Center for Black Equity names 2026 BE. Gala honorees

The Center for Black Equity has announced 13 honorees for its 2026 BE. Gala, set for Oct. 3 in Washington, DC. The awards will spotlight leadership, advocacy, public health, the arts and community service across Black LGBTQ+ communities.

Why it matters: - The BE. Gala remains one of the Center for Black Equity’s main platforms for recognizing Black LGBTQ+ leadership, service and cultural influence. - The 2026 honorees reflect work that affects health, civil rights, entrepreneurship, media representation and community institutions. - The recognition helps elevate people and organizations shaping visibility and resources for Black LGBTQ+ communities.

What happened: - The Center for Black Equity announced 13 of its 2026 honorees on Sept. 16. - The awards will be presented Saturday, Oct. 3, during the 2026 BE. Gala in Washington, DC. - The gala will be held at Conrad Washington, DC, and begins at 6 p.m. - The recipient of the BE. Icon Award, the organization’s people’s choice award, will be announced during the gala.

The details: - Courtney Snowden will receive the Welmore Cook Advocacy & Service Award. - Clover Barnes will receive the Ernest Hopkins Public Health Leadership Award. - Nikki Alexander will receive the Unsung Hero Award. - Darryl G. Moore will receive the Center for Black Equity Leadership Award. - The Freelux Project will receive the Center for Black Equity Small Business Award. - Tori Cooper will receive the Earline Budd Transgender Leadership Award. - Bishop Steven R. Sawyer and Reverend Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey will receive the Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks Spiritual & Community Leadership Award. - Monroe Alise will receive the Trans Power in Media Award. - Justin N. Stewart will receive the National Black Pride Image Award. - Marlene McNeese will receive the Curtis L. Etherly Jr. Ally Award. - Venton Jones will receive the Eleanor Holmes Norton Civil Rights & Justice Award. - In Our Own Voices, Inc. will receive the Ruth Ellis Community Impact Award. - The BE. Icon Award is selected through a public vote and recognizes a Black LGBTQ+ figure whose influence, visibility and impact resonate with the community. - The awards trace back to honors first presented during DC Black Pride, which is a program of the Center for Black Equity. - The organization says the awards are part of a legacy spanning more than three decades. - Past recipients include Ruth Ellis, Earline Budd, Ron Simmons, Wanda Alston, Rayceen Pendarvis, A. Cornelius Baker, E. Lynn Harris, Bishop Kwabena Rainey Cheeks, Tracey Africa Norman and David Johns. - The gala’s host committee is co-chaired by Carmen J. Neely, co-founder, president and CEO of Harlem Pride, and Letoi Williams, deputy director of volunteer leadership at the Human Rights Campaign. - Individual tickets cost $250 and include dinner and two drink tickets. - Reserved tables for eight cost $2,000. - Premier tables for eight cost $2,500 and include premium seating near the stage. - Full-page ads in the program cost $500. - Half-page ads cost $250. - The program advertising deadline is Friday, Sept. 18. - Ticket and sponsorship information is available at BE. Gala information. - More details about the awards and past recipients are available at Center for Black Equity awards.

Between the lines: - The honoree list mixes individual leaders and organizations, showing the Center for Black Equity’s focus on both personal achievement and institutional impact. - The inclusion of a public-vote icon award suggests the gala is meant to engage the broader community, not just honor selected recipients. - The award categories point to a broad view of Black LGBTQ+ progress that includes health access, spiritual leadership, media representation and economic opportunity.

What's next: - The BE. Gala will reveal the 2026 BE. Icon Award recipient on Oct. 3. - The program advertising deadline comes first, on Sept. 18. - The gala will bring together community leaders, advocates, artists and allies in Washington for the awards presentation. - The Center for Black Equity will continue promoting tickets, sponsorships and gala programming ahead of the event.