with HIV/AIDS. In 1995 she joined Northern Virginia Family Service, a multi-jurisdictional nonprofit organization, where she spent 14 years in the development and oversight of multiple programs including health access, housing, job training, and mental health services.

Following her time at NVFS, Ms. Jameson served as Executive Director of NOVAM, a nonprofit providing HIV prevention and HIV care to adolescents and young adults in Northern Virginia. After serving as the Executive Director of the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic (JSFC) in Fairfax, she helped to establish HealthWorks in 2011.

In her retirement Ms. Jameson serves on the Board of Directors of All Ages Read Together, a nonprofit providing free preschool to disadvantaged children. She is also an AART classroom volunteer several times a week. Ms. Jameson is a member of the Community Leadership Council of the nonprofit Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services.

Ms. Jameson holds a BA in History from the University of Maryland and a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She lives in Alexandria with her husband Paul.

Tula

Perfectly styled Hair, Glitz and Glamor with a Classic Drag estetic with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. This is what you get when you see Tula hosting one of her regular cabaret shows in the District. A former title holder and member of the Academy of Washington, DC she brings a plethora of stage experience to any show. When friends are asked, they describe her drag more as illusionist work because when she takes the stage, she truly does embody the spirit of the artists she performs too. By day, she is an esthetician and hair stylist for a number of local theatre and event companies. In the evenings and on weekends, when she is not gracing the stage performing, you can often catch her out and about, around town at a nonprofit function, an embassy event, or taking in a theatre production, in full drag, immaculately put together, mixing and mingling with the other socialites from our Nation’s Capital.

José Alberto Uclés

About José Alberto Uclés

José Alberto Uclés, is originally from Honduras, and has lived in the Washington, DC area for over 40 years. He loves his work for the past 23 years at the U.S. Department of Transportation – as the Hispanic Outreach Spokesperson, and Public Affairs Specialist for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). His passion is providing life-saving traffic safety messages and much needed materials to the more than 62 million Spanish speakers living in the US. To this goal he helped create the first NHTSA en Español website. He is a sought out Spanish expert on traffic safety with Univision, Telemundo and other Hispanic radio and media outlets. He is the recipient of the NHTSA- National Diversity Accomplishment Award.

Uclés had a 10-year Mayoral Appointment, as Commissioner to the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, stepping down last July. His tenure in the Arts Commission delighted him, as he got to know and work with the immense and diverse creative community of artmakers and art supporters in DC and metro area. Before that with TheatreWashington, he was a 3-year Helen Hayes Theatre Award Judge. He is supportive of our fantastic LGBTQ+, and helps host Pride Nights with Washington National Opera, IN Series and others. He has recently agreed to be part of the 2025 WorldPride Washington, DC, in the Arts & Culture Committee.

Previously Uclés was Assistant Director of Development at the Whitman-Walker Clinic (’96- ‘99) the premier clinic for HIV/AIDS in WDC, and the first Latino to be Director of the famed DC Capital Pride Festival (’97-’99). He was also on the Board of Directors for the Millennium March on Washington for Equality in 2000.

Uclés is a graduate of American University (WDC) with a Master’s degree in Public Relations and of Goshen College (Goshen, IN) with a BA in Communications and a Minor in Business Administration.

In June 2022, DC’s 202 Creates Office honored Uclés and his spouse Tom Noll as the DC Artsy Fashion Peacocks with a special hour-long Pride Edition Video featuring them on a 202 Creates Masterclass.

Uclés is married to Tom Noll since 2013 (19 yrs. together), who is a multi-media artist, an award-winning children’s book author and storyteller with his “Trash to Treasure” Series- Recycling Creatively with L.T. Noll being a decorator and landscape designer, he created the popular White Bicycle Fence Art Installation at Bloomingdale’s Corner Park on Rhode Island Avenue, First and T Streets, NW that he whimsically decorates for major holidays and seasons to the delight of everyone. 

Due to their outgoing personalities, colorful and whimsical fashion style, they are called “DC Artsy Fashion Peacocks” and ‘connectors of people’, ‘sought after advisors and helpers”, ‘advocates and influencers,’ in the DMV arts, cultural, theatre, LGBTQ+, fashion, diplomatic and philanthropic scenes, as they stay current and purposeful in their love and support of our diverse, eclectic, established and emerging creative artmakers. They have been featured in articles in the Washinton Post, Washingtonian, DC Modern Luxury and District Fray magazines.

Ucles says: “I believe in the positive, inclusive, transformative, and nurturing power of the arts, humanities, culture, diversity, and community involvement to improve and elevate the quality of life of us all. The creative industries have been and will continue to be critical factors in our city’s economic development, revitalization, richness and keep on making our Nation’s Capital region a vibrant and rich world-class destination!”

Breaking Barriers

The Breaking Barriers: Community Impact Award acknowledges an individual or organization who has demonstrated a significant impact to the LGBTQ+ community at either the local or national level and who has helped eliminate barriers for social, personal, or professional growth of the LGBTQ+ community.

Iya Dammons

About Iya Dammons

Ms. Iya Dammons is the Founding Executive Director of DC Safe Haven and Maryland Safe Haven and visionary activist for the TLGBQIA+ community. As a proud trans woman of color, Ms. Dammons suffered the direct impacts of race and gender-based discrimination through her experiences of homelessness, substance use, violence, and survival sex work in the very streets where she now works to provide help to TLGBQIA+ folks living in survival mode.

In 2018, she founded Maryland Safe Haven, and created a chapter and 2023 DC Safe Haven, nonprofit organizations based on the civil rights model of “each one, teach one”, and “for us, by us.” Today, MSH provides dedicated TLGBQIA+ housing, workforce development, HIV testing, healthcare, legal services and she is slowly building DC SAFE HAVEN to replicate the same service division, lines m – all from the perspective of oneness and solidarity with the community. In her passion for investing in emerging trans leaders, MSH is now the largest employer of TLGBQIA+ lived-experience staff in the state of Maryland and the only trans-led nonprofit in the DMV area.

Ms. Dammons is a nationally recognized activist who centers trans rights in our nation’s dialogue. She organized the Black Trans Lives Matter March featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 2020, commissioned the Black Trans Lives Matter mural which stretches across 2 full city blocks in Baltimore known as “The Stroll” among sex workers, and debuted the first Trans Pride event in Baltimore history. For her exceptional service to the community in terms of scale and impact, Ms. Dammons was named 40 Under 40 TLGBQ Leader in 2021 by BEQ, was honored by the AIDS Health Foundation on World AIDS day, is a member of the AIDS United Transgender Leadership Initiative class of 2022, has been featured frequently in publications such as POZ and the Washington Blade, and is a regular guest speaker at TLGBQIA+ advocacy events around the country.

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.

Bryan Davis

About Bryan Davis

Bryan Davis is the current Volunteer Chair with the Capital Pride Alliance. Prior to being named Volunteer Chair, Bryan served as the Executive Producer and Chair for Accessibility (2018-2021) and as an Interpreter Coordinator (2014-2018). Bryan moved to DC in 2011 from the Seattle area to study Sign Language Interpretation at Gallaudet University. He currently works as an Interpreter/Reasonable Accommodation Specialist at a federal agency, and maintains a community-based freelance sign language interpreting business. Bryan enjoys the opportunities at CPA to support programming and training that aims to foster an environment that is inclusive of the Disability community.

William Hawkins

About William Hawkins

William Hawkins started volunteering with Capital Pride in 2017. That first year he sold drink tickets at the Opening Party and the plan was for him to volunteer for a few hours and then enjoy the event. This plan changed when a Capital Pride member asked if any of the volunteers could stay (which he had since learned is a part of the job as Pride organizers).

The next year, William volunteered as part of the production team rather than for just a one-day event. Not knowing what team to join, William was selected as an Executive Producer of Health and Safety. Soon, William became a member of the Capital Pride Chairship as the Health and Safety Chair and still operates in this capacity. At the time, the Chairship presented new volunteer leadership opportunities for the organization.

Since being the Health and Safety Chair, William has formed alliances and relationships with GW Hospital, DC FEMS, and the DC Licensing Division. William is normally the first to arrive on Parade Day to retrieve the golf carts and the last one to leave after leading a train of golf carts to our Festival site.

William volunteers with Capital Pride every year because “the members of Capital Pride have become his second family, and he would be lost without each and every one of them.”

The Larry Stansbury Award

The Larry Stansbury Award for Exemplary Contributions to Pride acknowledges outstanding efforts related to programs and initiatives of the annual Capital Pride Alliance or Pride movement.

Destination DC

About Destination DC

Destination DC serves as the lead organization to successfully manage and market Washington, DC as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination, with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historical communities.

By developing and executing centralized and cohesive sales and marketing strategies, Destination DC generates economic development for the city through tourism and meetings. In 2021, visitor spending totaled $5.4 billion, representing more than $536 million in new tax dollars for the District of Columbia. (See the full list of visitor research facts & figures.)

Destination DC is a private, non-profit corporation with a membership of 1,000+ businesses and organizations that support the DC travel and tourism sector. A contracting arm of Events DC, the organization is funded by a percentage of DC’s hotel occupancy tax, along with membership dues and co-operative marketing fees.

Formerly known as the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation (WCTC), the organization was renamed in 2008 to reflect the organization’s increased emphasis on the city’s unique assets. WCTC was established by business and community leaders in April 2001 by merging the Washington, DC Convention and Visitors Association and the DC Committee to Promote Washington. The Washington, DC Convention and Visitors Association was founded in 1931 to promote convention and leisure travel to the nation’s capital.

Past Honorees