Human Rights Campaign New England is hosting its 2023 New England Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 18, kicking off with a welcoming reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the dinner and stage program at 7 p.m. at Boston Marriott Copley Place. (Click here for tickets and more information.)
This year, the Impact Award will go to Tre’Andre Carmel Valentine, the first BIPOC executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. And Rush Nicotera, executive director of Your Pride, Inc., will receive the Equality Advocate Award.
Mrs. Kasha Davis (aka Ed Popil), RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7 and All Stars 8 alumni, will also be honored at the annual fête.
Says HRC New England:
There is always time for a cocktail AND equality with this legendary queen! Mrs. Kasha Davis (Ed Popil) is a RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7 and All Stars 8 alumni, a partner of over 20 years to husband Steve “Mr. Davis”, and a parent to two stepdaughters and dog Max. She is a traveling cabaret performer, drag brunch host, and upcoming TV host with her children’s story hour, IMAGINATION STATION!
MKD has shown that life can be fun, and campy, and glamorous even through its challenges – and she definitely shows that drag ALWAYS conquers hate! HRC is thrilled to honor Mrs. Kasha Davis at the 2023 New England Dinner!
Tre’Andre Carmel Valentine (he/they) is a Black, Indigenous, and South Asian immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago. A fierce advocate for trans rights for almost 20 years, he is the first BIPOC Executive Director to lead the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, the oldest active transgender advocacy organization in the United States, solely focused on trans and nonbinary communities.
Tre’Andre currently consults for the Fenway Institute to address HIV transmission within transmasculine and nonbinary communities. He also serves on the City of Boston’s Human Rights Commission. Their tireless work with the LGBTQ+ community in New England is why HRC is honored to award Tre’Andre with the Impact Award at this year’s New England Dinner!
Rush Nicotera (Frazier) is the Executive Director of Youth Pride, Inc., the only nonprofit in Rhode Island specifically dedicated to meeting the needs of LGBTQIA+ Youth 25 and under. Youth Pride, Inc.’s mission is to meet the unique, ongoing needs of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults through direct service, support, advocacy, and education.
Rush (they/them) is a Worcester, Massachusetts native with over 20 years of organizing experience. Their advocacy work includes: bringing comprehensive sex education to all Worcester Public School youth K-12, they worked to keep bus fares free throughout the second-largest city in MA (now in its fourth year), and worked to end the death penalty in New Hampshire Rush! They also recruited, organized, and mobilized over 500 volunteers throughout Worcester County to support nondiscrimination protections for transgender people in public accommodations in the first successful statewide ballot campaign. Rush was Co-Grand Marshal of the Worcester Pride Parade in 2018 and was awarded the Key to the City of Worcester in 2020. In 2022, They were named one of Advocate Magazines’ 50 LGBTQ Leaders.
The Human Rights Campaign knows the vital importance of advocates like Rush are to every community – we are elated to celebrate them and their successes with the Equality Advocate Award at this year’s New England Dinner!
Click here for tickets and more information.
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